Friday update

1288 newly confirmed COVID cases in Shelby County today. Damn. This virus is accelerating like we’ve never seen before.

Memphis will not play in a bowl game this evening. The University of Hawaii had about 20 players test positive for COVID. As a result, they pulled out of the Hawaii Bowl. On such short notice and with such lengthy travel, the bowl will not be able to schedule a replacement. The Tigers finish the season 6-6.

Provided Texas Tech and Mississippi State remain healthy, the Liberty Bowl parade will happen on Beale Street Monday at 3, followed by a pep rally in Handy Park at 4:30.

Both Aldo’s locations are closed today and Christmas Day.

Bedrock Eats & Sweets will be open from 8 AM-2 PM today and will be closed tomorrow.

Elite Total Wellness is closed today through Sunday.

The Green Beetle will be closed today and tomorrow and will return to normal hours Sunday.

Silly Goose will be open from noon to midnight today. They will open at 7 PM Christmas Day.

Memphis Made Brewing Co. has released Group Hug, the latest beer in their Before Times series celebrating activities we took for granted before the pandemic. They tuned up their Hug recipe to produce a 10.1% ABV wheat ale with late addition hops. It’s available in 750 ml bottles in their taproom.

Food & Wine reports that Taco Bell is putting crispy chicken wings on the menu next year.

Interesting: There are smartphone apps that detect hidden cameras

Ballet Folklorio de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez comes to the Orpheum January 21.

That’s the news for today. I will probably take tomorrow off from blogging. Merry Christmas everyone.