How’s it going, y’all? It’s Thursday, Jan. 22, and in Memphis, it really should be National Prepare for the Polar Vortex Day.

It’s probably too late to find a generator left for sale in this city, but you might want to make sure you have plenty of blankets and canned goods — though you might be out of luck on bread and milk already. And juice up those portable chargers!

THE NEED TO KNOW

Snow and ice blanketed Poplar Avenue on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

This is snow joke: Winter Storm Fern is coming and likely bringing lots of snow and ice. But which one you’ll get may depend on how far south you live. According to our friends at MemphisWeather.net, folks in Memphis can expect mostly snow, but if you live south of I-40, things could get a little more icy (and dicey!). Check out their forecast and winter storm prep tips. As for our power, well, thoughts and prayers. Memphis Light, Gas and Water says they’re prepared, but protecting your pipes falls on you. And if you’re heading to stock up on groceries today, here’s a look at a few stores that have already been ravaged.

Buster’s Liquor owner Josh Hammond attended a Memphis Alcohol Commission meeting on Dec. 17, 2025. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Worth a shot? Buster’s Liquor co-owner Josh Hammond and two other liquor store owners are still fighting The Station’s liquor license. They filed an appeal this week with the Memphis City Council to try and overturn the store’s new liquor license. The Memphis Alcohol Commission awarded the license earlier this month, after more than a year of fighting between The Station and other local liquor stores. The stores claimed The Station was too close to a church and school, but a survey commissioned by The Station found otherwise.

Sen. Brent Taylor’s former funeral home in Collierville announced they would be removing his name from their facility. (George Walker IV/AP file)

Name drop: Heritage Family, the company that bought state Sen. Brent Taylor’s funeral homes in 2022, has dropped his name from their facility in Collierville. The company said Taylor’s recent comments “do not reflect the values, mission or beliefs of our current leadership.” Taylor has been very vocal in his support of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdowns, and a recent viral video shows Taylor taunting ICE protesters with actual ice.

The National Guard stood around on Floyd Plaza in North Memphis on Jan. 14. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Feds fight to keep guard here: The local U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a brief last week in support of the National Guard deployment in Memphis, which was blocked by a Nashville judge back in November. That block has been on pause while the matter plays out in court, during a time when the federal government is losing cases across the nation over guard deployment to America cities. Meanwhile, the Memphis Police Department seems to be using the guard to deter shoplifting. 

MEET MEMPHIS

Chef Jimmy Gentry attended culinary school at Johnson & Wales University before founding Paradox Catering. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Chef Jimmy Gentry has been getting his flowers — like, a whole garden of them. The Lobbyist owner’s latest honor is a James Beard semifinalist nom for Best Chef: Southeast. He’s the only Memphis-area chef in the running for the award that will be announced later this spring. The Lobbyist was also recently recommended by the Michelin Guide, and before that, Gentry’s corn mash was recognized by The New York Times. Gentry’s grew up around the food and drink business, thanks to his parents’ jobs. And he got his start bussing tables at Country Squire in Germantown before heading off to culinary school. “I owe the whole thing to everybody around me,” Gentry said. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant hung from the rim after dunking against Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at FedExForum. (Brandon Dill/AP)

Tough calls: The Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Atlanta Hawks, 124-122, Wednesday night, but it was so close. The lead changed 21 times during the game, and the end score came down to Coach Tuomas Iisalo’s decision not to use a timeout in the final seconds. After the game, he admitted that was a tough call to make. But as our own Drew Hill points out, the Grizzlies are facing an even tougher call about what to do with Ja Morant, who was back in fine form and a good mood last night. Will two good games — this latest one and last weekend’s win in London — save Morant from a trade though? Chris Herrington weighs in. 

Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, is running for reelection and for U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen’s seat. (George Walker IV/AP)

Pearson runs for two seats: State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, who is running against U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in the August Democratic primary, is also running for reelection to his current seat. Pearson has filed petitions for both races, which is not uncommon for incumbents in the legislature running for a new office. In other election news, Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Anthony Buckner has filed for the Shelby County Sheriff race. See more election highlights here.

Memphis Tigers forward Ashton Hardaway finished with a game-high 18 points against Tulsa on Wednesday, Jan. 21. (Courtesy U of M Athletics)

Tigers’ black out: The Memphis Tigers led their lead slip away Wednesday night for a big 83-66 loss to Tulsa. And no one seems to know what happened. Forward Ashton Hardaway committed a flagrant foul late in the game, and his father, Coach Penny Hardaway, admitted “I don’t know what happened to the team” after that. But whatever it was, it went downhill. After the game, Ashton Hardaway said he didn’t know how lopsided the score was until it was over. “It’s crazy,” he said. Lucky for you, basketball reporter Parth Upadhyaya was paying attention and has this recap. Columnist John Martin says it’s time to “stop fooling ourselves” about how good this team can be.

Pop Local brings a new wave of small businesses to Carriage Crossing. (The Daily Memphian file)

Popping up: Soon, you’ll be able to buy a wedding dress and a banana latte after your songwriting class at Carriage Crossing. Five new businesses, including a bridal spot, a music school and coffee truck Monkeygrass Mayhem, were chosen through Edwards Realty Company’s Pop Local contest for six months of free rent at the open-air mall and some startup money. Coming soon to Uptown is Memphis Gift Basket, a new retail store to pick up curated Memphis-made gifts (think Dinstuhl’s chocolate and Shotwell caramels). And in more retail news, the Downtown Memphis Commission just tweaked its policies to try and attract more small businesses to vacant storefronts.

Diners eat at The Majestic Grille in Downtown Memphis. (Brad Vest/The Daily Memphian file)

Is this seat taken? When I walk into a restaurant, I’m looking for a seat near the window, especially if it’s daytime. Better for food photos, and the ’gram always eats first. Otherwise, a booth is nice and cozy. Our food writer Ellen Chamberlain is more of a barfly, and she’d rather be on a stool chatting it up with the bartender and regulars. In this week’s Table Talk, she dives into what your seat says about you.

Entering port: New jobs and development should be coming soon to the International Port of Memphis on Presidents Island. The Memphis-Shelby County Port Commission and the Memphis-Shelby County Economic Development Growth Engine both approved new subleases Wednesday for construction company Granite Construction and cement importer T&S Southern. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

A new Nike shoe, called “Honor the King,” is meant to highlight Los Angeles Laker LeBron James’ 51-point performance against the Memphis Grizzlies on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2008. And the shoe’s design was inspired by the Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated. Tasteless? Critics think so.

Jason Jones of The Athletic said Nike could have gone in so many other directions that didn’t capitalize on King’s death: “Beale Street, music and barbecue all come to mind that would make for cool details on a shoe.”

That’s all for now. Go assemble that emergency kit!

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