Author: paulryburn

BREAKING NEWS: Zach Randolph will exercise his $16.5 million player option with the Grizzlies for 2014-15 and has signed a 2-year, $20 million extension for 2015-17. Great move for everyone involved. Thank you Grizzlies and thank you Z-bo! (credit to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports)

I don’t mind the city reducing Riverside Drive to two lanes to allow space for bike and pedestrian use, but with that in place can they PLEASE enforce the “no trucks on Riverside” rule? This morning I was five minutes late to work because a dozen other drivers and I were stuck behind a tractor-trailer doing approximately 18 mph from Beale to Georgia.

Beale Street Landing had its grand opening at 10 today. There will be a celebration tomorrow with the Bo-Keys, Marcella and her Lovers, and Trio Plus from noon to 7. It’s pretty cool that the landing has the only Downtown playground for children 10 and younger. It’s not so cool that the landing took a decade to finish and cost taxpayers $43 million. On Saturday the official opening (with speakers) is from noon to 1, then live music 1 to 7. Maybe I will wander down there after my usual Bardog stop. I will make sure my Bardog stop lasts until at least 1 so I don’t have to listen to the speakers. Then again, the Blind Bear and the Flying Saucer are on the way to the landing from Bardog (the Saucer isn’t really, but humor me here) so I might get down there even later than 1.

If you’re going to the Redbirds game tomorrow, buy your tickets online. If you do that and enter code STJUDE at checkout, $5 of the ticket price will be donated to St. Jude. First 500 to purchase this special ticket receive a special commemorative St. Jude baseball T-shirt. First pitch is 6:05 PM (gates open at 5) with fireworks after the game. Round Rock is the opponent.

Kooky Canuck celebrates Canada Day all day Sunday, June 29. They’ll have $4 Forty Creek, and 2 for 1 Canadian beer bottles. The restaurant has 32 Canadian whiskys. Wear Canadian colors or hockey jerseys. $100 gift certificate to the person dressed the most “Canadian.” Special menu:

App’eh’tizers: Perogies and Poutine

Entre’eh’s: Montreal Steamies, Donair, Maple Sirloin Steak, Canadian Burger, Yonge Street Burger

Desserts: Maple Bread Pudding, Butter Tart and Nanaimo Bars

That’s all for now. There may be a second news post after work, so check back.

 

City Market has been stepping it up big time in terms of grab & go food. They’ve been doing these go-boxes which are perfect for a late night snack or to take to work the next day for lunch. This is the tuna salad plate with cheese, fruit and crackers, but I have had the hummus plate as well and it is excellent.

Most definitely appreciated. On the nights when I think I might not make it to lunch the following day, this will give me something to take to work.

Bedtime. If you’re a tube topper and you know where I live don’t be shy about coming over and waking me up.

I’ve had a few people ask if/when there will be fireworks Downtown to celebrate Independence Day. There will in fact be two such celebrations: One on Mud Island (and therefore visible from the river walk/Tom Lee Park/rooftops) and the other after the Redbirds game. Both will be on the Fourth. Thanks to Holly’s awesome July 4 post for the information.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Tube Top Month does not end on June 30 anymore. It ends with Independence Day weekend, which would be July 6 this year. So it will still be Tube Top Month on the Fourth. Please keep this in mind and dress appropriately.

Many locally-owned restaurants close on the Fourth, but Jamaican restaurant Evelyn & Olive has announced that they will be open and will be serving jerk pork shoulder. Evelyn & Olive is on Madison about a block east of Danny Thomas.

From Mashable: Brazilian men are pretending to be tourists in the country for the World Cup to try to hook up with Brazilian women. That’s awesome.

MATA has worked out a deal to continue shuttle service to Memphis Tigers basketball home games for the 2014-15 season. Discontinuation of the shuttle had been considered as a money-saving option.

Clothing boutique/salon Sache has announced that there are open positions. They are looking for retail sales, screen printing, event sales and office clerical expertise. Apply in-store.

Home from work. Since my regular Thursday Silly Goose bartender Jessica is at the beach this week, I’m going to switch things up and lead off at Bardog tonight for happy hour. Any and all tube topsters are invited to join.

BREAKING NEWS: USA loses to Germany 1-0, and Portugal beats Ghana 2-1. The USA survives the Group of Death to advance to the World Cup knockout round. USA! USA!

The Downtown Memphis Commission has launched Canine Confessions, a series of videos by Downtown dogs who are deeply embarrassed that their owners don’t pick up after them. Please be a good neighbor and scoop the poop! Or invest in a Poo Trap.

Westbound lanes of the I-40 bridge over the Mississippi River will be closed 5:30 to 10:30 AM Sunday. Use the I-55 bridge as your alternate.

If you’re looking for something free, fun, and healthy to do this weekend, there will be free chlamydia and gonorrhea testing at 1470 Elvis Presley Boulevard from 10 AM to 3 PM Saturday.

There will be a Pink Pig Apparel pop-up shop across from Bluff City Coffee at South Main Trolley Night tomorrow 6-9 PM.

Transit headlines the Peabody rooftop party tonight. $10 at the door, ladies free until 7. Admission includes a buffet of fried green tomatoes and po’boy sandwiches. If you’re in VIP you have a second buffet of muffaletas, red beans and rice, and fried shrimp. The Q 107.5/96.1 hosts the party and DJ Mark Anderson will spin tunes when the band is on break. The rooftop is a place to see and be seen, so why not be seen in a tube top?

Memphis in May deal: 2014 BBQ Fest T-shirt and apron for $24.98

Tonight is the NBA draft and the Grizzlies have the 22nd pick. From the Daily News: Grizzlies seek draft night magic.

So, Luis Suarez is banned from the rest of the World Cup and all soccer-related activity for four months. I guess he’ll be on his way home to Uruguay then. Since Uruguay is south of Brazil, would that make him South Bound Suarez? #inthroughtheoutdoor

(Yes, I know it’s “Saurez” in the official song title)

Glad so many of my friends went to bars this morning to watch USA-GER. I’m sitting here paginating datasets returned by a SQL query. FUN! I’ll be out at the usual spots after work.

Friday night is the monthly South Main Trolley Night. The last Friday of every month, many of the galleries and shops along South Main and intersecting streets stay open late. Many will have live music on Fridays, and there will also be vendors along South Main. If you’ve never been, it is a fun way to get familiar with all the neighborhood has to offer, and to meet some of your neighbors. It will be near 90, so you will want to be comfortable as you walk from one shop to another. A tube top would be a good idea (and American Apparel sells them).

While you’re in the area for Trolley Night, check out my friends Dynaflow who will be performing at Earnestine & Hazel’s. They take the stage at 7.

If you want to know what the Brass Door is like during a USA soccer match, check out this video.

Both the Downtown and Cordova Flying Saucer will open at 10 AM tomorrow for the USA match. Sound will be on. Silly Goose will open at 10:30 sharp. As I mentioned yesterday, Local, Bardog, and Brass Door will also be open.

There will be a job fair Friday at 413 N. Cleveland from 10 to 1. Many industry leaders will be there looking to hire.

Also, MATA is hiring.

That’ll wrap things up for now. I’ll lead off at the Silly Goose after work about 5:30 if anyone wants to put on a tube top and come join.

Tonight is the first annual DNA Sports Forum, at Bleu in the Westin Hotel. Attendees will hear from Geoff Calkins, Carrie Anderson, Gary Parrish and voice of the Memphis Grizzlies, Pete Pranica for a unique perspective on Memphis sports. Cocktails and snacks at 6, panel begins at 6:30.

The Green Beetle is holding its second annual crawfish party this Sunday, June 29. There will be live music and the crawfish will be ready by 3 in the afternoon. Crawfish will be $10 a pound and will include corn and potatoes.

People who organize crawfish boils in Memphis have noticed that they go a lot longer before they run out of crawfish since about March 20 of this year. In other news, the Nuh-Uh Girl moved out of Memphis about March 20 of this year.

Speaking of the Green Beetle, Kevin Cerrito will host Memphis Grizzlies trivia at the Beetle Thursday night at 8. He will also host Grizzlies trivia at Tamp & Tap Wednesday night at 7.

Central BBQ will be closed Monday, June 30 for the restaurant’s annual employee party.

A couple of friends of mine walked up to the High Cotton taproom this past weekend. After a few beers they were hungry, and decided to walk across the street and give Kudzu’s a try. They had the tamales, and one of them said, “These might even be better than the ones at Blues City” which is a huge compliment, as you know if you’ve ever had Blues City’s tamales. The other said “I was just thinking the same thing.” One of them had a fried pork tenderloin sandwich, which they said was huge with the meat hanging way past the edge of the bun. I need to give Kudzu’s a try (and the taproom a second try) soon.

The High Cotton taproom, by the way, will be closed Saturday for a wedding reception. They will fill growlers Saturday from 2 to 4.

Local will be opening early Thursday for USA vs. Germany with game day specials at 10:30 AM. The Brass Door is opening at 10 AM every day through Thursday, so they’ll be open too. Bardog opens at 8 AM weekdays regardless of whether there’s a game. Any other Downtown restaurants or bars planning to open early?

Holly has a list of reasons why you should attend Friday’s Redbirds game on the I Love Memphis blog. The main reasons are that the first 2000 fans will get a replica NLCS ring, and the game is an Alzheimer’s benefit. Instructions on how to make sure part of your ticket’s price goes to the fight against Alzheimer’s can be found in Holly’s post.

Police are investigating a hit-and-run crash involving an 18-wheeler on Riverside Drive this morning. Trucks aren’t supposed to be on Riverside anyway! What was this driver doing?

Yesterday I went to Melissa Monday at Bardog for happy hour. I learned that there will be a special bonus Melissa Tuesday tonight, so that is where I will lead off after work. Should get there around 5:30. Plan after that TBD.

Breaking news: A 171-room Hotel Indigo is going into 100 N. Main. InterContinental Hotels has made the committment, the Memphis Business Journal reports.

The Memphis Flyer is accepting nominations for Best Bartender and Best Server through June 29. Those selected will appear as choices on the Best of Memphis poll next month. (You’ll still be able to write a name in if your favorite doesn’t make them list.) Nominate here.

There will be a wine reception at Sue Layman Designs, 125 G.E. Patterson, during South Main Trolley Night this Friday from 6 to 9. Guests will be able to view her newest collection of paintings, entitled “Adventure of Love.” Free to attend. More information about Sue Layman can be found here.

Have you ever thought about joining the urban chicken movement, raising your own chickens instead of buying frozen processed ones? Tomorrow night, Tuesday June 24, there will be a presentation about urban chickens at the Main Library, 3030 Poplar, Meeting Room C. Master Gardener Patsy Courtright will talk about how she got started with urban chickens. She’ll cover feeding and watering, predators and protection, cleaning the coop, children and chickens, dance of the chickens, and more. The presentation will start at 6:30.

Broadway musical The Book of Mormon plays the Orpheum Tuesday through Sunday this week.

It looked like the USA soccer guys were going to kick the ball in the net one more time than the Portugal soccer guys, but then the Portugal soccer guys kicked the ball in the net again and it was a tie. Now the USA soccer guys need to make sure that the German soccer guys don’t kick the ball in the net more times than they do on Thursday. If the USA does that then they’ll advance and get to play some more soccer people.

Got a few more hours at work then it’s time for Melissa Monday at Bardog. Melissa had a tube top on when she worked last night, and hopefully she’ll have another tube top for today.

Michele has posted that Max’s Sports Bar will open early, at 2 PM both today and tomorrow, for those who want to watch the World Cup.

From WREG: A man is charged with sexual battery after allegedly groping a woman at a bus stop at Front and Monroe. He is said to have stuck his hand down the back of the woman’s jeans, as well as sticking his hand down her shirt and grabbing her breast. Normally I shy away from posting news like this that casts Downtown in a bad light, but I’m making an exception this time to post his mug shot so that all women Downtown can be aware of what he looks like.

WREG also has a really nice piece on the Nettleton Community Orchard. Neighbors took a piece of land at Tennessee and Nettleton that really wasn’t good for much and are turning it into something attractive. Fruit is already growing on the trees that have been planted, and next week AutoZone employees are volunteering to put in flower beds and plant more fruit trees.

The Flying Saucer has Moscow Mules back. The Moscow Mule is a refreshing summer drink made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice on ice. The Saucer got rid of the drink for a while because the copper mugs kept getting stolen, but now they have a system in place to prevent that.

I posted about the Moscow Mules on Facebook and got a tip from a Silly Goose bartender: The Goose has the Mules too and they’re $4 during happy hour.

I just surfed my Facebook timeline for the past week to see if there was anything I posted on there that needs to go on the blog too. As I re-read my posts I realized something – only one of my past 25 Facebook posts has mentioned tube tops. What has become of me lately? Quite disappointed in myself. The ratio of worthwhile information to tube tops should be more like 50/50 this time of year. I apologize to all my Facebook friends and I promise to try to do better.

Relaxing night last night for the most part… I had a good conversation with one of the main Squeal Street guys at the Saucer about that team’s plans for Best Memphis Burger Fest. Well, it was a good conversation until the Angry Turd barged in and ruined it. I also made plans for where I’m going to watch the USA-Portugal game on Sunday.

It’s Saturday so you know the drill. Panda’s bar at 11. Probably flying solo today because my friends are away on a canoe trip. If anyone wants to put on a tube top and come join me, feel free.

Author Craig David Meek sent me a publisher’s copy of his book Memphis Barbecue: A Succulent History of Smoke, Sauce & Soul so I could write a review for the blog. I’ve been reading it on lunch breaks this week. Today I got to the beginning of chapter 13, and the Moody Ques got mentioned!!!!! Nice! BBQ Fest is discussed in several chapters.

Memphis Made Brewing Co. will be hosting a beer dinner at Local (the Downtown one) early next month. The Tuesday, July 8 dinner will feature Memphis Made beers and tickets will be $35. To purchase, contact Kari Marshall at 901-581-0541 or at kari@localcaters.com.

When I listed a few of my recommended places to watch the World Cup, I neglected the best place to get a filet while you watch soccer – the Majestic Grille. They’re showing the games on the TVs at the bar.

New at Best Memphis Burger Fest this September: a slider eating contest sponsored by Slider Inn.

A few days ago I blogged about a disabled homeless veteran, living in his car, who the VA said they couldn’t help. Good news. A Florida real estate broker is working to get the former Marine a place to live with free rent for a year and furniture.

Meanwhile, The Atlantic has an article on how cities use design to drive the homeless away.

The Daily News reports that Uber is cutting its prices in Memphis. A ride Downtown from the airport will cost about $17 using the ride-sharing service.

Also from the Daily News: The Flying Saucer was here for the beginning of Memphis’ craft beer explosion. 17 years later, the Saucer is still here. I’ll be in there at some point tonight for some Dos Equis Lager and hopefully some tube top watching.

The Orpheum has announced a Crosby, Stills and Nash concert for August 20. Tickets go on sale next Friday.

The Grizzlies will host midnight basketball clinics in Memphis throughout the summer.

The work week is over and it’s time for beer. With a lot of my friends out of town and no plans other than the World Cup game on Sunday, it’s a wide open weekend. Check back tomorrow morning, because there will be a post for sure.

This week’s free Friday concert in Handy Park, at Third and Beale, is a Goner Records takeover. NOTS plays at 6, Jack Oblivian & the Sheiks at 7, and Tyler Keith & the Apostles at 8.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail, remastered to the highest definition ever, plays on the big screen at the Orpheum tonight at 7. Come early for activities with the Society for Creative Anachronism.

Backbeat Tours is holding a Memphis Dive Bar Crawl tonight at 8. Participants will travel by bus to visit three of Memphis’ best dive bars. Bar names are kept secret until the night of the crawl. While traveling on the bus between bars, singer/songwriter Kathryn Brawley will perform original songs. $10 covers bus travel but not alcohol at the three bars. Drinking on the bus is allowed in moderation. Get tickets here.

The Memphis Farmers Market theme tomorrow is “Be a June Bug,” a celebration of the bugs that are beneficial to gardens. Master gardeners will be onsite to answer questions you have about plants, gardening, and bugs. Live music by Heather and Sam 7-8:30 AM, Mare Wakefield 8:30-11, Jojo Jeffries 11-12:30. The Streetdog Foundation will be onsite for pet adoptions. Front at G.E. Patterson, 7 AM-1 PM.

The Memphis airport could get a $100 million de-icing facility. As my friend Bob who works there would say, Damn!

Follow @ObsidianPR on Twitter. On Monday they will tweet details on how to win a Downtown getaway package.

The new Hard Rock Cafe location at 126 Beale will open to the public on Thursday, July 3.

With most of my Downtown gang away on a canoe trip this weekend, I think I may walk down to Handy Park at 7 to see the Sheiks. Check back this evening, because there will once again be a second daily post.