Month: July 2023

Not Downtown but worth a Lyft or Uber: There will be an authentic Asian Night Market at Crosstown Concourse Sunday, July 23 from 4 to 9 PM. Food, music, games. Free to attend and most food items will be under $10. It’s being put on by Memphis’ Vietnamese community and an organization called WILLOW. Be a vendor or sponsor

It’s Sugar Cookie Day at Butterificc at 488 S. Second today. They’ll have a variety of sugar cookies and free samples will be available. Come back to Butterific tomorrow for National Blueberry Muffins Day. And come back Wednesday for Pecan Pie Day.

The Downtown Doubletree Hotel is hiring a general manager.

The DM has a look at new Grizzlies draftee GG Jackson. The team will now have a Jackson II as well as a Jackson Jr. Fun fact: Ja Morant’s father Tee used to cut GG’s hair back in South Carolina.

Today is Don’t Step on a Bee Day. Well that’s good advice.

Today is also National Pina Colada Day. Celebrate with a pina colada daiquiri at Wet Willie’s on Beale Street.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver unveiled the details of a new in-season NBA tournament that will happen in November and December. There will be a group stage and then a knockout stage, sort of like World Cup soccer. The Grizzlies will be in Group 4 along with Phoenix, the L.A. Lakers, Utah, and Portland. Ugh… not a great group draw for Memphis. Hello 9 PM tip times and hello LeBron.

The Major League Baseball Home Run Derby is tonight. It’ll be on ESPN at 7 Central. More info

Victorian mansion/museum The Woodruff-Fontaine House will have an attic sale this Saturday. Antiques, china, crystal, party decor, and more.

Brimstone Jones will play Loflin Yard this Sunday at noon.

Explore Memphest comes to Downtown’s Cossitt Library this Saturday. Live music; free food by The Check-In. Explore what Memphis libraries and community organizations have to offer. Take a Storywalk with your kids. Live music.

Will Sexton and Amy LaVere play The Central BBQ Sessions Tuesday evening from 6 to 9 at Downtown Central BBQ.

Weather: No chance of rain today, 86/68, northeast wind. For July in Memphis, that sounds pretty awesome.

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow (probably) with more news.

Wallpaper Magazine has an article on the reimagination of Tom Lee Park as a public space on the river. It has some nice images of what the park will look like when it opens this fall.

Max’s Sports Bar is expanding its staff to include a combination cook/barback who would work the following shifts:

• Monday-Wednesday 5:30 PM-1 AM
• Saturday 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
• Sunday 10:30 AM-5:30 PM (football season only)

The pay is $14 an hour plus tips.

Congratulations to former Memphis Grizzly Mike Conley, Jr., winner of the 2022-23 NBA Sportsmanship Award. Conley currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is the last active member of the Grizzlies’ Core Four. Conley has won the award 3 times previously.

Soul & Spirits brewery on North Main will host a Skol-astic Adult Book Fair on Saturday, August 12. “Skol” is Scandinavian for “Cheers.” Every beer you buy gets you entered into a raffle for prizes from the brewery and festival vendors. Vendors include

• South Main Book Juggler
• Burke’s Books
• Cafe Noir
• De More Books & Things
• Friends of the Library
• Novel

Food trucks for the book fair will be Paper Plate Pavilion and Tacos MonDragon.

Today is National No Bra Day.

The Callie Hines performs at the Ghost River taproom at Main and Crump today from 4:30 to 8:30. From the Facebook event listing: “If you like Brandi Carlile, The Indigo Girls, and Joni Mitchell – you’ll love them! Discover your new favorite Americana artist – coming to you from South East Louisiana!”

That’s it. Not a real newsy day. Back tomorrow probably.

Future and Friends, scheduled for next Thursday at FedExForum, has been canceled. If you have tickets, refunds will be issued through the appropriate channels. It’s not known why Future can’t make it, but Memphis is not the only canceled show on the tour.

Congratulations to WREG Channel 3’s chief meteorologist Tim Simpson, who is retiring after 29 years.

Memphis Farmers Market vendor Dodson Farms, maker of fine jams and jellies, announced on social media this week that they aren’t sure when, or if, they will return to the market. There is an illness in the family In the meantime, Muddy’s Bake Shop has some varieties of their sweet jelly for sale. Prayers to the Dodson family.

New Wing Order posted its July special:

The July special is Smokin’ Peach Wings! Made with fresh peaches, Jones Orchard peach jam, Calabrian chiles, and other spices for a sweet, spicy, and smoky bite.

Get them at the Ghost River taproom at 341 Beale or at the nWo food truck.

Riverside Drive’s closure has been extended to Labor Day. The scenic road was scheduled to reopen on the first of this month, but a Tom Lee Park contractor needed more time.

MemphisWeather.net tweeted that widespread storms are possible in the Memphis metro from 2 to 8 PM today. Some of those storms could be severe, with wind and hail being the main threats.

The Grizzlies’ new number 36, Marcus Smart, arrived in Memphis this week with a big smile on his face. The DM’s Chris Herrington discusses what Smart brings to the table.

Memphis 901 FC took a loss to San Antonio FC 4-0 last night, with one of San Antonio’s players picking up a hat trick.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Chicago Bulls in Summer League action today at 6. Catch the game on NBAtv.

A friend of mine found this dog near Front and Beale:

If this is your pet, email me at paul.ryburn@gmail.com or hit me up on social media and I will get you in touch with the person who has her. I promise your dog is in good, loving hands.

Today is National Freezer Pop Day.

The candidate I support for Memphis mayor, Paul Young, recently added a Meet Paul page to his campaign website.

DJ Tree plays Blind Bear 10-2 tonight and 7-midnight Sunday.

Elmwood Cemetery hosts From the Beyond: Ghosts, Spiritualism, and Cemeteries tomorrow from 6:30 to 8 PM. This will be a seated, indoor presentation by Elmwood director Kim Bearden. Snacks and beverages will be provided. $20 per person.

That’ll do it. I’m meeting friends for Bardog brunch in a couple of hours. I haven’t seen Butt Slut #1 for an entire week, which is rather unusual. I have missed her. Back tomorrow with more news.

I had a successful first day on Instagram Threads, the Twitter alternative. I followed every Instagram user I follow who’s also on Threads, and I collected 57 followers of my own. Again, if you jump on that platform and want to give me a follow, it’s @paulryburn.

One thing I don’t like about Threads is that you HAVE to use an iOS or Android app to post and view posts. When I’m at home working on my MacBook at my writing desk, I usually keep my iPhone in another room. It would be inconvenient and slightly distracting to have it by my side. The head of Instagram says they’re working on a desktop version of Threads.

The Grizzlies executed a trade with the Phoenix Suns this week.

Memphis Grizzlies get

• 6’9″ power forward Isaiah Todd. Todd, 21, bypassed college to play for the NBA’s G-League Ignite in 2020-21.  The Milwaukee Bucks drafted him in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft. He was traded to Washington before the season started in 2021. On June 24, 2023, he was traded to Phoenix as part of a deal that sent Chris Paul to Washington.
• 2024 first-round pick swap – if the Suns pick higher than the Grizzlies in that draft, the two teams trade picks
• 2030 first-round pick swap

Phoenix Suns get

• Grizzlies’ 2025 second-round pick (via the New Orleans Pelicans)
• Grizzlies’ 2028 and 2029 second-round picks

Sounds like a win for the Grizz. Zack Kleiman and Co. must have seen something in Todd that fits in with team culture.

One small red flag about Isaiah Todd: In January 2022, Washington suspended him for one game for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The Memphis Flyer has some nice artist mock-ups of the future Dream Hotel being built in and on top of the old Royal Furniture location at Main and Gayoso. The hotel will include a 10-story tower across Gayoso from the Barboro Flats parking garage. There will be 3 floors of luxury apartments in the tower in addition to hotel rooms.

The same Flyer article notes that the former Mason’s Lodge on G.E. Patterson will be converted into 10 one-bedroom lofts. It will also be the new HQ for UrbanARCH.

Memphis Magazine answers the question, what does it look like inside the Sterick Building today? The building hasn’t had tenants since the 1980s.

From the Flyer: Matt Petty’s sound baths are a vibe. Get in on the therapeutic sound bath action weekly (Mondays at 6:30) at The Broom Closet on South Main.

Memphis 901 FC hosts San Antonio FC tonight at 7:30.

Today is National Dive Bar Day, a good day to visit Earnestine & Hazel’s.

A risk for severe storms returns to the Memphis metro Saturday. Good news, though – the rain will hold the highs to the mid-80s this weekend.

Pam, the co-owner of River Time Market & Deli, has restaurant equipment for sale as she plans to close the deli later this month:

FOOD TRUCK OWNERS – DELI OWNERS –

New Start-up Owners Dream

I have the following equipment for sale :

Matco Stainless Steel Toolbox $5,000.00

49 inch Stsinless Steel Tables $50.00 each

72” Sandwich Mate Table $1100.00

Pizza Oven – $300.00 has 3 year protection plan – bought in Nov 2022

Electric Griddle. – $175.00 also has protection plan bought in Nov 2022

3 tier Pastry Warmer $225.00

Soup Warmer – $40.00

Upright Frigidaire Freezer – $300.00

Open Sign – $20.00

Shelves $50.00

BlueAir Coolers – $700.00 each

Chest Freezer – $59.00

Peak Cold Curved Deli Case – $1700.00

Meat Slicer – $300.00

2 Waring 1/2 Ovens needs repairs-$70.00 each – I have some elements.

All kinds of Stainless Holding pans and clear pans .

Text Me if interested (901) 482-0460 – email Pamela.edmondson@aol.com

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow with more.

Former Memphis Grizzly Tony Allen has signed to play in the Big 3 basketball tournament this summer. He’ll play on a team called 3’s Company that includes other well-known former NBA players such as Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers.

Restaurant toolbox for sale at a great price:

PornHub-branded yoga mats are a thing.

The Memphis Flyer takes a look at the craft beer boom that has exploded in this city in the past 10 years.

Congratulations to the folks who operate FedExForum. It has been rated the number-one NBA arena by fans.

New details have been revealed of the Downtown Dream Hotel going in at 122 S. Main, the former Royal Furniture space.

Specials going on at the Blind Bear this week:

• Southern greens chowder: cup 6/bowl 8
• Catfish po’boy: blackened or fried, lettuce, tomato, pickles, Cajun aioli, fries or tots 14
• Ribeye dinner: 10 oz. hand-cut, rosemary mashed potatoes, sauteed spinach 28

Good Facebook page to follow if you’re a fan of local history: Things that aren’t in the Memphis area anymore

The Lobbyist, Jimmy Gentry’s restaurant in the Chisca, is six months old. It’s already been through a menu change and has received additional seating on the patio.

Today is National Fried Chicken Day. Gus’s is the obvious choice to celebrate, of course, but I’d also recommend Jack Pirtle’s because it’s owned by awesome Downtowners. The closest Pirtle’s locations are near Thomas and Chelsea and near Poplar and Cleveland.

DJ Epic headlines tonight’s Peabody rooftop party. 6-10 PM, $15 to get in, $30 to go VIP.

I’m on Instagram Threads now. Follow me at @paulryburn.

Tuesday was the hottest day in the recorded history of our planet. Global average temperature was nearly 63 degrees.

Anime Blues Con comes to the Renasant Convention Center Friday-Sunday.

Storyboard Memphis looks back at the 1978 Memphis fire and police strikes.

Louise Page plays the Summer Acoustic Series at Caption by Hyatt tonight.

There’s a teacher hiring mixer this evening at Carolina Watershed.

There will be a pop-up yoga and tea workshop Saturday at 2 at Downtown Yoga. There will be an all-levels yoga class followed by a cup of herbal tea with herbalist Nadia of Black MajesTEA. Afterward, there will be a Q&A and you’ll have the chance to purchase loose tea blends to take home.

Tomorrow will be a night of soulful blues and jazz at South Main Sounds for Richard Wilson’s “Promised Land” record release show. 7-9 PM.

Chris Hamlett’s rooftop sunset shindig happens this Saturday at Old Dominick Distillery.

I’m trying Memphis Public Libraries’ interlibrary loan system for the first time. I had Post Office by Charles Bukowski sent to Downtown’s Cossitt Library and I’m about to go pick it up.

That’s it for now! Back tomorrow.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association’s Summer Movie Series kicks off tomorrow night, Thursday, July 6. The movies will be shown on the patio of the Cossitt Library (Front and Monroe) and picnic baskets are encouraged (no glass please). They’ll kick off the movie series with Little Shop of Horrors tomorrow.

Now, as for the start time of the movies… I’m not completely clear on that. The flyer for the series says the movies will begin at sunset and then adds, “(approx 7:30p)”. But the sun sets tomorrow at about 8:16. So I dunno. My best advice is, get there at 7:30 but don’t be surprised if there’s a wait.

Derrick Rose will wear number 23 for the Grizzlies. It will be the first time since D-Rose played college ball for the Memphis Tigers that he has worn that number.

From Food & Wine: The tragic way Monterey Jack cheese got its name

From Memphis Beer Blog: Grind City Brewing brings some extra heat to Memphis summer with Jalapeno Poppy’s in cans

Want the best deal on fast-food shoestring fries? Taste at Home says to get the large fries at McDonald’s.

Three teens are accused of breaking into cars near Ida B. Wells (Fourth) and Peabody Place about 10 Monday night.

There’s a Main Street Trolley jigsaw puzzle you can buy online.

Today is Bikini Day.

Wednesday starts with mostly clear skies and decent temps near 70°. We’ll climb to 93° with heat indices just over 100° today though. Scattered storms are expected, but are most likely this evening after 5pm. A few, especially north of I-40, could bring strong wind gusts. pic.twitter.com/ES7u0ohwuk

— MemphisWeather.net (@memphisweather1) July 5, 2023

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is expected to launch a Twitter competitor called Instagram Threads tomorrow. It’s said to be an alternative for people who don’t like the recent changes Elon Musk has made since buying Twitter. The cool thing about Threads, as compared to other Twitter wannabes, is that you don’t start at square one – you bring in your followers from Instagram.

Flying cars are about to be a thing.

Yesterday afternoon I tried a new item on the Blind Bear’s revised menu, the Smashed Burger. It replaced the Jager Burger which had mushrooms, pepper jack cheese, and Jager BBQ sauce with a more traditional offering – twin patties cooked thin with a generous amount of cheese (I think cheddar), sauteed onions, smashed Bear sauce, lettuce, and tomato.

I took a bite and the first thing I noticed was the juiciness. I’d give it a 10 out of 10 (and I’m a former burger festival judge, so I’m qualified to rate juiciness). By contrast, I wouldn’t have given the predecessor burger better than a 7 for juiciness (and depending on who was cooking, some nights I’d go as low as a 5). Big improvement.

I will note that the burger was so juicy that it caused the bottom bun to break apart after a few bites. This is not a terrible thing; just make sure you have ample napkins before you dig in.

As for the taste, I am going to do a comparison rather than a rating on a 1-10 scale. What a good burger “should” taste like is quite subjective, and one person’s 9 is another person’s 6.

The first thing I did, before giving the burger a try, was pull off the two tomato slices. I generally don’t like tomatoes on burgers and I didn’t feel that they complemented the other ingredients on this particular burger.

With the tomatoes gone, this burger tastes more similar to McDonald’s Big Mac than any other burger with which you would likely be familiar. Don’t get me wrong, the Bear’s burger is of much higher quality than McD’s, but if you get a Mac Attack now and then, I think the Smashed Burger would satisfy your appetite.

Delicious. Would definitely get again – perhaps as soon as today. Next time I’ll get it with Nate’s tater tots on the side instead of fries.

That’s it for today’s post. Back tomorrow, probably.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. put up 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Grizzlies beat the Philadelphia 76ers 94-92 to open NBA Summer League last night. Next game: vs. Oklahoma City Wednesday at 6 PM on NBAtv. It’s likely to be a first look at Chet Holmgren, picked second by the Thunder in the 2022 draft, who missed all of last season.

From City Discovery Hub: The best 13 dog-walking areas in Memphis

Today is National Barbecue Day. If you’re not grilling out at home, Central BBQ at St. Martin and Butler (behind the civil rights museum) is my recommendation. Get a half order of BBQ nachos and an order of smoked wings. Blues City Cafe at Second and Beale is always a good bet too. “The Best Meal on Beale” combo platter (ribs & catfish with sides) is the way to go there.

I love a good Caesar salad as much as anyone but July 4 is an unfortunate day to celebrate National Caesar Salad Day. Nothing green belongs on a plate today.

The 2023 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest is today.

• Women’s contest: 9:45 AM Central, ESPN app and espn.com
• Men’s contest: 11:00 AM Central, ESPN app and ESPN2

There was an armed robbery, carried out by three teenagers, at Main and Vance Friday night.

Memphis Magazine presents the history of the Sterick Building. This is a long but good read.

409 South Main will host a Labeled & Loved Moms’ Night Out on the evening of Tuesday, July 18. This free event allows mothers of kids with disabilities (any age or diagnosis) to network with other moms who understand. More info about Labeled & Loved

That’s it for today’s post. My plan is to be at Bardog at 8 AM. I’ll wander over to Blind Bear when it opens at 3. Happy Fourth. Back tomorrow.

Let’s have an update on how that box of Swiss chocolates is coming.

Yep. Empty. I ate the entire box in one day!

Beans, beans, good for the heart. The more you eat, the more you… It’s National Beans Day. My recommendation would be a side of baked beans to go along with your favorite entree at Central BBQ. The red beans and rice at Ben Yay’s would also be a good call.

It’s also American Redneck Day. My suggestion for a place to celebrate would be Millington.

Bleacher Report gave the Houston Rockets a D grade for their 4-year, $80M acquisition of Dillon Brooks. “We may have a new winner for the worst contract this offseason,” BR’s staff wrote.

On the other hand, BR gave the Grizzlies an A for maxing out Desmond Bane.

According to Nextdoor, a man scaled a wall at River Tower condo and went for a swim in the pool in his underwear. Security asked him to leave.

The DM has a look at Promise, which is bringing soul food back to South Main for lunch, dinner, and Saturday brunch. Plans to expand to Sunday are in the works. A menu for children is available.

Also in the DM: Seven former Memphis Tigers will play in NBA Summer League. Golden State in particular will be a team to watch, with Kendric Davis and Lester Quinones on the roster.

One interesting note: Emoni Bates, the 49th pick in this year’s NBA draft, will play for Cleveland in Summer League. Remember when he was recruited to Memphis in 2021 and analysts said he was sure to be a lottery pick?

Alicia Keys comes to FedExForun Wednesday night.

There will be Nerd Trivia at Grind City Brewing Co. Wednesday beginning at 6:30.

Twitter users now have limits on the number of tweets they can see per day – 1000 (unverified users) or 10,000 (verified). Thanks a lot, Elon. It’s being done to fight data scraping.

That’s it for today. Not sure if I will do a July 4 post tomorrow. Bardog opens at 8 and I plan on being there.

My friend Randy spent much of June on a business trip to Europe, inspecting his company’s overseas facilities. Yesterday he and his wife Theresa returned to Bardog with a gift bag. Two of those gifts were for me.

Can-of-pickle is a thing in Germany, apparently. Not pickles plural, but pickle singular. I guess folks be cruisin’ down the autobahn over there and be all like, “I sure could use a pickle right now.” So they exit as Das Circle K and pick one up from the refrigerated section.

We opened the can and Butt Slut #2 put the pickle on a plate and cut it into pieces for us to try. It tasted like… well, a pickle. It was a good pickle, for sure, but not incredibly different from the pickles we have here in America.

“Should we save a piece of pickle for Butt Slut #1?” I asked. She was at work and wouldn’t be at Bardog until about 3:00.

“No, she hates pickles,” Butt Slut #2 said. Later, when she got there, Butt Slut #1 confirmed that she hates pickles. She finds their texture and taste gross. It is now my life’s mission to force-feed Butt Slut #1 a pickle.

Dammit! I had Bardog’s burger sliders later that afternoon. I should have saved some slices of the German pickle to put on the sliders.

Randy also brought a box of Läderach Swiss chocolates for each of the butt sluts and for me.

WOW that is a good looking box of chocolates! Almost seems a shame to eat them.

Pam from River Time Market & Deli posted that she is closing the store at the end of July. The challenges of owning a business, especially ones involving older Downtown buildings and infrastructure, became more than she and her husband Bill can handle. However, there are several pieces of good news to come out of this:

• Pam is going to keep her online market & catering menu going. It’s all fresh, just heat and eat, perfect for busy area workers, parents, and students.
• Pam will continue serving breakfast at a restaurant a short walk from the current River Time location – details to be announced soon.
• Bill will enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

Dillon Brooks will be a Houston Rocket next season. The Grizzlies executed a sign-and-trade that will bring The Villain $80 million over the next 4 years. The Grizzlies get a trade exception that will allow them to go over the salary cap to sign a player in a future year. They also get a guard, Josh Christopher, who was the 24th pick in 2021’s draft.

We’re waking up to 81°, a warm start to a hot day that will see temps rise to the mid-90s. A heat advisory calls for heat index readings to reach 105°+. Expect a few scattered storms ahead of a front late this afternoon & evening, which could bring isolated strong wind gusts. pic.twitter.com/LcFcKG0xrI

— MemphisWeather.net (@memphisweather1) July 2, 2023

There was a photo shoot at Tom Lee Park yesterday.

Not a very newsy morning. That’s all for now.

Two big pieces of Memphis basketball news lead off this morning’s post.

First of all, Desmond Bane will become the highest-paid player in team history. He signed a 5-year max extension this week. He will make $207 million over those years, an even bigger contract than Ja Morant signed a year ago.

The deal will possibly push the Grizzlies into the NBA’s luxury tax in 2024=25.

Point guard Derrick Rose, a member of the 2008 Memphis Tigers team that nearly won the national title, is the newest Grizzly. His deal is for 2 years and is said to be worth $6.5 million.

I have some VERY important PBR news to share with you: Ben Yay’s sells the most delicious beer in the world, Pabst Blur Ribbon, during its happy hour Monday-Friday 2 to 6 PM.

Today is International Chicken Wing Day.

I tried the new spinach artichoke dip at Blind Bear yesterday.

Cheesy and full of yummy goodness. Probably the first full serving of vegetables I’ve had in a while too. The dip is part of their new dinner menu (see Thursday’s post).

People have been asking: Is the Bear’s Hibernation (late-night) menu gonna be revised too? No, and in fact, that menu is gone. The dinner menu applies from 3 PM until the kitchen closes at 2 AM.

Today is the first day of the Blind Bear’s new brunch menu (11 AM to 3 PM – see Friday’s post). Don’t forget that your girl Cinnamon is working a rare Saturday day bar shift there. I won’t be there during brunch hours (might pop in later) but if I did, I’d get the hashbrown bowl with sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, and mozzarella.

DJ Tree will be at the Bear all weekend playing the tunes. 10-2 tonight, 7-midnight Sunday, 10-2 Monday.

There are fireworks at AutoZone Park following tonight’s Redbirds game. The first pitch is at 6:35.

Al Kapone is mixing two sounds of Memphis to create a blues rap album.

Today is the next-to-last day of Frozen at the Orpheum.

Australia has become the first nation in the world to allow shrooms as a prescription medical treatment.

I’m heading out to Bardoh brunch with my friends Randy & Theresa for the first time in 3 weeks. It sounds like Butt Slut #1 won’t be able to join us today but maybe she’ll change her mind. Back tomorrow with more news.