Walking home last night, I saw a number of 24-hour construction & emergency trucks parked outside Brinkley Plaza. One of them had vacuum hoses extending into the building and appeared to be pumping out water. I hope there hasn’t been another water main break on that block of Monroe.
The Redbirds remain in Memphis this week for a homestand vs. the Norfolk Tides. Here’s a look at what’s going on (first pitch times in parentheses:
- Today (6:45 PM): No special promotions
- Wednesday (12:05 PM): Matinee game
- Thursday (6:45 PM): $2 PBR!!!!! $1 hot dogs. The Redbirds will wear their throwback Memphis Chicks uniforms.
- Friday (7:05 PM): There’s an all-you-can-eat specialty ticket that gets you BBQ nachos, sliders with pulled chicken and pulled pork, tortilla chips, coleslaw, BBQ sauce, salad with ranch dressing, hot dogs, soda, and water. Dugout tickets $35/field box tickets $32.
- Saturday (6:35 PM): The first 1500 fans will receive a free Memphis Redbirds beach towel. After the game there will be fireworks.
- Sunday (6:05 PM): Kids 12 and under receive a free Prairie Farms ice cream sandwich, and after the game they can run the bases.
LOL @ LAL. The Lakers blew a 15-point lead to lose to Denver in 4 straight. Wonder if that will make LeBron lobby hard for changes in the offseason… I’ve read that a LeBron/Kyrie Irving reunion in L.A., probably through a sign-and-trade, is a possibility.
Inkwell, the cocktail lounge at 631 Madison out in The Edge, posted its schedule for this week:
- Today: DJ Siphne Aaye
- Wednesday: Bread & Butter
- Thursday: Ariel Reign, Khidagood (aux)
- Friday: Bizzle Bluebland
- Saturday: Kid Maestro
- Sunday: Taliba Safiyah, Cameron Hamilton (aux)
I have no idea what (aux) means but that’s the way it was printed on their flyers.
Former Grizzlies shooting guard/small forward “The Grindfather” Tony Allen has entered a guilty plea in a fraud case brought against him and other current and former NBA players. They’re accused of filing false claims against the NBA’s health and benefits plan. TA will be sentenced on August 8. Do I have any readers who are legal eagles? If so, what are the chances he’ll see jail time from this?
Also, I wonder if this guilty plea will prevent Tony’s jersey from one day hanging from the FedExForum rafters next to those of Z-bo, Gasol, and Conley?
Tony Allen wants to help current Grizzlies star Ja Morant through his time of troubles. The Grindfather says he has spoken to Ja’s father Tee multiple times.
Feast & Graze, the cheese and charcuterie joint on the Main Street Mall, will be opening at noon this week rather than 11 AM.
Feast & Graze, by the way, is hiring for two positions. One is a combination charcuterie board artist & catering assistant, and the other is a delivery driver. Email hi@feastandgraze.com if interested.
The Groove on Demand rideshare app is now letting you bring your bike, at no additional charge. You can inform Groove you plan on bringing a bike using the app. Here’s how:
- Before you enter the pickup and dropoff addresses, tap the plus sign under the search bar.
- Select Bicycle from the dropdown menu.
- Tap Confirm Headcount.
You can bring up to two bikes if space is available.
Never tried Groove on Demand? I was telling a friend last night, it’s nearly as convenient as a Lyft or Uber while being as cheap as riding the bus. It covers Downtown, Uptown, Smoky City, New Chicago, Crosstown, The Edge, the Medical Center District, Annesdale, South Main, South City, the STAX/Soulsville neighborhood, and Presidents Island.
One of the restaurants in the Memphis Flyer article Off the beaten BBQ Path is accessible by Groove on Demand. Smoky City BBQ at 1023 Jackson sells classic BBQ sandwiches as well as burgers, catfish, wings, and plenty of other choices.
In a recent post, The Broom Closet on South Main mentioned that their very own Rev. Omma is an ordained minister. Therefore, she is available to officiate weddings. Call 901-497-9486 or email omma@thebroomclosetmemphis.com to start a conversation with her about officiating yours.
Drink special alert: Bardog has mango white tea shots for $5.
Courtyard Memphis at N. Main and Jefferson is having a patio party tonight from 6 to 9. Looks like the weather will cooperate. MemphisWeather.net predicts 83/63 with almost no chance of rain.
The Memphis Flyer is seeking nominations for categories in its Best of Memphis poll. You have until Wednesday, June 14 to nominate.
Greenlaw residents are upset with MPD’s plans for their community center. Greenlaw is the neighborhood approximately bordered by the river on the west, A.W. Willis on the south, Thomas on the east, and Chelsea on the north. It is considered part of the larger Uptown community. The community center is at 190 Mill in Greenlaw Park. MPD wants to use the center as a holding pen for juveniles found out in violation of curfew.
Soul & Spirits brewery at 845 N. Main will be closed Sunday, May 28 and Monday, May 29 so employees can spend time with their families.
If you didn’t make it down to BBQ Fest, you can still get BBQ Fest ’23 merchandise in the Memphis in May online store.
I don’t usually do real estate listings on this blog, but for this one I’m going to make an exception. There’s a condo for rent in the Shrine Building at Front and Monroe. $2100/mo, 3 BR/2 BA, 1507 square feet. If you’re interested, I’ll let you click the link to see the list of amenities, but I’ll also mention that the BEST amenity is not one listed – it’s across the street from Bardog. You’d have a short walk to get far-above-average takeout food. And should you choose to drink there, you’d have a short stumble home.
The Shrine is also across the street from the newly-reopened Cossitt Library, so if you’re a book lover (or if you want easy access to Chef Eli’s great food at Dos Hermanos Cafe in the library), that’s an amenity too. When construction is finished, the Brooks Museum of Art will be cat-a-corner to the Shrine.
I will point out, though, that living in the Downtown core is not for everyone. It gets extremely noisy on weekend nights – mostly due to the sound of revving engines and tires squealing on nearby streets. Also, when the condo is across the street from one of the most popular bars in the city, a bar that closes at 3 AM, you’re not going to have total peace and quiet.
Rootstock Wine Merchants at 644 Madison is doing a special tasting this Friday from 5 to 7 PM with wines from Field Recordings. Five different wines will be available for sampling. No need to RSVP; just show up. Of course, you have to be 21 or older to sample.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has a new commercial partnership deal. The NBA Defensive Player of the Year will work with SoFlo Snacks to produce a product called Black Panther Energy Gummies.
From WREG: There was controversy at BBQ Fest as some members of Game of Bones Barbecue were asked to leave the park. The team claims race may have been a factor in how they were treated by sheriff’s deputies. Memphis in May officials say the team was asked to vacate their booth because they obstructed Riverside Drive.
Congrats to Memphis Clover Club, whose upstairs bar recently scored 100 on a health inspection.
Downtown’s Holiday Inn is hiring a short order/prep cook.
Hot Rods on Beale happens tonight from 6 to 10.
Doug McLeod plays The Central BBQ Sessions at Central BBQ Downtown tonight from 6 to 9.
River Garden will host a Sunset Skate this Thursday from 6 to 9. Free lessons from Step and Skate Movement at 6 and then skating to the sounds of DJ Brother John at 7. Pre-registration is recommended and skate rentals are first come, first served.
Memphis in May’s Great American River Run is this Saturday. There are half-marathon, 10K, and 5K options. Finish your race and you get a medal and admission to a post-race party with food and beer.
DJ Snow plays Parties at the Pyramid this Friday evening. Free to get in 6 to 7, $10 cover after 7. Free entry to Big Cypress Lodge guests. Music starts at 8.
Comeback Coffee hosts a free movie screening of Everything Everywhere All at Once Friday evening.
There will be a Spring Soul Fest in Handy Park Thursday from 5 to 7:30 PM. You’re invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating.
Cat’s Ballroom and the Downtown Memphis Commission will host free slow-lounge lessons at Fourth Bluff 7-8 PM Saturday. Beginners’ class, no partner or experience needed.
The first in a series of A Summer of Photography workshops kicks off Saturday at the Cossitt Library The full schedule:
- May 27: Camera settings and visual fundamentals with Ally, Alex, and Tre
- June 3: Portraits with Jasmine and Ariel
- June 7: Polaroids with Ziggy and Ariel
- June 10: Lighting your subjects with Jordan Danielz
- June 14: Street photography and how to photograph new people with Brandon Dill
- June 17: Editing and portfolio design with Amanda and Ariel
- July 1: Gallery show
Cordelia’s Market will host its May trivia night Wednesday at 6:30.
Happy Heavenly Birthday to our buddy Nappin’ Ass Nate.
A few of his closest friends are gathering at Blind Bear at 3 this afternoon to celebrate his birthday. I have a feeling Nate will be sitting at that big bar in the sky, probably with our friends Mac and Rick, looking in on our celebration, happy to know that he’s still such a big part of our lives.
Happy birthday also to The Price Is Right host Drew Carey. He turns 65 today.
That’s it for this very long news post. I’m considering doing a personal post explaining why I didn’t blog for a month and was rarely seen out at my favorite Downtown spots. It’s just a matter of how much I want to open up on here to a public audience. I know that most of my readers who know me personally love me and want to see me do well. But there are always those two or three who feel the need to judge me or lecture me. That is absolutely not what I need right now. That makes me want to withdraw into myself and shut out the world.
Back tomorrow, probably.