It looks like I may have been LoLo’s Table’s last customer ever last night. But we’ll get to that. Starting from the beginning.
I hit LoLo’s from 5 to 6 and watched the Alabama-LSU game. People started coming in, and I found out that several prominent Downtowners had read my blog and sent out “Save LoLo’s” e-mails. Thanks!
About 6:30 I packed up 2 magnums of wine and some beer in a box and headed toward South Main for a get-together among friends. As usual the MATA trolley was completely undependable, and I walked all the way to Vance (7 1/2 blocks) and still no sign of a trolley heading south. My buddy Chuck drove by at that point and put the box in his trunk. Thank goodness.
Party was fun, just 10-15 good friends hanging out. Watched football, ate world championship pork shoulder and other good food, caught up with friends, tried to figure out where to hold a 200-person wedding reception, watched a border collie puppy herd cats. It was a good way to spend a Saturday evening.
About 10 the Nuh-Uh Girl and the Nuh-Uh Sister wanted to head to LoLo’s for a drink, so I rode back up there with them. The Nuh-Uh Girl ate dessert, but I didn’t get any pictures of her eating. They told me they’re doing a wine tasting at the Blue Monkey tonight. “It’s only $15,” said the Nuh-Uh Girl. “I hope they have good food.”
While there I talked to a leasing consultant at Renaissance Apartments who was at the bar. She’s lived in the building for a long time and loves it. Sounds like it’s gotten considerably better there over the past few years – she told me the occupancy rate has jumped from under 50% to well into the 90s. Cool. I feel a lot more comfortable recommending that place, having talked to her and also other people who live there. She was good to talk to, hope to see her again, although I probably won’t because when I asked where she hangs out, she said, “Not much of anywhere… mostly I hang in.”
The crowd started to dwindle, but I was in no hurry to leave, which had a lot to do with the owner’s decision to slash the price of PBR bottles to $1. The Nuh-Uh Girl and Nuh-Uh Sister took off. Within 10 minutes, the crowd was down to two other Downtowners and me. Suddenly the people in the kitchen started bringing out many plates of food. “It’s the Last Supper,” they told us. “Come join us.” So I sat down in front of a pork chop and asparagus, and although stuffed from an earlier party, I managed to eat almost all of it. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself at how mad the Nuh-Uh Girl is going to be when she finds out she missed free food by only a few minutes.
The other two Downtowners left, and figuring I should go too and let them get to their closing duties, I asked for my check too… and instead got handed another PBR. “Here, drink it, it’s the last one.” So I stuck around for another 25 minutes. It doesn’t look promising for the survival of LoLo’s. They were calling it “LoLo’s last night.” It’s really too bad because they were very close to turning a corner. An article on them, and on the awesome new specials they planned to attract the people who live in the neighborhood, was to appear in this week’s Memphis Flyer. I was just getting used to the idea of having two locals’ bars (LoLo’s and Bardog) less than a block from home. Doesn’t look like it’ll happen though.
Got out of there just after 1. Contemplated the Saucer, but I realized FreeWorld was finishing up their last set, and the place would close within the hour. So I decided to make the short walk to Bardog, which was packed as always. Their $2.50 PBR got so popular this week that they ran out, and I had to switch to $2.50 Coors “yellow belly” cans, which turned out to be not as bad as I expected.
Former BFF Suzy was there, and expressed dissatisfaction with her “former BFF” status. I don’t blame her; after all, Meghan is a former BFF as well, and who wants to be placed in the same category as Meghan? I reassured Suzy that she set an incredibly high standard for all future BFFs to live up to. I need to come up with another term besides “former BFF,” and have it apply to all past BFFs of the Month – which would mean the term wouldn’t apply to Meghan, since I started the BFF of the Month concept to improve upon the incredibly lousy job she was doing.
Lasted until last call at Bardog, then called it a night. What a fun place. You know, I need to revise my “places I hang out” rankings, since so many bars have come and gone and turned themselves around the past few months.
I haven’t had anyone take me up on work for the panhandler who expressed interest in turning his life around and who asked for my help finding a job. I’ve had people forward me leads on jobs that were posted in the classifieds or online, but I’m really looking for a Downtown business owner or manager who’s willing to say, “I’ll take a chance on this guy.” E-mail me at paul@paulryburn.com if you’re willing. If we can get one of them back to work and off the streets, maybe it’ll be a sign to others that there’s hope, and they’ll ask for help as well.
I got an e-mail explaining why the Tigers play at 11 PM on November 17: It’s ESPN’s 24 hours of college basketball, and it could’ve been worse, we could’ve been given a 3 AM game. OK that makes sense.
Trying to decide what to do today. I’ve already missed brunch. I’m sure the Saucer will see me at some point. Also, I’ve heard that Sunday night jazz at Earnestine & Hazel’s is really good, may check that out tonight.
I’ve had the song “Walking in L.A.” by the Missing Persons stuck in my head since Thursday, when it came on the radio at the Saucer. I just bought it on iTunes.
I don’t know could’ve been a lame jogger maybe
Or someone just about to do the freeway strangler baby
Shopping cart pusher or maybe someone groovie
One thing’s for sure, he isn’t starring in the movies
Because he’s walking in L.A.
Walking in L.A.
Nobody walks in L.A.
Walking in L.A.,
Walking in L.A.
Only a nobody walks in L.A.
I’m tempted to re-write that song for Cordova.