Author: paulryburn

The following was posted to the Handling-Panhandling online forum a few weeks ago:

“I had a sales meeting here in Memphis this week and I want to share my
embarrassment because of these issues. I had sales reps, vendors, and
industry leaders in town and I received several comments about the
panhandling, arguing, and public intoxication and urination that was
all around us. It is MIND BOGGLING”

I responded to the person who made the post, asking if I could quote him on my blog. His response is below:

“I have no problem with you sharing my views – I read your blog regularly. The most frustrating part is that as a citizen of this city I have done my job. I bought a condo downtown, spend my money downtown, and now have vendors stay, eat, and meet down there as well. I have done my part to grow this ‘new’ community but I am thinking about moving my meetings back east where I am not embarrassed to be a Memphian. My biggest issue is how can our leaders not be embarrassed? Are they so ‘Memphis’ that they are immune to this behavior and see it as okay?”

Looks like the new “Downtown Memphis info” section (see right-hand column) is already being put to good use.  This afternoon I got an e-mail from someone moving to Memphis who is apartment hunting.  She said it helped, and e-mailed me some questions.  If you have questions about Downtown Memphis you’re certainly welcome to e-mail me too – address is paul@paulryburn.com.  I love being the unofficial Downtown orientation guide.

I added Easy Way, the Hostess thrift store, and Family Dollar to the grocery page, and Tug’s and Calhoun’s to the happy hour page.  Lots more still to come… I’d really like to turn this into a real information resource for Downtown, and make this site more than a guy blogging about what beers he drank at the Saucer.

Speaking of which… it’s time to head to the Saucer and drink some beer.  Should be there around 4:45 and will probably stay until… hmmm, what time does the place close on Monday?

A late night Saturday and a very large, high-alcohol beer turned yesterday into a trainwreck of a day. Beer report:

Previous total: $87.75

Beers:
Sam Adams Fire Sale $2.75
Miller Genuine Draft bottle $3.25
Stone IPA $11.00
Tip: $17 x ~30% = $6.00
Total: $23.00

Grand total: $110.75

Also, something happened that I had been expecting – two of the beers I bought sometime last week failed to show up in the computer. So my total should have been 18 at the start of the day yesterday, but was really 16. So it looks like it’ll be a plate in 68 days rather than 67. Really, probably more like 75 days because it’ll happen again. Anyway, I’ll continue to do 3 a day until the stupid thing gets done.

A couple of people e-mailed me and told me that I left Easy Way off the list of places to buy groceries Downtown – good point, I’ll add that sometime today. I also thought of another one – the Hostess thrift store at Monroe and Danny Thomas. When I lived at Echelon I used to walk down there all the time.

I also went by Swig and got their happy hour info and will add that to the happy hour page sometime today.

Woke up early for some reason this morning… good, that means I can get to work early, do my 8 hours and get out of there by 4:30 today. After that I’ll hit Pint Nite and drink beers 22, 23, and 24 (and probably another six unnumbered beers after that).

Hey, I just noticed that next Monday is Presidents’ Day, which is a holiday for my company. THREE DAY WEEKEND coming up!!! Woohoo! That’ll make Sunday Fun Day extra fun!

What a night.  I hung out at the Saucer until close, then moved to Hoop’s Bar, then ended up riding in King’s limo with three friends to Raiford’s.  I didn’t notice what time I got home but 4:30 is a reasonable guess.  Still drunk?  Think so.

Thanks Nick for catching that I had the wrong link for the Super Bowl pics in yesterday’s post.  For those of you who don’t feel like scrolling down here’s a new link.

Skye and Tatia:  Nice meeting you, hope I spelled your names right.  I love talking to new Downtowners, right when they’re starting to realize how much fun it’s going to be to live down here.  Reminds me of myself six years ago.

Beer report:

Previous total:  $77.75

Beers:
Budweiser bottle (I made them give me a glass so no one would see me drinking it) $3.25
Corona bottle $4.00
Leinenkugel Red Fire Sale $2.75
Tip:  $10 x 30% = $3.00
Cover being charged which I didn’t have to pay due to UFO card:  $-3.00
Total:  $10.00

Grand total:  $87.75

If only I could have $10 nights all the way through my plate.   I started my tab at the bar, then after 2 beers the waitress who refers to me as her “BFF” came over and said, “WHAT DO YOU WANT.  I’LL TRANSFER YOUR TAB” despite the fact that I was about as close to her section as I was to Johannesburg, South Africa.  I looked up BFF in Urban Dictionary and there were six definitions.  “Best Friends Forever” was number 1 as I expected, but number 2 was “Best Fuck Fantasy.”

Off to McGuinness for brunch.  There’s a John D breakfast at McGuinness now (Majestic already had one):  Biscuits and gravy topped with crumbled sausage and bacon.  If it’s a slow day at the Saucer this afternoon maybe I’ll go get the laptop and add some more to the Downtown Memphis Info section.  I don’t think I’m even going to shower.  My friends smoke nasty stinky filthy disgusting cigarettes.  Who cares if I smell.

See the blog’s right sidebar.  Started off with six categories – happy hours, free wireless Internet hotspots, grocery and drugstores, panhandling, apartments and transportation.  More categories to be added.  The “panhandling” page contains a link to my infamous guide to Downtown Memphis bum gimmicks.

I need your help with the “happy hours” page.  That one is just a starter for now.  I know there are more happy hours out there that I missed.  I also plan to add a list of drink specials that aren’t happy hour, but happen on a particular day of the week.  If you know of anything I should add e-mail paul@paulryburn.com.

One more thing – someone had a request to add a music calendar.  I’ve tried that before, many years ago, and haven’t found a way to make it work.  I tried it as a test for a couple of weeks, and determined that it would take me about two hours a week to add all the info on upcoming shows.  The alternative is to give bands the ability to add their own stuff, but then it becomes “bands who know how to use the Internet” and half of the listings still won’t be there.  It also opens up an opportunity for bands and club owners to spam the calendar and take their shameless self-promotion too far to the point that it’s annoying (I see this a lot on MySpace) and people stop visiting the calendar.  So for now, it’s not in the plans.  Never say never, but not now.

My work is done!  Time to go have a BEER!  Or three.  Gotta have at least three.  I have a feeling there will be more than three.  Since I’m starting so late, could be a late finish too.  hmmmraifordsmaybe

Whew! Been working on the laptop all day. I even took it down the street to Sawaddii with me to get lunch. I don’t know why I’ve gone so long without going to Sawaddii, great place. I had the green curry over rice noodles with chicken breast, peppers, carrots and basil. Spicy hot, just the way I like it.

Anyway, I’ve got the photo albums from the last two parties up, so you can look at a bunch of people you probably don’t know unless you yourself are in the pictures.

Super Bowl party 2/3/08 at Barton Flats

Rapscallion Party VI/Otto and Paola’s birthday party 2/8/08 at the Flying Saucer and a few from the Peabody lobby

I’m rushed for time but I can’t resist posting just a few of my favorites here.

A classic Downtown Memphis photo: John D consuming his beverage of choice.

 

The Nuh-Uh Girl consuming one of the 14 or so meals she had at the Super Bowl party.

 

You don’t even want to know what these two were plotting.

Still at home… can you believe it’s after 6 and I’m not out at a bar yet? I’m determined that the first draft of my new “Downtown Info” section will make it to the blog before I go out. Really, I’ve done just about all the typing I need to do… just a matter of editing my template to make the new section show up. You should see it within a few hours, at the top of the right sidebar.

Fun times last night… it was Rapscallion Party VI as we cashed in our $415 in trivia winnings.  We managed to roll through the money in just over 3 hours.  I consumed beers number 13, 14, and 15 toward my plate:

Previous total:  $59.00

Beers:
Acme Pale Ale bottle $4.00
Dos Equis Special Lager bottle $4.25
Cooper’s Sparkling Ale $5.50
Tip:  $13.75 x ~30% = $5.00
Total:  $18.75

Grand total:  $77.75

The party was also a birthday party for our friends Otto and Paola who celebrated birthdays this week.  By 10:30 PM we were pretty much all wiped out.  I was one of four survivors who made it to the Peabody lobby for a drink for Otto’s birthday (a tradition started last year), but before the waitress came over to take our order, I realized I was just too exhausted to continue and called it a night.

Special thanks to our waitress Melissa who did an AWESOME job taking care of us last night.  It looked like they were a waitress short and she was absolutely slammed the entire time, but she still managed to keep our beer glasses full.

The Memphis Business Journal had an article yesterday about The Red Rooster Bar and Music Hall, scheduled to open February 21.  The Rooster is on Lt. George Lee Avenue, across from the Gibson Lounge and 1 block south of Beale Street.  Ground Zero and a yet-unnamed jazz bar will also open on that street before Memphis in May, and the street is being positioned as an alternative for people who have outgrown Beale Street but still want something Downtown.  Owner Luke McKee told the MBJ, “We’re just looking to be another great restaurant and party spot to bring people in, especially the locals.”  I’ve met Luke and hung out with him several times at the Saucer and Hoop’s Bar, and I’m convinced he and his business partner know what they’re doing.  I think this is going to be a really good addition to Downtown.

Interesting news from Birmingham… Performa Entertainment who runs Beale Street is developing a two-block entertainment district there.  A blog reader who now lives in B’ham sent me an article about it, and guess what name was among the restaurants that have signed letters of intent – none other than SLEEP OUT LOUIE’S.  I know it’s the same business as the former restaurant on Union because the Mesquite Chop House is also listed as having signed a letter.  So if you miss Sleep Out’s and don’t mind a 4-hour drive to get there, it will soon be an option.

Blues City Pastry at Main and Peabody Place has announced that due to popular demand, they will start opening for breakfast two hours early (10 AM) effective tomorrow.  They’ve expanded their breakfast menu too and now offer New Orleans style beignets, cinnamon rolls, scones, coffee cakes, four kinds of quiche, assorted breakfast sandwiches on croissants and bagels, and their newest menu item, made-to-order omelets.

Plans for today:  I’m going to hold myself prisoner in my own home and force myself to get some work done.  I need to get photo albums done for Rapscallion Party VI and the Super Bowl party.  I’ve also been meaning to add a “downtown info” section to the blog for a while, with pages that will tell you where you can find good happy hours, who has Wi-Fi, info on transportation Downtown, stuff like that.  That’s an idea that has been discussed for over a year but nothing ever came to fruition… now I’m ready to do it.  So I’ll at least get started on that today.

Snozberry plays the Saucer tonight at 9:30… the last few times they’ve played I’ve fully intended to go and then other things came up.  Tonight I plan on making it.  Think I’ll take an early evening nap and get up there about 9.  That way I can get situated and listen to their first set while I knock out beers 16, 17, and 18 toward my plate.  After the first set I’ll decide whether to stay there or do a change of venue.  The Dempseys play Blues City tonight and I’m kind of in the mood to hear them again.

Oh – reminds me – if I do indeed get there at 9, they’ll be charging a $3 cover, which I won’t have to pay because of my UFO Club card.  Since I’m keeping track of the entire cost of getting a plate, it seems I should log a negative $3 entry for that.

Lots to do today… time to go to Walgreens to buy my morning caffeine.

Not a whole lot to report today, but I’ll see what I can do to make this interesting.

This Sunday is Soup Sunday at the FedExForum. It’s a fundraiser for Youth Villages. For those who haven’t been before, here’s the deal: You get to walk around and sample soups from about 70 local restaurants. It’s a great event but I’ll say what I say every year: If you’re going to go, GET THERE EARLY. The event runs from 11 to 2 and I suggest that you be at the door at 11 sharp. If you get there late you’ll have to stand in long lines and some of the restaurants will have run out of soups.

I won’t be able to make it to Soup Sunday this year because I have to be at church at 11. Well, not church actually, but a bar. It will be week 2 for McGuinness in the 2-week brunch rotation. You know where we’ll be afterward.

Speaking of church, we have now entered the time period known as Lent, when you’re supposed to give something up. Otto: “I’m giving up sobriety for Lent.”

And now it’s time for the review of last night’s episode of “Paul gets drunk at the Saucer.” We’ll start with the beer summary:

Previous total: $38.00

Bud Light bottle in honor of John D $3.25
Shiner Bock (Fire Sale) $2.75
Flying Horse $10.00
Tip: $16 x ~30% = $5
Total: $21.00

Grand total: $59.00

Other stuff that happened: I un-retired from darts, and vowed to retire again when I lost a game. Thanks to a good partner I’m still un-retired after 4 games.

Air Traffic Mike bought me a car bomb. He came in carrying food, and a waitress immediately came running over looking for a handout. It reminded me of when I was a kid, when the cat would come running to the kitchen whenever she heard the electric can opener.

Oh and later in the evening I got to second base with the aforementioned waitress. She and I have this thing where we punch each other on the arm. Obviously I don’t punch her hard, since she’s a girl. So last night I was listening to the band, and she walked by and I attempted to punch her on the arm and missed, and accidentally punched her boob. She thought it was hilarious. Hope I didn’t ruin her dream – she probably envisioned it happening with soft music in the background and candlelight and champagne. But hey, that’s how I roll.
The Flying Horse bottle was an Indian beer and it was huge. I drank it out of the bottle as if it were a 40. I commented to a few people that if there were a Raiford’s in India, they’d sell Flying Horse.

“It’s an Indian beer?” someone asked. “Do you mean it’s brewed by Native Americans, or is it from India the country?”

“Indian as in, the ethnicity of most of your classmates if you take a computer programming class,” I replied.

The Friday night episode of “Paul gets drunk at the Saucer” looks to be a good one. This time there may be pictures.

Time to head back to the world of C# and XML files and compiler errors.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurs. Well, here it is. There’s a project called Startup Weekend that travels to cities around the globe. If we can bring it to Memphis, locals with an entrepreneurial spirit will be able to attend the Startup Weekend conference and build a tech business from start to finish in a mere 54 hours. Attendees will then all own equal shares in the new business (with Startup Weekend owning 5%).

This is a great opportunity to create something and work with some of the brightest minds in the city. Even if the conference doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, please vote for Startup Weekend to come to Memphis anyway and forward it to anyone you know who might be interested in starting a tech business. If it does sound like something you’d want to participate in, check the about page and the FAQ page for more information.

Lots to talk about today.

The Phoenix Club e-mailed and asked if I’d mention an upcoming Mardi Gras party they’re having.  They do a lot of great work with the Boys and Girls Clubs, and that’s where the party’s proceeds will go.  Their party is Saturday, February 16 at the University Club starting at 8 PM.  $40 ticket in advance, $50 at the door covers admission and beer and wine.  ’80s band U.S. will provide the entertainment.  There will also be a High Roller room, $100 to admit one person and a guest, which gives you access to top-shelf beverages and a seat at the Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament presented by Harrah’s.  When the casino closes at 11, you can exchange your chips for raffle tickets to win a variety of prizes such as overnight hotel packages, VIP tickets to sporting events, jewelry, and clothing gift certificates.  Tickets can be purchased online or through a club member.

Calhoun’s Sports Bar & Grill has a new beer on tap… none other than PBR, and they’re selling it for a buck fifty.  That’s not a discount only good at certain times – that’s the regular price of the beer.  Oh man… Calhoun’s is trying every trick in the book to get me to be a regular.  Next thing I know the owners of the bar will e-mail me and tell me they hired some Romanians.

John D continues to be a fountain of useful knowledge.  Sunday he used the word “rheostat.”  “A light dimmer switch is a rheostat,” John D explained.  “The volume knob on your stereo is a rheostat.”  Apparently drinking Bud Light makes you really smart.

I’ve heard about another new .NET programming position if anyone is looking for one.  It’s not with my company, but I’ve been told it’s a very good place to work.  E-mail paul@paulryburn.com if interested.

I don’t announce a whole lot of non-Downtown events, but I will mention that the Young at Art group at the Dixon is holding their ARTini party Friday, March 7 from 7 to 10 PM.  I’ve never been but have heard this is a particularly good event.  Free for YAA members, $35 for non-members, $50 for couples.  Music by Susan Marshall, a silent auction, and of course, martinis.

Kennedy from Q107.5 e-mailed to remind me that you can still listen to the radio station on Thursdays to find out how to get into EP’s for free and get free drinks and food from 8 to 9 PM.  Haven’t made it in a few weeks… not sure if I’ll be back tonight, but soon.  Seems like I haven’t put in a lot of time at Hoop’s Bar lately, not sure why because I still love the place.

Plate update:  Knocked off beers 7, 8, and 9 last night.

Previous total:  $21.75

Beers:
Old Scratch (Fire Sale) $2.75
Pyramid Apricot $4.00
Foster’s Oil Can $5.50
Tip:  $12.25 x 30% = $4.00 (I round the tips to the nearest dollar)
Total:  $16.25

Grand total:  $38.00

The bums were in hog heaven last night, thanks to the Tiger game.  My apartment building’s owner saw me outside Slim’s and told me I should watch the students walking to the game and how much they were giving to panhandlers.  So I took a window seat perch at the Saucer, and I was appalled at how many times I saw students pull out dollas and give to bums.  College students haven’t had a lot of experience with them and don’t know any better… they think they’re helping the homeless (which is NOT the case) or they feel like they may be in danger if they don’t give.  I even saw one student chase down career panhandler/convicted felon Sharp Dressed Bum to give him money.  I’m thinking about contacting The Daily Helmsman, the U of M campus newspaper, and seeing if they’d be interested in doing an article on panhandling before and after Tiger games.

I stopped in Circa briefly to say happy birthday to regular blog reader Mendi (her actual birthday was last week, but she was celebrating last night).  While there the GM gave me a sample of the new Boscos pale ale they’re now serving, and it was good – really, it was better than any pale ale I remember trying.  That’ll probably be my beer of choice at Circa from now on.

Time to go to work and write some C# code.  Have a good day everyone.