Monday update

Most of the talk about the NBA right now is about the All-Star Game, in particular who will be selected by the league’s coaches this Thursday as All-Star reserves. However, there’s another important date coming up – next Thursday, February 10, is the NBA trade deadline.

Bleacher Report pitches a trade that would send the Toronto Raptors’ power forward Pascal Siakam to Memphis. To match Siakam’s $33 million salary the Grizz would send Toronto Brandon Clarke, Kyle Anderson, Steven Adams, and Ziaire Williams. To sweeten the deal, Memphis would include its own 2023 first-round pick and two other first-rounders acquired from other teams via earlier trades.

Siakam would give Memphis its third star alongside Ja and Jaren. A starting lineup of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Pascal Siakam, and Jaren Jackson sounds intriguing and the kind of lineup I can see starting an NBA Finals game. But:

  • With Steven Adams going out and a star power forward coming in, Coach Jenkins would have to be totally committed to starting Jaren at center.
  • Also, it would become more critical than ever that Jaren stay healthy – otherwise you could have a situation where Xavier Tillman Sr. starts at center in playoff games.
  • We may already have our third star in Desmond Bane, but it’s still just a little too early to be sure of that.
  • I really hate the thought of giving up Ziaire without even seeing a full season of his potential.

On the other hand, Siakam knows what it’s like to win an NBA championship. He played a huge role on the Toronto championship team that included Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, and Marc Gasol. That veteran presence could be just what the doctor ordered for the Grizzlies.

There are pros and cons. I trust Zach Kleiman to make the best decision.

I’m hearing I really missed out on catching DJ AD at the Blind Bear a week ago Saturday. Everyone I talked to said she brought a great energy to the place and her song selection was on point. She was said to be far more than a person on a laptop playing a playlist. If she gets brought back for another gig, I am going to go see her for sure.

So. Cincinnati vs. the L.A. Rams for the Super Bowl. Any bars doing Super Bowl specials, let me know. Yes, I can call it a special for the Big Game or the Superb Owl special if you’re worried about the NFL coming after you for using its trademark.

A white Jeep Cherokee was reported stolen from the area near South Main and Butler this morning. What’s up with white Jeeps being stolen recently? Are they a status symbol in the criminal community the way Infinitis are?

All right. Not much news this morning. Back tomorrow or Wednesday.

Sunday update

Did I call the Royal Rumble or what? I got every match right in my predictions, even though neither the men’s or women’s Rumble winner was announced for the match prior to its start.

Wiseacre has announced its annual Valentine’s Day Flowers and Chocolate event at its OG location out on Broad Avenue Saturday, February 12. Participants will learn all about the flowers and chocolate of the beer world, hops and malt, on a tour of the brewery. The tour includes samples of Wiseacre beers paired with chocolate from Dinstuhl’s. Tickets are $25 and there are 1 PM and 3 PM tour times to choose from.

An immersive Van Gogh exhibit is coming to Memphis, although dates and location have not yet been listed.

At Memphis Chess Club, you can get $3 off all orders over $13 with coupon code SKIP13.

The DM has details about the Waterfront District the mayor plans to better accommodate cruise lines.

Here’s a link to James Aycock’s latest COVID Week-in-Review.

The Grizzlies got a 115-95 win over the Washington Wizards at FedExForum last night. That improves Memphis to 35-17 and gives them a full 4-game lead over Utah for third place in the West. The Grizzlies travel to Philadelphia for a road game tomorrow.

There was an armed carjacking on B.B. King Blvd. a block north of Crump in the 2:00 hour this morning. A white Jeep Patriot was taken.

The MemphisWeather.net forecast has a chance of freezing rain for Thursday morning. However, Memphis will see highs in the 60s Tuesday and Wednesday.

There will be an adult acting class this Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 PM at LilyRoze Studios, 810 S. Main.

Blackdog plays Earnestine & Hazel’s Wednesday night at 9.

Time to go drink a PBR and watch a couple of NFL games I honestly couldn’t care less about. Back tomorrow with more news.

Saturday update and WWE Royal Rumble predictions

If you love Memphis restaurants, you need to read this CA article by food writer Jennifer Chandler. The Memphis Restaurant Association is calling on Memphians to reach out to Congress and ask them to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). This federal fund, set up to help restaurants through the pandemic, is running out of money and Chandler calls it a “bottom-of-the-ninth” moment for some area restaurants.

Call Congress to help save local restaurants

A Camaro was reported stolen at 100 Peabody Place a little before 3 this morning. It was found a short time later with damage to the driver’s side.

Dates and times have been set for Memphis 901 FC’s 2022 schedule. The action kicks off at home on Saturday, March 12.

Ja posted 30 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds for a triple-double in a Grizzlies victory at home over Utah last night. That was a very important win because Utah is right behind Memphis in the West, and that puts another game between us.

  • Memphis (34-17) is 3rd in the West
  • The Grizzlies are 6.5 games back from conference leader Phoenix and 3 back from 2nd-place Golden State
  • The Grizzlies are 3.5 games ahead of 4th-place Utah
  • The Grizzlies are avoiding play-in scenarios by 9 games, ahead of the 7th-place L.A. Clippers by that amount

Tonight is the second game of a home back-to-back for the Grizz. The team hosts the Washington Wizards. Tip time is 7 PM, but if you have tickets you’ll want to get there early – first 3000 fans get #JaCozySzn Grizzlies Tech Suit pants. This is the last fan giveaway until March 5.

Tonight is also Girl Scout Night at the Grizzlies. Girl Scouts and their families who purchase a special ticket will get to sit in the lower bowl to watch the Grizzlies’ pre-game shootaround. Post-game they will be invited to come on the court and shoot free throws. Scouts will also receive a custom Grizzlies and Hustle patch and the first 100 who purchase tickets will get a Grizzlies water bottle canteen.

The Blues Foundation announced that the Blues Hall of Fame on South Main Street will be closed until late April. The foundation has their biggest month ever coming up in May, with the International Blues Challenge and Hall of Fame inductions that month. They need the time off to prepare for the big events and staff up.

Impact 360 at 777 S. Main will offer a Self-Defense and Martial Arts Intro Class for ages 5-15 Saturday, February 12 from 10:15 AM to 12:15 PM. The course is a holistic 360-degree approach that will teach students not only martial arts, but how to be responsible to others and deal with day-to-day struggles. The cost for the class is $25.

MLK50 reports on Uptown residents’ recent successful fight to keep a 7-story parking garage out of their neighborhod.

Don’t forget that the Eric Gales album release meet & greet happens this afternoon at 2 at River City Records.

… and now it’s time for…

2022 WWE ROYAL RUMBLE PREDICTIONS

How to watch: The Rumble will be on Peacock tonight starting at 7 PM.

WWE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: BROCK LESNAR (C) VS. BOBBY LASHLEY

Prediction: Lesnar dominates most of the match. However, on orders from their cousin Roman Reigns, the Usos interfere, allowing Lashley to roll up Lesnar for the win. Winner and new WWE champion: Bobby Lashley

THE MIZ & MARYSE VS. EDGE & BETH PHOENIX

Prediction: I really couldn’t care less about this match, but this is an easy one to predict. We all know the babyfaces are going over here. Miz will be publicly embarrassed somehow, maybe covered in slime or something like that. Winners: Edge & Beth Phoenix

Post-match, Brock Lesnar beats up one of the Royal Rumble entrants (I guess Sami Zayn) and announces he’s taking his spot.

MEN’S ROYAL RUMBLE

Prediction: The final four are Austin Theory, Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, and Brock Lesnar. Lesnar eliminates McIntyre to win the Rumble and get a shot at the championship of his choice at WrestleMania.

Things I’d like to see happen:

  • NXT champion Bron Breakker shows up and wins the Rumble. For those not familiar, Breakker is the son of Rick Steiner and he uses his uncle Scott’s Recliner as his finishing move. He’s been killing it on NXT lately.
  • Bad Bunny is a surprise entrant in the Rumble. Damian Priest eliminates Bunny with a vicious clothesline, marking the beginning of Priest’s heel turn.
  • Dominik Mysterio eliminates his father, marking the beginning of a badly-needed heel turn for Dom. As The Rock learned 25 years ago, you can only get so far in the business as a squeaky-clean babyface with a famous father. Bonus points if Dom pulls off Rey’s mask as he throws him over the top rope.
  • Either Commander Azeez or Veer eliminates Omos, setting up a big man vs. big man feud for Monday Night RAW.

Things I don’t want to see happen:

  • Jeff Hardy as a surprise entrant in this match. It would be better for everyone involved if he joins his brother Matt in AEW.
  • Edge as a surprise entrant and winner of this match. Been there, done that.
  • Randy Orton as the winner. He’s always a threat but he no longer needs a title to be perceived as a top-level guy.
  • John Cena as a surprise entrant and winner. He’s already come back and lost to Reigns.

RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: BECKY LYNCH (C) VS. DOUDROP

Prediction: Lynch pins Doudrop clean in about six minutes. Winner and still champion: Becky Lynch

What I hope happens: Prior to the match, Doudrop announces she is reverting her name to Piper Niven and plays up to the crowd in a face turn. She and Lynch go back and forth in a 17-minute match and Niven hits her finisher to win the title. It’s the beginning of a long reign in which Niven demonstrates that women of all shapes and sizes can succeed at the highest levels and be loved by crowds of fans.

WOMEN’S ROYAL RUMBLE

Prediction: The final four are Bayley, Bianca Belair, Ronda Rousey, and Charlotte Flair. Rousey eliminates Belair for the win and announces that she wants Big Time Becks for the RAW women’s title at WrestleMania.

What I hope happens:

  • Bayley wins the Women’s Rumble, turning face in the process. Bayley visits both RAW and Smackdown over the weeks to follow as she decides which women’s title to challenge for, in the process picking up wins over Carmella, Queen Zelina, Natalya, and Tamina. She eventually chooses Lynch.
  • Mickie James comes to the ring wearing the Impact women’s world title belt and lasts at least 10 minutes before getting eliminated.

What I don’t want to see:

  • Lita wins the Royal Rumble. I’ve never been a fan of hers. She was shoved down our throats in the ’00s (similar to Cena) as the character we were supposed to like. Her Hall of Fame induction speech was one of the most long-winded and boring speeches I’ve ever heard.

WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP: ROMAN REIGNS (C) VS. SETH FREAKIN’ ROLLINS

Prediction: Reigns dominates early on, but Rollins keeps making comeback after comeback. The fans are solidly behind Rollins as he breaks free from the guillotine and minutes later, kicks out of a pin attempt following a spear. They fall outside of the ring and Rollins reverses a whip, sending Reigns into the steel ring post. Rollins hits two successive Curb Stomps and appears to be on the verge of becoming the new Universal champion…

… but Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman appear at ringside. Lesnar F5s Rollins into the ring post and throws him back in the ring. An astonished Reigns pins Rollins to retain. Winner and still Universal champion: Roman Reigns

Following the match, Lesnar gets a mic and admits that Rollins had Reigns beat and deserves to be champion. But Lesnar doesn’t care about Rollins; he wanted Reigns to still be champ at WrestleMania so Lesnar could have the pleasure of pinning Reigns in the main event there.

It would be super cool if:

  • Jon Moxley showed up at ringside to cheer Rollins on.

That’s it for this post. Back tomorrow.

 

Friday update: CONGRATULATIONS JA!!!

The NBA announced the starters for its All-Star game last night, and the Grizzlies’ Ja Morant was among them. Congratulations to Ja on his first All-Star selection. The vote was weighted 50% votes by fans, 25% votes by NBA players, and 25% votes by a media panel.

The rest of the All-Stars – players who will be coming off the bench in the All-Star Game – will be selected by a vote of NBA head coaches and will be announced on February 3.

On February 10, the All-Star players will be drafted onto one of the two captains’ teams – so Ja will be selected to be on either Team LeBron or Team KD on that day. The game is on February 20.

More good news: No more health directives for Shelby County! The current directive, which went into effect on January 1, will be allowed to expire Monday without a new directive being put into place. The department will transition into an advisory role rather than a role of telling people what they must or must not do.

The Memphis Tigers got a 71-54 home win over ECU last night. The Tigers improve to 11-8 and get an entire week off before a showdown on the road at Cincinnati.

There will be Friday Night Jazz by Strictly Jazz Entertainment tonight at the Westin 6 to 9 PM. Admission will be free.

Chili cheese kegs are a thing now. I kinda want one.

Sugar Grits posted a reminder that they’re doing dinner service until next week 4 to close. So I guess that’s an announcement that they won’t be doing dinner service after next week.

Sign of the times: Yesterday I told people I have no interest in playing squares on Super Bowl Sunday this year. The reason why: I don’t want to get a cash payout and have to walk home with it around 9 on a Sunday evening. The way Downtown is these days, there’s too high a chance someone would follow me out of the bar and rob me.

Hard Rock Cafe will offer a Valentine’s Day menu Wednesday, February 9 through Tuesday, February 15. It’ll offer limited-time entrees like a lobster cobb salad or a surf & turf deluxe steak.

From Mashed: Everything we know about Robert Irvine and Jon Taffer’s new series

The CA reports that a giant neon carrot could sprout in South Main. It’s part of the signage South Point Grocery is requesting to put up.

Also in the CA: A homeless man froze to death steps from City Hall

Bundle up if you go out tonight. The MemphisWeather.net forecast calls for as low of 20.

The Grizzlies host the Utah Jazz tonight at 7. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Southeast.

Soul & Parliament play the Hard Rock tonight at 8.

David Graham (not the one that sells cars) plays Blues City Cafe’s Band Box tonight at 6:30. Graham is from Portland, Oregon, fronted the Eskimo Brothers for 8 years, and is known for American Roots music.

President Biden and his wife Jill have a new cat named Willow. The cat jumped up on stage while Dr. Jill Biden was making remarks at a campaign stop in 2020. Seeing their bond, the owner felt the cat belonged with Dr. Biden.

Grape. plays the Ghost River taproom on Beale tonight at 7:30.

Krystal has added sausage & gravy bites to the menu. I need these in my life.

I’ll be back with more Downtown news as well as WWE Royal Rumble predictions tomorrow.

Thursday update

Great news… the Board of Adjustment voted no on a 7-story parking garage sought to be built by St. Jude. The garage would have been on the north side of A.W. Willis Avenue between Third and Fourth. It would have been a big ugly gray slab of concrete that would bring heavy traffic to Uptown/Greenlaw. The board members said that voting against such a great neighbor as St. Jude was difficult, and one member said he received 430 emails in opposition to the garage.

Watch Mayor Strickland’s State of the City address which he gave yesterday:

The DM got a radar gun and verified what we already knew: Everybody speeds in Memphis. Even if you want to go 55 on I-240, you can’t. You’ll be the only one going that slow and will therefore be a traffic hazard. Also, in Memphis you risk having your car shot at if you don’t keep up with the prevailing traffic speed.

The Grizzlies got a nice win on the road last night at San Antonio, and will now return to Memphis for back-to-back home games Friday and Saturday. Grizzlies fans, please say a prayer for Ja Morant’s grandmother, who is in poor health.

The starters and team captains for the NBA All-Star teams will be announced tonight at 6 PM on TNT. Ja is expected to be named a starter for the West.

The Tigers play a home game vs. East Carolina tonight at 8. The game will be televised on ESPN2. Fans attending are asked to wear black.

ABC 24 has a look at the new South Point Grocery coming to South Main.

Today is National Chocolate Cake Day.

For y’all who don’t keep up with world news, you might want to the next week or two. A Russian invasion of Ukraine seems imminent, and Biden has promised the largest response since World War II if it happens.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will retire at the end of this judicial year, giving President Biden an opportunity to appoint a justice. The White House has said Biden will fulfill his campaign promise to name the first Black woman to the court.

That’s all for now, back tomorrow.

Wednesday update

Lansky Bros. is hiring a Shipping & Receiving Manager whose hours would be 9 AM to 5 PM Monday-Friday. Required skills and responsibilities include

  • Process all incoming and outgoing shipments
  • Strong communication skills
  • High level of detail and accuracy
  • Organizational skills
  • Commitment to delivering excellent internal customer service
  • Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
  • Clean driving record for required use of company van to deliver product to the shops

If interested, send a resume to sales@lanskybros.com.

The DM reports that construction on the Downtown Mobility Center will begin next week. The trolley stop southbound on Main between Peabody Place and Beale, which will be adjacent to the center, will be demolished and replaced with a new one.

Nikki from Nikki’s Hot Products, which has gone out of business, posted that the very last of her Bloody Mary mix is available for sale at Cordelia’s Market. This is your last chance to stock up.

A second Sunrise Memphis location will open in East Memphis. The popular breakfast spot will open in the building being vacated by Blue Plate Cafe.

Memphis Voyager recently sat down for a talk with Charles Nwankwo and Rickey Johnson, two of the owners of Sage Memphis.

The Cousins Maine Lobster food truck will be at Grind City Brewing Co. this Sunday from 1 to 6.

A couple of days ago I linked to a story about Brookside, Alabama, a Birmingham suburb that is a notorious traffic trap. Yesterday there was a followup story that the police chief has resigned.

Shen Yun, a dance performance celebrating the culture of China, comes to the Cannon Center this Saturday. There are 2 PM and 7 PM performances and tickets are $80-$150.

Bardog Tavern will have a Valentine’s Day wine dinner featuring the wines of Meiomi downstairs in the Underdog Monday, February 14 at 6:30 PM. The dinner includes

First course: Crab cakes with remoulade

Second course: Lobster bisque or spring salad

Main course: Your choice of a 12 oz. New York strip with scallops and herbed butter, garlic mashed potatoes, and asparagus; OR halibut with crawfish cream sauce, risotto, and Brussels sprouts with bacon jam

Dessert: Tres leches cake with fresh fruit

The dinner comes with one cocktail and four Meiomi wines. Cost is $95 excluding tax and tip. Limited availability. Get tickets at the bar or by phone.

The Grizzlies are on the road at San Antonio tonight at 7:30. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Southeast.

Old Dominick Distillery is hiring Part-Time Tour Guides.

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow.

Tuesday update

Some Mud Island residents are unhappy that MPD recently conducted a sting in their neighborhood. The operation drew nine men and one women to the River Inn at Harbor Town, where they were arrested on charges related to human trafficking, prostitution, and promoting prostitution. People were complaining, why did this have to happen here, the publicity about criminal activity could lower our property values.

The answer is pretty clear: Say they held the operation at a hotel on Germantown Parkway. If the criminals sensed something was not right and tried to flee, they’d have many different escape routes and it would be nearly impossible for police to cover them all. On Mud Island, there are only two escape routes: The A.W. Willis bridge and the back entrance where Mud Island Drive meets Second Street about a mile south of Frayser. I’m sure the police had both of those exits covered.

A representative from Harbor Town posted to Nextdoor that River Inn’s assistance was requested and gladly provided. Because of the operation, several young women are now availed of the services of Restore Corps, which helps victims of human trafficking. Ten criminals were taken off the streets, as were cocaine, crack, meth, marijuana, and three guns.

Congratulations to River Inn and all the agencies involved on an operation that was safe, discreet, and successful. As for the property owners complaining this will give Mud Island a reputation as a neighborhood that attracts criminals, I would be much more concerned about a certain large, ungated apartment complex on the north half of the island than I would operations like this one.

According to another report on Nextdoor, there was gunfire near Loflin Yard last night. MPD had the street taped off at one point and shell casings were found on Carolina Avenue. Note that Loflin Yard is closed on Mondays, so the shooting was not likely connected to anything going on there.

Carolina Watershed has been doing right after dark on Sundays lately. They have the ones that light up so you can see them in the dark.

Last week, I mentioned that TV host Jon Taffer announced that he’d be involved in a new show concept. That concept has now been made public: Restaurant Rivals will feature Restaurant Impossible‘s Robert Irvine in a competition with Bar Rescue‘s Jon Taffer. Irvine and Taf will each have 24 hours to turn around a restaurant, with diners rating who did better. Irvine tends to focus more on menus, while Taffer focuses on the overall restaurant experience. The show will be carried on Discovery+.

Rep. John Gillespie of Memphis wants to create a new criminal charge, aggravated reckless driving, to make sure that drivers in the city who willfully endanger others get more than just a slap on the wrist. The new charge would be a Class A misdemeanor, where reckless driving is a Class B.

Congrats to the bar at Good Fortune Co. and South Main Nutrition, both of which received perfect scores of 100 on health inspections last week.

Interesting read: The former New Mexico secretary of labor got a job bartending a movie theater in a wealthy suburb of Austin, and the theater sounds a lot like Downtown’s Malco Powerhouse. His experience over Christmas 2021 lead him to write a piece about the real reasons companies are having trouble retaining staff.

Here’s a clock that tells you time via literature. H/t to the Morning Brew newsletter for this link and the one above.

Today is National Irish Coffee Day.

School of Rock Memphis will perform a tribute to the Grateful Dead Friday at 8 at Memphis Clover Club.

Marty Ray Project is live at the Tin Roof tonight at 7. Holy crap they covered Vanilla Ice!

Robert Moody presents The Orchestra: Unplugged: Hallelujiah Handel at the Halloran Centre Thursday and Friday. Both performances are at 7:30 PM and are $37.50.

That’s it for today’s news. Back tomorrow.

Monday update

Got an important note for any of my readers who have reason to drive I-22 southeast into Birmingham. (Lamar Avenue which runs through Memphis becomes I-22 in north Mississippi.) There’s a northwest suburb of Birmingham named Brookside that is gaining national attention as a notorious speed trap. Cops will sit on I-22, even though, according to Google Maps, I-22 does not run through Brookside. Not only will they aggressively ticket violations, but they will also concoct violations out of thin air.

This sounds like an area to avoid. You can do so by taking the U.S. 72 exit about a mile before Brookside and taking that highway into Birmingham. It may add a few minutes to your trip, but it could save you fines and the hassle of court appearances.

There was a trash fire reported on the Main Street Mall this morning around 4 near Margie’s 901 ice cream shop. The fire was quickly put out. Probably a homeless person trying to stay warm.

This’ll be of interest to NBA fans… the Brooklyn Nets have become the first pro sports team to move into the metaverse to provide fans an immersive game experience. A system of 100 high-res cameras will provide a 3D fan experience from any position on the court. Want to be on the free-throw line when Kevin Durant shoots? You can. Want to be in the corner when James Harden attempts a three? You can. With the proper virtual reality hardware, of course. That hardware isn’t cheap, but neither are Nets tickets. The name of the Nets’ metaverse? The Netaverse.

I wonder if the Grizzlies will have their own VR/AR metaverse in the near future. Memphis isn’t as wealthy or as technologically advanced a city as New York, so it probably isn’t the immediate priority (a deep run into the playoffs is the immediate priority). Still, I bet we see something like that in Memphis no later than 2025.

A friend pointed out to me that it looks like the Western Conference semifinals will be going on during BBQ Fest. BBQ teams, you better start figuring out how to get a TV in your booths.

With one-third of the team out for various reasons, the Grizzlies dropped a road game to Dallas last night, 104-91. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Utah lost too, so Memphis still holds 3rd place in the West by a game over the Jazz.

The Memphis Tigers, on the other hand, notched a road W over Tulsa, 83-81. The contest looked out of reach for Memphis in the first half and early second half, then Tyler Harris switched into boss mode and brought us back.

Next up for the Tigers: Thursday vs. East Carolina, 8 PM at FedExForum. There will be a lot going on for that game:

From the DM: Development partners Kevin Woods and Billy Orgel, along with Paul Young who runs DMC, discuss plans for the 100 N. Main project. In particular, check out this drawing illustrating the building’s future components. Young notes that by combining office space with hotel space and apartments, that block of Main Street will be activated 18 hours a day.

Fact I gleaned from today’s Morning Brew newsletter: This will be the first time in 12 years that neither the NFC nor AFC conference title game will feature Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers.

Also from the Brew… Bitcoin is down to $35,919. Daaaang it was up in the $64K neighborhood as recently as November.

AI technology is now advising the world’s highest-stakes Texas Hold’em poker players. For example, AI might tell a player who has a suited 7 and 6 with an Ace, Jack, and 2 on the flop that he should check (bet nothing) 39% of the time, bet 30% of the pot 51% of the time, and bet 80% of the pot 10% of the time. That behavior will optimally confuse the other players at the table as to what the player actually holds.

The good news for us causal players is that only the players at the highest levels (like those who buy in for a tournament for $250,000) have both the money to buy the AI software and the time to study its recommendations for all the different hands. You shouldn’t be at a disadvantage if you buy into a $30 tournament or a $1/$2 cash game at Tunica or Southaven.

Today is Beer Can Appreciation Day and I plan on appreciating some Pabst Blue Ribbon cans later this evening.

It’s also National Peanut Butter Day. My recommendation to celebrate would be at the Arcade restaurant with their fried peanut butter and banana sandwich.

Anyone else getting a “Card Encryption Error” when they try to pay with their chipped debit card at Walgreens today? Never seen that before. It was no big deal, though, my total was only $7 and I had cash.

Weather-wise, no rain expected this week but today is expected to be the only day with above-normal temperatures. It should get close to 60 today, but don’t break out the shorts – it’ll get down to bear freezing tonight.

The Broom Closet on South Main will host a Third Eye Opening event with instructor Matt Petty tonight at 6:30. There will be a variety of sounds from singing bowls, chimes, and gongs. Bring a yoga mat. Space is limited and late entries won’t be accepted.

That’s the news for today. Back tomorrow.

Sunday update

Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers are back on national TV today, playing a road game at Tulsa. on ESPN Tip-off is 2 PM. Gotta impress that NIT selection committee!

The Grizzlies are on the road as well, playing the Dallas Mavericks tonight at 6:30.

Today is National Pie Day.

Here’s a link to James Aycock’s COVID Week-in-Review. Most notably, his kids are sitting in auditoriums or gyms for hours a day (although fewer hours than 2 weeks ago), not being taught anything, at school because so many teachers are out in isolation or quarantine. He states (and I agree) that the public deserves to know how many hours a week this is happening per school, since it’s our tax dollars that are funding education.

Kids throw free at the Downtown Civil Axe Throwing location today.

DJ Duke spins classic soul at the Hard Rock tonight 6 to 9.

Kinsey Rose from “The Voice” will perform at South Main Sounds Friday night at 7. She’ll be joined by Alexis Taylor.

Wyly Bigger will perform at halftime at Saturday’s Grizzlies game.

That concludes a rather boring Sunday post. There’s really not much going on this time of year. I’ll be back tomorrow if I have any news to report.

Saturday update

The Memphis Public Libraries posted some news to Facebook yesterday that I have been waiting a long, long time to hear:

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated Cossitt Library at Front and Monroe is next week!!!!! Tuesday, January 25 at 9:30 AM.

I will be there and I am so excited! Since I can write from any location I want, I anticipate taking my laptop up there often and getting a lot of work done. Plus I’ll have access to thousands of books to inspire writing ideas.

I re-shared the library system’s post, and 14 hours later, my re-share has 7 likes. If I’d shared a post about a new nightclub opening rather than a library, I bet it would have got 70 likes. Such is the world we live in.

I finally located my mugshot on the wall at the Blind Bear:

You can find the mugshots on the wall to the right, immediately after you walk in the front door. Want your mugshot taken? You can have it done at the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre party on February 12.

I’m kinda surprised at how many people were smiling or giggling in their mugshots. Think about it. You’ve been making thousands of dollars a week smuggling rum into the States from Canada for 7, 8 years now. Now it’s 1929 and the Feds finally nabbed you. You’re probably not going to know life outside a prison cell again until the 1950s. Would YOU be smiling?

Memphis-themed gift shop Feelin’ Memphis now has Homecooking Dinner Mixes by Southern Sister’s Gourmet. Tawanda and Cordell tried the Chicken and Dumplins and the Mississippi Mud Brownies this week and loved it. Stop by the store at 509 S. Main and pick some up.

Stix, the fast-casual Asian restaurant on Second, now has Sake Hot Chocolate. They combine powdered hot chocolate mix with Hakushika’s Snow Beauty Junmai Nigori Sake to produce this creation which is great on a cold winter day.

Penny Hardaway’s profanity-laced tirade against the media following Thursday’s loss to SMU made the national news – New York PostESPN. I’m really beginning to think that Penny has subconsciously, but not yet consciously, realized he’s in over his head in this head coaching gig. I’m tired of hearing, yeah, we woulda won but injuries and COVID and 17-18-year-old players. I want to hear, “No excuses. I should have done a better job instructing my team.”

OK, good… now I see that Penny apologized to the city and the fans for his rant. That apology needed to happen.

The Grizzlies got a nice road win over the Denver Nuggets, 122-118, last night, with Ja looking like his usual All-Star self and dropping in 38.

There was a vehicle collision with injuries this morning at Jackson and North B.B. King. That’s near the entrance to St. Jude. I hope no patients or family members were involved.

Barbie’s Inspiring Women series has added an Ida B. Wells doll to its collection.

Today is National Hot Sauce Day.

Memphis Symphony Orchestra will perform Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony at the Cannon Center tonight.

Time to eat Chef Boy-ar-dee spaghetti and meatballs and read the WWE Smackdown recap from last night, then it’ll be time for a full day of bears, geese, and dogs. Back tomorrow with more news.