Category: Uncategorized

It was a year of firsts for Best Memphis Burger Festival. It was the first year the festival was held at Tiger Lane next to the Liberty Bowl, having outgrown its former space at Minglewood Hall. It was also the first year my BBQ team, the Moody Ques, competed in the burger festival. Our good friends Weekend at Porky’s stepped up and entered the competition for the first time as well.

The weather definitely did not cooperate! There was a north wind all day and the temperature never broke 60. However, this time around we have a cooker that has no problem holding temp. The Moody Ques were fully prepared to make some noise in the Bloody Mary, Veggie Burger, Anything But, Margarita, and Best Memphis Burger competitions.

Head cook Frank likes his buns well done, apparently. No this was not a competition entry.

While my team was cooking veggie burgers, I went down to Weekend at Porky’s for one of Colin’s Bloody Marys with bacon-wrapped garnishes.

Pumpkin spice burgers for our Best Veggie Burger entry. “I hope the veggie burger judges are white girls. If they are, we’re in like Flynn,” I commented.

Frank with our Best Bloody Mary entry, a recipe by our teammate Dusty.

Bardog/Slider Inn team

Our Best Margarita entry

My favorite pair of librarian glasses, the “L” of team FML at the Blind Bear.

Blondes love me

Our entry for Anything But Beef

B-RAD propping Nate up. Brad was wearing Rahul’s jacket in this photo, but he wanted to make it clear that he and Rahul are not dating.

I doubt the shaved ice truck did much business yesterday.

We made Katie a meatless version of our Anything But entry. Vegetarians love the Moody Ques.

Quail eggs, one of the toppings for our Best Memphis Burger entry.

Putting it all together for Best Memphis Burger

B-RAD getting down at Weekend at Porky’s

Katie getting down at Weekend at Porky’s

This is the kind of thing that happens when there’s Fireball.

Whitney and Staci getting down at Weekend at Porky’s

Bales of hay were the seats for the bands and the awards ceremony

Tim and Seth, organizers of this awesome event. Thank you for putting this together.

Our friends the Fabulous Burger Boys made it on stage to collect a trophy.

Full photo album here (150 photos, and I made it public so if you’re not friends with me on Facebook you can still see the album).

THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN. At Tiger Lane there was plenty of space, and despite the weather I had an absolute blast yesterday. I definitely hope we can enter Burger Fest again next year.

I haven’t seen the results yet, but I think the Moody Ques showed a lot of progress in their cooking ability. The vegetarian burger in particular was one where I thought we knocked it out of the park. While not a vegetarian myself, I will occasionally order veggie burgers at Huey’s, and I think the Moody Ques’ entry without a doubt could hold its own against that restaurant. The other burger entries I thought were good too.

Plans for today: It’s a rare Sunday when I have to spend part of the day working. It’s fun work though, so I don’t mind. I will be able to make it out to D-RANKS with B-RAD this morning. I would also be game for a mid-afternoon trip to Station 3 Firehaus if anyone is up for it.

 

Just wanted to let my readers know that Meatball, the lost dog I posted about this morning, is home safe and sound now.

There’s going to be a very interesting event at the Woodruff-Fontaine Museum in Victorian Village this weekend. It’s called Urban Barn Market’s October Market. You’ll be able to shop from antiques, vintage, and handmade items in the nostalgia of autumn days from years gone past. The list of vendors is way way way too long for me to list here, but you can click through to the Facebook page to see the complete list. This seems worth putting on your agenda if you are in the area this weekend.

The first Saturday of December every year, there is an event called the Stumbling Santa Pub Crawl to raise toys for kids that might not otherwise get Christmas presents. It starts at the Flying Saucer and crawls through four or five bars. The event has gotten bigger every year, growing to over 1200 Santas last year, way too many for any one bar to accommodate. They have started an Indiegogo to grow the event even more, raising money for a heated outdoor tent that will be large enough to hold all the Santas. Pitch in some cash if so inclined and help make this awesome holiday event even better.

“Let’s Treat Your Beast” is the theme of the Memphis Farmers Market tomorrow. Two MFM vendors, Farm House Barkery and Heart of Eden, sell products specifically for dogs. Or, you can throw your dog a bone from one of the Market’s meat suppliers. Music by Davy Ray Bennett 8:30 to 10 and Melinda Milligan 11-12:30. The Market is at the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson every Saturday 7 AM to 1 PM. Congratulations to MFM on being voted Best Farmers Market in Memphis in the Memphis Flyer 2015 Best of Memphis poll!

The Farmers Market has posted a photo album from MFM@Ten at the Tennessee Brewery. Hey look, it’s the Moody Ques! Look at those yummy Moody Ques skirt steak sliders. Frank Chin does such an impressive job with his photography.

Business news: First Tennessee has put its building at Third and Madison up for sale. The bank will continue to occupy most of the floors of the building, however.

Live music recommendation: The legendary Smoochy Smith will be signing his biography, The Real Me, and performing with Rock Cats, a rockabilly band from England, tomorrow night at the Center for Southern Folklore. $10 cover.

The Grizzline, the Memphis Grizzlies drumline, is holding auditions Sunday.

Expect increased security measures mandated by the NBA at Grizzlies games this year.

Downtown Yoga is offering a free lunchtime yoga class at noon Monday-Wednesday of next week.

Capriccio Grill in the Peabody has an October special for Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Lobster Ravioli with PINK Sauce. $15 with a portion of the proceeds going to the Susan Komen Foundation.

The Tin Roof is hiring servers and cooks. Email Memphis@tinroofbars.com.

From the MBJ: Facebook profiles are getting a visual overhaul.

The 2015 BBQ Fest trophy-winning Moody Ques did a practice cook for Best Memphis Burger Fest last night and were very pleased with the results. “We are going to surprise some people,” was the verdict of the cooks.

Our product

One correction: Earlier I posted that our booth at Burger Fest is next to Squeal Street BBQ. I have since learned that is incorrect; rather, we are directly across the sidewalk from Squeal Street. Knowing that they can see directly into our tent, I wonder if Squeal Street will bring binoculars to try and steal some cooking tips from the MQs.

There probably won’t be a post tomorrow because I have to be at Tiger Lane all day. If we’re friends on Facebook, expect several updates throughout the day on there.

Stolen from a porch near Main and A.W. Willis yesterday evening. If you have info shoot me an email at paul@paulryburn.com and I will pass it on.

I have a news post 90% ready to go but am not going to have time to finish it before work. Will post at lunchtime.

Station 3: The Memphis Firehaus is open for business. Check my past posts if you want to know the history. It is worth checking out. Lots of craft beer, $6 regular, $10 large. Expect to see me frequently this month and next.

Back in the morning with a news post unless I oversleep.

 

Today is the opening of Station 3: The Memphis Fire Haus, the indoor/outdoor sports bar and beer garden in the old fire station at Third and MLK Avenue. It is run by the folks who brought you Brewery: Revival, and as with the original Brewery Untapped series, the goal is to showcase the fire station’s potential. It will be open Thursdays-Sundays in October and November. It will be open 4 to 11 Thursday, 4 to midnight Friday, 11 to midnight Saturday, and noon to 10 Sunday. Here’s a CA article about the fire station.

Regional breweries have announced they will brew beer especially for Station 3: The Memphis Fire Haus. Memphis Made will have Station 3 Alt exclusively at the fire station beginning today. Tennessee Brew Works will have a American pale ale as a product exclusive to Station 3. Ghost River’s exclusive beer will be Spot Up 3, a hoppy red IPA with a malty backbone. Mmmm, that sounds delicious!

Nice to have one of these “Untapped/Revival” events in the Downtown core (although it’s just BARELY in the Downtown core; cross MLK and you’re in the South Main/South of Forum district). I plan on being at the fire station a good bit over the next two months and I might as well start off there tonight! I plan on being there about 5:45-6:00ish if anyone wants to meet up! I plan on bringing the camera and getting some photos for the blog.

The fire station is not the only opening tonight. Feathers, the new luxury resort-style spa in the Peabody, opens today. Thirty spa and salon specialists have been hired to staff Feathers, including nail technicians, estheticians, massage therapists, stylists, and cosmetologists. Treatments available include massages, body wraps, facials and facial enhancements, wax treatments, manicures and pedicures, hair styling, and make-up application. Peabody Signature Treatments include the Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage for couples and a Pevonia Facial that is customizable to individual skin types. Feathers will offer a full line of high end spa and salon products from Zents (body treatments), Pevonia (facials), SpaRitual (nails), and La Bella Donna (make up).

Tomorrow night there will be a tailgate behind the Cossitt Library at Front and Union to watch the Tigers play USF. It’s part of a plan to “activate” the riverfront and is presented by the City of Memphis and the University of Memphis School of Law.

Grizzlies regular season single-game tickets go on sale Saturday at 10. Holly has a list of this season’s giveaways.

I want to wish a huge congratulations to the folks at Aldo’s Pizza Pies. Memphis Pizza Cafe has ruled the Memphis Flyer’s Best of Memphis Best Pizza award for years… but not this year! Aldo’s knocked MPC off for the top spot. Very well deserved.

This is pretty funny: Orlando bar offering free beer until UCF wins a football game.

From High Ground News: Crescent Bluffs brings affordable housing to South Main. The apartments are pretty far south though: Virginia Avenue is one block north of Crump.

Posting before 7 AM for the second day in a row. Off to work in a bit, then it will be time to hit the fire station.

For those of you who like to read books set in Memphis, my friend Monte recommended one a few weeks ago and I thought I’d pass it along. No Longer the Victim, the first book by a local author, is about a woman who was molested by her mother’s lesbian lover as a child. The woman flees to Memphis as an adult and begins a noted career with the Memphis Police Department. At age 33, memories of being molested are triggered. She goes on a crime spree, luring lesbians from a gay club and murdering them, then displaying their nude bodies on Beale Street. I haven’t read it myself yet but Monte enjoyed it and it seems to be getting good reviews on Amazon. The Kindle version is only $3.99.

Moody Ques: Check your email for information about Best Memphis Burger Fest on Saturday. If you didn’t get the email, shoot me an email to paul@paulryburn.com and I will forward. I will give you guys an extra incentive to get there early: This is your one chance to see “Mr. Load-in” actually do load-in.

So, who’s giving me a ride from the Downtown core to Tiger Lane on Saturday? I can take a Lyft or cab if no ride is available (I’m sure you know I’m not driving), but I thought I’d ask.

While we’re on the subject of Burger Fest, for those who don’t want burgers, the organizers have announced that Mr. Frazier’s Fish Fry will be one of the food trucks.

Bike Night on Beale is listed as running April 15 through September. That would make tonight the last one for 2015.

The Orpheum has selected Brett Batterson as its new president and CEO. Sounds like a quality hire.

Interesting post on the Memphis Magazine Ask Vance blog: Tony’s Fruit Stand at Main and Beale was a Downtown institution for many years. It closed in 1971.

From the Carbunkle Trumpet blog: Former Memphian Robo teaches New Yorkers the difference between true barbecuing and grilling.

I see the members of Squeal Street BBQ had a Facebook thread going yesterday, throwing out words associated with the BBQ teams. “Miracle Whip.” “10 oz.” “Fire Extinguisher.” “Flame Thrower.” “Charcoal.” “Fireball.” “Popcorn.” I notice “Trophy” was not mentioned.

(I mentioned a flamethrower )

6:15 AM and I’m already up and posting. Could be another post at lunchtime or after work, so check back.

BREAKING JOB NEWS: There is a bartender position open at Bardog. This never happens. DM @BardogTavern on Twitter if interested. Aldo is a great boss and many of the staff have been there for the entire 7-year run.

Best Memphis Burger Fest continues to be a main topic of discussion Downtown this week. As I have mentioned previously, my team the Moody Ques is entering the competition for the first time. “You were on Squeal Street the last two years for Burger Fest,” I was asked recently. “Are you going to bring all the secrets you learned on Squeal Street to the Moody Ques?”

Yes. So now the Moody Ques know that Miracle Whip is a burger topping and you can buy beer in 10-ounce cans. Clearly we have an unfair advantage and Seth and Tim should disqualify us.

Here’s the schedule of events for the burger festival. In past years I have taken a cab or hitched a ride out there, arriving about noon. However, since my own real team is competing this year, I have made the offer to fully embrace my role as “Mr. Load-in” and get down there early and help the team set up. We have one of Downtown’s best bartenders competing in Bloody Mary and if he needs someone to consume his product, I would be willing to do that too.

Memphis Made Brewing Co. will start opening its taproom on Sundays beginning this coming Sunday, October 4. The hours will be 1 to 6 PM. Memphis Made is on South Cooper next to the railroad bridge. Read more on Memphis Made’s blog. They are brewing beers that will be exclusive to the taproom.

My friend Rodger who runs several restaurants has two manager positions open. He has one position which is manager of a sports bar who would also assist with a Moe’s Southwest Grill. The other position oversees three Starbucks. Both are in the Memphis area. If interested email me at paul@paulryburn.com and I will pass the info on to Rodger.

Direct flights from Memphis to New Orleans will begin in November, on an airline named GLO that is new to the Memphis airport.

Expect heavy crowds in the Downtown core tonight as Janet Jackson’s Unbreakable world tour comes to the FedExForum at 8.

I had the minestrone, which is new to the menu, at the Blind Bear last night, and it is delicious. While I’m on the subject of the Bear I want to compliment Jeannette on the hiring choices she has made in 2015. I jokingly call three of the bartenders FML (Feeny, Mary, Lacey) but the fact is that they have all become good friends of mine. I enjoy knowing each of them and their presence causes me to spend even more time at the bar than I have in years past.

From BroBible: Do you know how dumb you look posting that Facebook privacy hoax?

Interesting fact about me: If you were introduced to me in March 2014, I have gotten a total of two haircuts since you met me. I’m finally doing something about this long mop tonight, with a haircut appointment at Rachel’s after work. I am going to get about 4 inches chopped off – still not short hair, but nowhere near as ridiculously long as it is now. After that I’ll be out for happy hour, at Blind Bear probably. Back to work, where I have a 70-field web form I am building. Fun times.

I’m working from home today, giving me a different set of lunchtime dining options than I am used to. Today I tried a restaurant that has been on my to-do list for a couple of years: Willie Moore’s, on North Main near Adams. Willie Moore’s is a soul food joint that used to be on South Third. I wanted to try the neck bones but they didn’t have them, so I got salmon croquettes with cornbread and side of turnip greens and mashed potatoes. Very, very good.

(Rodger: They didn’t have chicken fried steak, in case you were wondering.)

Best Memphis Burger Fest is this Saturday at Tiger Lane by the Liberty Bowl. 35 teams will compete in Best Bloody Mary, Best Veggie Burger, Anything But Beef, Exotic, and Best Memphis Burger. As of yesterday I have confirmed that the Moody Ques (who brought home a trophy from BBQ Fest ’15) and Squeal Street BBQ (who brought home a certificate of participation from BBQ Fest ’15, because everyone is special!) will have booths next to each other at Burger Fest. There will be live music by Lost Cause, Seeing Red, and Southern Edition, food and beer vendors, and a cornhole tournament. Admission is $10 and proceeds benefit Memphis Paws. In a few short years this has evolved into one of Memphis’ best outdoor fall festivals. Come check it out!

Speaking of the BBQ team, our team president is traveling this week and she stopped at a Whataburger. She got the chicken. At Whataburger. I have no words for this.

Sometimes on the weekends I make impulse purchases. On Saturday I decided it would be a good idea to pay $4.79 for a vegan chocolate bar. I had never had one before and wanted to understand how it is different from regular chocolate. Readers, I make mistakes so you don’t have to. I learned that “different” meant “not nearly as good.” Unless you are a vegan yourself, don’t bother.

The MBJ has an article about Creative Works, a conference that showcases Memphis as a “city of choice” to creative professionals.

Interesting article about the Pinch District that came across my Facebook news feed this weekend: The Lost Jews of Memphis

45 South Main, most recently a pizzeria and convenience store, now has a sign that reads, “Maciel’s Tortas and Tacos”

All right. Back to work. I’ll be out at Melissa Monday at Bardog for happy hour.

Last Saturday I followed my usual routine: Brunch with Bloom at Bardog (Panda is now the bar manager) and then over to Blind Bear. About 3 I got hungry and wanted something different. It occurred to me that I had never been to DeJaVu since they opened the new Main Street location, although I don’t know if I should even refer to it as the “new” location since it has been open over a year know. I had been to the old location on Florida Street which is now Pink Diva Cupcakery, so I already knew the food at DeJaVu was delicious.

I tried to go to the DeJaVu location in the Downtown core, at 51 South Main, a few weeks after it opened. However, as was the case last weekend, it was a Saturday about 4 in the afternoon. I was told that the place was closed; it opened 11-2 for lunch and 5 to 9 or 10 (can’t remember exact hours) for dinner. That doesn’t work for a lot of Downtowners. A lot of us down here are not people who eat breakfast between 6 and 8, lunch between 11 and 2, dinner between 5 and 8. We eat when we get hungry. This is especially the case on the weekends, and a lot of the time we get hungry mid-afternoon. Fortunately the folks at DeJaVu have realized this and now stay open through the afternoon on Saturdays.

I was seated and looked over the menu. DeJaVu’s serves Creole food that makes you feel like you are in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Although it doesn’t matter to me personally, I should also mention that DeJaVu’s menu is vegetarian and vegan friendly, with items that fit those diets marked as such on the menu. Although the menu was loaded with items I want to eventually try, there was no doubt what would be my order on my first visit: The Arkansas Outlaw.

The Outlaw is a huge piece of catfish covered in crawfish etoufee, cooked to perfection. I have only been to New Orleans one time, but I can say the etoufee at DeJaVu is up there with the best places I ate when I was in NOLA. The service at DeJaVu was probably in the top five I have experienced in my 13 years Downtown. Truly first-rate. I got red beans and rice as my side.

Outstanding meal, outstanding experience that left me wondering why I ignored this place for over a year. It won’t be another year before I go back. On my list to try next: Alligator Stew, Toni’s Voodoo Roux, New Orleans Creole Sampler (on a day when I’m really hungry), Big Keith’s Bayou Classic, Mardi Gras Pasta.

A different kind of Deja Vu will happen tonight at 7:30 at the Halloran Center for the Performing Arts. The Collage Dance Collective will open its sixth season with ballet performances from each of its first five home seasons.

If you like to fish, head to Bass Pro this afternoon at 1. There will be a fall fishing seminar covering pretty much all aspects of fishing.

Monday at the Halloran Center, there will be a fundraiser called Broadway and BBQ. It will be a dinner concert by the Memphis Men’s Chorale and Women’s Chorale. There will be dinner by One and Only BBQ and beer by Memphis Made. $50 single, $90 couple. Get tickets here.

Last night Seth from Best Memphis Burger Fest announced that preparation for next Saturday’s festival at Tiger Lane is complete. 35 teams, 21 vendors, 10 food trucks, over 10 craft beers. Two teams to watch out for in 7 days: The Moody Ques (my team) and Weekend at Porky’s. I’m not promising either of us will get on stage to collect a trophy (although the Moody Ques did at BBQ Fest) but I will promise you this: We’re the best parties in the entire damn park.

(Crap, I went back to make an edit and WordPress deleted the last three paragraphs of my post. Putting them back now.)

A public defender posted a touching story yesterday. As part of a plea negotiation, she had to get bus fare for her indigent client to travel from Memphis to her home in Miami. She contacted the Hospitality HUB, thinking “I’ll throw this out there, but I’m not expecting much.” The Hospitality HUB responded almost immediately, saying they would pay for half the bus fare. Later they were in contact via email and phone about her client’s itinerary. The Hospitality HUB is a wonderful organization that helps the homeless get to a better place in life. If you want to help the homeless, consider donating or volunteering. It will do a lot more good than giving money to a panhandler on the street.

Personal note: I do not lie. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. Have I ever said “that new dress looks great on you” while thinking, “I had no idea that was a new dress?” Sure. We all have. But on matters of substance I do not lie. I will either tell you the truth or say “I don’t feel comfortable discussing that.” Many people have proved recently that they are true friends who get that about me. But I have to say I am VERY DISAPPOINTED in some people I have been friends with for close to a decade, who are believing things that are being said about me, who believe I am capable of mendacity on a grand scale. To those people: We really need to talk. I will be at D-RANKS with B-RAD at Blind Bear tomorrow from 11 to 3 if anyone wishes to talk. This message is especially aimed at the south side.

All righty. Listening to Led Zeppelin Pandora radio and doing laundry and other Saturday chores. Brunch with Bloom at Bardog at 11 then will figure out the rest of the day.