Paul Ryburn’s Journal

Dreamers’ Revival – Walking Pants, a new gift shop, has opened in the former Tater Red’s and Black Diamond spaces on Beale Street. It’s operated by Ashley Parham and Daryl Andrews, who have owned Walking Pants Curiosities gift shop on G.E. Patterson for several years now. This May 19 Action News 5 report will give you an idea of what to expect at the new Beale location. Go see Ashley and Daryl at the new location – they are two people who make our neighborhood a more vibrant place.

There will be a birthday event for what would have been Tyre Nichols’ 30th birthday this Monday, June 5.  The celebration will begin at 6 PM in Fourth Bluff Park and Front Street will be blocked off and turned into a skate park. Nichols was badly injured in a traffic stop gone wrong and died in January. Officers involved in the stop were charged with second-degree murder, official oppression, and other crimes.

Those celebrating Pride Month got a nice surprise yesterday: A federal judge struck down the incredibly stupid law, passed this spring by the Tennessee legislature, that severely restricted public drag performances.

The Daily Memphian has a photo gallery of yesterday’s Pride parade on Beale.

Today is National Cognac Day and National Cheese Day.

The Memphis Tigers have lost their head baseball coach to Missouri.

Jerry “The King” Lawler will receive the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Distinguished Citizen Award today.

The DM has a look at the Downtown Memphis Commission’s novice biking class. The next class will be 3-5 this Thursday at St. Patrick’s Church at 277 S. Fourth.

Memphis 901 FC got its fourth win in a row last night, beating Miami FC 5-1.

From WREG: Is the “beer before liquor…” saying true?

Americana artists Ryan Adams & the Cardinals play the Orpheum Tuesday night.

AutoZone will hold a vendor summit at the Renasant Convention Center Monday and Tuesday.

That’s all for now. Sunday is not my favorite day for going out, so I’m probably gonna stay home and try to finish some of the library books I have checked out. Back tomorrow probably.

There will be a Community Cookout and festival, free for the public to enjoy, in the newly-renovated Morris Park next Saturday, June 10 from noon to 4 PM. Morris Park is on the south side of Poplar between Orleans and Manassas. Here’s what you’ll find there:

• Music by DJ Space Age and Corey Lou and Da Village
• Food trucks Stickem and Moss Be Smoke will be onsite
• B&B’s New Orleans Style Shaved Ice will also be there
• Memphis Grizzlies Entertainment will be there as well

The preceding item came from Memphis Medical District Collaborative’s monthly e-newsletter, The Vitals. Sign up to receive The Vitals

Today is National Pineapple Day. My suggestion would be to try the Blue Razz shot at the Blind Bear. It features an Ole Smoky moonshine pineapple slice in a glass of Ole Smoky raspberry moonshine.

Blue Razz shot

Ben-Yay’s has a happy hour now. It runs from 3-6 PM Monday-Friday. $1 off all domestics and well liquors.

My friends Pam & Terry play at the Ghost River taproom on Beale Street today from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. Pam says it’ll be a big pre-party for tonight’s  Memphis 901 FC home match vs. Miami FC. They’ll be throwing T-shirts to the crowd and a limited number of match tickets will be given away. More on tonight’s match

The I-55 bridge (“the old bridge”) will close Friday, June 9-Monday, June 12 for work to be done on the I-55/Crump/Riverside interchange. The CA has the details: what roads will be closed and when, new traffic patterns.

A Code Orange Air Quality Advisory has been issued by @ShelbyTNHealth for Saturday, June 3. Fare will be reduced to 25 cents onboard all modes of travel. pic.twitter.com/CuigBs2yjG

— Memphis Area Transit Authority (@RideMATA) June 2, 2023

One of the 1968-era cars on display in the National Civil Rights Museum lot was damaged after somebody stood on its roof yesterday afternoon.

The Memphis Pride Parade happens on Beale Street from 1:00 to 2:30 this afternoon. Pride Fest is 10-6 today at Robert Church Park, and there will be an after-party at the New Daisy starting at 8. Tomorrow the celebration will wrap up with the Grand Marshal’s Drag Brunch at Jerry Lee Lewis’ Cafe on Beale.

They say there are going to be protestors due to the controversial new anti-drag law that a restraining order is holding at bay until a ruling next week. There were reports of groups of people refusing to enter businesses Downtown that had hung the rainbow Pride flag on their door or patio.

Just let me say this in response: If you pre-game for the Pride parade this morning, I’d be proud to have you sitting next to me at the bar, whether you’re gay, straight, bi, trans, or whatever. There’s a place for you at my table.

The Morning Brew newsletter contained a list of 25 nonfiction books to read this summer. The very first book on the list might be of interest to some readers of this blog. Last Call at Coogan’s: The Life and Death of a Neighborhood Bar, hitting the shelves this coming Tuesday, is about a much-loved bar in the Washington Heights neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan. When the building’s owner jacked the rent to the moon, Coogan’s regulars came together to try to save their bar. The author spent years interviewing regulars to put together an accurate feel for New York City bar life.

From ABC 24: What are the chances that Memphis will ever host an NBA All-Star Game? Memphis Tourism director Kevin Kane thinks the number of hotel rooms would be the biggest obstacle.

New online game – Timeguessr – guess the time and location of old photos.

That’s it. As usual, meeting my friends Randy and Theresa and Butt Slut #1 for brunch at Bardog. Back tomorrow.

There’s a Pride Month event in Downtown Memphis tonight, and I wanted to mention it prominently because I’ve been told it got left off some Pride Month schedules. The annual Big Gay Dance Party happens tonight at the New Daisy on Beale from 8 PM to 1 AM. Tickets are

• $15 for those ages 18-20; these tickets do not include alcohol
• $25 for general admission for 21 and up; includes a spirited punch while supplies last
• $130 for the Drag Superstar VIP experience. That gets you access to the New Daisy’s balcony “with all its quirky little rooms,” an open bar, and a wide selection of hors d’oeuvres.

The theme is “Hate Is a Drag!” and the purpose is to support drag performers and the LGBTQ+ community during a time of political turmoil. As you may have heard, the Tennessee legislature passed a ridiculously stupid law severely restricting drag performances in public places. A restraining order has blocked enforcement of the law until a judge can rule further next week, so the dance party is safe to proceed.

The party will provide a safe environment where you need not feel afraid to be yourself. DJ AD will provide the music. There will be drag performances and entertainment by QCG productions.

Do me a favor if you go… look for a blonde named Cinnamon behind the bar and tip her generously! She’s been a great friend to me.

In other Pride Month news:

Dos Hermanos is on the ground floor of the Cossitt Library, northwest corner of Front and Monroe.

I woke up yesterday morning to a post on Facebook saying the kitchen would be closed at one of my favorite Downtown spots all day. “I know they’ve had trouble with the kitchen ceiling there,” I thought. “I guess they’re doing repairs.”

No. That wasn’t the reason.

The kitchen of the business is manned by almost all Mexicans. They were participating in a nationwide one-day strike by Hispanic workers to protest Florida’s new immigration law.

In my ongoing job search, I set up an account on ZipRecruiter and filled out some preferences. Among the jobs it recommended I apply for:

• Sales Specialist – Firearms at Bass Pro Shops (I have never fired a gun in my life)
• Server at Flying Saucer

Methinks I need to refine those preferences a bit.

The reason the “server at the Saucer” job is so funny is that I was a regular there for years and made fun relentlessly on this blog of some of the flyers they put up. To review a couple of their greatest hits:

• “Enjoy a Guiness on St. Patrick’s Day at the Saucer.” You’d think folks who work in a business that positions itself as a beer garden would know how to spell “Guinness.”
• Posted November 1: A picture of a clock along with “Daylight Saving Time begins this week.” DST actually ends the first week of November and Standard Time begins.

Yep, pretty sure Saucer corporate would veto any attempt I made to get a job there.

At least the Saucer never put “since MMXVIII” on a T-shirt. Pat yourself on the back if you got that reference.

Okay, I refined the search criteria and now ZipRecruiter thinks I should be a boat sales specialist at Bass Pro. Scroll down to yesterday’s post to see how I feel about boats.

Drake will bring It’s All a Blur Tour to FedExForum June 29. 21 Savage will open.

The final of the River Series spring concerts in Harbor Town Amphitheater will happen this Saturday starting at 4 PM. Aquarian Blood will perform, as will the Turnstyles and DJ Bizzle Bluebland. Get tickets in advance $10 adults/$5 kids.

Grind City Brewing will host Headspace, an IPA and sour festival, Saturday beginning at noon. Live music, food trucks, games.

Today is National Donut Day and WREG has a list of where to get free donuts. Unfortunately, none of the locations are Downtown. Free donuts? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Gril will show up.

Today is also National Leave the Office Early Day.

Wow I never would have guessed this… Modelo Especial has overtaken Bud Light as the best-selling beer in the U.S. Bud Light sales are down 25.7% from this time a year ago.

The SEC has voted to play 8 games in the 2024 football season. A 9-game schedule was also under consideration. Once Texas and Oklahoma join, the SEC will be divisionless; no more SEC West and SEC East. In addition to the 8 conference games, each SEC team must play at least one nonconference game per year vs. an opponent from the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, Pac-12, or a major independent.

UGH… a new poll shows King Willie leading the race for mayor. WHY MEMPHIS WHY??? Paul Young is an exciting, dynamic candidate who would be so much better in that role. People gripe about how old President Biden is… WILLIE IS OLDER THAN BIDEN!

It boggles my mind that in 2023 I’m blogging about Willie Herenton.

The DM has a look back to Hard Rock Cafe’s 1997 Memphis opening, considered at the time to be a major score for Beale Street. The restaurant will close July 30.

Incoming Memphis Tigers basketball player Mikey Williams has lost one of his endorsement deals. Williams is facing six felony gun charges. Williams might want to ask Ja Morant how waving a gun around can affect your earning potential.

Speaking of Ja: NBA commish Adam Silver says the league is purposely waiting until after the NBA Finals to announce its findings on the latest incident of Morant allegedly waving a gun on an Instagram video. Silver said he does not want the announcement to distract from the Finals.

Kingpin Skinny Pimp plays Carolina Watershed tonight.

We Are Here, an exhibit celebrating contemporary LGBTQ+ metal artists, will open at the Metal Museum on Sunday.

Apple will unveil its first virtual reality headset on Monday.

Air-conditioned football helmets are now a thing.

Arrow Creative’s Marketplace in Motion returns to Loflin Yard this Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM.

The Good Groceries Mobile Diner food truck will be in Health Sciences Park today from 11:30 AM to 1 PM.

That’s it for today’s post. Back tomorrow probably.

Yesterday I finished scrolling through 187 pages of biographies in the Memphis Public Libraries’ e-collection. Trivia question: What one person has far more biographies (and autobiographies) in the collection than any other? I’ll put the answer at the end of this post.

I checked out one more book, about Clarence Saunders, the invention of the self-service grocery store concept, and the founding of Piggly Wiggly.

Memphis Jookin’ happens at Cossitt Library today. Local Memphis Jookin’ legends will lead a public class from 5 to 6 PM. From 6 to 7 PM there will be demos and a dance session. Participants are asked to wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing.

Not familiar with Memphis Jookin’? Want to get the basics down before tonight’s class? Here’s a tutorial:

From 24/7 Sports: The Big 12 may have its eyes on Memphis and Colorado for expansion

Momma’s, the trucker bar at Crump and Kentucky that is part of the Aldo family of restaurants, is getting ready to reopen. They’re hiring for all positions. Apply in person on weekdays between 10 AM and 3 PM at 855 Kentucky. If you want to shoot them a resume, work@mommasbar.com is the address.

Benefits of working at Momma’s include health insurance, competitive pay, paid training, and shift meals.

The Daily Memphian conducted a poll on its social media accounts, asking if people liked Memphis in May’s return to the river after being held at Liberty Park/Tiger Lane 5 miles away in 2022:

• 74% liked Music Fest’s return to the river
• 70% liked BBQ Fest’s return to the river

Only 8% of Music Fest fans and 9% of BBQ Fest fans said they disliked the return.

Memphis Pride Fest happens this weekend at Robert Church Park. More than 150 vendors, food trucks, a kids’ area, free HIV testing. There will be more than 60 drag performers, including two from RuPaul’s Drag Race.

In other Pride news, there will be a Puppy Pride Parade in Court Square Saturday, June 17 from 10 AM to 2 PM. There will be vendors and live music by DJ Strooly and Night Hawk. Across Main there will be drinks at the Moxy hotel bar.

Yesterday I was sitting at Cinnamon’s bar at the Blind Bear and she had a country music channel on. I thought I heard “On the Road Again” and thought, “Ahhh… ol’ Willie,” the last musician I saw in concert. But then I realized the voice wasn’t as scratchy as Willie Nelson’s, and the lyrics were different.

I was listening to “On the Boat Again.”

It reminded me of Butt Slut #1 because I text her “boat” whenever one appears in a Price Is Right showcase. One of my worst fears is getting on the show expecting to win a Toyota Camry or Volkswagen Taos or Ford Bronco, and instead coming away with a stupid boat.

Today is National Moonshine Day. Blind Bear is the place to celebrate that holiday, with many varieties of Ole Smoky flavored moonshine. You can also mix moonshines. My fav is the strawnana, a shot of half strawberry cream, half banana cream moonshine. Butt Slut #1 prefers bleach shots, which are half blackberry, half peach moonshine.

Today is also Oscar the Grouch Day.

And, if you remember Corporal Klinger from the TV show M*A*S*H, today is his favorite holiday: Wear a Dress Day.

The groundbreaking for the new Brooks Museum at Front and Monroe is today. $135 million has been raised to fund the museum.

Registration has begun for the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis on December 2.

The Hard Rock Cafe on Beale will close July 30. That will put 52 people out of work.

Not Downtown but worth a Lyft or Uber: Memphis Italian Fest kicks off today and runs through Saturday. It’s at Marquette Park at the corner of Park Ave. and Mt. Moriah Rd. in East Memphis. Italian food vendors, live music, kids’ area, arts & crafts, raffle for a Chevy Trax. If you know someone on a team (it’s a competition, like BBQ Fest) maybe they’ll invite you inside their booth to sample their cooking.

Collage Dance presents The Four Seasons at the Orpheum this Sunday at 3 PM. This organization has more than 300 students enrolled and its purpose is to make outstanding dance training accessible to all youth in Memphis. Tickets are $15-$30.

The Denver Nuggets’ mascot makes $625,000 a year.

Trivia answer: Barack Obama

That’s it for this post. Back tomorrow with more news.

Oh yeah… I promised you fine folks the answer to a riddle today.

I posted it on Sunday. Here it is again:

There exists a system, and you may have such a system in your home, in which

• 1, 2, and 3 are undervalued
• 4, 5, and 6 are perfectly valued
• 7 is overvalued
• 8 and 9 never had a chance to be perfectly valued
• 0 is only perfectly valued when the system stops working

I mentioned that I thought of the riddle while lying in bed. That was a clue.

It’s a digital clock. I was looking at one when I came up with the riddle.

A digital clock has 7 “legs” it uses to build each digit – 4 vertical, 3 horizontal.

• The digit 1 uses 2 legs to be built; 2 uses 5 legs; and 3 uses 5 legs. So those digits are undervalued.
• The digit 4 uses 4 legs to be built; 5 uses 5 legs, and 6 uses 6 legs. So those digits are perfectly valued.
• The digit 7 uses 3 legs to be built. So 7 is overvalued.
• Since there are only 7 legs, 8 and 9 never had a chance to be perfectly valued.
• Unplug the clock and 0 legs are displayed – the only time 0 is perfectly valued.

Keep scrolling down for today’s news.

Last week I posted that there would be a UK (meaning the United Kingdom, not the University of Kentucky) Trivia Night at the Brass Door tonight from 6 to 9. I commented that it was rather interesting that the ad for the trivia night had the logo of the British Consulate-General (Atlanta) in the lower left corner.

The CA has the info… Rachel Galloway, the UK Consulate-General in Atlanta, is indeed visiting Memphis this week. She was the honorary duckmaster at the Peabody yesterday morning. The CA says she’ll meet with local leaders and attend roundtables and tours before departing Saturday.

Heh heh… I use Grammarly to check my posts for grammar and spelling. It put a little red line under “duckmaster.” It doesn’t think that’s a word.

For my South Main readers: Want a fun opportunity to hang out with your neighbors and get to know them better? There will be a block party called Huling Hoedown this Saturday. Live music, games, food trucks, and beverages.

From 92.9 FM ESPN radio: Could DeAndre Williams return for another year of Memphis Tigers basketball?

The greatest drummer ever to pick up the sticks, John Bonham, would’ve turned 75 today. Bonham died in September 1980, effectively ending Led Zeppelin’s 12-year run as the remaining members decided they could not continue without him. In addition to being a rock drummer, Bonham was a gentleman farmer who raised prize-winning cattle.

The DM has a look at the Party at the Pyramid outdoor party series Bass Pro is putting on the last Friday of every month.

More organ pipes that were stolen from Calvary Episcopal Church have been found.

Rock the Boat is the featured entertainment at the Peabody rooftop party this Thursday, June 1. $15 for general admission, and $30 to get into the VIP Lounge. 6-10 PM.

The latest Ask Vance column in Memphis magazine talks about Bry’s, an early-1900s department store at Main and Jefferson. In 1927, Bry’s opened an Airplane Department in the store.

From the DM: MATA will continue to fund the Groove on Demand program

A man attempted to sneak two guns past security onto Beale Street this past weekend. He was caught and charged with two misdemeanors.

The NBA Finals tip off Thursday: Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets, 7:30 PM, ABC.

I finished Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski yesterday and checked it back in early to the library’s e-collection. Then I started browsing the Biographies section of their ebooks and checked out two.

The first was a biography of General James Mattis. Say what you will about the rest of Trump’s original cabinet, but former Secretary of Defense “Mad Dog” Mattis was a soldier’s soldier and a solid dude, smart and pragmatic.

Always carry a knife with you. Just in case there’s cheesecake, or you need to stab someone in the throat.
– Jim Mattis

The second book was a biography of Billy Joel. My friend Randy is a huge Billy Joel fan, and I figure that’ll give us plenty to talk about on Saturdays.

I have a lot to do this morning, so I’m going to sign off for now. Back tomorrow.

Sage (Serving a Great Experience), the soul food bistro on Main between Gayoso and Peabody Place, is temporarily closed for remodeling. They plan to be back open and once again serving a great experience soon.  If you’ve never seen the line for Sunday brunch right when Sage opens at 11, let me tell you, it can get as many as 60 deep. It’s the place to be.

Did you know you can get Miami-style brioche donuts at the Memphis Farmers Market? Look for the Artesanal de Tela booth.

Today is National Mint Julep Day. I often have restaurant or bar recommendations when I post these lesser-known holidays, but this one has me stumped. I can’t recall anyone ever ordering a mint julep at any of my favorite Downtown spots. Maybe the Peabody lobby bar or Corner Bar?

Higher humidity is on the way with the heat index hitting the mid-90s in Memphis by midweek. Ugh. It’s that time of year. Better make sure your A/C is in good working order.

Giant panda Ya Ya, a Memphis Zoo resident for 20 years, has made it to her new home in the Beijing Zoo.

The CA’s Jennifer Chandler has a list of June food events in Memphis. Of interest to Downtowners:

• The Loving Local festival in The Edge on June 15
• The Memphis Vegan Festival in Fourth Bluff Park on June 18
• Craft Food and Wine Festival benefiting Church Health at The Columns on June 25
• There’s also a Memphis Coffee Shop Hop lasting from June 1 to September 30. The hop includes Downtown coffee shops Boycott Coffee, Comeback Coffee, Crazy Gander, Dr. Bean’s Coffee and Tea Emporium, and Vice & Virtue. If you visit all 12 stops on the hop (including several that are far from Downtown) and get your card stamped, you get a free coffee from your favorite stop on the hop.

If you’ve been playing around with ChatGPT, as I have, here’s a list of golden prompts to get the most out of the AI tool.

YogaSix in Downtown Memphis seeks a yoga/fitness sales associate, a position they refer to as a Wellness Advisor. Part-time (20-35 hours a week) with some evenings and weekends. Perks include a complimentary YogaSix membership and 30% off all retail items.

The Church of the River (Unitarian) seeks a director of religious education.

Richard Wilson plays The Central BBQ Sessions at Central BBQ Downtown tonight from 6 to 9.

Graber Gryass plays Live at the Tracks at Central Station Hotel Thursday evening from 6:30 to 9:30.

There’s a beginner bachata class at Cat’s Ballroom tonight at 6.

901 Live! will showcase local musical talent at the Halloran Centre this Saturday at 7 PM. Tickets are $45.

There will be an all-levels yoga class in the Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel exhibit in the Renasant Convention Center at 9 AM. $20 cost includes the class and entry to the exhibit. Bring a yoga mat.

Grind City Brewing holds Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader trivia this Wednesday at 6:30 PM.

Congrats to my former trivia teammate the Nuh-Uh Sister, who got married last weekend.

Got a menu tip about the Blind Bear last night: Get a side order of Nate’s Tater Tots and a cup of tomato bisque. Dip the tots in the bisque.

My buddy Chico was bartending Blind Bear for happy hour yesterday. He shared with me a snack pack he got from the Asian market on Cleveland:

Clockwise from top right: Black sesame bar, “soft” peanut butter bar, peanut butter bat, white sesame bar.

About that so-called soft peanut butter bar: Asians must have a different concept of the word than we do, because the bar was so hard that I had to attempt several bites before I finally got a piece of it.

Chico said the other peanut butter bar was like peanut brittle. Given that I have crowns on my front upper teeth, I decided to pass on that one.

I believe the market Chico is talking about is Viet Hoa Market at 48 N. Cleveland, near the intersection of Court Avenue. Cleveland is on the eastern boundary of the Groove on Demand shuttle service if you don’t feel like driving there.

That’ll wrap it up for now. Back tomorrow with more news.

I checked out and read my first e-books from the Memphis Public Libraries’ online collection yesterday: A Brief History of Memphis by G. Wayne Dowdy. A good read, and it was indeed brief: I finished it in a few hours. I could keep the book checked out for 21 days but returned it early in case someone else (maybe one of you?) wanted to read it.

On this day in Memphis history: Bluesman Furry Lewis collapsed while performing at a gig at the Cotton Pickin’ Music and Crafts Jubilee. Furry was 84 at the time and would live another four years. This tidbit came from another Dowdy book I checked out, On This Day in Memphis History.

I also checked out a book on digital marketing so I could brush up in case a company where I applied for a job calls me for an interview this week.

And, one more: I checked out Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski. Normally I’m not big into fiction, but people have told me I’d like Bukowski’s work.

Happy Memorial Day! Today is also the day that is considered the anniversary of the end of the Middle Ages. On May 29, 1453, the Ottoman Empire captured the city of Constantinople, the capital and last stronghold of the Byzantines. The city is known in modern times as Istanbul, Turkey.

Three Memphis restaurants made AllTrails’ list of the 14 best BBQ restaurants in the U.S.: The Bar-B-Q Shop, Central BBQ, and the Rendezvous.

The DM has an article about Discover Memphis Naturally, an organization that links folks up to local outdoor fitness classes and activities. I just gave them a follow on Facebook and Insta.

The American Contract Bridge League, the nonprofit that sanctions the card game duplicate contract bridge, has a new executive director. I don’t play bridge myself, but that Horn Lake-based organization is near and dear to my heart because I worked in the marketing and IT departments there from 2009 to 2018. The COVID pandemic caused their membership to decline because no one could safely play face-to-face bridge at a club or tournament for about a year. I hope they claw their way back with flying colors.

All MATA rides are discounted to 25 cents today due to poor air quality. I believe that includes trolleys.

There’s a chance Penny will land Carmelo Anthony’s son Kiyan in the  U of M men’s basketball incoming class of ’25.

That’s it for now. Slow news day, short post, kind of what I expected.

I’m going to star off my post today with something I’ve never done before: a riddle. I thought of this one lying in bed this morning.

There exists a system, and you may have such a system in your home, in which

• 1, 2, and 3 are undervalued
• 4, 5, and 6 are perfectly valued
• 7 is overvalued
• 8 and 9 never had a chance to be perfectly valued
• 0 is only perfectly valued when the system stops working

What am I talking about?

I’ll post the answer on Wednesday. Why Wednesday? Because some of my readers only check my blog at work, and because of Memorial Day, Tuesday will be the first day they’re back.

I had a productive morning yesterday. I figured, as much as I’ve been going to the newly-reopened Cossitt Library lately, I might as well get a library card! It’s super easy and you don’t have to go to a library branch to do it. All you have to do is go to the Memphis Public Libraries website and fill out a form to apply for a library card. All you have to do is fill in your name, address, and a few other details.

MPL’s system then tries to verify that your name is connected to an address within the city of Memphis. If it can verify you, it emails you a library card number and a PIN, which can be used from that moment forward. I’m note sure exactly how the system works, but about a minute after I submitted the form, I got an email saying I’d been verified and containing my new card number and PIN.

Once you have a fully verified card, you can check out books from any MPL branch. Also, you can show your card number at any branch and they can print a physical card for you.

In addition to borrowing books from one of MPL’s 18 physical locations, you can also borrow from a library of more than 50,000 e-books and e-audiobooks. You do this using an app or website called Libby by Overdrive. You can read your e-books in the Libby app, or if you have a Kindle, you can ask Libby to send your books there.

You can also use your library card to reserve a public-access computer at any MPL branch.

What if MPL’s system can’t verify that your name is connected to your address? Then you can apply for an Online Only card to gain immediate access to e-books and e-audiobooks. The next time you visit a. physical MPL branch, bring proof of address (current utility bill, voter registration card, etc.) to upgrade to a full library card.

I did another thing yesterday morning, one that will improve your reading experience. As many of you know, I use WordPress to publish this blog. Several years ago they “upgraded” WordPress from its classic editor (which I love) to a block editor (which I hate). Reasons why I hate the block editor:

1. Embeds of external elements like tweets and YouTube videos often don’t work
2. Sometimes the block editor would “eat” large parts of a post; for example, I’d have 20 news items in the editor but only 9 would appear on the blog when I published (and the other 11 would disappear from the editor). This was particularly a problem when I started a post at night, went to bed, then got up to finish it in the morning.
3. When I would do Ctrl-A Ctrl-C (select all and copy) in the block editor, it would select one block (one paragraph, or one bulleted or numbered list, or one image) when I wanted it to select the entire post.

Yesterday I found that there’s a WordPress plugin called Classic Editor. I installed it and BOOM… things were back to the way they used to be.

Here’s an embedded tweet:

Pleasant conditions are expected for the remainder of your Memorial Day weekend, now that rain chances are gone. For today, mostly sunny with more dry air arriving on a northeast breeze. Temps near 60 to start the day and reach 82 for the high. Monday looks nearly the same! pic.twitter.com/xAtyeFJeJZ

— MemphisWeather.net (@memphisweather1) May 28, 2023

And here’s an embedded YouTube video:

Let’s get on to the news…

From We Are Memphis: 5 Memphis music stores to build your collection. Three of the five are Downtown:

• River City Records (101 S. Main)
• Memphis Music (149 Beale)
• A. Schwab (163 Beale; records are on the second floor)

All three stores are within about a three-block walk of each other, so you could hit them all in one afternoon.

From Forbes: A travel writer’s guide to the best bars in Memphis. Hey Max, your Malort Challenge made Forbes!

Memphis Public Libraries is holding an A. Schwab Collection digital scavenger hunt. Explore the contents of the basement of this dry goods store that has been around since 1876, all without leaving your computer.

From the DM: Calvary Place Childcare Center, located inside Calvary Episcopal Church, is closing at the end of this month.

Today is International Hamburger Day.

The Downtown Memphis Commission is now accepting applications for its summer 2023 Hip-Hop Architecture Camp. The camp will happen July 10-14 at a Downtown location and is for 7th-12th graders. Cost to attend this camp is FREE.

That’s it for now. Holidays are typically slow news days, but if there’s anything to report, I’ll be back tomorrow.

The Brass Door will host a UK in Memphis Trivia Night next Wednesday, May 31 from 6 to PM. RSVP to Simone.Brown@fcdo.gov.uk if you plan to come and play. Interesting… the logo of the British Consulate-General in Atlanta appears on the ad for this trivia night.

WREG reported on their noon news broadcast that the law allowing Tennesse restaurants to sell to-go drinks expires July 1. The law was passed in 2020 to help restaurants stay afloat during the COVID pandemic.

Today is National Italian Beef Day.

Author Cassie Brooks will appear at The Broom Closet from 2 to 4 PM today to read from and sign copies of her children’s book Sticks and Stones.

Potliquor will happen at the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum on N. Second Street Sunday at 2 PM. This is a cultural storytelling event There will be live demonstrations, education, and potliquor and candied yam cornbread. Charolette & Pickens will have food offerings as well, and there will be African cultural exhibits and music. This event is free but donations are accepted.

I always get one of three things when I eat at the Blind Bear: Hibernation Tots, Crawfish Mac & Cheese, or the Jager BBQ Burger with sides of mac & cheese and baked beans. So yesterday as I walked up there, I told myself, “Today I’m gonna try something different.”

I looked at the menu. Now, my favorite Captain of all time is Captain Kangaroo…

Bob “Captain Kangaroo” Keeshan. Public domain image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

… but my second-favorite of all time is Captain Morgan. And that Captain has an entree on the Blind Bear’s menu, Captain Morgan’s Chicken. I decided to give it a try.

Oh my goodness yummmmm. This is a roasted chicken breast sitting atop a bed of mashed potatoes, topped with sauteed spinach and a Captain Morgan’s rum sauce. Bartender Cinnamon thought I’d really enjoy the interaction of flavors between the rum sauce and the mashed potatoes, and she was not wrong. I cleaned my plate. I recommend this dish highly and will get it again.

From YouTube: A WNBA legend wants a WNBA team in Memphis. I see there’s a Change.org petition to make that happen.

Live entertainment team auditions are coming up for the Memphis Grizzlies. Here’s a list of teams that will be holding auditions and how to prepare for them:

• Grizz Girls dance team: Girl Play classes – Learn the style of the dances in a non-competitive environment
• Grizz Girls dance team: Pre-audition classes – Learn the choreography for the audition
• Grannies & Grandpas dance team (age 50 and up)
• Blue Bunch dance team (age 7-17)
• Grizzline drum/percussion team
• Claw Crew marketing team

The DM interviewed former Memphis men’s basketball head coach Josh Pastner. Pastner was recently fired as Georgia Tech’s head coach and won’t be on the sidelines for the upcoming season. He says he may do some TV before attempting to break back into head coaching.

This week’s DM’s Behind the Headlines podcast is a roundtable of reporters discussing the Greenlaw Community Center. MPD recently abandoned plans to use the center as a holding area for juveniles violating curfew.

In his weekly update, Mayor Jimbo from Mempho provided a list of activities available to Memphis kids while they’re out on summer break.

Interesting: How an algorithm solves Wodrle. The algorithm was developed by an MIT professor and Ph.D. student. It uses SALET as its starting word. The article also has links to the Wordle strategies of Bill Gates and Kamala Harris.

Hey, I haven’t played yet today. Let’s see how I do:

Wordle 707 3/6

🟩🟩⬜⬜🟨
🟩🟩⬜🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

“Impressive!” Wordle commented. No, I did not start with SALET.

That’s it for today. Meeting my friends Randy & Theresa at Bardog for Saturday brunch. Back tomorrow with more news.