Thur update #2

It’s the 4th on the Farm is the theme at the Memphis Farmers Market this Saturday. Come to the Market for burgers, chicken, sausages, and veggies to put on the grill for the Fourth. The UT Extension Institute of Agriculture will be there for a cooking demo, teaching how to make a patriotic Fourth of July apple salad at 10, 11, and noon. Kids can make fuzzy bugs with a patriotic theme at the craft booth from 8:30 to 11:30, where they will learn how bugs are an important part of a farm’s ecosystem. Live music by Steve Smith 8:30-10, and South Side Supper Club 11-12:30. Dogs’ Second Chance will be onsite with adoptions. The Market is at the corner of Front and G.E. Patterson under the pavilion from 7 AM to 1 PM every Saturday.

Market patrons may be interested to know that this is the 100th anniversary of the domestication of the blueberry.

Backbeat Tours will conduct a Red, White and Brew Tour Saturday, July 2 from 6:00-8:30 PM. The tour will depart from B.B. King’s on Beale Street. The first stop will be High Cotton Brewing Co. in the Edge, where tour guests will get a tour of the brewery, sample tastings, and a souvenir glass. After that, it’s out to Cooper-Young for a visit to Memphis Made, where there will not only be beer samplings but also Aldo’s pizza from next door. The tour is $39 and you must be 21 or up.

The CA reports that Mike Conley has five suitors in free agency, which starts at 11:01 PM tonight: Brooklyn, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and the L.A. Lakers. They can sign Conley for 4 years, while the Grizzlies can sign him for 5 years under NBA rules. The Grizzlies can also exceed their salary cap to re-sign their own player (“The Larry Bird Rule”).

Earlier this week, I wrote about Boris Johnson, the Brit who campaigned for Brexit. The mendacious, disheveled Johnson is as close to a British version of Donald Trump as it gets, and looked to be in position to become Britain’s next Prime Minister, a scary prospect indeed. Prime Minister Johnson is no longer a concern. He was betrayed by his own campaign manager, who announced his candidacy for Prime Minister this week, and supporters defected to the campaign manager’s side in droves. Johnson finally had to admit in a speech that whoever the next Prime Minister is, “it won’t be me.”

(I used the word “mendacious” :mrgreen: )

I feel no pity for Boris. This is what happens when you lie. This is what happens when you go behind people’s backs. This is what happens when you project the appearance of having the interests of others at heart, when really the only interest you care about is your own. When you do those things, you write a check that will have to be cashed at some time in the future. And it looks like the future is now.

Back to Trump for a minute, here’s an ironic chapter title in one of his books:

Chase Bryant and Brooke Eden play a free, all-ages show at Handy Park at 7:30 tonight, presented by KIX 106.

Paul Morris who used to run DMC has details on what you will find when you bike across the Harahan Bridge, once the Main-to-Main connector opens in a few months:

Watermelon beer? South of Beale has added a watermelon wheat seasonal beer for the summer.

You never know, there may be a third post today. Check back this evening.

Bardog has found this year’s head shaving victim

Every year, Bardog Tavern throws a huge outdoor party that raises money for St. Jude. There is a 5K that draws well over 1000 runners every year. There are other activities that raise money for the hospital, including food sales and a dunk tank. Other businesses on Monroe have gotten in on the fundraising and the event was renamed Monroe Fest a couple of years ago. The penultimate activity at Monroe Fest is the cutting of someone’s hair to raise money for St. Jude. Two of my favorite bartenders, Panda and Bloom, have been head-shaving victims, and my landlord Jay Hollingsworth, may he rest in peace, had his ponytail cut off for the charity.

As of yesterday Bardog has its head-shaving victim for 2016: Burlesque dancer and my neighbor Kitty Wompas.

kittywompas

Kitty danced in burlesque shows at Kudzu’s back when it was still open. More recently she has danced in shows at Earnestine & Hazel’s. She was the host of the very popular Burlesque Bingo at the Mad Earl. This Kitty ain’t cheap though. She will shave her head if $20,000 is raised for St. Jude by the date of Monroe Fest, August 28.

My absolute favorite election website, even more so than RealClearPolitics, has released its first electoral vote map of 2016. FiveThirtyEight’s map gives Hillary Clinton better than an 80% chance of winning the election, carrying all the Obama 2012 states plus North Carolina and Arizona. Be sure to scroll down the page and see all the maps, graphs and charts. Good stuff.

Yesterday I blogged that Memphis Made Brewing Co. was bringing back one of its most popular events, a sushi class, on Sunday, July 24. Well, the day before, they are bringing back another popular event: their cornhole tournament. Up to 32 teams can enter, two people per team. $50, $25, and $10 gift certificates for first, second and third. Must sign up by July 22, and all participants must be 21 or older.

In other beer-related news, Midsouth Malts is hosting a National Mead Day Tasting Saturday, August 6 from 2 to 4 PM. Bring one to share, or just show up and try some.

The City of Memphis is attempting to retain police officers, who have been leaving in droves the past couple of years, by throwing money at them. Well, not a lot of money. The officers will receive a $500 retention bonus and a 2.75% to 3.75% pay raise. It’s better than nothing and it’s a start, but personally I would like to see each officer get a $2000 retention bonus and a 4% to 6% raise. I know the budget may not allow it, but it’s what they deserve. Thank you to all the police whose efforts have allowed me to roam the streets of Downtown for 14 years without ever once being a crime victim.

Years ago I was watching a video (I tried to find the YouTube link just now, but couldn’t) of a leopard prowling the jungle of Kenya. She stopped at a tall, dark bush and stared when she saw movement. A huge snake, a python I think, was slithering, lurking under the bush, out of sight. She lunged at the snake, grabbing it by the neck with her powerful jaws, and then dragged it out into the sunlight and walked away. Her purpose was not to kill the snake, but to expose it, to leave it out in the open for all to see. Most of us have two days left before a long weekend, so here’s a motivational message to help you get through those two days: Be the leopard.

Off to work, probably a second post at lunch or 5:30. I expect to have Farmers Market news to talk about if nothing else.

Wed update #2

Got my car tags renewed this morning! Waiting until the second to the last day of the month may have seemed like a stupid idea and a sentence to spend hours and hours in line, but I have a secret weapon… the little-known clerk’s office at the northwest corner of Second and Washington. I go there, turn right once inside (turn left to renew a driver’s license), and am usually out in a matter of minutes.

Here’s a secret. The office opens at 8:00. If you go at 8:00, there will be a line (although not a horribly long one) and you will be out by 8:30. If you go at 8:25, there will be no line and you will also be out by 8:30. So go at 8:25. The clerk who renewed my tags told me, “You did the right thing coming when you did, it’s about to get crunk up in here later today” so I can’t promise the lines will be short in the afternoons.

(And yeah, I know I could have done it online, but I forgot until this week. I don’t want to be driving around with apparently-expired tags, even if I have a printout showing I’m legal.)

Facebook is altering its News Feed again to focus more on posts by friends and family and less on material by publishers (i.e. business Fan Pages). As a blogger, that is NOT a good thing for me. I need to see those posts. I guess I will have to turn on Get Notifications for a bunch of Downtown businesses, but damn, that’s going to blow up my phone.

Years ago, I was introduced to the wonders of spaghetti squash, a healthy substitute for traditional pasta. The Church Health Center’s cooking blog, Stalking Celery, has a spaghetti squash and black bean skillet with tomatoes and avocado. It’s a nutritious and filling dish. If I have any regular readers who are vegetarians, this could be a dish to consider making.

For the Win, USA TODAY’s sports blog, tried those new Mac & Cheetos at Burger King. Verdict: Not good.

Loflin Yard has announced its music lineup for this weekend. Paul “Snowflake” Taylor kicks it off on Thursday 6-9 PM. Chris Milam plays 6-9 Friday, then Bronwyne Brent 4-7 Saturday and Tennessee Ripple 4-7 Sunday.

If any foodies feel like traveling a bit, Nashville’s Hot Chicken Festival happens July 4. Lots of hot chicken vendors, Yazoo beer, first 500 in the gate sample hot chicken for free.

That’s it for now. Don’t forget to read my morning update if you haven’t already. Lots of news in there. I’ll be at Silly Goose for happy hour, rest of the evening TBD.

Wed morning update

This Friday, July 1 is the annual Canada Day celebration at Kooky Canuck. From 11 AM to 2 AM there will be specials including $2.50 Canadian bottled beer, $3.99 34 oz. drafts of LaBatt Blue, $1 off all Canadian whiskeys (there are 33 to choose from), and $9.99 Montreal Steamie hot dogs and poutine. As always, you are encouraged to wear your Canadian color and jerseys.

The Redbirds have announced Red, White & BOOM! festivities for their July 4 game. First pitch is 6:35 and there will be fireworks after the game is over. There will be a couple of special tickets you can purchase. One is a $19 field box ticket special that includes a buffet of hot dogs, burgers, chips, cookies, lemonade, fruit punch and water. Another is a $19 dugout ticket with an all-you-can-eat hot dog bar. They will be auctioning off July 4 jerseys to benefit the Redbirds Community Fund.

Memphis Made is bringing back their beginner sushi class at their taproom on Sunday, July 24. $40 includes all supplies and you get to eat what you roll. These classes are extremely popular, so sign up early. Sign up here.

Elvis’ guitarist Scotty Moore has passed away at the age of 84.

VooDoo Gumbo with special guest Bahari headline the Thursday, June 30 rooftop party atop the Peabody. Admission is $15, or you can buy a $75 VIP pass for the rest of the season. Admission includes a buffet of BBQ smoked sausage, and jalapeno popper dip with crackers. If you’re in VIP you get a second buffet of grilled chicken, potato salad, strawberry mango salsa, and cinnamon chips. Pineapple passion punch is the drink special in VIP. First 200 ladies get in free.

Bad news for me – as some of you know, I use Evernote to organize all aspects of my life. I use it on my work computer to collect my thoughts for our morning team meetings, then read from those notes on my iPhone when I’m in the meetings. I use it to throw blog topics to write about later, whenever I come across them. I use it to remember key pieces of information like my mother’s mailing address. I use it not only on my work computer and my iPhone, but on my MacBook, netbook and iPad as well. Now Evernote has announced they will limit the free Basic plan to syncing between two devices. That won’t work for me! I guess I’m about to start paying for Premium. Anyone else affected by this announcement like I am? I can’t do without Evernote!

It’s funny how the things you learn can be used in the most unexpected ways. Thanks to conversations with Eric Mathews from Start Co., I know what an elevator pitch is. Now I find myself composing an elevator pitch I hope to give next month, in an area of my life that has nothing to do with entrepreneurship or asking for funding or business. Thank you Eric – you may not have realized it but you taught me something valuable.

Today’s goodness from the account that tweets conversations from the Memphis police scanner:

There sure is a lot of free yoga happening lately. On Wednesday, July 6 at 6:30 PM, Jocelyn from Downtown Yoga will lead the latest MyHQ Sunset Yoga session at Memphis Park across from the Raymond James building on Front Street. After the class, watch the sun set over the Mississippi with free red and white wine. Bring your own food if you want to picnic. Also, bring your own mat if you have one, but they do have extras.

The MBJ has a progress report on Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman’s future restaurant in the Chisca, with photos. The walls are going up at Catherine & Mary’s, named after their grandmothers. Grand opening is scheduled for August.

Gus’s is opening a restaurant at the corner of Pico and Crenshaw in L.A. Los Angeles Magazine says Gus’s is going to change the city’s fried chicken game.

That’s it for this morning. Off to work. Possibly a post #2 later today.

Base-brawl video plus Tuesday news

Yesterday at AutoZone Park, a dugout-clearing brawl broke out between the Memphis Redbirds and the New Orleans Zephyrs. A Redbirds batter had to duck to avoid a pitch that appeared to be aimed at his head. The batter dropped his bat and charged the mound, and within seconds the dugouts were empty. It took several minutes to restore order.

Sad to hear of the passing of Coach Pat Summitt. Although Tennessee is not usually a school for which I cheer, I always admired and respected Coach Summitt and what she did for the women’s basketball program at UT. If you don’t know what Coach Summitt looked like, just look up “class” in the dictionary and I bet you will find her picture. Here’s the 1974 letter in which 22-year-old Summitt was offered the job.

The Mud Island River Park has announced its annual fireworks extravaganza for July 4.

Iceland scored a huge upset over England in the European soccer cup thingy yesterday. This tweet says it all:

Guard Tony Wroten is back with the Grizzlies. The team claimed him off waivers yesterday.

Thrillist has a list of historic landmarks to visit around Memphis, places that have retained their character over the decades. Several are Downtown and I agree, these are must-visits. I get asked this kind of thing all the time and am going to bookmark this post.

ServiceMaster plans a different look for Second Street as they remodel the Peabody Place Mall into their HQ. In particular, the skybridge over the street will be removed.

A 175-unit apartment complex called Patterson Flats is planned for 250 East G.E. Patterson. If I am counting the street blocks right, that would be east of Third. It is a very promising sign to see development in that area of Downtown, an area that has been neglected as the rest of Downtown has come back to life. I will say it once again: I would like to see Abel Street and Allen Street wiped completely off the Memphis map. I can’t say with certainty that nothing good goes on there, but I have seen many Downtown panhandlers walk to that neighborhood to buy drugs over the years.

Here’s an article about the British version of Donald Trump, Boris Johnson. Like Trump, he is known for lying and bad hair. He was the driving force behind Brexit and he may become the next Prime Minister. If Trump becomes president and Johnson PM, then it is time to build a spaceship and just pray that Saturn’s moon Titan turns out to be habitable.

By the way, never have I seen political journalists use the word “mendacious” so much in an election cycle, but with Boris over there, and Hillary and Trump over here, I’m not surprised. Great word, by the way; I’ve been using it myself in conversation for a year now.

The Crosstown Concourse apartments in the old Sears building on North Cleveland are now available for rent.

There’s dollar King Cotton hot dogs at tonight’s Redbirds game vs. New Orleans, and fans will get a Papa John’s coupon as they exit the park. Gates at 6, first pitch 7:05. Maybe another brawl will break out.

Hot rods return to Beale tonight. They will be on display beginning at 6 PM.

The Avengers will be shown for free at Beale Street Landing tonight at 8:30.

The anniversary comedy show marking one year of comedy at the Brass Door is downstairs tonight in The Cavern at 8 PM.

That’s it for now. More news is coming in so I may do a second post after work. I’ll be drinking happy hour PBR at the Blind Bear today starting about 5:30.

Monday update

You might want to make a run to the store this week for some Off! or Cutter or whatever bug spray you prefer this week. Right around July 1 every year in Memphis, the mosquitoes start to get really bad and they stick around through October. I just picked up a two-pack of spray at Target that will last me through the season.

I have Memphis Farmers Market news that I am not happy to share with you. A friend of mine ate at the tandoori truck Saturday, and was told that it would be the truck’s last week at the market until September. NOOOOOOOO!

Anime Blues Con 6 happens Friday through Sunday at the Cook Convention Center.

Typically, campaign fundraising emails have less than 10 percent of them caught in recipients’ spam filters, where the recipient is unlikely to ever see the email. However, due to some fundamental rookie mistakes, Donald Trump’s first attempt at a fundraising email saw SIXTY PERCENT end up in spam filters. Of the emails that made it to inboxes, only 12 percent were opened. Twelve percent of forty percent… that means The Donald had less than a 5 percent reach. If the man is too incompetent to even send out email properly, how in the world is he qualified to be president?

I want to send a “thank you” to Tad Pierson of American Dream Safari. Saturday afternoon I was at Earnestine & Hazel’s eating a Soul Burger, when my friends from Squeal Street BBQ told me they were heading south to The Dirty Crow Inn to check out the newly-finished outdoor deck. After finishing the burger I decided to walk down there and join them. I got all the way to Crump when Tad’s ’55 Caddy pulled up alongside me. “The air conditioner is out at the Crow,” my Squeal Street friends told me. “Hop in, we’re going to Max’s.” Tad, you’re a lifesaver. If I had got all the way down there and then had to walk back in 100+ degree heat index, I think I would have just about died! By the way, the A/C was fixed at the Crow later that day, and while I did not make it down there this past weekend, I have seen photos of the new deck and it is beautiful.

I was back at Max’s Sports Bar yesterday for their crawfish boil. You’ve seen crawfish before so I won’t bother posting another pic, but I do have a photo of something at Max’s that might be of interest: Their happy hour specials.

Photo Jun 26, 4 08 26 PM

DOLLAR PBR at Max’s until 7 on Mondays. Well, well, well! There may be some Monday visits to my “home way from home on the south side” in my future!

Amy Schumer Live is coming to FedExForum Friday, October 14.

Historian Jimmy Ogle will give a free tour of Court Square and surroundings tomorrow, Tuesday, June 28, at lunchtime. Meet at the fountain at 11:45.

Rio’s acting governor says the upcoming Olympics could potentially be a big failure. There isn’t money for security or transportation. I have a feeling that the Summer Olympics are going to be an even bigger trainwreck than the 2016 presidential campaign.

As of this coming Friday, grocery stores in Tennessee can sell wine.

That’s it for now. Happy hour plans are TBD, but I will definitely be hitting the Blind Bear later, where special guest bartender Mandy Marie will be making a one-night-only appearance. Could be another post later today, so check back.

Sweet potato biscuits with ham at Carrington’s Catering @ Memphis Farmers Market

Every week the Memphis Farmers Market does a vendor chitchat in its weekly e-newsletter, spotlighting one of the vendors who sells their goods at the Market. Last week it was Carrington Catering. Owner Carrington Wise makes sweets, tarts, and savories that she sells at the Market, and in her spare time she does full event catering.

Those vendor chitchats really do work! Up until recently I had the misconception that if I wanted to get something to eat right there, at the market, I had to go to the back and visit the food trucks. I mean, I walked past Carrington’s booth before and thought, “Yeah, lemon muffins and stuff,” but I never really stopped and took the time to examine the variety of goods she had to offer. This morning I did, and got a pair of sweet potato biscuits with ham.

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Normally I find a table or park bench at the Market and eat there as I watch the world go by. Yesterday, it was so blasted humid that I had no interest of staying. I had on a printed T-shirt and the print was surrounded by a puddle of sweat. I took the biscuits home to eat. For such a delightful breakfast, I had to break out the fine china:

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Now, I know what you’re thinking. “I recognize your china pattern. It’s called ‘Dixie’ isn’t it?”

WRONG!

It’s called “Cheap Kroger Knock-Off.”

Anyway, the biscuits were a treat for my taste buds, and at $2, really no more expensive than if you drove through Burger King for breakfast. They also have a 9-pack if you want to feed the entire family.

Carrington has her table divided, with savories on one side and sweets on the other. Check out her selection – you are sure to find something you will love to eat. She said that the sweet potato biscuits surprise people, and they sure surprised me. I will be back for more goodies in the weeks to come.

Another post about an outdoor deck + Saturday news

Two weeks ago yesterday, I walked into Max’s Sports Bar. I ordered a PBR at the bar from Mike and decided to walk to the back and see who was on the outdoor deck. It was a good crowd. My friends K and J and Otto were sitting at the front tables, and in back leaning on the rail were my friends Bad Shane and Leigh, Gary, and Stevie G and my adopted sister Sarah. (I’ve been bad about texting my new sis this week.) I decided to take a seat at the table with Otto and K and J, and there I remained for the next three hours, watching people come and go. We got a break from the humidity that weekend, so it wasn’t stifling, but still, the sun beating down on me in 90 degree weather was a bit much. “I wish I were sitting in the shade,” I thought. “That would help a lot.”

Wish granted!

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This week Max added a roof to his outdoor deck. It came in handy on its first night, as people were able to stay outside when rain moved through. It will provide much needed shade in the summer, and protect customers from the elements year ’round. Very nice.

Note that not the entire deck is covered, so if you want to get some sun, you still can.

The deck will see some use tomorrow. Max is having another crawfish boil, possibly the last of the 2016 season from 1:30 to 8:00.

One of the better giveaways of the season is coming up today at the Redbirds. The first 1500 fans in the gate will get a replica of the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals World Series trophy. Gates at 5, first pitch 6:35. Fireworks after the game.

Plans are coming together for a sky-high transformation of The Pinch. The sea of parking lots won’t be around forever. St. Jude is expanding its campus to build one resembling Amazon’s, with some buildings as tall as 12 stories. Overton Avenue will serve as a connector between the campus and Bass Pro at the Pyramid, with restaurants and shops lined up and down the street.

There’s also news on another up-and-coming area: The Edge and the Medical Center District are seen as keys for bike share.

Attention East Memphis: You can now get cans of High Cotton ESB and Scottish Ale at the SuperLo on Spottswood.

JD and the Midnight Howl perform Sunday night at Downtown Huey’s at 8:30 PM. Joel DeSilva was raised in a musical family that toured internationally. Not only has he acted in independent movies, he has performed with B.B.King, A.C.Reed, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Reverend Horton Heat, JJ Grey, Mofro, Nick Curran, the Smithereens, Ray Charles, Foghat, Los Lobos, the White Stripes, and Leon Russell.

Photos from the Majestic Grille’s 10th birthday celebration are now online.

Chef Gary Williams of DeJaVu has announced that the restaurant’s new food truck is wrapped and ready to go.

I’m back from the Farmers Market and will have a post later today about what I bought there. I walked down there at 7:20 and the humidity was already awful. When I got home I checked the weather. 88/feels like 95 at 8:37 in the morning. Ugh. Anyway, I’ve got a couple of hours to rest and then it’ll be Bardog time at 11. For those of you attending the free yoga class at the Farmers Market this morning, enjoy! Check back this afternoon for a food post.

Friday update #2: Reaction to Brexit and more

I hope y’all have been paying attention to world news today, because one of the most important events yet this century occurred yesterday, when the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union (Brexit – British Exit). None of the 28 countries in the EU has ever left before. The UK has the fifth biggest economy in the world. The following are particularly notable, especially for us on this side of the Atlantic:

– The British pound is going to drop on world markets, which will affect the US stock market. If a recession is the result, that’s bad for Hillary and good for Trump, since the party in the Oval Office will get blamed, whether or not the blame is correctly placed.

– The UK vote had an air of rejecting the establishment and going in a different direction, even if that new direction involves considerable uncertainty and risk. If that feeling is contagious, it also benefits Trump.

– Limiting immigration was a big issue in the UK vote. That’s another mindset that, if contagious, benefits Trump.

– Scotland, which voted heavily to remain in the EU, may declare its independence from the UK. England and Scotland have been one nation since the Act of Union in 1707, and have had the same monarch since James VI of Scotland succeeded Elizabeth I of England in 1603, becoming James I of England. We’re really seeing world history being written right here before our eyes.

Keep an eye on the stock market and on polls the next couple of weeks. I like RealClearPolitics for polls because they take an average of poll numbers (both national and state) rather than relying on one specific poll.

This Brexit vote worries me. Trump has made such a fool of himself in the media that I thought Hillary would win in a landslide (popular vote, at least), but this turn of events could give him new life. Sometime in 4041 a college student will be assigned to write an essay about the causes of the beginning of the Second Dark Ages, and will list Trump’s election in 2016 as one cause, if Trump does indeed go to the White House. (The same student will list global warming as another cause.)

The Grizzlies picked Wade Baldwin last night at number 17 in the NBA draft. He was projected to be a late lottery pick but slipped down a few notches. Geoff Calkins has a summary of the Grizzlies’ draft picks here. I like the pick. We needed a point guard to back Mike Conley, and as Calkins mentioned, Baldwin has the length to also play the 2 alongside Conley at times.

Another projected lottery pick was Deyonta Davis, who tumbled down from a projected number 10 all the way to 31, where the Grizzlies negotiated a trade of picks to get him at that spot. GM Chris Wallace thinks he may develop into the best future shot-blocker in the NBA. Sounds like the Grizzlies did a great job shopping the 2016 draft.

In other Grizzlies news, former Memphis Tigers Shaq Goodwin and D.J. Stephens will play for the Grizzlies’ Summer League team. Shaq is not likely to get a call from an NBA team no matter how well he does, but he might get an invite onto a D-League team where he can slowly work his way up.

The Dean’s List is a list composed by Kevin Dean of Make Memphis, an organization shepherding ideas into action. The list profiles up-and-coming leaders in nonprofit, corporate, government and faith communities. This week the list spotlights Silly Goose owner Daniel Masters. GREAT article; I have known Daniel for 11 years and I found out a lot of things about him I didn’t know by reading this.

Interesting link: The Public Domain Review. This site is dedicated to collecting works whose copyright has expired and which have therefore entered the public domain.

When Harry Met Sally plays tonight at the Halloran Centre in the Orpheum’s summer classic movie series. Showtime is 7 PM. $8 adults, $6 children (keep in mind this movie is rated R). Romantic quizzes and drink specials in the lobby in the hour prior to the movie. This will be the first of the movie series in the Halloran Centre.

The Memphis Zombie Walk leaves Handy Park on Beale tonight at 7:30. Come early if you need help getting zombified.

There will be a party celebrating the interactive light installation at the southeast corner of Union and Main tonight at 8:30.

The Five Spot will have Flash Back Fridays tonight, a singalong with DJ Big Al spinning ’90s pop, rock, and hip-hop.

It’s Princess and Pirate Night tomorrow at the Redbirds. 6:35 first pitch, with New Orleans as the opponent.

Almost the weekend! I plan on hitting South Main Trolley Night this evening. My plans once I get down there are very tentative, using text, Foursquare, and Facebook to figure out what friends are there and if I want to meet up. Probably I will start off by defending my Earnestine & Hazel’s Foursquare mayorship, then out on the street to do a little shopping and listening to live music, then I will wrap it up at my “home away from home on the south side,” Max’s Sports Bar. That’s a hard Friday night plan to beat. Outta here, back tomorrow with more news.

Fri morning update: Dirty Crow Inn outdoor deck, chicken fried steak, and more

Construction of the outdoor deck at The Dirty Crow Inn is now complete. My buddy Bones texted me a photo:

dirtycrowdeck

“My blood and sweat is on every board,” Bones texted me. Don’t forget that Davis Coen plays the deck tomorrow night from 9 to 12.

As all my readers know, I am a huge fan of chicken fried steak, and in the Commercial Appeal this week Michael Donahue has a feature about country fried steak, chicken fried steak, and chicken fried chicken around Memphis. I have to disagree vehemently about putting brown gravy on a chicken fried steak (as does my friend Chicken Fried Steak Rodger), but as Donahue points out, perhaps it’s best to quit arguing about which is the real deal and just enjoy.

The Church Health Center’s cooking blog, Stalking Celery, has a recipe post for stuffed bell peppers from their farmers market. Yum, I have loved stuffed peppers ever since I was little! You can stalk celery, bell peppers, and lots of other fresh vegetables at their Tuesday farmers market from 10 AM to 2 PM. The market is at the CHC Wellness Center, 1115 Union.

Led Zeppelin has won a copyright infringement suit claiming that they plagiarized the intro of their 1971 mega-hit “Stairway to Heaven” from a 1967 song.

Seth from Best Memphis Burger tweeted a hidden gem of a burger Downtown: The Tandoori Chicken Burger at the Hard Rock Cafe. He called it “a delicious force to be eaten” and said he wished he had known about it sooner.

A friend who attended the first lunch day at the Silly Goose posted the sandwich menu. You can choose from the Club, Italian, Pastrami, Stuffed Portobello, and Silly Philly. Sandwiches are $9.

Those who know me know that I am not much of a movie person at all. I almost never go see them and am worthless to my trivia team when movie questions are asked. However, I have to admit, I kinda want to go see The Secret Life of Pets. The promos look hilarious, and it’s based on a real-world premise – “I wonder what our pets do when we’re not home?”

Bluff City Coffee has added a couple of savories to their pastry case. New are the turkey pesto roll and the cheddar bacon scallion quiche.

Your daily goodness from the Twitter account that covers the best of the Memphis police scanner:

The Casual Pint, a craft beer market and bar, will open at 387 S. Highland this fall. As my friend Gary is fond of saying, BEER!

For those of you who followed C.M. Punk’s career in WWE, the date of his first mixed martial arts fight has been scheduled. Punk will face Mickey Gall at UFC 203 on Saturday, September 10.

That’s all for now. Off to work. Possibly another post later.