Tuesday update

Edible Memphis has a look at the folks behind new restaurant Hard Times Deli out in The Edge. Not only will they serve a quality product, but they also intend to keep quality of life high for their employees and themselves.

Memphis Made and Mahjong Merriment will host Taps and Tiles Friday evening, March 7. This is not a class; you need to already know how to play mahjong.

Today is Extraterrestrial Culture Day.

Taconganas Cordova employees were detained by the feds yesterday. Could the Downtown taco truck be next?

The Grizzlies have a 9 PM (CST) game in Phoenix. TV: TBS, TNT, or truTV

Kaleidoscope (subset of FreeWorld) plays Downtown Central BBQ every Saturday from noon to 3.

That’s it. Short post on a rainy day. Back tomorrow.

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Monday update

Did you know that Super Bowl halftime performers are paid only union scale – which tends to be not six or seven figures, but three? Super Bowl halftime show facts

It’s going to be a rainy week in Memphis.

Today is National Brownie Day and National Poop Day.

The NBA All-Star Game this coming Sunday will have a new format.

The 17th-ranked Memphis Tigers got a 90-82 revenge win over Temple yesterday. They improve to 20-4 overall, 10-1 AAC. Next up: Thursday at South Florida

Live horror experience INSIDIOUS: The Further You Fear comes to the Orpheum Wednesday.

The Trumpster says he’s getting rid of the penny.

That’s all. I may take Tuesday off from blogging due to the weather.

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I spent last night in 201.

I know, I know. My life just keeps getting stranger and stranger.

I’ll tell you the story at the end of this post. But let’s do the news first.

From Sports Illustrated: The most, and least, desirable Super Bowl squares numbers

Today is National Potato Lover’s Day. I recommend the BBQ nachos at Central BBQ, sub out their homemade potato chips in place of tortilla chips.

There’s an emu on the loose in Batesville, MS.

A grand jury will hear the case against the man accused of killing musician/teacher Blake Rhea.

Bleacher Report has results from WWE Smackdown in Memphis last night.

Tonight is mascot Grizz’s 30th birthday as the Memphis Grizzlies host the OKC Thunder at FedExForum tonight at 7. Free Classic Edition Super Grizz cape and mask to the first 5000 fans. TV: FanDuel Sports

The Comeback Concert Series is coming to the Mud Island Amphitheater April 18-20. Volunteer

ALSAC, the fundraising arm of St. Jude,  is looking for a summer intern in marketing/graphic design.

There’ll be a lantern parade celebrating the 100th anniversary of Tom Lee’s river rescue on 901 Day this year.

Just found out Memphis Chess Club has mimosas. No I’m not having one. I’m drinking a canned Coke.

Streetdog Foundation will host Barking Bingo Thursday at the Flyway taproom at 598 Monroe. Win stuff for your mutt. Must bark (woof woof) to win.

Merit Koch plays Old Dominick Distillery tonight at 6.

Where “Turning Japanese, I think I’m turning Japanese, I really think so” meets “Do you really want to hurt me? Do you really want to make me cry”

So, yesterday morning I checked in at the Union Mission at 10:45, narrowly beating the 11 AM get-in-free deadline. They printed out a ticket with my bed assignment.

I got assigned to an upstairs dorm. Those have the highest bed numbers.

My bed, for example, was number 201.

I had a great night’s sleep in 201! As a bonus, I got a pair of Marvin the Martian socks at the Mission’s clothes closet.

Back tomorrow or Monday with more news.

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Friday update

The NBA trade deadline has passed… and Jimmy Butler is NOT a Memphis Grizzly. PRAISE THE LORD!!! Jimmy would have been poison in the Memphis locker room. His bad attitude could have been contagious to an impressionable Ja Morant. We don’t need or want Jimmy here.

Jimmy did, however, achieve his goal of getting out of Miami. Not only did Golden State accept him in a trade, they gave him a 2-year, $111M max extension.

Anyone else think Jimmy and Draymond Green are gonna mix like oil and water?

Prediction: An intra-Warriors locker room brawl will break out sometime in 2025. And I for one can’t wait for that to happen, because DRAY. WILL. BEAT. JIMMY’S. ASS.

The Grizzlies sent Marcus Smart and a 2025 first-round pick to the Washington Wizards and got back two second-rounders. That will reduce their total salary, which is needed because the Grizzlies have to offer Jaren Jackson Jr. an extension this summer and doing so won’t be cheap.

Today is National Fettucine Alfredo Day and National Patty Melt Day.

The DMC has a list of Downtown Valentine’s Day events, not all of which are on the 14th.

Chris Hill plays Saturday brunch at Slider Inn Downtown tomorrow.

Aldo’s Pizza Pies has SB-inspired pizza specials Sat-Sun:

THE KANSAS CITY
BBQ sauce base, Aldo’s 5-Cheese Blend, beef brisket burnt ends, red & yellow peppers, BBQ sauce + slaw

THE PHILLY
poblano cream base, Aldo’s 5-Cheese Blend, ribeye, green pepper, mushroom, red onion + provolone

Back tomorrow with WWE Smackdown results from FedExForum and whatever other news I can scrounge up. YEET

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Thursday update

Monday night when I was out, I talked to a friend who had dined at Petals of a Peony recently. She and several friends ordered five dishes and split them family style. She raved about the food, noting that the recipes were all authentic Sichuan, not the Americanized Chinese food commonly found in Memphis.

This is good news for Downtowners because we’re getting a restaurant named Little Petals Chinese and it’s by the Petals of a Peony folks. It’ll be on Madison next to the First Horizon office tower.

The same friend raved about another restaurant on Madison, JEM Fine Dining in The Edge. She said the food was delicious and the restaurant lives up to the chef’s stated goal of making fine dining comfortable for people who don’t normally visit that type of restaurant.

The NBA trade deadline is 2 PM Central. I recommend keeping a tab open to Bleacher Report’s NBA News page and refreshing it every 10 minutes.

Memphis in May is putting Beale Street Music Fest on pause for a second year.

MATA wants more funding so it can get the trolleys back online this summer.

A new Downtown gym, Grind Fitness, is hiring.

Bar Limina will open next month in The Edge in the former Inkwell space. It will be a “technique-driven cocktail bar.” Visiting bartenders will come in and make drinks.

Expect a heavy amount of yeeting at FedExForum tomorrow night for WWE Smackdown. I bet Royal Rumble winner Jey Uso will confront unified champ Cody Rhodes as Uso decides whether to challenge for Cody’s title or world champion Gunther’s at WrestleMania. (He’ll eventually pick Gunther.)

That’s all for today.

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Wednesday update

THE BEST burger chain there is, In-N-Out Burger, is opening 4-5 locations in Memphis!!! What to order: “Double double, animal style

MIFA is hiring an inter-faith officer.

The Grizzlies are in Canada to play Toronto at 6:30. TV: FanDuel Sports

Daily lineups are out for RiverBeat Music Fest.

The DMC has a list of Super Bowl watch parties at Downtown venues.

The Grizzlies are showing interest in trading for Lonzo Ball before the deadline tomorrow.

WWE Smackdown comes to FedExForum this Friday.

Dance Theatre of Harlem comes to the Orpheum this weekend.

YOGA! Wiseacre Downtown will have free yoga by Sana Yoga Saturday morning at 10.

Make ink out of metal in a class at the Metal Museum Saturday.

That’s it, back tomorrow.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
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Tuesday update

Since the weather is warm , I decided to stay out last night… and I narrowly avoided becoming a victim of theft again.

About 3:45 AM I was sitting on a bench in front of the Moxy Hotel across from Court Square. I looked to my right and there was a man attempting to unzip my backpack and take the contents inside. I said, “HEY!!” and he took off north on Main.

Be on the lookout for a black male, early 30s, 6’3”, 240, camouflage jacket, medium complexion, curly hair. I got the feeling he was a seasoned pro at this type of crime and probably “works” the Main Street Mall a lot of nights.

Thankful to be safe and have all my belongings intact. And now, on to the news.

Despite a sloppy game against Rice Sunday, Penny’s Memphis Tigers rose to 17 in the latest AP poll. Next up: at home Wednesday vs. Tulsa at 7.

My new troll Pinky Tuscadero got very excited on our visit to the Flying Saucer yesterday:

The Saucer will soon carry a Three Floyds beer called Trolls Trolls Trolls.

Glaze Hardage will have his boiled crawfish and shrimp (best in town) at Max’s Sports Bar again this Saturday. The first batch will be ready about noon.

Sounds of Memphis with Wyly Bigger and Mario Monterosso happens Saturday at 7 PM at South Main Sounds.

Momma’s will have $6 Jameson green tea shots and $18 domestic buckets for Taylor Swift’s boyfriend’s team vs. Taylor Swift’s boyfriend’s brother’s ex-team this Sunday.

Cordelia’s Market is hiring a food prep team member.

Typing this at Bardog, where they tell me there’ll be a fried oyster slider special today.

Belle Tavern news:

Back tomorrow.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
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Monday update

The CA has picks for best wings in Memphis. Downtown restaurants Good Fortune Co., Momma’s, and New Wing Order at Ghost River made the list.

The folks at Bardog posted that gooey butter cake is getting a permanent place on the menu.

More on the Luka Doncic trade: There were concerns about his diet and conditioning. He’s eligible for a supermax contract next summer and Dallas’ front office decided he wouldn’t be worth the risk.

The DNA has launched a line of “I Love Downtown” merchandise.

Felicia Suzanne Restaurant seeks back of house staff.

It’s the Tip-off to Black History Month as the Grizzlies host the San Antonio Spurs tonight at 7. TV: FanDuel Sports

New trivia night at Aldo’s Downtown tonight:

New @downtownmemphis Pint Night trivia series launches TONIGHT
Join us the first Monday of each month at 7 PM in for Music Trivia with @aldospizzapies & @rivercityrecordsmemphis
$4 drafts from our 30-draft wall
$12 one-topping 12” bar pies
$50 River City Records gift card + pint glass
River City Records shirt + pint glass
River City Records hat + pint glass
FREE shot glass when you tag @aldospizzapies & @rivercityrecordsmemphis (limit 1 per guest)

That’s all, back tomorrow.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
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Sunday update

A huge trade – and huge surprise – has happened in the NBA. Luka Doncic is now a Los Angeles Laker. Anthony Davis is headed to Dallas. LeBron was not told in advance and is “processing” the news. The Lakers front office is said to see Doncic as the face of the organization for the next 10 years.

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday.

An Asian bakery called Bloom is moving into the old Flame Ramen location at Second and Union.

Today is Tater Tot Day. Celebrate with an order of bacon cheese tots at Huey’s.

YEET

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
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Saturday update

Put on your coconut bra and grass skirt. It’s a day to celebrate hula dance.

It’s also Butt Slut #1’s birthday. Happy birthday to her.

WWE Royal Rumble predictions

Women’s Rumble

Final Four: Becky Lynch, Liv Morgan, Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax

Winner: Charlotte Flair

Men’s Rumble

Final Four: Roman Reigns, Jacob Fatu, John Cena, CM Punk

Winner: CM Punk

Tennessee State is dropping out of the Southern Heritage Classic.

K-pop girl group PURPLE KISS comes to the New Daisy Wednesday.

Memphis Made will host an ALL HEARTS CLUB beer dinner Saturday, Feb. 15. Chef Kevin Sullivan will supply the food, each course paired with Memphis Made beer.

The DMC has launched a list of game day deals at Downtown restaurants the days of Grizzlies and Tigers games.

The Trumpster’s 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico go into effect today.

Play ’80s Activision game Pitfall! online

From Bleacher Report: There are plenty of teams interested in doing a trade with the Grizzlies for Marcus Smart

The Peabody has rolled out Valentine’s Day packages. Rooms, treats, cocktails, spa stuff… they have it all.

I’m gonna go swing on ropes and jump over crocodiles. Bardog at 11. Back tomorrow.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
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