Author: paulryburn

So, I have a new addiction that I thought I would share with my readers today. When I drive to work, I take 55 to Goodman Road in Horn Lake, turning west. Every morning I stop at the Shell/Circle K just past Interstate Boulevard, the first traffic light, for my morning caffeine. This morning I noticed that near the hot dog area, there are hot boiled peanuts that you can scoop into a 16-ounce or 32-ounce container. You can choose from original recipe or Cajun. I scooped out 16 ounces of Cajun peanuts, still wet from being boiled, and took them to work.

These things are SOOOOO good. If you stop at a Circle K on your way to work or wherever, look to see if they have hot boiled peanuts. If they do, trust me, get them. One tip though: Let them sit, with the lid off, for about half an hour before you start eating them. Otherwise you will be eating hot boiled Cajun peanut butter. Even after they have sat for a while, they are so soft that you won’t have to worry about breaking a tooth on them.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association is having happy hour at the Flying Saucer tonight from 6 to 7:30. You don’t have to be a member to attend, and it’s a casual get-together with no agenda.

The quarterfinals of the International Blues Challenge continue today, with a $10 wristband getting you in all the bars and clubs taking part in IBC. Post-quarterfinals there will be an International Jam at Club 152 (11 PM) and an All-Star Jam at Tin Roof (11:30 PM). Tomorrow at 11 AM the 2016 Keeping the Blues Alive Awards will happen at the Doubletree.

The Grizzlies play the Milwaukee Bucks at FedExForum tonight at 7. Stop by the Memphis Airport table while you are there for a chance to win a Tony Allen T-shirt and tickets to a Grizzlies road game. The table will be located on the Terrace Level.

A Nashville developer plans to add 175 new apartments in the area south of FedExForum and east of Third. The apartments will be called Patterson Flats and will help to fill in what has been in the past a rough part of Downtown.

If you’re figuring out where to watch the Super Bowl a week from Sunday and like good beer, Memphis Made announced that it will extend its taproom hours that day.

The Redbirds are seeking an Intern/Marketing Assistant on a seasonal basis. If you’re a college student, this could jump-start your career in the sports profession.

If you can’t be at 550 S. Main tomorrow night for Songwriter Night (7-9 PM), there will be a live stream you can watch.

That’s the news for now. Possible second post after work, then over to the Silly Goose for happy hour. Later in the evening I will see Pam & Terry at the Blind Bear. Apologies to Charvey for missing last night after I said I would be at the Goose but I was just too tired. I have more energy today and expect to stay out later.

A new Facebook event listing has been created for this year’s Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival Downtown on Riverside and Wagner on Sunday, April 17. This festival benefits children’s charity Porter-Leath and is one of Downtown’s largest and most fun spring festivals. Click “Going” or “Interested” to indicate your interest to your friends and to see updates about the festival.

The MBJ has a good interview with new Orpheum head honcho Brett Batterson. Batterson is a big proponent of arts education, and the new Halloran Centre for Performing Arts was a major reason he came here. However, Batterson does note that it is harder to follow in the footsteps of a legend (Pat Halloran) than in the footsteps of someone who failed.

Tallgrass, Kansas’ largest craft brewery, is brewing a beer with a very good name. We need to arrange a distribution deal in Memphis!

Meanwhile, a brewery that will soon be shipping to Memphis…

Welcome to Memphis @TinRoofBeer … you can pick up their beer here in the Memphis area this week. Cheers

— Memphis Craft Beer (@901craftbeer) January 27, 2016

I wonder if the Tin Roof will carry Tin Roof beer?

From WREG Live at 9: Learn how to make chocolate mousse from the Peabody’s pastry chef

The Advertising Checking Bureau has a customer service representative position open. I worked for this company 2004-06. Good place.

Heard on the Memphis police scanner yesterday:

Man says his neighbors have his brain cells on their heads and they are refusing to give them back.

— Memphis Scanner (@ScannerMemphis) January 27, 2016

HUH??? Nope, I’m sure no one was smoking crack at all when that phone call was made.

Time to control the PBR population at the Silly Goose. Back tomorrow.

Chef 4 a Day Catering is presenting an event called The Love Affair at No. 2 Vance on Valentine’s Day weekend. You can dine with your loved on with a view of the river, no lines, and no waiting. There are two brunch options: Saturday the 13th 11:00-1:00 or Sunday the 14th 12:30-2:30, with a brunch buffet and unlimited mimosas for $60. There is also a dinner option with unlimited champagne for Saturday evening the 13th 6:30-8:30 for $100. Check the event listing on Facebook to see menus.

The Tigers looked great last night against UCF! I’ve always believed Shaq had the potential to score 25 or more a night (35 last night) if he would just stay out of foul trouble. A win over SMU Saturday would give the NCAA committee something to offset last Sunday’s loss to ECU. Game is at 7 PM Saturday.

Cafe Pontotoc tweeted/Instragrammed that their kitchen is now open until 10 weeknights and 11 Friday and Saturday.

Pam and Terry play the Blind Bear tomorrow night from 10 AM to 1 PM. These two are a lot of fun.

International Blues Challenge: There’s a Pacific Northwest showcase on the first floor of Club 152 until 4 this afternoon, and a Blind Raccoon showcase at Purple Haze until 5. The IBC Quarterfinals begin around 5 this afternoon with a $10 pass getting you in all the participating clubs on Beale and nearby.

WWE fans: Thanks to Rolling Stone, you can watch The Undertaker’s greatest moments of the past 25 years as re-enacted by cats.

The Memphis Pink Bridal Show comes to the Cook Convention Center this Sunday. Plan your perfect wedding, all in one day. My idea of a perfect wedding is no wedding.

The Flying Fish has announced that fresh hot boiled crawfish will be back this weekend.

It’s been a good week for inventing/mis-using words at the Blind Bear. Last night one of the regulars told me I should read more to improve as a writer, telling me I’m “oxymoroning” myself by not reading more. Monday one of the staff learned she had been mis-using “living bi-curiously” all these years when she meant “living vicariously.” “Well, no wonder I’ve been getting funny looks when I say that.” We have such a great group on both sides of the bar up there. Sometimes even the slow nights of Monday and Tuesday turn out to be the best.

I’ll be leading off happy hour at the Silly Goose, then over to the Blind Bear for a bit then back to the Goose to hear Charvey at 10. Possibly another post before I go out this evening, so check back.

Today isabevigodadead.com updated its site content for the first time in many years. My co-worker tells me the site has been online since at least 1997 when he first saw it.

The Redbirds are selling mini-packs of 5 tickets to games throughout the season (3 different options for game days). The packs guarantee you access to some of the best free promo swag the team will hand out this season, as well as July 4 fireworks. Seating options for the five games include $115 for Club Level, $95 for Dugout, and $80 for Field Box tickets.

The Memphis Daily News has an article on Bendy Brewski Yoga that happens Downtown on Thursday nights at High Cotton Brewing Co. and out on Broad Avenue Mondays at the Rec Room. Brewery yoga offers beginners an easy way to get into the practice as well as a social outlet post-exercise.

Felicia Suzanne’s is holding its annual Duck Wake Monday, February 29 to celebrate the end of duck hunting season. There will be a three-course Duck Tribute Dinner paired with Duckhorn Wines, as well as passed hors d’oeuvres and Bourbon cocktails to begin the evening. Proceeds benefit Ducks Unlimited. $90 plus tax. Reservations are required; call 901-523-0877 to make them.

Gus’s is expanding to Detroit.

The leader of the RDC doesn’t feel that the Pyramid is causing tourism to expand in nearby areas.

All right, time to go get my hair cut, then PBR time. Back tomorrow.

The International Blues Challenge happens today through Saturday on Beale Street and in nearby clubs. This a chance for locals to hear some of the best blues in the world, and insiders have told me the early days are some of the best days to go. There’s an International Showcase on Beale Street today starting at 5:30. Complete schedule for the week is here.

Trolley Stop Market has Valentine’s Day news: They are now taking orders for heart-shaped pizzas for the holiday. If you want to have a party for your group or office and plan to order 10 or more 20-inch pizzas, they can give you a discount.

Also, Trolley Stop will have a special Farm to Table 3-course meal the weekend of February 12-14. There will be live music, and they will have family-friendly and vegetarian options for those who need them.

Damn. Eddie Van Halen is 61 today.

The Tigers play a road game at UCF today at 6, televised on CBS Sports Net. After Sunday’s bad loss to ECU, there’s been a lot of discussion about whether we should keep Josh Pastner as coach. Geoff Calkins explains that it would not be cheap to let Pastner go. There’s no buyout clause and the U of M would owe Pastner $10 million.

St. Jude has a Liason, Marketing Strategy & Planning position open.

Elmwood Cemetery is hosting a tour of the Elmwood Cottage Saturday at 1 ($15). Assistant Director Bob Barnett will share the building’s stories and history, and the stories of some of the 1866 building’s furnishings. Attendees will get to see records of slaves buried before the Civil War, and grave sites of people who died in the yellow fever epidemic of 1878. More info here.

The monthly South Main Trolley Night happens Friday from 6 to 9 with a pink trolley bus to ride and most stores in the area open late. Art Village Gallery (410 S. Main) will have an Out of Africa exhibit, and South Main Sounds (550 S. Main) will have Songwriter Night #21.

The five proposals submitted to redevelop the south end of Mud Island have been released to the public.

Club Paradise will reopen as a community center. B.B. King, Bobby Rush and many other blues musicians played the famous club at 645 East Georgia in the 1960s.

A Southern classic: Felicia from Felicia Suzanne’s has a video tutorial on making fried green tomatoes.

That’ll do it for now. I’m getting my hair cut after work, so I will be late getting out. I went a short time between haircuts this time: 3 months and 27 days, as compared to the 7+ months I went between the last two haircuts. I will probably watch the Tigers at the Blind Bear afterward.

The New Daisy is hosting its first ever Service Industry Night Tuesday, February 16 beginning at 7 PM. Your $10 cover gets you a beer bust and live music by the Dead Soldiers & Heels. 18-20? No problem, you can get in for $7, you just won’t get any beer.

Kooky Canuck is having a Canadian Polar Bear Blues Showcase this Thursday beginning at 11:30 AM. Bands from all over the world will be in town this week, and Kooky has invited Canada’s best of the blues to perform.

If you needed an additional reason to hang out at the Memphis Made taproom besides good beer, they now have free popcorn.

Crawfish lovers are in for a treat this season. Because the weather has been unusually warm, crawfish season has started earlier than usual and the crawfish are growing bigger than usual.

From Food and Wine: A chicken fried steak sandwich like you have never tasted before. It’s from Sissy’s Southern Kitchen and Bar in Dallas.

A couple of big events happen today: The TEP Gumbo Contest (BRIDGES, 4:30) and the Best Buddies Charity Dinner (Agave Maria, 7:00). Also, the Memphis Tigers host ECU at FedExForum at 1.

If you’re going to watch the Tigers and are looking for a place to pre-game, come join me for D-RANKS with B-RAD and my favorite pair of librarian glasses for Hung Over Like a Bear Brunch at the Blind Bear. $15 bottles of bubbly and $3 mimosas, Bloody Marys, moonshine, and cinnamon whiskey. The Bear opens at 11 but if you would rather post-game than pre-game, the specials run until 6.

All right, gonna spend a little quality time with my new sheep before I hit the Bear. Back tomorrow with more news.

 

We didn’t get that four to six inches of snow yesterday, but the important things are that the office closed and Bardog had two dollar Fireball because it was snowing a little.

Erik from MemphisWeather.net has a post on busted forecasts and building trust. Erik, weather is unpredictable by nature. No reasonable person could expect you to get the forecast right 100% of the time. Thank you for all you do for Memphis. There is no weather source I trust more than you.

Lots of companies in Memphis are hiring. High Ground News has news about several job opportunities.

High Ground also has the story of a Syrian refugee in Memphis. Mahmoud Al Hazaz ran a popular restaurant in Homs, Syria, until it was shelled four years ago. He took refuge in Jordan and then in Memphis. When he gets permission to work, he hopes to cook again, noting that he specializes in Middle Eastern food but is willing to learn to prepare Western food as well (“KFC”). Can someone finance a restaurant for this man Downtown? I would love to eat some Syrian food. He sounds way too talented to be slinging chicken.

Tube top news: Britney Spears shows off her painting skills in a cropped tube top

There are open auditions for The Voice at the Cannon Center today and tomorrow.

The World Series of Fighting has an event at FedExForum tonight at 9.

If you’re curious about Dr. BBQ at Main and Pontotoc, I got a top-shelf recommendation for the place yesterday. I ran into Tad who gives tours in the ’50s Cadillac yesterday. He has eaten at Dr. BBQ’s mobile location and says it is very good.

Bacon shot glasses. We need these at BBQ Fest.

All right, that’s all for now. Brunch with Bloom at Bardog is first on the agenda today. I’m also kinda feelin’ a trip south to Max’s Sports Bar at some point. Keeping the Fireball to a minimum after yesterday. Back tomorrow with more news.

I want to pass on a recommendation from a buddy of mine. He has an appointment next week for which he wants to look super sharp, and he needed to get a pair of pants altered and his suit and a couple of shirts pressed. After calling around a bit, he went to Pyramid Cleaners & Tailor Shop near Front and A.W. Willis (Mud Island bridge). He said they could not have been nicer, and they were quick, they do good work, and they were inexpensive. He asked if he could come back and bring some jeans in to be altered. They said they would have them for him the next day, and they have the thread that matches the jeans’ original hemming. Sounds like a good place if you need cleaning or alterations done.

I called my company’s inclement weather hotline this morning and was told that the office is closed. SNOW DAY! Bardog has $2 Fireball when it’s snowing. I sure will miss being in a cubicle today! The temperature was supposed to hover around 32-33 all day but it got colder than expected and WeatherBug is reporting 27 Downtown. I like it!

Gould’s at Main and Union is either open, or close to it. Walking down the Main Street Mall last night, I saw a hair stylist washing someone’s hair. Could have been another employee I guess but the place sure looked open. Nice to have that corner occupied.

If you’re a fan of the Memphis prints Reel2Real Photography sells but can’t get to South Main, you now have an option in the core. Life is Good is now selling R2R’s prints.

Checking Twitter, I see that Felicia Suzanne’s will be closed for lunch but will try to open for dinner. Out in The Edge, Trolley Stop Market is open. The Orpheum’s box office and administrative offices are closed. The National Civil Rights Museum is closed. McEwen’s is open for lunch and dinner. Bluff City Coffee is open. Green Beetle opens at 11.

Here’s a list of 10 of the cheapest countries to travel to. I especially recommend number 9, ROMANIA!!! The girls are really hot, you can get a hostel for $8-12 or a hotel room for $40, the girls are really hot, small meals run about $5, the girls are really hot, beers around two bucks each, the girls are really hot, and you can catch a city bus or train for $1. Also, the girls in Romania are really hot.

I don’t normally blog about things happening in Olive Branch, on account of Olive Branch kinda sucks. However, this time I am making an exception. The grand opening of Painting with a Twist is a week from tomorrow, Saturday, January 30 from 4 to 6 at 5338 Goodman Suite 107. Meet the staff, tour the studio, and complimentary refreshments will be given away. It’s a little bit of paint, a little bit of wine, and a whole lot of fun. Those of you who hang out at the Blind Bear may have noticed the fabulous chalkboard designs announcing the day’s happenings. Those were done by my friend Mandy who is one of the instructors at Painting with a Twist.

Bill Maher will be at the Orpheum this Saturday. Tickets $47.50-$102. Show time is 8 PM.

The Daily News reports that the Dermon Building at Third and Court will be turned into a boutique hotel.

Tickets are officially on sale for the International Blues Challenge finals, Saturday, January 30 at the Orpheum at noon. Get tickets here.

@MemphisJobs has tweeted several Chef Shuttle jobs recently, if you are interested in being a delivery driver.

Time to go check out weather conditions and set up shop at the Monroe Avenue Branch Office. Possibly back later today with more news.

From time to time I have mentioned my BBQ team, the Moody Ques, that competes in BBQ Fest (World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest) during Memphis in May. We compete in one of the “big three” divisions, pork shoulder. Since the first year we have been known for throwing a great party, with four consecutive top-three placements in Best Booth, including two firsts. This year, our goal is to make our competition meat as good as our party. We have purchased a new smoker, we have cooked for two fundraisers for the Memphis Farmers Market, and our pitmaster, president, and vice-president have attended the festival’s judging school. We plan to cook in two regional cooking competitions in April to get our cook team ready for the “main event” in May. We are seeking a sponsor for 2016; not just a company who writes a check and has people show up, but who wants to be part of this experience with us. To see what we have to offer, click the link below to download our sponsor packet (PDF). We can also send you a hard copy; email moodyques@gmail.com to request one.

Moody Ques 2016 Sponsor Packet

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the Memphis metro for tomorrow: Andrew Kozak says it best in this tweet:

#Memphis: Blame it on the weatherman. If U work in any non-essential business, close the office tomorrow. Just my advice. Roads will be bad!

— Andrew Kozak TV (@AndrewKozakTV) January 21, 2016

Follow @KrogerBread for updates from the Kroger bread aisle during this winter storm. Updates on milk too.

The winter weather means that for once, Delta has a legitimate excuse for its flights being late or canceled. If you are traveling to a cities in the Northeast this weekend, you may be eligible to reschedule your flight without a fee.

The Orpheum is having its next Dinner on Stage on Thursday, February 25. This is one of your first chances to sit down with new Orpheum president Brett Batterson and get to know him. There will be a cocktail reception, a tour of the theater, a short film about the theater’s history, Broadway trivia, Q&A, and a three-course meal. $75 per person or $550 for a table of 8.

Almost 14 years Downtown, and I’m still learning new things: Michael Donahue’s Best Bet this week is a dish I did not even know existed. You can call the Rendezvous a day in advance and order a 5-pound, massive skillet of BBQ shrimp that serves 4 to 12 people for $150. It’s been an off-menu item at the restaurant since the 1960s. Anyone want to get a group together and try this? It sounds really good.

If you’re in the medical profession, @MemphisJobForce has been tweeting a lot of job openings today.

Several times on this blog I have mentioned Carbunkle Trumpet, written by Robo, a Memphian who this summer moved with his wife to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Robo is doing a series titled “Fellow Bloggers You Should Also Read” and today I am featured. Robo interviewed me about who I am and why I write this blog. Damn, I clearly needed to proofread my answers for typos a little better!

The Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team plays Cincinnati on ESPN2 tonight at 6. A road win at Cincy would look really good to the NCAA tournament committee. If not for the weather I would go down to Max’s Sports Bar to watch it, because Arkansas plays Kentucky on ESPN at the same time.

However, given the weather, I am keeping it close to home tonight. I will lead off at the Silly Goose to watch the game.

The Mid-South is now under a Winter Storm Watch for Friday, with a weather event of “significant” impact expected. My favorite weather source, MemphisWeather.net, now has a blog post about what to expect Friday, with rain early in the morning transitioning to sleet and then snow. The area around the metro is expected to get up to 1/4″ ice accumulation (which by itself is enough to shut the interstate system down) followed by 2 to 6 inches of snow. There will be a Google Hangout hosted by MWN about the approaching storm tonight at 9 and you can join it here.

The temperature is not supposed to recover above freezing until the afternoon of April 12, so you better run to Kroger and stock up on bread and milk.

Don’t forget that Bardog has $2 Fireball when it’s snowing.

If you do manage to get out Friday, you can pick up a limited edition Memphis Grizzlies growler at the Madison Growler inside the Cash Saver (Madison at Avalon) beginning at 4 PM.

@Gil_Brandt reports that the Big 12 presidents are meeting in the near future to discuss expanding the number of football schools to 12 so the conference can have a playoff game. That could be good for the Memphis Tigers. West Virginia and Oklahoma are said to be in favor of the expansion.

Here’s the job listing for the director of the Memphis Animal Shelter. The position is open after Mayor Strickland failed to reappoint former Mayor Wharton’s unqualified and incompetent crony.

High Cotton Brewery tweeted that they will now be serving their beer in 16-ounce and 7-ounce glasses, as well as the four-glass sampler board.

For those of you who do Bendy Brewski Yoga at the brewery or yoga elsewhere around Memphis, these smart yoga pants will let you know if you’re doing the postures incorrectly.

Time to hit the Silly Goose for some PBR. Back tomorrow.