Friday update

A few minutes after 11 AM yesterday, I wandered over to the food truck rodeo in Court Square. I had my eye on a shawarma truck but it hadn’t opened its window yet. I surveyed the other trucks in the park, and a line on the Smokey Baby Eatery food truck’s menu caught my eye:

“Jumbo turkey leg $13”

I hadn’t had a turkey leg in a few years, and I’d been craving one. But then a thought crossed my mind.

“It doesn’t come with 2 sides like a lot of the other entrees. If I get it, I’ll be missing out on beans and fries.”

But then another thought crossed my mind:

“MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT”

I stepped up to the window and ordered a jumbo turkey leg. The lady asked if I wanted sauce. I said yes, and she ran my card. About 4 minutes later she bagged up the leg, which was wrapped in foil, and I carried it home. When I got there I made two strategic decisions:

  1. I brought the entire roll of paper towels over to my writing desk. I knew from prior experience with turkey legs that they are not one-paper-towel jobs.
  2. I went and changed into a T-shirt that I didn’t care if it got ruined by sauce.

Those precautions in place., I unwrapped the leg and got it onto a paper plate:

For reference, that’s one of the large 10-inch radius Dixie paper plates. You can’t tell because the photo got cut off, but the leg was almost too large to fit on the plate.

I quickly realized there was no chance in hell I’d be able to pick this thing up and eat it with my hands. I only had 6 additional rolls of paper towels in the apartment and that would not be enough. I retrieved a fork and knife from the kitchen and dug in.

The verdict? Smoky and meaty and delicious. The sauce added to the flavor. I was full after half the leg, so I wrapped it up in foil and had the other half for dinner.

The Daily Memphian has big news to report: After closing March 19, 2020 as restaurants shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic, McEwen’s on Monroe will reopen on December 20. They’ve added additional space, expanding into the building next door. The menu will still have classic McEwen’s favorites, but due to soaring inventory costs and supply chain issues, it will be pared down a bit.

The Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team hosts Murray State at FedExForum tonight. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Before and after the game, Tin Roof on Beale will have pre- and post-game specials for college students. Just show your student ID.

The Memphis Grizzlies Claw Crew will be out on street corners today and tomorrow giving out free tickets to tomorrow’s home game featuring Zach Randolph’s jersey retirement. Follow @memgrizz on Twitter to learn where to find the crew. During tomorrow’s game, there will be musical tributes to Z-bo by the Royal Studios All-Star Band, AL Kapone, DJ Paul, Young Buck, 8-Ball and MJG, and Moneybagg Yo. On hand for the retirement ceremony will be Lionel Hollins, Chris Wallace, Damon Stoudamire, and Bonzi Wells.

Holly Jolly Holiday Celebration returns to Beale Street this evening from 5-7. Get your kid’s photo with Santa, enjoy holiday music, and have some free hot chocolate.

South Main will have a Tacky Sweater Pub Crawl tonight. Participating venues will be Wiseacre Brewing Company, Rumba Room, The Green Beetle, Barware, Slider Inn, Max’s Sports Bar, South Main Sushi, Paramount, Earnestine & Hazels, Vault, Eight & Sand, Longshot, and Bar Hustle.

The Downtown Memphis Commission is looking to hire a Staff Accountant.

Felicia Suzanne Restaurant’s last day in Brinkley Plaza will be Saturday, December 18. They’ll reopen in the former Spindini space in 2022.

If you’re a paid South Main Association member, you’re invited to their annual holiday party Wednesday, December 15 from 6-9 PM at 409 S. Main.

Christmas’ most annoying and unnecessary character, The Elf on the Shelf, is now a musical. You can catch it Tuesday at the Cannon Center.

Communications consulting firm DCA has several positions open at their 11 W. Huling office: Graphic Designer, Digital Designer, Account Coordinator, and Social Media Coordinator.

Interesting link I found yesterday: Publishing company Scribe Media will e-mail you copies of books they publish every month. It’s free to sign up and there doesn’t seem to be a catch.

Today is National Lager Day if you’re looking for an excuse to drink some beer.

Fire Pit Friday with free S’mores and holiday lights and tunes returns to River Garden Park this evening.

Reminder to those attending the Memphis Holiday Parade on Beale Street Saturday – if you intend to buy a beer, ask how much it is before you order it. Some bars on Beale are known to put ridiculous upcharges in place (like, double-digit prices for a 32 oz. PBR) for special events.

From the Memphis Flyer: Supply chain issues will delay South Point Grocery’s opening to early 2022. COVID has caused delays getting needed supplies and equipment to the space. McEwen’s, by the way, had its reopening delayed for months for very similar reasons.

The Grizzlies got a 108-95 win over the L.A. Lakers last night at FedExForum. The Grizzlies remain in 4th place in the West with a 1-game lead over 5th-place L.A. Clippers.

Keep an eye on the weather tonight. Severe weather including wind gusts to 60+ MPH with the possibility of tornadoes is expected. MemphisWeather.net predicts a high of 76 degrees this afternoon, 22 degrees above normal.

That’s it for today. Going to write until noon and then get out. I found a new Medium-based publication called “Fuck Niches” and asked to write for them and was accepted. Seems like a good personality fit. Back tomorrow with more news.

Thursday update

Well, this has been a good morning. By 7:15 AM I had already come up with 3 professional articles I could write. That brings my idea list for this week to 14. My motivation is fully back after being gone for a while. Having bought a new MacBook as well as a course from the guy I consider THE top writer on Medium, I’m ready to roll.

Flying Saucer Nashville is closing. They made a post to Facebook this week saying that after 23 years, it was time to say goodbye. They invited Nashville Beerknurds to come by and pick up their plates which hung on the wall, denoting 200-beer trips around the Saucer’s Ring of Honor. People have texted me and asked if this could have implications for the Memphis Saucer; could the restaurant/beer garden chain be downsizing? I haven’t heard anything to that effect. I know they had a 20-year lease from 1997-2017 and went all-in on a new lease (whatever that means) five years ago. I’ll keep my ear to the ground. I haven’t been to the Saucer since 2018 so I’m a bit out of the loop on what goes on there.

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Robert Moody, music director, invite you to Magic of Memphis! this Saturday, December 11, with 2:30 and 7:30 performances. The concert is described as a “holiday collage concert celebrating Memphis’s rich and beautiful artistic community.”

This Saturday you’ll have a chance to shop for both Christmas presents and Christmas dinner. The Memphis Farmers Market will host a special Homegrown Holiday Market Saturday, December 11, from 9 AM to 1 PM. Artisans and food vendors will be onsite. This will be your last chance to shop the Market until April 2, 2022. The Market is at the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson behind the movie theater.

Dillon Brooks got ejected from last night’s Grizzlies-Dallas game and he can expect a fine after he criticized the game’s officials in his post-game media availability. The Grizzlies lost to the Mavs, 104-96. Grizzlies center Steven Adams also received a technical, and Mavericks stars Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis got T’d up as well. The Grizzlies remain in 4th place in the West with a 14-11 record, a half-game ahead of the L.A. Clippers.

The Grizzlies are back on the home court tonight against the L.A. Lakers at 7 for GameDay presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners (I still don’t know what that means).

Oh, man, this does not look good:

Hotel houskeeping staff are now being referred to as Tidiness Enthusiasts. My God.

Here’s a library of airline seatback safety cards through the years. (h/t Morning Brew)

Today is National Llama Day.

The Memphis Redbirds have been sold to a new ownership group, Diamond Baseball Holdings, a subsidiary of global sports entertainment company Endeavor. The ‘birds will continue as the St. Louis Cardinals’ affiliate and will continue to play games at AutoZone Park. USL soccer team Memphis 901 FC will also continue to play at AutoZone Park.

Here’s a list of trucks that will be at today’s food truck rodeo in Court Square 11 AM-2 PM. Also, ArtsMemphis will celebrate Arts Week at the event. Look for performances by Stax Music Academy Alumni Band, CazaTeatro Bilingual Theater Group, and Subroy Dance Studio.

My plan for today is to stay home and write, only venturing out at 11 for the food truck rodeo and an afternoon DGX run for groceries. I seriously feel like I have enough to do that I could not go out again until April. Back tomorrow with more news.

Wednesday update

WREG reports that WalletHub ranked 180 cities on their “sinfulness” based on key indicators, and Memphis ranked 10th most sinful out of the 180. Memphis ranked especially high in Jealoisy (2nd) and Anger & Hate (10th).

A new event space called The Kent will open in the Snuff District. The venue will be able to accommodate crowds of up to 750 for everything from business meetings to banquets. The venue is named for the first two and last two letters of the streets that intersect nearby: (Ke)el and Fro(nt).

The Grizzlies host back-to-back games at FedExForum, playing Dallas tonight and the L.A. Lakers tomorrow night, both games at 7 PM. Hey, do any Grizzlies employees read this blog? Because I have a question. On this season’s promorional schedule, certain games (including tomorrow’s) are listed as “Game Day presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners.” What happens at those? Is there any kind of special benefit to fans, like a bonus if you sign up for a Pinnacle account that night? Or is it solely a vehicle to get a big sponsor’s name out there to the public?

Congratulations to Peabody Hotels & Resorts president Doug Browne, who has been named chairman of the Greater Memphis Chamber. Browne has previously served as vice-chair. Browne has worked for the Peabody since 2003.

Cordelia’s Market has added a Holiday Essentials section to its refrigerated case to help you quickly locate everything you need.

The group that operates the Orpheum plans to buy the building from the city. There will be numerous “outs” in the agreement, such as the city regaining ownership if the Orpheum Group goes bankrupt or closes the theater.

Here’s a list of the most mispronounced words of 2021. COVID variant Omicron made the list. (h/t Morning Brew)

A.J. Croce plays the Halloran Centre Friday night. Tickets are $37.50.

That’s it for today. Going to stay home and get writing done until about 2 and then venture out. Back tomorrow.

Tuesday update

Pizza with Santa returns to Aldo’s Pizza Pies Saturday, December 18 from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. They’ll have their full food and drink menu for adults and cookies, crafts, and photos with Santa for the kids. They ask that if you come, you bring an unwrapped toy for the Boys & GIrls Club of Greater Memphis.

A public memorial for Young Dolph is being scheduled for FedExForum Thursday, December 16.

Here’s a recap of the WWE Monday Night RAW show broadcast from FedExForum last night.

Mayor Strickland wants improvements to Mud Island including upgraded docks and a Ferris wheel.

Joe Austin & The Tallahatchies play the Blind Bear Thursday, December 16. Joe used to play the Bear with the Mud Flap Kings. Sounds like some outstanding Thursday entertainment!

Eight & Sand, the bar in the Central Station Hotel, has your choice of Wings and Whiskey or Wings and Wiseacre every Wednesday night for $20.

The Grizzlies handed the Miami Heat a 105-90 loss last night. The win keeps them in 4th place in the Western Conference with a record of 14-10 and a 5-game winning streak.

The folks at Lubbock, Texas radio station KKAM think Memphis sucks. The Liberty Bowl is Texas Tech’s postseason destination. Lance Ballance from the station called Memphis “a touristy shithole” and discussed whether it was appropriate to wear Kevlar while in town.

Happy 5th birthday to Perjorie T. Roll!

We stayed out late and waited for the clock to strike midnight so we could celebrate her birthday last night.

That’s it for today. It’s cold outside so I’m probably going to stay home all day and write. See you tomorrow.

Monday update

Look for me on national TV today! Tune into the USA Network 7-10 tonight for WWE Monday Night RAW. A friend bought the tickets, and I’m told we’ll be in one of the upper rows of the lower bowl section, near a corner.

RIP Bob Dole, a throwback to the era when politicians conducted themselves with class and dignity. Dole was Gerald Ford’s vice-presidential running mate in 1976 and the Republican nominee for president in 1996. He was a powerful voice in the Senate for many years.

Got a question for St. Jude Marathon runners and race runners in general. When you sign up for the race, you have to tell them what age category you’re in. They usually go by fives, like 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, and so on. Do they make you verify your age with ID, or is it on the honor system? The reason I ask is I was browsing the results of Saturday’s races and noticed someone misclassified in the wrong age category. Of course, it could be a clerical error, but in this particular instance, I suspect lying.

Why would a person lie about their age in a race?

  • If they classify themselves as older than they actually are, it could be to get a higher ranking than their true age category
  • If they classify themselves as younger than they actually are, it’s possibly because they know that some person of significance, who they lied to about their age, will be checking the results

The college football bowl games have been announced. Here are games of interest to folks in the Mid-South:

  • Jan. 4: Kansas State vs. LSU in the Texas Bowl
  • Jan. 1: 15 Iowa vs. 22 Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl
  • Jan. 1: 21 Arkansas vs. Penn State in the Outback Bowl
  • Jan. 1: 8 Ole Miss vs. 7 Baylor in the Sugar Bowl
  • Dec. 31: 1 Alabama vs. 4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl (CFP semifinal)
  • Dec. 31: 2 Michigan vs. 3 Georgia in the Orange Bowl (CFP semifinal)
  • Dec. 31: 17 Wake Forest vs. 25 Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl
  • Dec. 30: Purdue vs. Tennessee in the Music City Bowl
  • Dec. 28: Texas Tech vs. Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl
  • Dec.28: 20 Houston vs. Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl
  • Dec. 24: Hawaii vs. Memphis in the Hawai’i Bowl
  • Dec. 23: Florida vs. UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl

We all have that one friend who always has to be on a patio, whether it’s 101 degrees outside or 21 degrees. Those people will want to take a look at Holly’s list of heated patios in Memphis to stay warm this winter. I’ll add two Downtown locations not on the list: Silly Goose and Blind Bear. I don’t spend a lot of time on patios, but I’m at those places enough to know that they both have outdoor heaters.

Interesting article: How we became weekly. If you think about it, the day, month, and year are all based on astronomical cycles, but the week is totally artificial. When did humanity first adopt it, and why has it been a particularly strong unit of organizing our time for the past 200 years?

I came across a great question to ask when you’re in a job interview and it’s your turn to ask questions: What was your company’s 2020 pandemic response? In particular, find out if the company required employees to keep their webcams on during work hours, or required them to install company spyware on their computers and/or phones that tracked their activities during work hours.

The Grizzlies hit the road for a game at Miami tonight at 6:30.

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow.

Sunday update

Ten years ago, the company I worked for got a new CEO. He called an “all hands” meeting in the break room. He told us the story of his days on the rowing team in college.

“If you have a team full of merely good rowers, but they’re acting in unison, they know their role and do it well, they pitch in and help each other live up to their potential… that team is going to beat a team of all-stars, each doing their own thing, every time.”

That explains precisely why the Memphis Tigers have lost their last 3 games to inferior teams.

The most glaring problem I see is that the Tigers have a scoring machine in the paint in Jalen Duren, yet his teammates managed to get him only 3 attempts at the basket vs. Ole Miss.

The Daily Memphian reports that there’s a schism in the locker room. Penny complained in his post-game interview that the veterans are unwilling to help the younger players. That’s a shame.

You know, I can understand Tigers players not respecting Josh Pastner, not implementing his systems. His gee-whillikers cheeriness was unrelatable to kids from the streets.

I can understand Tigers players not respecting Tubby, not implementing his systems. He was an old poot who was satisfied with mediocrity.

But here we have an NBA legend, surrounded by other NBA legends on the coaching staff, and players apparently don’t respect him? I’d be all like, “Yes, Coach,” and “I’ll do it your way, Coach.” My mindset would be, “This guy’s been where I want to go, so he knows more than I do, and I better be grateful for every second I get to listen to him and learn from him, every second I get to implement what he teaches and get his very valuable feedback.”

One of the basic laws of the universe is that when you help others become better, you become better yourself. It’s a shame the veterans don’t understand that.

Okay. I’ll end the rant there. But I sure am tired of being disappointed by top recruiting classes.

The College Football Playoff selection show is at 11 AM on ESPN. Alabama beating Georgia shakes things up. It will almost certainly put both schools in the playoff, moving Ole Miss up to the Sugar Bowl and all the other SEC schools up a notch in the bowl order.

DGX has a sign on their door saying they will be closed until all streets are cleared from marathon traffic. I went down there about 8:40 this morning (Sunday, December 5) and for some reason they were still closed.

The Grizzlies beat the Dallas Mavericks last night, 97-90. That improves them to 13-10 and sole possession of 4th in the Western Conference.

There was a shooting in the 300 block of Poplar yesterday.

Just got a photo from a Facebook friend showing the WWE production trucks rolling into Downtown. Monday Night RAW will be broadcast from FedExForum tomorrow evening. Some of the wrestlers like to hang out at Jerry Lawler’s club on Beale so today or tomorrow would be good days to go there.

There’s a slight chance of severe weather early Monday morning:

It’s being reported that Three 6 Mafia will play 2022 Music Fest at the Memphis Fairgrounds. Early-bird three-day passes are on sale now for $145.

The Children’s Ballet Theater will perform The Nutcracker at the Cannon Center today at 2 PM. Tickets are $25-$65.

Loflin Yard and Streetdog Foundation present Sippin’ with Santa Paws this afternoon. Your $25 donation to the dog rescue gets you a photo with Santa Paws and your pet or your kids. You also get a limited-edition pint glass and a wristband for $3 drinks noon to 4. Drink choices include draft beer, select wines, well drinks, and slushies. There will be a silent auction and a raffle, and adoptable dogs will be onsite.

There’s a local artists’ Christmas sale happening today at 138 G.E. Patterson.

That’s the news for today. Back tomorrow.

Race Day, Conference Championship Day, Stumbling Santa Day update

It’s 5:32 AM as I type this and Weatherbug reports a temp of 65 outside. Race runners can’t be sure what kind of weather they’re going to get on the day of the event within a 45-degree range. It could just as easily be 20 with ice on the streets.

Runners looking for a post-race place to go: I’ve been told the Silly Goose will open at 9 this morning. They’ll have a special marathon menu with wood-fired pizzas and pasta until 3 PM.

The Brass Door will also open early this morning for runners.

Bredrock Eats & Sweets is offering 20% off for runners today and tomorrow. Just bring your bib.

Crooks broke into 17 cars at Carolina Lofts this week.

Children’s development nonprofit Porter-Leath is hiring for a number of positions. Learn more here. Lots of teaching positions open, as well as related positions like teaching assistant, coach, custodian, school accountant.

The Grizzlies play on the road at Dallas tonight at 7 PM.

As your number-one source of news and information about The Edge District, I’m disappointed to report that plans have fallen through for a Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co. location in that neighborhood. It will instead open in Crosstown Concourse.

Don’t forget that tonight is the Stumbling Santa Pub Crawl. Dress up as Santa and bring an unwrapped toy to the Flying Saucer at 7. Hundreds of Santas will stumble around Downtown.

If you don’t feel like dressing up as Santa, you can dress up as a flapper or gangster for the Blind Bear’s Repeal Day party. Celebrate the end of Prohibition with the Mario Monterosso Band. Photographer Jamie Harmon will take photos and “mug shots” 9-11.

Standup comedian John Crist brings his Fresh Cuts Comedy Tour to the Orpheum tonight.

Tigers on national TV alert: Memphis vs. Ole Miss at 11 AM on ESPN2 today.

All right. This post has time-sensitive information, so I’m going to cut it short. Back tomorrow with more.

Friday update

The big news today is the historic whooping the Grizzlies put on the Oklahoma City Thunder at FedExForum last night. At 152-79, it was the largest margin of victory in NBA history. With a 12-10 record, the Grizzlies move into sole possession of 5th place in the Western Conference.

Daryl and Ashley of Walking Pants Curiosities made a huge announcement yesterday. They’ve long wondered how to drown out all the negative coverage of Memphis in the media, and spread the word about all there is to love in our city.  They had the idea of doing a fixer-upper-type TV show, but rather than improving homes, they wanted to improve storefronts in Downtown Memphis. They would get them ready for people working out of a garage, or a living room, a building that’s not up to their standards, or wherever, who’d always dreamed of having a Downtown Memphis location.

This summer they met a local producer and it all came together. The show will be called Dreamers’ Revival and they are accepting applications for businesses to work with for their 2022 season. Cheers to Daryl and Ashley for taking a mighty step to spread the positive word about our neighborhood and our city!

Looking for gift ideas? Check out the DMC’s Downtown Memphis holiday gift guide.

Burger King will celebrate its birthday with 37 cent Whoppers today and tomorrow.

Trolleys will start running at noon tomorrow due to the St. Jude Marathon and there will be numerous MATA bus detours and service changes.

River Garden Park will host the first of 3 Fire Pit Fridays today from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. I’m not sure how necessary the fire pits will be given today’s predicted high of 73, but you can cook s’mores on them. There will be a holiday tree, festive lighting, and seasonal tunes.

Memphis’ opponent in the Hawai’i Bowl has been revealed, and it’s the obvious one: The University of Hawai’i.

The Sheraton is looking to hire a Director of Banquets.

Today is Bartender Appreciation Day.

Grind City Brewing Co. hosts a marathon after-party tomorrow beginning at noon. Anyone with a finisher medallion gets their first beer on the house. There will be a cornhole tournament at 2 and live music by Elevation Memphis 6-9.

That’s it for this post. Back tomorrow.

Thursday update

A common sight on St. Jude Marathon Saturday morning is a large group of runners and their supporters gathered outside Bardog Tavern, counting down the minutes until 11 for the bar to open so they can grab some post-race brunch and a drink.

It’s a sight you won’t see this year… for a very good reason.

The fine folks at Bardog have decided to open at 8 this year. That’ll give supporters a place to hang out while their runners are far away, and runners who finish early won’t have to wait around. The race practically passes Bardog by as the intersection of Front and Monroe is on the route.

McEwen’s is nearing its reopening and they are hiring for all positions. They’re looking for people with previous experience in high-volume or upscale dining. Open availability preferred. If interested, email them your resume with contact information and availability.

FOH inquiries: julie@mcewensonmonroe.com; hmeskovi@gmail.com

BOH inquiries: mcewensonmonroe@bellsouth.net

Three-day passes for 2022 Memphis in May Beale Street Music Fest (although it won’t be anywhere near Beale Street in 2022) go on sale tomorrow at 10 AM. Get them at the early bird price of $145. Get tickets here

The Memphis Flyer has an article on Tim Quinn, who in 2021 doubled down on Downtown, purchasing Downtown Local and Memphis Clover Club. Quinn was a server for many years before he got the chance to buy the two restaurants.

Here’s a list of entertainment at Memphis Clover Club this month:

  • Tonight: Laramie Acoustic Duo, 7 PM
  • Friday 12/3: Black Cream, 8 PM
  • Sat 12/4: Brad Birkedahl Band, 8 PM
  • Thur 12/9: Brad Birkedahl Acoustic, 7 PM
  • Sat 12/11: John Nemeth and the Blie Dreamers, 8 PM
  • Thur 12/16: Jack Rowell Acoustic Duo, 7 PM
  • Fri 12/17: Jonathan Ellison and The Rhythm & Soul Band, 8 PM
  • Sat 12/18: Will Tucker, 8 PM
  • Thur 12/23: Charvey Mac, 7 PM
  • Thur 12/30: Brad Birkedahl Solo Acoustic, 7 PM
  • Fri 12/31: Ashton Riker, 9 PM

If you come out to Soul & Spirits Brewery (845 N. Main) to catch the New Wing Order food truck, you can order the December special they just put on the menu, Chipotle Lime. These wings combine the sweet heat of chipotle with the fresh zest of lime. The truck will be at Soul & Spirits from 4:30-7:30 today.

Former Memphis Grizzly Zach Randolph will be the grand marshal of the Downtown holiday parade on Saturday, December 11. Following the parade, Randolph will have his number 50 jersey retired at that night’s Grizzlies home game. The Grizzlies have released a schedule of festivities for Z-bo’s jersey retirement week.

Speaking of Grizzlies home games, the Grizzlies host the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight at 7:00.

Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement with its players expired at 11:59 Wednesday, so its players are officially locked out. It’s the first MLB lockout in 31 years.

Saturday is National Cookie Day, and Insomnia Cookies plans to go big with its celebration. They will offer a warm chocolate chunk cookie filled on the inside with Insomnia Cookies’ chocolate cookie butter.

Gingerbread houses are for suburbanites. Gingerbread dive bars are for us Downtowners.

Drew & Ellie Holcomb bring their Neighborly Christmas Tour to the Orpheum Friday night, and it will be a special occasion indeed: They’re getting their star on the Orpheum’s sidewalk.

Ghislaine Maxwell sex trial: A woman who was allegedly “groomed” by Maxwell for sexcapades with Jeffrey Epstein and friends testified she was introduced to the Trumpster when she was only 14.

Last night’s Memphis Tigers game was just terrible to watch. No coach since John Calipari has been able to make the Tigers execute as a team unit. If they play all season like they played last night, they’ll be lucky to get a 4 seed in the NIT.

Here’s a list of the food trucks that will be in Court Square today at lunchtime.

Comeback Coffee will host a release party for the full-length debut album of Kelsey Taylor tonight 6:30-10:30. Chase Campbell and Alexis Jade will open. Tickets are pay-what-you-can.

There will be a Winter Wonderland pop-up at 10 N. Second this Sunday. Lemons & Love Lemonade, the host of the event, will operate a lemonade stand with proceeds raised being used to feed the homeless. There will be plenty of vendors as well.

That’s it for today’s post. Back tomorrow with more.

Wednesday update

Turn on the SEC Network at 6:15 this evening to catch the Memphis Tigers playing Georgia on the road. Fortunately for the Tigers, the basketball Bulldogs are not as good as their football counterparts, having dropped games to Cincinnati, Northwestern, Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Wofford. Penny said the team will have more structure and less room for freelancing than they did in their 19-point loss to Iowa State last week. Good. Those kids need structure.

JJJ had five blocks last night in a Memphis Grizzlies road victory at Toronto. That win improves their record to 11-10 and they move up to 5th place in the Western Conference.

STIX is doing its annual 50% off gift card sale today.

Check out River Time Market and Deli’s new menu and plan your breakfasts and lunches for next week – just don’t plan them for this week, because they’re closed until Monday, December 6.

Longshot has a new happy hour. From 5 to 7 you get $5 off starters, $2 off draft beer and wine, and they have Lil’ Steamboats (ground beef patty with house-made dill pickle, mustard, steamed Worcestershire onion served on a Hawaiian roll). Check out their menu for a list of starters… looks like I need to give Longshot another shot sometime soon!

Blind Bear has announced its Christmas party on Saturday, December 18. The festivities will include a Dirty Santa gift exchange, the Michael Brothers playing live, and gift card prizes for the funniest hat and ugliest sweater.

There’s a new, huge sign hanging on the window of 8 S. Main saying that daiquiri bar Fat Tuesday is now hiring for all positions.

So they really are coming to the building next door to where I live. I have very mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, I’m delighted to have a place where I can grab a quick daiquiri just steps outside my door.

On the other hand, though, in 2022 we’ll go from a situation where Felicia Suzanne’s was the only restaurant on my block to one in which a daiquiri bar – a bar that would fit perfectly on Beale Street except there’s already one there – is the only restaurant on my block. I wonder what their plan is for the hours they keep and security. I also wonder if any of my neighbors will oppose Fat Tuesday’s liquor permit for this location.

It’s December 1, and that means it’s time to take a look at upcoming non-basketball events at FedExForum. This month there are only two. They are

  • Friday, December 3: Chris Stapleton brings his All-American Road Show to Memphis with openers The Marcus King Band and Yola.
  • Monday, December 6: WWE Monday Night RAW will be broadcast live from FedExForum. The broadcast is 7-10 PM but the show starts at 6:30 with a couple of matches taped for WWE’s syndicated shows.

Traffic in the area will likely be very heavy Friday night because of the Chris Stapelton concert and because of out-of-town runners arriving, checking into hotels, and visiting local restaurants offering carb-up specials. Plan accordingly if you need to drive Downtown Friday night.

Wondering what to expect at Monday Night RAW? Here’s a link to the Monday, November 29 episode recap. I’m praying next Monday will be the week Dominik Mysterio turns heel and attacks his father, but it looks like they’re going for a slow burn on that one. I’m also excited to see Seth Rollins in person – I love a slimy, smarmy heel (on a wrestling show – not in real life, and believe me, I know a few).

It’s a shame I won’t be able to acknowledge my Tribal Chief, though.

WREG and Fox 13 have articles about St. Jude’s preparation for marathon-related traffic this weekend.

Insider tip for runners: Most years there’s an old man who hands out Miller Lite to runners as they pass him on Front Street. So if you enjoy drinking pisswater beer while running 26.2, by all means, look for him.

Ghislaine Maxwell sex-trafficking trial: Yesterday Jeffrey Epstein’s pilot testified that he flew well-known dignitaries, including Prince Andrew and former presidents Bill Clinton and the Trumpster.

Choose901 recently interviewed Jane Oliver, the librarian at Downtown’s Grizzlies Prep school.

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is a huge fan of the Memphis Music store on Beale Street. The store stays open late for him when the Raptors come to town.

Edge District news: 433 Madison, formerly home to Pritchard Plumbing, is under renovation. It was built in 1903. Historical elements will be retained and the long-term plan is to lease it to a commercial tenant.

Good Morning America has a 50% off deal on The Rendezvous’ Memphis BBQ Holiday Feast. It comes with 3 slabs of ribs, 2 tubs of pork shoulder, 2 pints of BBQ baked beans, 1 bag of Dinstuhl’s Cashew Crunch, 2 bottles of mild BBQ sauce, one bottle of seasoning, and one bottle of Tigertail sweet mustard. Easy reheating instructions are included.

Visible Splendor happens tonight at Visible Music School, 200 Madison. Enjoy the splendor of Christmas with both traditional tunes and original holiday tunes written by the school’s students. 6 PM start, but seating is limited, so get there early. Hot chocolate and coffee provided. Family-friendly.

WALRUS performs at The Paramount, 265 S. Front, this Saturday 9:30-midnight. Enjoy a night of classic alternative hits.

The Metal Museum will host a Holiday Open House this Sunday. Free admission to the museum and light refreshments. There are four make-your-own workshops that day for which you can register in advance.

TV quack Dr. Oz is running for a Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat. His 3-day cleanse is about the most ridiculous thing ever. I’d say, “Surely no one will take this fool seriously,” and then I remember we elected Trump president.

Well, that was a long post. Glad it’s finally done. Back tomorrow with more.