Cornhole tournament coming up in June plus more Friday news

The first annual Main Street cornhole tournament will happen Saturday, June 13 from 6 to 10 PM. It will benefit the Life is Good Kids Foundation and will be held outside the Life is Good store on the Main Street Mall. Music by Look Left Entertainment. Teams have until June 1 to register.

Next time you walk down the Main Street Mall, notice the new lights that have been installed. It’s part of the Main-to-Main project.

Have you tried the recently-returned Goldcrest 51 beer? It’s on tap at Bardog now.

New live music joint Tin Roof is on Twitter if you want to give them a follow.

Here’s a story on the great work St. Patrick’s does feeding those in need. They feed not only the homeless, but those who have a place to live but not enough money to eat. The 38126 zip code just east of Downtown is one of the poorest in the country.

Hungry Memphis gave Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl in Bass Pro at the Pyramid a try.

Last night a few of the BBQ team members had dranks at the Silly Goose. The team vice-president, the head cook, and “Mr. Load-in” were there. We were discussing how well the team did this year. Having core members of the team take over the cooking was a great decision. We’ve always been known as a party team (and have no plans to change that) but we now see ourselves as an up-and-coming team in the kitchen. I was SO EXCITED to hear the team leaders talk about entering some regional BBQ competitions to get practice, They also talked about sending some people to judging school, to find out exactly what the judges look for. I have wanted us to do those kinds of things for YEARS. The Moody Ques are going to roll into 2016 stronger than ever!

Weird weekend. Many of the gang I hang out with are on their way out of town for a canoe trip. I’m going to be by myself for the most part, so maybe I’ll change things up a bit. Perhaps I will hop a Lyft to Midtown and check out the Overton Square 45th anniversary party or Roundhouse Revival tomorrow. We shall see. My plans for tonight are undecided as of yet, but believe me, I will be out.

Tube Top Month: I have made my decision

Early Monday I posted a “Should I keep Tube Top Month for 2015, or kill it?” post. I have since taken it down because I felt it was too personal, too deep a gaze into my soul, although it was a fantastic piece of writing. In the day and a half it was up, I got many responses.

Oddly, the majority of those responses were neither “keep it” or “kill it.” Most responses were along the lines of, “I think you should do whatever YOU feel in your heart is right, and by the way I really enjoy your writing.” A few of them said, “I not only enjoy your writing, but I also enjoy you as a person apart from your blog.” Thank you. Those words meant a lot to me.

Of those who picked a side, there were more on the side of “keep it” than there were “kill it.” That made me happy. I am proud of the fact that I invented Tube Top Month, and kept it going 10 years.

However, this year I’m just not feelin’ it. One of my favorite marketing authors, Scott Stratten, once said, “If you can’t publish AWESOME content, don’t publish any content at all. It’s better to be silent than to be boring.” I just don’t feel like I could do an awesome job with Tube Top Month this year, especially in its expanded 40+ day format. I need to be in a certain kind of mood to rock a concept like Tube Top Month for that long, and this year my mood is just not there.

Sorry, guys. I’m not saying it’s gone forever. I may bring it back in 2016.

But for now,

R.I.P.

Tube Top Month

2005-2014

Thursday news

The All-NBA first team has been announced, and look who’s on it: Stephen Curry, James Harden, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol. CONGRATULATIONS MARC!!!!! Gasol is no longer in the shadow of other centers who tend to draw more attention, such as Dwight Howard and Boogie Cousins.

Bruce V from the Memphis Flyer has a very interesting editorial column: Third Street is not the street we should name for B.B. King; Riverside Drive is. “If Memphis is going to have a B.B. King Boulevard, let’s do it up right.”

Speaking of B.B. King, plans have been made for a final tribute to him on Beale Street. It will happen Wednesday, May 27. From 11 AM to 12:30 PM there will be a musical tribute to B.B. in Handy Park. At 12:45 there will be a processional on Beale, beginning at Second and going east on Beale then turning right on Third.

The Molly Ringwalds headline the Peabody rooftop party tonight. Admission is $10 and includes a Creole buffet. Doors at 6, ladies free until 7.

Help a Downtown business win some small business grant money: Go here to vote for Downtown Candle Company.

Dr. Herman Green’s 85th birthday party is Sunday night at Blues City Cafe. Dr. Green has performed on Beale Street since the 1940s and currently performs with FreeWorld.

Tin Roof on Beale, a new live music joint, is officially open as of today.

That’s the news for today. I’ll be out at the usual spots after work.

Thank goodness for Gloria Gaynor

Last night I stopped by the Flying Saucer around 9:30. There is trivia there on Tuesdays at 7:30 and 10. Graham who runs the event was running short on people to play the late game, so he asked me to do him a favor and join the late game as a team of one. I haven’t played trivia at the Saucer since 2012, but I figured, why not? After all, I won as a team of one back in 2005, and that win led me to invite two of my neighbors, the beginning of the legendary Rapscallions team that is probably the all-time money leader at the Saucer. Let’s see how I did:


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After question 15 (of 30, three rounds of 10) I saw no need to continue. There were a ton of movie questions and that is my weak subject.

Congratulations to Memphis Grizzlies forward Tony Allen, who has earned a place on the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the third time in his career.

There will be an International Ceviche Competition at Cafe Keough Sunday, June 7. Celebrity chefs from all over the city will compete to see who can create the best ceviche, a raw fish dish prepared with lemon or lime and spiced peppers. Having lived in San Diego where it was served at damn near every restaurant, I can tell you it is GOOD if you have never tried it. Admission is $15 and along with ceviche sampling, you get live music and drink specials. Part of the proceeds benefit Church Health Center.

There was a media sampling of Capriccio’s new modern Southern comfort lunch menu yesterday. That’s comfort food inspired by the South, not food made with the alcoholic beverage Southern Comfort, although that would be a good menu too. I didn’t make it to the tasting due to my job in Horn Lake, but Holly did and she has lots of good photos.

I worked from home this afternoon, so I am out a bit early today. Time for a PBR!

Tuesday news

Short post today. If there’s news to report, I haven’t seen it.

If anyone is looking for a job, MLGW tweeted that ABC Trimming is hiring. $13.60 an hour, no experience needed.

If you want to play “Are you smarter than a 5th grader?”, you can Wednesday night at Tamp & Tap at 7 and Thursday night at Green Beetle at 8. Trivia hosted by Kevin Cerrito.

WREG has a story about the cleanup after BBQ Fest.

Kinky Boots kicks off at the Orpheum tonight at 7:30.

If the weather stays nice, I’m kind of in the mood for a walk to South Main, so I think I will lead off at Max’s Sports Bar this evening. Will probably get there a few minutes before 6 if anyone wants to join.

A few thank-yous and a Monday update

Before I begin what little news we have, a few thank-yous:

First of all, I don’t know why I never think to say this every year, but thank you to Memphis in May. Your employees, volunteers, and ambassadors make it possible for me to have my spring break on the river every year. I could go a lot of places for my vacation, but no place beats BBQ Fest. I truly appreciate all that you do.

Secondly, thank you to my team leaders Moody, Clay, Win, Frank and Brent, as well as our cookteam, and Travis from Holliday Flowers. Thanks to you I have a home on the river and I appreciate your hard work. The team was well-fed and happy. Great year.

Also, to those of you who have responded to my “Should we keep Tube Top Month?” post, thank you. You have given me some very nice comments, and a couple of people have told me that it is amazing that I can do a crazy, wild BBQ Fest post full of drunk pics, and then come back 18 hours later and write such a thoughtful and introspective post. I am still completely undecided on whether it will stay or it will go.

Oh by the way, my A/C will be out for a couple more days, so who knows, there might be a post early tomorrow morning too.

The final Memphis in May event, Sunset Symphony, is this Saturday, May 23. For those of you who are new to the city, you can bring blankets and coolers and enjoy your own food and beverages, or buy from vendors. There is live music all day long, closing with a Symphony performance along with fireworks. Great event to attend with friends, great event to bring the family, great event to go on a date. By far the most laid-back of the three big Memphis in May events. It is also the last year for Sunset Symphony, which will be replaced with another event next year. Read the FAQ for a list of items you can and cannot bring in.

A movement is underway to rename Third Street to B.B. King Boulevard. Third would be renamed from Chelsea to the Mississippi state line, much like Bellevue was renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard back in the 1980s.

Bella Cafe is opening a second location Downtown. That’s the restaurant in the Pink Palace.

Nice Daily News article about Quench, the wine, cheese and flower shop coming to Downtown.

Home from work. Not too bad a Monday other than the A/C news and stepping in goose droppings. Time for a beer in an air-conditioned bar.

BBQ Fest 2/3: Friday and Saturday

Sorry, I was just too exhausted to do a post yesterday.

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Sea bass, our entry in the seafood ancillary.

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Brisket

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:mrgreen:

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I tried to kiss Randi a few seconds after this photo was taken. That didn’t go very well.

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Our second-place Best Booth trophy.

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Flip cup on the judging table

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Larry and Linda

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Here are the winners. I don’t yet know how my team finished but I should find out today.

Sad to see Squeal Street BBQ didn’t make the top 3. We joke around with those guys a lot but they are very much our sibling team and we want them to do well. They have taught us a lot over the years.

About 8 last night I walked out of the booth and headed north to meet my friends at Silly Goose. As I walked past the rib teams, I spotted a brunette who I have a bit of a crush on. She was doing stuff on her phone so I didn’t stop and chat, but I looked around and thought to myself, “She has a really awesome group of friends. I wish I knew them.”

As I walked past more rib booths, I thought, “There’s really no more reliable way to gauge how awesome a person is than by looking at who their friends are.”

Then I got out my phone and pulled up this photo, taken by one of my teammates right after judging:

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And I smiled. These are the people I have the privilege to hang out with on a regular basis. Every last one of these people is awesome.

I guess I must be pretty awesome too.

This has been BBQ Fest 2015.

BBQ Fest Day 1: Thursday

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The first public day of BBQ Fest 2015 is now in the history books. We got second in Best Booth. Our original design was cost-prohibitive so we had to scale back a bit. Still a great year though.

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It just wouldn’t be BBQ Fest without an Uncle Ray pic.

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Seamus from the Majestic Grille stopped by to pay us a visit

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Sad to hear of the passing of B.B. King. His music influenced so many. He will be missed.

Also sad to hear of the passing of one of our local bar poker players, Bobby McGregor. It was a pleasure sitting with you at the table sir.

All right. Time for more shenanigans.

BBQ Fest Day 0: Friends & Family Night 2015

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Y’all, BBQ Fest has nearly killed me and we haven’t even begun the part that is open to the public. This is going to be a long week.

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Number 10 Main reunion: Mary Ann and Peter and the Nuh-Uh Girl

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Sausage

P1060166Media coverage. Team vice-president Clay on the news.

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Every girl’s crazy ’bout a sharp dressed man

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The Jello shots have started to kick in

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Poland, the Memphis in May honored country for 2015

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The booth

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Uncle Paul

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Next time Squeal Street claims there’s nothing to eat in our booth, show them this photo.

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Mike from Squeal Street came over to see what a 2014 BBQ Fest trophy looks like

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The Moody Ques are a vegetarian-friendly team

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Chaddy Chad behind the bar

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Gary

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Stevie G and Mike from Squeal Street stopped by for some Moody Ques award-winning microwave popcorn and fashion advice from John D

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I’m not the only one on the team with a nickname. Meet “Mr. Inappropriate”

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This is what it’s all about.

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We streamed the Grizzlies game. Nikki was really excited.

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Sonya and Antara

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Head cook Frank prepping the ‘que for today’s lunch

That’ll do it for this post. Full album (242 photos) here. It was, shall we say, an interesting walk to the Blind Bear after the park closed. Thanks to my teammate Misty for babysitting me.

Pre-gaming at the Saucer at 11, Tom Lee Park at 12.

Lunch at Rizzo’s and an afternoon with “Mr. Load-in”

“Paul, you have nearly broken your back constructing this tent,” came the text from BBQ team president Moody to “Mr. Load-in” at 10:24 yesterday morning. “I demand that you take the morning off. That is an order.”

Left with nothing to do, I decided to go visit one of my favorite chefs, Michael Patrick, at his new place Rizzo’s Diner at Main and Butler. I grabbed a seat at the bar and started off with the cheeseburger soup.


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Before I even sat in my chair, the manager looked at me and said, “The special.” That was all that needed to be said. It was a shrimp cake with a choice of three sides.

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That’s the “before” picture. Here is the “after” picture:

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Check Rizzo’s out if you haven’t already. I hear they have an incredible brunch on the weekends. “Like” them on Facebook here.

Coming back to the Downtown core, I saw this on Second across the street from the Saucer:

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That must have been an uneven walk home.

Some of you have asked, “Paul, I know your title on the BBQ team is ‘Mr. Load-in’ but what does that mean? What exactly do you do for the team?” Here’s a look.

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All right. Time to hit Publish and get down to the park. I know the blog has kinda sucked this week but it will turn around tomorrow.