Category: Uncategorized

Stix, the fast-casual Asian restaurant in the Terminix building, is hiring a sushi chef. “No advanced culinary experience needed,” the sign reads. “We will train you.” That sounds like a fantastic opportunity for someone. I would think a trained sushi chef would never have trouble finding work, plus they’d be in demand for parties.

I got the Shrimp Lo Mein when I went in there yesterday.

When I picked up my order, the cashier asked, “Do you want any sauce besides the usual soy sauce?”

“I don’t know, what do you have?” I replied.

“We have cups of this teriyaki-style sauce,” said the cashier. “It’s really good if you save part of your food to microwave later.”

I was so hungry that I doubted there would be leftovers, but I asked for the sauce anyway. When I got home, I dipped one of the shrimp in the sauce, and it was so good! I ended up dumping the entire cup of sauce on my lo mein. Don’t pass on that sauce the next time you get food from Stix.

Stix is hiring cashiers, too, by the way. It seems like the employees have a fun time at work there.

On my way down to get my food, I noticed that the Subway on Second Street, at Union in the One Commerce Square parking garage, has closed. I guess the competition from Jimmy John’s, combined with Downtown office workers working from home, killed their business. The Subway at N. Main and Jefferson remains open.

The Grizzlies have announced the entertainment for tonight’s regular-season home opener vs. Cleveland.

• City Mix on the FedExForum Plaza starting at 5:30
• Garry Goin & the Memphis Grizzlies House Band on the Slim & Husky’s Soundstage pre-game
• DJ Mic Tee on the Plaza Concourse pre-game
• Devin Crutcher and the Groove pre-game on the Terrace Level by the north escalator
• Caricature station near section 116
• Photo-ops with the Grizz Girls
• National anthem by gospel artist Evvie McKinney
• Crunk Phenom and Duke Deuce performing during introductions
• Halftime performances by Project Pat and Big Boogie

Remember, you must show proof of COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test result within the past 72 hours to be admitted to Grizzlies home games. The way to expedite this process is to use the CLEAR app, which you can arrange a download here.

The DM has a look at two additions to FedExForum this year: The WynnBET sports bar and Slim & Husky’s. The DM also has a fun interview with new Grizzlies center Steven Adams.

River City Records has a post on its Facebook page you can like and share for a chance to win two tickets to the Joe Bonamassa concert on Friday at the Cannon Center. The drawing will be held Friday morning and the tickets are for the center stage orchestra section, a $380 value.

New Memphis is hiring an Activation and Impact Manager. If you’re the social planner of your circle and you have a knack for connecting people, this may be the role for you.

The Mario Monterosso Quartet will be back at the Blind Bear Saturday night. Their speakeasy-style music is an absolutely perfect fit for the venue.

People’s on Beale and Longshot are featured in StyleBlueprint’s 5 Memphis bars with games.

The MOXY Hotel at 40 N. Front is hiring a front desk and bartender position. That’s one position, not two. People I’ve met who’ve stayed at the Moxy tell me they ask if you want a drink as soon as they get you checked in. That’s very Downtown Memphis.

The Crowne Plaza is hiring a Food and Beverage Manager.

Gambling.com is picking Memphis to win the NBA’s Southwest Division, calling their current odds of +350 a good bet. Currently, bookmakers have Dallas as the favorite to win the division, with odds of -230.

It’s a day for my friend Air Traffic Mike to celebrate – The International Day of the Air Traffic Controller. It’s also National Chicken and Waffles Day. That’s a dish I’ve never really understood, but people clearly like it – it comes flying out of the kitchen during Blind Bear’s weekend brunch.

Former Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins is the new assistant coach of the LeMoyne-Owen basketball team. He’ll serve under head coach and former Grizzly Bonzi Wells.

Watch out for scam calls spoofing the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s phone number.

There’s a Full Moon Market tonight at Carolina Watershed beginning at 5.

Rice and Donna perform on the deck at Rizzo’s tonight at 6.

The annual Indie Memphis Film Festival kicks off today and runs through Monday.

County Commissioner Tami Sawyer was arrested yesterday at the No More Excuses rally in front of the White House. The purpose of the rally was to encourage President Biden to rally through Congress the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and statehood for Washington DC. The protesters believe (and I agree) that the Senate is being held hostage by Democrat-In-Name-Only Senator Joe Manchin, and Biden needs to stand up to the DINO.

I went ahead and downloaded the CLEAR app to my phone and got it set up with my ID, face recognition, and vaccine card. I have no plans to go to tonight’s Grizzlies game, but “I have an extra ticket, want to go?” situations come up now and then and I want to be able to avail myself of them. It takes about 10 minutes to set up your health pass, which is a QR code with a photo of your face. If you have any interest in attending Grizzlies games this season, I’d advise you to go ahead and get that done.

Go Grizz! Back tomorrow with more news.

The Silly Goose updated its cocktail list for the fall/winter seasons over the weekend. They kept some popular favorites while adding cocktails that match the cool, crisp temps outside. Here’s a look:

… Well, crap, getting an HTTP error when I try to upload the photo I took of the board. Guess I’ll type it then.

• Blue Flower: Bourbon, blueberry, lime, elderflower, prosecco.
• Seasonal Daiquiri: Spiced rum, green peppercorn, pear, lemon.
• Tunnel Vision: Gin, rosemary, green chartreuse, lime, prosecco.
• Head Start: Vodka, hazelnut, chai spice, vanilla cold brew, almond milk.
• Cholo Love: Tequila, peach, agave, lime, ancho verde, bitters.
• After Party: Mezcal, pineapple, fig agave, ancho verde, lime, banana.
• Pretty Awesome: Pisco, italicus, thyme honey, grapefruit, lemon, yuzu.
• Gold Crush: Bourbon, cardamaro, apple, lemon, ginger, honey.
• All the Places: Rye, cynar, red pepper maple syrup, lemon.
• Penicillin: Blended scotch, lemon, ginger, laphroaig.

Memphis 901 FC will have $2 beers for all fans 21 and up for the Wednesday, October 27 home match against Tulsa FC.

Choose901 has a list of ways you can make a living working with pets, including Mutt Island Dog Daycare & Grooming out in The Edge.

A Memphis restaurant is seeking a “Rock Star” general manager. The restaurant is not named, but they have a longtime Downtown location, recently opened a second, and are looking to open a third. The general manager role is with the Downtown location. Hmmm… Downtown restaurants with a second location that opened later… Kooky, Saucer, Aldo’s Pizza Pies.

Civil Axe Throwing Downtown (372 S. Main) will have its grand opening the weekend of October 29-30. They will raffle off a pair of Grizzlies tickets Friday the 29th.

Crap… I see there’s gonna be a New Year’s Eve bar crawl involving one of my all-time favorites and two bars mentioned elsewhere in this post. That’s gonna turn those places into Amateur Night even more than they normally would be on NYE. I’d put the probability I’ll stay home that night around 95%.

It’s International Gin and Tonic Day if you’re looking for an excuse to go out on a Tuesday. Normally I list recommendations for these “holidays” but there are too many places to count that serve gin and tonic.

Actress Melissa Joan Hart won more than a million dollars for Memphis nonprofit Youth Villages on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune last night.

FedExForum unveiled its list of vendors for the 2021-22 season as well as reserved parking options.

Tomorrow night will be Meddlesome Brewery Night at the Flying Saucer. Get any local Meddlesome beer for $4, plus get a free koozie. They’ll have the Grizzlies game on TV.

This Thursday, October 21, Cordelia’s Market will offer a large sampler plate of some of its most popular Thanksgiving offerings for only $5. You’ll also have the chance to enjoy free samples from

• Bailan Authentic African Spices
• Wolf River Popcorn Co.
• Moore Truffles
• Welcome Home Beef
• Imagine Vegan Cafe
• Clay’s Smoked Tuna
• Elise Dessert Company

The Grizzlies signed Jaren Jackson Jr. to a contract extension for 4 years, valued at $105 million, yesterday. That is such great news, to know that the Grizzlies’ core will be together at least through the middle of this decade. The extension kicks in at the start of next season.

The University of Tennessee will be fined $250,000 by the SEC for its fans throwing debris onto the field at Saturday’s home game vs. Ole Miss. The university will also be required to review and update its safety and sportsmanship procedures, and to make every possible effort to identify fans who threw things and ban them from Tennessee athletic events for the remainder of the school year. 18 arrests were made at Saturday’s game and 47 people were ejected.

A 19-year-old arrested for throwing a bottle at the game told reporters, “I wish I wouldn’t have done that,” but added that “I thought it was reasonable at the time.” I have 3 words to describe this guy. The first word is “piece.” The second word is “of.” The third word rhymes with “quit,” “Brit,” and “wit.”

Come to think of it, those three words describe a lot of Tennessee fans.

Let’s have a look at college football Week 8 games of interest to folks in the Mid-South region. Game day is Saturday unless otherwise noted.

• Lousiana at Arkansas State, Thursday, October 21, 6:30 PM, ESPNU
• Memphis at UCF, Friday, October 22, 6:00 PM, ESPN2
• 2 Cincinnati at Navy, 11:00 AM, ESPN2
• Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Arkansas, 11:00 AM, SEC Network
• LSU at 12 Ole Miss, 2:30 PM, CBS
• Mississippi State at Vanderbilt, 3:00 PM, SEC Network
• Tennessee at 4 Alabama, 6:00 PM, ESPN

Wow… when’s the last year there was not a single ranked vs. ranked matchup in Week 8 of college football?

Nice to see UAPB get on the national stage for a game. The Golden Lions compete in the SWAC, one of the most influential FCS conferences. I have friends who graduated from the school and my dad’s side of the family is from that area. There’s even a “Ryburn Road” in southwest Pine Bluff named after us.

… Just took a virtual walk down Ryburn Road using Google StreetView. You’re not missing much if you’ve never traveled it. There’s a “Leon’s Catfish & Shrimp” at the north end if you’re hungry for seafood.

In basketball news, the AP preseason men’s basketball poll was released yesterday and Memphis comes in at number 12.

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow with more news.

That’s the question we’re going to answer today. But first, the news.

Blues guitar fans, get ready for the show of the year at the Cannon Center this Friday.

Joe Bonamassa started his career in the blues by opening for B.B. King. He has developed into one of the top blues-rock guitarists in the world, citing John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Rory Gallagher, Cream, and Stevie Ray Vaughan as influences. He is known for his large collection of Gibson Les Paul guitars and vintage Fender amps. You can get tickets to Friday’s show here. You can also download a free album.

RiverArtsFest, Memphis’ largest arts festival, happens Saturday and Sunday. 180 artists will be in town to exhibit and sell their works. There will also be artists’ demonstrations and hands-on art activities. There will also be live music and delicious festival food.  Money raised through festival admission goes to reinvestment in the community in arts.

RiverArtsFest’s usual location, Riverside Drive, is unavailable this year due to construction. However, they have a fantastic alternate venue – the newly-reopened Renasant Convention Center, as well as the sidewalk outside on the Main Street Mall! I plan on going Sunday and making a full day of it.

Like every other venue, RiverArtsFest has to obey the city mask mandate, so be sure to bring your face covering when you come.

Memphis 901 FC scored a 4-2 victory over Atlanta United on Saturday, earning 3 more points in the USL Central Division standings. Yesterday, the OKC Energy squad drew with Birmingham Legion – and that draw made it mathematically impossible for 5th-place OKC to catch up with 3rd-place Memphis in the standings. Therefore, Memphis now appears with an “x-” to its left, indicating that for the first time in club history, 901 FC is playoff-bound! Congratulations to the squad and coaches!

The DM has a look back at Brewfest and Brunchfest at the Liberty Bowl this weekend. When I was at Bardog Saturday, I heard they had to supply 500 sliders for Sunday’s Brunchfest, as did Slider Inn.

It’s funny how life works. Yesterday I blogged that I want to expand the list of places I hang out, especially on Thursdays and Fridays, and that one place I want to try soon is Bar Ware. Hours later, I met Bar Ware’s chef! Chef Kevin said the entire food menu is excellent but his two favorites are the Java lamb lollichops and the deviled eggs. I’m going to try to come by there this Thursday.

Brian Blake, Zach Aaron, and Amanda Ashley play South Main Sounds, 550 S. Main, at 7 PM Friday.

I want to give everybody a reminder to wash your reusable face masks! I realized this morning I had not washed any of mine since the beginning of October. They’re in the washer now.

Remember last week I told you about that distributor bringing around samples of a drink mix that was completely legal, despite containing THC? FiveThirtyEight has a story on how that came to pass: Mitch McConnell accidentally created an unregulated THC market in 2018

Sad to hear that former Secretary of State Colin Powell died this morning of COVID complications.

Rapper Big Unccc faces a long list of charges after he ran a red light and crashed a stolen Dodge Charger in Memphis. The Charger had drive-out tags. Police found a Glock, modified to be fully automatic, in the car, as well as large amounts of weed and a bottle of oxycodone. Big Unccc did not have a driver’s license.

Robusto by Havana Mix will host a Cigar One Family Reunion and Block Party Saturday.

The Downtown Memphis Commission has announced its lineup for food trucks for lunch in Court Square Thursday. I must say, that food truck that offers a combination of Cajun and Asian flavors sounds interesting. To celebrate Latin Heritage Month, Rumba Room will supply a DJ for this week’s food truck rodeo.

And now, let’s move on to the question I posed in this post’s title.

Saturday afternoon, the Tennessee Vols turned the football over to Ole Miss on downs with about a minute left. They had gone for it on 4th down and came up somewhere between a yard and 6 inches short – but they were definitely short. There is no doubt the refs made the right call. Yet the fans at Neyland Stadium responded by raining down garbage and debris – beer cans, mustard bottles, and even golf balls – for 20 solid minutes, endangering the visiting team.

The SEC has vowed it will take action against the university. Let’s examine what kind of punishment would be most appropriate given what took place.

Before we start, let’s look at Tennessee’s remaining schedule:

• 10/23: away at 4 Alabama
• 10/30: bye week
• 11/6: away at 15 Kentucky
• 11/13: home vs. 1 Georgia
• 11/20: home vs. South Alabama
• 11/27: home vs. Vanderbilt

1. Fine the university $100,000 – This is what would have happened had the Vols fans rushed the field at the end of the game. However, throwing debris for 20 minutes is a much more serious offense. A fine is a slap on the wrist to a university with such deep pockets, and it doesn’t punish the fans at all.
2. Reduce the number of scholarships Tennessee is allowed to offer next season – The trouble with this is, Tennessee is a mediocre football team with its full complement of scholarships. Taking a few away won’t make them that much worse. Also, this punishment doesn’t directly affect the fans.
3. Tennessee has to play its 11/13, 11/20, and 11/27 home games in Neyland Stadium without fans – This punishes all the kids because a few were bad, but this would drive the point home that you can’t have nice things if you don’t behave. I’m going to get more creative but this is the option I like best.
4. Beer sales in Neyland banned for the remainder of the season – This would punish the fans rather than the school or the team itself, but we don’t know what percentage of the fans throwing debris were drinking. Also, they’re Tennessee fans, so they’d just smuggle their own booze in.
5. Vols are forced to play their 11/13, 11/20, and 11/27 games as the visiting team in Neyland – The team would have to use the visitors’ locker room, and the Georgia, South Alabama, and Vanderbilt logos would be painted midfield and in the end zones. Also, the opposing team’s fight song would be played on the PA system rather than “Rocky Top.” That would be humiliating for Vols fans to a degree.
6. Tennessee forfeits its 11/20 game vs. South Alabama – Take a cream puff off the schedule and make it harder for the Vols to get bowl-eligible. Handing South Alabama a complimentary win over a Power Five school might not sit well with the rest of the Sun Belt Conference, though.
7. SEC-sanctioned defacement of the “T” – The day before the 11/13, 11/20, and 11/27 home games, an art major from Georgia, South Alabama, and Vandy is invited to Neyland Stadium. There they will be allowed to deface the big orange “T” at midfield, painting “sore losers” or “trash fans” or something similar on it. Their work of art would remain on the field through the game.

In any case, Tennessee fans need to be made to understand that they throw garbage because they are garbage. If anyone from the Liberty Bowl selection committee reads this blog, I implore you, PLEASE DON’T INVITE TENNESSEE HERE and potentially put Memphians in harm’s way.

That’s it. Back tomorrow with more news.

If you’ve ever read this blog and wondered why I root so hard for any team playing the University of Tennessee Volunteers, let last night be your answer.

Facing a turnover on downs with 54 seconds left on the clock, Tennessee fans started hurling garbage onto the field, in the direction of Ole Miss head coach (and former Vols head coach) Lane Kiffin. The game had to be stopped for 20 minutes to get things calmed down. No doubt UT will face sanctions from the SEC this week.

No class whatsoever. That’s why I root against Tennessee. Their fans are the absolute worst in the nation. Don’t get me wrong, I do know and have known many Tennessee fans who are good people. But I also know Tennessee fans who are complete and utter trash.

I watched the Auburn-Arkansas game at Bardog with most of the usual Saturday regulars and a group of 6 or 7 Auburn fans visiting from the Atlanta area. After Auburn beat Arkansas, as I was leaving I shook their hands and said, “good game,” and told them I hoped they enjoyed their stay in Memphis. That’s how you do it.

Here’s a link to James Aycock’s COVID Week-in-Review for this week. This is a short one because James got his COVID booster yesterday and wasn’t feeling well. Generally, things are trending in the right direction, although it’d be better if there’d been more vaccinations in Shelby County last week.

The Peanut Shoppe on Main Street will start taking orders for candy and nuts for the holiday season the first week in November. Please keep these wonderful local businesspeople in mind when planning your holiday treats. It will be the final year at their shop at 24 S. Main. Can’t make it Downtown to place your order in person? No problem, you can order online.

Bar Ware brings back its popular Writers’ Night this Tuesday: Cyrena Wages with Joe Restivo, Jason Rodgers, TK Jackson, and Austin Carroll. Reservations are recommended. 901-443-5807.

I looked at Bar Ware’s menu online yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to see that they have PBR! I have not been there since they opened. I need to check it out. Perhaps Thursday evening I will stop by Bar Ware then continue south to Earnestine & Hazel’s, where Cyrena Wages has a weekly gig.

The Brass Door will be closed today, Sunday, October 17.

From ABC 24: Your tire pressure light may have turned on this morning. Here’s why.

The Feelin’ Groovy Music Fest happens today at Ghost River’s Beale Street location. The Bugaloos will start things off at noon, followed by Jeffrey and the Pacemakers.

The Risky Whiskey Boys bring their We Rock at Noon Tour to Slider Inn Downtown today. Appropriately, the show starts at noon.

That’s the news for now. Nice to do a short post for a change. Back tomorrow if there’s enough news to report.

Got a new PRO TIP for those of you who don’t live in the Downtown core, but drive down here and park on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights to go barhopping or clubbing:

If you park in a parking garage, park as close to the middle of a level as possible. Avoid the corner spots.

Why? Because, about 11:15 last night, I was lying in bed and heard this:

Squeal…
Squeal…
Squeal…
Squeal…
Squeal…
Sq*CRASH*

It sounded like one of the morons who drive muscle cars down here on the weekends got into a garage, and was having fun racing through it… until he wasn’t.

I’m wondering what the chance is the driver left a note on the car he ran into, saying, “I’m terribly sorry about this, here’s my name, contact information, and insurance information”? I’ll put the probability that happened somewhere between 0% and 0%.

I wonder what the chance was that the make of the car that raced through the garage was a Dodge or Infiniti? I’ll put the probability between 70% and 90%.

On the bright side, I didn’t hear any gunshots last night.

Aldo’s Pizza Pies announced their first collaboration with a local brewery this week. The signature beverage, of course, at Aldo’s is their delicious limoncello. Crosstown Brewing Co. took Aldo’s top-secret limoncello recipe and turned it into a beer. The collaboration marries the intense flavors of lemon and citrus with the smoothness of malt to produce a 6.2% ABV beer called Chill-O.

Where can you get a Chill-O? Well, if you have tickets to Memphis Brewfest today, you can be among the very first to try it. You will also have the chance to try it at Crosstown Brewing Co.’s Notoberfest next Saturday, October 23. After that, you can find Chill-O exclusively at Aldo’s Pizza Pies, Bardog Tavern, and Slider Inn.

Cupcake Cutie at the corner of South Main and Pontotoc has a street party today from 2 to 6. The party’s purpose is to introduce and support young entrepreneurs, including

• Jaxcen’s Tumbler Tavern
• CoCo’s Cookie Bar
• Janie B’s Hair Oil
• Johnson’s Candle Co.

You’ll have the chance to meet new LeMoyne-Owen basketball coach and former Grizzly Bonzi Wells at the street party. The Smurfey’s Smokehouse food truck will be there serving up some delicious food. Also on hand: STAX museum, Pinnacle Bank, ODDS Atelier, COGIC bookstore, and ILL Wellness.

People will be rappeling off the top of the First Horizon Building today to raise money for the Mid-South Food Bank in Heights for Hunger.

The Broom Closet hosts an event called Resurrecting the Shadow Sound Bath Monday, November 8 from 6:30 to 8 PM. I’ll just paste in the event description from Facebook:

Join Matt Petty for a Resurrecting the Shadow Sound Bath. Matt, a certified sound therapist, will lead us in a meditative sound experience using crystal singing bowls, gongs, chimes, and multiple instruments. This exclusive sound session will help us connect with our shadow selves and navigate through the Scorpio energies of November.

Note that Monday, November 8 is the first full day of the return of Standard Time, which is disappointing for many of us – and therefore a great day to engage in a practice like this to cleanse your energy. They ask that you bring a yoga mat and possibly a blanket in case you get cold. The class is 16 and up and space is very limited, so if you want to be part of this, make your reservation now. Tickets are $20.

Ja Morant gave Memphis a scare when he left the court with an apparent arm injury in the third quarter of last night’s preseason game. However, he came back a few minutes later and finished the game with 17 points. The Grizz launch the regular season with a home game against Cleveland Wednesday at 7. Immediately, after that, they head off to the West Coast for a 4-game road trip.

ABC 24 made a trip to the new Soul & Spirits Brewery at 845 N. Main.

Kayak Memphis is offering a sunset tour this evening.

The Dude Perfect 2021 Tour comes to FedExForum tonight.

Butterific Bakery & Cafe celebrates The Sweetest Day today. 488 S. Second St.

Holy crap, the Orpheum and the Halloran Centre have a STACKED schedule for these next 8 days. Just have a look at all that will be going on:

• Hosea: God’s Love for His People – Sunday, October 17 – Halloran Centre – Hosea was a simple pastor who tried to love both God and his fellow humans. But then God sent Hosea a wife from the streets. Tickets are $30.
• Beatles vs. Stones – Wednesday, October 20 – Orpheum – Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band, battles Satisfaction, a Rolling Stones tribute band. Tickets are $45.
• RAW II – Jessica Ray – Thursday, October 21 – Halloran Centre – The R&B singer brings her interactive experience to Memphis, backed by an ensemble of local creatives. Also performing will be bassist Marco Alexander. Tickets are $10-$20.
• Mike Farris – Friday, October 22 – Halloran Centre – Farris is the former frontman of the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies. Tickets are $37.50.
• Married to a Cheater, In Love With a Husband – Saturday, October 23 – Halloran Centre – Tired of her husband’s cheating, the leading lady finds herself a sexy new side piece – but he’s married too. Tickets are $30-$75.
• A Ferry Tale – Saturday, October 23 – Orpheum – A hip-hop musical written by a Memphian, performed by a local cast of actors, rappers, and singers. Tickets are $15-$45.
• If She Only Knew – Sunday, October 24 – Halloran Centre – Zhuri tries to keep his secret life hidden from the love of his life, who is also soon to become the mother of his child. Tickets are $25-50.
• Gary Clark Jr. – Sunday, October 24 – Orpheum – R&B artist who has won four Grammys and shared the stage with the Rolling Stones. Tickets are $49.50-$99.50.

Today is gonna be a looooong day and I am ready for it. First order of business is deciding whether it’s warm enough to wear shorts. Weatherbug has us at 55 at the 9 AM hour, which is comfortably within the shorts zone for me (my cutoff is a feels-like temp of at least 48).

Farmers Market is first on my list, and I’m going to go a little earlier than usual so I have plenty of time to mingle around. There’s enough good football on to warrant a second week in a row at Max’s Sports Bar, but I just can’t see myself missing another Saturday at Bardog. I’ll watch Arkansas-Auburn on my phone if I have to. Tonight I’ll head over to Blind Bear for some excellent music spun by DJ Tree and DJ Taz. Back tomorrow with more news – tomorrow’s post may be late if I stay out late tonight.

There was a huge fight involving about 10 girls outside a popular nightspot in the Downtown core Wednesday night. Many of the girls were said to be employees of a restaurant about a block from where the fight occurred. Weave was observed on the sidewalk Thursday morning. You just keep on being classy, Memphis.

Cordelia’s Market will host a Spillit Slam in conjunction with Maria Montessori School on Thursday, November 18. What’s that? It’s friends and neighbors coming together to share stories – in this case, stories about finding connection and gratitude in a pandemic. Got a story you want to tell? Throw your name in the hat. 10 names will be drawn and those people will get 7 minutes each to share their personal narrative. The audience will choose a winner at the end. That person will receive a $100 Cordelia’s gift card, a gift basket filled with local products, and an invitation to the grand slam at the end of the year.

DJ Tree & DJ Taz will supply the tunes for your Saturday night at the Blind Bear tomorrow from 10 PM to 1 AM.

The folks at MemphisWeather.net had this to say in a Facebook post about today’s weather:

The main concern for today will be a (perhaps broken) line of storms between 5-8pm along a significant cold front. These storms will be capable of very heavy rain, strong wind gusts to 60 mph, and an isolated tornado. Plan ahead for storms during rush hour/early evening!

Sounds like a good day to cut out of the office about 3:30 and avoid that mess as you drive home.

Looks like a Civil Axe Throwing location may be going in on Talbot Avenue across from Slider Inn Downtown. This would be the company’s second Downtown location. A Civil Axe Throwing opened in Floyd Alley in The Edge in 2020.

Normally I only list Downtown jobs, but these are good folks who are part of the extended Downtown family: SALT|SOY is hiring bartenders. They’d prefer experience but are open to someone with a willingness to learn. Come in with your resume 2-4 PM Tuesday-Saturday.

Michael Donahue recently had a Roxie Burger for his column on Classic Memphis Dining in Memphis magazine. It’s an incredibly juicy cheeseburger made with hoop cheese. Get it at Roxie’s Grocery at Third and Mill in Uptown.

Yesterday I discovered (but did not personally sample) something new: THC-infused drink mix. Although THC is the legal ingredient in marijuana, the distributor explained to me that the drink mix is LEGAL in all 50 states. That’s because a farm bill that was passed in 2018 says that any product made from hemp is as legal as hemp. CBD is extracted from hemp, and then a form of THC called Delta-8 is extracted from the CBD. Despite being legal, you should probably still avoid the drink mix if your work drug-tests you.

Of course, we could avoid all of this legal gray area but doing the thing that makes natural sense: Go ahead and make marijuana legal in all 50 states.

The Memphis Tigers football team improved to 4-3 with a 35-17 home win over Navy last night. Next up for the Tigers: A 6 PM game next Friday at UCF that will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

The Memphis Zoo has announced its first Zoo Brew. Brewed by Grind City Brewing Co., the beer is a light, refreshing pilsner with lime. You can get a can at the Zoo’s Cat House Cafe and walk around with it as you look at the animals.

River Time Market & Deli on Court Square is now offering country fried steak sandwiches. Get a small one for $7.99 or a large for $9.99.

The St. Louis Cardinals have fired manager Mike Shildt, who at one time was the manager of the Memphis Redbirds. This move came despite the Cards winning 19 of their last 21 games to claim a spot in the National League Wild Card game. I’ll continue to support the Cardinals but in my opinion, they should have given him one more season.

Chef Tam of Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe made some announcements yesterday:

• She may or may not have made a green chile mac & cheese
• It may or may not be your only chance outside catering to get her mac & cheese without seafood
• She may or may not have the mac & cheese available in her cafe today.

Hmmm. I may or may not stop by and check it out.

As part of its fall fundraiser, the Memphis Farmers Market will have a wine pull tomorrow. Donate at least $20 and pick a side – red or white – and see what you come up with. Great chance to fall in love with a new wine. The market runs from 8 AM to 1 PM every Saturday through the end of October. It’s under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson behind the Power House movie theater. Masks are required for those who have not been vaccinated.

It’s National Grouch Day.

Downtown has a new fire station at 400 Adams. Firefighters will move in about two weeks from now, and it will replace the station at Front and Monroe.

Elmwood Cemetery hosts a Cemetery Cinema Double Feature tonight. They’ll start off with an Elmwood original film, Soul of the City, and then show 1922 silent horror film Nosferatu. Films are shown outdoors and projected onto the roof of the cemetery’s 1852 cottage. Tickets are $17.

Martin Lawrence is at FedExForum tonight.

That’s the news for today. Back tomorrow with more.

Downtown Dining Week has been announced for November 1-7. 57 restaurants (with possibly more to be added) will offer special menus that week for a price of just $20.21. This is your opportunity to branch out and try some new places at which you hadn’t previously dined – or enjoy some specials from your faves.

I want to send a big shout-out to the Downtown Memphis Commission webmaster. DDW’s 2021 website is 10,000% better than last year’s. All the restaurant links are on one page, with no “View more…” links that have to be clicked over and over. Turning the buttons yellow for restaurants that have already supplied their DDW menus is an excellent touch – it keeps website visitors from being disappointed with “Coming soon.” Well done!

If there’s a restaurant you KNOW you want to dine at during DDW, go ahead and make a reservation NOW – even if they haven’t released a menu yet. The most popular times at the most popular restaurants – especially Felicia’s, Cocozza/Majestic, Rizzo’s, Catherine & Mary’s, Bishop, and Gray Canary – will fill up fast.

WREG reports that a man has been arrested after police observed him driving his Dodge Challenger recklessly through Downtown on Saturday, September 18 around 10:30 PM. An officer witnessed William Spears swerving in and out of lanes and driving into oncoming traffic on Front Street near Monroe. When the officer attempted a stop, Spears fled down Monroe, running a red light and nearly hitting several people crossing the street at B.B. King Blvd. Glad to hear Spears is in jail and I hope his Challenger is rotting away in the city’s impound lot.

Neat website I found recently: myNoise. They have an archive of sounds that can help you when you need to

• Focus in a noisy environment
• Sleep
• Calm down
• Get work done in a distracting open office
• Get inspired
• Put your baby to sleep
• And many more. They have 200+ sound generators.

Max Kaplan and the Magics will supply the music for tonight’s edition of Live at the Tracks at Central Station Hotel. Things will kick off around 7 PM.

Moneybagg Yo showed up to entertain the crowd at Memphis Madness last night. The DM has a recap.

Big congratulations to Memphis 901 FC on their victory over Louisville City FC, the team atop the USL Central Division standings as of kickoff time, last night at AutoZone Park. The win propels Memphis up to third place in the Central Division, surpassing FC Tulsa by 2 points. Top four in the division at the end of the regular season go on to the playoffs.

MemphisWeather.net’s forecast is 85 and humid for today. With the dew point hovering around 70, that means we’re likely to have feels-like temperatures in the 90s today. Can we stop it with the humidity PLEASE??? People ask why, on days like today, I sit at a dark bar instead of coming out to the patio. The reason is, I don’t consider days like today to be patio weather! Patio weather to me is feels-like temps between 66 and 75.

Hard Rock Cafe has 3 limited-edition double-stacked steak burgers this month, and a portion of the proceeds from every burger’s sale go toward their Pinktober campaign against breast cancer. The 3 burgers are

• A Mushroom & Onion Bourbon Burger with bourbon aioli, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and tomato
• The Ultimate “Pub” Burger with house-made pub sauce, American cheese, bacon, pickles, shoestring onions, lettuce, and tomato
• Blue Cheese and Bacon Burger with buffalo sauce, lettuce, and tomatoes

The Blind Bear has announced it will have its Halloween party Saturday, October 30 with live music by Brimstone Jones 9 PM to 1 AM. There will be a costume contest, drink specials, and food specials. I will post more info as it is released.

The Memphis Flyer has the story of Robin Joyce and her vision for By the Brewery, her restaurant that faces the Tennessee Brewery. The restaurant serves atypical breakfast and lunch fare.

You don’t often see ’80s model Cadillac Fleetwood Broughams anymore, but there was one parked outside the Silly Goose yesterday:

This model was produced from 1977 to 1992, but we know this is a pre-1987 model because that year the name was shortened from “Fleetwood Brougham” to simply “Brougham.” People I showed this photo to laughed at the parking job. The driver can’t help it! The car is too big to fit into the space!

Wonder what kind of gas mileage that thing gets? 10 MPG maybe?

Bleacher Report has a Q&A about the Kyrie Irving situation. The Brooklyn Nets have decided not to include Irving in any team activities until he can fully participate in all of them – which he can’t until he either gets vaccinated for COVID or New York City lifts its vaccine mandate. Irving maintains that he’s not anti-vacc, but rather he’s “the voice of the voiceless” for people who lost their jobs for refusing to get vaccinated. Sounds like a bunch of BS to me. Kyrie’s an ass and I wish he’d go ahead and retire.

Urban bistro The Genre is now open at 200 Poplar, Suite 105. They have catfish nuggets, boneless wings, and tenders that can be sauced or seasoned in a variety of ways, sliders, and exclusives like Reggae Jerk Chicken Kabobs. More than just a place to eat, the place is described as “a full Memphis experience” with events like Taco Tuesdays, Relax & Unwind Fridays, and Saturday Night Vibes.

There needs to be a website called DoTheyHavePBR.net where you can check whether area restaurants are still out of PBR or if they have it back in stock.

You can transfer your prescriptions to the new Harbor Town Pharmacy on Mud Island if it’s more convenient for you to pick them up there. All you have to do is call Harbor Town Pharmacy at 901-347-2774, give them your info and your current pharmacy’s phone number, and they’ll take care of the rest.

Happy birthday to my buddy Big Ed who slings the brewskis at Memphis 901 FC home matches and FedExForum events. I asked if he’s working the December 6 WWE Monday Night Raw show and he confirmed that he is. See you there!

Can’t find what you want at the grocery store? It could be because 81 huge cargo ships are sitting in the Pacific Ocean waiting to be called into port so they can unload. The backup is so severe that the Port of Los Angeles announced it’s going 24/7 until things get cleared up. (Source: The Morning Brew newsletter)

Since it’s after 10:00 before I get this post published, let’s have a look at Shelby County’s 7-day rolling average of new COVID cases: Down to 143. That is excellent. Three weeks ago, the average was 399.

My favorite statistical analysis FiveThirtyEight has released their statistical model’s 2021-22 NBA season projections. The model predicts the Grizzlies to go 44-38 and have a 59% chance of making the playoffs, a 2% chance of making the NBA Finals, and a 0.6% chance of winning the championship. Milwaukee is the model’s favorite, with a 57-25 record, a 99% chance of making the playoffs, a 36% chance of making the Finals, and a 22% chance of repeating as champions.

Daaaaaaang… the model HATES the Lakers! It has them finishing 42-40 and gives them less than a 50% chance of making the playoffs.

Today is National Dessert Day, so treat yo’self. Suggestions: The Kahlua-Mocha Parfait Pie (K-pie) at Paulette’s, the assortment of desserts-in-a-glass at the Majestic, the peach cobbler nachos at Chef Tam’s.

Our city’s most controversial park, Tom Lee, is getting an $800,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for new trails.

ABC 24 reports that Downtown businesses near the Renasant Convention Center are benefitting from the return of conventions. By the way, I noticed the station has re-branded itself from “Local 24” to “ABC 24” and when I turned it on just now, I discovered there’s no more “Local at 9” show and they’re running “Ellen” in that time slot. In terms of eye candy, going from Chelsea Chandler to Ellen is quite a downgrade.

Okay. Opinion time. This is something I’ve discussed with several people face-to-face, but up until now, I couldn’t get the words exactly right to include it in a blog post.

Bands and DJs are passive forms of bar entertainment. You can go up to them and request a song, but you certainly are not expected to. Karaoke, same thing. You can sing if you want, but no karaoke night I’ve ever heard of requires it.

Trivia is a passive form of bar entertainment. If you don’t want to play, just don’t take a score sheet.

Poker is a passive form of bar entertainment. If you want to play, have a seat at one of the designated tables. If you don’t, sit somewhere else and it’s all good.

Bingo is a passive form of bar entertainment. It’s fun and easy to win prizes, but if bingo’s not your thing, don’t take a bingo card and no one will mind.

My point is, you can come to the bar and just chill out and watch sports and talk to the people to your left and right and ignore any of those forms of entertainment. Nobody cares. You’re not offending anyone or being a bad guest by doing so.

Other forms of bar entertainment are intrusive. Meaning, no matter where you’re sitting, the performers come up to you and expect your attention and hopefully a tip. You can’t get away from it. I suppose you could ignore them but it would be considered quite rude.

Intrusive entertainment is not why I go out to the bars. It adds nothing to my experience being in those places. So I tend to avoid bars on the nights they run that kind of entertainment.

To make it clear, I’m not complaining about any specific form of intrusive entertainment. People expressing themselves to the fullest, doing so in as outrageous a manner as possible, and getting paid for it is beautiful. But that’s not what draws me to the bars. All I need is a cold PBR, a TV tuned to some sports game, and a license to chill.

And speaking of a TV tuned to a sports game, don’t forget to tune into ESPN tonight as the Memphis Tigers host Navy. 6:30 PM. Back tomorrow with more news.

Go Tigers! Tonight is Memphis Madness at FedExForum, an open scrimmage that serves as the public’s introduction to the season’s Memphis Tigers men’s and women’s basketball teams. Although no special guests have been officially announced, it’s common for some very prominent musicians to show up and perform – Yo Gotti and Rick Ross are two who have appeared in past years.

The Tigers will have an open scrimmage, an NBA-style skills challenge, a 3-point contest, and a dunk contest. Doors to FedExForum open at 6 and the program begins at 7. Prior to the doors opening, there will be a Blue Carpet Experience on the plaza with dance performances and games.

The DM has some bad news to report this morning: Shooting guard/small forward Dillon Brooks, who has emerged as the “glue guy” of the Memphis Grizzlies in recent seasons, will be out for the first 2-3 weeks of the NBA regular season with a hand injury.

Memphis 901 FC hosts Louisville City FC in a home match at AutoZone Park tonight at 7:00. This is going to be a tough game: Louisville sits atop the USL’s Central Division standings. Memphis 901 FC is in fourth place in the division, the lowest place to make the playoffs, with 38 points and OKC hot on its tail with 36. Memphis really needs at least a draw this evening.

If you chat with any of our homeless friends Downtown, please let them know that Brian Harris will serve a Sunday lunch for the homeless and hungry at the Hospitality HUB, 590 Washington, this Sunday, October 17 from noon to 2 PM.

Astrologer P.S. Went is now doing natal chart readings every Wednesday at the Broom Closet. These charts map out the astrological position of the Sun, Moon, and all the planets at the time you were born and can reveal a lot of hidden aspects of your personality. You can book a reading (24 hours or more in advance) on the Broom Closet’s website. Readings are $75 and you will need to provide

• Your date of birth
• Your time of birth
• The city in which you were born

I did my own natal chart many years ago. I have the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Pluto all in Scorpio, which apparently makes me a pretty scary person.

It’s kinda scary to think there are adults walking around who are too young to remember when Pluto was a planet.

Cordelia’s Market will host a Trunk-or-Treat Saturday, October 30 from 3 to 6 PM. Candy and treats will be handed out to trick-or-treaters from cars and golf carts. Trick-or-treaters can also look for other Harbor Town businesses with a pumpkin outside – that’s a sign treats are waiting for them when they go in. There will be hot dogs with chili provided by Cordelia’s, and there will be a meet and greet with Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis.

I wonder if the Chargers, Challengers, and Fin Fins who come Downtown to do stupid stunt tricks ever venture over to the Island? If so, Chief Davis might get a first-hand look at what we have to deal with Downtown every weekend.

Did you know that one of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s palaces has an underground tunnel to a nearby bar? The martinis are 17 British pounds apiece, but I reckon the Queen can afford it. If I had Meghan Markle as an in-law, I’d drink too.

Attention teachers: Mickey D’s is giving away free “Thank You” breakfast meals through Friday.

I noticed something interesting on ESPN yesterday. On the air, the reporters will talk about the chances of the Cowboys or the Chargers or the Raiders to get to the Super Bowl. However, when they display the odds for each team on the ticker at the bottom of the screen, they word it “Odds of winning pro football championship” and list each team only by its city’s name. When listing a city that has multiple teams, it does something like “Los Angeles (A),” leaving the viewer to figure out they’re talking about the Los Angeles team that plays in the AFC, which would be the Chargers.

I’m guessing that’s a trademark issue. The odds are probably determined by some bookmaking company and provided to ESPN for promotional considerations. Betting is a way to profit off football without the NFL getting a slice of the action, so they need to be careful and use generic terms rather than trademarked ones.

Room in the Inn is a group of Memphis congregations who come together to make sure that the homeless have a warm place to sleep during the cold months of November, December, January, February, and March. Every year, they host a benefit called Breakfast for Dinner. This year, to keep everyone safe from the spread of COVID, Breakfast for Dinner is virtual. Buy a ticket to make a donation to Room in the Inn, then on Tuesday, October 19, throw on your PJs and make your own breakfast for dinner at home. Post photos/videos of your celebration to social media using the hashtag #BFDforRITI.

Memphian Jerry “The King” Lawler was removed from the WWE Monday Night RAW commentary team after he called a move by Japanese wrestler Akira Tozawa a “ramen noodle moonsault.”

Got a couple of pieces of beer news. First of all, Memphis Made Brewing Co. has announced the return of The Judge and Plaid Attack. As we move into the winter months, we turn to darker beers and The Judge is a delicious chocolate vanilla porter that comes in at 6% ABV. Plaid Attack uses UK classic hops for a Scottish Ale at 6.2% ABV.

Wiseacre is offering a Women & Witches in Beer Tour at its Broad Avenue location Saturday, October 23. You probably didn’t know that women were the original brewers and they dominated the brewing process for the majority of beer’s history. Enjoy beer paired with Halloween candy while learning about the contributions women and witches have made to beer. 1 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM times are available. Book your tour

The DM has a look at the logistics robots on display this week at the Renasant Convention Center.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association has announced its October monthly meeting on the rooftop of The Landing Residences. Members will be about to check out their infinity pool with river views while hearing from City Council Chairman Frank Colvett and city CFO Shirley Ford. Tuesday, October 26 is the date, social hour 5-6 PM, meeting 6-7 PM.

The Labor Department reports that 892,000 restaurant, bar, and hotel workers left their jobs in August. (Source: Morning Brew)

MySidewalk.com has lots of interesting demographic data on Downtown Memphis and its peer neighborhoods in other cities.

Today is National No Bra Day.

It seems like these posts just keep getting longer and longer. I’m relieved to be done. Back tomorrow with more news.

Are you ready for another beer festival?

Memphis Brewfest returns to the Liberty Bowl, and I mean actually on the field at the Liberty Bowl, this coming Saturday 3-7 PM. There are two tickets available.

The general admission Memphis Brewfest ticket gets you

• As many samples as you want from more than 50 breweries and cideries around the world (list of participants here)
• Food from local restaurants
• Craft vendors
• Live music
• Games

The VIP ticket gets you

• Everything listed above
• Access to the Memphis Tigers’ new locker room
• All-you-can-eat buffet
• VIP special beers
• Private restrooms
• Dedicated Fast Pass entry

But that’s not all! The organizers of Brewfest will be back on the field Sunday noon-3:30 with another event, Memphis Brunchfest. (Separate ticket required for each event.) Your Brunchfest ticket gets you

• Bottomless mimosas
• An Old Dominick Bloody Mary bar
• Unlimited samples of beer, cider, seltzer, and hard tea
• Brunch bites from Aldo’s Pizza Pies, Bardog, Arcade, Flying Saucer, Hattie B’s, and Slider Inn

Get tickets to the events here. Note that since the events are being held at the Liberty Bowl, attendees must comply with the stadium’s COVID-19 protocols.

ProPublica recently published an article on juvenile justice in Tennessee. It’s specifically about Rutherford County and Murfreesboro, but it’s worth a read for Memphians because it illustrates how the state does not adequately audit what is happening in county juvenile justice systems. Abuses can continue undetected for years.

Food & Wine says the best hot wings are made in Memphis. Covered in the article are Central BBQ, Wing Guru, Wing Factory, and Crumpy’s.

Does anyone know if Wayne’s Candy on Carolina Ave. fire-sales its Halloween candy on November 1 the way Walgreens does? If so, some of us from the Downtown core are going to make a field trip down there.

City Councilman Worth Morgan has announced his candidacy for Shelby County Mayor. Meh. I’d like to see a different occupant of that office but Morgan isn’t exactly who I had in mind. I’ll give a word of advice to Mr. Morgan, though: My problem with the current county mayor is that he often comes off as a PR flack more than he does an effective leader. Differentiate yourself from that and I’ll consider giving you my vote.

Local viral disease expert Dr. Manoj Jain told the CA, “We’re in the best place we’ve ever been” with regards to COVID in Shelby County. Between those vaccinated and those who’ve had the virus, he estimates us at about 80% immunity. There’s ample testing, no variants that appear poised to be the next threat after Delta, and we’re close to having vaccines authorized for children 5 to 11.

In national COVID news: Dr. Fauci says Halloween is a “go” this year. Trick-or-treating is safe, especially if you (the adults handing out candy) sit outside and offer pre-packaged candy on a table.

Shall we have a look at the games on this weekend’s college football slate of interest to Memphians? Games are Saturday, October 16 unless otherwise noted.

• Navy at Memphis, 6:30 PM Thursday, October 14, ESPN
• UCF at 3 Cincinnati, 11 AM, ESPN
• 12 Oklahoma State at 25 Texas, 11 AM, FOX
• Auburn at 17 Arkansas, 11 AM, CBS
• 20 Florida at LSU, 11 AM, ESPN
• 11 Kentucky at 1 Georgia, 2:30 PM, CBS
• 5 Alabama at Mississippi State, 6 PM, ESPN
• 13 Ole Miss at Tennessee, 6:30 PM, SEC Network

Ole Miss players: I will take back everything bad I’ve ever said about your school if one of you scores a touchdown at Neyland Stadium, runs out to midfield, and takes a “P” on the “T.”

It’s National Gumbo Day, a good day to have lunch or dinner at Ben-Yay’s next to the old Family Dollar location on Main.

It’s also Pulled Pork Day. My recommendation to celebrate would be to go to Central BBQ. Get you a half-order of BBQ pulled pork nachos and 3 of those smoked whole wings Food & Wine raved about.

Reckless driving is not just a problem Downtown. Those who live in the Parkway Village and Fox Meadows neighborhoods are fed up with it too.

I’ve noticed a blue Dodge Charger with a loud revving engine and drive-out tags several times Downtown these past two weeks. I will be curious to see how much longer that car is on the road before the owner puts official state tags on it.

A support dog has been added to the staff at St. Jude. The dog will work in the Staff Resilience Center.

ABC 24 got a rare look inside the COVID ICU unit at Methodist.

Uptown’s Soul & Spirits Brewery has its grand opening Friday and Saturday from noon to 10. 845 N. Main. Note that the brewery is within Groove On Demand’s ride-sharing service range (but also note that Groove On Demand doesn’t operate on Saturday or Sunday).

That’s the news for now. My plans for today are to watch a video seminar by a top professional writer, take notes from another top writer on how to write eye-catching headlines, and make a supply run to DGX. Once I get all of that done, I’ll have earned a trip out. I like Mondays and Tuesdays the best because those are the days when it’s mostly just locals. Back tomorrow with more news.

One thing I noticed about the Memphis Farmers Market is that quite a few Chinese people shop there. For example, last Saturday I was only there about 10 minutes, and I saw 4 Chinese people out of the 70 or so shoppers there. That’s not a huge amount, but that’s more than 5% of the crowd, way disproportionate to the number of Chinese in Memphis as a whole. I’ve wanted to go up and ask them, “Why do y’all like farmers markets so much?” but I was worried the question might sound culturally insensitive.

This weekend I found my answer on Google. “Wet” markets are common in China. Much like our Memphis Farmers Market, vegetables, fruits, meat, and seafood are sold in the open air. These “wet” markets are said to be a big part of Chinese culture and therefore farmers markets are a comforting environment to Chinese-Americans. They’re called “wet” because of the water used to water down the produce, the ice used to keep meat from spoiling, and in contrast to “dry” products like ramen.

I heard about 8 loud gunshots that sounded like they came from the Main-Monroe intersection about 12:15 AM. I’ll say it once again: That is more gunshots than I heard Downtown between 2003 and 2019. I have probably heard 100 gunshots from my apartment since the start of the pandemic. Downtown is getting real ghetto and I think it may be past the point of the cops having any ability to clean it up. I’m not considering leaving but my recommendation to move down here isn’t as strong as it would have been 5 or 10 years ago.

Felicia sent out a hint yesterday as to where Felicia Suzanne Restaurant will be relocating. She said she wasn’t ready to reveal the new location yet, but she said it is exactly 1392 steps from the old location. It could be to the north, east, or south (west would put the new location under water).

Let’s do a little math. I walked a total of 8 blocks yesterday, and my iPhone’s Health app said I walked 2068 steps. So 1392 steps would be about 5 blocks. Hmmm. Let’s do a little thinking:

• South – The restaurant could be the anchor tenant in one of the new One Beale buildings. It could also go into the old Swanky’s location in the Chisca apartments.
• East – Felicia is a forward thinker, and there is no up-and-coming neighborhood in Memphis as hot as The Edge District right now. The restaurant could be an anchor tenant in mixed-use construction happening there. It would have to be more toward the western side of The Edge (Fourth/Danny Thomas) than the eastern (Sun Studio) to fit 1392 steps.
• North – Nope. 1392 steps would put you right in the middle of the Civic Center Plaza. I know the city has plans to re-think that area but we’re years out from it happening.

This weekend I found myself seated next to 3 people from out of town who said they were tourists – a man and woman in their 30s, and a man a few years older than me, who was the main one I talked to. He introduced himself, got on a first-name basis with me, asked for my recommendations for stuff to do, bought me a shot.

Then he leaned toward me and asked, “Paul, I hope that isn’t awkward. What we’re really looking for down here is some cocaine. Do you know where I can get some?”

“Man, I’m sorry, but I don’t know,” I replied. “I’ve never done coke in my life. I hear it’s not hard to find down here, but I’m not your guy.”

He thanked me for my honesty and didn’t attempt to bring up the subject any further. I put the conversation out of my mind, but the next morning my intuition caused me to sit up in bed, wide awake. The way that guy befriended me, gained my trust, used the reciprocity principle by buying me a shot… I think that was a cop.

College football AP poll is out… let’s see what we’ve got. Georgia rises to 1 following Alabama’s upset by Texas A&M. Memphis’ AAC rival Cincinnati rises to 3. Bama drops to 5. Ole Miss and Arkansas trade the 13 and 17 spots following Ole Miss’s win in Oxford. A&M re-enters the rankings at 21. Memphis’ conference rival SMU comes in at 23. Arkansas’ next opponent Auburn is the first school out of the top 25.

You just can’t make this stuff up:

“That’s two in a row, we call that a winning streak. We’re playing lights-out football against some tough teams. Nobody, and I mean nobody, wants to play Tennessee right now.” – Josh Heupel, Tennessee head football coach

• The “tough teams” his Vols played “lights-out football” against were Missouri and South Carolina, which along with Vanderbilt comprise the worst teams in the SEC.
• The next four teams on the schedule: 13 Ole Miss, 5 Alabama, 11 Kentucky, and 1 Georgia. I bet you those teams are delighted to see a Tennessee game on the horizon. If the Vols go 1-3 in that stretch it will be a miracle.

I gotta ask – Is there lead paint on the walls of the Tennessee head football coach’s office? Is there asbestos in the ceiling? There’s something about that space that makes its occupant extra stupid. That quote sounds like something Butch Jones would have said.

Dinosaurs are invading Memphis next month! 50 animatronic dinosaurs are coming to the Renasant Convention Center Saturday and Sunday, October 23 and 24. They move and growl. Also part of the fun:

• Guided audio tour
• Dinosaur trivia
• 6 dinosaur-themed bounce houses
• Dinosaur rides

General admission tickets (whether you’re an adult or a kid) are $19. An unlimited ride pass (which does not include a general admission ticket) is $33.

I had a dream last night where I went to a toy store and bought an IT Department Action Figure 4-pack. The first action figure was a white guy with 5 days’ beard growth and a sci-fi T-shirt. The second was an Indian man in a sweater vest. The third was an Indian woman. The slot for the 4th action figure was empty except for a note: “This position is open. If interested, kindly contact staffing agency Robert Half.”

From Lifehacker: How to sneak food into the movies like a criminal

Across the Board Restaurant Group is holding a job fair next Monday, October 18, from 1 to 4 PM at 117 Prime (117 Union Ave.) They’ll take applications not only for that restaurant, but Sweet Grass and Sunrise as well.

The Boston Marathon is today. It’s also Columbus Day so I hope you don’t have urgent business with the government or a bank today. It’s National Kimberly Day, so cheers to any Kimberlys, Kims, or Kimsters I have reading this post. Finally, it’s National Sausage Pizza Day. I’m one of those people who think sausage is a superior pizza topping to pepperoni, although I’ll take either as long as you don’t throw any pineapple on there.

Weather: There’s a possibility of high winds, hail, heavy rain, or a tornado today.

The updated bowl projections have Tennessee in the Liberty Bowl. Please don’t send in the clowns! On the other hand, the projections have the Tigers taking a nice little trip to Hawaii. Alabama-Texas in the Sugar, Nebraska-Arkansas in the Outback, Minnesota-Ole Miss in Music City.

That’s it for now. I’ll be back tomorrow with info on 2 festivals, college football times and channels, and whatever other news comes my way.