Downtown Blue Monkey to open today, according to sources

Fellow blogger Downtown Amy reports that the Downtown Blue Monkey will open today at 4.  I also heard the same thing last night from Joan at the Westin Hotel.  We’ve heard a lot of rumors about when it will open, but this one is the most credible I have heard.

No, this is not any kind of April Fool’s joke, in case you’re wondering.

I probably won’t be there for opening night, but I’ll check it out soon and will give a full report.

I ordered a new camera

My 5 MP Olympus pocket-sized digital camera has served me faithfully through 3 BBQ Fests, 3 Halloweens, 3 birthdays, and multiple pictures of tube tops, Romanians, and former BFFs. But a couple of days ago I decided it was time for an upgrade, and started searching Amazon. After a half hour or so of browsing, this was the camera I selected:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4K 8.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

The most appealing feature for me was the 10x zoom, which will allow me to shoot images from far, far away. It also has image stabilization which will hopefully eliminate some of the blurry shots I’ve had lately. It’s also capabale of automatically adjusting brightness in different light conditions, which should lead to better pics in less-than-idea lighting.

The price at the time – $219.24 – was just too good to pass up for an 8 MP, 10x zoom camera (it’s since gone up slightly to $233). The only negative is that it will be a bit bulkier than my old camera – its thickness is 1.4 inch, compared to 0.8 for the one I have now. Still, though, it should be able to fit in my pocket, so I can carry it around and have it on me all the time.

It should arrive toward the end of next week. In the meantime, my old camera will continue to faithfully do its duty, in case any photo opportunities arise.

New restaurant delivery service

Today I saw a flyer for a new business called Fasttraxx that will pick up your food order from any restaurant Downtown and deliver it to your front door or office door.  They currently deliver lunch only (10 AM to 2 PM) 7 days a week.  Maybe if business goes well they’ll expand to dinner.  Delivery fee for a Downtown restaurant to a Downtown address is $9.95.

They also deliver from and to Midtown and East Memphis (between Highland and the 240 loop).  Delivery fees range from $9.95 to $15.95, depending on how far they travel to deliver.

They also deliver from Circle K, Starbucks, and Exxon on the Run as well as area restaurants.  Please note that they will not deliver alcoholic beverages.  You will need to pay the restaurants/shops over the phone via credit card.

Drunk Calhoun’s pics

Tuesday night’s drunken escapades at Calhoun’s featured balloon animals and other balloon creations.  Here are a few pics:

Me with my balloon hat on.  Shortly after this was taken, I turned my balloon hat backwards, because, you know, I’m all gangsta like that.

Lauren:  “Look, Paul!  I made a balloon tube top!”  LAUREN:  HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?!??  IF IT HAS STRAPS IT’S NOT A TUBE TOP!!!  That thing clearly has straps.  This kind of misunderstanding is why I dedicate a month of my blog to tube tops every year.  It’s a public service.

Yeah I don’t know what’s going on here.

Home early tonight, to make up for the late night I had yesterday. Lying in bed blogging.  At least one more post still to come.

It’s late in the month, but nevertheless… announcing my BFF of the Month for May

I’ve finally figured out who deserves to be named my BFF (Best Friend Forever) of the Month for the month of May.

Actually, it’s not one person, but many people. So I guess it would be more accurate to say, BFFs of the Month.

I didn’t think I’d find anyone who exhibits the qualities I look for in a BFF before the beginning of June… but walking home at lunch, it occurred to me, the perfect BFFs have been sitting there right under my nose the entire time.

Therefore… the members of the Ques Brothers World Championship BBQ team (3rd place shoulder) are hereby named my BFFs of the Month for May.

I don’t think I could have possibly made a better choice. Hopefully this will give the June candidates an idea of what I’m looking for, and maybe it will also help my former BFF understand why she didn’t measure up and got kicked to the curb.

Shiner Bock is the Fire Sale at the Downtown Saucer.

Back to work.

Wed update: Vote for Kennedy, race & economics discussion, E&H, Thursdays at Hollywood Disco, Big Foot drinks, former BFFs, tube tops, and more

Most of you were probably not alive, much less not old enough to vote, at the time of the 1960 Presidential election. But I have good news… you still have a chance to vote for Kennedy. Not JFK, but Kennedy the DJ from Q107.5. She’s in the running for WREG’s poll for best DJ in Memphis. She’s currently third and is the only woman in the top 3. So please go to WREG’s site and vote for Kennedy – she’s one of the sweetest people ever and really deserves the award. Don’t let the country station win!

There will be a panel discussion, hosted by New Path and the Urban League, on race and economics tonight at the main library at 3030 Poplar. The discussion, which will be in meeting room C from 6 to 8 PM, will focus on how economics affects race relations in Memphis. Speakers will include Dr. Dale Bails, Dean of Business at CBU; Dr. Jerome Blakemore, director of the Division of Social Work at the University of Memphis; and Roby Williams, president/CEO of the Black Business Association of Memphis. Daphene McFerren, Director of the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the U of M, will moderate.

Congratulations to Downtown’s very own Earnestine & Hazel’s, which made it onto Esquire magazine’s list of best bars.

Got an e-mail from one of the owners of Hollywood Disco (formerly Raiford’s) about their new Thursday nights. It opens at 9 PM, earlier than on the weekends. It’s an ’80s ladies night, and ladies get in free. “The vibe is different, but still fun,” wrote the owner. They play more ’80s dance tunes like Soft Cell, B-52s, Madonna, etc. – stuff you wouldn’t hear on Friday or Saturday night. Also different – Thursday is the one night of the week when they serve mixed drinks, since ladies tend to prefer fruity cocktails over 40s of Bud Light.

I was in Big Foot again last night, and it looks like that Flying Moose drink I had Monday is going to make it onto the permanent list of $9.99 34 oz. mixed drinks, and I’ve heard there will be some others too. You know what, I’m going to go back there tonight and do some research. I’m going to find out the ingredients in the Flying Moose, and ask about the other new drinks too. Damn it, it’s going to be tough to go sit at a bar immediately after work and drink 34 ounces of booze, but it’s what I have to do to keep my readers informed.

My former BFF was sitting at the bar at Big Foot on her night off last night. She had a tube top on. If she’s trying to get back into my good graces and get reinstated as my BFF, wearing a tube top is a good start. I took a pic, which I’m sure will show up on the blog sometime in the month of June. I suppose it’s remotely possible she could regain her BFF status when I name the BFF of the Month on June 2, but she’s currently running well behind the other candidates.

After I finish my research at Big Foot this evening, I’ll move to Itta Bena for Downtown Night, then on to the Saucer.  May call it an early night in order to rest up for Thursday at Raiford’s tomorrow.

Company d dancers @ Court Square, lunchtime today

From the Center City Commission:

The  incredibly vivacious, enthusiastic Company d Dancers will be performing today (Wed, May 21) at Court Square from 11:45 am – 1:15 pm as part of the Center City Commission’s Downtown Alive program!  

Company d is an inspiring performing arts troupe of young adults with Down Syndrome who absolutely LOVE to dance!   They have been performing for about 7 years, and through weekly class, rehearsals and hard work, the dancers have now developed into a company that performs to music that represents many forms of dance such as jazz, lyrical ballet and modern.

They will surely add a little something special to your lunch break!  Please stop by and show your support – as all good performers, they thrive when they have an audience!

Ground Zero to have grand opening May 25

Ground Zero, the new blues club on Lt. Lee Avenue and neighbor to the Westin Hotel and the Red Rooster, has been open for a couple of weeks, doing a “soft opening.”  However, this week, on Sunday, May 25, they’re doing their grand opening party.  More info in this Memphis Business Journal article.  It says the new club will be open for lunch and dinner, and will have live entertainment Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Boscos growlers now $10 at warehouse dock

Got an e-mail saying that 64 oz. growlers of Boscos beer have been reduced from $14 to $10 at the dock of their warehouse at Main and Crump. There’s still a $3 deposit if you don’t have your own growler.

Ten bucks for 64 ounces, that’s $2.50 a pint for Boscos beer, not bad.