Month: December 2022

In case you missed yesterday’s post, my friends Randy and Theresa went to Australia this month and brought me back a jar of Vegemite, a savory spread.

A lot of us have heard of Vegemite but have never tried it. So I’m gonna bring the jar to Bardog breakfast this morning, where there’s toast, and we’ll have ourselves a tasting.

Most people have told me Vegemite is disgusting, but my friend Clay commented “it is SO good.” Then again, he likes pineapple on pizza, so I take his culinary opinions with a grain of salt.

Hanukkah begins today. Cheers to the Nuh-Uh Girl and all my other Jewish friends.

Other than that, no news to report. Over and out.

If you live in the Downtown core, you’re probably aware of The Giant Hole that’s been dug on Monroe between Front and Main for the past few months. See, what happened was, my part of Downtown has the oldest sewer infrastructure in Memphis, dating back to the 1800s. On October 1, a water main broke and flooded nearby businesses. Brinkley Plaza was closed for weeks, as was Flight restaurant. Every day since the water main break, about a dozen workers have been out on Monroe repairing the damage.

By last week, they were almost done. Bogie’s Deli and Flight had reopened, and a dump truck had dropped off a huge pile of gravel to fill in The Giant Hole. Monroe Avenue, closed for two months, looked on track to open to traffic by Christmas.

Then, on Friday, a piece of construction equipment dropped a 4000-pound plate.

Guess what it hit.

Yep, the water main.

D’oh!

Needless to say, the completion date for The Giant Hole project has been moved back by weeks.

I’m meeting my friend Butt Slut #1 (more about her later in this post) at Bardog for brunch today and I’ll see if there are any updates about the hole. If there are, I’ll have an update tomorrow.

More from WREG

I got my first Christmas present yesterday! My friends Randy & Theresa recently went to Australia for a Billy Joel concert and brought me back a gift bag.

I’ve heard about Vegemite for years and have always been curious to try it. It’s a spread made from leftover brewers’ yeast and other additives. Really, people have told me it’s kinda gross, but I want to find out for myself. I think I’ll take it to Bardog breakfast on Monday and order a piece of toast to spread it on. I’ll let Allie Cat try it too, if she wants.

R & T also brought me some crocodile jerky. Later in the day, I told the bartender at Blind Bear about my gift bag. “I don’t think I’d eat crocodile,” she said.

“Why not?” I replied. “They’d eat us.”

Aldo in the bag: a box of Haigh’s Australian chocolates, a Melbourne T-shirt, and a bottle of Deep Eddy vodka (not Australian). Thank you R & T for my gift bag and for being such wonderful friends. Excited about spending Christmas with you out in Eads.

A date for the celebration of life for our friend Nate has been set for early January. If you knew him, hit me up on social media or email me (paul@paulryburn.com) for the deets.

The Memphis Tigers beat Texas A&M 83-79 yesterday. 2 wins over 3 SEC opponents in a week is not bad. Memphis belongs in the Top 25. Next up: At home against Alabama State on Wednesday.

Ja Morant was ejected last night in a Grizzlies loss to OKC:

This is the entire Morant episode so you can see for yourself. This is madness. pic.twitter.com/kye0DluWEn

— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) December 18, 2022

Good news though – New Orleans and Denver lost their most recent showdowns, leaving the Grizz atop the Western Conference by 1 game.

Blind Bear has two additions to its menu:

• $10 meatball sub
• $10 fried bologna sandwich

Van Duren debuts at South Main Sounds on January 20.

Today is National Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day.

Snow is in the forecast for Thursday.

Today is the final day for Ballet Memphis presents The Nutcracker at the Orpheum.

There’s a Holiday Jam concert at the Cannon Center tonight featuring Johnny Gill and Stokely.

A woman has been charged in a bizarre scheme in which she allegedly tried to claim ownership of an Uptown homeless shelter.

WREG spotlighted 6 new restaurants in Memphis, 4 of which are Downtown: Penny’s Nitty Gritty, Cocozza, 350 Baked, and Quintessential Sweets.

A woman reported a “terrifying” robbery attempt around 1 AM last Sunday at Front and Huling.

Odds Atelier, a clothing store on South Main, was robbed Wednesday.

For the benefit of my male readers, it’s time to update the list about my goofy but adorable friend:

KEYS TO WINNING BUTT SLUT #1’S HEART (or maybe her butt? IDK)

• Feed her soup. She likes lentil soup in particular
• Watch soccer with her. But remember, guys, it’s a fútbol match on a pitch, not a soccer game on a field.
• Make her potatoes with Boursin cheese
• Watch the Dallas Cowboys with her (UGH the Cowgirls)
• Know the difference between jelly and jam

I just opened that bag of crocodile jerky. It is so good!

Getting this blog back on track following a bad mid-month. Back tomorrow probably.

Check out these beautiful NBA standings from ESPN.com.

Grizzlies on national TV alert: They host Milwaukee tonight at 7, the game being broadcast on NBAtv.

If you’re attending the game in person, be one of the first 10,000 there and you’ll score a free Grizzlies rally flag.

Bad news for the Memphis Tigers basketball program: Malcolm Dandridge will be out for at least a week or two with an ankle sprain.

Baby it’s cold outside: Highs in the 40s for the next week with the extended forecast looking extremely cold.

It’s National Cupcake Day.

Short post. Still not feeling very ucey (if you watch WWE, you get it). Back tomorrow.

Jaren Jackson Jr. got 8 blocks as the Grizzlies defeated the Atlanta Hawks last night. The win improves Memphis’ record to 18-9 and they remain second in the Western Conference, 0.5 games behind New Orleans.

Tonight, however, our basketball attention turns to the Memphis Tigers. They hit the road to face 4 Alabama in a huge game. It’ll be on ESPN2 at 8 PM.

The Tigers just missed the top 25 in the latest AP poll. A win against Bama and they’re surely in.

Pam from River Time Market & Deli posted that she now has fudge for sale. It’s about a 1.5-pound pan for $20. Choose from chocolate, strawberry, peanut butter, and butterscotch. (901) 482-0460 to order.

Max’s Sports Bar has announced holiday hours:

• Christmas Eve: 11 AM-7 PM
• Christmas Day: 4:30 PM-12 AM
• December 28: 4 PM-12 AM
• New Year’s Eve: 11 AM-3 AM
• New Year’s Day: 11 AM-12 AM

Random thing I learned yesterday: Hello Fresh has Buddy the Elf meal kits. Spaghetti with maple syrup.

I haven’t verified this, but I heard the Saucer has a Yuengling chocolate stout that tastes like a Hershey bar.

Janet Jackson is coming to FedExForum on April 29.

Today is Ice Cream Day, a weird holiday to celebrate in December. I recommend treating yo’ self to some Margie’s 901 in Pembroke Square.

New moonshine flavor at Blind Bear: cookies & cream.

From WREG: 1 dead, 1 injured after a fight occurred in the Edge District

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow.

 

How about those Memphis Tigers!!! They dominated 11 Auburn yesterday, winning 82-73. Kendric Davis lived up to all his pre-season hype, dropping 27 points.

The win improves Memphis to 8-2 and I suspect the Tigers will be ranked in this week’s AP poll. If I had to guess I’d put them at 22. If the season ended today, I’d put them at a 6 seed in the tournament.

Memphis’ work is far from done, though. The Tigers have a chance to pick up an even more impressive win at 8 Alabama on Tuesday. Bama knocked off 1-ranked Houston yesterday.

The Hospitality Hub’s recent Tree of Faith, Hope, and Love event provided the homeless with lunch and backpacks filled with treats and cold-weather essentials.

There’s a Streetdog Foundation fundraiser at Loflin Yard today.

The CA has a sneak peek of IBIS, the new restaurant opening in the former Pontotoc Lounge space.

The CA also has a sneak peek of Cocozza, the new Harbor Town restaurant featuring red sauce Italian favorites.

That’s it for now. Hopefully by the end of the week, I’ll return to my normal cheerful self and this blog will be better.

The Blind Bear sweater & onesie party has been moved from today to next Saturday. 7-11 PM. Cocktail specials, prizes.

Congratulations to Maciel’s, recently named one of the top 100 taco spots in America.

The South Main Association will hold its holiday party this Tuesday at 158 Vance. Free for members, $20 for non-members. Live music, food, cocktails.

Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s Magic of Memphis is at the Cannon Center tonight.

The Grizzlies defeated the Detroit Pistons 114-103 last night. At 17-9, the win moves Memphis up to 2nd place in the Western Conference, 0.5 games behind New Orleans. Next up: Hosting Atlanta on Monday. That game will be on NBAtv.

Today is National Lager Day. May I recommend the PBR?

Memphis Tigers assistant coach Larry Brown is stepping down due to health concerns.

Speaking of the Tigers, they have a big game today. They travel to Atlanta to play Auburn in a Holiday Hoopsgiving game. It’ll be televised on ESPN2 at 4 PM. This is a big chance to get a neutral-site win over a Top 15-ranked SEC team.

All right, y’all, that’s all I have the energy to type this morning. I’ll admit I’m not in a great place mentally right now. I’m bummed out by the unexpected loss of my friend. I’m bummed out that apparently dozens of people who work for an industrial company are going to converge on my favorite Saturday morning bar for a holiday party right at 11 AM, packing it to the gills and sending me elsewhere. I’m sick of walking in this fucking rain.

Things will get better.

I doubt today’s blog post will be much good. I am not in the mood to type it. We lost a loved member of our Downtown family this week.

My last memory of Nate was Monday evening at the Blind Bear when a One Direction song came on. Diet Red Bull and vodka in hand, he sang every damn word of that song.

Wednesday night at Blind Bear karaoke, I saw an opportunity to get my two absolute favorite people to mess with on a stage together. “Allison is here,” I texted him. “She heard about your One Direction performance and she wants to sing a duet with you.”

He didn’t respond. I figured he was asleep. There’s a reason we call him Nappin’ Ass Nate.

By Thursday morning, though, I still hadn’t gotten a response. “That’s unlike him,” I thought. I expected at least an F-you from him. I went to Bardog and learned other people hadn’t heard from him in a couple of days either. By lunchtime at Local on Main, the concern level had grown to the point that the Blind Bear staff sent the police to his place to do a welfare check. Thirty minutes later, there was not a dry eye in the house.

Shit, dog. I’m gonna miss you. No matter how packed it gets, the Bear will seem empty without you.

Cocozza, the red-sauce Italian restaurant that is a sister restaurant to the Majestic Grille, is now open in Harbor Town. Hours are 4 to 9 Monday-Saturday. They have a full bar and will get beer later this month.

It’s Adoptable Pet Night at the Grizzlies. They play the Detroit Pistons at 7 and the first 5000 fans through the gate will get a 2023 Player Pet Calendar.

Politics news: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona has left the Democratic Party. She is now an independent. She says she will continue to vote as she always has and will not caucus with the Republicans.

It’s National Llama Day.

I don’t feel like typing anymore. Back tomorrow or maybe Sunday.

Rainbow Kitten Surprise plays the Orpheum tonight at 8.

A new restaurant will open in the former LYFE Kitchen space in the Chisca next month. It will be operated by Chef Jimmy Gentry, formerly the chef at P. O. Press in Collierville.

Jackson State is departing the Southern Heritage Classic to focus on in-conference matters, but game organizers found a very strong replacement: the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Ja put up a triple-double as the Grizzlies beat OKC last night, 121-110. Memphis is now 16-9 and 0.5 games out of first in the West.

Bad news for the Grizz, though: Desmond Bane will be out another 3-4 weeks with a toe injury.

That’s it. Kind of a short post today. Back tomorrow.

I’m borrowing this post’s title from the A. A. Milne book in which Winnie-the-Pooh’s best friend Christopher Robin turns six years old.

Why?

Because someone who is beloved by readers of this blog turns 6 today.

PERJORIE T. ROLL!

Six years ago, I bought a little foil packet about the size of a pack of trading cards at the Walgreens on Church Road. I brought it back to the office, carefully cut it open, and the troll fell out. She’s been my companion at the Downtown bars ever since.

I asked her what she wanted to do today, and she said she wanted to go to Bardog and Local on Main and Blind Bear. That sounds like a lot of bars in one day, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for my six-year-old.

I can’t decide what to think of this weather. It’s gonna be warm for the next 7 days, which I like because I prefer to wear shorts. However, Friday is the only day with a 0% rain chance. I hate walking down the Main Street Mall in the rain.

Then again, there is an advantage to the rain: It tends to be just us Downtowners at the neighborhood bars. People from other parts of town are a lot less willing to come down here if they’re going to get soaked walking from their car to their destination.

Maz’s Sports Bar is having a Fire Water Fire Sale right now. You can get 20% off the listed price while helping them clear out existing inventory to make way for new:

• Belle Meade Cask Strength – 12
• Belle Meade Maderia – 14
• Belle Meade Sour Mash – 9
• Bernheim – 10
• Bowman Small Batch – 10
• Bowman Single Barrel – 11
• Bulleit Bourbon – 10
• Crown Vanilla – 8.25
• Dickel 12 – 8.25
• Huling Station – 10
• Michter’s American – 10
• Michter’s Small Batch – 10
• Riverset Rye – 10

Scotch:

• Bowmore 12 Year – 11
• Buchanan 12 Year – 9
• Glenglassaugh Evolution – 13
• Talisker 10 Year – 12
• Talisker Storm – 9

The Daily Meal recently ranked fried chicken chains. Coming in at number one was Memphis’ very own Gus’s.

Christina Easterday, Ariel Reign, and Deanna Dixon play South Main Sounds this Friday.

On Saturday, you’re invited to a South Main Holiday Sing-Along at South Main Sounds.

The Memphis Tigers improved to 7-2 with a win over Little Rock last night. Three SEC teams are next up for the Tigers: 11 Auburn (home), 8 Alabama (road), and Texas A&M (home).

In a subscribers-only article in the DM, John Martin speculates that Memphis football might get former head coach Justin Fuente back. He’s available and wants to coach again. Fuente led the Tigers to a conference championship in 2014 before leaving for Virginia Tech the next year. Memphis went 6-6 under current HC Ryan Silverfield in 2022, which is not the record fans and boosters have come to expect over the past decade.

Today is the 81st anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

WREG reports that Hyundais, Kias, and Fin Fins are the top auto brands stolen in Memphis this year. Auto theft is up more than 100%.

The GFC Wings at Good Fortune Co. and the Fried Chicken Biscuit at Kinfolk @ Comeback Coffee made CA writer Jennifer Chandler’s list of must-try Memphis eats for 2022.

End of an era: Boeing produced its last 747 this week

THANK YOU, GEORGIA: Rev. Raphael Warnock defeated Herschel Walker in that state’s Senate runoff yesterday. That gives Democrats a 51-49 edge in the Senate, which means they don’t have to kowtow as much to the whims of Joe Manchin, a DINO (Democrat In Name Only) Senator from good ole West Virginny.

The Trump Org was found guilty of criminal tax fraud yesterday, although the Trumpster himself wasn’t charged. Nevertheless, his 2024 opponents will surely use this against him.

Time to get Perjorie’s big celebration started. Back tomorrow.