Wednesday update (and a personal update)

RiverBeat Music Festival, the new festival to be held in Tom Lee Park the first weekend in May (you know, like Memphis in May’s Music Fest used to be), has announced its 2024 lineup. Jelly Roll is sure to draw some of my friends there. The Fugees and Odesza will be the other headliners. One-day admission will be $95, with three-day passes for $248.

Very sad to hear of the death of a Downtown visionary. Jeff Sanford was the leader of the Center City Commission (now Downtown Memphis Commission) when I first started blogging. Much of the development we take for granted these days would not have happened without his hard work. Thank you, Jeff. You always treated me with kindness and respect.

If you knew, loved, and/or admired Jeff, there will be a memorial service for him on Saturday, March 18 at 11 AM at the Halloran Centre.

Max’s Sports Bar will hold its first crawfish boil of the season this Saturday. These are Glaze’s crawfish, the best boil in town, and they come with corn, taters, and sausage that are also cooked in the boil. The price for crawfish this year will be $15 for one pound or $28 for two. The price includes the sides but they are not included in the weight.

Max’s doors will open at 11 AM on Saturday and the first pot of crawfish will roll off about noon. My advice: Get there by 11:15 if you want seats inside. The first boil of the season at Max’s is always a huge South Main celebration.

There’s trivia at the Brass Door tonight at 6:30. Get there early for their 4-6 PM happy hour.

The I-55 bridge will close from Sunday, March 10 to Sunday, March 24. They’ll be doing work on the 55/Crump interchange. Use I-40 as your alternate.

Today is National Oreo Cookie Day. Yummm, one of my favorites.

There’s a new history tour of Downtown Memphis that focuses on women.

Hilton Garden Inn across from the ballpark is hiring a food & beverage manager.

The Grizzlies are on the road at Philadelphia tonight at 6:30 Central. TV: Bally Sports

Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology now has Penny’s Memphis Tigers in the final slot of Next Four Out. Back on the bubble, but the team still has plenty of work to do in Sunday’s game at FAU and in the AAC tournament next week.

Action News 5’s latest 5 Star Story looks at Memphis 901 FC’s upcoming season.

Local artists, the Renasant Convention Center wants to showcase your work.

Technology and engineering educators are meeting at the convention center the rest of this week.

Bitcoin hit an all-time high this week. Interestingly, gold hit an all-time high this week too.

Crave Cheesecakes has opened at 523 S. Main.

Zio Matto Gelato seeks a server.

Beyond the Stars Dance Competition comes to the Cannon Center this weekend.

Spiñorita comes to Eight & Sand Lounge in Central Station Friday night.

Tonight is the drawing for the Boston Beer Co. fire pit and beer cooler at the Flying Saucer. It’ll happen at 7 PM.

Brandon Lake’s Tear Off the Roof Tour, featuring Doe and special guest Jon Foreman, comes to the Orpheum tonight. Tickets are $39.50-$100.00.

Okay. Let’s talk.

Does this post seem unusually long and relaxed compared to most of my recent ones?

That’s because I’ve decided to stay out tonight. Which means I don’t have to get to the Union Mission (and to the front of a long line) by 2 PM to check in for free.

Which means I had time to get my MacBook this morning, bring it to the Cossitt Library, and compose this post at my leisure. As opposed to rushing around composing a post on my phone, publishing it, then getting errands and lunch done in the 3 to 5 hours a day not at the Mission or walking to and from the Mission.

I know it scares some of my friends when I stay out on the Downtown streets all night, but now and then it’s worth the danger to be around my friends and have access to Wi-Fi for up to 15-17 hours in one day.

I have a feeling that my path to a more permanent living situation and back into the world of work will involve one or more of those long days/nights out.

Since I have some spare time, let’s address a couple of personal subjects.

How am I doing?

If you want to know how I’m doing, in more detail than I go into on this blog…

The best way to find that out is to ASK ME. I don’t have a cellular plan right now (I hate talking on the phone anyway) but you can contact me on email (paul.ryburn@gmail.com) or Facebook Messenger. Note that, as I said earlier, most days I’m only on the Internet between about 8 AM and 12:30 PM, today being a planned exception.

The next best way is to ask someone who lives in Memphis and who has been around me multiple times in the past 30 days (that number is significant because I started staying at the Mission 30 days ago).

But PLEASE, don’t ask someone who lives out of town! They don’t know. Which leaves them to rely on a combination of hearsay and projection of their own issues onto me.

Drinking

It’s 12:34 PM Wednesday, March 6 as I type this. The last time I had any alcohol was Sunday. The Cossitt Library was closed and I needed to hop on the Saucer’s Wi-Fi. Plus my friend Christina was bartending and it was a pleasure to catch up with her. While I did those things I had 2 beers (admittedly, one was high-gravity, so call it the equivalent of 3 beers if you like).

Saturday, March 2 I drank as well. I had 4 beers as I celebrated being at one of my favorite hangouts with dear friends. The beers were consumed over a period of several hours and there were no shots.

The time before that when I consumed alcohol was Monday, February 26. It was the last day prior to today that I stayed out and didn’t check into the Mission. About 4 I went to the Flying Saucer to use their Wi-Fi, knocking out 3 Pint Nite beers while I did. Then about 7 I walked to another spot to meet one of my best friends, consuming 2 PBRs and a pimiento cheese burger.

The days when I didn’t drink in that period – the majority of those days – I didn’t have cravings for alcohol. I missed being in my fav places with my fav people, but I didn’t miss the feeling of being buzzed.

I asked the friend I met the night of the 26th if, in her opinion (because she’s someone I respect a lot), I needed to go to rehab. “No, Paul,” she replied. ‘You make some silly decisions sometimes. But you don’t belong in rehab.”

So there you have it. If what I just described sounds like the image of a raging alcoholic, by all means, judge away.

(Disclosure: Given that tonight is a night out, there’s probably a Saucer happy hour visit in my near future)

Facebook

Every night at the Mission, we have chapel at 6. There are often guest preachers from churches around the Memphis metro. Monday night we had musical entertainment from a singer/guitarist who I believe was named Brother Lance.

“Don’t never let nobody… get your spirit down,” he sang.

That resonated with me.

Last week I unfriended some people on Facebook. Not a lot – I could count them on the fingers of both hands. And to be clear, it’s not like I hate them now. It’s not that I never want to hear from them again.

It’s just that recently, words they have spoken – to me or to others – have got my spirit down. And that’s not what I need in my life right now.

So I decided to put them on hiatus until I get to a different place in my life.

I hope they understand.

As for the rest of you, I appreciate your love and support. Say a prayer for me. I’m gonna get through this difficult time in my life. I feel like there’s a reason I was meant to go through this.

Right now, though, I think I’m gonna walk over to Walgreens and have my own National Oreo Day celebration.

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Tuesday update

Every day I pass the Grizzlies Prep Academy as I walk Downtown, and I think, how lucky we are to have an institution that develops such fine young men.

Fifth-grade, 10-year-old me would have resisted Grizzlies Prep culture a little. I hate wearing dress clothes- still do – and I would’ve heard, “Be a man of excellence and integrity at all times,” and I would have dismissed it as the kind of empty BS adults say to control kids.

But if you told me, “Wear your uniform proudly, and be a man of excellence and integrity, JUST LIKE JAREN JACKSON, JUNIOR,” I bet I’d be totally on board. Especially if there was a possibility of meeting the Grizzlies F/C if I lived up to my promise.

Taylor Swift’s possible future brother-in-law, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, announced his retirement yesterday.

Momma’s has announced a live music series 7-11 pm Wednesdays in March:

⁃ March 6: Deep Roots

⁃ March 13: Troy Highland

⁃ March 20: Stacked & Jacked

⁃ March 27: Sky King

The music series will be presented by Grind City Brewing.

El Presidente Biden delivers the State of the Union Address tonight.

The clocks spring forward at 2:00 am Sunday morning as Daylight Saving Time begins.

The Grizzlies got a nice 106-102 win over Brooklyn at Barclays Center last night.

Supper Club on Second is reopening with Chef Tam at the helm.

Red Bull has a sales and delivery position open in Memphis.

Y’all ready for my latest Memphis Union Mission story?

When your name is called to use one of the showers, you stop by the clothes closet first to get clean clothes to dress into. Some of the donated stuff they have in there is very nice. But, as I learned last weekend, you have to be careful what you ask for.

Saturday I asked for a T-shirt. They handed me a plain white men’s undershirt which must have been size small. It clung to my body. I felt self-conscious wearing it to Bardog to meet my friends.

So Sunday, I was more careful at the clothes closet.

“Large T-shirt. Not an undershirt. Something that’s not white and has stuff printed on it.”

They tossed me a gray shirt, and out of the corner of my eye I saw print. I was satisfied and walked to my shower stall.

I should have taken a second look.

Talk about hitting rock bottom! Or, should I say, “Rocky Top” bottom!

Back tomorrow with more news.

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Apologies for typos, doing this from my phone.

Saucer Sunday

The Cossitt Library isn’t open on Sunday, so I made alternate wi-Fi arrangements to bring you this post… the Flying Saucer!!! Christina is still behind the bar on Sundays and she plugged my MacBook in. Drinking a Meddlesome She Devil. All local drafts except Wiseacre Astronaut Status are $5 on Sundays.

I learned a SAUCER SECRET today. If they take a beer off the menu and then put it back on the menu at a later time, you can get the beer counted twice toward the 200 beers for your plate on the wall. (Computer nerd time: I’m guessing that’s because the re-listed beer has a different primary key in the database.)

(By the way, thanks to Dr. Chip Ordman who first taught me about primary keys 32 years ago.)

The She Devil is beer number 173 toward my 9th plate.

Here’s what you’re missing by not being at the Saucer today:

And here’s what you’ll be missing if you’re not at the Saucer this Saturday:

Also, Saucer trivia this Tuesday will have a St. Patrick’s Day theme.

On to the rest of the news:

It’s Senior Night as Penny’s Tigers take on UAB at FedExForum today at 4:30. TV: ESPN2

The Grizzlies blew a 17-point lead to lose to Portland in OT 107-100 yesterday.

LeBron scored his 40,000th point last night.

Ferraro’s Pizza is hiring servers.

Today is National Moscow Mule Day.

And it’s National Soup it Forward Day, a day to deliver love by the bowlful.

JAVA Trio plays Huey’s from 3 to 6 this afternoon.

Rumba Room hosts LGBTQ Toxic Karaoke Friday at 8. This event is said to be aimed at the 30+ crowd.

Pints & Pelvises happens at Wiseacre Downtown this Monday evening.

Minor League Baseball is hiring seasonal data operations personnel.

Beer 174 is Wiseacre Gotta Get Up to Get Down.

Gonna hit Publish and get some stuff installed on this MacBook. Back tomorrow.

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Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Saturday update

In case you missed my post yesterday, Walgreens at 2 N. Main has expanded its hours. It will now close at 10 pm Monday-Saturday and 9 pm Sunday.

This brings Walgreens’ hours more in line with other area retailers such as City Market, Second Street Shopper, and DGX. It’s a shame Walgreens chose to be a follower instead of a leader in this respect. I emailed their corporate office in 2004 asking for this kind of expansion. They replied that it didn’t fit in with their profitability studies at the time.

Even if you never go to Walgreens, this is great news for Downtown. It puts the best antidote for crime, local foot traffic, on the street until later into the evening.

It’ll also help thwart the impression that Downtown rolls up its sidewalks at 5 when corporate offices close for the day. Long-term, that will help attract more conventions.

On to other news….

In addition to the items I mentioned yesterday, the Cossitt Library is selling earphones and phone chargers.

I saw an “application to sell beer’ sign in the window of the former Felicia Suzanne’s in Brinkley Plaza. Anyone know what’s going in there?

The TACOnganas truck is in Court Square this morning. Some kind of community festival.

The Grizzlies lost to Portland by 30 last night. They’ll have a chance for revenge tonight.

Kia and Hyundai owners may soon have money coming in a settlement of a car theft class-action lawsuit.

Yesterday I mentioned how Eugene Magevney could have looked out his window at 198 Adams in the 1830s and seen slaves being traded. Here’s the historical plaque about that:

Many people think AW Willis Ave. was the center of the Memphis slave trade because of its former name, Auction. But Adams was the actual center.

Heading to Bardog to meet friends for brunch. Back tomorrow.

Readers’ generosity helps keep this blog afloat. Donations:
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Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Apologies for typos, doing this from my phone.

Friday update

Mystery from yesterday’s blog has been solved:

This building at the southwest corner of BB King and Jefferson will be an Aloft, a boutique brand of Marriott. It’s planned to open in April. Thanks to Brian and ATM for the info.

It’s Grizz’s birthday as the Grizzlies host the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at 7 at FedExForum. The first 5000 fans in attendance get a free Lil’ Grizz in a Box.

The Trail Blazers will stick around Memphis for another game Saturday, also at 7. It will be Spirit Night presented by Varsity Spirit. The first 3000 fans in the door for that game will get a Ja Morant “Ja-waiian” shirt. TV for both games: Bally Sports

Today is National Dadgum That’s Good Day. I recommend you pop open an ice cold Pabst Blue Ribbon to celebrate.

My former student Melanie would want me to tel you it’s National Horse Protection Day.

Today is also National Pig Day. A rack of ribs at Blues City Cafe would be a great way to celebrate, as would a Baconator from Wendy’s. Also a good day for BBQ Fest and SmokeSlam teams to get in some practice.

Speaking of practice: Tuesday is Cinco de Marcho It’s your opportunity to get some valuable drinking practice in for Cinco de Mayo 2 months early.

Ronald McDonald House seeks a part-time Culinary Meal Coordinator

The Cossitt library has a selection of used books available for sale on a pay-what-you-can basis. See the shelf to the right of the checkout desk. The library is also selling book lights and thumb drives.

Want something different to do this Saturday afternoon? The Magevney House, the oldest private residence standing in Memphis, has free tours 1-4 pm the first Saturday of each month.

This house dates to the 1830s. It’s a chance to experience Memphis as it was not long after it was laid out by John Overton, James Winchester, and future U.S. president Andrew Jackson. The house is at 198 Adams just east of B.B. King Blvd.

The view from the Magevney House has certainly improved: In 1839, if you’d looked out the house’s windows, you might’ve seen slaves being sold across the street.

Penny’s Tigers whooped up on ECU last night, 82-58.

The Whiskey Warmer Festival benefiting Volunteer Memphis is at Uptown event space The Kent tonight.

Memphis Riverboats seeks a captain

From the CA: How to report potholes in Memphis

From ABC 24: Where to find glasses for the April 8 solar eclipse Downtowners, Feelin’ Memphis is your spot.

It’s a bit doubtful I’ll post tomorrow. I’m gonna try to sort out charging issues with my MacBook. Back sometime between then and Monday.

Kind versus Nice. Be kind y’all.

Thanks to the folks at Vollintine Baptist far coming out to the Union Mission yesterday. The chicken Alfredo was tasty and the sermon excellent, emphasizing the importance of thankfulness. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Readers’ generosity helps keep this blog afloat. Donations:
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Apologies for typos, doing this from my phone.

Thursday update

Anyone know what this building is/was/will be? Southwest corner off Jefferson and BB King:

The paint scheme and circular driveway out front kinda suggest “future boutique hotel.”

Great news – Three days before it was set to expire, I renewed my blog’s hosting on GoDaddy for another year. Thanks to those of you who Venmo’d me money,, sent me Apple Cash, or handed me cash when you saw me around town.

Whew! That’s the last website-related bill until December. By the way, navigating GoDaddy’s product renewal process on a smartphone web browser is about as much fun as attempting to float across the Pacific on a homemade wooden raft.

Happy Leap Day! Today is also National Frog Legs Day. You can get them at the Flying Fish.

Get your Leap Day discounts and freebies here

Matthew Wilson plays Ladies Night at Momma’s tonight 7-10.

There’s Taylor Swift Bingo tonight at Slider Inn Downtown. 7 pm.

Penny’s Tigers hit the road for a game at ECU tonight at 6. Catch it on ESPN2..

South Point Grocery celebrates its second anniversary from noon to 4 pm Saturday, March 9. Free burgers, dogs, and in-store vendor samples. Live music. In-store specials.

The Grizzlies lost 110-101 to Minnesota yesterday. Jaren dropped in 33.

Bartlett: You’re getting your own version of Loflin Yard

The Cossitt Library’s Painting on the River series in observance of Women’s History Month kicks off this Saturday. Sara Payne will be this week’s artist. Noon-2 pm.

A few people have asked when I’m gonna publish that guest-centric Memphis Union Mission FAQ I mentioned last week. I still intend to, but I feel like my knowledge about the place is as of yet incomplete. I feel like I’m still learning.

For example, I learned you can stay by the month rather than by the night if you so choose. The fee is $186/month, which works out to the $6 nightly fee times 31 days. Monthly people get the same bed every night, their own private locker, and a few other perks.

I personally am not inclined to pony up the 186, given that I get to the Mission before 2 pm most days and get in free. Now, if they threw in complimentary Wi-Fi as one of the perks of paying monthly… well, then I would have to seriously consider it.

That’s it for now. Thanks for sticking with me. Back tomorrow.

Readers’ generosity helps keep this blog afloat. Donations:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn
Cash App: $Paulryburn1
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Apologies for typos, doing this from my phone.

Wednesday update

The Grizzlies are in Minnesota tonight for a 7 pm game at the Timberwolves. TV: Bally Sports

Thoroughly impressed that the Daily Memphian wrote an article about Ole Anderson’s death. Ole was a professional wrestler who was half of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew with his “brother” Gene and part of the Four Horseman with Tully Blanchard and his “cousins” Arn Anderson and Ric Flair.

Ole turns heel (became a bad guy) on “The American Dream”Dusty Rhodes, 1980, possibly his finest work: https://youtu.be/fCIgLQGruvs?si=b9Rgq_H1cXF5bcTH

In other wrestling news, it looks like The Great One, The People’s Champion, the incomparable Rock will be on the March 15 broadcast of WWE Smackdown live from FedExForum. The Rock recently turned heel, joining his cousin Roman Reigns’ stable The Bloodline.

The history of soul food is Action News 5’s latest 5 Star Story.

Front Street Deli is soft open 11 am to 2 pm today through Friday.

Grind City Brewing will have its 3rd annual Fermented Reality limited release party Saturday.

There’s a hoodoo workshop at Stax this evening. Novelist Arthur R. Flowers will host.

That’s it. Sorry the posts have been short lately.

Readers’ generosity helps keep this blog afloat. Donations:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn
Cash App: $Paulryburn1
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Apologies for typos, doing this from my phone.

Tuesday update

Walking around this morning, I noticed there’s a new dog park, “Fourth Ruff,” on Front by the Mud Island parking garage. The name is a play on nearby human park Fourth Bluff.

The Orpheum has announced its 2024-25 Broadway season. Shows include

  • MJ
  • Girl from the North Country
  • Moulin Rouge
  • Peter Pan
  • Hamilton
  • Some Like It Hot
  • Kimberly Akimbo
  • The Wiz

A tequila fest is coming to Court Square Sunday, March 24.

Today is National Kahlua Day.

That’s all I have time for today. For some reason this new MacBook is slow as molasses. Back tomorrow.

Readers’ generosity helps keep this blog afloat. Donations:
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Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Monday update

Has anyone got an extra MacBook power block and cord? Contact me at paul.ryburn@gmail.com if you have one to spare.

On to the news….

Island 45 plays the Blind Bear this Saturday from 9 pm to 1 am. That’s my friend Jenn’s band that mostly plays shows out east. Go see them!

The Midsouth Farm and Gin Show will be at the Renasant Convention Center this coming weekend. Please make them feel welcome. They are super nice people and they spend a lot of money here.

The Grizzlies host the Brooklyn Nets tonight at 7. TV is Bally Sports.

Penny’s Tigers improved to 20-8 and 9-6 in conference with a win over FAU yesterday, 78-74. The Tigers could potentially have a 25-win season and still miss the NCAA tournament

Keep an eye on the weather. Strong storms are possible Tuesday and Wednesday. MWN blog

The Trumpster won the South Carolina primary last night.

AT&T will issue a $5 credit to customers affected by its outage last week.

Interesting book I found at the Cossitt Library;

It’s got a 398 call number if anybody wants to come check it out.

I booted up my new (to me) MacBook Pro for the first time yesterday.

It was SO NICE to be back on a Mac after a 3-week hiatus. I was thrilled to get into Gmail, figuring two-factor authentication might be an issue (I no longer have my 901-581- number). And I even got a short blog post done before the battery got low. I won’t be able to use the Mac again, though, until I solve the power situation.

Back tomorrow with more news.

Readers’ generosity helps keep this blog afloat. Donations:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Apologies for typos, doing this from my phone.