Author: paulryburn

This morning there was some discussion on my brunch crew/trivia team’s private e-mail list about Sunday’s Rajun Cajun Crawfish Fest, and the Nuh-Uh Girl raised a good point that I want to mention here:  GET THERE EARLY.  It starts at noon, and unless you enjoy standing in very, very long lines you better get there not long after the festival starts.  Last year I counted 93 people in line for crawfish about 1:15 PM.  The line stretched nearly a city block.

My plan is to get there right at noon, get a bucket of crawfish, and find the best people-watching spot I can find on the grass and sit there and eat.  A lot of my gang heads up to the rooftop of Barton Flats to eat, and that’s definitely a great plan but I have to be right in the middle of the action to be happy.  At events like Rajun Cajun I tend to go into “festival mode” and bounce around from group to group talking to people all day.

Walked down to CityHouse at noon to get my hair cut… while down there I confirmed that Earnestine & Hazel’s is indeed serving Soul Burgers for lunch from 11 to 2.  I wanted one very badly, but didn’t have time to eat after the haircut, and besides the event I’m attending after work will have very good hors d’ouevres, so I want to be hungry for that.

I also peeked in the door of the new Blue Monkey and it sure looks like it’s very, very close to completion.  I didn’t get a thorough look, but what I saw reminded me a little more of the Midtown Monkey than the original Downtown Monkey did.

Still trying to figure out how I’ll rearrange my evening tonight.  Grrr… I have to admit I’m a little annoyed with EP’s for putting “April 17 – the Dempseys” in their ad in the Flyer.  If it’s a private party, details of it should not appear in a public ad.  Also, the entertainment page on their site contains listings for March 2008.  I’ll probably hang out a little longer than planned at the private party I’m attending after work, then hit the Saucer.  May wander over to the Peabody for their rooftop party, or may just go sit at their lobby bar and people-watch.  Red Rooster is still on the agenda for later.

I haven’t been to Raiford’s in two months… hmmm maybe Saturday.  That means I’ll stay out late and be tired for Crawfish Fest the next day, but I’ll deal with it.  No brunch for me this week on Sunday.  It’s Majestic week 2 in the rotation for those who plan on going.

Oh speaking of Crawfish Fest… current forecast is high 77.  Suggested attire:  TUBE TOPS.  Obviously suggested only for women, though.  If you want to be famous on the blog, wear a tube top and find me (I’ll try to remember to wear the T-shirt I have on in my profile pic, so I’ll be easy to spot) and I’ll take your picture and post it sometime during the month of June, which is Tube Top Month.  Actually, I’ll extend that offer not just to Crawfish Fest, but any time you see me.  I carry the camera with me everywhere I go.

My BFF’s birthday is next week.  I guess I should buy her a present but have no clue what to get her.  Her mini-me quit the Saucer so I can’t ask her advice, and her friend Brittney’s only advice was, “don’t be a cheap-ass like you were when you bought my birthday present.”  If you have suggestions as to what I should get my BFF, e-mail them to paul@paulryburn.com.  Quick profile of her for those who haven’t met her:  About to turn 22; hobbies include flipping people off, cussing people out, and getting really wasted.  What else… um, I don’t know, I think I saw her do a crossword puzzle one time.  My BFF and I had discussed putting on our matching shirts (with pic of her flipping me off) and going out drinking sometime; I could pay her tab all evening in lieu of a present, but that could set a dangerous precedent, as she’d start expecting me to pay for everything every time we hang out.

Or maybe I just won’t get her anything.

Here’s a link to a Commercial Appeal article about Mpact Memphis’ Civics 101 and Advocacy series.  The first event of the Civics 101 series is next Tuesday 5:00-7:30 PM at the Hope and Healing Center.  Three speakers will discuss how to get involved in Memphis politics without ever running for office, how to serve on government boards and committees, how to get involved in local politics and issues from the ground up, and they will present on a step-by-step guide on how to have an impact on an issue that is important to you.

Back later (possibly tomorrow) with info on a very unusual performer appearing at the Rooster this weekend.

Just got an e-mail from EP’s that the Dempseys show tonight is a private party for Morgan Keegan.  Sorry for getting everyone excited about it.  The Dempseys were listed in their ad in this week’s Memphis Flyer, so I had every reason to believe it was open to the public.

Still plenty of other good options.  I’m going to have to figure out how this will rearrange my schedule.

Country Grammar at the Peabody rooftop, 6-10 PM.  $5, ladies free before 8

Brian “Breeze” Cayole at the Madison rooftop, 5:30-10:30 PM

(EDIT:  Just found out the Dempseys at EP’s tonight is a private party.  Sorry.  It was in EP’s ad in the Flyer so I assumed it was public.)

White Noise Theory at the Flying Saucer, 9:30 PM

“Rock Out With Your Cock Out” night at the Red Rooster all evening, extremely cheap beer specials.  Their website does not list a band playing tonight so I assume there will be a DJ.

Whatever the hell goes on at Atlas.  Do they have a website listing bands for each week?  If so I can’t find it.  Oh well, the place sucks anyway.

If I’m missing anything let me know and I’ll edit.

An article on the Memphis Business Journal’s site this morning reveals that the Majestic Grille is adding not only a movie screen, as previously reported here, but also an art gallery.

They are converting their private dining room into an art gallery and event space.  The art of photographer Gary Kessel is currently on display there.

The movie screen will show shorts, silent movies and other movies from the early era of film, the era in which the building was a movie theater.

The restaurant will also host events for various arts organizations around town.

For more info check out the MBJ article here.

Glad my plans changed and I got to attend Downtown Night at Itta Bena, because when I got there I found out it was the last one where they will give away free appetizers.  There will still be a Downtown Night next week at Itta Bena, but it will be different.  Plans are still being made, but there will likely be discounts on the appetizers on the regular menu.  That’s a good thing because if you find something you like, you can come back and have it again, whereas up ’til now the free appetizers were created at the chef’s whim and were not part of the regular menu.  They’re also discussing $5 wine specials (one red, one white each week) and weekly beer specials (tonight they were selling leftover stock of Xingu for $2).  When I get complete details I’ll blog them.

The owners of Calhoun’s e-mailed to tell me they have a new deck under construction out back.  It will seat 20 and work on it will begin Monday.  They claim it will be done in a week.  Is that a real deadline or a Blue Monkey deadline?  Hope it actually happens, so Calhoun’s patrons can have a view of the night sky and South Main bum J.J.

I received an e-mail from a reader who works in South Main and reports that there’s a sign outside E&H about Soul Burgers for lunch.  Previously they didn’t open until 5 PM.  Can anyone confirm this?

After my stop at Itta Bena tonight, I went to (can you guess?) the Flying Saucer.  Had 6 Fire Sales (Woodchuck Granny Smith).  One of the other regulars asked me to complain on the blog that there are NEVER paper towels in the men’s room, to see if anything gets done about it.  Valid point.  I’d estimate there are paper towels maybe 40% of the time.

Plans for tomorrow:  Private party at a restaurant in the Downtown core, then a move to the Saucer for a brief visit, then on to EP’s to see the Dempseys (EDIT 4/17:  Just found out this is a private party, never mind), and if I’m still awake after that it’s on to the Red Rooster for “Rock Out With Your Cock Out” night.

Busy day at work in the morning so don’t expect 5-6 posts in one day.  If I have time I’ll post all the bands for the rooftop and related Thur parties.

Got a copy of the Memphis Flyer and flipped through it at lunchtime.  A few items of interest to Downtowners:

– The Memphis Farmers Market opens on Saturday.  It’s in the parking lot next to Central Station, on G.E. Patterson between Front and Main.  All kinds of good fresh vegetables, meats, jams, and arts and crafts on sale.  They usually open the first week in May, but this year they’re opening early so you can get strawberries, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, and other spring fruits and veggies.  It runs from 7 AM to 1 PM.  If you’re serious about getting the best stuff, you better show up at 7 because a lot of the restaurants go there and clean the farmers out within the first hour.

– The Montessori school on Mud Island is having its annual rubber duck race Saturday.  There will be other events from 10 to 5 including a boat race of boats constructed of cardboard and rubber tape, and canoe and kayak races.  I’ve never been to this but have heard from many people that it’s a fun event.

– If you want to do something to make your community more beautiful, there will be a Wolf River Harbor cleanup from 12:30 to 3:00 Saturday.  Meet under the Auction Avenue bridge.  The Sierra Club will provide gloves and trash bags.

– April 27, a week from this Sunday, will be the date for the 3rd annual Dishes for Wishes dinner to benefit Make-A-Wish.  It will be held at Felicia Suzanne’s from 5 to 8, and will feature food from not only Felicia’s, but also from Automatic Slim’s, the Blue Monkey, the Butcher Shop, EP Delta Kitchen, Grill 83, the Majestic Grille, McEwen’s on Monroe, the Rendezvous, and Stella.  If you’re new to Downtown dining and want exposure to the cuisine of a lot of the neighborhood’s best restaurants, this is your chance.  Call 692-9508 for more info.  This is the same day as Wine Race so I’ll probably have to skip this one.  Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl is going; this is her type of event.  If she goes, someone please take a camera and get pics of her eating.

I can’t believe they didn’t list Rajun Cajun Crawfish Fest as one of their recommended events in the “Steppin’ Out/We Recommend” section.  That’s got to be the biggest mistake the Flyer has made this year.  Wait, no it isn’t.  Second biggest.

Still more news and rants and stuff to come.

Here’s a good website where you have one-click access to just about anything you need to find on the web.  Would make a good homepage.

www.allmyfaves.com

Back with more later today.  Lots of news to report.

Interesting article on the Memphis Business Journal’s site this morning about a possible CCC proposal to return vehicle traffic to Main Street.  The Main Street Mall has been a pedestrian mall from Exchange to Peabody Place since the 1970s.

My first reaction was “No!  Don’t mess with my street!”, since Main literally is my street – I live at 10 South Main.  However, after thinking about it for a little while, I can actually see advantages to letting cars once again travel down Main – it would not only bring more vehicle traffic to the area, but more foot traffic as well.  That would encourage new retail businesses to open up in the Downtown core, and I think it would also help curb the activities of the bums who frequent the area.

My only concern if they do it is that they get it done quickly, and not take a year and destroy the sales of all the businesses on Main.  Since the trolley tracks are on Main, that worries me a bit, since MATA would be involved and they somehow manage to screw up every construction project they do.

Check back later today for a cool links page, and information on THE place to be tomorrow night for Thursday night parties.  My patio/mojito plans got cancelled – my friend got a last-minute work appointment – so I’ll revert to my usual plan of Downtown Night at Itta Bena at 5:30.  It’s a good time, come join.  Complimentary appetizers, and 5 bucks for well drinks that are better than call drinks at most bars.  After that I’ll move on to the Saucer and decide whether I want to buy their 4:20 glass for “buy the beer, keep the glass” night.  I need another glass like I need a hole in the head, but it’s hard not to want a glass that has “shiznit” printed on it.

I started last night at Itta Bena, where bartender Sam was working.  Hang on, let’s post a pic of Sam:

There ya go.  That’s Sam.  You may remember that Sam started a trivia team last year called “Suck My Blog” in an attempt to take down the greatest team in the history of trivia, the Rapscallions.  He failed miserably.  Then a couple of weeks ago he and a partner lost a pool game to Best Pool Partner Ever Lauren and me.  Well, last night Sam got to lose to me yet again.  He was playing with my phone and found a game called Bubble Breaker he’s played before.  I haven’t played it in more than a year.  So he challenged me.  Final score:

Paul 954
Sam 292

After leaving Itta Bena, I had safety patrol run a few bums off, then headed to the Saucer where I had to scan my UFO card one last time to see this on the screen:

Yep.  It’s confirmed.  I’m done.  They gave me a form to fill out to plan my plate party.  Here’s what the form looks like:

I requested a special slogan on my plate instead of a city, and the manager said no problem.  If you’ve ever read this blog you’ve seen the slogan.  If you can’t figure out what it is, I’ll post a pic of the new plate within the next 7 days after I have my plate party.

So I have a $100 bar tab to spend on the plate party, right?  Wrong.  The Rapscallions came into last night with $275 in trivia winnings, to be spent that night too.  So we have $375 to spend, right?  Wrong.  We added even more last night, as the Rapscallions dominated the third round and picked up yet another victory and $50 first-place gift certificate.  So our tab for the party is an enormous $425.

After trivia I rolled on to Calhoun’s.  They sell cans of Old Style for $1 a can during Cubs games, and after the game some of the people there decided to shotgun beers.  Here are some pics of that:

And here are some pics of what happened after the shotgunning was done:

Plans for today:  For the first time in over two months, I do NOT have to go to the Saucer.  Meeting a friend for mojitos on Sauces’ patio today after work.

Weird not to have a beer report to type.  Possibly another post around lunchtime.

New info on the Memphis Zombie Attack, where you can be transformed into a zombie on Beale Street or at the South Main Trolley Art Tour on Friday, April 25.  (What an appropriate day; lots of scary creatures have been born on 4/25.)  HauntedWeb is offering $50 to the best male and female zombie.  More info on that here.

You can either show up as a zombie, or you can show up wearing clothes you don’t mind being ruined with a piece of duct tape prominently displayed, and the existing zombie horde will zombify you as they pass by.

Another option is to show up at the parking lot adjacent to the Plush Club at 5 PM that day, and professional makeup artists will transform you into a zombie.

March starts around 7, down Beale to Main, then down Main to Earnestine & Hazel’s.  There will be an after-party at E&H’s back from featuring the Creeping Cruds, a Nashville horror rock band.

I won’t be among the zombies that night, but I will be out taking pics for a 2008 photo album.  Should be fun.