After 14 years of watching my neighborhood grow, a milestone I have been expecting has finally happened: The Downtown bar scene has extended to the other side of Crump. The Dirty Crow Inn opened this week, after several months of preparation, at the corner of Crump and Kentucky. It is described as a “5 star dive bar” with eight beers on draft, four TVs, and homemade food. It is open 7 days a week 11 AM to 3 AM, so it’s an option for those who want to post-game Music Fest. I drove past the place on my way to work this morning, and the outside is about as dive bar as it gets.
Thai street food vendor Pranom Pop-Up is at Sache today noon to 9, rain or shine.
If any of my pilot friends are looking to change companies, FedEx is hiring a a corporate pilot.
Another interesting-sounding job opening is for a Geographical Information Specialist at the post office.
Paxton Lynch has been drafted by the Denver Broncos. The Broncos moved up in the draft via trade to get the former Memphis Tigers QB. This seems like a superb fit. Lynch just couldn’t have asked for a better organization where he can reach his full potential.
The Redbirds have announced a couple of special promotions happening in early May. The team will celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Thursday, May 5, with TruGreen Bluff tickets for $12 and Field Box tickets for $15. Holders of these tickets get an all-you-can-eat taco buffet from 6:30 to 8:30 in the left field picnic area, and can purchase $5 margaritas as well. Want tacos but not hungry enough for all-you-can-eat? They will be sold for $2 each at other vendor locations in the park.
All you can eat tacos? Bet the Nuh-Uh Girl wishes she was back in Memphis. By the way, welcome back to her sister the Nuh-Uh Sister, who will be moving back to Memphis in 3 weeks.
AutoZone Park will have a special Mother’s Day package for $89. The package, suitable for a gift to a mother who loves baseball, includes four field box tickets for the Saturday, May 21 game, It also includes four vouchers for King Cotton hot dogs and Cokes. There will be fireworks after the game. In addition, the gift includes a $25 voucher to Seasons 52 restaurant and the opportunity for a pre-game family photo on the field. Only 50 packages will be sold. They can be purchased here.
I had another moment recently where people whispered “Is that Paul who writes the blog?” but were afraid to come over and say hello. Those moments amuse me but the fear of talking to me is unfounded. I remember a Saturday back in September 2009, when Downtown Central BBQ didn’t exist yet so I rode out to the Midtown location with my friends Clay and Lee. As we stood in line to order, there was some whispering in the back of the room and I heard my name once or twice. Finally Clay turned around and shouted, “YES! THAT’S PAUL RYBURN!” It’s amusing because my friends know me as a normal Downtowner who does normal Downtown things. I just happen to write about it. Otherwise, I’m no different from anyone else.
Another story in the same vein… I remember one day back in early 2015, I was at the bar at the Blind Bear. It was the last Saturday shift B-RAD worked before my favorite pair of librarian glasses took over and he switched to Sundays. After I’d been there about an hour and a half, B-RAD came over to me and told me that someone who reads my blog had just left. This reader had been asking about me, Brad said, and wanted to come talk to me but was too shy. I just want my readers to know there are no barriers to having a conversation with me, then or now. Feel free to approach me.
I also want to give my readers an inside tip. A lot of people don’t make it to the Shoulder division at BBQ Fest because it’s the southernmost from the Beale Street entrance. However, the Shoulder division is the best one. Definitely don’t let the distance or any other reason stop you from walking down to Shoulder and visiting the teams you know.
Music Fest goers: City Market has ponchos for sale. That’s the grocery at the northeast corner of Main and Union.
The Schwag: The Grateful Dead Experience plays the New Daisy tonight.
MPD will have officers out directing traffic tonight as far east as Third, as far south as Vance, and as far north as Union. They will let traffic flow freely until the festival ends, then may close streets to direct traffic out of the area (which sounds like to me they want to discourage cruising, which I can agree with). If Front becomes severely congested they may close it going southbound from Jefferson to MLK.
The Daily News has alternate transit information for Music Fest. Given the weather, I bet those bike racks don’t get much use tonight.
A gift package to Memphis and BBQ Fest was given away on The Price Is Right yesterday. Watch it here.
Time to get back to work. I asked to work from home this afternoon so I could get home and parked before the Music Fest crowd got down here. When the rain started moving in, I moved back my departure time from 1 to 10. My trip to South Main tonight looks out of the question, so most likely I will take my own advice about people-watching from the Silly Goose patio for happy hour. Everyone be careful driving home, and have a good weekend.