The Early Word: xAI is making power moves, and Second Line says ‘aloha’
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.
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.
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 it’s 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.
Plus, MEM works on better parking, Collierville leaders worry about fluoride and Nike gives us a reason to say “Ohhh, Yeah!”
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Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
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