The Memphis Daily News posted this article about Mac Edwards, who is re-opening Bon Ton Cafe. Mac plans on not only re-opening it, but expanding it to stay open for dinner as well. Check out the article – it’s a good read.
Just a reminder that I won’t be out at the bars this week for happy hour or trivia – I have to get 110 Amazon storefronts upgraded by Friday to comply with Amazon’s new terms of service. Those storefronts generate a pretty good amount of commission for me, enough that I can’t afford to let them slide. For those concerned that this might cause me to lose my Saucer mayorship on Foursquare, don’t worry – I’ll work until 9:30 or 10 every night then go out for one beer, maybe two.
Since I have both a MacBook and a netbook, I will be blogging as I work. I’ll upgrade the sites using one computer (most of the upgrade involves waiting for FTP to finish transferring files) and blog on the other. Reviews of Saucer Beerfest and SMA Oktoberfest, with photos, should be online tonight.
Just a quick post to let you know that I have pics from today’s two beer festivals. One more than delivered on their promises and one didn’t. Both will be reviewed as soon as I recover and get the pics off the camera.
You may not see much of me this week. This morning I was notified that I have to upgrade my Amazon storefronts by Friday to stay in compliance with their affiliate program. Most people affected by this have one or two. I have 110, and they make enough money where I can’t ignore this. If I go out the netbook may be with me as I get this done.
In the meantime, enjoy the pic of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating.
The Cooper-Young Regional Beerfest yesterday was a smashing success. I cabbed down there, getting there right as the festival opened at 1. I stayed all the way through until 5. I had a great time, drank some delicious beers, and learned quite a bit about beer as well. Here are some pics and some information I learned.
The beerfest was in a huge parking lot at Walker and Fleece. Plenty of room to move around and plenty of room to expand if it grows next year.Au Fond Farmtable (booth on the left) was the food vendor, selling bratwurst, veggie meatball subs, and focaccia pizza.They had an education tent where festival attendees could hear about the beers and ask the brewers questions. This is a pic of Yazoo brewery's presentation.Schlafly was next to present. I was pleased to see that the education tent was nearly full, and in some cases overflowing, for the brewer presentations. People in this community clearly want to learn more about good craft beer.Next up was a representative from Southwest Distributors.
Okay, I want to take a break from pics for a minute to mention some things that were said in the Southwest presentation. Southwest represents a lot of the smaller craft breweries who don’t devote a lot of resources to marketing, because they’re too busy brewing good beer. He said that a lot of craft breweries are skeptical that there’s a market for their product in Memphis. If there are beers you want to see in the Memphis market that are not available here, his advice is to e-mail the breweries and let them know there’s a demand for it, both in grocery stores and in bars.
Southwest also hosts beer dinners around Memphis. Beer actually pairs with food just as nicely as wine does, as I have learned at the Flying Saucer beer dinners. To see a list of their upcoming beer dinners, visit memphisbeersandwines.com. You can also follow them on Facebook.
More pics…
Kelly in the education tentChuck Skypeck from Ghost River brewery in MemphisVino's from Little Rock talks about the beers they brought.
Okay, got some stuff to say about Vino’s. First of all, their Rock Hopera beer was absolutely delicious. If you’re a fan of hoppy beers, you’ve got to stop by there next time you’re in Little Rock (it’s at 7th and Chester) and give it a try.
The star of the show, however, was Vino’s Goldcrest 51 beer. Goldcrest 51 was the beer that was brewed in the Tennessee Brewery for many years. Not long ago, a recipe for the beer was found in someone’s attic, and Vino’s tried to recreate it. They gave a sample to Jake Schorr of Westy’s. Jake’s is a descendant of the people who ran the Tennessee brewery, and probably the only person who was around the brewery when the original Goldcrest was being made. Jake reportedly said that Vino’s Goldcrest 51 was “very close” in taste to the original.
Then the Vino’s people told us they had this book for sale at their booth:
It’s a history of the Tennessee Brewery, from its opening in the 1890s, through Prohibition when breweries had to be very creative to survive, to its final days in the 1950s. I bought a copy and hope to read it this week. Then I will loan it out to friends who live near the brewery and have an interest in beer.
Excellent festival, even though it was a very warm day outside. If they do it again next year, I’ll be back.
The Cooper-Young Regional Beerfest tweeted earlier this morning that 54 of the 400 tickets remain. If you hadn’t made up your mind about going but decide you want to, tickets will be available at the door. This morning they made an updated post with info about the event. You can read it here.
Again, if anyone from Downtown wants to split a cab down there, I’ll be at the Saucer around noon for a pre-game beer, then about 12:40 will walk to the Peabody or Beale and find a cab.
All right… I wanted the beer festivals to take center stage for my lunchtime post, but I have plenty of other stuff to report. Let’s see what we’ve got…
A Downtown cat is now famous. JuneBug, first pictured on my blog in December ’08, is cat number 9 in this photo gallery of 109 cats in sweaters. It’s hard to believe that 109 people exist who would do this to their cats, but hey, people are weird.
I’ve been wondering when the Majestic Grille was going to do another art show in its Innovators Room, and now I have my answer. This coming Monday, October 11, will be the opening of “John Henry: At Last,” featuring the photography of John Henry Hunt. Free admission, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up. Works will be for sale as noted, and all money goes to the artist. The Majestic Grille, as part of its commitment to the arts, does not take a commission.
Historian Jimmy Ogle will conduct a free walking “super tour” of Downtown Saturday. Tour will cover Court Square, Adams Avenue, and the Pinch District. Meet at the fountain in Court Square at 10 AM. If I didn’t already have a ticket to the CY Beerfest, I’d attend this… would be good to sit in Court Square and reminisce about the days when it was filled with bums. Now all that’s there is a Blue Crush camera. And pigeons. I don’t think we’ll ever get rid of the pigeons.
The 17th annual Blues Ball is Saturday night. More info here.
Monday is Canada’s Thanksgiving Day, and Kooky Canuck will be serving turkey and dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry jelly to celebrate. They’ll also celebrate a day early with 99 cent Labatt Blue draft on Sunday.
The Lacy Special at the Little Tea Shop was profiled as a “Best Bet” in the Commercial Appeal this week. The Lacy Special is a chicken breast topped with cornbread sticks, covered in gravy and a side of rice. If you haven’t had it for lunch, you’re missing out!
All right. Work week’s over and I am really ready for a beer. Time to head out.
This weekend, there are three festivals in Downtown and Midtown where much beer will be consumed. I’ll be at all three. Here are the details:
Cooper-Young Regional Beerfest, Saturday, 1-5 PM
This festival, held in the parking lot behind LifeLink at Cooper and Walker, will prove that you don’t have to fly to another part of the country to get a great craft beer. They’re limiting the event to 400 attendees so that everyone will be able to talk to the brewers and learn about what they’re drinking. There will also be an education tent where people can learn about beer and brewing. They’ll have food for sale by Chef Ben Vaughn and Au Fond Farmtable. Tickets are on sale here through 10 PM tonight. $25 for CYCA members, $30 for everyone else, $5 more if you buy a ticket at the gate tomorrow (if they don’t sell out).
Attn Downtowners: Anyone want to split a cab down there? I’m planning on having a pre-game beer at the Saucer at noon, then walking to the Peabody or Beale about 12:40 to find a cab. Feel free to meet up.
First Annual Fall Beer Festival at the Flying Saucer, Sunday, noon-10 PM
The Saucer will be selling tasting cards for this event – 10 tasters for $20. You’ll get to try some beers not seen in this area. They’re blocking off the street, and there will be 8 tents featuring Sierra 30th Fritz & Ken; Sierra 30th Charlie, Fred, and Ken; Sierra Celebration ’09; Sierra 30th Charlie & Ken; Stone IRS; Yazoo Cask Sue; Schlafly; and Oktoberfest selections. This is their first time doing an outdoor beer festival, but if they hold it to the same high standard as their beer dinners, it should be an outstanding event.
SMA Oktoberfest, G.E. Patterson between Main and Mulberry, Sunday 3-7 PM
This is not so much a beerfest as the other two events – only Ghost River will be there – yet it is the festival I am looking forward to the most. Oktoberfest has always been one of the best events of the fall, and this year it will get even bigger, as they block off the street. Pam & Terry will provide the music, the Ghost River beer will be flowing (as well as wine), and Harry’s Detour and Circa will provide delicious Oktoberfest food. I’m putting the over/under on how many plates of food the Nuh-Uh Girl will have at 5. Free for SMA members, $10 for non-members.
Note that since the Saucer’s festival runs from noon to 10, you have plenty of time Sunday to attend both events. You can even do it Ryburn style and attend the Saucer’s festival before AND after SMA Oktoberfest if you choose.
What to wear to these festivals? This is likely the last time this year we will see temps in the 90s. Ladies, it’s time to put those tube tops on display one last time. Guys, I couldn’t care less what you wear. I’ll be sporting my brand-new “Wooooo Pig Sooiee” Arkansas Razorbacks shirt at the CY beerfest.
I have more stuff, so look for a “Friday update” post later today.
If you’ve been reading my blog the past couple of months, you may have seen me mention that a very cool Grizzlies promotion for Downtowners has been in the works. Yesterday I got the green light to announce it.
The Wednesday, November 10 game with the Dallas Mavericks will be Downtown Night with the Grizzlies. For $50, you will get a $99 club level seat for the game. Furthermore, from 6 to 7:30 PM, we will have our own room (pictured below) in the elegant Opus restaurant in the club level. Downtowners will be able to mingle, enjoy food and beverages, and meet the Grizz girls, Grizz the mascot, and members of the basketball operations staff.
Private event room at Opus. Sorry, the digicam didn't do a very good job with the lighting.
The private room looks like it holds about 100, but if we draw a bigger crowd than that, management has said they will shut down the entire Opus restaurant for us.
This is an event that was planned in part by people who live Downtown. The Grizzlies contacted six of us back in August. They said they wanted to give Downtowners a space to mingle with their neighbors, and also show them a great time at a game. They sought our input on what would attract people who live here, and they incorporated our feedback to set up this event. I think it is a great value and hope to see a lot of my Downtown neighbors there.
For more information, you can contact Carl Rosen at crosen@grizzlies.com or 901-205-1445. You can also get more information from the Grizzlies staff at major Downtown events between now and the date of the game.
I am delighted to extend a hearty WELCOME to my new neighbors, Pinnacle Airlines, who will be moving into 12 floors of One Commerce Square just down the street from me. Their lease in their current space on Nonconnah Blvd. expires next year, and they have been weighing their options – another building near the airport, space in Olive branch, or the Downtown location. Yesterday they announced that they’re coming Downtown! Great decision!
Since it will be a while before employees actually move in, I won’t mention that you have to eat lunch at the Little Tea Shop and meet Downtown icon Suhair… or that you will love the sliders and the spaghetti and meatballs at Bardog… or that Court House Deli makes delicious crawfish etoufee and jambalaya… or that Elliott’s has some of the best breakfasts you’ll find anywhere, and their burgers are really good too. Nope, won’t mention any of that, all of which is within a block walk of the new office.
Pinnacle will bring 600-650 jobs Downtown. The move will also increase demand for hotel rooms by about 21,000 annually, according to estimates.
Major, major kudos to the CCC, Mayor Wharton, the City Council, and everyone else who put together the incentive package that attracted Pinnacle down here.
There will be a pep rally tomorrow morning, Friday, October 8, from 8:45-9:15 AM to welcome our new neighbors. Rally will be at One Commerce Square at Main and Monroe. Let’s get out there and show Pinnacle we’re glad they’re coming! The Beale Street Flippers, Rockey Redbird, cheerleaders, drummers and more will be on hand.
Check back later today… For a couple of months I’ve been saying that the Grizzlies have been planning something special for Downtowners. I now have permission to tell you what’s going on. I just have to get home and upload a PDF before I can make the post.
Pinnacle Airlines will announce its decision for its new headquarters location today at 1. I hope it’s Downtown. We’d love to have Pinnacle as our neighbor!
Drew Barton will be on the My Fox Memphis morning show tomorrow discussing this Saturday’s Cooper-Young Regional Beerfest. He should be on around 9:45. Tickets are still on sale. This beer fest will be a little different from most in that it will emphasize breweries that are within a day’s drive of Memphis.
Have you ever wanted to be a BBQ judge? Memphis in May will hold a judging seminar Saturday, November 6 at the Holiday Inn Select on Union. For more info or to register, go here.
Fun evening ahead… I have a brief meeting with the Grizzlies at 6:30, then I’m attending their first exhibition game at the FedExForum at 7. Plenty of seats remain, so come on down and see how the players have improved their game over the summer.
After I posted a link to a composite SEC schedule in the last post, one of my blog readers contacted me and told me he maintains a calendar of all SEC football games and scores that is iPhone-friendly. Because game times are not always known in advance due to TV, he updates his calendar weekly. He doesn’t make any money off this – he just does it because he’s a huge SEC fan. Go here and click Subscribe if you’d like to have the calendar added to your Outlook, Apple iCal, or iPhone calendar.
The SMA meeting which I posted about at lunch now has a speaker: Jimmy Ogle, who conducts the Downtown walking tours. His topic will be “Historic South Main.” Again, meeting is next Tuesday, October 13, at Earnestine & Hazel’s, social at 6, program at 6:30.
Good news for the Pinch, the area surrounding the Pyramid: MHA announced that it will receive $9.9 million in federal dollars to improve that neighborhood. Renovations will be completed without the use of city property taxes or general fund revenues. That’s great news. I’m telling you, I really think 2011 is going to be a big year for Downtown. I’m seeing some key businesses going into some key locations. Good things are about to happen.
