Ah. Life is good. Woke up at 7:45. Thought, “oh no, I’m late for work” then remembered it’s Saturday. Rolled over, slept til 9. Got up, put clothes on, walked to Blue Plate, ordered two sausage biscuits to go, walked to Jack’s, bought Mountain Dew, came back, sausage biscuits were ready. Eating them now as I type.
I got to check out the new club Downtown, The Red Rooster, last night. I’d had a few beers with one of the owners over the past couple months, and he told me that if I could bring a group of 10 or more, he’d let us in without paying cover. So I assembled everyone at Hoop’s Bar at 9 (something of a selfish move, as I wanted at least one PBR can over the course of the evening) and then we headed over to the Rooster at 10.
I liked the place. It felt like the kind of club you find Downtown in a big city. They had a band playing, and during breaks they played music – GOOD music. A club Downtown that doesn’t play hip-hop – FINALLY! They were playing rock – I’ll throw out AC/DC’s “Back in Black” as representative of what I heard. You wouldn’t think that would work in a club, but it totally did and people were dancing. Some people were concerned that the Rooster would be a country bar, but I did not hear one country song in the entire two hours I was there. Staff was friendly. You have to high-five the bartenders before you can order.
The big unknown at the Rooster is the variable they can’t control, who the regular crowd will turn out to be. I hope it doesn’t become a redneck bar. I don’t think it will, as it’s too far removed from Mississippi and Frayser. I really liked the place and plan on going back in a week or two.
This isn’t a Downtown event but I’m going to mention it anyway… the Brooks Museum is doing a Hangar One Vodka tasting Friday, March 7 at 7 PM. Ansley Cole, co-founder and owner of Hangar One, will be on hand. $75 cover gets you five pours of Hangar One’s vodkas, a sample of their premium brandy, and a dinner buffet by chef Wally Joe. I mention this because I’m a huge fan of Hangar One vodkas. Hangar One lime vodka + cranberry + Sprite = a very good drink indeed.
Memphis was successful in its quest to get a Startup Weekend here. Great event for entrepreneurs. It will take place May 30-June 1. This link will get you to a place where you can purchase a ticket for the weekend and find out other info. Event will be held at Mercury Labs, and they’re capping the registration so don’t wait too long to get your ticket if you want to go.
Now, it’s time to ask for your help with another vote. Colgate is donating a children’s playroom to a hospital, and is letting the public vote for which hospital. There’s a local movement to build up votes for Baptist Memorial in Memphis. Please take a minute to go here and help our city win.
A few good links I found yesterday:
Business.gov – the government’s site full of information on how to start and operate a small business.
The Encyclopedia of Television – I think the name says it all.
Commercial Appeal article listing the times acts perform at the Folk Alliance Music Showcase tonight.
Speaking of the Commercial Appeal, there’s an article in it today about the CCC’s vote to approve Downtown security patrols to curb panhandling. Handling-Panhandling forum co-moderator Mike King is quoted.
The beer report for yesterday is going to be a little bit complicated. The Saucer gives its UFO members prizes when they hit 50, 100, 150, and 200 beers. It’s a free beer for 50, a free big beer for 100, a free hat for 150, and a free Frisbee for 200. So I have to decide if the free stuff should be subtracted from the total cost of the plate. My opinion is that the free beer for 50 and the free biggy for 100 should be subtracted; I’d be ordering a beer anyway, so those are legitimate offsets of costs. On the other hand, the hat and Frisbee are items I probably would not choose to buy, so those won’t be subtracted.
Also, on my way home from the Rooster I stopped in the Saucer for a beer. They were charging cover at the time, and because I’m a UFO member I didn’t have to pay. So that $3 gets subtracted from the plate cost.
Previous total: $281.50
Beers 55, 56, and 57 (but 52, 53, and 54 according to the Saucer):
Blue Velvet $5.00
Xingu bottle $4.25
Warsteiner Dunkel bottle $4.00
Tip $13.25 x ~30% = $4.00
Free beer – Dos Equis Special Lager $-4.25
Cover I didn’t have to pay $-3.00
Total: $10.00
Grand total: $291.50
Plans for today: Wander around and talk to people from 11 to 6, game watch party at the Saucer from 6 to 10. Yes, I know a few people decided to do something different at the very last minute, and that’s cool, but the official Rapscallion extended family game watch party remains at the Saucer. Darts, beer, 3 HDTVs in the main room, hot waitresses in miniskirts.