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EDIT Tuesday 10 AM: Oops forgot to hit Publish yesterday. Check back for a Tuesday update post in a few hours. We now have photos of all the robbers described below.

My blog’s readership drops off by about 40% on the weekends, so I want to repeat a paragraph of a safety alert I made in yesterday’s post. After communicating with some people I am becoming increasingly alarmed and concerned about this.

I am again hearing stories of two women targeting men at bars in the Downtown core (neighborhood bars, not Beale Street, although they may go there too). Both women are African-American, and the one who does the approaching is about 5’8″, lighter skinned, straight long blond hair, very nicely dressed. The other one is 5’3″ to 5’4″, dark hair, darker skinned, a bit heavyset. Their male accomplice wears a shirt that is about two sizes too large and untucked, perfect for hiding a gun. He generally remains outside, but will come in the bar for a minute to give the women more money to buy drinks or when they want to point out a target to him.

I also posted this to Facebook. These women and/or their accomplice have now been identified as having been seen in or around the following bars in the past year:

• Blind Bear
• Bardog
• Flying Saucer
• Local Downtown
• Printer’s Alley

You’ll notice that some of my very favorite homes-away-from-home appear on this list. In no way am I saying, don’t go to these places. In fact, when I meet tourists and I ask them where to go, the Bear and Bardog are usually the first two places I tell them. If they mention being into beer, I send them to the Saucer. I want to see all these businesses do well and prosper. I am not trying to hurt their businesses by mentioning them here. I am pointing out a problem that is hurting their businesses.

So, I have a request to bar owners, managers, and bartenders. I know it can get busy at times and you cannot control every little thing that happens in your bar. But, to the extent that you can identify them and know who they are, PLEASE STOP SERVING THEM. In restaurants in Tennessee (and technically all the places I listed are licensed as restaurants except maybe Printer’s) you can refuse service to anyone, without reason. If we can take away the spaces in which these people operate, that may convince them that Downtown is not the most convenient neighborhood in which to run their scams.

Also, bar owners that employ doormen: If a man comes in with an untucked shirt a size or two too large, why not asked to see his waistband? That’s not discrimination, that’s protecting your patrons from someone who may be trying to bring a gun in your business.

I have a photo of the heavier of the two women that I am willing to share with Downtown bar owners, managers, bartenders, and servers. However, I must know you personally in order to share it with you. A friend of mine tried to take a selfie with the taller, more attractive woman recently. She refused, which is a dead giveaway that they’re up to no good and are trying to keep their identities concealed.

Again, apologies for calling out particular businesses publicly on here, but this is a case where we’ve all got to work together to eliminate evil from our neighborhood.

On a better note… I am super, super excited about tonight. A couple of months ago, one of my BBQ teammates contacted me. He said retired pro wrestler Jake “The Snake” Roberts is doing a show at the Hi-Tone – comedy, stories from the road, and Q&A. So he bought four tickets not only to the show, but the VIP meet & greet preceding it. He asked if I wanted to go. You bet I did! Jake was one of the top wrestlers of the 1980s. He would bring a burlap sack to the ring. After knocking his opponent out with his signature move, the DDT, he would open the sack and pull out a 12-foot long live snake named Damien, who he would place on his defeated opponent’s body.

There was much sadness on social media this weekend as longtime employees and regulars mourned the closing of Club 152 on Beale. Inside sources indicate 152 might be not quite as gone as we believe, that it may re-open under a different concept.

Semi-Average Joe will supply the tunes at Sunday brunch at Sunrise Memphis this coming Sunday, January 13. Music starts at 10 AM.

One of my readers asked me to let everyone know that the cleaners across from Bardog on Monroe Avenue, in the Shrine Building, is back open and they have really good people running it. Word has seemingly not got out as well as they hoped that they were back open, and they would appreciate your business.

The main library at 3030 Poplar kicks off a new series on Saturday, January 26 from 1 to 2 PM. The first presentation of the series is called Birth of the Bluff City and will explore Memphis from 1819 to 1865. Drawings, historical maps, and photographs will be used to explore Memphis as it was from the year of its founding up to the eve of the Civil War.

Also happening on the 26th – but at 4 PM so you’ll be able to do both if you choose – is a French macaron tasting at Primas Bakery & Boutique on South Main. Each ticket includes a flight of four macarons, with the flavors being Churro, Nutella, Orange Creamsicle, and Key Lime. Complimentary wine will be available for participants 21 and up. Seating is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance.

Chandler Parsons is leaving the Grizzlies indefinitely and that is just fine as far as I am concerned. He was offered a three home game stint with the Grizzlies’ G-League team the Memphis Hustle, as a way to evaluate his health and level of play since returning from injury. However, players with more than three years of NBA experience have the right to refuse such assignments, and Parsons did just that. I started to type “what a piece of work that guy is,” but it’s obvious “Chandler Parsons” and “work” do not belong in the same sentence. Compare him to Jevon Carter, who spent months driving down to Southaven to practice with the Hustle and then back to Memphis to practice with the Grizzlies. Carter is all heart, grit and grind. Parsons is all about posting #Chancun pics to social media.

Yesterday afternoon I had just brought home Aldo’s pizza. My plan was to eat my two slices, take a “halftime” nap, then get out again about 11 or midnight. Then my BBQ teammate Jeremy texted me. He and his wife Jeana and a friend of theirs had an extra ticket to see Willie Nelson at the Orpheum. Did I want to go?

Initially I texted back, “Nah I just got food and I’m too tired” and Jeremy replied that they were at the Silly Goose if I wanted to join them as they engaged in some pre-Willie shenanigans. As I ate, I thought, what am I doing, turning an offer like that down? Willie is a living legend. He’s pretty much the last one left from his generation, other than Jerry Lee Lewis. I hurried finishing my pizza and walked over to the Goose to see if they’d given away the ticket yet. They hadn’t, and we were off to the Orpheum.

We had sixth row seats, right in the center. That’s Willie on the left and his son on the right. I didn’t know most of his songs but the man still has it at 85. He opened with “Whiskey River,” which I’ve been told he does every show. The other song I immediately recognized was “Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.” He only played for about an hour, understandable given his age. He sure didn’t look or act 85 though.

This morning I’m wishing my mom was still alive so I could call her and tell her about the show. She would have been so thrilled to hear that I got to see Willie live.

On to the news… I am again hearing stories of two women targeting men at bars in the Downtown core (neighborhood bars, not Beale Street, although they may go there too). Both women are African-American, and the one who does the approaching is about 5’8″, lighter skinned, straight long blond hair, very nicely dressed. The other one is 5’3″ to 5’4″, dark hair, darker skinned, a bit heavyset. Their male accomplice wears a shirt that is about two sizes too large and untucked, perfect for hiding a gun. He generally remains outside, but will come in the bar for a minute to give the women more money to buy drinks or when they want to point out a target to him.

I’ve been told they were seen Friday night at a bar in the Downtown core, trying to get a neighborhood resident to go somewhere with them to “go have some fun,” but he was onto their game and had the kitchen staff escort him out and watch him walk home safely. There may have been an additional male and female accomplice. A bartender at another bar told me the women got a man to come outside with them, where their male accomplice forced him to the ATM on the corner to withdraw money. Fortunately that effort was thwarted by another bartender who ran after them.

Everyone BE CAREFUL. I absolutely hate posting information that casts a negative light on the neighborhood I love and in which I have walked freely for almost 17 years, but these people need to be identified and either locked up or run out of Downtown.

In celebration of the national championship football game, Texas de Brazil is offering 20% off both dine-in and take-out tomorrow, Monday, January 7. It sounds like you have to mention the offer to get the discount, and it would probably be a good idea to bookmark this link which has promo codes.

Anasa Troutman, Clayborn Temple Executive Director, will be the featured speaker at the January South Main Association meeting at the temple Tuesday, January 8.

Your Inner Yogi, the yoga studio at 10 N. Second, is having a special through January 31 where you can get unlimited yoga classes all year long for $75 a month. That’s about 40% off the normal price. YOGA!

Things you didn’t know existed part 1: Voice-activated Jim Beam decanters that will pour you a shot on demand

Things you didn’t know existed part 2: 1970s Volkswagen Beetle campers

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

 

 

The Daily Memphian did an article on restaurants coming soon in 2019, and there was an interesting piece of Downtown news. Remember a few days ago, when I posted there would be a job fair for Ryan Trimm’s family of restaurants, including Sweet Grass/Next Door, 117 Prime, Sunrise Memphis, and a yet-to-be-revealed Downtown restaurant? Well, the cat’s out of the bag now. Trimm will open 3rd & Court in the new Hotel Indigo in the spring, including an unnamed music room where they will play vinyl.

Also in the article, no more Draper Special for a while as 117 Prime is going to be closed for lunch for several months.

Willie Nelson plays the Orpheum tonight.

Congratulations to the Memphis Humane Society, which had one of its adoptable puppies selected to compete in the Puppy Bowl which runs during the halftime of the Super Bowl.

We are thrilled to announce we have a puppy player in this year’s @animalplanet PUPPY BOWL XV! Melody storms the gridiron and makes the cutest ear pulls and tail tugs as part of Team Fluff as they compete to win on Sunday, Feb 3rd. Stay tuned for more! #hsmscmelody pic.twitter.com/nysY17hQLJ

— Memphis Humane Society (@MemphisHumane) January 3, 2019

The date for Memphis Brewfest, the annual beer festival at AutoZone Park, has been announced. It’s a few weeks later in the spring than in past years, set to happen on Saturday, May 11. I realize they have to find a Saturday when both the Redbirds and Memphis 901 FC are out of down, but… the day of BBQ Fest load-in? I suspect that could hurt ticket sales a bit.

You can get on the guest list to get in Tin Roof tonight without paying cover. Guest list registration closes at 9 PM.

Downtown Yoga begins a new series called The Art of the Asana today at 2. Each class will focus on one asana/pose and its links to other asanas/poses and its place in yoga history. Today’s class, from 2 to 4 PM, will explore the pose known as the down dog. YOGA!

Porter-Leath has a Parent Educator position open. The successful candidate will provide support and parenting education to a caseload of 30 families.

I went down to Max’s Sports Bar for happy hour yesterday afternoon, and on one of the TVs was a big ol’ pan of skillet cornbread. It reminded me of the dessert skillet cake that my Nana used to make me when I’d go visit her and Grandpop in Trimble, Tennessee. I found a recipe if anyone wants to give it a try. It’s a simple but tasty country dessert. Goes well with Cool Whip or vanilla ice cream.

The Downtown Memphis Commission is partnering with Envision Memphis to offer free Pilates classes every Wednesday at 6 PM. Envision is on the top floor of the Cadre Building at Second and Monroe.

I may have to stop watching Grizzlies games. This is getting depressing. Last night the Grizz blew another game they should have won. Something’s got to change. I’ll repeat what I said yesterday: As much as I appreciate and respect what Marc Gasol means to this city, I think it’s time to shop him on the trade market. I’m not saying, “Gasol must go” by any means, but I think it’s time to put feelers out there and explore what Memphis might be able to get for him.

I guess if there is one silver lining in all this, it’s that if the Grizzlies keep sucking the way they have lately, they’re not going to have to convey the first-round draft pick they owe to Boston this year. It’s protected if the Grizzlies’ pick is in the top 8. I’d rather see Memphis get back to winning though.

That’s it for now, time for some Saturday fun. Back tomorrow with more news.

Given the holiday week, yesterday didn’t feel like a Thursday, but it was, which meant it was once again time for the lunchtime food truck rodeo in Court Square. I walked up there with my meal already in mind. By this point I have ordered from most of the food trucks that come there. However, I have avoided getting BBQ. “Why would I buy BBQ from a truck when Central BBQ is within walking distance?” I wondered.

“Well, you might want to make one exception,” a friend advised. “Smurfey’s Smokehouse is really good. They have BBQ nachos and potatoes.” I love a good potato with BBQ. I walked up to the window and ordered a pulled pork smoked potato with veggies. After a few minutes they handed me a box that felt like it must have weighed 3 pounds, and I walked it home.

WOW!

This meal was outstanding. I had a huge smoked potato, topped with some of the best pulled pork I have had in my life. It was topped with melted cheese, Smurfey sauce, and an assortment of vegetables. Even the heartiest of appetites should be able to get two meals off this. The potatoes can be ordered with or without the veggies, and they also have chicken and steak if you prefer one of those meats to pulled pork. They have sandwiches and BBQ nachos too.

Smurfey’s is not the most noticeable food truck in Court Square on Thursdays. No flashy colors or big signs, just a black truck pulling a black trailer with “Smurfey’s Smokehouse” painted on the side. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking Smurfey’s for as long as I did. It is the real deal.

The Memphis Redbirds are hosting three job fairs to hire for event staff for Redbirds and Memphis 901 FC games. The job fairs will be on the Club Level at AutoZone Park  at the following times:

• Thursday, January 10, 4-7 PM
• Saturday, January 12, 10 AM-2 PM
• Monday, January 24 9 AM-noon

Positions will include Box  Office Ticket Seller, Usher, Usher Supervisor, Promotional Team, Field Crew, Bat Boy/Girl, Video Replay Operator, and Camera Operator. Applicants must be at least 18 and pass a background check and drug screening. Learn more about the positions here.

Downtown Nutrition has opened at 95 S. Main. They have high protein, low sugar energy drinks, shakes, and coffee. They envision themselves as a place that will build a healthy community Downtown.

Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers enjoyed a fine start to conference play with a win over Wichita State last night. Penny made some lineup adjustments that no doubt contributed to the victory. I hope this will shut up the Negative Nellies who say Penny can’t coach. The Tigers face a stiff challenge on Sunday, taking on undefeated #19 Houston at Houston. The game will be at 6 PM and will be on ESPNews.

There will be a wine tasting dinner at Paulette’s over on Mud Island the evening of Tuesday, January 8. Wines from Italy, Argentina, New Mexico and California, all which have scored 90-93 from The Wine Enthusiast and Beverage Tasting Institute, will be featured.

Congratulations to my Congressman, Steve Cohen, who became chair of the Constitution, Civil Rights and Liberties committee under the House Judiciary Committee yesterday. I cannot think of a more capable person to take on that role. Go get ’em Steve!

That’s it for now. Going to spend a few hours reading a Kindle book I bought and then get out. Back tomorrow with more news.

Got some good news for my Midtown readers this morning. For those of you who enjoy the great food at Westy’s, you no longer have to make the drive Downtown to get it. Westy’s Express is now open at 1667 Madison, offering the same menu as the Downtown location, and they deliver. They have a huge menu and everyone should be able to find something they like. Never been to Westy’s? I recommend any of the wild rice dishes, the open-faced chili cheeseburger, and the world-famous hot fudge pie.

The Commercial Appeal did a profile of Brandi Marter, owner and chef at Bedrock Eats & Sweets. Bedrock offers a menu that is made up of foods that have not been processed or modified, and it’s all gluten-free. You can dine in, get something to take home from their grab & go, or order delivery. Bedrock is at the corner of South Main and Vance next to the Green Beetle.

Chef Kelly English tweeted a request yesterday to local Memphis diners that I feel is worth repeating. Please eat one meal out at a local non-chain restaurant this week. This is the slowest week of the year for restaurants, and your patronage will help ensure that all the cooks and staff get a full week’s pay.

Elmwood Cemetery will host The Emerald Isle on St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. This will be a special tour to learn about the Irish and the Scots who are buried at Elmwood. Tickets are $20.

Ghost River is bringing back Drink-N-Draw, its popular event that is part art class and part game show, to its taproom on Friday, January 11. Prepare to laugh a lot and compete to win some prizes.

Cozy Corner, the BBQ joint on North Parkway, has new hours as of today: Tuesday-Saturday 11 AM-8 PM.

My friends at RAWK’n Grub are having a tasting party tomorrow, Friday, January 4, from noon to 3. Come try some of their best items. RAWK’n Grub used to be a food truck, but it is now based out of the Citgo at 630 N. Highland. Best gas station food in town!

The Memphis Tigers host Wichita State tonight at 8:30 at FedExForum. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

I played trivia at the Blind Bear last night, and after the first round of questions I came up with my team name:

JaMychal wears the number 0 for the Grizzlies. The first round was all characters from movies or fiction based in 2019, and I am terrible at that. The second and third rounds were not such a bust for me, though, and I ended up finishing third.

Oh MAN did it ever suck to watch the Grizzlies blow that game against the Detroit Pistons last night. Something’s got to change, and it’s not firing Bickerstaff. Not that he should get a pass, but Memphis is becoming known as the place where there’s a coaching change every year to year and a half. No head coach worth his salt would want to come here knowing that.

Here’s the way I see it: The Grizz experienced their first taste of success during the era of Z-bo and TA. It continues, to an extent (remember, we were first in the Western Conference at one point earlier this season), in the present era of Mike and Marc. However, the Grizzlies will be Dillon and Jaren’s team in a few years, and the future just looks so bright that it seems worth it to start acquiring assets to build around those pieces. My suggestion is to do something I previously would’ve thought unthinkable: Shop Marc around on the trade market. If we can get a first-rounder or a young up-and-coming big man to put alongside JJJ, I think it’s at least worth considering.

Donald Trump said yesterday that he thought he would have made a good general. No kidding, he really said that. Trump may be the most incompetent and corrupt president in U.S. history, but at least he has some unintentional comedic value from time to time.

All right, I’m going to hit Publish and then walk up to Court Square to see what food trucks are there. Back tomorrow.

I had the traditional New Year’s Day meal yesterday. The Blind Bear offered special sides of blackeyed peas and collard greens at lunch. For those not familiar with this Southern tradition, blackeyed peas eaten on New Year’s Day are believed to bring luck for the coming year. Greens, being the same color as money, are believed to attract wealth.

Outback Steakhouse posted the following yesterday: “The teams have been set! Team Bloomin’ Onion representing Mississippi State vs. Team Coconut Shrimp representing Iowa. The winning team determines which free appetizer with purchase on January 2nd. May the best team prevail.” Iowa won the Outback Bowl, defeating Mississippi State, so coconut shrimp it is. By the way, there was a discussion among a group of people I saw walk by the entrance to the King’s Palace Tap Room Sunday on the difference between a Bloomin’ Onion and an Awesome Blossom. A Bloomin’ Onion comes from Outback, whereas an Awesome Blosson  comes from Chili’s. I wonder if the Tin Roof on Beale has an onion blossom type of appetizer?

Crosstown Brewing Co. will have 2018 trivia tonight at 7.

In other local brewery news, Wiseacre will have a release party for three of its beers on Saturday, January 12. The beers will be Snowbeard Barleywine (22oz. bottles), Prank Calls to Satan Hoppy Black Ale (6pk. cans), and Gerty IPA (4pk. cans). Obruni Dance Band will perform a free show.

The date for the 2019 Harbor Town Dog Show has been set. It’s November 10, so you have almost a full year to get your pooch groomed and trained.

The Green Beetle has a part-time server position open.

Sad news: I just got an alert on my phone that legendary pro wrestling announcer “Mean” Gene Okerlund has passed away at the age of 76.

The Daily Memphian has an article on the new Hotel Indigo which is almost ready to open in the old Econo Lodge space on North B.B. King. Indigo is not a cookie-cutter hotel chain. The decor of each location is custom-designed to reflect the city. I bet they had a lot of fun assembling the Memphis location, given how much soul this place has.

Lifehacker has a suggestion to do a life audit using sticky notes for 2019. Are there people who actually do stuff like this? ‘Cause if there are, I don’t think I want to know those people.

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

Yesterday was a fantabulous, superiffic kind of day for me! I started off at Pontotoc Lounge for D-RANKS with B-RAD.  No women came in, asking Brad about me, asking to be introduced to me as has sometimes happened at Brad’s bar in the past, but it was a good day nonetheless. The jazz band was playing and by 1:00 every table in the house and every seat at the bar was full.

They had the NFL games on. I’m not big into watching the NFL so I spent a bunch of time surfing Twitter on my phone. I picked up a couple of things while doing so that I want to pass on to my readers. First of all, if you haven’t been to Sunrise Memphis, the breakfast place out on Jefferson in Victorian Village yet, here’s a reason to go:

Can’t decide what to order? Can’t go wrong with the King Biscuit! With fried chicken, country ham, fried egg, sausage gravy, this is what breakfast dreams are made of ✨ #sunrisememphis pic.twitter.com/MhAairUUi5

— Sunrise Memphis (@sunrise_memphis) December 30, 2018

Now that’s the way to do it! If you can’t decide what you want on your biscuit, why not get everything?

I also want to share with you an incredibly useful Twitter account I discovered yesterday: Is today Ted Danson’s birthday? 364 days a year (365 on leap years) this account tweets “Today is not Ted Danson’s birthday” and one day a year it tweets “Today is Ted Danson’s birthday.”

About 1:45 I tabbed out at Pontotoc and walked north to Beale Street to watch the Liberty Bowl parade. Since I moved down here in 2002 the King’s Palace Tap Room has been my preferred spot to watch parades. Although I got there an hour early, there was only one seat open, but it was the best seat: the seat right by the front door. I turned the chair around so I could look outside. Some people mistook me for the doorman. Maybe I should’ve charged them a $5 cover.

Of course, you just can’t visit Beale Street without getting a Big Ass Beer:

A group of people who usually watch parades at the Tap Room came up and briefly looked inside, then kept walking. That made me laugh. Good riddance!

I got to talking to two Missouri fans who are staying at an AirBnb in Midtown. The lady is into real estate and she had been scoping out the neighborhoods in Memphis that she thinks are the next big thing. It was a pleasure to talk to them. While I was neutral about the Liberty Bowl, that conversation convinced me to root for Mizzou.

Around the time the parade ended, my neighbor Buddha stopped by briefly and mentioned that he was on his way to see our friend Christina who bartends at Flying Saucer Sunday nights. That sounded like a good plan, so I went up there as well. The Memphis Saucer (unlike many Saucers) doesn’t carry PBR, so I ordered the Fire Sale, the daily beer on tap that they discount to $3.50. Back in the day my friend Mikey (who I saw very briefly yesterday) and I used to gripe about the Saucer putting uninteresting beers on Fire Sale. They have gotten better since making some management changes. Yesterday’s Fire Sale was a Belgian Dubbel! I think it was called Black Amber The Special, but don’t hold me to that – I could barely read the menu after a few sips of that thing, it was so strong!

Christina, who is a big fan of my troll, asked “Where’s Perjorie?” and I got her out and stood her next to my beer.

Whoo! After two of those Dubbels my head was spinning. Christina said “You need to start come seeing me on Sunday nights” and if they continue Fire Sales like this one, she can count on it! I was in bed by 9 PM, thanks to those beers.

Well, that’s it for this post. I have no interest in being out at midnight, but I have a lot of interest in being out at Bardog at 8 AM. It’s 7:52 now, so that gives me 8 minutes to shower and get dressed. Happy New Year everyone and I’ll see you in 2019.

I got some additional information from one of my readers about the two women who target men in Downtown bars (“let’s go somewhere and have some fun”) in an attempt to take them to another location and rob them. It now appears they may be running fake car service scams down here as well.

Saturday afternoon a reader contacted me on Facebook Messenger and I gave him a more detailed description of the two women. He told me that early this year, he had left Bardog and two women, very closely matching those descriptions, were in a car outside. They told him, “We’re your Uber drivers!” and he got in. When they didn’t drive him in a straight path home, and talked about “stopping to have a good time” on the way, he began to get suspicious. He jumped out at a gas station and ran away.

Beware of any situation where your intuition tells you things are not right. Beware of going to another location with people you just met and barely know.

On to the news… Downtown Yoga has made a generous offer to those affected by the federal government shutdown. Until the shutdown ends, the yoga studio will be offering free classes for government employees. Check out their schedule here.

YOGA!

The Green Beetle is hiring a line cook.

This happened right down the street from me and I didn’t even know it: Huey’s Downtown opened its doors to the homeless on Christmas and fed them. That is awesome. Since I no longer have family, when it gets closer to Christmas 2019, I think I may go in and inquire whether they need volunteers.

Random thing I learned yesterday: There’s a website where you can upload photos of your dog and get the dog’s image on custom-printed socks.

Local wrestler/radio personality Dustin Starr will host a pre-party prior to WWE Monday Night Raw on Monday, January 14.

#RAW in #Memphis is only a couple of weeks away – come Preparty with US at @kookycanuck! Kid friendly, giveaways, sign making – come have a BITE before the FIGHT. Walk to @FedExForum with US! 🖐🌟 pic.twitter.com/2So2KG0JwD

— Dustin Starr (@DustinStarr) December 29, 2018

As a bonus, it will be Dustin’s wife Maria’s birthday. Come get Kooky before you walk over to FedExForum that night!

That’ll do it for now. I plan on getting out very early in the day both Monday and Tuesday, so I’m not sure if there will be posts those days. If I get any big news I will post from my phone.

Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers are back at FedExForum today, hosting Florida A&M at noon. It’s another doubleheader day at the arena, with the Grizzlies taking on the Boston Celtics at 7.

Ghost River is giving you a reason to delay your New Year’s resolutions for a day on January 1. They will open at noon that day and will be serving their craft beer. If you want to bring wine or champagne, they will open it for a small corkage fee. They will have the college football bowl games on, and Yippie Trippie and the Porkstars will be parked outside with a special New Year’s Day menu.

Your Inner Yogi, the yoga studio at 10 N. Second, will be starting a book club in the new year. They’re asking yogis to drop them a line and let them know what kinds of books they’d be interested in reading and discussing. BOOKS!

Baby formula Pedialyte has long been used by adults as a hangover cure. Pedialyte is finally giving into this trend and is releasing a product targeted as adults who drink. It will be called Pedialyte Sparkling Rush and will be a packet of powders that you pour into water, like Emergen-C or Alka-Seltzer.

People are getting all worked up because it’s believed that blue Muppet Grover, who we all watched when we were little, might have dropped the f-bomb on TV. Seriously, with all the problems we face as a society right now, we’re concerned with whether a Muppet said a variant of the word “fuck”? No wonder this country is such a mess.

I went to Max’s Sports Bar last night to watch the Camping World Bowl. While there, Perjorie T. Roll got to enjoy a Dreamsicle slushie, and also got to meet Christina, Max’s employee who created the slushie recipe.

My enjoyment of the game was somewhat dampened by two boorish, drunk old men at the corner table who kept yelling out “WE’RE GOING TO THE CHILI’S IN SOUTHAVEN TO WATCH THE TIGERS GAME TOMORROW. HUH HUH HUH HUH” as though they thought they were funny. Well at least I now know what Beavis and and Butt-head will sound like in 50 years. I hope they remember to ask for their senior discount on their buckets of Miller Lite at Chili’s.

Three of the Big Six bowl games are today. We start off with the Peach Bowl at 11 on ESPN, Florida vs. Michigan. Apologies to my friend Jason but I will be rooting for Florida in this one. My general philosophy is to root for SEC teams not named Tennessee or Ole Miss as long as they are not playing Memphis or an undefeated team from Memphis’ conference.

Next up will be the Cotton Bowl at 3 on ESPN, featuring playoff semifinalists #2 Clemson vs. #3 Notre Dame. I will be rooting for the Irish here. I admire the way Notre Dame has maintained its conference independence in football without giving up any of its status as a national power in the sport.

After that we have the other playoff semi, the Orange Bowl on ESPN at 7 PM. #1 Alabama vs. #4 Oklahoma. Although I like Oklahoma a lot and had it as a backup option for my own college attendance, I have to root for Alabama here. Not only does the SEC rule mentioned above apply, but my friend Bama Lawdog would kill me if I didn’t roll with the Tide.

Time to get out and watch some sports. Maybe I’ll get the corner table by the door at Max’s, so those old coots will have to find a different spot if they deviate from their supposed plan to watch the game at Southaven Chili’s.

The news cycle tends to be really slow around New Year’s, so it’s possible I will take a day or two off here and there. Don’t worry if I do, I’m not sick or anything, just out enjoying the Downtown life. Back with more news when I have it.

Almost exactly a year ago today, one of my good friends got robbed outside his apartment at Main and Gayoso. He’d been at a bar nearby, where two women struck up conversation with him. One was fairly tall, straight hair, very well dressed like she was out for a night on the town. The other was shorter, dark hair, darker skinned, more heavyset. They came in, took the seats next to my friend and chatted him up, suggesting that the three of them go somewhere and have some fun. Sensing that something was not right, my friend got out of there. However, the women had enough time to text their male accomplice outside that he was coming out  a side door, and the accomplice put a gun to my friend’s head and demanded his wallet.The next day the more heavyset of the two women attempted to cash a blank check that had been in the wallet for a very large amount, so large that the bank suspected something was wrong and contacted my friend.

I am about 95% sure these same two women were at the same bar I was last night, and in fact sat next to me. They didn’t speak to me other than to ask if I had a lighter, but they chatted up another regular at this bar on the other side of them. The more well-dressed woman got to talking and laughing with him and I believe he bought them a round of drinks. At one point a man came in the bar. He had a shirt on that was untucked and a size or two too large – perfect for concealing a gun. He never interacted with the two women at the bar, but stood in their general vicinity as though he could have come inside to get a good look at who they were talking to. He got asked to leave by staff, not sure why. I’m not positive but I believe he could have been the accomplice.

I just wanted to pass this story on for the benefit of my male readers. I believe, based on the time of year they’re getting out, the women and their accomplice may be trying to take advantage of people in town for the weekend for the Liberty Bowl.

Also, if you get victimized by these people, please file a police report. Police need to build up a record of what they look like, what kinds of places they go and when, who they tend to target. If the officer on duty tells you filing a police report won’t help you get your belongings back, fill one out anyway and ask to speak to a supervisor if you have to. You may not get your stuff back but you might prevent others from getting robbed.

The Washington post has a fantastic article on Grizzlies rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. He showed signs of being a prodigy from an early age, and now he has some outstanding mentors in his parents, Coach Bickerstaff, and Marc Gasol.

There’s going to be a Rock-n-Romp at Memphis Made Brewing Co. tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, December 29 starting at 2 PM. These romps expose kids to live music at an early age. Performing will be Summer Avenue, James from James and the Ultrasounds, and The Wealthy West. They’re looking for volunteers to work the door, with $5 cover and kid requirement waived for volunteers.

Random thing I learned yesterday: Green sriracha sauce exists. It was  part of a sriracha box a friend of mine received as a gift.

Bartenders, servers, hosts, hostesses, cooks: There will be a job fair on January 14 to hire for Downtown restaurants Sunrise Memphis, 117 Prime, and a new restaurant to open soon, as well as for Midtown restaurants Sweet Grass/Next Door.

It continues to be a slow news week so that’s all I’ve got. Back tomorrow with more news.