Guests could jot down notes on the “method” and “tasting” of the coffee they sampled at the Grind City Coffee Xpo, a fundraiser for Save Our Aquifer held November 6th at the downtown Wiseacre Brewery. The list of coffee purveyors included Frothy Monkey, Honest Coffee Roasters, Dr. Bean’s Coffee & Tea Emporium, Ugly Mug, and others.
This year’s event, which drew around 600, was “100 percent successful,” says event co-host Daniel Lynn. “It was incredible. Just the support from both the coffee community and the Memphis community at large was awesome.”
Event participants included coffee roasters, coffee shops, a tea shop and vendor, a coffee-mug maker, a T-shirt maker, a coffee frozen-treat business, and a farm.
The previous Grind City Coffee Xpo was held in March 2019 at the Memphis College of Art. Lynn is looking forward to next year’s event. “It’s definitely going to be in the fall again. I can’t remember why we had it in March the first time, but fall is the time for coffee, man. So, that’s what we’re doing.”
And, he says, “The first year we had it the day before ‘spring forward’ daylight savings. And this time, the day before ‘fall back’ daylight savings. Maybe to keep the good voodoo going I’m going to find out when the next fall back is and have it then. I believe in these little signs in the universe. Not to be too hippie about it.”
Hog and Hominy Returns
The eagerly-awaited return of Hog & Hominy restaurant took place with soft-opening events before the restaurant opened its doors to the public November 5th.
I tried the sweet breads, chicken liver mousse, poutine, octopus, and a couple of pizzas, including the classic Hog and Hominy Thunderbird during the November 3rd soft opening dinner. Everything was wonderful.
The restaurant at 707 West Brookhaven Circle has been widened in all directions after a 2020 fire. The beautiful bar area with booths and the dining room are elegant looking, but the restaurant still has that casual Hog and Hominy vibe.
Trolley Night Finale For the Year
Bands performed on stages on Main Street on October 29th — the final Trolley Night of the season.
“It was actually kind of a partnership with the Downtown Memphis Commission and Memphis Tourism Board for piecing that together,” says South Main Association president Eric Bourgeois. “They reached out to us and made sure it was going to be a feasible activation. And we knew the community would be 100 percent behind it. It was kind of a no-brainer for us.”
Trolley Night returned last June after a 19-month absence. “With the exception of the return of Trolley Night this spring, this was essentially the most attended Trolley Night over the last couple of years. So, we’re excited about that.”
Stages were set up at G. E. Patterson Avenue and Main Street, Slider Inn Downtown on South Main, and Main Street and Beale Street. Trolley Nighters were treated to shows by performers including Al Kapone and the North Mississippi All-Stars. “We had equidistant stages,” says Bourgeois. “Something for everyone throughout the night, with the addition of several small shows at many of our businesses up and down Main Street.”
Stages won’t be set up at every Trolley Night, Bourgeois says. “While it was awesome and exciting for everyone, it was a large undertaking.” But, he adds, “It certainly was a success.”
Halloween at Black Lodge
The Halloween Masquerade Ball at Black Lodge celebrated its 20th anniversary on Halloween Night.
About 200 attended, says creator and a co-owner Matt Martin. “Normally, for the last 10 to 15 years that number has been closer to 500 or 600,” Martin says. “We knew this year would be smaller, as every show is now. But we were impressed with the turnout, all things considered. There’s still a lot of hesitation on the part of the public to go to events even when we’re requiring proof of vaccination and masks required.”
What makes the Black Lodge Halloween event so special. “Besides the fact that it’s our anniversary — we opened three days before Halloween in 2000 — Memphians look forward to it every year.
“Also what makes it extremely special is that after doing it so many years, in 2020 was the first time we didn’t do it. There were many markers for us that year that were painful. We all felt this (party) was so special. It was finally time to ask people to come back. It’s safe now. Let’s all visit and reconnect. And it’s a time when people need to reconnect now more than ever. It was an important event, not just for Black Lodge, but for the art community in Memphis.”
Grind City Coffee Xpo 
Photographs by Justin Fox Burks 
