Author: paulryburn

Sunday we were brunching at the Blue Monkey and I noticed this sticker on the cooler:

A lot of people are excited that local bars now carry products from Colorado brewery Fat Tire.  The Downtown Blue Monkey now has 22 oz. bottles of the beer for $5.75.  That’s quite a bargain for a quality beer.  I’m assuming the Midtown Monkey has Fat Tire for the same price.

Announcing the launch of my latest online store:

Hawaiian Shirt Paradise

This is a store that sells Hawaiian shirts in all colors and sizes. There are hundreds of them, and in addition to grouping by color, I’ve grouped them by themes, such as shirts with cars and airplanes on them, shirts with beers and cocktails on them, parrot shirts, flamingo shirts, and so on. They even have Hawaiian shirts for your dog!

As is the case with many of my sites, this is an Amazon.com storefront, so when you order, you’re protected by Amazon’s world-class secure payment system and return policies.  I build these stores in order to organize particular Amazon niches – which can often be very disorganized – into an attractive shopping experience that’s much easier to browse than Amazon itself.

The hardest part of building this site was resisting the temptation to buy about 10 of these shirts for myself.

You may ask, “Isn’t late July the wrong time of the year to launch a Hawaiian shirt store?  It’ll only be Hawaiian shirt weather for a couple more months.”  True, but here’s the thing… after about August 1 it gets hard to find Hawaiian shirts in stores at the mall.  They’ll all be removed to make way for fall and winter inventory.  So where will people go to shop for Hawaiian shirts when they can’t find them at their local Macy’s?  The Internet, that’s where… and as soon as Google indexes me, they’ll start finding my store.

This is the quickest store I’ve ever created – the idea came to me around 5 PM Friday, so I got it up over a weekend.  It’s very similar in organization to my existing store the Tube Top Boutique, so there wasn’t a whole lot to figure out with this one… just a matter of picking categories and items.

I’ll be at Pint Nite a little after 5, probably with my laptop starting to work on my next store.  I have ideas for about five to ten more, so I’m going to be cranking them out in rapid succession.

It’s been a while since I posted a panhandler pic on the blog, but this guy made me do it. Multiple people have been approached by this guy trying to sell them a free magazine (e.g. Downtown Merchant Guide), telling them it’s a dollar donation for St. Jude. When confronted he will not be able to produce ID, and will then change his story. He’ll then admit he’s not associated with the hospital and is not really collecting money for them, but he’ll tell you he still wants a dollar.

How low can you go, claiming to be raising money for a children’s charity. I have multiple witnesses who have personally been approached by this panhandler. Mike King who co-moderates the Handling-Panhandling forum with me got hit up by this guy. Also, a blog writer for the Discovery Channel came to town and got approached by this guy with the same story. If anyone from St. Jude is reading this, I can put you in touch with Mike who can give you the full details of what this panhandler said and did – just e-mail me at paul@paulryburn.com.

Mid-South Peace and Justice Center: NOW do you understand what we’re doing? We’re not persecuting the innocent homeless, nor is anyone else Downtown. Rather, I am, and we all are, sick and tired of these scamming scumbags being allowed to do their thing on the streets all day, every day.

The Steve Cohen event at The Warehouse was a great event.  Good music (haven’t heard the Bluff City Backsliders in a couple of years), great beer (Naked Lion Copper Flask!), great people.

I do have one suggestion.  When I walked in, I went to the counter by the door, where there was a guy handing out Cohen stickers, buttons, and literature.  “Is this where I drop off my donation?” I asked.

“Nah, I guess you can just give it to the bartenders,” he said.

So I went over, got a beer, and handed them the $25 suggested donation.  But I could have just as easily handed them a $1 bill and no one would have batted an eye.  They missed a huge chance for fundraising there.  I understand they can’t require donations, but someone should have been standing at the door saying, “Admission is free, but if YOU WANT TO DONATE (waving tip bucket in people’s faces), most people are giving $25.  Also, if you want to leave your name, e-mail address, and phone number (waving clipboard in people’s faces), we’ll get back with you with opportunities to volunteer for Steve’s campaign.”  I’m just saying, a lot of money went home in people’s wallets that could have gone home in Steve’s campaign war chest if the volunteers had been more assertive.

Why I will always write for myself and no one else:  Last night I was going to do a Cohen party photo album, but I had to be careful not to take photos of members of the media or of quasi-government nonprofit agencies who have to appear neutral.  I understand that’s how it has to be, but it’s why you’ll never see me writing for the CA or working for an official agency that promotes Memphis.  I refuse to give up my voice.

And since I have my voice, I want to state my opinion:  Nikki Tinker scares me. It’s not because I disagree with her on the issues – I don’t know that I do, because she hasn’t spoken about any of the issues.  Rather, it’s that she just doesn’t seem to possess the intelligence necessary to succeed in the office for which she’s running.  I worry that if she gets elected, she’ll be in over her head, and will become prey to people who want to use her office for their personal gain – lobbyists, special interests, people and corporations who don’t have the public’s best interest in mind.  I had a similar fear about a presidential candidate 8 years ago, and unfortunately, he won and went on to prove me right.

So now it’s Sunday, and this week, I’m not skipping brunch.  It’s Blue Monkey week 1 in the rotation and I’ll be there at 11.  Afterward, it will be time to kick Pete’s ass at pool at the Saucer, and later in the day I may very well participate in one of these fine Sunday activities in Downtown Memphis (although, I won’t be riding the trolley, since it shuts down too early).  Later in the day, I’ll probably go get my laptop and return to the Saucer for round 2, because I’m very close to rolling out my newest online shopping website.  Look for an announcement later today.  My friend Bicycle Bobby will love this one.

Also, check back tomorrow at 8 AM for a look at someone who is quite possibly the biggest ASSHOLE in all of Downtown Memphis.  I’ve already typed the post, but have set it to post Monday at 8 AM because Monday tends to be the blog’s highest-traffic day of the week.  No, it isn’t a post about His Honor our Mayor.

Speaking of whom… blogger Thaddeus Matthews also heard the rumors that King Willie was being indicted Thursday.  Even though nothing came of it, Matthews said he heard from multiple sources in law enforcement that Herenton was taken away in handcuffs.  Matthews’ sources also tell him it’s not a matter of if, but when, the mayor will be indicted, and that Willie’s cronies are worried that some of the mayor’s dirt may get on them.

Time for Sunday Fun Day.  Check back later today for more…

Last week a Memphis Business Journal reporter came to my company’s office in the Falls Building to interview our CEO and VP of Marketing. She asked the VP of Marketing, “Does Paul Ryburn really work here?” (apparently a lot of people at the MBJ read my blog) and the VP brought her by to meet me.

“I didn’t think you really had a job!” said the reporter.

She did a great article on the company, which appeared in this week’s Memphis Business Journal and is also on the DowntownMemphis.com website. You can read the article here.  The company sells employment verification services, and everything is accessible from a convenient, secure web-based control panel.  We do all kinds of verification, from sniffing out lies about education and employment history on applications, to checking terrorist watch lists, sex offender registries, drug test results, and much more.  In the interview, our CEO talks about how the Memphis branch has expanded from 6 people in 2003 to 55 people currently, and plans to hire 40 more.  In fact, the New York office is closing and moving operations to Memphis, due to better cost of living and central location.

I’ve been there 8 months, and still enjoy working there, although I’ll admit it’s getting a bit crowded with all the hiring.  We’re about to expand into most of the rest of our floor, though, so more space is coming soon.

Still taking recommendations for where health guru AL and I should have our next culinary adventure.  Suggestions so far include Encore, Saigon Le (“you have to try the lemon grass tofu!” – yuk, tofu), Denny’s (I hope they were kidding), and a place I hold in even lower esteem than Denny’s (“I refuse to darken the door,” to use a Mikeyism).  Keep the suggestions coming.

With temps in the 90s today, I’m staying inside, building my next online store.  I’ll be at the Steve Cohen rally for a little while this evening at the Warehouse, probably out with friends at a bar or club afterward.

The manager of the Saucer just told me that he’s heard from 5 different people that the Saucer girls have been named the most beautiful bar staff in town. It’s on some Memphis website, but he can’t find it anywhere. Anyone know where the site is located? I’d like to see it and so would he. Shoot me an e-mail (paul@paulryburn.com) if you know where to find this article.

Last Sunday about 6:45, I had just eaten a good dinner at Cafe 61 and decided to make the trek south to Calhoun’s.  As I passed the trolley stop at Main and Beale, I heard a couple complaining that the trolley sure was taking a long time to arrive.  I wonder if they realized that they’d be standing there waiting until Monday morning for a trolley, because MATA shuts the trolley down at 6:30 PM on Sunday.

Six freakin’ thirty.  How are people who come here for a Friday-Saturday-Sunday long weekend supposed to get around Sunday evening if the trolleys have already gone home to bed?  It contributes to the mistaken belief that there’s nothing to do down here on Sundays.  Usually during the summer, I do a “it’s Thursday night, what’s going on?” post where I list events happening Downtown (except, yesterday I forgot to do it, sorry).  Let’s take a look at some of the stuff that goes on down here on Sunday nights – this list shows that there’s really something for everyone:

• Singer Barbara Blue belts out the tunes at Silky O’Sullivan’s from 4 to 8 PM, with piano accompaniment.  Barbara’s got a powerful voice, there’s lots of interaction with the crowd, and you can enjoy a Hurricane, Diver, or one of Silky’s other signature drinks while she sings.  She gladly takes requests – just remember, it’s “please” or money to request a song.
• Every Sunday Downtown Huey’s has bands on stage from 4-7 PM and from 8:30-midnight.  This week it’s Di Anne Price in the late slot; looks like the early show is TBA according to Huey’s website.  Good music, always a lot of fun, and a good excuse to eat a Huey burger.
• If you want to do “date night” on Sunday, Itta Bena, the restaurant on the 3rd floor of BB King’s, offers half off the price of bottles of wine.  That’s ANY bottle of wine in the house.  So you can order a $150 bottle of wine with dinner and pay $75.  I honestly don’t know how they make a profit off this, but I’m sure not complaining.  Fine dining on Beale Street, but a place where you can come in casually dressed and still feel welcome.  Private entrance and valet parking on Second just south of Beale.  Melissa at the bar is a possible BFF of the Month candidate for August.
• Downstairs from Itta Bena, you can always count on a good blues band at BB King’s on Sunday nights.
• Another fine dining option for Sunday night is Circa, which offers a tasting menu with wine pairings every Sunday for $45 per person.  Good chance to try some new wines, and of course Chef John Bragg’s food is always delicious.  Circa has patio dining as well as indoor dining, although with a predicted high of 99 for Sunday (according to the Weather Channel), it may be a bit uncomfortable to hang out on a patio this week.  That’s OK.  They have air conditioning inside.
• EP Delta Kitchen has a jam session with Roxanne Lemmon every Sunday from 8 PM until midnight.  (If the name sounds familiar, it’s probably because they’re the regular Wednesday night band at the Saucer.)  This is another option to get a quality meal on Sunday, as they have one of the best chefs in the city, Michael Patrick, in the kitchen.
• Jam band FreeWorld takes the stage at Blues City Cafe at 10:30 PM.  They play all over the city and the region, but Sunday night at Blues City is kind of their home base, a place where they really feel free to cut loose.  Every Downtowner needs to stay up late and catch FreeWorld at least once.  This is another place where you can get good food while you eat – their kitchen stays open late, so you can order a slab of ribs, or one of their massive steaks, or tamales, or their crab au gratin… the list goes on and on.
• There’s a jazz night at Earnestine & Hazel’s from 8 to 11 PM on Sundays.  Soul burgers!!!
• Then, of course, there are the neighborhood bars that are open on Sundays, the ones that don’t have featured entertainment but are just good, friendly places where the locals hang out.  For example, Calhoun’s on GE Patterson where you can get a $1.50 pint of PBR every day, and there are beer specials if either the Cubs or Cardinals are on TV.  The Flying Saucer puts a beer on $2.75 Fire Sale every day (a few examples of Fire Sale selections: Flying Dog Doggie Style, Flying Dog Tire Bite, Dos Equis Amber, Dos Equis Special Lager, Killian’s Red, Sam Adams Lager, Shiner Bock).  Up the street at Big Foot Lodge, there’s $4 34 oz. Bud Select, $5 34 oz. Blue Moon, and $9.99 34 oz. mixed drinks.  (Note:  Beware the 34 oz. mixed drinks if you have to go to work on Monday; I speak from experience here.)  You’ll find friendly people on both sides of the bar at all three of these places.

While I was hanging out at Calhoun’s talking to Max last Sunday, I noticed that the Cheesecake Corner next door was doing big business.  I’d recommend that as a perfect way to end the evening for those who do half-price wine night at Itta Bena… but, the problem is, Cheesecake Corner is about half a mile away, and you can’t ride the trolley down there for dessert because it stops running at 6:30 PM on Sundays.  There’s plenty to do down here… MATA is doing a real disservice to the Downtown community by not keeping the Sunday night trolley running until 11:45 PM, as it does Monday through Thursday.

Check out this Memphis Flyer article, which says that a Seattle company name Walkscore.com has named Downtown Memphis one of the nation’s top “walking paradises.”

So, get out of that car, stop spending that $4 gas, and take a walk.  I don’t even ride the trolley that often.  I live in literally the middle of Downtown, and when I go to South Main or the Pinch, I walk.  I usually only hop a trolley if it’s raining or below 32 degrees.

Speaking of the trolley, look for a MATA-themed post this weekend.  MATA is to public transportation what Willie Herenton is to mayors.  Damn I wish that indictment rumor had been true.

Mail bag:

“You have a 34 oz. Bud Select at Big Foot Lodge listed as $4.00.  Not to be nit-picky, but technically it’s $3.99.”

True, but I was counting bartender Meghan’s tip as part of the cost.

Off to bed.  First night this week to get a full night’s rest.

Update 6:07 PM:  A reader of this blog spoke to someone in the US Attorney’s Office who said that the rumor is absolutely not true.

I’ve heard from two different sources this afternoon that King Willie has been indicted and taken into federal custody. People at my work (who don’t know either of my sources) heard the same thing. For some reason the media isn’t covering it yet. Might want to keep your eye on the TV or local news websites tonight.

If this turns out to be a hoax, the people spreading it did a very convincing job.