The Daily Memphian’s Jennifer Biggs reported from the most recent Zoom meeting between Shelby County officials and the Memphis Restaurant Association. Dr. Bruce Randolph, county health officer, discussed possible easing of restrictions on restaurants in Health Directive 19 to be released the middle of next week and to go into effect Saturday, March 20. Note that all of these are expected changes and are not yet set in stone:
- The mask restriction will be loosened, and restaurants will no longer face fines for not enforcing masking
- Curfew would be moved from midnight to 1 AM
- Limit on number of diners per table increased from 6 to 8
- The stupid 2-hour limit per table on food service could be dropped
- Contact tracing and record-keeping by restaurants will be significantly loosened or eliminated
What wouldn’t change:
- 6 feet of distance between dining parties
- The stupid rule that food must be purchased with alcohol
This is all GREAT NEWS. We’re moving toward the lifting of all restrictions. However, I do agree with Majestic/Cocozza owner Deni Reilly, quoted in the article, that it would be irresponsible to allow people to go mask-free in restaurants until restaurant employees have a chance to get vaccinated.
UCF advanced in the AAC conference tournament yesterday and will play Memphis at 9 PM on ESPNU.
Over in SEC-land, Missouri takes on the #8 Arkansas Razorbacks on the SEC Network at 6.
As for the pros, the Memphis Grizzlies host Denver on NBATV tonight at 7.
There’s a petition you can sign to state that you are against the Byhalia Connection Pipeline because it’s an example of environmental racism that endangers our water source, the Memphis Sands Aquifer. I just signed!
Vendors: Sign up to be part of a river market happening at Riverside and Beale Saturday, April 24. This will be the first of three river markets to be held at that location the fourth Saturday of the month. Shopping times will be 1-6 PM with load-in at 11 AM. Rain dates for each date will be the following Saturday.
MemphisWeather.net forecast: 74 today, 75 tomorrow, mid-70s Sunday. Lows in the 60s.
Silky O’ Sullivan’s on Beale will have a St. Patrick’s Day celebration today into next week:
- Today: Kickoff: Open 2 PM-12 AM with dueling pianos 8-11 PM
- Saturday: Open 12 PM-12 AM. Buddy Albert (Nemenz) on the outdoor stage 1-5 PM, royal flag procession at 4 PM, dueling pianos 8-11 PM
- Sunday: Open 12 PM-9 PM. Linear Smith & Clyde Roulette outside 1-5 PM. Famous Irish Brunch noon to 3.
- Monday: Open 4-10 PM with live music 6-8 PM
- Tuesday: Open 2-10 PM with Buddy Albert (Nemenz) on the patio 6-8 PM
- Wednesday: St. Patrick’s Day! Open 12 PM-12 AM. Buddy Albert (Nemenz) on the patio 1-5 PM. Royal flag procession 4 PM. Beale Street Pub Crawl 5-7 PM. Dueling pianos 8-11 PM
Tin Roof will have a St. Patrick’s Day brunch this Sunday, March 14. $5 green beer, $5 Jameson, $7 Frozen Irish Creme.
Carolina Watershed is doing a crawfish boil Saturday and Sunday 2 PM until they run out. Crawfish is $12.50 a pound and it comes with corn and taters.
In other Carolina Watershed news, they recently posted their updated menu.
President Biden has directed states to make all adults eligible for the COVID vaccine by May 1.
Counting the minutes until 7 when Downtown Walgreens opens so I can go on a Mountain Dew run. Feeling under-caffeinated this morning. Back tomorrow with more news.