Cheers, Memphis! It’s Friday, Jan. 17, the beginning of a long weekend and the date of the Pink Palace’s annual “Science of Beer” party. Today also marks the start of a new Whitehaven Business Blitz highlighting locally owned companies, and the first one focuses on Trap Fusion. Stop in and get yourself some barbecue jackfruit. Tonight the Memphis Grizzlies play the San Antonio Spurs again; fingers crossed for another win. 

On Saturday, you can get a head start on your Martin Luther King Day service project with a volunteer opportunity at T.O. Fuller State Park. And the Memphis Tigers women’s basketball team will play Tulane. 

Sunday is Dolly Parton’s birthday, and you can get a discount on your beer tab at Wiseacre OG if you show up dressed as the Queen of Country. (Bonus points if you can find a Coat of Many Colors.) Not quite on theme, but maybe the Tigers men’s basketball game against Charlotte will be playing on Wiseacre’s big screen.

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the National Civil Rights Museum will offer free admission and musical performances in their King Day celebration. And the Memphis Grizzlies will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at their annual MLK Day game at FedExForum. For more long weekend fun, check out The To-Do List.

THE NEED TO KNOW

A rendering of the planned roof deck at Memphis International Airport. (Courtesy Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority)

Airport updates flying in: The old A concourse at Memphis International Airport hasn’t been used since the airport opened its modernized B concourse in 2022. But it’ll one day be home to the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority’s administrative offices, which will relocate from its current space above the airport’s mezzanine level. The redeveloped A concourse will also house the airport’s new checked baggage inspection system, which will finally move out of the 1970s. A new rooftop observation deck, like the one at Nashville’s airport, is planned, too, and one airport exec says it’ll offer a unique vantage point of the city.

Private attorneys representing the City of Memphis filed a motion to dismiss a November gun-rights lawsuit. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian file)

Lawsuit a long shot? The City of Memphis argued in court filings that a lawsuit over the gun-control referendums approved by voters has no standing. Gun Owners of America, the Tennessee Firearms Association and Ty Timmermann, a local member of the organization, claim the reforms harm the rights of gun owners, and specifically Timmermann, who wants to buy more assault weapons. But the city says the new ordinance doesn’t restrict firearms since state law prevents it from going into effect. 

Art Davis, chief operating officer for Memphis River Parks Partnership, will become the organization’s acting CEO. (Courtesy of Memphis River Parks Partnership)

Coletta’s temp replacement: Art Davis, Memphis River Parks Partnership’s COO, will take over as interim CEO of the nonprofit that manages and maintains Memphis’ riverfront parks. Longtime CEO Carol Coletta announced her departure months ago, but today will be her last on the job. As for what’s next for Coletta, it seems we may know more in the spring.

QUOTED

“You’re on the House floor, and you’re expected to have decorum and respect for the institution. Same thing in the gallery.”

— Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton
State lawmakers passed new rules Thursday to punish fellow lawmakers and the public for what they deem to be disruptive behavior. After multiple infractions, lawmakers might be force to vote remotely, and the public could be banned for up to two years. Rep. Gloria Johnson, who faced expulsion in 2023 for protesting for gun reform on the House floor, called the new rules “ridiculous” and “fascist.”

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis Tigers center Moussa Cisse battled for the ball in the game against the Temple on Thursday, Jan. 16, in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP)

Tigers must rebound: But they certainly didn’t on Thursday night. The Memphis Tigers lost, 88-81, to Temple in Philadelphia, partially due to the 22 offensive rebounds they gave away to the Owls. In fact, the Tigers were outrebounded in their past three games — even though they won two of those — by a total margin of 119-82. But this was, after all, the team’s first loss in American Athletic Conference play. And columnist John Martin points out that “the Tigers were not going to run through this league undefeated. Nobody’s doing that anymore.” In other Tigers news, a new court ruling will allow Tigers tight end Anthony Landphere to play an extra year with the football team. And in more college sports, Memphis athletics’ M Club Hall of Fame has announced this year’s inductees, including the longtime voice of the Tigers.

“In the past, if we had a wedding rehearsal dinner, we’d have to shut down the whole restaurant just for that party,” Ecco co-owner John Paul Gagliano said. “Now we’re able to host an 80-person event and still continue service for our regular customers.” (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)

More space to lounge: Ecco on Overton Park has opened a new 2,000-square-foot lounge, appropriately called The Lounge at Ecco, in the space next door where Diane’s Art, Gift and Home used to be. The new lounge will be used for private events and for additional seating on nights when the restaurant is crowded. Read more about that in Food Files, plus news of a very Memphis makeover for the old Checker’s by Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. In this week’s $10 Deal, taco truck aficionado Joshua Carlucci suggests a locally made carnitas burrito that comes out as quickly as fast food. 

From left to right: Charles Hall and Jewel Jordan will be the two new members of Collierville’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen. (From left to right: Courtesy Charles Hall; The Daily Memphian file)

A minster and a cowboy walk into a … boardroom. The Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen has two new members: Charles Hall, owner of Hewlett & Dunn Boot & Jean Co., and church deacon Jewel Jordan. Both men were chosen to fill positions vacated by former aldermen Mauren Fraser and Billy Patton when they resigned to run for Collierville mayor. Hall grew up around Collierville politics (he’s the grandson of a former mayor), and Jordan has a long history on the town’s Planning Commission, among other public-service roles. 

First Horizon National Corp. reported a fourth-quarter net income Thursday that beat expectations. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Not so cloudy on the Horizon: First Horizon National Corp. beat analyst expectations with its fourth-quarter net income numbers on Thursday. The Memphis-based bank reported a net income of $158 million, or 29 cents per share. That’s still down from the same quarter last year, but FHN President and CEO Bryan Jordan seemed happy with the results.

GOT GAME?

Last week, before the Mid-South was blanketed with snow, the Budweiser Clydesdales came galloping into area Kroger parking lots. Hundreds turned out for a glimpse, so needless to say, these horses had a “colt following.” Eh? (Have to credit my colleague Kelsey Bowen for that one.) See what all the fuss was about when you piece together this week’s Crossword.

One of the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses was hitched to a wagon during a stop at the Kroger in Arlington on Jan. 8. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Fat Tuesday is still more than one month away, but you can get a jump on king cakes in this week’s Word Search. Plastic baby choking hazard not included. 

And finally, if you’re looking for more ways to goof off at work on a Friday, this week’s 5 by 5 Crossword will keep you busy for a minute or two. It’s a perfect mental break between meetings.

Enjoy your long weekend. The Early Word will return on Tuesday morning!

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