Tuesday update

Are you ready for another beer festival?

Memphis Brewfest returns to the Liberty Bowl, and I mean actually on the field at the Liberty Bowl, this coming Saturday 3-7 PM. There are two tickets available.

The general admission Memphis Brewfest ticket gets you

  • As many samples as you want from more than 50 breweries and cideries around the world (list of participants here)
  • Food from local restaurants
  • Craft vendors
  • Live music
  • Games

The VIP ticket gets you

  • Everything listed above
  • Access to the Memphis Tigers’ new locker room
  • All-you-can-eat buffet
  • VIP special beers
  • Private restrooms
  • Dedicated Fast Pass entry

But that’s not all! The organizers of Brewfest will be back on the field Sunday noon-3:30 with another event, Memphis Brunchfest. (Separate ticket required for each event.) Your Brunchfest ticket gets you

  • Bottomless mimosas
  • An Old Dominick Bloody Mary bar
  • Unlimited samples of beer, cider, seltzer, and hard tea
  • Brunch bites from Aldo’s Pizza Pies, Bardog, Arcade, Flying Saucer, Hattie B’s, and Slider Inn

Get tickets to the events here. Note that since the events are being held at the Liberty Bowl, attendees must comply with the stadium’s COVID-19 protocols.

ProPublica recently published an article on juvenile justice in Tennessee. It’s specifically about Rutherford County and Murfreesboro, but it’s worth a read for Memphians because it illustrates how the state does not adequately audit what is happening in county juvenile justice systems. Abuses can continue undetected for years.

Food & Wine says the best hot wings are made in Memphis. Covered in the article are Central BBQ, Wing Guru, Wing Factory, and Crumpy’s.

Does anyone know if Wayne’s Candy on Carolina Ave. fire-sales its Halloween candy on November 1 the way Walgreens does? If so, some of us from the Downtown core are going to make a field trip down there.

City Councilman Worth Morgan has announced his candidacy for Shelby County Mayor. Meh. I’d like to see a different occupant of that office but Morgan isn’t exactly who I had in mind. I’ll give a word of advice to Mr. Morgan, though: My problem with the current county mayor is that he often comes off as a PR flack more than he does an effective leader. Differentiate yourself from that and I’ll consider giving you my vote.

Local viral disease expert Dr. Manoj Jain told the CA, “We’re in the best place we’ve ever been” with regards to COVID in Shelby County. Between those vaccinated and those who’ve had the virus, he estimates us at about 80% immunity. There’s ample testing, no variants that appear poised to be the next threat after Delta, and we’re close to having vaccines authorized for children 5 to 11.

In national COVID news: Dr. Fauci says Halloween is a “go” this year. Trick-or-treating is safe, especially if you (the adults handing out candy) sit outside and offer pre-packaged candy on a table.

Shall we have a look at the games on this weekend’s college football slate of interest to Memphians? Games are Saturday, October 16 unless otherwise noted.

  • Navy at Memphis, 6:30 PM Thursday, October 14, ESPN
  • UCF at 3 Cincinnati, 11 AM, ESPN
  • 12 Oklahoma State at 25 Texas, 11 AM, FOX
  • Auburn at 17 Arkansas, 11 AM, CBS
  • 20 Florida at LSU, 11 AM, ESPN
  • 11 Kentucky at 1 Georgia, 2:30 PM, CBS
  • 5 Alabama at Mississippi State, 6 PM, ESPN
  • 13 Ole Miss at Tennessee, 6:30 PM, SEC Network

Ole Miss players: I will take back everything bad I’ve ever said about your school if one of you scores a touchdown at Neyland Stadium, runs out to midfield, and takes a “P” on the “T.”

It’s National Gumbo Day, a good day to have lunch or dinner at Ben-Yay’s next to the old Family Dollar location on Main.

It’s also Pulled Pork Day. My recommendation to celebrate would be to go to Central BBQ. Get you a half-order of BBQ pulled pork nachos and 3 of those smoked whole wings Food & Wine raved about.

Reckless driving is not just a problem Downtown. Those who live in the Parkway Village and Fox Meadows neighborhoods are fed up with it too.

I’ve noticed a blue Dodge Charger with a loud revving engine and drive-out tags several times Downtown these past two weeks. I will be curious to see how much longer that car is on the road before the owner puts official state tags on it.

A support dog has been added to the staff at St. Jude. The dog will work in the Staff Resilience Center.

ABC 24 got a rare look inside the COVID ICU unit at Methodist.

Uptown’s Soul & Spirits Brewery has its grand opening Friday and Saturday from noon to 10. 845 N. Main. Note that the brewery is within Groove On Demand’s ride-sharing service range (but also note that Groove On Demand doesn’t operate on Saturday or Sunday).

That’s the news for now. My plans for today are to watch a video seminar by a top professional writer, take notes from another top writer on how to write eye-catching headlines, and make a supply run to DGX. Once I get all of that done, I’ll have earned a trip out. I like Mondays and Tuesdays the best because those are the days when it’s mostly just locals. Back tomorrow with more news.