Beware, Memphis. It’s Friday the 13th, and with the date falling in October (aka spooky season), what better day for artist Lauren Holtermann to open her annual Monster Market of creepy, Memphis-made goods?

Or maybe 13 is your lucky number, just like Taylor Swift. Not coincidentally, her new “The Eras Tour” documentary opens tonight at the Museum of Science and History. Let’s hope 13 is the Memphis Tigers’ lucky number, too; they take on reigning AAC champs Tulane tonight. 

On Saturday, Bellevue Baptist Church will hold services for Tim Shelton, who died after suffering cardiac arrest during last weekend’s St. Jude Ironman 70.3. On a lighter note, there’s a solar eclipse on Saturday, and we’ve got a guide on how to watch. Plus, Crosstown Brewing Co. is holding its annual Oktoberfest (called Crosstoberfest, natch). And in Southaven, you can start the day at FallFest and then head to the Outlaw Music Festival, where the ultimate outlaw, Willie Nelson, is playing.

Sunday will be a lazy day on the couch for me (maybe you as well), as I tune my TV to the Memphis Grizzlies preseason game against the Miami Heat.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Fans watched Dru Hill perform at Beale Street Music Festival in Tom Lee Park on May 7. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian file)

The day the music died: There won’t be a Beale Street Music Festival next year. Memphis in May International Festival announced on Thursday that it would put a pause on the annual music fest and that it would move the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest to Liberty Park. MIM recently revealed a record $3.48 million loss from this year’s festivals, which it blamed on national trends with music festivals, the redesign of Tom Lee Park and the $1.4 million bill MIM received for park damages following the 2023 fests.

“It’s really important that this stadium thing moves forward and remains on track,” said University of Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

U of M wants stadium upgrade ASAP: University of Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch said on Thursday that the renovations to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium need to happen immediately after the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Dec. 29. “A delay has multiple implications. Even if it’s a month- or two-delay, then we could not complete it by the [2025] season,” said Veatch on the ESPN 92.9 radio show Giannotto & Jeffrey. The U of M already asked Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland to decouple the planned FedExForum renovations from the stadium project, but Strickland hasn’t done that yet.

Crash victim identified after multi-state police chase: Milan Alilovic, 40, of New York was killed in a fiery crash on Interstate 55 in Hernando on Wednesday. His commercial vehicle was struck by a Dodge Ram driven by Matthew George Nemacheck, 37, of Palmyra, Wisconsin. Police in Marion, Arkansas, began pursuing Nemacheck after a report that he was following a woman on the interstate there. The pursuit went through Memphis into North Mississippi before Nemacheck crossed a median and hit Alilovic’s vehicle. Nemacheck, who survived the crash, is charged with culpable negligent manslaughter in DeSoto County, with more charges expected.

Joel Bowman (right) appeared in the courtroom of Judge Karen Massey (not pictured) on Thursday, Oct. 12. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Updates on Margolin suspect, Henderson rape trial: Joel Bowman, the man accused in a July 31 shooting incident at Margolin Hebrew Academy, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Thursday. Next up, Bowman will appear in criminal court pending an indictment on the charges against him: criminal attempt of second-degree murder and several other charges stemming from the incident in which Bowman allegedly fired a weapon outside the East Memphis school. In other criminal justice news, a trial date has been set for Cleotha Abston, also known as Henderson, to face charges in the September 2021 rape of Alicia Franklin. Abston is also charged in the killing of Eliza Fletcher.

MEET MEMPHIS

Brandon Montel competed on NBC’s “The Voice.” (Greg Gayne/NBC)

Memphis native Brandon Montel, who currently lives in Los Angeles, has advanced to the next round on NBC’s “The Voice.” Montel competed in the “blind audition” stage of the show last Monday, singing H.E.R.’s “Hard Place.” All four judges — country singer Reba McEntire, former One Direction member Niall Horan, soul singer John Legend and pop singer Gwen Stefani — wanted to be his coach for the season, but he chose Stefani. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

Doc’s Wine, Spirits and More will close permanently by the end of the month or by early November. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Closings and openings: Doc’s Wine, Spirits & More in Germantown is going out of business as soon as it runs out of inventory. The store opened in Carrefour at Kirby Woods eight years ago. But now the shopping center it’s in is being redeveloped as The Standard Germantown. And general manager Matthew Engle said business has taken a hit since development work began. Meanwhile, in the South Main Arts District, a new fine-dining restaurant called Fable is planned for the old Puck Food Hall space at 409 S. Main Street. Building owner Jared Welch said Fable will serve international cuisines with “a Memphis and Southern touch.” Lucky Cowboy bar, which was previously a pop-up selfie museum, will open a permanent space in the basement. And in Collierville, six new businesses are preparing to open, including a slime factory for kids, in The Shops at Carriage Crossing.

Sitting in the shadow of Clark Tower, the former Racquet Club of Memphis site is being redeveloped as Mid-City Memphis. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Mid-City moves ahead: The Shelby County Land Use Control Board approved the new Mid-City Memphis development at the site of the former Racquet Club on Thursday. The proposed East Memphis mixed-use development includes a hotel, housing, office space, retail space and a parking garage. Some neighborhood business owners expressed concerns over the potential for increased traffic. In other development news, Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery is moving forward with a new crematorium, following approval by the Land Use Control Board. The funeral home refocused its original plans to build the facility along Yates Road following pushback from Jewish neighbors.

Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson tried to get a shot past the Atlanta Hawks’ Bruno Fernando on Thursday, Oct. 12, in Atlanta. (John Bazemore/AP)

The GG and Vince show: A couple of Memphis Grizzlies two-way-contract forwards got their time to shine in Thursday night’s 103-102 preseason road loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Rookie GG Jackson and second-year forward Vince Williams Jr., along with Kenneth Lofton Jr., led a feisty fourth-quarter comeback that fell one shot short. But Jackson finished with a game-high 24 points, and Williams had a strong game defensively. As we approach the regular season, the Grizzlies starting lineup looks pretty well set with Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane in the backcourt and Jaren Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams up front. But who will play starting small forward? There are five candidates in the mix, and our own Chris Herrington has ranked them from most to least likely for the job.

The Hong Kong Egg Tarts at Dim Sum King are flaky pastries filled with egg custard. (Courtesy Derek Wong)

Dim sum for a small sum: There are 49 items to choose from on Dim Sum King’s brunch menu. And each dim sum item ranges from a little over $4 to about $9, meaning there are 49 potential $10 Deals here. With that many choices, it’d be easy to get overwhelmed, but food writer Joshua Carlucci is here to help. He tells us about six of his favorite items, including the breakfast dessert of Hong Kong Egg Tarts, which he describes as “slightly sweet but not in a weird way.” (That’s also how I’d describe a number of my friends.)

SensorySuite is an interactive experience that helps alleviate the anxiety and perceived pain many patients report feeling during mammograms. (Courtesy Baptist Medical Group)

Mammogram vacay: Ladies, would you be more likely to schedule routine mammograms if it meant being virtually whisked away to a stunning vacation spot? Maybe a beach, waterfall or mountains, perhaps? That’s the hope with Baptist Medical Group Clinic’s new SensorySuite program, an interactive experience designed to distract patients from anxiety around mammograms. Patients can choose a serene video and customize their experience with a calming fragrance, such as lavender or eucalyptus. (Okay, sign me up.)

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Memphians have lots of thoughts about Memphis in May putting the pause on Beale Street Music Festival next year. Personally, I’ll be sad to see it go. This year’s fest in Tom Lee Park was lovely, but the lineup left much to be desired.

Have a fun weekend. I’ll be toasting with some Crosstoberfest beer.

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