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If you didn’t read the Commercial Appeal this morning, you missed a review of one of my favorite new Downtown restaurants, Pearl’s Oyster House. Jennifer Biggs got it right on the money – you feel like you’re on vacation in Destin or Key West when you eat there. Be sure to check it out if you like seafood.

I had to go down to the Board of Education this morning to pick up my last paycheck from the City Schools. As I walked through the halls, I stopped to look at one of the bulletin boards, where announcements and sometimes artwork by the kids are posted.

One of the problems is that people keep walking off with the bulletin board’s push pins. So the City Schools posted a sign asking them not to do that:

“PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE PENS”

Pens. With an E.

I hope whoever created that sign isn’t giving the students any spelling tests.

I’ve been watching the news this week, keeping up with the Draft A.C. movement. Concerned Memphians are trying to draft Shelby County mayor A.C. Wharton into the Memphis mayor’s race, believing he’s the only potential candidate who can beat current Memphis mayor Willie Herenton.

If he runs, things could get real interesting… the vote would be split four ways between Wharton, Herenton, former MLGW head Herman Morris, and City Councilwoman Carol Chumney. Given that there are other, minor candidates in the race, someone could win the election with only 25% of the vote. There are no runoffs.

So, who am I supporting for mayor?

Anybody but Willie.

Last election, I voted for Herenton, believing he had done a good job for Downtown Memphis. But since then, he has become arrogant and corrupt. He hasn’t done anything substantial to reduce crime, the #1 issue in most Memphians’ minds. Sure he proposed adding more police, but the move comes with such a big price tag that it will almost certainly never fly. He hasn’t been a LEADER – he hasn’t led the citizens of Memphis to become actively involved on a personal basis in the fight against crime. His most notable accomplishment of 2006 was beating a 63-year-old man in a boxing match.

It’s time for “King Willie” to go. I could live with any of Wharton, Morris, or Chumney as mayor. My first choice would be Wharton, but any of the three would be fine with me.

So, here’s what I’m going to do. As election day approaches, I’m going to watch the polls closely. If it appears that one of Wharton, Morris or Chumney is pulling away from the back, I’m throwing my support behind that candidate. I want to vote for a winner – as long as the winner isn’t Willie.

You know, last year I had a Steve Cohen banner at the top of my blog… maybe I need to make an “Anybody But Willie” banner.

There’s a new flavor of Doritos – Smokin’ Cheddar BBQ. The convenience store at Second and Madison has them.

– Tonight I received a tip on where to find the best ribs Downtown. You can only find them two nights a week, according to my source. Here’s what you do. Go to Handy Park at Third and Beale. Enter the park as everyone else does, off Beale. Turn left.

You’ll see men’s and women’s restrooms. Ignore those. Keep going left.

You’ll see a door. It will appear to be closed. Knock on it. When it opens, order ribs.

Disclaimer: This info may or may not be accurate. But this is what I’ve been told.

– New shopping service downtown. See flyer:

That link is memphisshoppingbag.com. As always, click for a larger image. I saw this poster on the Main Street Mall and photographed it.

– Went to the Saucer and then Blues City tonight. Saw the Dempseys at Blues City. They played “Thunder Road/Summertime Blues” on the first set. I was happy.

Tonight I was asked if I have ever eaten chitlins. I can’t say I have. “That’s the large intestine of a pig,” the barback informed me, “That’s what shapes a turd,” he said. Sounds delicious.

And that’ll do it. Aren’t you glad you stayed up late to read this?

The Downtowner magazine is holding its annual photo contest. Entries are due by July 27 and will be on display in Peabody Place from August to October for judging. Details below – click the image to see it in a larger, more readable size.

Just cleaned out the old photos on my camera… found some taken while I was on the rooftop of Barton Flats on June 30 for the big fireworks celebration. I realized my camera had a fireworks mode and decided to see what it could do. Here are some of the highlights (click the images to see them full size).

I posted about this earlier in the week. Dogfish Head beer tasting at 8 PM Wednesday, July 18 – 5 beers paired with 5 food courses for $25. Although, we’re not sure about the pork tenderloin course – sounds like it will be marinated in Raison d’Etre, but we’re not sure if Raison will also be served with the course. We asked management and they weren’t sure either. Anyway, here’s the info – tickets on sale at the Saucer, and are limited, so buy them in advance before the tasting sells out.

There were two versions of the menu going around – the managers told me that this is the correct version.

The Memphis Business Journal reports that Chick-Fil-A will be giving away free breakfast, lunch and dinner combos at all its restaurants, including the 12 in the Memphis area, on Friday. However, there’s a catch… in order to get the free food, you have to show up at the restaurant fully dressed as a cow. So if you have a spare cow suit lying around, put it on and get some free food this Friday.

And that’s the ONLY thing I have to report today. Geez. What’s happening to this blog?

Thanks to the many people who sent responses to my question yesterday about posting to a wiki (or wiki-like interface on a website) via text message. Sifting through them now.