Black Friday need not be so black. Pace yourself, take a break, and take a drink. To help you through your day of shopping we’ve come up with a list of drinks to match your Christmas list.
Chia Pet
Back in the day, “chia” was just a word that was always preceded with “ch-ch-ch.” Spread some tiny seeds over a clay sculpture of an elephant or a hippo, add water, and in a few days, you had a furry green elephant or a furry green hippo.
But in recent years, someone discovered “Hey, we can eat these seeds, and they’re really good for us!” (Actually, the Aztecs were believed to have been consuming them as long ago as the 16th century, but why quibble?) When you add omega-3-rich chia seeds to liquid, they plump up and act as a thickener, so they’re perfect in smoothies.
Get your Black Friday chia fix at Love Shack, the vegan smoothie bar, with the fruity, creamy Nouveau Moi Smoothie (blueberry, banana, almonds, chia seeds, matcha green tea, spirulina, protein powder, molasses, and coconut, almond, and soy milks). You’ll need those omega-3’s to restore your mental energy after shopping all day. And doesn’t a smoothie seem like a much better use of chia seeds than using them to grow a beard for your Duck Dynasty Chia Pet?
— Bianca Phillips
Love Shack, 2886 Walnut Grove (323-2288)
Handy Dandy All-In-One Tool
It’s a knife! It’s a nail file! It’s a corkscrew! It’s everything you need in a convenient tool that fits in your pocket.
Tamp & Tap, downtown’s coffeehouse/bar, is a bit like that all-in-one tool. Stop by in the morning (they open at 7 a.m.) before hitting the Black Friday sales for a Delta Eagle (raspberry, dark chocolate, espresso, milk) or a Silver Service (English breakfast tea with steamed milk, vanilla, and lavender syrup). And then swing by again post-shopping to wind down and reenergize (at the same time!) with a Wiseacre Coffee Milk Stout (a coffee beer brewed with Tamp & Tap’s beans).
By day’s end, you’ll probably need a little something more than beer to wind down, though. Mi Pueblo has that all-in-one thing down with its Margarona, a massive frozen margarita with an open Corona bottle turned upside down in the glass. As you sip, the Corona slowly drains into the margarita, creating a carbonated ‘rita that will have you temporarily forgetting about all those charges you racked up on your credit card. — BP
Tamp & Tap, 122 Gayoso
(207-1053)
Mi Pueblo, 5007 Black (244-7914)
Snuggie
If the early-morning madness leaves you wanting to snuggle up with a warm drink, stop by Cooper-Young’s Java Cabana and order a Mystery Train. This vanilla and hazelnut latte topped with a swirl of whipped cream will wrap your insides with warmth as you curl up on one of Java’s couches and contemplate how you will ever have time to wrap all of the gifts you just purchased. The store’s specialty-drinks menu includes many other coffee masterpieces as well.
Poplar Perk’n in East Memphis is another cozy place for a shopping break. This little coffee shop near the Laurelwood Shopping Center has a drive-thru and three tables and a comfy L-shaped couch inside. There is a window-side bar where you can sit and sip your hot apple cider or latte made with your choice of whole, skim, soy, almond, or coconut milk, as you laugh at the frantic drivers on Poplar rushing to catch the day’s deals (before joining them, of course).
— Hannah Anderson
Java Cabana, 2170 Young (272-7210)
Poplar Perk’n, 4610 Poplar (433-9401)
Tickle Me Elmo
If you need something bubbly and light to refresh you during your shopping spree, try a strawberry Italian soda from Square Beans Coffee in Collierville Town Square. They can also make Italian sodas with any of the syrup flavors they have in the store such as vanilla or hazelnut.
Another tickly taste experience is the Ginger Snap tea at Otherlands Coffee Bar. Brewed with fresh ginger, the spicy tea can be tempered with honey or sipped straight up for a kick that will wake you up sans caffeine. — HA
Square Beans Coffee, 103 N. Center, Collierville (854-8855)
Otherlands Coffee Bar, 641 S. Cooper (278-4994)
The Clapper
Take your mind off shopping during the craziest shopping day of the year and watch one of the NBA or college football games scheduled for Friday at Jack Magoo’s on Broad. The friendly bartenders are more than willing to change one of their many TVs to any game you want while making you a cocktail from their full bar. Jack Magoo’s opens at 11 a.m., perfect for a mid-day stopping point after those early-morning sales. And if you get preoccupied with the games, the bar closes at 3 a.m., which should give you plenty of time to come up with an excuse for where you’ve been. Connect the Clapper to your phone — your fingers might be a bit occupied with Jack’s wings to answer it.
— Alexandra Pusateri
Jack Magoo’s Sports Bar & Grill, 2583 Broad (746-9612)
The Veg-O-Matic
Get the daily recommended dose of vegetables at Local on the Square either in the middle of your shopping day or after. Between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., the restaurant features express lunches for $10, a perfect stopping point in the rush of it all. After the afternoon deals you bag, you can catch happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., which has $2 off pints, $3 well drinks, $4 martinis, and $5 wines, as well as a cheap food menu. The lunch specials are the usual fare — yummy sandwiches, soups, and salads that pair nicely with Local’s well-known Bloody Mary. At dinner, the Creole-flavor shrimp and grits are the best complement to a Southern shopping excursion. — AP
Local on the Square, 2126 Madison (725-1845)
Black Friday Coffee + Cocktails
Alchemy Black Friday — whose idea was that? Alchemy Happy Hour — that’s an idea we’re proud of! Drink specials every Monday through Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.
940 S. Cooper • 726-4444 • alchemymemphis.com
Blind Bear
Need a place to relax after a crazy Black Friday? Wanna watch the big college games? The Blind Bear is your spot! We’ve got Saturday Hungover Like a Bear Brunch, full bottle specials, $3 mimosas, moonshine, Fireball, and Bloody Marys. Open at noon. Specials ’til 6 p.m.
119 S. Main • 417-8435 • blindbearmemphis.com
The Brushmark Restaurant at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
After shopping for one-of-a-kind items in the Museum Store, relax at the Brushmark Restaurant with a cocktail perfected by Chef Wally Joe, a regionally crafted beer, or a sampling from our wine selection. Or wander the Brooks’ galleries and then cozy up with a cappuccino and enjoy the stunning view of the changing seasons in Overton Park. Choose the Brushmark, and help support the arts in Memphis! Black Friday hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
1934 Poplar • 544-6222 • brooksmuseum.org
Fox & Hound Sanderlin
Let Fox & Hound turn your Black Friday into Fun Friday! Join us after a long day of
shopping to unwind with coffee and cocktails, including all-day specials just for you.
While you’re here, grab a gift card for those to finish off your shopping list. Every $25 in gift cards gets you a scratch-off card for an extra giveaway. Don’t miss a great day of treats.
5101 Sanderlin • 763-2013 • foxandhound.com
Jim’s Place Restaurant & Bar
After a frenetic day of shopping, relax in elegance at Jim’s Place, the oldest family-owned and operated restaurant in Memphis. Stop by before, during, or after your shopping for coffee, cocktails, or both! Our chic bar with deep mahogany and the soft glow of chandeliers will allow you to sit back and unwind in splendor.
518 Perkins Ext. • 766-2030 • jimsplacememphis.com
Molly’s LaCasita
Molly’s has the ultimate Black Friday drink. It’s our first-place award-winning margarita (Memphis Flyer readers’ poll 2013). When you’re done shopping, keep your darlin’ figure with Molly’s new low-calorie Nectar Girl Margarita. Molly’s has an ice-cold one ready for you that is sure to please.
2006 Madison • 726-1873 • mollyslacasita.com
Tamp & Tap
We have two specialty coffee drinks to get you going after your early start on Black Friday: The Cannonball Express, a unique blend of hot spiced chai, milk, and espresso, is our personal favorite. The Tennessean, a silky caramel and white chocolate mocha, is made with plenty of espresso and hot milk to keep you going all day.
122 Gayoso between Second and Main • 207-1053 • tampandtap.com
