Month: July 2016

Three weeks ago, the Silly Goose started opening for lunch and serving lunch 11 AM to 3 PM. They have six sandwiches to choose from: Club, Italian, Grilled Cheese Platter, Stuffed Portobello, Silly Philly, and Pastrami. Normally the sandwiches are $9 each. However, on Fridays they slash the price to $5. So, if you’ve been thinking about trying one, today would be a good day!

Back at lunchtime with more news probably.

Hot! Hot! Hot! is the theme at the Memphis Farmers Market Saturday. Actually, it seems to be the theme every Saturday, seeing as how lots of hot women come there to shop for fresh produce. The UT Extension of Agriculture will conduct demos at 10, 10:30, and 11, where you will learn how to make a Tri-Pepper Salad. From 10 to noon, kids can participate in a craft shop sponsored by Dixon Gallery and Gardens, where they can learn how to make their own paper popsicles. Live music by Kris Acklen 8:30 to 10 and Adam Levin 11 to 12:30. Streetdog Foundation will be there from 8 to noon for adoption. The Farmers Market happens under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson every Saturday from 7 AM to 1 PM.

The Market’s vendor chitchat this week is with Rebecca Bruewer from Farm House Barkery. Did you know you can buy dog treats at the Farmers Market? You can. Unfortunately the story has a sad start – Bruewer’s dog died six years ago due to kidney complications from a bad dog treat. She decided her dogs would never eat store-bought treats again, and started producing her own. Can’t make it to the Market on Saturdays? You can buy her treats Downtown at Life is Good.

Happy Bastille Day everyone, YOGA! I have news of not one, but two, upcoming yoga events. First of all, MyHQ Sunset Yoga #4 will happen at Front and Jefferson in Memphis Park starting at 6:30 PM Wednesday, July 20. This is a free session led by Jocelyn from Downtown Yoga, followed by a free wine tasting. Bring a picnic basket to go along with your wine if you want. Follow @DowntownMemphis for weather updates in case of weather cancellation of this outdoor event. Bring your own mat if you have one, but extras will be available.

On Tuesday, July 26 at 6:45 PM, Downtown Yoga will present Candlelight Flow and Meditation at its studio on South Main. The website didn’t say, but I am assuming this is a paid event, not free. This will be a deeply grounding sunset practice surrounded by candlelight. The session will include breath work and grounding sequences, ending with a meditation. All skill levels are welcome.

Tootsie plays on the big screen tonight as part of the Orpheum’s summer classic movie series. Show time is at 7, but come early (doors open at 6) to take a quiz to see if you’re screen-ready to star in a soap. Drink specials and selfie station too. The classic movie series continues tomorrow afternoon at 2 with Muppet Treasure Island.

Hunting & Fishing Night with the Redbirds is coming up Friday, July 29. Purchase a special ticket and get a Redbirds camo cap. Buy tickets here.

A new 360 degree video and website have been unveiled for the Big River Crossing that will let you walk across the Harahan bridge to Arkansas beginning in October.

Grizzly Bear Blues makes the case that it’s time for D.J. Stephens to find a home in Memphis once again, this time as a member of the Grizzlies roster, following an awesome performance for the team in Summer League.

Pro wrestling fans: Cerrito Live will host Rikishi Saturday. Find out what the big ‘kish has been up to lately. The show is on 87.7 FM/560 AM Saturdays 11 AM-1 PM.

The Live Garden at Memphis Botanic Garden has announced Porktoberfest 2016, a regional BBQ cooking competition that will happen October 7-8. It will be a Memphis Barbecue Network event and there will be a kids’ area, food trucks, restaurants selling pork products, and more.

That’s it for now. Possibly a second post after work before I head out to happy hour at the Silly Goose.

Wiseacre Brewery out on Broad is hosting the next in their series of beer dinners Tuesday, July 9 from 7 to 9 in their taproom, and this sounds like a really neat one. If will be called Afternoon (At Night) Tea. It will explore the connection between two beverages for which the United Kingdom is well known: tea and beer. Learn about the influence the two beverages had on each other, in particular the development of pale ales. The story of how Wiseacre’s newly released Earl Grey Tea Pale Ale came to exist will be told. The tasting will end with afternoon tea at night, with pastries, snacks, and beer. They’re encouraging costumes or classy dress, although reminding folks that the brewery will be hot for the tour session.

One of Memphis’ most popular party bands headlines the Peabody rooftop party this Thursday. WALRUS will perform on the rooftop with special guest Nick Fradiani who is an American Idol winner. $15 at the door, with hotel guests free before 7 and the first 200 ladies free. There’s also a VIP ticket for $75 you can buy that gets you in all the parties for the rest of the season. Admission includes a buffet of Mediterranean chicken skewers, hummus and crackers, and drink specials are guava margaritas and Firefly black lemonade moonshine. If you’re in VIP you get an additional buffet of spanakopita, roasted lamp, tabbouleh, hummus and olives, and you have an additional drink special of pineapple passion punch.

From Mashable: When will Pokemon Go be Pokemon gone? It can’t happen soon enough for me! Just to be a brat, when I checked in at Max’s Sports Bar on Facebook last night, I commented that I don’t play that game but someone told me there was a Pikachu on the back deck.

There’s a new food truck in Memphis called Mahalo Life, serving Polynesian-style food as well as juices and smoothies. Follow the truck at @Mahalolife901 on Twitter to find out where it will be making appearances. The truck will be at the Court Square food truck rodeo tomorrow from 11 AM to 2 PM. If you are in Cooper-Young, catch the truck at the Memphis Made taproom Saturday 2-10 PM.

Holly from I Love Memphis has a report of an upcoming conversion of the Downtown Sleep Inn into an ultra-hip hotel:

Sleep Inn dtown Memphis will be converted into an ultra-hip @MoxyHotels in 2017. We’re touring the NOLA one. Wow. pic.twitter.com/I5OqeVw9oZ

— Holly Whitfield (@ilovememphis) July 13, 2016

Deal for those of you who like to have pool parties: Play beer pong in the pool for under $40

Memphis agency Sullivan Branding has made a big hire: They got the man who was one of the driving forces behind Capital One’s What’s in your wallet? ad campaign.

For now, I wish my readers adieu. I may be back about 5:30 with a second post. Happy hour at the Silly Goose this evening is my plan.

A new wine festival is coming to Memphis! Vintage901 Fest will be a three-day festival of wine, tapas, and music. The organizers sent me complete details to type up and post, but Holly already did it so I’ll just be lazy and link to her post. The dates will be March 10-12, 2017 and there will be a different slate of events each of the three days.

Holly also has a new Memphis mac & cheese guide, in case anyone reading this is a big fan of that dish. Fully five of the ten restaurants listed are Downtown: South of Beale, Bleu, Center for Southern Folklore, Mollie Fontaine, and Lunchbox Eats. Holly, you need to stop by the Moody Ques booth next May for some smok’d Gouda mac & cheese!

Cinco de Beetle is coming up! The Green Beetle is celebrating 5 years of their re-opening with a party on July 22. It will be a Mexican-themed event with a taco bar all day and night, and Andrew Cabigao providing the live music.

Memphis Burger Week starts tomorrow. Downtown restaurants participating include Huey’s, Earnestine & Hazel’s, Tin Roof, Green Beetle, The Dirty Crow Inn, Oshi, and Kooky Canuck. Get a great burger at any of these for only $5. As the Burger Week site says, please be kind to your servers and tip them well, and be tolerant of delays getting seated as these restaurants will be busier than usual.

I see that two restaurants have been added to the Chef Shuttle delivery options for Downtown: The Dirty Crow Inn and the Green Beetle. Very happy to see the Crow on there because I have heard the burgers and wings are excellent, but given where I live it’s just a bit out of the way for me to make it there often. Those of you who work in the Downtown core might want to consider making a group lunch order where everyone gets food and you only pay one Chef Shuttle delivery fee.

Just Around the River Duo featuring Savannah and Kenny Long play the outdoor deck at the Dirty Crow Saturday from 9 to midnight.

Video: D.J. Stephens throws down six huge dunks in Grizzlies Summer League game

There’s a Guest Services Administrator position open at the Belz Museum. It is a part-time position, up to 29 hours a week.

I had fries with sriracha salt from MonkeyTrain Grazing Co., a food truck new to the Memphis Farmers Market, last Saturday. They were very good and they give you a generous amount for $3. I look forward to trying more fare if the truck returns on future Saturdays.

Young Frankenstein is being shown for free on a 24 foot screen tonight at Beale Street Landing. Movie begins at 8:30.

That’s it for now. Off to lunch. I will be out at the Blind Bear for happy hour this evening, possibly after posting a second time today.

I just could not be more proud of our city’s police director today. Last night when a Black Lives Matter protest shut down the I-40 bridge, Interim Police Director Michael Rallings personally led protesters off the bridge – but he linked arms with them as he walked off, and prayed with them. Thank you Director Rallings for handling the matter in such a respectful way. Perhaps it is time to end the national search for a permanent police director and realize we’ve already got the right man for the job.

I also could not be more proud of the protesters themselves. They made their voices heard, but did so in a peaceful manner. They truly conducted themselves as Dr. King would have.

I found a screaming deal at the Memphis Farmers Market on Saturday.

The Girls Inc. booth was selling single sunflowers for 50 cents. I wondered what would happen if I bought one and walked around with it. Sure enough, later in the day I heard people were texting around, asking, “Why does Paul have a sunflower?” For only 50 cents, why wouldn’t I have one?

Is mint out of season or something? Normally when I go to the Market on Saturday morning, I buy mint so Bloom can make mojitos at Bardog. This past Saturday, none of the usual vendors had mint.

The Salty Dogs running group is running to Mud Island tonight. It is free to join and they depart from Bardog at 7. Specials in the Underdog Room following the run.

While on the subject of Bardog, when I was in there Saturday half the people were on their phones playing Pokemon Go. We live in an age where we have the entire knowledge of humankind accessible on a device that fits in our pocket… and we use that device to play Pokemon. Sad.

There’s a planning meeting for an upcoming MEMFix and MEMShop event tonight at Downtown Central BBQ at 6. Hear plans about the event, which will be held in September, and find out how you can be involved.

Cheap beer alert: It’s dollar PBR happy hour today from 4:30 to 7 at Max’s Sports Bar. This special runs every Monday.

Songwriter Night #31 happens at 550 S. Main this Friday from 7 to 9 PM. Larry Raspberry, Adam Levin, Fran Mooney, and Dorothy Guinn will perform.

The Hi Tone on Cleveland will host an evening of burlesque, comedy, music and magic Saturday night JustLarry’s Paradise will take you on a raunchy and risque road trip. Among the performers is burlesque dancer Kitty Wompas who will be shaving her head for the kids of St. Jude at the Bardog alley party next month.

Back to work for now… planning on leading off at Blind Bear for happy hour.

This morning I find myself thinking about the difference between when women plan parties and when men plan parties. When women plan parties, there has to be a theme. Like everyone has to dress like a character in a James Bond movie, or wear all black, or dress like they are going to a Hawaiian luau. There are glow sticks. There are party hats, and God help you if you don’t put one on, no matter how much of a don’t-wear-hats person you are.

Last night I went to a party planned by a man. There was Gus’s chicken. There was Aldo’s pizza. There was more beer than I had ever seen in my life.

Men are the best party planners.

 

The occasion was our friend Boo’s 60th birthday. Boo is pictured above in her big purple sunglasses, with party planner and husband Gary standing next to her.

Lots of good people came out to South Main to celebrate Boo’s big day.

Memphis restaurant royalty, right here. Chef Michael Patrick of Rizzo’s and Tawanda and Cordell Pirtle from Jack Pirtle’s Fried Chicken.

Gary’s selection of pizza from Aldo’s illustrates why men are better party planners. No foo-foo toppings like pineapple or eggplant. Nope, he went with crowd-pleasers like a pizza topped with sausage, pepperoni, and Aldo’s grandma’s famous meatballs. There was the Memphis, a pizza topped with Central BBQ , BBQ sauce, and cole slaw. I don’t know if any vegetarians were invited to the party, but if they were, Gary made sure they were taken care of, with a white pizza with four cheeses including ricotta.

Normally at parties like this, I will stick to the pizzas with meat on them, so that I don’t take away food options from those who don’t eat meat. However, there didn’t seem to be any vegetarians there, and there was a lot of extra white pizza. So I had some! Man, that was good!

The piece de resistance of the evening, however, was not pizza; it was a cake created by the superbly talented MK.

MK’s special talent is that she can bake a cake that looks like any object imaginable – but it’s all cake. Boo makes pottery and sells it at the Memphis Farmers Market on Saturdays. So MK made her a cake that looked like a pottery wheel. MK is one half of Two Girls and a Whip, a new bakery that will be opening at Front and Huling. Give them a shout if you need a custom cake for a special occasion.

MK’s cake wasn’t just any cake: it was a tiramisu cake. I love tiramisu! So yummy.

Happy birthday Boo, and thank you so much for inviting me. It was a wonderful Saturday evening with friends that just couldn’t have been much better. Folks, if you weren’t there, you missed out on a good time!

All right. I only have one news item at the moment, so I guess I will hold it until Monday. D-RANKS with B-RAD at the Blind Bear is my first stop at 11. I may venture back to South Main later in the day.

A new restaurant opens its doors in the Downtown core next week. Tuscany Italian Eatery will open Monday at 116 South Front. That is across the street from AutoZone. That will be a handy lunch location for the folks in the red/gray and black but everyone else keep it in mind as well; they will be open for dinner too.

A new exhibit featuring original works of art inspired by 46 of the greatest album covers of all time will soon be on display at the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. Inspiration came from Aerosmith, Bee Gees, Black Oak Arkansas, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Canned Heat, Alice Cooper, Earth, Wind & Fire, Grand Funk Railroad, Iron Butterfly, Jefferson Airplane, Tony Orlando & Dawn, The Rolling Stones, The Turtles, and others. There will be a public talk about the exhibit on Thursday, July 21 at the museum. Curated by Grammy-nominated designer Ernie Cefalu, the work includes original paintings, calligraphy, pen-and-ink drawings, and pencil.

Bluefin closed its side bar a couple of months ago and moved its bar back to the main front entrance. If you were wondering what they had planned for the side space, wonder no more.

The side bar is open for the day serving nonalcoholic beverages, coffee, smoothies, and breakfast and lunch items. I know that the owners of both Bluefin and Silly Goose are well-connected to the New York scene. Is this the latest thing up there? Swanky restaurants and bars opening during the day for lunch?

Life is Good is now selling Life Is Good, the book – “How to Live with Purpose and Enjoy the Ride.” It was written by the founders of the company. My readers who are building businesses at Start Co. might want to take a break and walk a block south to pick up some inspiration at LiG.

The South Side Supper Club has announced that they will be the featured entertainment at the next Tacos & Tunes on Felicia Suzanne’s patio, Thursday, July 14. This event happens every Thursday during the patio weather months and features $2 tacos and $5 margaritas.

Anyone else think a reality show starring Jon Jones and Johnny Manziel as roommates would make for some damn entertaining TV?

Rain may be in the forecast but I am on my way to the Memphis Farmers Market to spread a little sunshine! I am hungry and am interested to see what food truck they recruited to take the tandoori truck’s place. After that it’ll be Bardog time for business as usual on a Saturday. If I pick up any good news tidbits while I’m out I will post ’em later today or tomorrow.

I’ll start off this post with a linky link for those who love fresh produce as much as I do, a link from the Cleveland Clinic that was shared by the Memphis Church Health Center: Five vegetables that don’t deserve all the hype they get. Neither the article author nor I are saying these are bad, per se, it’s just that they’re not as incredible as people make them out to be. There are two on the list with which I particularly agree. Whether a “superfood” or not, kale tastes awful to many people, and it’s hard to mix with other ingredients. Mixing in or substituting a variety of greens will make meals tastier and provide more minerals.

Another overhyped item on the list is not a vegetable, but an activity. You can’t go anywhere these days without hearing about “juicing.” The trouble is, when you juice vegetables, you lose all the extra benefits of the fiber and nutrients in their skins, which are eliminated in the process. Cooking veggies in a way that retains the skins is healthier. On a side note: I wonder if people who juice shart more than those who do not? I bet they do. For those not familiar with the word, a “shart” is what happens when you attempt to let out a fart, but in addition to intestinal gas a little “something extra” accidentally comes out.

The secret to replacing these overhyped vegetables and techniques, the article says, is variety. And there is no better way to vary your veggies than a shopping trip to the Memphis Farmers Market! MFM offers you the Berry Best is the theme at the Market this week. The Market is bursting with blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries for you to enjoy. The South Main Association will have a booth on hand from 9 to noon, where you can learn how the SMA works to promote and preserve this historic neighborhood. Live music by Steve Pittman 8:30-10:00 and MFM Music Director Mark Parsell will have a “surprise” musical guest 11:00-12:30. Real Good Dog Rescue will be there for adoptions 8 AM to noon. The Market happens every Saturday under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson every Saturday from 7 AM to 1 PM.

There will be a Prince tribute tonight at the Cadre Building, Second at Monroe, starting at 8:30 PM. Tickets are $50-250 and proceeds benefit local school music programs and youth empowerment nonprofit programs. There will be live musicians, celebrity appearances, and food.

Meanwhile, another music legend will be celebrated at the New Daisy tonight. Larry Springfield, Angie Holmes, Cassie Bonner, Shea Norman and Johnathan Richmond along with David Mason, Jason Clark and a talented group of musicians called the “Suga Daddies” will perform Stevie Wonder’s classics. DJ Len will spin soul classics as well. Doors at 8, music begins around 8:30. Food and full bar available. Tickets are $20-120.

Job news: The Memphis Airport is hiring a Manager of Operations and a couple of other positions too.

The Grizzlies have photos from Summer League practice. First game is this afternoon at 5:30.

Looking for an activity that involves drinking local craft beer? Memphis Made Brewing Co. on South Cooper hosts Cerrito Bingo tonight (and every Friday night) from 8 to 10.

That’s it for now. Be sure to scroll back and read this morning’s post. Plans for tonight to be determined at this point, but I plan for sure to be at the Farmers Market in the morning around 10.

I have not yet made it to 99 Cent Soul Food Express at 414 South Main, but many of my friends have, and they have said the food is delicious and very reasonably priced, and the service outstanding. I found their menu on Facebook and here are a couple of links: Page 1 – Entrees Page 2 – Desserts Glad to see this new place make it, and I must get down there myself sometime soon. I want some neck bones!

If you need a reason to go down to 99 Cent Soul Food Express, I will give you one. The July South Main Association meeting happens at the restaurant Tuesday, July 12 with social at 6:00 and a presentation at 6:30. The speaker will be Will Nash, owner of the soul food restaurant, who fulfilled a lifelong dream to open an eatery on South Main providing affordable and delicious soul food at an attractive price. Soulful bites will be provided by the restaurant, beverages by SMA. The event is free for SMA members and $10 for non-members.

The Grizzlies are having a plaza party today outside FedExForum. There will be food trucks, inflatables, and giveaways from 11 to 1, and then a major announcement at 1 PM. The announcement is expected to be the signing of forward Chandler Parsons. “Be the first to secure your jersey of the newest member of the Grizzlies,” the team tweeted.

Big, big, big night at AutoZone Park tomorrow, Saturday, July 9. It’s Christmas in July and all kinds of activities will be happening. First 1500 in the gate get a Redbirds holiday scarf, you know, to help keep you warm while you watch the game. There will be an appearance by Santa along with Christmas-themed music, graphics, and activities throughout the game. After the game, there will be fireworks and game-worn Christmas-themed Redbirds jerseys will be auctioned off. There is a special ticket ($18 field box, $21 dugout) that includes a special Redbirds Nutcracker as a giveaway. Game is versus the Round Rock Express and the first pitch is 6:35 PM, but come early; there will be a Block Party on the plaza prior to the game, with live music and select beers $2. If the Redbirds score six runs, you’ll receive a 50% off Papa John’s coupon to order online the next day.

One of my favorite authors, Joe Navarro, has released an app. Navarro was a top FBI agent over a period of 25 years. Since retiring, he has written books about body language. His books not only cover clues to guilt or innocence, to lying or the truth, but he has teamed up with top poker players to write about “tells” at the poker table. Now he has released an app that will help you spot psychopaths including a 50-question checklist.

Jeremy Stanfill and Josh Cosby play the outdoor deck at The Dirty Crow Inn tomorrow night, Saturday, July 9, from 9 to midnight.

There’s a soccer watch party tomorrow at noon at the Brass Door as the US Women’s Team takes on South Africa in a warm-up match for the Olympics. It’s hosted by the American Outlaws. They invite everyone to come meet the new bar manager at the Brass Door, Tara Bolton, a 3-tour military vet.

That’s the news for this Friday morning. Still waiting for Farmers Market info to come in. Hopefully it will and there will be another post at lunchtime.

Rizzo’s Dinner kicks off a series of monthly beer and wine dinners this month on Tuesday, July 19 from 7 to 9 PM. The Ghost River beer dinner will see Chef Michael Patrick team up with Brew Master Cory York to explore which foods and which beer styles pair up best. $50 for 4 courses.

Job news: A friend of mine who manages restaurants at the airport is expanding and is in need of 2 bartenders and 6 servers. Hours are far better than most of the bars Downtown (no getting out of there at 4 in the morning) and the tips are better than what you might expect. He is a great person to work for and goes out of his way to take care of the people who work hard for him. If interested hit me up at paul@paulryburn.com and I will make the introduction for you.

You’ve got $1 night only, 1 night only… the New Daisy wants to introduce 901 locals to its Saturday night Daisyland dance series. So for one night only, this Saturday, July 9, it will be 901 Night at Daisyland with $1 cover, $1 beers, and $1 specialty cocktails. DJ Kaz will spin in the Big Star room upstairs, and on the main stage will be residents JJ Wilson and Tree 10-2, and a late night set with Shallow starting at 2 AM.

Fleet Feet Sports Pub Run Series is hosting a run departing from the Brass Door Tuesday, July 12 at 6 PM. It will be an evening of running and socializing, starting with a 3 mile run downtown and followed by a drink or two.

Grocery stores can sell wine effective July 1, but in less than six months, stores other than liquor stores will be able to sell high-gravity beers. Currently non-liquor stores are limited to selling beers 6.25% ABV and less. As the co-owner of one of the local breweries said, this will be a game-changer.

Cirque du Soleil comes to FedExForum this weekend. Show times are 7:30 Friday, 4:00 and 7:30 Saturday, and 1:30 and 5:00 Sunday (all times PM).

The Silly Goose is having another “We Luv House” Sunday day dance party starting at 2 PM Sunday, July 17. It may be your last chance to hear DJ Cody Rogers and DJ CRUMBZ play together, so come on out. By the way, Cody will be spinning tunes and playing videos tonight at the Goose post-Peabody party.

Sen. Bob Corker has withdrawn from consideration as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate. Corker said he is more policy-oriented than political, and the VP candidacy is highly political. He is willing to serve as an informal advisor to Trump.

Loflin Yard kicks off its live music weekend tonight with a Southern Avenue CD release party 6 to 9. Tomorrow Le Tumulte Noir plays 6-9 and Star & Micey 9-midnight. Lightnin Malcom takes the stage 4-7 Saturday, and Tennessee Ripple 4-7 Sunday.

Urban Innovation Exchange highlights innovator Tommy Pacello, president of the Memphis Medical District Collaborative. He wants to turn the Medical Center District into a vital lynchpin between Downtown and Midtown.

Elvis Week is coming up August 10-16, and events have been announced for the week to remember Elvis Presley on the 39th anniversary of his death.

That’s all for now. Still waiting for this weekend’s Farmers Market info to come in, so that will have to wait for later. I’ll be out at the Silly Goose after work, possibly posting again before I go.