Author: paulryburn

The Redbirds will have an open workout at AutoZone Park next Wednesday at 11 AM.  If you work Downtown, this would be a fun way to spend a lunch hour.  They’ll have free hot dogs and sodas.  Free food?  Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Beale Street is throwing a party April 22 to welcome its newest tenants, the Red Rooster, Ground Zero, and Lil’ Anthony’s Cafe.  More details here.

Looks like the city won’t put up any money to repair Downtown sidewalks.  Details here.

Tall ladies, check out this article.  The second paragraph has lots of useful information on looking good in a tube top.  60 days until Tube Top Month.

Short post this morning because I have to get to work.  Possibly more at lunchtime.

You can get the fries with any sandwich at Kooky Canuck upgraded to sweet potato fries for a dollar more.  Good decision.

I didn’t think anyone would buy this year’s April Fool’s joke, but apparently several people have. Come on, do you really think Brick could hack a box of Tic Tacs, much less a blog?

Sitting in the window at the Saucer, blogging from my phone. Watched a hooker pick up a customer earlier tonight. Several bums out too. Enjoying a free pint, my reward for making it 1/4 the way to my 4th plate. At 9 I’ll head to Blues City to catch Brad Birkedahl’s new band.

If you’re looking for cheap, good beer, Bardog is doing a bonus $3 pint night tonight until 3 AM.

hey paul this is katie or as you call me “brick” you remember the other day when you said you were surprised i knew how to creat a text file? well i just hacked your blog so whose stupid now

This isn’t a Downtown thing, but I’d like to ask everyone to visit this link and vote. Pepsi is giving away $250,000 grants to worthy causes, and Skatelife Memphis is in the running for one of the grants, to be used to build a skate park in Bimghampton.

The grant would provide a skate park for inner-city youth, and skate equipment. It would provide a safe place for youth to hang out, and this is an activity that is said to transcend socioeconomic boundaries.

Out of over 1100 competing ideas, Skatelife currently ranks 20th in the voting. Please take a minute to vote and make ALL of Memphis better. Also, please note that you can return to the site and vote once a day through the end of April. Let’s give the kids of Memphis this park!

I’ve learned of a new soon-to-be-published novel set in Memphis. Author Jon Pendergrass has written Pepper Jack, described as “a thriller much in the style of James Patterson. Jackson Pritchard journeys towards redemption across Memphis and beyond, towards a new love and then with her, while people around him are being killed one by one.” The book is currently at the printer and Jon hopes for the book to be selling by Tax Day. As soon as I hear that it’s selling in local stores or online, I’ll post a link.

Jon will be in Memphis on May 8 for two book-signings. The first will be at 4 PM at the Midtown Blue Monkey. The Monkey is one of the settings in the novel.

The second signing will be at 7 PM at another setting in the book, Mollie Fontaine’s Lounge. Great place to chill out and have a drink.

You may wonder why I’m mentioning this book, since this is hardly “the literary blog” most days… well, it’s because Jon is my high school classmate. Funny to think that the guy who stood next to me on bleachers yelling “HALL HIGH WARRIORS” is now about to be a published novelist. Pretty cool.

Join the group “Pepper Jack–The Novel” on Facebook to make sure you receive updates about the book.

I’ve blogged several times that the Downtown core is getting a new pizzeria, Aldo’s Pizza Pies, soon.  It looks like Uptown will be getting a pizzeria too.

Yesterday I saw a “coming soon” flyer for a pizzeria and pub called Ferraro’s, which will be at 111 Jackson.  Is that the old High Point Pinch location?

Their flyer reads, “Free delivery, free WiFi, big screen TVs, cold beer, patio dining, handmade pizzas, fresh baked stromboli, lunch specials, family style dinners, fresh salads, catering and parties.”

Sounds good!  Downtown has been without a pizzeria for too long, and now we’re about to have multiple choices.

Those of you who’ve read this blog for a couple months know I keep Sonny Salt handy to sprinkle on food I bring home.  (They sell it at A. Schwab on Beale, and I believe at Lit on Union too.)

Sonny Salt on calamari from Bardog?  Pretty badass, I must say.  Possibly the best match I’ve found yet.

At the Saucer with the netbook. This is a live, drunk post.

There’s a large water bottle on the bar, taking up a collection for some cause, related to autism I think. Bartender Hannah has decided that her new favorite thing to do is to shake the bottle right in my face.

I’m Hannah’s friend on Facebook, where she likes to write about her “poo” all the time.  She might want to check out this product.

Several big news items came up after I did my lunchtime post, necessitating a second post before I head to the bar with the netbook.

First of all, there will be a Spirit of Memphis rally Friday, April 9 in Handy Park on Beale from 5:30 to 7 PM. Tired of hearing people complain about Memphis? This will be a gathering of people who love the city and are excited about all that goes on here. There will be footage of old and new Beale, and speakers will include Roby Williams of the Black Business Association and Kevin Kane of the CVB. Watch the induction of R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough into the Beale Street Brass Note Hall of Fame, hear blues music, and enjoy beverages from a cash bar.

Three weeks from now, it will once again be time to rock out with your cock out Downtown. The Red Rooster will re-open Thursday, April 22 at 5 PM in their new location on Beale Street. It’s in the old Double Deuce building, next to the New Daisy. I’ve missed the Rooster and am really glad it will be back!

By the way – ladies, if you’re looking for a job, they posted that they’re looking for bartenders, servers and shot girls. Apply between 12 and 6, and I assume they mean afternoon, not early morning.

MPACT Memphis has released their long-awaited Voice of MPACT survey. View it here.

From the Memphis Business Journal: The building at the southwest corner of Main and Union, most recently Smooth Moves, will be renovated so that it’s ready for retail space. No tenant mentioned yet but it’s great that they’re getting it ready. That’s one of Downtown’s most visible corners and we need for the buildings on it to be occupied.

All right, with that out of the way, time to head to the Saucer with the netbook.  I have much to do.  Schlafly APA is the Fire Sale.