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One of the bartenders at Brass Door just posted this to Facebook:

“Rise and shine soccer fans. I’ll be up at 6:45 am to be your loyal bartender for arsenal vs. Liverpool.”

Nice to see a pub that opens early for soccer. We haven’t had one Downtown since McGuinness closed in 2008.

A friend of mine just emailed and asked if I’d get the word out about an employment opportunity Downtown. ALSAC, the fundraising arm of St. Jude, has created a new position called Regional PR Liason. They’re looking for someone who develop strategies to drive PR efforts at the local level. View the listing here. They don’t say it in the listing, but I’ve heard you have to have excellent credit to get on at ALSAC. Makes sense I guess, since their business is fundraising and they don’t want anyone skimming off a little for themselves.

I know people who work at ALSAC and say it’s a very good place to work. Plus it’s Downtown (and in a couple of years you’ll be able to walk to Bass Pro Shop at lunchtime), and you’ll be doing work that will help children get the care they need. Fantastic opportunity for someone with a background in PR.

So, yesterday was the first day of my 5-day staycation, and about 2 PM I showed up at the Saucer for lunch. After finishing an order of Atomic wings, I walked outside to get a Memphis Flyer to read. I looked across the street, and noticed a guy at the entrance to the Tri-State Bank lot run by Premier Parking. Just standing there. I got suspicious. That lot is a common target for scammers.

A few minutes later, a metered space opened up across the street on Peabody Place, and the guy went over and stood there. That was all I needed to see. I called the number of the safety patrol (901-281-9146) run by the Downtown Memphis Commission (formerly CCC) and gave a description. They said they were on their way.

Before they could get down there, a car pulled into the Tri-State Bank lot. The guy chased after it, trying to wave it down and convince the driver to park in the metered space instead. He was unsuccessful and went back to his spot. He tried to wave a couple more cars in, then the safety patrol rolled up on their bikes. He talked to them for about 5 minutes, went back to the entrance to the Premier lot, and stayed there for about 10 minutes. When it became clear that the safety patrol was not going to leave until he did, he walked away, heading north through the entrance to the Peabody Place parking garage.

I later heard that he’d told the safety patrol he worked for Premier Parking. OH REALLY buddy? Then

1) Where’s your uniform?

2) Where’s your work ID?

3) Why are you waving people AWAY FROM THE LOT to park in metered spaces instead?

Classic fake parking attendant scam. Thankfully, I had my 13x zoom camera with me and snapped several pics of him while the safety patrol was talking to him. Those will be shared with the proper authorities today, so they can keep a watch out for him.

Later, I saw another of Downtown’s well-known scammers attempting to sell copies of the Memphis Flyer. He had a new sidekick with him who was acting as a lookout. They saw me take out my phone and knew what was about to happen next. They skeedaddled north on Main, out of my sight.

Although I had plenty to see from the window of the Saucer, I was rather disappointed… I thought the Downtown safety patrol had the panhandling/scamming pretty much under control. From what I saw yesterday, though, it looks like they’re back and as bold as ever. Guess I’ll have to do some more “urban hunting” on my second day of staycation, and see if I can get a few of these idiots in the back seat of a police car.

77 emails in the box. Sorry if I’m slow to respond to communication this weekend, but that’s how vacation goes. I’ll take a look and see if there are any events I need to blog about. If so there will be another post.

Above: Photo of Dynaflow playing last night at Earnestine & Hazel’s. I took a break from drinking a Mississippi River-sized amount of beer at the Saucer to walk down Main and catch their first set. As always they were excellent.

First day of vacation. How lovely to wake up at 8:30, hear the sound of thunder and of rain pattering against my window, and then to fall back asleep until 10.

Peabody rooftop parties are done for the season, but the Madison’s series rolls on… tonight the Memphis All-Stars play Sunset Atop the Madison. Doors open at 5:30, music from 6 to 10, sunset at 7:45. $7 to get in, with sophisticated drinks and tapas menu available.

It’s also the Third Thursday block party on Main between Gayoso and Peabody Place. Here’s an insider’s tip for you… Bar None will be selling grilled beef skewers on their patio for $1 each. I’ve had them before and they are outstanding. Can’t beat the price.

The Redbirds will hold a food drive at their game tomorrow night. Bring canned goods and receive a chance to win prizes that will be awarded throughout the game. Their goal is to try to completely fill a Subaru Outback with canned goods. Also, Save-A-Lot will present a $2,500 check to the Mid-South Food Bank during the game. Because of the Food Bank’s purchasing power, that will allow them to buy $10,575 worth of food.

Foursquare has added checkins to events. That’s pretty cool, and good to see the platform evolving.

Mollie Fontaine Lounge will have DiAnne Price and Amy LaVere play back-to-back tomorrow night. Two of the finest artists on the Memphis music scene, together in one place.

Looks like the Jersey Shore cast is having the last laugh on Abercrombie & Fitch, after A&F tried to bribe the cast to stop wearing their clothes. They make a good point – if A&F doesn’t want to be associated with the show, why do they sell a “GTL” shirt?

In case you’ve missed the news: A judge has set an unexpected hearing this week for the West Memphis 3 in Jonesboro. There’s a gag order on all sides but this is said to be “huge” news.

Today is the first day of a 5-day staycation. I plan to see the sights of Downtown Memphis during this extended weekend. I hear the tap handles at the Saucer are absolutely breathtaking to see this time of year, so I’ll definitely check those out. Tentative plan for the afternoon (subject to change, depending on where people check in on Foursquare) is Saucer at 2, Bardog at 4. Later I’ll probably hit the block party and get some of those $1 beef skewers.

Tomorrow is the Third Thursday block party on the block of Main at Peabody Place. Many of the businesses in the area will offer retail and food specials. There will be live music by Brandon Santini & Vic Wainwright, Mike Darby and Hope Clayburn. It starts at 5:30 and is absolutely free to attend, so come on down.

Now here’s something funny: Abercrombie & Fitch is willing to pay Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino to stop wearing their clothes. Their corporate management feels that it hurts their brand’s image to have such a giant douchebag wear their clothes on Jersey Shore every week, and they’re willing to write him a check to get him to stop. The same offer has been made to other members of the cast. This is probably a good move. They don’t want their brand becoming the next Affliction.

Congratulations to The Rapscallions, who won the 12-week $300 cumulative trivia prize last night at the Silly Goose. We also picked up a $25 second-place weekly prize. A new 12-week contest begins next Wednesday.

Before going to the Goose, I pre-gamed with a few beers at the Saucer. Their trivia starts an hour earlier, and I got to hear the first few questions. One was notable: “What street gang uses the six-pointed star as its symbol?” Only in Memphis would you see that as a trivia question. I knew the answer too: The Gangster Disciples use a 6-pointed star, while the Vice Lords use a five-pointed star. So the next time you drive down Chelsea and see “6 poppin 5 droppin” spray-painted on an abandoned building, now you know what it means.

Plans for tonight: If the Saucer follows through with their promise of an excellent Fire Sale, I’ll be tempted to spend the entire evening there. I really should head south for a little while, though, to catch Dynaflow when they take the stage at Earnestine & Hazel’s at 9. One thing’s for sure: It will be a late night, because I don’t have to work tomorrow! Vacation starts at 5 PM and I don’t have to go back until Tuesday.

Oh NO… just remembered we’re having a party at work this afternoon to celebrate our second-quarter accomplishments, and I’m supposed to speak. That totally slipped my mind. Well, as pro wrestler Dutch Mantel likes to say, “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.” Time to grab a quick burger and think about what to say.

Very good news this morning. Judge Potter of the Environmental Court has ordered Madison Avenue partly re-opened. Madison has been closed between Main and Second since March 26, when a dilapidated building had its roof collapse. The owner has taken his sweet time tearing the building down, leaving one of Downtown’s major east-west thoroughfares, and the Madison trolley line, closed. Per Potter’s court order, the avenue will open to eastbound traffic, and the trolley will resume its route.

I hope city officials learn from this, and take steps to aggressively fine neglectful property owners whose fail to maintain dilapidated buildings. It’s absolutely ridiculous that Madison has been closed for four and a half months. We need to stop providing tax incentives for property owners to leave their buildings in as crummy as state as possible. Not sure if that’s a reform that needs to happen at the city, county or state level, but it needs to happen.

In other news… if you’re a fan of Earnestine & Hazel’s, tomorrow night between 9 and 11 would be a good time to be there. Dynaflow will be playing some good old rock and roll on their vintage amps. I can’t think of a better band to bring out the character of that space.

A reminder that SEE Memphis’ 5-year anniversary party is Thursday from 5:00 until 7:30 PM. A $10 donation gets you BBQ from Memphis in May team Sweet Swine O’Mine and Ghost River beer. Ray-Ban will host a trunk show with new styles and classic favorites. Donations benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

Tonight is week 12 of the 12-week trivia contest at the Silly Goose. Winner gets $300, and my team the Rapscallions is looking to lock it up. Of course, there are weekly prizes of $50, $25 and $10 as well. A new 12-week game will begin next week. Other stuff going on: Trivia nights at the Saucer (earn points to try and win a trip to the Abita brewery) and Ferraro’s (15 all-you-can-eat pizza and all-you-can-drink PBR); pint night at Bardog from 7 to 3 with all drafts $3; $5 half-yards at Bar None.

Brass Door joined the Saucer and Bardog last night in my collection of Foursquare mayorships. There’s no way I will be able to simultaneously hold all three for long.

Programming note: I’ll be on vacation Thursday, Friday and Monday. Vacation from work, that is, not vacation from blogging. During that time posting will happen on a random, possibly several-times-per-day schedule, than on the lunchtime schedule you’re used to.

Time to hit Taco Bell then get back to work on PHP arrays.

The Flying Saucer has a receptacle set up to receive donations for the Mid-South Food Bank. Even if you’re not able to make it to the Stumbling Elvis pub crawl, which kicks off there tonight at 7, you can still bring canned goods by. I just got back from Easy Way, where I purchased my donation.

I’ll probably run it down there about 5 and stay for some beers, unless Foursquare or text indicate that I need to be there sooner.

In other news…

The Redbirds are having a Babytime Baby Race at tonight’s game. Three babies will be selected and will go on the field to see who can be first to the finish line. This is a great opportunity for fans in attendance to go to the restroom, get a beer, or catch up with their text messages and social media apps. Fireworks tonight after the game. 6:05 start time.

There will be an end of summer wine tasting reception Tuesday, August 23 at Grill 83. Guests will be able to taste each of the available wines and visit the food stations while listening to ambient jazz. Wines:

2008 Ca’ Montini Pinot Grigio
2008 Monmousseau Vouvray
2010 Monmousseau Rose D’Anjou
2010 Tilia Chardonnay
2009 Catena Malbec
Monmousseau Brut Etoile

Food stations:

Caesar Salad Station: freshly made Caesar dressing, chopped heart of romaine served in a bamboo bowl, and topped with grated parmesan
Brazos Valley Cheese Display: sliced ciabatta bread with blueberry Havarti and organic blueberries, creamy Brie with a line of vegetable ash in the center wrapped in edible fig leaves, and a horseradish pecan cheddar with roasted pecan bits and zesty horseradish
Dessert Station: ginger crème brûlée and a variety of toppings to choose from

Call 901-333-1224 for reservations. $35 per person includes tax and gratuity.

Congratulations, by the way, to Grill 83 on achieving Project Green Fork certification.

South of Beale unveils their new Sunday brunch menu tomorrow. View it on their website. Mmmm crawfish benedict.

I won’t make it to brunch at SOB tomorrow though… looks like a group is getting together for Texas de Brazil. Very relieved, because I still have all 12 stamps remaining on my VIP card and time is running out.

Plans for tonight: Not doing the Stumbling Elvis pub crawl but will take some pics at the Saucer. Later I’ll be at Brass Door for a friend’s birthday party.

I’ve been asked to post the few pics I took in the Cavern, the live music performance space in the ground floor of the Brass Door, Wednesday night. These are not the greatest pics, because the room was crowded, but here’s what I’ve got.

What a nightmare getting home… there were wrecks on both 240 North and 55 North. I took 55 to Third, then Third to Madison to get Downtown. Third actually wasn’t too bad. There are only traffic lights at the major intersections, as opposed to the ‘burbs where there seems to be a signal every three blocks.

Gonna take a few minutes to unwind, then head to the Saucer to watch them give away the kayak at 8. Not sure where I’ll end up… Bardog, Brass Door, Max’s and remaining at the Saucer are all options. If I go to the Brass Door, I’ll try to get some better pics.

There was a big presentation yesterday at One Commerce Square about improvements in the works for that building. Memphis Daily News has coverage in this article. The article notes that Swanky’s Taco Shop catered yesterday’s event, as well as an earlier dinner featuring the mayor. Swanky’s owner was asked about the rumor, which I reported in this blog on Tuesday, that they are taking over the space formerly occupied by McAlister’s Deli in the building. However, he didn’t want to “speak out of school” about it.

So I guess they haven’t signed the paperwork, but I’ve now heard from two sources who I consider pretty reliable that it’s all but a done deal. I’ve been wrong before on these rumors – I was wrong about Maria’s Cantina coming downtown last year – but I’m hearing the scoop on Swanky’s from much more credible sources.

The Memphis Redbirds now have a smartphone app. It’s available in the application store for both the iPhone and the Droid. (By the way, I’m in violation of AP Stylebook guidelines for not making it two words – “smart phone.” I need to order a copy of the AP Stylebook. It would be a good thing to have around, in case I run out of toilet paper.)

This is really cool: A tour of all the historical plaques in the Downtown core via Google Maps.

Eleven Downtown museums will offer free or half-price admission September 10. Details are available in this PDF.

Good to read reports of progress happening in Downtown Memphis… in addition to the One Commerce Square improvements, it was announced this week that construction that will turn the Pyramid into a Bass Pro Shop will begin October 11, with an opening date of August 2013. Thank goodness this project is finally happening – that’s great news for the Pinch District. Also, a permit has been filed for the next phase of the Beale Street Landing project. So exciting to see these things moving forward, after years of lying stagnant.

Nice review of City Market’s food on the Commercial Appeal website today.

The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist finals are tonight at the Orpheum at 7 PM. The top 10 tribute artists will perform on stage. Tickets are $51.50. More info here.

Kooky Canuck has announced some special deals for Monday/Thursday night NFL games: $3.00 34 oz. super cold Bud Light draft, and 20 wings for $11.99. Wings come with fries, celery and carrots. Since last season they’ve upgraded to 7 flat-screen TVs, all in HD. They will have the NFL Network with Redzone.

Two big events at the Flying Saucer this weekend: First of all, the drawing for the kayak that has been hanging from the ceiling happens tonight at 8. If you want to win, just go by there before 8 and drink a Yuengling to get an entry slip.

Tomorrow night is the Stumbling Elvis pub crawl. A large group of Elvii will meet at the Saucer at 6:30, then stumble through the Peabody lobby, to various bars on Beale, then back to the Saucer. It’s a fundraiser for the Food Bank, so stop by the grocery store on the way there and pick up some canned goods (or, alternately, you can make a cash donation). If you don’t have time to go buy/rent an Elvis outfit, at least stop by the Blues City General Store on Beale and pick up some Elvis glasses, or a wig or a scarf or something. No one wants to be “that guy” who doesn’t dress up, doesn’t bring a donation, yet comes along on the pub crawl anyway and gets in everyone’s way.

This is the first year I’m going to miss the pub crawl… a friend’s birthday party got rescheduled for the same night. The party doesn’t start until 8:30 though, so I’ll stop by the Saucer to take pics of the Elvii and drop off some canned goods. As for tonight, not sure but I’ll be out. Time to go munch a 99 cent Nachos Supreme at Taco Bell, then wrap up the last few hours of the week in the cubicle.

Since the Brass Door opened on Madison, giving me a straight walk home, I’ve noticed how late the convenience store at the corner of Second and Madison stays open.

I walked home at 12:05 tonight and it was still open. Anyone know its hours?

Not a full-service grocery by any means, but if you want a roll of toilet paper, a can of dog food, or a soft drink late at night, it’s good to have around.