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This just in:  King Willie to delay resignation until July 30.  And then on July 29, I’m sure we’ll have another press conference announcing a further delay.  Sigh… will we ever get rid of him?

The monthly SMA meeting will be July 14, a week from this coming Tuesday, at the Orpheum.  The featured speaker will be Pat Halloran, president of the Orpheum.  Social begins at 6, meeting at 6:45.  There will be a cash bar available, and free hors d’oeuvres available compliments of the theatre.  Free food… wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up?

It’s 10:30 in the morning and I’m getting ready to walk to Sole to try their brunch.  Later in the day, the usual Sunday fun.

A couple of new cigar stores have opened Downtown within the past month.

There’s a Smokers’ Outlet at 6 S. Main which has a walk-in humidor.  They also carry some basic convenience-store items and apparel for sports teams in the area.

There’s another new cigar lounge on Second across from the Peabody, next door to Kooky Canuck.  Looks like they have a real comfortable lounge area with leather couches and TVs – good environment to enjoy cigars, I would imagine.

And, of course, there’s the first and the finest, Tobacco Bowl on Madison between Second and Third which has been Downtown for years and years.  Huge selection, owner with lots of knowledge of cigars, a very comfortable lounge upstairs, coffee bar downstairs.

I don’t smoke cigars, but I can tell that it is certainly a good time to be a smoker in Downtown Memphis.

(Edit 10:38 AM: More info on the Richard Johnston filming here.  Free performance in front of the New Daisy at 8, after party inside at 10:30 with a $5 cover.)

The July 4 show in Handy Park featuring Muck Sticky begins at 5 PM tonight and is free.

I saw on Facebook that local hill country bluesman Richard Johnston is filming on Beale Street tonight.  From looking at his website, it looks like he’ll be in his usual spot outside the New Daisy.

Also, for those of you who miss superstar bartender Jamie who used to work at the Black Diamond, he’s back on Beale, at the King’s Palace patio bar.  Good to have Jamie back on the street.

Hmmm… despite having a free pass into the Peabody’s July 4 rooftop party, I’m now leaning toward Beale tonight.  Of course, it’s a short walk, so I could easily do both, I guess.

I’ll end with my usual quote – “He who goes forth on the Fourth with a fifth, may not go forth on the Fifth.”  When the Fifth is Sunday Fun Day, though, you better believe I’m going to go forth on the Fifth.  Hmmm Sole is doing brunch tomorrow and bartender Melissa is back in town.  Boobs!  That may be a plan for tomorrow morning.

The competition among Saucer bartenders to see who can sell the most New Belgium products continues today.  I’d like to encourage everyone to go there and order Fat Tire, 1554, Mighty Arrow, or Mothership Wit from Marci after 3 PM today.  Here’s a pic of Marci in case you don’t know what she looks like… wow, do I really not have a pic of her anywhere on my hard drive?  Hang on, I’ll steal one from her Facebook page.

There ya go.  That’s Marci.  I hope she doesn’t mind the unauthorized use of her pic, given that I’m doing it to help her sell beer.  I don’t recommend getting there before 3, because there won’t be anyone at the bar worth ordering from.

News on some new beers at the Saucer:  They are now carrying Victory products.  If you like hoppy beer, they have a couple you should try.  Hop Devil is an IPA that they carry in bottles, weighing in at 6.7% alcohol.  If you want to take things even farther, Hop Wallop is a double IPA on draft at 8.5% ABV.  Because it’s a high-alcohol beer, it won’t be on the Pint Nite special on Mondays.  Whirlwind Wit is an interpretation of the Belgian white beer style, and is described by the maker as a “swirling dynamo of flavor.” 5% ABV.  The Victory website says this one is only available April through August, so if you are working on a plate at the Saucer, you better get this one before it disappears.

I also saw a comment from the Saucer’s GM that New Belgium Skinny Dip will be at the Downtown Saucer starting Monday (the one in East Bumblefuck already has it).  It’s described as “something a little lighter than the rest of” the New Belgium portfolio, a nice, refreshing summer beer.  A restaurant owner recommended a twist of lime with it.  I’ve tried this one at the Little Rock Saucer and it’s pretty good.  The Saucer GM commented “you have to finish Mighty Arrow first,” so it looks like Mighty Arrow will be gone to make way for Skinny Dip.  If you want a last taste of Mighty Arrow you better order it (from Marci) today.

Up early upgrading all my Amazon storefronts to the latest version of the software… will be in front of the computer for a while, so if I think of anything there will be another post.

Here’s a pic of the Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) with beef that I had at Bangkok Alley today for lunch:

Correction from a previous post: Old Lazy Ass isn’t bartending at the Saucer day shift today – Marci is. She’s in a contest to see who can sell the most New Belgium beers. So please come by before 5 and order a Fat Tire, Mothership Wit, 1554, or Mighty Arrow from Marci.

Just noticed this on Amazon… You can pre-order Windows 7 from Amazon and save 50% if you order before July 11.  The operating system will be released October 22, so you’ll have to wait a few months before it arrives.  If you’re serious about upgrading Windows, though, this is a way to do it on the cheap, with a legal copy.

Last night I went to the Peabody rooftop party, getting there right as Muck Sticky took the stage.  I’d heard about Muck Sticky but had never really listened to their music or seen them in person.  Within a couple of songs I had become a huge fan.

Best way I can explain them to you is to tell you to check them out for yourself:  Here are links to their videos for It’s Nice to Meet Ya and Thingy Thing.  Here’s a link to their MySpace. (hmmm, the MySpace page doesn’t seem to be completely loading right now, wonder what’s up with that)

Yeah their music pushes the envelope, even to the point of being offensive if you don’t have a sense of humor.  But if you do have a sense of humor, it’s absolutely hilarious.  And not only did I like their music, but their message as well.  At one point, Muck Sticky grabbed the microphone and went on a rant for a minute, telling the crowd, you can do whatever with your life you want to, just be yourself, don’t be what other people want you to be, just do your own thing and live your life one day at a time.

I left the rooftop party early (we’ll get to the reason why in a minute) and found myself riding down the elevator with Muck Sticky himself.  I complimented him on both the music and the message.  He was a super nice guy and told me they’re hosting a concert in Handy Park on Saturday, July 4.  If you’ve never heard them before, I highly, highly recommend you get down to the park and check them out.  I’m going to make an effort to get to future Muck Sticky shows, even if it means (horrors) getting in the car and driving.

Muck Sticky and the two other acts, Valerie June and Al Kapone, are all featured on MTV’s series Five Dollar Cover.  This was an effort by Memphis filmmaker Craig Brewer to package up a number of outstanding local acts and get them some national exposure, while providing some quality entertainment at the same time.  Great job… I haven’t watched the series yet but am definitely going to now.

And once again, I have to say, massive kudos to the Peabody on booking these acts.  This is further proof that the Peabody has really turned the corner on the entertainment it provides.  The attitude there used to be, “We’re the Peabody, we can get by on name alone and people will still come to our parties no matter how bad they suck.”  Now they’re doing things differently.  They’re becoming part of the local community by doing things like promoting the wonderful $5 Cover project.  They’ve lowered their drink prices at the Corner Bar to entice locals to come in.  They’re on Facebook and Twitter and are not only announcing their entertainment, but listening to the community on what they want to see at the Peabody.  Great, great, great job.

I did something really stupid last night.  I rode up the elevator with this sweet girl who was by herself and told me it was her first time at the Peabody party.  When we reached the top, I showed her where the entrance was, then went and got my wristband for the VIP area.  About 10 minutes later I realized, I can get a guest in VIP too, and I didn’t have one with me last night – why didn’t I get her in?  What an idiot.  It wasn’t a matter of trying to pick her up or anything; I just wanted her to have a good time.  Despite being called a “meet market,” the rooftop parties can be really uncomfortable if you don’t know people there.  I feel bad for having missed an opportunity to extend some Downtown Memphis hospitality.  I went back and looked for her later, but couldn’t find her.

I got some pics of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating strawberries in the VIP area, but I don’t like them as much as I like this pic from the wedding last Sunday:

Leinenkugel was passing out a lemon-flavored summer beer in the VIP area.  I forget the name of it but it was really good.  Look for it on the store shelves.  I wish the Saucer would carry it (here’s a hint: get rid of Turbo Dog to free up a tap).

A couple of weeks ago, I was at the Peabody rooftop, and someone let Meghan in the VIP area.  I thought, wow, the VIP area has really hit rock bottom.  I was wrong.  Rock bottom happened last night.  After watching Muck Sticky, I decided to get another beer and started to walk over to the VIP area and who did I see there but… King Willie.  Our soon-to-be-ex mayor (I hope) was there, with Kevin Kane.  At that point I just decided to leave.  Hated to miss Al Kapone though.  I posted to my Facebook account that Willie was on the rooftop and several people responded that I should shove him off the roof.  If only I could.  I guess he was up there looking for his next baby mama.

Plans for this afternoon and tonight:  No idea.  May stop by the Saucer for a beer this afternoon, but Old Lazy Ass is bartending so I won’t be sitting at the bar.  Oh, that reminds me, last night Old Lazy Ass was telling people that I proposed to her but she refused because the ring was too small.  Let me respond to that:  1) If Old Lazy Ass was the last woman on earth, I’d take a new-found interest in sheep; and 2) If I did propose to her and she turned me down, it would not be because the ring was too small, but rather that I’m too young for her.

Wonder if Bangkok Alley is open today?  If they are I think I may hit them up for lunch.  I’m outta here for now.