Paul Ryburn's Journal

The NBA trade deadline has passed and Ja Morant is still a Grizzly. ESPN’s Shams reports that several teams showed interest but none were willing to make a serious offer.

Memphis did, however, get a trade in before the deadline, sending the draft rights to Justinian Jessup to the 76ers. The Grizz get Eric Gordon and a 2032 second-round pick swap.  Memphis also waived Georges Niang, who was part of the JJJ trade.

The Grizzlies have a 9:00 game tonight at Portland. TV: FanDuel Sports

The South Main Association will hold its first Social of 2026 at Tonica, 265 S. Front, Tuesday at 6 PM. Speakers will be new business owners:

• John Paul Gagliano, Tonica
• Kristen Cerda, Farm Market Co-op
• Shayne Diaz, Kuya
• Atlaf Ali, owner of the new South Main liquor store

Members’ first wine or beer is on SMA, with special drink prices after that. Tonica will serve small plates.

The Winter Olympics opening ceremony is live on Peacock at 1, or catch the encore on NBC tonight at 7.

Puppy Bowl XXIII is Sunday at 1 PM on Animal Planet. Meet the players

The Downtown Memphis Commission has a list of Valentine’s and Galentine’s events.

Indie Memphis Film Festival moves to South Main this year.

Tevin will host Karaoke of Love at Flyway Brewing tonight 7-10.

In other Flyway news, Alexis Jade and Carter Wenger will perform live there on the 10th and 24th of both February and March.

Memphis Filling Station will move its Sunday trivia to 2-4 this week so it’ll be over in time for the Super Bowl. Nacho specials all day.

Bardog has a new dessert – peanut butter cheesecake.

Wings will be back at Bardog for one day only this Sunday. They’ll also be slinging two specialty drinks: the Seattle Sea Breeze and the New England Gimlet. $25 buckets of Mich Ultra, Bud, Bud Light.

On Sunday for the game, Slider Inn Downtown will have $20 Mich Ultra buckets, $6 Lalo tequila and Old Dominick, and a fire pit raffle.

The calm person’s guide to handling toxic people

Back tomorrow with more news.

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You may have noticed a lack of PBR on draft at bars and restaurants the past 3-4 weeks… this morning I found out what happened. The brewers had a bad ingredient in the recipe and as a result, kegs had to be pulled out. No timetable for the beer’s return.

When you want your finger on the pulse of Grizzlies fandom, you go to Max’s Sports Bar. That’s what WREG did to get local reactions to the Jaren Jackson, Jr. trade.

Max’s will do a raffle at the end of the Super Bowl this Sunday and every drink order gets you a ticket. Prizes include a Bud Light cooler and an Angry Orchard foosball table.

Joanna Serenko from The Voice along with Tyler Dale will perform at the Silly Goose Friday, February 13 starting at 10:30 PM.

Cordelia’s monthly Meet Your Neighbor mixer happens today 5-7 in the market’s cafe. Free beer samples.

King cakes have arrived at Cordelia’s. Three flavors:

• traditional cinnamon
• cream cheese
• strawberry cream cheese

They’ve got minis for $4.89 and full-sized cakes for $23.39.

Frost’d, Grind City Brewing’s winter tasting event, is set for Sunday, February 21. Music, raffles, and 5 new beers available for one day only.

Out in The Edge, Flyway Brewing will sell cases of beer for $25 this Friday-Sunday.

Guac Fresh Mex at Washington and Manassas has added a Guac Potato to its menu. It’s loaded with tender steak, chicken, and shrimp in the restaurant’s signature cheese sauce.

Penny’s 10-11 Tigers have an 8:00 game tonight at UAB. TV: ESPN2

Keep your eye on Bleacher Report – today is the NBA trade deadline.

Back tomorrow with a Frupdate.

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Well, I ALMOST made it through the winter storm of ’26 without incident.

After 11 days of successfully walking around Downtown, yesterday my feet managed to find one of the few remaining patches of black ice on N. Fourth Street and down I went. Some kind people helped me up. I was not hurt.

Beale Street Bears’ Abbas Bokhari reacts to the Jaren Jackson, Jr. trade. Bleacher Report graded the trade a D+ for Memphis and a B+ for Utah.

Grizzly (not basketball) cam

Consider jetting out of work early this afternoon to catch the 5 PM Peabody duck march, for this is National Quacker Day.

Loflin Yard is having a watch party for that football game on Sunday.

Momma’s burger of the week is a mushroom Swiss burger with crispy bacon, sauteed onions, and Momma’s mayo.

The Grizz are on the road until the All-Star break. Tonight: at Sacramento, 9:00. TV: FanDuel Sports

Winter Olympics storylines to keep an eye on

Friday night, February 6, South Main Sounds will host a qualifying event for Tennessee Songwriters Week. Then on Saturday, Alexis Jade, Josh Green and Carter Wenger will bring Outlaw Country to South Main Sounds.

Playa Bowls will have its grand opening in The Edge Saturday at 11 AM. First 50 get a free bowl and T-shirt.

Just in time for the big game, Memphis Made has $20 specials on select cases of beer in its taproom all week.

Back tomorrow with more news.

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See BR post – MEM reportedly gets 3 firsts, 5 players including Kyle Anderson, trade exception worth almost 29M

We ship out Vince Williams, Konchar, Landale also

Apologies for the brevity – short on time

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StyleBlueprint has a look at Memphis’ tastiest candy shops, and most of them are Downtown – Beale Sweets Suga Shack, Dinstuhl’s, A. Schwab, The Peanut Shoppe, and Wayne’s.

Calvary Episcopal will build a memorial for slaves who were bought and sold at 87 Adams near the church.

Astronauts are headed back to the moon as soon as next week.

The 84-year-old mother of a Today Show host is missing in Arizona and foul play is suspected.

The NFL’s stupid Pro Bowl crap is tonight.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
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The 2026 Winter Olympics start Friday. Who cares about the Super Bowl? I’m ready for some CURLING!!!

Bad Bunny will be this year’s Super Bowl halftime performer.

The Grizzlies host the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight at 6:30. TV: Peacock

Today is Tater Tot Day. Celebrate at Huey’s.

Unified Professional Theater Auditions are at the Renasant Convention Center this weekend.

11 AM-2 PM hot lunch specials at Cordelia’s Market this week:

• Mon: Rigatoni al Segreto with herb ricotta
• Tue: Nachos with rice and beans
• Wed: Tomato basil lasagna
• Thur: Mushroom Swiss burger with lettuce, tomato, and fries
• Fri: Shrimp and smoked chicken alfredo with garlic cheese toast

Cordelia’s will revert back to its regular closing time of 9 PM starting today.

Back tomorrow, I hope.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
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For the first Sunday in about five months, there will be NO NFL FOOTBALL on TV today. Not even the Pro Bowl flag football game – that got moved to Tuesday this year. 

I got the women’s WWE Royal Rumble winner right (Liv Morgan) but boy did I get the men’s wrong – my pick Bron Breakker was the very first man eliminated. WWE Monday Night Raw comes to FedExForum on the 16th of this month.

RIP Grady Demond Wilson, 79, who played Lamont on Sanford & Son.

Jazz singer Diana Krall comes to the Orpheum Thursday.

Tug’s has Mardi Gras specials today through the 17th.

WREG’s hourly forecast indicates rain all day Tuesday and temps in the 50s all afternoon. Good, that’ll finally melt the ice.

Back tomorrow, I hope.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
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My binge-eating to deal with the weather continues. Yesterday I had the loaded fries at Memphis Chess Club.

The Grizzlies have less than a week to entertain offers for Ja Morant and possibly other players. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at 2 PM.

Makeda’s Cookies is expanding to Atlanta.

Cordelia’s Market will be open 9-5 today. Sarah will lead a kids’ craft activity 11-1.

South Point Grocery will be open 8-5 today and Sunday.

The Metal Museum seeks a librarian & registrar (one position).

Back tomorrow, I hope.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
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Yesterday I was laptopping at the Memphis Chess Club and a man came in wearing a “Memphis/Shelby County Pothole Repair” jacket. I felt like I should go up to him and thank him for his service.

I asked ChatGPT which source had the most accurate Memphis weather forecast, and got a very surprising answer.

Microsoft Weather.

I had never used it or even knew it existed. Wow, it is really good! So much information! A weather nerd’s dream!

Some downtown restaurants are operating on limited menus as they wait for delivery trucks to restock their supplies.

Good news: There’s a 60% chance of rain expected for Tuesday. That should wash away all the ice and snow.

The Grizzlies visit New Orleans tonight for a 6:30 game. TV: FanDuel Sports

It’s National Croissant Day. Celebrate with an egg, bacon, and cheese loaded croissant at Memphis Chess Club. Available all day.

Saturday Sunset (the full band) is back at Earnestine & Hazel’s tonight.

The Orpheum is hiring a director of facilities administration.

The U of M is asking fans to wear black for its 2 PM Sunday home game vs. Tulane. TV: ESPN2

WWE Royal Rumble predictions for tomorrow:

• Men’s winner: Bron Breakker
• Women’s winner: Liv Morgan

Cordelia’s Market is open 9 to 7 today.

Back tomorrow, I hope.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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The American Cornhole League’s Memphis Signature Open happens at the Renasant Convention Center this weekend. Open events for players of all skill levels the entire 3 days.

Today is National Corn Chip Day. I recommend celebrating with the very pinnacle of the chip world – chili cheese Fritos. Maybe make a crockpot of Rotel dip to go with them.

Penny’s 9-10 Tigers host Florida Atlantic at FedExForum tonight at 7. It’s the Coaches vs. Cancer game. TV: ESPN2

Live Rich Die Poor, Zora Awakening is scheduled for the Halloran Centre Friday night.

The Southern Soul Lovers Tour hits the Orpheum Saturday night, celebrating Anthony Q’s birthday.

Saturday at the Cannon Center, Memphis Symphony Orchestra performs Brahms Symphony No. 4 & Trumpet Virtuoso.

Save the date: Downtown Huey’s will host love song bingo the evening of February 10.

Save the date: South Main is organizing a MARDI GRAS KRAWL for Sunday, February 15. A dozen or more businesses will participate. A second line parade will start things, and a band at Slider Inn will finish it off. Get your card punched at each stop, then hand it in at the end for a small South Main prize.

Please BYO bags to Cordelia’s Market this week. Because deliveries can’t get there, they’ve run out of paper bags. They’ll be open 9-6 today.

Back tomorrow, I hope, with a Frupdate.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
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