Yesterday afternoon word broke on Ye Olde Facebook of a new neighborhood bar and lounge coming to South Main in late October. It will be called Longshots, and their focus will be serving house-made sausages served on freshly baked breads from Hustle & Dough, but of course they will have many other exciting food options as well as libations. And get this – shuffleboard will be coming to South Main! You won’t have to take a Lyft out to Alex’s to play anymore. Included in the post was an “Arrive” logo, suggesting this bar will be inside the new Arrive hotel at 477 S. Main (whose sign went up last week).
Now, I know what some of you are thinking. “Come on, Paul, Downtowners aren’t going to hang out in a hotel bar.” History supports that assumption. The Holiday Inn bar on Union tried to capture the Downtowners’ business in 2007 after Sleep Out Louie’s closed. It worked for a couple of months, but then we all started to dissipate to other locations.
Longshots, however, has an advantage. It’s being opened by Dax Nichols, most recently the GM of the Poplar Huey’s, and formerly a GM or manager at several other locations, including the Downtown one. He is a longtime South Mainer and knows what residents of that area look for in a watering hole. Lots of people are going to come in to see him, and I expect they will be won over by the vibe of that place. Congratulations on your new gig, Dax! Can’t wait to have a cocktail there.
Dax is looking for an assistant manager and some servers, by the way.
This is great for South Main. With Longshots and Slider Inn both soon to open, the area will become even more of a walkable destination. It will have nearly as many bars as the area between Madison and Peabody Place in the Downtown core.
Bloom, the Wednesday-Friday morning bartender at Bardog, posted that she’s been having fun picking up shifts at Momma’s Roadhouse, but today she will be back at Bardog, the sewer problems finally over. As far as I know she will open at 8 AM as usual.
South Main Trolley Night is back this Friday from 6 PM until 9 PM or later, with many of the shops and galleries staying open late for your shopping and mingling pleasure.
Trolley Night will be the opening of artist Jorge Yances‘ second solo exhibition at Art Village Gallery, Main at Huling. The Colombian artist’s work will be based around the Amazon rainforest. Can’t make it on Trolley Night? The exhibition will run through October 26.
The gallery will have a Colombian Exhibition Dinner and Dialogue Saturday, October 5, 6:45 PM-9 PM. Food by Chef Ana Gonzalez will be served, Yances’ work will be on display, and dialogue with a social and cultural context will be led by diversity leader Ericka DeBruce. Tickets
Songwriter Night will be back at South Main Sounds Friday night for Trolley Night. Performing at 550 S. Main from 7 to 9 PM will be Steven Pittman, Wyly Bigger, Tristan Barton, and Vanessa Winter.
National Night Out will happen Tuesday, October 1, and once again it will be in an air-conditioned location – Malco Powerhouse. (Probably a good thing. The predicted high for October 1 is 96 degrees.) It’s 6-8 PM and is an opportunity to learn about community-police partnerships and thank an officer for their service. I know I do this every year, but here I go again. INSIDER TIP: If you want a box of Jack Pirtle’s chicken, plan on being there right at 6. It will run out by 6:15. There will be food from other neighborhood restaurants as well.
Central Bark, the new dog park at Front and G.E. Patterson, is opening Saturday, October 5. Festivities that day will include adoptions from MAS, hot dogs for people, treats for your dogs, and dog games and a costume contest.
I Love Memphis Blog had a post celebrating Belle Tavern’s third anniversary. Great little lounge hidden away in an alley. If you are a whiskey drinker, you simply must try this place. Look for the alley between Sage and Aldo’s Pizza Pies, and walk halfway to Second Street and you will see Belle’s entrance. They’re having British Bingo tonight at 7:30, giving you six chances to win a bar tab.
Stanley’s Sweet Street Treats will be the food truck at Cordelia’s Market tonight 5 to 8. Soft shell crab po’boys! I hear their desserts are delicious too.
That’s the news for now. Back tomorrow.