Month: September 2023

This is Negroni Week at Inkwell, the cocktail bar out in The Edge. A Negroni is a classic cocktail made with equal parts gin, campari, and sweet vermouth. Your bartender can make it sweeter or more bitter according to your taste.

South Point Grocery now offers online shopping.

Down in Southaven, the Mid-South Fair opens today at Landers Center. Today only, admission is free. WREG weatherman Todd Demers asked if it was possible to get a salad at the fair. Seriously, Todd?

Don’t feel like going all the way to Mississippi for fair food? Quintessential Sweets in the 99 N. Main building sells funnel cakes, deep fried Oreos and Twinkies, snow cones, caramel apples, and Rice Krispy treats.

Do you remember the twenty-first of September? It’s Earth, Wind & Fire Day.

Free queso? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

The DM says the Sterick Building at B.B. King and Madison could be renovated to include micro-retail and coworking spaces.

One of the beertenders at Soul & Spirits is a TV star.

Action News 5 looks at Peabody restaurant Chez Phlippe in the latest 5 Star Story.

Local on Main has a smoked Gouda BBQ bacon patty melt on special today:

Congrats to the Eric Hughes Band on getting their brass note on Beale Street.

I Love Memphis has a look at Caption by Hyatt and Hyatt Centric as staycation destinations.

Alice Reasons plays Live at the Tracks at Central Station Hotel tonight.

Chris Tucker plays the Orpheum Friday night. Tickets are $39.50-$79.50.

There’s a Strawberry Hennessy Festival at Carolina Watershed Saturday afternoon.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association wants you to sign a Clean, Green, and Beautiful Pledge.

Free home COVID tests are coming back and you can start ordering the Monday.

The AutoZone National Sales Meeting will be at the Renasant Convention Center Tuesday-Thursday of next week.

The Gallery in Dos Hermanos Kitchen in the Cossitt Library opens tonight at 6:00. The work of Marion Goodwin of Focus Media Group will be featured.

Westy’s is hiring servers.

That’s it for now. Back tomorrow.

Congratulations to all the folks at Bardog Tavern. Downtown’s neighborhood bar has turned 15 years old.

Student Madness, a pre-season party celebrating Memphis Tigers basketball, will happen on October 4 at the U of M’s Elma Roane Fieldhouse. As the name suggests, the event is for students only. The event will replace previous years’ March Madness events. Students: Get your free ticket

The DM reports that a Whataburger location may go into 1925 Union.  That’s probably as close as the chain plans to get to Downtown.

Moneybagg Yo’s September 30 concert at FedExForum has been postponed. This news comes after the shooting inside the arena at a Lil Baby concert earlier this month.

Today is National Fried Rice Day.

It’s also National Queso Day, and Local on Main is celebrating with a Queso Burger that has

• pico
• tortilla strips
• house pickles
• jalapenos
• queso

Local also has $6 small queso dip today.

The Memphis Flyer’s Bruce V explains his thought process in determining his vote for Memphis mayor.

BRIDGES is hiring an accounting and grants coordinator.

YogaSix Downtown seeks a yoga teacher.

The Church of the River (Unitarian) seeks a part-time music director.

Ducks Unlimited seeks a visitor service rep (weekend only) for its Waterfowling Heritage Center at Bass Pro at the Pyramid.

And now, a personal story…

Yesterday morning I turned on WREG Live at 9. They had a segment on living with Parkinson’s Disease. One of the presenters was a man who had Parkinson’s. His hands were trembling as he talked.

I thought to myself, my left hand trembles like that sometimes.

For years, I thought my trembling was related to the drinking I do out at Downtown bars. But recently there have been periods when I have gone weeks without drinking, and the trembling didn’t subside.

So I searched Wikipedia for Parkinson’s and discovered that several other motor-related behaviors I have could be symptoms.

About 2 1/2 years ago, as I was working at a law firm in Brinkley Plaza, I noticed I had a tendency to clench my left hand (I’m right-handed, by the way). That tendency continues to this day. I can consciously relax the hand, but when it slips out of mind I start clenching it again.

I clench my left foot often when sitting or when lying in bed. Like the hand, I can consciously relax it.

The past year or so, I have found it more difficult to do things like get my wallet in and out of my pocket and put a hoodie on.

Leaning forward, I’ve heard, is a Parkinson’s symptom. I tend to lean hard to the left lately when seated at the bar at Blind Bear or Bardog. Now that I think about it, I’m leaning a little to the left over the computer right now.

My typing speed has decreased from 50 WPM to 10 WPM over the past two years.

For the past month, my left wrist has hurt when I twist it in certain directions. I assume this is a result of constant clenching of my hand.

When I was a little kid, Muhammad Ali was The Champ. The Greatest. He fought in The Rumble in The Jungle, The Thrilla in Manila. He was larger than life. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

Then I saw videos of Ali in the 2000s. The rigidity that I seem to feel in my left hand had overtaken his body and even his face. He could barely move or speak. He was a shell of his former self physically.

Is that my destiny? Scary to think about.

Back tomorrow with more news, assuming I still have the ability to type.

 

Cafe/bar/coffee shop Cafe Keough will celebrate its 10th anniversary Saturday with a tap takeover by Grind City Brewing Co. The event is 21+ from 3 to 6 PM at 12 S. Main. Here’s what they’ll have going on:

• Free swag
• Raffle drawings every 30 minutes
• Live music by KittyPool
• Beer, wine, liquor, and boozy coffees
• Grand raffle prize: Taste a tour of Grind City Brewing
• First 20 people to buy a beer get to keep the glass
• Must be present to win raffle prizes

Be on the lookout for these 901 PEACE wristbands around town:

I was told they were created by a local restaurant to encourage Memphians to come together as a community and understand that violence is never the answer. I have a few extras; if you see me out and want one, just ask.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association’s September meeting will happen next Tuesday, the 26th, from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Blind Bear. Members will get to dabble in the Bear’s new menu and learn about upcoming events.

Grind City Grocer, located at 60 S. Main for the past year, is moving. Although their shop is closed, you can catch them at High Point Arts Fest this Saturday.

Another closing: I notice that the bank at the corner of Main and Monroe, inside Brinkley Plaza, is closed. It was a SunTrust, I think?

The Memphis Redbirds are back in town for one final homestand of the 2023 regular season. They will play Charlotte this week. Here are details:

Tuesday: First pitch 6:45 PM

Wednesday: Day game; first pitch 12:05

Thursday: Throwback Thursday with the Redbirds in throwback Memphis Chicks uniforms, $2 PBR, and $1 hot dogs. A $15 specialty ticket includes a PBR T-shirt and two PBR beers. Use promo code PBR to get that ticket.  First pitch 6:45.

Friday: There’s a specialty ticket that includes an all-you-can-eat buffet of sliders with cheese, lettuce, and pickles, as well as hot dogs, chips, soda, and water. $30 dugout, $27 field box.

Another Friday specialty ticket is for Fath & Friends Night at AutoZone Park. Christian artist Terrain will perform a pre-game concert. $5 of each specialty ticket will be donated to AngelStreet, an organization that provides access to the arts and leadership opportunities to girls. First pitch 7:05.

Saturday: Memphis Grizzlies Night at the Redbirds. The Redbirds will wear Memphis Connect jerseys, based on the jerseys the Grizzlies wear. The first 5000 fans get a replica Memphis Connect jersey. Desmond Bane will throw the first pitch, and Tony Allen will appear as well. Grizz, the Grizz Girls, the Claw Crew, and the Grizzline will be there. A ticket package includes a ticket to this game and to the Grizzlies’ October 25 season opener.  Gates open at 4:30 PM and first pitch is 6:05.

Sunday: There will be several Get Active specialty tickets entitling the holder to play catch on the field; or participate in cycling classes, HIIT classes, or yoga classes.  All kids 12 and under receive a Prairie Farms ice cream sandwich upon entering. First pitch 2:05 PM.

It’s time for a look at college football games of interest to Memphians this Saturday:

• 4 Florida State at Clemson, 11:00 AM, ABC
• Auburn at Texas A&M, 11:00 AM, ESPN
• Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 11:00 AM, SEC Network
• 19 Colorado at 10 Oregon, 2:30 PM, ABC
• 22 UCLA at 11 Utah, 2:30 PM, FOX
• 15 Ole Miss at 13 Alabama, 2:30 PM, CBS
• UTSA at 23 Tennessee, 3:00 PM, SEC Network
• Arkansas at 12 LSU, 6:00 PM, ESPN
• 14 Oregon State at 21 Washington State, 6:00 PM, FOX
• Southern Miss at Arkansas State, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
• UAB at 1 Georgia, 6:30 PM, ESPN2
• 6 Ohio State at 9 Notre Dame, 6:30 PM, NBC
• 24 Iowa at 7 Penn State, 6:30 PM, CBS
• Memphis at Missouri, 6:30 PM, ESPNU
• Mississippi State at South Carolina, 6:30 PM, SEC Network

Whew! Certainly a more interesting lineup than last week. Max’s Sports Bar is gonna be PACKED!!!

Memphis 901 FC hits the road Wednesday night for a 7 PM match at Birmingham Legion. Watch locally on WMC Bounce.

The Brooks Museum plans a rooftop park when it moves Downtown.

A woman banned from Downtown Walgreens returned with a knife Saturday.

Nick Black will headline Happy Hour in Health Sciences Park this Thursday from 5 to 7 PM. Chairs and blankets are welcome and food trucks will be at the park. The first 50 Regional One employees will receive a free gift bag with a $10 food and drink coupon.

Catherine and Mary’s is hiring a head bartender.

Eight & Sand Lounge in Central Station Hotel will host Whiskey Wednesday from 4 to 11 PM tomorrow with $10 Tennessee Lemonades and $2 off A|M Old Fashioneds.

That’s it for today. Back when there’s more news.

It’s 8:17 PM and I’m still at Blind Bear with the MacBook. So let’s do another post.

I’ve learned this week’s specials (“The Features”), although they don’t have prices attached yet. Those have yet to be determined.

• A coffee-encrusted ribeye. I had a bite, and while I’m not generally a fan of things coffee-flavored, it interacted REALLY well with the natural flavors of the steak.
• A shrimp salad. This was tasty and the presentation was gorgeous.
• Looks like that cheesecake returned for an encore, with strawberry or blackberry sauce.

More on that cooking demo by Chef Eli Townsend of Cossitt Library this Wednesday:

Monday is National Cheeseburger Day. McD’s and Wendy’s have deals.

iOS 17 will be released Monday.

That’s it for now.

 

CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP

That’s the sound of the Florida Gators ripping the Tennessee Vols’ national title hopes to pieces. The Vols suffered a 29-16 loss at Florida yesterday. True, one loss is not the end of a team’s CFP hopes, but the Vols have upcoming dates at Alabama and vs. Georgia. They’ll be very lucky to escape the regular season as a three-loss team,

NEEEEXXXXXT YEEEEEAAAARRRRM, THOUGH… I TELL YOU WHUT, BOYYYYEEEE… THASSSS GONNNNN BEEEEE ARRRRR YEEEEARRRRRR….

Check out this cool shot glass Butt Slut #2 got me on her recent trip to Mexico!

Nothing like taking a drink out of a boot! The tip of the boot could easily put an eye out. So I guess I now carry a weapon – like just about any other Memphian.

But wait, I have additional butt slut news: Butt Slut #1 will be working the upstairs bar at Bardog for happy hour this Monday. She quit the bar business about a year ago to manage her dad’s liquor store, but she still has her ABC card and can pick up here and there.

For those of you who have trouble keeping track, But Slut #1 is the brunette and #2 is the blonde. Topics to talk to Butt Slut #1 about include

• soup
• soccer
• the Dallas Cowboys

Congrats to The Daily Memphian on five years! Far and away the best news source in this city.

Radio DJs Drake and the late Zeke got their brass note on Beale Street yesterday.

Central Station Hotel has opened a new music-themed event space. Weddings and corporate events are expected uses.

Memphis 901 FC picked up a 4-2 win against Hartford Athletic last night.

Today is National Monte Cristo Day. Kooky Canuck’s Waffle Monte Cristo is your move to celebrate.

Charlotte Taylor plays Downtown Central BBQ Tuesday evening.

LEO Events is hiring a Communications Manager.

Logistics firm TQL is hiring an entry-level sales rep.

Dos Hermanos, the restaurant inside the Cossitt Library, will host a Cooking with Chef Eli demo Wednesday night. White bean chicken chili and cornbread!

Bishop in Central Station will host its first wine dinner on Wednesday.

This is my second post of the day. Keep scrolling for info on Blind Bear price rollbacks on mimosas, Bloody Marys, and PBR.

 

 

Folks, I have some great news. Blind Bear has rolled back its prices on some of your favorite beverages.

For some reason, last month mimosas and Bloody Marys went up to nine dollars during weekend brunch hours. That was an astronomical eighty percent increase. And you couldn’t avoid the price increase by ordering a champagne bottle with mimosa setup – that underwent a fifty percent price increase to thirty dollars.

I am pleased to announce those increases have been REVERSED. Catch Chico behind the bar 11 AM to 7 PM on Saturday and Sunday for

• $5 mimosas
• $5 Bloody Marys
• $5 white peach sangria
• $5 Ole Smoky moonshine shots
• $20 mimosa bottles

In addition, one more price issue has been reversed. Last month, the price of Pabst Blue Ribbon cans shot up to five dollars, a sixty-seven percent hike.

Yesterday Jeannette told me the PBR price has been reset to $3.

Yay.

A full Sunday update is coming, but I wanted to go ahead and get this news item out quickly since it’s time-sensitive. News on football, butt sluts, and more to come.

By the way, I’m at the Blind Bear now. Come hang out!

Earlier this week I mentioned that All Elite Wrestling, the number-two pro wrestling promotion in the U.S., would broadcast its Saturday night show Collision from FedExForum on October 21. It’s now been revealed that Memphis wrestling announcing legend Dave Brown will be a special guest announcer for that show.

A man was found dead yesterday at N. B.B. King Blvd. and Washington Avenue. There were not any signs of foul play.

A man who lives at an apartment complex in The Edge was arrested for allegedly stealing an American Express credit card from a neighbor. The man was reported to have run up $2000 in charges paying his rent.

Saturday is Batman Day.

From Action News 5: Skate instructor Ebony Lemons is electrifying Downtown Memphis at Sunset Skate

Memphis 901 FC hosts Hartford Athletic Saturday at AutoZone Park. 7:00 kickoff time.

Hive Bagel & Deli, the new bagel shop on S. Front, is hiring a barista.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Greg Cartwright plays Eight & Sand Lounge in the Central Station Hotel Saturday night.

That’s all for now.

Hispanic Heritage Month on Mighty Lights:

Early voting in Shelby County elections begins today. List of polling places/hours. Downtown, your location is the Shelby County Election Commission at Second and Poplar.

If you vote early, you can vote at any location/date you want.

May I offer a recommendation? PAUL YOUNG for mayor!!!!!!

Going to Cooper-Young Fest tomorrow? Look for my friend Tre (the #baldbeardedbartender) who will have a booth there and will be selling decorative drink coasters, cutting boards, and other amazing crafts . #catchtrewhere His booth number is B-11.

Tre will be assisted by our buddy Jason. Jason would love it if you bought him a Pronto Pup. Or some peanuts to feed Steve the squirrel who lives in a tree next to Local on Main.

Thanks to Lindsey who introduced me to a word game called Connections. It’s a New York Times game like Wordle.

Memphis 28, Navy 24. It’s 10:13 Thursday night but I’m gonna go ahead and publish this as a Friday post. Possibly back in the afternoon with another.

 

 

Navy Midshipmen vs. Memphis Tigers, 6:30 tonight on ESPN. I sure hope I can watch the game at the bar in peace without some dumbass coming in and trying to get the channel changed to NFL Thursday Night Football. It’s Minnesota and Philadelphia tonight, two teams you wouldn’t think would have big followings in Memphis. But in this age of sports betting on your phone, you never can be too sure someone won’t want that game on.

ESPN FPI has the Tigers as a 90.2% favorite. Navy sucks this year. Most of the time, they’re pretty decent.

Wow I just noticed Memphis is the ONLY American Conference team with a 2-0 record going into this week. 11 teams sit at 1-1 and East Carolina and North Texas are 0-2.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW), the second most prominent pro wrestling promotion in North America, will live-broadcast its Collision show from FedExForum on Saturday, October 21. Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan when he was in WWE), Samoa Joe, and Jon Moxley are some of that show’s top stars.

Rapper Tyke T and his friends present Ten Years of Driven at The Orpheum Sunday night. Tickets are $25. More about Tyke T

The riverboat company that operates the Island Queen Booze Cruise on the Mississippi said a missing 21-year-old woman made it safely back to shore Sunday night.

Boats are stuck on Mud Island due to critically low river levels.

Beale Street Landing will host a National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration Friday evening. There will be a theatrical presentation, a screening of the movie VIVO, and guest speakers.

MMA fights come to the Cannon Center Saturday.

DJ Dig Dug plays the Eight & Sand Lounge in Central Station Hotel Friday night from 9 to 1.

This is your last weekend to visit the Barbie Disco pop-up at The Lounge on Main above IBIS.

Rural Oklahoma Pride presents The Rural Journey Drag Show at Atomic Rose tonight.

That’ll wrap it up for this second Thursday post. Go Tigers!

I don’t know if I have any West Memphis readers, but it’s apparently become much more difficult to get to the closest Memphis bar to your city, Momma’s, “the diner and dive off I-55.” To get there from WM, do the following:

• Go eastbound on I-55 across the old bridge
• Exit onto Metal Museum Drive
• Turn right onto West Illinois Ave.
• Turn south onto Riverside Blvd.
• Turn east on McLemore Ave.
• Turn north on Kansas St.
• Turn right on Illinois Ave.
• Turn left on Kentucky St.
• At the corner of Crump – you FINALLY made it to Momma’s!!!
• If you see a sign that reads “EXIT 152 – Bucksnort,” you took a wrong turn somewhere

There’s a map on Momma’s Facebook page if that helps.

Early-bird tickets for Memphis’ best beer festival, Cooper-Young Beerfest, are now on sale. Saturday, October 21 is the date. Definitely worth a Lyft or Uber.

Local on Main will have homemade Mexican pizzas today as a special.

Some restaurant down here needs to do their take on an Enchirito. Gotta be topped with black olives though, like ‘ritos were back in the 1980s…

The Beale Street Bears website writers think Desmond Bane has a good shot at making the 2024 U.S. Olympic team. Ya know, I think Des has probably become my fav Grizzly… not flashy, just goes out there and gets the job done well. Low drama kind of dude.

Today is National Coloring Day.

The MBJ reports that a new restaurant is coming to The Ravine out in The Edge District, launched by Chef Kevin Sullivan (no relation to the professional wrestler of the same name). The menu will be a blend of Asian and Southern.

Word on the street is that a French/American fine dining restaurant named Amelia Gene’s is coming to 1 MLK Ave. They’re said to start training people in about 3 weeks.

I played Donkey Kong on that video game console at the Cossitt Library yesterday. I couldn’t make it past the first screen!!! I used to be really good.

Cossitt staff will present story time at the Memphis Farmers Market this Saturday at 11.

The Cossitt branch will host Momversations from 3-5 PM this Saturday.

Memphis 901 FC hosts Hartford Athletic 7 PM Saturday at AutoZone Park.

30ME (Thirty Minute Ego) plays Slider Inn Downtown this Friday.

There’s a Valero Reelin’ for Good Bass Tournament this Friday. $10,000 grand prize and $2500 Big Bass prize. Hosted by Bill Dance and Bass Pro.

Madaline Collins Duo plays Live at the Tracks at Central Station tonight 6:30-9:30.

David Graham & The Eskimo Brothers play Blues City Cafe Friday night.

Pete, Brevin & Fish will be back on Bally Sports Southeast broadcasting all but 4 of the Grizzlies games this season. That is great news – it was unclear if the broadcasts would be back after the network’s parent company filed Chapter 11.

Adam Sandler is coming to FedExForum on November 16. Tickets go on sale to the public this Friday.

A tattoo festival is coming to the Renasant Convention Center in April 2024.

Curry N Jerk has some limited-time deals at its new location at 150 Monroe:

Pick 2 meals for $35:

• Salmon & grits
• Jerk shrimp alfredo
• Curry Jerk combo
• Curry shrimp & grits

Pick 2 meals for $30:

• Oxtail fried rice
• Jerk combo fried rice
• Oxtail pasta
• Veggie Panamanian pasta
• Jerk shrimp fried rice

Pick 2 meals for $25:

• Jerk chicken plate
• Vegan jerk burger
• Jerk chicken alfredo

Silly Goose has $8 Hugo and Aperol Spritz for the month of September.

Action News 5 has a look at the new Muggin coffeehouse location in Uptown.

That’s it for now. This is my Thursday update post but I’m typing it Wednesday evening at Blind Bear. Gonna schedule it for 12:01 AM so the date will be right, then sit back and silently judge people singing karaoke. Back when I have more to write.