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Last week a Memphis Business Journal reporter came to my company’s office in the Falls Building to interview our CEO and VP of Marketing. She asked the VP of Marketing, “Does Paul Ryburn really work here?” (apparently a lot of people at the MBJ read my blog) and the VP brought her by to meet me.

“I didn’t think you really had a job!” said the reporter.

She did a great article on the company, which appeared in this week’s Memphis Business Journal and is also on the DowntownMemphis.com website. You can read the article here.  The company sells employment verification services, and everything is accessible from a convenient, secure web-based control panel.  We do all kinds of verification, from sniffing out lies about education and employment history on applications, to checking terrorist watch lists, sex offender registries, drug test results, and much more.  In the interview, our CEO talks about how the Memphis branch has expanded from 6 people in 2003 to 55 people currently, and plans to hire 40 more.  In fact, the New York office is closing and moving operations to Memphis, due to better cost of living and central location.

I’ve been there 8 months, and still enjoy working there, although I’ll admit it’s getting a bit crowded with all the hiring.  We’re about to expand into most of the rest of our floor, though, so more space is coming soon.

Still taking recommendations for where health guru AL and I should have our next culinary adventure.  Suggestions so far include Encore, Saigon Le (“you have to try the lemon grass tofu!” – yuk, tofu), Denny’s (I hope they were kidding), and a place I hold in even lower esteem than Denny’s (“I refuse to darken the door,” to use a Mikeyism).  Keep the suggestions coming.

With temps in the 90s today, I’m staying inside, building my next online store.  I’ll be at the Steve Cohen rally for a little while this evening at the Warehouse, probably out with friends at a bar or club afterward.

The manager of the Saucer just told me that he’s heard from 5 different people that the Saucer girls have been named the most beautiful bar staff in town. It’s on some Memphis website, but he can’t find it anywhere. Anyone know where the site is located? I’d like to see it and so would he. Shoot me an e-mail (paul@paulryburn.com) if you know where to find this article.

Last Sunday about 6:45, I had just eaten a good dinner at Cafe 61 and decided to make the trek south to Calhoun’s.  As I passed the trolley stop at Main and Beale, I heard a couple complaining that the trolley sure was taking a long time to arrive.  I wonder if they realized that they’d be standing there waiting until Monday morning for a trolley, because MATA shuts the trolley down at 6:30 PM on Sunday.

Six freakin’ thirty.  How are people who come here for a Friday-Saturday-Sunday long weekend supposed to get around Sunday evening if the trolleys have already gone home to bed?  It contributes to the mistaken belief that there’s nothing to do down here on Sundays.  Usually during the summer, I do a “it’s Thursday night, what’s going on?” post where I list events happening Downtown (except, yesterday I forgot to do it, sorry).  Let’s take a look at some of the stuff that goes on down here on Sunday nights – this list shows that there’s really something for everyone:

• Singer Barbara Blue belts out the tunes at Silky O’Sullivan’s from 4 to 8 PM, with piano accompaniment.  Barbara’s got a powerful voice, there’s lots of interaction with the crowd, and you can enjoy a Hurricane, Diver, or one of Silky’s other signature drinks while she sings.  She gladly takes requests – just remember, it’s “please” or money to request a song.
• Every Sunday Downtown Huey’s has bands on stage from 4-7 PM and from 8:30-midnight.  This week it’s Di Anne Price in the late slot; looks like the early show is TBA according to Huey’s website.  Good music, always a lot of fun, and a good excuse to eat a Huey burger.
• If you want to do “date night” on Sunday, Itta Bena, the restaurant on the 3rd floor of BB King’s, offers half off the price of bottles of wine.  That’s ANY bottle of wine in the house.  So you can order a $150 bottle of wine with dinner and pay $75.  I honestly don’t know how they make a profit off this, but I’m sure not complaining.  Fine dining on Beale Street, but a place where you can come in casually dressed and still feel welcome.  Private entrance and valet parking on Second just south of Beale.  Melissa at the bar is a possible BFF of the Month candidate for August.
• Downstairs from Itta Bena, you can always count on a good blues band at BB King’s on Sunday nights.
• Another fine dining option for Sunday night is Circa, which offers a tasting menu with wine pairings every Sunday for $45 per person.  Good chance to try some new wines, and of course Chef John Bragg’s food is always delicious.  Circa has patio dining as well as indoor dining, although with a predicted high of 99 for Sunday (according to the Weather Channel), it may be a bit uncomfortable to hang out on a patio this week.  That’s OK.  They have air conditioning inside.
• EP Delta Kitchen has a jam session with Roxanne Lemmon every Sunday from 8 PM until midnight.  (If the name sounds familiar, it’s probably because they’re the regular Wednesday night band at the Saucer.)  This is another option to get a quality meal on Sunday, as they have one of the best chefs in the city, Michael Patrick, in the kitchen.
• Jam band FreeWorld takes the stage at Blues City Cafe at 10:30 PM.  They play all over the city and the region, but Sunday night at Blues City is kind of their home base, a place where they really feel free to cut loose.  Every Downtowner needs to stay up late and catch FreeWorld at least once.  This is another place where you can get good food while you eat – their kitchen stays open late, so you can order a slab of ribs, or one of their massive steaks, or tamales, or their crab au gratin… the list goes on and on.
• There’s a jazz night at Earnestine & Hazel’s from 8 to 11 PM on Sundays.  Soul burgers!!!
• Then, of course, there are the neighborhood bars that are open on Sundays, the ones that don’t have featured entertainment but are just good, friendly places where the locals hang out.  For example, Calhoun’s on GE Patterson where you can get a $1.50 pint of PBR every day, and there are beer specials if either the Cubs or Cardinals are on TV.  The Flying Saucer puts a beer on $2.75 Fire Sale every day (a few examples of Fire Sale selections: Flying Dog Doggie Style, Flying Dog Tire Bite, Dos Equis Amber, Dos Equis Special Lager, Killian’s Red, Sam Adams Lager, Shiner Bock).  Up the street at Big Foot Lodge, there’s $4 34 oz. Bud Select, $5 34 oz. Blue Moon, and $9.99 34 oz. mixed drinks.  (Note:  Beware the 34 oz. mixed drinks if you have to go to work on Monday; I speak from experience here.)  You’ll find friendly people on both sides of the bar at all three of these places.

While I was hanging out at Calhoun’s talking to Max last Sunday, I noticed that the Cheesecake Corner next door was doing big business.  I’d recommend that as a perfect way to end the evening for those who do half-price wine night at Itta Bena… but, the problem is, Cheesecake Corner is about half a mile away, and you can’t ride the trolley down there for dessert because it stops running at 6:30 PM on Sundays.  There’s plenty to do down here… MATA is doing a real disservice to the Downtown community by not keeping the Sunday night trolley running until 11:45 PM, as it does Monday through Thursday.

Check out this Memphis Flyer article, which says that a Seattle company name Walkscore.com has named Downtown Memphis one of the nation’s top “walking paradises.”

So, get out of that car, stop spending that $4 gas, and take a walk.  I don’t even ride the trolley that often.  I live in literally the middle of Downtown, and when I go to South Main or the Pinch, I walk.  I usually only hop a trolley if it’s raining or below 32 degrees.

Speaking of the trolley, look for a MATA-themed post this weekend.  MATA is to public transportation what Willie Herenton is to mayors.  Damn I wish that indictment rumor had been true.

Mail bag:

“You have a 34 oz. Bud Select at Big Foot Lodge listed as $4.00.  Not to be nit-picky, but technically it’s $3.99.”

True, but I was counting bartender Meghan’s tip as part of the cost.

Off to bed.  First night this week to get a full night’s rest.

Update 6:07 PM:  A reader of this blog spoke to someone in the US Attorney’s Office who said that the rumor is absolutely not true.

I’ve heard from two different sources this afternoon that King Willie has been indicted and taken into federal custody. People at my work (who don’t know either of my sources) heard the same thing. For some reason the media isn’t covering it yet. Might want to keep your eye on the TV or local news websites tonight.

If this turns out to be a hoax, the people spreading it did a very convincing job.

Yesterday I was reading this week’s issue of the Memphis Flyer, and I noticed a classified ad looking for bartenders and waitstaff.  The address was 73 Monroe, which would be the address of the old Mike’s restaurant which is being renovated into Bar Dogs, “A TRUE NEIGHBORHOOD BAR” according to the ad.  That’s likely a sign that they’re getting close to opening… usually restaurants start advertising for staff about 4 weeks out.

Looking forward to this place.  I’ve been told it’s going to be a neighborhood bar much like Sleep Out Louie’s was, and I’ve heard they plan to stay open late to give service industry people a place to hang out after they get off (badly needed, now that McGuinness has closed).  Also, it’s less than a block from my front door, and my BFF Suzy’s front door as well.  I have a feeling I’m going to be spending a lot of time there.

PLEASE COME AND LEND YOUR SUPPORT

AT A RALLY FOR

CONGRESSMAN STEVE COHEN

JULY 19, 2008

7:30 PM to Midnight and beyond

Kris Kourdouvelis’ The Warehouse

36 G.E. Patterson

Corner of G.E. Patterson and Front

Free beer and sodas for registered voters and

those registering on site

21 and over, ID required

Music by

Keith Sykes

The Infidels

Steve Lockwood

Bluff City Backsliders

Juego Listo (with members of Devil Train and Minivan)

Could there be surprise guests?????

Let’s all thank Steve for his great contributions as our 9^th District Representative

Hope Lottery Scholarships, Micro-Brew Beer, support of Local Arts and Music in Memphis, Literacy Grant for Memphis City Schools, Grants for St. Jude, Animal Welfare and so much more!

DON’T MISS THIS EVENT!

RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN COHEN

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AUGUST 7

VIP PRE-PARTY

543 S. FRONT STREET

6:00PM

MINIMUM SUGGESTED DONATION FOR VIP PARTY $100

RSVP Joan Robinson joan@dccrealtors.com or Brice Timmons, 901-274-5100

I had several people e-mail and say they liked the BBQ map… the map’s creator e-mailed back and says he has one for Chinese restaurants in Memphis as well.

Did you know there are more Chinese restaurants in Memphis than barbecue restaurants?

There has been a rumor going around that the Majestic Grille is closing.  I think this is due to the fact that the Peabody Place Mall is closing, and Belz who owns the mall also owns the Majestic Grille.  However, the Majestic is a block away and not at all involved in the Peabody Place shutdown.  I talked to one of the owners this afternoon, and the Majestic has had an incredible spring and summer and will be here for a long, long time.  So that rumor can be put to rest.

Glad to hear it since I still have about $50 in unspent gift cards.  Their steaks are the best Downtown.