A third bar plans to require full vaccination or a negative COVID test within the past 48 hours for admission: RP Tracks. They’ll start that requirement September 1, giving their employees time to get vaccinated. Two Midtown LGBTQ bars, Dru’s Place and The Pumping Station, plan to start enforcing the requirement August 12.
I would love to see more bars (including my favorite Downtown bars) adopt the same requirement for patrons, but I understand why they probably won’t. Let me explain…
On the one hand, the crowd that’s out at 1 AM tends to be very centered around themselves and their group of friends. Things that are important to them might include
- Who’s having a pool party this weekend?
- What outfit am I going to wear to the club tonight?
- Did you hear about the servers at (insert bar name) who had a threesome in the ladies’ room?
Whereas, getting the latest info about COVID and taking steps to stay protected, well, that’s nice and all, and maybe one day they’ll get around to it, but it isn’t a priority like the things in the list above. But…
Let’s pause for a minute for some song lyrics.
Do you want to meet me at the bar? “Ya.”
Do you want to meet me at the lounge? “Ya.’
Do you want to meet me at the club? “Ya.”
Do you want to meet me Downtown? “Okay.”
-“Best Friends” by Sofi Tukker
If these people lose the ability to meet at the bar, or the club, or the lounge, guess what – they’ll do what they have to do to regain that ability – including getting the shot. So the bars could convince a lot of people to get vaccinated who might not ever get around to it otherwise.
So bars could perform a valuable public service!
On the other hand, from March 20, 2020 to May 14, 2021, bars operated between 0% and 50% capacity. And now we want to ask them to voluntarily turn 60%-70% of their customer base away at the door? That’s asking a lot.
Huge congratulations to Penny Hardaway and the Memphis Tigers, who landed the #1 player in the class of 2022, Jalen Duren. However, Duren plans to reclassify to the class of 2021, so he’ll play for the Tigers this fall. Now that college athletes can profit off their name, image, and likeness, Duren is expected to ink a deal with FedEx.
There were chocolate salty ball shots yesterday to celebrate Duren coming to Memphis…
… and some were also celebrating the trade of Grayson Allen from the Memphis Grizzlies to Milwaukee. Although a decent contributor, some Memphians still saw Allen as the entitled kid who tripped his opponents when he played for Duke. The Grizzlies will get back Sam Merrill and two second-round draft picks, as well as a $4 million trade exception.
Rizzo’s diners: If you like the artwork on the wall, it’s for sale this weekend. Artist Brad Troxel wants to hang some new stuff, so the restaurant is having an “everything must go” sale art-wise.
Today is National Mustard Day.
The World Golf Championships – FedEx St. Jude Invitational is missing one of their very best volunteers this year.
It’s Disc Golf Day at the Flying Saucer. They’re releasing their newest limited-edition disc and giving away prizes.
Char Magnifico and Vintage play their final Memphis show tonight at The Vault at 8.
That’s it for now. Back tomorrow or Monday with more news.