Saturday update

I want to start off this post by saying congratulations to two of the most beautiful people I know, Alex and Mary, who tie the knot today. I’m sure the ceremony officiated by Rev. B-RAD will mark the start of a long and happy life together. I will try to make it to the party tonight, although I have plans with friends earlier in the day so we’ll have to see if I’m still standing by evening. Good news is, my plans with friends are at a full-service restaurant so there’s no chance I can catch COVID-19 there.

Bleacher Report has been doing a “30 Teams, 30 Days” analysis of each NBA team prior to the restart of the 2019-20 season, and by all means you should read Ja Morant Changes Everything, the piece about the Memphis Grizzlies. Ja has become a part of his community, dining at places like Arcade Restaurant, Huey’s and Majestic Grille. Even the Majestic owners’ son Seamus got a mention.

Fans – about 1000 of them – will be allowed in AutoZone Park for Memphis 901 FC’s home opener vs. Charlotte on the 25th. The seats will be an extra-safe 12 feet apart, double the normal social distancing recommendation. There will be temperature checks, digital tickets, limited concessions, and staggered exits to help keep everyone safe. Small clutch purses will be allowed but bags won’t. Season ticket holders will have first shot at the 1000 tickets.

Atomic Rose has dinner and a show tonight. Join them at 6 for dinner, then a viewing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at 7:30. This is a 21-and-up venue.

Due to COVID-19 ruining everything, there will be no live performances for Elvis Week this year. A virtual Elvis Experience pack will be sold for $50.

You just can’t fix stupid: A Utah meeting about masks in schools had to be postponed when almost no one showed up in a mask. Meanwhile, teachers are so worried about returning to school that they’re preparing wills.

AARP did an investigation into who hoarded toilet paper during the pandemic. The culprits tend to be older, worry warts, and those with highly “conscientious” personalities. Damn. If my mom were still alive, she’d probably have 200 rolls stuffed in her closet.

The world is going to have a new continent and ocean in only 5 to 10 million years. Water from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden will flood a basin, separating Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya from the rest of Africa. This 2018 article has more details. Shall we start a naming contest for the new continent and ocean?

There’s a proposal in City Council to rename Poplar between Front and Danny Thomas, which would include the portion of Poplar that runs past the jail, to Black Lives Matter Avenue. I support this one million percent!

The Grizzlies have released their television schedule for the remainder of the 2019-20 season. They will play three scrimmages and all will be broadcast live on grizzlies.com with commentary by Pete Pranica. The scrimmages are

  • Friday, July 24, 2:30 PM, Philadelphia 76ers
  • Sunday, July 26, 7 PM, Houston Rockets
  • Tuesday, July 28, 1 PM, Miami Heat

All 8 seeding games will be broadcast on Fox Sports Southeast, but the following games will also be televised nationally:

  • July 31, 3 PM, vs. Portland Trail Blazers (NBATV)
  • August 3, 5:30 PM, vs. New Orleans Pelicans (ESPN; no doubt because of Zion vs. Ja)
  • August 7, 3 PM, Oklahoma City Thunder (NBATV)
  • August 11, 5:30 PM, Boston Celtics (TNT)

For those on Xfinity, Fox Sports Southeast was moved to a different tier of channels earlier this year, so you might want to check if you have it in advance of the start of the season.

The Cousins Maine Lobster food truck is at the Memphis Farmers Market this morning… although, I will once again remind folks that you can get a mighty fine lobster roll anytime a few blocks away at Slider Inn.

Blind Mississippi Morris plays Blues City Cafe at 5.

Well, they closed my rooftop last night. It was the absolute proper thing to do, because they had a positive test in the building. On the positive side, they finally fixed my air right, and it’s below 70 in my apartment for the first time in July. I slept well last night.

Yesterday I tried a couple of menu items from STIX. This time I ventured beyond hibachi and got creative in my choices.

Above are the sushi tacos, tuna tataki and avocado topped with spicy aioli and sweet soy, in a crunchy wonton shell. You get 2 of them for $5.

This is their shrimp bun, crispy shrimp tempura in a creamy, spicy sauce with apple ginger slaw on an Asian bun. You eat it like you would a soft taco. You can get one for $5 or two for $9.

I need to get super rich so I can donate $10 million to a university and get naming rights for a building or large lecture hall. Imagine your kids starting the fall semester and having a class in the Perjorie T. Roll Hall of Academic Achievement. You know I’d do it too… now I just have to figure out where to get $10 million. Launder money for Russians?

That’s it for now. Back tomorrow with more news.