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BREAKING NEWS: Club Crave has been closed by the Environmental Court as a public nuisance. Press conference to be held in front of the club today at 1. Action News 5 will broadcast the press conference. Pic of sign posted on the club’s front door. This is the building formerly known as the Plush Club. Many fights and shootings have happened in the vicinity of the club over the years.

Liberty Bowl events get into full swing beginning today. Tonight there’s a team welcome party at 5:30 at AutoZone Park. $25 admission. Of more general interest to Downtown Memphians will be a couple of events Sunday. The Liberty Bowl Parade happens at 3 PM Sunday. I’ve been to it before and it’s bigger and more corporate than parades the locals put together for events like St. Pat’s. I’m not saying it’s better or worse, just different. Insider tip: If you aren’t driving, go to Wet Willie’s and get a Call-a-Cab (super strong fruit punch daiquiri) to drink while you watch the parade. Following the parade there will be a Bash on Beale, starting with a pep rally in Handy Park at 5.

Welcome Iowa State and Tulsa fans! If you have questions about what to do Downtown, shoot me an email at paul@paulryburn.com or hit me up on Twitter at @paulryburn. I also do “office hours” at the Flying Saucer at Second and Peabody Place, and will be happy to answer questions. When I’m there you can usually find me standing in the vicinity of the glass T-shirt case at the bar.

The Harlem Globetrotters will be here January 12. If you want to see them, you can buy discounted tickets on Groupon for the next four days.

Double J Smokehouse and Saloon moved their Front Porch Stage. It’s now at the front of the main room, next to the front door, instead of along the side of the room only a couple of feet away from the bar. You can view a photo of it here.

Tickets to Soup Sunday are on sale now. Soup Sunday is a fundraiser for Youth Villages. Attendees walk around the FedExForum lobby and sample soup and other goodies from about 60 Memphis restaurants. The date is February 24. This year food trucks will be added to the mix, and your ticket will also get you into the Lady Tigers home game that afternoon.

I’m getting people asking me where to go Downtown for New Year’s Eve. I am absolutely the wrong person to ask. I HATE New Year’s Eve. I hate high cover charges. I hate overcrowded bars. I hate amateurs who can’t hold their liquor. I hate long lines at the bar. I hate long lines for the restrooms. I hate people who try to act like big shots that night. I’m weighing several options for New Year’s Eve, and as of right now “just stay home” looks like the best choice. If I could be The Grinch Who Stole New Year’s Eve, I would. New Year’s Eve is to the bars what Black Friday is to Walmart.

So, sorry for the non-answer on the NYE question, but the first rule of blogging is “write about what you love,” and I have no love for New Year’s Eve. Kerry has an excellent post about NYE events that should give you some helpful tips. Also check out The Memphis Flyer’s NYE guide for even more information.

Thinking about hitting the South Main area for a while tonight, although I won’t make it in time for poker at Max’s Sports Bar. Time to go grab lunch and celebrate Crave’s closing!

I was hoping the perfect winter storm would happen last night. A perfect winter storm is one that doesn’t begin during work hours, and dumps enough snow and ice to close corporate offices, but not enough to close the bars. The temperatures didn’t cooperate, however, and back to work I went this morning. At least I have a 3-day week followed by another 4-day weekend.

There will soon be one less Peabody in the corporate chain. Little Rock’s Peabody Hotel will be converted into a Marriott.

Beer news: The FuzzyBrew blog has an interview with Drew Barton, who will open the Memphis Made craft brewery in Cooper-Young next year. In the interview, Drew talks about what led him to the point of opening a brewery, how he picked the name and the space, beers he will brew, and Memphis’ potential for more craft breweries to open in the future.

Looking forward to tonight, when I’ll make my first visit to the Flying Saucer in almost 48 hours. Will head that way about 6. If the place is busy with people pre-gaming for the Grizzlies (vs. the Philadelphia 76ers at the FedExForum at 7 PM), then I’ll hit the Silly Goose first then relocate to the Saucer once the game starts.

Short post today. Not a lot goes on around the holidays. If I hear of anything interesting this afternoon I’ll post after work.

Since winter weather will prevent me from getting to Little Rock today, I called my mother and told her what she got for Christmas. Since it was a local purchase, I might as well tell you about it too. Besides, this way she will get to see a photo of her present.

It’s a Foley & Corinna leather purse from Shop Girl New York. When I posted photos of the store’s new Main Street Mall location last month, she commented what a beautiful purse it was. So the following Saturday I went down there and bought it.

I will admit I had absolutely no idea what purses cost. Every female I’ve told about the purse purchase asked, “It was more than you thought, wasn’t it?” It was indeed. Still, the purse was considerably cheaper than the iPad that was my mother’s Christmas gift two years ago, so it was within my price range.

It’s so easy to find quality Christmas gifts without leaving the 38103. Why not let the suburbanites have Wolfchase and keep your dollars Downtown for Christmas 2013?

… And because I represent no company or organization other than myself on this blog, I can say Merry Christmas rather than the more generic “Happy Holidays.” The world has gotten too PC. I remember watching an episode of All in the Family from sometime around 1978. Archie’s grandson Joey got a stuffed panda for Christmas and Archie called it “a chinky bear.” Can’t say stuff like that in 2012. Might offend someone!

The big story today is the weather. As of the time I’m writing this (about 9:30 Christmas morning) we are under a Winter Weather Advisory and a Wind Advisory for tonight and tomorrow morning. Estimates of the amount of snow we will get range from “nothing” to “1-3 inches.” However, there is a Blizzard Warning only two counties to the west and north of us, and they have moved the predicted line for heavy snow south in the past 24 hours.

Wonder how people are going to run to the grocery stores to stock up on bread and milk, when the grocery stores are closed for Christmas?

Anyway, the best place to get your weather information is MemphisWeather.net. Their blog has a summary of the snow predictions for tonight. They also have a very good Twitter account, @memphisweather1, and a good StormWatch+ smartphone app.

Due to the weather, I won’t make it over to Little Rock today to visit family. My friends who live in Barton Flats have invited me to come spend Christmas with them. I have to admit, I’m kind of looking forward to seeing what their kids got for Christmas. Gotta remember to save the Downtown gossip that is not kid-friendly for a later time though, which is a shame because there’s some juicy stuff to discuss. Our Mexican friend Mardoqueo is in town and we’re making paella – or rather, he’s making paella while I sit around and drink the PBR I found in my fridge yesterday.

That reminds me… yesterday there was a knock on my door. My wonderful neighbor Konica dropped off this Christmas present:

Red Brick Brick Mason Double IPA! Nice! I’ll have one later today.

I’ll be out this evening after some of the bars open at 5. Saucer is closed all day, so either Silly Goose or Blind Bear will likely be my first stop. The Blind Bear will have its Tuesday poker game at 8. A lot of the regulars won’t be there, so it could be an opportunity to slip in and score an easy 50 Bear Bucks.

That’s all for now. Merry Christmas everyone! I won’t mind at all if this predicted snow moves father south than expected and turns my 4-day weekend into a 5-day weekend.

Today will be the end of an era. This afternoon I will go to the Flying Saucer for Pint Nite, check in on Foursquare, and receive bonus points for 180 straight days at the Saucer. It’s my longest streak there ever.

There won’t be a 181st day though. The Saucer is closed all day tomorrow for Christmas. Unlike a certain DeSoto County suburbanite, I don’t believe in fake check-ins. If I’m not there, in the business as a customer, I don’t check in. The only exceptions are landmarks like Statue of Elvis that are not businesses.

The streak will live on in a sense, though. Because I will hit 180 days at the Saucer today, I will also hit 180 in the more generic Foursquare category of Bars. I will go out somewhere that’s open tomorrow night (we’ll get to that in a moment) and get my 181st consecutive day at Bars. That’s a streak that could easily reach 300 as long as I don’t get sick.

All right, let’s get on to Christmas openings and closings. I have more info than I did yesterday, although this is far from a complete list. In general, most restaurants will be closed tomorrow, unless they’re serving a special Christmas dinner. Most but not all bars open around 5 on Christmas.

Westy’s and Yao’s Mandarin House are two restaurants you can always count on being open for Christmas.

Blind Bear will be open regular hours for Christmas.

Bardog will open at 5 for Christmas.

Silly Goose will open at 5 for Christmas.

Brass Door will be open until 7 today (Christmas Eve) and will be closed for Christmas.

Flying Saucer will be open regular hours today and it’s Pint Nite. They will be closed all day tomorrow.

Huey’s will be closed all day for Christmas.

Kooky Canuck will be closed all day Christmas Eve and Christmas.

South of Beale will be closed today and will open at 5 for Christmas.

Central BBQ will be closed for Christmas.

Double J will be closed all day today and the loft bar will open at 5 tomorrow for Christmas.

Max’s Sports Bar will be open until 11 tonight and will be closed all day for Christmas.

That’s all I have. I’ll be out at Pint Nite at the Saucer mid-afternoon. There’s no poker at the Silly Goose tonight.

It looks like snow in Central Arkansas will keep me in Memphis on Tuesday, so I’m compiling a list of what will be open (and when, if opening late) and what will be closed Downtown. If you know of places that will be open or closed, shoot me an email at paul@paulryburn.com, hit me up on Facebook, text me, whatever communication channel you prefer.

So far I know that the Blind Bear will have their usual Tuesday night poker game, so I’m assuming they’ll be open at their regular time (5 PM).

The Majestic Grille will be closed. The Flying Saucer will be closed all day Christmas, but because Christmas Eve is Pint Nite, they won’t be closing early on the 24th.

Feed me info and I’ll try to post an updated list tomorrow.

Two Sundays ago, memorial services were held for Woody A. Long at the Silly Goose. Woody was one of the mainstays at the bar, and was considered a beacon of wisdom and light by most everyone who goes there. Unfortunately, Woody was decapitated earlier this month, and we thought we had seen the last of him.

Friday was 12/21/12 and the world was predicted to end. It did not, but something unexpected happened at the Silly Goose’s Doomsday party… Woody rose from the dead. It’s a Festivus miracle! Or something like that.

Silly Goose poker host Muruako was unavailable for comment on this turn of events.

It’s a slow news weekend otherwise. Hence, no post yesterday. The only thing I have is this piece of pigeon news. Any Downtown blogger worth his salt has to do a pigeon post now and then.

Mellow but fun night last night. We had game night at a friend’s condo in Barton Flats. Afterward, my friends wanted to dance and we went to DJ Cody at the Goose, but then I remembered FreeWorld was playing next door at the Flying Saucer and I bounced over there. I arrived in time to catch their second and third sets and it was so good to see them on that stage again. If you missed them at the Saucer, they play Blues City tonight at 9:30, and every Sunday night.

Today is a Sunday Fun Day not followed by a Monday Suck Day, so I just might catch FreeWorld again tonight. Taking a week of from brunch at the Majestic, but I will kick it off at the Blind Bear at noon. Stops after that TBD.

Very good news on the Memphis Flyer website yesterday: Although Bass Pro’s plans remain fluid, they plan to have the Pyramid open in late 2013. They want to have it open in time for the holiday shopping season. They’re going to install an indoor swamp, so boat buyers can see how the boats feel on the water. There will be a restaurant inside, Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl. VERY EXCITING to know that we’re less than a year away from shopping at Bass Pro, after years and years of stagnation.

How sad is it that I’m already plotting to become “mayor” of Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl? There needs to be a support group for Foursquare addicts.

There’s a Doomsday party tonight at the Silly Goose beginning at 9 PM. Those of you who have been posting “the end of the world didn’t happen” on Facebook, remember that today isn’t over until 11:59 PM. It could still happen. In any event, this looks to be a rather interesting evening at the Goose. Yes, I have a little inside information.

Live music returns to the Flying Saucer tomorrow night, Saturday, December 22. FreeWorld will take the stage at 9:30. I’m happy to see the Saucer bringing back live music on a now-and-then basis, and FreeWorld is an excellent choice. This will surely draw a lot of people who are back in town for the holidays. There is NO COVER, whether you’re a member of the Saucer’s UFO Club or not, so come on down.

The Majestic Grille will wrap up its “Sunday Supper and a Movie” series with It’s a Wonderful Life this Sunday, December 23. Movie will be shown on the big screen at 7. Starting at 6:30, a special menu will be available for $26.95. This week’s menu: Antipasto with stuffed cherry peppers, warm grilled mushrooms, proscuitto & arugula; beef and three cheese lasagna; Caesar salad; rosemary focaccia bread; and apple strudel with cinnamon creme fraiche. If you’ve never had the Majestic’s focaccia bread, let me tell you it is one of the best breads I have ever had Downtown. The regular menu will be available as well if you’d prefer that.

Office closes at 3, which means I’ll be at the Saucer about 4. Plans after that TBD.

The Blind Bear’s 1-year anniversary party is tonight. Co-owner Jeannette messaged me the drink and food specials this morning:

$4 bday cake shots (3 olives cake)
$5 flappers
$5 spiffy Rita’s
$4 maestro dobel’s tequila shots
$1 PBR draft!!!!!!!!!
$3 orange whipped shots (pinnacle)
$5 Jameson shots
$3 moonshine
$3 fireball
$2 hamburgers & hot dogs
1/2 off apps

You know what drink I’m glad to not see appear on cocktail menus anymore? The “Flirtini.” What a stupid thing that was. But anyway, back to the Bear’s party. It starts at 9. There will be live music from Bean (with Rodney Phillips), Craig Davis, Back Road Syndicate, and more. There will be gift card giveaways, and photographer Joey Miller will be there. But most importantly, there will be $1 PBR draft!!!!!!!!!

It’s unfortunate that the Blind Bear’s “mayor” will be late to its party, but those are the breaks. I will be down the street at the Majestic Grille judging the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation costume contest and holiday tacky sweater contest. I get dinner and all the PBR I can drink as compensation for being a judge. Free PBR is better than dollar PBR, so I guess I’m not too unhappy about being late to the Bear.

Around the corner will be the Silly Goose’s 4th annual Naughty Santa party. The Dave Cousar Band will play holiday favorites, and Santa will be there.

Beer news: Memphis is getting its third craft brewery. Drew Barton plans to open Memphis Made Brewing Co. at 768 S. Cooper by mid-2013. Barton was formerly the head brewer at French Broad in North Carolina. He’s one of the organizers of the best beer festival in town, Cooper-Young Regional Beerfest, and he bartends part-time Downtown at the Saucer. First products to roll out will be an IPA and a Kolsch. Congrats to Drew, and I agree with him, Memphis can support far more than just three craft breweries.

If you hate wrapping gifts, bring them to Shelton Clothiers between noon and 4 PM Sunday, December 23. They will wrap up to 5 gifts for you, and all they ask is that you donate $3 per gift to the Union Mission to help feed the hungry. You can even leave your gifts with them, go eat brunch at one of several nearby restaurants, and then come back to pick them up.

That’ll do it for now. I’ll be at the Bear party as soon as I wrap up judging down the street. Good luck to all the Griswolds and tacky sweaters in the competition tonight.

The Grizzlies will be on national TV tonight. The Grizzlies host the Milwaukee Bucks at the FedExForum at 8:30, and the game will be televised on ESPN. If you’re attending the game live, the arena is advising fans to arrive a bit early because of heightened NBA-mandated security measures.

Bleu has released its New Year’s Eve menu. See it here. There are two options available: A four-course dinner for $65, or a four-course dinner with wine pairings for $80. Live entertainment, complimentary champagne toast, and party favors come with the dinner.

Tomorrow, December 20, at 4 PM the Redbirds will hold an interview via Twitter with St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and former Redbird Joe Kelly. Follow both @memphisredbirds and @Joe_Kelly_Jr to participate. If you have questions, tweet them to @memphisredbirds with the hashtag #twinterview. Topics expected to be discussed include the offseason, 2012 MLB playoffs, coach movement, and the farm system.

A new candle shop will open at 107 G.E. Patterson in the old Delphinium spot. The Memphis Business Journal has info here.

FuzzyBrew reports that beers from Brooklyn Brewery will be sold in Memphis beginning in February.

That’ll do it for now. Trying to decide whether to show up at Double J Loft Bar for poker tonight (8:00) or just stay in the core and find a place to watch the game.