Music Fest weekend. Mainly I look at it as a speed bump between Wine Race and BBQ Fest, but it does offer some good people watching and tube top watching opportunities. As I’ve done in past years, I staked out a spot on the Silly Goose patio last night after work. It’s the first time I’ve been on the patio for an extended period of time since they installed the awning – I was there Thursday too but not for very long – and it makes all the difference in the world. With the heat index in the mid 90s, that patio would have been scorching without the awning. It also creates this other-worldly feeling, halfway between outside and inside. I like it and will probably be back tomorrow or Sunday.
Edit: I just learned the Goose will have $3 margaritas until midnight today to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
One of the things I’m on the lookout for on festival days is good T-shirts. I saw a great one at Wine Race last Sunday that I forgot to blog about. Jesus and three other players are sitting at a poker table, and the dealer tells Jesus, “Ante, Christ.” That’s awesome.
After the sunset I moved next door to the Flying Saucer. While there, the GM, Kirk, gave me some huge beer news: They’re changing out the Mexican lager. Goodbye Dos Equis Lager, hello Pacifico. I actually have no problem with that at all. Pacifico is an excellent beer. Trouble is, now all the trainees will have to be re-trained. Last night they learned that a “Ryburn” is a Dos Equis Lager with extra limes. Now it will be a Pacifico with extra limes.
The Grizzlies play the Clippers at 3:30 this afternoon in Los Angeles. Game will be on ESPN and I’ve got to figure out where to watch it. Options:
1) Home: No. Boring.
2) AutoZone Park: The official Grizzlies watch party should be a lot of fun, and I bet the game will look amazing on their new video board. Downsides: There will be a lot of kids there, and beer prices will be the most expensive of any of the options. I wonder if BBQ nachos will be on sale? That would be a huge plus.
3) Flying Saucer: Probably the place that’s best set up for game watching in the Downtown core. 7 TVs, two of them big screens, and I assume they’ll put sound on. I wonder if that keg of Pacifico that’s going in will land on the Fire Sale board? If so, that would just about sway me in the Saucer’s direction. Downside: Music Fest weekend is the third biggest Amateur Night of the year (after New Year’s Eve and St. Pat’s) and a lot of the amateurs will go to the Saucer.
4) Blind Bear: I have a history of watching games there, and $2.50 PBR is very tempting indeed. I missed a day there for the first time in three weeks yesterday, which will not help my quest to regain the mayorship. If not the game, I absolutely must get in there sometime today. Downside: Less opportunity for people watching than the other bars.
5) Hooters: Fuck no.
6) Silly Goose, assuming Dusty opens early: A good option, but the temptation to go out on the patio would be awfully distracting from the game.
7) Max’s Sports Bar: The best place in all of Downtown to watch games, but a little far to walk given everything else that’s going on.
I’ll figure it out this afternoon. It looks like it will come down to option 2, 3, or 4.
Stuff going on, if you’re not going to Music Fest: It’s Cinco de Mayo, which means Rio Loco will have specials. Great place to hang out on the 5th of May.
(By the way, next year I’m not checking Facebook or Twitter at all on May 4. That “May the Fourth be with you” stuff got old real fast. That pun is as played out as “Mustang Sally” is on Beale Street.)
The Majestic Grille has a calzone special today that sounds delicious: Ham, salami, sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan with spicy tomato sauce. Their patio is another prime spot for Music Fest people watching – I ranked it as the best Downtown for years, until Bluefin got couches and the Goose got an awning. It’s still a very close number three though.
If you want to hear live music without going to the festival, check out the outlaw country performed by the RT Scott Band at Double J SmokeHouse and Saloon from 9 to 1 tonight. Double J has liquor now, so hollar and swallar!
I forgot to snap a pic of the Goose’s patio, so I used a pic of a goose who hangs out by our pond at work. Here’s a typical agenda for a day in the life of this goose:
1) First I’m going to look over here.
2) Then I’m going to look over there.
3) Then I’m going to look over there.
4) Then I’m going to look over there.
5) Then I’m going to look over here.
6) Then I’m going to look over there.
7) Then I’m going to crap on the grass.
8) Then I’m going to look over there.
9) Then I’m going to look over there.
10) Then I’m going to look over there.
11) Then I’m going to look over here.
12) Then I’m going to look over there.
13) Then I’m going to look over here.
14) Then I’m going to look over there.
15) Then I’m going to look over there.
16) Then I’m going to eat some strands of the grass that I crapped on.
17) Then I’m going to look over here.
18) Then I’m going to look over there.
(Is there a WordPress plugin that prevents turning the number 8 and a parenthesis into a smiley?)
All right, it’s after 11, bars are open now, time to hit Publish and get outside. My agenda for the day, other than watching the game:
1) First I’m going to look at a tube top.
2) Then I’m going to look at another tube top.
3) Then I’m going to look at a black T-shirt with a pocket while hearing lame excuses.
4) Then I’m going to look at another tube top.
5) Then I’m going to look at another tube top.
Should be a glorious day. Time to get started!