As your number-one source of news and information about The Edge District, I want to kick off this Thursday’s post with exciting information about that neighborhood.
First of all, WMC Action News 5 reports that plans are finally underway for The Ravine, a retired rail spur that cuts through The Edge from Union to Madison. This area will be converted to greenspace that will include a performance area, a playground, and room for events like yoga classes. Memphis Made’s second taproom will border The Ravine, and the space will be a short walk away from The Rise, the new apartments in the former Wonder Bread bakery on Monroe. The first phase of the park should take about six months.
In Edge District business news, Evelyn & Olive, the Jamaican restaurant at 630 Madison, celebrates 58 years of Jamaican independence this weekend. Jamaica attained full independence from the United Kingdom on August 6, 1962. To celebrate, E & O will roll out a special, not currently on the menu, each day today through Sunday. Take a culinary journey to the island without leaving Downtown, mon.
Local 24 has a look at the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s push to bring back the Mud Island Amphitheater. Although there would be some logistical challenges including accessibility, leaders believe the concert venue could be renovated for a fraction of the cost of the work happening downriver at Tom Lee Par.
Despite going 0-4 in the seeding game with a loss to the Utah Jazz yesterday, the Memphis Grizzlies remain in 8th place in the Western Conference. Trailing them for the final playoff spot are
- Portland Trail Blazers, 1 game back
- San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans, 2 GB
- Phoenix Suns, 2.5 GN
- Sacramento Kings, 3 GB
The Grizzlies don’t play today but here are some games worth keeping an eye on:
- New Orleans Pelicans at Sacramento Kings, 12:30 PM, NBATV (slight preference for Sacramento to win)
- Indiana at Phoenix, 3 PM, no national TV (we want Indiana to win)
- Portland at Denver, 7 PM, no national TV (we want complete and total annihilation of Portland, including an alien kidnapping of Damian Lillard)
Next up for the Grizz: The OKC Thunder tomorrow at 3. Bad news is, the Thunder are fighting for their place in the West too. They’ve already clinched a playoff berth but could conceivably end the season with anywhere from a 2 seed to a 7 seed. So, don’t expect them to trot out their second team tomorrow.
The YMCA has a lot of education and physical education jobs available in the Memphis area right now. The YMCA locations will support virtual learning for the Shelby County Schools this fall and there are some Virtual Learning Coordinator positions open.
From Downtown steakhouse 117 Prime:
Starting this week, we’ll be incorporating exciting and comforting small plates into our repertoire – dishes that are perfect for a happy hour snack or to share with someone special!
Memphis Animal Services is close to running out of puppy food for its COVID-19 Pet Food Relief project. This program helps ensure that those who have lost income due to the pandemic are able to keep their pets fed. If you want to help, visit this Amazon Wish List, or buy locally through Hollywood Feed and request it be delivered to the shelter. Contactless drop-off address is
Memphis Animal Services (intake door)
2350 Appling City Cove
Memphis, TN 38133
The American Athletic Conference announced its scheduling model for the 2020 college football season yesterday. Member schools will play 8 conference games and can play up to 4 more non-conference games. That means Memphis can find an opponent to replace its canceled game at Purdue.
Meanwhile, UConn, who thought it was too much of a blue-blood to associate with the lowly American Conference schools, had to cancel its football season for 2020. Connecticut left the conference this year, and planned to be an independent for the 2020 football season… but now no one is inviting the Huskies over to play. Sucks to be U, Conn.
It’s Election Day and Bill Dries of the DM is back with his helpful Ballot Basics column.
The Flyer’s Michael Donahue had a taste of Rizzo’s cheeseburger soup in his Best Bets column.
Virginia recently became the first state to introduce a COVID-19 contact tracing app using iOS and Google APIs. This is significant because not anyone can build an app using these tools. Apple only allows public health agencies to access its Exposure Notification API. Smartphone contact tracing apps are one of the ways South Korea flattened its curve so quickly. I would gladly install a contact tracing app on my phone, and quarantine/get tested if the app indicated I needed to, in exchange for the reopening of limited service restaurants.
There’s another Mask Up, Memphis! event at Fourth Bluff tonight at 6:30. Free masks, hand sanitizer, school supplies, and snow cones.
Online game show Matching in Memphis, by Riverset Rye and Cerrito Trivia, is back tonight at 8:30.
Oh this sounds very cool… Elmwood Cemetery is hosting A History of Memphis Street Names online seminar tonight at 6:30. Cost is $10. I may consider signing up for that one!
That’s the news for right now. I may be back this afternoon with a recap of the COVID-19 task force press conference.