Month: July 2022

If you miss the dishes at the old Cafe 61 which operated on Second Street years ago, you may be in luck: One or two of them may reappear at The Second Line in Midtown. Chef/owner Kelly English recently hired former Cafe 61 owner Derk Meitzler as the new GM, the Daily Memphian’s Jennifer Biggs reports. English has already asked about the Chicken Newport (which was my favorite) and he’s known to be a fan of the duck & waffles.

Brian Blake, the 2021 Memphis Songwriters’ “Songwriter of the Year,” will perform live at the Memphis Farmers Market tomorrow. The Market runs from 8 to 1 under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson.

The MBJ reports that Mentleaf, a shop selling herbs, tonics, tinctures, and more, will open at 263 S. Main later this year. That would be the old Elite Total Wellness space at Main and MLK, I believe.

It’s still gonna be hot next week, but good news – the MWN forecast says to expect lower humidity Sunday and Monday.

The NBA’s 2K23 Las Vegas Summer League begins today, with all 30 teams participating. Here is the Grizzlies’ schedule:

• Saturday, July 9: L.A. Clippers, 8:30 PM, NBAtv
• Sunday, July 10: Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:00 PM, ESPNU
• Tuesday, July 12: Brooklyn Nets, 5:30 PM. ESPN2
• Thursday, July 14: Boston Celtics, 2:30 PM, NBAtv

Today is National Ice Cream Sundae Day, a good day to stop by Margie’s 901 ice cream shop (formerly Maggie Moo’s).

From Action News 5: Mud Island River Park conditions spark controversy, clean-up effort

From Fox 13: Tennessee renters don’t have a right to air conditioning

Soulin’ on the River featuring Courtney Little happens tonight at Fourth Bluff Park. Lawn chairs, picnic baskets, coolers, and blankets are welcome. There will be food trucks and a full bar.

Apologies to the organizers of the July 24 art event I mentioned at the top of yesterday’s post. The event is named Bloom not Blood as I wrote yesterday.

Too hot to type anymore. Maintenance said they’d come fix my A/C this morning but I won’t believe it until I see it.

A private art exhibition with live painting, food, and a live violinist is coming to Downtown Memphis. Bloom, featuring the work of Sam Reeves, will be a mixed-media exhibit that explores the human condition and cycles of life through a contemporary, abstract, and eclectic perspective. It will be held at 391 S. Front Street Sunday, June 24 from 6 to 9 PM. Journey will play the violin and there will be a cash bar. More information & tickets

Cruisin’ Heavy headlines tonight’s Peabody rooftop party. 6-10 PM.

Are you an Amazon Prime member? You have a new benefit – a 1-year membership to GrubHub+. That’ll remove your delivery fees on orders over $12 and get you some exclusive free food and discount offers.

Dana Dentata comes to Carolina Watershed Friday, September 2.

If you own a business with a wood-fired oven, expect a visit from the Memphis Fire Department soon. One caught on fire recently, prompting MFD to do safety inspections around the city.

Steve Lockwood & Old Dogs will play the front porch of South Point Grocery Saturday from noon to 2 PM.

If you want to celebrate Memphis, lead the way, and make an impact, New Memphis is hiring: Senior Manager of Leadership Programs, Program Administrator, and Manager of Collegiate Engagement.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. looked like a stud against the Oklahoma City Thunder last night, holding his own against number-two draft pick Chet Holmgren. Lofton did not get drafted but Memphis signed him to a two-way deal. I said yesterday he’s gonna be fun to watch in Southaven… the way he’s playing, he’s gonna be fun to watch in Memphis too.

Tonight the Grizzlies play their final Salt Lake City Summer League game, taking on the Utah Jazz at 7. That game will be on NBAtv.

Congratulations to former Memphis Tiger Lester Quinones. He went undrafted, but he got invited to be on the Golden State Warriors’ Summer League team. He showed out so much in Summer League that Golden State signed him to a two-way contract for 2022-23. That means Quinones will spend time with G-League affiliate the Santa Cruz Warriors, but he can also practice with Golden State and play in up to 50 of their 82 games. His salary will be half the NBA’s minimum salary, which means he could earn a little over $500,000 this coming season – but it’s not guaranteed and he can be cut at any time. More on two-way contracts

The Design Review Board approved plans yesterday for Soul & Spirits, the brewery on the far north end of Main, to add a beer garden.

Ja Morant is truly one of the good guys.

Ja Morant tipped his server $500 💵❤️

Her reaction when she found out he was Ja Morant was too wholesome

(via @shotbynie) pic.twitter.com/RU9fzBURIO

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 5, 2022

Daaaaamn… UK prime minister Boris Johnson is resigning amid multiple scandals. He says he’ll stay on until his Conservative Party selects a new prime minister, but that could take months and many Brits want him out now.

It’s National Dive Bar Day. Earnestine & Hazel’s opens at 5.

It’s also Chocolate Day. The Downtown Dinstuhl’s, next door to the Majestic Grille, opens at 11.

The Maggie Valley Band plays Live at the Tracks at Central Station this evening from 6:30 to 9:30.

A/C update: Maintenance has still not been by to finish the work order – to install the parts that were on hold and to add Freon. As of 9:06 AM it is 81 in here.

I went down to the leasing office to see if I could talk face-to-face with a human, since that helped move things along somewhat next week. On the door I found a “THIS OFFICE IS CLOSED!!!” sign telling me if I need to speak to anyone, I have to walk a block down the street to the other building they manage.

That’s the news for today. Back tomorrow if it’s not too hot for me to post.

Max’s Sports Bar will hold a fundraiser this evening to celebrate six years of @brittneymemphis being cancer-free. The night’s profits will be donated to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Come enjoy good times while supporting a good cause.

From WREG: A former Tiger is making the most out of NBA Summer League. Lester Quinones got invited to play on the Golden State Warriors’ summer league team and had a game-high 19 points on Sunday. Although it’s not likely he’ll make the Warriors’ main roster in October, his performance could be good enough to get the attention of a G-League or overseas team.

In yesterday’s post, I wondered how Kennedy Chandler was getting paid for participating in Summer League… turns out the answer is “handsomely, for an American second-rounder.” Unlike first-round NBA draft picks, second-round picks don’t have to be guaranteed any money at all. But Shams Charmia of The Athletic reported yesterday that Chandler has been signed to a 4-year, $7.1 million contract with the Grizzlies, and $4.49 million of that is guaranteed, a record for an American player drafted in the second round.

I watched the Grfzzlies’ Summer League game last night. Observations:

• Jake LaRavia had some sweet moves and looked like a guy who’ll see time at the power forward position in the regular season
• We didn’t see a whole lot from David Roddy. I wonder if the team wants to evaluate them (LaRavia and Roddy) separately since positionally, they somewhat overlap.
• Kenny Lofton Jr. (6’6″, 275) is gonna be a fan favorite down in Southaven this season
• Xavier Tillman Sr. looked like a leader and consummate pro
• Ziaire Williams looked good but at times he played some Memphis Tigers-level sloppy basketball

Opera Memphis is looking for a new home and 3 of the 4 locations it is scouting are in The Edge District.

Cheers to my friend Air Traffic Mike on National Air Traffic Control Day.

It’s also National Fried Chicken Day. Gus’s, Uncle Lou’s, and Jack Pirtle’s would be my suggestions.

A/C update: No progress yesterday, no maintenance people came by. I guess they’re still on hold for parts. Meanwhile, this was going on:

We were just shy of one degree from beating our record high temp for the day! The rain stayed out of most areas, with only with a few scattered showers south of us. If you thought today was a hot one, just wait until you see the temps for the rest of this week! /KH pic.twitter.com/V43ehzf1FS

— MemphisWeather.net (@memphisweather1) July 5, 2022

I talked to a lawyer and she said that under newly-passed Tennessee law, air conditioning is not considered an essential service to be provided by a landlord. Therefore, I would be on legally shaky ground if I withheld my July rent. So I went ahead and wrote a check.

To add insult to injury, Walgreens’ A/C is out too. I can’t even walk over there for 10 minutes of relief.

Back tomorrow unless I decide to take a “F it, my air is still out, I’m going to Bardog” day.

Salt Lake City’s NBA Summer League starts today, and the Grizzlies will be there. Eight of Memphis’ regular-season main rotation or likely two-way players will be on the 17-man Grizzlies squad, including

• First-round draft picks Jake LaRavia and David Roddy
• Second-round draft picks Kennedy Chandler and Vince Williams Jr.
• Undrafted 2022 signee Kenny Lofton Jr.
• Second-year Grizzlies Ziaire Williams and Santi Aldama
• Third-year Grizzly Xavier Tillman Sr.

The Grizzlies play the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at 6 on ESPN. Tomorrow they’ll play the OKC Thunder at 6 on ESPN2.

I wonder how this works for second-round draftees like Kennedy Chandler. He doesn’t get guaranteed rookie scale like the first-rounders, and as far as I know, he hasn’t signed a contract yet. So, how does he get paid for participating in Summer League? Anyone got inside NBA knowledge?

A/C update: To recap, my air conditioner hasn’t been working effectively since mid-June. I put in maintenance requests on our building’s online portal June 13, June 16, and June 23. As of the last week of June, none of those requests had been serviced. I tried to catch someone in the building office, but every time, the door was closed.

On Thursday, June 30, I got off the elevator and found the office door open, with a lady I hadn’t seen before on the phone. Given the authority with which she spoke, I figured out she was a district manager.

I explained my situation to her, and she said, “Let me look in the system and see if your requests are in there.” After a minute on the computer, she said, “Yes, I see all three of them. I have a maintenance man coming on site about 1 today. I’ll send him up.”

I came home that night hoping to be greeted with a blast of cold air as I opened my door. Nope. Hot air and a note. “Hold on parts. Needs Freon.” Well, at least they looked at my A/C unit. That was more progress than I’d had in almost 3 weeks.

Unfortunately, they didn’t come back Friday, so I spent the July 4 weekend in a warm apartment. To clarify, the A/C isn’t totally out. When we have highs in the 80s/dew points in the 60s it can get my apartment down to about 74. When we have highs near 100/lows near 80/dew points in the 70s (that’s the forecast for all this week) my A/C can’t get my apartment below 80.

It’s currently 7:34 AM and it’s sitting right on 80 as I write this. I am so tempted to go to Bardog when it opens at 8:00. But I don’t want to make drinking at 8 AM the norm as it has been at past points in my life. So I’ll sit here and write through the heat and take breaks to play Wordle and Globle and see if Pluto TV is showing an episode of Bar Rescue I haven’t seen.

Maybe back tomorrow. Who knows.

Be sure to tune into the Nathan’s Famous hot dog contest and cheer on a Memphian with a Downtown connection. Brett Healy, a former winner of the Bardog meatball eating contest, will compete.

After winning the meatball contest, Aldo sponsored Healy in several Nathan’s qualifiers, and he won one in Des Moines in 2019. He has been signed as a professional with Major League Eating for three years.

The women’s hot dog eating competition will be carried on ESPN3 at 9:45 Central time and the men’s competition will be on ESPNews at 11 CT. You can also stream the events on the ESPN app.

Go Brett! Bardog is open regular hours (which means 8 AM on a Monday) for the Fourth today. That’s where I plan to be to watch the contest. Come join me!

Maybe the Daily Dog should be a beef frank with a bun dipped in water today. I’ll suggest that to Hector when I get there.

The Brass Door is closed today and tomorrow for staff appreciation.

STIX Express on Second Street is closed today.

From the DM: South Main Trolley Night makes strong return

Also from the DM: Elmwood Cemetery has begun digitizing its records and they will soon be accessible to the public via computer or smartphone.

Be sure you don’t drink and boat if you get out on the river today. Officers will be out looking for drunk boaters. Penalties are the same as for driving a car drunk.

That’s it for today. Go Brett!

I walked into the Silly Goose yesterday and saw the most beautiful sight at the bar:

The tiny, wobbly, uncomfortable little bar stools they’ve had at the bar for the past year have been replaced with padded bar seats, with backs, that are wide enough to accommodate a normal-sized human body.

Now, I understand the science of bar stools. If your seat doesn’t have a back, you’re not committed to facing one direction. You’re more likely to swivel around and talk to people standing behind you, and order an extra drink or two as you continue the conversation.

That logic doesn’t work on me, though. Those little stools made my back hurt. I was constantly shifting my weight around and alternating between sitting and standing. I’ll be more likely to stay longer because I’m comfortable in the new bar chairs, whether or not I’m in a conversation with anyone.

Feast & Graze has added made-to-order sandwiches and salads from 11 AM to 2 PM.

Cordelia’s Market’s produce coolers are out of order. They still have fresh produce this weekend, just in different places.

• Freshly cut fruit is in the bakery by the sweets & cakes
• Vegetables are in the plant-based/Boar’s Head section
• Sauces and salads are in the Cordelia’s Favorites case

The Blind Bear has discontinued its Friday brunch and is now opening at 3 PM for happy hour that day of the week. You can still get brunch at the Bear 11 AM to 3 PM Saturday and Sunday.

The Daily Memphian examines the role of promotions in getting people out to Redbirds games.

NIL (name, image, likeness) deals are now 1 year old. The DM reports that in the first year, the University of Memphis ranked 7th in the NCAA for total NIL compensation for its athletes.

The CA reports that The Lowenstein House at 756 Jefferson could become a boutique hotel.

A new exhibit at the Metal Museum features the work of African-American blacksmiths.

Today is National Anisette Day.

There will be a Fourth of July Comedy Blast at 629 Monroe tonight at 7. It will feature The Comigos and The 4 Horsemen. $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

It’s orientation time for new Memphians! If you’ve lived here longer than a year, you’re dismissed.

We have this game we play in Downtown Memphis. It’s called “fireworks or gunshots.” You see, here in Memphis, not everyone celebrates the Fourth by shooting fireworks. Some people just stick their guns out of their car windows and shoot in the air. So, when you hear POP-POP-POP this weekend, guess whether you’re hearing fireworks or gunshots.

Back tomorrow with more news.

Yesterday one of the bartenders at Blind Bear told me I was that place’s “emotional support regular.” That made me smile.

The Grizzlies have offered Ja Morant a 5-year, $193 million extension which will begin in 2023 after his rookie contract expires. The extension is the maximum allowed under the NBA collective bargaining agreement. An escalator clause in the contract will turn it into a supermax deal, worth $231 million over 5 years, if Ja qualifies by making an all-NBA team next season.

Congratulations, Ja. You deserve it. Memphis loves you.

The Grizzlies’ front office made another smart deal yesterday, re-signing backup point guard Tyus Jones for 2 years and $30 million. I applaud this move vigorously. Jones will bring security and stability to the Grizzlies and can act as a mentor to Kennedy Chandler. He wanted a starting job, which he won’t get in Memphis, but $5 million a year above the mid-level exception (his likely compensation if he’d signed with another team) should help soften the blow.

In not-so-good news, Jaren Jackson Jr. will have foot surgery and will miss 4-6 months. That means he could miss as much as the first two months of the 2022-23 regular season.

One more interesting piece of news from NBA free agency: Kevin Durant has requested a trade away from the Brooklyn Nets. Although Phoenix and Miami are his top two destinations, the probability of Memphis getting him is greater than zero. Dillon Brooks + Brandon Clarke + Steven Adams + two first-round picks for KD? I’d do it. Trouble is, Brooklyn would probably want Desmond Bane or Jaren Jackson Jr. as part of the package.

EDIT: One more piece of free agency news. Minnesota signed Kyle Anderson for 2 years, $18 million. So he’s gone from Memphis.

There was a report of a robbery at gunpoint at Front and Monroe about 7 this morning. The suspects fled in an older-model Kia.

It’s the first of the month, so let’s have a look at FedExForum events happening in July:

• Tonight: Kingdom Tour: Maverick City Music X Kirk Franklin. Special guests Jonathan McReynolds and Housefires.
• Friday, July 15: Yo Gotti & Friends Birthday Bash 8. The lineup has not been announced, but in the past Yo Gotti has brought in names like Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, Gucci Mane, and Lil Wayne.

The Redbirds host the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp tonight at 7:05. All weekend long there will be a 4th of July Cookout specialty ticket. It gets you unlimited burgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies, and up to two drinks (soft drinks or water) per person. There will be fireworks after the game today, tomorrow, and Sunday. The first 1000 fans through the gates tonight receive a Memphis Redbirds tumbler.

The Memphis Farmers Market spotlighted a very interesting vendor on social media this week – Bailans. They produce authentic African spices that don’t contain additives, salt, or sugar. Their offerings include

• African hot chicken spice
• Ethiopian seasoning (Berbere)
• Moroccan roasted vegetable seasoning
• South African Piri Piri hot everyday seasoning
• Moroccan all-purpose seasoning (Ras el Hanout)
• African blend seafood seasoning
• South African curry (Cape Malay)
• African blend steak seasoning

Can’t make it to the Market tomorrow? You can order the seasonings online, and they have gift packs too.

From the Memphis Flyer: A Memphian will compete in the Nathan’s Hot Dog eating competition on Coney Island this year, and he has a Downtown connection. He won the meatball-eating contest at the Bardog alley party one year, and afterward Aldo sponsored him for some eating contests, including qualifiers for the Nathan’s event.

From Food & Wine: This hard seltzer is brewed with leftover hot dog water. Ummm. Hard pass.

UCLA and USC will join the Big Ten by 2024. Will this trigger another round of conference realignment? WIll the Pac-12 still be considered a “Power Five” conference without two of its biggest names?

Today is International Chicken Wing Day.

That’s the news for today. I hope this post helped kill a few minutes of your time pleasantly as you wait for the “You can leave work early” email. Back tomorrow with more news.