Month: August 2010

For months now, I had been hearing that if you want a really good cheeseburger, you’ve got to go to Tops Bar-B-Q. People have told me it’s even better than Dyer’s. “Those little dumpy restaurants?” I thought. “They make decent BBQ sandwiches, but could they really make a good cheeseburger?”

Yesterday I decided to give it a try. I drove up to the restaurant on State Line Road, and ordered a double cheeseburger. The verdict: It’s as good as everyone has told me! That may actually be the best burger in Memphis. If you’ve been skeptical about Tops’ cheeseburger as I was, go get one! You won’t be disappointed. Unfortunately there’s not one Downtown. Nearest one is in the med center district at Union and Claybrook.

Tonight is Elvis glass night at the Flying Saucer. These glasses are usually really good, and they tend to sell out quickly. They go on sale at 7 PM. To make sure you get one, get there before 7, and let your server or bartender know you want one as soon as they’re available. Quantities vary, but there have been years in the past when they’ve run out by 7:20.

Also, for popular glasses, they limit sales to one per customer. Every year, the afternoon of Elvis glass night, I receive a bunch of texts saying, “Are you going to be at the Saucer? Can you get me a glass?” and I have to respond that I can’t. Be there if you want a glass.

One of the best blogs in Memphis, the I Love Memphis blog, got a redesign this week. I think it looks great.

MarksMenus is having its second “Eat-Up” – a meetup for users of its website and mobile apps. Next Monday, August 16 from 5:30-7:30 you can enjoy the “bites” menu for 50% off by showing your mobile app or the MarksMenus webpage on your mobile browser. Happy hour prices will be extended to 7:30 for everyone.

Congrats to the trivia team on another first-place win last night! With two plate parties thrown into the mix, we suddenly find ourselves with nearly $600 to spend on our next party. I was especially impressed that people who’ve said they can’t make the party (we’ve set the date already) came and played with the team, even though they won’t be here to enjoy the prize. Great team spirit and lack of selfishness!

Congrats to Misty, who became mayor of Lunch on Foursquare today.

Speaking of lunch, it’s time for me to cut this post off and go get something to eat. Plans for tonight: Beer. Somewhere.

I posted about this once before, but a movie shooting in Memphis is again doing a casting call. Details and contact information are below.

Feature Film Losers Take All
Casting Extras

Looking for ages 18-35, all ethnicities
Speaking roles, featured talent, and extras needed
Email current photos along with contact information
-Please note if you have a unmodified car from the ‘70s/80’s

LOSERS TAKE ALL is a comedy in which we follow “The Fingers,” a fictional punk-pop band circa 1986. Fingers are faced with the unlikely opportunity of committing the ultimate indie rock sin: selling out.

Do they stay true to their non-commercial DIY sound and ethos? Do they get in bed with corporate rock? Or do they simply keep getting wasted and implode into oblivion? Come be a part of their decision!

Directed by Alex Steyermark and Produced by Mike Ryan
Starring :
Kyle Gallner from A Nightmare on Elmstreet, CSI:NY, and Big Love
Tania Raymonde from Lost, and
Allison Scagliotti from Warehouse 13

Channel your inner Dead Kennedys, Replacements, and The Misfits

For more information call or email Abby
901-324-3424 or LTAcastingmemphis@gmail.com

EXTREMELY COOL deal on LivingSocial today… a flying lesson from Downtown Aviation for $29.50. Lesson includes a 20 minute Cliffs Notes-style ground school course, and 30 minutes in the air.

The Memphis Flyer has a new blog about the MIFA Store and its new director, Amy Hoyt. Amy acted as personal shopper for the Flyer’s blogger, helping her find several cute outfits – complete outfits – in the $7 to $11 range.

Spindini is starting a new wine/food/networking event called Wine Time Thursdays. The first one will be August 12, and the events will continue every other Thursday. Chef Joe Cartwright will select four wines, and pair them with food from Woodland Farms. $20 per person.

Tomorrow is National Health Care Day for the Homeless in Court Square from 10 AM to 2 PM. The Memphis Health Center and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs hold this event annually. Services and information provided include medical service, shelter placement, VA social services, mental health and substance abuse connections, HIV and syphilis testing, breast and cervical cancer information, and free haircuts. If you have contact with any homeless in the area, please make sure they are aware of this.

Don’t forget that today is S’mores Day all day at Kooky Canuck, with flavored marshmallows for s’mores you can make at your table. Drink specials too.

Attn anyone trying to reach me this evening: I’ll be unable to return texts between 7 and 9 tonight, as it’s our weekly trivia night at the Saucer. I make it a habit not to text during those times, because it could be mistaken by others in the bar as Googling trivia answers. Unlike some of my fellow team members, who text, tweet, Facebook, play Words with Friends, etc. nonstop during trivia and I wish they’d PUT THEIR DAMN PHONES AWAY. I know no one is cheating, but it looks bad.

Off to lunch… I’ve heard many good things about the double cheeseburger at Tops BBQ.  Time to give it a try.

Chinese restaurants have a “pu pu platter,” which is a sampler of their most popular appetizers.  Bardog Tavern may not be Chinese, but that didn’t stop them from putting out a Bardog Poo Poo platter.  Fries, egg rolls, wings, fried pickles, and shrimp skewers.  Easily enough to feed two at a reasonable price.  Note the five dipping sauces, or four depending if one considers ketchup a dipping sauce.

Speaking of Bardog:  I went in there tonight, after the Saucer got crowded with college kids beyond belief, and REGAINED THE MAYORSHIP!!!  Trevor, thanks for holding it down while I was in New Orleans, but the real mayor is back, buddy!

Tomorrow is the beginning of Elvis Week, full of activities to honor the King on the week that is the anniversary of his death.  The CVB has an Elvis Week website that tells you everything you need to know.  Check it out here.

Groupon has a good deal today – two dugout box tickets for any Redbirds game for $10. Valid for any regular-season game through September 2, subject to availablity. Get the deal here.

Jay Uiberall, the general manager of Alfred’s and part owner of Dyer’s and Automatic Slim’s Downtown, and also of Ubee’s on Highland, died Saturday night. He fell of his balcony at his home on Pickwick Lake, and reportedly broke his neck and was killed.

I didn’t know Jay well, but based on the number of sad faces I saw around Downtown on Sunday, it’s obvious he was a great guy who will be deeply missed. I will think of him the next time I order a double-double at Dyer’s. My deepest condolences to his family and to the many friends who will miss him.

First Leonard’s closes and now this… sad weekend… someone give me some positive news to report.

Friday night I stopped by the Majestic Grille for a snack.  The Cajun Chicken Eggrolls were new to the menu and I decided to give them a try.  Very good.  According to the menu the rolls are made with blackened chicken, corn, goat cheese, cheddar, red onion, and cilantro.  They come with a Creole mustard dipping sauce.

If you go by Cockadoos, here’s a tip:  Order a muffin or scone.  Now that they’ve been open for a little while, they’re giving employees the chance to experiment in the kitchen, and good things are happening.  One of the Cockadoos staff brought a bag of muffins down the Saucer for us to try last week, and they were pretty amazing.  Banana walnut, lemon poppy seed, several berry flavors.  The regulars and the Saucer girls quickly divided them up.  “If the Nuh-Uh Girl finds out there are free muffins, she’ll be down here in a heartbeat,” someone commented.  The recent kitchen experiments are paying off.  Give ’em a try!

I was expecting Steve Cohen to win the 9th District Congressional primary against Willie Herenton, but I thought the vote would be something like 65-35 in Cohen’s favor.  Instead, Cohen won 79-21.

I think the reason for the lopsided margin is the current occupant of the mayor’s office:  A.C. Wharton.  Herenton pointed to his record as mayor as reason why he should be elected to Congress, but Wharton has made him look really bad the past year, accomplishing things “King Willie” could never be bothered to get done.

When we had freezing cold weather last winter, Wharton took steps to make sure that no one would get their power cut off in the middle of a bone-chilling cold snap.  He also took steps to ensure that the homeless had a better place to sleep than under a bridge.  He’s made government more transparent, so that citizens can now look up government contracts online.  He’s fixing the mess that the city animal shelter had become.  He’s challenged neighborhood associations to think outside the box in terms of neighborhood beautification and improvements.  He’s given Downtowners what we’ve needed for years – a police detail that will patrol on bike and foot to control the scammers, aggressive panhandlers, and drunk and disorderly street people who give our neighborhood an undeserved bad reputation.  All of these were things that seemed to be beneath the great Willie when he was mayor.

I will say this, however:  Herenton’s concession speech was dignified and classy.  Herenton has an opportunity now to move into an elder statesman role.  Think about Jimmy Carter – he was very unpopular when he left the White House, but he earned a lot of respect with the way he served his country in the years that followed – without holding public office.  Herenton could do the same, I believe, on a local level.

One other thing:  Although I recommended Bill Haslam over the two idiots running against him in the Republican primary, that does NOT mean I’m endorsing him for governor in the general election.  I need to study both his and Mike McWherter’s positions on the issues before I make up my mind there.

I did, however, vote for a Republican in a general election this time around, rather unusual for me:  I voted for Mark Luttrell for county mayor.  Joe Ford’s inability to manage his own finances led me to question whether he could manage the county’s.  Also, I know people who know Luttrell personally, and they respect him greatly.  With me it’s not all about liberal vs. conservative as some people would believe – it’s about who has the tools and the temperament to do the best job.  In this case I believed it to be Luttrell.

Don’t think we’re done with political ads though – we still have the November midterm elections.  Maybe I’ll just unplug my TV for the next three months.