Month: February 2012

Lots of random stuff to talk about today. Let’s get started…

Frank Murtaugh of the Memphis Flyer thinks it’s a shame that no Memphis Tigers from the 2005-09 era, including the 2007-08 team that went to the national title game, have had their jerseys retired. His pick as the best representative of that era? Number 5, Antonio Anderson. Can’t disagree. Anderson was the glue of that team. Forgive the pro wrestling reference, but Antonio Anderson was to the 2005-09 Tigers what Arn Anderson was to the Four Horsemen.

Elmwood Cemetery has announced a 90-minute walking civil rights tour for Saturday, February 25. You’ll visit the graves of Marvin Ratner, Benjamin Hooks, Odell Horton, Ernest Withers, and Vasco Smith and learn about their contributions to civil rights. $15, starts at 10:30 AM. It’s an all-walking, outdoor tour, so dress appropriately.

Want to throw a party or event Downtown, but don’t know where to have it? The DMC has a Downtown event space guide. This is one I’m going to bookmark – I get “where should I have my party/corporate meeting/event?” emails all the time.

Congrats to Verno and Roser of the Chris Vernon Show. They’ve been hired by Sirius/XM Radio to produce up to four hours of weekend content. They will still do their weekday show on Yahoo! Sports 730.

South of Beale has posted their new menu. Duck fried rice has returned.

Funny blog I saw on Twitter today: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Looking at Things

Lifehacker linked to this article today: Why Being Sleepy and Drunk are Great for Creativity. See? There are reasons I do the things I do.

All right, heading out for beer. Probably Saucer first (Spiros is in town!), then Blind Bear.

I started at the Blind Bear tonight, where I talked to owner/poker guy Jamie. They plan on having a “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” 1920s gangster/flapper party at 9 Valentine’s Day. I asked about poker, which normally starts at 8. He said if enough people would commit to playing, he’d start at 7. “I’ll have to increase the blinds a little faster than usual,” he said. He offered to compensate by giving anyone who dresses in gangster/flapper attire for poker an extra point toward the poker league. Poker regulars: He’s asking for feedback on whether you’d be able to play at 7. Message him on Facebook. Winner gets a $50 bar tab and league points.

In other news: The Roasted Poblano Pepper Chicken soup is back on the Soup of the Day menu at Bardog. This is a very good idea. I’m eating it right now (Paul’s Drunkass Food). If you’re lucky it will survive onto tomorrow’s menu.

BREAKING: Sources say Marc Gasol has been selected as a reserve for the All-Star Game. His brother Pau will be home watching the game on TV.

The Great American Steamboat Company has set a date for the job fair I reported about a couple of weeks ago. It will be Tuesday, February 21, from 7 AM to 7 PM, at the Cook Convention Center. Jobs will include hospitality, housekeeping, culinary, marine and technical crew, and more positions in the front and back of house. See this Flyer article for more details. This sounds like a really good gig, with full medical and dental, 401(k), and expenses covered including accommodations, meals, and travel.

Grace Askew will perform at the Cavern, the downstairs club inside the Brass Door, Friday night, February 10, at 9 PM.

Local Gastropub posted its new bar snacks menu available from 4 to 6 PM during happy hour.

This MBJ article has some details on what Aldo’s Pizza Pies will look like when it opens. They are projecting April or May as the opening date.

And that’s your Thursday news. Time for a beer. As of yet undecided between Bear and Saucer for my first stop.

Last night I had drinks with friends at the Silly Goose, and one of them commented that they heard the Southern Hot Wing Festival was moving out of South Main this year. I pulled out my phone and checked, and sure enough, they were right. The fest has outgrown South Main, but will still be Downtown. It will be at Jefferson Davis Park on Saturday, April 21. That’s the park on Riverside Drive, next to the visitor center at Jefferson. They expect more than 60 competitors this year, and will have three live music stages and a hot wing eating contest. More details here.

That will be quite a change. Glad to see it on the river, always a good backdrop for a festival. On the other hand, a lot of the locals like to pick a bar in the area as “home base” – on South Main it was Max’s – and drift in and out all day. No such option at Jefferson Davis Park. Bardog, about 3 blocks away, will probably see a pickup in business that day.

Blind Bear has announced that they will start opening for lunch on Fridays and Wednesdays. Nothing on the menu will be over $8, and I can already tell you that they have veggies that can hold their own against the area’s meat-and-two lunch shops. Circa and Bar None never really got a lunch business going in that location, but I think it was because their price point was too high. I think the Bear is pricing it right.

If I ever buy a house, this is what I want on the walls – Flocked PBR wallpaper.

Seth of the Best Memphis Burger blog tried Bleu’s Build Your Own sandwich menu recently. It’s only available at lunch. You fill it out as you would sushi-style, picking your protein, your bun, your temperature, your sauce, your cheese, your toppings, and your side. Posts like this really make me wish I worked close enough to Downtown to get there for lunch.

FootballScoop.com is reporting that Larry Porter has been hired as running backs coach at Arizona State. (Thanks to @ChrisVernonShow for tweeting.) Good for him. He’s a good man with a lot of tools to build a successful program. It’s just that head coach is not the ideal role for him, or wasn’t when he was at Memphis.

That’s enough for now. May do a second news post after work. No idea what I’ll get into tonight.

Last night while I was hanging out at the Flying Saucer, one of the other regulars told me about New Belgium’s Tour de Fat, a 13-city bike tour that encourages people to select bikes rather than cars, and promotes the positive societal offerings of the bicycle. The 2011 tour did not come to Memphis, but came as close as Nashville. Perhaps, given our city’s improved bicycle-friendliness in the last 12 months, bike and beer lovers should start a campaign to get the tour to stop here in 2012.

By the way, you have 13 days left to win the New Belgium Fat Tire bike at the Saucer. Get an entry form to win every time you drink a Fat Tire.

There were pics posted on Facebook yesterday that made it appear that Occupy Memphis was being evicted from its spot on the Civic Center Plaza on North Main. According to this ABC 24 News article, that is not what happened. Rather, some people who were not part of Occupy Memphis camped out there, and violated the organization’s rules on drinking and drugs. Occupy Memphis had the violators evicted, and there is still an Occupy presence in the plaza, with about 15 members in 10 tents. City leaders do not plan to ask them to leave as long as they follow city laws.

Artist Joey Young from Clarksdale, MS will have an art show tomorrow night at Revolution Salon and Gallery at 109 S. Front. Show is titled “Broken Molds: Artwork by Joey Young” and the opening reception is tomorrow from 6 to 9. If you can’t make it for the opening, work will be displayed through March 1.

Z-BoING, the act of adopting Zach Randolph’s defensive stance while wearing creative headband and mouthpiece, is now on Twitter. Follow the movement at @ZBoING.

Victorian Village news: The Woodruff-Fontaine House/Museum presents “A Sweet Serenade” Saturday night. It will feature a concert of love songs by members of Luna Nova Music: Esther Gray, soprano, and Mark Volker, guitar. There will also be a chocolate extravaganza, a tasting and toasting of all things chocolate. Starts at 6:30 PM, $35 per ticket. Call 901-526-1469, 901-493-0958, or 901-647-8978 for tickets.

The Memphis Flyer’s annual Hotties issue hits the racks today. Be sure to pick one up.

If you play trivia at the Silly Goose on Tuesdays, note that the start time will be moved back an hour to 7:00 next week so their Valentine’s Day party can start at 9. Hmmm… I wonder what Blind Bear will do about poker that night, since they’re also having a party? Next time I see Jamie I’ll find out.

It’s official. Memphis is in the Big East. For all the times I’ve trash-talked R.C. Johnson on this blog, I guess I have to give the man credit for finally getting it done. Congratulations.

Stuff going on tonight: Premiere screening of documentary MLK: The Assasination Tapes at the Civil Rights Museum, 6 PM; Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, FedExForum, 7 PM; Valentine’s Day glass night at the Flying Saucer, 7 PM; poker night at Bardog, (Edit: 8:30 PM this one week only, and free shot glass to those who play); trivia at Blind Bear, 8 PM. I’m undecided whether I’m going to play poker tonight. I’ve kind of had my fill for the week, but I’m curious how they’re going to run it given Bardog’s Underdog Room redesign. Now, when players get eliminated, they really will get sent to the rail. Anyway, I’ll be out somewhere tonight, and beer will be consumed.

Just got home from work. If whomever operates Blues City Tours is reading this, you need to service your vehicles! Twice in the past two weeks I’ve been behind a tour bus on Second that has blown nasty smutty smoke everywhere.

The Blind Bear has posted details of their St. Valentine’s Day Massacre party next Tuesday at 9 PM. Here’s what they’ll have going on.

• DJs BCON and MLW
• No cover if you dress in 1920s gangster or flapper attire. $5 cover otherwise.
• There’s one more way to can beat the cover. Dine at Majestic Grille down the street (reservation required) and receive a password to get in for free.
• Drink specials for those in costume
• 11 PM costume contest for Best Gangster, Best Flapper, and Best 1920s Couple. Winners get $50 in Bear Bucks.

Mesquite Chop House has posted a new $12.95 “Sunday Funday” menu. For that price you get

• Choice of steak: Gaucho Flat-iron, Peppercorn Flat-iron, Parmesan Encrusted Flat-iron, 8 oz. Tenderloin Medallions, 6 oz. Crab Topped Tenderloin Medallions
• Choice of side: Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Santa Fe Corn, Sauteed Mushrooms

Not a bad deal. The new menu starts this coming Sunday, February 12. They suggest you phone ahead for reservations: 901-527-5337.

The newest Ruffles flavor: Memphis in May BBQ potato chips.

The MBJ reports that a preliminary design for the I55-Crump Boulevard interchange has been approved. The interchange will decrease congestion, increase capacity, and won’t displace area residents.

It looks like Memphis to the Big East is the real deal. This is good news for the city and the school, due to the increased visibility and money that a major conference will send our way. This is wonderful news for the U of M football program, which managed to get in a BCS conference despite being the absolute drizzling shits the past couple of years. It’s good news for basketball fans, because we’ll get to play Louisville and Cincinnati every year. It’s fantastic news for TV viewers, because we won’t be on CSS anymore. As some people pointed out, Pastner’s job will be tougher, but overall this is probably the biggest WIN for Memphis sports since we got the Grizzlies.

Update on last night’s poker game: Daniel who owns the Silly Goose texted me this afternoon. Poker Jon was ineligible to win his own game; therefore, I won the $50 prize at the 7:30 game. Thanks Daniel and I’ll probably see you tonight for Star & Micey.

Newsy day. Time to hit Publish and then hit happy hour.

BREAKING NEWS: Multiple, credible sources on Twitter are saying that the University of Memphis will join the Big East in all sports in 2013. Of course, these rumors have appeared several times before, but this time there seems to be some meat to them.

So, I was reading Kerry’s blog post about Cochon 555, and I noticed this very interesting line near the end:

“If you missed Cochon555, don’t worry. The team that hosted it will be back in Memphis over Labor Day weekend to hold their first annual heritage pork barbecue festival.”

Hmmm really? How interesting! The greater Memphis area is becoming a mecca for BBQ festivals. Besides the big one Memphis in May throws every year, we have Smokin’ Aces in Tunica in late September, the Liberty Bowl BBQ fest in December, and now this. The new team I’m on is just getting organized, so it’s too early for us to think ahead to the heritage pork festival. Wonder if my friends over at Squeal Street BBQ will take a shot at it.

The Daily News reports that there’s a new Russian Cultural Center open in South Main. They want it to be a place where Americans and Russians can interact, and Russian cooking classes, lectures, language classes, and film screenings are in the plans. Downtown just keeps getting more diverse. Love it!

Star & Micey play the Silly Goose tonight. It’s their regular monthly gig, first Tuesday of every month.

The first Memphis Gives tweetup happens tonight at Cortona Restaurant in Cooper-Young from 6 to 8. Attendees are asked to bring at least $5 to support Manna House. Cortona has agreed to extend happy hour pricing to 8 PM for the tweetup.

In the news: The last known World War I veteran has died. Florence Green joined the Women’s Royal Air Force in the UK seven months before the end of the war. She died in her sleep Saturday night at age 110.

Twitter users: Here’s an infographic to help you decide whether to use Twitter’s official “Retweet” button. Personally, I hate the official button. Hand-crafted RTs are much better. I don’t care if Twitter deems it “correct” or not.

Thursday at the Metal Museum, there will be a gallery talk and lecture by Dr. Daniel Mato, curator of the exhibition Weighed in the Balance: Akan Gold Weights from the Canadian Museum of Making. It’s hsoted by Memphis Urban League Young Professionals and times are 6:00 to 8:30 PM. Refreshments will be provided. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Also, the Museum will have a free day Saturday from 10 to 5. Spend $100 in the gift shop and get a free heart pendant.

Congrats to local food blogger Shannon R. Little, whose blog Memphis Foodie turns one year old today. She’s doing a giveaway on her blog to celebrate.

Today is the 200th anniversary of the 1812 New Madrid earthquake.

Wikipedia’s featured article today is about “Cartman Gets an Anal Probe,” an episode of South Park. Wasn’t Human Centipede a featured article a few months ago? Do the folks at Wikipedia have some kind of anal fetish?

I came very close to a poker win at the Silly Goose last night. It came down to a 20-minute heads-up battle between host Poker Jon and myself, a fight that dragged on so long that it delayed the start of the 10:00 game. Finally, I shoved all-in pre-flop with A-2, and Jon called with Q-8, suited I think. It looked like my Ace high would hold up, but Jon hit a Queen on the river to win the tournament. I didn’t realize Jon could win the $50 gift certificate in his own game. I got the points in the poker league though, and the satisfaction of knowing I can hang with a very talented player for an extended period of time.

I’m playing more poker tonight, Jamie’s game at the Blind Bear at 8:00. Before that I’ll pre-game at the Flying Saucer’s happy hour.

Kelly English of Restaurant Iris won the Cochon 555 competition, held Saturday night Downtown at The Columns at One Commerce Square. The competition featured 5 regional chefs each preparing a whole hog in a tribute to heritage pork. Food Republic has a report and photos here.

Meanwhile, a few blocks down Main, another competition was taking place. The finals of the International Blues Challenge happened at the Orpheum, with bands in the afternoon and solo/duo acts in the evening. The WIRED Band from Washington was the winner of the band competition, while solo/duo went to Ray Bonneville of Northwest Arkansas. More results can be found on the Blues Foundation website.

And the Giants won the Super Bowl. It was my first time to watch the game at bars rather than a house party for the first time in 7 years. My reaction? “Meh.” I watched part of the game at the Saucer, part at Bardog. Both bars were a little busier than usual, but neither was terribly exciting. Specials were good.

Here’s a pic of the Peabody Duckmaster Z-boING.

Monday night. Pint Nite at the Saucer as soon as I can get there. Poker at the Goose at 7:30. Hopefully I’ll catch better cards than the last time I played, when I was dealt approximately 35 hands and did not win a single one.