Author: paulryburn

Last week I mentioned a bet that had been made on the NFC championship game between Colin, one of the operating partners of the Blind Bear, and his friend Raj. I knew that Raj, loser of the bet, had to stand on the corner of Second and Peabody place for an hour holding a sign. What I did not know was that there was much more to the bet than just that.

I led off at the Blind Bear at noon yesterday, as I normally do for Sunday brunch. I found Colin sitting at one of the poker tables, blowing up helium balloons in Seahawks colors. In the back was a hideous green and plaid suit with enormous green shoes, and a clown wig. That was what Raj had to wear as he held his sign. “This is going to take shame bets to a whole new level,” Colin said.

A lot of people would have tried to weasel their way out of paying off the bet, but not Raj. About 2:40 PM he came in. They closed the curtains to the dining room and Raj changed into the clown suit. Once Raj was dressed, Colin escorted him to the corner of Second and Peabody, where he stood in front of the former Primetime Sports Bar and held his sign.

Raj was a good sport about the whole thing. He danced around holding the sign and wearing his size-40 green clown shoes. I watched the show from the Flying Saucer across the street. Colin came in and invited the Saucer girls to walk across the street and have their photo taken with Raj. Several people driving down Second stopped to pose with Raj too.

Due to the rain, Raj’s sign fell apart about 35 minutes into the hour, and Colin decided he had been through enough humiliation and called it a day. I had taken several pics and posted them to Facebook, and within a couple of hours I was getting “permission to use this photo?” texts and emails from the media. “I’m already planning for next year,” Colin said. “It’s going to be even bigger and better. Funny thing is, I will probably be the one dressed as a clown next year.”

Congrats to Colin on winning the bet, and to Raj for being an incredibly good sport who paid his bet off in full.

If you want to witness a piece of Downtown Super Bowl fun, walk or drive past the corner of Second and Peabody Place around 3 PM tomorrow. You see, two weeks ago, two Downtowners, Colin and Raj, made a bet on the NFC championship game. However, they did not bet money. Instead, they made it a bet of personal pride. Colin’s team, the Seahawks, won the game. As a result, Raj has to stand on one of Downtown’s busiest corners for an hour tomorrow, holding a sign that reads, “I MAKE BAD BETS. Go Seahawks!”

The annual Porter-Leath Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival is set for Sunday, April 27. This is Memphis’ biggest and best crawfish festival and is well worth attending even if you don’t eat the critters. Usually the fest is the third weekend in April, but it’s a week later this year. I checked the calendar and the reason for the date move is that Easter is Sunday, April 20. That means that Rajun Cajun and Beale Street Wine Race will be on the same day for the first time in several years. Dammit Jesus, why couldn’t you have been crucified in February when there’s nothing going on? I wish the two fests could figure out a way to waive the open-container law on Beale between Second and the river that day. It would be sweet indeed to get a Call-a-Cab from Wet Willie’s as a walkaround and walk it back to the crawfish festival.

Winter weather is a possibility tomorrow night. MemphisWeather.net has the details.

Like long-range forecasts? Yesterday I discovered that AccuWeather does a 45-day forecast. Of course, who knows how reliable it can be that far out, but here’s the good news: Only 2 of the next 45 days are predicted to have highs in the 30s, and no highs in the 20s. Also, after a week from tomorrow, no lows below freezing are predicted. I hope they’re right!

Another thing I like about AccuWeather? They don’t name winter storms. None of that Cleon, Dion, Electra BS. I’m getting sick of the Weather Channel and am going to rely on AccuWeather from now on as my national weather website.

If you won’t be in front of a TV tomorrow, here’s how to watch the Super Bowl online.

From the Consumerist blog: Hold your burger this way to keep toppings from squirting out when you bite into it. You’re welcome.

The Tigers play a road game against SMU at 1 today. Game will be on CBS Sports Network. A lot of people don’t realize that this is a big game. SMU is a very good team but doesn’t have the reputation of our foes Louisville, UConn, and Cincinnati. I won’t make a prediction on the outcome of today’s game but I will make this prediction: As today’s game goes, so will go the Tigers’ chances of making the Sweet 16 in March.

Random pro wrestling video of the week: CM Punk’s matches in TNA 2003-2004. You may have heard that Punk, one of WWE’s top stars, walked out on the company this week, right in the middle of the buildup to WrestleMania. The video linked here is two and a half hours of footage from the days when CM Punk was young and TNA didn’t suck.

That’s the news for now. As usual I will be out at Bardog at 11, then figure out the rest of the day.

Tonight is Trolley Night on South Main. Many of the shops will stay open until 9 PM or later. This month there will be live music inside Douglas & Associates, Sache, Art Jamn, D’Edge Art, Grawemyers and New World Connection Cultural Center.

Tomorrow will be the annual Polar Bear Plunge and Chili Cook-off at Mud Island River Park. The event benefits the Special Olympics and things get going at 10:30 AM. The plunge into the chilly Mississippi happens at 3.

From Gizmodo: County-by-county map of how much snow it takes to cancel school across the U.S. All of West Tennessee is in the green (any snow) area.

Need a job? Community app Nextdoor is hiring community organizers for Memphis.

The Redbirds are hiring as well. They’re looking for bat boys, boardwalk attendants, and new members of the RedHots promo team. More info here.

Williamsburg is considered the “hipster” area of Brooklyn. From Gawker: Find the Williamsburg of your city. For Memphis, it’s a tie between South Main, Cooper-Young, and Overton Square.

From WREG Live at 9: Chilean sea bass cooking demo by Chez Philippe.

That’s the news and now we’re only a few hours a way from a much needed weekend. Take it easy and I’ll be back with more news tomorrow probably.

I try to check Groupon every morning to see if there are any deals Downtowners might be interested in. No Downtown deals, but I know a lot of dog owners read this blog, so I want to mention a deal I did see: Home dog boarding from rover.com. You can browse profiles of local dog lovers who will board your dog while you’re away. The Groupon deal is good for up to 63% off.

Time for a few pieces of Super Bowl news: I have learned of two more Downtown restaurants offering take-out platters for Super Bowl house parties. Double J is offering 48 sliders for $48, with choice of two sides excluding asparagus. You can also get 24 sliders and 5 dozen wings for $99, or one dozen wings for $9.

If you want sushi at your Super Bowl party, Bluefin has a catering menu.
If you plan to order catering from any restaurant for your party, best plan is to call as far in advance as possible.

If you want to get out to watch the Super Bowl, the Flying Saucer will have Pint Nite all day and evening for Super Bowl Sunday. From opening time at noon until closing time at midnight, almost all draft pints on the wall will be only $3. Pint Nite will also happen on Monday as usual.

People ask me from time to time if the Downtown bars get uncomfortably packed for the Super Bowl. No, most don’t. There is so much competition between all the bars that day that most of them are average-busy, probably a little busier than the typical Sunday but not packed to the gills. Still, it’s a good idea to get there an hour (or more) early to get a good seat, wherever you go. If your destination is known as a good place to watch sports (e.g. Max’s Sports Bar), may want to get there even earlier.

Discount on tickets for Youth Villages’ Soup Sunday ends January 30. Get tickets here.

Eat Local Memphis has good coverage of brunch at Rizzo’s Diner. Nice photos of the meatloaf sandwich and the catfish benedict.

In the news: Wine-in-groceries bill passes committee vote in TN house

From WMC: Beware of $9.84 charges on your credit and debit cards, often listed as from “customer support.” This is a small charge scammers use to determine if a card is active. If you get one of those $9.84 charges it is a sign you may be about to be hacked. I have enabled text alerts on my phone so I will know about those charges on my card immediately.

You’ve probably heard about the snowstorm in Atlanta that caused 940 accidents and left people stranded in their cars overnight. The deal was, they knew 1-2 inches of snow was predicted for the city, but it hadn’t started by morning rush hour so everyone went to work and school as normal. STUPID. Don’t listen to all those people who say, “Wait, we’re closing offices and schools because it MIGHT snow?” Listen to your intuition. If YOU think it’s going to get bad, stay home and keep your kids home from school. By the way, MemphisWeather.net says we might have an icy weather event next Tuesday or Wednesday.

That’s it for Wednesday’s post. I’ll be out after work, probably leading off at the Silly Goose.

I got more information on the gaming systems at Tamp & Tap. Kevin Cerrito who does the Wednesday night trivia there reported that they have an N64 as well as an original NES, and a great game selection too.

The Green Beetle emailed to let me know that going forward, they will have $3 Wiseacre drafts (Ananda and Tiny Bomb) and $6 Beetle Burgers all day on Tuesdays.

The Silly Goose will have its 5th anniversary party this Thursday. Start time is 9 PM. Congrats to the Goose on hitting 5 years.

If you’ve ever wondered what a career coach can do for you, check out this interview on Action News 5. My friend Angela Copeland talked about her coaching service. I was just talking to her the other day about some of the consulting she does, and believe me, if you want to jump-start your career, you should talk to her.

The Eat Local Memphis blog has a good post about Felicia Suzanne’s. It talks about the new patio and “the shack out back.”

It’s official: The Hard Rock Cafe move has been confirmed. The Hard Rock has filed a permit for $2.5 million in renovations to the building at 126 Beale. The article says the building last housed EP Delta Kitchen in 2008, but that’s incorrect: It was the short-lived Republic Nightclub after that.

That’s it for now. Time to go run errands in the freezing cold. Most likely I’ll be out at Blind Bear poker tonight at 8.

Join Mayor Wharton for “Out to Lunch on Beale Street” this Friday, January 31. At 11:30 AM the Mighty Souls Brass Band will promenade down Beale. At 11:45 the Grizzlies Claw Crew, Rockey Redbird, the Amurica photo booth, music and more will be at Handy Park. Join the mayor for lunch and rediscover America’s most iconic street.

Follow @mmfa1784 on Twitter to learn which fire trucks are browned out each day. Today there’s just one browned-out truck, in South Memphis.

Downtown is losing an auto repair shop. Madison Automotive at 440 Union will close at the end of this week. The shop’s Covington Pike location will remain open.

Walking down Madison this morning, I noticed that the space formerly occupied by Jack Yacoubian Jewlers near Second Street is for lease. That block is starting to experience a comeback, with the Brass Door, Mad Earl, and Havana’s Pilon all thriving. Hopefully something good will go in there.

Saw this on Facebook yesterday: Follow these tips and live hangover-free for the rest of your days

I saw on Twitter that Tamp & Tap has a Nintendo 64. Pretty cool.

The Flying Saucer has some new menu items, and I tried one yesterday: Queso fondue.

You get your own pot of fondue, with ham, bratwurst, veggies, and pretzels to dip. This is a LOT of food! TWo people could easily split it and get plenty to eat.

That’s it for now. Everybody keep warm; next two days are supposed to be bitter cold.

Today is the finals of the International Blues Challenge. It starts at the Orpheum at noon, with doors opening at 11 AM. Tickets are $42.50 (while supplies last) and an IBC pass will also get you in. There will be a silent auction at 11 AM. The best self-produced CD winner will also be announced at this show. The best blues in the world are right down the street today.

There are a few more IBC events to wrap things up. Tonight at 8:30 there will be an all-star Jam with Dennis Jones at the New Daisy on Beale Street. At 10 there will be a VizzTone Blues Party at Rum Boogie Cafe. That party will be hosted by by Bob Margolin featuring Candye Kane, Laura Chavez, Little G Weevil, Dennis Gruenling, Long Tall Deb & Colin John, Bob Corritore, Gina Sicilia, Gracie Curran, Tad Walters, Chuck Cotton, Richard “Rosy” Rosenblatt. $5 cover.

Tomorrow there will be a Blues Brunch at 10:30 at the Majestic Grille. Out-of-towners, if you’re undecided about this, GO. The Majestic has one of the best brunches in the city.

Got an update from someone who dropped by Earnestine & Hazel’s last night and talked to people who work there: They plan to be open every day now, although they may not be open for lunch. This is mere speculation on my part, but if you want to experience E&H as it has existed for the past 22 years, you might want to do it sooner rather than later. Actually, it could be argued that E&H as it existed for the past 22 years no longer exists, now that a few key employees have been let go. I don’t want to name names but they were as much a part of the place as the jukebox and the records on the walls. If any of those let go are reading this: My heart hurts for you and if I can do anything to help you, please let me know.

I mentioned that all three of Aldo’s restaurants are selling party packs for Super Bowl parties at home. Add one more restaurant to the list: Central BBQ. They’ve got meat trays, sandwich packs, wings, and more. They suggest calling your preferred location as soon as possible to reserve your order. The phone number for the Downtown location is (901) 672-7760.

Two games at the FedExForum this weekend. Tonight at 7 the Grizzlies take on the Houston Rockets, a back-to-back after getting a road win over the Rockets last night in Houston. Tomorrow the Memphis Tigers host the USF Bulls at 1 PM.

Almost time for my usual Saturday Bardog stop. Not sure if Panda will be back or if we’ll have one more week of Brooke, but either way I won’t be disappointed. Got a double birthday party to attend for two friends at the Blind Bear at 9, so I’ve got to be careful to wake up early if I take a midday “halftime” nap. Outta here for now. Congratulations to the blues artists who made it to the finals.

Last night I received a message from one of my Twitter followers. She’d tried to go to Earnestine & Hazel’s last night but it was closed, and she asked if I knew what was going on. I didn’t, but several people on South Main gave me details. Here’s what I have been told (this came from customers, not anyone who works there):

• They let two employees go, and as a result have been closed several nights a week
• They are taking cash only now
• They were open Monday but were closed other days this week.

If I learn more about what’s going on there, I will update.

Eric Clapton has been announced for an April 30 Mud Island Ampitheatre concert. Tickets will go on sale next week.

WREG reports that a bad odor has been leaking from Family Dollar on Main. It has been smelled next door at DeJaVu, and the chef is worried it will turn away his customers. A lawyer whose office is nearby has also complained that his clients smell the odor as soon as they walk into his lobby.

Bad news for those who purchase with plastic:

• FBI warns stores to prepare for more credit card hacks
• Tiny Bluetooth card skimmers will make you hug your debit card

That’s all for now. I am SO ready for this weekend and will be out at the usual spots a little before 6.

Brrr it’s cold outside! This morning I learned something that Northerners probably already know: When it’s well below freezing, don’t leave the house with wet hair. I had to stop for gas and by the time I finished pumping, I had icicles forming in my hair.

Tonight is Thirsty Thursday, the weekly pint night at the Downtown Central BBQ location. Yazoo is the featured brewery this week, and there will be $3 pints of its Gerst beer. 22-ounce bombers of the brewery’s limited-edition 10-Year IPA will be available as well, although probably not for $3. Central puts out complimentary “bar bites” during the event. Tonight they will include pork butt sloppy joes, fried chicken skins, and possibly BBQ poutine. More info here. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

The Orpheum has announced a lottery for $25 tickets to Wicked, which will run January 29-February 16. 2 1/2 hours before each performance, people can show up at the box office and have their names placed in a lottery drum. 30 minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of $25 orchestra seats, cash only. Limit two per winner, and winners must present valid photo ID at the time of signing up and when claiming their prize.

Short on time, so short post today. Don’t forget that the quarterfinals of the International Blues Challenge are still going on and there are $10 wristbands on Beale that get you in all the IBC venues today.

The Peabody’s Corner Bar has revised its happy hour specials, which run from 5 to 7 PM Monday-Thursday. They have something different each night. Here’s the lineup:

– Monday is 3×3 Monday Mania, with a selection of martinis, margaritas, and mojitos for $3 each.

– Tuesday is Blues, Brews, and Booze for Tennessee Tuesdays with a selection of Tennessee beers and spirits for $3 each. The options change but examples from last night include Yazoo Hop Project #73 and Prichard’s Fine Run. There is live blues music.

– Wednesday is Winedown Wednesday with a selection of house reds and whites for $2.50, $5, and $7 each.

-Thursday is Girls’ Night Out with a selection of pink drinks for $3.

Former CA writer Dan Wolken (@DanWolken on Twitter) tweeted a very interesting map: Where college basketball teams recruit. You can filter by conference, team, or position.

I’ve been forgetting to ask my readers to follow this link and vote for Copeland Coaching to receive a $25,000 small business grant. I’ve mentioned my friend Angie Copeland, who has been mentoring job seekers for 9 years, a few times on this blog. I’ve known her for the entire time she has been coaching and she is a valuable resource to turn to for advice. If you would take a minute to vote for Angie I would appreciate it very much.

With recent law changes in Mississippi, Tennessee has the most restrictive beer cap in the Southeast. Anything over 5% ABV brewed in Tennessee is considered liquor by the state. This hurts area brewers because some of their best craft brews are well above 5%. Find out how you can help fix the beer cap here.

The Memphis Flyer 20 Under 30 issue is out. I haven’t seen the full list yet, but congratulations to radio host Chris Vernon’s sidekick Jon Roser on his inclusion. Roser is one of the people who keeps it real in Memphis.

I notched a win at the Tuesday night Blind Bear Texas Hold’em game. It was a weird night. We had flops of 3-3-3 twice in one night, very unusual. I had starting hands of 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, and 7-3 in a row. Those are among the worst hands in full-table Hold’em and it’s amazing that I won given all the garbage I was dealt. However, I was also dealt pocket Kings a couple of times and those helped a lot. I added another $50 gift card to my stash, although the real value of poker night is all the wonderful friends I have made there, much more so than the prize winnings. By the way, the rumor that I bought a round of pepper jack mac & cheese for the bar with the $50 is not true.

In case you missed my morning update, don’t forget that there’s some great music on Beale tonight at the IBC! $10 wristbands!