Are you ready to get lit, Memphis? It’s Friday, Dec. 6, and Crosstown Concourse is ready. They’ll flip the switch on their massive holiday lighting display tonight. If you’re in the suburbs, you’ll surely find plenty of lights in the Collierville Christmas Parade. And while we’re in the holiday spirit, check out our events guide to markets, lighting displays and more. 

On Saturday, 22,500 runners — myself among them — will take over the streets of Downtown and parts of Midtown for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. If you’re not running and don’t care to watch the race, you could try to make your way over to Crosstown Concourse for WYXR’s “Raised by Sound” fest. But if you’re going at the festival’s 1 p.m. start, you’ll want to avoid North Parkway, which makes up a big chunk of the race route. (See the full route here.) You could also just stay home Saturday night and watch the Memphis Grizzlies play the Boston Celtics on TV.

On Sunday, there’s more basketball as the Memphis Tigers men’s team plays my alma mater, Arkansas State (Go, Red Wolves! Sorry.) at FedExForum, the women’s team plays Southern Mississippi away and the Grizzlies play the Washington Wizards, also away. For more weekend fun, consult The To-Do List. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

Said the Department of Justice’s report on the Memphis Police Department: “Memphis police officers handcuff children as young as 8 years old even when they pose no safety risk.” (Screenshot from the DOJ report)

About those MPD civil rights violations: On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice released a scathing report with findings from its 17-month investigation into the Memphis Police Department. The report said the MPD discriminates against Black residents and those with behavioral-health issues and uses “needless force” against children. But despite those findings, the city is refusing to enter into a binding agreement with the DOJ that would set forth conditions for MPD improvement. Memphis Mayor Paul Young did say they’re taking the findings seriously, but he cited the cost to the city and potential increases in crime as reasons not to enter into an agreement with the DOJ. He also said the city needs more time to review the DOJ’s findings. That said, the DOJ could still sue the city if it doesn’t voluntarily enter into a consent decree. 

Marlon Dechausay

Tigers associate AD dies: Marlon Dechausay, the Tigers’ senior associate athletic director for student-athlete welfare, died late Wednesday night following complications from a heart attack he suffered while attending last week’s Maui Invitational. Dechausay, a former University of Louisiana track athlete, joined the Tigers’ athletic department in 2018. In other news of Tigers staff, women’s volleyball coach Sean Burdette is the first Tigers head coach to be let go since Ed Scott took over as athletic director. The women’s team finished 12-16 in 2024 and did not qualify for the American Athletic Conference Championship tournament.

The $282 million redevelopment of the Sterick Building involves converting 29-story, neo-Gothic structure into a mixed-use property. (The Daily Memphian file)

Old buildings, new money: Redevelopment projects for the Sterick Building and the old Dixie Greyhound Bus Lines complex each received $500,000 from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The two Memphis projects were among 15 recipients of Tennessee Historic Development Grants. The Sterick is being converted into a mixed-use property with multifamily units, a restaurant, a jazz bar and a hotel. And the redeveloped Greyhound station will have multifamily units, a restaurant, artist studios and retail. 

QUOTED

Runners began the Memphis St. Jude Memphis Marathon on Dec. 2, 2023. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

“We have an influx of people running to Downtown Memphis. The power of this race is incredible.”

— Kevin Kane, the president and CEO of Memphis Tourism
The 23rd St. Jude Memphis Marathon, which was established in 2000 as the First Tennessee Memphis Marathon, is expected to bring 22,500 runners from 82 countries and all 50 states to Downtown. The Daily Memphian’s Geoff Calkins shares the story of a man who runs the race every year — both as a runner and an organizer.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Houston’s Restaurant, near the intersection of Poplar Avenue and Mendenhall Road, announced its permanent closure on Dec. 5. (Izzy Gould/The Daily Memphian)

A missed steak? More like missed tendies: After 41 years, Houton’s has closed its only Memphis location, citing staffing issues and public safety concerns. In recent years, Houston’s had made some changes that weren’t popular with its fans, including turning away guests based on what they were wearing. They also removed the beloved chicken tendies from the menu, and if you ask Gibson’s Donuts owner Don DeWeese, that decision right there was the nail in the Houston’s coffin. Former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton, who told us he’s “probably had more meals at Houston’s than I did at any of my homes I’ve lived in,” will have to find a new hangout, too. We talked to Herenton and other regulars on the loss of their fave steakhouse.

TacoNGanas closed its Olive Branch location on Monday, Dec. 2, two weeks after opening. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file) 

Bye, tacos; hello, recipes: While we’re on the topic of restaurant closings, here’s another one: TacoNGanas has closed its Olive Branch spot due to code enforcement issues. But maybe it’ll be back. You can read more on that in Food Files, plus news of a new pizza spot. And in other food news, a new South Memphis cookbook, with recipes collected from its residents, is coming soon. And finally, food writer Joshua Carlucci has a hot tip on a no-frills, off-the-beaten-path barbecue spot in this week’s $10 Deal. 

Memphis Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart passed during the Dec. 5, game against the Sacramento Kings. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

‘Super-Bench, unite’: The Memphis Grizzlies’ bench showed up and showed out during Thursday night’s 115-110 win over the Sacramento Kings. When the going got tough in the fourth quarter, the team couldn’t “call 12” because star Ja Morant had already been ejected. That happened after officials wrongfully called a foul, and though it was later determined that the call was bad, Morant had already cussed out the refs. So, instead, Coach Taylor Jenkins sent in his “bench mob” — Marcus Smart, Jay Huff, Scotty Pippen Jr., Santi Aldama and Jake LaRavia — and they helped the Grizz claw their way to a win. 

Kraftwerk’s Multimedia Tour kicks off on March 6, 2025, in Philadelphia, and includes dates at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. (Courtesy Kraftwerk)

Rolling in on the Autobahn: Save the date, because German electro pioneers Kraftwerk are coming back to Memphis on March 25, 2025. Founder Ralf Hütter and crew are set to play the Overton Park Shell, just three years after their performance at Crosstown Theater. Here’s all the info you’ll need to score tickets. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Memphis diners are losing it over Houston’s closing, y’all. And you can find plenty of griping all over social media. But this video of a woman doing funny voiceovers for the people who pulled up to Houston’s for lunch on Thursday takes the cake. Or the steak? 

Good luck, runners! Stop by the Daily Memphian booth at the expo today, and look for us at mile 25 on Saturday. And if you haven’t already, sign up for our special St. Jude Marathon newsletter with race results, photos and all of our event coverage.

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