Month: January 2010

I’ve learned of a couple of very cool Grizzlies events coming up within the next month, and wanted to pass along the info. First up is the Grizz Gala at the Gold Strike in Tunica, this Saturday, January 23. At this “blue tie” event you can mingle with Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, and the other Grizzlies stars. Doors open at 6, and from 7 to 11 there will be an open bar, food stations, a silent auction, and interactive games. Tickets are $125 for a single, and they have ticket packages too. Click here to view more information.

The Grizzlies are also running a Valentine’s Day promotion – a gift basket, 2 tickets to an upcoming game, and one night’s stay at Harrah’s Tunica. The best part of the deal, though, is quality time with the mascot Grizz, who will hand-deliver your basket. More information here.

In other news, Backbeat Memphis has launched their new website. Check it out here.

Apologies to the Goose for doing a quick in-and-out last night at their birthday party… it was threatening rain and I figured I’d better get home. Good thing too… three minutes after I walked in the door, it was raining buckets.

I’m trying to get Brick to download the Words with Friends app for the iPhone and play a game with me. She claims to be good at Scrabble, but don’t you have to know a lot of words to do well at that game? I did give Brick a sincere compliment last night, though… she’s very good at the “wearing a skirt” thing and should serve as an example when they train new girls.

Debating whether to stay home and play poker tonight, or go to the International Blues Challenge on Beale Street.

I want to start off this post with a huge CONGRATULATIONS to three people I know who made the Memphis Flyer “20 under 30” this week.

First off, we have Kerry (who made the cover), author of the I Love Memphis blog. In every post she showcases the many wonderful things this city has to offer. If you’re looking for fun things to do around town, her blog should be in your bookmarks/favorites.

Next up, we have Max, co-owner of Calhoun’s. His bar has added so much to the texture of South Main… many friendships have been formed that will last a lifetime, and many liver cells have been killed thanks to inexpensive PBR. There is possibly no bar owner in Memphis who is as in tune with what his customers want as Max is.

Thirdly, we have Julie Lansky of Lansky 126. She’s stepped into a clothing business that has done well for generations, and has adapted it to the next generation.

Congratulations to all the other winners as well.

Very good news today… the CCDC has approved financial incentives for Memphis College of Art to convert 477 S. Main into a graduate school serving 100 students. South Main is a perfect place for an art school.

I’ve already blogged about a couple of beer dinners, but one of the bloggers on the Downtown Download blog has done me one better. She has rounded up all the beer and wine dinners happening Downtown this month and next, and you can view the menus in one convenient location here. There are several bloggers who share authorship of Downtown Download, and I’ve noticed that this “Rebecca S” chick nearly always posts about what she had to eat, or what she’s going to eat, or she posts pics of food.

The South Main Association now has their PayPal page up. Go to the SMA website and you can use their PayPal option to get your dues in before February 1, avoiding the increase from $25 to $35 for individual memberships.

I got several Words with Friends requests last night… thanks for everyone who requested.  I accidentally declined someone whose username ended in “87”… sorry… it was an accident, try again.  I’d guess by the username that it was from a person born in 1987… the only person born in 1987 who I’d decline on purpose is Old Lazy Ass.  I don’t think she’d be contacting me for a game anyway.

Was going to play a little poker before going out, but not really in the mood.  So, onward to the Saucer and then the Silly Goose in a few minutes.

Lunchtime post… eating Rotel chicken spaghetti from Italian Rebel as I type this.

The Memphis Flyer is having the next in their series of “Work it Wednesday” happy hours today from 5 to 7 PM. This one will be at Blue Fin, and there will be a few specials. There will be $3 Chef’s Choice sushi rolls, 2 for 1 hot sake (including flavors), and a $5 Blue Fin martini of the day.

There’s going to be a “Red Square Reunion” party on February 27 at Nocturnal (1588 Madison). Red Square was a much loved-dance club at Madison and Idlewild (it’s now a space next to Neil’s that is rented out for private events) that operated from about 1993 to 1995. DJs Graflin, Sean OD, and Danari will provide the tunes. Hmmm this sounds like a rare event that’s interesting enough to get me out of Downtown on a weekend night. I lived a block from Red Square and used to go all the time, especially on their $5 Wednesday beer bust disco/80s night.

I’ll tell Skipper next time I see him… he works on Beale Street and I see him walking to work now and then.

Got another event outside of Downtown to tell you about too… this Saturday the 23rd at the Young Avenue Deli, Memphis musicians will come together to help those suffering in Haiti. Amy LaVere, Snowglobe, Devil Train, and the Craig Schuster Band will perform. $10 minimum donation, doors open at 8, music starts at 9. You’ll be able to buy raffle tickets in $1, $3, and $5 amounts for the chance to win prizes donated by local businesses. Proceeds will benefit local organization Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis and international organization Food for the Poor.

A unit in The Lofts condos (Tennessee at GE Patterson) was profiled in a What $350,000 will buy you article in the New York Times today. The article profiles the condo and the neighborhood, and it’s a better deal per square foot than anything else profiled. HOLY JESUS look at the property taxes compared to the other cities though!!! That kind of thing is one of the reasons I’m perfectly content to remain a renter as long as I live in Memphis.

Local Gastropub had their soft opening a couple of weeks ago, but I just received word that Friday, January 22 is their grand opening. You can come check out the new interior, and from 5 to 7 they will have cocktails and hors d’oeuvres downstairs. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Don’t forget that the Silly Goose’s birthday party is tonight. I’ll probably get an hour of PokerStars in after work, then have a few warm-up beers at the Saucer, then head to the Goose for the birthday party.

I’m on that “Words with Friends” app for the iPhone if anyone’s up for a game. My username is paulryburn.

The Saucer now has Ghost River Winter Warmer. Brionne just brought me a sample… mmm pretty tasty.

The Rapscallions took another first place in trivia tonight, bringing us to $350 total winnings. Brick wasn’t there, but we still got a quote of the night when our father figure/inspirational leader went up to one of the girls and said, “I was talking to some of the fellas, and we decided, we really love the way your legs make an ass of themselves.”

Starting next Monday, Local Gastropub (in the old Sauces location) will have trivia every Monday at 8 PM.  Your hosts will be Will and Peter, the same guys who host trivia at Celtic Crossing on Wednesdays.

Still not caught up on posts, but that’s all for now, because it’s time to head to my trivia night.  My team the Rapscallions has been on a roll and already has $300 in winnings for our next victory party.  Hopefully we’ll add $50 more tonight.

South Main has become a little bit less of an “arts district” in recent years, as galleries have been closed and have been replaced by retail shops.  However, a new neighbor with a big interest in the arts may be soon to arrive.

According to the Memphis Business Journal, Memphis College of Art will go before the Center City Development Corp. next month to request financial incentives toward the purchase of a $2.9 million building at 477 S. Main.  It will open a graduate school in that 5-story space, serving 100 students, with retail space on the first floor.  If the CCDC approves MCA’s proposal, construction could begin as early next month and finish by the fall.

In the words of retired pro wrestler Lance Storm, “… if I can be serious for a minute.”  No pics of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating or taking the Browns to the Super Bowl in this post.  Serious topic.

You may have read that Google and 20-30 other large corporations were targeted by very sophisticated hackers in China late last month-early this month.  It is unlikely that your personal computer was directly affected by that attack, but, it happened through a vulnerability whose code has since been exposed.  So, if your system remains unpatched, you could be at risk.  Here’s what you need to do:

1) Since Google was targeted and its data compromised, change your Gmail password.

2) Internet Explorer 6 has a vulnerability that was a major entry point for the hackers.  If you’re using IE6, upgrade immediately.  Better yet, get rid of IE altogether, and download and install Firefox, which is a better, more secure browser.

3) Download the latest update to your anti-virus software, and run a full scan on your home computer.

4) If you’re running Windows, make sure you’ve installed all the latest updates.

Sorry to scare anyone but this appears to be pretty serious.

I think we’re also getting our first look at how war is going to be waged in the 21st century.  After the alert was sent out here in the office, I did a little investigation.  The Chinese hackers that attacked U.S. businesses may have ties to the Chinese government.  (This is why Google is considering pulling out of China.)  Chinese hackers then attacked Iranian sites, supposedly in retaliation from an earlier Iranian hack attack on Chinese sites.  Now it’s being reported that sites in India have been attacked by Chinese hackers.  Keep your eye on the news.  Looks like 2010 may be the year of the hacker on a scale never seen before.

I still have more posts to do and a little time left in my lunch break… but, I want this post to stay up top for a while.  Remaining posts will go up tonight or tomorrow.

Every Tuesday night, you can go to one of the best restaurants Downtown (Kooky Canuck), and get probably the best drink deal Downtown, poured by one of the best bartenders Downtown (Terry).  Their 34 oz. mixed drinks, already a good value at $10 regular price, are only $5 on Super Tuesday.

I can’t remember the entire menu off the top of my head, but I think there’s a Bloody Mary and a margarita on the menu.  If you’re a fan of pineapple, go for the Goombay Smash.  My favorite is the Flying Moose, which kind of tastes like Mountain Dew, except with alcohol instead of carbonated water.  Drink one of those and you’ll feel at one with the moose whose head is mounted on the wall at Kooky.  Or something like that.

John Bragg is getting ready to roll out a new menu at his restaurant Circa, and this week you can try some of his new menu items at a special price. Three course dinner from the choices below. Tax and gratuity not included in the price, and discounts including holiday gift certificates cannot be used for this special.

“Egg” Salad – mesclun with poached farm egg, polenta, Benton’s bacon and tarragon vinaigrette

Grilled Oysters with Herb Butter and Parmigiano

Tomato and Squash Soup served “yin-yang” with basil oil

Entree Choices

Roast Elk Tenderloin with celery root mashed potatoes and chanterelle cream

Salmon Koulibiac: spinach and wild rice in puff pastry with lemon-dill beurre blanc

“Porko-Bucco” cherry-balamic braised pork shank with hand-cut tagliatelle and cippolini

Dessert Choices

Passionfruit Baked Alaska with chocolate ladyfingers and sorbet

Chocolate Tart with Mocha Anglaise

I’ve got several more posts to get up today… so many that I’ll probably run out of time in my lunch break and have to continue when I get home from work.  Check back.

If you love the Grizzlies, you might want to keep an eye on this page, particularly where it lists the Western Conference standings at the lower right.  16 teams in the conference, top 8 go to the playoffs.  The Grizzlies, who improved to 22-18 yesterday afternoon with a victory over Phoenix, are #10 in the conference right now, but we’re only half a game out of 8th place.  The way we’ve been playing lately, I think it’s entirely possible we’ll move into a top-8 slot within a week or two.

The really cool thing is, we’re only 4.5 games behind division leader Dallas.  Who would have thought two months ago that the division leader would be within reach?

Too bad we’re not in the much-weaker Eastern Conference.  Chicago, the current #8 and therefore the team who would qualify for the last playoff slot if the season ended today, is only 18-21.  In fact, we have a record better than #5 in the East, Charlotte.