Month: April 2025

Project Green Fork hosts Love Food, Hate Waste Friday evening from 6 to 8 at the Memphis Made taproom. It’s an opportunity to learn how to reduce food waste at home and connect with other people interested in sustainability. The first 50 get a free beer or nonalcoholic beverage. There will be a culinary demo turning kitchen scraps into delicious treats. Project Green Fork will present food waste trivia with prizes. Free and family friendly.

In other Memphis Made news, they have Opinionation, a survey-based game, every Wednesday at 7.

One more piece of Memphis Made news – Walt Phelan Band plays there Saturday at 9:30. It’s the unofficial Porchfest after-party.

The Dance Into The Summer series happens 5 to 7 every Thursday in April in Handy Park. Live music by the Stax Academy, featuring a tribute to the blues. Free admission. Bring a blanket or lawn chair.

Did you know the spiral boat dock at Beale Street Landing is a secret river gauge?

From Retrofit Magazine: Local ironworks is now Memphis fine-dining restaurant

Old Dominick has produced a 7-year-old single barrel wheat whiskey.

The Rendezvous is selling Easter hams. 6-9 pounds. Every ham comes with a bottle of TigerTail Sweet Glazed Mustard.

The dire wolf, which went extinct 12,000 years ago, is back.

Okay. Those of you who are only here for the news are dismissed;
those who take an interest in me, read on.

I went to Memphis Chess Club Saturday and Sunday morning. It’s a great place to use the Wi-Fi to write my blog.

A Coke at the Chess Club costs $2.14 including tax. I had $4.35 left on my Venmo debit card. So I had enough to “pay rent” for the table space I was taking up and the Wi-Fi both days.

But I didn’t have enough to tip.

I had a little cash in my wallet, I needed some of it to pay to get in the Union Mission both nights. I needed the rest of it to pay rent on a barstool at Bardog later in the day so I could see my friends.

“I – I – I’m SO very sorry I hit the No Tip button,” I told the cashier/barista at Chess Club. “I’m just terribly short on money right now.”

She smiled and said it was no big deal. She’s sweet.

I still felt like a dirtbag though.

I’ve got to get somewhere better in life. I’m grateful beyond words to the Union Mission for a place to lay my head for the past year. But it’s time to move on. I’ve just got to figure out how.

Maybe I’ll continue this train of thought tomorrow. Back with more news.

This blog is free to read, but I gratefully accept tips:  
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Today is International Beaver Day. I recommend you celebrate with a Beaver Eater shot at Bardog.

Speaking of Bardog, allow me to share a few quotes from the folks sitting at the bar yesterday.

“If you have britches, slash, trousers on, you’re a solid guy.”

“What’s Putin’s last name?”

I added a couple of quotes of my own. “If your kid is born on March 15, you can name him Brutus.”

“And it’s acceptable to name your dog Adolf if he’s a German shepherd.”

Someone ordered a round of breakfast shots, with orange juice and bacon chasers. “They should open a bar inside DGX and serve a discount version of breakfast shots,” I said. “They could use Sizzlean instead of bacon.”

The Internet turns 56 today. Read RFC 1

The restaurant formally known as Wingman, on Madison across the street from the Brass Door, is now called Neon Nights Lounge. Wings still feature heavily on the menu.

A few days ago, I mentioned you could get açai bowls at Memphis Chess Club. There’s another place on Madison that has them too. That would be Downtown Nutrition next-door to Wi – er, Neon Nights Lounge.

The civil rights museum will be closed today due to flooding.

Foodees Food and Culture Festival happens this weekend in Tom Lee Park. 50 food trucks and vendors. Jewelry, arts and crafts. Free admission.

Gotta go. Back tomorrow.

This blog is free to read, but I gratefully accept tips:  
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
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The Grizzlies got a W in Detroit last night, 109-103. Ja Morant did not play (illness). Des had 38, JJJ dropped in 27, and our rookie Edey had a career night with 21. This is going to add fuel to the “trade Ja, we can get along just fine without him” fire.

Grizzlies remaining regular season games:

• Tuesday 6:00 at Charlotte Hornets. TV: FanDuel Sports
• Thursday 8:30 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves. All fans in attendance will receive Memphis Sounds thunder sticks. TV: TBS, TNT, truTV
• Friday 8:00 at Denver Nuggets. TV: FanDuel Sports
• Sunday 2:30 vs. Dallas Mavericks. Fan Appreciation Night. All fans in attendance will receive a Grizzlies poster. TV: FanDuel Sports and locally on Action News 5.

Now let’s look at the standings as of Sunday morning, April 6. The Grizzlies are

• out of reach of 1st or 2nd in the Western Conference
• 1.5 games back of 3rd place Los Angeles Lakers
• 1 GB of 4th place Denver Nuggets
• 0.5 GB of 5th place Golden State Warriors
• 0 GB of 6th place Minnesota Timberwolves
• —– BEGIN PLAY-IN TEAMS —–
• 0 GB of 7th place Los Angeles Clippers
• Grizzlies are 8th
• can’t finish worse than 8th

As you can see, these last 4 games matter A LOT. Memphis needs to at least get up to 6th to avoid the play-in. Finishing 4th or higher would give the Grizz home court advantage in the playoff first round.

The Millennium Tour is tonight at FedExForum. Trey Songz, Omarion, Bow Wow, Plies, Boosie, Ying Yang Twins, RSVP (Ray J , Sammie, Bobby V, Pleasure P), Nivea, with special guest Rick Ross.

Broadway musical Some Like It Hot comes to the Orpheum this week.

It’s National Acai Bowl Day. Memphis Chess Club, where I’m typing this post, has them.

Or, if you’re not so health-conscious, it’s also National Twinkie Day. DGX is the place to celebrate.

And it’s New Beer’s Eve. Celebrate with a local draft ($5 on Sundays) at the Flying Saucer.

Podcast 99% Invisible recently interviewed Memphis historian Jimmy Ogle.

That’s all for now. I’m getting desperately short on money again, so I may not be out at my usual spots this week. Back with more news when I can be.

This blog is free to read, but I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
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Ron Childers of Action News 5 says the rainfall and flooding risk today will be “extreme,” with Memphis projected to receive an additional 4.1” of rain on top of the 6.8” already received since Wednesday.

I wonder how things are going in Horn Lake where I used to work. The creek down there is prone to overflowing. In 2013 my office was closed for 10 days because flood water got into the building.

I remember, as the rain started, there was one lone duck swimming in the pond next to our building. He was loving life. I wonder if ducks ever get electrocuted by lightning?

Expect an increase in panhandling Downtown in the late spring. At some future point I will reveal what makes me believe this. It’s more than the weather getting warmer.

The NBA fined Ja Morant $75,000 for his finger-gun gestures on the court in the Miami game. The league had previously warned Ja to refrain from that hand motion because it could be interpreted negatively.

Is your iPhone running out of storage? Delete attachments from your texts.

Memphis made a list of the top 50 cities in the U.S. for pizza (but just barely). Denver, Buffalo, and Boston took top-three honors.

YOGA! Downtown Yoga will host Stretch, Sculpt & Sip at the Ghost River taproom at Main and Crump Wednesday evening.

The live music lineup has been announced for SmokeSlam, the BBQ festival on the river the third weekend of May.

Almost Elton John will play the rooftop of the Hyatt Centric Saturday, April 19. Dress up as Elton for a chance to win prizes. Tickets

Due to the weather forecast, Memphis Made has rescheduled its Half Pints for Half Pints fundraiser for April 26.

The Grizzlies have a 6 PM game with the Pistons in Detroit. TV: NBAtv, FanDuel Sports Network

Back tomorrow with more news.

This blog is free to read, but I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

The National Civil Rights Museum will present Remembering Dr. King: The Man. The Movement. The Moment from 5 to 7 PM today. Performances, tributes, a keynote speaker, and the changing of the balcony wreath with a moment of silence at 6:01. This hybrid event is scheduled for the museum’s courtyard and will be moved inside in case of rain.

All Memphis Public Libraries branches will be closed today for Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Day. I will say it once again: THAT IS NOT WHAT DR. KING WOULD HAVE WANTED.

NCAA men’s Final Four – Saturday on CBS

• Florida vs. Auburn 5:09
• Houston vs. Duke 7:49

News of the 409 S. Main event space ghosting a booked wedding has made it across the pond.

The former Daily News office building on Jefferson is for sale.

There are penguins in Africa. I had no idea.

Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen 50 years ago today.

Bruce Springsteen will release 7 lost albums in June.

Vintage901: The Ultimate Wine Experience on the River is this weekend.

Weather permitting, I’ll be back tomorrow.

This blog is free to read, but I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Heavy rain is expected to continue on and off through Sunday morning. Meteorologists are calling this a “generational” rain event for Memphis. Forecasts show the city getting 12 inches of rain by the end of the day Sunday. Please be careful if you get out today.

Random thing I learned in Union Mission chapel yesterday morning: Rocker Alice Cooper is a born-again Christian. They played an interview on the big screens where he discussed balancing his faith with the character he plays on stage.

Memphis Made Brewing, you almost got me with your April Fool’s post about your new Imperial BBQ nacho stout. I had that in my notes as a news item to blog this morning.

Today is National Burrito Day. Maciel’s, of course, is my recommendation to celebrate.

The Grizzlies are on the road in Miami tonight. 6:30 tip. TV: TBS, TNT, truTV.

NBA standings: What happens in the case of ties?

The Memphis Redbirds have some great promotions going on this week, if the games don’t get rained out. The opponent all this week is the Buffalo Bison.

• Friday – first pitch 7:05 PM: first 2500 fans get a 2024 Grizzlies-Redbirds crossover jersey.
• Saturday – first pitch 3:05 PM: Sandlot Day with special jerseys and themed fun. A specialty ticket for Bark in the Park admits both you and your dog.
• Sunday – first pitch 1:05 PM: kids 12 and under get a free ice cream treat from Prairie Farms as they enter the ballpark. Specialty ticket gets you Sunday brunch in the air conditioned Coors Light Chill Zone. Fans 21 and up will have access to a Bloody Mary bar and bottomless mimosas.

Happy birthday, iPad. Apple released the tablet 15 years ago today.

Oh no… the NBA is investigating Ja Morant again. This time it concerns Morant and Golden State’s Buddy Hield allegedly making finger guns/shooting motions at each other.

Loflin Yard will have crawfish by Glaze and live music by Brimstone Jones on Sunday.

Memphis Tattoo Festival is at the Renasant Convention Center this weekend.

Songbird Jones with Alexis Jade plays South Main Sounds Friday 7-9 PM.

Opening Day for Memphis Farmers Market is Saturday. Live music, food trucks. Yoga with YogaSix 9-10. Dog adoption with the Humane Society 9-1. The Market happens 8 AM to 1 PM Saturdays April-October under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson, behind Malco Powerhouse.

There’s a corgi meetup at Mud Island Dog Park this Sunday at noon.

Weather permitting, I’ll be back tomorrow.

This blog is free to read, but I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Level 5 (the highest) risk of severe weather late afternoon into tonight. Tornadoes, torrential rain, large hail, and strong wind are all possible.

To introduce Saturday night’s performance at the Halloran Centre, here’s Heart:

Try to understand
Try to understand
Try,, try, try to understand
He’s a magic man

Mike Super brings his “Third Time’s a Charm” show of magic and illusion to the Centre.

Next door at the Orpheum, you can have Brunch on Stage Saturday.

Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills will play FedExForum Sept. 21.

There will be a free movie night series at AutoZone Park this spring. Inside Out 2 will kick things off May 10.

The 409 S. Main event venue appears to have closed, leaving a bride out thousands of dollars.

NBA insider Sam Amick says a Ja Morant trade is possible.

What’s the deal with torpedo bats this season in Major League Baseball? CNN explains. Could 2025 be the next 1920, when changes in the composition of the ball, the rise of Babe Ruth, and the ban of the spitball altered baseball forever?

Is privacy important to you? Don’t use Chrome.

I can’t promise I’ll post Thursday and Friday because of the weather forecast. Back as soon as I can be with more news

This blog is free to read, but I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

No April Fool’s Day gag for you today, but I will share an April 1 memory. Back in the ‘80s, that was the day The Weather Channel would switch over from the Snow & Ski Report to the Boat & Beach Report. A harbinger of warm weather…

I haven’t been to Hard Times Deli out in The Edge yet, but people who have been there have told me they have lines out the front door for their sandwiches. Any suggestions what to order there?

Happy birthday to Gmail. Google’s email service is now old enough to drink legally.

The Downtown Aldi grocery store will open April 10 at 785 Union. Hours will be 9 AM-8 PM.

Extreme flooding is possible in Memphis later this week.

The CA reports that the former Family Dollar space on Main is going to be converted into offices and retail. There will also be 8 apartments.

Mix Odyssey, the annual fundraiser for Volunteer Odyssey, will be at Baron von Opperbean on Mud Island April 30.

YOGA! Yoga on the River is back every Tuesday at 6 PM in River Garden. Free, all levels. Bring a mat or towel and water.

Get a taste of Mexico City at Amelia Gene’s this Thursday or next.

That’s it for today. Back soon…

This blog is free to read, but I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com