Not much time to post this weekend… been busy with pre-BBQ Fest networking. Running around to various places, telling friends where my team’s booth will be, finding out who else has a BBQ booth I might be able to get into, calling around and getting stuff donated/borrowed. So I’ve been barhopping to the extreme… yesterday I went to the Saucer, Rio Loco, the Saucer again, Big Foot, the Saucer a third time, then Itta Bena, then Raiford’s.
Had the fish tacos at Rio Loco for the first time – they’re the Saturday lunch special. Wanted to compare them to the Flying Fish’s fish tacos, but they’re very different. Rio Loco serves them grilled inside a soft taco shell, and provides a plate of fixin’s (lettuce, sour cream, pico de gallo, dressing) so you can build your own tacos. Pretty tasty. As usual, I went there to get some food in me to keep from getting wasted early in the day… and then I went and got a jumbo margarita with my food. That margarita nearly put me down for the count. I managed to stay awake during my second shift at the Saucer by dancing around and signing “ABC” by the Jackson 5. I bet I sang it about 14 times.
Later in the day I went to Big Foot with some of my BBQ team members and we split an order of garlic bread, topped with cheese and bacon. It was goooood. Otto: “Pretty much everything’s better with bacon.” Indeed. The bartender told us that my former BFF would be arriving shortly, so we finished up and high-tailed it out of there, as no one was in the mood to deal with her stupid-ass self. We headed back to the Saucer, where I turned in my usual sucky performance at darts. I do all right at pool but I will never be a good dart player.
About 10 I left the dart tournament and wandered over to Itta Bena. They have a piano player and singer Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but previously I had never been there late enough to catch the show. Here’s a pic:
The piano makes for a mellow, laid-back setting that is a huge contrast to the partying going on outside on Beale Street. I’ve been told that the piano draws a sizable regular crowd on Friday nights, and it’s starting to catch on Thursdays and Saturdays as well.
From there it was on to Raiford’s, where my friends Tom and Meredith were having an after-party, having gotten married earlier in the day:
And here’s a pic of the bride with two of the bridesmaids:
About 1:30 Raiford’s started to get super packed, and I was tired out from 12 hours of being out, so I called it a night.
Oh, by the way, they have a banner out front saying that Raiford’s is now open for ’80s Ladies Night on Thursday nights. Hmmmmm. There’s a good chance I’ll pay the place a visit Thursday night and check it out.
Busy day today as well. My BBQ team is loading in and building today, but I struck a “no physical labor” agreement with the team when I joined last year. Besides, I’m a lot more useful to the team when I’m out networking, securing donations and inviting girls to the booth. Places I plan to hit today: Big Foot, Majestic, McGuinness, the Saucer, Itta Bena for Sundays with Sam, and Calhoun’s. I also have to call my mother at some point for Mother’s Day at some point. For those who check my blog to figure out where we’re doing brunch, it’s Majestic week 1 on the schedule.
I’m finally going to try the Happy Mexican. I’m meeting my health guru AL there tomorrow.
All right… time to post and get another long day started.