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This morning, I looked at Twitter, and one of the sports radio guys I follow made a very good point: Friday night, parking Downtown is going to be ridiculous. Tens of thousands will be going to Beale Street Music Fest; Game 6 of the Grizzlies-Spurs playoffs will surely sell out; and there’s a Redbirds home game that night. Parking garages will be jammed. I may have to leave work early just to make sure I get a space in my own parking garage.

I know the Grizzlies are preparing for the game tonight, but I’d like to ask them a favor: You guys can help alleviate the Downtown parking situation Friday night. All I need you to do is win tonight’s game, then win on the road at San Antonio Wednesday. If you do that, there won’t be a game Friday at FedExForum. That will provide considerable traffic/parking relief.

So, what do you say, can you help a brother out? After all, I did change my blog’s colors to Grizzlies colors.

Yesterday afternoon, while hanging out at Bardog Tavern, I received a beer tip from one of my blog’s regular readers. BP Riverside, located at the corner of Riverside and Carolina, has 5-liter refrigerator kegs of Newcastle and Spaten Lager for $20. You don’t need any special equipment to operate the kegs. By my calculations, you’ll get about ten and a half pints from one keg, which works out to $2 a glass of premium beer. Not a bad deal at all.

It’s lunchtime and given the weather, I have no inclination to go out. Staying in and working on a couple of things. For one, I’m answering a set of questions Kerry from the I Love Memphis Blog sent me. I’m scheduled to be one of her 365 Memphians in an upcoming post. She’s meeting me at the Saucer tonight to take my photo. As much as I hate not having Grizzlies gear on tonight, I feel the need to wear my Ques Brothers shirt and represent the BBQ team.

I’m also working on a long post about Music Fest people-watching. The good news is, none of the people-watching I will describe requires you to spend any money. If I get that done before my hour is up, I’ll publish it; if not, it’ll be up tonight.

You may have noticed that the blog has a new color scheme. It’s in honor of a group of WINNERS who work a few blocks away from me, at a place known as “The Grindhouse.”

You know, it’s weird… I’ve been Downtown for nine years now. I write a blog that a lot of people consider the go-to guide for what to do on the weekends. And yet, on Saturday nights lately, I find myself searching for things to do.

One group of people I know, who call themselves the Wolfpack, make the circuit of bars and clubs. They do Bardog then Local then Bar None then Silly Goose then Raiford’s then Club Shadows followed by a late night snack at Blues City or Cockadoos. They have fun but I couldn’t do it on a weekly basis. For one thing, they prefer to be at each bar when it’s at its most crowded. Although I’m a big fan of most of the places I just mentioned, some of them are less fun when they are super busy. People constantly crowding you, bumping into you, you know? Plus, I can’t see myself making a regularly weekly habit of partying with 22 year olds at Shadows at 4 in the morning.

Another group of my friends goes to the Blue Monkey every Saturday. Now, while I think the Monkey is a fantastic bar in general, Saturday is karaoke night. I cannot think of anything more BORING than spending the best night of my week listening to horribly crappy singing. Did my friends all turn 60 and move to a trailer park? Sometimes I wonder. Also, given the amount of rent I pay to live in the Downtown core, I want to hang out in the core most of the time, not have a regular Saturday night gig at a bar almost a mile’s walk away. Yes, I know there’s a trolley but it stops running at 1.

So, on a few Saturdays recently, I’ve ended up by myself. Which is fine – I’m an only child and have been comfortable doing my own thing my entire life. I feel the need to vary things up though. Hanging out at the Saucer all the time gets old after a while.

Yesterday, after spending a few hours at Max’s, I hopped on the trolley to ride north. I decided to get off at Beale Street and visit an old friend – my mug at the Tap Room.

Beale Street is full of bars that attract mainly tourists (Hard Rock, BB King’s) and dance clubs that mainly kids go to (Alfred’s, 152/Shadows). But the Tap Room… now that’s my kind of bar. Dark, wooden interior, memorabilia including beer steins and unusual beer cans. Nice, long bar with 20 beers on draft, full liquor selection. Bands play on the weekends, but not so loud that you can’t talk to the person next to you. Games on TVs at each end of the bar. Really good food, because they share a menu with King’s Palace next door. The Tap Room used to be my nightly home, from about ’03 to ’05 before I got on a roll with the Saucer. It had a really good mix of people, balanced perfectly between locals and out-of-towners.

As for my mug, they have a “Mug Club.” When I joined, I paid $20 (it’s probably a little more now) and was given markers to decorate the bottom of my mug, including its number (52). Mug Club members get a discount on beers in their mug, and they get extra value on every beer they drink. I believe the mugs are 23 ounces, compared to the usual 16-ounce pints. One of my friends actually bought mug #1 from its original owner, so he could say he’s #1. Nowadays there are so many Mug Club members that they don’t even bother numbering them.

I ordered dinner, going with the seafood pasta: Shrimp, crab and scallops in a cream sauce. Absolutely delicious. I highly recommend it. The Chicken Pontabla (chicken and cheese over potatoes with Cajun spice) is another can’t-miss dish.

Although it had been close to a year since my last visit, the Tap Room still felt like home. I need to get a regular Saturday rotation of bars going – something less ambitious than what the Wolfpack does – and the Tap Room deserves to be on the list. Saucer, Tap Room, maybe Bar None. As much as I love Bardog and Silly Goose, they get so crowded on Saturdays that I don’t go much, unless I know friends are going too. Maybe Rehab Disco or Raiford’s if I want to end the night at a dance club – both of those clubs appeal to kids and grownups alike. I need to spend more time at Rockbottom, the locals’ bar on the ground floor of Rehab, in particular.

In any event, my Saturday schedule will be thrown all out of whack next week, thanks to Music Fest. Reminds me, I need to do a post about Music Fest people watching. Maybe I’ll work on that this afternoon since the Saucer doesn’t open until 5.

Cleaning old pics out of the camera. Here are a couple of random ones:

Uncle Ray, who loves to have his picture taken, and Robo at Shelton Clothiers Thursday night. Shelton partnered with the Squeal Street BBQ team for a benefit for LeBonheur. Attn Robo: I’m going to try to direct a birthday party happening Downtown tonight toward your favorite Saturday night place. Birthday girl is someone whose photographs have frequently appeared on this blog (recently, the same photo over and over).

I’ve been playing poker with Brick a lot lately at the Silly Goose’s Monday Night Texas Hold’em game (free to play, 10 PM). Based on her strategy, I suspect that Brick has been reading poker books. Particularly, the poker book that states, “K-3 is a powerhouse hand that is easily strong enough to call an all-in move pre-flop.” I busted Brick out of the tournament Monday night.

Someone post pics to Facebook of last night’s toga party at Max’s! Didn’t make it down there, because I was dealing with a bout of severe laziness. Highlight of my evening was the Cajun chicken eggrolls I had at Majestic Grille.

I will be at Max’s this afternoon for their courtyard party. I don’t know if I will stick around to watch the Grizzlies game – would prefer to head back to the core before evening – but I want to be there around 2 PM to catch Dynaflow play. Three bands, beer specials, crawfish, two HDTVs outside. It’s definitely the Downtown event of the day, so come down!

Today’s first item isn’t Downtown news, but it’s sad news… the Daily News reports that Davis-Kidd bookstore is likely to close after its parent Joseph-Beth goes through bankruptcy. I hate to see Memphis lose another bookstore. Then again, probably the last 20 books I bought were from Amazon (and most of those Kindle books), so I guess I helped contribute to the decline.

The CA reports that a new restaurant called Sky Grille will open in the old Quetzal space on Union near Marshall. It will be a family restaurant serving Huey’s-style food from 11 AM to 10 PM, then it will turn into a club with DJs, VIP rooms and even a bikini contest on Thursday. They say they will have free valet parking and a shuttle to various points Downtown. I always hope new businesses succeed Downtown, but the concept for this really sounds all over the place. They’re going to have to do many things well from the beginning, rather than focusing on doing one thing well (like Huey’s did with its burger) and then expanding from there. Nevertheless, I wish them luck.

Big weekend at the Redbirds. Saturday is fireworks night (game starts 6:05). On Sunday, there will be an Easter egg hunt at 1:00 before the game begins at 1:35. Kids will be able to get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny, and can run the bases after the game.

What are the grown-ups going to do on Sunday? The Saucer doesn’t open until 5. Two days away and I’m at a loss for ideas.

Great editorial from former Senator Alfonse D’Amato: Make online poker legal? It already is. If poker is a game of chance, as the Justice Department seems to think, then the average Joe could enter a tournament and have the same chance of winning as Phil Ivey. If that’s the case, how come Ivey has won tens of millions of dollars and I’m sitting in a cubicle?

Congratulations to my friends on the Squeal Street BBQ team, who had a special guest yesterday for their cookout at Shelton Clothiers. Mayor Wharton stopped by for a bite. I stopped by for a bite later in the evening, and the BBQ sliders were delicious.

Plans for tonight: No idea. I guess I may stop by the toga party at Max’s Sports Bar, where they’re giving out prizes for most authentic, best accessories, most likely to be a Roman God, etc. If there’s a prize for not caring enough to find a toga to wear, I might win.

Outta here for now. Happy Good Friday!

The Memphis in May app for the iPhone and Droid is now available in the App Store (and whatever the equivalent of the App Store is on the Droid). Even if you have the 2010 app, you’ll still need to download the new one.

I got it this afternoon and it’s very cool. I went straight to the BBQ Fest section, scrolled to my team, and found our booth. Then I looked at the Music Fest section. You can search by time or by artist, and you can build your own personal “My Schedule” and then share it with friends so you can arrange to meet up.

There are also sections for Sunset Symphony, and for the honored country, Belgium.

The app is free, so if you plan to attend any of the Memphis in May events, this is worth a minute to download.

Ferraro’s Pizzeria and Pub, located at Jackson and Main in the Pinch, has announced that they are starting a new weekly trivia night next Tuesday, April 26. Trivia will begin at 8 PM and wrap up around 10.

Trivia will be hosted by Kevin Cerrito. Prizes for first, second and third, and a prize (which I hear is a pitcher of beer) for the best team name.

My trivia team, the Rapscallions, has played Tuesday trivia at the Flying Saucer since September 2005, but next Tuesday we’re going to take a break and try Ferraro’s. The Saucer adopted a new format recently, some of which doesn’t make much sense. (For example: A “beer question” where the first team to answer gets a beer. The team sitting nearest the trivia guy nearly always wins, and how does a team split ONE beer anyway?) We’re going to explore other options.

There’s a limit of 8 players per team at Ferraro’s, and since our team is often bigger than 8, we’ll have to decide how to handle that – split into two teams or something. Then again, I think we may actually see new team members, because unlike the Saucer, Ferraro’s is SMOKE FREE. We had people who wanted to play trivia with us, but the smoke bothered their eyes and stunk up their clothes. Not a problem at Ferraro’s. Also, since it’s smoke free, all ages can come and play.

(For people who insist on smoking, there’s a patio)

One person on Twitter compared it to the old Poplar Lounge trivia nights, but better. There will be beer specials, and they have PBR. I’ve eaten at Ferraro’s one time, and the calzone was excellent. Hoping I can talk a teammate or two into splitting a pizza on Tuesday, as I’ve heard nothing but good things about Ferraro’s pies.

For updates on Ferraro’s trivia night, “Like” them on Facebook and follow @cerrito on Twitter.

Rooftop party season gets into full swing tonight as the Madison Hotel starts their “Sunset at the Madison” Thursday night parties. Elmo & the Shades play tonight. Rooftop tapas menu, sophisticated drinks. Doors open 5:30, live music 6-10. $7 cover.

The Madison is adding a second party this year – “Moonlight at the Madison.” From 10:30 PM to 1 AM, DJ Tommy Austein will entertain. Cash bar continues, late night menu. $5 cover and Sunset attendees extend their party for free.

Over at the Peabody rooftop, one of the most popular bands they book, Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster, will perform tonight. Get down with ’70s and ’80s disco and enjoy a buffet of ’70s favorites like pigs in a blanket and fondue. In the VIP secion, the buffet will consist of deviled eggs, mac & cheese, and ham/asparagus rollups. $10 cover includes first drink, ladies free before 7.

If you hold a VIP season pass (buy them at the entrance for $75), the Peabody will occasionally have VIP pre-parties in the Corner Bar. There’s one tonight from 5 to 6. It will be a Bud Light Happy Hour. Complimentary Bud Light, Crispy Chili Glazed Chicken Wings, Bar-B-Que Pork Sliders, Spicy Traditional Pepperoni and Mozzarella Pizza.

(Disclosure: The Peabody gave me a VIP pass for the season.)

(John D: “Whaaaaaa? Complimentary Bud Light at the pre-party? Paul, can I borrow your pass?”)

There will be an after-party in the Corner Bar to which the public is invited (i.e. it’s not VIP only), from 10 to 12 with DJ Witnesse. 10 to midnight, benefits the Memphis Music Foundation.

In other news: If you’re one of the ones without power, MLGW has an iPhone app that you can use to check for status updates. (Of course, you’ll have to find someplace with power to charge your phone.)

Cool new street photography blog: seen memphis.

The CA reports that the new frozen yogurt shop on Main will be open Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

Second post on the way, about a new trivia night Downtown. Plans for tonight: Probably a warm-up beer at the Saucer, then a trip to Shelton Clothiers to eat Squeal Street BBQ at the Third Thursday party. Possibly Peabody rooftop to hear Dr. Zarr afterward, depending on weather.

Despite being Easter weekend, a weekend that is usually slow entertainment-wise, the rest of this week and this weekend is pretty well stacked with parties going on Downtown. Here’s a summary.

Tonight FedExForum will host the watch party for the second Grizzlies vs. Spurs playoff matchup. Screens will be set up outside and in the lobby, and food and drinks will be available in Jack Daniels’ Old No. 7 bar. Details here.

Tomorrow night, the Third Thursdays block parties return to the block of Main between Peabody Place and Gayoso. It’s free from 5:30 PM until close, with retail discounts and food and drink specials at area restaurants. Performers this month will include Memphis Jazz Trio, Copper Possum, and Eric Hughes Trio.

A particularly good deal at the block party will happen at Shelton Clothiers. When you stop by and give at least a minimum $5 donation to LeBonheur, you’ll get to enjoy beer and BBQ from Squeal Street BBQ until it’s gone. All you can eat? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Friday night, the South Main District will have a block party, with great specials and selections of art and apparel. Hours will be 6 to 9 PM.

Saturday there will be a big party at Max’s Sports Bar from 2 to 10. “Concert in the Courtyard” will feature music by Dynaflow, Deering & Down, and Jimmy Davis. $3.50 New Belgium Draft, $2.50 Rolling Rock, crawfish by the pound. Grizzlies game shown at 7:30 on their 10 HDTVs inside and 2 HDTVs outside. Free to get in the bar, $5 to get on the patio.

As you can see, even though it’s Easter weekend, there’s still plenty to do.

Happy birthday to our friend Dennis, who is a frequent Downtown visitor with his wife Mary Pat. Dennis turns 50 today.

Apologies if I’m behind on e-mails, getting stuff on the blog that’s been requested… have been dealing with car repairs the past couple of days, and recovering from weekend festivals. Should be back on more of a normal routine from here on out.