Month: August 2010

Got a question from a reader that maybe someone can answer. He and his wife want to come to Downtown Memphis the first weekend in September. That weekend happens to be kick-off weekend for SEC football, and they’re die-hard Alabama fans. The game is pay-per-view only. Is there any place Downtown that will be showing it? Shoot me an e-mail to paul@paulryburn.com if you know of a place, and I’ll pass it on (and blog it too).

Over the weekend I saw a lot of celebration on Facebook that the “Dislike” button is finally here. However, this article on Mashable says that the Dislike button is a scam. If it were an official Facebook button, it would have simply shown up on your profile, and there would be no need to go through an installation.

Yesterday was the night of the Stumbling Elvis Downtown pub crawl to raise canned good and monetary donations for the Mid-South Food Bank.  We had a slightly bigger crowd than last year – someone counted 83 at our second stop, I think.

So yesterday afternoon I prepared.  I got my costume out of the closet and attempted to get the wrinkles out.  I located my Elvis sunglasses.  Then I made the addition to my costume that I discussed yesterday:  I dyed my hair black.  Permanent dye, so it will be black for a while.   People started tweeting and Facebooking pics as soon as I went out.  So yesterday I was Elvis.  Today the pub crawl is over and I still have black hair.  Maybe I’ll be Goth Paul or something.  Meh. Over the fall I’ll gradually return my hair to its normal color.

I have a bone to pick with Elvis:  Why did you have to die in the middle of August?  I had on the most comfortable Elvis costume available (meaning, the cheapest and therefore the thinnest material) and I thought I was going to die of heat stroke.  I don’t know how the people in the high-dollar polyester costumes survived.

So we started at the Saucer, and at 7:45 we marched to Blue Fin.  I have to say, Blue Fin was my favorite stop on the pub crawl.  They had $2 Yuengling and Sapporo waiting for us on the patio.  Nice!  We got invited to the back party room, where there was a birthday party going on.  Six of us sang “happy birthday” to the birthday girl.

Then we found a bachelorette party in the next room, and also one outside in the main room.  We sang “don’t get married” to the tune of “happy birthday.”  It was a lot of fun being the center of attention.  To the bachelorettes:  Take the message seriously though.

Next stop was the Peabody lobby.  We posed with a groom and his groomsmen who’d just got married, and numerous other people who wanted pics.  I don’t think the Peabody was as happy to have us as Blue Fin was.  Shortly after we arrived, several security men in coats and ties appeared, watching us.  Frankly I was happy to get out of there anyway, as the prices at the lobby bar are way too high.

The original plan was to do Alfred’s next, but they changed things up and made Silky O’Sullivan’s the next stop.  We had to pass through security on Beale and get wanded for weapons, which some people grumbled about but I didn’t mind at all.  I’m glad they’re keeping us safe.  We stopped to pose for what seemed like a million photos as we walked toward Silky’s.

I got a Hurricane and went to the outdoor patio.  Odd to choose the patio over inside where there was A/C, but on the patio we had enough room to move around.  Plus there was a band out there.  I looked to my right and saw that another group of Elvii were sharing a Diver.  Nice job on that.

One of the people sharing the Diver commented, “I know you from Twitter.”  It’s weird that I’m starting to get that, people knowing me from Twitter rather than my blog.  I tweet fairly regularly but I’m not that good.  The only two times I’ve ever really been on fire on Twitter were BBQ Fest and my recent NOLA trip.

About 9:45 some of the crew commented “We’re heading south,” some to Calhoun’s and some to the Blue Monkey for karaoke night.  I have to admit it’s a bit irritating that the South Mainers in our group can’t seem to hang out in the core past 10 on weekends, 8 on weekdays before deciding to “head south.”  Nothing against the Blue Monkey, but I cannot think of a bigger waste of a Saturday night than karaoke.  I’d hang out at the Fox & Hound Cordova before I’d go there.

The remainder of the crew carried on to Alfred’s, stopping to pose for another bazillion pictures on the way.  Mike T, Bicycle Bobby and I went upstairs and hung out at the rail of the patio.  People on Beale saw us and started taking pics.  That was fun – one of us would see a camera out of the corner of our eye, and point it out to the other two and we’d pose.  Someone played “Suspicious Minds” and we broke out the worst rendition of the song ever.

Last stop was the Saucer.  Most of the people on the pub crawl didn’t make it back, because of the heat.  The Saucer’s A/C is out in the Garden, and the A/C in the indoor room is not powerful enough to keep it comfortable when the heat index is 105+ and the room is filled with bodies.  I have a little more sympathy since I learned it’s not their fault – their hands are tied as they wait on their landlord to fix the air.  Still, though, I know it kept people away.

By 11:30 it was down to just Bicycle Bobby and me.  Then he rode his bike home, to Mud Island, in his Elvis costume.  I decided to hang out in the Garden and watch the show – not so much the band that was playing, but the show that was occurring on one of the benches, involving a certain redhead.

Good times.  One thing I did not do last night was take photos.  It’s hard to get items out of an Elvis costume pocket, especially when holding a beer.  I was asked to take a pic very early on in the evening and spilled half my beer, and at that time I determined I’d leave the photos to other people.  If someone wants to send me five or six of the best ones (note – five or six, not 50 or 60) and give me permission to post them, I will.  Shoot ’em to paul@paulryburn.com.

Now it’s Sunday and the beginning of approximately 100 explanations why I have black hair.  That’s not a bad thing though, as I’ll get to mention the Food Bank many, many times.

Hmmm.  Up early enough to make it to brunch.  Not really hungry though.  In any event, I’ll be at the Saucer at noon to get the beer drinking started.

Circa just posted the following to Facebook:

“Come show your support for the beef on the front lines. Gorgonzola Filet wrapped with bacon, mashed potatoes and truffle demi glace is what every young bovine aspires to be.”

PETA probably would not approve of this message.  I, however, wholeheartedly approve.

I just made the first post to my poker blog in a while.  The story of my bad beat Thursday night at Calhoun’s, when my full house lost to a bigger full house, was too good not to be shared.  Check it out here.

If you’re a fan of roller derby, or if you’re curious about the sport, there’s a doubleheader today at the Pipkin building on the fairgrounds.  Doors open at 5, first match at 6.  $10 to get in, $5 for kids and there will be beer and Chuck’s BBQ.  After the second match, there will be a party Downtown in Rockbottom, the downstairs bar inside Rehab Disco on Front Street.

At lunch yesterday, I visited an ALDI for the first time ever.  ALDI is kind of a unique grocery chain – they only carry one brand of each item, which they’ve negotiated at a substantial discount.  It’s quality food though.  If you want a shopping cart, you rent it for 25 cents, and you either bring your own grocery bags or buy theirs.  By putting these rules in place, they can sell food for quite a bit cheaper than the big chain grocery stores.

So I went to the one in Southaven yesterday to buy food for the Stumbling Elvis pub crawl tonight, since the goal is to raise donations for the Mid-South Food Bank.  I’d planned to buy all veggies, but the prices were so damn cheap I got some meats too.  Chicken and dumplings, corned beef hash, whole kernel corn, green beans.

I also needed to eat, so I stopped by Qdoba Mexican Grill nearby.  I’ve been there a few times (enough to become mayor on Foursquare).  It’s one of those build-your-own-burrito places where you pick the meat, the sauce, and the toppings.  Yesterday, though, I tried something different – their Mexican gumbo.  If you find yourself near a Qdoba (there’s one in Cordova too) you have got to try this.  Like the burritos, it’s build-your-own.  You pick the meat you want in your gumbo (most people get chicken, I’m told) and pick either pintos or black beans.  They add in their tortilla soup, and you pick which salsa you want in it (most people get the corn salsa).  Then they top it with cheese, sour cream, and tortilla strips.  It was SO good.  I’m sure I’ll be back next week for another bowl.

After work, I went to the Saucer, then we all decided to move on to Calhoun’s.  I did a John Cena-style “The champ is here” several times, referring to Thursday night’s poker victory, and I could see the steam coming out of Mikey’s ears.  Met some new friends, which often happens at Calhoun’s, stayed until about 11.

Then I went to Kooky Canuck with a few friends, because there was reason to celebrate: It was Meghan’s last night at Kooky.  She’s moving to Southaven and going back to school.  Meghan, I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but I cannot tell you how HAPPY your decision makes me.  And I want you to know, seven and a half years from now when you finish your bachelor’s degree in General Studies, I’ll be right there to watch you walk across the stage and receive your diploma.  Or certificate of completion or whatever they call it.

Eating ice cream as I type this.  Yarnell’s has a new flavor – Key Lime Pie.  Downtown Walgreens sells it.

So now I’m getting ready for the Stumbling Elvis pub crawl.  If you want to participate, dress up as Elvis, get some canned goods to donate to the Food Bank, and show up to the Flying Saucer at 7 PM.  Just got my costume out of the closet, and the first thought that occurred to me was, “Wow, sometime in the past 364 days I should’ve WASHED this thing.”  Too late now though.  It must be hand washed and line dried – it’d still be wet tonight if I did it now.

I picked up the final component of my Elvis costume this morning at Walgreens.  I’m adding to what I did last year.  Only one person knows what I have in store.  You’ll see it tonight.  Hint:  The costume addition did NOT come from the Elvis souvenir aisle.

Checking what my friends are doing on Twitter.  I’m so glad I’m not a girl so I don’t have to get manicures and pedicures.  #wasteofmoney  Also glad that Stephanie, Susie, Frank and Josh are sharing every last detail of their plan to visit Happy Mexican with the Twitterverse, because we are all so interested.

Going to take it slow this afternoon so I can rest up for tonight.  I need to hit an ATM to get cash to pay for my beers on the pub crawl – which reminds me – if you’re coming, please bring cash.  The crawl will run much more smoothly if there aren’t 70 people tabbing out on credit cards at each stop.  Other than that, probably I’ll get on PokerStars and see if the competition is as easy as what I encountered at Calhoun’s Thursday night.  May run down the street to Cockadoos for lunch.

Outta here.  Time to apply the final element of my Elvis costume.

Once again I find myself linking to a great post from Kerry’s I Love Memphis blog: 26 places to get free wireless Internet in Memphis. Kerry’s the perfect person to compile this list, as she has the freedom to work on her laptop from coffee shops around town. You know, the way all jobs should be.

Just a reminder that the Elvis pub crawl is tomorrow night, starting at the Saucer at 7 PM. Dress up like Elvis and stumble with us to Blue Fin, Alfred’s, and Silky’s, then back to the Saucer. Oh – and the GM of the Saucer just posted on Facebook that we get to stop by AutoZone Park too! Should be a very fun night. No need to sign up in advance – just show up.

If you’re coming, don’t forget to stop by the grocery store and get some canned goods to donate to our charity, the Food Bank. You’ll be able to drop them off at the Saucer. I’m about to visit an ALDI for the first time ever to pick up my donation. If you don’t feel like hauling around canned goods, they’ll accept cash too – their purchasing power multiplies dollars over and over. Donate donate donate! Don’t be “that guy” who doesn’t dress up, doesn’t donate anything to the Food Bank, but comes along anyway.

And don’t be the Nuh-Uh Girl and show up at the Food Bank and tell them you’d like to make a withdrawal.

This isn’t Downtown, but there’s a very unique event going on at the Levitt Shell in Overton Park tonight. FireTribe Memphis will perform “Burnish,” a collaboration of fire with dancers, musicians, and martial artists. They’ll explore the many interpretations of fire and its role in the performance arts. Free to the public, starts at 8:30. After-party at Oasis Lounge in Minglewood Hall.

Tweet from @MayorACWharton: “Working two pothole complaints in @DowntownMemphis – Peabody/Main and Second/Monroe. Any other street issues out there?” Using social media to better serve the citizens of Memphis? One more thing we never would have seen from King Willie. Way to go, Mayor Wharton! (He was my vote for “Best Memphian,” by the way)

The Calhoun’s regulars have been trying to get me back down to the Thursday night poker tournament for a while – it’s been almost a year since I last played there. “Bring it,” they told me. Last night, it got brought. After a bad beat early on that left me short stacked, I battled back. My luck ran a lot better than Wednesday night at Bardog’s tournament – I caught some good cards that held up in all-in situations, and about an hour and a half in, it was down to just Michele and me – which meant I’d get the $15 gift certificate regardless, since Michele is an employee and can’t win. I eliminated her too after a few more hands.

That was my fifth time to play in the Thursday night poker tournament, and my third time to walk away with the gift certificate. 60% win rate? I’ll take it. Looks like I’m going to have to make Calhoun’s a regular Thursday night stop, and make a few more additions to my gift certificate collection. Mikey may be mayor of Calhoun’s on Foursquare, but there’s a new sheriff in town on Thursdays.

Plans for tonight: Let’s just say that a lot of Downtowners have a reason to celebrate tonight. I’m gonna have to drink me a beer. A really big beer. Where can I get a really big beer?

I made an unexpected trip to Bardog’s Wednesday night poker tournament. I’d planned to hang out at the Saucer and watch the Elvis glass crowd, but the place was simply too hot! I didn’t bring a thermometer, but the temperature in the indoor room had to be mid-80s at least, and very humid. After two beers, I didn’t want to be there. So I made the walk to Bardog and went downstairs.

The poker night at Bardog has become wildly successful. I counted 24 entrants last night and they told me that’s the smallest crowd they’ve seen in a while. Poker Jon thinks it’s because he wears a tux. As usual, they were doing six per table, which I like because you can mess around with marginal hands more than you can at a full table of nine or ten.

Unfortunately, I got zero good hands, three marginal hands, and about twenty hands which were absolute trash! Q-10 was the best I had all night, seriously, and I folded it when two people went all-in behind me. I had to fold 2-2 when it missed the flop. Finally I got desperate and went all-in with 3-3, and lost to 10-8 suited when a 10 hit the river. I was out in under an hour. I seemed to be a magnet for hands with deuces, treys and fours in them. Not my night.

Anyway, on with the news…

If you’re a fan of roller derby, or if you’re curious about the sport and want to check it out, there will be a Memphis Roller Derby Double Header Saturday at the Pipkin Building, Mid-South Fairgrounds, from 6 to 10 PM. The early match will be the PrisKilla Presleys vs. the Angels of Death, and the late match will be the Hustlin’ Rollers vs. the Green Country Rollergirls. Beer and Chuck’s Barbeque will be available. $10 admission, $5 for kids 5-12. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Goner Records, or at the door.

After the doubleheader, the party moves Downtown for the Memphis Roller Derby after-party at Rockbottom, the bar in the ground floor of Rehab Disco.

The Peabody rooftop parties have ended for the year, but the Madison rooftop’s parties roll on, with Brian “Breeze” Cayolle tonight. Cash bar, cigars by Havana Mix, tapas menu, $7 admission.

Kerry has a great post, the 2010 Elvis Week Survival Guide, on the I Love Memphis blog today.

Lunchtime.  Not at all hungry but I guess I’ll go to Zaxby’s and eat something.  Tonight: Beer, haven’t decided where.

Thursday night I stopped by Calhoun’s for a PBR.  As I walked back toward the core, I decided I was getting a bit hungry, and what better place to stop for a snack than South of Beale.

I decided on their bar pie, pictured above.  It’s one of the most affordable items on the menu, and it’s enough to feed one hungry person or two people looking to split something.  It’s very simple but good, with homemade mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, and basil.  There will often be a second bar pie choice, a chef’s special of the night, with whatever toppings the chef decides to experiment with that day.

Filling and inexpensive.  A good choice.