Wednesday update

I got up early, so you get a post after all. The most important Memphis news today is the weather.

Tigers vs. Tigers: Memphis and Clemson’s men’s basketball programs have booked a home-and-home for the next two seasons.

The Memphis Flyer’s Michael Donahue has photos from a recent friends-and-family night at Bishop featuring a new chef, Christopher Zelinksi, and a new menu.

Authors Hal and Julie Lansky will have a book signing at their clothing store Lansky at the Peabody Saturday, August 12 and Tuesday, August 15, both 1-3 PM. Hal and Julie are the son and granddaughter of Bernard Lansky, the man who clothed Elvis. They will sign

The Flying Saucer will sell an Elvis-themed Duvel snifter glass as their annual tribute to the King. It goes on sale Wednesday, August 16 at 7 PM. PRO TIP: Get there at 6:40 and tell your bartender or server you want to order the glass as soon as the clock strikes 7.

I HATE USPS SO MUCH!!! One of my blog readers in the Northeast sent me a care package about a week ago. She emailed me the tracking number, and the website said it would be here Friday, August 4. Well, today is Wednesday, August 9, and the website says the package has finally left the Jackson, MS distribution center (where it spent all weekend) and is on to its next stop – which I would like to believe is Memphis. Although, the U.S. Postal Service being what it is, the next stop is as likely to be Oklahoma City. Or Thailand. Or Jupiter’s moon Ganymede.

WWE Monday Night RAW returns to FedExForum on August 28.

The DM has a list of Memphis’ deadliest streets and most accident-prone intersections. No Downtown intersection made the list; the closest is East Parkway and Poplar. Third and Union are the two streets with the most fatalities, but I doubt those occurred on the Downtown portion of those streets.

If you run into Kamala Harris today, buy her a drink, for today is National Veep Day. 49 years ago today, Gerald Ford became the first U.S. vice-president to accede to the presidency without ever having been voted into executive office.

“The Grindfather” Tony Allen avoided prison yesterday when he was sentenced for healthcare fraud. The former Grizzlies guard/small forward got time served, community service, and supervision.

The Memphis Flyer has details on what participating restaurants are doing for its Burger Week, which begins today. Through Tuesday, get some of the city’s best burgers for only $6.99.

Tuesday Tussle at Blind Bear was a BLAST last night! The game of the week was Spelling Bee and they managed to have a lot of fun with a subject many of us dreaded in school. It developed a sense of camaraderie throughout the room. Kudos to GM Erin for thinking way outside the box, both in terms of activity and start time. Also kudos to Billy on being an engaging host.

That’s all I have time to type right now. Gotta get to an off-site work training at Tamp & Tap. After that, I may avoid getting soaked on the walk home by stopping to visit Jess at Local. I’m gonna have to drink slow, though; I’ve only got enough for one PBR and I’ll have to use quarters to tip. Anyway, I’ll be back tomorrow with more news.

Tuesday update

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks last night as the U.S. Men’s Basketball National Team defeated Puerto Rico 117-74 in an exhibition. This is the first of 5 exhibitions for the USA team before it heads to the FIBA World Cup. Next up: vs. Slovenia 2:30 PM CDT Saturday (TV: FS1).

I’ll try to get FS1 put on at Bardog Saturday afternoon if the other regulars aren’t watching that stupid horse racing channel.

Former Grizzly Tony Allen is scheduled to be sentenced in New York City on charges of healthcare fraud.

Today is International Cat Day.

2009 Elvis Tribute Artist Champion Bill Cherry performs at the Halloran Centre this Saturday. He’ll do his take on 1977’s Elvis in Concert – The Final Tour. Tickets are $65-$100.

NYC rapper & record producer Large Professor performs at Eight & Sand Lounge Friday night.

Eric Hughes plays The Central BBQ Sessions at Central BBQ Downtown tonight at 6.

Couple of pieces of Blind Bear news. First of all, they have announced their weekly “Features” (specials):

  • Pasta e fagioli cup 6 / bowl 8
  • Lamb meatballs ragu – creamy polenta, tomato ragu 22
  • Baklava cheesecake – 10

As is always the case with their specials, they have them until they run out. So if you come tonight, your chances of getting baklava cheesecake are better than if you wait until Saturday.

Next thing – you know how they’d been doing Throwdown Thursday, where guests play games for the chance to win a $25 gift card? They’d been doing it 3-7 during happy hour. Cards Against Humanity was a commonly-played game for that event. Last week was supposed to be a spelling bee, but they never had enough guests show up to begin.

Well, the event has been resurrected as Tuesday Tussle. Play games to win gift cards 9 PM-12 AM Tuesday. That’s an unusual time and favors people in the service industry. Slurring Spelling Bee will be this week’s game and the host will be Billy (if you hang out at the bar down the street, you know him).

There will be drink specials, including $7 Casamigos shots, during the Tussle.

It’s very possible I will take tomorrow off from posting. I could be out as late as midnight trying to win gift cards, and tomorrow I have a work training at 9 AM. You do the math. I gotta sleep sometime.

 

Monday update

Yesterday I went on the Memphis Mojo Tour by Backbeat Tours. It was the final of Backbeat’s regular tours I had been asked to take in order to understand how to sell and promote the tours.

The Memphis Mojo Tour is unique among the company’s offerings in that the 90-minute tour is led by a local musician who serenades guests with Memphis music.

Musician/tour guide Kathryn Brawley Suda gets the crowd fired up with a song at the beginning of yesterday’s Mojo Tour

Some of the places we saw yesterday included

  • Early homes of Elvis and B.B. King (only a few blocks from each other)
  • Sun Studio, where Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis first recorded
  • Stax Museum and the Soulsville neighborhood
  • Overton Park Shell, where 19-year-old Elvis opened for Slim Whitman in July 1954
  • National Civil Rights Museum
  • Chisca Hotel (now apartments), where DJ Dewey Phillips became the first DJ to play Elvis (and tricked him into an interview)

Some of the songs we heard included

  • “Li’l Red Riding Hood” by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (did you know Sam the Sham is still alive?)
  • “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding
  • “Blue Suede Shoes” by Carl Perkins
  • “In the Midnight Hour” by Wilson Pickett
  • “Respect” by Aretha Franklin (did you know another artist recorded it first?)
  • … and, of course, “That’s All Right, Mama” by Elvis

I couldn’t believe how much information and entertainment they packed into that 90-minute tour (well, 95 – it went a few minutes over). What an incredible value for the price they ask!

The tour wrapped up at 3:05 and I stopped by the Blind Bear for a visit. While there, I checked my Gmail and was delighted to see an email giving me my work schedule for August 8-21! I’m gonna get some hours!

This week, I’m free except for training with the company VP on our computer systems on Wednesday. Of course, if she wants me to pick up any other shifts this week, I’ll happily agree. Saturday is the only day I have firm plans.

Monday-Thursday of next week, I’ll be at our company’s kiosk on Alfred’s patio from 11 AM to 2 PM. The idea there is, if we have someone out there who can talk to passersby and answer questions, we’ll make a lot more sales on the spot. So I’m gonna get PAID to talk to tourists during ELVIS WEEK! Love it!!!

… And yeah, it’s outside. The heat index will probably be around 109 most of the time I’m at the kiosk. I’ll probably get soaked by a torrential rainstorm walking to or from work one of these days. But you know what?

  • I’ll log zero hours a week sitting in a cubicle;
  • There are no stupid corporate “Agile” or “Six Sigma” practices for selling tours. You just have fun selling them; and
  • I have 0% chance of a lengthy commute home because some dumbass drove 80 MPH through ponding water and slammed into a retaining wall

Another perk of the new job: I have the most interesting co-workers imaginable! So far I’ve met

  • a semi-retired stand-up comedian
  • a retired Navy vet who just may be the best storyteller I’ve ever heard
  • the co-worker I already knew, who spent years in a business promoting regional music and culture
  • a musician who sits on historic preservation boards

… And I’m the blogger of Downtown Memphis for the past 19 years. Really, I fit right in. I’ve found my people.

I’m not yet scheduled to lead tours, but I’ve been told I will be soon. At least a dozen friends have said they can’t wait to take a tour from me. I will probably steer them toward the Discovery Tour because of the air-conditioned bus and the Central BBQ snack, although the Beale Street Tour and the Historic Downtown Memphis Tour are options too.

Yesterday I found out a couple of pieces of information I wanted to pass on to my readers…

I got to Beale Street about 25 minutes before the Mojo Tour was scheduled to begin, so I decided to stop in A. Schwab and look around a bit. You  may recall that the new owners installed an old-fashioned soda fountain after they bought the place from the Schwabs in 2011. There you can get sundaes, shakes, malts…

And you can also get the cheapest beer on the street. I saw people carrying around plastic cups of 16 oz. domestic beer (didn’t catch what variety) for only $3. Not only does that price beat touristy Beale Street bars, but it also beats some of the Downtown bars locals frequent, including Bardog and Max’s Sports Bar.

While I was riding the bus on the Mojo Tour, I solved a recent mystery that was on this blog. I had been told there was a restaurant – “something bistro” – at Jefferson and Manassas, known for really good craft burgers and street tacos. Yet I couldn’t find it on Google Maps or StreetView, and people who worked in the area told me no such restaurant existed on that corner.

Yesterday I saw the restaurant from the bus window, and it’s called BT Bistro and it is at Jefferson and Pauline, not Manassas. I found the menu and they do indeed have craft burgers and street tacos at very reasonable prices.

Let’s see what other news we’ve got…

Cocozza, the red sauce Italian restaurant on Mud Island, now has online reservations through their website. However, if your party is 5 or more, they ask that you call 901-609-1111 to make reservations. You can also call the number to get put on the wait list. The bar and patio areas are first-come, first-served.

The Memphis Tigers rolled to an exhibition win in the Dominican Republic yesterday. The Tigers were short-handed for the game, several players apparently having eaten some bad salmon.

Today is the first day of school for Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Action News 5 has a look at the Jehovah’s Witness convention at Renasant Convention Center this week. The theme of this year’s convention is exercising patience.

Also from Action News 5: Oh Sweets Skincare opens in Downtown Memphis

Check out this TikTok about the new Downtown Mobility Center.

Base-brawl!

Here’s a list of golfers who will be playing in the FedEx-St. Jude Championship in Memphis later this week. Want to watch the tournament without the Memphis heat and stupid golf course dress codes? The place to be is Birdie’s on South Main.

And finally, let’s wrap this post up with wisdom from a barmat.

Sunday update

The U.S. Women’s National Team is out of the World Cup. After a 0-0 draw with Sweden, the match went to a penalty kick shootout, which Sweden won 5-4

Pole vaulters soared over Beale Street yesterday.

Elvis Week, marking the 46th anniversary of the death of The King, kicks off Wednesday. The Memphis Travel website has everything you need to know.

There’s Sunset Jazz at Court Square tonight from 6 to 8 featuring Paul McKinney.

Memphis Flyer Burger Week happens August 9-15 and showcases some of the city’s best burgers at the price of only $6.99. Downtown restaurants participating include

  • Belle Tavern
  • Earnestine & Hazel’s
  • Huey’s
  • Loflin Yard
  • Sunrise

Full details will be in the Flyer issue that hits the stands Wednesday.

Taylor Swift fans: Grind City Brewing Co. will host an End of the Eras Tour party this Friday from 6 to 10 PM. Swifties are invited to dress up and join in for an evening that will include

  • Music videos from the tour’s set list
  • Themed drinks
  • Free raffles
  • Selfie station
  • Paper Plate Pavilion food truck
  • Snow cones sold by SnoJunt

The event is free and pet-friendly.

Historian Willy Bearden will give a presentation on Memphis music this afternoon at 2 at Elmwood Cemetery. The event will be held inside the cemetery’s chapel and the cost is $20.

Leather Duchess, a rock & roll quartet from L.A., plays the King’s Palace Tap Room on Beale Street Friday night at 10.

British country star Sasha McVeigh plays Tin Roof on Beale Friday night.

Worth a Lyft or an Uber: Wax & Wine: Soul Records + Global Wine + Southern Chefs at Stax Museum of American Soul Music this Friday night. Co-presented by The Edge District’s Rootstock Wines. Kelly English, Phillip Ashley, and Craig Richards will provide the cuisine. DJs will play rare vinyl from a private collection.

That’s it for now. Going on my 5th and final tour for work training this afternoon from 1:30 to 3:00. On the way home I’ll probably stop at Blind Bear for a couple of PBRs. Back tomorrow if there’s any news to report.

Saturday update

This is going to be a somewhat short and disjointed post, I am afraid. The reason why is that I am a bit exhausted after the two Downtown Memphis tours I trained on yesterday. They were fun and informative, but a lot of walking and the mosquitoes were out for blood. Literally.

The guide to the Beale Street walking tour I took yesterday afternoon was someone I’ve known for years and is someone who knows regional culture and music well. I learned from her how to tie the different eras of the street together – the pre-Civil War years, the “Black Main Street of America” years, the Saloon Row years, the W.C. Handy years, the Elvis years, the 1980s rebirth.

The ghost tour I took last night led us through the South Main district, including past a private Victorian mansion, the Green Beetle, Earnestine  & Hazel’s, a lost 1850s graveyard, and the Orpheum. They prefer their tour guides to have paranormal experience, so I probably won’t be conducting this one. However, I need to be familiar with it to describe it on the phone and via email.

There’s a new chef at Bishop, the French restaurant inside Central Station. He has revamped the menu while keeping favorites including the Bishop burger.

Today is International Blues Music Day. My recommendations would be B.B. King’s at Second and Beale (The Blues Trio at noon, Flic’s Pics at 4, the All-Star house band at 8) and Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall Juke Joint further down the other side of the street.

30,000 bikers are in town this week for the 46th National Bikers Roundup in Liberty Park.

BET has named the Memphis mayoral election as one of five to watch.

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

Friday update

Back to training for work today. At 1:30 this afternoon, I am taking a one-hour Beale Street Walking Tour, and then at 8:00 tonight, I’m back to take a walking Ghost Tour of South Main. Both will be taught by experienced guides. I’ll get a feel for how those tours operate, so I can lead them in the future as well as sell them over the phone and email.

Saturday I have the day off, which will be good since I haven’t seen my Bardog friends in 3 weeks. Then Sunday I’m back to take my company’s other regular tour, a bus tour called Memphis Mojo.  This is a tour I won’t be leading in the future because all of its guides are professional musicians (and they perform on the bus). I still need to experience it in order to be able to sell it.

Then on Wednesday, I meet with the company VP to get trained on computer software and answering the phones. Hopefully, soon after that, I’ll get tours of my own to lead.

About 10 of my friends have indicated they want to go on one of my tours. As soon as I have dates and times, I’ll post them here and on Facebook. I’m gonna try to get a Monday tour since many of those friends are service industry folks.

On to the news…

The CA has a look at Downtown’s new Mobility Center, which opened yesterday. It takes up the block between Front and Main and between Peabody Place and Beale. It has 960 parking spaces and will have 11,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor. There will be spaces for electric vehicles to charge and a bike hub with 24/7 security.

Memphis Made Brewing Co. will host an Ale to Tail beer dinner at Central BBQ Downtown on Saturday, August 19 from 6 to 9 PM.

Appetizers will be served at 6 PM with dinner service beginning at 6:30, featuring a whole hog smoked by Craig Blondis. The hog will be complemented by Southern side dishes prepared by Melissa Griffith. These will include

  • pimiento cheese tarts
  • green goddess deviled eggs
  • dill pickle fritter with comeback sauce
  • Craig’s potato salad
  • Roger’s hoecakes
  • succotash with fresh veggies
  • tomato pie
  • Central BBQ desserts

These will be paired with Memphis Made beers including Fireside, GonerBrau, Cat Nap, and more. Purchase tickets

WKNO’s Behind the Headlines discusses the future of Downtown parks with Memphis River Parks Partnership president/CEO Carol Coletta. She discusses Music Fest feedback, damage costs to Tom Lee Park from Memphis in May festivals, and the future of Mud Island and Beale Street Landing.

Extreme Dwarfanators Wrestling comes to the Renasant Convention Center tonight. The show is a combination of little people and lucha libre tradition.

Pickleball 901 makes a stop at Wiseacre Downtown Saturday from noon to 8 PM.

Oh Sweets Skin Care has its grand opening at its new 65 Monroe Saturday at 3. Sip, shop, eat. Raffles and giveaways. I’ll be a couple of doors down at Bardog (73 Monroe) around that time, so swing by and say hello!

Keith Jackson, retired NFL player and broadcast analyst, will be the featured speaker at the Southern Heritage Classic Coaches Luncheon on September 8. The event will be at the Renasant Convention Center.

It’s International Beer Day. Grind City Brewing Co. has $5 drafts all day to celebrate. Doors open at 4.

It’s also National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. Today through Sunday at Insomnia Cookies on Beale, you get a free chocolate chip cookie with $5 minimum purchase. Customers must mention the deal in-store or add it to their online cart.

Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane handed out backpacks to Boys and Girls Club kids this week. Each backpack had a surprise in it – 4 tickets to a Grizzlies game this coming season.

Road stripe painted over dead raccoon on Getwell

The Blind Bear has its first Flapper Friday today, with $2 off all giggle water 3 PM- 3 AM. Giggle water was a slang term for cocktails in the 1920s Prohibition era. Giggle water menu

In other alcohol news, the Bear now has key lime cream Ole Smoky moonshine. I haven’t tried it yet but it sounds delicious. It’s only 35 proof, so one shot won’t do a lot of damage.

One other Bear announcement and this one is a bit surprising… they’re temporarily shutting down weekend brunch effective this Sunday, August 6. They want some time to reimagine brunch and create a better experience. In the meantime, they’ll open Saturdays and Sundays at 3 PM.

That’s it for now. Time for me to continue to read Memphis history to prep for the job. Back tomorrow probably.

 

Thursday update

Today and the next two days are the best time of the year to be a sports fan.

No, not because the NFL preseason is starting. Blah to that.

Today, tomorrow, and Saturday are the return of ESPN8: The Ocho. Just about every kind of weird and unusual sport will be represented in 43 hours of programming. Just a few examples:

  • A heads-up pinball invitational
  • The USA mullet championship
  • Air guitar championships
  • Disc golf championships
  • Tag
  • Microsoft Excel world championship
  • Arm wrestling
  • Kickball
  • Slippery stairs
  • A pillow fight championship
  • Corgi races
  • River stone skipping competition
  • Tetris
  • Ultimate ninja world finals

It’ll be on the channel we think of as ESPN2 starting at 6 this evening and continuing through Saturday morning.

LEO Events, headquartered in The Edge at 411 Monroe, is hiring a marketing manager.

In celebration of National Disc Golf Day, the Flying Saucer will release a new Hex Mid Range Driver Disc this Saturday at 11 AM. The discs are limited-quantity and will sell for $22.

The South Main Association has announced its August South Main Social. It’ll be on the rooftop of the Old Dominick Distillery Tuesday evening, August 15, from 6 to 8. DJ Tree will provide the tunes and there will be bites from Old Dominick’s neighbor across the street, Gus’s Fried Chicken. There will be complimentary spirits too. Free for SMA members, $20 for non-members. Join SMA

Got a case of the nerves? The Cossitt Library has a unique solution: Read to the Dog. Lovie the therapy dog will be at the Cossitt branch Monday from 10:30 to 11:15 AM. Read to this loving, patient dog and you may be surprised at how much your anxiety decreases.

Want to own a grocery store with some great burgers? The DM reports that Roxie’s Grocery at 520 N. Third is about to be put on the market. $800,000 will be the asking price.

The basketball Memphis Tigers lost an exhibition game to the Dominican Republic National Team yesterday, 91-84.

Today is Grab Some Nuts Day.

Here’s a pic of the firecracker salmon with potatoes, green beans, and cherry tomatoes, a special at the Blind Bear this week:

I hear that Cards Against Humanity will possibly be the game we play during happy hour from 3 to 7 for Blind Bear gift card prizes. That game is becoming Old Reliable up there, the one game that adapts really well to bar play. Don’t forget, you have a rare opportunity to see Jeannette behind the bar for today’s happy hour.

New drone footage shows that the $60M renovation of Tom Lee Park is almost complete.

Wiseacre Brewing Co. seeks an area sales rep for the Memphis market.

Comedian Karious Miller comes to the Orpheum on Saturday.

From Storyboard Memphis: Lost History of the Orpheum, Part I

Love Power Live featuring Kennard Farmer Collective and String Quartet plays King’s Palace Cafe tonight.

The Trunk Monkeys play Slider Inn Downtown Saturday at 6.

That’s it. Back tomorrow with more news.

Wednesday update

The next Women’s World Cup match for the U.S. Women’s National Team has been announced, and the start time is atrocious: Sweden vs. USA, 4 AM Sunday on FOX.

An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for Shelby County today, with the heat index potentially climbing to 114.

Mick Jagger turned 80 last week.

Dos Hermanos Kitchen, the restaurant in the Cossitt Library at Front and Monroe, is doing Brunch on the Bluff this Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM.

There’s a free Memphis trivia app for iPhone and Android. It’s called Na Bruh. I just installed it on my MacBook, which can run iPhone apps.

From the CA: Memphis feels closer than ever to Big 12 expansion, but is still stuck in purgatory

Black Lodge will hold a Pee-wee’s Playhouse marathon this Sunday. It’s free, all ages are welcome, and it starts at 3 PM.

The Blind Bear has announced its Features (specials) for this week:

  • French onion soup
  • Firecracker salmon
  • Lemon cheesecake (by Keun Anderson)

They’ll have the specials until they run out. That means they’ll probably have them through Saturday, but if you want to make sure you don’t miss out, come Friday or earlier.

One more piece of Blind Bear news: Mama Bear herself, Jeannette, will pick up a bartending shift for Thursday happy hour (3-7 PM). It will be Throwdown Thursday where you can play games for a chance to win Bear gift cards – if enough people show up. Last week’s game would have been Spelling Bee – which, as a writer, would have given me a huge advantage – but we never had enough people to start. I guess it’s because so many people are out on vacation.

That’s it for today. Not a terribly newsy day. Back tomorrow.

Tuesday update

Yesterday one of my Facebook friends asked, “What song reminds you of your high school days?” A 1987 grad, I responded with Cameo’s “Word Up” and Run-DMC’s “Walk This Way.” Something from the Beastie Boys’ License to Ill could have made my list too, but really, it’s the whole album that deserves to be mentioned.

But one more song deserves to be mentioned too. Our Hall High cheerleaders danced to it during timeouts at the 1986-87 basketball games.

Check it out, party people, ’cause this party is burnin’
For a brand new dance I know you. been yearnin’
This is for all you people concerning
A brand new dance called the Pee-wee Herman

Paul Reubens, the actor who portrayed Pee-wee Herman, has passed away at 70 following a six-year private battle with cancer.

R.I.P.-wee.

RANDY: Any chance we can add this song to the mix, if just for one week? I’m not saying it’s the greatest 1980s song by any means, but it’s far better than some of the crap Butt Slut #1 has on the playlist.

LRK (Looney Ricks Kiss, a design firm of architects, urban designers, planners, and interior designers), seeks a Project Manager.  Downtown candidates would have an easy commute to the office at 50 S. B.B. King, which would be the office building next to AutoZone Park.

Speaking of AutoZone Park, the Redbirds host the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp there this week. Here’s a look at the action:

Tuesday, August 1 – first pitch 7:05 PM

Wednesday, August 2 – first pitch 7:05 PM

Thursday, August 3 – Throwback Thursday – enjoy throwback concession prices with $2 PBR and $1 hot dogs. The Redbirds will wear throwback Memphis Chicks uniforms. First pitch 7:05 PM.

Friday, August 4 – First 1500 fans get a replica Memphis Chicks jersey, navy in color with red lettering.

Also on Friday, a specialty ticket will entitle holders to an Italian buffet of cheese and pepperoni deep-dish pizza, spaghetti & meatballs, salad with ranch dressing, garlic knots, soda, and water. $30 dugout, $27 field box. First pitch 7:05 PM.

Saturday, August 5 – First 1500 fans 21 and up get a 25th-anniversary commemorative beer stein featuring significant Redbird players over the years.

Stick around after the game for fireworks. First pitch 6:35 PM.

Sunday, August 6 – Kids 12 and under receive a Prairie Farms ice cream sandwich upon entering the park. After the game, all kids can run the bases

Also on Sunday, there will be a specialty ticket for brunch. Brunch includes bottomless mimosas and bottomless Bloody Marys in the Chill Zone. First pitch 2:05 PM.

Drake’s FedExForum concert, scheduled for Sunday, has been canceled. The show as designed was said to be “logistically impossible” to bring to the arena.

The U.S. Women’s National Team advanced to the World Cup knockout stage with a 0-0 draw vs. Portugal overnight our time. The USWNT survived a scare though – a Portugal shot on goal hit the post at 90′ + 1′.  Just a few inches to the left and the USWNT would have been eliminated.

Rose Lavelle will miss the knockout round of 16 due to yellow cards.

Just got back from Walgreens. It’s back-to-school time and they have some fantastic bargains this week if you’re a myWalgreens member. I got some badly-needed gel ink pens and a wide-ruled notebook and treated myself to a Caramello bar on sale for $1.

From the DM: What to expect in Memphis Tigers basketball’s week-long Dominican Republic trip. There won’t be any live streaming or broadcasts, unfortunately.

Enjoy a high of only 90 and a northeast wind today before things heat up once more.

Get a ticket from a Memphis red-light camera? You’re most likely fine not paying it.

There’s a Kentucky/Tennessee Water Professionals Conference at the Renasant Convention Center today and tomorrow. Then starting on Thursday, the Jehovah’s Witnesses will be here for a month.

DJ Famous Lee from Toronto plays Eight & Sand Friday night.

The Brooks Museum, soon to be Downtown, seeks an assistant curator of photography.

I got to try a few sips of Chico’s peach martinis, one of the specials he makes for Martini Mondays 3-7 PM at Blind Bear, and it is out of this world. I would recommend it highly. I believe it was peach moonshine, peach puree, and simple syrup in a glass with a sugar rim topped with a moonshine-infused peach.

DJ Superbrad will do karaoke at Pretty Taco starting Thursday this week. 8 PM start time.

That’ll do it for this morning. Back tomorrow.

Personal update and Monday news

I know last week seemed like a good week for me. And in many ways, it was. I got offered what is essentially a dream job, giving tours of the city I love. I started training Friday and Saturday.

For the first time in a long time, I have hope. Hope of having stability while loving every minute of the work I do.

But hope doesn’t change current conditions.

And current conditions are not good.

It’s July 31 and I haven’t paid my July rent yet. And August is now 6 days away from being past due. I’m surprised they haven’t served me with papers saying they’re starting the eviction process.

My AT&T bill is past due. Part of the new job is answering questions and booking tours. I need a working phone to be able to do that.

My Xfinity bill is past due. I need working Internet to do my job – and to continue publishing these daily posts about what’s going on Downtown.

My MLGW bill is past due. Without power, I can’t charge my phone or operate my MacBook.

I’m down to my last roll of toilet paper. I’m down to my last pen. I have enough laundry detergent for maybe 2 more loads.

My bank balance stayed negative for so long that First Horizon closed the account I had for more than 35 years. That’s why I took the Tip Jar links off my posts – there’s nowhere for the money to go. For the same reason, I can’t take Venmo or Cashapp or PayPal. What little royalties I still earn from Medium now have no place to be sent.

I mentioned there was a financial chasm I had to leap over until paychecks start coming in. What I just described above is the chasm.

If I’ve seemed sleepy when you’ve seen me lately, it’s because I lie awake two-thirds of most nights worrying about money.

Friends are making sure I eat regularly. So at least I have that in my favor. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it. Without that nourishment, I’d never have been able to walk those 16,000 steps Friday.

I was in financial straits this dire once before, back in 2019. At that time I thought the solution was to jump off my 16th-story rooftop. Two feet from the edge, I realized it wasn’t the solution at all.

And I don’t see that as the solution now. I have too many people who love me. And now I have a job I’m excited to go to. I have a ton of reasons to live.

It’s just really scary not knowing what the future holds.

My birthday falls on a Saturday this year. I was gonna request not to be scheduled for work that day. Hopefully I will wake up that morning in the very same bed I woke up in today, get on my MacBook and do a blog post, get on my phone and “Like”/respond to people who left me birthday wishes on Facebook, then walk around the corner to Bardog where I will celebrate with friends… and, of course, continue the celebration at Blind Bear later in the day.

I just have to leap the chasm between here and there.

Thanks for reading. And now, let’s get on to the news…

The Downtown Blue Monkey is once again open on Sundays from noon to 8. One of their Sunday regulars told me that they have a breakfast sandwich all day and that they post their specials to social media.

I did not know until yesterday that there’s a Downtown Memphis meditation community with 792 members on meetup.com.

A grocery tax holiday will be in effect in Tennessee tomorrow through Halloween. However, candy, prepared food, booze, and dietary supplements will still be taxed.

Today is National Avocado Day. I’d recommend celebrating with a Cobb salad at Bardog, which comes with thick slices of avocado.

There was a shooting on B.B. King Blvd. about a block south of Beale last night.

A sinkhole has developed at Second and Madison.

Feels-like temperatures will “only” reach the upper 90s today.

I mentioned that I’ve been reading two books on Memphis by Bill Patton, my tour company’s founder. Several friends of mine have recommended another Memphis book, Beale Street Dynasty by Preston Lauterbach. It’s the story of Robert Church Sr. (1839-1912), the South’s Black millionaire, and of Beale Street of that era.

One of the friends recommending the book told me he was assigned to read it for work – and he works for the Grizzlies.

The U.S. Women’s National Team plays Portugal in the final match of the World Cup group stage at 2 AM tomorrow (Tuesday). A win or a draw advances the USWNT to the knockout stage. If you want to watch the match – the entire match – at a Memphis bar, it’ll have to be on Beale Street. They are the only ones allowed to be open past 3 AM.

The NFL pre-season begins Thursday night as the New York Jets play the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame game.

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow, assuming I have power and Internet access. Again, thanks for reading.