Monday update

I sure hope construction on Riverside is finished by October 2022 so River Arts Fest can be moved back to its traditional location. Having it at the Renasant Convention Center just wasn’t as much fun.

The kids’ activities, art demos, and live music were outdoors on Exchange Avenue, and you didn’t need a wristband to partake in those activities. Three food trucks were parked there as well – Smurfey’s, Stickem, and Trap Fusion. They’re all excellent, of course, but River Arts Fest was missing festival food and a wide variety of vendors. In past years, I have enjoyed Cajun food, Chinese fried rice, cinnamon pecans, Pronto Pups, and funnel cakes from festival vendors. None of that was there.

The artists’ booths were in the convention center and you had to have a $10 wristband to get in. You couldn’t bring food in with you and walk around and munch as you looked at the art. The art was every bit as excellent and diverse as I expected, but it felt more like a museum setting than a festival one.

Still, though, cheers to River Arts Fest’s organizers, who did the best they could with the situation they had. Also, cheers to the Renasant Convention Center for the assist in providing the space. It would have been a shame if Downtown’s premier arts festival hadn’t happened 2 years in a row.

The Memphis Tigers got a 105-57 win over LeMoyne-Owen in Sunday’s exhibition game at FedExForum. Four players who are expected to be strong contributors to this year’s team did not play: five-star recruit Emoni Bates, returning player Landers Nolley II, Oregon transfer Chandler Lawson, and his brother Johnathon Lawson. Next up: The second and final exhibition game vs. Lane College, Sunday at 1 PM at FedExForum.

The Grizzlies had their first loss of the regular season last year, 121-118 in overtime to the L.A. Lakers. Ja Morant had 40 points and 10 assists.

I know it’s early in the week, but since Monday’s a slow news day, let’s go ahead and list college football games this coming weekend of interest to folks in the Mid-South. All listed games will be played Saturday, October 30.

  • Memphis, Arkansas, and Tennessee all have bye weeks
  • 2 Cincinnati at Tulane, 11:00 AM, ESPN2
  • 6 Michigan at 8 Michigan State, 11:00 AM, FOX
  • 1 Georgia vs. Florida, TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, 2:30 PM, CBS
  • Arkansas State at South Alabama, 4:00 PM, ESPN+
  • 10 Ole Miss at 18 Auburn, 6:00 PM, ESPN
  • 12 Kentucky at Mississippi State, 6:00 PM, SEC Network
  • 19 SMU at Houston, 6:00 PM, ESPN2
  • 20 Penn State at 5 Ohio State, 6:30 PM, ABC

Tomorrow’s post may be late getting up because I may have a meeting to attend at 9 AM.