{"id":12589,"date":"2012-08-07T12:55:21","date_gmt":"2012-08-07T17:55:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paulryburn.com\/blog\/?p=12589"},"modified":"2012-08-07T12:55:21","modified_gmt":"2012-08-07T17:55:21","slug":"tue-update-water-taxi-grizz-pre-season-sob-birthday-bleu-restaurant-week-national-night-out-13-year-old-to-perform-at-double-j-jose-feliciano-tattoo-artist-helps-the-community-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.paulryburn.com\/blog\/2012\/08\/07\/tue-update-water-taxi-grizz-pre-season-sob-birthday-bleu-restaurant-week-national-night-out-13-year-old-to-perform-at-double-j-jose-feliciano-tattoo-artist-helps-the-community-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Tue update: Water taxi, Grizz pre-season, SOB birthday, Bleu Restaurant Week, National Night Out, 13 year old to perform at Double J, Jose Feliciano, tattoo artist helps the community and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

Memphis has landed a grant for water taxis on the Mississippi<\/a>. The $800,000 federal grant would provide for a taxi service between Mud Island and the Harbor Town Marina, with a dock at Bass Pro and possibly other docks to be added later. However, the service may not ever happen. The city has to match 20% of the grant, or $160,000, and the City Council may not be willing to spend the money.<\/p>\n

It’s been announced that the Grizzlies’ 2012 pre-season home games will be against Real Madrid (Spain), the Atlanta Hawks, the Toronto Raptors, and the Orlando Magic. The MBJ has details.<\/a><\/p>\n

Happy birthday to South of Beale<\/a>, which turns 3 today. They will have birthday specials this weekend.<\/p>\n

Bleu Restaurant & Lounge is doing “Restaurant Week” from the 13th to the 18th of this month. They’ll have a 3-course prix fixe dinner for only $25. Check out the menu and make reservations here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Don’t forget that Downtown’s National Night Out party is at the Memphis Farmers Market tonight from 6 to 8. Live music, food trucks, meet Downtown cops and get safety tips. If you get down there early, you might want to stroll over to the Double J, where 13-year-old Simon Ertzinger from Iowa will perform a special solo acoustic set from 4 to 7.<\/p>\n

This morning I got a press release asking me to blog that Jose Feliciano will perform at Spin Street at Poplar and Highland Wednesday, August 15 at 6 PM. Normally I don’t blog non-Downtown events, but then I thought, “Jose Feliciano… where have I heard that name before?”<\/p>\n

“Muchacho… things will get better… Oh yes, they will for Chico and the Man… Oh yes they will for Chico and the Man.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Feliciano sang the theme song to one of my favorite 1970s TV shows, and even guest-starred a couple of times as Chico’s cousin. Anyway, he’ll be at Spin Street performing songs from his new album, which is a tribute to Elvis. If you buy the album you can get Jose to sign it for you.<\/p>\n

Also not Downtown, but cool enough to deserve a mention: Students at Caldwell-Guthrie Elementary received free backpacks full of all the supplies they need<\/a> when they arrived yesterday for the first day of school. The backpacks were largely paid for by a program called “Backpacks for Tatts,” in which tattoo shop House of Ink traded free tattoos in exchange for donations of school supplies. What a great gesture to make sure the kids have everything they need to do their school work and homework.<\/p>\n

If you’re doing the Elvis pub crawl<\/a> this Saturday, good news – you won’t melt in your Elvis suit this year. Fall-like weather is predicted, with a high of only 85 on Saturday. Where to get Elvis gear at this late date?<\/p>\n