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So, this weekend I’ve been getting everything together to go to Savannah November 4-7 to attend the GeekEnd social media conference. I booked my flight Friday afternoon, and I bought my ticket to the conference over the weekend. I still needed to find a hotel room though. I figured I’d do that first thing this morning at work. Actually, I had to put together an “urgent” HTML file and do an update on our home page, so it wasn’t first thing, but by mid-morning I got around to it. I found two hotels that seemed to be well-liked and were within the budget my company gave me.

Over the weekend I talked to my friend Otto who has spent a lot of time in Savannah. He gave me a lot of tips on where to stay, and what to do. “One street you want to avoid is MLK Boulevard,” he told me. “That is not a place you want to be after dark.”

Guess where the hotels are located? One is on MLK and the other is a block off it.

Guess where my conference is located? Two blocks from MLK.

I e-mailed Otto and asked for more advice. “Where they’re holding your conference is basically Bumland,” he told me.

Bumland. Great.

He told me I’d be better off staying near the river, and cabbing it to and from the conference. Well, that’s a great idea, except when I put in the request I didn’t budget any money for cabs.

No problem, I figured, I like to walk. I got on Google Maps and examined the area near the river. Every time I saw a hotel I pulled up its website.

Nothing within $50 of my nightly budget for hotels.

So I guess I’m staying in Bumland.

Actually, the hotels within my price range both received a lot of praise in their customer reviews, with the Springhill Suites having a near-perfect score. No one mentioned anything about either hotel being in a bad neighborhood.

I’ve lived in Downtown Memphis for eight years, and I’ve walked all over, sometimes with my laptop. From 2002 when I moved down here up until about 2008, Downtown Memphis was definitely Bumland. I didn’t have any problems.

When I go to Little Rock, I stay at a hotel at 6th and Broadway because it’s inexpensive for Downtown and it has free Wi-Fi. 6th and Broadway is definitely Bumland. Yet when I stay there I feel comfortable enough walking almost a mile to the Saucer. This year I may walk five blocks west to Vino’s at 7th and Chester. I’m definitely going to be alert and aware of my surroundings, but I won’t be afraid to make the walk.

So when I go to Savannah, I guess I’ll be staying in Bumland. I’ll probably take the netbook rather than the MacBook, so in the worst case scenario I’m only putting a $250 computer at risk rather than a $1500 computer.

Maybe I can meet some Savannah bums and compare notes with them, to see if they use the same scams as the Memphis bums. “Do you do the flower man gimmick?” I can ask them. “Where you pick flowers out of a public bed and then try to sell them to tourists? What about the tour guide gimmick? Have you ever pulled a bunch of free newspapers out of the box and tried to sell them?”

Whatever the situation, I’m going to make the best of it. There’s a lot to be learned and a lot of fun to be had after-hours… even in Bumland.

Since first posting about it on Friday, I’ve had time to visit the Downtown Dining Week website and look at all the menus. Based on what I saw, I’ve made a few picks. (If you visit their website, click any restaurant’s logo to view their menu.)

1) Felicia Suzanne’s: The oysters in BBQ sauce sound interesting as an appetizer, and I like the entree choices of shrimp and grits or organic chicken crepes. Good dessert options too. When else are you going to have a chance to dine at Felicia’s for a little more than 20 bucks? Plus, Felicia is a Razorback fan, so if you eat there on game day the Hogs are likely to be on the TVs at the bar.

2) Tug’s: I generally like to see something more interesting than a salad as a first course, but courses two and three sound so outstanding that I’ll overlook it. Crab and shrimp stuffed flounder, or a New York strip steak? Will be hard to decide. Dessert options of key lime pie or bread pudding sound good too.

3) Chez Phillippe: Mmmm, that homemade charcuterie platter sounds like a delicious app. Choices of shrimp and grits or ropa vieja as the main course. I had ropa vieja once for lunch at the Rumba Room and it was delicious… would like to taste what Chez does with it. Like Felicia’s, this is a restaurant where it’s rare to get an entire meal in the $20 range. Better take advantage of it while you can.

4) Kooky Canuck: I eat there so much that I might not make it a priority during Downtown Dining Week, the point of which is discovering new restaurants. However, if you haven’t tried Kooky they’ve a really good deal: Share an appetizer and enjoy two entrees for $20.10. Two of the entrees in particular, the Cornish game hen and the maple flank steak, are must-eats if you’ve never tried them.

5) South of Beale: That pumpkin ravioli sounds really interesting as an appetizer. If I go I’ll probably get the pan seared salmon as my entree, although I’m sure the pork loin is delicious too. Desserts sound yummy – creme brulee, or beer and pretzel cheesecake topped with Guinness sauce.

Those are my top five, based on my experience as a casual Downtown eater. I probably do as much prep for Downtown Dining Week as some people do – I wouldn’t be surprised if the Nuh-Uh Girl makes a spreadsheet to help her with her dining decisions for the week.

One other comment – if you like shrimp and grits, you’re going to love DDW. I saw it on the menu at five or six of the restaurants.

All right, I’m outta here… getting a late start to Sunday Fun Day. Was on the way out the door at noon when I realized I hadn’t charged my phone and it was at 20%. So, my phone went on the charger and I had time to do a post. Now it’s up to 100% and it’s time for beer.

Bardog Tavern is giving away a hearse this month. It’s an ’86 Cadillac hearse with only 69,500 “soft miles” on it (driven from the funeral home to the cemetery and back). You can buy tickets all month for chances to win – $1 for 1 ticket, $5 for 8 tickets, $10 for 20 tickets. Drawing will be held at their Halloween party, Sunday October 31 at 11 PM.

I like it. It’s a fun, unique promotion. In all the years down here, no one has ever given away a hearse.

Apparently not everyone feels the same way. Aldo, the owner, got a letter asking him to move the hearse, which has been parked outside Bardog for two weeks. The letter was signed “Your neighbor” and said the hearse is tasteless and diminishes the attractiveness of the block and of greater Downtown. The letter said it was sent as “a courtesy” before contacting the city of Memphis.

I have a few comments to make about this.

1) I too am Bardog’s neighbor. Okay, well actually I’m around the corner on Main, but I once timed my walk from Bardog to my front door at 47 seconds. So I consider myself a neighbor. And my opinion as a neighbor is that the hearse in no way diminishes the attractiveness of Downtown. It’s a sign that this is a fun, hip neighborhood where residents think outside the box and have a good time. And for heaven’s sakes, it’s Halloween month – think of the hearse as a very large decoration. I have no problem with its presence and am happy it’s here. I hope it remains in its spot until someone wins it on Halloween.

2) The title of this blog is “Paul Ryburn’s Journal.” Every word I type on this blog is backed up with my real name. This neighbor, on the other hand, did not have the BALLS to put his or her name behind what was typed. Anonymous letter? What a coward.

3) Why didn’t you just go over there and ask to speak to Aldo face to face? Don’t you think that would be a more constructive means of resolving this conflict than a letter?

4) There’s a place for tight-ass old poots who get their panties all in a wad every time a neighbor does the slightest little thing that might affect property values. It’s called “Germantown.” If you can’t keep from getting upset over a little thing like a hearse, I suggest you move out there and live with all the other fantastic plastic people.

Resisting the urge to add point number 5), which would be directed at the anonymous neighbor and which would consist of two words, the first beginning with “f” and the second beginning with “y.”

To steal a catchphrase from Austin, keep Downtown Memphis weird… and leave the hearse where it is!

I got texted today that the Union Street Bath House, which I posted about earlier this week, may not be real. It may be part of a viral marketing campaign. Pretty convincing though… they got me. I never questioned it because of the word “Street” rather than “Avenue” (Union is an avenue) and the fact that they have a sign hanging on the old Smooth Moves building.

More to come. I’ll get to the bottom of this. Or maybe I’ll just go back to the Saucer for a second shift of drinking.

If you’re looking to hear some good music this evening, it can be found in a most unexpected place – the parking lot behind Max’s Sports Bar (formerly Calhoun’s) on G.E. Patterson. Dynaflow will be playing as the closer to the “Downtown Olympics” event that’s going on right now. They take the stage at 7, then there will be an award ceremony at 7:30, and then Dynaflow will rock into the night.

Here’s a link to my review of a show they did at Earnestine & Hazel’s back in February. They do covers, but they do them on vintage equipment and make them sound great. They also tend to do a lot of songs that you don’t hear from other bands. Back in February I was extremely pleased when they did a song from Led Zep’s In Through the Out Door album.

Should be a good show! Come check them out.

Big game this afternoon at 2:30 on CBS, as the #12 Arkansas Razorbacks take on the #7 Auburn Tigers. This is a big game for both teams, and of course, I will be pulling for Ryan Mallett and the Hogs… if we can beat Auburn and then sweep South Carolina and LSU, Arkansas would certainly be a candidate to appear in one of the BCS bowls.

The SEC West is just ridiculously loaded with talent this year… Arkansas, Alabama, LSU, and Auburn are all good enough to go to BCS games, although that’s not possible given the team selection rules. State is not bad either… in most other conferences, they’d be a contender for the title. In the SEC West, though, there’s no way they can avoid losing several games.

As for the sixth team in the division, the one currently going through an identity crisis, let’s just pretend they don’t exist. Even when they’re winning, they’re an embarrassment to the conference. More so when they’re losing, as they are a lot this year.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO PIG SOOOIIIEEE! Go Hogs!

One of the things I was asked to do for work was to find a social media conference to attend. I manage the company’s Facebook and Twitter presence, and work wanted to get me training to make sure I have cutting-edge social media skills. I was told I could search for events outside of Memphis if I wanted. So I got on Mashable and searched their list of upcoming social media events. For months I didn’t see anything suitable: Either the events were intro, “how to set up a Facebook fan page” type events, or they were geared so heavily toward for-profit corporations that I wouldn’t get anything out of it. Then Monday I looked at Mashable again and found this:

Geekend is a Thursday-Saturday weekend conference in Savannah, Georgia. I looked at the schedule and saw exactly the events I was looking for. Advanced social media and Web 2.0 topics – five 45-minute mini-seminars Friday and Saturday, and a keynote speaker all three days. Check out this awesome schedule of events! Speakers are from well-known companies including NBC Universal, Grooveshark, Yahoo, and Paula Deen. I’m going to learn from, and network with, the people who are leading the way in social media.

I also immediately fell in love with this event because it’s designed for people like me. Not only do they put the mini-seminars and the keynote speakers on the schedule, but also “and this is the bar where we’ll be going out drinking in the evening.” This conference is not only for people who want to learn a lot, but who want to have a lot of fun as well! On Friday and Saturday the first mini-seminar begins not at 8:30 or 9 as is common with these things, but 10. The organizers of this event understand people like me. This won’t be a weekend full of stuffy corporate-ass suits.

So anyway, I put in a request to go, and yesterday afternoon I was told it had been approved! I’m going to Savannah! I’ve never been but my friend Otto spends a lot of time there, and he has told me it’s a really fun city. I’ll admit, the Thursday night after-party has me a little confused though… it will be at a place called The Distillery with 100 craft beers. I hope I can figure out what to do in a place like that.

The next three weekends are going to be exciting… RiverArtsFest next weekend, then Halloween weekend, then GeekEnd! I’ll have my MacBook with me in Savannah, so hopefully I’ll be blogging, if I can find the time.

I still have more stuff to post… check back, I’ll try to do another one before I go out.

Told ya I’d be back with more news.

MPD’s Downtown Precinct is reminding homeowners to close their garage doors at night and when not home. Officers have noticed a lot of open garage doors lately, exposing lawnmowers, bikes, golf clubs and other valuables. Close the door and keep your property safe!

There’s going to be a dog show Downtown, and I’m not referring to the staff at Hooters. On Sunday, November 7, the Harbor Town Dog Show will take place at Nursery Park on Mud Island. All dogs living on Mud Island are invited to compete. There will be three weight classes and a puppy class. Prizes will be awarded for Sexiest Walk, Rescued Dog, Best Costume, Obstacle Course, Look A-Like & Silly Pet Tricks, and there will be a Best in Show award. Hot dogs (of course) will be on sale. Kym Clark from Channel 5 will be Master of Ceremonies, and all proceeds will benefit the Humane Society. Rain date will be November 14.

The Peabody’s recent pickup line contest on Twitter made the USA Today. The hotel asked its followers for the best pickup lines to use at their Thursday night rooftop party series. Read the article here, and follow the Peabody at @peabodymemphis.

I’m still not caught up on news yet but I’m cutting this one off now… I got some very exciting news at work today and I’ve got to go tell people about it. I’ll blog it tomorrow or Sunday. Check back – more to come including details on how to win the hearse parked outside Bardog Tavern.

Good news for people who party late nights Downtown, and especially those who go to Paula & Raiford’s Disco: You’re about to have an additional late-night dining option. I’ve been told that Elliott’s will open late-night on the weekends with a limited menu. They’ll be open the same hours as Raiford’s.

Very happy to see them doing this… reminds me of when Raiford’s was in the old building, and the crowd would migrate to the Green Beetle for a late-night snack. People going to Paula & Raiford’s will soon have two very good options for nearby munchies… Elliott’s and Cockadoos (which started opening at midnight several months ago). I guess you could say three options, if you consider the stuff served at Denny’s to be “food.”

The website for Downtown Dining Week is now live. Get a 3-course meal at 20 restaurants for $20.10 the week of November 15-21. When you visit the site, click on any restaurant’s logo on the site to see the menu they’ll be offering. Last year, the Nuh-Uh Girl got so excited about DDW that on some nights, she’d eat two dinners.

If you’re looking for something to do tonight, the big event is Memphis Madness, the Tiger basketball team’s first practice of the season at the FedExForum. The women’s team practices at 6:30, the men’s team takes the court a little after 8, and there will be a scrimmage a little after 9. The men’s team will be available for autographs at four locations around the Forum at 6:45. Also, rapper Yo Gotti will perform. No other city has such a huge celebration for the start of college basketball season, and this will be a big year, as the Tigers welcome their best recruiting class ever and return to the top 25.

My advice if you plan to go: Get there early. Last year Memphis Madness packed the FedExForum beyond capacity, and the fire marshal ordered the arena to stop letting people in for safety’s sake.

Good post on Dining with Monkeys today. A guest blogger, with a 2 1/2 year old son adopted from Ethiopia, reviewed Gereny, an East African restaurant which opened not long ago on Jackson. The food looks delicious, and it looks like they got an immense amount of food for only 25 of their hard earned dollars. I’m going to have to try this place soon, even though it will mean getting in the car.

I now have it confirmed that the Russian bath house I mentioned in the last post will be going into the old Smooth Moves location at Main and Union. Very, very happy to hear that another building will soon be occupied at one of Downtown’s busiest corners.

Too much news and not enough time! I have several more things to report, but I need to spend the remainder of my lunch hour grabbing a bite to eat and getting gas. Back with more after work.

This afternoon I received a tip on how to get discounted tickets for the Grizzlies regular season opening night home game, Wednesday October 27 vs. the Atlanta Hawks. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Click here to open the Ticketmaster listing in a new window

2. Where it says, “enter offer code/password” type: EricB. Then click OK.

3. Click on “Show offer on map.”

4. Interactive map will appear. Click on highlighted areas to choose your seats and quantity.

Deals are available for the following seating areas:

Courtside, regularly $225, on sale for $148
Plaza 1, regularly $148, on sale for $98
Plaza 4/5, regularly $60/$47, on sale for $38
Club, regularly $97, on sale for $48
Terrace 1/2, regularly $45/$33, on sale for $13
Terrace 3, regularly $16, on sale for $8