Health Directive No. 21 dropped yesterday afternoon, to go into effect Saturday at 12:01 AM. It is indeed the good news Shelby County residents have been waiting for. Almost all of the stupid restrictions we’ve had to live with for the past 14 months are gone.
On page 11, section D, the document lists the remaining requirements for businesses with frequent interaction with the public, or who regularly welcome non-employees into their place of business (for example, restaurants and bars). There are only two:
- Hand sanitizing stations must be available
- Restroom areas must be kept clean
All other requirements from previous directives are now recommendations. So
- You can consume alcohol while standing at the bar
- You can sit or stand within 6 feet of people not in your family or “close contact group”
- You don’t have to order food to consume alcohol
- There’s no limit on the size of parties that can sit together
- Restaurants and bars can stay open until 5 AM (Beale Street)/3 AM (everywhere else)
As for masking, it is highly recommended – but not required – that indoor businesses ask their patrons to do so. What is required, should they choose to make that request, is clear signage near the entrance.
I celebrated the announcement with a snack at Longshot last night, my first visit there since the shuffleboard lounge reopened. I got the lamb chili Frito pie, with Berbere sauce, Greek yogurt, mint oil, and scallions:
It’s been 11 hours and a full night’s sleep since I had this to eat, and I still feel full. The seasonings beautifully bring out the flavor of the lamb and the yogurt provides a cool touch. I would get this again, for sure.
On to the other big news story of the day: When the I-40 bridge story was first reported, it sounded like the bridge was shut down because inspectors had found a weedle beety cwack in the bridge, and closing it was just a token safety precaution. Photos released yesterday show that is not the case.
There are literally two pieces of bridge where there should be one piece. Inspectors were so alarmed that they called 911 to get I-40 shut down immediately.
It could be closed for months. Man that is going to disrupt interstate commerce all kinds of ways.
I read a report Tuesday saying barge traffic could be disrupted, but I just looked out my living room window and there’s a barge on the river right now.
Big River Crossing announced that due to the I-40 bridge’s closing, its gates are locked for the time being. Ar first glance, that doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I bet it’s a homeland security thing, given that bridge’s proximity to I-55. If that bridge were taken out, there’d be no crossing point over the river for vehicular traffic between Dyersburg and Helena.
Hmmm… just looked out my window again. That barge doesn’t seem to be moving, and it seems to be “parked” against the Arkansas side of the river just south of the I-40 bridge. I wonder if it will have to turn around? Can barges do such a thing?
Congratulations to Jesse Davis, who has been named the new editor of the Memphis Flyer, replacing the retiring Bruce VanWyngarden. Davis is a homegrown talent, having served as copy editor, calendar editor, staff writer, and book critic. Bruce will continue writing a regular column for the Flyer and pursue other writing interests as he steps away from the daily grind.
Let’s Brunch Memphis and the Memphis Flyer are holding a brunch festival at Beale Street Landing Saturday, June 26. The ticket includes samplings of brunch dishes and 12 cocktail samples (Bloody Marys, mimosas, Bellinis). Tickets are $37 early bird/$43 general admission.
From Strike 7 Sports: It’s time for Penny Hardaway to deliver. Yup. No excuses this year. NCAA tournament or bust.
From Fox 13: Mother looks for answers after son shot and killed in Downtown Memphis. This was the carjacking of a late ’80s Monte Carlo that happened around 9:30 on a Saturday night last month.
Prediction: Memphis Fire Department will be busy between midnight and 1 Saturday morning as people burn their face masks.
Yubu & The Ancient Youth provide the live music at Central Station Hotel: Live at the Tracks today 6:30-9:30.
It’s an hour later and that barge still hasn’t moved.
Off to work. I’ll probably stay home and write this afternoon. Might stay home tomorrow, too, and save my energy and money for days when the stupid restrictions are no longer in force. Back tomorrow with more news.