I normally don’t write about work on my blog, but I want to tell teachers about a fantastic opportunity my company is offering. As many of you know, I work for the company that sanctions the card game bridge in North America. Next month, my company will hold a seminar here in Memphis for teachers interested in starting bridge clubs in their schools. Teachers are eligible for a cash stipend and will be taught the game by some of our top local bridge teachers. My company will provide you with all the stuff you need to start a bridge club – cards, bidding boxes, etc., as well as T-shirts for your club and trophies for an end-of-curriculum tournament. Students who play bridge have been shown to get better scores in math, science and reading, so it’s beneficial for them as well as lucrative for you. If interested, shoot me an email at paul@paulryburn.com and I’ll point you to where to sign up.
Good news for the city: Overnight riverboat cruises will soon return to Memphis. Starting next year, The Great American Steamboat Company will operate overnight cruises on the American Queen, a 436-passenger steamboat. It will dock at Beale Street Landing. The steamboat company is moving its offices to One Commerce Square. The project is expected to have a $90 million economic impact, and will bring almost 600 new jobs. This is a big win for Memphis! Hooray!
There will be a Filmmakers’ Media Expo, put on by Fuel:Film, at Sky Grille (formerly Quetzal) from 1 to 4 PM Sunday, August 27. Directors can use the expo to find a film crew; casting directors will be able to interview actors for their upcoming films. There will be networking opportunities and education for film professionals. Actors can bring headshots, resumes, and business cards and look to be interviewed. Admission is $10. More details here.
Last year, Brittany Bloom and several other Bardog employees shaved their heads to raise money for St. Jude. It was part of their annual 5K and alley party that raised $20,000 for the children’s hospital. This year, they have a new volunteer for a haircut. Jay Hollingsworth, Bardog regular (and my landlord), will cut off his ponytail if the bar raises $2K by Sunday, August 21, the date of this year’s alley party. You don’t have to wait until the day of the party; they are taking donations at the bar effective immediately.
On Sunday, August 14, a Shelby County historical marker will be unveiled, honoring Lansky Bros. as the Clothier to the King. The marker will be in front of 126 Beale (most recently Republic, and EP’s before that), the original Lansky location. Special guests at the event will include David Porter, award winning recording artist and songwriter; Jack Soden, president of Elvis Presley Enterprises; and George Klein, DJ and Elvis’ best friend. At 3 PM on Sirius Radio Elvis Channel 19, Hal and Julie Lansky will be guest DJs. Congratulations to the Lansky family on this much-deserved honor.
Mashable posted an infographic about the changing workplace. 3 out of 5 workers surveyed say they don’t need to be in the office to be productive. COMPLETELY agree. I remember a former job I had, where several of my co-workers worked from home, then had that privilege taken away. “For all we know you could be watching TV all day,” they were told. It’s time for that kind of ass-backward thinking to stop if corporate America wants to get the most out of its workers. The point is to be productive, not to be seen.
News from Australia: Driver of motorized beer cooler charged with drunk driving. Just wanted to share this, because I know of Downtowners who have discussed getting one of these as a way from getting to place to place on holidays and Sunday Fun Day.
Kerry from the I Love Memphis Blog visited the new Thai Bistro on Madison last night and posted a review. Fantastic pics of their vegetable rolls, papaya salad, Pad Thai and Pla-Dook (catfish with vegetables in a spicy sauce). I need to get back in there for another meal soon. If they get their liquor license this week, the bistro will be a likely Sunday Fun Day stop for me. Actually, last week’s lineup of Majestic, Saucer, Thai Bistro, Brass Door was just about perfect, now that I think about it.
Plans for tonight: Well, usually I start Tuesday at Panda Manda Hour at Bardog, but the panda is out of town at the beach. So, maybe Brass Door or Saucer, and then on to trivia at the Silly Goose at 8. We’re on week 11 toward the 12-week prize, so we need a big turnout from the Rapscallions team so we can clinch that $300 bar tab!