Paul Ryburn's Journal

Okay, I’m going to attempt to blog from my phone while I get my computer problems sorted out. Apologies for typos and possibly photos that spill outside their containers.

My friend Nappin Ass Nate and I decided to pay a visit to Puck Food Hall at 409 S. Main for lunch yesterday. Recently re-branded, this market has a variety of vendors, including Mexican food, gelato, coffee, pasta, a butcher/deli, Chinese, pizza, a bakery and more. They also have a bar, a pop-up library, and (soon) a chef-in-residence.

The great thing about a food hall is you can go there with other people and you don’t all have to order the same thing. Nate went to the Mexican vendor, Venga, and ordered a tamale. Since I went to Venga already (it was excellent by the way) I wanted to try a different vendor. I had seen some yummy looking photos of Pasta 409’s offerings on Facebook and checked out their menu

The Capelli D’Angelo Con Gaberi sounded tasty, and was one of the dishes I’d seen in Facebook photos. It was angel hair pasta with baby shrimp, garlic, lemon, butter, and parsley – a nice, simple dish. I ordered it and the man behind the counter made it while I watched.

About 8 minutes after I ordered, my lunch was ready.

The shrimp pasta was outstanding. The ingredients all came together to make a most flavorful dish. The piece of garlic bread was perfect for sopping up the extra garlic butter sauce.

However, the portion size left a bit to be desired. My lunch was $13, $14.20 after tax. I paid with a debit card, and although I wasn’t served at a table, we Downtowners just don’t believe in zeroing out tip lines – we take care of the people who take care of us. So I tipped $2, totaling out at $16.20.

That was not anywhere near $16.20 worth of food! You know the kid sized microwaveable Chef Boy-Ar-Dee cups you can buy 10 for $10 with your Kroger Plus card? It was maybe that much food. MAYBE. (Comparing only quantity here, not quality.) I was hungry again two hours later, and I’m not a big eater. I pulled a total Nuh-Uh Girl move and ate a friend’s leftover beef jerky to make it through the rest of my Thursday. The portion of shrimp was decent, but I sure would have liked a couple of additional ounces of pasta.

My buddy Nate got gnocchi from Pasta 901 to go along with his tamale from Venga. He agreed that the pasta was delicious, but that the portion size was rather small. (He praised the tamale as a good value.)

On the way down there, I got a photo of the best Bird scooter photo ever.

This is where they all belong! I’m not anti-scooter; I just hate the reckless, inconsiderate riders. So many people on the Birds think they have the right to mow over pedestrians, disobey traffic laws and the rules you agree to when you sign up, and park them thoughtlessly. Much like the pedal party bikes, they aren’t inherently bad but have a way of turning people into douchebags.

Enough about scooters though. Puck Food Hall is a fantastic concept and the quality of the food has been consistently excellent when I have dined there. It’s like having 10 new restaurants in South Main. Can’t beat that!

Since my computer is down, I’m typing this on my phone at Bardog. Sitting next to an investor in Slider Out, soon to open a block north of Puck Food Hall. He says they’re shooting for July 15.

Back sometime soon, but maybe not tomorrow, with more news.

Probably going to be Monday before I get back to a regular blogging schedule. Rebooted this morning and got “file system failure.” ARRRRGH!

I had a really yummy food pic to show you, too.

Back as soon as I can.

It’s a sunny, beautiful Thursday, and that means it’s time for the weekly food truck rodeo in Court Square. More than a dozen food trucks show up to sell their fare to those who work and live Downtown. Jennifer Chandler of the CA has her picks for the best meals down there. I’m tellin’ ya, that soft shell crab sandwich at Stanley’s!

In other food news, one of my BBQ teammates posted a photo of a Popsicle he made out of a can of New England Clam Chowder Chunky Soup. I can’t even imagine. No we won’t be entering that in the Seafood ancillary competition next year.

Another band that performed at the hotel’s New Year’s Eve party, Seeing Red, will return to headline the weekly rooftop party at the Peabody tonight. They will bring special guest Judah & The Lion with them. $15 to get in, $30 VIP. Admission includes a buffet of blue cheese and bacon wrapped meatballs and chips and salsa. If you’re in VIP, you get a second buffet of carved Jack Daniels’ glazed tenderloin with au jus, rolls, sweet corn nuggets, watermelon wedges, and tater tots.

A dog park may be coming to the South Main Arts District. A three-year temporary activation has been proposed for a lot at G.E. Patterson and South Front.

Seen on Facebook yesterday: “Your apology needs to be as loud as your disrespect was.” Yep. And it needs to be a sincere apology, not a performance put on for a third party.

Literatini happens this Saturday at Novel Memphis. Although not a Downtown event, I wanted to mention it because it has Downtown connections. This is a fundraiser for Literacy Mid-South with a mixology competition featuring some of the city’s best bars. Cady Smith of Pontotoc Lounge was last year’s winner. Other participating Downtown bars and restaurants include Automatic Slim’s, Loflin Yard, and new gin bar Greyhound.

Every day I walk past Bluff City Soap on the Main Street Mall. It seems like such a modest, unassuming storefront, a place that sells my friends bath bombs that make them smell like strippers. Bur did you know that Bluff City Soap is on track to bring in one billion in revenue by 2025? Wow.

Loflin Yard is having a watch party for Game 6 of the NBA Finals tonight at 8. Go Marc!

There’s a new YouTube video featuring the story of one of the most iconic discoes in North America, Paula & Raiford’s.

The Memphis Flyer has an article on the hot dog stand that sets up shop at Main and Union on Wednesdays and Fridays. They are back following an absence of several weeks.

That’s it for now. Heading to lunch at the new Puck Food Hall with my friend Nappin Ass Nate. Back tomorrow with more news.

 

Wow. That USA vs. Thailand match in the Women’s World Cup was the biggest smackdown in a sporting event I have seen in my entire life, and that includes multiple Alabama-Tennessee football games that I have watched. Soccer is a sport where 4 goals by one team is considered a high score, and the USWNT dropped 13 on Thailand. It was raining goals. As for the USA’s goalkeeper, she should have brought a book to read. The ball was almost never on her side of the pitch!

There’s a Washington Post op-ed about the team that is worth a read. The USWNT is the heart and soul of national soccer; it sure isn’t the mediocre men’s team. Yet, the women make 38 cents for every dollar the men make. Inexcusable and “that’s just the way it is” is not an acceptable explanation.

The next game is vs. Chile on Sunday morning. At first the announced time was 10:30, so I did a “What bars are opening early?” thread on Facebook, but it now looks like the starting time will be 11 AM.

The Redbirds return to AutoZone Park tonight for a 6:35 game. It’s Woof Wednesday, where a special ticket gets both you and your dog admission to the game.

Also, Redbirds fans, mark June 29 on your calendar. That Saturday night, a fan who correctly guesses the exact time the game will end will win a Rolex watch valued at $5400, courtesy of the Redbirds and Sissy’s Log Cabin.

Primas Bakery + Boutique is having a Little Mermaid Tea Party Sunday from 1:30 to 3:00. Each ticket includes Under the Sea Treats such as “Mermaid” macarons, “Seashell” shortbread, “Flounder” Frangipane Petit Fours, and “Tropical Coconut” cupcakes. Tea, coffee, and punch will be served. Each ticket admits 2, and tickets must be purchased in advance.

If you feel like a road trip this weekend, there’s going to be a taco festival at Ball Park Village in St. Louis.

Trolley Stop Market out in The Edge will host a brunch on Sunday, July 28 to benefit Hands of Mothers. There will be a full brunch, cold Bloody Marys, and live music by singer-songwriter Mark Edgar Stuart and saxophonist Art Edmaiston. Money raised will go to educate and empower mothers and their daughters living with HIV in Rwanda.

Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas has only until tomorrow to decide whether to pick up his player option on his contract with the Grizzlies. If he doesn’t, it doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t be back; he could negotiate a longer contract with the team. Jonas was said to be waiting to learn who the new head coach would be. Now that it is been announced that Milwaukee assistant Taylor Jenkins will fill that role, Jonas has the information he needs to make a decision.

A proposed new fire station, to replace the one on Front that will be torn down to make way for the Brooks Museum, would create a superblock bordered by Danny Thomas, Washington, Orleans, and Adams. Critics of the proposal say the long block would reduce connectivity and discourage pedestrian traffic.

Sunday, June 23 from 3 to 6 PM, the Green Beetle will host The Dog Days of Summer, a benefit for ALIVE Rescue Memphis. There will be drink specials and a raffle to jumpstart the monetary donations, which will go to purchase food for the rescue’s fosters.

On Saturday, June 22, the Flying Saucer will have its 22nd anniversary party. There will be live music by Chris Johnson, as well as a cake, special beer tappings, and bar games.

I watched the Women’s World Cup match at the Silly Goose, where the restrooms are labeled Sausage (men) and Eggs (women). Another customer commented, “It should’ve been Cock and Tails.” Ha!

That’s it for now. Back tomorrow.

Yesterday I reported that the People’s Convention endorsed mayoral candidate Tami Sawyer and some other candidates. Candidates had to agree that they would support a People’s Agenda created by the convention. The CA’s Ryan Poe has a copy of that agenda.

Here’s the People’s Agenda that candidates were asked to agree to, just FYI. pic.twitter.com/rFGyLQVI5l

— Ryan Poe (@ryanpoe) June 8, 2019

The Daily Memphian has an article on the Central Station Hotel, set to open around September. Some of the same people who worked on Crosstown Concourse are working on this project. The challenge the designers faced was, when you step into this hotel, how do you immediately know you are in Memphis and the South Main Arts District? Music led them to the answer. The hotel will have a deejay and the playlist will be placed outside guests’ doors in the morning, along with a list of live music venues.

Loflin Yard will host Naughty Charades on Thursday, February 20 at 7 PM. There will be three rounds: easy, medium, and expert.

Game 3 of Arkansas vs. Ole Miss baseball will be today at 3 on ESPN2. Winner advances to the College World Series. Mississippi State and Vanderbilt already punched tickets to the CWS, and Auburn plays North Carolina at noon on ESPN2. The SEC is well represented!

The opening date for Ryan Trimm’s diner 3rd & Court isn’t known yet, but The Daily Memphian has a peek at the menu. Notable: They will be serving breakfast all day.

The Daily Memphian also announced their next Destination:Delicious venue, where Jennifer Biggs come together and dine. It will be another Downtown venue and it will be a good one! It will be a paella party on the patio of the Majestic Grille on Tuesday, June 18 at 6:30 PM. Patrick has a 4-foot paella pan and diners will be able to watch and smell their dinner cook while enjoying wine and Spanish tapas. I’ve had Patrick’s paella before and it is outstanding. $35 for DM subscribers and $42 for everyone else.

Likely #2 pick Ja Morant was in town for a visit with the Grizzlies over the weekend. That is obviously a good sign. The NBA draft is Thursday, June 20 and unless the front office completely loses their minds, Morant will be the pick.

Save the date: July 7 is National Dive Bar day. Good day to visit Earnestine & Hazel’s or The Dirty Crow Inn.

Stats site FiveThirtyEight has Women’s World Cup predictions. Team USA is second most likely to win the cup, with a probability of 17%. They are 99% to advance out of their group into the knockout stage.

That’s it for now. Back tomorrow.

 

The 2019 People’s Convention happened yesterday at the Paradise Entertainment Center. The idea behind this convention was to come up with an agenda, and then endorse candidates who the convention believed would best implement that agenda if elected to office; in that way, it’s more about the agenda than any individual candidate. The platform they came up with includes funding for county schools, a living wage requirement for government contracts, criminal justice reform, and affordable housing. The convention then selected Tami Sawyer as their choice for mayor, and endorsed seven other candidates as well.

The Daily Memphian has a good article this morning about development in The Edge District. We now have a name for the building that will house 199 apartments just east of Orion Federal Credit Union/the old Wonder Bread Bakery – it will be known as The Rise, a nod to bread rising when it is baked. Those apartments are 10-11 month away from completion.

There’s also information about The Ravine, the linear park being built on an old rail spur between Union and Madison. The south (Union) side will have a pop-up retail and food truck area. The north (Madison) size will have an event space. When the bar formerly known at Kudzu’s eventually reopens, the lower level of its back porch will spill out into the park.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association will have a party for its members celebrating Memphis’ 200th birthday on Tuesday, June 18 from 6 to 8 PM at Sage. Food and drink, DJ, games, and city officials will be there.

From Bluff News: Memphian having good day decides to use turn signal on Union Avenue

Great opinion piece: Living, loving and mourning in Downtown Memphis

Reminder: Today is the shrimp and crawfish boil at Tin Roof. $27 for 5 pounds, with DJs playing all day.

Tonight’s the night: An evening with Dutch Mantel at the Hi-Tone. I bet the Dirty Dutchman will have some fascinating stories. He was a wrestler and sometimes booker in Memphis wrestling in the 1970s and 1980s, and is credited with giving a start to young wrestlers who would go on to become famous, including Sting, the Ultimate Warrior, and The Undertaker. In more recent years he was manager Zeb Colter in WWE.

Pink Floyd tribute band Brit Floyd plays The Orpheum Tuesday night. This performance will be a celebration of the 40th anniversary of rock opera The Wall, and they will play songs from Pink Floyd’s other albums as well.

That’ll do it for now. Back tomorrow with more news.

One of the biggest 5Ks of the year hits the streets of Downtown Memphis this evening. The Orion 5K, formerly the Gibson Guitar 5K, starts at 7 PM. The post-race party features Graham Winchester and his 7-piece band.

Memphis 901 FC returns to AutoZone Park tonight at 7:30. Their opponents will be Indy Eleven. As always the Bluff City Mafia will pre-game at the Brass Door and then march over to the park. The Brass Door, by the way, is opening at 9 AM today for your Women’s World Cup viewing pleasure and brunch.

Memphis 901 FC will have their official USWNT World Cup watch party for Team USA vs. Thailand Tuesday at 2 PM at Crosstown Brewing Co.

From the Daily Memphian: Local hip-hop artists react to the demolition of 380 Beale. The building, previously home to the Plush Club and Club Crave, was torn down to make way for construction of a new hotel.

The Grizzlies will host an NBA Draft watch party at FedExForum on Tuesday, June 20. Come on down to the Grindhouse and see who the Grizzlies get with the #2 pick. RSVP is not required, but if you do RSVP you’ll be entered in a drawing for a chance to meet the player the Grizzlies pick. TV announcers Pete Pranica and Rob Fischer will be at the event, as will Grind City Media’s Chris Vernon and Lang Whitaker. Hip-hop artist Rob Base will perform, as will the Grizz Girls and the Grizzlies Grannies and Grandpas. There will be face painting, balloon artists, and other kids’ activities.

Cordelia’s Market is hosting a natural mosquito spray class the evening of Tuesday, June 18. Learn how to use essential oils to make a non-toxic insect repellent. Class is $15 and you’ll get your own mosquito spray as well as some recipes to sample during the class. Wine and beer will be available.

The Cossitt Library’s Tuesday Lunch & Learn is back starting this Tuesday, June 11. While the library is under construction, these will be held in the Cossitt’s pop-up location in the Puck Food Hall at 409 S. Main. The event will be 12:00-12:45 but they recommend you come early to purchase food from the hall’s vendors.

Fun road trip to do if you have kids: The Tennessee Milkshake Trail

From WMC: Boom in electric scooters leads to more injuries, fatalities

Ole Miss at Arkansas in game 1 of the Fayetteville Super Regional is on ESPN at 11 today.

Memphis Armored Fight Club’s Bluff City Brawl happens at the Hi-Tone tonight.

The Cousins Maine Lobster truck will be at Miss Cordelia’s today at 11.

Night at the Lorraine happens tonight at the National Civil Rights Museum. This gala/fundraiser for the museum will take you back to the glory days of the Lorraine Motel, with live music, dancing, a silent disco, DJs, a silent auction, and unique images of the Lorraine from the museum’s archives. Come experience the hotel that hosted B.B. King, Nat King Cole, Count Basie, Booker T & the MGs, Isaac Hayes, Satchel Page, and Jackie Robinson.

Comedy returns to the Memphis Made brewery tonight at 7:30.

Like fine wine, retired newsman Dan Rather just gets better with age.

As a taxpayer, if I’m going to pay for a family to go on a European Vacation, I’d rather it be the Griswolds than the Trumps. Just sayin’

— Dan Rather (@DanRather) June 6, 2019

That’s it for this post. Back tomorrow with more news.

Peach cobbler nachos are coming to Downtown Memphis. Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe has been so successful, the Memphis Flyer reports, that a second location will be opened in The Edge District. It will be in the old Quetzal space on Union, not far from Sun Studio. The space is big enough to not only sell food but Chef Tam’s line of spices and general merchandise. Oh, by the way, Chef Tam just introduced a new menu item: apple pie nachos.

It’s been confirmed that the TV series Bluff City Law will indeed film in Memphis. The show is hiring crew members to work July through November. Experience in episodic television is preferred but not required.

Expected bad weather is forcing the Cossitt Library to postpone its Riverfront Storytime from today to next Friday, June 14. RSVP here. This is an event that introduces children to the Mississippi River via stories and playtime. There will be two storytimes, at 10 AM and 6 PM.

A fresh batch of Nikki’s Hot Nuts just got delivered to Cordelia’s Market. This is a collaboration between Nikki’s Hot Products and The Peanut Shoppe on Main. Cashews, almonds and peanuts are in Nikki’s Hot Bloody Mary Mix and spices by The Peanut Shoppe.

Volunteer Odyssey is hiring. They are seeking a Manager of Fundraising and Special Events. This person will ensure that fundraising continues at a steady rate and will create and execute fundraising events and campaigns. This person will also work with other team members to ensure that Memphis is the best place in the country to volunteer. Send a cover letter and resume to nikole@volunteerodyssey.com. This position will be open through June 24. More info

Get fresh at the Memphis Farmers Market tomorrow. Representatives of Memphis 901 FC will be there to discuss Memphis’ new pro soccer team. There will be a Kids’ Corral with activities to celebrate National Fruit & Veggie Month. There will be live, local music all day thanks to South Main Sounds. The Market runs 8 AM-1 PM every Saturday at the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson, behind Malco Powerhouse.

Redevelopment is underway for the Snuff District, in Uptown along the eastern bank of the Wolf River Harbor. The area is so named because of the presence of the American Snuff Factory Building. Apartments, single-family homes, office space, retail, and a river walk are among the plans.

It’s National Donut Day! Here’s where to get free and discounted donuts today. Free donuts? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

The Belz Museum will show two movies this weekend. Howl’s Moving Castle will be on screen at noon Saturday, and The Book Thief will be Sunday’s noon movie. Admission to the movies is free. If you wish to tour the museum while you are there, it is $6 adults, $5 senior 55+, and $4 college students.

Good news: The FCC voted for carriers to be allowed to block robocalls before they ever reach customers’ phones.

Primas Bakery+Boutique has a new macaron-mobile. It will be popping up at parties and festivals around town. It will be available for catering as well.

I’m about to get on the WWE Network for Super Showdown, an event from Saudi Arabia that is supposed to be pay-per-view quality. I have to say I’m underwhelmed with the card, though. 54-year-old Undertaker will wrestle 52-year-old Goldberg for the first time ever, and for a bad 3-4 minute match they will get paid more than the average person makes in a year. Shane McMahon wrestles Roman Reigns in a match I couldn’t care less about, and Triple H faces Randy Orton for the 5000th time. Ugh. I will watch but I don’t have high expectations.

Back tomorrow with more news.

The June South Main Association member meeting has been announced for Rizzo’s by Michael Patrick on Tuesday, June 11, social at 6:00, presentation at 6:30. An incorrect date was emailed earlier and in the correction, the SMA noted that the meeting is always the second Tuesday of the month. The meeting is free for members and $10 for guests. Details about this month’s meeting topic are coming soon.

There’s an accounts payable associate job available at Jack Morris Auto Glass out in Midtown. Great family company. It’s run by Paul Morris who used to run DMC.

This is very cool: Later this month, Jupiter and Earth will reach their closest point to each other. At that time you will be able to see some of Jupiter’s moons using only binoculars.

NBA sources told ESPN that former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins will be hired as an assistant coach by the Los Angeles Lakers. That’s a good hire. There has been a lot of drama in the Lakers’ front office lately and Hollins is a no-drama kind of guy.

R&B band The Garry Goin Group, also known as G3, headlines the Peabody rooftop party this evening. They played the Peabody’s New Year’s Eve party this year. $10 to get in, $20 VIP. Admission includes a buffet of popcorn shrimp, cocktail sauce and hushpuppies. If you’re in VIP you get a second buffet of tempura shrimp with sweet chili sauce, bacon wrapped scallops, and crab dip with fried pita.

Pints for Prostates is once again partnering with the Flying Saucer. Every Wednesday evening in June, you can enter for a chance to win a trip to Colorado for the Great American Beer Festival, including invitations to rare beer tastings. I know people who have gone to this, and saying you’re a guest of the Saucer tends to open a lot of doors to private brewery events.

Memphis Grilled Cheese Fest is making its return on Sunday, November 10. Teams will compete to see who has the best grilled cheese in Memphis. Tickets are $5 general admission, but I’d recommend going for  the VIP ticket with unlimited grilled cheese samples.

The three-point line is moving in college basketball. Having been 20’9″ this past season, it will move to 22’1.75″ for 2019-20. That matches the three-point line in international FIBA competition.

There’s a Windows vulnerability so bad that the NSA is begging you to update.

Jeeps on Beale happens for the first time tonight.

One of the other BBQ teams recently did a paella party to wrap up their year. We were doing paella parties back in 2012. Nice to see other teams starting to catch up.

Queen Elizabeth wore a ruby tiara to her state dinner with Donald Trump. The tiara was a gift from Burma and is said “to ward off evil.” LOL! More and more I’m becoming a big fan of the Queen.

That’s it for now. I guess today’s post wasn’t late after all. Back tomorrow with more news.

More information has been released on what will be going in the former Purple Haze spot at Second and Lt. George W. Lee Avenue. It will be a restaurant and LGBTQ-friendly nightclub called Atomic Rose. It will be open Wednesday-Sunday nights, starting off with dinner service which will include choices such as burgers, salads, shrimp Alfredo, ribeye steak, spaghetti, and 12-inch crust pizza pies. They hope to eventually expand to include lunch service as well. The space will seat 120 people for dinner.

At night, Atomic Rose will evolve into a nightclub, with new lighting and a dance floor that cost more than $125,000. According to the club’s Facebook page, this will be the schedule:

• Monday-Tuesday: Closed
• Wednesday (4:30 PM-2 AM): Atomic Retro Night with DJ Tree Riehl
• Thursday (4:30 PM-2 AM): Le Chic Night with DJ Space Age
• Friday (4:30 PM-3 AM): Maverick 1990 and DJ Half-Def
• Saturday (5 PM-3 AM): Maverick 1990 and DJ Half-Def
• Sunday (5 PM-1 AM): The Rose Review with Maverick 1990 + Drag Show

There will also be karaoke Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:30 to 10 PM.

I like the concept and welcome it to the neighborhood. A gay-friendly club will make the neighborhood more diverse and will attract more people down here. I like it that it is a totally different concept than Purple Haze; I liked Purple Haze’s concept too but it was attracting some bad people. I like it that the club is not staying open until 5 AM.

As your #1 source of news and information about The Edge District, I have  a couple of exciting pieces of news to share with you about that neighborhood. First of all, the CA reports that the first employees are moving into Orion Federal Credit Union’s new space at 400 Monroe. This is the former Wonder Bread bakery (with the sign still atop the building) and within a few weeks, all 150 administrative employees will be moved in. A new bank branch will open in the building, too. Welcome Orion employees to Downtown! Check out Sabor Caribe, Evelyn & Olive, and Trolley Stop Market over on Madison for lunch. Although, I hear there’s going to be a really nice employee cafeteria too.

Across the street from Orion, at 411 Monroe, is LEO Events, featured in the MBJ’s new column Open Office.  The company outgrew their space on South Front and the people fell in love with the building in The Edge, which had been an auto body paint shop for 100 years. With a second floor that is not even being used yet, LEO has room to grow.

The City Council has brought back the $5 cover charge to get on Beale 10 PM-2 AM Friday and Saturday nights until the end of the summer. Data shows that this program works; there is less crime on Beale when there is a cover charge.

The Memphis Flyer’s Hungry Memphis blog has a look at Catherine & Mary’s new menu.

For those of you interested in the Arkansas vs. Ole Miss baseball Super Regional to be played in Fayetteville this weekend, winner advancing to the College World Series, here’s the info:

• Game 1: Saturday, 11 AM, ESPN
• Game 2: Sunday, 2 PM, ESPNU
• Game 3, if necessary: Monday, 3 PM, ESPN2

A server at the Majestic Grille posted that they are hiring all positions and to come by between 2-4 PM Tuesday-Friday. That is one of the best places Downtown for service industry folk to work. Patrick and Deni treat their employees like family and I have personally witnessed them go way out of their way to make sure their employees are happy. They offer paid time off, highly unusual in that industry, as well as other benefits and flexible schedules. The Majestic is 1 block from the Orpheum, 3 blocks from FedExForum, and 3 blocks from AutoZone Park, and servers make some really good money when there are events at any of those spots.

On Wednesday, June 26 from 5 to 7 PM, there will be a Downtown Parking Study Open House at Comeback Coffee at 358 N. Main. Come to this free event and get a sneak peek at some of the plans and recommendations being developed. Talk to the team about tactics and strategies and what should be prioritized to improve the Downtown parking experience.

Here’s a list of all the big changes coming in iOS 13 that were announced by Apple yesterday.

A group led by Billy Orgel intends to renovate two old Cotton Row buildings at 99 and 105 South Front into apartments with lots of windows. The backs of the buildings face the Mississippi River.

A new Tennessee ban on handheld cell phone use while driving goes into effect July 1. VERY MUCH NEEDED!

Amtrak is having a buy-one-get-one-free sale on tickets right now. It appears that the City of New Orleans route connecting Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans is included in the sale.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup begins Friday, although the USWNT does not play until Tuesday. The U.S. team is in a group with Thailand, Chile, and Sweden.

A summer concert series is being added to Food Truck Thursdays in Court Square, starting tomorrow.

That’s it for now. I have an appointment tomorrow morning so tomorrow’s post will possibly be late.