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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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?
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.
Cinnamon at the Blind Bear has lost her Coolest Bartender Name title. Yesterday I was informed there’s a bartender at The Paramount named Jalapeño.
Tomorrow, Friday, July 1, is Canada Day, and Kooky Canuck will celebrate with specials. $2.50 Canadian bottles, $5.00 Canadian Club.
NBA free agency negotiations begin at 5:00 this afternoon. Expect to see stories breaking on Bleacher Report’s NBA page, possibly about Grizzlies players Tyus Jones and Kyle Anderson.
Ghost River on Beale will celebrate its 1-year anniversary Sunday, July 2. $5.00 craft pints 5-8 PM, T-shirt throws, Pam & Terry performing 5:30-10:00 PM.
There will be a South Main Neighborhood Cleanup this Saturday. Meet at Slider Inn Downtown at 10 AM if you are interested in helping. Equipment will be provided.
Michael Shelby and Ted Ludwig will play the front porch of South Point Grocery Friday from 5 to 7. Shelby, who plays the sax, is a South Main resident and a music teacher at the University of Memphis.
You probably knew you could get BBQ from the Rendezvous or Central BBQ delivered to your door, nationwide… but did you know you can order a pizza from Naples, flash-frozen?
Emoni Bates won’t be back in Tiger blue. He’s transferring to his hometown college, Eastern Michigan.
Another day, another piece of shit gets sentenced to prison. Don’t drop the soap, R. Kelly.
Want to be a mentor for the Memphis Grizzlies Training Institute? Sign up for this virtual training to be held on Wednesday, July 6.
ABC 24 has a look at the renovations happening at radio station WLOK.
From Action News 5: MPD is doubling the number of police officers on Beale Street.
Ketanji Brown Jackson will be sworn in as the first Black woman Supreme Court Justice today at 11.
Jameson Rodgers and Elvis Shane play KIX on Beale tonight at 7:30. Free show in Handy Park.
Max Kaplan plays an acoustic set at Live on the Tracks at Central Station tonight 6:30 to 9:30.
The Redbirds play Jacksonville tonight at 7:05 at AutoZone Park. There will be $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon and $1 hot dogs.
That’s it for today. Back tomorrow with more news.
The Daily Memphian’s Inked column, which looks at local real estate deals, noted that Felicia Suzanne’s has applied for design modifications to its new building at 383 S. Main. The work will begin in late July and will take approximately 120 days. In addition to the restaurant, Felicia will have a retail space for her Flo’s products.
The same column also reports the development of 70 new apartments at 339 S. Front.
I want to give a shout-out to a local company that provided a prize for Blind Bear trivia last night: Doctor Detail. If you live Downtown, they’ll come to you and wash and/or detail your car.
The Downtown Memphis Commission seeks a Director of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion).
The new Caption by Hyatt, part of the One Beale project, as well as the Talk Shop at Ellis cocktail bar and beer garden, are officially open. They even have their own beer, the Wm. C. Pilsner, a partnership with Grind City Brewing Co. The Caption is located at 245 S. Front, behind the Wm. C. Ellis & Sons facade.
If you attend this Thursday’s Peabody rooftop party, you’ll have the chance to win two prizes:
A Recteq tailgating grill from Shiner beer
A swag bag from Los Sundays tequila
Be sure to enter the drawing at the kiosk as you enter the rooftop party.
The Redbirds have a home game tonight at 7:05 vs. the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Ja Morant is up for ESPY awards for Best Play and Best Breakthrough Athlete. Vote here
Many of us got a Blue Alert on our phones yesterday. Action News 5 explains what a Blue Alert is.
Tomorrow is Whet Thursday at the Metal Museum. You can watch for whales making their way down the Mississippi. Hey, back in 2006 we legit did have a manatee, so you never know. Free admission to the event and the museum, and the gift shops will be open.
Today’s POLITICO Playbook is worth a read. Yesterday in the January 6 hearings, Cassidy Hutchinson, a former special aide to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, testified before Congress yesterday. Among her revelations:
The Trumpster knew some of the Capitol protesters were armed, but he said, “they’re not here to hurt me,” and therefore he didn’t care if they marched on the Capitol
The Trumpster demanded to be driven to the Capitol and may have assaulted a Secret Service agent who refused to drive him there
The Trumpster heard about the “Hang Mike Pence” chants on January 6 and commented something to the effect of, “maybe they have the right idea”
Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani were aware they were committing crimes on January 6 and sought pardons
Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison yesterday. Prosecutors said, “Instead of showing even a hint of acceptance of responsibility, the defendant makes a desperate attempt to cast blame wherever else she can.” That is classic narcissistic behavior. Maxwell pleaded for leniency, saying she’d offered to teach other inmates yoga to be a positive influence on them. Some of you understand why I find that so funny.
That’s the news for now. Back tomorrow (probably) with more news.
Wednesday, June 29 will be Nerd Nite at the Memphis Chess Club, and the theme this time will be METAL. Come out for nerdy talks and nerdy music related to the theme.
Tonight is trivia night at the Blind Bear, 7:30. Hmmm I notice a couple of differences in the title graphic from previous weeks. Should I read anything into that?
Elmwood Cemetery has a weird request: They need kitty litter bottles. The bottles are the perfect size for Elmwood’s gardeners to carry water to their cradles. They need the lids too if you have them. You can leave them on Elmwood’s front porch.
The Memphis Redbirds start a homestand with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp tonight at AutoZone Park with the first pitch at 7:05. On Tuesdays, every ticket includes a free order of ballpark nachos.
Memphis 901 FC sits atop the USL’s Eastern Conference standings. With 35 points, Memphis leads Louisville by 2. Memphis will play an away match at the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday.
Jonte Mayon plays Soulin’ on the River at Fourth Bluff Park Friday night. Free show, family-friendly. Gates at 6, show at 7. Lawn chairs, coolers, picnic baskets welcome. Food trucks and a full bar will be on site.
Tri-Delta for St. Jude will hold a meeting at the Renasant Convention Center Wednesday-Friday.
Random cool thing I found on YouTube yesterday: A full episode of Chico and the Man, complete with 1970s commercials.
The show is one of the lost gems of 1970s sitcoms. Jack Albertson plays Ed Brown, owner of a garage. Ed is more or less the last white guy left in a Hispanic East L.A. barrio, and retains many of his outdated prejudices toward his neighbors. Chico comes to work for him and over the years helps mellow Ed’s opinions out.
As for the commercials, there’s a mail-order steam cooker, ’70s toys, and even a Gap commercial. My only complaint with this episode is that Louie the garbageman, played by Scatman Crothers, was not in it. Louie was my favorite. My grandmother used to call him “that old coot.” If Scatman were still alive today, there’d be a place for him at the corner table at Max’s Sports Bar.
Speaking of YouTube, MakeUseOf has news of an alternate place where you can host your videos: DTube. DTube is built on the blockchain rather than the traditional Web, and is therefore decentralized. DTube doesn’t have ads, and you can start monetizing videos immediately without having to hit a qualifying threshold of view-hours.
Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted of sex-trafficking minor girls in conjunction with the late Jeffrey Epstein, gets sentenced today. Oh man… Amber Heard has to fork over $8-million-plus to Johnny Depp… Meghan Markle is a Z-list celebrity despite being married to the Duke of Sussex… and now Ghislaine could be put away from 20 to 55 years. The 2020s have not been kind to narcissistic females.
Air conditioning update: Still has not been fixed, or as far as I am aware, even looked at, even though I’ve put in 3 work orders and emailed the manager. I tried to go down to the office 3 times yesterday to speak to someone in person, but each time no one was there. On a day when it’s near 100 with dew points in the 70s, my apartment stays around 80. On days like today when the highs are in the upper 80s and the dew point stays around 60, the A/C manages to get the temp down to about 74 (although it runs continuously).
The heat has aggravated a health problem I had several years ago. I have a favor to ask my readers… when I come into a place, having just walked there, give me a couple of minutes to cool off and catch my breath before you start hitting me with questions and conversation. I love you all and I hope that request doesn’t sound rude. It’s just what I need right now.
All right, that’s the news for today. Probably back tomorrow.
The City of Memphis is seeking feedback on its plan for a 2-mile corridor of Poplar from Front to Bellevue. They’ll hold a meeting at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 700 Poplar, from 6:00 to 7:30 Tuesday, July 5. Planned improvements will be shown and audience comments will be sought.
Sunday’s Garden Walk of Elmwood Cemetery has been canceled due to the heat.
Memphis 901 FC hosts Detroit City FC tonight at 7:30 at AutoZone Park. Tickets start at $5.
See The Wiz where your dog takes a whiz! The DNA has added a bonus movie, The Wiz, to its Court Square movie series. See it for free on the big screen Thursday, June 30 at 8 PM.
The Brass Door is hiring full-time kitchen staff.
They’ve been ripping out drywall all week from the Bank of America location on the ground floor of the Peabody Place office tower. Whatever that space will become, I guess it won’t be a bank.
If you’re a fan of the wallaby that escaped the Memphis Zoo back in March, you can eat one of his cousins at Flight. They have kangaroo filet on the menu.
There won’t be fireworks on Mud Island for the 4th this year, as the city has decided to pick up the party and move it to Liberty Park, recently the site of Music Fest and BBQ Fest. However, the Redbirds will have fireworks following their July 1, 2, and 3 games.
Trolley track maintenance is happening on Main Street south of Peabody Place, with trolley buses replacing the steel-wheel trolleys temporarily.
The Memphis Grizzlies were busy on draft night. They made 4 picks, two first-rounders and two second-rounders, and addressed needs that will be created this summer by players leaving in free agency.
Memphis traded up to the number 19 pick, sending numbers 22 and 29 and a future second-rounder to Minnesota. They used 19 to score Wake Forest forward Jake LaRavia. He can play small forward or power forward and will provide a skill set similar to what free agent Kyle Anderson brought to the team.
Memphis then acquired the 23rd pick and Danny Green (who likely will never play for the Grizzlies) in exchange for De’Anthony Melton. The 23 pick turned out to be David Roddy, a Colorado State small forward who was the Mountain West Player of the Year last season. Roddy will also help replace some of Kyle Anderson’s contributions on the wing.
Tennessee point-guard Kennedy Chandler, generally projected to be picked in the 20s, fell into the latter half of the 30s and Kleiman smelled opportunity. Not only would Chandler replace the skill set of free agent Tyus Jones, but Chandler is from Memphis and Ja Morant and Chandler have been good friends for years. A future second-rounder and cash considerations to San Antonio got Memphis the ability to scoop up Chandler with number 38.
With the 47th pick, Memphis chose shooting guard/small forward Vince Williams Jr. from VCU, adding depth on the wing.
Center Jalen Duren was taken with the 13th pick by Charlotte and then was traded to the Detroit Pistons.
Forward Josh Minott was taken 45th by Minnesota with a pick acquired from Charlotte.
Shooting guard Lester Quinones went undrafted but Golden State subsequently signed him to a two-way contract. He’ll play for the G-League Santa Cruz Warriors.
Poor Jabari Smith was told he was the consensus 1 pick for weeks, then fell to 3 on draft night. Not only did he miss out on the prestige of forever being known as a number-one draft pick, but it’ll cost him about $1.7 million in rookie-scale salary this coming year.
I’m sending prayers and good vibes to Memphis Sandwich Clique co-founder Ryan Hopgood this morning. Ryan suffered a heat stroke early last week and slipped into a coma. His situation was so dire that his family asked that he be taken off life support and his organs donated – but when they took Ryan off life support, he didn’t die. He woke up. Get well soon, dude. We Memphians are relying on you to tell us where the dank sammies are.
Lansky Bros. has Elvis (the movie) belt buckles and T-shirts on sale. The movie is in theaters as of today. Filmmakers stopped by Lansky Bros. in 2019 to learn about the effect Bernard Lansky had on Elvis’ style.
A new music festival is coming to the grounds of Grind City Brewing Co. in Uptown. Grind City Fest will happen Friday, August 26 and Saturday, August 27.
FedEx will soon offer a new service called Picture Proof of delivery that will show you the exact spot to where your package was delivered.
Memphis was involved in a most unwanted trade recently. Ja Raffe, the Memphis Zoo animal born in 2020 and named for Grizzlies star Ja Morant, has been traded to Utah. A study indicated he was needed out there to be a breeding male for the Salt Lake City herd. The Morant family got a chance to say a final goodbye to Ja Raffe before he was shipped out on June 14.
Arkansas plays Ole Miss in a College World Series winner-take-all game today at 3 PM. The loser goes home, and the winner goes on to play Oklahoma in a best-of-three championship series. I like the 3 PM start time because it means the game will be over by the time the NBA draft starts at 6:30.
The Miss Tennessee competition kicks off at the Cannon Center today.
Volunteer Odyssey brings its Summer of Service to Grind City Brewing Co. tonight from 6 to 9. $1 from every beer purchased during that time frame will be donated to Volunteer Odyssey.
MPD has released additional info on the shooting and car crash that happened at Danny Thomas and Madison last week.
Matt Stell (with Erin Kenney) plays KIX on Beale at Handy Park tonight. This is an all-ages free show that starts at 7:30.
The DNA’s summer movie series in Court Square wraps up tonight with The Lion King. Free showing, 8 PM.
All right. I’m hot and I’m tired so I’m ending this post. Back tomorrow with more news.
This Friday is the last Friday of the month, which means it’ll be South Main Trolley Night. The shops of South Main will stay open until 9 or later, many of them offering appetizers, booze, discounts, etc. The Gray Canary will run its post-Trolley Night happy hour from 9 to 10 PM Friday.
Amy LaVere will play Songs in the Cemetery in Elmwood Cemetery this Friday starting at 5:30. Eat at Eric’s food truck will be on site, and the Tipsy Tumbler will serve drinks. Lawn chairs are encouraged. This event is outdoors and the weather will be hot, so dress appropriately. $10 cover charge.
Jordan Skoda and the Damwrights play the Blind Bear Saturday from 8 to midnight.
The 2022 NBA draft is Thursday night at 6:30 on ESPN and the WatchESPN app, with the first round also on ABC. I am fascinated to see what front-office wizard Zach Kleiman does with the 22nd, 29th, and 47th picks. After he wheeled and dealed his way into Desmond Bane and Ziaire Williams, he has my complete confidence.
Arkansas plays Ole Miss tonight at 6 on ESPN in a College World Series game. The Hogs must beat Ole Miss twice to advance to the finals.
Today is National Onion Rings Day. The Majestic Grille’s tempura fried onion rings would be my recommendation to celebrate.
Action News 5 has a report on the Memphis River Parks Partnership’s presentation at the joint DNA/SMA meeting last night. Only 68 parking spaces are planned along Riverside Drive in Tom Lee Park, but city COO Doug McGowen said several hundred more parking spaces would be available on the cobblestones adjacent to the park.
Seeing Red will be the featured entertainment at tomorrow night’s Peabody rooftop party from 6-10 PM.
MemphisWeather.net is predicting a high of 101 today (that was yesterday’s high as well) with a heat index near 107. Good news on the horizon, though – ABC 24 meteorologist Chelsea Chandler tweeted that a cold front will move through next week.
