Month: March 2016

Yesterday I posted a tweet from the @MemphisScanner account, which tweets funny things heard on the Memphis police scanner. The tweet said that a woman was chasing a man with a broom in the Peabody Place parking garage and would not let him leave.

Well, it turns out that I knew one of the people involved in the incident. A friend of mine for over 10 years contacted me and said it was the other way around, that a man was chasing a woman with a broom in the 110 Peabody garage and would not let her leave – and she was the woman. She said the man assaulted her in the garage and then trapped her, terrifying her. When the police arrived, one of the first questions they asked her was “What did you do to provoke him?” In general, I am a huge fan of MPD but that was just REALLY, REALLY BAD. One of the worst things people can do to a victim of an assault is make her feel like it must have been her fault somehow. Although this is the first time I have ever heard of an incident in that garage, I would remind my readers to be careful and to be aware of your surroundings.

Memphis has been named one of the worst cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The St. Patrick’s Day parade on Beale (happening this Saturday) is always a lot of fun, but the 17th itself tends to turn into Amateur Night at the bars Downtown. I will probably go to the Erin Go Braghless party at Bardog that evening – partly because Bardog attracts fewer douchebags than other bars, and partly because the idea of women taking their bras off appeals to me.

The Rusty Pieces perform at the Green Beetle Saturday from 7 to 10 PM.

The Harbor Town River Music Series dates for this spring have been announced. The series happens in the Harbor Town Amphitheater and the dates are April 23, May 14, and May 28.

The Mollie Fontaine Lounge is now non-smoking. Excellent decision that was praised by many on Facebook following the announcement. Permitting smoking in public places is so 20th century.

Have kids who love the Redbirds? Sign them up to be part of Rockey’s kids club for 2016 for $15. Club members get a ticket to every Sunday home game, as well as 5 Boardwalk tokens. They get a chance to be “kid announcer of the game,” they get to lead the running of the bases after games, and more perks. There are ticket packages available for Mom and Dad as well.

Bleu has announced a new Downtown Social Hour from 11 AM to 6 PM with $3 bottles of select craft beers from Yazoo, Blue Pants, and more.

Working from home today, and I have been surfing Downtown lunch menus to try and figure out where to eat today… sad to hear that Bon Ton Cafe has ceased day-to-day restaurant operations and is now operating as an event space and catering company only.

The Tennessee Stiffs perform at the High Cotton Brewery at 4 PM this Sunday. There is no cover and all ages are welcome. The Hot Mess Burritos food truck will be there, and the patio is dog-friendly.

That’s it for now… everyone being real careful driving home.

 

Last night was Diamond Dave’s birthday and he sent me a Facebook invite to his party. Dave calls British Bingo around town and Wednesday was not only his party at the Brass Door, but bingo night as well.

(By the way: Apologies for the crappy image quality of this post. My image editing software is messing up this morning and I don’t have time to find the fix.)

It was raining cats and dogs to the point that I took the rare step of bringing an umbrella with me. Normally I hate umbrellas. Anyway, I led off at happy hour at the Silly Goose, and there were maybe 8 people in there, and I would call that a good crowd given conditions outside. About 6:45 I got ready to walk to the Brass Door. “Poor Dave,” I thought. “I bet hardly anyone is going to show up for his birthday party.”

Was I ever wrong! Every table was occupied, and every bar stool was taken. The only reason I got a bar stool was because the DJ got up to do his gig and offered me his seat. A packed house, despite miserable weather, and during the time of year (January 1 through St. Patrick’s) when Downtown bars are at their slowest. Last night was the first time I had been in the Brass Door in about 16 months. Now, I know some of the people were there to see Dave, but looking at that crowd, the Brass Door is clearly doing something to attract folks for happy hour!

Not long after I got there, Seamus made a presentation. He said there is one thing Diamond Dave has always wanted:

… And now that guitar was Dave’s birthday present. The crowed clapped and cheered “SPEECH!” but Dave was a man of few words.

At 7:30 Dave began calling bingo. British bingo works a little bit differently than bingo in the United States. Here’s a look at the card:

You’ll notice that each number 1 through 90 appears on the card exactly once, in one of six colored boxes. Each colored box is a separate game. You have to get a “full house,” in other words every number in the box you are currently playing, before anyone else does to win.

Once the game starts, it goes fast! Dave calls a new number once every six seconds! Fortunately there is a video board where you can keep up with what was called:

Dave has sayings that go with each number. 22 is “two little ducks.” 62 is “tickety-boo.” 66 is “clickety-click.” 4 is “knock on the door.” 11 is “legs eleven.” 90, the highest number, is “top of the shop,” with 89 being “nearly there” and 45 being “halfway there.” The crowd plays along with some of the numbers, quacking twice for “two little ducks” for example and knocking on the bar for 4. This is a lot of fun and if you are looking for a reason to get out of the house and drink a few beers, I recommend it. There are Brass Door gift certificates for the winner of each game.

Seamus, the managing partner of the Brass Door, and I did a Jameson together. He then took me over to the other side, the former Mad Earl, and shared with me some of his vision for that space and the block of Madison his bar is on. He really wants the Brass Door to be a true public house (from which the abbreviation “pub” is derived), where the customers feel like it is their place, that they have a stake in it. He suggested that we meet once a week so that he can give me and my readers updates, and I agreed that was a good idea. So I guess the Brass Door will be seeing more of me!

As for the worry that I wouldn’t know a soul there, I knew a couple of people sitting at the bar. I also knew one of the servers. As I left and walked down Madison, a friend of mine texted that she wanted to say hello but was trapped by other people inside one of the booths.

I drank Memphis Made Fireside Ninja. That is a delicious beer.

I am glad I re-discovered the Brass Door. Very comfortable place. I will be back. Happy birthday Diamond Dave, and thanks for giving me a reason to be re-introduced to this fine Downtown public house.

Back with a news post at lunch or after work.

Yesterday after work, I caught up with my friend Chicken Fried Steak Rodger at happy hour. Rodger is a Texan and he recently returned from a trip there. He checked in on Facebook at the Dallas Cowboys store, which he described as “Mecca.”

Rodger asked about a comment I left on his checkin. “You asked me to pick you up a 4-12 shirt. I don’t get it. What’s 4-12?”

“You know how teams make T-shirts with their season record on them,” I replied. “4-12 was the Cowboys’ record last season.”

Rodger doesn’t like me anymore.

Feathers Spa at the Peabody has started a new promotion called Feathered Friends targeting those in zip codes 38103 and 38104. Just bring an ID or business card showing you work in one of those zip codes, and you will be given a card indicating you are a Feathered Friend. Friends get

• 25% off all spa services, Sunday-Thursday
• Complimentary use of sauna rooms
• Special salon and spa product promotions
• Free self-parking

Also, I have been told that there are still a few spots open for tomorrow’s wine dinner at the Peabody. Here’s the menu. 901-529-4000 to make reservations.

In other Peabody news, rooftop party season begins April 14, and the schedule will be announced next Thursday, March 17.

So, this happened:

Woman chasing a man with a broom in the Peabody Place Garage. Refusing to let him leave.

— Memphis Scanner (@ScannerMemphis) March 9, 2016

I hated to hear about the fire at Saigon Le in Crosstown yesterday. Thank goodness no one was injured, but the Vietnamese restaurant was called a total loss. This is the second time Saigon Le has burned down, suffering a previous fire in 1995. I have enjoyed it the few times I have eaten there. Several of my Facebook friends said, “NOOOOOOO!” when the news was reported.

Tonight is Hockey Night at Kooky Canuck with $6 poutine, 50 cent wings, $4 Labatt Blue 34 oz. draft. It happens every Wednesday during hockey season.

A new book about Memphis wrestling, 1978: Building the Legend, is now on sale at Amazon. In 1977, Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler started a new wrestling promotion in Memphis, shutting out promoter Nick Gulas who had presented events in Memphis for years. In 1978, the new promotion needed to prove it had staying power. Every weekly card of the year is in the book, along with the major storylines that drove Memphis wrestling in 1978.

Local brewery news: Wiseacre brewery out on Broad Avenue will present Gotta Get Up to Get Down on Saturday, March 19. That’s already the name of Wiseacre’s coffee beer, but now it is also the name of a “Run, Yoga, Beer” event. It will start at 10:30 in the morning with a 3-mile run. At 11:30 yoga ambassador Amy Morse will lead participants through a flow, then after that it will be time for some Wiseacre beer. Except for the running and yoga parts, this sounds like an event I would really enjoy.

From the Memphis Flyer: Redbirds GM Craig Unger on the recent sale of a majority share of the Redbirds

Rising artist Fred X has reached an agreement to provide upscale entertainment for The Lookout restaurant in Bass Pro.

Congrats to Bernie Sanders on upsetting Hillary in Michigan last night, even though no poll in the state prior to the primary showed him ahead. Feel the Bern! What an upset.

Plans for tonight: I’ll make a quick stop at Silly Goose happy hour to say hello to Jessica, then over to Diamond Dave’s birthday at the Brass Door. It’s been 14 months since I posted my summary of how to play British Bingo; I have gained new readers since, so perhaps it’s time to take some photos and post another one. Working from home today, so it’s time for a quick trip to Court House Deli for lunch.

Before we get started with the news, a note for my Moody Ques teammates: Complete details are now set for the team MEAT & Greet Saturday, March 19. It will be at the Holliday Flowers warehouse at 444 Monroe, with drinks at 4:30 PM and dinner at 6:00. We will have shoulders and ribs. Please email moodyques@gmail.com and RSVP if you plan on attending.

The St. Louis Cardinals have sold a majority interest in the Memphis Redbirds to Peter B. Freund, the principal owner of Trinity Baseball Holdings. Mr. Freund has an excellent track record of developing minor league ballparks, and says he has fallen in love with Memphis and plans to ensure that AutoZone Park remains the premier ballpark in Triple-A baseball.

While we are speaking of AutoZone Park, there is yet ANOTHER event happening on Saturday, April 16: Memphis Brewfest. This is a beer festival in the ballpark’s concourse and there will be a lot of beers not normally available in this market. If I remember correctly, the Cadillac of beers, PBR, had a booth too. I have been to this in previous years and have really enjoyed it, but given all else that is happening, it is unlikely I will be there this year.

The Peabody is hosting a Castello Monaci Winemaker Dinner in Capriccio Grill this Thursday, March 10. Brand ambassador Luigi Seracca Guerrieri will host. Menu here. $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. 901-529-4000 to make reservations.

Choose901 has 30 pet-friendly places in Memphis. Many of these places are Downtown. It’s not on the list but I know for a fact that the Blind Bear’s patio is dog-friendly. (If you see me in person, ask me how I know that)

Interesting article about the history of our city: Memphis Burning

Working from home today. I will be out after work, probably leading off at Blind Bear.

Central BBQ is well known for its ribs, its BBQ nachos, its pulled pork. However, if you never stray away from pig, you are missing out. Yesterday I had a full order of Central’s dry rub wings. In my opinion they are the best wings in the city. You get 6 whole wings, carrots, and your choice of ranch or blue cheese for $9.99. Messy and they are whole wings so you have to pull them apart, but worth it.

*Sigh* I feel like a giant douchebag. I spent all weekend blogging about Downtown Olympics on April 16, typing I WILL BE THERE ALL DAY in all capital letters. I wrote a follow-up post about how the Memphis Flyer’s bacon & bourbon fest will be the same day immediately following DTO, and what a shitshow that will be. Unfortunately in all my blogging the past few days, I overlooked an important fact about April 16 – two of my good friends get MARRIED that day. That completely slipped my mind. J and R, I am truly sorry, and my last few posts were not intended to be insulting toward you in any way.

Yesterday I witnessed an elderly couple require the assistance of three people to get out of a parallel parking spot because a maroon car had parked behind their SUV, six inches from their bumper. The maroon car was parked illegally – no part of it was in front of the No Parking sign. The police were called and a ticket was written. The car’s owner saw me take a photo of the ticket on the windshield, and came out and moved it. Then she walked to a nearby business and used a key to open the door and get in. I am not going to call out the business by name because I appreciate what you bring to Downtown, but be a good neighbor. You could have had access to legal parking, that wouldn’t have inconvenienced anyone, not far away at all.

Exciting news for Beale Street: Jerry Lawler is buying Flynn’s Bar and Grill at 159 Beale and turning it into a wrestling-themed bar. There is perhaps no city in the world that lives and breathes wrestling more than Memphis, and I am happy to see it being celebrated in the city’s #1 tourist district.

Yesterday I pinged Diamond Dave at the Brass Door to find out what Downtown’s Irish pub is doing for St. Patrick’s Day. He’s gathering details for me, but in the meantime, he had some additional news: He invited me to his birthday party this coming Wednesday, March 9, at the Brass Door! There will be drink specials all night, including $4 house wine and $4 Fireball. There will be a live DJ, and of course British Bingo called by Dave will happen as usual at 7:30. Dave, I plan on being there! I have played Dave’s bingo before, but never at the Brass Door, and I am looking forward to it. By the way, this is a public party, so even if you don’t know Dave feel free to come have a good time (and meet him).

The Salty Dogs running group does a run to Mud Island tonight at 7. It’s free to participate, and all are welcome. The gathering point is Bardog, which will have specials for runners in the Underdog Room post-run.

Night at the Lorraine benefiting the National Civil Rights Museum happens Saturday, June 4 from 7 to 11. Come experience the history of the Lorraine Motel, which hosted notable guests including B.B. King, Nat King Cole, “Count” Basie, Isaac Hayes and Booker T. & the MG’s, Satchel Page and Jackie Robinson. There will be food by Memphis restaurants, cocktails, beer, wine, live music featuring ’60s hits, a silent auction, signature gifts, and more.

I am sad to hear of the passing of Alabama pottery maker Jerry Brown, a fixture at the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival for many years.

A Grizzlies fan won an Audi A3 after making a half-court shot at yesterday’s game.

Business as usual for me this evening: I will lead off at Melissa Monday at Bardog about 5:30, then over to Blind Bear about 7. Back after work or tomorrow with more news.

Parking scam alert: There is a scam going on at the lots around Fourth and Gayoso. Customers pay the electronic meter and type in their license number to indicate which car the payment is for. That part is legit. However, they come back to find a boot on their car, and an “attendant” wanting money to take it off. The couple who reported the scam asked, “Why did we have to punch in our license number then?” and the scammer got in his truck and pulled away. However, I am sure many tourists pay, because they don’t want to be hassled or because they feel intimidated.

To me, this sounds like it could be the work of a person called Jumper Cable Guy who runs automotive-related scams, mostly in Downtown and Midtown but who has been seen in East Memphis too. If anyone has encountered this “boot” scammer, hit me up at paul@paulryburn.com and I will email you a photo of Jumper Cable Guy. I would love to confirm whether or not this is him.

I have a request from one of my readers who asked me, “What’s happening at the Brass Door for St. Patrick’s?” For those who don’t know, the Brass Door is Downtown’s Irish pub, located on Madison between Second and Third. They usually do it up big for St. Pat’s, but as of yet I have no idea what their plans are. Pinging Diamond Dave: Hit me up at the email address above or on Facebook and share any details you would like me to post.

You know, I don’t mention the Brass Door on here much, and I don’t want my readers to get the impression I have anything against the place. It’s a great pub, with the best fries (chips) Downtown and a really good vibe. It’s just that I can’t get the crew I run with to go there, because they view it slightly too far to walk from The Center of the Universe AKA the Silly Goose. Also, the Brass Door doesn’t give the gift of lung cancer, which is inconvenient for some of my crew. I remember the first week Brass Door was open, when I commended Seamus for his decision to go nonsmoking. “Well, Paul, it’s an Irish pub, yes, but I see this bar as a modern Irish pub,” Seamus told me. But anyway, the Brass Door is a fabulous place and I recommend it. The only reason I don’t go there much is because it’s one of the few bars Downtown where I wonder if I will know even one person there if I go.

If you’re an Elton John fan, impersonator Jerred Price will perform as “Almost Elton John” tonight at the Hard Rock at 9.

High Ground news continues their run of excellent articles with one on envisioning a creative district. They want to create a district where creative types of all ages can live and work, and they see that district running from Riverside to Second, and Madison to Gayoso. Hey, I live in that district! And I’m a creative type (seriously, can you name one other blogger who has written a rap song about chicken fried steak?) I’m part of the movement! Let me know if this blog can help spread the word.

Cognac, Cars and Cigars happens today 5-9 PM on the rooftop of the 200 S. Second garage. This is a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish, and it’s all-inclusive with samplings from cognac makers and a premium cigar from BeLeaf Cigars. Attendees will be able to check out some of the hottest cars on the market, including the personal cars of NBA players. You get great food (I would tell you which restaurants are sponsoring but I get a “server error in / application” when I click on the Restaurants link), live music, and a souvenir glass. Tickets are $100 with 15% net tickets benefiting Make-A-Wish.

This just popped up as a memory on Facebook and I thought I would share:

These moais were part of the 2009 Ques Brothers booth design honoring Chile. That was a special year because it was the first year Brent and his staff at Holliday Flowers built our booth. We took third place that year. If you need your event or wedding reception to look beautiful, talk to Brent and his team. You should have seen the interior of our booth; he turned a mud pit into what looked like a swanky Miami nightclub.

It was also special because it was the last year the teams that became The Moody Ques and Squeal Street BBQ  were united under the Ques Brothers banner. I am so excited that our sibling team moves into the shoulder division this year. I hope we have booths near each other. Due to the long walk, I did not get to spend as much time in the Squeal Street booth as I wanted last year; I think I did not make it over there at all 2 of the 4 days (counting Friends & Family Night). I look forward to spending a lot of time in Squeal Street’s booth this year, and of course you know I like to leave thank-you notes with pictures of Andrew Jackson for the hospitality.

One of the best comedians in America, Brian Regan, performs at the Orpheum tonight at 8. His stand-up work has been praised by greats like Jerry Seinfeld and David Letterman.

There are some food service positions open at the VA. These are part-time positions, 15 hours a week with your choice of 2 shift schedules, paying $11.64-$13.58 an hour.

High Ground News has an article about the Old Dominick Distillery that will open later this year on Front Street near Gus’s. They are reaching to the past to make artisanal spirits.

The CA’s food writer recently visited Sabor Caribe, the restaurant that opened in the former Arepa and Salsa location in The Edge. The menu is said to be much the same, and the cachapa is still on the menu. For the 90% of my readers (and me) wondering “WTF is cachapa?”, Wikipedia to the rescue. They have a more extensive selection of arepas than the old menu, and there is a Cuban sandwich, a mixed grill, and several burgers.

From FiveThirtyEight: What happens when you eat like The Rock for a month. The People’s Champion, the Great One, the Brahma Bull consumes over 5000 calories a day in the form of seven meals as well as snacks, if you smeeeeeeellllllll-la-la-la-la what the Rock. is cooking. (eyebrow)

Saturday! As usual, I will lead off with my “DAWG” John D. I want to get his feedback on what I need to do Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of BBQ Fest. As the team’s Director of PR, I need to make sure key people get the information about the Moody Ques that they need. I have identified the following key people: Bloom and Teryn, morning bartenders at Bardog; and Mary, Lacey, and Stacey, happy hour bartenders at Blind Bear. I want to present that list to John D and see if he agrees. He will probably tell me to go the extra mile and work the Sunday before BBQ Fest as well, to make sure B-RAD at the Blind Bear is well informed. Anyway, after I consult with John D, my schedule is open until a birthday party tonight at the Goose. A trip to Maciel’s for lunch is a possibility. The weather is getting nice and I am gonna go enjoy a beautiful day!

I had a relatively new Memphian talk to me yesterday, and he told me that he really liked my post about Downtown Olympics, happening Saturday, April 16. He said, “Paul, I know April is a busy month Downtown, with a lot of outdoor festivals and events. Give me the inside scoop, man. Which ones will YOU be going to?” Okay, in addition to the aforementioned Downtown Olympics, here are some events in April that I plan to attend.

– The day after Downtown Olympics is Rajun Cajun Crawfish Fest benefiting Porter-Leath. In addition to crawfish, you can purchase boiled shrimp, traditional carnival fare (funnel cakes, snow cones, stuff like that) and food from several food trucks. The festival is on Riverside and Wagner Place between Union and Beale. Live zydeco music, crawfish races, bobbing for crawfish. A lot of fun and if the weather is right, the tube top watching can be excellent.

– The Southern Hot Wing Festival is Saturday, April 23 on Riverside Drive between Jefferson and Monroe. Teams compete to see who has the best wings. I have not been to this one the past couple of years, but plan on going in 2016 because I know more teams competing. I think my friends on Squeal Street BBQ told me they were entering this year. The wing fest is sponsored by my friends at Jack Pirtle’s. There will be live music and a hot wing eating contest. You can sample wings from the cook teams for a donation to Ronald McDonald House.

(Note to my BBQ team: My attendance at Hot Wing Fest means I will NOT be at the Southaven regional that weekend. I need someone to take photos and send them to me)

– The Beale Street Wine Race, or as I call it Debauchery Day, is Sunday, April 24. Teams from local restaurants and bars compete in an opening parade, Queen of the Vine, a grape stomp, and a relay race where the runners carry a tray of wine bottles. The event starts at 1 PM and you want to get there early, because the Queen of the Vine pageant is truly a sight to behold. If you aren’t driving, go to Wet Willie’s and get a Call-a-Cab before the pageant begins.

– This isn’t a festival, but since I was asked about outdoor events I will mention this: Downtown Memphis has one of the best farmers markets in the country, the Memphis Farmers Market, at the corner of Front and G.E. Patterson. Once market season begins on April 2, MFM happens every Saturday from 7 AM to 1 PM. What makes this market one of the best is that there is so much more than fresh produce: Live music, food trucks, dog adoptions, health fair presentations, cooking demos, meat vendors, bread vendors, salsa vendors, pre-prepared food vendors, crafts. Schedule and weather permitting, I like to go down there 9:45-10ish and stay until I have to be at Panda Time/Brunch with Bloom at Bardog at 11. Where Rajun Cajun is known for great tube top watching, the Farmers Market is known for great yoga pants watching.

– Another outdoor event that happens in April, as well as the other 11 months of the year, is South Main Trolley Night. The shops and galleries of South Main stay open the last Friday of every month from 6 to 9 PM, or really “6 PM until the musicians go home.” Live music up and down Main Street, art shows, and more. Excellent chance to meet your neighbors and mingle with them. In particular check out South Main Songwriter Night at 550 S. Main when you go. Some of Memphis’ best talent performs there, and it’s free to attend.

Moody Ques news: I have added a 2016 team member list to the team website sidebar (or footer if you’re on mobile). We have some awesome people on our team and a member list is something I have been wanting to do for a while. Team president Clay asked me yesterday, “Some of the people who were team members in 2015 are not listed, can you find a subtle reason to explain why?” Sure, I’m on it. I hope this conveys the right degree of subtlety:

WE WANT YOUR MONEY

If you haven’t paid your 2016 dues yet, pay them and I will add your name to the 2016 team member list. I will try to get you added within 24-72 hours.

On to the news… The Mersey Beatles play the Halloran Centre tonight. This is the most widely-known Beatles tribute band, with several costume changes, covering the Beatles’ entire catalog. In addition, John Lennon’s sister Julia will be there.

107 S. Main has a new owner. Allan Long has sold the blighted building on an otherwise bustling block of Main. This is great news. A mural is being commissioned to cover up the facade of that eyesore in the short term, and the building will be redeveloped in 1-2 years.

Wondering why the I-40 “M” bridge is dark at night? Electrical short.

The Grizzlies host the Utah Jazz tonight at 7, and they will host their first ever Go Green Game this Sunday, March 6. Prior to the game, from 1 to 3 fans can visit interactive stations around the lobby and get eco-friendly tips. They will be able to take photos with cutouts of their favorite Grizzlies and have them printed out immediately. The following Saturday, the Grizzlies will participate in a tree-planting event at Shelby Farms and fans are invited to join.

Five days after the Go Green Game, the Grizzlies have a big giveaway. Next Friday, March 11, the Grizzlies host the New Orleans Pelicans at 7 PM. It’s Wrestling Night and the first 3000 fans through the door get a Grizzlies Luchador Mask. I wonder if Jerry Lawler will show up and piledrive someone. If I remember correctly, they brought in “Nature Boy” Ric Flair for a previous wrestling night. WHOOOOOOOO!

Grizzlies center Chris “Birdman” Andersen has a new nickname: “Grizzilla.” Sache is making T-shirts.

Google searches for “Move to Canada” are up 350 percent since Donald Trump had a big showing on Super Tuesday. There’s a viral photo going around of Donald Trump Jr. holding the trunk of a dismembered elephant. It’s the perfect metaphor for the GOP right now.

Given Trump’s skin color and the fact that he’s a Republican in name only, should we color states he wins in November orange, rather than red?

That’s it for this long, newsy post. I will probably lead off at happy hour with Mary at the Blind Bear 5:30ish then figure out the rest of the evening from there.

A quick Moody Ques BBQ team update before I get to the Thursday news: We have confirmed a location for our March 19 MEAT & Greet team mixer and meeting. It will be at the Holliday Flowers warehouse at 444 Monroe. Time to be announced. We are asking for a nominal donation from team members who attend to help offset the cost of the meat. VERY IMPORTANT: Please RSVP to moodyques@gmail.com if you plan on attending so we can get an idea of how much to cook.

This is my second post of the day, and the first post was a big one: I announced the date for Downtown Olympics 2016. Be sure to keep scrolling after the end of this post and read about one of the spring’s most fun events.

Memphis Made Brewing Co. has announced Hopped II, a celebration of hoppy beers, from noon to 9 PM Saturday, April 9. New, old, and limited IPAs will be released throughout the day, and they will have a special bar dedicated to SMASH (Single Malt and Single Hop) beers. First 100 people will get a Hopped II pint glass. Live music by Big Barton (2-5) and Burney Warren (after Big Barton, until 8:30). The Hot Mess Burritos and Food Geek food trucks will be on hand for those who get hungry. The brewery is at 768 South Cooper. I have been there and can assure you it is well worth a 10-minute Lyft, Uber, or cab ride from Downtown.

The Majestic Grille has announced the ninth of its Ten ’til Ten dinner series, leading up to the Majestic’s 10th anniversary later this year. It will be on Tuesday, March 29 at 6 PM and will be called “Not Your Mammy’s Irish Table.” Dishes will include spring lamb, baby potatoes, Dublin Bay prawns, spring dug parsnips, and of course some Irish whiskey. $65 per person with tax and gratuity added. Reservations are required and must be made over the phone; call 901-522-8555 to make them.

Blake Shelton plays the FedExForum tonight at 7.

Meanwhile, over at the Orpheum at 6:30, it’s Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play! The performance will have special conditions to make it comfortable for viewing by kids with autism or other sensory sensitivities.

Important PBR news: I have it from a reliable source that the Arcade will have $10 PBR buckets during Thursday night trivia.

The Downtown Memphis Commission is looking to fill three part-time positions for the Blue Suede Brigade. These Downtown ambassadors walk the streets of Downtown Memphis in blue shirts/jackets and white safari hats, greeting visitors and helping them find their way around our neighborhood.

Paramount has put hundreds of full-length movies on YouTube for free. My friend Rahul posted that link to Facebook yesterday. Sunday my friends B-RAD and Tony and I will discuss “that one time Rahul did something useful” in reference to his posting this link.

The Hard Rock Cafe and Rock Shop is closed for a private event this evening.

Don’t forget to keep scrolling down to read about Downtown Olympics.

A call to artists has been put out to design a temporary mural by the Downtown Memphis Commission and the owner of 107 S. Main. The goal is to improve the appearance of the building, an eyesore on an otherwise vibrant block of Main, for the next couple of years while the owner finalizes a plan to renovate. The artwork must be complete by May 1, 2016, must have a budget of no more than $10,000, and must be able to withstand the elements without maintenance for two years.

Taste of Memphis comes to Central Station Thursday, April 14 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. There will be over 25 food vendors, a wine pull, and a silent auction. The goal is to support Young Life Urban Ministry, to help a group of inner-city teenagers experience a life-changing week at Young Life camp this summer.

Quench will have a free wine tasting this Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. There will be tastings of new wines from California, Oregon, and beyond.

A MATA guard entered a guilty plea in the shoving death at North End Terminal of a 66-year-old man who was saying obscene things to a woman and who was slow getting off the bus. The man landed on his face and died of his injuries two months later.

The Grizzlies host the Sacramento Kings tonight at FedExForum at 7.

Hillary Clinton won Tennessee yesterday. Over the past week I have had a couple of people ask me, “You grew up in Little Rock, and you said you met Hillary one time. I have heard rumors about Hillary that her employees are scared to death of her. Her employees are said to move objects around the office to indicate the mood she’s in, with one of the object positions indicating, ‘Horrible mood, absolutely avoid Hillary at all costs.’ I’m just wondering if you knew people who have worked for her, and if they have told you stories like that?”

If the general election ends up being Hillary vs. Trump, I will vote for Hillary, based on the fact that I think she will appoint Supreme Court justices whose views are in line with my own, and that I don’t perceive her as a danger to the country as I do Trump. But to answer the question, yes. In 1993 I had a math tutoring client. We discovered we were both from Little Rock, and she mentioned she had worked for Hillary. I hate to say it, but she told me a story pretty similar to the one above.

Celtic Woman comes to the Orpheum this Sunday as part of the troupe’s Destiny Tour.

The Memphis Chamber opposes the hotel proposed for N. Front and Jackson in the Pinch. The opposition is not because of the hotel itself, but because the Chamber feels like an overall plan needs to be drawn up for that neighborhood.

From the Daily Beast: What are the most prejudiced places in America, based on tweets?

If you’re a member of the Moody Ques, keep scrolling because I put up a team info post this morning. One additional piece of news that has come in: We have received our acceptance letter from Memphis in May! Also, congratulations to our friends on Squeal Street who are moving up from Patio Porkers this year and joining us in Shoulder. Perhaps we will have booths near each other. That could be very interesting indeed!

Time to hit Publish and get back to work… I imagine I will see some of my fellow Moody Ques tonight at the Silly Goose tonight, and we can celebrate our acceptance with a beer.

Got a couple of pieces of news for my BBQ teammates in this morning’s post. First of all, the “MEAT & greet” team mixer is ON for Saturday, March 19. Our cook team has been to judging school, and has done a practice presentation for three certified BBQ Fest judges and got lots of quality feedback. The cooks are ready to show you what they have learned! They are planning to do a shoulder as well as several racks of ribs using our new process.

As for the location, we are still deciding. One option is to do the team mixer at pitmaster Frank’s house in the Poplar/Highland area (which is not Downtown). Frank has had the smoker this winter and has been doing as many practice cooks as time and weather permitted. (Follow us on Instagram at @moodyquesbbq for photos of the practices.) Another option is to have the meeting at the Holliday Flowers warehouse at 444 Monroe (which is Downtown). We had a cookout/team meeting there last August and it was the popular opinion of the team that it was an excellent space. It has a fenced-in outdoor parking lot so we can mingle outside if we get typical beautiful mid-March weather, and a large lobby to shelter us if we don’t. Now, as Director of Public Relations it is my official stance to be neutral as to which site we pick. I need to fill up some space in this post, however, so here is a portrait of our fifth president, James Monroe.

More filler: Here is a string of completely random numbers I generated: 44444444444444444444444444

IMPORTANT: We need to get an accurate head count so we will know how much meat to buy. If you think you will attend, please email us at moodyques@gmail.com.

Also, we still have a few spots for team membership open. If anyone has read about the team on here and has thought about joining, the meat & greet would be an excellent opportunity to meet the team members. Email the address above or paul@paulryburn.com if you would like to come. Have a look at our 2015 photo gallery for a look at what it is like to be on a team.

In addition, we have some good news to share with you. Royal Oak Charcoal is back on board with us as a partial sponsor. They will provide the charcoal and the wood for the Moody Ques. With the cook team having perfected its methods, quality charcoal and wood is a must, and we cannot thank Royal Oak enough for believing in us and being on board for 2016.

Although Royal Oak has been extremely generous to us, we are on the lookout for additional sponsors for 2016. We are one of the most visible teams in the park, with top three in Best Booth four years running. We’ve always been the best damn party in Tom Lee Park and we’re not changing that this year; however, we have stepped our cooking game way up in the past twelve months and will have some delicious meat to serve our sponsor’s guests. Take a look at our sponsor packet to get an idea of what we have to offer. If you want a printed copy of the sponsor packet, email moodyques@gmail.com and we will get one to you. Any level of sponsorship can be customized to suit your needs, so feel free to talk to us about what your ideal BBQ Fest experience would be.

Back at lunchtime or late afternoon with a news post. Got a few items in the queue already.