Paul Ryburn's Journal

Congrats to Kooky Canuck, which has made the top 4 for America’s Best Wings.

There’s a Downtown-based flatbed truck driver job open that is entry-level but pays almost fifty an hour.

Real toys are making a return to boxes of popular cereals including Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops.

The full 2026-27 Memphis Grizzzlies schedule is out.

Latin Soul Sessions, where Memphis soul meets Latin rhythm, happen this weekend.

Like dinosaurs? This event at A. Schwab is for you:

Join Beale Street Monster Club on August 15th from 1PM – 3:30PM as we take you on a journey to rediscover a lost world. See real fossils on display along with original pieces of dinosaur theme film memorabilia. Learn about the origins of paleontology and see early reconstructions of dinosaurs which first caught the publics imagination. The event will concluded with a screening of the 1925 silent classic “The Lost World”!

Boxing on Beale returns to the New Daisy Saturday.

The Medical District seeks a job placement & retention specialist.

Back soon with more news.

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One of the guests Elvis invited to his private movie screenings at the Orpheum was singer/songwriter Mac Davis. Davis was a huge country/pop crossover success in the late 1970s.

I’m really surprised his work hasn’t aged better; when I was in about third grade, “I Believe in Music” was a huge hit, and I loved it, and my parents loved it, and my teachers loved it. He had his own variety show on TV. But you never hear his music today.

Out in southeast Memphis, the FESJC round of the PGA playoffs is underway. 69 are playing; only 50 will move on to the next round. The Messenger has an explainer and WREG has what locals need to know.

Keep in mind, forecast highs will be between 98 and 102 this weekend. I recommend watching the tournament at Birdie’s where there’s A/C and ice cold PBR.

Memphis Chess Club (where I’m typing this) is featured in Hobbies are Hot in this week’s Memphis Flyer.

Cheers to Mosaic Memphis, who brought tacos, salsa, sour cream, chips and nacho cheese dip, rice and beans, snickerdoodle cookies, and ice cream to the Union Mission last night. 9.5 out of 10 – minus half a point because Brother Wes wasn’t there to preach us a sermon. We missed you Wes!

Back tomorrow with a Frupdate.

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Trivia Q: What is the only non-human animal that will ACTIVELY hunt gorillas?

My friend Prince Mongo passed away this week. Mongo was an eccentric landlord, nightclub operator, and mayoral candidate who came here on a spaceship from the planet Zambodia. He had some unique ideas on how to run this city – for instance, he wanted to surround Mud Island with alligators and turn it into a prison.

RIP Spirit Mongo, I’ll always be grateful for that night you came up to me at Raiford’s and introduced yourself.

I hear the PGA rented out BB King’s and Itta Bena for a private event last night. Their tournament is at Southwind this week.

Bluey returns to the Orpheum this weekend for his Big Play.

Today is Vinyl Record Day.

Paint the King by numbers: An Elvis Week experience Friday 11-2 at the Westin

Trivia A: Leopards

Back soon with more news.

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Happy Elvis Week, everybody! From the CA: Here’s a list of Memphis restaurants Elvis loved that are still around.

From Hollywood to Burning Love: Acclaimed Elvis tribute artist Marcus Sugg plays the Halloran Centre Saturday. Did you know that Elvis used to rent out the Orpheum so he could watch current hit movies in private?

The Neon Mooners play the final Peabody rooftop party of the season Thursday 6-10 PM. $15 entry / $40 VIP. VIPs get a buffet of ribs, mac & cheese, and chocolate chip cookies. Special guest Baylee Littrell. If that last name sounds familiar, it may be because his dad is one of the Backstreet Boys.

The Elvis is the Burger of the Week at Momma’s: Angus beef, bacon, peanut butter, caramelized banana on Texas toast.

From Memphis magazine: An artist inspired by local food and the people who prepare it

Today is National Panini Day. Celebrate with a ‘nini (and a ‘tini) at Aldo’s Pizza Pies.

Back soon with more news.

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So sad to read the news that Grizzlies backup center Brandon Clarke died from the effects of heroin and cocaine. If you want to ride, don’t ride the white horse. And despite what the song says, don’t ride the white pony either.

I asked AI agent Claude how, when a current NBA player dies, it affects the money that counts toward his team’s salary cap. The answer is that death voids a player’s contract, so Memphis has immediate access to spend the amount of BC’s salary on a replacement.

Banana pudding cheesecake is a dessert special at Bardog this week.
Professional pillow fighting is a thing.

once again i have to cut off a postt prematurely due to health reasons. y’all im so sorry. maybe tomorrow.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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I played Sporcle trivia at Memphis Chess Club last night. They have 6:30 and 7:30 games every Thursday night. Each game pays off a $20 gift card for first place and a $10 gift card for second place.

You don’t need to install the Sporcle app on your phone to play. You just scan the QR code and enter the game number provided by the host. Easy peasy.

Each game has eight regular questions, which you weight 1-8 points based on your confidence in your answer. Some Q’s offer a chance to pick up an additional nerd point.

Questions 5 and 10 are quick 4-part questions around one topic for 2 points each.

Question 11 is Final Jeopardy-style. You’re given the category and wager 0-15 points before seeing the question.

Fun and fast-paced. I finished third, just out of the money, in both games. I swung for the fences both final rounds. I should have been more conservative.

Memphis Chess Club has a full bar and coffee shop… however, I got the $5.50 bottomless Mountain Dew.

I will play trivia there again, although not every week since Thursday is my normal E&H night.

Sunset Jazz returns to Court Square this Sunday 6-8 PM. Lawn chairs are welcome.

The Grizzlies will hold a garage sale at FedExForum Saturday, August 22.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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The Memphis Flyer is back with its latest in a series of articles about the state of Downtown. This one is about restaurants and retail.

Huey’s has added 2 new sandwiches: a crispy chicken sandwich and a chicken BLTA, both on Brioche rolls.

Pre-sale early bird tickets are now available for Taste of the (Memphis Medical Center) District on October 6 from 4 to 6 PM.

RIP Dory Funk Jr.

MATA wants to get the trolleys back online this fall.

Today is National IPA Day.

$2 PBR at the Redbirds tonight. 6:45 first pitch.

The Owen Gooch Band plays The Dame, Hotel Pontotoc’s bar, Friday at 7:30.

Volunteer to help clean up the Memphis Flyway at Tom Lee Park Saturday morning.

On a personal note, I’m close to returning to writing on Medium. I have an article coming out next week. It’s about the phrase “thank you” and negative associations it can carry over from childhood, how those associations can disrupt an adult gratitude practice, and what to do about it.

The eccentric aunt who gives you socks for your birthday. Parents: “Tell your aunt thank you!” Image by Google Gemini AI.

Back tomorrow with a Frupdate. I’ll leave you with some fabulous advice from my fellow Medium writer Anne Bellamy.

Stop imagining monsters under your bed.
Start imagining angels at your side.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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It makes me VERY, VERY HAPPY to walk past Downtown restaurants/bars and see a new house rule posted near the entrance:

No speakers on phones

YES YES YES. Talking on your g-damn speakerphones is RUDE to those seated near you. This includes FaceTime! Finish your conversation before coming inside! Or learn to use text to converse! I, for one, am THRILLED to see neighborhood businesses FINALLY cracking down on this.

Third Coast headlines this Thursday’s Peabody rooftop party. 6-10 PM. $15 to get in, $40 to go VIP. VIPs get a buffet of chicken Rotel, tortilla chips, and fried potato skins.

Redbirds host Nashville at 6:45 tonight. Our ‘birds whooped dat ass last night 13-2.

Elvis Week 2026 kicks off Saturday.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! Insomnia Cookies at 200 Beale has gotcha covered for the holiday: Buy a warm  chocolate chunk cookie and get a second cookie of equal or lesser value for free.

This morning at breakfast, my friend Patrick brought up a “rocky” problem – a problem I saw myself as I walked around Downtown later.

 

Concrete trucks are letting loose piles of big rocks every time they stop at a traffic light. These rocks can get kicked up and break someone’s windshield. Can anything be done about this?

Your Memphis Redbirds are back at home this week for a homestand against the Nashville Sounds. The first pitch tonight is 6:45 p.m. Check out the new value menu at the Cantina Stand near section 114.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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Folks, I’ve been waiting for 20+ years to post a news item like this first one.

Downtown Memphis appears to be close to getting an Indian restaurant!!!!!

What Now reports that a concept called Flavors of India is coming to 150 Peabody Place Suite 115. That’s the Terminix building (old Peabody Place mall building), I believe. “Like” the restaurant on Facebook I LOVE Indian food and can’t wait for it to open!

Last night, one of my Saucer beertenders told me about a hidden gem of Downtown dining: Flyway Brewing’s taproom at 598 Monroe. She especially likes the crispy duck tenders and loaded fries. Menu

The Woodruff-Fontaine House invites you to take a walk through the yellow fever epidemic of 1878 on Sunday, August 23rd.

Today is Grab Some Nuts Day.

Sage seeks a lead bartender. Send your resume to sagememphis94@gmail.com.

The Rocky is the burger of the week at Momma’s. Angus beef, red & yellow peppers, jalapeños, provolone, chipotle mayo.

Feeling better today than I have in a while… but I’m staying at the Mission tonight because I need sleep and a shower. Plus the guest church at chapel, New Salem MB, is one of my fav guest churches. Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
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