Author: paulryburn

Today at the CCC annual luncheon, Mayor Wharton announced some good news that Downtowners have been waiting to hear.  Starting August 1, Downtowners will see cops on the beat.  There will be five cops assigned to this duty, four on bikes supported by one in a patrol car, and they initially will be working from 10 AM to 6 PM Tuesday through Saturday.  They will support the efforts of the Downtown safety patrol, in an effort to crack down on the crimes that make Downtown feel unsafe to those not familiar with the area – aggressive panhandling and alcohol-fueled disorderly conduct.  Furthermore, the cops will cover South Main as well as the Downtown core.

Kudos to Mayor Wharton and the CCC.  You’re finally giving us what we’ve been needing for years.  More cops on the beat = better behavior on the street.

I had a reader question this morning and I don’t know the answer – what’s happening in the old Burger King building on Madison between Second and Third?  It’s been vacant for years, but recently people have been seen doing construction in there.  If you know what’s happening shoot me an e-mail at paul@paulryburn.com.

Sure wish developers would decide to pay attention to that corridor of Madison between Main and Third.  There are so many building that would make really cool loft condos or apartments.  There have been some great businesses on that block – Dawgie Style, Don-Don’s Hot Wings, Market Cafe – that have closed because of the lack of foot traffic on those blocks.  Hope this new business makes it, whatever it is.

I got a press release from the CCC this morning, saying that Mayor Wharton will announce a new and innovative community policing strategy today at the CCC’s annual luncheon at the Peabody Grand Ballroom.  I don’t know the details in advance, but those close to the program have hinted that it’s going to be very good and effective.

Also at the luncheon, County Mayor Joe Ford will speak about Downtown’s potential, and keynote speaker Shirley Franklin, former mayor of Atlanta, will speak on the role downtowns have in regional economic development.

Just saw in this CA article that Overton Park Pizze Stone will close July 31 because they need more space and a bar.  They are looking at the old LoLo’s Table location Downtown at 126 Monroe.  They say that once they negotiate the lease, it will be only a short time before they are ready to get the place open.  It will simply be called Pizze Stone after the move.

The MIFA Store tweeted that all adult pants will be buy one, get one free until Friday.  Store is located at 910 Vance.

There will be a Bardog 5K to support St. Jude Sunday Morning, August 29.  That’s the day of the bar’s second birthday party which will happen later in the day.  3.2 mile course.  You can view more details and register here.

First of all… for anyone who didn’t figure it out, because I did get a couple of inquiries… you should not vote for Michele in all 120+ “Best of Memphis” categories as suggested in yesterday’s post.  It was meant to be a good-natured, Onion-style parody of the well-deserved popularity Michele has among Calhoun’s regulars.  Voting for her in all 120+ categories, I’ve been told, would likely get your ballot voided.

Got more info on the Elvis-themed South Main Trolley Night happening Friday, July 30.  The “Elvis’ Leading Lady” contest will happen at 6 PM, with prizes going to the top three ladies dressed as Elvis’ leading lady.  Following that there will be an Elvis tribute contest with prizes to the top three, and at 9 PM there will be a free showing of the film Elvis That’s the Way it Is.

Now that bike lanes are in the city’s future, the city of Memphis is hiring a bikeway/pedestrian coordinator.  Click here to see job details.

The Peabody is hiring as well.  Numerous positions open.  Check their @PeabodyMemphis Twitter account for list of jobs.

If you have any metal work you need repaired, mark October 1-3 on your calendar:  Blacksmiths from across the country will be in Memphis to do repairs for the public.

Congrats to my trivia team the Rapscallions:  We didn’t win last night, but we scored enough points to take the three-week prize.  Now our 15-person team gets to figure out how to use a certificate for a dinner for two at Texas de Brazil.  That should be interesting.  I imagine the Nuh-Uh Girl is composing a long list of reasons why she should get one of the dinners.

LivingSocial’s deal of the day is a half-off deal at the Silly Goose.

I get to spend all day today in a board meeting.  Yay.  And the biggest bottles of Mountain Dew I can find in nearby stores are 20 ounces.  Not enough caffeine!  Not sure if I’ll have time to do a lunchtime post, but you never know, so check back.

In 2008 and 2009, Calhoun’s regulars sent out e-mails and Facebook messages, asking everyone to vote for Michele as the best bartender.  Furthermore, they asked people to vote for her as best server too – since it’s a small place, Michele comes out from behind the bar to serve the tables as well.  For 2010, however, they’re taking it a step farther – they’re asking their regulars to vote for Michele in all 120+ categories in the Flyer’s Best of Memphis poll.

“It’s completely justified,” said Mike King, one of the regulars at the bar.  “Best Grizzlies player?  Sure, Michele doesn’t get on the court and play basketball, but she keeps our beers full while we watch the Grizzlies on TV at Calhoun’s.  I’d say that makes her part of the extended Grizzlies team.  Best dry cleaner?  I saw Michele wipe up a beer someone spilled on the bar the other night, and by the time she got done, it was pretty darn dry.”

Another regular, Shane Paris, said he supports the campaign.  “Michele’s a lock for Best Florist,” Paris said.  “Why, I remember one time someone brought a plant in here, and Michele must have watered it for 6 or 7 days before it died.  Best User Car Dealer too… I’m sure at some point in her life, Michele bought a car and sold her old one, so there you go, used car dealer.  And Michele told me that when she was a kid, she had one of those K-Tel Mr. Microphones that amplified your voice through the radio.  So there you go, Best Local Radio Personality.”

Regular Robert Maloney added, “It may seem like a bit of a stretch to vote for Michele for Best Twitterer, considering she doesn’t even have a Twitter account.  But if you think about it on a deeper level, how could it be anyone but Michele?  She’s mastered the Zen of tweeting by not tweeting.  By saying nothing, she has in fact said everything.”

King continued, “Best Memphis success?  I’d say it would be this beautiful PBR that Michele just put in front of me.  Biggest Memphis failure?  That Michele didn’t win all the categories in last year’s poll.”

Voting continues through July 30.  Voting can be done online at the Flyer’s website.

If you missed the weekend news or my post “stupid stupid stupid stupid STUPID!!!” over the weekend, three people were arrested this weekend on the rooftop of the Pembroke.  They had been shining green lasers into the cockpit of tugboats and planes.  Saturday night they shone the laser at two cops near Front and Union, who thought they were being targeted by a gun’s laser sight and left the area.  A police helicopter was able to pinpoint the location after the suspects allegedly shone the light at the ‘copter.

They were initially arrested on state charges of pointing a laser at a police officer, but as expected, the feds have now gotten involved in the action.  Charges include violence against maritime navigation, and sabotage of aircraft.  Shining a green laser, which again could be mistaken for the sight of a gun, into commercial jets?  That’s the kind of thing the feds don’t find too funny.  Kind of like joking about bombs at the airport.  You just don’t do it, if you have any common sense at all.

Which these guys apparently didn’t.  Read the story here.

One of the most loved features of this blog makes its return tonight.  Even from far, far away, I know what’s going on in Downtown Memphis.

For the first time since spring… it’s time once again for the “Brick” Quote of the Week.

Tonight Brick went to a Redbirds game, and she was asked which of the nine positions on the baseball field was her favorite.

Her reply: “Batting.”

You just can’t make this stuff up.