In last night’s, post, I reported that the Memphis Farmers Market had put up its end of year survey up, where patrons could leave feedback on the things they liked best. There was an interesting question: How would you feel if MFM served alcohol at the market? And a follow-up: If MFM were to serve alcohol, what type would you prefer? Here are some ideas I came up with last night.
Walk-me-down… that aisle to purchase fresh produce
Gin & juice… Taking juicing to a whole ‘nother level
Ultra late night party spot for those who want to keep going after Purple Haze closes: “Hey, the farmers market opens at 7, let’s walk down there and keep drinking!”
Spike the watermelon you just bought without ever having to leave the market
Breakfast shot: Take a shot of Jameson followed by a shot of orange juice then eat a piece of Pigasus smoked bacon (called a “breakfast shot” because the combination tastes like a pancake)
Turn Whitton Farms into a pickup joint by putting a bar out front. Where else in Tennessee can you buy a woman locally grown fresh flowers and a vodka soda at the same place?
Or, if you want to go more upscale: Wine, locally-baked bread, and locally-produced goat cheese. Let the romance begin!
PBR under the pavilion: Potatoes, beets, radishes
If you drink enough booze, even kale tastes good
Call a cab to the farmers market, then have a Call-a-Cab at the farmers market
Learn to can your own vegetables… and your own moonshine
Sign up for Crop Hop 5K and get a dollar Beam and Coke
Ultimate hot shot: Fireball followed by a bite of a fiery pepper
Note: These are all meant in good fun and I am not trying to denigrate the farmers market or the idea of selling alcohol there (which by the way, I am neither for nor against) in any way. Don’t forget that the holiday market will happen 10-1 Saturday at the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson.
I will probably be back this evening with a news post, so check back after 5:30.
Been a while since I made two posts in one day! I’m feeling much better and I want to thank those of you who emailed me, either telling me your own stories about anxiety issues or expressing concern that I didn’t post for a week. Not only am I feeling good, but I made a life decision yesterday which I think will keep me feeling good in the future.
The Memphis Farmers Market has its end of year survey up, where you can give feedback on how often you go, when you go, how much you spend, and what your favorite things are about the market. There was one interesting question: How would you feel about alcohol being served at the market?
My first reaction, as you can imagine, was “YESSSSSS!!!!!!” But then I thought about it a little more. One reason I like the market is because it’s a place to hang out that’s NOT a bar. I see a different crowd down there than I do when I go to, say, the Saucer. Would alcohol change that dynamic? Plus the market is family-friendly. On the other hand, I would not mind being the bad, bad man with the mimosa in his hand when I go there. (It’s too early for PBR and they would never sell it there anyway)
The award-winning Newsies opens at the Orpheum tonight. Local has a special menu for patrons who want to grab dinner before going to the show.
Memphis in May has announced its new event that will replace Sunset Symphony: The Great American River Run. It will be a half-marathon, 5K and expo on Saturday, May 28.
The Downtown Neighborhood Association and the South Main Association are having a joint holiday party at Community Family Medical, 364 S. Front, 5-9 PM Tuesday, December 15. There will be catering by Rizzo’s Diner and live music by singer/pianist Eddie Harrison. All are invited – members, guests, and future members.
If you bring can food items or a cash contribution to Mic-South Food Bank at the Grizzlies game tonight, you will get a 2-for-1 voucher for the December 14 game against Washington.
STOMP, the international percussion section, returns to the Orpheum February 20. Tickets will go on sale this Friday at 10 AM.
The Memphis Farmers Market will have a special holiday market this Saturday, December 12, from 10 to 1. The market is under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson. Kids’ activities by the Dixon and book signings by Chubby Vegetarian and Cook with Jennifer. Here’s a look at some of the other holiday markets going on around town.
Kooky Canuck is having a gift card sale in both locations Wednesday, December 16 from 11 AM to 10 PM. For every $25 gift card you buy, they’ll give you a $10 gift card.
I’ve mentioned FML, Feeny, Mary, and Lacey, who are my friends who bartend at the Blind Bear. Feeny and Mary recently became roommates, and another acronym – PBR, Paul, B-RAD, and Roger – decided to get them a housewarming gift.
One of the girls was at Costco and posted a photo to Facebook of a 93-inch-tall stuffed bear in a bin, and said, “I want this.” Rodger and I were at Brad’s bar when we saw the photo and said, “We’re totally getting them that bear.”
The girls love their bear but Feeny’s cat Sam is not too happy about his new roommate.
SO excited that my Hogs got invited to the Liberty Bowl. I kind of had a feeling all along that would happen. Arkansas will play Kansas State here on January 2.
As for the Memphis Tigers, they have Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl. Here’s a preview.
Downtown food tip: The mac & cheese that comes as a side with the Silly Goose’s sliders is probably the best I have ever had.
Sorry for the break last week everyone. It’s been a weird year for me and I just needed some time to cope. Hopefully I will be resuming my regular blogging schedule this week.
My friend Rodger, a Texan convinced that no place east of the Mississippi knows how to make a chicken fried steak properly, brought me his take on the dish. “You have to have mashed potatoes on the side with white peppered gravy on both,” he explained. It was delicious and a good start to my Saturday.
I asked Siri the score of the Memphis-SMU game. Siri told me the Tigers “pounded” SMU.
1:30 AM, Bardog: I stole Lauren’s hat and she said “You’re a writer, say something funny”
It’s the last day for Station 3: The Memphis Fire Haus at MLK Jr. Avenue and B.B. King (Third). The Fire Haus is a pop-up sports bar and beer garden with about a dozen craft beers on tap, flat-screen TVs and a projection TV, food trucks, cornhole, T-shirts for sale and more. It’s a neat concept. Check it out if you’re looking for something to do today.
There will be a pajama party at the Blind Bear Sunday, December 27 starting at 11 AM. I don’t really wear pajamas but I guess I will show up in my Arkansas Razorbacks Snuggie.
For those familiar with Nikki’s Hot Ass Seasoning, my friend Air Traffic Mike had an interesting idea. He crushed up Nikki’s Hot Ass chips and used them as the primary ingredient, other than flour, to bread fried chicken. He said it turned out really well.
The Grizzlies play Philadelphia tonight at FedExForum at 7.
All right. Time to wrap up this Thanksgiving weekend with D-RANKS with B-RAD at the Blind Bear. WeatherBug says it’s 46. That’s warm enough to wear shorts right?
If you’re in town for the holiday weekend and would like to hear some good Memphis live music, but you aren’t in the mood to deal with Beale, I have a suggestion for you. The Eric Hughes Trio plays Blind Bear tonight from 10 to 1. Eric is a talented bluesman who I have known for years. He played my friends’ wedding reception in 2011 and absolutely made the event something special. I recommend this band if you are looking for something to do.
Okay, that’s it. Sorry for no post yesterday and a short post today, but I haven’t been in front of a computer much. I actually had a post typed yesterday but I read it over and thought, “This post SUCKS.” I’d rather post nothing than post stuff that is not quality material. Anyway, I’m outta here, going to see if I can find a place that has a Black Friday special on some PBR. Back tomorrow with more news.
I saw something interesting on Facebook yesterday. You may have seen Elite Men’s Health that opened a couple of years ago at the corner of Main and MLK. I knew they did B-12 shots, sinus cocktails, testosterone therapy, and minor medical, but I did not know this: They have hydration therapy for those days when you feel like you got run over by a truck the night before. That could be really useful for a lot of Downtowners, particularly during BBQ Fest.
In other Facebook news, I saw my first Elf on the Shelf photo of the season yesterday. UGH
Lots of people volunteer on Thanksgiving or Christmas… but volunteers are needed year-round. Volunteer Odyssey invites you to take the volunteer pledge for 2016. Let them know which month you want to volunteer, and when the time comes they will email you a list of ways you can do it.
Speaking of the homeless: An organization called Room In The Inn, which was started in Nashville, is giving hope and warm places to stay to the homeless during November through March when it is coldest outside.
A Love4Lebanon video will be filmed at Beale Street Landing Saturday, December 12. It’s a way to show support for those in Lebanon who have been displaced by recent terrorist attacks.
A few days ago, I commented that my BBQ team ought to give smoked mac & cheese a try on our new cooker. Well, last night my friend Katie (not Mac) had to go and make me jealous and post that she was eating smoked mac & cheese… and to really rub it in, she was eating Gus’s too. Hey Katie, how about a trade… your team’s smoked mac & cheese recipe for my team’s award-winning microwave popcorn recipe?
The Memphis Flyer is now on Apple News. I used that app for the first time yesterday and it’s pretty cool.
All right, time to get this day started. I will probably hit Tim, Cody and Mylon’s party at Silly Goose tonight but that doesn’t start until 11. Rest of day TBD.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph bought 500 families Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, mac & cheese, dressing, corn, green beans and brownies. “Memphis is my city,” Z-bo said. “I’ll do anything for them.” Am I not the only one who thinks there will one day be a Zach Randolph Blvd. somewhere in Memphis?
The Flyer has an article about Ray’s World Famous Dr. Bar-b-que which opened at Main and Pontotoc this week. Ray Nolan has been involved in 14 BBQ shops in the Memphis area. Rib plate for $10.95? Not a bad price.
It’s really neat how you can fall out of contact with friends for periods of time and pick up right back where you left off. Yesterday at Bardog I ran into my friend Ugly Steve and had a great conversation with him. Our lives have kind of paralleled each other since we were last in touch. Ugly moved back from Hawaii recently and told me a super-simple dish he learned to make out there called Loco Moco. It’s a hamburger steak over rice topped with eggs over easy and gravy. Yum.
Felicia Suzanne’s Black Friday gift card sale is back this Friday, November 27. Buy a $100 gift card and get a $20 gift card for free.
My friend Duck, who has been posting a lot of excellent stuff on Facebook lately, posted this yesterday: “Probably 90% of women who wear yoga pants don’t do yoga. And 100% of straight men don’t care.” THIS IS THE TRUTH.
For those of you who send Christmas cards, you can support a great charity while doing so: MIFA holiday cards
The DMC is launching the My HQ campaign to get the word out what Downtown office space offers. If “you can eat lunch at Bardog” is not part of the campaign, they’re doing it wrong.
Lansky Bros. has launched a new, more user-friendly website.
Trolley Night is back this Friday on South Main, with many shops and galleries open until 9 or later, with some having Black Friday specials/discounts and some serving hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine. Notable this month: There’s a Latin American fine art exhibit at Art Village Gallery at 410 S. Main, and a signing of Seven Days with the Hypocrites at South Main Book Juggler, 548 S. Main.
The Grizzlies play Dallas tonight at FedExForum at 7.
I think I’m going to take my own advice with that “you can eat lunch at Bardog” thing. Back tomorrow with more random crap to talk about.
My BBQ teammate Tripp and I took a little field trip yesterday. He had never been to Max’s Sports Bar, so about 3 we departed from D-RANKS with B-RAD and made the trip south. All the games were on and Tripp quickly understood why Max’s is my home away from home on the south side. About 4:30 we decided to make the trek back to the Downtown core. “Want to stop at the fire station?” I asked.
“The fire station?” Tripp replied.
“The old fire station at Third (actually B.B. King Blvd. now) and MLK. It’s being converted into a beer garden and sports bar for the months of October and November. There’s craft beer and food trucks and live music.” Tripp said that sounded good, and we walked over there.
The Sushi Jimmi food truck was in the parking lot. I have been wanted to try that truck for a while. Jimmi posed for a photo with Tripp and me:
I got the crawfish nachos.
More of a traditionalist, Tripp got sushi rolls.
We took our food inside and ordered beers at the bar. There wasn’t live music when we were there, but something different: YOGA! Luluemon conducted a free yoga class at 5. Okay, how the hell did this fly under my radar? I mean, there’s absolutely zero chance that I would participate, but it should have been on my blog for my readers to know about. Tripp and I stood at the bar and I ate my crawfish nachos and we watched the class do the downward-facing dog, the side plank and various other asanas whose names I do not know. “Hot women in yoga pants doing yoga,” Tripp said. “This is awesome. You should get some photos for your blog.”
“Nah, taking pictures of women doing yoga is a bit creepy,” I said as I thought to myself that Tube Top Month was a thing in this blog for 10 years. The class was probably 90% women.
Here’s Jimmi’s card in case anyone wants his food truck to come to their place, or for him to do catering:
After that it was time for a visit to the Silly Goose. I am absolutely philosophically opposed to the idea of selfie sticks. As I have said many times, “The only way I will ever use a selfie stick is if it is pink and Backey is in the photo with me.”
On to the news: Two big events happen Downtown tonight. One of them is Ignite Memphis, happening at 7 at the Halloran Center for the Performing Arts. Come get enlightened about a variety of topics via 5-minute presentations.
The other big event Downtown tonight is Memphis Tigers basketball. The team takes on UT Arlington at FedExForum at 7:30.
Apologies to those around me yesterday evening for having my headphones on while out at the bars. I wasn’t trying to be antisocial or avoid human contact; I was watching the WWE Network. It was Survivor Series with the WWE title up for grabs in a tournament and The Undertaker and Kane vs. The Wyatt Family.
All right, time to get the day started. I’m working the branch offices hard this short Thanksgiving week. I have an appointment with Teryn at the Monroe Avenue Branch Office here shortly. Then I have to go over to the Main Street Branch Office at 3 for an appointment with Feeny. Back to the Monroe office at 5 for an appointment with Melissa, then back again to the Main Street Office for an appointment with Jeannette at 7. Finally my long day wraps up with a visit to the Peabody Place Branch Office for an appointment with Jim at 9:30. This schedule is killing me but I will make it the best I can. Back tomorrow with more news.
So, a weird thing happened to me yesterday. I walked over to First Tennessee about 1 in the afternoon to withdraw some spending money for the weekend. As I filled out the withdrawal slip, I had a panic attack. Filling out the amount I wanted and my name and address was just excruciating. It took me almost 3 minutes and my handwriting was more or less unreadable. There was a security guard standing 20 feet away and I wonder if he was thinking that I was trying to work up the courage to rob the bank.
You know, I’ve never had panic attacks until the past few months, and before that when my friends would tell me about them, I would think, “Just get a hold of yourself.” The thing is, now I get it – you can’t get a hold of yourself. It’s a terrible feeling to not be in control of your own body.
I didn’t get her name, but I have to compliment the teller I went to for being so kind and understanding. My account number wasn’t very readable, so I called it out to her and she put it in the computer. I got my money and was on my way.
Choose901 is bringing back its holiday pop-up shop December 4th and 5th. This year they are going from 1500 square feet to 10,000 square feet, and vendor announcements are coming soon. The shop will be at 409 S. Main.
The Deal Cancer Out III Texas Hold’em tournament is this afternoon at Downtown Central BBQ at 2. $45 buy-in includes a BBQ buffet. First prize is a 3-day trip to Vegas and they will pay out 5 places with amounts ranging from $400 to $150.
From The Onion: Area Man Passionate Defender of What He Imagines the Constitution to Be. There sure have been a lot of Area Men in my Facebook news feed this week. However, there are also posts that make Facebook worthwhile. From the Urban Bicycle Food Ministry: “Last night the Volunteers at UBFM handed out over 250 BBQ chicken burritos, bags of candy, hot wings, packets of smoked sausage, water and most importantly love for our fellow man. We didn’t ask if they were Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or Pagan. We asked them all one question…..have you had dinner tonight?”
The Memphis Union Mission is adding a Family Day on Christmas Eve Eve December 23. Families can volunteer to serve lunch or dinner to the homeless that day. There’s no need to call in advance. Just show up at 11:30 AM or 4:45 PM and they will put you to work. Excellent way to teach your kids the joy of helping others.
Statistics site FiveThirtyEight has a map: Here’s what your part of the country eats on Thanksgiving. Of course, turkey is more or less a staple everywhere, but side dishes vary. In my home town of Little Rock, cornbread reigns as a side dish (and I can vouch for that having grown up there). In Tennessee and the rest of the Southeast, mac & cheese is preferred.
That reminds me… hey Moody Ques pitmaster Frank, if you’re reading this… I hear smoked mac & cheese made on a BBQ grill is really good. Can we try that next May, or at one of the practice cooks?
Beatboxing string trio Infinitus plays the Halloran Center for Performing Arts tonight at 7. They feature classical standards as well as original works of jazz and hip-hop.
After I had my panic attack at the bank yesterday, I walked over to Bardog, where they had Days of Our Lives on one of the TVs with captioning on. It’s been 10 years since I saw an episode of that show but am still familiar with some of the characters. I won’t post a spoiler on here because people would hate me, but let me just say this – if you’re a fan of that show and you have it DVR’d, you should watch Friday’s episode as soon as possible.
Knowing that the show is one of Michele’s “stories” that she watches, later in the day I walked down to Max’s Sports Bar to discuss it with her. Random fact she gave me: The actor who plays Bo is sixty years old. Never would have guessed that.
Michele with the Bum-Be-Gone bat
About 7 I hopped a Lyft out to the Southern-Goodlett area for a Friendsgiving event thrown by my friends Tony and Rahul. They invited me earlier in the week and were absolutely SHOCKED when I left Downtown and showed up. Great food, great company. Here’s a pic of Staci carving the turkey like a boss.
B-RAD snapped a photo of me wearing ’70s-style glasses while standing in front of a bedroom.
It’s my birthday week. Come and get it, ladies!
Well, blast. Normally these posts take me no more than 10 minutes, but I have been working for an hour and a half on this one. That leaves me with not enough time to make it to the final Memphis Farmers Market of the season, so I will lead off at brunch with Bloom at Bardog at 11. Blind Bear after that, about 1. Veteran Saucer/Max’s bartender Lauren is making guest appearances at Max’s today and tomorrow, so about 3 I will wander down to see her. Evening plans TBA. All right, time to jump in the shower. I’ll be back tomorrow with more news.
