Month: October 2010

Big game this afternoon at 2:30 on CBS, as the #12 Arkansas Razorbacks take on the #7 Auburn Tigers. This is a big game for both teams, and of course, I will be pulling for Ryan Mallett and the Hogs… if we can beat Auburn and then sweep South Carolina and LSU, Arkansas would certainly be a candidate to appear in one of the BCS bowls.

The SEC West is just ridiculously loaded with talent this year… Arkansas, Alabama, LSU, and Auburn are all good enough to go to BCS games, although that’s not possible given the team selection rules. State is not bad either… in most other conferences, they’d be a contender for the title. In the SEC West, though, there’s no way they can avoid losing several games.

As for the sixth team in the division, the one currently going through an identity crisis, let’s just pretend they don’t exist. Even when they’re winning, they’re an embarrassment to the conference. More so when they’re losing, as they are a lot this year.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO PIG SOOOIIIEEE! Go Hogs!

One of the things I was asked to do for work was to find a social media conference to attend. I manage the company’s Facebook and Twitter presence, and work wanted to get me training to make sure I have cutting-edge social media skills. I was told I could search for events outside of Memphis if I wanted. So I got on Mashable and searched their list of upcoming social media events. For months I didn’t see anything suitable: Either the events were intro, “how to set up a Facebook fan page” type events, or they were geared so heavily toward for-profit corporations that I wouldn’t get anything out of it. Then Monday I looked at Mashable again and found this:

Geekend is a Thursday-Saturday weekend conference in Savannah, Georgia. I looked at the schedule and saw exactly the events I was looking for. Advanced social media and Web 2.0 topics – five 45-minute mini-seminars Friday and Saturday, and a keynote speaker all three days. Check out this awesome schedule of events! Speakers are from well-known companies including NBC Universal, Grooveshark, Yahoo, and Paula Deen. I’m going to learn from, and network with, the people who are leading the way in social media.

I also immediately fell in love with this event because it’s designed for people like me. Not only do they put the mini-seminars and the keynote speakers on the schedule, but also “and this is the bar where we’ll be going out drinking in the evening.” This conference is not only for people who want to learn a lot, but who want to have a lot of fun as well! On Friday and Saturday the first mini-seminar begins not at 8:30 or 9 as is common with these things, but 10. The organizers of this event understand people like me. This won’t be a weekend full of stuffy corporate-ass suits.

So anyway, I put in a request to go, and yesterday afternoon I was told it had been approved! I’m going to Savannah! I’ve never been but my friend Otto spends a lot of time there, and he has told me it’s a really fun city. I’ll admit, the Thursday night after-party has me a little confused though… it will be at a place called The Distillery with 100 craft beers. I hope I can figure out what to do in a place like that.

The next three weekends are going to be exciting… RiverArtsFest next weekend, then Halloween weekend, then GeekEnd! I’ll have my MacBook with me in Savannah, so hopefully I’ll be blogging, if I can find the time.

I still have more stuff to post… check back, I’ll try to do another one before I go out.

Told ya I’d be back with more news.

MPD’s Downtown Precinct is reminding homeowners to close their garage doors at night and when not home. Officers have noticed a lot of open garage doors lately, exposing lawnmowers, bikes, golf clubs and other valuables. Close the door and keep your property safe!

There’s going to be a dog show Downtown, and I’m not referring to the staff at Hooters. On Sunday, November 7, the Harbor Town Dog Show will take place at Nursery Park on Mud Island. All dogs living on Mud Island are invited to compete. There will be three weight classes and a puppy class. Prizes will be awarded for Sexiest Walk, Rescued Dog, Best Costume, Obstacle Course, Look A-Like & Silly Pet Tricks, and there will be a Best in Show award. Hot dogs (of course) will be on sale. Kym Clark from Channel 5 will be Master of Ceremonies, and all proceeds will benefit the Humane Society. Rain date will be November 14.

The Peabody’s recent pickup line contest on Twitter made the USA Today. The hotel asked its followers for the best pickup lines to use at their Thursday night rooftop party series. Read the article here, and follow the Peabody at @peabodymemphis.

I’m still not caught up on news yet but I’m cutting this one off now… I got some very exciting news at work today and I’ve got to go tell people about it. I’ll blog it tomorrow or Sunday. Check back – more to come including details on how to win the hearse parked outside Bardog Tavern.

Good news for people who party late nights Downtown, and especially those who go to Paula & Raiford’s Disco: You’re about to have an additional late-night dining option. I’ve been told that Elliott’s will open late-night on the weekends with a limited menu. They’ll be open the same hours as Raiford’s.

Very happy to see them doing this… reminds me of when Raiford’s was in the old building, and the crowd would migrate to the Green Beetle for a late-night snack. People going to Paula & Raiford’s will soon have two very good options for nearby munchies… Elliott’s and Cockadoos (which started opening at midnight several months ago). I guess you could say three options, if you consider the stuff served at Denny’s to be “food.”

The website for Downtown Dining Week is now live. Get a 3-course meal at 20 restaurants for $20.10 the week of November 15-21. When you visit the site, click on any restaurant’s logo on the site to see the menu they’ll be offering. Last year, the Nuh-Uh Girl got so excited about DDW that on some nights, she’d eat two dinners.

If you’re looking for something to do tonight, the big event is Memphis Madness, the Tiger basketball team’s first practice of the season at the FedExForum. The women’s team practices at 6:30, the men’s team takes the court a little after 8, and there will be a scrimmage a little after 9. The men’s team will be available for autographs at four locations around the Forum at 6:45. Also, rapper Yo Gotti will perform. No other city has such a huge celebration for the start of college basketball season, and this will be a big year, as the Tigers welcome their best recruiting class ever and return to the top 25.

My advice if you plan to go: Get there early. Last year Memphis Madness packed the FedExForum beyond capacity, and the fire marshal ordered the arena to stop letting people in for safety’s sake.

Good post on Dining with Monkeys today. A guest blogger, with a 2 1/2 year old son adopted from Ethiopia, reviewed Gereny, an East African restaurant which opened not long ago on Jackson. The food looks delicious, and it looks like they got an immense amount of food for only 25 of their hard earned dollars. I’m going to have to try this place soon, even though it will mean getting in the car.

I now have it confirmed that the Russian bath house I mentioned in the last post will be going into the old Smooth Moves location at Main and Union. Very, very happy to hear that another building will soon be occupied at one of Downtown’s busiest corners.

Too much news and not enough time! I have several more things to report, but I need to spend the remainder of my lunch hour grabbing a bite to eat and getting gas. Back with more after work.

This afternoon I received a tip on how to get discounted tickets for the Grizzlies regular season opening night home game, Wednesday October 27 vs. the Atlanta Hawks. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Click here to open the Ticketmaster listing in a new window

2. Where it says, “enter offer code/password” type: EricB. Then click OK.

3. Click on “Show offer on map.”

4. Interactive map will appear. Click on highlighted areas to choose your seats and quantity.

Deals are available for the following seating areas:

Courtside, regularly $225, on sale for $148
Plaza 1, regularly $148, on sale for $98
Plaza 4/5, regularly $60/$47, on sale for $38
Club, regularly $97, on sale for $48
Terrace 1/2, regularly $45/$33, on sale for $13
Terrace 3, regularly $16, on sale for $8

First of all, be sure to read this guest editorial in the Commercial Appeal by CCC president Paul Morris. He states that Downtown is the brand of Memphis, and I agree. When people come here, they’re going to want to see the Peabody, the Orpheum, Beale Street, the FedExForum, the river, the National Civil Rights Museum, and all of Downtown’s many other attractions. It’s important to show them a great time so visitors will want to come back, and so people and businesses considering moving here will have a favorable impression of Memphis.

Okay, this is interesting. Due to a follow on Twitter, I learned this afternoon that a Russian bath house is coming to Memphis, with the address listed as 85 Union. Is that the old Smooth Moves space? They have a website which explains the health benefits of banya, or traditional Russian bath. You can follow the bath house on Twitter at @UnionStreetBath.

If you can’t make it to Memphis Madness at the FedExForum tomorrow night, it will be streamed on GoTigersGo.com. This link has more details.

Minglewood Hall’s 1884 Lounge has its grand opening tonight from 4:30 PM to 1 AM. Drink specials, and college football on the big screen. Yeah I know this isn’t a Downtown event, but Minglewood is such an awesome space that it deserves mention anyway.

The South Main Association is looking for volunteers for RiverArtsFest for three shifts: 2-6 PM Saturday the 23rd, and 10 AM-2 PM and 2 PM-6 PM on Sunday the 24th. Volunteer opportunities exist in artist support, beverage sales, and possibly other areas. Visit the festival’s website to sign up as a volunteer.

The Wall street Journal reports that Yuengling is nearing the purchase of the old Coors plant in Memphis. Yuengling products will hopefully be brewed right here in our hometown very soon! Amazing when you realize that just three years ago, you couldn’t even get Yuengling here.

The Memphis Business Journal has reported that new apartments will soon appear at 436 S. Front. This would be across Nettleton from the 420 S. Front condos, and the same developer that did 420 will do this new apartment project. There will be 25 units in all, 20 1BRs and 5 2BRs. There will also be retail space on the ground level. Details in tomorrow’s print edition of the MBJ.

That’s all… going to mention a Grizzlies deal in a separate post, then it will be time for beer.

Mayor Wharton has invited the citizens of Memphis to a new festival, the GreenUp Memphis festival, which will be held at “The Green at South Front Street,” adjacent to the Memphis Farmers Market behind Central station, Saturday October 30 from 11 AM to 3 PM. The festival will celebrate things you can do to make Memphis more eco-friendly and a more attractive place to live. There will be festival food, exhibits, prizes, and live music. If you want to make a difference in your community, come on down. The Farmers Market will be going on next door, so why not hit both events?

It’s Wednesday. The Majestic Grille has announced that their famous chili is back today, and will be back every Wednesday this fall/winter season.

Early voting for the fall election begins today. You can early vote from now until October 28.

Congrats to the trivia team on taking first place last night in my absence… I was up until 11 working on upgrading my Amazon sites. Wasn’t too bad though – I did site upgrades on my netbook while watching season 2 of Jersey Shore on my MacBook. One more evening and I hope the site upgrades will be finished. In fact, I hope to get out to the Saucer for a beer or three tonight, although it will more likely be 8-9ish than for happy hour.

Good Groupon for Memphis today. Get $15 worth of their food for only $7 here. Enough people have already signed up for this deal that it’s on, not surprising as popular as Kooky is.

Artitude, a group that supports the arts in Memphis while going to parties, meeting new people, and having a good time has announced their pre-RiverArtsFest party. RiverArtsFest, in case you haven’t heard, is the biggest arts event of the year on South Main, with hundreds of artists as vendors, as well as food, bands, and beverages. This year’s RiverArtsFest will be Saturday-Sunday, October 23 and 24, and Artitude’s preview party will be Friday, October 22 from 6 to 9 at the Memphis College of Art, 477 S. Main. The party is a catered event where your $30 entry fee (pay at the door) gets you two tickets for complimentary beer and wine, live music, and a silent auction where you can bid on goods donated by RiverArtsFest artists and South Main shops.

The Hard Rock Cafe, always a generous supporter of local charities, will have a Cancer SUCKS! party this Saturday, October 16 from 9 to midnight. 100% of the $5 cover goes to Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure, and there will be music by Jeremy Stanfill, Grace Askew, and Star & Micey. They’ll have $2 Bud and Bud Light to thank all that attend for supporting the cause, and if you wear pink you’ll be eligible to win prizes like Grizzlies tickets.

Staying home from trivia tonight as I continue my mad rush to get my 110 Amazon storefronts upgraded by Friday. I got about 30 done last night, and was pleased enough with my progress to make it to Pint Nite… good meeting blog readers from my alma mater Rhodes College… and I got another 15 storefronts upgraded early this morning. By the time I get all these done I’m going to have nightmares about the Filezilla FTP client. (Not that it’s not excellent software – I’d just rather be drinking beer than using it.)

All right… hungry for the Mexican Gumbo from Qdoba Mexican Grill… time to go sit on Goodman Road for 10 minutes waiting to make a left turn.

SMA Oktoberfest wasn’t the only street festival going on yesterday.  The Flying Saucer blocked off Peabody Place yesterday from noon to 10 and had a fall beer festival of their own.  For $20, attendees got a tasting glass and a card good for 10 tasters.  People walked from booth to booth sampling different types of beer, such as Local, West Coast, Europe, and Oktoberfest.

They also had delicious, inexpensive food, a necessary item at beer festivals.  There were Oktoberfest-style long tables in the middle of the festival area, where people could drink and dine.  It was a big area (half a block blocked off) and people had plenty of room to mingle and discuss beer.

A good first-year effort for this festival.  However, there are a couple of things that I hope they fix next year if they bring the festival back:

• In their advertising and flyers for the event, premium and rare beers such as several Stone 30th anniversary beers were listed, along with the price of $20 for 10 tasters.  There was nothing to indicate those beers would not be included in the price; however, once there, we learned that we had to buy an “upgrade” to a $30 ticket to be able to sample those beers.
• The week before, several of us asked the managers what size the tasting glasses would be, and were told “standard five-ounce taster.”  However, after I paid my $20 I was handed a glass with the fill line marked “4 oz.”

Still glad I did it, though.  This and SMA Oktoberfest on the same day nearly killed me.  Here are a few pics:

I predicted that this year’s South Main Association Oktoberfest would be the best yet, and it indeed was. Not only did they deliver a quality event, but they overdelivered.

Earlier in the week, I was told by the event’s organizers, “Get there early if you want food. If attendance gets big, we may run out.” I ate early, but at 6 PM (festival ran from 3 to 7) I looked over and still saw people putting food on their plate.

The heavy attendance did cause them to run out of beer about 5:30. Now, many festivals would just tell attendees, “We’re out of beer, sorry,” and that would be the end of it. The SMA organizers did better. They went and got more beer – 2 kegs of it in fact.

Pam and Terry were scheduled to play until 6 PM, but when the organizers saw how much fun the crowd was having, they paid Pam and Terry extra to keep playing until 7. The SMA folks made sure that everyone had a good time from the moment they got there right up until the scheduled ending time – Oktoberfest didn’t gradually die out over the final hour as many festivals do.

Very well-done event. Big thanks to the SMA for providing a fun-filled afternoon. Here are some pics.