Category: Uncategorized

The latest question I asked Claude AI: Why do so many firefighters sport mustaches like those of 1890s baseball players? I’ve wondered about that for a while. We have some off-duty firefighters who come in Bardog in the mornings now and then, and many of them sport killer ‘staches.

The answer, it turns out, has nothing to do with the 1890s or baseball. Firefighters are prohibited from having beards because they would interfere with safety equipment that must be worn. So they make the most out of the only facial hair they’re allowed to have.

If any firefighters are reading this, by the way, thank you for your service.

Competitive eater Joey Chestnut will see if his gobbling prowess extends to BBQ nachos this Saturday at AutoZone Park.

NBA Summer League: Grizzlies vs. Atlanta, 7:00 PM. TV: Amazon Prime

The Ida B. Wells Plaza at Fourth and Beale is back open.

Paulette’s will host a Blue Note bourbon dinner on Wednesday, September 16.

The DMC reports that 767 Kentucky is being developed into 26 apartments, the occupants of which will have a short walk across Crump to Momma’s.

Itta Bena is hiring servers. Employee discounts on She-Crab soup! careersmemphis@ittabena.com

Bass Pro seeks a sales associate – firearms.

Back tomorrow with a Frupdate.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
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Memphis Chess Club has blondie brownies this week. They’re made with yellow brownie mix (as opposed to traditional chocolate mix) and contain nuts and chocolate chips. PRO TIP from a barista: You can ask for whipped cream with your brownie.

Songvest – buy a piece of a song’s royalty stream & get paid for decades – also Royalty Exchange

Saturday Sunset headlines this Thursday’s Peabody rooftop party. $15 gen adm / $40 VIP. 6 to 10 PM.

Fun fact I read on Quora: Per a post-nup, the Trumpster must pay Melania an appearance fee whenever she accompanies him to public events. How SAD must that be, to have to pay your WIFE an appearance fee?

England vs. Argentina, World Cup semi, 2:00 PM, FOX. Winner plays Spain on Sunday.

The drawing for that Duvel beer cooler/foosball table that’s been on display at the Saucer for months is this Sunday at approximately 4. You must be present to win. (You won’t win, though. Gary Smith will win. Gary wins everything.)

In other Saucer news, they’ve been bought out for a private party tonight. You have ’til 5 to get in there and drink your beer and watch the World Cup.

Max’s Sports Bar is staffing up for the busy (football) season. They’re hiring a part-time cook/barback. 15-25 hours per week, competitive pay, tip pool. Apply in person.

MLB home run derby champ Jordan Walker is a former Memphis Redbird. The ‘birds will celebrate his longest HR with $4.70 lower bowl tickets all weekend.

My left foot feels like it’s roommates with Edward Scissorhands in my left shoe.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

My friend Ruchee Patel is a candidate for Shelby County Criminal Court Judge, Division 8. I’ve known Ruchee for more than 15 years and can tell you she has a sharp mind, a passion for justice, and a compassionate heart. She’s also a dog lover. Please consider voting for Ruchee in the upcoming election.

France vs. Spain, World Cup semis, 2:00 PM, FOX.

The Sheboygan is the burger of the week at Momma’s: Angus beef topped with bratwurst, onions, peppers, Swiss, and cheddar on a Kaiser roll.

Speaking of rolls, slow yours. There’s a speeding crackdown on local streets this week.

It’s National Mac & Cheese Day.

A new seafood and cocktail restaurant, Walt & Ricky’s, is going into the former Fancy’s Fish House space at 1 MLK Ave. Get a preview at the DNA meeting to be held there July 26.

See the world as a pigeon sees it

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Do I have any readers who attend St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at MLK Ave. and Fourth/Ida B. Wells, and if so, would you be willing to help me get some questions answered?

I hear there’s a foot clinic at the church the fourth Sunday of every month. I badly need to avail myself of the clinic’s services. However, I need to find out the answer to these questions:

•  What time should I be there?
• Where is the clinic? Is there a room number? A specific door I need to use to enter the church building?

The answers to these questions are not on the church’s website, and emailing admin@(the church) produced no response. HELP!

CONFIRMED: Boujee Bistro is marked as permanently closed on Google.

I heard a rumor that the Arby’s on Union closed permanently too, but that is a story with which Google does not agree. That would be no bueno if they did close, since I have an unspent $20 gift card there.

Since there’s no World Cup soccer on today, the Brass Door staff are taking a well-deserved day off.

The Ghost River taproom rolled out an all-day Sunday brunch menu yesterday.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Anime Blues Con weekend is always a fun weekend to people-watch for fashion. I saw a kid wearing one of those pointy, round Chinese hats. His T-shirt read “CHINESE MODE: ON.”

Also cool: Horror movie Hawaiian shirt

No World Cup matches ’til Tuesday… what’re we going to watch at Bardog today?

The Summer League Grizz aren’t playing today, either. They’ve got Dallas Monday at 6 (ESPN).

Cyclosporiasis spreads to Tennessee. Y’all, this parasite is not one to take lightly. A friend of mine had it and it damn near incapacitated him for 2 weeks.

Boujee Bistro at 60 N. Main may have closed. Saturday nights are usually a huge party there, but last night it was dark and empty. Also, I noticed the restaurant’s name had been removed from the building’s facade.

Kenny Reed plays Sunset Jazz in Court Square tonight 6-8. Free, family-friendly, food trucks.

Relax, de-stress, unwind, be present at The Reset tonight in Tom Lee Park.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Today is National Mojito Day. It’s also Swimming Pool Day. Celebrate with a poolside mojito.

World Cup action today:

• Norway vs. England, 4 PM, FOX
• Argentina vs. Switzerland, 8 PM, FOX

Watch out for storms with damaging wind this afternoon and evening.

The Valabasas Memphis Streetwear Market happens today 11-5 at The Kent event space at Front and Keel. More than 40 brands will be represented.

Out of time. Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

I came up with an awesome name for a Mongolian-American rapper yesterday.

P. Khan.

And his debut album should be called Pie.

Wednesday morning I encountered a man handing out Ziploc care packages to the homeless in Court Square, and he included an item that is VERY USEFUL and yet one I had never before seen in such a care package before.

Reading glasses.

I can’t tell you how many times a man sitting next to me at the Union Mission has asked me to read instructions on a pill bottle to him.

And the glasses are NOT so expensive that it would rule out their inclusion in care packs. Amazon has unisex reading glasses in bulk $42.99 for 50 pairs. That’s about 80 cents a pair.

Random fact I learned yesterday: We release about 400 ml of water into the atmosphere daily, just by breathing.

Tonight is the first-ever game night at North Main soul food restaurant Alcenia’s. 5:00-8:30. Spades, Bid Whiz, chess, dominoes – whatever you want to do.

Eagles tribute band Motel California plays Ghost River’s taproom tonight at 7.

Twin Fiction, formerly a duo called The Church Brothers, brings their newly expanded band to Hotel Pontotoc’s Garden Stage tonight for an album release show.

Track & field event the Ed Murphey Classic comes to Beale Street 3:30-8:30 Saturday.

Future-Everything will present Strooly b2b TEHKAL at Central Station Hotel Saturday night 9 to 1.

Brian Hamilton, Ohlosha, RAXX, and Rosamii play HEAT.WAV at Wiseacre Downtown 10 to 2 Sat. night. Bass, club, house.

I don’t have official word on this, but I strongly suspect Flying Saucer is hiring servers and bartenders. A number of key FOH employees moved on to the next phase of their lives this week.

Fantasy COLLEGE football is about to be a thing.

From WREG: Retired firefighter shifts focus to serve the unhoused community

She’s not holding out for a hero anymore: RIP Bonnie Tyler

LEO Events is hiring a senior producer.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

It’s National Sugar Cookie Day, and Insomnia Cookies on Beale Street has the sweet deal: $1 sugar cookies all day.

Flyway Brewing celebrates Christmas in July all week with High Cotton Nut Brown Ale on draft.

Cordelia’s Market hosts a Harbor Town neighborhood mixer 5-7 this evening. Free beer samples.

World Cup action today: France v. Morocco, 3 PM, FOX.

Music Export Memphis will celebrate its 10th birthday with a free concert in Handy Park Saturday, July 25. Slated to perform, according to the Memphis Flyer cover story, are Black Cream, Keia Johnson, Deonna Sirod, Nick Black, Raneem Imam, Optic Sink, and Hi Rhythm featuring Jerome Chism and Lina Beach.

A renovation is planned to get the Doubletree Hotel, across Union from the ballpark, back open. WREG reports on a plan to reimagine the 280-room Tree Tree as a 4-star “lifestyle/boutique” hotel.

On Thursday, July 23, there will be a dinner at Ghost River’s South Main taproom featuring the brewery’s beer, Old Dominick cocktails, and the following courses:

• Deviled eggs with candied bacon
• BBQ egg rolls
• Brisket mac & cheese
• Maple bourbon ribs
• Smoked peach cobbler

Buy tickets | $85 per person | Space limited

St. Jude seeks a barista.

Back tomorrow with a Frupdate.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Today is National Blueberry Day. There is currently a blueberry white chocolate beer on draft at the Flying Saucer that is as good as it sounds. It’s $11 but worth it. GET IT GET IT. Smart money gets that $11 beer for $5 during 3-6 PM Social Hour.

Basketcase headlines this Thursday’s Peabody rooftop party. They are said to have one of the most diverse song lists in Memphis and will learn audience requests on the fly. $15 to get in, $40 to go VIP. VIPs get a buffet of buffalo wings, honey gold wings, BBQ wings, fried pickle spears with ranch, and assorted cheeses.

The Lower East Side is the burger of the week at Momma’s: Angus beef, house-sliced pastrami, caramelized onion, Swiss, dill pickle, and Dijon mustard. If Carlo Gambino were still alive, he’d stop in Memphis for one of those burgers.

Beginning today, Front St. between Union and Monroe will be closed for streetscape improvements. The closure is expected to last through December 1.

The Grizzlies have added a point-guard via trade – veteran D’Angelo Russell.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

The USMNT’s dream of a World Cup championship went up in smoke like a Cheech & Chong movie last night. BEL 4, USA 1.

The Summer League Grizzlies play Chicago Friday night at 7. TV: Amazon Prime. Cam Boozer wears number 27 if you want to look for him in particular. Full roster

Automatic Slim’s is hiring. Send resume to chellem@cateringforu.com or come in person to 83 S. Second on a weekday before 5 PM.

A beer named after a Buick, Lord Skylark, is back at Wiseacre on draft and in 4-packs.

It’s Chocolate Day. Celebrate by buying your favorite blogger a brownie at Memphis Chess Club.

It’s also National Dive Bar Day. Momma’s. Earnestine & Hazel’s. Uber/Lyft out to Alex’s.

Today is the last day to register to vote for the August elections.

Anime Blues Con returns to the Renasant Convention Center Friday-Sunday.

Ranch good, ketchup bad: Vote for the best ranch dressing in Memphis in StyleBlueprint’s ranch brackets

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com