Paul Ryburn's Journal

Got a new PRO TIP for those of you who don’t live in the Downtown core, but drive down here and park on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights to go barhopping or clubbing:

If you park in a parking garage, park as close to the middle of a level as possible. Avoid the corner spots.

Why? Because, about 11:15 last night, I was lying in bed and heard this:

Squeal…
Squeal…
Squeal…
Squeal…
Squeal…
Sq*CRASH*

It sounded like one of the morons who drive muscle cars down here on the weekends got into a garage, and was having fun racing through it… until he wasn’t.

I’m wondering what the chance is the driver left a note on the car he ran into, saying, “I’m terribly sorry about this, here’s my name, contact information, and insurance information”? I’ll put the probability that happened somewhere between 0% and 0%.

I wonder what the chance was that the make of the car that raced through the garage was a Dodge or Infiniti? I’ll put the probability between 70% and 90%.

On the bright side, I didn’t hear any gunshots last night.

Aldo’s Pizza Pies announced their first collaboration with a local brewery this week. The signature beverage, of course, at Aldo’s is their delicious limoncello. Crosstown Brewing Co. took Aldo’s top-secret limoncello recipe and turned it into a beer. The collaboration marries the intense flavors of lemon and citrus with the smoothness of malt to produce a 6.2% ABV beer called Chill-O.

Where can you get a Chill-O? Well, if you have tickets to Memphis Brewfest today, you can be among the very first to try it. You will also have the chance to try it at Crosstown Brewing Co.’s Notoberfest next Saturday, October 23. After that, you can find Chill-O exclusively at Aldo’s Pizza Pies, Bardog Tavern, and Slider Inn.

Cupcake Cutie at the corner of South Main and Pontotoc has a street party today from 2 to 6. The party’s purpose is to introduce and support young entrepreneurs, including

• Jaxcen’s Tumbler Tavern
• CoCo’s Cookie Bar
• Janie B’s Hair Oil
• Johnson’s Candle Co.

You’ll have the chance to meet new LeMoyne-Owen basketball coach and former Grizzly Bonzi Wells at the street party. The Smurfey’s Smokehouse food truck will be there serving up some delicious food. Also on hand: STAX museum, Pinnacle Bank, ODDS Atelier, COGIC bookstore, and ILL Wellness.

People will be rappeling off the top of the First Horizon Building today to raise money for the Mid-South Food Bank in Heights for Hunger.

The Broom Closet hosts an event called Resurrecting the Shadow Sound Bath Monday, November 8 from 6:30 to 8 PM. I’ll just paste in the event description from Facebook:

Join Matt Petty for a Resurrecting the Shadow Sound Bath. Matt, a certified sound therapist, will lead us in a meditative sound experience using crystal singing bowls, gongs, chimes, and multiple instruments. This exclusive sound session will help us connect with our shadow selves and navigate through the Scorpio energies of November.

Note that Monday, November 8 is the first full day of the return of Standard Time, which is disappointing for many of us – and therefore a great day to engage in a practice like this to cleanse your energy. They ask that you bring a yoga mat and possibly a blanket in case you get cold. The class is 16 and up and space is very limited, so if you want to be part of this, make your reservation now. Tickets are $20.

Ja Morant gave Memphis a scare when he left the court with an apparent arm injury in the third quarter of last night’s preseason game. However, he came back a few minutes later and finished the game with 17 points. The Grizz launch the regular season with a home game against Cleveland Wednesday at 7. Immediately, after that, they head off to the West Coast for a 4-game road trip.

ABC 24 made a trip to the new Soul & Spirits Brewery at 845 N. Main.

Kayak Memphis is offering a sunset tour this evening.

The Dude Perfect 2021 Tour comes to FedExForum tonight.

Butterific Bakery & Cafe celebrates The Sweetest Day today. 488 S. Second St.

Holy crap, the Orpheum and the Halloran Centre have a STACKED schedule for these next 8 days. Just have a look at all that will be going on:

• Hosea: God’s Love for His People – Sunday, October 17 – Halloran Centre – Hosea was a simple pastor who tried to love both God and his fellow humans. But then God sent Hosea a wife from the streets. Tickets are $30.
• Beatles vs. Stones – Wednesday, October 20 – Orpheum – Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band, battles Satisfaction, a Rolling Stones tribute band. Tickets are $45.
• RAW II – Jessica Ray – Thursday, October 21 – Halloran Centre – The R&B singer brings her interactive experience to Memphis, backed by an ensemble of local creatives. Also performing will be bassist Marco Alexander. Tickets are $10-$20.
• Mike Farris – Friday, October 22 – Halloran Centre – Farris is the former frontman of the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies. Tickets are $37.50.
• Married to a Cheater, In Love With a Husband – Saturday, October 23 – Halloran Centre – Tired of her husband’s cheating, the leading lady finds herself a sexy new side piece – but he’s married too. Tickets are $30-$75.
• A Ferry Tale – Saturday, October 23 – Orpheum – A hip-hop musical written by a Memphian, performed by a local cast of actors, rappers, and singers. Tickets are $15-$45.
• If She Only Knew – Sunday, October 24 – Halloran Centre – Zhuri tries to keep his secret life hidden from the love of his life, who is also soon to become the mother of his child. Tickets are $25-50.
• Gary Clark Jr. – Sunday, October 24 – Orpheum – R&B artist who has won four Grammys and shared the stage with the Rolling Stones. Tickets are $49.50-$99.50.

Today is gonna be a looooong day and I am ready for it. First order of business is deciding whether it’s warm enough to wear shorts. Weatherbug has us at 55 at the 9 AM hour, which is comfortably within the shorts zone for me (my cutoff is a feels-like temp of at least 48).

Farmers Market is first on my list, and I’m going to go a little earlier than usual so I have plenty of time to mingle around. There’s enough good football on to warrant a second week in a row at Max’s Sports Bar, but I just can’t see myself missing another Saturday at Bardog. I’ll watch Arkansas-Auburn on my phone if I have to. Tonight I’ll head over to Blind Bear for some excellent music spun by DJ Tree and DJ Taz. Back tomorrow with more news – tomorrow’s post may be late if I stay out late tonight.

There was a huge fight involving about 10 girls outside a popular nightspot in the Downtown core Wednesday night. Many of the girls were said to be employees of a restaurant about a block from where the fight occurred. Weave was observed on the sidewalk Thursday morning. You just keep on being classy, Memphis.

Cordelia’s Market will host a Spillit Slam in conjunction with Maria Montessori School on Thursday, November 18. What’s that? It’s friends and neighbors coming together to share stories – in this case, stories about finding connection and gratitude in a pandemic. Got a story you want to tell? Throw your name in the hat. 10 names will be drawn and those people will get 7 minutes each to share their personal narrative. The audience will choose a winner at the end. That person will receive a $100 Cordelia’s gift card, a gift basket filled with local products, and an invitation to the grand slam at the end of the year.

DJ Tree & DJ Taz will supply the tunes for your Saturday night at the Blind Bear tomorrow from 10 PM to 1 AM.

The folks at MemphisWeather.net had this to say in a Facebook post about today’s weather:

The main concern for today will be a (perhaps broken) line of storms between 5-8pm along a significant cold front. These storms will be capable of very heavy rain, strong wind gusts to 60 mph, and an isolated tornado. Plan ahead for storms during rush hour/early evening!

Sounds like a good day to cut out of the office about 3:30 and avoid that mess as you drive home.

Looks like a Civil Axe Throwing location may be going in on Talbot Avenue across from Slider Inn Downtown. This would be the company’s second Downtown location. A Civil Axe Throwing opened in Floyd Alley in The Edge in 2020.

Normally I only list Downtown jobs, but these are good folks who are part of the extended Downtown family: SALT|SOY is hiring bartenders. They’d prefer experience but are open to someone with a willingness to learn. Come in with your resume 2-4 PM Tuesday-Saturday.

Michael Donahue recently had a Roxie Burger for his column on Classic Memphis Dining in Memphis magazine. It’s an incredibly juicy cheeseburger made with hoop cheese. Get it at Roxie’s Grocery at Third and Mill in Uptown.

Yesterday I discovered (but did not personally sample) something new: THC-infused drink mix. Although THC is the legal ingredient in marijuana, the distributor explained to me that the drink mix is LEGAL in all 50 states. That’s because a farm bill that was passed in 2018 says that any product made from hemp is as legal as hemp. CBD is extracted from hemp, and then a form of THC called Delta-8 is extracted from the CBD. Despite being legal, you should probably still avoid the drink mix if your work drug-tests you.

Of course, we could avoid all of this legal gray area but doing the thing that makes natural sense: Go ahead and make marijuana legal in all 50 states.

The Memphis Tigers football team improved to 4-3 with a 35-17 home win over Navy last night. Next up for the Tigers: A 6 PM game next Friday at UCF that will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

The Memphis Zoo has announced its first Zoo Brew. Brewed by Grind City Brewing Co., the beer is a light, refreshing pilsner with lime. You can get a can at the Zoo’s Cat House Cafe and walk around with it as you look at the animals.

River Time Market & Deli on Court Square is now offering country fried steak sandwiches. Get a small one for $7.99 or a large for $9.99.

The St. Louis Cardinals have fired manager Mike Shildt, who at one time was the manager of the Memphis Redbirds. This move came despite the Cards winning 19 of their last 21 games to claim a spot in the National League Wild Card game. I’ll continue to support the Cardinals but in my opinion, they should have given him one more season.

Chef Tam of Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe made some announcements yesterday:

• She may or may not have made a green chile mac & cheese
• It may or may not be your only chance outside catering to get her mac & cheese without seafood
• She may or may not have the mac & cheese available in her cafe today.

Hmmm. I may or may not stop by and check it out.

As part of its fall fundraiser, the Memphis Farmers Market will have a wine pull tomorrow. Donate at least $20 and pick a side – red or white – and see what you come up with. Great chance to fall in love with a new wine. The market runs from 8 AM to 1 PM every Saturday through the end of October. It’s under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson behind the Power House movie theater. Masks are required for those who have not been vaccinated.

It’s National Grouch Day.

Downtown has a new fire station at 400 Adams. Firefighters will move in about two weeks from now, and it will replace the station at Front and Monroe.

Elmwood Cemetery hosts a Cemetery Cinema Double Feature tonight. They’ll start off with an Elmwood original film, Soul of the City, and then show 1922 silent horror film Nosferatu. Films are shown outdoors and projected onto the roof of the cemetery’s 1852 cottage. Tickets are $17.

Martin Lawrence is at FedExForum tonight.

That’s the news for today. Back tomorrow with more.

Downtown Dining Week has been announced for November 1-7. 57 restaurants (with possibly more to be added) will offer special menus that week for a price of just $20.21. This is your opportunity to branch out and try some new places at which you hadn’t previously dined – or enjoy some specials from your faves.

I want to send a big shout-out to the Downtown Memphis Commission webmaster. DDW’s 2021 website is 10,000% better than last year’s. All the restaurant links are on one page, with no “View more…” links that have to be clicked over and over. Turning the buttons yellow for restaurants that have already supplied their DDW menus is an excellent touch – it keeps website visitors from being disappointed with “Coming soon.” Well done!

If there’s a restaurant you KNOW you want to dine at during DDW, go ahead and make a reservation NOW – even if they haven’t released a menu yet. The most popular times at the most popular restaurants – especially Felicia’s, Cocozza/Majestic, Rizzo’s, Catherine & Mary’s, Bishop, and Gray Canary – will fill up fast.

WREG reports that a man has been arrested after police observed him driving his Dodge Challenger recklessly through Downtown on Saturday, September 18 around 10:30 PM. An officer witnessed William Spears swerving in and out of lanes and driving into oncoming traffic on Front Street near Monroe. When the officer attempted a stop, Spears fled down Monroe, running a red light and nearly hitting several people crossing the street at B.B. King Blvd. Glad to hear Spears is in jail and I hope his Challenger is rotting away in the city’s impound lot.

Neat website I found recently: myNoise. They have an archive of sounds that can help you when you need to

• Focus in a noisy environment
• Sleep
• Calm down
• Get work done in a distracting open office
• Get inspired
• Put your baby to sleep
• And many more. They have 200+ sound generators.

Max Kaplan and the Magics will supply the music for tonight’s edition of Live at the Tracks at Central Station Hotel. Things will kick off around 7 PM.

Moneybagg Yo showed up to entertain the crowd at Memphis Madness last night. The DM has a recap.

Big congratulations to Memphis 901 FC on their victory over Louisville City FC, the team atop the USL Central Division standings as of kickoff time, last night at AutoZone Park. The win propels Memphis up to third place in the Central Division, surpassing FC Tulsa by 2 points. Top four in the division at the end of the regular season go on to the playoffs.

MemphisWeather.net’s forecast is 85 and humid for today. With the dew point hovering around 70, that means we’re likely to have feels-like temperatures in the 90s today. Can we stop it with the humidity PLEASE??? People ask why, on days like today, I sit at a dark bar instead of coming out to the patio. The reason is, I don’t consider days like today to be patio weather! Patio weather to me is feels-like temps between 66 and 75.

Hard Rock Cafe has 3 limited-edition double-stacked steak burgers this month, and a portion of the proceeds from every burger’s sale go toward their Pinktober campaign against breast cancer. The 3 burgers are

• A Mushroom & Onion Bourbon Burger with bourbon aioli, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and tomato
• The Ultimate “Pub” Burger with house-made pub sauce, American cheese, bacon, pickles, shoestring onions, lettuce, and tomato
• Blue Cheese and Bacon Burger with buffalo sauce, lettuce, and tomatoes

The Blind Bear has announced it will have its Halloween party Saturday, October 30 with live music by Brimstone Jones 9 PM to 1 AM. There will be a costume contest, drink specials, and food specials. I will post more info as it is released.

The Memphis Flyer has the story of Robin Joyce and her vision for By the Brewery, her restaurant that faces the Tennessee Brewery. The restaurant serves atypical breakfast and lunch fare.

You don’t often see ’80s model Cadillac Fleetwood Broughams anymore, but there was one parked outside the Silly Goose yesterday:

This model was produced from 1977 to 1992, but we know this is a pre-1987 model because that year the name was shortened from “Fleetwood Brougham” to simply “Brougham.” People I showed this photo to laughed at the parking job. The driver can’t help it! The car is too big to fit into the space!

Wonder what kind of gas mileage that thing gets? 10 MPG maybe?

Bleacher Report has a Q&A about the Kyrie Irving situation. The Brooklyn Nets have decided not to include Irving in any team activities until he can fully participate in all of them – which he can’t until he either gets vaccinated for COVID or New York City lifts its vaccine mandate. Irving maintains that he’s not anti-vacc, but rather he’s “the voice of the voiceless” for people who lost their jobs for refusing to get vaccinated. Sounds like a bunch of BS to me. Kyrie’s an ass and I wish he’d go ahead and retire.

Urban bistro The Genre is now open at 200 Poplar, Suite 105. They have catfish nuggets, boneless wings, and tenders that can be sauced or seasoned in a variety of ways, sliders, and exclusives like Reggae Jerk Chicken Kabobs. More than just a place to eat, the place is described as “a full Memphis experience” with events like Taco Tuesdays, Relax & Unwind Fridays, and Saturday Night Vibes.

There needs to be a website called DoTheyHavePBR.net where you can check whether area restaurants are still out of PBR or if they have it back in stock.

You can transfer your prescriptions to the new Harbor Town Pharmacy on Mud Island if it’s more convenient for you to pick them up there. All you have to do is call Harbor Town Pharmacy at 901-347-2774, give them your info and your current pharmacy’s phone number, and they’ll take care of the rest.

Happy birthday to my buddy Big Ed who slings the brewskis at Memphis 901 FC home matches and FedExForum events. I asked if he’s working the December 6 WWE Monday Night Raw show and he confirmed that he is. See you there!

Can’t find what you want at the grocery store? It could be because 81 huge cargo ships are sitting in the Pacific Ocean waiting to be called into port so they can unload. The backup is so severe that the Port of Los Angeles announced it’s going 24/7 until things get cleared up. (Source: The Morning Brew newsletter)

Since it’s after 10:00 before I get this post published, let’s have a look at Shelby County’s 7-day rolling average of new COVID cases: Down to 143. That is excellent. Three weeks ago, the average was 399.

My favorite statistical analysis FiveThirtyEight has released their statistical model’s 2021-22 NBA season projections. The model predicts the Grizzlies to go 44-38 and have a 59% chance of making the playoffs, a 2% chance of making the NBA Finals, and a 0.6% chance of winning the championship. Milwaukee is the model’s favorite, with a 57-25 record, a 99% chance of making the playoffs, a 36% chance of making the Finals, and a 22% chance of repeating as champions.

Daaaaaaang… the model HATES the Lakers! It has them finishing 42-40 and gives them less than a 50% chance of making the playoffs.

Today is National Dessert Day, so treat yo’self. Suggestions: The Kahlua-Mocha Parfait Pie (K-pie) at Paulette’s, the assortment of desserts-in-a-glass at the Majestic, the peach cobbler nachos at Chef Tam’s.

Our city’s most controversial park, Tom Lee, is getting an $800,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for new trails.

ABC 24 reports that Downtown businesses near the Renasant Convention Center are benefitting from the return of conventions. By the way, I noticed the station has re-branded itself from “Local 24” to “ABC 24” and when I turned it on just now, I discovered there’s no more “Local at 9” show and they’re running “Ellen” in that time slot. In terms of eye candy, going from Chelsea Chandler to Ellen is quite a downgrade.

Okay. Opinion time. This is something I’ve discussed with several people face-to-face, but up until now, I couldn’t get the words exactly right to include it in a blog post.

Bands and DJs are passive forms of bar entertainment. You can go up to them and request a song, but you certainly are not expected to. Karaoke, same thing. You can sing if you want, but no karaoke night I’ve ever heard of requires it.

Trivia is a passive form of bar entertainment. If you don’t want to play, just don’t take a score sheet.

Poker is a passive form of bar entertainment. If you want to play, have a seat at one of the designated tables. If you don’t, sit somewhere else and it’s all good.

Bingo is a passive form of bar entertainment. It’s fun and easy to win prizes, but if bingo’s not your thing, don’t take a bingo card and no one will mind.

My point is, you can come to the bar and just chill out and watch sports and talk to the people to your left and right and ignore any of those forms of entertainment. Nobody cares. You’re not offending anyone or being a bad guest by doing so.

Other forms of bar entertainment are intrusive. Meaning, no matter where you’re sitting, the performers come up to you and expect your attention and hopefully a tip. You can’t get away from it. I suppose you could ignore them but it would be considered quite rude.

Intrusive entertainment is not why I go out to the bars. It adds nothing to my experience being in those places. So I tend to avoid bars on the nights they run that kind of entertainment.

To make it clear, I’m not complaining about any specific form of intrusive entertainment. People expressing themselves to the fullest, doing so in as outrageous a manner as possible, and getting paid for it is beautiful. But that’s not what draws me to the bars. All I need is a cold PBR, a TV tuned to some sports game, and a license to chill.

And speaking of a TV tuned to a sports game, don’t forget to tune into ESPN tonight as the Memphis Tigers host Navy. 6:30 PM. Back tomorrow with more news.

Go Tigers! Tonight is Memphis Madness at FedExForum, an open scrimmage that serves as the public’s introduction to the season’s Memphis Tigers men’s and women’s basketball teams. Although no special guests have been officially announced, it’s common for some very prominent musicians to show up and perform – Yo Gotti and Rick Ross are two who have appeared in past years.

The Tigers will have an open scrimmage, an NBA-style skills challenge, a 3-point contest, and a dunk contest. Doors to FedExForum open at 6 and the program begins at 7. Prior to the doors opening, there will be a Blue Carpet Experience on the plaza with dance performances and games.

The DM has some bad news to report this morning: Shooting guard/small forward Dillon Brooks, who has emerged as the “glue guy” of the Memphis Grizzlies in recent seasons, will be out for the first 2-3 weeks of the NBA regular season with a hand injury.

Memphis 901 FC hosts Louisville City FC in a home match at AutoZone Park tonight at 7:00. This is going to be a tough game: Louisville sits atop the USL’s Central Division standings. Memphis 901 FC is in fourth place in the division, the lowest place to make the playoffs, with 38 points and OKC hot on its tail with 36. Memphis really needs at least a draw this evening.

If you chat with any of our homeless friends Downtown, please let them know that Brian Harris will serve a Sunday lunch for the homeless and hungry at the Hospitality HUB, 590 Washington, this Sunday, October 17 from noon to 2 PM.

Astrologer P.S. Went is now doing natal chart readings every Wednesday at the Broom Closet. These charts map out the astrological position of the Sun, Moon, and all the planets at the time you were born and can reveal a lot of hidden aspects of your personality. You can book a reading (24 hours or more in advance) on the Broom Closet’s website. Readings are $75 and you will need to provide

• Your date of birth
• Your time of birth
• The city in which you were born

I did my own natal chart many years ago. I have the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Pluto all in Scorpio, which apparently makes me a pretty scary person.

It’s kinda scary to think there are adults walking around who are too young to remember when Pluto was a planet.

Cordelia’s Market will host a Trunk-or-Treat Saturday, October 30 from 3 to 6 PM. Candy and treats will be handed out to trick-or-treaters from cars and golf carts. Trick-or-treaters can also look for other Harbor Town businesses with a pumpkin outside – that’s a sign treats are waiting for them when they go in. There will be hot dogs with chili provided by Cordelia’s, and there will be a meet and greet with Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis.

I wonder if the Chargers, Challengers, and Fin Fins who come Downtown to do stupid stunt tricks ever venture over to the Island? If so, Chief Davis might get a first-hand look at what we have to deal with Downtown every weekend.

Did you know that one of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s palaces has an underground tunnel to a nearby bar? The martinis are 17 British pounds apiece, but I reckon the Queen can afford it. If I had Meghan Markle as an in-law, I’d drink too.

Attention teachers: Mickey D’s is giving away free “Thank You” breakfast meals through Friday.

I noticed something interesting on ESPN yesterday. On the air, the reporters will talk about the chances of the Cowboys or the Chargers or the Raiders to get to the Super Bowl. However, when they display the odds for each team on the ticker at the bottom of the screen, they word it “Odds of winning pro football championship” and list each team only by its city’s name. When listing a city that has multiple teams, it does something like “Los Angeles (A),” leaving the viewer to figure out they’re talking about the Los Angeles team that plays in the AFC, which would be the Chargers.

I’m guessing that’s a trademark issue. The odds are probably determined by some bookmaking company and provided to ESPN for promotional considerations. Betting is a way to profit off football without the NFL getting a slice of the action, so they need to be careful and use generic terms rather than trademarked ones.

Room in the Inn is a group of Memphis congregations who come together to make sure that the homeless have a warm place to sleep during the cold months of November, December, January, February, and March. Every year, they host a benefit called Breakfast for Dinner. This year, to keep everyone safe from the spread of COVID, Breakfast for Dinner is virtual. Buy a ticket to make a donation to Room in the Inn, then on Tuesday, October 19, throw on your PJs and make your own breakfast for dinner at home. Post photos/videos of your celebration to social media using the hashtag #BFDforRITI.

Memphian Jerry “The King” Lawler was removed from the WWE Monday Night RAW commentary team after he called a move by Japanese wrestler Akira Tozawa a “ramen noodle moonsault.”

Got a couple of pieces of beer news. First of all, Memphis Made Brewing Co. has announced the return of The Judge and Plaid Attack. As we move into the winter months, we turn to darker beers and The Judge is a delicious chocolate vanilla porter that comes in at 6% ABV. Plaid Attack uses UK classic hops for a Scottish Ale at 6.2% ABV.

Wiseacre is offering a Women & Witches in Beer Tour at its Broad Avenue location Saturday, October 23. You probably didn’t know that women were the original brewers and they dominated the brewing process for the majority of beer’s history. Enjoy beer paired with Halloween candy while learning about the contributions women and witches have made to beer. 1 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM times are available. Book your tour

The DM has a look at the logistics robots on display this week at the Renasant Convention Center.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association has announced its October monthly meeting on the rooftop of The Landing Residences. Members will be about to check out their infinity pool with river views while hearing from City Council Chairman Frank Colvett and city CFO Shirley Ford. Tuesday, October 26 is the date, social hour 5-6 PM, meeting 6-7 PM.

The Labor Department reports that 892,000 restaurant, bar, and hotel workers left their jobs in August. (Source: Morning Brew)

MySidewalk.com has lots of interesting demographic data on Downtown Memphis and its peer neighborhoods in other cities.

Today is National No Bra Day.

It seems like these posts just keep getting longer and longer. I’m relieved to be done. Back tomorrow with more news.

Are you ready for another beer festival?

Memphis Brewfest returns to the Liberty Bowl, and I mean actually on the field at the Liberty Bowl, this coming Saturday 3-7 PM. There are two tickets available.

The general admission Memphis Brewfest ticket gets you

• As many samples as you want from more than 50 breweries and cideries around the world (list of participants here)
• Food from local restaurants
• Craft vendors
• Live music
• Games

The VIP ticket gets you

• Everything listed above
• Access to the Memphis Tigers’ new locker room
• All-you-can-eat buffet
• VIP special beers
• Private restrooms
• Dedicated Fast Pass entry

But that’s not all! The organizers of Brewfest will be back on the field Sunday noon-3:30 with another event, Memphis Brunchfest. (Separate ticket required for each event.) Your Brunchfest ticket gets you

• Bottomless mimosas
• An Old Dominick Bloody Mary bar
• Unlimited samples of beer, cider, seltzer, and hard tea
• Brunch bites from Aldo’s Pizza Pies, Bardog, Arcade, Flying Saucer, Hattie B’s, and Slider Inn

Get tickets to the events here. Note that since the events are being held at the Liberty Bowl, attendees must comply with the stadium’s COVID-19 protocols.

ProPublica recently published an article on juvenile justice in Tennessee. It’s specifically about Rutherford County and Murfreesboro, but it’s worth a read for Memphians because it illustrates how the state does not adequately audit what is happening in county juvenile justice systems. Abuses can continue undetected for years.

Food & Wine says the best hot wings are made in Memphis. Covered in the article are Central BBQ, Wing Guru, Wing Factory, and Crumpy’s.

Does anyone know if Wayne’s Candy on Carolina Ave. fire-sales its Halloween candy on November 1 the way Walgreens does? If so, some of us from the Downtown core are going to make a field trip down there.

City Councilman Worth Morgan has announced his candidacy for Shelby County Mayor. Meh. I’d like to see a different occupant of that office but Morgan isn’t exactly who I had in mind. I’ll give a word of advice to Mr. Morgan, though: My problem with the current county mayor is that he often comes off as a PR flack more than he does an effective leader. Differentiate yourself from that and I’ll consider giving you my vote.

Local viral disease expert Dr. Manoj Jain told the CA, “We’re in the best place we’ve ever been” with regards to COVID in Shelby County. Between those vaccinated and those who’ve had the virus, he estimates us at about 80% immunity. There’s ample testing, no variants that appear poised to be the next threat after Delta, and we’re close to having vaccines authorized for children 5 to 11.

In national COVID news: Dr. Fauci says Halloween is a “go” this year. Trick-or-treating is safe, especially if you (the adults handing out candy) sit outside and offer pre-packaged candy on a table.

Shall we have a look at the games on this weekend’s college football slate of interest to Memphians? Games are Saturday, October 16 unless otherwise noted.

• Navy at Memphis, 6:30 PM Thursday, October 14, ESPN
• UCF at 3 Cincinnati, 11 AM, ESPN
• 12 Oklahoma State at 25 Texas, 11 AM, FOX
• Auburn at 17 Arkansas, 11 AM, CBS
• 20 Florida at LSU, 11 AM, ESPN
• 11 Kentucky at 1 Georgia, 2:30 PM, CBS
• 5 Alabama at Mississippi State, 6 PM, ESPN
• 13 Ole Miss at Tennessee, 6:30 PM, SEC Network

Ole Miss players: I will take back everything bad I’ve ever said about your school if one of you scores a touchdown at Neyland Stadium, runs out to midfield, and takes a “P” on the “T.”

It’s National Gumbo Day, a good day to have lunch or dinner at Ben-Yay’s next to the old Family Dollar location on Main.

It’s also Pulled Pork Day. My recommendation to celebrate would be to go to Central BBQ. Get you a half-order of BBQ pulled pork nachos and 3 of those smoked whole wings Food & Wine raved about.

Reckless driving is not just a problem Downtown. Those who live in the Parkway Village and Fox Meadows neighborhoods are fed up with it too.

I’ve noticed a blue Dodge Charger with a loud revving engine and drive-out tags several times Downtown these past two weeks. I will be curious to see how much longer that car is on the road before the owner puts official state tags on it.

A support dog has been added to the staff at St. Jude. The dog will work in the Staff Resilience Center.

ABC 24 got a rare look inside the COVID ICU unit at Methodist.

Uptown’s Soul & Spirits Brewery has its grand opening Friday and Saturday from noon to 10. 845 N. Main. Note that the brewery is within Groove On Demand’s ride-sharing service range (but also note that Groove On Demand doesn’t operate on Saturday or Sunday).

That’s the news for now. My plans for today are to watch a video seminar by a top professional writer, take notes from another top writer on how to write eye-catching headlines, and make a supply run to DGX. Once I get all of that done, I’ll have earned a trip out. I like Mondays and Tuesdays the best because those are the days when it’s mostly just locals. Back tomorrow with more news.

One thing I noticed about the Memphis Farmers Market is that quite a few Chinese people shop there. For example, last Saturday I was only there about 10 minutes, and I saw 4 Chinese people out of the 70 or so shoppers there. That’s not a huge amount, but that’s more than 5% of the crowd, way disproportionate to the number of Chinese in Memphis as a whole. I’ve wanted to go up and ask them, “Why do y’all like farmers markets so much?” but I was worried the question might sound culturally insensitive.

This weekend I found my answer on Google. “Wet” markets are common in China. Much like our Memphis Farmers Market, vegetables, fruits, meat, and seafood are sold in the open air. These “wet” markets are said to be a big part of Chinese culture and therefore farmers markets are a comforting environment to Chinese-Americans. They’re called “wet” because of the water used to water down the produce, the ice used to keep meat from spoiling, and in contrast to “dry” products like ramen.

I heard about 8 loud gunshots that sounded like they came from the Main-Monroe intersection about 12:15 AM. I’ll say it once again: That is more gunshots than I heard Downtown between 2003 and 2019. I have probably heard 100 gunshots from my apartment since the start of the pandemic. Downtown is getting real ghetto and I think it may be past the point of the cops having any ability to clean it up. I’m not considering leaving but my recommendation to move down here isn’t as strong as it would have been 5 or 10 years ago.

Felicia sent out a hint yesterday as to where Felicia Suzanne Restaurant will be relocating. She said she wasn’t ready to reveal the new location yet, but she said it is exactly 1392 steps from the old location. It could be to the north, east, or south (west would put the new location under water).

Let’s do a little math. I walked a total of 8 blocks yesterday, and my iPhone’s Health app said I walked 2068 steps. So 1392 steps would be about 5 blocks. Hmmm. Let’s do a little thinking:

• South – The restaurant could be the anchor tenant in one of the new One Beale buildings. It could also go into the old Swanky’s location in the Chisca apartments.
• East – Felicia is a forward thinker, and there is no up-and-coming neighborhood in Memphis as hot as The Edge District right now. The restaurant could be an anchor tenant in mixed-use construction happening there. It would have to be more toward the western side of The Edge (Fourth/Danny Thomas) than the eastern (Sun Studio) to fit 1392 steps.
• North – Nope. 1392 steps would put you right in the middle of the Civic Center Plaza. I know the city has plans to re-think that area but we’re years out from it happening.

This weekend I found myself seated next to 3 people from out of town who said they were tourists – a man and woman in their 30s, and a man a few years older than me, who was the main one I talked to. He introduced himself, got on a first-name basis with me, asked for my recommendations for stuff to do, bought me a shot.

Then he leaned toward me and asked, “Paul, I hope that isn’t awkward. What we’re really looking for down here is some cocaine. Do you know where I can get some?”

“Man, I’m sorry, but I don’t know,” I replied. “I’ve never done coke in my life. I hear it’s not hard to find down here, but I’m not your guy.”

He thanked me for my honesty and didn’t attempt to bring up the subject any further. I put the conversation out of my mind, but the next morning my intuition caused me to sit up in bed, wide awake. The way that guy befriended me, gained my trust, used the reciprocity principle by buying me a shot… I think that was a cop.

College football AP poll is out… let’s see what we’ve got. Georgia rises to 1 following Alabama’s upset by Texas A&M. Memphis’ AAC rival Cincinnati rises to 3. Bama drops to 5. Ole Miss and Arkansas trade the 13 and 17 spots following Ole Miss’s win in Oxford. A&M re-enters the rankings at 21. Memphis’ conference rival SMU comes in at 23. Arkansas’ next opponent Auburn is the first school out of the top 25.

You just can’t make this stuff up:

“That’s two in a row, we call that a winning streak. We’re playing lights-out football against some tough teams. Nobody, and I mean nobody, wants to play Tennessee right now.” – Josh Heupel, Tennessee head football coach

• The “tough teams” his Vols played “lights-out football” against were Missouri and South Carolina, which along with Vanderbilt comprise the worst teams in the SEC.
• The next four teams on the schedule: 13 Ole Miss, 5 Alabama, 11 Kentucky, and 1 Georgia. I bet you those teams are delighted to see a Tennessee game on the horizon. If the Vols go 1-3 in that stretch it will be a miracle.

I gotta ask – Is there lead paint on the walls of the Tennessee head football coach’s office? Is there asbestos in the ceiling? There’s something about that space that makes its occupant extra stupid. That quote sounds like something Butch Jones would have said.

Dinosaurs are invading Memphis next month! 50 animatronic dinosaurs are coming to the Renasant Convention Center Saturday and Sunday, October 23 and 24. They move and growl. Also part of the fun:

• Guided audio tour
• Dinosaur trivia
• 6 dinosaur-themed bounce houses
• Dinosaur rides

General admission tickets (whether you’re an adult or a kid) are $19. An unlimited ride pass (which does not include a general admission ticket) is $33.

I had a dream last night where I went to a toy store and bought an IT Department Action Figure 4-pack. The first action figure was a white guy with 5 days’ beard growth and a sci-fi T-shirt. The second was an Indian man in a sweater vest. The third was an Indian woman. The slot for the 4th action figure was empty except for a note: “This position is open. If interested, kindly contact staffing agency Robert Half.”

From Lifehacker: How to sneak food into the movies like a criminal

Across the Board Restaurant Group is holding a job fair next Monday, October 18, from 1 to 4 PM at 117 Prime (117 Union Ave.) They’ll take applications not only for that restaurant, but Sweet Grass and Sunrise as well.

The Boston Marathon is today. It’s also Columbus Day so I hope you don’t have urgent business with the government or a bank today. It’s National Kimberly Day, so cheers to any Kimberlys, Kims, or Kimsters I have reading this post. Finally, it’s National Sausage Pizza Day. I’m one of those people who think sausage is a superior pizza topping to pepperoni, although I’ll take either as long as you don’t throw any pineapple on there.

Weather: There’s a possibility of high winds, hail, heavy rain, or a tornado today.

The updated bowl projections have Tennessee in the Liberty Bowl. Please don’t send in the clowns! On the other hand, the projections have the Tigers taking a nice little trip to Hawaii. Alabama-Texas in the Sugar, Nebraska-Arkansas in the Outback, Minnesota-Ole Miss in Music City.

That’s it for now. I’ll be back tomorrow with info on 2 festivals, college football times and channels, and whatever other news comes my way.

Wow. What a College Football Saturday that was.

The biggest news is that 1 Alabama got knocked off its perch by unranked Texas A&M in a 41-38 upset. Jimbo Fisher became the first former assistant to beat Nick Saban. Bama’s loss, combined with 4 Penn State’s loss to 3 Iowa, blows the doors wide open for Cincinnati to step into a playoff spot.

I would have preferred Arkansas to beat Ole Miss, but you can’t argue with 60 minutes of exciting football. I watched the game with friends at Max’s Sports Bar and as early as the first quarter we were saying, “This could go down to the very last minute, the very last play,” and that’s exactly what happened. Arkansas coach Sam Pittman opted to go for 2 following a touchdown with no time left on the clock. Ole Miss’ defense shut the play down to win 52-51.

Then there was the Red River Rivalry, in which Oklahoma looked dead on arrival by the end of the first quarter. Their backup quarterback rallied late in the game to pull out the 55-48 win over Texas. Let me tell you, between that game and Arkansas-Ole Miss, I bet the crowd at Max’s Sports Bar could be heard a few blocks away.

One college football game that was NOT a highlight was the Memphis Tigers’ third straight loss in a row, to Tulsa 35-29. Even worse, this time the Tigers don’t have a full week to identify what went wrong and fix it. The Tigers host Navy in a Thursday night game at 6:30 on ESPN. I’m sure decision-makers in the Big 12 will be watching that game, Tigers, so get it together.

The DM has a preview of the autonomous robots and logistics conference coming to the convention center Tuesday-Thursday of this week. Here’s the official conference website.

The 7-day rolling average of new COVID cases per day in Shelby County continues to fall. Yesterday it was down to 211 and I wouldn’t be surprised to see us drop into the 100s this week. Here’s a link to James Aycock’s always-excellent COVID Week-in-Review.

Memphis 901 FC has an away match against San Antonio FC today. Every point in the standings counts as the club pushes toward the playoffs with 6 matches left in the regular season.

I visited the Farmers Market for the first time since June yesterday. I started to put my mask on, but then saw a “Masks required for the unvaccinated” sign so I took it back off and put it in my pocket. A completely reasonable policy for an outdoor market. I am so happy to see live music back at the Market. There are only 3 Saturdays left in the Market’s regular season.

If you want to drink some beer outside, today’s is the Memphis Zoo’s Zootoberfest. I’ll have news on another beer festival in the coming days as well.

You never know where I might pop up today. Back tomorrow with more news.

Saturday is not normally a day when most people think about jobs, yet it’s the day I find myself with a lot of jobs news to pass on. All of the below were posted to social media yesterday.

From The Gray Canary, the Hudman/Ticer restaurant in Old Dominick:

Are you looking for the next step in your hospitality career? The Gray Canary is looking for an Assistant General Manager. This full time, salaried position is offered a competitive salary, PTO and an opportunity for upward mobility. Join us in serving the downtown community! Email nick@enjoyam.com to apply.

From the Peabody Hotel:

The Peabody Memphis is hiring for all positions, including in Guest Services, Housekeeping, Front Desk, Reservations, Restaurants and Bars. Full-Time, Part-Time and On-Call positions available. Upward mobility to Leadership roles. Excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, short/long term disability, life insurance, and 401(k). Apply online at PeabodyMemphis.com.

From the City of Memphis:

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at our latest series, Hot Jobs Roll Call featuring Stan Bell! Every week, we are highlighting a job with the City of Memphis. Check out our latest episode and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF6FYZfIQdLStVbL8jN8R-CYO8T89w1b0

From New Memphis:

Don’t forget! #NewMemphis is hiring! Apply to be the Leadership Programs Specialist today to be a part of something bigger than yourself while working to activate, develop and retain the talent of our city! NewMemphis.org/Careers

It’s International Beer and Pizza Day. Best places to celebrate are Slim & Husky’s, Silly Goose, Aldo’s Pizza Pies, and Wiseacre Downtown/Little Bettie.

It’s also Submarine/Hoagie/Grinder Day. River Time Market & Deli in Court Square would be my pick to celebrate that holiday.

And it’s National Chess Day and the Memphis Chess Club on Madison will have an all-day-long celebration.

Learn nightclub two-step tonight in Fourth Bluff Park with a free lesson presented by Cat’s Ballroom. Dance to the music of Al Green, The Drifters, and Smokey Robinson. This is part of a Fall Back dance series, with rumba lessons coming to the park in November and push-pull swing in December.

For those of you who love South Main, here’s your chance to get a South Main address for only $355 a month.

A.W. Willis Ave. is back open following a long period of construction.

Paint Memphis hosts a mural festival today, turning an empty building at B.B. King Blvd. and Georgia Ave. into a work of art. An after-party nearby at Carolina Watershed kicks off at 7 PM.

As I’ve said this week, aluminum prices have been affecting the availability of PBR in Downtown Memphis lately. Local 24 reports that your Thanksgiving dinner could be affected too. If canned goods are part of your Turkey Day plan, you better start looking for them now.

On Saturday, the Orpheum will offer a tour in Spanish of the historic theater as well as games and activities with local Teaching Artists. Sign up for the tour here

Man, I’d like to be a fly on the wall tomorrow evening at Silly Goose when the bartender announces last call at 6:30 PM. That crowd is going to be PISSED.

There are three football games I want to watch at the 11:00 hour: Arkansas-Ole Miss, Oklahoma-Texas, and South Carolina-Tennessee. That rules out Bardog because there aren’t enough TVs. It looks like I’ll be pulling up a barstool at Max’s Sports Bar this morning, and if I leave early enough I can squeeze in a stop at the Farmers Market beforehand. Go Hogs, Boomer Sooner, and Go Gamecocks. Back tomorrow.

Well, I tried to upload a photo of my lunch yesterday, but I keep getting an HTTP error. I returned to the Thursday food truck rodeo in Court Square yesterday, my first visit since the pandemic shutdown. Longtime favorites like Smurfey’s Smokehouse, Mr. Frazier’s Fish Fry, and Rice Burner were there. All good options, but I decided to try a truck I had never ordered from before.

The Fry Guy caught my attention. They serve plates of loaded fries, with toppings like buffalo chicken, chili cheese, pulled pork BBQ, and fajita chicken or steak. The one that caught my attention, though, was the South Philly loaded fry plate. It’s Philly chicken or steak topped with mozzarella cheese, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, and queso. That’s what I got, selecting steak as my protein choice.

It was very good, although I couldn’t help but think that a dash of A-1 sauce on top would really have set the flavor off. I’ll definitely be back to try some of The Fry Guy’s other offerings. You can choose hand-cut, seasoned, or sweet potato fries as the base of your meal. They do have a vegetarian offering for folks who don’t eat meat. Follow The Fry Guy on Facebook – Instagram

The big news yesterday was that 18 former NBA players have been charged with insurance fraud for chiropractic and dental work that never happened. Caught in the probe were former Grizzly “The Grindfather” Tony Allen and former Tiger Chris Douglas-Roberts. Allen was set to have his jersey retired by the Grizzlies in January. Another former Grizzly, Tony Wroten, was charged too. Remember Wroten? He’s the guy we drafted when Draymond Green was still on the board.

Bardog Tavern has announced they’re now fully back open. They open at 8 AM all five weekdays and 11 AM Saturday and Sunday. They stay open until 3 AM all seven days of the week.

Carolina Watershed will host Suck It Cancer Sunday this Sunday, October 10 starting at 6 PM. dudecalledtob, DJ Kaz, Half Def Tha Chef, and a special surprise guest will provide the entertainment. All donations collected will go toward breast cancer awareness.

A mixed-use development – apartments, retail, and parking – has been approved for the corner of Front and Vance. Apartment residents would be steps away from Gus’s.

Do you keep your bananas in the refrigerator? Stop that.

Random thing I learned on Facebook yesterday: There’s a hot sauce called Shit the Bed.

The DM has video of an unauthorized crew cutting down trees on public land in Martyrs Park on March 10.

Today is World Octopus Day. You can celebrate by getting the octopus at Curfew, the restaurant inside the Canopy Hotel at B.B. King Blvd. and Union. It’s Spanish octopus with celery slaw, crisp potatoes, and n’duja vinaigrette.

Kyrie Irving, one of the Brooklyn Nets’ star players along with Kevin Durant and James Harden, reportedly is refusing to get vaccinated. If he doesn’t, New York regulations state that he will not be able to play home games, nor will he be able to practice with the team at their home facility. The Nets would be heavy favorites to win the 2021-22 NBA title if Durant, Harden, and Irving were all on the floor for every game. Irving appears willing to endanger all of that because of his (to borrow a word from a local activist) “free-dumb.” What a jackass.

The Memphis Greek Festival returns today and tomorrow. It’s at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 573 N. Highland. Opa!

Hmmm… you know what? Normally I go to Bardog early in the morning on Labor Day, but this year I couldn’t, because they were closed. So it seems as though I owe myself a Bardog day… now that they’re fully back on a regular schedule, why not today? Back tomorrow with more news.

Happy anniversary to Feelin’ Memphis! The gift shop at 509 S. Main opened October 7, 2020. If you’re looking to pick up some Memphis mementos curated by locals who love our city, there is no better place to shop. They’re open daily 9 AM to 6 PM.

In other anniversary news, Carolina Watershed will celebrate 1 year under current ownership Friday, October 15. DJ MO will be on the deck, Jack Trillmore will perform live with a single release, and Trevor Berryhill will kick off the pre-show at 7:30. Main show opens at 9, and you can get in for a $5 cover before 10. There will be drink deals to celebrate the anniversary. This is a 21 and up show.

Road trip: The World Cheese Dip Championship happens at the River Market Pavilion in Little Rock this Sunday.

Best of Arkansas Sports has an interesting article on what Arkansas coach Sam Pittman and Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin need to do to get their teams on par with Georgia and Alabama.

Bardog is once again opening at 8 AM Wednesday through Friday. Not sure if not being open at 8 Monday and Tuesday is temporary or permanent. I’ll try to find out, although it may take a week because I don’t plan on being there Saturday.

The South Main Association has announced its South Main Social for October on the 12th at 6 PM. It’ll be at Longshot, the shuffleboard bar in the basement of the Arrive Hotel at South Main and Butler (entrance is around the corner on Butler). SMA members will enjoy complimentary beer from Wiseacre, and signature cocktails and bites will be available. A representative of the hotel will speak, as will folks from Clean Memphis, Vice & Virtue, and the Downtown Memphis Commission.

Thanks to my friend Jason who shared two extremely yummy varieties of buffalo chicken dip yesterday:

Jennifer Westwood and Dylan Dunbar will be the featured entertainment tonight at Live at the Tracks at the Central Station Hotel.

Premier Rugby Sevens comes to AutoZone Park this Saturday, and they have announced an exciting partnership with Ghost River Brewing Company. Ghost River will host the athletes and fans at their Beale Street taproom Friday 6 to 10. They’ll stream Saturday’s tournament in their taproom and host the official after-party.

There will be a new one-night festival called Memphis Music on Main which will coincide with South Main Trolley Night Friday, October 29. It will happen on two stages, the south stage by the Arcade restaurant and the north stage by the Orpheum. Featured performers will include

• Sourhern Avenue
• North Mississippi Allstars
• Al Kapone
• The Prvlg
• Dottie

This is a free event and Halloween costumes are welcome. The event is part of Memphis Music Month.

The Design Review Board approved the Downtown Mobility Center yesterday. The facility will be immediately north of the Orpheum, bordered by Front, Peabody Place, Main, and Beale, and it is expected to solve a lot of Downtown’s parking problems.

From Lifehacker: How to get free food from Wendy’s every day in October. Wendy’s wants people to try their new hot & crispy fries, and they’re pushing the combo of the fries and a Frosty to dip them in. So, for October, anytime you buy fries, you get a small Frosty for free. You have to use the Wendy’s app to secure the deal. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up. I bet she has a map on her wall with the location of every Wendy’s in her area pinpointed.

Memphis 901 FC plans to Pink Out the Pitch in support of breast cancer awareness for their 6 PM home match against Atlanta United FC on Saturday, October 16. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to The Cancer Patient Fund at Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation. ​

Memphis’ soccer club continues on a roll, defeating Sporting Kansas City II yesterday 3-1. 901 FC remains in 4th place in the Central Divison in the USL standings, now a full 3 points ahead of Oklahoma City. Memphis is now only one point away from catching Tulsa for 3rd place. Top 4 teams in the division advance to the playoffs when the regular season ends.

Bass Pro will have a national hiring event for seasonal/holiday positions October 13 and 14 from 11 AM to 7 PM.

If you go to the food truck rodeo in Court Square today, you’re in for a treat of the musical variety. As You Were, a rock band with the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, travels the country showing potential soldiers that there’s more to the Army than you might imagine. They’ll perform noon to 1. They will also have a gaming trailer set up in the gazebo. At least 10 food trucks are expected to be in the park. The weather will be beautiful, so come on out!

75 representatives from all 30 teams were in town to check out Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers for pro day yesterday.

Artist Theaster Gates has been commissioned to create a major installation for the renovated Tom Lee Park. The artwork will challenge viewers to put others ahead of themselves, as Tom Lee did in his Mississippi River rescue.

There will be an Autonomous Robots & Logistics Conference happening at the Sheraton Tuesday through Thursday of next week.

I found out this week why there’s a shortage of PBR in cans: There’s a nationwide aluminum shortage, and canners are prioritizing the high-dolla craft beers and seltzers. Going to a bar and being told there’s no PBR is like coming downstairs on Christmas morning to find that Santa had visited but didn’t leave any presents under the tree.

Bring your dog to music bingo at Grind City Brewery tonight 7-9 PM and get an extra bingo card. Hollywood Feed will be there with prizes and treats.

It’s ’90s trivia night at Cordelia’s Market tonight 6:30-8:30.

It’s Memphis House Mafia Weekend with events at Carolina Watershed and Canvas.

The Gene & Gary Duo will play Downtown Huey’s Sunday at 3 PM.

Thinking about getting involved in a neighborhood association again. I was a member of the DNA from the time I moved down here through 2007 and the SMA through 2010. I guess it makes more sense to re-join the DNA since I don’t live in the South Main Arts District (although my address is on South Main).

I’m going to hit the food truck rodeo at 11 and take food home to eat, then come back at 12 to catch a little of the As You Were Band. Following that I’ll go someplace that has 16-ounce PBR. I plan to watch the first half of Thursday Night Football (Seahawks vs. Rams) at Blind Bear and the second half at home. Back tomorrow with more news.