Every year in April, usually the last Sunday in April, the annual Beale Street Wine Race happens. This competition is a day of debauchery that gives people in the service industry a chance to blow off steam before the hectic Memphis in May season begins.
Except this year, it didn’t happen in April. There was an announcement that Wine Race would be moved to September. I don’t know if there were COVID concerns, a scheduling conflict, or what.
You may notice that this coming Sunday is the last one in September.
And we found out yesterday that yep, that’s Wine Race.
Beale Street management did a HORRIBLE job promoting this event. They should’ve started getting the word out in August. Teams won’t have time to order matching shirts. People who normally work on Sundays and would like to come to the event won’t have time to ask off work.
But anyway, it’s happening. For those new to Memphis, let me explain what happens at Wine Race. People gather on the block of Beale between B.B. King Blvd. and Fourth around 1:00 in the afternoon to watch area restaurant teams compete in four events:
- An opening parade, where teams conduct floats down Beale Street and into Handy Park
- A Queen of the Vine beauty pageant
- A grape stomp competition – who can use their feet to get the most juice out of a tub of grapes
- A 4-person team wine relay. Each team member has to uncork a bottle of wine, put it on their team’s tray, and carry it down Beale
There are sometimes wardrobe malfunctions in Queen of the Vine. A lot of wine gets spilled in the relay.
Let’s check the forecast for Sunday: Mostly cloudy; scattered showers and a chance of thunderstorms. The morning starts off near 70 and the temperature will rise to the upper 80s by afternoon. Rain chance 40%.
Eight & Sand has released their DJ lineup for Friday and Saturday of this week:
- Edan from New York City
- Cavey Cave from L.A. (I think??? Hard to tell from the promotional flyer)
- Guest DJs from Memphis: DJ Charlie Fuggit, Cadillac Zac, and Memphis Jones
The architect of shock rock, Alice Cooper, brings his paranormal show to the Orpheum next Tuesday.
Patti LeBelle has been announced for the Orpheum on Saturday, March 18.
Catherine & Mary’s will be closed this Friday for a private event.
The Memphis Wing & Turkey Leg Classic will happen Saturday, November 12 from 11 AM to 4 PM at the Ghost River brewery at Main and Crump. Here’s what you will find there:
- Come vote on Memphis’ best wing and turkey leg
- Celebrity appearances by Al Kapone, Gina Neely, and Sheriff Floyd Bonner
- Live radio remote 104.1 FM
- Vendors
- Games
- Live performances
- Beer specials
- Hookah specials
- $2 wine samples 12-2
- $2 tequila shots 12-2
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Downtown Yoga will hold a two-part Advanced Breathwork workshop Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23.
Kids eat free at Memphis Chess Club on Tuesday nights. Purchase of one entree is required. Tuesday is also Open Play night where kids can receive personal chess instruction as they play.
This next item isn’t Downtown news, but it seems worth a mention. The Memphis metro has been lacking Chicago-style deep dish pizza since Wiseguys in Horn Lake closed several years ago. Well, that’s about to change with the opening of a new restaurant, Izzy & Adam’s, at 6343 Summer. They’ll have Chicago-style pizza as well as wings and sandwiches.
From YouTube: The Rock gives a special toast to Memphis.
DJ Tree will play the Blind Bear this Saturday from 10 PM to 2 AM.
Annual LGBTQ celebration the TEP Gumbo Contest returns this Sunday. It will be at the Museum of Science & History.
Wyly Bigger plays Live at the Tracks at Central Station this Thursday starting at 6:30.
MLK50 is hiring an audience engagement manager.
From Fox 13: Drunk, half-naked woman shoots from car in Downtown Memphis
Amazon broke the record for Prime sign-ups over a three-hour period last Thursday evening. Looks like acquiring exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football was a good move by Amazon.
Cooking chicken in Nyquil is a fad that’s been trending on TikTok. Oh my God people are stupid.
Today is World Gratitude Day.
Memphissippi Sounds play Blues on Beale at Handy Park tonight from 7 to 9.
That’s it for today. Back tomorrow with more news.