Great Scott, Memphis! It’s Friday, Nov. 14, and where we’re going, we don’t need roads. The Orpheum Theatre is having a “Back to the Future”-themed soiree tonight. Bonus points if you show up in a DeLorean. 

On Saturday, you can eat pudding with a fork at a coffee rave at Wiseacre OG. It sounds weird, but it’s apparently all the rage with the German youth. If Irish culture is more your thing, the Memphis Irish Society is taking folks on a bus tour of the city’s pubs. 

As for sports, the Memphis Tigers football team plays East Carolina in an away game Saturday, and the Memphis Grizzlies take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Ohio. There is one home game this weekend: The Tigers basketball team plays UNLV at FedExForum Sunday, and that means former Tigers Coach Josh Pastner will be here.

Also on Sunday, the Memphis Area Transit Authority kicks off 90 days of free rides. And you can do your downward dog with actual dogs at Sana Yoga. For more, check out The To-Do List.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Members of the National Guard patroled along Beale Street on Friday, Oct. 24. (George Walker IV/AP)

National Guard ramps up: More than 100 additional National Guard members were deployed to Memphis Thursday. The new guard troops will bring the total number to about 350, and they still won’t be making arrests. In other Memphis Safe Task Force news, a state Supreme Court judge thinks Shelby County already has enough judges to handle the increased caseload from task force arrests, according to a new letter. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris had asked the state for more judges after hearing firsthand of strain on the justice system. 

Whiteside back behind bars: Former youth pastor and DeSoto Central High coach Lindsey Whiteside is in custody again after being allowed to await her federal trial at home. After Whiteside was granted home confinement earlier this month, DeSoto County prosecutors pushed for an appeal, and that was granted by a federal judge Thursday. Whiteside, who pleaded guilty to state charges of sexual battery with a minor and now faces related federal charges, also has a new federal trial date.

The area’s elected representatives in D.C: From left, Marsha Blackburn, Bill Hagerty, Steve Cohen and David Kustoff. (The Daily Memphian file)

Shutdown end’s may come with pay day: The longest-ever U.S. federal government shutdown came to an end Wednesday after a 222-209 House vote that keeps the government open until at least January 30. All kinds of unrelated amendments were added to the measure that reopened the government, including one that allows U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Sen. Bill Hagerty to sue the government for subpoenaing their phone records. And the potential payout is very big. 

QUOTED

Memphis Mayor Paul Young, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, Overton Park Conservancy Executive Director Kaci Murley and Memphis Zoo CEO Matt Thompson tried to cut through the fence at the opening of a new trail in Overton Park’s Old Forest on Nov. 13. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

“For the first time in a generation, the old forest is whole again.”

— Kaci Murley, Overton Park Conservancy executive director
The fence came down Thursday around 12 acres of Overton Park’s Old Forest that had been closed to the public since the 1980s. The Memphis Zoo turned the land over to the park as part of a 2022 parking agreement. The formerly fenced-off land is home to a new half-mile trail, which, unlike other forest trails in the park, was designed in a loop.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Newby’s on Highland will close after 50 years. (The Daily Memphian file)

End of an era — again: “The college bar you never graduate from” is serving its last class. Newby’s on Highland announced Thursday that it will close on Sunday, Nov. 30, as its lease expires. It’s the second time the college bar, which first opened in 1975, has called it quits. Current owner Larry Thompson reopened the bar in 2016, after its previous owner Todd Adams closed it when he declared bankruptcy. 

A decorative wall inside Catherine & Mary's screams “grandma.” (Sophia Surrett/The Daily Memphian)

Going grandmacore: Catherine & Mary’s is getting a fresh look that’s more old than new. Chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman opened their Downtown Tuscan-Sicilian restaurant nearly a decade ago and named it after their grandmothers. Now, they’re revamping the space with a cozy grandmacore aesthetic. “In our grandmothers’ house, there were colors and patterns on top of each other,” said Ticer. Read more on the new look in Food Files and learn where the city’s next 7 Brew is going. 

Bird Dog Breakfast was inspired by owner Stephanie Moss Townsend’s mother. (Courtesy City of Bartlett)

Speaking of grandma vibes ... There’s a new breakfast spot in Bartlett, and the owner will serve you grits while wearing a muumuu. Egeray’s Party Room owner Stephanie Moss Townsend has opened Bird Dog Breakfast as a tribute to her muumuu-wearing mother. The menu features twists on Southern staples, like grits topped with scrambled eggs and a waffle topped with peach cobbler. She’s even got her mom’s favorite games in the dining room to play while you wait. In more “most important meal of the day” news, we’ve got a hot tip on a hearty breakfast burrito that won’t break the bank — but will fuel your next road trip. 

Protesters picketed outside a Starbucks on Thursday, Nov. 13, in Philadelphia. Workers at the Memphis location at 3388 Poplar Ave. said a strike is planned there on Nov. 20. (Matt Slocum/AP)

Starbucks strike starts late: More than 1,000 unionized Starbucks workers went on strike at 65 stores across the country Thursday, which was Starbucks Red Cup Day. Memphis union workers are waiting until next week to strike, but they want you to avoid Starbucks now. “We are still supporting the rest of the baristas that are on strike. ... don’t support Starbucks if you can,” said one unionized worker.

With two conference losses already, Memphis will play at East Carolina on Saturday. (Mike Stewart/AP)

Tigers need ‘chaos’: I’m not a betting woman, but if I was, I might not put all my money on the Memphis Tigers football team winning an American Conference Championship this year. Last week’s loss to Tulane didn’t technically eliminate the Tigers from the title race, but it might take a miracle. Or, as our own Frank Bonner II says, “Memphis would need pure chaos to create an opportunity to finish the regular season as a top-two team.” Bonner lays out how that chaos would work.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

The government shutdown and thus, the pause on SNAP benefits, is over, but as the holidays approach, the Mid-South Food Bank still needs your help. The Daily Memphian is joining forces with other media outlets for the food bank’s “A Day of Giving” campaign today. If you want to help, you can donate money online or goods in person.

We’ve also compiled a list of other places Memphians can find or donate food.

Alright, I’m going to make like a tree and get out of here. Have a great weekend!

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