Paul Ryburn’s Journal

The Center for Southern Folklore’s Memphis Music and Heritage Festival is this weekend, on the Main Street Mall between Peabody Place and Gayoso. Below are some acts I personally recommend. Complete schedule here.

Saturday

12 noon – Jimmy Crosthwait, puppeteer, Peabody Place Trolley Stop stage. This one’s for the kids but he cracks me up [...]

Two friends of mine went to Circa Saturday night and were absolutely blown away by the experience they had there. They couldn’t stop complimenting everything about the place – the impeccable service was mentioned again and again. The wine list received big compliments as well. They said it was both classy and a [...]

News for those of you who live in Memphis and work in Arkansas, or vice versa…

The I-40 bridge over the Mississippi River – aka the Hernando DeSoto Bridge or “new bridge” – has been closed to traffic after a pillar in a construction zone settled overnight. They’re not taking any chances after the tragedy in [...]

- The Memphis City Council has passed possibly the most unenforceable ordinance ever. If your cat is caught defecating in someone else’s yard, you can be fined $50. Now, how in the world is this going to work? If cops have to witness panhandlers beg Downtown to write them citations, then I’m assuming [...]

- Dr. Herman Green, the 77-year-old sax player for FreeWorld, got his musical note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame yesterday afternoon. Herman first played on Beale Street in 1945 and has been the inspiration behind FreeWorld’s success for the past 20 years.

- Downtown music legend Charlie Wood and his band The New Memphis [...]

Mpact Memphis is looking for audience members for a September 10 debate it is sponsoring for the City of Memphis mayoral race. Major candidates Herman Morris, Carol Chumney, and John Willingham will be there, although so far King Willie has declined to participate.

For more info on the debate and how to apply to be an [...]

A member of The Subteens lives in my building and posted this on the bulletin board, so I figured I’d pass along the info. The Subteens and DJ Piper Dandy tonight at the Gibson Lounge, $10 cover, prom attire requested [...]

Several readers have e-mailed me asking the identity of my favorite blogger/MILF who I mention from time to time. Now, usually when I mention other bloggers I link to their blogs… but in this case I don’t. Why? Well, I still haven’t met my favorite blogger/MILF in person yet, and in case she [...]

Thursday when I gave my speech about panhandling to the Center City Commission, I mentioned Sharp Dressed Bum, whose real name is Tommie, in an illustrative example. Tommie is a well-known Downtown panhandler who cusses people out, makes obscene and lewd comments, and makes threatening physical gestures when people turn him down. One of [...]

Last night I was in the Flying Saucer and I saw this flyer on the bar:

Personally, I’d rather fantasize about the waitresses, but, whatever floats your boat.

No, actually, I do think it’s pretty cool that they’re starting a fantasy football league at the Saucer. I probably won’t participate since I don’t follow the NFL close [...]