Category: Uncategorized

Loflin Yard to host Saturday supply markets

Let’s say you go to Kroger or Costco to stock up on supplies to get you through this coronavirus pandemic. The trouble with that is, everyone else in town is doing the same thing. There are too many people in the store to maintain the recommended six feet of social distance – especially when you’re standing in the 60-person-long line to check out. Plus, you’re indoors, the store acting as an incubator for everyone’s germs. And, the store will likely be out of the items you need the most.

Here’s an alternative – Loflin Yard will hold a supply market the next four Saturdays, noon to 6. They will have fresh food and prepared food (which I am assuming you cannot eat on site), cleaning supplies, and (GET READY FOLKS I’M ABOUT TO SAY THE MAGIC WORDS) toilet paper. With 80,000 square feet of outdoor space, they should easily be able to maintain the CDC-recommended amount of social distancing – although, if it gets too busy, they will start limiting the number of individuals allowed.

I plan on checking this out tomorrow, probably right around the opening time of noon. Not sure if I’ll buy any supplies – I have a full bottle of Clorox bleach cleaner and 8 rolls of toilet paper in the apartment – but I might buy some prepared food. Plus, it will be nice just to see other people.

Don’t forget that Loflin Yard will have its menu available via takeout window and delivery 7 days a week, noon to 9 PM.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I’m probably going to abandon the “Daily update” posts for the time being and post news multiple times throughout the day. Check back frequently for more news, and sometimes, my opinions.

Opinion post, and possibly more news, coming.

The inevitable is here. It sucks, but it’s absolutely the right thing

Yesterday morning, the number of coronavirus cases jumped from 4 to 10. Unlike the early cases, the six new ones could not be traced to out-of-town travel, meaning community spread within the city was now a possibility. This came just a couple of hours after I speculated in yesterday’s blog post that 10 cases total or even one case of community spread would cause Mayor Strickland to shut the city down.

Around 1:30 a friend of mine who is involved in businesses on Beale checked in at Rum Boogie, meeting with the other merchants about the future of the street. At that point I knew the writing was on the wall. Within an hour it was reported that Mayor Strickland would have a press conference at 5. Indeed, Strickland declared a state of emergency, announcing that until further notice, restaurants cannot serve dine-in meals, and bars and gyms have to close. Midnight last night was the cut-off.

In another inevitable turn of events, Memphis in May announced it was postponing its two multi-day events, Music Fest and BBQ Fest. I hastily sent out an email to the BBQ team from my phone, perhaps not phrasing it as well as I could have because the boss told me I could have the rest of the day off at 11 and I was already 3 hours into stimulating the local economy. I have heard through the grapevine that they’re considering September 30-October 3 for BBQ Fest. The normal temperatures for that time frame (80/60, about the same as the third week of May) would be ideal, although given that we’re in Memphis it’ll probably either 99 or 45 that week.

To my friends who own/manage Downtown businesses, and to my friends who find themselves unemployed due to the COVID-19 outbreak: If there’s any way I can help you, using my blog and my social media presence, please let me know. Whether it’s posting pics of yummy food you’re offering for take-out, helping people find temporary jobs, posting amended business hours, whatever I can do, I want to.

This is absolutely ridiculous:

Earlier in the week, Mayor Strickland announced that the city would ease parking meter regulations, particularly for delivery vehicles and those parking to pick up to-go restaurant orders. And yet here was this guy writing tickets on the block of Peabody Place between Main and Second. These are the spots where people would park to pick up to-go food from at least five nearby restaurants: Bluefin, Majestic Grille, Lenny’s, Silly Goose, and Flying Saucer. It is absolutely WRONG for the city to be writing tickets on this block, and inconsistent with the message city leaders are putting out. I called the mayor’s office to complain but they said it was an MPD function.

The DMC has published a list of restaurants offering take-out, pick-up, and delivery. They bagged 50 meters yesterday, establishing pick-up zones and will bag more today. It is incomprehensible to me why the meters on that block of Peabody Place were not bagged.

River Time Market & Deli is open 8 AM-6 PM weekdays for take-out orders. 901-482-0460 or place your order with Uber Eats.

Old Dominick Distillery is adapting to the changing times, working with Shelby County to produce hand sanitizer.

The Green Beetle is offering heat-and-eat meals:

Carl Winfield who owns Winfield’s at Madison and Main tells me that the liquor store next door, which he is taking over, will be open next week.

The Memphis Made taproom will be open 4-7 PM seven days a week to sell to-go beer, gift cards, and merchandise.

High Ground News has a list of resources to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, including help for the elderly, displaced service industry workers, and those in need of food.

Service industry folks: Sign up on this site to receive tips while you are unemployed. You can get tipped if you have Venmo or CashApp.

In the news: Several senators received briefings last month on the potential for the coronavirus to disrupt the economy and result in massive losses of jobs, and they sold stocks off before the information they received became public. That’s called insider trading and it’s a felony. Both Democrats and Republicans did it and they should all resign their seats immediately.

Edible Memphis has a list of local take-out and delivery restaurants.

The Ducks Unlimited Waterfowling Heritage Center at Bass Pro at the Pyramid is reducing museum hours to 11 AM-5 PM.

The Orpheum will announce its 2020-2021 Broadway season on its Facebook page via Facebook Live Monday, March 23 at 6 PM.

Hospitality HUB opened a new pop-up center on Tuesday to house homeless women who were displaced by women’s shelters that closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Donate here to help with the costs of operating the shelter.

Max’s Sports Bar is selling packaged beer as well as to-go food. Choices include

  • Domestic six-packs $10
  • Imported six-packs $13
  • Gallon growlers of PBR $20
  • Gallon growlers of Yuengling $25
  • Gallon growlers of any other tap beer $30

Choices for “any other tap beer”:

  • Southern Prohibition Suzy B blonde ale
  • Southern Prohibition Devil’s Harvest breakfast IPA
  • Wiseacre Ananda IPA
  • Wiseacre Gotta Get Up to Get Down coffee stout
  • Memphis Made Fireside
  • Memphis Made Junt
  • Yazoo Hefeweizen
  • High Cotton Scottish Ale
  • Bell’s Brown Ale

Prices do not include tax. Purchases cannot be consumed on site.

If your vehicle’s tags expire in March or April, the governor has granted a grace period. You have until June 15 to renew.

That’s it for now. I’ll probably write another piece, more opinion-based, this afternoon.

I require T.P. for my socially distant bunghole

That was my trivia team name last night. I didn’t win Best Team Name but I did win first place.

Those 40 Blind Bear Bucks I won will turn into 13 PBRs (don’t worry, not all on the same day)… or maybe a few of the lunch specials Phillip cooks up on the weekdays. The man is a culinary genius!

Normally I like to put the good news toward the top of my posts ahead of the cancellations, but this angers me so much I’m going to go ahead. Bardog Tavern is closed, and it’s not because of the coronavirus. Due to a shoddy repair job of a water main that has been going on for years, Bardog’s basement is flooded, forcing the closure. The city has been working on that sewer system for years, but their repair work is more like a Band-Aid than a permanent fix. I understand The Little Tea Shop next door is closed for the same reason. Aldo and Miss Su are two business owners who generate considerable revenue and tax dollars, not to mention all the good times they have created for Memphians. The city needs to treat them better than this. This is probably the sixth time in two years they have had to close due to flooding.

The repair work is done by MLGW, right? Maybe we should just quit paying our MLGW bills in protest. The city already announced they’re not cutting people off until the coronavirus threat passes.

Update 8:34 AM: Morning bartender Bloom just posted a photo to Facebook from the bar, so Bardog may be back open.

Rizzo’s by Michael Patrick has its to-go website set up, offering curbside take-out. Get dinner

  • For one, $19
  • For two, $35
  • For four, $45
  • For six, $60

Dinners come with one salad, one entree, one side, and one dessert per person.

Puck Food Hall is offering curbside pick-up. See the flyer below.

Two Pillars Yoga is now offering live online classes on Zoom for those who want to get their practice in without being in a room full of people.

The Downtown Walgreens is adjusting its hours. It will be open 9 AM-8 PM Monday-Friday, 9 AM-7 PM Saturday, and 10 AM-6 PM Sunday. Most of the 24-hour Walgreens are changing their hours to 9 AM-9 PM for the time being. This allows them time to sanitize and to re-stock the shelves.

Loflin Yard now offers online ordering and curbside service.

In related news, Two Broke Bartenders and a Truck are willing to brave the outdoors so you don’t have to. Services they offer include

  • Picking up your groceries and beer
  • Shopping for you
  • Cooking for you
  • Making you drinks
  • Unclogging your toilet after you flush the 89 rolls of toilet paper you bought at Walmart
  • Fixing your doorknob
  • Moving your stuff
  • Anything else you can think of

Call or text the bartenders at 901-504-4229 to set up an appointment. You can also fill out the form on their website for an appointment.

Let’s hear it for the good guys: In Jonesboro, a restaurant landlord has told the tenant restaurant to pay the employees rather than pay the rent.

Music Export Memphis, an organization that promotes Memphis music around the region, has established a COVID-19 emergency relief fund for musicians. You can make a tax-deductible donation online or by check, helping musicians get through these times when hardly anyone is booking them for gigs.

Bluff City Coffee has launched a delivery menu available 8 AM to noon daily. Minimum $15 order and there is a $2.50 delivery fee. You can also request curbside pickup. Available for delivery: coffee/drinks, breakfast sandwiches, pastries, sweets, and grab & go.

You can now order online and get curbside pickup at Max’s Sports Bar. The bar is open for those who want to come in and enjoy a beverage, but in observance with the CDC’s social distancing guidelines they have removed some of their seating.

People’s pool hall on Beale Street is doing a Duck of the Day. Find the duck, get a free beer. One winner per day. The duck isn’t a real duck, by the way. Ducks are not allowed in bars, unless they’re emotional support ducks.

A friend who works in the area told me there was an undercover bust outside the Cotton Exchange Building yesterday. Unmarked cop cars descended upon a man with a locked suitcase or briefcase from all directions, and he refused to let them open the case. My friend said the cops were trying to obtain a search warrant. I can’t find anything about this in the news, probably due to all the virus coverage. Anyone know what was going on?

Downtown restaurants Gray Canary, Catherine & Mary’s, Bishop and hotel bar Eight & Sand will be closed until further notice. Catherine & Mary’s and Bishop plan to start takeout and curbside pickup tomorrow.

WWE has moved Wrestlemania, set for April 5, from Tampa to its Performance Center in Orlando… or has it? This is said to be possibly a bluff. With Tampa officials having told Vince McMahon they’d pull the plug on the show if he didn’t, insurance contracts require him to do due diligence to find another venue. So, he moved it to the Performance Center. But… merely the performers, stage crew, road agents, announcers and executives, even in an empty arena, amount to a gathering of way more than 50, violating CDC guidelines. So, McMahon’s wager is said to be that Orlando will kick them out too… and then he can do what he really wants, which is to move Wrestlemania to Madison Square Garden in June.

The Tennessean has a description of how to apply for unemployment if you lost a job because of COVID-19, or if you are under quarantine by doctor’s orders. Governor Lee expects the federal government to waive the “actively looking for work” requirement soon, since almost no one is hiring right now.

Southaven Springfest is canceled, so the BBQ team will lose an opportunity to practice for BBQ Fest… although I’m about 90 percent certain BBQ Fest won’t happen, at least not in May (that’s a personal guess, not based on any communication with Memphis in May officials).

The Millennium Tour featuring Omarion and Bow Wow, scheduled for later this month at FedExForum, has been rescheduled for July 19. All tickets and meet & greet passes will be valid for the new date.

One thing I’m wondering about San Francisco’s lockdown: You’re only allowed to be out if you’re going to work, the doctor, the grocery store, the bank, or to get medicine. What about the drug dealers? How are they supposed to conduct business? Meth and heroin are vital parts of the SF economy.

The USL has announced suspension of play for its teams, including Memphis 901 FC, until at least May 10.

The Lounge in the basement of 3rd and Court diner is closed until further notice. The diner is open.

Subway has a deal where you buy a footlong, get a footlong free when you order online or through the app. I tried it yesterday and it worked like a charm. I built my Italian BMT and tuna sub online in my last 5 minutes at work, then walked over to the store at Second and Union and my subs were ready. $7.34 for two days’ worth of meals is not bad at all.

An article I was reading this week referred to Trump as “the angry talking yam.” That’s fantastic.

Eight senators voted against the coronavirus relief package. Your Tennessee senator, Marsha Blackburn, was among them.

Tempted to call Marsha Blackburn a name on here (hint: rhymes with “punt”) but I guess I’ll be nice.

Several people have asked my opinion on when/if Mayor Strickland will close Memphis bars. Again, this is just a guess; I have not talked to any officials. The thing is, there are 4 reported cases in Shelby County as of this morning, and all 4 of those had traveled from a city where there was already a coronavirus outbreak. So, there is no evidence of local “community spread” at this point. My prediction is that the bars will close when there is either

  • 1 case of community spread; or
  • 10 cases total in Shelby County

We shall see. Off to work. With the bars still open, I will get out for a little while tonight to support my musician friends in Kaleidoscope, a subset of FreeWorld. They play the Blind Bear 10 AM-1 PM. Back tomorrow with more news.

 

Operation Take Out and more Wednesday news

Felicia Suzanne Restaurant is responding to the coronavirus pandemic with Operation Take Out. Noting that quarantines do not have to include your taste buds, Felicia is giving customers the ability to order online and then pull up to their back door, which would be the alley (Center Lane) that runs between Madison and Monroe. They will bring your meal out to your car. They have a lunch menu (available in the evening) and a dinner menu. Pick-ups available between 4:30 and 8:00 PM. Here are links to their Operation Take Out order form and the credit card authorization form. They can do delivery to nearby locations too.

Uber Eats and GrubHub are waiving their delivery fees when you order from independently-owned restaurants.

The IRS is extending its tax payment deadline to July 15 due to the coronavirus.

New York City, which limited restaurants and bars to take-out and delivery this week, is temporarily allowing those businesses to sell to-go cocktails. Memphis, if the bars close, might want to consider that.

Rizzo’s by Michael Patrick is offering curbside pick-up service.

Central BBQ is offering curbside pick-up as well.

Longshot is temporarily suspending operations. From their Facebook post, I get the feeling this might have been Arrive Hotel’s decision rather than the bar’s management.

Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe out in The Edge District will be closed today for a thorough cleaning and will re-open tomorrow.

3rd and Court diner is restricting its hours to Monday-Saturday 7 AM-1 PM and 5 PM-9 PM, Sunday 7 AM-1 PM. Dammit, that 1 PM closing time is going to prevent me from using those gift cards I won at bingo. Thank goodness that and replacing the umbrella I lost Saturday are the worst of my worries, though.

Jimmy John’s Downtown location will start closing at 5 PM until the coronavirus threat passes. Carry-out and delivery only.

The Memphis airport announced its preparations to prevent COVID-19. Maggie O’ Shea’s Pub and Moe’s will close temporarily, as will checkpoint C.

117 Prime is closed today while the management meets and determines the restaurant’s plan of operations moving forward.

Huey’s will remain open but they are eliminating trivia night and Sunday night live music at all locations. Guests will be temporarily banned from shooting frill picks into the ceiling. If you’re friends with your server, for the time being you won’t be able to hug them or shake their hand when you come in.

McEwen’s will be open as usual for lunch, but for dinner they will stop seating tables as of 9 PM. They may re-evaluate and cut back even more.

Bass Pro at the Pyramid is still open regular hours, but they are canceling all their Spring Fishing Classic and Easter events.

The Better Business Bureau is warning the public about coronavirus scams.

Downtowners won’t be able to catch a movie at the new Malco Powerhouse for a while. Malco is closing all of its locations.

Friends of mine are being laid off on a daily basis. My thoughts are with those of you who find yourself without work as we enter these unprecedented times. Check out jobs4tn.gov, the state’s website which has a surprisingly large number of listings for good jobs at all levels, whether you bag groceries or supervise accounting teams.

Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin warned Republican senators yesterday that unemployment could reach 20% if bold action is not taken.

The Daily Memphian has a photo gallery of an unusually slow St. Patrick’s Day on Beale Street.

The Rendezvous has shut down dine-in service. They are still offering carry-out and curbside orders.

Bill Dries of the DM explains what Mayor Strickland’s declaration of a state of emergency means. In short: It doesn’t mean any businesses are forced to close down. Yet.

The event I refer to as “The Lawrence Welk Show of drinking games” won’t be happening next month. Adios, au revoir, auf wiedersehen.

Good night!

 

Majestic Curbside Dinners for Two and more Tuesday news

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18, the Majestic Grille will begin offering Curbside Dinners for Two. You call and order in advance, and they’ll bring it out to your car when it’s ready. Options include

  • Whole Roasted Chicken $55 – pan jus, mashed potatoes, green beans
  • Grilled Pork Tenderloin $61 – maple cream sauce, mashed potatoes, sugar glazed carrots, crispy onions
  • Roasted Tenderloin of Beef $83 – horseradish sour cream, mashed potatoes, broccoli
  • Rosemary Honey Glazed Salmon Steak $63 – broccoli, jasmine rice

Each entree is enough for two people to share. It comes with house made foccacia bread and Majestic butter, as well as salad for two as a starter. Your salad choices are

  • Mixed Greens
  • Caesar
  • Chop House

Your dinner also comes with dessert from the Majestic’s next door neighbor, Dinsthul’s Fine Candies. Dessert choices are

  • 4 ounces of Dinstuhl’s famous Cashew Crunch
  • Dinstuhl’s Famous Fudge – with pecans or no pecans

There is also an optional appetizer add-on:

  • Sausage & Cheese Plate $15
  • Smoked Salmon Appetizer $13

Call 901-522-8555 after the restaurant opens at 11 AM to order (and remember, this starts TOMORROW).

  • Orders placed by 2 PM will be ready for curbside pickup by 4 PM
  • Orders placed by 4 PM will be ready for curbside pickup by 6 PM

Dinner for Two orders must be placed by 4 PM, but their full menu will be available for take-out or curbside pickup during normal restaurant hours. To pick up, pull up on Peabody Place near the restaurant and give them a call at 901-522-8555. No need to get out of your car. They’ll bring it out to you.

Leave it to Patrick and Deni to innovate and find new ways to keep their customers happy during these uncertain times! Cheers to them!

Why not make it dinner and a movie? With theaters shutting down nationwide due to the coronavirus threat, movies are coming to video on demand early. Trolls World Tour is set to be in theaters April 10, and will be released to VOD the same day.

Here’s another option to get dinner from any Downtown restaurant delivered to your door: Call the Get Lifted golf cart shuttle service, run by my friend Shun WIndless, at 901-563-6650. He or one of his drivers can pick up your restaurant order and deliver it to your Downtown address. All the convenience of Uber Eats, but you’re supporting a local business.

As your number-one source of news and information about The Edge District, it’s my pleasure to inform you that Venezuelan restaurant Sabor Caribe is now offering free delivery to Downtown and Midtown. Call 901-425-5889 to order. Visit their website to check out their menu.

Also, don’t forget that today is Patacon Tuesday at Sabor Caribe:

The City of Memphis is relaxing enforcement of metered spaces Downtown to accommodate delivery drivers picking up people’s food orders. I read that on Joyce Peterson’s Twitter feed (@MemphoNewsLady) which is a great resource for keeping up with the latest news about how locals are coping with the coronavirus outbreak.

In the mood to gamble? You won’t be doing it anywhere near Memphis. Mississippi ordered its casinos closed by midnight last night, and Southland has closed too.

The National Civil Rights Museum has closed for the safety of its patrons and employees. The April 4 MLK celebration has been canceled too.

Shelby County Schools have announced they have moved their date to resume classes back to April 6. My guess is the school year is probably over, though.

ESPN reported last night that the NBA is looking at June to resume play and telling teams to look into arena dates through August to book for the playoffs. Now this is interesting – the 16-team playoff normally takes two months. That is a sign that the NBA will possibly declare the regular season over, making the Grizzlies the 8 seed in the West, to play the 1 seed Lakers.

Martin Lawrence & Friends, scheduled for March 27 at FedExForum, has been canceled.

The World Championship Hot Wing Festival (formerly Southern Hot Wing Fest) is moving its date to June 6 in accordance with the CDC guidance of no mass gatherings of 50 or more people for the next 8 weeks.

Also in accordance with that guidance, Major League Baseball (and presumably, Minor League Baseball including the Redbirds) has moved Opening Day to mid-May.

Stats site FiveThirtyEight has an analysis of the effect of the coronavirus outbreak on sports revenue. This could lead to the salary cap and luxury tax for the NBA 2020-2021 season being lowered by millions of dollars, affecting moves teams can make in summer free agency… or fall free agency, as may be the case this year.

Blues City has announced there will be no bands playing in its Band Box until further notice. The cafe will still be open, serving great ribs, steaks, and other Southern delights.

The South Main Association has canceled its March happy hour and its presence at March Trolley Night.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association has canceled its March monthly meeting.

The Friends of Cossitt Library scheduled for Thursday has been canceled. The library will not be doing Tech Tuesdays, Family Fun Night, or any kind of outreach event until further notice.

Backbeat Tours is still operating but limiting tours to a capacity of 20.

Mayor Strickland speculated that Memphis in May could be moved to summer or fall if it is not possible to have the festival in May.

Bars have NOT been closed in Memphis yet, but if you go out tonight for St. Patrick’s Day, use some common sense. If you walk into a big crowded bar full of 150 people packed in shoulder to shoulder and you choose to stay there, you risk endangering your family, your co-workers, and anyone else who you regularly come in close contact with. By the way, cheers to Cooper-Young bar Celtic Crossing, which sent out a release saying they will enforce social distancing at tonight’s celebration.

Back tomorrow with more news.

Monday update

The coronavirus pandemic is about to get real real.

The CDC now recommends that gatherings of more than 50 people not happen for the next 8 weeks. Music Fest is 6 1/2 weeks away. Eight weeks from today is Monday of load-in for BBQ Fest. No announcements have been made about Downtown’s two biggest April events, Rajun Cajun Crawfish Fest and Beale Street Wine Race, but they appear doomed.

Bars, restaurants, and wineries have been ordered closed in California, Washington state, Ohio, Illinois, and New York, and mayors have put restrictions on them in Nashville and New Orleans. My guess is, given Memphis’ proximity to those cities, Mayor Strickland will put restrictions on those businesses here by the end of the week.

If, when they do close, if the bars and restaurants have to stay closed for the CDC-mandated eight weeks, many of them are not going to make it. I don’t think pandemic insurance is a thing for service-industry businesses.

I know people who were laid off last week. Probably more will be laid off this week.

My teacher friends find themselves with nothing to do. For those teachers in formal education, they’re salaried so they will still get paid. However, I have teacher friends who get paid by the class. They’re taking a hit financially.

The New York Times coronavirus map reveals that the virus has now been documented in 49 states. The outlier? Good ole West Virginny.

As I sat at the bar at the Blind Bear yesterday afternoon surfing coronavirus news on Twitter, I thought to myself, am I being an irresponsible citizen by being here? It’s really a moral dilemma. The owner of the Blind Bear has been my friend for well over a decade. When I got sick in the fall of 2018, she texted me nearly every day to check on me. She begged me to go to the doctor, even making an appointment for me and offering a ride. As long as her place of business is open, I feel the need to support it. Sometime this week, though, I have a feeling I will be told I shouldn’t go there, either by the government or my own intuition.

Besides, the people who come there are like family. I like hanging out with John D and Otto while they do the crossword. I like discussing whether Wrestlemania will happen (it won’t) with Nappin’ Ass Nate. I like talking BBQ with my teammate Mac, who is well-stocked up with toilet paper (Tennessee Vols gear counts as toilet paper).

Oh, speaking of BBQ… I’m the director of public relations for a Memphis in May BBQ team. How am I supposed to recruit members and sponsors to be part of an event that may not happen?

Some people have speculated that they’ll cancel Music Fest and postpone BBQ Fest. I don’t see how BBQ Fest can be postponed. First of all, work is set to start on Tom Lee Park at the beginning of June. Also, a lot of the pro BBQ teams won’t be able to compete on a different week because they’ll already be signed up for another event on the BBQ circuit.

Friends of mine leave for a six-week trip to Mexico early this week. Except, Mexico might not let them in.

A friend of mine brought up a really scary possibility last week: What if Trump uses the coronavirus panic as an excuse to declare martial law, making himself the dictator he dreams of being?

Many people would be more likely to stay home voluntarily if Trump would sign an executive order legalizing real-money online poker. He’d be reversing an Obama-era regulation, so I bet he would love that.

The City of Memphis website has daily coronavirus updates from Mayor Strickland. Yesterday’s post announced:

  • All libraries and community centers will be closed as of Wednesday, March 18
  • Parks and golf courses will remain open
  • The city will not accept applications for new event permits
  • Permits for events scheduled to happen within the next two weeks will be revoked

Earnestine & Hazel’s has voluntarily closed to keep its patrons and employees safe from the coronavirus. Well, I guess someone won’t be able to go in there and play “Boy Named Sue” after a visit to the Farmers Market. Boo hoo. (Too bad it isn’t true that you can catch coronavirus from Corona beer)

Cerrito Trivia and Bingo has suspended all of its events until further notice.

SCS distribution of food to students out of school will not be affected by library closures. So, the library at 531 Vance will still be the closest distribution point to Downtown. Meal pickups are the week of March 23-27 and you must have a student present to pick up the food.

The Daily Memphian reports that Sunrise and the Rendezvous now offer curbside service to pick up to-go food.

There are couples who are going to have to uninvite guests to their March and April weddings to get under the CDC-mandated limit of 50. Man, that’s gonna be an awkward conversation.

Heading in to work here in a bit… the good thing is, we are all well socially distanced at work. My two nearest office neighbors sit about 20 feet away from me, in different rooms.

Back tomorrow with more news about things that are not happening.

Sunday update

It was 11:30 last night when I woke up from my “halftime” nap. I wasn’t in the best of moods for a couple of reasons. For one, I lost my umbrella earlier in the day, and rain was in the forecast. Also, it had turned too cold for the shorts I had on earlier in the day, and I had to put on jeans to go back out. I headed out to the Blind Bear, expecting to have to stand by the server well 30 or 40 minutes before a bar seat opened up.

My expectations were unfounded. Not counting regulars, there were exactly SEVEN people in the Bear when I got there… during prime time on a Saturday night, when the bar is normally full of yahoos from East Memphis. The coronavirus is decimating the bar business. On a selfish level, I loved it. No one reaching over me for drink orders, great music by the Rusty Pieces, plenty of room to “socially distance” as I am supposed to be doing. But I also realized, this is my friend’s business. This sucks for her. This sucks for all business owners Downtown, and in Memphis, and all over the world.

The small turnout didn’t stop the night from being a shitshow. Some dude made out with a random girl at the bar (not that I’m judging, done that myself a couple of times) and then tried to pick a fight with, of all people, the band. That got him ejected.

2:30 came around and, aware that rain was in the area, I looked at the MemphisWeather.net app on my phone. Radar showed heavy rain moving through Downtown, with a brief break about 30 minutes away. So I ordered one more, my window to get home without an umbrella about sixteen ounces of PBR away.

Unfortunately, that window closed. As I walked out the door at 2:59, torrential rain was falling. I stayed under the overhang at the entrance to Pembroke Square for 23 minutes, then made it across the street to Jolly Royal, then made it a block where I sheltered under the awning at Aldo’s Pizza Pies. Then it started pouring again, and I was stuck for what seemed like an eternity. I was worried a cop would drive by and ask why I was loitering, and wished I had one of those I KNOW ALDO TOO T-shirts that the Bardog employees wear. But it was too rainy for even the cops to be out. Finally it let up a bit and I sprinted the remaining 2 blocks home. The clock on the microwave read 3:42 as I walked in. What a night. Life without an umbrella sucks.

Y’all, please get out and support your local businesses. No, I do not mean go get a Bloomin’ Onion at Outback; they will be just fine. Go out and support businesses who are owned by Memphians, who need to see your face (and your dollars) during these uncertain times.

I’ll give you an example… City Tasting Tours has announced that they have made the tough decision to cancel all their tours for the month of March. However, you can still go online and buy gift certificates for future tours. A gift certificate would look great in a birthday card or an Easter basket. Cristina who runs the tours is an amazing person and an amazing entrepreneur who does a lot to spread the good news about Memphis. Let’s make sure her tours are still around when the coronavirus is nothing more than a few paragraphs in a history book.

Speaking of Aldo’s Pizza Pies, vlogger Mimosas with Moose recently stopped by Aldo’s for brunch.

Bardog has announced its specials for St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday:

  • $6 Jameson
  • $7 Irish car bombs
  • $8 frozen Irish coffee, made with Jameson cold brew

The consistently excellent Edible Memphis website has an article on what you can do to support local businesses during this weird time.

The Woodruff-Fontaine Museum out in Victorian Village is canceling all sponsored events during the month of March. Ticket holders will be contacted via email or phone to arrange a refund. The museum will be open normal hours and will offer self-guided tours 12 noon-3:30. They ask that tour groups be limited to no more than 8 people.

Tin Roof has a Lucky Sunday Fun Day today with green beer. Outdoor DJs include String Bean at 4 and Epic at 8. Inside, the Jerry Patton Trio will perform at noon, Semi-Average Joe at 4, and Rodelle McCord at 8.

There will be Trap Bingo at 492 S. Second this afternoon at 4.

I’ve seen speculation on sports sites that the NBA may cancel the rest of the regular season and go straight to the playoffs, on schedule. If that turns out to be the case, the Grizzlies are in as the 8th seed in the West, and would play the number-one seed L.A. Lakers. Having LeBron here for at least 2 games would provide a much-needed boost to the Downtown Memphis economy.

Soul Jazz Trio with Joe Restivo play The Lounge in 3rd & Court diner this evening at 7. This is a free show.

Mexico is considering closing the U.S. border to prevent the spread of coronavirus. So that was Trump’s plan, to unleash a pandemic to get Mexico to pay for his wall.

Time to hit Publish and get out. I’m going to do brunch at the Blind Bear today. May get down to the south side for a visit to Max’s later. Back tomorrow or Tuesday with more news.

Saturday update

My MLGW bill has been diggin’ this weather lately. I’ve had my HVAC unit turned off for nearly two weeks now. It hasn’t been cold enough long enough to turn the heat on, and it hasn’t been warm enough long enough to require air conditioning. Looking at the forecast, it looks like the HVAC unit will get one more week of vacation, at least.

The Daily Memphian reports that Grizzlies game-night employees will be compensated for games canceled due to the coronavirus. They will pay employees for March games, then see what happens in April but will pay for those games as well if they are not played. Cheers to majority owner Robert Pera for doing the right thing.

The Daily Memphian also reports that Shelby County Schools will distribute meals to students while school is closed March 23-27. The closest location to Downtown is the Crenshaw Branch Library at 531 Vance.

In addition, the DM reports that Old Dominick Distillery is suspending tours.

The DM also reports that the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s March 21 Masterworks performance at the Cannon Center has been canceled.

The four items above were in the Daily Memphian’s coronavirus blog. The DM has made its coronavirus coverage free to non-subscribers, in the interest of public health.

The Orpheum has canceled the following shows:

  • Farewell Angelina, March 14, Halloran Centre (postponed)
  • America, March 15, Orpheum
  • Ballet 5:8 Presents The Space in Between, March 21, Halloran Centre
  • Black Violin, March 21, Orpheum (postponed)
  • 2020-2021 Broadway Season Reveal, March 23, Orpheum
  • Dinner on Stage, March 23, Orpheum
  • Memphis Songwriters Series hosted by Mark Edgar Stuart, March 26-April 23, Halloran Centre (postponed)
  • The Golden Girls Show! A Puppet Parody, March 28, Halloran Centre (postponed)
  • PSS PSS, April 11, Halloran Centre
  • Memphis Songwriter Association Songwriter Showdown, April 23, Halloran Centre (postponed)
  • Baby Shark Live, April 24, Orpheum (postponed)
  • Momma An Em Comedy Show, May 29, Orpheum (postponed)

In FedExForum news, Cher’s Here We Go Again tour has been rescheduled for September 16. Tickets Current ticket holders need take no action if they plan to keep their seats for the September show.

Sports writer and radio host Gary Parrish has a column: Although canceling the NCAA tournament sucks, it was absolutely the right thing to do.

WWE Smackdown, scheduled to broadcast from Detroit last night, had to be moved to the WWE Performance Center in Florida due to coronavirus threat. The video clip below shows Smackdown’s highlights, as well as an intro from WWE Executive Vice President Triple H showing viewers the state-of-the-art center where people train to become sports entertainers.

Really weird to watch Sasha Banks and Bayley cut a promo with absolutely no one in the stands to hear it. It’s reported that Monday Night RAW will be broadcast from the Performance Center as well.

Okay, folks, we are really in bizarro world here. I just walked to Walgreens (approximately 8:10 AM) and there were no people standing outside CeCe’s Liquors waiting for it to open. That may be the first time I’ve seen that in my 17 years living down the street from the liquor store and Walgreens.

By the way, I checked – Walgreens has some small 4-packs of toilet paper but the larger packs are gone. Best advice is, don’t wait until you get down to the last roll to go get more. The bleach shelves are mostly empty but I did see a few bottles of Clorox on the bottom shelf.

The World Health Organization recommends that people over 50 take extra precautions to avoid catching COVID-19, because that group has a greater risk of dying from the virus or subsequent bacterial infections. I wonder if that will lead to the cancellation of DTO? I mean, the emcee is practically knocking on the door of sixty and several of the other organizers fall on the wrong side of the WHO’s age line. DTO has several events where multiple people handle the same object, and it would not be easy to sanitize between exchanges. Also, it’s moving to a smaller space this year which will make social distancing among spectators challenging. Perhaps the civic-minded organizers will want to do their part to flatten the curve.

I saw a fabulous suggestion yesterday. If you plan on eating at home for the next few weeks in order to distance yourself from others, why not go to your favorite restaurant and buy gift cards to be used when you do get back out? That will bring revenue into the restaurant during these uncertain times, helping to ensure that the restaurant will still be around when the virus threat passes.

From The Takeout: COVID-19 could decimate the restaurant industry. What can be done about it?

Don’t forget our low-income and vulnerable Memphians who will be among those spending more time at home until the threat passes. The Mid-South Food Bank is putting together boxes, each containing about 30 pounds of prepackaged foods, to help the needy get through 14 days or more sheltering at home. They are in need of food donations (canned and non-perishable foods) as well as volunteers to pack the boxes.

From WMC Action News 5: Organizers say it is unlikely Memphis in May will be canceled. Only a mandate from government would shut it down, organizers say. But if it is canceled, ticket fees, BBQ team fees, and race fees will be refunded, Fox 13 reports.

Reminds me: A few days ago I told you I was monitoring an unnamed out-of-town event that attracts an older crowd, because I saw that event as a good measuring stick of whether events should or should not be canceled. It was the national bridge tournament in Columbus, Ohio, scheduled for March 19-29. Thursday evening the bridge league announced that they had no choice but to cancel the tournament, due to the governor of Ohio temporarily banning gatherings of 100 or more people. This will be the first year since the creation of the Vanderbilt Cup in 1928 that it will not be awarded.

Folk All Y’all: An Evening with Sarah Potenza at the Green Room at Crosstown Concourse has been canceled.

You can drink like a leprechaun all day today at the Flying Saucer. Dress up like a leprechaun and your first beer is on them. There will be special stouts, car bombs, beer specials, and live bagpipers. My neighbor texted me and asked, “Do they really have live bagpipers?” Yes. A local bagpipers’ club has been performing at the Saucer for St. Pat’s (or the Saturday before) for years.

Max’s Sports Bar will have $7 chocolate mint slushes all day today. From 4:30-6:30 PM they will have Car Bomb Madness. Doors open at 11 AM. I wonder what they’ll show on their TVs, considering there are no sports right now? Damn… I just realized, March Madness would normally be three of Max’s busiest weeks of the year. I need to get down there this weekend and support. I mean, my three PBRs at $2.75 apiece probably won’t pay the mortgage there, but at least it will be moral support. If for no other reason, I need to support Max just because he keeps his PBR drafts at a reasonable price point while other bars choose to charge more.

Continuing to watch the video clip of WWE Smackdown as I write this post… and I’m realizing, the wrestling on FOX is a lot more real than the news is.

Not sure this is still happening, but Tin Roof is having St. Practice Day all day today with outdoor DJs and bands on the live side.

Comma, Comma, Comma, Comma, Comma Comedians return to Memphis Made Brewing Co. tonight.

I subscribed to a really excellent e-newsletter this week: POLITICO Playbook. It tells you all about current events and their effect on what the government is doing. If you don’t have time to watch the national news on TV, this is a great way to stay informed. It’s written in a very digestible, conversational style.

Chris Johnson plays The Vault at 4 today.

Catch DJ Ben Murray on the 1s and 2s at Slider Inn Downtown tonight 9 PM-1 AM.

If you’re a fan of B-RAD who is the Sunday brunch bartender at the Silly Goose, he is interviewed on this week’s episode of the Rahul and Tony podcast.

Whoa, the WWE signed Rob Gronkowski! He’ll be on Smackdown next Friday.

We’re still a couple of weeks out but I am going to say this far in advance: It is NOT COOL to post April Fool’s jokes about the coronavirus on social media. People are panicking. Please make that topic off-limits on April 1.

Well crap. I use Evernote to save links I want to talk about in the next blog post, and the service has been down about 30 minutes now. I had about 7 more things in my “Saturday links” note and now I can’t access it.  So I guess this post is done. Back tomorrow with more news.