Year: 2009

The Peabody rooftop party that wasn’t on the rooftop was a blast last night. Lord T and Eloise were excellent, and they had Al Kapone up there with them as a bonus. Free Sol were great too… didn’t get there in time to catch Shinedown. They made the right call moving it to the ballroom. The place was jam-packed and there’s no way all those people would have fit on the roof.

They gotta work on those drink lines though. I waited in line 15-20 minutes for drinks… twice… and I was in the VIP section, supposedly the short line. I talked to quite a few people who would’ve had more to drink but they didn’t want to deal with the wait.

Snapped a few pics which I’ll post later, including a couple of pics of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating. 

Wild night at the Silly Goose and Bardog afterward… I’ll refrain from going into details, but when my former BFF of the Month Stephanie is the most normal-acting person at the table, you know things are getting pretty wacky.  Was there a full moon last night or something?

Had an Autozone employee explain why she’s a believer in Uniform Monday, when the corporate employees all wear the same uniforms as the people in the stores… and I gotta admit, she made a lot of sense.  For the first time I understand it.  Wow I just realized I had a meaningful conversation at a Peabody party.  That doesn’t happen often.  Now that she defended Uniform Monday so well, I don’t have anything to make fun of her about… oh, wait, she’s a member of Ptolemy, so yes I do.

I’ve had people ask me for Easter brunch recommendations. Here are my top picks:

– I’ll say it again – the Majestic Grille is the absolute gold standard for brunch. In addition to their regular menu, they’ll have lobster and shrimp bisque, surf and turf Benedict, and roasted leg of lamb. They open at 11. Drink specials include a $3 mimosa, $3 Bloody Mary, and a $12 Majestic Mimosa (bottle of champagne + orange juice).

– Circa serves up some amazing food in good-sized portions. In addition to their regular brunch menu, they’ll have roast leg of lamb and roast beef tenderloin. They open at 11 and serve brunch until 4. Chef John Bragg was voted “Best Chef” in last year’s Memphis Flyer poll.

– Automatic Slim’s has a great brunch as well. They open at 10 and have brunch until 4. Not sure if they’re doing any special items for Easter. Michael Patrick’s food is outstanding – I recommend the crawfish eggs benedict and the jerk omelet in particular. They have $2.50 mimosas and Bloody Marys.

– I haven’t been to Sauces’ brunch yet, but I have heard lots of praise from people who have been there. It runs from 12 to 5.

– Bardog Tavern starts their brunch this week. Since it’s their first week I can’t tell you what they’ll have, but their regular menu has been consistently good, so I expect good things from Bardog. They open at 12.

– If you’re a Bloody Mary fan, Silly Goose has a $3 mix-your-own Bloody Mary bar that is a lot of fun. They also have $3 mimosas. They have a $6 hangover breakfast which is not bad but I can’t claim it’s on par with the other places listed here. They open at 12.

– Then there are the Peabody and the Madison, both of which are doing brunch buffets.

The Flying Saucer has a sign up saying that they will open at 5 for Easter. That sux… what are we supposed to do all afternoon? Last year I ended up at Big Foot (now Kooky Canuck) drinking their $9.99 mixed drinks, which led to disastrous results later in the evening. Hopefully this year will be better… not sure what I’ll do but the Bloody Mary bar at the Goose looks like a good possibility.

Plans for tonight: No idea. After staying out past midnight last night, I’m not sure there’s enough gas in the tank for a return to Paula & Raiford’s Disco tonight, but you never know.

Back in December, I decided to keep count how often I visited Downtown Memphis bars and restaurants during the month, keeping score on a note board on the refrigerator.  The results for the month of December were

• Flying Saucer – 37 visits
• Bardog Tavern – 12 visits
• Voodoo Room – 7 visits
• Majestic Grille – 4 visits
• Calhoun’s – 2 visits
• Automatic Slim’s – 2 visits
• Lots of other places – 1 visit each

I never published those results because I was job hunting at the time, and I thought to myself, hmmm, that might not look too good to a potential employer.  Although, quite a few of those Saucer visits (I’d say 6 to 10) were work visits – I either had the laptop there and was using their Wi-Fi to work on Web projects, or I was holding business meetings.  The Silly Goose hadn’t opened yet, which is why it’s not on the list.

I’m keeping score again for the month of April.  Here’s my number of visits for the first 8 days (haven’t been out yet today, the 9th):

• Flying Saucer – 10 visits
• Silly Goose – 3 visits
• Bardog Tavern – 2 visits
• Paula & Raiford’s Disco – 2 visits
• Voodoo Room – 2 visits

The Saucer is about to pick up visit 11, as I’ll drink a couple of Happy Hour Dos Equis Lagers there before I continue on to the Peabody party.  Rain or not, it should be a fun night… I hope the rain stays away, though, for the benefit of those going to the Redbirds opener.

I just got an e-mail saying that the Sunset atop the Madison rooftop party will be canceled tonight, due to the threat of inclement weather.  They’ll kick off the party season next week with Joyce Cobb.  Chef Windsor will still be in Grill 83 for the release of this month’s $35 three-course menu.

The Peabody had already made the decision to move their party indoors to the Grand Ballroom, and will not be affected by the weather.

Tonight’s the opening night for rooftop parties Downtown, so I figured I’d publish sort of a “rooftop party orientation guide” for those new to Downtown or to Memphis, or who’ve never attended the rooftop parties before, and are considering it.

The Peabody Hotel will have weekly parties every Thursday from 6 to 10 PM.  Tonight they will have Lord T and Eloise as their headliner, with Free Sol performing earlier in the evening and Shinedown opening things up.  Admission to these parties is $5, with ladies getting in free before 8 PM.

(Note: Tonight’s Peabody party has been moved to their Grand Ballroom due to the fact that they expect a huge crowd.  Future parties will be on the roof.)

The Madison Hotel kicks off their rooftop party season tonight as well.  Elmo and the Shades will be tonight’s featured entertainment there.

For those new to Downtown, which should you choose, Peabody or Madison?  The Peabody is a larger rooftop, about 4 times the size of the Madison.  Average age is 20s and it’s a see-and-be-seen atmosphere with many of the ladies putting on their hottest outfits.  Bands tend to be party/cover bands.  The Madison is a more mature crowd, with average age probably 40s, although it attracts all ages from 21 to 70s.  Musical acts are selected to appeal to the older crowd, and to accommodate the smaller space.

Me personally?  When I go to either of the rooftop parties, I tend to go to the Peabody.  Younger, more fun.  I have to be in the mood to deal with the crowd, though, some of whom give off a “trying way too hard to impress” vibe.  The Madison usually books the Dempseys a couple of times per season, which is enough to draw me that direction.

By the way, the Peabody and Madison are only 2 1/2 blocks apart, so there’s no reason you can’t try both without having to park the car a second time.

What if you want to stay out after the rooftop parties, which are over by 10?  A lot of places have opened, closed, or changed ownership since last year’s rooftop season, so it’s hard to figure out what to do.  Here are my top recommendations:

If you want to go to a nightclub and dance, my top pick would be the Red Rooster, on Second just south of Beale.  Great place to hear live music, and the DJ spins good tunes when the bands are on break.  Big club, good food in huge portions, good drinks, lots of TVs, friendly staff.  They do Ladies’ Night on Thursdays, where ladies get in free and enjoy $2.50 Rooster Booster Punch Bowls in their Ladies’ Night cups.  There’s also a “You’ve Got the Look” contest, where the winner will receive a designer filled Coach purse.

If you want more of a lounge-type setting with good cocktails, I have two recommendations.  One is Automatic Slim’s, under new ownership since last year and now staying open until 3 AM.  Michael Patrick, the new chef, has created a spectacular late-night menu.  Mark Anderson is the DJ.  According to their website, they will have dollar martinis until 10 PM, so you may want to duck out of the rooftop party early to take advantage of that special.  Slim’s is on Second across from the Peabody.

Another good lounge-type place is the Silly Goose, on Peabody Place between Main and Second.  It’s in the location that used to be Swig, but it’s a lot less pretentious now.  Nearly 300 different liquors at the bar, lots of comfy couches to sit on, one of the best patios in Downtown Memphis.  This has quickly become one of my favorite bars.

If you want something more relaxed, try Bardog Tavern on Monroe between Front and Main.  It’s a dark little neighborhood bar that is less than a year old but feels like it’s been there at least 20.  Classic cocktails, 10 beers on tap, food that’s far better than typical bar food.  Like the Goose, this was one of my favorites almost from the day it opened.

If you just want a damn beer and like the idea of drinking it in a big, crowded bar, then of course there’s the Flying Saucer, at Second and Peabody Place.  70 beers on tap, another 120 in bottles; liquor and wine selection as well, but limited.  The Saucer has bands every Thursday starting at 9:30 PM.  Tonight it’s White Noise Theory; next Thursday they’ll have the Dempseys.  Tends to be very crowded between 10 PM and midnight on rooftop party nights.  Garage-door style windows offer great people-watching.  They sell cigars too, if that’s your thing.

If you went to Hoop’s Bar post-rooftop last year, check out the Voodoo Room in the downstairs of Orleans on Front, on Front Street just south of Union.  That’s where you’ll find Hoop now that EP’s/Hoop’s is closed.  The beer pong table, PBR cans and the Wii made the trip to the new place as well.

If you just want to grab a burger before you head home:  Huey’s (Second at Union) and Kooky Canuck (Second, just south of Union) are good choices and nearby.  If you’re wondering what Kooky Canuck is, it’s Big Foot Lodge under a new name.  No more “Big Foot” or “Sasquatch” or “Yeti” or “Meghan,” but otherwise the same exact concept.  $3.99 34 oz. Super Cold Coors Light is still there.

Parking recommendations: The Parking Can Be Fun garage on Union between Front and Main, or one of the three garages on Peabody Place.  These are open and attended 24 hours.  Or you can park on the street – metered spaces are free after 6 PM.  (If someone tries to charge you to park in a metered space, they’re not an attendant.  They’re a bum trying to scam you.  Don’t fall for it.)

There ya go – that should get you started exploring Downtown on spring and summer Thursday nights.  My plan is to hit the Flying Saucer for happy hour, then wander over to the Peabody.   Hope to see you out!

So I was going to stay home tonight.  I had a freelance project to wrap up, but due to a license issue I couldn’t.  Then I thought about doing my taxes, but I got a feeling there’s a fairly sizable write-off I’ve forgotten, so I decided to wait for the weekend.

So I had nothing to do.  “I could go to bed early and get a good night’s rest,” I thought as the clock struck 9.  “Or, I could go to the Saucer.”

Five beers later, I walked out of the Saucer right as Paula Raiford walked out of the Silly Goose.  “You know we’re going down to 10 [for cover] this weekend, right?” she told me.  “And valet parking at the garage across the street.”  There you have it, straight from the source.

Time to go get 6 hours sleep before I have to get up for work.  Rooftop party orientation post still to come in the morning.

It’s time for the weekly post where I flip through the Memphis Flyer and make note of stuff that’s of interest to Downtowners.  One note before I start though… I’ve had two people e-mail me today to tell me that Beignet Cafe is now open for business, and they tried it and liked it.  One reader commented that the coffee was good and reasonably priced compared to, say, Starbucks, and that the beignets were outstanding, crispy on the outside but like vanilla pudding on the inside.  The muffaletta is said to be very good as well.  They have free Wi-Fi, so bring your laptop.

The same reader also commented, “I hope you’re going to continue to promote South Main businesses.”  Absolutely I will.  It’s just that with the new job, and with a lot of great stuff happening in the Downtown core where I live, I have less time to get down to South Main than I did in the past.  So I’m counting on my South Main readers to keep me informed… e-mail me (paul@paulryburn.com) if there’s something you think I should mention.

Okay… let’s get started with this week’s Flyer.

p. 14:  The Downtown Alive lunch concert series kicks off next week.  Events happen from 11:45 AM to 1 PM, and are celebrations of Memphis’ creative spirit and fun Downtown locations.  Next week they’ll have Opera Memphis in Felicia Suzanne’s courtyard on Tuesday; line dancing with the Church Health Center on Wednesday in Court Square; a Ballet Memphis rehearsal for “Cinderella” in the lobby of the Lowenstein Building (Main at Jefferson) on Thursday; and a Corporate Karaoke Challenge in Court Square on Friday.  I hate it that I don’t work Downtown anymore, and won’t be able to attend these… if you’re Downtown at lunchtime, you should go.  Go to downtownmemphis.com for the complete schedule of events.

p. 16:  Flight, the restaurant going into the old Stella space at Main and Monroe, opens Monday, April 13.  The restaurant will offer wine flights, liquor flights, and food flights.

p. 19:  Great feature article by Bianca Phillips about what happens to crack houses after Blue Crush shuts them down.  The two that were shut down on Abel Street two years ago aren’t mentioned… wonder what their status is.  I see panhandlers heading toward Abel all the time after they collect enough money, so I don’t think the problem has been completely wiped out.

p. 26:  Bardog Tavern kicks off its noon brunch this weekend.  It will feature an omelette station, and they’ll do it both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3.  Bet that will be good… now I have Sauces and Bardog to try.  Not sure where I’ll end up this Sunday.  The noon start time at both places (rather than 11) is a problem for some of the Sunday brunch crew, but if anything I’m happy to get the extra hour sleep.

p. 34:  More stuff to do Downtown during lunch.  This week’s lunchtime concerts (noon to 1) will be the Bluff City Backsliders Thursday, and Burning Down Doyle Friday.  You can brown bag your lunch or order food from the Center.

p. 39:  The weekly “food news” column talks about the new A&R Bar-B-Que at Third and Court, and praises their desserts and beef brisket in particular.  The brisket is next on my list to try at A&R.

Also p. 39:  Looks like Calhoun’s is getting ready to go through with their name change.  They have to change the bar’s name because of a dispute with a restaurant in East Tennessee named Calhoun’s.  The new name will be Max’s Sports Bar & Grill, which I think is about the best name they could have chosen.

Also p. 39:  Tug’s on Mud Island now has two for one margaritas and mojitos on Mondays.

p. 46:  The Majestic Grille is still looking to hire servers and hosts.  If you’re looking for a service industry job, might want to check that one out – I’ve heard the Majestic is a great place to work.  They really treat their employees like family there.

p. 50:  Central Station at Main and G.E. Patterson is offering a free 6-month trolley pass to new renters.  Friends who live there tell me it’s a great place to live if you want to be in South Main.

Back tomorrow morning with a sort of orientation guide to the Thursday rooftop parties:  Which one (Peabody, Madison) is right for you, after-party recommendations, where to park.

The trivia team lost last night, and this time it was entirely my fault… there was an 18-point question asking who was President when the stock market fully recovered to its pre-1929 highs. I thought the year was 1952 and guessed Truman. Turns out it was actually 1954, when Eisenhower was president. Sorry guys. Congratulations to the winning teams.

25 years… wow. What if the market takes until 2033 to regain its 2008 levels?

After trivia I stopped by the Silly Goose for a couple of two-buck Tuesday cocktails. I heard the two-buck tacos (you get two of them for $2) were the hit of the evening, but they ran out before I got there. Next week I’ll try to make a pre-trivia stop at the Goose and try their tacos.  They say they’re going to order more of them next week, so they won’t run out.

They have a new special starting tonight too. Wine Down Wednesdays at the Silly Goose will feature $3 house wines and $4 sangria all night.

The video that Michael Donahue shot at Paula & Raiford’s Disco is now on the Commercial Appeal’s home page.

I may take a night off tonight… need to catch up on a freelancing project that didn’t quite get finished before I started the new job. I also need to rest up for tomorrow night, which will be the season opener for the Peabody rooftop parties. I’m finally going to get to see Lord T & Eloise perform.

Outta here for now, time to grab some lunch.

Next Tuesday, April 14’s South Main Association meeting should be a good one. It’s going to be at Beignet Cafe, at 124 G.E. Patterson in the old Tri-State Defender building. I got to take a look at the new cafe last Trolley Tour, and they’ve turned it into a neat little French-style cafe. There will be a social at 6 PM with complimentary hors d’ouevres from the cafe, and a cash bar for beer and wine. At 6:45 the program will start, with William Evans, the director and CEO of St. Jude as featured speaker.

My manager brought me back a playing card themed slanted notepad from a tournament she attended last month… thought I’d post it here, since I know some of my readers are poker players and might think it’s cool.

Argh… due to Monday night dollar cocktails at the Silly Goose, I didn’t even make it until the end of the NCAA championship game… not that I much cared who won. Don’t forget that it’s Two-Buck Tuesday at the Goose from 5 to 10, with $2 vodka shots, Red Bull cans, Cape Cod, Vodka Collins, Seabreeze, Tom Collins, Sex on the Beach, Dyersburg Lemonade, Greyhound, Salty Dog, Tequila Sunrise, Amaretto Sour, Black Russian, Cubre Libra, Madras, Pink Lemonade, and Screwdriver. If you’re hungry, they’ll also have $2 hot dogs, fruit plates, veggie plates, tacos, and chips and salsa.

Blast! I wish Two-Buck Tuesdays didn’t conflict with trivia night… maybe I’ll get a $2 drink in before or after, since trivia doesn’t start ’til 7 and usually ends by 9.  It’s also $3 Pint Night at Bardog, so I may head over there as well.

This weekend I learned that the parking garage across from Paula & Raiford’s Disco is now staying open until 6 A.M. Friday and Saturday nights.  That’s a very convenient place to park – the garage is at 9 S. Second and the disco is at 14 S. Second.  Both are between Madison and Monroe.

The Downtown crawfish festival (Rajun Cajun) is Sunday, April 19, but if you want a warm-up before then, the Overton Square crawfish fest is this Saturday, April 11, from noon to 6 PM.  This year it’s moving to the parking lot beside Bayou Bar & Grill’s new location (2094 Madison).  Amy LaVere, Snowglobe, Jump Back Jake, and Johnny Lowebow will perform.  Free admission.

Another makeover contest:  The Eclectic Eye is inviting people to submit photos of themselves in their ugliest glasses.  Winner will be chosen via online voting, and will be announced May 7 at a red-carpet reception.  Prize is a $1200 value eyewear makeover.

Dollar cocktails at the Silly Goose tonight, 5 to 7 PM.  NCAA championship game starts at 8:21 PM.  If I stay out to watch it, I’ll probably be at Pint Nite at the Saucer.

I paid my first visit to Paula & Raiford’s Disco at 14 S. Second last night, and it was everything I hoped it would be.  Here are a couple of pics:

These were taken about 10:45 before the club got super packed.  I hoped to take more pics, but the fog machine made it pretty much impossible to get decent images.

Be sure to keep an eye on the Commercial Appeal… Michael Donahue was there last night with a video camera, and he got video of Raiford dancing around as he DJed.  Raiford was just unbelievable… he danced all over the place and changed outfits at least 5 times.  Raiford is the Mick Jagger of Downtown Memphis, except with better hair and clothes.

Unfortunately I didn’t make it very late into the evening, because I thought it would be a good idea to start at the Saucer with a bottle of North Coast Brother Thelonious.  Brother Thelonious comes in a 25.4 ounce bottle and is 9.4% alcohol by volume.  Needless to say I was pretty well soused by the time I polished that bad boy off.  I made it to Paula & Raiford’s at 10:30, and after a couple of quarts of Bud Light I was near the point of passing out by 12:30.

As for the size of the new club… I wouldn’t say it’s 4 times as big as the old one as I’d heard, at least not the way they have it laid out.  I’d say more like two and a half times.  It’s still pretty big though.  Nevertheless, Paula & Raiford’s was pretty well packed by midnight.  I don’t think they’re going to have any problem drawing a crowd there.

Even King Willie showed up and busted a move on the dance floor for a few minutes.

Going back tonight… and this time I’m determined to make it a late night.  No pre-club high-alcohol beers.  I am, however, going to go on a bar tour of the Downtown core tonight.  This is what I’m thinking:

• 8:00: Saucer
• 9:00: Voodoo Room
• 10:00: Bardog
• 11:00: Paula & Raiford’s

Right now, though, I’m hungry for sausage biscuits, so I’m going to walk up the street and do a breakfast tour of Blue Plate Cafe.