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When I was a little kid and school was out for the summer, my grandmother and I would sometimes spend our afternoons making Betty Crocker Snackin’ Cakes. They were cakes you could mix, bake, and serve all in the same pan. They disappeared from store shelves around 1980. My favorite of all the Snackin’ Cake varieties was banana walnut.

Yesterday morning I woke up to a text from Jeannette, the owner of the Blind Bear. It was about our friend Nappin’ Ass Nate, who left us the first week of December. Yesterday would have been Nate’s 44th birthday. Nate’s parents, knowing the Bear was his favorite place, had sent a cake there. His closest friends would gather there at 3 and have a piece of cake (and a few shots, of course) in his memory.

So I walked down there right at 3, getting my favorite seat right at mid-bar. I saw a big green box labeled FROST sitting on the back bar, and I thought, oh yum, Nate’s parents did well. Nate’s friends – the ones who weren’t working at 3 PM on a Monday – started to gather. By 3:45 we had a full bar.

We did a round of Rumple Minze in Nate’s memory. For the record, Rumple is one of my least favorite alcoholic beverages to shoot, in a category with tequila, Ole Smoky Blue Flame moonshine, and Malort. But it was Nate’s favorite, so I held my nose and joined in.

Jeannette and her mom Sheryl then cut the cake. “Paul, do you want a piece?” Sheryl asked. Which, of course, I did.

Perjorie T. Roll doesn’t come out with me much anymore, but remembering the way she used to look up to her Uncle Nate, I just couldn’t leave her at home.

I grabbed a fork and took a bite, having no idea what flavor this brown-and-yellow cake was.

Memories of banana walnut Snackin’ Cakes with my grandmother immediately came flooding back!

I mean, it’s not exactly the same thing. Snackin’ Cakes didn’t have layers. Or frosting. But the cake itself – the flavor was ON POINT! I’m convinced whoever conceived of this cake made banana walnut Snackin’ Cakes in the 1970s.

From Frost’s main menu page:

Banana Cake

Almost a pound of bananas in each cake, with chopped walnuts and our smooth cream-cheese frosting. No other banana cake compares.

A whole banana cake is listed at $42 on the menu page. That seems like a bargain for a cake of this quality.

I’ve been getting a lot of compliments on my hair lately – people have told me it looks extra silky and shiny. That’s because I switched shampoos last week. Here’s what I’m now using:

It’s on the top shelf of the shampoo aisle (I think) at Downtown Walgreens, and it’s one of the more inexpensive shampoos they carry ($5.49). I don’t use conditioner, but I do comb my hair out while still wet within 10 minutes of getting out of the shower.

Let’s get on to the news…

Today is National Escargot Day. Get ’em at Bishop, the French restaurant in Central Station Hotel, where they come as a petite plate with watercress, sourdough, and lemon parsley.

A judge will rule on whether Tennessee’s incredibly stupid anti-drag law is constitutional by June 2, before Pride Month festivities kick off.

From the DM’s Inked column: Plans for University Lofts are moving forward in The Edge at 440 Monroe, on the land where the Holliday Flowers building once stood. The new apartment complex will contain 105 units.

MPD Director C.J. Davis said in a community meeting yesterday that there are no longer plans to use the Greenlaw Community Center as a holding area for juvenile curfew violators. Public feedback from Greenlaw residents led to that decision. Kids will be taken to police precincts if their parents can’t immediately pick them up.

Ja Morant posted “Bye” on Instagram recently, worrying his fans.

A man has been arrested for stealing multiple Infiniti sedans in Downtown Memphis. Check out this quote from the WREG news story: “From the beginning of the year to May 10, 5,390 cars were reported stolen in Memphis. That compares to 2,294 vehicle thefts over the same period in 2022.”

Residents in the Hope Heights Tower at Madison and Danny Thomas have been without elevator service for a week. Disabled residents in wheelchairs are stranded in their apartments and would be unable to get out in case of a fire.

Catherine and Mary’s is hiring a server.

Allworld Project Management seeks a trainee for GIS/mapping work. They’re looking for a sophomore or higher in college with at least a 2.5 GPA. This is a part-time position for summer 2023. $18-$20/hour.

That’s it for today’s post. Back tomorrow, probably.

Walking home last night, I saw a number of 24-hour construction & emergency trucks parked outside Brinkley Plaza. One of them had vacuum hoses extending into the building and appeared to be pumping out water. I hope there hasn’t been another water main break on that block of Monroe.

The Redbirds remain in Memphis this week for a homestand vs. the Norfolk Tides. Here’s a look at what’s going on (first pitch times in parentheses:

• Today (6:45 PM): No special promotions
• Wednesday (12:05 PM): Matinee game
• Thursday (6:45 PM): $2 PBR!!!!! $1 hot dogs. The Redbirds will wear their throwback Memphis Chicks uniforms.
• Friday (7:05 PM): There’s an all-you-can-eat specialty ticket that gets you BBQ nachos, sliders with pulled chicken and pulled pork, tortilla chips, coleslaw, BBQ sauce, salad with ranch dressing, hot dogs, soda, and water. Dugout tickets $35/field box tickets $32.
• Saturday (6:35 PM): The first 1500 fans will receive a free Memphis Redbirds beach towel. After the game there will be fireworks.
• Sunday (6:05 PM): Kids 12 and under receive a free Prairie Farms ice cream sandwich, and after the game they can run the bases.

LOL @ LAL. The Lakers blew a 15-point lead to lose to Denver in 4 straight. Wonder if that will make LeBron lobby hard for changes in the offseason… I’ve read that a LeBron/Kyrie Irving reunion in L.A., probably through a sign-and-trade, is a possibility.

Inkwell, the cocktail lounge at 631 Madison out in The Edge, posted its schedule for this week:

• Today: DJ Siphne Aaye
• Wednesday: Bread & Butter
• Thursday: Ariel Reign, Khidagood (aux)
• Friday: Bizzle Bluebland
• Saturday: Kid Maestro
• Sunday: Taliba Safiyah, Cameron Hamilton (aux)

I have no idea what (aux) means but that’s the way it was printed on their flyers.

Former Grizzlies shooting guard/small forward “The Grindfather” Tony Allen has entered a guilty plea in a fraud case brought against him and other current and former NBA players. They’re accused of filing false claims against the NBA’s health and benefits plan. TA will be sentenced on August 8. Do I have any readers who are legal eagles? If so, what are the chances he’ll see jail time from this?

Also, I wonder if this guilty plea will prevent Tony’s jersey from one day hanging from the FedExForum rafters next to those of Z-bo, Gasol, and Conley?

Tony Allen wants to help current Grizzlies star Ja Morant through his time of troubles. The Grindfather says he has spoken to Ja’s father Tee multiple times.

Feast & Graze, the cheese and charcuterie joint on the Main Street Mall, will be opening at noon this week rather than 11 AM.

Feast & Graze, by the way, is hiring for two positions. One is a combination charcuterie board artist & catering assistant, and the other is a delivery driver. Email hi@feastandgraze.com if interested.

The Groove on Demand rideshare app is now letting you bring your bike, at no additional charge. You can inform Groove you plan on bringing a bike using the app. Here’s how:

1. Before you enter the pickup and dropoff addresses, tap the plus sign under the search bar.
2. Select Bicycle from the dropdown menu.
3. Tap Confirm Headcount.

You can bring up to two bikes if space is available.

Never tried Groove on Demand? I was telling a friend last night, it’s nearly as convenient as a Lyft or Uber while being as cheap as riding the bus. It covers Downtown, Uptown, Smoky City, New Chicago, Crosstown, The Edge, the Medical Center District, Annesdale, South Main, South City, the STAX/Soulsville neighborhood, and Presidents Island.

One of the restaurants in the Memphis Flyer article Off the beaten BBQ Path is accessible by Groove on Demand. Smoky City BBQ at 1023 Jackson sells classic BBQ sandwiches as well as burgers, catfish, wings, and plenty of other choices.

In a recent post, The Broom Closet on South Main mentioned that their very own Rev. Omma is an ordained minister. Therefore, she is available to officiate weddings. Call 901-497-9486 or email omma@thebroomclosetmemphis.com to start a conversation with her about officiating yours.

Drink special alert: Bardog has mango white tea shots for $5.

Courtyard Memphis at N. Main and Jefferson is having a patio party tonight from 6 to 9. Looks like the weather will cooperate. MemphisWeather.net predicts 83/63 with almost no chance of rain.

The Memphis Flyer is seeking nominations for categories in its Best of Memphis poll. You have until Wednesday, June 14 to nominate.

Greenlaw residents are upset with MPD’s plans for their community center. Greenlaw is the neighborhood approximately bordered by the river on the west, A.W. Willis on the south, Thomas on the east, and Chelsea on the north. It is considered part of the larger Uptown community. The community center is at 190 Mill in Greenlaw Park. MPD wants to use the center as a holding pen for juveniles found out in violation of curfew.

Soul & Spirits brewery at 845 N. Main will be closed Sunday, May 28 and Monday, May 29 so employees can spend time with their families.

If you didn’t make it down to BBQ Fest, you can still get BBQ Fest ’23 merchandise in the Memphis in May online store.

I don’t usually do real estate listings on this blog, but for this one I’m going to make an exception. There’s a condo for rent in the Shrine Building at Front and Monroe. $2100/mo, 3 BR/2 BA, 1507 square feet. If you’re interested, I’ll let you click the link to see the list of amenities, but I’ll also mention that the BEST amenity is not one listed – it’s across the street from Bardog. You’d have a short walk to get far-above-average takeout food. And should you choose to drink there, you’d have a short stumble home.

The Shrine is also across the street from the newly-reopened Cossitt Library, so if you’re a book lover (or if you want easy access to Chef Eli’s great food at Dos Hermanos Cafe in the library), that’s an amenity too. When construction is finished, the Brooks Museum of Art will be cat-a-corner to the Shrine.

I will point out, though, that living in the Downtown core is not for everyone. It gets extremely noisy on weekend nights – mostly due to the sound of revving engines and tires squealing on nearby streets. Also, when the condo is across the street from one of the most popular bars in the city, a bar that closes at 3 AM, you’re not going to have total peace and quiet.

Rootstock Wine Merchants at 644 Madison is doing a special tasting this Friday from 5 to 7 PM with wines from Field Recordings. Five different wines will be available for sampling. No need to RSVP; just show up. Of course, you have to be 21 or older to sample.

Jaren Jackson Jr. has a new commercial partnership deal. The NBA Defensive Player of the Year will work with SoFlo Snacks to produce a product called Black Panther Energy Gummies.

From WREG: There was controversy at BBQ Fest as some members of Game of Bones Barbecue were asked to leave the park. The team claims race may have been a factor in how they were treated by sheriff’s deputies. Memphis in May officials say the team was asked to vacate their booth because they obstructed Riverside Drive.

Congrats to Memphis Clover Club, whose upstairs bar recently scored 100 on a health inspection.

Downtown’s Holiday Inn is hiring a short order/prep cook.

Hot Rods on Beale happens tonight from 6 to 10.

Doug McLeod plays The Central BBQ Sessions at Central BBQ Downtown tonight from 6 to 9.

River Garden will host a Sunset Skate this Thursday from 6 to 9. Free lessons from Step and Skate Movement at 6 and then skating to the sounds of DJ Brother John at 7. Pre-registration is recommended and skate rentals are first come, first served.

Memphis in May’s Great American River Run is this Saturday. There are half-marathon, 10K, and 5K options. Finish your race and you get a medal and admission to a post-race party with food and beer.

DJ Snow plays Parties at the Pyramid this Friday evening. Free to get in 6 to 7, $10 cover after 7. Free entry to Big Cypress Lodge guests. Music starts at 8.

Comeback Coffee hosts a free movie screening of Everything Everywhere All at Once Friday evening.

There will be a Spring Soul Fest in Handy Park Thursday from 5 to 7:30 PM. You’re invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating.

Cat’s Ballroom and the Downtown Memphis Commission will host free slow-lounge lessons at Fourth Bluff 7-8 PM Saturday. Beginners’ class, no partner or experience needed.

The first in a series of A Summer of Photography workshops kicks off Saturday at the Cossitt Library The full schedule:

• May 27: Camera settings and visual fundamentals with Ally, Alex, and Tre
• June 3: Portraits with Jasmine and Ariel
• June 7: Polaroids with Ziggy and Ariel
• June 10: Lighting your subjects with Jordan Danielz
• June 14: Street photography and how to photograph new people with Brandon Dill
• June 17: Editing and portfolio design with Amanda and Ariel
• July 1: Gallery show

Cordelia’s Market will host its May trivia night Wednesday at 6:30.

Happy Heavenly Birthday to our buddy Nappin’ Ass Nate.

A few of his closest friends are gathering at Blind Bear at 3 this afternoon to celebrate his birthday. I have a feeling Nate will be sitting at that big bar in the sky, probably with our friends Mac and Rick, looking in on our celebration, happy to know that he’s still such a big part of our lives.

Happy birthday also to The Price Is Right host Drew Carey. He turns 65 today.

That’s it for this very long news post. I’m considering doing a personal post explaining why I didn’t blog for a month and was rarely seen out at my favorite Downtown spots. It’s just a matter of how much I want to open up on here to a public audience. I know that most of my readers who know me personally love me and want to see me do well. But there are always those two or three who feel the need to judge me or lecture me. That is absolutely not what I need right now. That makes me want to withdraw into myself and shut out the world.

Back tomorrow, probably.

One of my dearest friends came to town this weekend and we had breakfast and lunch together. I got to try a couple of Downtown dishes I had not had before, and I thought I’d share some photos.

This is the Three Little Pigs omelette from Automatic Slim’s: Smoked sausage, bacon, and ham wrapped in an omelette with a side of potato hash. It was really yummy.

Slim’s is unique in that it opens at 9 AM for Sunday brunch, whereas most of the other restaurants and bars that do brunch in the Downtown core don’t open until 11 or later. It’s definitely not a secret: By 9:45 the place was practically full. Perhaps it’s because of the drink specials – $3.00 Bloodys and mimosas during brunch hours. We sat at the bar and bartender Emma took great care of us.

At 11 we walked over to the Blind Bear. After a couple of hours catching up with the Sunday crew, I ordered lunch.

First time to try the menu item named after me! Paul’s Meatloaf Sandwich comes on Texas toast. It normally comes with sides of mashed potatoes and okra, but they told me they were out of mashed potatoes. No problem, I was happy to substitute a side of the Bear’s delicious mac & cheese.

We closed out the day in the basement of Winfield’s clothing store at Madison and Main for a birthday party. Awesome guest list, fantastic food, and superior sips. What a great way to wrap up the weekend.

Years ago, I was watching a poker training video by one of my favorite players, Daniel Negreanu, and he was playing one of my favorite starting hands, 8-7 suited. “All kinds of good things can develop,” commented Daniel.

I find that’s a great philosophy by which to live life.

All kinds of good things can develop.

They certainly did yesterday.

Yesterday I talked about my adventures with the ChatGPT artificial intelligence app for iPhone. I noted that it’s really good at constructing outlines for essays, and that professors are going to have to download the ChatGPT app to make sure students didn’t use it.

But would it really be so terrible if they did?

I taught math and computer classes at the University of Memphis from 1994 to 1999. One class I taught was College Algebra. Some faculty who taught that class allowed students to use calculators on tests, while others didn’t.

I let my students use their calculators. I figured, those devices are facts of life, and besides, College Algebra is not a basic arithmetic class. I made them show their work. They had to set up their equation and show me how they solved it, step by step. If they let the calculator do all the work and wrote down nothing but the answer, they didn’t get credit.

ChatGPT is great for generating outlines for high school and college essays. Why not just accept that as a fact of life too?

Yesterday I gave a sample essay question: List some reasons the Beatles broke up. Let’s say I ran it through ChatGPT and one of the answers it supplied was George’s emergence as an equally gifted songwriter to John and Paul, creating competition for album space (that was actually one of my answers, not ChatGPT’s, but play along with me here).

If I simply put that down without offering any supporting evidence, I would expect to receive a bad grade on my essay, even though the answer was technically correct.

In actuality, I’d supply the following supporting points:

• “Taxman” on 1966’s Revolver was perhaps George’s breakout song and fit right in with other late-moptop-era Beatles recordings.
• Then I’d mention the songwriting maturity shown in his 1968 song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” I’d be sure to mention that Eric Clapton, not George, played lead guitar on that one.
• Next I’d mention his twin masterpieces on Abbey Road, “Here Comes the Sun” and “Something.”
• I’d also mention some of his lesser-known but fantastic Beatles songs such as “Old Brown Shoe” (the B-side to “The Ballad of John and Yoko”) and “I Me Mine” (from the Let It Be album).
• I’d close up by discussing George’s post-Beatles song “My Sweet Lord” and how you can hear the freedom of George no longer having to conform to the band’s musical style.

If a student can supply supporting arguments, who cares if AI generated the outline for his or her essay?

On to the news…

Today is Waiters and Waitresses Day. Be sure to tip your servers extra generously.

Deep Roots plays Loflin Yard today at noon.

A Memphis Tigers alumni team is headed to The Basketball Tournament (TBT). TBT offers $1 million in prize money to the winner. It uses a modified version of college rules, including 9-minute quarters, 6 fouls to foul out, and the Elam Ending. TBT will feature a bracket of 64 teams and will be played in July and August on ESPN. The U of M alums team will include

• Shawn Taggart
• Chris Crawford
• Will Coleman
• Willie Kemp (coach)
• Jeremiah Martin
• Adonis Thomas
• Alex Lomax
• … and they say there are big names yet to be announced.

The team will be called The Beale Street Boys.

Ribdiculous Bar-B-Q became the first rib team in 22 years to win Grand Champion at BBQ Fest. Sweet Cheeks took first in Shoulder, and Hometown BBQ won Whole Hog. Congrats to the winners. Congrats also to my friend Bones who cooked for Moe Cason’s BBQ team (3rd in Shoulder) and my friends on Too Sauced to Pork (3rd in Ribs) and Heath Riles BBQ (9th in Ribs). Full list of “Big Three” category winners

Battle Brothers Que won the Patio Porkers division at Handy Park. They’re a group of military veterans from Jackson, TN. Patio Porkers winners

Check out the new tiger cubs born at the Memphis Zoo.

Grateful Web has a review of Beale Street Music Fest.

Today looks to be a fun day. This morning I’m having brunch at Slim’s with a friend from out of town, then tonight I’m attending a birthday party for one of my favorite people. It’s entirely possible I will take the day off from blogging tomorrow, because I plan to go to Bardog and spend what’s left on my gift card. Back Tuesday, if not sooner, with more news.

I mentioned yesterday that I downloaded the ChatGPT artificial intelligence app onto my iPhone. Once I did, I decided to ask it a couple of questions in my area of expertise.

Q: Can you recommend a drink at the Blind Bear in Memphis?

ChatGPT answer: As an AI language model, I do not have personal preferences, but I can suggest a popular drink at the Blind Bear in Memphis: the “Moonshine Martini.” It is made with catdaddy moonshine, triple sec, fresh sour mix, and a splash of soda. Another popular drink at the Blind Bear is the Bloody Mary, made with the house-infused pepper vodka and homemade Bloody Mary mix.

Moonshine is what the Bear is known for, but I don’t see a moonshine martini on its drink menu. As for the Bloody Mary, that’s a pretty generic recommendation. Any bar should be able to make that.

Q: Can you recommend something to eat at Bardog Tavern in Memphis?

ChatGPT answer: As an AI language model, I don’t have personal preferences or tastes, but according to Bardog Tavern’s menu, they have various delicious options. Some popular dishes are the Bardog Burger, the Pimento Cheese Fries, the Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese, and the Memphis Style BBQ Nachos. They also have a wide selection of local and regional beers, as well as cocktails. I suggest checking out their menu and choosing an option that appeals to your taste buds.

Don’t bother trying to order any of those items. They’re not on Bardog’s menu and never have been.

Conclusion: ChatGPT might be good for some things, but not hyper-local recommendations. No AI bot will be writing a Downtown blog better than mine anytime soon.

It’s BBQ Fest Saturday, the last day. Tom Lee Park is open to the public 10 AM to 10 PM today. You can view the full schedule. Here are a few of Paul’s Picks for the day.

• Don’t forget that today is the Patio Porkers competition in Handy Park at Beale and B.B. King Blvd. This event is FREE to attend (you don’t need a BBQ Fest ticket).
• Judging Day. If you’ve been invited to a team’s booth, please understand that you may not be allowed in immediately if you go in the morning or early afternoon. Teams generally don’t allow anyone in their booths except presenters and judges when judging is going on. Even the other team members generally wait outside. Presentation is a huge part of a BBQ team’s score.
• The Grill Mates demos, because they conclude with samples for the audience. They’ll make sweet jalapeno grilled chicken breasts at 1:00 and Montreal steak tri-tip flatbreads at 4:00.
• Awards ceremony: Ribs, Shoulder, Whole Hog, Grand Champion 6:30
• Nolan Tayloe 8:00
• Dale Watson 9:15

The Preakness Stakes, the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, happens today. It will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock from 3:30 to 6:30 Central Time.

Today is World Whiskey Day.

From Tiger Blueprint: Kendric Davis excels at NBA Combine

It’s the 3rd Saturday in May at the Rumba Room. Well, now that I think about it, it’s the 3rd Saturday in May everywhere. But at the Rumba Room specifically, that means it’s time for swing dancing. $5 cover, no partner necessary. The fun starts at 7 PM.

The Redbirds host the Gwinnett Stripers tonight at AutoZone Park at 6:35. The first 1500 fans through the gate get a replica of the original 1998 Memphis Redbirds jersey. Stick around after the game for fireworks.

From the Memphis Flyer: Memphis Beer Blog shines a light on the Memphis craft beer scene

Also in the Flyer: Celebrating Shawn Cripps’ legacy at the River Series. A tribute to his band The Limes happens this afternoon at the Harbor Town Amphitheater.

From Men’s Journal: Book a trip and enjoy the blues in the Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis

BBQ legend Melissa Cookston is calling it quits as far as competition goes after this year’s BBQ Fest. Cookston will remain busy with her restaurant, Memphis Barbecue Co., in Horn Lake, and her store The BBQ Allstars in Southaven. She will also continue to be involved with the World Junior BBQ League which she founded four years ago.

From the DM: The best-kept secret of BBQ Fest may be the VIPit Pass. The pass costs around $500. Pass holders get their own hospitality area, a tour of select rib, shoulder, and hog teams, and they get to eat BBQ by some of the top teams in the park. There’s also a meet & greet with BBQ royalty like Melissa Cookston and Tuffy Stone.

WREG has a list of the most and least stolen cars in Memphis. As you might guess, Hyundais, Kias, and Infinitis made the “most” list, with Nissans rounding out the top four. I was pleased to see the last two makes of cars I owned, Volkswagen and Saturn, on the “least” list.

Tater Red’s gift shop on Beale has reopened, and it’s under awesome new operators: Ashley Parham and Daryl Andrews, who also run Walking Pants Curiosities on G.E. Patterson. The name will change to Dreamers’ Revival – Walking Pants on Beale, but they plan to still honor the Tater Red’s name in some way.

Central Station Hotel seeks a bell person.

Tug’s Casual Grill is back open. The Harbor Town restaurant closed temporarily following a shooting there last weekend.

Okay. I’m gonna give my ChatGPT iPhone app the chance to redeem itself. This time I won’t ask a local question; I’ll ask it to list some reasons the Beatles broke up. Before consulting the app, my answer would be

1. The 1967 death of the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein left them rudderless
2. Their label Apple Records was a money drain and stressor for the band
3. Yoko Ono’s constant presence in the studio punctured the tight brotherhood that the Beatles had become
4. The emergence of George as a songwriter on par with Paul and John created too much competition for space on each album

So, let’s see what the ChatGPT app thinks.

There were several reasons that contributed to the Beatles breaking up:

1. Creative Differences: The band members had different visions for the direction of the music they wanted to create. This led to conflicts and disagreements during recording sessions.

2. Personal Issues: The members of the band were going through personal issues, such as divorces, drug addiction, and financial problems.

3. Yoko Ono: John Lennon’s relationship with Yoko Ono created tension within the band and caused friction between the members.

4. Managerial Disputes: The Beatles’ manager, Allen Klein, was seen as divisive and the other members, particularly Paul McCartney, did not trust him.

5. Burnout and Exhaustion: After years of non-stop touring and recording, the members of the band were burnt out and wanted to pursue their own projects.

These factors cumulatively led to the decision to dissolve the Beatles in 1970.

Not a bad answer at all! Note that this could have easily been a term paper question in a “History of Rock Music” college course. I wonder if professors will have to start consulting ChatGPT to make sure their students didn’t use it.

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

BBQ Fest continues today. Here’s a link to the full schedule of events for today. A few of my picks:

• The Grill Mates demos, because they conclude with samples for the audience. They’ll make grilled Texas pork tenderloin at 1:00 and spicy Nashville hot-style pork ribs at 4:00.
• Awards ceremony for Anything But, Hot Wings, and Sauce 6:00
• Cracker, approximately 9:15 PM

Park hours are once again 11 AM to 12 midnight. Keep in mind that some teams will close their booths to visitors earlier than midnight because it’ll be time to put the championship meat on the smoker for Saturday morning’s judging. Low and slow is the way to go.

Celebrity sightings: Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer are at BBQ Fest serving their new line of rubs and sauces on the VIPit Tour.

The Daily Memphian has a photo gallery of the Ms. Piggie Idol contest.

The Experience Memphis Gardens Tour runs from May 20 to July 2. Visitors can attend public, private, business, and community gardens, and even a railroad garden, as well as other Memphis gems like cut flower farms and aquaponics. There will also be a garden hat contest. The Downtown Memphis Commission is a supporter of this event, with 7 of the tour’s 200+ gardens located in our neighborhood.

Today is National Pizza Party Day. Aldo’s Pizza Pies Downtown would be my natural top recommendation to celebrate. There’s also Silly Goose with its wood-fired pizza oven. South Main readers, don’t forget, Max’s Sports Bar recently added a pizza oven, and of course there’s pizza at Little Italy across the street from Max’s.

Check out this duck grilled cheese sandwich I had at Local on Main this week:

If you look closely, you can see that there’s cheese on top of the Texas toast. There are several slices of bacon in the sandwich along with the duck, because everything’s better with bacon. Yummy indeed, although I suspect my friends at The Peabody would not approve of my lunch.

Star Dance Alliance is at the Renasant Convention Center this weekend.

On June 17, July 8, and August 12, the Memphis Farmers Market will partner with the Central Station Hotel and Made in Memphis for a Makers’ Market takeover of the Central Station corridor tunnel. 8 AM-1 PM will be the hours.

A few people have asked me why I haven’t been to Bardog a lot this week. I only have one day’s worth of good times there left on my gift card, and I’d rather not use it on a day when the place is full of BBQ teams I don’t know. I plan on going Monday and spending the rest of the card.

There will be a Music Tour at Elmwood Cemetery today from 5:30 to 7:00. Willy Bearden, Memphis music historian, will introduce you to the musicians and producers buried in the cemetery. $20. This is a walking tour, so wear appropriate footwear.

The Metal Museum will have a free Family Fun Day this Saturday. You can check out the smithing work going on, the museum’s exhibits, and hands-on activities. For $20 you can make your own metal tile art to take home. 11 AM to 5 PM.

Dan Favale of Bleacher Report made a list of top landing spots for the NBA’s most intriguing free agents. He thinks the Washington Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma should go to the Grizzlies via a sign-and-trade.

This next news item is not a Downtown event, but I wanted to mention it anyway. Years ago I had a bartender named Mary, first at the Flying Saucer, then at the Blind Bear. Mary went on to become this badass yoga teacher who offers classes at studios all over town as well as at yoga retreats all over the country.

One of the places Mary teaches is mind/body HAUS in Cooper-Young (685 S. Cox) and she’s organizing a very cool non-yoga event, a Mindful Meetup, on Saturday, June 17. It’s for

• People who’ve wondered what it would be like to socialize soberly
• People who are sober and who are looking for an event that doesn’t involve alcohol

The purpose of the meetup is to show that being sober doesn’t mean you have to be serious all the time. You can still enjoy a night out, meeting new people, having fun. They’ll have a bartender serving mocktails, and there will be snacks and a dance party. It’s $20 to attend the meetup and you can sign up through the Mindbody app.

Silly Goose has unveiled its new cocktail menu.

I’d like to thank the Rapid Riders golf cart shuttle for giving me a ride home from the Blind Bear last night. Dreading the long walk back from BBQ Fest? They can help. Call 901-649-7222.

From WREG: MPD to roll out Juvenile Crime Abatement Program amid summer break. The main focus will be curfew violations and the main area of concentration will be Downtown.

There will be a slight chance of pop-up thunderstorms this afternoon and then rain is likely after 10 PM.

Southwest has added a nonstop flight from Memphis to Washington, D.C.

There’s now a ChatGPT app for the iPhone. I just downloaded it and will review it in a future post. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot you can ask questions without doing web searches as we have traditionally known them.

Very cool: Kraft-Heinz is introducing Heinz Remix in restaurants, allowing customers to make their own custon mix of sauces. The way it works is

1. You select a base sauce, either ketchup, ranch, BBQ, or Heinz 57
2. You select enhancers like jalapeno, chipotle, buffalo, or mango
3. You select intensity from one of three levels

Next week will be Fashion Week at Downtown’s Cossitt Library (Front at Monroe). All events listed below will happen between noon and 2 PM:

• Monday, May 22: Jewelry workshop with Olajide Ibitoye
• Tuesday, May 23: Sewing workshop with Morning Thyme
• Wednesday, May 24: Styling 101 workshop with Ari
• Thursday, May 25: Thrifting DIY workshop with Mars & Yasmin
• Friday, May 26: Thrifting DIY workshop with Mars & Yasmin
• Saturday, May 27: Vinyl transfers with Mainshiners

I’m off to the Cossitt Library myself for a few hours of laptopping and reading. I got on the Memphis Public Libraries website and searched for the call numbers of some of my favorite books. That’ll allow me to find other, similar books nearby that I might like.

Back tomorrow (probably) with more news.

The DM has a look at the sauce wrestling event that happened Wednesday night at BBQ Fest.

Here’s the schedule for today at BBQ Fest. A few of my picks:

• The Grill Mates demos, because they conclude with samples for the audience. They’ll make citrus-brined smoked turkey breasts at 1:00 and garlic butter cheesesteak tacos at 4:00.
• Ms. Piggie Idol singing/performance competition 6:00
• Awards ceremony for Ms. Piggie Idol, Best T-shirt, and Best Booth 7:00
• Al Kapone 8:00
• The Sugarhill Gang 9:15

Tom Lee Park is open to the public today from 11 AM to 12 midnight. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the entrance.

Dos Hermanos, the cafe inside the newly-reopened Cossitt Library at Front and Monroe, will host guest bakers for the next few months: Buttermilk Babes Memphis. Stop by and try some of their desserts.

To celebrate BBQ Fest, both Slider Inn locations will offer pulled pork sliders with BBQ sauce and slaw through Saturday, May 20.

Kinfolk restaurant, originally a stand at the 409 S. Main food hall and currently a pop-up at Comeback Coffee in The Pinch, is getting its own brick-and-mortar location. In August, Kinfolk will move to Harbor Town Square in the location formerly occupied by taco shop Inches. Kinfolk is operated by Chef Cole Jeanes and is best known for its cathead biscuits.

From Beale Street Bears: 4 Grizzlies who improved their trade value in 2023

Ja 1 sneakers are no longer listed for sale online by Nike.

ABC 24 asks, is it time for the Grizzlies to trade Ja Morant?

Don’t forget that this year, BBQ Fest’s Patio Porker competition will be single-day only (this Saturday) and held in Handy Park at B.B. King and Beale. The competition is free and open to the public. It allows backyard-griller types to get the BBQ Fest experience. They must cook ribs for the judges and in past years have been limited to 10′ x 10′ booths (although I’m not sure that will remain the case with the move to Handy Park). Teams that win the Patio Porkers division or who “age out” after competing for a certain number of years are expected to move up to one of the Big Three divisions (Ribs, Shoulder, or Whole Hog) the next year.

Max Kaplan & The Magics play Earnestine & Hazel’s this Friday at 9:30.

Memphis Chess Club at Madison and B.B. King Blvd. will host Nerd Nite Memphis Friday evening from 7 to 9.

River Series at Harbor Town Amphitheater returns this Saturday from 4 to 7:30 PM. DJ Tree will kick things off at 4. At 5 there will be a tribute to The Limes, a Memphis band with a unique sound that was the brainchild of musician Shawn Cripps. Shawn died in December 2021 in a truck accident. At 6 Spider Bags, a band from Chapel Hill, NC, take the stage. $10 adults/$5 kids.

There will be a party in the park (Health Sciences Park) this Friday from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM to celebrate National Bike to Work Day. Food trucks Good Groceries Mobile and Dynamic Duo Burritos will be on site, and the first 20 attendees to show their bike helmets at check-in will receive a free lunch voucher. Groovy Italian Ice will be there selling desserts. Gemini will supply the live music.

Royal Vibes will present Spirituality 101 at The Broom Closet, 550 S. Main, this Saturday at 2 PM. This will be a course on how to find and walk your own spiritual path. There’s a $10 “energy exchange” for this event.

From Forbes: Where to dine and drink while in Memphis for BBQ Fest

The CA has photos of Day 1 of BBQ Fest.

MemphisWeather.net says showers and t’storms will become likely after 10 PM on Friday, so if you plan on attending BBQ Fest that night, you might want to take a raincoat or make plans to be out of the park by then.

Chicken producer Perdue now makes Beer Can Chicken beer. It’s a beer specifically designed for making beer can chicken on the grill. Yes that’s really a thing – you stick a can of beer in the bird. It makes the chicken moist and juicy. When I was on a BBQ team, we made it for lunch a couple of years.

The Downtown Memphis Commission will offer beginner biking classes for adults using Explore Bike Share bikes on several dates in June, September, and October. Classes are free, but space is limited so you must register in advance.

Springhill Suites on Court Square seeks a front desk clerk.

Montana became the first state to ban Chinese-owned TikTok this week.

Strippers in L.A. are. unionizing.

And that’ll do it for today. Back tomorrow with more news.

Yesterday I visited the Cossitt Library at Front and Monroe for the first time since it reopened. (Scroll down to read that post.) There were some queries about Dos Hermanos, the cafe in the library opened by Chef Eli Townsend. What kind of food do they have? Is it a Mexican place?

I found a photo of Dos Hermanos’ menu on Facebook. Here’s a summary:

(And yeah, I could have just linked to the photo of the menu. But a lot of my readers have Facebook blocked at work and wouldn’t be able to see it.)

Breakfast

• Berry, granola, and yogurt parfait
• Brulee grapefruit
• French toast
• Avocado toast
• Vegan BLT
• Turkey sausage & spinach frittata
• Chicken salad sandwich
• Vegetable frittata

Lunch

• Zucchini fritters with seafood ceviche
• Crab cake salad
• Falafel waffle, mushroom jam, sunflower sprouts, tzatziki aioli
• Portobello bread pudding
• Cossitt cobb salad
• Turkey melt
• 2 scoops salad

There are also pastry and sides sections of the menu, but the camera cut those off. But anyway, the listings above should give you a good idea of what they have.

Today is National Pinot Grigio Day. I bet my friend Ashleigh will have a glass of “Prince Giorgio” to celebrate.

Today is also National Mushroom Hunting Day. Not gonna say which of my friends will be celebrating that one.

Happy birthday to my buddy Austin AKA Coyote. Yesterday at the bar an out-of-towner made the following toast in Coyote’s honor:

Here’s to gunpowder and pussy.
You die from one, you live for the other.
I love the smell of both.

A large transportation firm in Downtown Memphis is looking to hire a staff accountant.

Also looking to hire: Momma’s, the trucker bar at Crump and Kentucky, which is about to reopen. It’s part of the Aldo family of restaurants (Slider Inn, Bardog, Aldo’s Pizza Pies). Health insurance, competitive pay, paid training, shift meals, and a fun work environment. Apply in person at 855 Kentucky between 10 AM and 3 PM weekdays. Send resumes to work@mommasbar.com.

Great news: The stolen Penske truck with Calvary Episcopal’s organ pipes inside has been recovered.

@GrizzliesPR tweeted that guard Desmond Bane underwent a procedure this week to repair a bone in his big toe. He is expected to make a full recovery by the beginning of the 2023-24 season.

Gia Welch plays Live at the Tracks at Central Station Hotel Thursday evening from 6:30 to 9:30.

ARGH! WordPress ate half my post. Something is better than nothing though. Outta here for now.

Happy National Mimosa Day! I’m coming to you from the newly-renovated Cossitt Library at Front and Monroe. That’s why today’s post is late; the library doesn’t open until 10 AM. It stays open until 8 PM Monday-Thursday, until 6 PM Friday-Saturday, and it is closed on Sunday.

This place has a podcast lab people can use 10-1 Monday-Wednesday-Friday and by reservation Tuesday-Thursday.

It also has a cafe, Dos Hermanos, run by Chef Eli Townsend. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the Downtown Neighborhood Association president. From We Are Memphis: Chef Eli says Cossitt’s Dos Hermanos “meant to be”

Behind me I see a table full of classic games including Life, Sorry!, Scrabble, Monopoly, and Trivial Pursuit. Never seen games in a library before. They also have a giant Connect Four set.

Their selection of books isn’t huge, but I’ve been told they can get any book from another branch in one day.

They have a meeting/conference room that looks like it seats about 20. I assume the public can reserve it.

Wi-Fi signal is strong but it ducks out now and then.

River Time Market & Deli on Court Square will be closed next Monday, May 22, for scheduled maintenance. They will reopen at their regular time Tuesday, May 23.

The poker world lost one of its most legendary players and authors this week as Doyle Brunson AKA “Texas Dolly” passed away at age 89. Brunson won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 1976 and 1977. His writings on Texas Hold’em were a bit dated by the time I got into that game, but I learned a lot about other poker games – Stud/8, Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, and Razz – from his books.

Grizzlies power forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. is a finalist for the 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award. In the past 12 months, Triple J has helped people keep their power on, supported women-owned businesses, and donated school supplies.

Stevie Nicks has been announced for a FedExForum concert on October 28. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday at 10 AM.

A friend of mine is selling a motorcycle, a 2022 Royal Enfield Classic. The seller is someone I have known for 15 years and who I would trust completely if I were a prospective buyer.

KIX 106 has announced its KIX on Beale summer shows. These are held in Handy Park, are free, and are all-ages:

• June 15: Easton Corbin with Kassi Ashton
• June 22: Kimberly Perry with Tenille Arts
• June 29: The Frontmen with Tigerlily Gold
• July 13: Priscilla Block with George Binge
• July 20: TBA
• July 27: Ryan Griffin with Neon Union

Yeah this library Wi-Fi definitely comes and goes. When it’s out, it appears to only be out for a minute or two.

Someone stole a Penske truck containing 1800 of Calvary Episcopal Church’s organ pipes. The pipes were on their way to Boston for repair. The pipes have little street value but will cost almost $1 million to replace.

The DM has details on Saturday night’s shooting at Tug’s Casual Grill.

The Memphis Redbirds are in town this week and next. Today through Sunday they host Gwinnett, and then next Tuesday-Sunday Norfolk will be in town. This week there are matinee games on Wednesday (12:05) and Thursday (11:05). You’ll want to get there early for Friday’s 7:05 game: The first 1000 fans will receive cards 1-10 of the Redbirds’ 25th anniversary baseball card set, featuring names like Vince Coleman, Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright, Randy Arozarena, Stubby Clapp, and Rick Ankiel. 100 of those first 1000 fans will receive an exclusive 1 of 100 card. Also on Friday, there’s a specialty ticket that includes all-you-can-eat crawfish.

MPD will hold a free steering wheel lock giveaway next Tuesday, May 22 at its Austin Peay and Mount Moriah stations. First come, first served and you must show proof you reside in the city. If you own a Hyundai, Kia, or Infiniti, I recommend you go get one of these locks.

From Fox 13: The National Civil Rights Museum is breaking ground on its Legacy Building restoration

Bike to Work Day is this Friday, May 19. Stop by the Downtown Memphis Commission’s breakfast station at Main and Adams between 7:30 and 9:30 AM to fuel up.

Pegasus Residential is hiring a floating leasing manager for the Downtown area.

Insomnia Cookies is hiring a car delivery driver for its Beale Street location. Free cookies on every shift, plus you get paid every day – no having to wait until the end of the week.

From UK newspaper The Guardian: Ja Morant, masculinity, and the misguided way of the gun

From iHeart: Popular Tennessee restaurant (The Arcade) named the best diner in the state

ONE Razorback Roadshow comes to Bass Pro at the Pyramid today 5:30-7:30. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek will be there, as will head football coach Sam Pittman, along with members of the Razorback Spirit Squads, the marching band, and mascot Big Red. Attendees could win exclusive autographed items, game tickets, sideline passes, or Yeti coolers filled with Coca-Cola products. Doors open at 5:30 and the event begins at 6:00. Free admission to all fans and free food and beverages.

Apparently you don’t have to whisper in libraries anymore. Which is fine with me.

This Friday at South Main Sounds, 550 S. Main: Songwriter Night featuring Sara Jean Kelley, Sarah Spain, Byron Earnheart, and Steve Lockwood

Cruisin’ Heavy headlines this Thursday night’s Peabody rooftop party. $15 general admission, $30 to get into the VIP Lounge.

I tried a Jager BBQ Burger at Blind Bear for the first time yesterday:

It’s an 8-ounce beef patty with Jager BBQ sauce, pepper jack cheese, sauteed onions and mushrooms, lettuce and tomato on a brioche bun. It came with sides of fries and mac & cheese. I specifically ordered the lettuce and tomato on the side because I wanted my veggies but they seemed like they’d clash with the other burger toppings. A very yummy dinner indeed.

If you’re one of my neighbors in Number 10 Main, the planned water outage for today has been postponed.

That’s all for now. Back tomorrow if I find more news to report.

I do have a lot of news to report today, but… this morning the laptop and I will be taking a little field trip.

Check back between noon and 3 PM for your Tuesday news.