Month: May 2011

After a Sunday Fun Day afternoon at the Saucer, I got hungry. I decided to support our BBQ team sponsor, Bar None. I ordered the crawfish dip as a starter, and two sliders, one burger and one crab cake. Of course, I needed a little liquid refreshment with my meal. I decided to go with their specialty, the half yard of beer.

I’m not sure how much beer comes in a half yard, but I do know it’s 18 inches tall and comes with its own stand. You have your choice of beers on draft. I went with the New Belgium Somersault, “the perfect summer lounge around beer.” Here’s a tip for you: If you want to try a half yard, Tuesday is the night to do it: Half yards are only $5.

When the check came, I thought they left an item or two off. Then I added it up, and realized, no, everything was there, it’s just a pretty inexpensive place considering the caliber of food and drink.

On another note, I’ve decided the growl towel is going out with me every day until the Grizzlies are out of the playoffs. Today I wore it as a ‘do-rag for much of the day, although I took it off for dinner at Bar None. I do have manners, after all.

Tomorrow is vacation day, so expect a lot of post scattered erratically throughout the day.

This tweet, from someone who went, sums it up:

“Logan is planning on Shatnering the Golden Girls theme song.”

Yeah. This is what my friends do on Saturday night.

Today is load-in day for the Ques Brothers. It’s going to be a long, long day. Join me on Twitter @paulryburn for live coverage of all the hard work I do for the team today. Activity should begin a little after 11 AM.

I witnessed my first live NBA playoff game yesterday. Here are some pics.

We pre-gamed at the Flying Saucer. I decided to get some cheap, crappy beers done for my plate. Bud Light has started providing a space on the label for you to “make your mark.” So I did.

I went to the game with my friend Clay and two of his co-workers. Here’s a view of the FedExForum from our seats, under “white-out” conditions.

The people holding the signs in the photo above understand who’s good and who’s a has-been.

“And now… introducing… YOUR… MEMPHIS… GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIZZLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

During one of the timeouts they had a contest. They brought up a guy and girl and allowed the crowd to vote on who would shoot. If the shooter made a 3-point shot in 30 seconds, everyone in the arena would get free tater tots from Sonic. The girl was Leslie, seen in the middle of this shot, red hair, facing the camera. Leslie has been seen on this blog in a tube top before. Right as the voting was about to occur, a third contestant was added: Penny Hardaway, seen facing the camera at left, shaking hands, in this shot. He handily made the three and the crowd got tots.

At halftime, the Beale Street Flippers performed. In this shot, one of the flippers springs over four of his buddies.

Zach Randolph shoots a free throw. The Grizzlies, behind by double digits late in the game, showed their heart, grit and grind, taking the game to overtime and then demolishing the Thunder for the victory.

Above: The victory celebration. When the game ended, people didn’t hurry out the door; they yelled and screamed and waved their growl towels for several minutes before leaving.

Above: The identity of Osama bin Laden’s assassin has been revealed.

We ended up back at the Saucer after the game. About 8:30 some of the others said, “Waaaaaah, it’s starting to get a little crowded in here, I’m going to head south for a second-rate karaoke night with bad singing and marginally attractive women.” Those who are hardcore remained. After a quick trip home to drop off my new Grizzlies merchandise, I came back to enjoy some of the rare beers the Saucer unveiled for its 14th birthday. It was a fun night, including a fire alarm and a Josh Pastner appearance at the Saucer. Above: Lil’ Kim believes.

My new Grizzlies gear. From left to right: Tony Allen shirt, Zach Randolph shirt, growl towel, “Believe Memphis” shirt. You can get the Allen and Randolph shirts from Verno.

Having been to a playoff game, I get the whole “Grizz Fever” thing in a whole different way now, and want to offer this advice: Go to as many games at the FedExForum as you can. I’m only passing up a chance to go Monday because 1) with a $700 car repair bill and a new camera, this month is getting massively expensive; 2) I suspect I’ll have more opportunities to go to playoff games in May and maybe even June; and 3) I’d have to miss my Monday poker night with Brick. Seriously, though, you don’t experience even one-tenth of the electricity of the game watching it on TV. Get tickets and go.

The new Grizz gear is in the washing machine right now. I think I may bring the growl towel out for Sunday Fun Day. I suspect there are shenanigans to be had with it.

Today is the Flying Saucer’s 14th birthday and they’re having a party. Kirk the GM just posted the following to Facebook:

“Special Tappings include:
Sierra Nevada Charlie, Fred & Ken’s Bock,Sierra Nevada Fritz & Ken Imperial Stout,Sierra Nevada Brewer’s Grand Cru Bourbon Barrel,Moylans Dragoon Irish Dry Stout,Moylans Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale,Scaldis Belgian Ale,Yazoo dry hop pale Cask, and Sierra …Hoptimum + more!!”

Follow the Saucer on Twitter at @FlyingSaucerMEM for updates throughout the day. Kings of the Delta takes the stage tonight.

If you’re in high school and are looking for a party tonight, stop by Hollywood Disco at 115 Vance (just east of Main). From 7 to 11 PM tonight they’ll have a Jersey Shore theme party. Get your gear on and do your best Situation, Pauly D, Snooki, JWoww or whoever floats your boat. Bust out your Ed Hardy, your Affliction (IT’S T-SHIRT TIME!!!), your Axe body spray, your poof hairdos, your foobs. Bring it!

The club will open to 18+ at 11:30 PM. If you show them a Grizzlies ticket stub they’ll give you half off cover and $1 off 32 oz. beers.

 

This week, Steve Cohen questioned Attorney General Eric Holder about the prosecution of three online poker sites. Given all the other priorities we have, Cohen asked, should we really be spending taxpayer money going after sites that millions of Americans enjoy?

For his part, Holder said that he wasn’t sure whether poker was a game of skill. When Cohen asked holder whether Phil Ivey is just lucky, Holder replied that he didn’t know who Phil Ivey was.

Good job, Steve. Proud to have you as my Congressman.

You can pick up a free “Believe Memphis” yellow headband at the FedExForum Grand Plaza today until 7 PM. They’ll also have window clings and other goodies. I’ve heard that you have to fill out a form to get your free stuff. More info here.

The Great Memphis Flood of 2011 now has its own blog. Today’s post lists items needed at local flood shelters.

To answer a question I posted yesterday, the business at Harbor Town are open. Miss Cordelias, Tugs, Paulette’s, Lil Cafe Eclectic, Movie & Pizza, and River Inn are open for business, and if you don’t live in the island they invite you to come over and shop. They just ask that you not come to the Island for the sole purpose of taking flood photos.

Monty Python’s Spamalot is at the Orpheum this weekend. Details and ticket information here. They had a spam cookoff, which was won by Chef Patrick Reilly at the Majestic Grille. Patrick has an interesting John Cleese story here.

Clean Memphis will hold a clean-the-city day tomorrow. The city will be divided into 31 cleanup zones. Click through to their website if you want to sign up to help.

A Downtown restaurant is the Groupon deal of the day: Pa Pa Pia’s.

If you’re a fan of Jerry Seinfeld, he’s put up a new website. The site will be a warehouse of comedy routines he’s done the past 30 years. He’ll add three new clips a day, so there will always be a reason to check back for new material. He’s hoping his work will inspire young comedians.

Finally made it to a Peabody rooftop party last night… felt a little embarrassed that, after they gave me a pass, it took me until week 4 to get up there. Due to other Cinco de Mayo festivities, I didn’t get to the rooftop until 9. I was starving but expected their Mexican buffet to be picked over at that hour. “Maybe I can scrape up enough guacamole for one chip,” I hoped as I rode the elevator up. I was pleasantly surprised to find the buffet still stocked, and I made myself a Nuh-Uh Girl-sized plate of nachos and refried beans. I was full by the time I got to VIP but it looked like the fish taco bar was still going strong too. Kudos once again to the Peabody on going above and beyond on the customer service.

Vacation starts at 5 PM! Ready for 9 days of relaxation and BBQ. No definite plans for tonight yet, but I’ll be out.