Happy Friday! That’s both my wish for you today and the name of a happy-hour event launching tonight in The Grove at Germantown Performing Arts Center. “Happy Friday in the Grove” will feature music by Josh Threlkeld and Friends and cocktails by Brad Pitts (yes, that’s his real name).

Also, happening today: The City of Memphis will break ground on its redevelopment of the old Southwest Twin drive-in, which will be home to a new library and Memphis Police Department precinct. 

But when one drive-in sees new life, another’s life comes to an end. It’s the last weekend to watch movies at the Malco Summer Drive-in. And on Saturday, you can see three back-to-back Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure films there at the last-ever Time Warp Drive-in. 

On Sunday, City & State, which claims it was the city’s first third-wave coffee shop, celebrates 10 years of business with a pop-up shop and DJ. Our To-Do List is the place to go for more weekend fun. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

Trucks were observed on 2987 Stateline Road, which shares a border with 2875 Stanton Road in Southaven. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Power move: Elon Musk’s xAI seems to be looking south of the state line to power its second data center in Whitehaven. The company needs about 1.1 gigawatts of power for the 5420 Tulane Road supercomputer, and Memphis Light, Gas and Water has said that may be more power than it can provide. Documents showed that xAI was considering controversial natural-gas turbines to power the new facility, but the Greater Memphis Chamber said the company had no plans to put up more turbines in Shelby County. But they didn’t say anything about Southaven, and, well, The Daily Memphian’s Samuel Hardiman’s seen some things. 

Dear, DA: Youth Villages Board Chair Mike Bruns sent a letter to the Shelby County District Attorney’s office, asking that it “show discernment” and “decline to prosecute” four Youth Villages staffers charged in the death of Alegend Jones. Jones died while in Youth Villages’ care, but criminal charges were since dropped by the DA’s office. DA Steve Mulroy said his decision had nothing to do with the letter. You can read the full letter here. 

Six people were shot and one was killed during a Memphis Allies meeting on Wednesday, April 9, at this business park in Hickory Hill. (Aarron Fleming/The Daily Memphian file)

More on the Memphis Allies shooting arrest: Memphis police arrested Pacarie Roberts, 21, on Tuesday in connection with the April 9 mass shooting at a Memphis Allies meeting that left one man dead and five others critically injured. And it turns out this wasn’t the first time Roberts was arrested for ties to the shooting. Roberts was originally arrested on April 11 after police tied him to a car associated with the shooting, and then they let him go. Roberts was rearrested on Tuesday, and it seems the police are still looking for more suspects. 

The Tennessee Court of Appeals sided with the City of Memphis in a lawsuit brought by Alicia Franklin, who was raped by Cleotha Abston, pictured, 2021. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

State court sides with city in rape case: The Tennessee Court of Appeals affirmed this week that the City of Memphis is protected from a lawsuit filed by Alicia Franklin over her 2021 rape. Franklin’s suit said Memphis police failed to properly investigate after she was raped by Cleotha Abston, the man who later went on to kidnap and kill Memphis runner Eliza Fletcher. Franklin’s lawsuit alleged that Fletcher would still be alive if police had done their jobs. A Shelby County judge dismissed Franklin’s claims in March 2023. 

QUOTED

“It’s interesting to me that the dental industry would support the fluoride in the water if we had enough fluoride in other places.”

— Collierville Mayor Maureen Fraser
Fraser was speaking at a recent Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, where some leaders brought up concerns about the use of fluoride in drinking water. That discussion came after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has touted a number of health conspiracies, said communities shouldn’t fluoridate their water.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Second Line will host a pop-up on their patio while the main dining room is renovated. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Aloha, y’all: Just in time for patio season, the former Second Line will temporarily whisk diners away to the 50th state. Chef Kelly English has opened a Hawaii-themed pop-up on its patio while its main dining room is under renovation. It’ll serve a 10-item menu, including smoked Kahlua pork belly and huli huli chicken wings. And English said his team was careful to respect Hawaiian culture and lineage (so don’t expect any talk of luaus). Read more on the pop-up and a new coffee spot in Midtown in Food Files.

In the new parking lot at Memphis International Airport, LED indicator lights will show whether parking spaces are available. (The Daily Memphian)

Dude, where’s your car? If you’ve ever lost your car in the MEM parking garage (just me?), you’re about to be in luck. The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority approved a $5 million contract on Thursday for parking improvements at the airport, including a coming-soon app that can help you find your car. (Sure, your iPhone map can do this, too.) Other updates will include lights that will let you know how much parking is available, new wayfinding signage and something called “car condos” for frequent fliers. 

Thyron Matthews served fresh oxtail during the first day of SmokeSlam at Tom Lee Park on May 15. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Smoke back on the water: The second annual SmokeSlam BBQ Festival kicked off Thursday night with 33% more teams than last year, and they’re all competing for a bigger prize purse than the one offered by the rival Memphis in May barbecue contest. But when our own Jody Callahan asked SmokeSlam participants why they chose the newer competition, it wasn’t about the money. It was about the river. “We wanted to be on the river, and that was our decision maker and our deal-breaker,” said Alex Boggs of the Sweet Cheeks team, whose comments echoed many others. If only someone had trimmed the weeds …

Memphis Mayor Paul Young, left, toured the new Frayser library on Thursday, May 15. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Summer reads: The new Frayser Branch library opened on Thursday — almost a year and a half later than planned. The building is the city government’s first LEED gold-certified building, a distinction that recognizes its eco-friendly design. It’s also three times larger than Frayser’s old Argonne Street library with new activity rooms for toddlers and teens, a playground, gardens and recording equipment.

The Greek burger at Alex’s Tavern is a six-ounce, hand-formed patty seasoned with a special seasoning blend. (Joshua Carlucci/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Get him to the Greek: Oh, sweet summer child. Food writer Joshua Carlucci recently found Alex’s Tavern, and he’s here to sing its praises in this week’s $15 Deal. (Yes, we upped the price, because what can $10 even get you these days?) Carlucci recommends Alex’s signature Greek Burger, which longtime Memphians have been knowing about for years. But do you know what makes it “Greek”? The secret is a spice mix from Arkansas.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Somebody say “Ohhh, Yeah!” because Ja Morant’s new Nike x Kool-Aid Ja 2 “Mixed Berry” shoes go on sale today. The shoes are two different colors, inspired by both blue raspberry- and cherry-flavored Kool-Aid. Okay, now I’m craving Kool-Aid pickles.

In other Grizz news, Chris Herrington looks at the likelihood of the Grizzlies getting Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. (Spoiler: Don’t hold your breath.)

That’s all for now! And hey, if you’ve ever been interested in how The Daily Memphian operates or our effect on the community, check out our new impact report.

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