Yesterday I asked my readers to email me at paul.ryburn@gmail.com or hit me up on Facebook Messenger to let me know about
Specials this week/early opening times for the St. Jude Marathon this Saturday
Anything else special Downtown bars/restaurants are doing Saturday – which is also college football title game day and there are also other events going on
I got a pretty immediate response – not on the computer but in person from Bardog, where I was hanging out downstairs last night:
Bardog will open at 8 on Saturday, and it will be a real treat because we’ll have people behind the bar you rarely see that day of the week anymore. Melissa (the new GM) will be back there, as will Allie Cat. Regular Saturday brunch bartenders Dani and Lana will start at 1 PM and the night shift will come on at its normal time of 8 PM.
I’ll publish a final list of Saturday’s specials/early openings Thursday or Friday.
It is CONFIRMED that Momma’s, “the diner and dive off 55,” now has a popcorn machine.
Slow-roasted pot roast with baby red potatoes, carrots, onions, bell peppers, and celery is this week’s entree special at Blind Bear. It comes with a side of sauteed green beans and a dinner roll.
The Grizzlies lost again last night, 119-97, to Minnesota. Now 3-13, Memphis sits in 14th place in the West, a half-game out of last place. Is it too early to post a link to Tankathon?
marcus smart just gave the grizzlies bench one of the most passionate speeches i’ve ever seen a player give his team. said “this is f*cking embarrassing” several times, talked about how fans are paying to come watch them and they’re not even trying pic.twitter.com/sxv4pL3jis
I’m building a list of Downtown bars & restaurants that are opening early and/or doing something special for the St. Jude Marathon this coming Saturday, December 2. Email me at paul.ryburn@gmail.com or message me on Facebook with your information.
If your Downtown bar/restaurant is doing anything special for Conference Championship Saturday, let me know that too.
The folks at Local on Main have told me they’ll have an IV station for runners, but I need to confirm the time and details.
Memphis basketball this week:
Sunday, November 26: Grizzlies at home vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 5:00 PM. TV: Bally Sports
Wednesday, November 29: Grizzlies at home vs. Utah Jazz, 7:00 PM. TV: Bally Sports
Friday, December 1: Grizzlies on the road at Dallas Mavericks, 6:30 PM. TV: Bally Sports
Saturday, December 2: Tigers on the road at Ole Miss, 1:30 PM. TV: ESPN2
Saturday, December 2: Grizzlies on the road at Phoenix Suns, 8:00 PM. TV: Bally Sports
Note that there are NO Grizzlies games the following week as the NBA in-season tournament wraps up. Anyone besides me think the in-season tournament is kinda boring and pointless?
The Grizzlies have signed guards Jaylen Nowell and Shaquille Harrison to 10-day contracts.
Nurse Blake SHOCK ADVISED Comedy Tour comes to the Orpheum Thursday at 8 PM. Tickets are $39.50-$79.50 and there’s a VIP meet & greet ticket for $189.
I’ll be at Butt Slut #1’s bar in the Underdog Room at Bardog this evening if anyone wants to hang out. She ended up not being able to come to our Thanksgiving in Eads because she had to work her other job. While in Eads, I made a liquor discovery I wanted to share with my readers:
Chocolate peanut butter whiskey creme! This was so good! I would recommend stopping at a grocery store on the way home from picking this up to get a banana. Slices of banana would make an ideal garnish. Elvis would approve. So would monkeys.
Considering a trip to Memphis? Tomorrow would be a good day to book a room at the Peabody, because from 6 AM to 8 PM they will have a Cyber Monday special: 40% off the Best Available Rate for bookings now through March 31.
The Memphis Symphony Orchestra will present Magic of Memphis Saturday at the Cannon Center.
The Cossitt Library will host a pottery party this Wednesday at 1 PM. All supplies are provided, but wear clothing you don’t mind getting paint on.
The big news during my 5 days away from blogging is that Memphis River Parks Partnership is going to allow the organizers of the Mempho music festival – moving to Tom Lee Park the first weekend of May, 2024 – to also hold a BBQ festival in Tom Lee.
And the new BBQ festival will be held the third weekend of May. The same weekend Memphis in May holds its World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (abbreviated WCBCC but usually referred to as “BBQ Fest” by Memphians) at Liberty Park/Tiger Lane.
Daaaaaaamn. The BBQ teams are gonna have to choose which festival to compete in.
Stick with tradition, or go with an unproven upstart which has no legit claim to call itself the world championship of BBQ?
or, if you look at it from a different point of view…
Cook BBQ on a shitty parking lot, or in a park with beautiful river views?
I have such mixed feelings about this. My heart is with the Memphis in May organization… but a festival that could have “They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot” as its theme song does not have the appeal of one whose theme song could be “Ol’ Man River.”
I’m glad I’m no longer on a BBQ team and therefore don’t have a difficult decision to participate in/argue about.
All right, that’s enough for today’s post. I’m probably making a mistake telling my readers that a cute, popular girl will be behind a bar that seats maybe 4 or 5. I better get there well before 7 PM to claim one of those seats. Back tomorrow or Tuesday with more news.
I had so much information packed into yesterday’s post that I forgot to post pics from my birthday! I only have a couple.
My birthday cake, which my friend Theresa had ordered from the bakery at Whole Foods where she works. You may remember I had a PBR-themed cake last year too. The can was new for 2023. Apparently there’s gonna be a new addition to the basic design every year.
We gathered at Bardog, where we routinely meet at 11 on Saturdays. One of my very few gripes with our neighborhood bar over the past year has been the weekend brunch specials. The daily lunch/dinner specials at the ‘dog tend to be creative and different each day. The brunch specials, however, tend to be repetitive, almost always consisting of
Strawberry or blueberry pancakes
Grilled or fried pork chop
Chicken-n-waffles
Some variety of blackened fish
Lobster omelette
“If they’re going to have the same stuff EVERY WEEK, why not just go ahead and put it on the regular menu?” I would say. “If it’s always available during weekend brunch, IT’S NOT A SPECIAL!!!”
This past Saturday, I held out a little hope as I made my walk to the ‘dog. “There’s a new man in the kitchen,” I thought. “Perhaps he’ll put his own creative stamp on the specials.”
For the most part, the same specials were still there – the pancakes, the omelette, chicken and waffles.
But there was something different!
CHILAQUILES!!!
Chilaquiles could be thought of as breakfast nachos of a sort. Warm soft tortilla pieces are a base, topped with cheddar, scallions, crunchy pieces of pork belly, and a LOVELY big scoop of guacamole. There’s normally an egg on there too, but I asked them to leave it off.
It was so yummy!
Bardog’s cooks are mostly Mexican and I’ve long wondered why they didn’t lean into their heritage just a little bit more. I’m not saying, go all out and compete with Maciel’s around the corner. But why not capitalize on a little of that culinary background now and then?
If Bardog would just put one “unexpected and different” item on its brunch special board each week, I could live with it being alongside four of the “same old, same old.” The 80/20 rule, applied to brunch.
And now let’s get on to the news…
As a lover of historical fiction, I can appreciate SIX, the Broadway musical playing at the Orpheum today through Sunday. The “six” refer to the 6 wives of English king Henry III (1491-1547; reigned from 1509). He was the king who had 6 wives and 5 annulments/divorces, causing him to leave the Catholic Church and form the Church of England. The show transforms the women from Tudor queens into pop queens. Tickets are $35-$150.
Bardog is back with more news… not only will they be open at 5 on Thursday, but they’ll have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner as their special.
As for their sibling restaurant, Slider Inn Downtown, they too will open at 5 with a slider special called The Gobbler. It will have turkey, gravy, American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a toasted bun.
I got a preview of Blind Bear’s Thanksgiving dinner, offered as a special anytime they’re open through Saturday, last night.
From lower left: Turkey, cornbread dressing with cranberry sauce, dinner roll, Tony’s greens, three-cheese mac & cheese, mashed potatoes.
Do you notice what I allowed to happen here, that I’m normally NEVER okay with?
I allowed cranberry sauce to touch my other food items. Normally that is a GIANT party foul.
Believe me, I thought about ordering the meal with no cranberries. But Tony posted a pic of the food with the cranberries on top of the dressing. And Tony has tremendous culinary credibility. He makes combinations work that I never would expect – see the coffee-encrusted ribeye from a few weeks ago.
So I ordered the dinner as-is, without mods.
The mac & cheese turned out to be the star of the show, followed closely by Tony’s greens and the turkey. But the dressing soaked in cranberry juice was not bad!
Tony is the Ric Flair of food. He could cook a broomstick and turn it into a five-star meal.
The M-town Funk and Blues Fest comes to the Cannon Center Saturday, featuring Midnight Star, Original Lakeside, Larry Dodson and Band , OB Buchana, and Bobby Rush.
J Buck plays 507 Lux Lounge (150 Monroe) Saturday night.
J Buck is practically a one man show chock full of explosive energy everytime he hits the stage- think Marvin Gaye meets James Brown! Audiences can’t get enough of Buck’s massively enchanting stage presence
Momma’s may be getting a popcorn machine. I remember a bar in the Downtown core once having a popcorn machine. They had to get rid of it once Steve the Squirrel’s cousin Rick showed up.
Grizzlies Cyber Monday news:
Eggnog slushies have returned to Max’s Sports Bar.
Typing this at Bardog. Jukebox Repair Guy is installing Google speakers. Sesame salmon and a grilled buffalo chicken wrap are the specials.
That’ll cover it for today. Reminder – posts will be hit or miss the next 5 days because I want to get out and enjoy the holiday weekend without hauling a computer around.
It’s time to look ahead to college football games of interest to Memphis this Thanksgiving weekend. Because of the time of year, I’m expanding my definition of “of interest” to include
Memphis
Teams with a strong regional following – SEC and Arkansas State
Major rivalry games
Games in which a team has a reasonable chance of making the College Football Playoff
Teams which could end up in the Liberty Bowl – so, unranked Big 12 and SEC teams that will likely finish the season with between 6 and 8 wins
Teams that are potential bowl opponents for the Memphis Tigers
Rankings are as of Tuesday evening, November 14.
Thanksgiving Day
13 Ole Miss at Mississippi State, Egg Bowl, 6:30 PM, ESPN
Friday
Memphis at. Temple, 11:00 AM, ESPN
UTSA at 24 Tulane, 2:30 PM, ABC
9 Missouri at Arkansas, Battle Line Rivalry, 3:00 PM, CBS
Texas Tech at 7 Texas, 6:30 PM, ABC
11 Oregon State at 6 Oregon, 7:30 PM, FOX
Saturday
2 Ohio State at 3 Michigan, 11:00 AM, FOX
Kentucky at 10 Louisville, Governor’s Cup game, 11:00 AM, ABC
Texas A&M at 15 LSU, 11:00 AM, ESPN
Navy at SMU, 11:00 AM, ESPN2
8 Alabama at Auburn, Iron Bowl, 2:30 PM, CBS
17 Arizona at Arizona State, 2:30 PM, ESPN
Vanderbilt at 13 Tennessee, 2:30 PM, SEC Network
Washington State at 5 Washington, Apple Cup, 3:00 PM, FOX
It looks like the SEC isn’t going to have enough 6-plus-win teams to fill all of its bowl slots. In that case, the Liberty Bowl would become Big 12 vs. wild card and the spot could possibly go to Memphis. That would be bad news for our local hotel and restaurant industries but great news for Tigers fans.
The Downtown Memphis Commission will hold a public safety meeting at its office (N. Main at Adams) 10:30-11:30 AM Tuesday, November 28. Most likely this will be a final presentation of street closings and related plans for Saturday, December 2’s St. Jude Marathon. If you own a business Downtown that opens before noon that day, you should attend or send a rep in order to understand what your employees will need to do to get to work.
Any restaurants/bars opening early for the marathon? Let me know. paul.ryburn@gmail.com or hit me up on social media.
It’s National Peanut Butter Fudge Day. That’s an item I believe Bass Pro at the Pyramid carries. I think that the new sweets shop in the 99 N. Main apartment building. might have it too.
Blind Bear’s specials for this week:
Thanksgiving dinner – slow roasted turkey breast smothered with brown turkey gravy, cornbread dressing, Tony’s greens, three-cheese mac & cheese, rosemary mashed potatoes, cinnamon & orange cranberry sauce, dinner roll – 22
Sweet potato pie – sweet potatoes, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger with a golden flaky crust – 8
Individual cup/bowl of Tony’s greens – 6/10
Blind Bear will open at 6 PM on Thanksgiving. Bardog will open at 5. I will expand this list as more info comes my way.
The DM reports that Rock ‘n Dough Pizza will open a location at 704 Madison after the first of the year. It will have a 4-lane duckpin bowling alley. Don’t know what duckpin bowling is? Wikipedia to the rescue.
The men’s basketball Tigers will face some quality competition this week in the Battle 4 Atlantis invitational tournament in beautiful Nassau, Bahamas. The Tigers kick things off with a 5 PM battle vs. the Wolverines of Michigan Wednesday. On Thanksgiving Day Memphis plays either Arkansas or Stanford, with tip time at 5 PM if they win Wednesday’s game or 7:30 if they lose.
I’ll be out in Eads with my friends Randy & Theresa for Thanksgiving dinner. Randy says he’ll pick me up around noon, along with Butt Slut #2 who also lives Downtown. Butt Slut #1 has to work at her dad’s liquor store (in Mississippi those can be open on Turkey Day) until about 3 then will drive up to Eads.
But here’s the thing – Randy promised Butt Slut #1 he’d put her Dallas Cowboys at 3:25. If the basketball Tigers play at 5, that will be a problem. Hey Randy, perhaps Butt Slut #1 would like to dine al fresco on the bench on your patio while the grownups occupy the dining room. The forecast is for a balmy 55 and besides, she’ll have soup to keep her warm.
I’m typing this from Bardog so I might as well inform you of today’s specials:
Dog: Breakfast dog – 2 eggs, bacon, hash, cheddar, mustard, ketchup (EDIT 2:18 PM): Changed to chili, cheese, onion
Mussels: Garlic butter, white wine, tomato
Pecan pie
Caramel cake
OMG there’s an I Got That Dog in Me shirt. I need to get that for the butt sluts to wear to work so they can promote the Daily Dog.
PRO TIP: If you order urinal mats, yellow is not a good choice. They make it look like the person before you didn’t flush.
Boston came away with a 102-100 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum yesterday. The Grizz fall to 3-10, tied with Portland and San Antonio for the worst record in the West. The good news? Memphis is only 6.5 games out of first.
Next up, the Grizz head to Houston where they’ll tussle with our old buddy Dillon Wednesday at 7. Except, knowing him, he won’t be satisfied with a tussle and will try to turn it into a kerfluffle.
Memphis magazine recently profiled bartender Melicia Coleman, who makes drinks at trucker bar Momma’s on Crump. (The Dirty Crow Inn that preceded Momma’s was a “chicken bar”? Wow.)
PROGRAMMING NOTE – My posts this week (through Sunday) may be sparse. I want to be out among friends during this holiday week, not sitting in front of a laptop all day. However, at least for tomorrow I expect to be back with more news.
If you’re trying to come up with a dish to take to a Friendsgiving potluck, may I recommend potatoes gratin with Boursin. Butt Slut #1 requested them at our 2022 holiday dinner (can’t remember if it was Thanksgiving or Christmas) and they were a big hit.
Southern Living has a list of 62 Thanksgiving casseroles. Shall I do a “Paul’s Picks” like I do for Downtown Dining Week?
Max Kaplan plays Slider Inn Downtown tonight at 7.
Aldo’s Pizza Pies is having a 50% off gift card sale through November 30 at both its Downtown and Midtown locations. Minimum $25 purchase and the gift cards can be used beginning January 1, 2024. The gift cards have no expiration date.
Don’t forget, the Downtown Christmas tree lighting is this Saturday at South Main and Peabody Place. The party begins at 4:30 with free hot chocolate from Margie’s 901 and photos with Santa. That start time is 4:30 PM – not to be confused with 4:30 AM, 12 hours later, which is “drunk people climb the Downtown Christmas tree” time.
There’s a “Mommy & Me” event, a Barbie & Me Body Butter making class, happening at Oh Sweets! Skin Care, 65 Monroe, from 1 to 3 PM Saturday. Dress in your best Barbie outfit, walk the pink carpet, and… oh, I can’t do this. Click the link if you want to read more.
Then at 5:30 Saturday, Oh Sweets! is hosting an Adult Sip & Whip Class, You get to make body butter and some other stuff and you get wine & candy & store discounts. Again, click the link if you want full details. This is an adults-only class.
Bardog has created an official Facebook event listing for its December 6 Hampline beer dinner it’s hosting in the Underdog Room. With minor revisions, the menu is what I posted on Tuesday:
Starter: Tuna Carpaccio with Handlebar Haze New England IPA
First Course: Asparagus Bisque with Natch Lager
Second Course: Beet Salad with Cherry Bomb Cherry Amaretto Sour Gose
Third Course: Beef Wellington with Hoot & Haller Pilsner
Dessert: Pumpkin Cheesecake with Dunk Tank Oktoberfest
The major change is the listed price. It had previously been reported as $60 + added fees; now, the charge is said to be $97.42 including tax and gratuity. At least the pours of each beer are generous 8 oz. pours instead of the dribbles you get at the average beer sampling.
The DMC has issued a report on revenues generated by the new Mobility Center and other transportation initiatives. Most of those initiatives are beating expectations. The same report notes that interior demolition will begin soon on the 100 N. Main building, an early step in its repurposing.
Memphis’ Finest Comedy Show, scheduled for Sunday, has been canceled. Also, tonight’s Orpheum Soiree is sold out.
This week Pretty Taco has $3 Red Flag shots during Power Hour 9-10 PM Friday and Saturday.
Memphis Farmers Market has announced its annual Turkey Day Market for this Saturday, November 18 (my birthday!!!) from 9 AM to 1 PM. Not only will you be able to buy Thanksgiving dinner fixings from area farmers, but you’ll also be able to start early on your Christmas shopping. Local artisans will be on hand with crafts, art, and jewelry to sell.
Folks from the Cossitt Library will be at the Market for Story Time from 11 AM to 1 PM Saturday. The Market is at the corner of Front and G.E. Patterson under the pavilion, behind the Power House movie theater.
Action News 5 interviewed the Cossitt Library’s Chef Eli about this Saturday’s Eat This Book Festival.
A mixed-use 8-story high rise has been proposed for 500 Beale. That would be between Danny Thomas and Lauderdale. The location is currently a vacant lot.
It’s Red Cup Day at Starbucks. Order a handcrafted holiday beverage and get the 2023 edition reusable cup. Order in person, on the Starbucks app, or through DoorDash or Uber Eats.
Marathonfoto seeks a photographer for the upcoming St. Jude Marathon.
Megabus has discontinued its service from other cities to Memphis.
An anonymous person arranged for baby goats for Jess to hang out with prior to the start of her shift.
The goats are from 901 Goats, a farm in Fayette County. The one Jessica is holding is about 4 weeks old. The goats on leashes are 10-11 months. Their caretakers were feeding them Cheerios.
The goats can be booked for goat yoga classes – at your place – for around $600, I’m told. We’re talking about getting a group together. If we got 30 people that’d be only $20 each.
Specials at Local on Main today:
Mississippi pot roast with stewed okra
Gumbo hash
Let’s have a look at college football games this weekend of interest to Memphians:
Friday
Colorado at Washington State, 9:30 PM, FS1
Saturday
Chattanooga at 8 Alabama, 11:00 AM, ESPN+
UL Monroe at 13 Ole Miss, 11:00 AM, SEC Network
24 Tulane at Florida Atlantic, 11:00 AM, ESPN+
Southern Miss at Mississippi State, 11:00 AM, SEC Network
Abilene Christian at Texas A&M, 11:00 AM, SEC Network
SMU at Memphis, 11:00 AM, ESPN2
22 Utah at 17 Arizona, 1:30 PM, Pac-12 Network
Texas State at Arkansas State, 2:00 PM, ESPN+
1 Georgia at 18 Tennessee, 2:30 PM, CBS
New Mexico State at Auburn, 3:00 PM, SEC Network
21 Kansas State at 25 Kansas, 6:00 PM, FS1
5 Washington at 11 Oregon State, 6:30 PM, ABC
Florida at 9 Missouri, 6:30 PM, ESPN
Florida International at Arkansas, 6:30 PM, ESPNU
Kentucky at South Carolina, 6:30 PM, SEC Network
Georgia State at 15 LSU, 7:00 PM, ESPN2
My thoughts on this week’s schedule, summed up in one photo?
More teams playing cream puff opponents than we’ve seen since Week 3. I guess this is a safety valve adopted by many teams to ensure that 6th win – and bowl eligibility. Although, it looks like a few teams may get waivers to sneak into a bowl with a 5-7 record this year.
New Ballet Ensemble School’s NutRemix comes to the Cannon Center this weekend. Imagine The Nutcracker, but on Beale Street.
Cheers to my friend Bill who moves to Illinois today. It’s been a pleasure hanging out with you in Downtown Memphis, sir. Please come back and visit.
Experimenting with NOISY and CRATE as my starter words in Wordle. Results are pretty good so far.
Hmmm. LOUSY and IRATE might be even better…
The MOXY Memphis hotel is organizing a New Year’s Eve bar crawl. I normally hate NYE but this is not a bad list of stops. NYE is on a Sunday this year. Note that you’d be back at the hotel partying with fellow pub crawlers rather than a bunch of random drunk yahoos at midnight.
Any locals been to Bar Moxy in the hotel? Is it worth checking out on a normal, non-holiday evening? The hotel promotes it like it’s a destination for non-guests.
The Grizzlies lost to the L.A. Lakers last night, effectively reducing Memphis’ chance of winning the NBA in-season tournament to zero. Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard went down to injuries. The Grizzlies drop to 2-9. Is it too early to consider tanking for the season?
Bishop, the French restaurant in Central Station Hotel, seeks a sous chef.
507 Lux Lounge, in the basement of Curry N Jerk at 150 Monroe, will host Cocktails & Conversations tonight at 7. This is a place for adult topics we’re usually conditioned to avoid. Tonight’s topic: How do we reach our youth?
Texan Marcia Bell comes to the Halloran Centre this Saturday. Tickets are $39.50.
Last week I mentioned a December 6 beer dinner at Bardog. I now have more information about that event.
It’ll be a joint venture with Hampline Brewing in Bardog’s Underdog Room called Bear of the Dog. This will be Hampline’s debut on the Memphis beer dinner scene. The menu:
Starter: Tuna Carpaccio with Handlebar Haze New England IPA
First Course: Asparagus Bisque with Natch Lager
Second Course: Beet Salad with Cherry Bomb Cherry Amaretto Sour Gose
Third Course: Beef Wellington with a pilsner to be announced
Dessert: Pumpkin Cheesecake with Dunk Tank Oktoberfest
Tickets are $60 plus tax and grat. Wednesday, December 6 at 6 PM.
Today is National Pickle Day. Kooky Canuck and Local on Main are two Downtown restaurants with excellent fried pickles.
The basketball Memphis Tigers just missed the AP Top 25 this week. With 53 votes, Memphis came in 26th, just behind #25 Colorado (78 votes).
There are a couple of events coming up at South Main Sounds, 550 S. Main, this weekend. Friday from 7 to 9, there will be performances by Zoe Dominguez, Victoria Dowdy, and Sandy Lollis. Saturday from 7 to 9, Jim Lauderdale will take the stage.
Pantera with special guest Lamb of God has announced a Saturday, February 10 date at FedExForum.
Redneck trivia at Momma’s was decided by an arm wrestling match last night. Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Paul, nobody cares” – but my former student Zach insists I put it in the blog.
By the way – I’ve never been to redneck trivia, but I heard more about it yesterday. It sounds like the TOPICS are redneck more so than the individual QUESTIONS. For example, “beer” might be a topic – rednecks like beer – but a question might be, “Which state has the most breweries in New England?”
Classic Blind Bear T-shirts are back in stock and for sale:
The CA’s Jennifer Chandler has 5 spots to find a pie for Thanksgiving dinner. Notable Downtown: Makeda’s Cookies at 301 Jefferson. Makeda’s pies feature a “butterific” cookie crust.
I want to start off by mentioning a yummy brunch pic posted by Momma’s, “the diner & dive off 55:”
First off, cheers to Momma’s on having REAL hash browns. I HATE it when breakfast/brunch restaurants advertise having “hash browns” – but then you get there and find out they’re actually “breakfast potatoes.” NOT THE SAME THING!!!!!
Chili-smothered hash browns with eggs and a choice of meat? Sounds like Momma’s may have “borrowed” that idea from Waffle House. And I have no problem with that at all! Waffle House had years to open a restaurant on Crump and capture that market, and they didn’t do it.
I’m sure many of you are designing your King Louis breakfast in your head right now. As am I! My eggs would have to be scrambled. I can’t stand any kind of eggs with runny yolk, especially touching other food. I’d sooner eat pineapple on pizza. I’d sooner eat tofu.
As for meat: I suppose sausage would work best with Momma’s Smokestack chili. Although, since this is an obvious copy of what Waffle House does, I might be tempted to get country ham since that’s what I get there. Bacon, of course, is a universal ingredient that is always welcome on my plate. I’ve never understood chicken as a breakfast food.
The real question, though, is: Which King Louis are you going to be as you eat your King Louis breakfast? You have many choices. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Louis the 9th – The namesake of St. Louis, Missouri, making this a good choice for Cardinals fans.
Louis the 11th – Your kids will want to be him. He was the Spider King.
Louis the 13th – Has a high-dollar cognac (I’m talking, like, $250 a shot) named after him.
Louis the 14th – Has a Beatles song (“Sun King”) written about him; reigned for 72 years, longer than England’s Elizabeth II.
Louis the 16th – His wife was a bitch. He inherited a treasury depleted by his grandfather, the extravagant Louis the 15th. Beheaded at age 38 by revolutionaries. His son never reigned and only lived to age 10.
Forecast this week looks beautiful!
A fairly mild week is ahead as we plow into mid-November! If you liked Sunday’s weather, we’ll have a few more days like it! Rain will be limited; chances will pop up on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning and possibly Friday. Plan accordingly! #memwxpic.twitter.com/YkUbXDzxGY
I had Bardog’s corn dog “Daily Dog” special for the second time in 2 days yesterday. That thing is seriously good enough to be a regular menu item. Mama Aldo, can you mention this to your son? EDIT: New Daily Dog today. Bacon-wrapped with sauteed onions, ketchup, and mustard.
I made Emily put The Price Is Right on. A contestant has a “The Wife Is Right” shirt on. This is why I’m single.
A fellow Scorpio (Wednesday birthday) bought me 2 Rumples and left me a full beer and half a Rumple. I’m buzzed and it’s 10:19 AM. And MEDICARE MARTHA is on TV. THE CALL IS FREE!
Congrats to the Grizzlies, who improved to 2-8 with a road win over the L.A. Clippers yesterday. Next up: at L.A. Lakers on Tuesday at 9:30 PM (TV: Bally Sports)
Tony posted a preview of a couple of the Blind Bear’s dinner specials for this week:
House-made chicken noodle soup
Pan-seared red snapper with sauteed green beans
There’s usually a dessert too. I’ll find out what that is and post a follow-up.
One more piece of Blind Bear news: Normally there’s a cover charge for admission Friday and Saturday nights. However, on Saturday, November 18, you can get in for FREE if you tell the door person, “Paul sent me.”
Grizzlies HC Taylor Jenkins has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for pointing out the incompetence of the referees working Friday’s Grizzlies-Utah Jazz game.
Today is World Orphans Day. There’s a street just north of Jackson running from Manassas to Ayers named Orphanage Ave. So I guess there used to be an orphanage just northeast of Downtown. That street was probably laid out in 1860. I don’t think there’s an orphanage on Orphanage Ave. anymore. I bet you can buy some weed there though. Probably not good weed.
The Price Is Right is giving away a hammock that will keep you warm at a temperature as low as 32 degrees outside.
My birthday week has begun! However, the actual day is not until Saturday.
My friend Randy returned from a business trip from Ireland, and as often is the case, he came bearing gifts. The butt sluts and I got matching hoodies.
The hoodies read, “Irish Originals Vintage Collection.” The new hoodie will be good to wear to Silky’s St. Patrick’s Day parade next March.
There were candy bars too!
This Irish whiskey milk chocolate bar was delicious! I ate the entire thing this morning. I tried a little of this dark chocolate bar too:
This a dark chocolate bar with nuts and sea salt. The inside wrapper reads,
Right now there is slavery on cocoa farms in West Africa. This is a result of the unequally divided food chain. Tony’s Chocolonely exists to change that.
Our vision is 100% slave-free chocolate. Not just our chocolate, but all chocolate worldwide.
With incredibly tasty chocolate we lead by example and show the world that chocolate can be made differently, in taste, packaging, and the way we do business with cocoa farmers.
Alone we’ll make slave-free chocolate but together as can make all chocolate 100% slave free. So we ask you to join us.
The more people who join our mission and share our story, the sooner 100% slave free becomes the norm in chocolate.
The choice is yours. Are you in?
From Food & Wine: DiGiorno has a Thanksgiving pizza out. It’s topped with turkey, gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, crispy onions, and two kinds of cheese. You have to visit the DiGiorno website to get these and they’re only available on Wednesdays.
I tried the corn dog which has been the Daily Dog special last night at Bardog.
The batter is light and fluffy, more closely resembling a Pronto Pup than a state fair corn dog. There is no stick, so you have to eat it with a fork & knife. I don’t recommend trying to eat it with your hands – the batter will fall off. Daily Dogs are usually on special for several consecutive days, so you may still be able to get the corn dog today.
Random fact I learned at one of the other Downtown bars yesterday: If a female bartender sends you to DGX for tampons, Tampax Pearls are a good choice. They’re not the cheap brand and accomplish, um, whatever is needed in a tampon.
The bourbon slushie is back in the rotation at Max’s Sports Bar.
Charlotte took the Memphis Tigers football team to overtime yesterday, but the Tigers prevailed, 44-38. Could Memphis be in line for double-digit wins this season? They’re 8-2 right now. Remaining:
Saturday, November 18 vs. SMU (11:00 AM, ESPN2): Memphis is a 25.2% underdog according to ESPN FPI
Friday, November 24 at Temple (11:00 AM, ESPN): Memphis is an 89% favorite according to ESPN FPI
AAC Championship: The Tigers have an in-conference loss and three other teams don’t, so Memphis is unlikely to be in this game
Bowl game: Projected by CBS Sports to be in the Military Bowl on December 27 vs. Virginia Tech (currently 5-5, 4-3 ACC)
So most likely the Tigers are looking at 9 to 10 wins this season.
And then there was this LOVELY result from yesterday:
The Tennessee Vols can kiss their hopes of a New Year’s Day bowl goodbye. CBS Sports now has them projected in the Gator Bowl on December 29 vs. North Carolina.
As for Memphis’ very own Liberty Bowl, CBS Sports is now projecting Kansas State vs. Mississippi State. That game is also December 29.
The Woodruff-Fontaine House will have a Yuletide Open House the evening of Friday, December 1. Free and open to the public.
The basketball Memphis Tigers improved to 2-0 with a win over Missouri on Friday night. Next up: Friday at 7 PM, home game vs. Alabama State, TV: ESPN+.
The Grizzlies have an away game vs. the L.A. Clippers at 2:30. TV: Bally Sports
Since the Grizzlies-Clips game is time-sensitive, I’ll stop here and hit Publish. Back soon with more news.
