No post today – too hot

My A/C unit is still out at my place at Number 10 Main. I put in a service request Monday but I have not heard a peep from them other than a “we received your request” auto-confirmation from a bot. I put in a second request this morning.

It’s too hot for me to even think straight and the heat is making me physically ill. Heading to Bardog when it opens.

Wednesday update

My A/C still hasn’t been fixed. It’s possible that a lot of residents submitted maintenance tIckets on the same day as the weather got super hot for the first time this year, and that’s why they haven’t got to me yet.

To top it off, Xfinity is still in the neighborhood performing network upgrades, and they have texted me, telling me to expect “intermittent outages.” FML. How am I supposed to get anything done?

The Memphis Grizzlies’ front office made another smart move this week, signing head coach Taylor Jenkins to an extension. He’s the man who’s going to get this city to the NBA Finals in future years.

It was pointed out on Nextdoor that this coming Tuesday’s joint DNA/SMA meeting offers a rare opportunity: A chance to ask a Memphis River Parks Partnership representative questions, to be responded to publicly, in real time. The meeting will be at Beale Street Landing. Pop some popcorn, this could be good.

Daaaang, Bitcoin has dropped below $22,000! It was in the high $60Ks a year ago.

The Redbirds host the Nashville Sounds at AutoZone Park tonight at 7:05. No special promotions tonight, just baseball at its finest.

Today’s National Lobster Day. My suggestion to celebrate would be Memphis’ very first lobster roll, the one offered by Slider Inn. Their lobster is shipped in 3 times a week, and it is served on a buttered, grilled, split-top bun with a dill pickle spear and a lemon wedge.

From WREG: Memphis is averaging about 500 car break-ins a month. Cops as well as break-in victims have told me that the criminals are mainly looking for guns.

Summer Frills, a Memphis Made Brewing Co. beer, is available only at Huey’s this summer.

Queen Ann Hines & The Royal Gents play the Blind Bear 8-12 Saturday night.

Tickets to two October FedExForum shows go on sale today at 10 AM.

Tip from Lifehacker: It’s possible to get a free donut from Krispy Kreme every day through Labor Day. Just look for the “Hot Light.”

(pulls up Krispy Kreme’s website)

(searches to see if there’s a Krispy Kreme location near Park City, Utah)

Yep, there is one. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

This might be of interest to some Downtowners: Why you should consider getting a AAA membership even if you don’t have a car. Reasons include

  • Car rental, hotel, and entertainment discounts
  • Vision care and services
  • Identity theft monitoring

Andrew Cabigao plays South Point Grocery’s porch Friday night from 5 to 7.

Lydia Warren plays the Memphis Farmers Market Saturday from 9 to 11 AM.

The Earthquake app on my phone is blowing up this morning. Apparently, there were a number of medium-sized quakes off the coast of Oregon.

Time to hit Publish and start work on my next professional writing project. Later today I’ll frequent a place that is a combination hair salon, phone booth, and lunchroom. Back tomorrow with more news.

Allow me to use a photo to explain why there’s no regular news post today.

Yep. The A/C is out in my place AGAIN. Just my unit, not building-wide.

I am so hot I can’t think. It’s making me physically sick.

I didn’t put in the maintenance ticket until noon yesterday so I’m not mad at them for not getting to it same day. If they don’t make some progress today, though, I’m going to be pissed.

I’m going to the Monroe Avenue Cooling Center when it opens at 8.

Back when I have cool air.

Monday update

Yesterday I heard from a security guard that there were actually FIVE shootings Downtown Saturday night. They just didn’t receive media coverage because there were deadly shootings all over the city.

Things have gotten so bad down here that one Downtown restaurant now employs a security guard for Sunday brunch. SUNDAY BRUNCH. And I’ll repeat what I said yesterday – doing so is not an overreaction at all. It’s a reasonable response to the things that happen Downtown on the weekends.

More cars were broken into last night. This time it was Mud Island.

Comeback Coffee at 356 N. Main launches their wine program with the debut of their mimosas Saturday, June 18. Made with Agarena Cava Brut and the best orange juice, the mimosas are described as “Chef’s kiss X 100.” Saturday will also feature the return of Kinfolk to the coffee shop and a market with the works of talented artists and makers.

Cafe Lit is scheduled to open at 111 Madison in August. The restaurant/entertainment venue will focus on Black culture and literature and will serve soul food. It’s said to be a truly immersive experience and a place customers will want to visit several times to fully “get” all that is going on.

This past weekend, the Memphis Redbirds became the first professional baseball team to hit 100 home runs in 2022. The team is celebrating with dollar tickets to Saturday’s game. It’ll be Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Night and there will be a fireworks show after the game.

Congratulations to the Arkansas Razorbacks, who advanced to the College World Series yesterday with a win over North Carolina. Ole Miss will be in the Hogs’ double-elimination bracket, along with the winners of Stanford-UConn and Oregon State-Auburn today.

By the way, apologizes for getting the start time of the Arkansas game and the Tennessee game wrong by an hour yesterday. I forgot that ESPN’s website automatically detects the viewer’s time zone and updates start times accordingly.

That’s it for now. Back tomorrow. Already tired of this summer heat.

Sunday update

A man was shot in the leg in a black pickup truck at Peabody Place and S. B.B. King Blvd. at about 1 this morning. He is reported to be in stable condition.

There were reports of cars doing donuts on Main Street and of two cars drag racing on Main Street last night.

There was a report of one of those party pedal bikes cruising through residential parts of Downtown with the music turned all the way up well after midnight.

Yesterday morning there were reports of a large number of cars broken into in the Harbor Town, Arbors, and Regatta areas.

Several weeks ago, a large group was harassing some women in a Downtown lounge. A bartender came over and asked the group to step away. One of the men in the group punched the bartender, then punched a customer, a man in his 60s.

One of the most loved bars by the Downtown locals now has security that pats you down from head to toe before you can be let in after 7. In no way is management overreacting by putting that measure in place, either.

Downtown has become one of the most ghetto parts of the city since the pandemic. Not because of the people who live here, but because of the people who come here from other parts of town and even other states. They have no courtesy, consideration, or respect for anyone they encounter down here. This is their playground that they feel free to abuse and destroy as they see fit.

If I were 20 years younger and still had the majority of my adult life ahead of me, I’d move out of state when my lease is up.

As things are, I’ll probably stay, but Downtown Memphis is about 20 to 30 percent as fun as it was seven or eight years ago.

All right, let’s get on to the news…

Summertime heat arrives in Memphis today and it’ll be here for the foreseeable future. The MemphisWeather.net blog has the details.

The Memphis Redbirds close out their homestand vs. the Durham Bulls today at 2:05. Kids under 12 get a free ice cream sandwich and get to run the bases after the game.

Cordelia’s Market has a deal on Shiner Strawberry Blonde. Get a 6-pack for only $6.49.

Two important college baseball games are on at noon today:

  • North Carolina vs. Arkansas, Chapel Hill Super Regional, ESPN2, Arkansas leads 1-0
  • Notre Dame vs. Tennessee, Knoxville Super Regional, ESPN, tied 1-1

If any of those teams other than North Carolina wins today, they’ll advance to the College World Series.

I wonder how many people will come to the Majestic today expecting to have brunch and find the door locked. Their Monday-Saturday lunch and dinner service kicks off tomorrow.

Deandre Williams sat down with ABC 24 to discuss his decision to drop out of the NBA draft and return to the University of Memphis for one more season.

Acme Party Band plays the Hard Rock today 12:45-3:00 PM.

Weird conversation I overheard yesterday: “… that girl who works at Bardog who likes to do bleach shots.”

“What?” I said. “She’s shooting Clorox? Do we need to have an intervention?”

“Oh, no,” came the reply. “A bleach shot is made with two kinds of moonshine – half blueberry, half peach.”

Oh.

That’s the news. Back tomorrow (probably) with more.

Saturday update

Popeye’s is offering 59 cent chicken for its 50th anniversary, WREG reports. If you order and pay via the app or online, and you make a $5 qualifying mobile purchase, you can receive two pieces of chicken at Popeye’s 1972 price of 59 cents. The deal is good June 12 through June 19.

Aldo’s Downtown patio will begin opening Sundays from 4:00 to 10:00 PM beginning tomorrow.

Today is Corn on the Cob Day. I recommend celebrating with the Elotes Con Crema (Mexican street corn) from Maciel’s. Today is also World Gin Day and National Rosé Day.

A 19-year-old who was shot at Second and Beale on April 28 has died.

A Nissan Maxima was found burglarized neat Wagner and Gayoso about 3 this morning.

MLK50: Justice Through Journalism celebrates its 5th anniversary at Brickwood Hall, 391 S. Front, tonight at 7.

It’s Girl Scout Night at the Memphis Redbirds. When you purchase this specialty ticket, you’ll get to attend a Women in Sports Q&A. You’ll also receive a commemorative patch. As is the case every Saturday home game, fireworks presented by Terminix will follow the game. The Durham Bulls are the opponent and the first pitch is 6:35.

Little River Band plays the Orpheum tonight at 8.

There will be a River Quest adventure happening at River Garden this afternoon at 4. Ranger Allison will lead participants on a guided tour of riverfront flora and fauna.

There will be live music by Oakwalker on South Point Grocery’s front porch today at noon.

Darian Roe plays the King’s Palace Tap Room on Beale tonight 8-midnight.

All right. That’ll do it for today. Leading off at Blind Bear for brunch today. Next Saturday I’ll probably return to Bardog brunch at some point in the afternoon. Back tomorrow with more.

Friday update

The St. Louis Cardinals’ Jack Flaherty is expected to make a rehab start for the Memphis Redbirds tonight vs. the Durham Bulls at 7:05. Flaherty is a former Redbird himself, having pitched the latter half of the 2017 season here. First 1000 fans in the gate tonight get a Jack Flaherty jersey.

There are three specialty tickets for the Redbirds tonight. Tonight’s All-You-Can-Eat ticket gets you breakfast for dinner: all-you-can-eat scrambled eggs, pork sausage links, breakfast potatoes, biscuits & gravy, hot dogs, chips, soda, and water $21 field box/$24 dugout

Another specialty ticket gets you a jersey honoring St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.

A third specialty ticket gets you a Dylan Carlson bobblehead. Carlson, an outfielder for the Cards, is also rehabbing with the Redbirds this week. The Goldschmidt and Carlson promotions will be available for tomorrow’s game too.

Edge District news from WREG: Hundreds of apartments are planned along Union. 

From Action News 5: $5.5 million has been allocated to fix the Memphis monorail that transports visitors to and from Mud Island. But is it enough?

There’s a regional HBCU reunion in Memphis this weekend with alumni of 25 colleges and universities attending. They have a mixer on the Hu. rooftop tonight and a day party at Carolina Watershed tomorrow.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association and South Main Association will have a joint meeting this month on Tuesday, June 21 at Beale Street Landing. Amber Lombardo, Executive Director of the American Institute of Architects, will speak, as will George Abbott of the Memphis River Parks Partnership. Because parking is scarce in the area, Groove on Demand will provide free rides there – just download the Groove on Demand app and get 10 rides free. There will be free beer, wine, and food for DNA and SMA members.

The most boring sport on Earth, golf, is actually not boring this week. There’s a new golf tour, the LIV Tour, which is offering huge prize purses (like, bigger than the purse at the Masters) at its events; however, it is somewhat controversial due to Saudi investment. This week the PGA Tour suspended 17 golfers, including Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, for participating in the first LIV event. Johnson had already resigned his PGA membership but Mick planned to play in the U.S. Open next week. It’s reported that Mick got $200M and Johnson $100M for joining LIV. They are reported to have dangled a billion in front of Tiger Woods but he said no.

The I-40 bridge will undergo single-lane closures for approximately two weeks beginning June 18, Action News 5 reports.

Anime Blues Con will run today through Sunday at the Renasant Convention Center.

Bestselling author Wright Thompson will be at the Rendezvous tonight for BBQ, Brews, and Books.

The River Rockets play #1 hits from the 1960s through the 1980s this evening at the Ghost River taproom on Beale.

We’ve got a rainy day ahead of us. Back tomorrow with more news.

Thursday update

Next Wednesday, June 15, Durand Jones and the Indications, Aaron Frazer, and Snoobz will be spinning records in the lounge at Eight & Sand all night. This will be a warm-up for their show at the Overton Park Shell the following day.

JUICE Orange Mound is Memphis Made Brewing Co.’s partner for Give Back Wednesdays for the month of June. $1 of every pint purchased goes to the charity.

Lots of Downtown news in this morning’s Daily Memphian. The buildings at 99 and 105 S. Front, formerly home to The Butcher Shop and the Pier, are just about completely renovated after 3 years. The space is being transformed into apartments with unique floor plans and a parking garage.

The DM also has a look at South Point Grocery’s June live music schedule.

Also in the DM: Central Station Hotel will get a gelato shop and a florist.

The greatest beer in the world, Pabst Blue Ribbon, is only $2 at tonight’s Memphis Redbirds game. PBR pairs perfectly with a Dollar Thursday hot dog. First pitch vs. the Durham Bulls is at 7:05.

A five-game winning streak came to an end last night as Birmingham shut out Memphis 901 FC, 1-0.

If you don’t feel like waiting in the drive-thru line for a Mexican Pizza, Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe out in The Edge makes them. I’m not sure they have them every day, though, so you better call ahead.

Kooky Canuck has announced that a Winnipeg Fat Boy, a chili cheeseburger, will be added to the menu soon.

I played Pop Culture Trivia Tuesday night at Blind Bear, hosted by Velvetina who does the Friday night burlesque shows. She has some unique prizes for the winner of each round. A friend of mine won a flamingo-shaped Bluetooth speaker that floats in the pool.

Landon Lane and the Ivories are the featured entertainment at tonight’s Peabody rooftop party.

Shar & Flamingo King play the King & Union Bar and Grocery tonight from 6 to 9.

Alice Hasen and Walt Busby play Live at the Tracks at Central Station Hotel tonight from 6:30-9:30.

Grease will be tonight’s free movie in Court Square, presented by the Downtown Neighborhood Association. The event opens at 7:30 with the movie beginning at 8.

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

Wednesday update

The Lannie McMillan Trio will play Sunset Jazz in Court Square this Sunday from 6 to 8 PM. The concert is free to the public. There will be food trucks on site. Limited seating will be available and you’re welcome to bring a lawn chair.

From the Flyer: A $3.7M federal grant will be used to construct Tailout Trail at the far south end of Tom Lee Park. It will give “visitors an immersive experience of an ecologically-diverse area at the far south end of the park.”

Dr. Bean’s Coffee and Tea Emporium, the coffee shop inside Stock & Belle at 387 S. Main, is hiring. Email sadie@drbeanscoffee.com to apply.

Memphis 901 FC has an away game tonight at Birmingham at 7:00.

The Redbirds host the Durham Bulls tonight at 7:05.

The Starbucks at Poplar and Prescott has become the first Starbucks in Memphis to vote to unionize.

Action News 5’s latest 5 Star Story features the Black Seeds Urban Farms neighborhood garden in Uptown.

That’s the news for today. Back tomorrow with more.

Tuesday update

Comedian Kevin Hart’s Reality Check Tour is coming to FedExForum on October 21. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday at 10 AM.

Do you plan on voting in the county elections in August, said to be the largest ballot Memphis has seen in some time? Well, you might be interested in knowing that the county election commissioner told the County Commission that the servers used to tally ballots for elections are on their last legs. The County Commission is willing to “roll the dice” (one commissioner actually used that term) that the servers will make it through August, and then move to a different system in November.

Paulette’s has released its Sunday brunch menu for Father’s Day, June 19.

Also, Primas Bakery & Boutique in South Main has released its Father’s Day menu.

There’s an AutoZone vendor summit going on at the Renasant Convention Center today and tomorrow. Tonight, MIghty Lights over the river will be red and orange AutoZone colors in recognition of the summit.

MATA is looking to hire bus drivers, trolley operators, and diesel mechanics. There are hiring bonuses of up to $3000.

Memphis police are asking for help in a cold case, a deadly shooting in The Edge in 2017.

2 N. Main, which houses Downtown Walgreens, has been sold to a California firm. Don’t worry, though, Walgreens isn’t going anywhere. They just signed a long-term lease.

Xfinity is working in my neighborhood today, so I’m going to go ahead and hit Publish before my connection goes out.