Month: August 2008

Yesterday I was surfing around Amazon looking at local books, and searching for AutoZone Park I came across a book entitled Eat This! 1,001 Things to Eat Before You Diet. Amazon offers excerpts from the book relevant to what was searched, so I clicked the excerpt link to read. The author was talking about foods from Philadelphia, and mentions their ballpark, then asks in passing: “Can you get anything edible at the ballpark near you? Best ballpark food I remember: Candlestick Park in San Francisco [no longer a ballpark], and Autozone Park, in Memphis.”

A fine compliment for Autozone Park, and well-deserved.  Just last week PETA recognized the park for being among the most veggie-friendly in the country, and everyone raves about its BBQ nachos.  People often get dinner before or after a ball game when they watch the Redbirds, but the food at the park is so good, it’s a place where you can get dinner while watching the Redbirds.

Speaking of food:  Today’s the last day for the 50% off sale on the discount restaurant gift certificates.  Get ’em by using the restaurant search box on the bottom of the right sidebar of this blog.  Use code GOODBUY at checkout to get the 50% off deal.  That gets you $25 restaurant gift certificates, which normally are already a good value at $10, for only $5.

Second update in about an hour. Realized I had some stuff I forgot to blog in the last post.

Yesterday, I listed the season schedule for Bravo Memphis, the arts group for young professionals, and listed reasons to join: Exposure to the arts, and a social and networking hour before each event. Well, I just looked at the calendar they gave me, and realized there’s an additional reason to join this year: Yuengling Beer is sponsoring Bravo. So if you love Yuengling, it looks like you’ll be able to get “Vitamin Y” at every event. (John D: “Whaaaaaaa? They’re not going to have Bud Light? Paul, do you think they’ll refund my membership?”)

Updated info on Leonard’s BBQ Buffet opening for dinner Wed through Fri nights. Their BBQ buffet is slightly more than lunch, $13.73 (probably priced that way to bring it to an even $15 with tax), still not a bad deal. Complete list of what’s on the buffet: BBQ pork ribs, BBQ pork shoulder, BBQ beef brisket, smoked chicken, spaghetti and meat sauce, corn whiskey pudding, baked beans, turnip greens, mac & cheese, green beans, cole slaw, potato salad, cinnamon butter roll, banana pudding, and ice cream.

If you don’t want the buffet (but why would you NOT???) they also have sandwiches (pork shoulder and beef brisket) and dinner plates (shoulder, brisket, rib). They also have chicken plates and vegetable plates. They have to-go and catering menus. Their 6-rib plate is $12.36… why anyone would get that when you can get the buffet for $1.37 more and eat all the ribs you want is beyond me, but I know some people don’t like to eat from buffets. Me personally, I gots no problem with it. Even my health guru AL admits that BBQ buffets are a guilty pleasure of hers.

Found a useful website this morning… getmooh.com, which is short for Get Me Out of Here. Have an awkward date or uncomfortable social event tonight? You can get on this website and leave a time and phone number, and it will call you at that time. You can then pretend it’s a friend or relative with an urgent matter that requires your attention, giving you an excuse to leave.

Here’s another useful site, especially for bloggers. Quick intro to the site: Several weeks in a row, I meant to blog about the Wednesday night trivia at the Peabody’s Corner Bar. But I’d get distracted on Wednesdays and forget, and then remember Thursday morning, when the information is of the least use to my readers. So yesterday I found a site called HitMeLater, which forwards any e-mails you send to it back to you at a specified time. So I could send a reminder to wednesday@hitmelater.com, and get the reminder back on Wednesday. If I need it in hours rather than days, I can send it to a number as the e-mail address, e.g. 8@hitmelater.com to get it back in 8 hours. This one’s going into my toolbox for sure.

All right, now I’ve completely emptied my queue of news updates. Time to get outside and scrounge up something new to post about tomorrow.

I joined a very cool website last night:  Stock.xchng (that’s not actually the URL of the site, but rather its title – URL is sxc.hu).  Joining gives you access to millions of stock photos that people have uploaded and made free for the public to use.  As someone who builds websites, this thing is a gold mine.  I used to have membership to a clip-art site which charged anywhere from $14.95 a week to $159 a year, depending on how long I remained a member.  Now that I’ve found stock.xchng, I doubt I’ll ever have to pay for photos again.  If you build websites, or if you’re in the advertising, PR, or marketing biz, this is worth bookmarking.  You have to register with the site to access the photos, but it’s worth it.

Didn’t go out last night… I was too exhausted to socialize, but not too exhausted to finish work on my next website.  I’ll wait ’til Monday to announce this one, because it strikes me as the kind of site people will shop when they get bored at work.  If you can’t wait ’til then, snoop around a little and you’ll find it.

I also did plenty of web surfing last night.  One of my favorite bloggers is a guy named Chris Guillebeau, who writes a blog called The Art of Nonconformity (just the title alone says why I like it).  He’s a world traveler, and yesterday he released a product called The Unconventional Guide to Discount Airfare.  It’s an e-book you can buy and have delivered immediately via download.  I don’t fly much so it’s not for me, but if you like to travel, this book can probably save you a lot of money.  The advantage of it being an e-book is that he’s offering free updates for life, a good thing since their airlines are constantly changing the way they do business.

The MBJ reports that a new restaurant is going into the old Conte’s Italian Restaurant space on Madison just east of Second.  It will be called Smitty’s Place and will serve mainly Southern food, but there will be burgers and healthy items such as salads as well.  It will be open Mon-Fri 11-2 for lunch and also Fri-Sat nights for dinner.  There will be live entertainment Fri-Sat nights, with a format yet to be determined.

I also did some Facebook surfing last night.  I think I previously mentioned that Big Foot Lodge has a group members can join.  This is a great way for businesses to stay in touch with their biggest fans.  On the group, Shawn poses the question, “Where should Big Foot Lodge #2 be?” and asks for feedback.  That’s Web 2.0 for you, being able to ask advice from the people who know you best – your loyal customers.  You can’t buy that kind of expertise if you pay a consultant with an MBA ten grand a week.  To answer the question:  It kills me to say it, but I think a second BFL would totally work on Germantown Parkway.  The place has one of the best dessert menus in town.  Kids would be SCREAMING for their parents to load them into the SUV and take them to get those cookies a la mode, the 18-scoop Yeti sundae, the peach cobbler.  Also, the 34 oz. Coors Lights would be a huge hit out there.  Coors Light is the champagne of East Bumblefuck.

While on Facebook, I noticed that RSVP Magazine had a fan group as well… and wouldn’t you know it, one of the first people to join was fellow blogger East Bumblefuck Kat.  I guess three weeks from now, I’ll be watching her and her Ptolemy Krewe friends chase the RSVP photographers around at Art on Tap.  Wow, Kat hasn’t posted since July 20… I guess “last night I sat on the porch of my cookie-cutter house in Cordova and watched the grass grow” doesn’t make for a very exciting update, so she hasn’t bothered lately.

No, I didn’t join the RSVP fan group, in case there was any doubt.

I’m surprised this hasn’t happened here yet… in Pittsburgh, there was a report that a homeless man was stabbed after an argument with another homeless man.  The reason?  They were arguing over who was the better panhandler.  Man… you know you’ve reached rock bottom when “I’m a better bum than you” is all you have to brag about.

All right… time to get the day started.  Tonight I am going out, although I have no idea where.

All right, time to post some of the stuff I haven’t had time to type up.

The Red Rooster has dressed their rooster up for Elvis week.  See photo below.

Heard back from a reader who tried Safari which is now open for lunch.  She said the food is not really tapas, but wraps and a few sides.  She had the falafel wrap and her friend had the chicken schwarma wrap, both of which they described as fresh and a nice size to fill you up.  She was also impressed with the service.  Looks like the place is off to a good start.  It’s just south of Main and Huling in the space that used to be Wendell’s World Beat Grill.

According to this MBJ article, there may be a potential buyer for the Gassner Building, the slanted building across from the ballpark on Madison.  However, this may not be good news for those who want to preserve historical buildings… according to the article, an unnamed New York firm wants to buy the building for $1.1 million and raze it.  Memphis Heritage is involved in the fight to save it.  The building, built in 1974, has been vacant for years.

Shout-out to Guy in College, a blogger from Germantown who linked to me recently about the Daily Grill closing.  I’ve now heard that the “name Memphians are familiar with” that may be placed on the restaurant is possibly Interim.  Glad to hear that… I had a hunch it might be renamed Sleep Out Louie’s and am glad to hear I was wrong.

Need a new watch?  Amazon is running a promotion where you can get an extra 40% off on select watches through August 18.  That’s a sweet deal… many of the watches are already listed at 25-70% below the manufacturer’s retail on Amazon, and that’s before the extra 40% discount, which is applied at checkout.

A very cool group called Funk de Ville played the Saucer last night.  9-piece band in costumes playing ’70s funk and disco music, lots of horns.  Sort of a cross between Dr. Zarr and FreeWorld, two of my favorites.

New Orleans band Dash Rip Rock plays Automatic Slim’s tomorrow night, August 16, at 10:30 PM.

Bowling news:  Jillian’s now has unlimited bowling on Monday nights for $10.  Also, I’ve heard that a Wii bowling league may be forming Downtown soon.  Details to come.  You won’t need to own a Wii to participate.

… And that’s today’s lunchtime post.  Not sure what I’ll be doing this weekend.  A lot of the gang is spending the weekend in Chicago, so except for a stop at a farewell party tonight, it’ll be up to me to find my own fun.

Last night was the Bravo Memphis kickoff event at Jay Etkin Gallery.  A co-worker and I did happy hour across the street at Onix (2 for 1 well drinks from 4-7 PM), then headed to the gallery.  The event was very well attended, couple hundred people at least.

The deal with Bravo is, if you join, you get to attend 8 arts events throughout the season.  Each has a social/networking hour with food, wine, and beer before the event starts, so it’s a great chance to get to know other young professionals.  Last night they unveiled the schedule for the coming year:

Wed 9/3 – Sister Myotis – Voices of the South

Wed 10/1 – Mini-Indie Film Fest – Indie Memphis

Tue 11/18 – Fences – Hatiloo Theatre

Fri 12/5 – Nut Remix – New Ballet Ensemble

Thur 1/15 – urbanArt – urbanArt Commission

Tue 2/3 – Chinese New Year – Belz Asian and Judaic Museum

Fri 3/13 – Backstage Pass with Adwagin Pratt – Memphis Symphony Orchestra

Thur 4/23 – Faust – Opera Memphis

They’ve extended their special offer through August 18 – join before then and get a single membership for $80 or a double for $125.  After that date, prices rise to $95/$145.  You can join here.

Memphis Limelight has info on the “Downtown Alive” fall concert series that the CCC will present over five Wednesdays from September 17 to October 15. It looks like this series will replace the “Bands, Beer and Bums” concert series the CCC held the past couple of summers in Court Square. The new series will move to a different location each week – one each in Gayoso Alley, Court Square, the National Civil Rights Museum plaza, Jefferson Davis Park, and Barboro Alley.

I think moving the concerts around is a great idea. It will add more variety to the series.  Looking forward to them.

Back later today with more… I still have four or five items I haven’t had time to type.

Bravo Memphis, the group for young professionals interested in the arts, has their season kick-off party tonight at Jay Etkin Gallery, corner of Main and Huling in the South Main Arts District, from 6 to 8 PM. The event is free to the public, and there will be booze and heavy hors s’ouevres.

At the event, Bravo will reveal its new schedule, which consists of group outings to a variety of arts events throughout the season. The events are usually scheduled about one per month, with a social hour with food, beer, and wine before each event, to give members a chance to network in addition to enjoying the arts. I don’t have a copy of the 2008-09 schedule yet but typically there are events such as visits to museums and art galleries, musicals, operas, ballets, that type of thing. If you’re new to Memphis, the social hour before these is a great way to meet other young professionals.

Memberships for the season will be sold at a special discount rate tonight – $80 for a single (regularly $95) and $125 for a double (regularly $145). Note that you don’t have to bring your significant other to join as a double – you can grab any person you can find at the event tonight and join as a double with them, and that gets both of you full membership privileges for $125 total, or $62.50 each.

In addition to food and alcohol, there will also be mini-massages by Natural Body and Spa, a spoken word performance by Tonya Dyson, and a demonstration by Cookertainment. Plus, you’ll get to browse the art of Jay Etkin Gallery, one of the best galleries in the region.

A co-worker and I are going to hit a happy hour nearby, then head to the event at 6, so if you’re going, I’ll see you down there.

Lots more to post today, just gotta find the time.

Leonard’s BBQ Buffet, on the Main Street Mall in the first floor of the Claridge House (Main at Adams), is now open for dinner from 5 to 8 PM Wed-Fri. Previously they have only been open for lunch.

If you work in another part of the city and don’t do lunch Downtown, you gotta check it out… for about $10 you get a buffet of ribs, pulled pork, BBQ chicken, smoked sausage, spaghetti, vegetables, breads, a salad bar, and desserts. Good stuff. One of my favorite places to go for lunch, but only when I’m really hungry.

The Overton Park Shell (Levitt Shell) is re-opening next month, and they’re kicking it off with a weekend of concerts September 4-7.  More info here.  Amy LeVere will play opening night, September 4.

Amazon.com has created a new store, Amazon Green, to showcase the best environmentally-friendly products selected by its customers.  It’s a cross-category store with everything from light bulbs to printer paper to sheets and towels to solar panels, and much more.  Check it out if you want to buy products that are kind to the environment.

The Daily Grill in the Westin Hotel is closing, according to this News Channel 3 link.  The article ends by saying the restaurant will reopen “seamlessly” under a name that’s familiar to Memphians… if anyone knows what name they’re talking about shoot me an e-mail and let me know.  I have a feeling I may know what the new name is, and I hope I’m wrong.

Something called the Midtown Security Community meets tonight to discuss security issues.  Wonder if the reason Midtown had to form a security community is because the Downtown safety patrol chased many of the bums out of Downtown.  Whatever the reason, good to see residents taking an active interest in their safety… it’s worked wonders down here, and I bet it will lead to good things in other neighborhoods as well.

EP Delta Kitchen has a week of Elvis-themed entertainment lined up.  Check their calendar to see what’s going on.  They also have a special Elvis week menu.

Shawn Klush, the winner of the 2007 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest, will be honorary duckmaster at the Peabody tomorrow morning.  He’ll be in Elvis attire tomorrow morning, leading the ducks from 10:45 to 11 AM.  The semifinals of the 2008 contest are tonight at 7 PM at the Cannon Center, with finals tomorrow night.

… And that’s the lunchtime post.  Still looking forward to the party at work with beer at 4:00 today.  4 to 5 PM is going to be one of my most productive hours ever (at least by my standards of productivity) at the office.

Today’s the last day to vote in the Memphis Flyer Best of Memphis poll, so if you haven’t voted, today’s your last chance. Voting is all online this year – there are no paper ballots.

Many people have used the restaurant search box (scroll to the bottom of the right sidebar) on my blog to buy $25 restaurant gift certificates for $10. They’re running another special through the 17th – enter code GOODBUY at checkout for 50% off. That reduces the cost of their $25 certificates to $5. Discount also applies to their Dinner of the Month Club promotion.

I didn’t make it to the South Main Association meeting last night, but friends of mine did and came back with news. Safari, the tapas bar on South Main next door to Onix (just south of Huling), is now open for lunch at 11 AM. With free trolley rides at lunchtime this week, it’s a good time for Downtowners who work in the core to try it out. They’ll have their grand opening August 29 (which would be trolley tour night).

The South Main Association will have a Christmas parade on November 21. Appropriately enough, the parade will happen on South Main.

I watched the women’s gymnastics team finals last night. I have a complaint about the TV coverage though – WHERE WERE THE ROMANIANS??? The camera followed every move of the Chinese and US teams, but there was hardly any coverage at all of the third-place Romanian team. Beautiful Romanian girls on uneven bars = ratings. Hopefully they’ll do better on the individual competition coverage.

Tonight’s Elvis glass night at the Saucer. It’s a really nice Pink Cadillac glass this year. They go on sale at 7 and will sell out immediately – the Elvis glass is the most popular one of the year. Best advice is to get there at least a half hour early, get seated, and let your waitress or bartender know you want to order one the minute they go on sale. By 7:10 they will be gone. Show up late, you lose. Also, they usually do a one-glass-per-person limit on the popular glass nights, so sending a friend to get you a glass may not work if they’re getting one too.

We’re having a party at work this afternoon to celebrate our recently expanded office space… and it’s my favorite kind of party… one with BEER!  (John D:  “Whaaaaa?  …Paul, what kind of beer are they having?  Didn’t you tell me they had Bud Light in the refrigerator?  Can you get me invited?”)  Looking forward to getting started an hour early this afternoon.