Wednesday update

I asked Deni (co-owner) about the scheduling of Cocozza’s new Apertivo Hour that I mentioned in yesterday’s post. You can get really yummy Italian bar snacks Monday-Friday from 4 to 6 PM, but here’s the thing – you have to be sitting at the bar.

Sad news to report this morning… Memphis legend Jerry “The King” Lawler has suffered an apparent stroke.

Here’s a transcript of President Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address.

The Blind Bear has announced what it’s doing during the Super Bowl this Sunday:

  • $12.50 domestic beer buckets
  • $3 Fireball shots
  • $3 Miller Lite pints
  • “Crazy” wing specials

Also, don’t forget that Blind Bear is having its annual St. Valentine’s Day Massacre speakeasy party Saturday night. Yesterday I got to try two of the specialty cocktails to be on the drink menu – the Burning Love and the Heartbreak Hotel. If you prefer fruity cocktails that are full of flavor, you’ll like these.

The Grizzlies got back on track with a fine 104-89 win over Chicago last night. Next up: They host Minnesota on Friday.

Out in L.A. last night, LeBron James passed Kareem as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader.

The Tigers play South Florida in Tampa tonight at 6. TV: ESPN+

The Memphis Showboats (USFL) 2023 schedule is out.

Remember how I told you there’s an old man who runs up huge food & drink tabs in restaurants and then can’t pay? He’s still around. He got kicked out of Blind Bear Monday night. Then yesterday I heard he consumed $500 worth of product at a fine-dining restaurant in Midtown. Let’s repeat that description:

  • 5’8″, 140 pounds
  • Black rimmed glasses
  • Balding but gray hair where he has it
  • Always by himself but social/will talk to other bar guests
  • Says he’s 58 but could pass for 68
  • Lower face is oddly shaped a bit, like he forgot to put his dentures in

If this guy comes into your restaurant, ask for a card and pre-auth him.

Memphis Animal Shelter needs newspapers for their kennels. You can drop them off any day between noon and 4. Outside those hours, you can leave them outside the front door. ‘Cause who’s gonna steal newspapers?

Silly Goose will hold a Valentine’s Masquerade Party on the 14th beginning at 9 PM. Drinking games, cocktail specials, live DJ. 2-tops available for reservation.

That’s it, back tomorrow.

Tuesday update

Sorry for no post yesterday. It’s been a slow news week.

Grizzlies host the Chicago Bulls tonight at 7. TV: Bally Sports South

The Brooklyn Nets’ star point guard Kyrie Irving has been traded to the Dallas Mavericks. That’s not good for Memphis because Dallas is in our division. Now we’ll play against Kyrie more often.

OH DEAR GOD… King Willie has joined the race for Memphis mayor. Strickland is term limited and can’t run again. Herenton is 2 years older than Joe Biden.

Speaking of the president, he gives his State of the Union speech tonight.

Cocozza made an interesting announcement yesterday:

Cin! Cin! Our very first Aperitivo Hour has begun! Try one of our Bar Snacks like our Antipasti Panino pictured here. Coppa, asiago, grilled eggplant, roasted red peppers on grille focaccia. Delish! Just $3.

$6 Scarpetta Wines $4 Perionis $8 Spritz Special Bar Snacks $3 each or 4 for $10

I’m gonna find out if the Apertivo Hour is an everyday thing, a Monday thing, or a one-off. Check back for updates.

Rain is in the forecast this afternoon and evening but it’ll be warm. High 68, low 48. Both of those are almost 15 degrees above normal.

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. RIP (for now), Grand Hyatt.

That’s it. Back tomorrow if it’s not another slow news day.

Sunday update

So, this happened yesterday.

The girl I alternately call “my bratty but adorable adopted lil sis” and “Butt Slut #1” had her birthday on Wednesday. Our friends Randy and Theresa brought her a birthday cake to Bardog yesterday. It was a strawberry cake decorated with 5 roses the colors of her team the Dallas Cowboys. (ugh)

I’ve been teasing Butt Slut #1 relentlessly the past two days, some of it bordering on crossing the line. So she paid me back by picking up a rose off the cake and smooshing it all over my face. For the next 3 hours I wore the icing like a badge of honor.

Speaking of butt sluts: There is now a Butt Slut cocktail at the Blind Bear. It consists of

  • Peach moonshine
  • Blackberry moonshine
  • Fireball
  • Jameson Orange
  • Topped with a cherry

Not sure of the proportions or the price. Maddie invented it, so I’d recommend having her make it if possible.

On a related note: I must admit I’ve always been a tad jealous of my “DAWG” John D because for a decade, he had an item named after him on the Majestic’s now-defunct brunch menu. John D’s Breakfast was just your basic breakfast – eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, and potatoes if I remember correctly.

Well, guess what.

I’m about to have a menu item at Blind Bear.

They’re overhauling their menu soon. Jeannette texted me the new menu and asked me to pick an item. She suggested the meatloaf sandwich. I love meatloaf so that was an easy yes. I’ve had a poker table (Paul’s Blue Ribbon Table) named after me since day one.

Now let’s talk Tigers.

It’s so frustrating. Whether Penny or Tubby or Pastner is the coach, these kids jack up bad attempts at the 3 first chance they get. Work together, guys. Drive the ball inside and lay it up for an easy 2. Draw a foul, get to the line, earn that 3rd point the old-fashioned way.

The Tigers lost to Tulane 90-89 in overtime, a game they should have easily won. Memphis is gonna find itself on the wrong side of the NCAA bubble if it keeps this up.

The Pro Bowl Games are the Downtown Olympics of the NFL. That’s not a compliment. All they need is a sixty year old emcee in a bad tux and a female head referee with a 3-ring binder.

It’s National Fart Day.

Don Bryant and the Bo-Keys play the Halloran Centre Friday.

Protesters blocked the intersection of Poplar and Danny Thomas for more than 8 hours yesterday to demand justice for Tyre Nichols.

The U.S. shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast.

The Grizzlies host the Toronto Raptors at 6. Tonight is Faith & Family Night at the arena. TV: Bally Sports South

Collage Dance Collective: RISE is at the Cannon Center today. The dance performance is set to Dr. King’s final public speech.

Hey y’all want a bonus Butt Slut #1 pic?

This is the Hibernation Okra she ordered Friday at Blind Bear. All the toppings they put on Hibernation Fries but with okra instead.

That’ll do it for today. Mondays are typically slow news days so I may take tomorrow off.

Saturday update

Congratulations to Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., who made the NBA All-Star roster as reserves!

In other NBA news, LeBron James will most likely surpass Kareem as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer next week. Might want to keep an eye on Lakers games.

The Blind Bear should have a secret menu like In-N-Out Burger. In a sense one item is already on that menu. You’re probably familiar with regular-menu item Hibernation Fries. They’re covered in beef and melted pepper jack cheese and tomatoes and green onions. All kinds of good stuff.

Well, last night I was sitting at the bar with Butt Slut #1. She ordered Hibernation OKRA – same dish, but with okra. I had a few bites. It was really good.

“During the pandemic, I hibernated everything on the menu,” Butt Slut #1 explained. “The okra worked out the best.”

I’m just gonna quote my friend B-RAD on what is happening at IBIS for Sunday brunch, in the former Pontotoc Lounge space:

Come join us Sunday ! Brunch cocktail menu ( espresso martinis, peach Bellini , sparking rose lavender lemonade, Irish coffee , bloody Mary’s and bottle service mimosa or sparkling rose ! David Ingle with light music . Hope to see you all and thank you for your support .

Bardog is doing an open bar and buffet on Valentine’s:

  • Lobster bisque
  • Chicken tenders
  • Caesar salad
  • Fried calamari
  • Grilled salmon slicing station
  • Prime rib carving station
  • Brownie cheesecake
  • Chocolate-covered strawberries

$120 per person, tax & tip included.

Dillon Brooks has been suspended for one game.

Good day to visit the Peabody gift shop: it’s National Quacker Day.

All right. My Saturday morning just got expedited, so I gotta go. Back tomorrow.

That’s what it’s all about

No, not the hokey pokey.

Yesterday we spent the day showing a dear friend how incredibly loved she is on her birthday. I know that feeling well, because I’ve experienced it myself many times. Except, for me, the experience comes in November and on much higher numbered birthdays.

And that’s the thing that sets Downtown Memphis apart from any other neighborhood in the world.

No offense to the Grizzlies or the Orpheum or the Civil Rights Museum or Downtown’s BBQ restaurants – all awesome organizations – but it isn’t you that sets Downtown apart.

It’s the PEOPLE.

There’s this vibe of connectedness down here that just doesn’t exist anywhere else, at least not that I’ve seen. It is so easy to meet people and get plugged into that vibe.

Know what I need to post one day on here? A letter from Current Me to 32-year-old introverted me who just moved Downtown on how to plug into this awesome community in 2023.

Very happy to look at the Weatherbug app on my MacBook’s system tray and see a temperature of 33. We’ve had enough ice for a while.

The Grizzlies fell 122-112 to Portland at home last night. They hit the road to play Cleveland tonight at 6:30. Tha NBA trade deadline is a week from today. Will Memphis make a move?

FedExForum announced that the March 10 Future & Friends Tour stop there is no longer happening due to circumstances beyond their control.

Downtown bartenders: There’s a man who’s been running up huge tabs (100 or more) and then “his credit card doesn’t work” and he can’t pay. I heard him say he was 58 but I woulda guessed 60s. 5’8″ or so, thin frame, glasses, balding, gray hair where he has it. Pre-auth his card before you serve him anything.

Who cares if a stupid brown rodent sees its shadow today? We have more important things to celebrate. It’s Tater Tot Day. Get ’em at Huey’s.

Holy crap the Saucer has carne asada fries!!! Why has nobody told me this?

The fried pickle chips with Sriracha ranch at Blind Bear are amazing. $5.

OH — that reminds me – the aforementioned birthday girl informed me she hates pickles even more than she hates condiments like mustard and mayonnaise. You realize you shouldn’t have told me that? You realize, at some point in the future, I’m gonna force-feed you a pickle chip, right?

Tom Brady retired yesterday.

Cheers to Chef Tam for feeding the Nichols family following Tyre’s funeral.

Be one of the first 1000 people through FedExForum’s gate Saturday for the Tigers game vs. Tulane and receive a Larry Finch bobblehead. It’s also Lorenzen Wright jersey retirement. 1 PM tip. TV: ESPNU

That’s it for now. Gonna go enjoy another snow (ice) day. Back tomorrow.

Snow day (ice day???) update

So, let’s say I’d gone to a gypsy fortune teller on August 1, 2022. And she’d told me, “Paul, you’ve been an only child for fifty-plus years. But in six months’ time you’re gonna have a little sister.”

I would have said, “Go home, gypsy, you’re drunk.”

But now I have (an adopted) little sister. And I love her very much. And today’s her birthday.

Happy 29th little sis. There’s another name I call you on this blog but I won’t use it today because I worry your dad might see this post. I hope you win a 600-pound jar of mustard at The Price Is Right Live two months from today.

Vice-President Kamala Harris will be in town today for Tyre Nichols’ funeral.

Portland TrailBlazers @ the Grizzlies tonight, 6 PM. TV is Bally Sports South.

Today is Hula in the Coola Day.

Summer League sensation Kenneth Lofton Jr. has made the NBA Rising Stars game as a G League star. Former Tiger Jalen Duren has made the game as well.

The Ice Storm Warning has been extended another day.

The dodo, extinct since the late 17th century, might soon be de-extincted.

There will be a Lady & the Tramp cookie decorating party at Primas this Sunday.

That’s all the news I could scrounge up for today. It’s a snow day (ice day) and you know what that means for me: BARDOG!!!!! I sure hope WordPress doesn’t mangle the photo and embed in this post. Back tomorrow with more news