If you need your COVID vaccine, might want to go to the Pipkin Building today or Saturday. The first 2500 people in line get $20 Kroger or Walmart gift cards, according to this Daily Memphian article. You do not need an appointment either day. People who went yesterday or the day before reported waits of only 5 to 11 minutes.
Another option is to go to the U of M’s Friday night spring football game tonight. Let them vaccinate you at the game and get a $10 coupon to spend on concessions.
262 new COVID-19 cases were reported yesterday in Shelby County, and compared to recent days, that’s a lot. We haven’t seen daily case numbers in the 260s since mid-February. There are two possible explanations:
- People got out and spread the virus because of the Easter holiday and beautiful 80-degree weather we enjoyed last week, so this is a temporary uptick that will soon go away; or
- We’re experiencing a fourth wave of COVID as states like Michigan are
Let’s hope it’s temporary. We’re so close to these stupid restrictions being over… let’s not take a step backward now. Those of you saying, “I’ll get the shot whenever I get around to it,” get around to it today and score you one of those $20 gift cards!
Sign of the times… for the first time in over a year, the Blind Bear will have passwords at the door this weekend. Know the speakeasy password of the evening and you won’t have to pay their cover charge. Follow the Bear on social media to keep up with the passwords.
Sign of the times II… your days of being able to get a burger at Chez Philippe are dwindling. According to the DM’s Jennifer Biggs, a burger, a Caesar salad, and two bourbon cocktails will set you back about $60 pre-tip at Chez. Yeah, I think I’ll just pass on that one.
Memphis Jazz Workshop, a nonprofit devoted to cultivating the future of jazz in our city, will bring world-renowned jazz pianist Steve Lee to Fourth Bluff Park this Saturday at 2.
Five hours later, there will be another musical event in Fourth Bluff Park, as Cat’s Ballroom presents Salsa at Sunset. It’s a free beginner class as the sun sets over the river.
A Welcome Back to Beale parade and event is scheduled for Saturday, May 1. The event will be done with COVID-safe protocols, so be prepared to wear a mask and distance yourself 6 feet from those not in your close group of people.
In a partnership with the Downtown Memphis Commission, the Memphis Redbirds will offer Nacho Average Tuesday every Tuesday home game of the 2021 season, beginning with the home opener May 4. An order of ballpark nachos will be included with every admission, and ticket holders will have an option to upgrade to BBQ nachos for a small surcharge.
The owner of the Rumba Room is interviewed on this WMC piece about the new health directive allowing dancing.
There is a controversy on the river bluff about the wife of Steve Harvey – yes, Family Feud Steve Harvey – hiring people to cut down two magnolia trees that were on the bluff’s public space. The trees partially obstructed the river view of a home owned by the Harveys, which they bought in 2018. The home was built in 1992 by Cybill Shepherd.
It’s the Day of the Mushroom. My suggestions to celebrate would be a Mushroom Swiss burger at Kooky Canuck, the Madison Avenue burger at Huey’s, or one of the wild rice dishes topped with wild mushrooms at Westy’s.
MPD has made its first arrest following the placement of ShotSpotter technology at Park and Grand in Orange Mound. The technology detects gunshots and pinpoints their location, allowing police to respond in real time. Police found a man carrying a Glock with an extended 26-round magazine near the spot where shots were detected.
Downtown Walgreens’ pharmacy will reopen on Monday, April 19, according to a post on Nextdoor. No word yet if they will start offering the COVID vaccine as several other Walgreens pharmacies in town are doing.
Max’s Sports Bar is taking a week off from doing crawfish, but they’ll be back Saturday, April 24. Max’s will still be open at the regular time Saturday with their regular menu and 5 different flavors of slushes.
That’s it for now. Off to kick ass at work for a while, then it will be time to go out and celebrate the weekend. Back tomorrow with more news.