Category: Uncategorized

Friday update

Check back in this space between now and noon as I will update Downtown business closings for today, Friday, February 4. (Disclaimer: I try as hard as I can to build an accurate and complete list, but once in a while I get incorrect info. Calling the business is recommended if you need to be 100% certain it’s open or closed.)

Closed:

  • Atomic Rose (tonight but they plan to open Saturday and Sunday)
  • Baron’s Man Cave
  • Big River Crossing
  • Brass Door
  • Cordelia’s Market (closed due to power outages; they will update social media if anything changes)
  • Paulette’s (closed due to power outages; they will update social media if anything changes)
  • Rachel’s Salon and Day Spa
  • River Time Market & Deli
  • STIX
  • Stock & Belle
  • Tug’s Casual Grill (closed due to power outages; they will update social media if anything changes)

Open:

  • Aldo’s Pizza Pies Downtown
  • Arcade
  • Automatic Slim’s, at 11, for brunch
  • Bardog Tavern (opened at 8 AM – Underdog downstairs opens at 11)
  • Blind Bear, at 11, for brunch
  • Chef Tam’s Underground Kitchen, 11 AM-4:30 PM, half-off for MLGW workers
  • Flying Saucer
  • Green Beetle
  • Huey’s
  • Loflin Yard
  • Majestic Grille
  • McEwen’s
  • Memphis Chess Club (for lunch; closing 1 PM)
  • Paula & Raiford’s Disco (9 PM-3 AM)
  • Pontotoc Lounge
  • Robusto by Havana Mix
  • Slider Inn Downtown (Slider Inn Midtown will be closed due to lack of power)

We got the expected ice storm yesterday. In the Downtown core, the surface-level temperature hovered around 33-34 all morning, making for a slushy walk when I got out at noon. However, the temperature higher up was a little colder, causing ice to form on tree branches.

This tree at Main and Gayoso had a large branch on the ground. It’s a good thing a car was not parked there.

Here’s a video by ABC 24 of a tree blocking lanes on Riverside Drive.

Around 1 PM the temperature dropped below freezing, and the Main Street Mall and roads iced up. Power lines started to be affected. The Downtown core never lost power but Mud Island did. At its peak, 137,000 in Memphis were without power and Mayor Strickland declared a state of emergency. Some people may be without power for several days,

MemphisWeather.net posted that early morning temps were in the mid-20s Friday. Temps will struggle to make it to freezing today, so what’s on the ground is likely to remain on the ground all day. I bet a lot of offices will remain closed or work-from-home today as this morning’s commute is more dangerous than yesterday morning’s.

Looking out the window, it appears that Second Street has been de-iced. Monroe Avenue has patches of ice but is passable.

Very few restaurants were open in the Downtown core yesterday. I didn’t go to Bardog Tavern but was told by lunchtime, there was barely room to stand in there.

Silly Goose missed out on a lot of money by not firing up their pizza oven until 4 PM. That’s especially the case on snow days but it’s true most weekdays, given that they’re located in the ground floor of an office tower, plus they’re a block walk from AutoZone headquarters store support center.

One especially bad result of the ice storm is that the PBR delivery truck couldn’t make it, causing the Blind Bear to run out of the greatest beer ever made. I switched to a local product, Grind City Tiger Tail, a malt liquor I found quite refreshing. At $6 per pint and a 7.5% ABV, you get plenty of bang for your buck with a Value Drinking Index of 20.

Thanks to wonderful friends who made sure I got home last night without having to traverse the icy Main Street Mall. And now, let’s get on to the news.

The reservation book that was taken from Rizzo’s several days ago has been returned.

Longshot is doing another all-inclusive special for the Cincinnati Bengals vs. L.A. Rams championship game happening on February 13. $56 gets you

  • Frito pie
  • Coconut curry cauliflower
  • Honey gold fried chicken
  • 3 drink tickets

Seats are limited, so call 901-701-7494 to make your reservation.

Tug’s Casual Grill fans, mark your calendars for Mardi Gras specials Tuesday, March 1. They’ll have gumbo, red beans & rice, shrimp & sausage jambalaya, a shrimp po’boy, and a muffalini. Drink specials will include a hurricane, a voodoo lemonade, and a Bourbon Street martini.

From Media Referee: Former NBA championship team member Richard Jefferson believes that Ja Morant can guide the Grizzlies to championship contention

From the DM: Jaren Jackson Jr. is no longer a longshot for Defensive Player of the Year. He leads the NBA in blocks this season with 121. His teammate Ja Morant praised Jackson for being able to guard all five positions and for often being assigned to guard the other team’s best shooter.

Today is National Quacker Day. Get your souvenir rubber duck at the Peabody gift shops.

The Breakfast Club will perform ’80s rock, New Wave, and dance tunes Saturday at the Hard Rock beginning at 7.

All right. I’ll update the list of closings (and late openings) that I’m aware of at the top of this blog until about noon. After that, I’ll post closings on Facebook and make the post public so you can see it even if we aren’t connected on there. Back tomorrow with more news.

Thursday update

SNOW DAY!!! Or rather, ice day. Here’s a list of Downtown closings.

  • Baron’s Man Cave
  • B.B. King’s
  • Big River Crossing
  • Brass Door
  • Cadre Building
  • Dr. Bean’s Coffee and Tea Emporium
  • Elmwood Cemetery
  • Flying Saucer
  • Gould’s
  • Green Beetle
  • Harbor Town Pharmacy
  • Huey’s
  • Itta Bena
  • Majestic Grille
  • Old Dominick Distillery
  • Paulette’s
  • Rachel’s Salon
  • River City Records
  • River Time Market & Deli
  • Robusto by Hava Mix
  • Sage
  • Slider Inn Downtown
  • South Main Book Juggler
  • STIX
  • Sunrise Memphis
  • Sun Studio
  • The Vault

Cordelia’s Market will close at 6 PM with its cafe closing at 3 PM.

I’ll update this list through about noon today as I learn of more closings.

Here’s the updated ice forecast from the National Weather Service. Memphis has moved into the 0.5-0.75 inch band.

Ice is already accumulating on power lines, trees, and overpasses. Out in Midtown, it’s reported that a massive tree has fallen at Central and McLean and is blocking the roadway.

The reserve players for the NBA All-Star Game will be announced today at 6 PM on TNT. Ja Morant is already in as a stater.

The Memphis Tigers’ road game, scheduled for tonight in Cincinnati, has been postponed until February 15 due to a winter storm warning in Cincy.

Sage has started doing WCW (Wine, Conversation & Whiskey) Wednesday evenings 5-10. Half off wine, $2 off whiskey, and DJ Alpha Whiskey supplying the tunes.

Very sad day in Memphis yesterday: A man shot his girlfriend late Tuesday night, killing her. He then kidnapped their 2-day-old daughter and threw her into the Mississippi River near the Mud Island boat ramp. The newborn drowned. The man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

The Majestic Grille is partnering with Enchante to offer Valentine’s Day bouquets delivered to your table at dinner. Simply order on Encante’s website and put in their address, 145 S. Main, for delivery and use the coupon code MAJESTIC for $15 off. The Majestic still has some seats available for their four-course wine dinner and optional wine pairing that night. Call 901-522-8555 to make reservations.

South Main restaurants Good Fortune Co., South of Beale, and Pontotoc Lounge are teaming up to offer a Lunar New Year pub crawl from February 4-28. You earn a pub crawl “dollar” by trying a themed drink from a participating bar. Once you earn six pub crawl dollars, take them to Good Fortune Co. for a Lunar New Year T-shirt. The pub crawl will have its official kickoff, including a traditional Lion Dance, at 4:30 PM Saturday at Good Fortune.

Action News 5 has a sneak peek of the newly-renovated Cossitt Library. Not only will you be able to check out books, you’ll be able to record a podcast or listen to music there. The library will offer meeting rooms and there will even be a cafe with patio seating. This all sounds excellent but I sure am sick of “soon” as the reopening date.

Memphians won’t get to see “Prime Time” Deion Sanders coach in the Southern Heritage Classic this year. Jackson State announced it is pulling out of the Classic due to a newly-adopted agreement with its conference. Its opponent, Tennessee State, was not happy with the announcement.

Stay home today if you can, and if you have to get out on the roads, take it REAL slow. There’s already been an accident with injuries this morning on Union near AutoZone Park. Back tomorrow with more news.

Wednesday update: Ice Storm Warning issued for Shelby County

The National Weather Service has issued an Ice Storm Warning for Shelby County, as well as neighboring counties Tipton, Crittenden, and Desoto.

According to Weatherbug’s hourly forecast, snow will start falling around 2 AM Thursday, the temperature expected to be 37 at the time. There will be a chance of snow falling – heavy at times – through 2 AM Friday. The temperature will fall to freezing at 7 AM Thursday, then will briefly rise to 33 before falling back below freezing, allowing snow on the roads to melt and then re-freeze as ice.

Better make plans to work from home Thursday (unless you are an essential worker, for example a bartender).

Bob Dylan is bringing his Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour to the Orpheum Saturday, April 9. Tickets are $59.50 to $129.50. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday at 10 AM.

STIX, the fast casual Asian restaurant in Peabody Place, has a special combo meal going on for the month of February. Get a ginger salad, a Downtown Roll, and an order of teriyaki chicken with fried rice for $20.

Want to see Hadestown at the Orpheum this week? If you are a student, teacher, or hero, rush tickets will be available for $20 for these performances:

  • Wednesday, 7:30 PM
  • Thursday, 7:30 PM (if not canceled due to weather)
  • Sunday, 6:30 PM

First come, first served, up to 2 tickets per valid ID, must be purchased at the box office. Rush starts at 10 AM and lasts until they run out of tickets or showtime. Credit card preferred. No choice in seats.

Soul & Spirits, the new brewery on the far end of North Main, has added Tuesdays to the list of days the taproom is open, and they will have trivia Tuesday evenings. They have a new limited-release beer called Cupid, a chocolate stout infused with 4 different types of chocolates.

Second-year Grizzlies shooting guard Desmond Bane has been picked for the Rising Stars game that is part of the NBA’s All-Star week.

The team formerly known as the Washington Redskins and the Washington Football Team has chosen a new name: Washington Commanders. Makes sense, since the president, who is the commander-in-chief of the nation’s armed forces, resides in Washington.

Grizzlies on national TV alert: The Grizz travel to New York to play the Knicks tonight. Tip-off is 6:30 and the game will be televised on ESPN.

Emoni Bates may be done with the Memphis Tigers. His father tweeted that Emoni’s status with the Tigers “has suddenly come into question” and he may pursue other opportunities in basketball until he is eligible for the NBA draft in 2023.

In its latest 5 Star Story, Action News 5 introduces the family behind Makeda’s Cookies. From their warehouse at 301 Jefferson, they’re able to supply cookies to 70 grocery stores.

The stupid large brown rodent didn’t see his shadow today, but who cares? Tater Tot Day is a much better way to celebrate February 2nd. My suggestion would be the cheese tots with bacon & scallions from Huey’s. Another good option would be Westy’s smothered tots with cheddar, bacon, and sour cream.

DJ Bizzle Bluebland AKA Jared “Jay B.” Boyd will perform at Wiseacre Downtown Saturday 3 to 7 PM. This a free event and they’ll have the Tigers and Grizzlies on their new big screens.

I want to clarify something. There were shots fired following an incident that started inside a Downtown bar Tuesday morning. I heard those shots from my apartment and they happened about 2:20-2:25 AM and a report was made to the police from someone at 272 S. Main at 2:31 AM. News stations are reporting the shooting happened just before 4 AM, which would imply the bar was open past its legal closing time of 3. That is absolutely incorrect.

Programming note: If tomorrow’s forecast holds up, I may take the day off from blogging if there is no urgent news. Back no later than Friday with more.

Tuesday update

If you have a reservation at Rizzo’s anytime in the next few weeks – but particularly Saturday, February 12 or Monday, February 14 – please give the restaurant a call at 901-304-6985. Their reservation book got taken and they need to redo the upcoming reservations.

I heard about 15 gunshots around 2:25 this morning. Apparently they happened near South Main and MLK Avenue.

The 7-day rolling average of new COVID-19 cases per day in Shelby County dropped to 985 yesterday, the first time the average has come in under 1000 since the last week of December. That’s still an average of 106 cases per day per 100,000 in the county, which is about 10 times higher than where we’d like it to be, but at least we’re heading in the right direction.

May I suggest you get outside and enjoy the great weather today, because the weather will be far from great later this week… MemphisWeather.net calls for a high of 65 and a low of only 51 today. (That means I’ll wear shorts when I go out! I haven’t worn shorts out since New Year’s Day.)

Tomorrow you better get out and buy BREAD AND MILK AND MILK AND BREAD AND BREAD AND MILK because a Winter Storm Watch has been extended to include Shelby County. Latest models show the temperature falling quickly during the day Thursday, causing the rain that will be falling to change over to ice and then snow. Hmmm… is it possible we’ll be put under a dreaded Ice Storm Warning on Thursday? @memphisweather1 is the Twitter account to follow for the latest updates.

It’s the first of the month, which means it’s time to take a look at upcoming non-basketball events at FedExForum:

Broadway musical Hadestown kicks off a six-day, eight-show run at the Orpheum tonight. If you’re attending, please note that masks are required.

The Mersey Beatles play the Halloran Centre Thursday night. There are many Beatles tribute bands, but this is the only one from Liverpool. The group had a decade-long residency at the Cavern Club, where the Beatles themselves were the resident band from 1961 to 1963.

From Basketball Network: 4 reasons Ja Morant should have been the number-one pick ahead of Zion Williamson

The article mentions that Zion has been putting on even more weight. Check this out:

Geez… was Zion’s diet plan designed by Charles Barkley?

As for the Grizzlies, they dropped a road game in overtime to the Philadelphia 76ers last night, 122-119. The Grizz are still comfortably in third place in the West by 4 games. If the Grizzlies were in the Eastern Conference, they’d be in first place by 2 games.

Tomorrow is Groundhog Day. From stats site FiveThirtyEight: Groundhogs do not make good meteorologists

From ABC 24: Tom Lee Park redesign accelerating. The park is on schedule to reopen to the public in the spring of 2023.

ParkMobile, a contactless payment system for on-street parking, is expanding citywide. The system had been tested in select spaces Downtown and in The Edge District for six months. You can download an app for your iPhone or Android and never again will you risk catching COVID from those dirty, filthy parking meters.

The first events of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics happen tomorrow. Here’s the Winter Olympics schedule. Click on any dot or medal for time and location info. Unfortunately they don’t list which TV network each event will be on, which would be nice to know. For those of you who love watching curling as much as I do, set your alarm before you go to bed tonight. Team USA has a mixed doubles match against Australia at 6:05 tomorrow morning.

Today is Spunky Old Broads Day. That brings a few people to mind. I guess I better keep that thought to myself though.

Tonight is Songwriter Night at Tin Roof. Things get started at 8 PM.

Downtown Hookahs is now taking pre-orders for pineapple hookahs for Valentine’s Day. It’s a unique gift and you’d be supporting a great local business.

I got a great suggestion from a friend yesterday: He said I should look into remote freelance editing work. That would be a great complement to my writing work. I have good spelling and grammar and I learned to follow the AP Stylebook for a previous job (although I still want to vomit when I have to refer to a handbill as a “flier” rather than a “flyer”). I’ll look into editing work later this week.

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

Monday update

Most of the talk about the NBA right now is about the All-Star Game, in particular who will be selected by the league’s coaches this Thursday as All-Star reserves. However, there’s another important date coming up – next Thursday, February 10, is the NBA trade deadline.

Bleacher Report pitches a trade that would send the Toronto Raptors’ power forward Pascal Siakam to Memphis. To match Siakam’s $33 million salary the Grizz would send Toronto Brandon Clarke, Kyle Anderson, Steven Adams, and Ziaire Williams. To sweeten the deal, Memphis would include its own 2023 first-round pick and two other first-rounders acquired from other teams via earlier trades.

Siakam would give Memphis its third star alongside Ja and Jaren. A starting lineup of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Pascal Siakam, and Jaren Jackson sounds intriguing and the kind of lineup I can see starting an NBA Finals game. But:

  • With Steven Adams going out and a star power forward coming in, Coach Jenkins would have to be totally committed to starting Jaren at center.
  • Also, it would become more critical than ever that Jaren stay healthy – otherwise you could have a situation where Xavier Tillman Sr. starts at center in playoff games.
  • We may already have our third star in Desmond Bane, but it’s still just a little too early to be sure of that.
  • I really hate the thought of giving up Ziaire without even seeing a full season of his potential.

On the other hand, Siakam knows what it’s like to win an NBA championship. He played a huge role on the Toronto championship team that included Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, and Marc Gasol. That veteran presence could be just what the doctor ordered for the Grizzlies.

There are pros and cons. I trust Zach Kleiman to make the best decision.

I’m hearing I really missed out on catching DJ AD at the Blind Bear a week ago Saturday. Everyone I talked to said she brought a great energy to the place and her song selection was on point. She was said to be far more than a person on a laptop playing a playlist. If she gets brought back for another gig, I am going to go see her for sure.

So. Cincinnati vs. the L.A. Rams for the Super Bowl. Any bars doing Super Bowl specials, let me know. Yes, I can call it a special for the Big Game or the Superb Owl special if you’re worried about the NFL coming after you for using its trademark.

A white Jeep Cherokee was reported stolen from the area near South Main and Butler this morning. What’s up with white Jeeps being stolen recently? Are they a status symbol in the criminal community the way Infinitis are?

All right. Not much news this morning. Back tomorrow or Wednesday.

Sunday update

Did I call the Royal Rumble or what? I got every match right in my predictions, even though neither the men’s or women’s Rumble winner was announced for the match prior to its start.

Wiseacre has announced its annual Valentine’s Day Flowers and Chocolate event at its OG location out on Broad Avenue Saturday, February 12. Participants will learn all about the flowers and chocolate of the beer world, hops and malt, on a tour of the brewery. The tour includes samples of Wiseacre beers paired with chocolate from Dinstuhl’s. Tickets are $25 and there are 1 PM and 3 PM tour times to choose from.

An immersive Van Gogh exhibit is coming to Memphis, although dates and location have not yet been listed.

At Memphis Chess Club, you can get $3 off all orders over $13 with coupon code SKIP13.

The DM has details about the Waterfront District the mayor plans to better accommodate cruise lines.

Here’s a link to James Aycock’s latest COVID Week-in-Review.

The Grizzlies got a 115-95 win over the Washington Wizards at FedExForum last night. That improves Memphis to 35-17 and gives them a full 4-game lead over Utah for third place in the West. The Grizzlies travel to Philadelphia for a road game tomorrow.

There was an armed carjacking on B.B. King Blvd. a block north of Crump in the 2:00 hour this morning. A white Jeep Patriot was taken.

The MemphisWeather.net forecast has a chance of freezing rain for Thursday morning. However, Memphis will see highs in the 60s Tuesday and Wednesday.

There will be an adult acting class this Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 PM at LilyRoze Studios, 810 S. Main.

Blackdog plays Earnestine & Hazel’s Wednesday night at 9.

Time to go drink a PBR and watch a couple of NFL games I honestly couldn’t care less about. Back tomorrow with more news.

Saturday update and WWE Royal Rumble predictions

If you love Memphis restaurants, you need to read this CA article by food writer Jennifer Chandler. The Memphis Restaurant Association is calling on Memphians to reach out to Congress and ask them to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). This federal fund, set up to help restaurants through the pandemic, is running out of money and Chandler calls it a “bottom-of-the-ninth” moment for some area restaurants.

Call Congress to help save local restaurants

A Camaro was reported stolen at 100 Peabody Place a little before 3 this morning. It was found a short time later with damage to the driver’s side.

Dates and times have been set for Memphis 901 FC’s 2022 schedule. The action kicks off at home on Saturday, March 12.

Ja posted 30 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds for a triple-double in a Grizzlies victory at home over Utah last night. That was a very important win because Utah is right behind Memphis in the West, and that puts another game between us.

  • Memphis (34-17) is 3rd in the West
  • The Grizzlies are 6.5 games back from conference leader Phoenix and 3 back from 2nd-place Golden State
  • The Grizzlies are 3.5 games ahead of 4th-place Utah
  • The Grizzlies are avoiding play-in scenarios by 9 games, ahead of the 7th-place L.A. Clippers by that amount

Tonight is the second game of a home back-to-back for the Grizz. The team hosts the Washington Wizards. Tip time is 7 PM, but if you have tickets you’ll want to get there early – first 3000 fans get #JaCozySzn Grizzlies Tech Suit pants. This is the last fan giveaway until March 5.

Tonight is also Girl Scout Night at the Grizzlies. Girl Scouts and their families who purchase a special ticket will get to sit in the lower bowl to watch the Grizzlies’ pre-game shootaround. Post-game they will be invited to come on the court and shoot free throws. Scouts will also receive a custom Grizzlies and Hustle patch and the first 100 who purchase tickets will get a Grizzlies water bottle canteen.

The Blues Foundation announced that the Blues Hall of Fame on South Main Street will be closed until late April. The foundation has their biggest month ever coming up in May, with the International Blues Challenge and Hall of Fame inductions that month. They need the time off to prepare for the big events and staff up.

Impact 360 at 777 S. Main will offer a Self-Defense and Martial Arts Intro Class for ages 5-15 Saturday, February 12 from 10:15 AM to 12:15 PM. The course is a holistic 360-degree approach that will teach students not only martial arts, but how to be responsible to others and deal with day-to-day struggles. The cost for the class is $25.

MLK50 reports on Uptown residents’ recent successful fight to keep a 7-story parking garage out of their neighborhod.

Don’t forget that the Eric Gales album release meet & greet happens this afternoon at 2 at River City Records.

… and now it’s time for…

2022 WWE ROYAL RUMBLE PREDICTIONS

How to watch: The Rumble will be on Peacock tonight starting at 7 PM.

WWE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: BROCK LESNAR (C) VS. BOBBY LASHLEY

Prediction: Lesnar dominates most of the match. However, on orders from their cousin Roman Reigns, the Usos interfere, allowing Lashley to roll up Lesnar for the win. Winner and new WWE champion: Bobby Lashley

THE MIZ & MARYSE VS. EDGE & BETH PHOENIX

Prediction: I really couldn’t care less about this match, but this is an easy one to predict. We all know the babyfaces are going over here. Miz will be publicly embarrassed somehow, maybe covered in slime or something like that. Winners: Edge & Beth Phoenix

Post-match, Brock Lesnar beats up one of the Royal Rumble entrants (I guess Sami Zayn) and announces he’s taking his spot.

MEN’S ROYAL RUMBLE

Prediction: The final four are Austin Theory, Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, and Brock Lesnar. Lesnar eliminates McIntyre to win the Rumble and get a shot at the championship of his choice at WrestleMania.

Things I’d like to see happen:

  • NXT champion Bron Breakker shows up and wins the Rumble. For those not familiar, Breakker is the son of Rick Steiner and he uses his uncle Scott’s Recliner as his finishing move. He’s been killing it on NXT lately.
  • Bad Bunny is a surprise entrant in the Rumble. Damian Priest eliminates Bunny with a vicious clothesline, marking the beginning of Priest’s heel turn.
  • Dominik Mysterio eliminates his father, marking the beginning of a badly-needed heel turn for Dom. As The Rock learned 25 years ago, you can only get so far in the business as a squeaky-clean babyface with a famous father. Bonus points if Dom pulls off Rey’s mask as he throws him over the top rope.
  • Either Commander Azeez or Veer eliminates Omos, setting up a big man vs. big man feud for Monday Night RAW.

Things I don’t want to see happen:

  • Jeff Hardy as a surprise entrant in this match. It would be better for everyone involved if he joins his brother Matt in AEW.
  • Edge as a surprise entrant and winner of this match. Been there, done that.
  • Randy Orton as the winner. He’s always a threat but he no longer needs a title to be perceived as a top-level guy.
  • John Cena as a surprise entrant and winner. He’s already come back and lost to Reigns.

RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: BECKY LYNCH (C) VS. DOUDROP

Prediction: Lynch pins Doudrop clean in about six minutes. Winner and still champion: Becky Lynch

What I hope happens: Prior to the match, Doudrop announces she is reverting her name to Piper Niven and plays up to the crowd in a face turn. She and Lynch go back and forth in a 17-minute match and Niven hits her finisher to win the title. It’s the beginning of a long reign in which Niven demonstrates that women of all shapes and sizes can succeed at the highest levels and be loved by crowds of fans.

WOMEN’S ROYAL RUMBLE

Prediction: The final four are Bayley, Bianca Belair, Ronda Rousey, and Charlotte Flair. Rousey eliminates Belair for the win and announces that she wants Big Time Becks for the RAW women’s title at WrestleMania.

What I hope happens:

  • Bayley wins the Women’s Rumble, turning face in the process. Bayley visits both RAW and Smackdown over the weeks to follow as she decides which women’s title to challenge for, in the process picking up wins over Carmella, Queen Zelina, Natalya, and Tamina. She eventually chooses Lynch.
  • Mickie James comes to the ring wearing the Impact women’s world title belt and lasts at least 10 minutes before getting eliminated.

What I don’t want to see:

  • Lita wins the Royal Rumble. I’ve never been a fan of hers. She was shoved down our throats in the ’00s (similar to Cena) as the character we were supposed to like. Her Hall of Fame induction speech was one of the most long-winded and boring speeches I’ve ever heard.

WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP: ROMAN REIGNS (C) VS. SETH FREAKIN’ ROLLINS

Prediction: Reigns dominates early on, but Rollins keeps making comeback after comeback. The fans are solidly behind Rollins as he breaks free from the guillotine and minutes later, kicks out of a pin attempt following a spear. They fall outside of the ring and Rollins reverses a whip, sending Reigns into the steel ring post. Rollins hits two successive Curb Stomps and appears to be on the verge of becoming the new Universal champion…

… but Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman appear at ringside. Lesnar F5s Rollins into the ring post and throws him back in the ring. An astonished Reigns pins Rollins to retain. Winner and still Universal champion: Roman Reigns

Following the match, Lesnar gets a mic and admits that Rollins had Reigns beat and deserves to be champion. But Lesnar doesn’t care about Rollins; he wanted Reigns to still be champ at WrestleMania so Lesnar could have the pleasure of pinning Reigns in the main event there.

It would be super cool if:

  • Jon Moxley showed up at ringside to cheer Rollins on.

That’s it for this post. Back tomorrow.

 

Friday update: CONGRATULATIONS JA!!!

The NBA announced the starters for its All-Star game last night, and the Grizzlies’ Ja Morant was among them. Congratulations to Ja on his first All-Star selection. The vote was weighted 50% votes by fans, 25% votes by NBA players, and 25% votes by a media panel.

The rest of the All-Stars – players who will be coming off the bench in the All-Star Game – will be selected by a vote of NBA head coaches and will be announced on February 3.

On February 10, the All-Star players will be drafted onto one of the two captains’ teams – so Ja will be selected to be on either Team LeBron or Team KD on that day. The game is on February 20.

More good news: No more health directives for Shelby County! The current directive, which went into effect on January 1, will be allowed to expire Monday without a new directive being put into place. The department will transition into an advisory role rather than a role of telling people what they must or must not do.

The Memphis Tigers got a 71-54 home win over ECU last night. The Tigers improve to 11-8 and get an entire week off before a showdown on the road at Cincinnati.

There will be Friday Night Jazz by Strictly Jazz Entertainment tonight at the Westin 6 to 9 PM. Admission will be free.

Chili cheese kegs are a thing now. I kinda want one.

Sugar Grits posted a reminder that they’re doing dinner service until next week 4 to close. So I guess that’s an announcement that they won’t be doing dinner service after next week.

Sign of the times: Yesterday I told people I have no interest in playing squares on Super Bowl Sunday this year. The reason why: I don’t want to get a cash payout and have to walk home with it around 9 on a Sunday evening. The way Downtown is these days, there’s too high a chance someone would follow me out of the bar and rob me.

Hard Rock Cafe will offer a Valentine’s Day menu Wednesday, February 9 through Tuesday, February 15. It’ll offer limited-time entrees like a lobster cobb salad or a surf & turf deluxe steak.

From Mashed: Everything we know about Robert Irvine and Jon Taffer’s new series

The CA reports that a giant neon carrot could sprout in South Main. It’s part of the signage South Point Grocery is requesting to put up.

Also in the CA: A homeless man froze to death steps from City Hall

Bundle up if you go out tonight. The MemphisWeather.net forecast calls for as low of 20.

The Grizzlies host the Utah Jazz tonight at 7. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Southeast.

Soul & Parliament play the Hard Rock tonight at 8.

David Graham (not the one that sells cars) plays Blues City Cafe’s Band Box tonight at 6:30. Graham is from Portland, Oregon, fronted the Eskimo Brothers for 8 years, and is known for American Roots music.

President Biden and his wife Jill have a new cat named Willow. The cat jumped up on stage while Dr. Jill Biden was making remarks at a campaign stop in 2020. Seeing their bond, the owner felt the cat belonged with Dr. Biden.

Grape. plays the Ghost River taproom on Beale tonight at 7:30.

Krystal has added sausage & gravy bites to the menu. I need these in my life.

I’ll be back with more Downtown news as well as WWE Royal Rumble predictions tomorrow.

Thursday update

Great news… the Board of Adjustment voted no on a 7-story parking garage sought to be built by St. Jude. The garage would have been on the north side of A.W. Willis Avenue between Third and Fourth. It would have been a big ugly gray slab of concrete that would bring heavy traffic to Uptown/Greenlaw. The board members said that voting against such a great neighbor as St. Jude was difficult, and one member said he received 430 emails in opposition to the garage.

Watch Mayor Strickland’s State of the City address which he gave yesterday:

The DM got a radar gun and verified what we already knew: Everybody speeds in Memphis. Even if you want to go 55 on I-240, you can’t. You’ll be the only one going that slow and will therefore be a traffic hazard. Also, in Memphis you risk having your car shot at if you don’t keep up with the prevailing traffic speed.

The Grizzlies got a nice win on the road last night at San Antonio, and will now return to Memphis for back-to-back home games Friday and Saturday. Grizzlies fans, please say a prayer for Ja Morant’s grandmother, who is in poor health.

The starters and team captains for the NBA All-Star teams will be announced tonight at 6 PM on TNT. Ja is expected to be named a starter for the West.

The Tigers play a home game vs. East Carolina tonight at 8. The game will be televised on ESPN2. Fans attending are asked to wear black.

ABC 24 has a look at the new South Point Grocery coming to South Main.

Today is National Chocolate Cake Day.

For y’all who don’t keep up with world news, you might want to the next week or two. A Russian invasion of Ukraine seems imminent, and Biden has promised the largest response since World War II if it happens.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will retire at the end of this judicial year, giving President Biden an opportunity to appoint a justice. The White House has said Biden will fulfill his campaign promise to name the first Black woman to the court.

That’s all for now, back tomorrow.

Wednesday update

Lansky Bros. is hiring a Shipping & Receiving Manager whose hours would be 9 AM to 5 PM Monday-Friday. Required skills and responsibilities include

  • Process all incoming and outgoing shipments
  • Strong communication skills
  • High level of detail and accuracy
  • Organizational skills
  • Commitment to delivering excellent internal customer service
  • Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
  • Clean driving record for required use of company van to deliver product to the shops

If interested, send a resume to sales@lanskybros.com.

The DM reports that construction on the Downtown Mobility Center will begin next week. The trolley stop southbound on Main between Peabody Place and Beale, which will be adjacent to the center, will be demolished and replaced with a new one.

Nikki from Nikki’s Hot Products, which has gone out of business, posted that the very last of her Bloody Mary mix is available for sale at Cordelia’s Market. This is your last chance to stock up.

A second Sunrise Memphis location will open in East Memphis. The popular breakfast spot will open in the building being vacated by Blue Plate Cafe.

Memphis Voyager recently sat down for a talk with Charles Nwankwo and Rickey Johnson, two of the owners of Sage Memphis.

The Cousins Maine Lobster food truck will be at Grind City Brewing Co. this Sunday from 1 to 6.

A couple of days ago I linked to a story about Brookside, Alabama, a Birmingham suburb that is a notorious traffic trap. Yesterday there was a followup story that the police chief has resigned.

Shen Yun, a dance performance celebrating the culture of China, comes to the Cannon Center this Saturday. There are 2 PM and 7 PM performances and tickets are $80-$150.

Bardog Tavern will have a Valentine’s Day wine dinner featuring the wines of Meiomi downstairs in the Underdog Monday, February 14 at 6:30 PM. The dinner includes

First course: Crab cakes with remoulade

Second course: Lobster bisque or spring salad

Main course: Your choice of a 12 oz. New York strip with scallops and herbed butter, garlic mashed potatoes, and asparagus; OR halibut with crawfish cream sauce, risotto, and Brussels sprouts with bacon jam

Dessert: Tres leches cake with fresh fruit

The dinner comes with one cocktail and four Meiomi wines. Cost is $95 excluding tax and tip. Limited availability. Get tickets at the bar or by phone.

The Grizzlies are on the road at San Antonio tonight at 7:30. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Southeast.

Old Dominick Distillery is hiring Part-Time Tour Guides.

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow.