Category: Uncategorized

We had one last night yesterday with our friend Air Traffic Mike before he and his brother John headed back to New Jersey. We were sitting at the bar at the Silly Goose, and he said something that really made a lot of sense: “You know Pauly, the thing about living in Downtown Memphis is that things can get bad, but they can’t stay bad for long. On a bad day, all I have to do is look on Foursquare or send a text, and I soon find myself among friends.”

This is so true. If there’s one thing I hope my readers have learned from this blog, it is that Downtown Memphis is one of the easiest places to meet people and make friends – not just acquaintances, but real friends who will be there for you when you need them. Come back soon, ATM and John.

Jennifer Biggs of the Commercial Appeal reviewed Maciel’s Tortas and Tacos this week and she had several pieces of good news: The restaurant plans to offer second-floor seating soon, as well as patio seating when the weather gets warmer. The owner will also expand the menu at that time, and start selling beer once his permit goes through. Great place, great food, great prices!

The Harlem Globetrotters return to FedExForum on Saturday. There will be performances at 1 and 6 PM.

Also Saturday, “Love Me Tender: The Great Elvis Love Songs” happens at the Cannon Center at 7:30 PM. Tribute artist Terry Mike Jeffrey will join the Memphis Symphony Orchestra for this performance.

There’s a Transgender Services Specialist position open at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center. It’s full-time salaried with benefits. Apply by January 22 by submitting a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to info@mglcc.org.

The Grizzlies have signed former Memphis Tigers guard Elliot Williams to a 10-day deal. The Grizzlies start a six-game homestand tonight, and these games are vital to determining the rest of the Grizzlies’ season. If they do not do well, it may be time to make some trades. The Grizzlies are currently selling a SmartPass that gets you in 7 games, including the MLK Day game, for $49. $7 a game, that’s not bad!

Big weekend for the cooks on my BBQ team, the Moody Ques. Three certified and very experienced BBQ Fest judges have volunteered to have us walk through a pork shoulder presentation as if it were Saturday morning at BBQ Fest. They are going to give our cooks completely honest feedback on what they are doing right and what areas they need to improve. They are also going to load our cooks up with plenty of insider tips. We have regionals coming up in Atoka and Southaven, and if we can use the information we gain this weekend to snag a cooking trophy in April, that would be sweet indeed.

The Real Wine Julia, a blogger who knew the late Ben Carter well, has a farewell to the wittiest of wine writers post that is worth a read if you knew Ben or read his writing.

There’s a petition to henceforth refer to a Jack and Coke as a “Lemmy.” I have to admit that makes more sense than naming an element after him.

Robo reads/stalks my blog on a daily basis.

Cafe Pontotoc reopens today at 4 PM. It has been closed this week.

From Mashable: How many people do online daters communicate with before finding a relationship? But the real question is, how many people do Fuckbook.com users (see post earlier this week if you don’t know what I’m talking about) communicate with before they get laid?

CRAP! I’m seeing tweets that NXT at Minglewood Hall is sold out already. I hadn’t bought my ticket yet! Shows that Memphians know good pro wrestling when they see it though. (Edit: Now hearing that more tickets have been added)

Time to hit Publish and eat my chicken I bought at the Kroger deli. I’ll be out after work, not sure where yet.

The Daily News has a great, must-read article on Miss Cordelia’s and the changes there since the current GM came on board 18 months ago. He realized the Mud Island grocery store didn’t work trying to be a “little Kroger” and started paying more attention to what customers wanted. Cordelia’s is often the first to carry local products after the farmers market, often stocking those products the day after sampling, with about 50 local vendors represented. They have an in-house butcher and are expanding the meats offered. They also have an in-house florist. Prepared meals offered at the grocery have doubled. They have added a growler station and will sell wine when it becomes legal to do so later this year. I haven’t been to Miss Cordelia’s in over a year, and this article makes me think I need to get over there very soon, maybe this weekend.

The best pro wrestling brand in the United States, NXT, is coming to Minglewood Hall Thursday, February 5. NXT champ Finn Balor will be there, as will Women’s champ Bayley. Samoa Joe, Apollo Crews, and tag champions Dash and Dawson. Doors at 6:30, show at 7:30. NXT is the developmental brand of the WWE, but the action there is far better than what is on Raw or Smackdown.

The Memphis International Auto Show happens at the Cook Convention Center from Friday through Sunday.

The MBJ has photos of the new restaurant Michael Hudman and Andrew Ticer plan to open in the Chisca.

Plans have been approved for Loflin Corner, a neighorhood bar and event space at East Carolina and Florida, in the neighborhood southwest of South Main that is now known as South Junction. The Design Review Board found the property would be an asset to the neighborhood and would raise property values as well.

The Redbirds are looking to hire an inside sales rep for season tickets.

Toney Armstrong is retiring as MPD Director on January 31. He will take a job as Director of Security for St. Jude.

Good podcast by Memphis-based career coach Angela Copeland this week: She interviews Dorth Raphaely, GM of the business behind popular sports website Bleacher Report.

The Mississippi River is expected to crest at Memphis tomorrow at 39.8 feet, a day earlier and a foot lower than expected.

You can now take men’s pole dancing classes at a studio out in Bartlett. Well, yoga is no longer the form of exercise I am least likely to pursue.

Sad to hear of the passing of Pat Harrington, who played Schneider on One Day at a Time. He was 86.

Pizza Hut has unveiled its own clothing line. Oh. My. God.

Time to get loose as a goose. A silly one. There may be a third Thursday update when I get home tonight.

Up early this morning. I have the time and I have the news, so you get a morning post.

A new hotel may be coming to South Main. The Daily News reports that a Homewood Suites has been proposed for the site of 139 Vance, with the entrance facing Vance between Mulberry and Second. The hotel would be six stories and would fill in a lot that has been vacant as long as I can remember. When I was a traveling corporate trainer I stayed in Homewood Suites a few times and really enjoyed it.

Very sad to read that Memphis lost one of its best food and wine bloggers recently. Ben Carter passed away at his home at age 39. Ben’s blog Benito’s Wine Reviews was a well-respected source for information about wines. In addition, Ben did freelance work. I was thrilled when Ben contacted me in the spring of 2014 and inquired about coming to the Moody Ques’ booth at BBQ Fest. He was writing an article for Serious Eats and wanted to talk to the cooks and take photos of our booth. Rest in peace, Ben; as the Commercial Appeal writer said, Memphis has lost a man who lived life to the fullest.

GLO Airlines is giving away a trip for two to New Orleans. Winner gets round-trip airfare and three nights at the Dauphine Orleans hotel in the French Quarter.

The things I learn about while hanging out at the bars of Downtown Memphis… Most of my readers are on Facebook.com. But did you know there’s a site called Fuckbook.com? I was told about this last night and pulled up the home page in my phone’s browser. “Join and meet people now,” it said, with a form to fill out to join, including checkboxes where you can indicate whether you are looking for a male, female, or couple. I’m trying not to judge people who are registered on this site (98% of whom I’m guessing are male). Trying……………. trying really hard……………………….. nope, failed. I am totally judging.

(DISCLAIMER #1: If you are stupid enough to pull up this site on a work computer, I am not responsible for what happens to you.)

(DISCLAIMER #2: I am not responsible for malware/viruses downloaded to your computer due to the use of this site.)

(DISCLAIMER #3: I am not responsible for your name appearing on a public list after Anonymous hacks Fuckbook.com.)

Get familiar with Memphis in May’s honored country this year by learning these top ten funny Canadian expressions.

Time to go out for a rip, where I will hang a roger at the Circle K and pick up a two-four. No, actually, it is time to get in the car, drive to work, and spend the day making Ajax calls and converting arrays to JSON. Possibly back at lunchtime or after work with a second post, so check back.

Breaking news: Greenbelt Park on Mud Island has been closed due to rising flood waters. The water is expected to continue to rise for a few more days, but not to the level that Island Drive will need to be close.

The Cardinals Caravan returns to AutoZone Park Friday, January 15 beginning at 6:30 PM, with doors opening an hour earlier. The event is free with first-come, first-served seating. Players and alumni will discuss current status of the Cardinals as well as the past, and then there will be a youth autograph session. First 400 kids 15 and under will get an autograph ticket guaranteeing them autographs from the participating players. Minor League Player of the Year Steven Piscotty and NL All-Star Michael Wacha will be on hand, as will alumni Stubby Clapp, Bo Hart, and Jason Simontacchi will be there, as will top prospects Patrick Wisdom and Carson Kelly.

There’s an official Grizzlies Watch Party tonight at 8:30 at Double J. The game is at Oklahoma City and will be televised nationally on ESPN. The Grizzlies Claw Crew will be at Double J with giveaways.

Felicia Suzanne’s has Wiseacre Wednesday tonight, with $3.50 locally-brewed Wiseacre drafts.

BBQ teams already know this, I’m sure, but this might be useful to some of my readers: The complete visual guide to pork cuts

I’m not sure if any of my readers do cleanses, but if there are some of you out there, there’s now a taco cleanse out there that you might want to try. It’s in the form of a book that shows you how to replace one meal a day with a vegan taco. The book begins with a taco quiz to help you understand what kind of taco-eating personality you have.

The New York Public Library has release 621,000 digital images which the public can use for whatever they want, royalty-free.

The Peabody is offering a Snowed in at the Peabody rate many days this month and next for $165 a night.

Done for now. Time for beer.

The annual Polar Bear Plunge and Chili Cook-off benefiting Special Olympics of Greater Memphis will be held at Mud Island River Park on Saturday, February 6 beginning at 10 AM with the chili cook-off. It’s $50 for teams to enter the cook-off and entry forms must be in by January 25. If you prefer to eat chili rather than cook it, you can be a judge for $5 and sample all the teams’ chili. There are many different varieties!

If you want to take a plunge in the frigid Mississippi River for charity, it’s at 3 PM. You must wear shoes, sign the waiver, and pay a $50 entry fee. You get the official plunge T-shirt with $50 in pledges raised, with more goodies if you raise a higher amount in pledges. Wear your wackiest costume for a chance to win the Golden Plunger.

I’m starting to feel like I sound like a broken record… I post about the same things every year. This time of year it’s the TEP gumbo contest, the polar bear plunge, and of course my annual reminder to show up early for Soup Sunday before the lines get long. However, I know for a fact that I have several readers who have been in Memphis less than a year, so it’s important to post all these Downtown events even though I feel like I’m repeating myself.

LYFE Kitchen has set a date for the opening of its Downtown location in the Chisca: Monday, February 1.

Here’s a useful health tip: Soak nuts in water before you eat them. Just as porcupines have quills, nuts have a natural defense against predators to help ensure that the nuts live to maturity. The defense is in the form of an acid that makes the nuts impossible to completely digest. However, soaking the nuts in water neutralizes the acid, which can aid digestion and lower cholesterol.

As for where to buy those nuts, you don’t even have to leave Downtown: Go to the Peanut Shop on the Main Street Mall between Main and Monroe. They have a large selection of nuts, chocolates, and candy. If you want to buy some next month for your Valentine, they have many decorative tins in which to present your gift. When you shop there, you support people who are not only local Downtown businesspeople, but some of the nicest people you will ever meet. I went in there in 2010 to buy Christmas candy for my mom, and to this day the owner still asks me “How’s mother?” when he sees me walking down Main Street.

Memphians may need this information soon: Here’s the fastest way to defrost your car windshield

Interesting article: How dance affects (and heals) the mind

Four new periodic elements have been discovered and there’s a movement to name one of them after Motorhead’s Lemmy. YES YES YES!

There’s an opening for a Building Maintenance Mechanic at Memphis International Airport.

GM is investing $500 million in Lyft, betting that in the future, people won’t own cars anymore.

That’s it for now. Happy birthday to my friend Air Traffic Mike, who has decided to stay in town for one more day. Hopefully I will get to do a birthday shot with him this evening.

Let’s serve up this second helping of Tuesday news before I go out.

The Jeff Johnson Restaurant Group will be collaborating with Chef Brown Burch for a charity dinner supporting Best Buddies of Tennessee. The dinner will be at Agave Maria from 7-9 PM Sunday, January 24. It will be a Latin-themed dinner with seasonal items sourced locally. Here’s the menu:

1st: Snapper crudo – jicama, pomegranate, chicharon, aji Amarillo vinaigrette

2nd: Braised kale taquitos – cotija crème & black bean dip

3rd: Chiliquiles – burnt salsa, duck carnitas, soft cooked egg

4th: Confit pork belly – refried pinto beans, radish salad

5th: Tres leches cake – dulce de leche, passion fruit

A wine pairing will be available for purchase on location the night of the event.

Memphis Made Brewery will have a fundraiser of its own, Half Pints for Half Pints, Saturday February 6 from 7 to 10 PM. Attendees will get Memphis Made beer as well as food from Central BBQ, Sweetgrass, Mulan and Celtic Crossing. There will be a silent auction, music by DJ Zac Ives of Goner Records, and you will be able to watch the Grizzlies in Memphis Made’s new private lounge. All proceeds benefit Cooper-Young’s Peabody Elementary PTA.

Registration deadline to sign up for Memphis City Football Club tryouts is tomorrow at 6 PM. Tryouts will be held January 7, 8, and 9 from 5-8 PM each night in Cordova. To try out you must pay a $53 fee and be at least 16.

A French startup called DietSensor is releasing a Bluetooth gadget you can use to scan your food that will detect its chemical makeup and analyze the food’s nutritional content. It’s pocket-sized and sends its data to your phone.

Job opening: St. Jude is seeking a Consortium Manager to assist the International Outreach Director.

Roald Dahl’s MATILDA the Musical, playing at the Orpheum next Tuesday through Sunday, will feature Memphian Lily Brooks O’Briant sharing the title role.

This morning on WREG Live at 9, chef John May from the Flying Fish demonstrated how to make the Fish’s grilled catfish with Vera Cruz sauce.

First 3000 fans at the FedExForum Friday for the Grizzlies vs. Denver get this scarf.

Leading off at the Silly Goose this evening to hang out with my friend Air Traffic Mike for one more day. His brother John, in town with ATM, witnessed my antics Saturday at the Blind Bear and asked, “How is THAT guy such a good writer?” Time for some PBRs and hopefully not more than one or two Fireballs. Back tomorrow.

Ever thought about living right next to the Mississippi River on Riverside Drive? A friend of mine is looking to rent his 1BR/1BA condo in the 648 Riverside building. Some of the amenities include 15-foot ceilings, stainless appliances, a full gym, a rooftop with grills, concrete floors, granite counter tops, granite in the bathroom with tub with shower and separate standing shower, lobby with pool table, and great security with controlled access. $1395 a month. The link has lots of photos. The landlord is someone I have known for years, owner of his own successful company, and my BBQ teammate.

Tonight at Trolley Stop Market, there will be a free showing of Robert Gordon’s STAX documentary “Respect Yourself” at 7 PM. The market will have pizza and beer specials. The market is in the 700 block of Madison in the Edge district.

Know a nonprofit that could benefit from some free high-level talent? New Memphis Fellows is seeking applications for Community Action Projects (CAPs) for nonprofits.

Sad to hear about the passing of Dale Bumpers, who was governor of Arkansas when I was a baby and went on to represent Arkansas in the Senate for many years. Bumpers was a true statesman and someone who treated his colleagues with respect no matter which side of the aisle they were on. They just don’t make ’em like Dale Bumpers anymore, and that’s unfortunate.

The next Grizzlies beer tasting night is Friday vs. Denver. This special ticket gets you samplings of craft beers, a pint glass, and a seat for the game. Featured beers this Friday are Stella Artois, Stella Cidra, Shock Top, Blue Point, and Goose Island. Special ticket must be purchased by Thursday. $77.50/$38.50. Event starts at 5, game at 7.

Sunday afternoon, the folks at Max’s Sports Bar got a surprise: Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema came in. Bielema must have heard that Max was a Hogs fan and decided to pay his bar a visit.

Useful: This Chrome extension blocks all mentions of Donald Trump

For those of you who are parents: A new toy caterpillar that teaches preschoolers how to code

Thrillist has the best 12 happy hours in Memphis. Several of my Downtown favorites made the list.

Local has posted some of the things you will see when its Downtown location re-opens post-renovations on Friday: A new menu, a new downstairs lounge, more TVs, a new sound system, a new back bar, new lighting, new tables, and updated restrooms.

I had a fine fourth day of 2016 yesterday. I went to Melissa Monday at Bardog, then received notification that my friend Air Traffic Mike was in town and had decided to stay until Wednesday. He was at the Blind Bear and it was an enjoyable evening with old friends and new. He got to meet Mary behind the bar and Chicken Fried Steak Rodger sitting down the bar from him. I hope to hang out with ATM again tonight.

There may be a second post after work, so check back.

Before I get to the news, I just want to make this statement: I LOVE MY FRIENDS. This weekend was just about perfect, with lots of fun times watching football at Max’s Sports Bar and having drinks at the Blind Bear. 2016 is off to a great start and I am grateful that I have so many wonderful people with whom I spent the past three days.

The Nuh-Uh Girl was definitely a ray of sunshine Downtown this week. She’s known on this blog for eating other people’s food and to a lesser extent going “nuh uh!” when trivia answers are proposed (she only did that once though). What she’s known for in person is her cheerful, infectious personality that makes everyone’s day brighter. It was a pleasure to have her back in town for a little while.

My friend Morgan got me good Saturday night: She stole my phone when I wasn’t looking and posted drunk photos of me to my own Facebook timeline. That was pretty funny! I guess I will have to put a lock code on the phone.

Moody Ques: I posted an update on the team website this morning. We’re doing a practice presentation for judges this month, we have a meet & greet in February, and we are cooking for two regionals in April. There is also dues information and we are getting a packet together for potential sponsors.

The Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) will have its annual gumbo cookoff and Mardi Gras celebration Sunday, January 24 at BRIDGES from 4:30 to 7 PM. You will be able to sample gumbo from 16 teams, drink some craft beer, listen to some jazz, and watch awards get handed out for best gumbo and for local Champions of Equality. Although I have never been to this event, I have heard from friends that it is a really good time.

Dropkick Murphys are coming to the New Daisy February 24 as part of their 20 year tour. They will have special guests Tiger Army and Darkbuster.

MPD has released photos of the people who stole Nick the pug from his walkers on Carolina Avenue on Friday.

Like wine? Want to support Make-a-Wish Mid-South? The sixth annual Wine for Wishes happens at the Cadre Building Thursday, February 25. Tickets are $55 in advance or $65 at the door.

Downtown Yoga is starting a 6-week beginner series on Wednesday nights at 6:45, starting this Wednesday, January 6. The fee is $50. Less than ten dollars a class? Not a bad deal.

Local Downtown will be closed this week for remodeling. They plan to be open again by Friday in time for Grizzlies pre-gaming.

I have a lot more news and not enough time. Possibly a second post after work. If not, there may be an extra-long one tomorrow. I will be at Bardog for Melissa Monday for happy hour tonight, then over to the Blind Bear as usual.

One month ago today, on December 3, 2015, a crew dug this massive hole on Monroe between Front and Main. A month later, the hole is still here, blocking off the west-bound lane of Monroe. This is an eyesore, a nuisance, and most of all a traffic hazard. There are four restaurants on this block – Flight, the deli in Brinkley Plaza, Bardog, and The Little Tea Shop – and it’s difficult for food suppliers to make deliveries thanks to this hole.  Mayor Strickland, I don’t know if you read this blog, but if you do, can we get something done about this? In addition to traffic problems, I am told that the digging has messed up phone service in the area, costing businesses money on delivery orders.

Miss Cordelia’s, the grocery store on Mud Island, has some deli positions open both day and night shifts. Inquire within if interested.

A thief stole Nick the pug from a woman who was paid to walk him. The robbery occurred on Carolina between Riverside and Florida. They got the license plate number of the getaway car and it had been carjacked earlier that day in Hickory Hill. Later that day, a woman contacted the owners and said she had the dog. They met at Whitehaven Walmart where the owners paid ransom and got the dog back.

This is the second dog robbery I have heard of Downtown in three months. If you’re a dog owner Downtown, be careful with your pet. The robberies seem to happen on the outskirts of Downtown (the other one was on A.W. Willis), so be especially aware if you live in such an area.

I have to disagree with an item on this Foursquare list: The 7 best places to drink imported beer in Memphis. OK, don’t get me wrong. I love Earnestine & Hazel’s. It’s a great place to drink a domestic beer. It’s a great place to get a Soul Burger. It’s a great place to listen to the jukebox. It’s a great place to go upstairs and sit at Nate’s bar. The atmosphere is second to none. In my early days Downtown, the 2002-07 era when there weren’t many locals’ bars, I hung out there nearly every weekend. I made out with a 19-year-old girl from L.A. on my 35th birthday at E&H. I love the place. But it is not known for imported beers. Aldo’s Pizza Pies and the Flying Saucer would be my Downtown picks for imports. If you want to take the beer home or to your hotel, check out City Market and Jack’s Food Store.

But really, why waste your money on imported beer when you can have the Cadillac of beers, PBR, for less?

Should asking a chef to “hold the rice” at a sushi restaurant get you kicked out? Before you think “are there people who would actually do that?”, let me assure you that there are. At the sushi buffets of Germantown, there is a woman who is known for getting an extra plate. She then loads up with nigiri, detaching the rice from the fish and putting it on the plate, not eating it to leave more room in her stomach for fish. After seeing a mountain of rice on her plate, the chef came over and yelled at her and told her she had to eat the rice in the future, or she would be asked to leave. So she started getting bowls of soup from the buffet, and hiding the rice in the soup.

By now you’re probably thinking, “It’s the Nuh-Uh Girl, isn’t it?” Yes of course it is.

Congratulations to my Arkansas Razorbacks on a fine 45-23 victory over Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl yesterday. I watched the game at Max’s Sports Bar and there were a group of Kansas State fans at the table by the door. “How confident are you in your team?” they asked. I told them my confidence level was pretty high. “Not so much for us,” they said. “We’re only here because Iowa State doesn’t know how to spike a ball.”

The MacBook is almost dead so it’s time to hit Publish and put it on the charger. D-RANKS with B-RAD at the Blind Bear is first up, of course. I need to catch up with my BBQ team. We had a cook’s meeting yesterday, and as Director of PR I am supposed to attend those to gather news to report to the team. However, they scheduled the meeting at the exact time the Liberty Bowl started, so watching the Razorbacks took priority. I asked the cooks to take good notes and hopefully I will sync up with them today. Time for a memorable Sunday Fun Day to cap off this long holiday weekend.

Yesterday I led off at Bardog as indicated on my blog, but while having my first beer I learned that the Nuh-Uh Girl and BBQ team pitmaster Frank planned on watching the Outback Bowl at Max’s Sports Bar. That sounded like a plan so I paid my tab and walked south.

I walked in at the same time as Frank and Nuh-Uh and we were joined a little later by our friend Chad MO. Chad decided some food would help him wake up so he asked Max for a menu. He got the school lunchroom pizza, the same stuff you were served in elementary school; yes, they have that as Max’s. As soon as his food came out the Nuh-Uh Girl appeared by his side.

The Nuh-Uh Girl got mad at me for rooting for Northwestern. “You should root for SEC schools,” she told me. In general I do, but Tennessee and Ole Miss are just too douchey for me to even consider it. The Nuh-Uh Girl sang “Rocky Top” every time the Vols scored, and it was nice to see that she has found other uses for her mouth besides eating.

Tennessee won, which made the Nuh-Uh Girl happy.

The walk north

With the game over a little after 2, I decided it was time to walk to Beale Street to get a good spot for the Liberty Bowl parade. On the way there I made a couple of discoveries which were blogworthy.

There’s a new Little Free Library at Main and Vance. Little Free Libraries are community book exchanges where you can leave a book that you would like to share with others, or take a book if you see one that interests you (of course, it is hoped you will return it when done). This is a neat concept and I am happy to see one Downtown.

I have the sneaking suspicion, though, that at some point in the near future I am going to be approached with the following: “Hey. Sir. Sir. Sir. Hey. Hey. Big time, over here. Look here, sir. I got this book on needlepoint that I’m trying to sell. If you went to the bookstore it would be about ten dolla. I’ll give it to you for ’bout fitty two cent.”

Farther up the street, I saw this note posted on the door of the Chisca.

LYFE Kitchen, the new restaurant to open soon in the Chisca, is hiring, LYFE Kitchen is a restaurant concept that sells healthy food at about the same speed and cost as fast food. It should do well down here. KALE!

The parade

I got there at 2:30 thinking I would surely beat the crowd and get the spot I wanted. I was wrong! The street was a sea of purple. Kansas State showed up!

We got a spot next to King’s Palace Cafe’s outdoor bar, which was convenient for purchasing Big Ass Beers. Bones, Mike, Shane and Leigh, and Stevie G and Sarah were there representing Squeal Street BBQ; Frank and I were there representing the Moody Ques; and the Nuh-Uh Girl was there representing people who eat Squeal Street’s and the Moody Ques’ food.

The Nuh-Uh Girl pointed out that there are only about 4 men in Memphis who are not members of the “I touched the Nuh-Uh Girl’s boob” club. I realized I was one of them, so I touched the Nuh-Uh Girl’s boob.

I have to hand it to Kansas State… I can’t root for your team today, but you guys really impressed me. I like schools whose fans show up for the Liberty Bowl in large numbers and are polite and well-behaved but know how to have fun. A friend of mine who used to be a Fireball rep went to Manhattan, Kansas and told me it is one heck of a party town. I can believe it.

No thanks, we wouldn’t be interested in thousands of dollars in extra revenue

I just don’t get this at all.

After about 50 minutes at the parade, I got tired of shivering and looking at the back of people’s heads. I caught a strand of beads but there wasn’t much else to keep me there. I decided it was time to get some blackeyed peas and collard greens. I walked north, passing the Flying Saucer.

Note that all the chairs are up in the photo above. The Saucer was closed. I posted the pic to Facebook and was told, “We always open at 5 on New Year’s Day.” Yes. I know that. I have been a regular at the Saucer for over a decade; I know what time you open. However, this New Year’s Day was different from the previous ones. This was the first New Year’s when there were SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE A BLOCK AWAY watching a parade. Those people are going to be looking for places to pre-game and post-game the parade. And you’re right there at Second and Peabody place. They are going to see you before they see any other bars. And a bar that sells 200 different beers? That’s a pretty appealing concept. You guys would have been PACKED. I’m not saying I would have opened the place at 11, but I sure would’ve got open by 1.

When I posted about this on Facebook, Shawn from Kooky Canuck commented, “Thank you very much.” No kidding. I bet Kooky pulled in an extra two grand of revenue, and I’m probably being too conservative with that estimate, because the Saucer was closed.

Luck times two

2015 wasn’t the best year for me. January and December were good months but the rest of the year pretty much sucked. For 2016 I wasn’t taking any chances. I was definitely going to get some blackeyed peas and collards for good luck… and besides, I like blackeyed peas and collards. The Blind Bear had them, so that’s where I went.

(The thing about the Blind Bear being so dark is, it’s almost impossible to get good photos in there. I had to do some serious lightness/saturation adjustment in The GIMP to get the food looking as yummy in this photo as it looked in real life.)

Later I wandered over to Bardog, where they also had blackeyed peas and greens on special. I had a bowl there too.

As you can see, they mix the greens in with the peas at Bardog, whereas at the Bear they serve them separately. I like both and don’t have a preference for one over the other.

On to the news

If you’re going to the Liberty Bowl and don’t want to deal with the hassle of traffic and parking near the stadium, there are free shuttles running from satellite lots at locations around town. Tickets for the game have sold out.

If you’re looking for something to do with the kids, Marvel Universe Live is at the FedExForum this weekend.

Here’s an article about ’90s women’s fashion. I would like to see #7, the boob tube top, make a comeback. However, rather than pairing it with baggy cargo pants, let’s update the look and pair it with yoga pants instead.

Pregnant women: Here’s a device you can insert inside your vagina so your fetus can listen to music.

From Whiskey Riff: The 36 things that happen when you get drunk on Fireball. I’ll add number 37: Pictures of you appear on Colin’s Facebook page.

From Food & Wine: Here’s why a Bloody Bull is better than a Bloody Mary.  A Bloody Bull is a Bloody Mary enriched with beef broth. Sounds good; I will have to ask B-RAD if he’s ever made one of those.

Recommendation for WWE Network subscribers: Go to the Vault and watch the Mid-South Wrestling episode from October 27, 1982. The main event is one of the most famous matches in MSW history and one I saw when it originally aired: Mid-South Tag Team Champions the Junkyard Dog and Mr. Olympia defend against Ted DiBiase and Matt Borne in a no-disqualification match, with the person getting pinned to leave town for 90 days. The title defense was supposed to be against Ted DiBiase and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, but Duggan got detained (promoters weren’t sure why exactly) and could not be present for the match. It was a special week on MSW because the Louisiana State Fair was going on, and the carnival barker, dressed in a gorilla suit, brought a group of boys over to watch the show.

Happy birthday to the Blind Bear’s biggest drama queen, Rahul. Sorry I didn’t make it out to your sushi party last night. I will have a fruity drink with you tomorrow.

Time to wrap up this long post and get this day started. As usual I will lead off at Bardog for brunch with Bloom, then a quick trip to the Blind Bear to say hello to Mary then south to Max’s to watch the Liberty Bowl. It’s time to CALL THOSE HOGS!!!