Month: May 2008

Before I get to my big idea, I have to brag a little… for the first time ever, the blog crossed the 1000-hits-per-day mark yesterday.  Here’s what the tracker looked like this morning:

1,158 hits yesterday.  Attn Jumper Cable Guy:  Just think of all those people who now know what you look like, and now know what your M.O. is.  You’re DONE, buddy.  Go get a job.

Okay.  So here’s my big Music Fest idea.  When I bought my 3-day pass online through Ticketmaster, I had the option of paying an extra fee (on top of Ticketmaster’s many, many other fees) for insurance, meaning that if for any reason I was unable to attend the festival and my ticket went unused, Ticketmaster would refund its price.  So last night I was thinking… what if Ticketmaster offered another type of insurance… weather insurance?

Let’s say that a one-day ticket to Music Fest costs $30, to keep the math simple.  What if Ticketmaster offered the buyer the chance to purchase weather insurance for, say, an additional $10 or $15.  If the National Weather Service-Memphis measured more than 0.25 inch of rainfall during the hours the gates were open, or if the temperature fell below 55 degrees Fahrenheit and stayed there for more than 2 hours during the time the gates were open, then Ticketmaster would refund the cost of the ticket.

Attn Ticketmaster:  If you use my idea, you ought to at least comp me a 3-day pass for Music Fest next year.

I attribute my sudden spike in hits, pushing me past the 1000 mark, to the fact that I posted a pic of Mendi in a tube top yesterday.  In order to keep my readers happy, I have another tube top pic for you today, a Cinco de Mayo tube top pic with sombreros:

Here’s a Commercial Appeal article on tomorrow’s lunchtime walking tour of manhole covers in Downtown Memphis.

My former boss from the warehouse in Earle, Arkansas that got damaged by a tornado e-mailed to say “we are alive and kicking.”  He said that some of Earle’s residents got free products from them when the tornado blew the products into their yards.  The residents were told not to worry about paying for the products – “it’s on the house.”  In some cases, the products literally were on the house.

Time to hit Publish and head to work.  Tonight:  Beer, trivia, waitresses.

Thomas Boggs, owner of Huey’s, co-owner of several other restaurant chains, and founder of the Memphis Restaurant Association, has died.  More info here.

Now this is how I want to go… thanks to Air Traffic Mike for forwarding me this story about a man who made a coffin shaped like a giant Pabst Blue Ribbon can.  Until he dies, the thing is being used as a beer cooler, storing PBR, of course.  When he dies, he’ll be buried in it.  I want one!

At lunchtime on Wednesday, May 7, there will be a walking tour of Memphis’ history, led by Jimmy Ogle, which will examine manhole covers, of all things.  That’s a unique way to learn about the city.  Tour departs from Union and Riverside at 11:45.  If not slammed at work I’ll try to make it to the tour and take notes.

Best bets Downtown for Cinco de Mayo celebrations tonight:

• Rio Loco has margaritas – frozen and on the rocks, as well as many types of tequila, and Dos Equis Amber and Lager on draft and available in large 25 oz. glasses.  Get a free T-shirt (and possibly a free DUI) if you finish 2 jumbo margaritas or a pitcher of margaritas.
• Since it’s Monday and therefore Pint Nite at the Flying Saucer, you can get pint drafts of either Dos Equis Amber or Lager on draft for $2.75.  They also have Tecate in cans, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Pacifico and a few more Mexican beers in bottles.
• I’m sure the Happy Mexican on South Second is doing some kind of Cinco de Mayo celebration, although I still don’t have the exact details.
• The South Main Association is having a Cinco de Mayo celebration from 6 to 10 at the Arcade.  You have to be a member but you can join at the door.  Free food plus two free drink tickets.

And now it’s time to reveal my BFF of the month for the month of May.  There have been several good people suggested, all of whom would make excellent BFFs.  However, after careful consideration I have decided that my BFF of the Month for May will be…………. nobody.  I want to experience what it’s like to not have a BFF for a month.  I will name a new BFF of the Month on June 2 (can’t do it on June 1 because that’s the day Tube Top Month kicks off).

As for my former BFF, I had a good discussion with her friend Michelle about my reasons for kicking her.  If my former BFF wants to know why she got kicked, she can talk to Michelle.

I’ll be at Pint Nite from approximately 5:45 PM until late.

 

Blog reader, Sunday brunch crew member and Bud Light connoisseur John D mentioned to me recently that he’s feeling a bit left out lately.  I haven’t mentioned him in the blog in a while.  Hang on, let’s post a pic of John D so everyone knows who I’m talking about:

There ya go.  That’s John D.  This is the same John D, by the way, who has a breakfast named after him on the Majestic Grille’s brunch menu.  Anyway, we were at brunch yesterday, and several of us planned to go to Music Fest afterward.  “I’m skipping Music Fest,” John D said.  “It’s just not my thing.”  Understandable.  There are many people in Memphis for whom Music Fest is not their thing.  However, when John D sees the picture below, I think he’s going to be sorry he didn’t attend:

If you click the image above to view it in full size, you’ll see that it is the Bud Light Lounge.  It was at the festival and it was open to the public.  So John D could have spent the weekend lounging in the Bud Light Lounge.  (John D:  “Wha… wha happened?  Paul, what festival is the lounge headed to next weekend?  Also, do you think they’ll sell it to me?  I’ll trade my house for it!”)

By the way, I had a disturbing John D-related nightmare last night.  In the dream I was part of a conspiracy who had killed John D and thrown his body in the Mississippi River.  It was a couple days afterward and I was in an apartment somewhere to the northeast of Memphis – let’s say Indiana – rented by a relative of one of the co-conspirators.  I knew I needed to get back to Memphis, because I knew it would look suspicious for me to suddenly be gone right after John D’s untimely death.  In the dream I had arranged to have one of the bums “offed” as well, so I knew I was facing two murder charges and after a long run my freedom was about to come to an end.

More pics from Music Fest to come.  I’ll go ahead and post one because it’s a particularly good picture – here’s a pic of regular blog reader Mendi in a tube top:

Sunday was possibly the first time this decade that I had a really, really good time at Music Fest.  I hung out in the Memphis Flyer tent nearly all day long, although I did catch a little of Aretha Franklin.  Thanks so much to the Flyer for a great weekend, and to Mikey the Camera Nazi for inviting me.

After Music Fest I stopped by Calhoun’s for a couple of beers.  The Cardinals and Cubs were playing, and anytime the Cubs are on they have $1 cans of Old Style – it wasn’t bad beer.  Not for a buck anyway.  No worse than drinking a PBR can.  Got to talk to one of my BBQ Fest neighbors (he’s on a shoulder team two booths down from us) and we discussed plans for this year’s festival.  The deck was open and it’s pretty awesome, with nice patio furniture.

Apologies to those who went by the Corkscrew Saturday after I reported that it would be open.  It wasn’t.  I’ve been told it will be open today “come hell or high water,” although again I’m hearing that from a second-hand source.  I did get to peer in the Corkscrew’s windows on the way home from BBQ Fest yesterday, and they have a huge inventory, which indeed is comparable to that of Kimbrough and almost to that of Joe’s Liquors.

After I left Calhoun’s I planned to stop by the Saucer, but once I got there, it was 10 PM and 11 hours of drinking and walking had taken its toll.  I decided to just go home and get a good night’s sleep in order to be functional at work today.

Check back for a second post later today… I will announce my choice for “BFF of the Month” for May.

First of all, let me give a warm welcome to the newest member of our Rapscallions trivia team, Anthony Michael West, who joined the team Friday night about 6:15. In only 20 years and 363 days he’ll be able to meet us at the Saucer for beers.

I went to a GREAT party last night in the back room of Earnestine & Hazel’s. It was a Music Fest after-party hosted by the South Main Dirty Dozen. Fantastic mix of people, good drinks (Maker’s Mark at an open bar pretty much rocks), and Super 5 on the stage. The acoustics are great in that back room and bands really sound good there.

E&H closed an hour early though. They flashed the lights and kicked everyone out at 2. That’s weird… usually people are still arriving at 2, where they hang out until close at 3. Someone told me they’re closing at 2 for the entire month of May.

While there, I made a deal with fellow blogger AngieDawn… she’s been looking for a guy to take clothes shopping, and I’ve been looking for a female with good taste to help me pick out clothes. Cool.

While at E&H I saw a sign on the wall that said, “Jazz Sunday.” So I guess they’ll have jazz tonight, if you’re looking for someplace to go to wind down after Music Fest.

Rio Loco is doing a T-shirt giveaway for Cinco de Mayo tomorrow. Buy two jumbo margaritas or a pitcher of margaritas, and get a free Rio Loco shirt. Just don’t wear the shirt to the Flying Saucer or waitress Brittney will whine at you to go get her Rio Loco cheese dip.

Is Happy Mexican doing anything for Cinco de Mayo? If so, let me know and I’ll post it. I still haven’t been to Happy Mexican yet since it changed ownership.

Plans for today: Brunch at McGuinness 11 AM-1 PM; Music Fest 1 PM until I get tired of being there; possibly Calhoun’s, Itta Bena (Sunday with Sam – drink and appetizer specials), or the Saucer afterwards. Curious about this Bloody Mary bar at the Red Rooster. I may delay my trip to Music Fest by 30 minutes in order to make a brief visit to the Rooster and find out what’s going on with that.

Weather looks like it will be better than the last two days. Don’t forget sunscreen if you’re headed down to Tom Lee Park.

Tonight I was walking home from Earnestine & Hazel’s about 2:30 AM.  Outside the fire station at Main and Butler I saw a group of guys all listening to a stranger.  One of the group recognized me from the blog.  “Hey, Paul!” he said.

Then I recognized the stranger the group was talking to.  “Hey, Jumper Cable Guy, what’s up!” I said.  Hang on, let’s post a pic of Jumper Cable Guy.

Jumper Cable Guy has a truck that breaks down a LOT.  Like, many times a day.  So he’s forced to go out on the streets and ask for 7 dollars and some odd change to buy jumper cables.  If you have cables to loan him he’ll tell you that he drives a Ford F-250 and that he needs bigger cables than the ones you have.  So he just needs the money.  His truck breaks down all over town, multiple times a week.  Not that he’s scamming anyone.  I wouldn’t want to give anyone the impression that he’s a scammer.  His truck just breaks down a lot.

Someone advise me… what’s the best way to get rid of this guy?  There’s got to be something stronger than a violation of the panhandling law he can be charged with.  I know I have lawyers and cops that read the blog… what can be done about him?  Several others in the group of guys I met – a bachelor party – reported encounters with him, same story, in the past couple of weeks.

Good meeting “J-Wright” (the groom) and his buddies tonight.  More to come in the morning.

Last night I posted that a platics/home storage warehouse where I worked as a programmer 2001-03 was hit hard by tornadoes that rolled through Earle, Arkansas.  I was worried that some of my former co-workers could be injured or dead, and that all of them may be jobless.  News reports since then are encouraging.  This report talks about the factory and said that all the employees survived without injury.  Another news report said that Warehouse A had been destroyed, which is the warehouse shown in all the tornado photos.  However, the company also had warehouses B and C, as well as the main office area.  Those are not mentioned, so I assume those were left at least reasonably intact.  Again, my thoughts go out to everyone who works there, and I’m glad to hear everyone made it through without injury.

Not being in the best of moods yesterday, I planned to skip Music Fest.  I went to the Saucer about 6:00 yesterday and had a couple of beers.  Around 7:30 I checked the radar on my phone’s wireless Internet, and the worst of the storm appeared to have moved east of Memphis, so I changed my mind.  I went home, got my ticket, and headed to Music Fest.

Went straight for the Memphis Flyer tent, where I had been put on the guest list.  A lot of my friends were there, having got in through their own connections to the Flyer, and I got to meet a lot of the Flyer staff.  I can tell I’m going to have a fun time there this weekend.  Ran into Circa owner/Ques Brothers teammate John Bragg and we talked about his ideas for dishes to enter into the “other” category for BBQ Fest in two weeks.

About 9:00 it started raining.  Never fails.  At least I had a tent to get underneath… we all crammed in and I got to know the other people in the Flyer tent on a very up-close-and-personal basis.  To make it even worse, the beer ran out around that time.  Stayed under the tent for 45 minutes, then the rain broke and I made a dash for home.  Of course, it started raining again before I got there, and once again I got soaked thanks to Music Fest.  I decided not to hit the Rooster to catch Kings of the Delta; I was exhausted and just wanted some sleep.  For the first time in weeks, I got a full eight hours of sober sleep.  I feel great this morning.

Plans for today:  Wander around and people watch 10-noon; Saucer noon-2; Music Fest 2-10; private party in the South Main area 10-3; and there may be an additional stop after that since Raiford’s is on the way home.  The Saucer normally wouldn’t even be on the agenda today, but they hired back some of my favorite waitresses from the past to cover Music Fest weekend.  I got to dance with Darbi to the Dempseys one more time Thursday night.

Time to go get the “wander around and people watch” part of the day started.  I may wander in the shops on Beale and see if I can find any sunglasses.  I’ve never been one to go to Sunglass Hut and spend $150 on a pair of sunglasses; I’d rather have several cheap $10 pairs that match whatever clothes I have on.  I may also stop by A. Schwab and see if I can find anything to wear to the Saucer’s Pajama Jam next Friday night.

From June 2001 to December 2003 I worked as a programmer in Earle, Arkansas, at a factory/warehouse that distributed household storage items.  I’m now at home watching the news, where they’re showing video of the tornado damage in Earle this afternoon.  It looks like the factory was totally destroyed!

I’m completely shocked.  I hope my former co-workers are okay.  It was a family-owned business and the type of place where most of the employees stayed for their entire career (although not me, as I got tired of the 30-mile commute each way after a couple of years).  Reports of injuries/deaths have not come in yet as of this post (5:20 PM).  My thoughts are with my former co-workers and their families.  Even if they survived okay, they’re probably out of a job now.  And homeless, if they lived and worked in Earle.  Many of the factory workers did, although the professional employees tended to live in Marion, West Memphis, or Memphis.

Just sitting here stunned thinking, I could have been there.

Video continues to come in.  Police and other agencies have set up a command post at the Mad Butcher/IGA across State Highway 149, which looks like it didn’t get hit.

I’m probably skipping Music Fest tonight.  I want to be home or near home, where I have access to the latest news and can find out if the people I used to work with were injured or killed.  If I go anywhere it’ll be somewhere close by.  If you go, have a good time and be safe.  I’ll be there all day tomorrow and Sunday.

Just got a text from someone who talks regularly to the Corkscrew’s management, and he has confirmed they will open tomorrow.  Good to have an additional place to purchase wine and liquor Downtown.  It’s on Front just north of G.E. Patterson Avenue, sharing a building with the Blue Monkey, which is STILL not open.

Watching the weather… if it looks like rain this evening, I’m skipping Music Fest tonight.  I’ve had too many bad experiences down there with rain, storms and mud to risk it.  Tomorrow and Sunday look clear and I look forward to spending a lot of time in the Memphis Flyer’s tent.  Thanks again to the Flyer for inviting me, I really appreciate it.

I drove the car today… but not very far.  Just moved it to a different spot in the garage so the parking attendants wouldn’t think it’s an abandoned car.  I had not driven it in 20 days.

And finally… I received an e-mail containing info a party at Raffe’s Deli, and while I don’t normally post about events that aren’t Downtown this one sounds pretty cool, an alternative for people who want something else to do besides Music Fest.  Raffe’s is on Poplar, a quarter mile west of Highland, and besides the dance party, they’re worth checking out for their great sandwiches and beer selection.  Party details below:

It is time for this month’s World Beat Dance Party

This Saturday, May 3rd
Doors open at 9:45 pm with a free Salsa lesson
$5.00 Cover

Featuring DJ Antonio Quinn

Some call it Salsa,
Some call it Gumbo,
Still others call it Masala,
We call it World Beat. 

Join us this Saturday, May 3rd, for an exotic evening of musical spices and dance variety. Sample the Salsa, taste the Samba, imbibe the Zouk and consume the Afro beats along with many other  delectable musical assortments.       
              
Raffe’s Deli and Beer Garden
3358 Poplar Ave 
May 3rd (Every first Saturday of the month)
               
Salsa, Bhangra, Mambo, Samba, Zouk,  Reggae, Afrobeat, Bachata, Soca, Merengue y mas

Visit www.MemphisSalsa.com for more info

Yeah, so I’m up just a little bit late tonight.  Went to the Saucer for a few happy hour beers, hung out in the window with various members of the Sunday brunch crew, played some pool.  Around 7:30 we saw people in Club Atlas across the street taking the stools off the tables.  Air Traffic Mike:  “Club Lame is about to open”

Tabbed out at the Saucer, went to Majestic Grille, had my steak.  It was FANTASTIC.  Got the 8 oz. filet “au poivre” style with peppercorn brandy crust and mashed potatoes.  Just for the heck of it I added a side of scallops with garlic butter, so I could dip the mashed potatoes in the garlic butter.  It was goooood.  I had plenty of room for steak after getting rid of 145 pounds of useless dead weight earlier in the day.

While there, Majestic co-owner Deni told me that they will be showing the Kentucky Derby on their big screen Saturday.  Also, bartender Lisa will be making her rockin’ mint juleps.  “Most mint juleps taste awful,” said Deni.  Pat O’s came to mind.  “But,” said Deni, “Lisa has some kind of secret recipe for making them where they actually taste good.”

After the steak it was back to the Saucer.  I got my window seat back and proceeded to play the Window Game.  Stats for the game, which lasted from 9:30 to 11:40 PM:

• 20 tube tops
• 10 police cars
• 6 bums
• 6 RUPs (Really Ugly People)
• 5 appearances by security patrols.  I counted both the Downtown bum patrol and Peabody Place security.
• 3 police bikes
• 2 police scooters
• 2 FUMOTs (F’d Up Modes Of Transportation)
• 2 buses
• 2 cars driving the wrong way up one-way Second St.
• 1 hoopty

I cut off the Window Game at 11:40, but that doesn’t mean I left… I easily coasted through all three Dempseys sets, made it within 15 minutes of closing time at the Saucer, and stopped at McGuinness on the way home.

The Saucer has flyers up for their pajama party (Pajama-Jam) to happen on the bar’s 11th birthday, Friday, May 9.  Here’s a pic of one of the flyers:

Does this mean the Saucer girls are going to have lingerie on?  I’ve been noticing that some of our favorites from the past have been re-hired for the month of May because it’s so busy.  Can we bring the Romanians back and dress them in lingerie?

Since I was doing a lot of people-watching at the window, I noticed that Thursday night crowds Downtown seem to be off, with exceptions.  Last year and previous years, I remember Atlas being slammed almost immediately after the Peabody rooftop party let out.  Here’s a pic from Atlas about 11 PM:

You notice how there are, like, hardly any people at all in there?  It did pick up a little bit late, late night, but it’s still nothing like it was previous years on Thursday nights in the summer.  I haven’t been to a lot of the Thursday events this year… how’s the Peabody rooftop doing?  Is Atlas getting no business immediately post-rooftop because no one’s on the rooftop?  Or is it because the crowd is going other places after the rooftop closes?  Or is it because Atlas just plain sucks?  Also, how is EP’s doing on Thursday nights?  Last year it took me until the end of June to make it to one of EP’s patio parties… but I rarely missed one after that.  I heard that the Rooster did well tonight.

From the window I saw my former BFF and her mini-me go to Atlas tonight… but it was so dead that they did a venue change across the street to the Saucer for a little while.  I was sitting next to the server station and my former BFF saw a waitress she knew and came over and mussed up the waitress’ hair and didn’t say a word to me.  So I guess she read my blog and found out she’s been kicked to the curb.  I’m sure her appearance tonight at the Saucer, her first since she quit at the end of March, had nothing at all to do with the fact that I blogged that I’d be at the Saucer watching the Dempseys.  Her mini-me saw me too and flipped me off.

Charlie Wood on the piano, 5:30 PM at the Westin Hotel lobby.  I hate to miss Charlie again but I’m going to Music Fest.  If I do any post-Music Fest Friday partying, it’ll likely be at the Rooster to catch Kings of the Delta.

I really should get to bed now.