Happy Snow Day, Memphis! It’s Friday, Jan. 10, and if you haven’t looked outside yet, go look! I’ll wait.

Pretty, huh? Those flakes should be falling through early afternoon. So, read on for your news about closures, road salting and — most importantly — where to go sledding.

If you’re getting out this weekend, there are a few things going on, which you can read all about in The To-Do List. But you might want to check the event venue’s social media page before you trek out somewhere, because we all know the city shuts down at the first snowflake.

Basketball definitely won’t be canceled though. The Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team will play East Carolina at FedExForum on Saturday, and Coach Penny Hardaway has already made a ploy for fans to brave the streets and fill up the arena. The Memphis Grizzlies play ball on Saturday, too, but that’s a game you can stay home for; they’re playing the Timberwolves in Minnesota. On Sunday, if you’re not itching to get out, you can catch more TV ball when the Tigers women play Rice in an away game. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

Macy’s announced the closure of its Oak Court location on Thursday, saying the store was among 150 unproductive stores and on its cut list of 66 stores. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Macy’s makes an exit: The Macy’s at Oak Court Mall is apparently among the chain’s 150 “unproductive stores” and will be one of 66 locations that will close in a matter of months. Last fall, a group of investors purchased the Oak Court store for $7 million and leased it back to Macy’s in an attempt to keep the store open as the company closed locations. That didn’t save the store from ultimate closure, but one of those investors is looking at the bright side as to what this means for Oak Court’s redevelopment. As for Macy’s fans, you’ll just have to drive out to Wolfchase. 

A lone squirrel dug through snow in search of a meal on Feb. 18, 2021. The squirrels will likely be doing the same today. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Everything about snow you need to know: Now that the snow has arrived, you may be wondering how bad the roads are. The City of Memphis has a new snow and ice removal plan that means more major thoroughfares are treated and plowed. You can read more about that and see a map of priority streets here. But before you even try to drive, you might want to check out what’s closed. If you’re supposed to fly out of Memphis International Airport today, there’s a chance your flight is canceled. All of that is probably bad news if you’re an adult, but if you’re a kid: Congrats, you get a snow day! Apparently, the decision to close schools is never an easy one, and we’ve got a detailed look at how those choices are made. But all news aside, you probably just want to know the best places to play, so here are some of Memphis’ hottest sledding destinations — just, um, avoid Mt. Moriah.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member Amber Huett-Garcia, left, is proposing a resolution to keep Superintendent Marie Feagins, right. (The Daily Memphian files)

Alternative to firing Feagins: Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member Amber Huett-Garcia is proposing a resolution to try and prevent Superintendent Marie Feagins’ termination. Some board members are looking to fire Feagins over claims she mishandled financial matters and was dishonest with the board. But Huett-Garcia’s resolution would give Feagins a chance to fix the issues board members identified and would require her to give monthly updates on progress. In related news, board member Michelle McKissack plans to propose a reversal to the board’s attorney structure that was just changed last fall. Meanwhile, speaking to the Frayser Exchange Club on Thursday, Feagins said she’s just “grateful that folks are paying attention.”

State Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Eads, presented his case for the ouster of Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy during a press conference on Jan. 9. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Bad blood: State Sen. Brent Taylor revealed his nine reasons for wanting to oust Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. At a press conference on Thursday, Taylor outlined the allegations, which include accusations that Mulroy unethically colludes with judges and that the office engages in race-based prosecution. Meanwhile, Mulroy mounted a defense campaign this week, snapping back at Taylor in an X post that accused the state senator of distractions “from the real work that our office has to do.”

MEET MEMPHIS

Bill Courtney (left) interviewed Michael Lignos, an avid listener who supports several of the groups featured on Courtney’s “An Army of Normal Folks” podcast. (Submitted)

Classic American Hardwoods CEO Bill Courtney may be best known for coaching the lackluster Manassas High School football team into the winning team featured in the Academy Award-winning 2011 documentary, “Undefeated.” But Courtney has a much larger mission these days: He’s trying to create an army of 100,000 “normal people” in Memphis to help make big changes in areas of the city that need it most. His podcast, “An Army of Normal Folks,” highlights those kinds of people from across the country. Take, for example, Anne Mahlum, who started a running group for the homeless in Philadelphia, or Steve Tiber, who created a nonprofit to help cities rebuild after natural disasters. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

Moneybagg Yo’s Cache 42 is open in Downtown Memphis. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Rapper’s delight: Memphis rapper Moneybagg Yo has opened the second location of his Cache 42 restaurant on North Main Street Downtown. The original location, which serves a $135 steak, is on Hacks Cross Road, but this new spot will be an “express lounge” located in the former Quintessential Sweets space. Read about that and a new Downtown chicken spot in Food Files. And for something not new, check out this week’s $10 Deal, where food writer Joshua Carlucci sings the praises of a “no frills, no fuss,” “classic, pedestrian burger” at an age-old Midtown dive bar.

“We have the utmost faith in coach,” Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (left) said. “We trust in him and believe in him.” Houston Rockets forward (and former Grizzly) Dillon Brooks is at right. (Brandon Dill/AP)

Jenkins’ ill-timed timeout: Thursday’s Memphis Grizzlies 119-115 loss to the Houston Rockets will go down in history as the game that Coach Taylor Jenkins screwed up. Jenkins called a timeout at, well, a bad time, right as Desmond Bane was landing a 3-point shot that would have tied the game had it counted. And Jenkins — fairly — took the blame after the game, but our own Geoff Calkins says the real problem was “everything that happened before” that timeout. In happier news, the Rockets game meant our old mate Steven Adams was playing on his former court again for the first time since his trade. The Daily Memphian’s Drew Hill sat down with Adams before the game for an interview that was loaded with typical Steve-O jokes, including a jab at his old pal — the “bum” — Santi Aldama.

The Cooper will be built on nearly six blighted acres near Cooper-Young on a site that was previously home to Albert Cook Plumbing Co. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

The Cooper seeking tax relief: The Cooper, a mixed-use project planned for the former Albert Cook Plumbing Co. spot near the corner of Cooper Street and Central Avenue, could become the first to take advantage of updated property-tax incentives. Last month, the Downtown Memphis Commission reversed its payment-in-lieu-of-taxes policies back to old rules that allowed for 15- or 20-year terms instead of 10 years. And the developers of The Cooper are seeking a 20-year PILOT. 

Ballet Memphis Gretchen Wollert McLennon’s tenure ends this summer. (Ziggy Mack/Courtesy Ballet Memphis)

Ballet Memphis CEO bows out: Ballet Memphis’ second-ever CEO is leaving her role after the company tours the South this spring. Gretchen Wollert McLennon took over the nearly 40-year-old organization in 2020, after founding CEO Dorothy Gunther Pugh stepped down. McLennon, who started as a student in Ballet Memphis’ junior company at age 11, chaired the nonprofit’s board before she became CEO, and her agreement was limited to three to five years. The Daily Memphian’s Elle Perry talked to McLennon about how she guided Ballet Memphis out of the pandemic and what she’s most proud of during her time there. 

Trainers brought out one of the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses at an Arlington Kroger on Wednesday, Jan. 8. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Oh hay, girl: If you get a snow day today, you might be looking for ways to horse around. Well, the Budweiser Clydesdales are back in Memphis for the first time in more than a decade. The horses have been making appearances at area Kroger stores, and they’re supposed to be at a Germantown Kroger today — but that could be canceled due to the weather, of course. Plenty of folks galloped out to see the stallions earlier this week though. 

GOT GAME?

Baby, it’s cold outside, and everything is probably closed anyway. So, stay in and entertain yourself with this Jigsaw puzzle featuring a warming bowl of ramen from Nagoya House Hibachi & Ramen. Bonus points if you eat ramen while you solve it. 

Nagoya’s tonkotsu dashi is a triumph with a broth that is rich and velvety, packed with layers of umami that linger long after each sip. (Joshua Carlucci/Special to The Daily Memphian)

If that’s not enough to keep you busy, here’s this week’s Word Search, which was inspired by Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday. 

But don’t stop there. Take a couple minutes with this week’s 5 by 5 Crossword before you head out to ski on Mt. Trashmore. (JK, don’t do that.)

Enjoy the snowy weekend!

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