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Hey Memphis … THE WAIT IS OVER! WE’RE COMING TO YOUR CITY!@SMU_Football vs. @MemphisFB. See you Saturday!

(📍 @HomeDepot) pic.twitter.com/tlV6ANSxz4

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 28, 2019

It’s true, it’s true. College GameDay is coming to Memphis for Saturday’s #14 SMU vs. #23 Memphis game. GameDay will be broadcast from Beale Street. I’ve heard complaints that “no one will be out on Beale early in the morning and Memphis will look like a ghost town” but I don’t believe that will be the case. I predict Memphians will show up and represent their town! What excellent free advertising for Memphis tourism.

Memphis is running a $9.01 flash sale for tickets to the SMU game through tomorrow. GoTigersGo has the details.

If you love the Memphis Farmers Market, you will have a chance to support it while getting hammered on Friday, November 22. The Memphis Flyer is throwing a cocktail fest benefitting the Market. You get 12 sipping-sized cocktails, photos with Santa, Christmas music and activities, and the Flyer’s holiday market. It’s in Overton Square, though, so Lyfting or Ubering or appointing a DD is the smart move. Early Bird tickets

Downtown Yoga will offer a Pilates for Runners & Cyclists class this Saturday at 12:30. Cost is $35 and you get a Pilates ring to take home. Max class size is 10. If you’re an Envision Memphis gym member, ask about your discount.

The Big River Crossing Half Marathon and 5K is Saturday morning. How many half marathons cross the mighty Mississippi? Proceeds benefit the Peer Power Foundation, an organization that teaches high school and college students to tutor their peers.

Got several pieces of job news to share this morning. First of all, New Memphis is hiring a program administrator. If you believe in attracting and retaining talent to our city, this could be a great fit for you.

Porter-Leath is hiring a Residential Monitor – PRN to join their Connections team.

Finally, the Silly Goose is hiring. I’ll just copy and paste the job description for this one.

Silly Goose Downtown Memphis is now hiring cocktail waitresses! We are an upscale, high volume nightclub and are looking for individuals that thrive in this kind of environment and are driven by giving guests great experiences. If you are great at this, you can do very well for yourself here. Dependability, Attention to Detail, Teamwork Oriented, Coach-ability, and a Positive Attitude is all it takes to be successful here! Experience not required but preferred.

If you don’t already know the hiring manager, Halsey, email me at paul@paulryburn.com or hit me up on Facebook and I’ll put you in touch.

Speaking of the Goose, I stole (with permission) a photo of the large charcuterie plate from Nikki, one of the bartenders there.

I have not ordered this one myself, because 1) it’s way more food than I could eat, and 2) I don’t need to spend $20 on dinner when I’m only working part-time. I have seen this plate brought out to others, though. It is all gourmet meats and cheeses. You might get meats like duck pastrami and Pontotoc Lounge’s house-made Tasso ham. Plus, the chef comes out and tells you about everything on the tray, so you learn about what you’re eating. It would be perfect for two people to share.

Geez… I know lately I’ve been talking about the Goose’s food almost as regularly as George Lapides used to talk about Mister B’s when he was alive. I promise you, it’s not because they ask me to do so or pay me to do so. I just like the place a lot, I like what they’ve done with their menu lately, and want people to know about it.

Bar Ware will have a benefit for UNICEF Halloween night. 5% of all sales will be donated to relief for those affected by Hurricane Dorian. DJ Eggroll will spin from 9 PM to midnight. Costume contest with the following prizes:

• $200 for best costume
• $100 for best homemade/most creative costume
• Brunch or dinner for two for best couples’ costume
• Skrewball shot for worst costume

Costume contest results announced at 11. Hmmm. My idea for a Halloween costume might win that Skrewball shot.

Yesterday I saw a meme on Facebook that resonated with me:

“Not everyone gets the same version of me. One person might tell you I have an amazing soul. Another might tell you I’m a cold hearted asshole. Believe them both. I don’t treat people badly. I treat them accordingly.”

This past weekend, Donald Trump was introduced at the World Series, where he was booed and there were chants of “lock him up.” Love it! Nothing wears on a narcissistic psychopath worse than being publicly denigrated and humiliated.

Off to work. Back tomorrow with more news.

GRRRRRRRRIZZLIES! Ja Morant as a drive-to-the-basket point guard, scoring 30 in only his third regular season game as a pro, and assisting on the game-winning overtime basket. Plus, he more than held his own against Kyrie Irving. I like it. I like it a lot!

In other local basketball news, I’m pleased to hear that former Memphis Tiger Raynere Thornton earned a spot at G-League team the Memphis Hustle’s training camp.

More sports news: The SMU Mustangs vs. Memphis Tigers Saturday, November 2 football game has been picked for a prime-time slot on ABC. Kickoff at the Liberty Bowl will be 6:30 PM.

The next South Main Association has been announced for Tuesday, November 12 at the Arcade restaurant at Main and G.E. Patterson. Jeffrey Zepatos, Arcade owner, will speak, and the restaurant will supply the food and beverages. Also, it will be time to vote for the slate of 2020 board members. Social at 6 PM with presentation starting at 6:30. The meeting is free for SMA members and $10 for non-members.

Downtown Dining Week, where you can get three-course dinners at many Downtown restaurants for $20.19, will be back November 11-17. Oddly, DDW does not have its own domain and custom website this year; it’s being operated off the Downtown Memphis Commission website, with the DMC’s look and feel rather than its own. I wonder what the reason is – not gonna lie, it feels a bit low-budget. Nevertheless, DDW is an incredible opportunity to try some amazing food at a quite affordable price, and I encourage my readers to get out and explore. If there’s a restaurant you know you want to try, make reservations NOW, even if they haven’t published their menu yet. The most popular restaurants will fill up with reservations quick.

I’ll give you one piece of advice for Downtown Dining Week: RIZZO’S RIZZO’S RIZZO’S RIZZO’S RIZZO’S. A number of restaurants are known for going above and beyond for Downtown Dining Week, but none so much as the restaurant run by Michael Patrick.

Sage is now hiring experienced bartenders, servers, and dishwashers. Apply in person between 3 and 5 in the afternoon, weekdays at 94 S. Main.

I think I may have mentioned this once before, but if I have it’s worth repeating: There’s now a company called Fix that will deliver locally-sourced meal preparation kits to your door. In addition to traditional dinners, they have game day meals including dips and wings.

I tried one of the few remaining pizzas on the Silly Goose menu that I had not yet had yesterday: The Veggie.

Koozie of BBQ team with top-50% 2019 finish in shoulder and Perjorie T. Roll “for attention,” as they say on the Memphis Sandwich Clique. I know this is a weird thing for me to order, but I wanted to compare it with Aldo’s around the corner, where I’ll stop by now and then and get a slice of sausage and a slice of veggie to go. The Goose take on the veggie pizza is quite good and I was able to finish more of it (7 of the 8 slices) than I can finish of one of their meat pizzas. I like both Goose and Aldo’s veggie and can’t pick a winner. If you’re in a hurry and/or you prefer New York style pizza, Aldo’s is the place to go. If you like wood-fired, come to the Goose.

Congratulations to my friends on the New Wing Order food truck, who added to their trophy case this past Saturday. They competed in the Bluff City Hotwing Fest and took the grand championship.

Love it: A company has applied to trademark “fake news,” and if they get it Donald Trump won’t be able to use that term anymore. When he rants about “the failing New York Times” he’ll have to call what they publish something else. Perhaps he can refer to them as the gold medalists of the Made-Up News Olym… oops, no, can’t use that either.

The Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team hosts LeMoyne-Owen in an exhibition game tonight at FedExForum at 7.

Time to get to work, which should be quite interesting today. Back tomorrow with more news.

Atomic Rose, the nightclub in the former Purple Haze spot on Second, will host the official after-party October 30 following the Elton John concert at FedExForum. Bring your Elton John ticket stub for free admission, and bring your parking garage stub for a free well drink. (What about us Downtowners who walk to FedExForum? We like free drinks too!) They’ll have a 70s dance party, and a happy hour from 6 to 9 PM with beers half price and $2 off any drink.

There will be a 1st birthday party for River Garden Park at the park on Saturday, November 9 from 3:30-7:30 PM. They are celebrating “A Year in a Day,” bringing back some of the best events held there during the past year. The schedule will be

• 3:30 PM: YOGA! Charlie Baxter Hayden will lead a class. Also at this time there will be flag-painting in the pavilion.
• 4:30 PM: Firepits and s’mores
• 5:00 PM: Toast, birthday cake, and remarks
• 5:30 PM: Seda Latin Dance salsa
• 7:00 PM: Mighty Lights viewing
• All day: Kayaking in the harbor with free kayak rentals, as well as free rides from Explore Bike Share stations

The park is located at Riverside and Jefferson, just south of the entrance to Bass Pro. Given that there will be firepits and s’mores, and given the way Memphis weather rarely cooperates with outdoor festivals, I bet the high that day will be 84.

The annual trashion show by Memphis City Beautiful is this afternoon 5:30-8:30 at 670 S. Fourth. For the low price of only $45 you can look at people dressed up in garbage. Or you can pay $65 VIP for champagne and premium seating so you can get an even better look at the people dressed in garbage. I Google Mapped the location and it is the southeast corner of Fourth and Georgia. If you ride there in a vehicle, make sure the doors are locked. If you walk, bike, or scooter there, carrying a gun would not be a bad idea.

The Daily Memphian has a photo gallery of Race for the Cure Downtown yesterday. The runners didn’t let a little rain (or a lot of rain) stop them.

I have a request for anyone going to the WWE Friday Night Smackdown show at FedExForum on January 3. Any time a heel gets in the ring and starts to cut a promo on the microphone, say, “WHAT????” as often and as loudly as possible. The audience “WHAT????” response started nearly 20 years ago when “Stone Cold” Steve Austin turned heel, and has continued to this day. As you know, Smackdown recently moved to the Fox network. Fox executives have asked that fans stop with “WHAT????” because the execs find it disrespectful. So, say it loud and say it proud as a big f-you to corporate America.

(NOTE: If you’re reading this from a phone, might want to wait until you get to a computer to follow that link at the end of the last paragraph. Ringside News posts some great stuff, but that site will eat your phone battery life like you wouldn’t believe.)

Lyft has launched a very cool program, the Job Access Program, in 35 cities across the United States. It offers free or discounted rides to and from

• Job interviews
• Job training programs
• Work, for the first 3 weeks until the first paycheck comes in and the employees have money to begin arranging their own transportation

The only thing is, I can’t find the list of cities! If Memphis is not one of the 35 cities, I would encourage Mayor Strickland’s office to get in touch with Lyft as soon as possible about bringing the program here. This would be a game-changer for many in our community.

City Market now has a Bitcoin ATM, although it’s currently out of order.

Speaking of City Market… WTF did I eat last night?

I was looking in the market’s grab & go, and I saw two fried patties and a cup of dipping sauce in one of the plastic cases. “Shami Kabob,” the label read. I didn’t know what that was, but I love Indian food, so I decided to take chance.

The two patties resembled salmon croquettes, so I was expecting something similar. I was wrong! The patties (well, the one I ate most of before throwing it away) had the taste and consistency of liver pate. I’ve never tasted any kind of Indian food like that before. Kinda wish I was still working in IT so I could show my co-workers this photo and ask them what that was.

The official Facebook listing is up for the Stumbling Santa Pub Crawl Saturday, December 7. There are now a couple of different Christmas-themed pub crawls but Stumbling Santa is the Downtown original and the real deal. Everyone meets up at the Flying Saucer at 7 and then they stumble to various bars in the Downtown core and on Beale Street. There ate two key things to know: First of all, you need to dress up as Santa, or alternately you can be Mrs. Claus, a reindeer, an elf, a Christmas tree, Frosty the Snowman… you get the idea. Second and most important, bring a toy for Porter-Leath to give a child for Christmas. They need donations of over 5000 toys to make sure every child gets one. Here’s a list of toy suggestions.  There’s nothing quite like seeing 1200-1500 Santas march around Downtown. If you have other plans that night, I’m sure you could make arrangements to drop a toy off at the Saucer a day or two in advance.

Speaking of dressing up for Christmas… I usually don’t do the “ugly sweater” attire thing (maybe because I’m not a big fan of sweaters in general) but I would wear this sweatshirt.

The night after they throw their big Elton John after-party, Atomic Rose will throw an ’80s Horror Night party on Halloween. Be prepared to be scared and dress as a villain or victim to enter their costume contest. Crowd response determines the winner and first place gets $500, second place gets $100, and third gets a $50 bar tab. Happy hour will be back 6-9 with half-price beer and $2 off drinks.

I need to ask my friend who works there if that 6-9 happy hour is an every Wednesday and Thursday thing… if it is I may have to pay that place a visit.

The Nuh-Uh Girl’s tour of Europe continues. After doing Oktoberfest in Munich, she has moved on to points south and west. Let’s check in and see how she’s doing.

So in Italy, they charge me at least 3€ to even sit down at a restaurant (“service and bread”). In France, I order wine, and they bring me free snacks. #jaimelefrance

Even when traveling overseas, she never changes. La nourriture gratuite? Je me demande si la Nuh-Uh Fille  va arriver.

The Daily Memphian has a look at public relations icon Harold Burson‘s recent appearance at the Halloran Centre. Burson went over some PR nightmare situations he saw throughout his career, including one of his own making at Ole Miss in the 1930s as well as the New Coke fiasco of 1985.

Regina’s Cajun Kitchen at 60 N. Main has their Holiday Cooking Guide on sale online for $18.99. It contains their family recipes that have been passed down for generations, and of course it includes the recipe for their famous gumbo.

Job news: Automatic Slim’s is hiring all positions. Apply between 2 and 5 PM Monday-Friday.

RAWK’n Grub inside Growlers on Poplar in Midtown is announcing new hours: They will now open for lunch at 11 AM and serve food into the late night until 2 AM. Their food is raved about on Memphis Sandwich Clique and there is a reason why. If you can’t make it to Growlers, they’re on Uber Eats and DoorDash.

Yup that exists: Finger covers that keep your fingers clean while eating messy foods

It’s Pie-Tober at the Downtown Makeda’s Cookies location (488 S. Second) today. You can take home a pie made with Makeda’s cookie crusts.

The Grizzlies host the Brooklyn Nets this afternoon at 5 at FedExForum. All fans in attendance get a 2019-20 Grizzlies schedule magnet.

By the way… if you are a Grizzlies fan and are not reading Grizzly Bear Blues regularly, you are missing out on some quality journalism.

Time to head out for D-RANKS and maybe a pizza with B-RAD at the Silly Goose. Back tomorrow with more news, although it may be a short post because I have to go in to work a little early.

Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian got a chance to check out the new House of Hops inside FedExForum last night during the Grizzlies’ home opener. He describes it as a brewery taproom-style atmosphere, with Wiseacre on tap and other beers to come. There are free-play video games, a Pop-a-Shot, and the food they sell resembles what you might find on food trucks. Sounds like a nice place to go in the fourth quarter, a nice alternative to staying in your seat and watching the Grizzlies throw the game away.

Jared Boyd of the DM has a look at the other new features at FedExForum this year: A grab & go, theater box seating with food and drink included, a value menu, a lounge by vodka company Lit, a carvery cart, a smoked brisket and mac & cheese cart, a lactation station, a sensory room, and more.

Tonight is the biggest Halloween party night of the year. Check out I Love Memphis’ list of Halloween events to find what you want to do.

DJ Spanish Fly will play a set at Eight & Sand, the cocktail bar inside Central Station Hotel, this evening along with several other DJs. Things will get started around 6.

There’s an event called Bullies on Beale, but it’s not on Beale. Trust the Process Kennels will have approximately 50 dogs in Court Square today from 4 to 9 PM for a showcase.

The CA has five things to know before you go to the Elton John show at FedExForum Wednesday night. The show is sold out, but there are verified ticket resales on Ticketmaster.

The Orpheum is showing The Rocky Horror Picture Show on the big screen tonight. Bring your own props or buy a prop bag at the theater for $5.

I may check out RiverArtsFest later today – they have unusually good festival food, as I recall – but for the time being I’m going to wait out the rain at Bardog. Back tomorrow with more news.

If you’re going to the Grizzlies’ regular season home opener at FedExForum tonight, Geoff Calkins has a photo of the growl towel you will get for free:

Opening night growl towel. pic.twitter.com/Wuo2ga9WU7

— Geoff Calkins (@geoff_calkins) October 24, 2019

There will be festivities tonight to celebrate the return of the Grizz. DJ Paul of Three Six Mafia, Gangsta Boo, DJ Wyte, and Seed of 6 will perform pre-game. The national anthem will be sung by blues & rock guitarist Eric Gales. Garry Goin and the Grizzlies House Band will perform outside on the plaza at 5:30 and the Grizzline drum line will march down Beale Street at 6. The Delta Cats Blues Band and Keelyn Ellis will perform on the Plaza concourse pre-game and DJ Mack will be at the top of the north escalator near section 228. Tip-off is just after 7 and the opponents will be the Chicago Bulls.

Jared Boyd of the Daily Memphian has a new look at the yet-to-be-named lounge in the bottom floor of Hotel Indigo.

Edible Memphis is back with the latest installment of Familiar Faces, people you might have seen at your favorite places to eat, but you never knew their story. This week Edible sat down with Gerald Darling of Wok’n in Memphis. You can find Gerald at the Asian-American restaurant inside the Puck Food Hall at 409 S. Main. His dream is a career where he can pursue justice for humanity.

As your #1 source of news and information about The Edge District, it is my pleasure to inform you that the Edge District Fall Festival is coming up Saturday, November 2. From 4 to 7 that afternoon there will be live music, s’mores, fire pits, axe throwing, pumpkin carving, turkey legs, and more. Clean Memphis will be on hand to discuss its initiatives, and The Compost Fairy will be there as well.  The festival is free to attend with food and beverages sold separately. Mmmm I haven’t had a turkey leg since Music Fest weekend… may have to stop by.

Jon McEuen and the String Wizards play the Halloran Centre tonight. McEuen plays the guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin, and the band will be playing early Nitty Gritty Dirt Band music and bluegrass music in a multimedia performance.

SMU defeated Houston 34-31 last night in an AAC clash, and that is a good thing. Why? By remaining undefeated, SMU has increased the chance that ESPN College GameDay will come to Memphis on November 2, when the Tigers host SMU at the Liberty Bowl in a matchup of the two best Group of 4 schools. Now Memphis has to hold up its part of the bargain and beat Tulsa tomorrow.

The Green Beetle is looking to hire a part-time server, someone who can work 2-4 days a week with weekend day availability. Best time to apply is after 4 PM Wednesday-Sunday when their front-of-house manager will be there.

Weather is not looking so hot for Halloween in Memphis… literally. Temperatures will dip down into the 30s that night. Ladies, don’t let that stop you from wearing those slutty costumes!

Cordelia’s Market wants everyone to know that their annual Fall Festival will still happen tomorrow despite the threat of rain. Parts of the festival may be moved inside, but the show will go on. They’ll have a $3.99 fire sale on pumpkins during the festival.

There will be a Fire & Flow Freak Show at the Brass Door Halloween night. The Goddesses of Fire will heat things up at the Irish pub that evening. Tickets are $20 and first beer is included with ticket.

The Memphis Flyer has video of the new Ojo seated scooters that can now be rented at Explore Memphis bike hubs.

Award-winning restaurant Flight is hiring a sous chef and line cooks.

Potential bad news for Downtown and for Memphis: A study conducted on behalf of MLGW recommends cutting several hundred jobs.

Toronto Raptors news: Marc Gasol got Grit & Grind engraved on his NBA championship ring.

Yesterday we were playing the “Fuck, Marry, Kill” game at the Silly Goose where you’re given a list of three people and you have to murder one, marry one, and have sex with one. The game devolved into lists of cartoon characters, and in one iteration of the game Eeyore, Piglet, and Winnie-the-Pooh were the choices. If you’re on a BBQ team you pretty much have to kill Piglet.

A very happy birthday to Mama Bear AKA Jeannette, owner of the Blind Bear.

Time to run to work. Back tomorrow with more news.

 

 

RiverArtsFest happens this weekend, Saturday 10-9 and Sunday 10-5, on Riverside Drive between Jefferson and Beale. This is the Memphis metro’s largest arts festival of the year. It features a juried artists’ market with nearly 200 vendors; the market is a great place to buy Christmas presents or pieces to spruce up your home. There will be live music on two stages throughout the day. Of course, there will be plenty of festival food and beer and wine as well. $5 gets you a wristband that gets you in-and-out privileges all day for the day you go. Admission is free for

• Kids 10 and under
• Those with a Race for the Cure bib
• Everyone after 5 PM on Saturday

The Jimmy John’s on Union next to Parking Can Be Fun is now open. I’ll probably give it a try once or twice but I don’t see it displacing River Time Market & Deli on Court Square as my go-to sandwich location.

The Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team takes the floor at FedExForum tonight for the first time this season. They will host Christian Brothers in an exhibition game. The game will not be broadcast on TV, so you’ll have to buy a ticket to get a look at James Wiseman tonight. The Daily Memphian has a look at the bonuses Penny Hardaway could receive. There are not only bonuses for progress into the postseason, but for home game attendance and ticket sales as well.

Hernando Road, just east of B.B. King Blvd. between Union and Gayoso, will be blocked between 8 and 10 AM tomorrow (Friday) while a contractor uses a crane to remove signs from the Doubletree Hotel.

Ghost River Brewing Co. will host a Birthday Bash with Jack Oblivian Saturday, November 9 in its taproom 7:30 to 10 PM. No cover for the show to celebrate the taproom turning 3. Plus, there will be giveaways in the taproom all day leading up to the show.

Memphis Made Brewing Co. will host Bigfoot Fest this Saturday. A celebration of our friend in the woods will unfold that day with films, evidence, witness accounts, giveaways, and trivia.

The Memphis airport will hold a job fair next Wednesday, October 30, with a wide variety of positions to be filled.

I played trivia at the Blind Bear last night. I heard a member of one of the other teams, who couldn’t be there, told his teammates, “Don’t let Paul’s team win again.”

Guess what? Paul’s team won again

For one week only, Charles will be back calling trivia next Wednesday. Join him at 7:30 for an attempt to win a $40, $20, or $10 Blind Bear gift card for top three team finishes and a $10 gift card for best team name. Beer and shot specials for trivia players.

Off to work I go… back tomorrow with more news.

Central Station Hotel opened yesterday, and with it, cocktail bar Eight & Sand. French brasserie Bishop inside the hotel will open next month. Book your stay at Central Station

The Grizzlies open the regular season on the road tonight, visiting the Miami Heat. Tip-off time is 6:30 and as always, the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Southeast (831 on Comcast).

Carrie Underwood brings her Cry Pretty Tour to FedExForum this evening.

The Flying Saucer will have an ’80s Halloween Slash Back Saturday beginning at 9 PM. Costume contest with prizes for the best, drink specials, music by DJ Superman.

Memphis Tigers center James Wiseman has been named to the AP Pre-season All-American first team.

The Brass Door will open at 7 AM Saturday for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure runners and supporters. They’ll have an Irish breakfast, and those not running are welcome to hang out and enjoy hot chocolate, coffee, and Irish coffee. You can also leave your bag at the Door if you don’t want to run with the extra weight.

The Silly Goose is having their Halloween costume party Thursday, October 31 beginning at 9 PM. Every hour on the hour from 10 until 1 there will be a costume contest with prizes.

Little River Band has announced a July 11, 2020 Orpheum date. I had no idea they were still around.

Public relations pioneer Harold Burson will be at the Halloran Centre tonight. The show is presented by Burson, Cohn and Wolfe and American Advertising Federation Memphis. Hmmm… someone from the BBQ team’s public relations department should go to this, and it’s my trivia night. Perhaps I will send the troll over there.

The Memphis Chess Festival happens on the lawn of Cossitt Library Saturday from 1 to 3. This family-friendly event is an afternoon of chess education and fun. You can be a human chess piece or help move giant chess pieces around a giant board. DJ KOJACK will be spinning the tunes. There will be face painting and free superhero costumes. They are also looking for volunteers, who would need to be there at noon.

It’s hard to believe that this coming Friday is the last Friday of the month. October flew by, didn’t it? Friday it will once again be time for South Main Trolley Night. The SMA will have a free show, SoulRight Trolley Night in Slider Inn’s back yard (Main and Talbot) with live music by Kady Roxz, Jordan Occasionally, and Tailored Makers. Over at South Main Sounds that evening at 7 there will be a Raelyn Nelson Band House Concert with $20 admission getting you a bandana, poster, and collector wristband as well as the show.

The annual State of Downtown and the Downtown Vision Awards will happen in the Central Station Hotel from 4 to 7 PM Friday. RSVP to Christine Taylor at taylor@downtownmemphis.com if you plan to attend.

Also for Trolley Night, Doc and Byron will perform at the Arcade restaurant at 7 PM, Chris Johnson will play The Vault at 8, and there will be a live DJ in front of Downtown Candle Co.

There will be a Soulful Murder Mystery dinner theater experience at the Century House, 153 Vance Saturday (show times 1 PM, 4 PM, 8 PM) and Sunday (2:30 PM, 7:30 PM). Ticket package includes not only dinner and a murder mystery, but poetry, comedy, and live music. Purchase tickets

Congratulations to Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar, recently named one of the top 25 fine dining restaurants in America by TripAdvisor for the third year in a row.

PBR is coming to FedExForum, but I don’t mean the beer. Professional Bull Riders will bring their Memphis Invitational to the Forum on Saturday, February 15.

Congratulations to my friend Michael Butler of the One901 blog. He was recently named one of the top 8 food photographers in Memphis by Peerspace.

That’s it for now, and I’m not going to forget to publish my post like I did yesterday. Back tomorrow with more.

 

(Wed 6:30 AM: I forgot to hit Publish before leaving the apartment Tuesday! Sorry about that.)

I got to sleep late today! Work asked me to shift my hours to 1 to 5 for one day only for a special project. It was nice to be able to stay out past midnight without worry of not getting enough sleep.

The AP preseason basketball poll is out, and Memphis came in at number 14. That’s slightly disappointing given that the Tigers have the nation’s top recruiting class, but it just means Penny and the team will have to go out and work their way into the Top 10. The blue-blood programs (Michigan State, Kentucky, Kansas, and Duke) occupy the top four spots.

Leave it to the Tennessee state legislature to screw up sports betting. Betting on sports in Tennessee will be online only. People won’t be able to experience the fun of stopping in a sports book on Beale Street to place a bet on the Grizzlies game, then walking over to FedExForum to watch they game they bet on.

I’ve heard a couple of creative uses for Skrewball, the new peanut butter-flavored liquor that is becoming a craze Downtown:

• Go to the Green Beetle and add a shot of Skrewball to the Bushwacker, the Beetle’s chocolate-flavored slushie
• Go to the Silly Goose and add a shot of Skrewball to a Joe, the Goose’s house-made coffee-flavored shot

On Thursday, November 7, the Gray Canary will host a cocktail party for Last Call by Brad Thomas Parsons. Parsons’ latest book explores the rituals of closing time.

Edible Memphis released a Classic Cocktail Guide this week. Among the Downtown cocktails: Bee’s Knees at Belle Tavern; Boulevardier at 3rd and Court; French 75 at McEwen’s; Martinez at Catherine & Mary’s.

The Peabody Hotel will host a Jack Daniel’s tasting & dinner celebrating 150 years of the hotel and the whiskey on Thursday, November 7. This will be a progressive dinner in the Peabody’s ballrooms, starting off with a cocktail reception, followed by a whiskey tasting, and then a 3-course Southern banquet served family style. Have a look at the menu. Whiskeys to be tasted include

• Jack Daniel’s No. 7
• Jack Daniel’s No. 27 Gold
• Jack Daniel’s 150th Anniversary Whiskey
• Jack Daniel’s “Peabody Select” Single Barrel

Tickets are $150 and include valet parking. Reservations

Bardog Tavern is expanding its staff and is hiring a night time chef/kitchen manager. Apply within between 2 and 4 PM.

Peppa Pig is live at the Orpheum this evening.

The downstairs lounge is now open at 3rd and Court Diner. The lounge has a retro 1970s feel. There will be live music Fridays and Saturdays and a DJ Thursdays and Sundays. There will be plenty of Memphis music and a concentration of blues, funk, and soul from the 1960s and 1970s. The 3rd and Court menu will be available downstairs during the hours the diner is open, with burgers after-hours. The diner now serves breakfast all day long.

Back soon with a Wednesday post.

 

Got a pro tip from one of my fellow Bardog regulars yesterday: Get the sliders and dunk them in the beer cheese soup. That is GENIUS, right there.

The University of Oklahoma’s Sooner Schooner tipped over yesterday:

Delectable Festival is coming to Beale Street Landing Sunday, December 1. Attendees will get carefully curated desserts and cocktails from some of Memphis’ best chefs, bakeries, and restaurants. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit Caritas Village.

Wok’n in Memphis, the Asian-American restaurant in the Puck Food Hall at 409 S. Main, is hiring a sous chef. Here’s a copy of the job description.

-Must be able to lift 50+ pounds
– Must be able to exercise good judgment and decision-making abilities
-Must have good customer service
-Able to use the Square App
-Ensure that food comes out simultaneously, in high quality and in a timely fashion
-Comply with nutrition and sanitation regulations and safety standards
-Maintain a positive and professional approach with coworkers and customers
-Must be able to go up and down multiple flights of stairs
-Ability to work on your feet for eight hours or more a day
-High level of professionalism
-Comfortable working with a team in a fast-paced kitchen environment
-Must be punctual
-Excellent verbal communication and organization skills
-Nights and weekend shifts required
-Task driven individual
-Dumpling folding/making experience is a plus, but not necessary

Open to training the right candidate. Your attitude means more than your experience. Submit resume detailing your experience.

Two days off. 40 hours a week must have Lead Line Cook or Sous chef experience

Wiseacre brewery and El Mero Taco will host Dia de los Muertos on November 1. Dressing up is encouraged and there will be face painting. Beer and taco specials. Funds raised at this event will benefit Alive Rescue Memphis.

I hear the Sprock & Roll/River City Pedalers party pedal bikes got banned from multiple bars this week after one of the people on a party bike jumped off the bike and onto a moving U-Haul. A seat on one of those things does not come with a license to be an asshole. I wish all the bars Downtown would ban those things.

Former Redbirds player and manager Stubby Clapp will interview for the manager gig at the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Saturday is the final Memphis Farmers Market day of the season. A few of my faves will be absent from Bardog Saturday, so I am considering making a Farmers Market trip that day. I haven’t been since August. People have told me I am missed down there, which makes me feel good.

Yikes – out of time! Got to get dressed and head to Silly Goose for D-RANKS and pizza with B-RAD. Back tomorrow with more news.

There’s a new Downtown writers’ group that convenes weekly, on Thursdays from 11 AM to 2 PM (although, you’re not expected to stay the whole time; just show up on your lunch hour). They will meet at Cafe Keough until the new Cossitt Library opens, and then they will move to the library.

Click the image above to view in a larger (readable) size. There’s no weekly commitment to the group, and it’s genre-neutral – whether you are a poet, a novelist, a nonfiction writer, a blogger, or whatever, you are welcome. You can also bring copies of your work to be critiqued by others. To get more info on this group, email dkbsabatini@gmail.com.

Just to be clear, I am not associated with this group in any way… yet… but since I get off work at 1 and they go until 2, I may come home Thursday, grab my MacBook, and head downstairs to Keough. Only thing is, I usually do my daily update posts in the morning before I leave for work, so I’ll probably spend my time mining news for Friday’s post rather than actually writing.

Tinder Box cigar shop on South Main hosts the 5th annual Memphis Smoke today from 1 to 6. They’ll have over 20 cigar, pipe, and tobacco vendors on hand. Live music by Charvey Mac and Vanelli’s Deli will be there with BBQ. There will be multiple door prizes that you can win. Special guests:

• Willy Herrera, master blender for Drew Estate
• Bradley Rubin, Alec Bradley Cigars
• Dan Welsh, Tatuaje Cigars
• Erik Stokkebye

There’s a VIP ticket you can purchase to Memphis Smoke that gets you in the after-party at Loflin Yard, where there will be food, an open bar, and one-on-one time with the vendors.

Pontotoc Lounge will have an 8-course dinner by 5 chefs Thursday, October 24. Here’s the menu: (click to view in a larger size)

They say you can make a reservation for the dinner on Resy but it looks like just standard lunch and dinner reservations on that site rather than for special events. I’d recommend calling them at 901-207-7576 to secure your spot.

The Cannon Center has added an evening with pop superstar Amy Grant to its calendar. She’ll be here Saturday, January 25.

I tried one of those bourbon cider slushies at Max’s Sports Bar last night.

The flavor was absolutely on point. Cider taste with a hint of nutmeg, and you can’t even tell there’s bourbon in there. I recommend getting one if you go down there to watch the games today.

Reminds me… when you’re a winner you tap all available resources to stay at the very top of your game. I bet Alabama head coach Nick Saban called Georgia State coach Shawn Elliott this week to pick his brain for pointers on how to beat Tennessee.

The Grizzlies are giving away 500 tickets to Friday’s season opener. Be at FedExForum at 9 AM Monday to pick up your pair.

Following the Tennessee Supreme Court’s refusal to hear a case, Greenspace, the nonprofit that owns the Confederate statues that used to be in two Downtown parks, is free to do what they want with the statues and wants them out of Shelby County. My suggestion is to toss them off the bridge and let Ol’ Man River decide where their new home will be. I’m sure they will be quite a hit wherever in Mississippi they wash up to shore.

The new Friday Night Smackdown comes to Memphis on January 5. Following its move to Fox TV on Friday nights, Smackdown has become WWE’s A-show, featuring the likes of World champion Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt, Bayley, and The New Day. This show is only a couple of weeks before the Royal Rumble and should be a good one. Here’s a video from the October 11 Smackdown that made a lot of kids cry:

There is still time to enter a team for the Memphis Grilled Cheese Fest happening at the Hi-Tone Sunday, November 10. They’re also still accepting vendors and volunteers.

NBC has decided not to order additional episodes of Bluff City Law. The drama series will complete its initial 10-episode run, but a season 2 looks unlikely.

Beale Street Artcrawl happens today at 1 PM.

Don’t forget that the last Memphis 901 FC home match of the season is tonight and they invite you to Pink Out the Pitch.

There’s a Great Pumpkin celebration at Bass Pro at the Pyramid this weekend.

That’s it for now. Leading off at Bardog today, then heading over to Blind Bear to watch the Memphis game and then the Alabama-Tennessee game. Back tomorrow with more news.