Month: September 2026

Random fact I learned on Wikipedia this morning: Van Halen nearly had a female singer. When the band parted ways with David Lee Roth in the mid-1980s, Eddie Van Halen called Patty Smyth of the band Scandal and offered her the gig. Smyth didn’t want to move to L.A. and turned Eddie down.

Alcenia’s owner/founder B.J. Chester-Tamayo will be honored at a food symposium at the Halloran Centre next month.

Uptown Chick-fil-A seeks a catering coordinator.

Protein Cheez-its are a thing now.

Shelby County Observer: Dolly trolley night draws crowds

Back soon with more news. I could use a little money if anyone finds it in their heart to tip.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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The AutoZone national sales convention is in town. Welcome, everyone!

Most likely there’ll be a lot of food trucks parked on Exchange between Main and Second all week. You don’t have to be a convention attendee to order from them.

MATA seeks a trolley administrator.

Comedian John Crist plays the Orpheum Sunday.

The Edge will host an Alley Dayz party Wed 5:30-7:30. Performance by Mak Ro, sounds by DJ Nate P, more than 20 local vendors.

People ask all the time if that nice new patio next to Earnestine & Hazel’s is part of the dive bar. It’s not – it has a separate owner/operator, although the two businesses collaborate on events.

The Peabody Hotel will host a spooky afternoon tea October 30-November 1.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
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College football is getting exciting! Games of interest this weekend:

Saturday

• 7 Alabama at 16 Mississippi State, 11:00 AM, ABC
• Navy at Air Force, 11:00 AM, CBS
• Vandy at 2 Georgia, 11:45 AM, SEC Network
• 5 Ohio State at 14 Iowa, 2:30 PM, CBS
• 8 Florida at 25 Missouri, 2:30 PM, ABC
• Auburn at 17 Tennessee, 2:30 PM, no network announced
• Memphis at Charlotte, 2::30 PM, ESPN+
• Arkansas at Texas A&M, 6:00 PM, ESPN2
• McNeese at 11 LSU, 6:45 PM, SEC Network
• Arkansas St at Louisiana, 7:00 PM, ESPN+

If you need to order a large amount of food from a mom-and-pop restaurant for an office meeting first thing tomorrow, DON’T just schedule the order on DoorDash and forget about it. CALL the mom-and-pop and verify they can handle that kind of volume at that hour.

125 tests of the new AI-enhanced Siri

Back soon with more news. Dead tired today. Gonna pay the Mission $6 and catch up on sleep a little.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@icloud.com

The theft of my iPhone 14 last Thursday morning turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I am now the proud owner of a new iPhone 18 Pro, complete with AI-enhanced Siri. During setup I was asked to choose between ChatGPT and Claude as the power behind the voice. I picked Claude.

Also, I have real cellular service now. No more missing texts and calls when I’m in a location without Wi-Fi, for example the Union Mission.

Now for the bad news – I lost my contacts. If you would like to exchange numbers with me, send yours to paul.ryburn@gmail.com or hit me up on Facebook.

The results are in for this year’s Memphis Flyer best-of poll.

I got a pleasant surprise yesterday. I walked in Earnestine & Hazel’s about 12:15 PM and NATE was there!!!! The retired upstairs bartender was being interviewed on camera. I’ll find out what show that was for and let you know. Nate’s been sick recently but he looks the same.

Thanks to Mrs. Strange, I enjoyed this grilled salmon bowl for dinner yesterday at the Saucer.

The final round for late-night trivia Tuesday was literature, and I used knowledge I picked up in Mrs. Strange’s 12th-grade English class to SMOKE the round. My second-place prize of $35 bought me the bowl, a lime/cucumber gose, and a chocolate fried pie.

Appropriately, Big Orange will attend Texas vs. Tennessee football this Saturday.

Room in the Inn seeks a congregational shelter coordinator.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com

I’ll lead off with a belief I picked up from another writer on Medium:

Live as though life itself were your soulmate.

Isn’t that fabulous?

And since we’re near Southland and Tunica, a random fact I learned from Quora:

That camera above your blackjack table isn’t just checking to see if you count cards. It’s connected to facial-recognition software, which discovers your identity and feeds it to a search to determine if you have a hidden past connection to the dealer. If you do, the pit boss will be by soon to shut down the table.

Know someone who is hungry? Tell them about these events:

• A group will serve spaghetti in Handy Park tonight at 8
• There will be a breakfast for the homeless Saturday 8-noon in Court Square. I went to this event last year and the food was OUTSTANDING. Clothes closet, hygiene supplies, haircuts.

It’s Pot Pie Day.

The Redbirds lost to Rochester 4-3 in game 1 of the International League playoffs last night. Memphis’ back is to the wall tonight at 6:45 at AutoZone Park.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com

Mark your calendar: There will be a Dia de los Muertos parade on Main Saturday, October 24 11 AM to noon. It’ll run from Court Square to the Halloran Centre. Afterward there’ll be a festival.

Remember, folks, Dia de los Muertos is not Halloween! Don’t show up dressed as SpongeBob.

It’s not just me… Shoe sizes can change as you get older. I was an 8½ at age 30. I’m a 10 now.

I’ve been told I must try a Chopped Cheese from Hard Times Deli ASAP, that it’s life-changing. As soon as I get a little more money in my accounts, I will.

South Main hair joint Salon 387 has expanded to Lakeland.

The lineup for Memphis Jazz Fest October 9-11 has been announced.

Random tip of the day: If you love Memphis’ Victorian Village, you should visit St. Paul, Minnesota.

The Lobbyist will celebrate Dolly Night Friday 9/two5.

DJs A.D., Sledro, and Jetlag play a danceathon at Mollie Fontaine’s Friday at 8. Spring rolls and 3 kinds of dumplings will be on the menu.

Cordelia’s Market will have its annual Oktoberfest Saturday noon to 4. Local brewers will pour samples.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com

College football games of interest this week:

Saturday

• 1 Texas at 14 Tennessee, 11:00 AM, ABC
• Oklahoma at 2 Georgia, 2:30 PM, ESPN
• 4 Ole Miss at 21 Florida, 2:30 PM, ABC
• 17 Iowa at 18 Michigan, 2:30 PM, CBS
• Vanderbilt at Auburn, 3:15 PM, SEC Network
• South Carolina at 8 Alabama, 6:00 PM, ESPN
• Kennesaw State at Arkansas State, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
• 23 Texas A&M at 10 LSU, 6:30 PM, ABC
• 20 Oregon at 12 USC, 6:30 PM, ABC
• 19 Missouri at 24 Mississippi State, 6:45 PM, SEC Network
• Tulsa at Arkansas, 7:00 PM, SEC Network

Itta Bena seeks an assistant GM.

U.S. Foods Immersion comes to the Renasant Convention Center Wednesday.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com

I was back in the ER yesterday, fearful that the cellulitis in my legs and feet had once again turned septic.

I’m gonna make a statement that is pretty controversial here in Memphis. In my opinion/experience,

Regional One’s ER is better than Methodist University Hospital’s ER.

The doctor at ROne gave me a clean bill of health, but she did something more. She took off my socks and examined the toenail I’ve been complaining about for months, the one that grew backwards then sideways. The nail had been scraping up against my second toe 1000s of times each day as I walked. That, the doctor told me, could be the point of injury that is getting infected under the skin. Which is what cellulitis is.

With my permission, the doc cut the toenail off.

They discharged me about 8:30 and the nurse gave me 2 turkey sandwiches to eat in the waiting room on the way out. Then, for the first time in more than a year, I walked Downtown from points east of Danny Thomas Blvd. without foot pain.

Great job, ROne.

P.S. Congrats to Ole Miss on winning the Lane Kiffin Bowl.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com

When the weather is warm, I stay out on the park benches on the Main Street Mall about half the nights. The other half I spend sleeping in the Memphis Union Mission.

Back in April-May, I’d see a man out walking in the 5 AM hour. I could set my watch by him. It was good to see him. His presence was an indicator I’d survived another night on Downtown’s streets, and that morning had arrived.

Then one day, something interesting happened. As the man walked by, he placed a package of vanilla Mini Muffins on the park bench next to me.

The next day, it was Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies.

The day after that, mini Oreos.

The next day, peanut butter Grandma’s cookies.

This morning, the Mini Muffins were back.

It isn’t just me. Each person out on the pedestrian mall at that hour gets a mini-sized snack bag with an uplifting note stapled to it.

Cheers to the breakfast snackman. He gives people who don’t have much to look forward to, something to look forward to.

Phone update: It looks like a friend is going to add me to her family cell plan.  If that happens, I will not only get a new phone, but for the first time in a couple of years I’ll have REAL cell service.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com

I was pickpocketed last night between 2 and 4 AM as I sat (and accidentally dozed off) on a park bench outside the old Family Dollar building.

They got my iPhone 14.

The good news? They didn’t get my wallet, my ID, my cash, my debit cards, my backpack, or my Chromebook. I had all those things too well secured to be stealable.

I thought I had the iPhone well secured, too.

And now it’s gone. I am devastated.

If any of my readers have a phone they could part with, especially an iPhone, it would make my day. My month. My year.

The best way to reach me is to email me at paul.ryburn@gmail.com. Or hit me up on Messenger if we’re friends on Facebook.

One thing criminals can never take from me is the love of my friends and readers. Several of you expressed that love this week. I needed it and I am so grateful.

I tried a Groove on Demand rideshare for the first time yesterday. Groove is marketed as offering the convenience of a Lyft or Uber at the price of a MATA bus ride.

It was about 11:30 in the morning and I was at the Memphis Chess Club, having completed my daily blog post. I wanted to go see my friend Christina at Earnestine & Hazel’s. However, I did not want to walk a mile-plus in 98 degrees/feels like 107. Especially not with Parkinson’s disease and my cellulitis-infected legs.

So I pulled out my not-yet-stolen iPhone and ordered a Groove.

The app told me a 7-passenger Chrysler Sierra van would arrive in 26 minutes to pick me up. 26 minutes!, I thought. A Lyft would be there in 5 to 10.

But then I remembered, including tip a Lyft would be $12 to $14. Groove on Demand has a flat fee of $1.25. And besides, it would take me longer than 26 minutes to get to E&H if I walked.

Once my ride arrived, things were great. The driver was very courteous and gave me plenty of time to climb into my seat. The van was well air-conditioned.

There was one other passenger and I struck up a conversation. She was one of the people who moved to Memphis to open up Chick-fil-A Uptown.

The driver dropped me off across the street from E&H. Five stars, would use again (if I had a phone). My friends at the bar hadn’t heard of Groove, so the rideshare service still has plenty of marketing to do.

I found out the name of the reality TV show that’s been filming couples on dates at Downtown bars. It’s called Ready to Love and it’ll be on the Oprah Network.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com