Daily thoughts of a Downtown Memphis resident
Truffle Philly cheese steak with fries, a $12 special today at Local. Tender and cheesy and the bun sops up the juice. Peppers and onions of course.
Chicken and short rib tacos, another special today at Local. $3 each. They have chorizo too.
$5 margarita special today at Local.
Blind Bear specials for this week:
Y’all, I tried one of those fried chicken sliders yesterday, and it was DEE-LISH-US. You will never want Chick-fil-A again after eating Tony’s chicken sliders.
As for the new menu, it’s not a giant change. The other major addition that had previously been a special was the coffee-crusted NY strip steak, with a loaded baked potato and Tony’s greens for $28.
The Peabody Hotel has added a robot to its security team, WREG reports. I have one question, though: Where’s the mustache? I mean, what kind of security guard DOESN’T have a mustache???
From ESPN: A quagmire situation: What Ja Morant’s return (tonight) means for a teetering Memphis Grizzlies season
The CA has a list of 10 Memphis restaurants Guy Fieri should visit for his TV show. Downtown suggestions include Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe, Momma’s, Sunrise, and Gus’s.
LEO Events is hiring a junior graphic designer.
Today’s specials at Bardog:
Not a very newsy Tuesday but that happens around Christmas. Back tomorrow with more.
The Memphis Tigers have entered the AP Top 25, having handed Clemson its first loss of the season. Penny’s Tigers came in at number 23. That’s one spot below the Virginia Cavaliers, who Memphis will face this week. Clemson fell 5 spots, from 13 to 18, following its loss to Memphis. FAU, who the Tigers will see in conference play twice this season, is 14th.
There’s going to be a South Main bar crawl on New Year’s Eve, organized by locals. Bar Ware, Ibis, and Lucky Cowboy are among the participating bars, with more to be added. Cover charge is $40 and goes toward a South Main Association initiative to purchase and install safety cameras in the neighborhood and connect them to MPD.
By the way… while I recommend the pub crawl listed above, I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT recommend pub crawls organized by out-of-towners. ESPECIALLY on New Year’s Eve. Too many failed promises. Too many instances of bars having no idea they’ve been listed as a participating business. These out-of-town companies tend to have very generic social media account names, for example “We Like Pub Crawls.” AVOID THEM.
Kinfolk, a breakfast and brunch restaurant on Harbor Town Square, is hiring a bartender.
Sheet Cake, the new art gallery at 405 Monroe out in The Edge, will host a holiday happy hour from 4:30 to 6:30 PM this Friday. There will be mulled wine and cookies. Artists who have work on display at Sheet Cake will be on site to talk about their creations.
Bleacher Report suggests the Grizzlies do a trade with the Utah Jazz: Memphis gets Kelly Olynyk, while Utah gets Luke Kennard and lottery-protected 2026 first-round pick.
TDOT intends to replace the I-55 bridge over the Mississippi River, “the old bridge” built in 1949, in 2026.
South Main Sounds, the music performance space at 550 South Main, has partnership opportunities available:
Contact markmusic@att.net for more information about these opportunities.
Pro Wrestling Stories has a review of The Iron Claw, the movie documenting the life of the Von Erich family that debuts in theaters this week. I grew up watching the Von Erichs on cable TV. I was especially a big fan of David, who seemed destined to be a world champion. I was heartbroken when I turned on Fort Worth’s KTVT one Saturday night at 10:30 and announcer Mark Lowrance informed us that David had died in Japan. He was only 25.
Fan favorite Kenneth Lofton Jr. will likely be waived from the Grizzlies this week to free up a roster spot for the returning Ja Morant.
That’s it for now. Back tomorrow with more news.
My world business traveler friend Randy returned to Memphis last week. This time he’d been to New Zealand. He brought a goodie bag for me to Bardog with him Saturday.
These olives are SO GOOD! I wonder if I took them to Aldo’s Pizza Pies, would they put them on a pizza for me?
“Kiwi Poo,” chocolate covered peanuts.
Venison salami. I haven’t tried this yet but I am sure it is delicious!
Also in the goodie bag:
Sunday morning I woke up around 7:30. With the bars not opening until 11, I found myself bored at home with nothing to do. I decided to start on the chocolate bar and the bottle of vodka. By 10 AM I’d finished half of each. With an hour remaining to kill, I took a seat on the sofa…
… and fell asleep for what seemed like a brief moment…
Then I woke up and checked my phone. It was 12:35. I thought something was wrong with my phone! But then I looked out the window and saw the sun directly overhead, and I realized I really had slept two-plus hours.
I threw on my clothes and hurried to Blind Bear. Chico behind the bar saw me come in. He ran to the kitchen door and shouted, “Tony, he’s here!”
A few seconds later, Tony came out of the kitchen, on his phone. “Yeah. He’s here. He just came in,” Tony said to whomever he was talking to.
Turns out I had told my friends Allie Cat and Butt Slut #1 I’d meet them at 11 at Bardog. When I no-showed, they were worried sick. Oops!
Let’s have a look at local basketball this week:
Tickets are still available for Bardog’s New Year’s Eve 2024 Bash.
What does a ticket get you?
Tickets are $150 and that includes tax and gratuity. I don’t recommend a lot of New Year’s Eve parties, because they mostly all suck – but this is one I can get behind.
From the DM: Hire Local develops health care jobs in Memphis Medical District
Today is National Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day.
Memphis Made Brewing Co. will have a tailgate and watch party for December 29’s Liberty Bowl. Food truck Big River Dogs will be on site. Prefer to drink at home? They’ll be selling six-packs to go for $9.01 all day.
Congratulations to Brett Roler, new COO of the Downtown Memphis Commission.
Grizzlies jobs!
Today’s specials at Bardog:
Since the specials are time-sensitive, I’ll stop here and hit Publish. Possibly a second post later today.
Alcenia’s, the soul food restaurant just north of the I-40 overpass on North Main Street, is selling love-filled gift boxes. Each box comes with a jar of Alcenia’s famous apple butter, along with your choice of two of the following treats:
Tonight is the grand opening party at Esco.
Wiseacre releases its 2023 version of its Astronaut Status beer at 1 this afternoon.
Today is Cat Herders Day. Raise your glass if you’ve ever had a leadership position on a team that competed at BBQ Fest.
Speaking of which… $250,000 in prize money will be awarded at the new BBQ festival, to be organized by the people who bring us Mempho Fest, in Tom Lee Park the third weekend of May. The new festival’s grand champion will receive $50,000.
Today is also Underdog Day, a good day to hang out at Bardog’s downstairs bar. No nasty cigarettes down there.
Alexis Jade plays Momma’s tonight. 8 PM.
Hearing good things about the espresso martini at Curfew, which is made with premium products.
Sitting here at Bardog waiting on them to post today’s specials. Allie Cat says come entertain her. She’s mixing sugar cookie shots for the holidays.
Don’t forget, Blind Bear will be closed for a private corporate event this evening. The schedule:
I recommend you hang out at Bardog and harass Dani/Butt Slut #2 during the downtime. She loves hearing/smelling a good burp. If she’s impressed she’ll say “Ribbit.”
Bardog specials for today:
That’ll wrap it up for now.
I don’t usually post this late in the day, I have some highly time-sensitive info. Earlier this afternoon, Local on Main posted
Comedy @ 8
Karaoke @ 9:30 and…
Late night BEER BUST
12 AM-3 AM – Kitchen open late
$10 bottomless draft*
$3 Fireball shots
$10 flatbreads
I haven’t seen a beer bust since the late ’90s. And I’ve never seen a beer bust that late.
The employees working Local today had no idea that the beer bust would be happening. They found out like everybody else, when they saw the event flyer posted to Facebook.
Can’t make it tonight? They say they’re doing it Friday and Saturday too.
I would love to be a fly on the wall for this. Anyone wanna spot me ten bucks? Make that fifteen so I can tip.
Catherine & Mary’s is hiring a Back Server. This position is said to be a great entry point into the hospitality industry, one which prepares the position’s holder to eventually move into the role of Server.
Coach Penny wants 18,000 butts in FedExForum seats for Saturday’s 2 PM game vs. unbeaten, 11th-ranked Clemson. It will be the Tigers’ first true home game in 30 days.
Specials at Bardog today:
Keep scrolling for the rest of the Thursday news. Due to some time-sensitive breakfast stuff, I had to fire off today’s first post right around midnight.
Hyatt Centric Memphis is hiring an area associate director of events.
NBA trade season begins tomorrow, with most free agents signed prior to the beginning of the season eligible to be traded. February 8 is this season’s trade deadline.
Doritos has created an 84-proof liquor that tastes just like the nacho cheese chips.
If you miss the 25-cent martinis Felicia Suzanne’s used to pour for Friday lunch, here’s a PRO TIP for you: Go see my friend Maddie at Bounty on Broad between 5 and 6 this evening. Apparently this is a Wednesday-Thursday thing out there.
Today is Monkey Day. Cheers to my friend Roscoe!
It’s also National Biscuits and Gravy Day. The King Biscuit at Sunrise Memphis on Jefferson would be a good way to celebrate. To drink, get a Grind and Shine, Sunrise’s version of a screwdriver, because today is also National Screwdriver Day.
The Peabody is now taking orders for Christmas dinner at home. The package is $160, serves 4 people, and includes
Order by Sunday, December 17. Pick up in the hotel’s valet area on Christmas Eve 11 AM-3 PM.
The CA has the scoop on a new restaurant and brewery coming to Downtown. The restaurant will be JEM (Just Enjoy The Moment) Dining in The Edge at 644 Madison. The brewery will be in the South Main Arts District at 206 G.E. Patterson next to Renee’s Sandwich Shop. It will be called Memphis Filling Station.
Pools are fun. Summer is fun.
Holiday hours have kicked in at Feelin’ Memphis gift shop, 509 S. Main: 9 AM to 8 PM. This store is my top recommendation to visit if you’re looking to give a uniquely Memphis gift.
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA. He was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected from a game earlier this week for striking Jusuf Nurkic in the face.
Green will have to “meet criteria” before being allowed back on the court. Most likely one of the criteria is a requirement to attend counseling. Could we see a kinder, gentler Draymond in 2024?
Jaren Jackson Jr. dropped 44 points last night but it wasn’t enough to prevent a Grizzlies road loss to Houston. Memphis has a chance for revenge Friday, hosting Houston at FedExForum. NOTABLE: It will be Dillon Brooks’ first time in the Grindhouse since he left the Grizzlies.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra presents The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More tonight at FedExForum. Showtime is 7:00.
It’s early for me to publish a Thursday update post – it’s 11:37 PM Wednesday – but since I have breakfast recommendations in this post, I want to go ahead and get it online. Probably back in the 11 AM or noon hour with Thursday morning news and Bardog specials and maybe other specials.
On January 25, the Community Alliance for the Homeless will host what’s known as a Point-in-Time Count. This event counts those currently experiencing homelessness in a community so that resources from the federal government may be fairly allocated.
The Community Alliance utilizes these counting events to distribute aid and care packages. This year’s Point-in=Time Count will be at the Memphis Sports & Events Center on Early Maxwell Blvd. in Liberty Park. The homeless will receive exposure to an entire day’s worth of resources, including
How can you help?
Cordelia’s Market will start selling a different sandwich every day beginning in January. The sandwiches will be the creations of Pam Edmonson. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because she and her husband Bill owned River Time Market & Deli on Court Square for five years. Pam still operates www.rivertimedeli.com where she shares deli recipes.
Bleacher Report graded every NBA team as they stand at the approximate quarter-season mark. I fully expected the Grizzlies to receive an F. They didn’t; they got a C, their struggles understandable due to personnel issues. The F grade was reserved for the Detroit Pistons and their 19-game losing streak.
Join in-person or virtually for MATA’s December Board of Commissioners Meeting. The service committee will meet at 2:00 PM and the regular Board of Commissioners meeting is at 3:30 PM. For complete information, visit https://t.co/WUsPISpbtH pic.twitter.com/H5gKtQOmc3
— Memphis Area Transit Authority (@RideMATA) December 12, 2023
The new music festival being put on May 3-5 by the organizers of Mempho Music Festival has a name now: Riverbeat.
Today is National Ice Cream Day. Margie’s 901 on Main, A. Schwab on Beale, and Insomnia Cookies on Beale would be my recommendations to celebrate.
The National Weather Service says it’s unlikely Memphis will see a white Christmas because it’ll be too warm.
Catch Bobbie & Kevin LIVE tonight at Momma’s from 7 to 10.
The Blind Bear will have DJ Taz beginning at 9 PM Friday when they reopen. Remember, they’ll be closed for a private corporate event 6:45-9:00 that evening.
Brimstone Jones plays Blind Bear Saturday at 10.
A Satan club is coming to a Memphis-area elementary school. No I am not making this up.
Birdie’s, the golf simulation bar on South Main, is in the process of putting together their winter league. They plan to play on 8 courses over approximately 2 months. Details coming soon; their Facebook page is the best way to keep up.
Kameron Whalum will perform at Eight & Sand Lounge in Central Station Hotel Saturday night.
Reader’s Digest has coin flip strategy. It’s not that you should always call heads or tails; you should always call the side of the coin facing up before the flip.
Grind City Brewing Co. hosts its annual Blue Christmas party this Friday.
Songwriter Night with Nia Nicholls, Adria Hyde, Dave Christen, and Ava Rose will happen at South Main Sounds this Friday. This will be the last songwriter night until February.
Grizzlies at Houston, 7 tonight, on Bally Sports TV.
Specials at Bardog today:
Specials at Local on Main today:
Brussels sprouts in brown sugar, butter, bacon jam, balsamic glaze
Calamari with marinara sauce for dipping
Damn, this calamari has a lot more flavor (& spice) than the place I usually get calamari.
That’ll do it. Back tomorrow with more news.
When you think of New Year’s Eve parties, what comes to mind?
How would you like to bypass all that and have an actual GOOD TIME on New Year’s Eve with cool Downtowners who know how to have a low-key fun evening?
If that’s what you’re looking for, my top recommendation is Bardog’s New Year’s Eve Bash. They’re selling a limited number of tickets whose holders will have exclusive access to the entire place – upstairs and down. I’ve heard them discuss 100 as the limit of tickets to sell. Posted fire marshal capacity is 125, so the party won’t be packed to the gills.
$150 per person, all-inclusive including tax, grat, and an OPEN BAR, as well as a premium food buffet (prime rib, filet mignon, shrimp cocktails, etc.), Verve Cliquot Yellow Label toast at midnight, 7 PM-1:30 AM.
Limited tickets are available on Eventbrite and at the ‘dog. I fully expect this party to sell out by the end of this week. If you have a favorite server or bartender, you might want to inquire about buying a ticket from them. Not sure if they have quotas or incentives to sell tickets or anything like that.
Blind Bear food specials for the week of December 11-16:
I tried that brownie Sunday and it is NOT TO BE MISSED if you’re into sweet stuff. Yesterday I sampled the tomato bisque & grilled cheese and it was good too.
In other Blind Bear news: They’ll be closed for a private corporate holiday party this Friday from 7 to 9 PM. In need of an alternate place to hang out during those hours? Join me down the street at Bardog. We’ll have Dani behind the bar for the first hour and London and Nick for the second hour. On Sunday London told me I am a “silver fox.”
One more piece of Blind Bear news: Special no more! I just heard Tony tell guests that his AMAZING greens have been promoted to the main menu. A new menu is coming out this month.
And now, on to the rest of the news…
Memphis 901 FC has created a chief operating officer position and filled it with Jay Mims. Mims will oversee sales, marketing, and team operations. Meet the new COO tonight at Ghost River on Beale at 7 PM.
Today is National Ding-A-Ling Day.
There’s talk of replacing the I-55 bridge over the Mississippi River. At more than 70 years old, the current I-55 bridge is getting too outdated to handle modern traffic.
Did you know that you can earn a certificate in piracy at MIT? You’ll need to complete courses in sailing, fencing, archery, and pistol shooting, and then take the secret oath.
Dallas got a 120-113 win over the Memphis Grizzlies last night. That leaves Memphis 6 games back of the final play-in spot. Far cry from last year when the Grizz spent most of the season in second place in the West.
Speaking of Dallas, here’s the trailer for The Iron Claw, the movie documenting the Von Erich wrestling family:
Ja Morant is eligible to return a week from today… however, that’ll be an away game at New Orleans. Coach may opt to keep him out until the 21st, when Memphis is at home against the Indiana Pacers.
Today’s specials at Bardog:
The Price Is Right has a tribute to Bob Barker on. He would have been 100 today.
Back tomorrow with more news.