Category: Uncategorized

I know I’m late to the party talking about this since I took the day off yesterday, but I gotta say it…

WE GOT RID OF CHANDLER PARSONS!!!!!!

For those who haven’t heard, the Grizzlies traded his bad contract and his bad attitude to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. Memphis took back Solomon Hill and Miles Plumlee. Geoff Calkins called it Independence Day for the Grizzlies. In his article he quoted then-head of the front office Chris Wallace from 2016: “We don’t see it as taking any risk at all.”

If Chris Wallace had to name an all-time Grizzlies team, he’d probably put Allen Iverson at the 1, Jeff Green at the 3, Parsons at the 4, and Hasheem Thabeet at the 5. I can’t figure out who the shooting guard would be.

What a great Fourth! My apartment building threw a rooftop fireworks watch party. We had DJ Tree, hot dogs, pulled pork, and wings. It got packed up there! People love a good rooftop.

A new bar and a new juice bar are soon to open Downtown, the Flyer’s Hungry Memphis blog reports. Bar Ware and Juice Brothers will open in the 266 Lofts space at 276 S. Front.

I have updated information on two bars opening for the Women’s World Cup final Sunday. The Silly Goose will open early at 9:30 AM and will have specials on mimosas, Bloody Marys, sangria, and local draft. The Flying Saucer will open at 10 AM with $4 local drafts and brunch until 2.

Got things to do so I’m going to cut this one short. Back tomorrow with more news.

 

Happy Independence Day Eve! Y’all are sitting there waiting for the “office is closing early” email, aren’t ya?

The US Women’s National Team beat England 2-1 yesterday in the semifinals of the World Cup. They will advance to the finals, where they will play the winner of the Netherlands-Sweden match which happens today. The finals are set for 10 AM Central Time Sunday, which is kind of a problem because most restaurants and bars are not open at that hour. I took a poll on Facebook and here is what I found:

• Majestic Grille opens at 10 on Sundays anyway. They have 2 really nice flat-screen TVs at the bar.
• Silly Goose will be open (I have that confirmed from the owner)
• Flying Saucer will be open (confirmed from an assistant manager/bartender)
• I don’t have it confirmed but I feel it’s pretty safe to say Brass Door will be open
• Out in Midrown, Railgarten will be open (confirmed from the GM)
• Safe to say Celtic Crossing will be open as well

South End continues to grow. 13 single-family homes and one apartment building are being proposed for 27 West Carolina, currently a vacant lot that sits next to Loflin Yard.

Tonight at the Halloran Centre, the New Olivet Worship Center presents America Bless God: Independence Day, a Memphis Music Tribute to the USA with Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum. Jr.

A website called Smart Meetings has an article on how Leo Events, headquartered out in The Edge, creates magical, immersive moments for its clients and their guests.

The Bluff City Bandits, a six-piece country cover band, headline the Peabody rooftop party tomorrow night. $15 cover/$30 VIP gets you live music and a DJ between sets, a great view of the fireworks, and a buffet of pigs in a blanket and mini corn cobettes on skewers. If you’re in VIP you get a second buffet of potato salad, chicken kabobs, Italian sausage with peppers and onions, charred corn salad, and mini blueberry pies.

The largest post-game fireworks show in the history of AutoZone Park will follow the Redbirds game tonight as they wrap up a long homestand. Gates open at 5:00, and first pitch is 6:35. The first 1000 fans in the gate will get a sunscreen packet from the American Cancer Society, as part of Major League Baseball’s “Cover Your Bases” initiative. The Redbirds will wear Independence Day themed jerseys. After the game the jerseys will be auctioned off and the winner of each jersey will get to meet the player who wore it and get an autograph. There will be a specialty ticket that includes a buffet of hamburgers, hot dogs, fixings and sides, and Coca-Cola products (2 drinks per person).

You can kayak under the fireworks tomorrow night for the city’s fireworks show. Rentals will take place at the cobblestones.

Riverfront Storytime returns Friday, July 5. It will happen behind the Cossitt Library and stories will be read to kids at 10 AM and again at 6 PM.

Sage will be closed all day tomorrow and for lunch Friday to give their employees time to enjoy the holiday.

The Eat to Live Vegan Festival will take place Saturday, July 13 at the MLK Center, 485 Beale. There will be a holistic health speaker, live entertainment by Official Grey, cooking demos, and free food samples. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

A Memphis man broke his neck and is now paralyzed from the waist down following a Bird scooter crash.

New diner 3rd & Court is looking to hire some solid line cooks. They’re also looking to hire a baker who can do biscuits, buns and pies. Mornings and nights available. Apply in person at 24 N. B.B. King.

The Memphis Flyer’s Meghan Stuthard visited Kooky Canuck recently and wrote about it.

Save Tom Lee Park & the Festivals is organizing a Human “M” event to make their voice heard loud and clear. Participants are asked to wear blue shirts (Memphis Tigers shirt if you have one) and will form a giant “M” in Tom Lee Park which will be photographed by drone.

I didn’t have to wait until July 4 to enjoy the fruits of the grill. Yesterday my buddy Ron brought me a slab of ribs.

Thanks Ron for feeding me and also for the reminder that I have some really great friends.

Unless there’s something really big or timely that comes up, I’m going to take tomorrow off from blogging. Back Friday with more news.

I’m going to start off this post with an update on how my new mattress is doing.

For those who don’t know the back-story, I had been badly in need of a new mattress for a couple of years. I assumed that a quality mattress would set me back $700 or more, so I put off the purchase longer than I should have. Then one Sunday at the Blind Bear, a friend told me she ordered a memory foam mattress from Amazon. She said it was only about $150 and was very comfortable.

I was skeptical that a good mattress could be had for that price, so for a long time I did not get on Amazon. However, in March of this year, “Springy,” my old mattress, became so uncomfortable that I had to do something. I got on Amazon and found the AmazonBasics Memory Foam Mattress. It was $169. I added it to my cart and with shipping and tax it was $215. For that small amount of money I figured I’d take a chance. It was shipped to me in a large box which I was able to haul from my apartment’s leasing office to my apartment by myself. Nice, no waiting on a delivery truck! I cut open the cardboard and over the next 15 minutes the mattress filled out to its full size. I let it rest 72 hours before sleeping on it, as the instructions recommended.

Three months later, I LOVE my mattress. It is so soft and comfortable, and yet there is plenty of support as well. I probably even go to bed earlier than I used to because I am so excited to sleep in my bed. I haven’t reviewed it on Amazon, but if I do I will give the mattress five stars. If I slept on it not knowing the price, and somebody told me it cost $800, I’d have no problem believing them.

However, two minor things:

• This mattress is very soft… which I love, but if you’re the type of person who requires a very firm mattress, this will not be the right fit for you.
• Because the mattress is memory foam and has no springs, you can’t easily bounce out of bed in the mornings. You have to make an effort to pull yourself up.

The Peanut Shoppe on Main between Madison and Monroe will be open for the first time ever on July 4 this year. Go see them between 10 and 5. I’d like to make a personal plea for my readers to shop with them. Due to construction down the street, visibility to their entrance is partly blocked and I think that has caused a lot of people to pass them by without realizing there is a nut and candy store there. Also, the closure of Court House Deli next door has led some people to assume the Peanut Shoppe closed too – no, they are open. These are wonderful, local people and they deserve your support.

There will be a total solar eclipse in parts of Chile and Argentina today. Here’s how to watch it from anywhere in the world. Coverage will begin at 12:23 PM PDT, which would be 2:23 our time.

One of my readers had an idea how to satisfy everyone at Tom Lee Park. He said, if AutoZone Park can be converted from a baseball stadium to a soccer stadium and back, could something similar not be done for Tom Lee? That’s an idea that’s ambitious, to say the least, given that the purpose of Tom Lee Park is to shore up the bluff as much as it is to give people a place to go.

Man, the Bird scooters are getting no love at all. A scooter graveyard was recently cleaned up in South Memphis, where about 25 Birds were found dumped at the end of a road.

I’ve never been a coffee drinker but I may have to become one. PBR Hard Coffee is a thing now. Produced by Pabst, the coffee is 5% alcohol by volume and is said to taste like Yoo-Hoo or frappucino.

Programming note: I may take July 4 off from blogging, unless something big or time-sensitive comes my way.

USWNT vs. England is on at 2. Silly Goose is my probable watch destination. Back tomorrow with more news.

The Flyer’s Hungry Memphis blog reported some unexpected news last week: A Jimmy John’s is going into the former Agave Maria location. Since Cafe Samovar closed about 15 years ago, no restaurant in that location has managed to become a long-term success. Some Downtowners are against any chain restaurants in the neighborhood, but I think this is a good move. Jimmy John’s should do well there, even without a parking lot, given the number of corporate offices and residents within a few blocks’ radius. I wonder what their hours will be; will they close at 8 like Lenny’s or stay open later?

Volunteer Memphis posted a very interesting volunteer opportunity recently. ITN Memphis, a nonprofit that provides transportation for seniors and the visually impaired, is looking for a volunteer social media coordinator. This volunteer will engage the community on Facebook and Twitter, posting text, images, and videos. They will also provide reports on engagement, page views, clicks, and other analytics.

Quiche is one of those foods I avoided as a child. Asparagus and mac & cheese were too, but as an adult I have grown to appreciate all of them.

Yesterday I felt compelled to go back to Pontotoc Lounge for brunch, because of the amazing open-faced bacon biscuit (on the menu as Mister Crunch) that I had the Sunday before. That day it was a tough choice between the bacon biscuit and the chef’s choice quiche of the day, a steak and jalapeno quiche. When Brad told me the steak and jalapeno quiche was back for a second Sunday, I had to order it.

The food at Pontotoc has always been good, but it seems like the kitchen has taken their brunch game to a whole new level recently. The quiche was fantastic – meaty, cheesy, eggy goodness with the jalapeno giving it just a little kick without the heat being overpowering. The side salad was a nice counterpoint.

I didn’t have one, but they also has a brunch drink special yesterday: watermelon jalapeno mimosas.

While at Pontotoc, I looked out the window and saw a guy riding a Bird down the sidewalk, texting, not paying a bit of attention to what was in front of him. Someone could have walked out of any one of those storefronts at any moment and he would have plowed right into them.

We got Iggy! The Grizzlies acquired Andre Iguodala from the Golden State Warriors last night. The Warriors needed to rid themselves of his salary and were willing to throw in a 2024 first-round draft pick to make the deal. The Grizzlies were able to do the trade because of the $25 million trade exception that was created when Mike Conley went to Utah. I’m curious how the Grizzlies are going to pay him and remain below the luxury tax line. It’s possible he may be bought out, but I hope not. I hope to see him on the court in Beale Street Blue this fall. He’s one of the best sixth men around.

The Grizzlies also signed center Jonas Valanciunas to a new contract last night as well, at 3 years and $45 million. This is a great move as well. Valanciunas had a fantastic 27 games with Memphis last season. Jaren Jackson Jr. will eventually be the Grizzlies’ starting center, but he’s not ready yet and it’s better to play him at power forward right now and see a little time as backup center.

The July South Main Association meeting will offer river views. It will be Tuesday, July 9 at River Garden, with social at 6:00, and presentation at 6:30. More details to come.

It’s been reported on Nextdoor that there is a flasher who hangs out in Court Square. He is said to be out there showing people his junk in the early morning, around 5:30 to 7:30 AM. He was in jail for a month but now he’s out and right back at it.

The Daily Memphian had a talk with the first general manager of Central Station Hotel, Jeremy Sadler.

An important voice, Henry Turley, weighed in on the future of Tom Lee Park. There’s some interesting history of Tom Lee Park and Riverside Drive in there too.

Don’t forget that the new hands-free law becomes effective in Tennessee today. It is now illegal to hold an electronic device with any part of your body as you drive.

The Memphis Flyer had a talk with a representative of Atomic Rose, the new LGBTQ-friendly restaurant and nightclub soon to open Downtown.

For those of you who are eager to try the food from the Cousins Maine Lobster food truck, which I have heard absolutely lives up to the hype, come to the Memphis Farmers Market Saturday. The truck will be in the Market’s food truck area.

There’s a new fellowship program for chefs of color. High Ground News has the details.

Style Blueprint has a list of Memphis’ 12 most romantic restaurants, and several of them are Downtown: McEwen’s, Felicia Suzanne’s, Itta Bena, Chex Philippe, and Flight.

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

I want to start off this post with a couple of Downtown food backs that I discovered in the past week. The first one is a Maciel’s Tortas and Tacos hack. My friend Tyler ordered three chorizo tacos, rice and beans there, and as he ate I noticed a couple of things. First of all, he wasn’t being careful at all about meat falling out of the tortillas as he ate. Second, he went through all three of his tacos without touching his rice and beans. However, when he got done eating his tacos, I discovered he had a master plan. He got a fork and mixed the chorizo that had fallen out of his tacos in with his refried beans. Then he mixed in the rice. Tyler, that’s brilliant! That’s not just a snack, that’s a whole meal!

The second food hack is for Bardog Tavern. I was in there yesterday and the guy two seats down from me ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, and a side of the sauce they put on their Buffalo wings. When it came out, he mixed the wing sauce in with the spaghetti. Although it seems like sacrilege to add anything to Aldo’s grandma’s balls, I am intrigued by that idea and may have to try it!

Hmmm…. you what else I bet would be good? Bardog tends to offer chicken parmesan over spaghetti as a special about once a week. Wing sauce on top of that would be tasty, I bet.

The Memphis mayor’s race now includes a candidate from the planet Zambodia. Prince Mongo, who has been running for mayor since the late 1970s, has thrown his hat in the ring once again. He had been talking about considering it on Facebook for the past couple of weeks. Although he’s never won the mayorship, he has perhaps had a substantial effect on an election. In 1991, Willie Herenton got 49%, Dick Hackett got 49%, and Mongo got 2%, with a slightly higher decimal giving Herenton the office. To this day people wonder if Herenton, the city’s first black mayor, would still have won if Mongo had stayed out of the race.

The voters will decide whether Mongo is the most qualified candidate, but I will say on a personal note that Mongo has been a good friend to me. Also, I will note that his platform calls for putting casinos on Mud Island, which I personally think is an excellent idea.

Someone’s been throwing e-scooters in the river in Portland. The sheriff’s office there found 57 of them in the Williamette River in two days. The sheriff’s office said the scooters don’t belong in the river. True, but they don’t belong on the sidewalk either and that’s where people ride them.

Tickets are on sale for Uncle Curly’s Call Center at the Cannon Center on Saturday, July 13.  I have absolutely no idea what that is but just based on the name, I figured it was worth mentioning.

Well this is interesting: The International Olympic™ Committee has provisionally added breaking as a sport for the 2024 Olympics™. Breaking is the activity you probably know as breakdancing. Members of the Olympic™ Committee say they’re trying to open the Olympics™ up to be more gender-balanced, more urban, and to have more appeal to the younger generation.

Here’s an idea for a movie title: Breakin’ 3: Olympic™ Pageantry

I have to admit, a couple of weeks ago I was very worried about some of my friends, who had traveled to the Dominican Republic for a birthday celebration. Americans have been dying there while on vacation. Authorities are now advising tourists to stick with beer while there, because counterfeit booze may be what’s killing people.

I bet some of my readers will wish we had this in Memphis: There’s a theater in Texas that allows you to bring your dog and has $15 bottomless wine

This is awesome: The Orpheum is now offering new accessibility features for some of its Broadway shows. The GalaPro app will allow people who attend a show to have closed captioning, and where available, audio description.

WTF? There will be stuffed turkey legs at the Chick-Fil-A on Winchester today. You can get them stuffed with shrimp and alfredo sauce, or dressing and gravy. Chick-Fil-A isn’t even open on Sunday!

That’s the news for today. Brunch at Pontotoc was so good last Sunday that I think I’m going to have to go back. I’ll probably hang out there for the afternoon then head down to my home away from home on the south side, Max’s Sports Bar. Back tomorrow with more news.

Ah, the sounds of Downtown late at night. Usually I am a sound sleeper but last night I had insomnia for some reason. I was treated to an hours-long cacophony of engines revving, tires squealing, people yelling, car horns honking, and fire engine sirens. I had forgotten how noisy Downtown could get after midnight.

Riding those Bird or Lime scooters drunk will get you a DUI effective Monday thanks to a new Tennessee state law. Weird that a separate law had to be passed to cover the scooters. I thought the existing DUI law would have applied to any vehicle being operated on a Tennessee roadway. Col. Keith Watson with MPD said he hasn’t noticed a problem with drunk people riding scooters. He needs to come Downtown today and look around! I guarantee you it happens. I am 100% in favor of this new law. If you need to get from point A to point B, it’s too far to walk and you’ve been drinking, a Lyft or Uber is a much safer choice. Other options are The Lifter and Trips for Tips, two golf cart-based services that will take you where you want to go for free, but a tip is customary.

Memphis 901 FC hits the road today to take on Charlotte Independence. The game will be at 6:00 and will be on CW30 locally. Memphis’ soccer club made quite an acquisition this week, Brandon Allen, the 2016 USL Cup finals MVP.

Tonight’s the night someone walks out of AutoZone Park with a $5400 Rolex, and it won’t be because they stole it (although that would be a reasonable assumption, given that this is Memphis). The Redbirds are teaming up with Sissy’s Log Cabin to give away the watch, to be won the fan who guesses the time of the end of the game. Guesses must be in by the start of the first inning at 6:35. There’s a specialty ticket tonight, one that gets you a Cardinals giveaway without having to make a trip to St. Louis. It’s a double bobblehead of two of baseball’s great humanitarians, Yadier Molina and Roberto Clemente. Yadi was the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award in 2018. Following tonight’s game, there will be fireworks.

Social media taught me something I didn’t know yesterday and it’s useful information that I thought I’d share: If a service dog without a human approaches you, it is saying to you, “Please follow me, my human is down and needs help.”

The Grizzlies have released their 2019 Salt Lake City summer league roster. Jevon Carter, Ivan Rabb, and Yuta Watanabe are the most recognizable names, but there’s another on there I’m excited about – Dusty Hannahs, an Arkansas alum who has been a key player on G-League team the Memphis Hustle the past 2 years. Draftee Ja Morant is rehabbing an injury and will have to sit out Summer League.

Brandon Cunning will perform a tribute to Sun Records at the Dirty Crow Inn tonight 9 to midnight.

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

Yesterday I figured out the name I will use if I ever become a professional wrestler: The Keyboard Warrior, a nod to my life as a blogger. Jim Helwig was the Ultimate Warrior. Kerry Von Erich was the Modern-Day Warrior. I’ll be the Keyboard Warrior.

“This event is for one fall, with a 10 minute time limit. Introducing first, in the red corner, from parts unknown, the Masked Avenger. And his opponent, in the blue corner, originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and now making his home in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, “The Keyboard Warrior,” Paul Ryburn!

Let’s get on to the news…

Tonight is Yo Gotti’s Birthday Bash with special guests at FedExForum. Buy tickets

Leslie Odom, Jr., a Tony and Grammy award winner, will perform tonight at the Orpheum. He will be backed by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

Red, White, and You! is the theme at the Memphis Farmers Market this Saturday. They’ve got everything you need for your July 4 cookout. The kids’ Crafts Corral will have a patriotic focus this week. Master Gardeners will be on site to answer any questions you have. Live music all day long. The Market runs 8 AM-1 PM every Saturday in the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson, behind Malco Powerhouse.

Seen on the Flying Saucer Masters of the Universe Facebook page: Guy checks single can of beer after airline tells him he can’t board with it. Our hero!

Elite Total Health is now accepting appointments made through Facebook.

WMC Action News 5 reported on the Downtown parking study that was conducted recently. Although there is ample parking to handle the volume of cars that come Downtown, there’s a perception that parking is hard to find.

If you like goats, mark October 5 on your calendar and fill the car up with gas. There will be a goat festival in Perryville, Arkansas.

Daniel at the Silly Goose is looking for a well-experienced wood fired oven chef.

Beale Street Art Crawl is this Saturday from 1 to 7. Come see the works of over 50 different artists.

Loflin Yard will host Naughty Pictionary on July 18.

You know how plant-based burgers have been all the rage lately? Well, Arby’s is answering the movement by going in the opposite direction with carrots made of meat.

For my fellow wrestling fans: Paul Heyman has been named the executive director of WWE Monday Night Raw and Eric Bischoff has been named the executive director of WWE Smackdown Live. These are not on-camera characters, but rather backstage roles where Heyman and Bischoff will oversee the creative direction of WWE’s flagship shows. They will report directly to chairman Vince McMahon. My reaction to the hirings:

Heyman/Raw: Excellent excellent excellent. I hope they revert Raw to TV-14 so Heyman can be at his best.

Bischoff/Smackdown: So 6 months from now, Hulk Hogan will be WWE World Champion, the Nasty Boys will be Smackdown tag team champions, and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan will be the Intercontinental champion. Madusa will come out of retirement to win the Smackdown women’s title from Becky Lynch, then will throw the belt in a trash can.

Fire alarm’s going off, so I gotta run. Apologies if typos in this post. Didn’t have time to proofread. Back tomorrow.

 

South of Beale is coming up on its 10th anniversary, and on August 10 they will have a party called SOB Fest to celebrate. It will happen in their parking lot and there will be live music by the Memphis Shake, Shuffle Grit, Bailey Bigger, Amber Rae Dunn and the Mulberries, The Skitch, Lydia Waldrop, and more. There will be drink and food specials all day long, and they may even un-retire a few of their past menu items for this event. A photo wall will span the lot where you can take pictures with different kinds of backgrounds. There will be cornhole and other games. This celebration will be free to attend.

Tug’s Casual Grill will get in the spirit of Independence Day with a special all-American menu next week, July 1-7. On the menu will be

• Appetizers: BBQ pork nachos, chicken wings
• BBQ plates: Pulled pork, beef brisket, BBQ half chicken
• Sandwiches: Pulled pork, beef brisket
• Dessert: Red, white & blue shortcake with strawberries and blueberries
• Cocktails: Mud Island Fusion, Harbor Town Mojito

Yesterday I was thinking about something… the Downtown Olympics logo is the five interlocking Olympic rings floating in a cup of beer. How do they get away with that? Isn’t using the rings a trademark violation? I mean, if they called the event “The Super Bowl of Drinking” and used any part of the official Super Bowl logo, the NFL’s lawyers would be all over them.

Come to think about it, the name might be a trademark violation too. When I was in 10th grade, us kids were invited to enter a competition called Olympics of the Mind. When I was in 11th grade, we were again invited. The teachers explained to us that the name had changed to Odyssey of the Mind, because lawyers.

Going to the Redbirds game tonight? Get there early! The first 800 fans through the turnstiles (gate opens 6:00, first pitch 7:05) will get a green Redbirds hat. It’s Silky O’ Sullivan’s Irish Heritage Night and there will be Irish music, games, and giveaways throughout the evening. Thanks to Polk’s Meat Products, fans can enjoy throwback prices of $2 domestic drafts  and $1 Polk’s hot dogs tonight. College students can get a $5 bluff ticket with valid ID.

The Redbirds have debuted the Left Field Loonies access pass for Throwback Thursday games, when they wear their Memphis Chicks uniforms. The pass includes one ticket to each Thursday game, two draft beers or bottled waters for each Thursday game, and an exclusive Loonies shirt.

To join the Loonies, the exclusive cheering section for the 2019 Memphis Redbirds/Chicks, sign up here. Are they trying to make the Loonies to the Redbirds what the Bluff City Mafia is to Memphis 901 FC?

Listening to the Daily Memphian’s weekly Grizzlies podcast, with Chris Herrington and special guest Peter Edmiston, as I type this. They’re talking about how front office executives like Zach Kleiman rose to their positions starting off in internships. Kleiman’s internship was paid, but many of these front office internships are poorly paid or unpaid. That, says Edmiston, limits diversity in the front office because there are a lot of people who can’t afford to operate on very little or no pay for a year. Very good point.

One of the local bars is considering selling frozen Pedialyte pops to cure hangovers. Those will be great on Sunday mornings. I will let you know if it happens.

As your #1 source of news and information about The Edge District, it’s my pleasure to tell you about a couple of new specials at the Caribbean restaurant Evelyn & Olive. On Wednesdays children under 11 eat free – you get one free child’s meal with purchase of an adult’s meal 3-8 PM. This deal is dine in only. They’re also doing Couple Wednesday, where couples get one free appetizer or two free glasses of wine with purchase of two entrees. This deal is also dine in only.

Yeah I know Thursday isn’t the best day to tell you about Wednesday’s deals, but I can’t disseminate the information any quicker than I get it…

Venezuelan restaurant Sabor Caribe was polling its Facebook followers yesterday, asking if there would be interest in a daily delivery to Cordova.

Congratulations to former Grizzly Mike Conley, the first player in history to win the Teammate of the Year and NBA Sportsmanship Award in the same year.

In other news about former Grizzlies, Marc Gasol has picked up his $25.6 million player option and will be a Toronto Raptor again next year. Good for you Marc! Get paid and get a second ring!

Edible Memphis has launched some really handy Memphis guides. There’s a coffee guide and also a farmer’s market guide.

The Soul Shockers headline tonight’s Peabody rooftop party. $10 to get in, $20 VIP. Admission includes a buffet of smoked chicken legs and jalapeno dip with Ritz crackers. If you’re in VIP you get a second buffet of BBQ smoked sausage on a stick, bacon beef sliders, and Peabody fried chips and dip chow.

Got another Negroni Week specialty cocktail menu for you, this one from Belle Tavern:

Are you going to the Beale Street Cigar Festival, presented by Robusto by Havana Mix? A Robusto Gold Ticket to the event guarantees you one entry into a drawing for a fully loaded Toyota RAV-4. If you want to increase your chances of winning, you can upgrade to a Robusto Platinum Ticket, which includes two entries into the drawing. Proceeds from the festival benefit LeBonheur Children’s Hospital.

A friend of mine who recently returned from a trip told me that stitches from a recent surgery set off the metal detectors at the airport, and the TSA subjected him to a “deep crotch inspection.” Oh my. That sounds like fun.

Who says the storms always take a detour around Memphis? Got a particularly nasty one rotating over the city right now, and it doesn’t seem in any hurry to leave. It’s been thundering since I woke up. This may affect my Food Truck Thursday plans. I want some fried rice from Rice Burner…

The Memphis Flyer’s Memphis Bacon and Bourbon Festival will make its return Saturday, August 24 from 6 to 9 PM at the Beale Street Landing site. Your ticket, benefiting the Memphis Farmers Market, includes 15 bourbon tastings and a variety of pork dishes from some of Memphis’ best restaurants. For more information visit the festival’s website.

Bardog Tavern is seeking a delivery driver who can deliver food orders within the 38103 zip code. Must be 21 with a current driver’s license and valid insurance. Must be able to work nights and weekends. Come to Bardog in person (73 Monroe) to apply.

The Memphis Flyer has more information on catfish at Cozy Corner on Sundays. Did you know that from 1986 to 1988, there was a second location, called Cozy Corner Catfish and Ribs? Catfish has never before been sold at the North Parkway location, however. They are firm that this will be a Sunday-only menu item, and say they don’t want to become a fish restaurant.

Lew’s Blue Note Bar & Grill at 341 Beale is throwing a Blue Note Block Party on Saturday, July 6. There will be a $6 burger combo and other food and drink specials. They’ll have a DJ on the patio and a cornhole tournament. Admission is $5 and includes a Jello shot.

Comedian Chris d’Elia, star of NBC series Undateable, performs at the Orpheum tonight. Tickets are $28-58.

There’s a free Tai Chi on the River class tonight at River Garden, 51 N. Riverside Drive.

KIX on Beale returns tonight at 7:30 in Handy Park with a free show by Aaron Watson and Matt Stell.

Not a Downtown event but I find it very cool that a bar is hosting a Democratic debate watch party (RP Tracks). Encourage bar patrons to make informed decisions rather than just mindlessly sit there and watch sports all day. I hate it that the DSA endorsed Bernie, though. He’s too soft on Russia.

Long post today… and it’s still thundering outside. However, if I wait until 1 for lunch, the skies may clear and I may get my fried rice. Back tomorrow with more news.

 

Before I get started, let me say a big THANK YOU to my friend Randy. When he heard I was having computer problems, he brought me a spare MacBook Pro he wasn’t using. I unpacked it this morning and this computer is wonderful! I’m having to re-acquaint myself with the quirks Macs have, but that’s OK because I know that Macs are far better computers than Windows PCs. See you at Bardog, Randy!

Sad news to report this morning: Tony Barone Sr. has passed away at the age of 72. Barone was a key member of the Memphis Grizzlies’ front office in the team’s early years. He was also interim head coach briefly in 2009 after Mike Fratello was fired. The Grizzlies may not have got every draft right, but Barone played a big role in the team’s very first draft as the Memphis Grizzlies, in which they selected Pau Gasol and Shane Battier. I’d say they sure got that one right.

Friday is going to be a special night at the Redbirds, especially for kids of all ages who are fans of the Harry Potter series. It will be Wizards & Wands Night, with a special parade prior to game time in which people dressed in costume can participate. There will be a photo op station with props, and butterbeer, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, will be available for purchase. There will be a specialty ticket ($19 field box/$22 dugout/$26 club) which includes a game ticket and a handmade wand. On the day of the game, you will choose your wand style at the specialty ticket table behind section 119. Gates open at 6, parade at 6:30, first pitch 7:05.

There’s a game tonight as well, with a 6:35 first pitch, and it is Woof Wednesday with a special ticket that gets both you and your dog in the park.

Yesterday I blogged that Ariana Grande has added a FedExForum date of Saturday, December 7 to her tour. My friend Dennis emailed to point something out: That’s one more event added to one of the hugest days of the year Downtown. The first Saturday in December is the day of the St. Jude marathon, the Beale Street Christmas parade, bars full of people watching the SEC championship game, and Stumbling Santa, the pub crawl that draws over 1200 participants in Santa-themed attire. Sometimes there’s an 11 AM or noon Tigers game at FedExForum too.

Friday is the last Friday of the month, and that means it will be time once again for South Main Trolley Night, when many of the businesses in the South Main Arts District stay open until 9 or later and neighbors come out and mingle. If you’re an SMA member, there will be a member area between Primas Bakery+Boutique and Peddler Bike Shop with free hot dogs, hamburgers, and beverages. Guests are $10 – or, they can sign up to be an SMA member on-site, and receive a member card good for discounts at many South Main businesses.

For Trolley Night, Jack Robinson Gallery (44 Huling) will host a pop-up shop, a new exhibit, and specialty cocktails. Puck Food Hall (409 S. Main) will host the Memphis Film Prize Top 10 announcement. More than 80 filmmakers, all of whom shot their movies locally, are competing for a $10,000 prize, the winner of which will be announced in August. South Main Sounds (550 S. Main) will host a Songwriter Night with Joe Leathers, Grace Askew, Rice Drewry, and John Hirt. Stock & Belle (387 S. Main) will have a photographic installation by artists Meg Armstrong and Averell Mondie. Sue Layman Gallery (125 G.E. Patterson) will have Sue’s latest pieces on display.

There will be a Meet the Developer event tonight at 6 PM at the St. Patrick’s Outreach Center, 297 S. Fourth Street. Archie Willis III, founder and president of ComCap Partners, will speak on how plans are progressing for the South City (38126 zip code) neighborhood. All are welcome, and refreshments will be provided. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

The Daily Memphian has a look at the Tom Lee Park proposal from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ point of view. If changes to the park cause dikes to fail, river navigation could be affected for months.

You can get free Chick-Fil-A on July 9, but there’s a catch. You have to wear a cow costume or some form of cow apparel. The offer is good from open until 7 PM that day. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Renowned Chanel artist Rama Moering will be at Lanksy 126 in the Peabody for one day only this Saturday, June 29, from 10 AM to 6 PM. She will be booking appointments for makeup and skincare consultations with the latest collections from Chanel Beauty. One appointment will be booked every 45 minutes. Call 901-405-7625 to schedule your appointment. If you want to purchase the products that are suggested in your consultation, Chanel representatives will be on hand to take your order.

There’s a car dealership in Alabama that offers a Bible, a shotgun, and an American flag with every car purchase. MURICA!

Twenty One Pilots: The Bandito Tour comes to FedExForum tonight. WMC Action News 5 reports that some fans have been camped out outside the arena since yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, over at the Orpheum tonight, Peter Frampton makes a stop on s farewell tour.

If you know people traveling to Memphis this summer, tell them about the Summer Dream Bed special going on at River Inn of Harbor Town through August 29. Rates start at $199 plus taxes and fees. In addition to your room, you get a glass of wine or champagne at check-in, a gourmet a la carte breakfast at Paulette’s, chocolate truffles and Port wine at nightly turn-down service, free parking, free Wi-Fi, and free access to Harbor Town Fitness. Book a room

For my grillmaster friends, here’s a super easy recipe for bacon-wrapped corn. Everything’s better with bacon and ranch.

The US Women’s National Team survived their match with Spain yesterday. They didn’t win; they looked lost at times and only survived because of two Megan Rapinoe penalty kicks. However, Rapinoe also picked up a yellow card. She will have to be extra careful not to get a second in Friday’s game, or the USWNT will have a situation where the Golden State Warriors had to do without the services of Draymond Green in one game of the NBA Finals because he got too many techs. The USWNT takes on France Friday in a hotly anticipated match at 1 PM. I do mean “hotly”: There’s a heat wave going on in Europe and the expected high in Paris is 92, which is about 20 degrees above normal.

That’s all I’ve got for today. Back tomorrow with more news.

This is Negroni Week at bars around the world. A classic Negroni is made with campari, gin, and vermouth, although there are many variations. Imbibe Magazine created Negroni Week six years ago to celebrate the drink and to raise money for charities. Participating bars choose a charity from the official list, make an initial donation, and then donate a portion of Negroni drink sales during the week. The Silly Goose is participating. Here’s a look at its special drink menu for the occasion:

Other Downtown bars participating in Negroni Week are Belle Tavern and Pontotoc Lounge.

The Orpheum has announced a digital lottery for tickets to the musical Hamilton, which comes to the theater July 9-28. Every show, forty people will be selected to buy tickets for the low price of $10.

You can buy a harness for your chicken and go on chicken walks. Yes, that’s really a thing. Just don’t walk your chicken too close to Gus’s or Jack Pirtle’s.

The Redbirds return to AutoZone Park tonight to host a 6:35 game versus Nashville. Rockey’s Yard Sale will happen at the park this evening. Promo items and game-used gear will be on sale at the 3rd Base Cove during the game.

A sinkhole has appeared in South Main.

Folks at St Martin and GE Patterson say this sinkhole has opened up. This is near Central BBQ downtown. MPD responding we are told. Barricades have been put up. One woman says her van was damaged @WMCActionNews5 pic.twitter.com/rrfLe9u7Uo

— Kendall Downing (@kendall_downing) June 24, 2019

Watch out for the sinkhole if you go to the National Civil Rights Museum or Central BBQ Downtown.

Don’t forget that the Downtown Parking Study Open House is tomorrow 5-7 PM at Comeback Coffee.

The co-owner of the New Daisy on Beale Street has been arrested for bouncing a $19,000 check to concert promoters. The theater has been closed to the public since January, and shows scheduled for January and February still appear on its sign.

Memphis Made Brewing Co. has announced they are releasing easy-drinking Cat Nap IPA on a year-round basis.

There was an event this past weekend, a fundraiser. It got some mainstream media coverage, but not until very late in the week when many people had already logged off for the weekend. Because I am a unique Downtown influencer, I could have used my blog to aggressively promote this event from two months ago all the way up to the day it took place. I am pretty sure they would have taken in hundreds of additional dollars in registration fees and donations if I had helped get the word out. However, I decided not to promote or attend this event because the organizers associate with a person who lies about me. Those who are not aware what  I am talking about are welcome to ask me face-to-face. I’m not a very hard person to find.

But enough about that… let’s talk about an event I am PROUD to aggressively promote two months out! The Breakaway-Bardog 5K and Monroe Avenue Festival will happen Sunday, August 18. This event raises tens of thousands of dollars for St. Jude. There’s a race in the morning, and Monroe is blocked off from Front to Main for a street festival with a beer garden, vendors, a raffle, a meatball eating contest, a dunk tank, and lots more fun. Mama Aldo, if you still read this blog, please let your son know that if there’s anything I can do to help promote this awesome block party, all he has to do is ask.

RAIN – A Tribute to the Beatles plays the Orpheum tonight. They’ll celebrate the 50th anniversary of Abbey Road with hits from that album, as well as perform early Beatles favorites.

Hot Rods on Beale returns to Beale Street at 6 PM tonight. Come check out the collection of muscle cars.

Cozy Corner BBQ over on North Parkway has added catfish to their menu, but only on Sundays. They invite all their customers to come visit them for some catfish or some BBQ after church.

Ariana Grande has added some dates to her Sweetener World Tour, and one of those dates will be at FedExForum. She’ll be here December 7 with tickets going on sale to the public this coming Monday.

Food & Wine has a good tip on how to get a bigger hotel room for free, without being “that guy” who’s always asking for a free upgrade. Ask for a corner room. Because of the way hotels are built, corner rooms tend to be bigger than those in the middle, but they’re not so much bigger that a higher rate is charged for them.

Ugh. I just read the recap of WWE Monday Night Raw, and it sounds like that show has become practically unwatchable. They have a roster teeming with talent, and yet the CEO’s 49-year-old son is main eventing and beating the best guys in the company. I may cancel my WWE Network subscription if the quality doesn’t get better soon.

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