Happy Friday! Today is Nov. 18, and if you’re looking for a place to get caffeinated this morning, JoJo’s Espresso opens today in Germantown (more on that and other coffee news below).

We’re entering a big sports-y weekend. The Memphis Grizzlies play the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight at FedExForum. (Let’s just ignore what Charles Barkley said about Ja Morant, okay?) If art is more your thing, Crosstown Arts is hosting openings for three artists tonight. (Tying the two together: If you’re not following @artbutmakeitsports, you’re missing the best thing on Instagram.)

On Saturday, the Memphis Tigers football team plays North Alabama at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, and the senior players really want to keep the team’s bowl game streak alive.

And on Sunday, the Tigers basketball team plays Virginia Commonwealth University at home, and the Grizzlies will play an away game against the Brooklyn Nets. For some weekend ideas that aren’t sports, check out our To-Do List.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Hernandez Govan, (left) the third suspect arrested in the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, along with his lawyer William Massey, (right) was arraigned in Judge Lee Coffee’s courtroom on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Man who allegedly ordered Young Dolph hit pleads not guilty: On the one-year anniversary of Memphis rapper Young Dolph’s murder, Hernandez Govan, the man who allegedly ordered a hit on Adolph Thornton Jr., pleaded not guilty to three murder charges related to his death. “He’s not the shooter,” said Govan’s attorney, William Massey. Thornton was shot at Makeda’s Homemade Cookies on Airways Boulevard on Nov. 17, 2021. Two other suspects, Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith, are also awaiting trial. Meanwhile, on the inaugural Adolph “Young Dolph” Thornton Jr. Day of Service on Thursday, the IdaMae Family Foundation offered free meals, winter kits, haircuts and mental health services.

Protesters forced the Poplar Plaza Starbucks to close on Thursday, Nov. 17. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Red Cup Rebellion: Striking Starbucks workers at the Poplar Plaza location forced the store to close on Red Cup Day — Thursday — before 11 a.m. Red Cup Day, when Starbucks gives out reusable, red holiday cups, is one of the company’s busiest days, and unionized workers across the country held a Red Cup Rebellion strike to bring attention to issues around staffing, access to health benefits, supply shortages and other issues. “We have been asking them to bargain in good faith and give us better staffing. It’s frustrating to have to keep resorting to this in order to get our demands heard,” said worker Nabretta Hardin.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland doesn’t yet know how much money to allot for each project in his sports venue improvement plan, and he’s waiting on the Memphis Grizzlies for an answer. (Drew Hill/The Daily Memphian file)

Mayor needs answer from Grizzlies, stat: Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland can’t say just yet how much money will be allocated to each of the four different projects — FedExForum, Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, AutoZone Park and a new soccer stadium — in his $684 million sports venue enhancement plan. And the Memphis Grizzlies are the hold-up. “We still haven’t heard back from the Grizzlies as far as exactly what they want to do,” Strickland said. He said he hasn’t given the team a deadline yet, but he’ll need to know soon since he’s planning to ask the state for $350 million. The state’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget process is already underway.

Juveniles facing criminal charges in Shelby County Juvenile Court increased more than 40% according to a report from the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission. (The Daily Memphian file)

Juvenile crime on the rise: The number of juveniles facing criminal charges in Shelby County Juvenile Court increased more than 40% from January through September compared with the same period last year. The Memphis Shelby Crime Commission’s latest statistics found that the majority of violent delinquent charges were for aggravated assaults, carjackings and aggravated robberies. The report also raised concerns about where to house all those juveniles.

MEET MEMPHIS

Jacqueline Taylor will help plan the long-term vision for Southwest Tennessee Community College in her new role. (Submitted)

Jacqueline Taylor may have been the first in her family to go to college, but she has since made a career in academia. Taylor started her academic career at Jackson State Community College, supporting a family and working part-time as an administrative secretary while earning her associate degree (and later her master’s and a doctorate degree). Taylor was recently named Southwest Tennessee Community College’s first chief of staff and chief strategy officer, a role that involves vision planning for the college’s future.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Mikey Williams (left) and Ashton Hardaway are two of the recruits from Penny Hardaway’s “gold mine” class of 2023. (The Daily Memphian file)

Penny strikes gold: Memphis Tigers basketball coach Penny Hardaway took last year off of recruiting high school players, resulting in this season’s veteran team. But he’s back at it for next season, having already landed seven commitments in the Class of 2023, highlighted by five-star guard and social media star Mikey Williams. The Daily Memphian’s John Martin talked to a few college coaches to get their thoughts. Said one coach: “He just struck a gold mine. Mikey’s going to be huge.” But if the university wants to keep those athletes, it may take a little help from their friends. In a letter to the program’s large donors on Thursday, University of Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch asked for additional money.

Muggin’ Coffee House co-owner Mary Olds leads a demonstration for new employees on Thursday, June 25, 2020. Mary and her husband Ken, who are both Whitehaven natives, fell in love with coffee while attending college in Chattanooga. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

You getting deja brew yet? In the final installment of Chris Herrington’s series of Memphis coffee guides, he takes us on a tour of shops in East Memphis and beyond. Here, we find the city’s largest coffee shop (inside a church), the clubhouse for “Cxffeeblack” (a Memphis-based movement returning coffee culture to its Black roots) and a Bartlett shop that sells voodoo doll-shaped beignets. Also out east, you’ll find the new, coffee-cart-turned-brick-and-mortar JoJo’s Espresso in Germantown’s Thornwood (it opens today). In case you missed them, you can find Herrington’s Downtown coffee guide here and Midtown coffee guide here.

Team Car Cafe is tucked into Latting Speed Shop in Cordova and features breakfast fare from El Mero Taco, which is next door. (Chris Herrington/The Daily Memphian)

Speaking of coffee (but also tacos): The best breakfast tacos in town are at a taco shop that isn’t actually open for breakfast, according to The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington. In this week’s $10 Deal, Herrington offers this pro tip for anyone craving a.m. tacos: Go to Team Car Café — the coffee shop inside Latting Speed Shop in Cordova — and ask for the El Mero Taco breakfast menu. El Mero, which is located next door to the bike shop, is Team Car’s de facto kitchen, and though El Mero doesn’t open until 11 a.m., their breakfast tacos are available at Team Car beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Ben Pirmann

901 FC coach quits: Fresh off a Coach of Year win and the 901 FC’s most successful season in club history, coach Ben Pirmann has left the building (or the field, as it were). Pirmann has taken a new coaching job with United Soccer League Championship’s Charleston Battery. In a statement, 901 FC president Craig Unger said that it was the club’s desire to keep Pirmann, but an agreement on a new contract couldn’t be reached.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Thursday was the inaugural Adolph “Young Dolph” Thornton Jr. Day of Service in honor of the slain Memphis rapper, and free services were offered across the country. And, of course, there were social media tributes to Dolph throughout the day, like this original artwork by @darealicon.

R.I.P. Young Dolph. Go Grizzlies! Go Tigers! Have a beautiful weekend, and try to stay warm (maybe some hot coffee will help).

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