Category: Uncategorized

Thursday update

I want to pass on an idea that a friend of mine had yesterday: Typically Beale Street Wine Race is the Sunday before the start of Memphis in May, which has placed it on the last Sunday in April. This year the First Memphis in May event is BBQ Fest, beginning Wednesday, September 30. So can we have Wine Race Sunday, September 27? Or September 20 if the 27th would cause too many people to miss Wine Race because of BBQ Fest load-in?

The 20th really might be the better option… not sure it’s a good idea to have the two most debaucherous events on the spring fall calendar in the same week.

Texas de Brazil re-opened yesterday “with some restrictions.” I’m assuming some of those restrictions are with regard to the salad bar, which is a community dining experience. Anyone eat there yesterday who can fill us in on the changes?

Buying gift cards to be used at a later time is a good way to support small businesses during a pandemic. Through May 20, Lansky at the Peabody is running a buy a gift card, get a bonus gift card free sale. Here’s how it works:

  • Buy a $100 gift card, get a free $25 gift card
  • Buy a $200 gift card, get a free $50 gift card
  • Buy a $500 gift card, get a free $125 gift card
  • Buy a $1000 gift card, get a free $250 gift card
  • Buy a $2000 gift card, get a free $500 gift card

Here’s the link to the gift card sale.

Winfield’s clothing store at 2 S. Main is back open. They have a fantastic selection of clothing and shoes, and many musicians stop in the store when they tour Memphis to pick up some new attire. Be sure to visit the liquor store next door on Madison too, now under the same ownership as Winfield’s.

Flight is offering a Mother’s Day lunch that feeds 4 to 6 people for pick-up for $185. The meal includes

  • Whole roasted beef tenderloin, 5 pounds
  • Spring salad (mixed romaine, strawberries, goat cheese, and candied walnuts)
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Sauteed mushroom medley
  • Roasted asparagus
  • Roasted heirloom carrots
  • House-made lemon blueberry tart

Dinner will be available for pickup beginning at 11 AM on Saturday. Reheating instructions are included. Call 901-521-8005 to order.

Rizzo’s by Michael Patrick is also doing a Mother’s Day meal for pickup:

The Rusty Pieces will be back online with a streaming concert this evening from 7 to 8.

It’s a pretty common practice these days to not answer phone calls from numbers you do not recognize. However, if you get a call from a number beginning with 901-222-, pick that one up. It’s from a contact tracer with the health department.

The city has announced the locations of 15 speed cameras that have installed in school zones and near S curves where speeding has been a problem in the past. None of the cameras are Downtown.

The Orpheum’s Songwriters Series: Virtual Voices continues Saturday night at 7:30 with The PRVLG.

Gayoso Avenue between Front and Main will be closed Monday, May 11 through approximately Wednesday, May 13 as MLGW does work on an electrical duct line.

From Max’s Sports Bar:

Although we will still be closed for sit down this weekend, @glazescrawfish will be cooking up crawfish/shrimp and we’ll be slinging it togo this Saturday. Mudbugs are $10/lb and shrimp for $15 (prices include sides). And dont forget to order your favorite drink(s) from the giant crawfish out front when you get here! Thanks again for your patronage and we hope to see you this weekend!
As always, we are trying to be as efficient as possible in order to get you guys on your way quickly. So please take note of the following –
1. Please comment on our Facebook post to preorder. Cutoff for preorders is 4:00 on Friday. Walk up orders cannot be guaranteed.
2. Preorders will be served from 11:30-1:30. If you are not here by 1:30 your order will not be guaranteed. (no walkup orders before 1:30).
3. Normal menu will not be available until 2:00.
4. We will offer curbside pickup in the alley. But please be patient as we try to take care of any customers in line on the sidewalk as well.

You can pre-order on their Facebook page – look for the post identical to the above and leave a comment.

Smart move by Max to keep dine-in closed. Those crawfish boils are so popular that there is no way he’d be able to enforce social distancing. Also, a lot of the people who sit at the corner table by the door are of an age where they’re at elevated threat from COVID-19. (Then again, some of those people are of an age that “natural causes” present an elevated threat.)

The Gourmade food truck plans on getting back out this weekend. They’ll be at 525 N. Main Friday 4-7 PM and they’ll be at Crosstown Brewing Co. (more on that in a sec) Saturday. They have been getting long lines, so they ask that you maintain social distancing while you wait, and they’re offering 20% off if you have a mask on.

From Crosstown Brewing Co.:

After a lot of hard work by our staff to prepare, clean and create the safest environment that we can for patrons we’ve decided to open our doors back up to the public for enjoyment starting TOMORROW. (Note: This was posted yesterday, so TOMORROW is TODAY, Thursday.) Our new temporary taproom hours are: Monday-Thursday 2-8pm| Fri-Sunday 12-8pm.
.
Curbside pick-up and delivery will both still be available. Delivery hours are 12-5pm M-Saturday.
.
Here are some of the rules/practices: We will be at 50% capacity with hand sanitizing stations around for your usage, we will be using plastic cups only that will not be reused and we will be implementing a continuous cleaning schedule on top of our already strict cleaning practices.
.
While we are excited to have you back, we ask that all customers adhere to social distancing guidelines and best practices. See you tomorrow!

From Curb Market (Downtown is in their delivery area):

We are running a Mothers’ Day BBQ special sure to keep everyone happy AND safe.
BBQ options include smoked brisket for $9.99 a pound, chopped pork shoulder for $8.99 pound, or whole smoked chicken for $16.99 each (or half smoked chicken for $9.99 each). Quarts of slaw and potato salad are $4.99 each, and and a half-pan of smoked mac & cheese is $19.99.
Pre-orders must be placed by Wednesday, May 6 at 7 pm. Call 901-453-6880 to place your order for pickup or free delivery.

From Bass Pro:

The Bass Pro Pyramid team is super excited to deliver 6,000 face masks to the amazing folks at St. Jude!
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris is personally donating one million FDA-approved ASTM Level 1 Procedure Face Masks to healthcare workers and first responders working on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis across the United States.
“We are extremely grateful to our nation’s healthcare workers serving on the frontlines of this unprecedented global health crisis.” ~Johnny Morris

President Trump has bragged about how he was a great baseball player in high school, and easily could have had the option of turning pro had he wanted to. Well, here comes some shocking news: He lied. He had 4 hits in 29 at-bats for a horrendous .138 batting average. He had only 3 RBI and one run scored.

That’s it for now. Looks like we’re in for a beautiful day outside. Back tomorrow with more.

Wednesday update

A proposed ordinance was introduced yesterday in City Council to require the wearing of protective face masks in public. It passed the first reading, 11-2, and will have two more readings at the May 19 and June 2 Council meetings.

I have come around to supporting this measure, although like many people I was against it at first, seeing it as an inconvenience. You know what else is an inconvenience, though? Being trapped under a Safer at Home house arrest for 40+ days. Remember, the phases of re-opening can go backward as well as forward. If cases of COVID-19 surge, we could go back to Phase 0.

I do agree that the following points need to be addressed:

  • Availability – I only have a mask because my kind neighbors had an extra. You can’t tell people not to go out without a mask without telling them where to get a mask. Fortunately this looks like it is being addressed – more on that in a minute.
  • Cost – Many people are already not able to pay their rent or their MLGW bill right now. We don’t need to be telling them to go spend $12.99 on a mask. Masks would need to be available for free for anyone needing one.
  • Enforcement – by whom? In a city posting big numbers for violent crime and property crime, MPD cannot afford to have its time further divided.

Beginning this week, free face masks will be available to Tennesseans at county health departments. The Shelby County health department is located at 814 Jefferson.

There’s a bed for sale at Royal Furniture on Main Street that has a headboard that lights up.

I’m surprised it hasn’t sold yet, especially since stimulus checks were mailed recently.

You can get tested for COVID-19 in Shelby County even if you are asymptomatic, if you work in one of the following professions:

  • Jail or prison
  • First responder
  • Health care professional
  • Work in critical infrastructure (grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, restaurants)

Peabody Mother’s Day update:

This isn’t Downtown news, but good news for the Memphis metro: The Bojangle’s restaurant chain is indeed moving to the area, and is said to be opening a location on Goodman west of I-55 down in Horn Lake. Great sausage biscuits, steak biscuits, and country ham biscuits.

DJ Bay spins during the lunch hour on Thursday:

Belle Tavern will be back for window service only Friday-Sunday this weekend and Thursday-Sunday next weekend.

That’s it for this post. Back later today or tomorrow with more.

Tuesday update #2: Cinco de Mayo specials and other news

Max’s Sports Bar is running a Cinco de Mayo special today: Get a blood orange margarita for $12. They are open 11 AM-9 PM, to-go only. They’ve announced that they’re doing to-go boiled crawfish and shrimp with all the fixins’ again this Saturday. I hear the crawfish are monsters this year… like murder hornets with claws!

Over on Beale Street, Tin Roof re-opens its dining room today. They will open 4 PM weekdays and 11 AM weekends. Today they will have the following Cinco de Mayo specials:

  • $5 margarita – made with Torada tequila
  • $5 “skinny” margarita – made with Wheatley vodka
  • $6.50 frozen “Fire Rita”
  • $8.50 margarita & Fireball shot combo

And on Second Street, it’s Kooky de Mayo!

Investigative journalist and civil right activist Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) has been awarded a posthumous Pulitzer prize for her lifetime of journalism. Wells lived in Memphis and was a writer and school teacher here. She spoke out against lynching in the city in the 1890s. She eventually fled for her life to Chicago.

Free food alert:

In observance of Cinco de Mayo, the New Wing Order food truck will run a Tequila Sunrise wing special this month. The wings are made with fresh lime, cilantro, honey, and tequila.

Dammit… I was going to wear my sombrero out today for Cinco de Mayo, but everyone would want a picture with it, and it’s probably not a good idea to be sharing it in the middle of a pandemic. STUPID CORONAVIRUS RUINS EVERYTHING!

Global Cafe can deliver some Cinco de Mayo tacos Downtown:

WALRUS in concert tonight:

I know Ghana is the honored country for Memphis in May this year, but given the quarantine we’ve been through, perhaps its neighbor Togo would be a more appropriate choice.

That’s it for this post. Back tomorrow with more.

Tuesday update

More who’s open for dine-in and who’s not… in the case of Downtown businesses I will add these to the list I posted yesterday.

Wiseacre Brewing Co. has made the decision to keep its taproom on Broad closed for a couple of weeks, after reading the CDC guidelines and Brewer’s Association recommendation. The Broad location will continue to operate for curbside and delivery sales, and only employees will be allowed inside. Their current plan (subject to change) is to open the Broad Avenue taproom, at 50% capacity with modifications to keep everyone else safe, on Monday, May 18.

But here’s the really exciting news… they’re going to take what they learn from operating the Broad Avenue taproom and apply it when they open the Wiseacre 2 taproom, located Downtown at B.B. King and Butler, in early June! That’s right, folks, we’re only about a month away from Wiseacre Beer, served from the source, a short walk away!

Starting today, Paulette’s will provide dine-in service as well as take-out.

Hair salons have been moved into Phase 1 of the Back-to-Business Framework and will be able to re-open tomorrow in Memphis and Shelby County. However, there will be restrictions: Customers must wear face coverings, work stations must be 6 feet apart, and there must be 15 minutes between the end of one appointment with a stylist/barber and the start of the next. Related businesses like nail salons, tattoo parlors, and massage parlors are not included in the revision to the order.

My compliments to the Daily Memphian, which is now reporting number of tests per day at the same time they report number of new cases per day in Shelby County. Reading that there were 100 new cases reported has a much different meaning if you know those 100 new cases were out of 1500 tested as opposed to 150.

Some people have speculated that it was widely known in the restaurant business that May 4 would be the re-opening date, well before the public release of the Back to Business Framework, maybe even as long as a week and a half ago. I tend to believe that’s not true. The reason why is that some restaurants saw the downtime as a chance to undertake renovations, renovations that would not be finished by the 4th.

You’ll soon need a face covering to take an Uber.

A couple of videos

Award-winning bartender Cady shows how to make a classic cocktail, the Penicillin, at Pontotoc Lounge.

Dylan demonstrates making a wood-fired pizza at the Silly Goose:

General notes about bars…

One bar owner explained why he wasn’t re-opening for dine-in as of yesterday. “People come in here in big groups, of like 10 people,” he said. “You know they don’t all live in the same household. So, how do I tell them, you have to sit apart from each other?” This is especially a concern tonight, being Cinco de Mayo, a popular drinking holiday.

One thing to note… bars that haven’t opened for dine-in, but are open for take-out/delivery, will at least no longer get in trouble if people are found inside who are hanging out, not waiting on to-go food. I suspect some of these places may allow people to linger a bit, as long as they maintain social distancing. If that’s the case, people who tip the bartender well and don’t come in big groups will probably have the most latitude.

Oh yeah, that reminds me! Friday I mentioned that I had one other observation about the re-opening, but wanted to hold it until Saturday… then I ended up holding it until today. In the re-opening orders in Arkansas and Nashville, restaurants could re-open at reduced capacity, but they weren’t allowed to sit anyone at their bar areas. I was worried we would see a similar provision in the Memphis/Shelby County re-opening order. We did not, and customers can sit at bar areas, although like the rest of the restaurant they must remain at 50% capacity or less.

Why did I wait on posting that observation? The media read this blog. I didn’t want to give them a chance to get in front of Mayor Strickland and ask that question before May 4.

Opinion time (about the re-opening, not political stuff)

I’ve held back my opinion, for the most part, about the re-opening date, wanting to be an objective source of information during the quarantine. Now that Phase 1 of re-opening has begun, though, I will let loose a little.

I personally thought Monday, May 11 was the ideal date to move into Phase 1 of a re-opening, with Monday, May 4 (the actual date it happened) five to ten percent less than ideal, and anything sooner considerably worse (from a health perspective). I saw a re-opening date of Monday, May 18 as slightly less than ideal, and anything more than a week after that considerably worse (from an economic perspective).

However, I do see one benefit to May 4. Typically, landlord-tenant agreements are such that rent is due the 1st of the month, and late on the 6th. A lot of people are already behind on their April rent, and as of tomorrow will be two months behind. The May 4 reopening allows a number of people to go to their landlord and say, “I’m not going to be able to get you everything I owe by the 5th, but I’m working again, so I’m in the process of catching up.” As opposed to, “I’m two months behind, and I have absolutely no idea when I will have any money to even pay part of what I owe.”

The May 4 date reduces worry in that regard. With the exception of hate, worry is the most unhealthy, unproductive, unnecessary emotion there is. It may not be the threat that COVID-19 is, but it has been known to take years off people’s lives. There are few bigger causes of worry than the unknown. It causes people to dwell on an absolute-worst-case scenario. For people behind on rent or mortgage, that scenario is losing their home, which is pretty horrible and unhealthy to dwell upon.

That’s it for now. I’m about 50-50 on whether I will get out today for Cinco de Mayo. If I do, I will high-tail it home at the first sign of overcrowding/disregarding social distancing at the places that are open. Back later today or tomorrow with more news.

Monday update

Updated Tuesday, May 5

Here’s a list of the Downtown businesses that have announced their plans for today, the first day of Phase 1 of the city/county Back-to-Business Framework, or to put it another way, the end of house arrest. I am only listing places where their plans were posted/tweeted, announced to the media, or told personally to me by a manager or higher. No hearsay.

  • 117 Prime – closed as they decide how to best move forward
  • Alcenia’s – dine-in closed for now
  • Aldo’s Pizza Pies – dining room closed for now, curbside and delivery available
  • Automatic Slim’s – open for dine-in 4 PM Mon, Tue, Fri; 9 AM Sat-Sun
  • Bardog – dine-in closed for the time being; take-out and delivery available
  • Blind Bear – open for dine-in 11 AM-12 AM; will eventually return to regular hours
  • Blues City Cafe – closed, “will give it a few weeks”
  • Central BBQ – will continue to focus on take-out and online for now
  • Cordelia’s Market – outside seating open but not inside seating yet; feedback from customers encouraged re: when to open for dine-in
  • Dyer’s – open for dine-in
  • Flying Saucer – open for dine-in
  • Flight – open for dine-in with full menu
  • Huey’s – will remain to-go for now
  • Jerry Lawler’s on Beale – open for dine-in with limited hours
  • Kooky Canuck – dine-in open with limited menu and reduced hours
  • Local – will be training their staff on proper procedures this week; will remain take-out and delivery for now
  • Maciel’s – will remain take-out and delivery for now
  • Majestic Grille – closed for now
  • Mollie Fontaine’s – closed for now
  • Paulette’s – opening for dine-in starting Tuesday, May 5
  • Puck Food Hall – not open for dine-in; will have CSA boxes available. Will also have coffee, gelato, and large format meals available for curbside pick-up
  • River Time Market & Deli – will continue their grab & go and pick-up just inside the door for now
  • Rizzo’s by Michael Patrick – outside seating open; employees only inside; curbside pickup available
  • South Main Sushi – will remain take-out for now, dine-in later this month
  • South of Beale – no dine-in (still doing takeout)
  • Sunrise – no dine-in (still doing takeout)
  • Tamp & Tap – closed until about May 11, then online and curbside. Will play it by ear when to open dine-in
  • Tin Roof – re-opening Tuesday, May 5; Cinco de Mayo specials on the 5th
  • Westy’s – posted “apparently Monday is the opening day,” so that sure sounds like they’ll be open for dine-in today

Don’t see your favorite place of business listed? Best bet is to Google their phone number and call them and ask them their plans. I would not assume any place would be open for dine-in. As you can see from the list above, a lot of proprietors are taking it slow with re-opening.

There’s a Twitter account called Used to Be a Pizza Hut featuring buildings that used to be Pizza Huts.

Truth right here:

Mother’s Day news from Sunrise:

RealClearPolitics has begun its electoral map projections for November. There are more toss-up states than I have seen in a long time. All the Obama-McCain and Obama-Romney toss-up states are toss-ups again, and so are Arizona, Texas, and Georgia.

All right, everyone. Let’s turn on our phone cameras and do the #SocialDistancing dance challenge of the day to show everyone we #StayedHome!

(pause)

Nah, screw that. Let’s go get a beer.

House arrest day 45 (Sunday)

From Sunrise Memphis:

Downtown Walgreens, which was opening at 9 AM for a while during house arrest, is back to normal hours:

  • Monday-Friday 7 AM-8 PM
  • Saturday 8 AM-7 PM
  • Sunday 10 AM-6 PM

Oh, by the way, they have removed the “Facial covering required by government mandate” signs from the front doors. There is now a “Capacity 19” sign on the door.

The Blind Bear has moonshine slushies now.

Apple Capone- Apple pie and butterscotch moonshine
Bugsy Blue- blackberry and peach moonshine

More from Blind Bear:

Waiting to hear if the floors will be done, either way Monday we can open the patio

High tomorrow is expected to be 81. And I’ll be off work. Yeah, I can see a patio in my plans.

From Memphis Made Brewing Co.:

From Wiseacre Brewing Co.:

Murder hornets are the latest thing we have to worry about.

From Rizzo’s by Michael Patrick:

As all of you probably know by now, starting Monday, Shelby County is going to level 1 of the back to business COVID-19 plan. This enables restaurants to start to utilize their inside for seating at a 50% reduction of occupancy if all tables are at least six feet apart from each other. However at Rizzos by Michael Patrick we want to take things a little slower. So until further notice, to keep my employees and our customers as safe as possible, this is how things will be going at the restaurant

1. Open Monday- Saturday 11:00am – 8:00pm
2. We will continue to only allow employees inside the building, call when your outside we will bring your order to you.
3. Seating will be available outside, be it limited, adhering to all regulations for spacing.
4. All food will be given in disposable single use containers.
5. Curbside will be available and will be made available for the foreseeable future.
6. If you can, go to Rizzosmemphis.com, bite squad, or door dash. If you want please call your order in.
7. The bar is serving beer, wine, and cocktails. We are currently running red and white wine specials daily.
8. Lastly, we love and appreciate all the support.

The Daily Memphian reports that some tourist attractions and museums are working on plans that, if approved by the city, would allow them to open as early as Monday as part of the Back to Business Framework. These sorts of businesses were considered Phase 2 establishments, but due to what tourism means to the city, accelerated plans may be considered. As Kyle Veazey, deputy city COO, noted, these attractions are not one-size-fits-all and need to be considered on an individual basis. In particular, it has been noted that the zoo has submitted a proposal.

From South Main Sushi:

We ❤️ and appreciate all the support during our toughest time and can not wait to see all your smiling faces in our dining room soon!!! We are going to do dine in a later this month, and will keep you updated. We ask you to continue to do take out until then: 4:30-8pm Thank you! ❤️🙏 #southmainsushi @ South Main Sushi

From Maciel’s:

Dear friends, we miss you and can’t wait to see you !
At Maciel’s we have a commitment to safety, and we do not plan on reopening for dinners on Monday, May 4 and will not reopen until we are confident that the situation is safe for our staff and guests and that we can provide the amazing food and service that you have come to expect from Us . But , we encourage you to continue to order Togo or delivery on the phone or tru the app at www.macielsonmain.com Please stay safe.

Mother’s Day news from South of Beale:

Mother’s Day news from Tug’s:

Paulette’s has posted its Mother’s Day carry-out and dine-in menus.

From AP: St. Jude music therapists organize backyard jams for kids

Criminals have been disguising themselves as essential MLGW workers in recent weeks during the coronavirus outbreak. Ask for identification before allowing access to your home. Real MLGW employees will readily show ID.

I’ll post again later today if more news comes in. Otherwise I will be back tomorrow with a list of all restaurants and bars Downtown who have announced a decision whether they will open for dine-in or remain take-out/delivery for the time being.

House arrest day 44 (Sat): Another quarantine song: “I Ain’t Been Nowhere”

We have a new candidate for the official song of house arrest. Thanks to my buddy Clay, on the road with his brother Chris in Arizona building hospital equipment, for sharing this with me. These are Chuck Mead and the Grassy Knoll Boys, friends of Clay and his brother. This song is HILARIOUS and it absolutely nails the mood many of us are in.

From Tamp & Tap:

We closed March 20th after Mayor Strickland ordered non-essential businesses to do so. We were headed that way regardless. That week, office buildings rapidly vacated, hotel occupancy downtown sharply declined, The Forum and Orpheum locked their doors and Memphis’ traditionally lively Spring was effectively canceled.

We depend on Downtown to be churning at full occupancy and lots of foot-traffic to survive. Particularly between 7AM-1PM. The remarkable decrease in revenue leading up to 3/20 made it clear to me that I could not provide everyone a livable wage for very long. It was important for our staff to apply for UI benefits as quickly as possible.

We’re going to follow the lead of many other downtown restaurants. We will not open Monday May 4th. We will tentatively reopen Monday May 11th with online ordering, curbside pickup and limited hours. As our downtown regulars return to work we’ll start propping the door open, letting the breeze in, and resume delivering food & drinks out to tables. Thank you for your support & patience. Hopefully we’ll soon be making the same ol’ drinks for the same faces at the same time everyday. 😘☕️

The Grizzlies Den now has face coverings for sale. Rep yo team, don’t spread yo germs.

Join musician Tony Manard live on Facebook this morning at 10:30 for music from the back of his ’64 Cadillac.

I’ve got wonder if the restaurant dining rooms shouldn’t have remained closed until Wednesday, in order to get past Cinco de Mayo. That is going to turn into a major Amateur Night in the city, especially considering that a lot of people are furloughed right now and don’t have anywhere to be Wednesday morning.

Only question is, can those people afford their rent, much less a margarita? I bet the cheap tequila is going to account for a higher % of sales this year than a typical Cinco de Mayo.

Charvey is back with more Quarantunes tonight at 7:30.

Porcellino’s is now offering their chicken biscuit at Bishop restaurant in the Central Station hotel 7 days a week.

Please make sure to continue to support your Memphis musicians on their virtual concerts and through tipping on PayPal, Venmo, and Cashapp in the weeks to come. Restaurant dining rooms will re-open but they won’t have live music for a while.

Suggestion for Downtowners: Go out to your car and drive around for a few minutes today, then marvel at the wonder of being able to get a convenient parking space down here the first weekend of May.

From Catherine & Mary’s:

May 1 dinner menu + weekend brunch menu. Exciting additions to the menu this weekend! To order, call (901)254-8600 12PM-8PM or email agrant@enjoyam.com.

From the Green Beetle:

Let us help you celebrate Mother’s Day the right way with an AMAZING menu! We are cooking up some simply stunning meals to help you show momma how awesome she really is. We are taking preorders now through Friday the 8th, just shoot us a dm with what you’d like and a pickup time between 11am-4pm on Sunday the 10th. $25/per person includes a salad, 2 sides, an entree (of your choosing), and homemade dessert. Add deviled eggs to round it off and you are good to go! Accepting cash or venmo.

(Click menu to view in a larger size)

From Automatic Slim’s:

Martini Monday is back! Automatic Slim’s will reopen at 50% capacity on Monday, May 4th at 4 p.m., Tuesday at 4 p.m., Friday 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. We look forward to seeing you and can’t wait for brunch next weekend!

We will be observing all recommendations set forth by the Health Department to insure our guests and staffs safety.

Don’t forget, we will be taking To Go orders online at www.automaticslimsmemphis.com

From Puck Food Hall:

From Westy’s:

Better Safe than Sorry! Looking forward to seeing y’all soon. Looks like Monday is the reopening date. Reservations are optional. 💖

From Dyer’s on Beale:

Monday, May 4th, Dyer’s will reopen at 11 a.m. at 50% capacity. We will open daily at 11 a.m.

We will be following the plan to reopen set forth by the Health Department to insure the safety of our guests and staff.

You can now order on line through our website at www.dyersonbeale.com

Reminder: I will have a complete list of what will be open for dine-in and what won’t on this blog Monday, May 4 sometime in the morning. Email me at paul@paulryburn.com or hit me up on Facebook and I’ll add you to the list.  Even if you’re not opening for dine-in, I’d like to include you on the list if you are offering any kind of to-go or delivery.

If you haven’t yet listened to the quarantine song at the top of this post, do it now. I promise you it is worth 3 minutes of your time.

Back later today or tomorrow with more news.

House arrest day 43 (Fri) / update 2

A couple of days ago I commented that someone needed to make a song about the house arrest of 2020. That has been done.

A new taco shop called Inches is coming to Harbor Town Square. Follow them on Facebook for news and updates.

Lightclub Livestream returns to Twitch tonight at 8. This week’s DJs are mado, Jordan Rogers, and Scotty B.

Wild Bill’s will also be back with a live stream tonight at 8:30.

Happy May Day, YOGA! The Memphis Flyer catches up with the folks at Your Inner Yogi, offering virtual classes online, including one tonight.

Central BBQ and Huey’s are taking a wait-and-see approach to the end of the house arrest and will not open their dining rooms Monday. Both will still offer their amazing food on a take-out basis.

Still building a list of who’s opening for dine-in and who’s not for my Monday Update (not “House arrest day 46”) post. Email me at paul@paulryburn.com or hit me up on Facebook and I’ll include you in my list of Downtown business statuses.

Lucy J’s Bakery in Crosstown Concourse is back open and will take pre-orders for pickup and delivery Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays noon-3 PM. Crosstown Concourse will deliver within a 4-mile radius, which includes Downtown.

Follow @RaccoonEveryHr for 24 trash pandas a day.

From Sunrise Memphis:

Update from Local for next week:

That’s all for now. Back later today or tomorrow with more.

House arrest day 43 (Friday)

We’ll start off COVID-19 openings, not-openings, and specials for next week. For the next couple of days I will post individual plans as I become aware of them, then after the weekend is over I will do a Monday update post (note that I did not say a “House arrest day 46” post) where I will summarize all of the plans (dine-in open, take-out only, or closed) that I am aware of. Downtown Memphis businesses, email me at paul@paulryburn.com or hit me up on Facebook if you have opening/not opening info you want me to include.

I have one additional comment about the reopening that I am going to hold until tomorrow.

From the Flying Saucer:

Hey y’all! We are super excited to let you know that we are following all the CDC guidelines and working our tails off in order to get the restaurant ready for our reopening on Monday. We will be operating at 50% capacity and practicing social distancing. We can’t wait to see y’all! 😘🍻

Blind Bear plans to re-open Monday and is currently polling its customer base as to what the hours should be. Visit them on Facebook if you want to vote in the polls.

From the zoo:

Many of Beale Street’s clubs and restaurants will re-open next week, but they will have to do so without live music.

One of the best things about living in Memphis is that you can go kayaking in the Wolf River Harbor off Mud Island. Bass Pro has a basic guide to kayaking for those looking to give this adventure a try.

Yep that’s a thing: coffin pool floats

Also a thing: booze pinatas

Here’s a much needed infographic about COVID-19 in Shelby County. You say there were 81 new cases yesterday, as opposed to 38 the day before? Well, that tells us nothing. If the number of new cases doubled while the number of tests done remained the same, that’s a problem. However, if the number of new cases doubled but testing quadrupled, that’s very positive. Those two pieces of data need to always be presented together, and haven’t been most of the time numbers have been reported.

From Mashable: How to check your work computer to see if your employer has installed a keylogger to spy on you. Note that you don’t have a whole lot of rights if you discover there is one. You could always let that keylogger pick up the keystrokes of your resignation letter.

The USL has an update on the league’s suspension of activities. This is the league in which Memphis 901 FC plays.

Eyes turn to the Arkansas Derby this weekend since the Kentucky Derby has been postponed.

Z-bo won’t be coming to Memphis next month. The BIG3 season opening event at FedExForum has been canceled. Refund info

Here’s the menu for LUNCHBOXeats Lunch Lady’s Comfort Kitchen today through Sunday.

The temporary COVID-19 hospital being renovated at 495 Union could see uses other than treating the cornavirus.

Today would have been the first day of Music Fest. I don’t miss the festival but I sure miss the truck that parks near the Elvis statue and sells turkey legs.

That’s it for now. It’s still early in the morning, so I’ll do a second post today if I need to.

House arrest day 42 / update 2: Monday we start to get back to business

The City of Memphis, Shelby County, and other county municipalities have announced that phase 1 of the Back to Business re-opening plan begins Monday, May 4. Restaurants can re-open at 50% capacity (no buffets). Non-essential businesses can open at 50% capacity. Libraries, gyms, and places of worship can open at 25% capacity.

I will post details of the re-openings of Downtown businesses as I learn about them. Keep in mind opening the 4th, the first day of Phase 1, is merely an option and some business owners will choose to wait longer.

About a month ago, I predicted that my final House Arrest blog post would be numbered 52. The city and county are on track to make me wrong by a week, and I love it!

The Downtown Walgreens is now requiring all who enter to wear face masks, due to governmental recommendations. The aisles are now one-way. In non-COVID-19-related news, the discounted Easter candy is gone.

Ironic for this “holiday” to occur while salons and barber shops are closed:

Glad I don’t drive on the roads in Georgia:

The Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards go virtual Sunday at 4 PM on Facebook and YouTube.

Reports were circulating yesterday that the minor league baseball season has been canceled. The MiLB organization, having conferred with MLB, has released a statement deeming this rumor false.

Mental Floss has tips for negotiating to get credit card payments deferred during the coronavirus outbreak.

Chris Brogan with the best tweet I’ve seen in the past 42 days:

From Gizmodo: Movie theaters are screwed, because COVID-19 is changing the model (maybe permanently) by which movies are released, to what outlets at what times.

Capriccio Grill at the Peabody has published its Mother’s Day at Home menu. Orders must be placed by 5 PM Tuesday, May 5. Pick up Saturday, May 9 or Sunday, May 10. Order here

NCAA news:

What this means is, it’s highly unlikely transfer Landers Nolley II will be available to play basketball for the Tigers for the 2020-2021 season.

Back with a third post today if I come up with significant additional news to report about the coming end of the house arrest. Otherwise, look for a new post tomorrow.