Paul Ryburn's Journal

Pop culture trivia with Velvetina debuts at the Blind Bear tonight at 7:30. It’s free to play and you can win Blind Bear gift card prizes.

I’m usually a highly-sought-after trivia team member, but not so when pop culture is the theme. I remember when Charles was calling trivia and the first question of the night was, “What performer’s alter-ego is named Sasha Fierce?” He came around to look at everyone’s answers.

Me: (shrugs shoulders)

Charles liked everyone to get question 1 right, so he whispered a few hints.

Charles: She married Jay-Z.

Me: (shrugs shoulders)

Charles: She was a member of Destiny’s Child.

Me: (shrugs shoulders)

Charles: Not Beyon-listen, but Beyon-……..

Me: (shrugs shoulders)

Charles: I’ll just give you the point.

Looking forward to what Velvetina has in store for tonight. Maybe there’ll be a prize for the team that finishes last so I can win something.

The Grizzlies play a road game at Utah tonight. If the Grizzlies win, they’ll tie their franchise record of 56 wins in a season. However, with the 2 seed in the West locked in, expect coach Taylor Jenkins to rest multiple players. Utah, considered a top-two team in the West just a few months ago, is fighting to stay out of play-in games.

One more note: It is now impossible for any team in the Eastern Conference to catch up to the Grizzlies’ regular-season record. So if Memphis reaches the NBA Finals, they’ll have home-court advantage.

Bardog posted the following job opening to Facebook yesterday:

Bardog Tavern, a popular and high-volume bar in Downtown Memphis, is seeking an experienced Nighttime Bar Manager with exceptional people skills and the ability to perform under pressure in a fun, fast-paced, and late-night environment. Normal schedule is 7pm-3am, Wednesday-Sunday.

Benefits include:

– Health, Vision, and Dental plan after 60 days

– 2 weeks paid vacation after 6 months

– Bonuses & employee discounts

It’s Opening Day and Nacho Average Tuesday at the Memphis Redbirds. All fans will receive a complimentary order of Ballpark Nachos. Their opponent is the Gwinnett Stripers and first pitch is 7:05. First 1000 fans get a Redbirds magnet 2022 schedule.

Tomorrow the Redbirds will have their first matinee of the season, facing Gwinnett at 12:05 PM. All Field Box and Dugout tickets will be $10 for Wednesday’s game.

COVID cases in Shelby County have been near record lows since the start of the pandemic, but one statistic has turned bad this week: COVID Act Now reports that the reinfection rate in the county stands at 1.07. A rate greater than 1 indicates that the virus is spreading exponentially. If you haven’t got vacc’d or boosted, you might want to beat COVID to the punch and get that done this week.

There will be a Vegan Block Party at Mud Island Grove, 1300 Island Drive, Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM. 12 vegan food vendors, 7 vegan food trucks, and 10 shopping vendors. This event is family-friendly and you’re welcome to bring blankets or lawn chairs, although no pets, outside food, or coolers are allowed.

Feathers Spa in the Peabody is now open 7 days a week, 10 AM to 6 PM.

The Renasant Convention Center will host the U.S. National High School (K-12) Chess Championships this weekend.

Catherine & Mary’s is looking to hire a sous chef.

New Wing Order got me with an April Fool’s joke! I thought they were serious about their Coney Island wings with mustard, ketchup, and relish. I admit I thought, “Ketchup on wings sounds a little disgusting,” but I never thought about the date of the post. Their real April special is Huli Huli. That’s a pineapple-based wing sauce that starts off with garlic, ginger, and scallions, finished with soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, chiles, and cayenne. Catch the food truck Downtown Saturday at Soul & Spirits.

Not cool: Tennessee lawmakers are considering banning most Delta-8 THC products

That’s the news to start off this drizzly morning. Back tomorrow with more.

8 North Carolina vs. 1 Kansas for the NCAA men’s championship, 8:20 tonight on TBS. I don’t care who wins, but I want them to win by 12 so America gets free Krispy Kreme donuts tomorrow. The closest KK to the 38103 zip code is 7.74 miles away at 4244 Elvis Presley Blvd.

The Redbirds are offering a specialty ticket that comes with all-you-can-eat crawfish this Friday and Saturday. Friday’s game is at 7:05 PM and Saturday’s at 3:05 PM. Saturday’s game also offers a specialty Bark in the Park ticket that gets both you and your dog in the park.

Crowne Plaza Downtown is seeking a shuttle driver.

“A large franchise firm in Downtown Memphis” (AutoZone?) seeks a payroll coordinator and a payroll assistant. The positions are being advertised via recruiting firm Robert Half.

Today is World Rat Day. My recommendation to celebrate is a visit to the Family Dollar warehouse in West Memphis.

That’s it for now. Back tomorrow with more news.

A new scam was reported on Downtown Nextdoor yesterday. Thieves pose as window washers to have a reason to be in the area. Then, when they think no one is looking, they break into cars. They were run off from Gayoso near Second yesterday.

Wiseacre Downtown and Little Bettie pizza kitchen will be closed all day today for an employee event.

If either the NCAA men’s or women’s championship game is decided by exactly 12 points, every person in the U.S. will qualify for a dozen free Krispy Kreme glazed donuts April 5. The men’s championship, North Carolina vs. Kansas, will be on TBS at 8:20 Monday. The women’s championship, UConn vs. South Carolina, will be on ESPN at 7:00 tonight.

The Redbirds are having a flash sale for tickets to games for their opening 2022 homestand, April 5-10. Use code CONCESSIONS to get a $15 field box ticket that comes with a $10 voucher for the concession stand.

Gerald Richardson, T.O. Crivens, and J.Buck perform acoustic music tonight at S.O.S. (Served on Sunday) tonight at Robusto by Havana Mix. It kicks off at 6 PM and there’s a $10 cover.

One of the strongest performers of the 2021-2022 Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team appears to be gone. Landers Nolley II has entered the transfer portal.

Police are searching for a homeless man, 51-year-old Gregory Neal Jenkins, who sometimes frequents Downtown shelters.

Kountry Wayne performs at the Cannon Center tonight.

The Cafeteria has its grand opening today at 850 S. Third from 11 AM to 7 PM. Note that they’re temporarily having problems with their Internet so today is cash only.

That’s all for today. Back tomorrow with more news.

I don’t think too many people were fooled by my April Fool’s post. Y’all don’t really think I’d drop my troll without noticing, do you?

The Grizzlies beat the league-best Phoenix Suns 122-114 in a game that didn’t matter to the standings and in which 4 of Memphis’ 5 usual starters sat (Dillon Brooks started and scored 30).

Although Memphis’ remaining games don’t matter – they’ve got the 2-seed locked – the standings still are worth watching. Let’s review the play-in tournament structure to see why:

• 7th place plays 8th place – winner advances to the playoffs as the 7 seed
• 9th place plays 10th place – loser is eliminated and goes to the lottery
• 7-8 loser plays 9- 10 winner – winner advances to the playoffs as the 8 seed; loser is eliminated and goes to the lottery
• First round of the playoffs – 2 seed (Grizzlies) plays 7 seed

So Memphis will wind up playing the 7th- or 8th-place team in the West in the opening round. Currently that would be the Minnesota Timberwolves (44-34) or the L.A. Clippers (38-40).

Grizzlies first-round playoff tickets go on sale Wednesday. MVP season ticket holders can buy them on Tuesday. Maximum 4 tickets per sale and they must be purchased by someone in Tennessee or in the greater Mid-South area.

ESPN Insider reports that Robert Pera has done well for himself since buying the Grizzlies, and is now the 3rd-richest owner in the NBA with a net worth of about $15 billion. This is important because Pera’s wealth means he is unlikely to flinch at paying luxury tax to keep the Ja & Jaren & Dillon & Desmond Show together when contract renewal time comes.

In Tigers basketball news, Lester Quinones has declared for the NBA draft.

Bad night for vehicles Downtown last night… vehicles were reported stolen from Monroe & Fourth and from 40 N. Front.

The New Wing Order food truck has announced their April special. To celebrate the return of baseball, they’ll serve Coney Island wings, topped with mustard, ketchup, and sweet relish. You can get them as traditional wings, boneless wings, or their new dinosaur nuggies.

STIX has started selling bottles of its Yum Yum sauce for $7. The sauce is great for dipping meats and veggies and it can also be used as a marinade.

Feast & Graze at 55 S. Main has a new app – Soppressata Cones. They are made with goat cheese, pepperoncinis, and a toasted baguette.

Cordelia’s Market has giant Mandarin oranges. They appear to have a little knot on their heads, but they taste great. They are sweeter and taste more of citrus than regular oranges.

We now know Chef Michael Patrick’s next move after closing Rizzo’s. The CA’s Jennifer Chandler reports that he’s taking an executive chef position at Capital Grille. Chef will fly to Boston for a 6-week training session with Capital Grille’s parent company, Darden Restaurants, before taking over at Capital.

WREG Live at 9 looks at the Jurassic Quest dinosaur exhibit at the convention center this weekend.

The Redbirds have announced their promotions for 2022. Opening Day is April 5.

Final Four today:

• 2 Villanova vs. 1 Kansas, 5:09 PM, TBS
• 8 North Carolina vs. 2 Duke, 7:49 PM, TBS

I’m rooting for Coach K to win one more title before he retires. He’ll be remembered along all-time great basketball coaches like Phog Allen, Henry Iba, and John Wooden.

That’s the news for now. Trying to decide on a plan for today. Option A is to enjoy a psycho-free Farmers Market followed by Max’s and Earnestine & Hazel’s. Option B is to observe the human condition at Blind Bear. In any case, I’m putting my external charger in my pocket because the first of a 2-night Wrestlemania is tonight. Ready to see if the mystery opponent is indeed Cody Rhodes and if Bianca will cut off more of Becky’s hair. Back tomorrow with more news.

Today is off to a very bad start.

This morning I rolled out of bed and walked to the refrigerator to get some water. As I walked past the kitchen counter I surveyed the contents of my pockets last night. Phone, wallet. comb, pen, keys. But no troll.

“I probably forgot to pull her out of my pocket last night,” I thought. “I do that sometimes.” I walked over to the couch where I had thrown the pair of shorts I wore last night. I reached into the left front pocket. The troll wasn’t there.

I thought back to last night. As I walked home from the Blind Bear, I heard the notification ding go off on my phone. I pulled it out of my pocket, as I was standing approximately in front of the record store, and saw that someone had mentioned me on Instagram. I put the phone back in my pocket and walked the rest of the way home.

When I pulled out the phone, I must have grabbed the troll’s hair, pulled her out too, and dropped her without realizing it.

This morning I threw my clothes on and rushed down to that block of Main, hoping maybe the troll would still be there, lying on the ground. But she was nowhere to be seen.

So I guess I don’t have a troll anymore. She was with me 5 years and almost 4 months.

Anyway, let’s get on with the news…

The Peabody rooftop parties return Thursday nights starting April 28. This year, they will be hosted by DJ Epic, featuring Epic solely every other week and hosting regional touring bands every other week. The first party will feature Almost Famous with a guest performance by Jena Rose. Weekly admission is $15. Rooftop party season will run through August 4.

Disney Princess: The Concert Tour, presented by Pandora, comes to the Orpheum tonight. Songs will celebrate all the Disney princesses throughout the years. Attendees are invited to wear royal attire. This concert is recommended for ages 6 and up.

Wendy Moten plays a 7:30 show Saturday and a 2:30 show Sunday at the Halloran Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $37.50.

The 3rd annual River City Jazz and Music Festival, presented by Fresh Ideas Entertainment, will happen at the Cannon Center this Saturday beginning at 6:30 PM. This is a rescheduled date and tickets previously purchased will be honored. Performers include

• Eric Benet
• After 7
• Kenny Latimore
• Gerald Albright
• Julian Vaughn
• Joe Johnson

Jennifer Biggs of the DM has a look at the fish sandwich from Bishop as part of her article on dishes for Lent.

Thanks to the Shelby County Health Department, you can get a ticket to visit the National Civil Rights Museum for free on Monday, the 54th anniversary of Dr. King’s death. You have to register online and pick up your ticket by the end of the day today.

That’ll do it. Back tomorrow with more news.

A big question got answered yesterday.

People from around the region come to Memphis for Memphis in May’s Beale Street Music Fest, staying in Downtown hotels and walking to the festival.

Except this year, they can’t do that. Due to Tom Lee Park construction, the festival has been moved about 5 miles east to Tiger Lane. How are all of those people going to get out there, we all wondered?

There was sort of a precedent for solving this problem, looking back to 2011, the year BBQ Fest got moved to Tiger Lane. Free shuttles picked up people Downtown every 10 minutes at designated stops and dropped them off at the festival and took them back Downtown at the end of the day.

But those shuttles belonged to the casinos, which were closed at the time due to river flooding. The casinos are open this year and recovering from losses they incurred during the pandemic. Their shuttles wouldn’t be available for Memphis in May to rent this year.

So Memphis in May reached out to MATA and arranged a complimentary shuttle available to all Music Fest ticket-holders. It will run every 10 minutes. Its hours will be

Departing Downtown

• Friday 4:00-9:00 PM
• Saturday 12:00-9:00 PM
• Sunday 12:00-7:00 PM

Departing the fairgrounds

• Friday 9:00 PM-1:00 AM
• Saturday 9:00 PM-1:00 AM
• Sunday 8:00 PM-11:30 PM

The Downtown pick up locations will be

• Exchange Avenue, in front of the Sheraton
• Union Avenue, in front of the Peabody

To ride the shuttle, you must register by April 25. You will receive a registration confirmation email which you will need to show in order to board the shuttle.

Live at the Tracks, Central Station Hotel’s live music series, returns this evening. Join them on the upper deck from 6:30-10:00 for Turnstyles.

You can play pop culture trivia, hosted by Velvetina, Tuesday, April 5 at 7:30 PM at the Blind Bear. Velvetina is the organizer of the Friday night burlesque shows at the Bear.

I should have stayed later at the Blind Bear last night. I heard Zach Randolph came by and ordered food.

San Antonio nearly came back from trailing 18 points at home against the Grizzlies last night, but Memphis held on to grab a 112-111 victory. That victory meant two things:

1. The Grizzlies, in 2nd place in the Western Conference, lead 3rd-place Dallas by 6 games – but there are only 5 games left in the regular season. The Mavericks cannot catch up, so the Grizzlies have clinched the 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They will have home-court advantage in the first two playoff rounds. If they reach the Western Conference finals and their opponent is not Phoenix, they’ll have home-court advantage there too.
2. The Grizzlies also clinched the Southwest Division title last night, the first time they have earned that honor.

Next up: The Grizzlies host Phoenix tomorrow, April 1, at 7:00 in a battle of the NBA’s two best records – but it will be a meaningless game since both teams have clinched their seeds. The game will be broadcast on NBAtv. It will be Autism Awareness Night and the first 5000 fans will get a free Pop-It Stress Reliever.

The DM reports that construction will begin on the 24-story Grand Hyatt, the final piece of the One Beale project, in four to six weeks. One Beale’s first hotel, the Hyatt Centric, has been open for about a year now, and the second hotel, the Canopy, will open in June.

Another business that is part of the One Beale project, Fancy’s Fish House, will open next to The Landing Residences next week. It will offer seafood, a raw bar, and Gulf oysters when in season.

Lansky Bros. at the Peabody is looking for enthusiastic full-time and part-time employees to join their sales staff. Send a resume to sales@lanskybros.com or apply online if you’re interested in joining the team.

The Memphis Flyer reports that Chicken Champagne Caviar, currently a pop-up in 409 S. Main, is going permanent.

The Flyer profiles Josh McLane, master of the sandwich at South Point Grocery.

The Downtown Memphis Commission has a Development Project Manager position open.

A liquor store is for sale in Downtown Memphis. The listing does not indicate the name of the business, but it says it is on a corner lot (which would rule out Quench and Downtown Wines & Spirits) and it was established in 2012 (which would rule out Corkscrew). That leaves Pyramid Wine and Spirits at N. Second and A.W. Willis as the likely business.

It’s National Tater Day and I have a recommendation. Go to the food truck rodeo in Court Square and get you a pulled pork baked potato from Smurfey’s Smokehouse. You will not regret it.

Westy’s will host a Pinch District Artists’ Market beginning Sunday at 1:30.

The winner of the Downtown Cocktail Contest will be crowned at a special happy hour at Old Dominick Distillery today from 4 to 6. There will be $4 beers, $7 cocktails, and free samples of the winning drinks.

That’s it for today. It’s possible tomorrow’s post could be late. I have a friend’s birthday party to attend tonight and that may throw off my sleep schedule a little.

Severe weather is expected this afternoon!

STAY WEATHER AWARE TODAY
A line of severe storms capable of wind gusts to 70-80 mph & a few tornadoes moves through between 2-5pm. Prior to that, southerly wind increases to 25-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. High: 79.

Heed all severe warnings as if they were tornado warnings! pic.twitter.com/tPv2JqT0Gl

— MemphisWeather.net (@memphisweather1) March 30, 2022

⚠️ A High Wind Warning has been issued for the Mid-South for today. Expect widespread gusts greater than 50 mph and isolated gusts to 60 mph today. These high winds will occur ahead of a line of thunderstorms that will move across the area this afternoon. #tnwx #mswx #mowx #arwx pic.twitter.com/tZpk8VaMdb

— NWS Memphis (@NWSMemphis) March 30, 2022

Here are the severe weather probabilities as of 6am. High wind and a few tornadoes are the main threats between 2-5pm today. #memstorm pic.twitter.com/gPr7FPxctX

— MemphisWeather.net (@memphisweather1) March 30, 2022

The Foo Fighters announced yesterday that they are canceling upcoming concerts, including their appearance at Memphis in May’s Beale Street Music Fest. The band needs time to grieve and figure out what comes next following the death of drummer Taylor Jenkins.

Loflin Yard has started opening on Tuesdays once again.

Pabst is expanding its capacity to produce cannabis-infused drinks. PBR High Seltzer is one of the most popular cannabis beverages in California. Too bad we can’t get it here.

The Grizzlies play a road game vs. the San Antonio Spurs tonight at 7:30.

The DM reports that Memphis Tigers sophomore Earl Timberlake has entered the transfer portal.

Here’s a map of the area that will be affected by a geofenced scooter curfew 10 PM-5 AM Friday-Sunday nights:

In response to requests from downtown stakeholders, a new “curfew” for shared e-scooters will begin this Friday, 4/1. A geofenced no-ride zone for the core of downtown will be in effect from 10 Pm to 5 Am, Friday nights through Sunday nights. pic.twitter.com/j7cHgxqziz

— Bike Ped Memphis (@BikePedMemphis) March 28, 2022

StyleBlueprint published a local’s guide to Memphis cocktail bars, listing 7 of their favorite places to go. Downtown bars making the list included Bar Hustle inside the ARRIVE Hotel, Blind Bear, and Eight & Sand.

That’s it. Not a whole lot of news today. Back tomorrow.

Jurassic Quest, the nation’s largest and most realistic dinosaur exhibit, comes to the Renasant Convention Center Friday-Sunday. Those who plan to attend are advised to buy tickets in advance to guarantee their time slot.

Shuttle service Groove on Demand announced yesterday it was expanding its hours to 6 AM-10 PM (update your website, guys).

Atomic Rose is seeking a salaried chef for a Monday-Friday day position. If interested, send a resume to atomicrosememphis@gmail.com.

The Daily Memphian noted that the Notice of Allegations against the University of Memphis and Penny Hardaway is not new. The university received the notice nearly a year ago and chose not to release it until this past weekend.

The Cadre Building at Second and Monroe has had two dates come open: July 3 and October 1. It’s an ideal place for a wedding reception or party. It’s rare for dates this close to be unbooked, so if you’re interested, grab one fast.

Cordelia’s Market now carries swordfish steaks. Get them for $12.59 a pound.

A product the world didn’t need: Natty Light vodka

Opera Memphis will give a live performance in Health Sciences Park this Friday from noon to 1. Come out and grab lunch from the Millie’s Garden and Barbecue Off the Chainz food trucks.

The city has announced a new curfew for scooter riding in the Downtown core and on Beale Street and Mud Island. The scooters will not operate in those areas Friday and Saturday nights between 10 PM and 5 AM.

That’s all for now. Back tomorrow.

Apologies for not making a post yesterday… the main reason was that I was not quite sure what to make of the NCAA’s allegations against Penny Hardaway and the Memphis men’s basketball program. My guess is, what Penny’s really guilty of is upsetting the natural order of things. In the eyes of the powers-that-be, elite-level, 5-star recruits are supposed to go to Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Michigan State, or UCLA. If once in a while, a top recruit falls through the cracks and one of those schools doesn’t get him, it’s acceptable as long as he goes to a Power Five school with a storied reputation – an Ohio State or a Texas or a Florida.

But a school that isn’t even in the Power Five, led by a guy with only 4 years of experience as a coach at the college level? And that guy goes out and gets James Wiseman, Precious Achiuwa, Jalen Duren, and Emoni Bates in the span of just a few years? Totally unacceptable.

If the NCAA doesn’t layeth the smacketh down on Penny and his program, the powers-that-be probably believe, what’s to stop a coach at Tulane or Marshall or Troy from getting uppity and going after 5-stars too? How dare they take food off the table of great men like Cal and Bill Self and Tom Izzo!

So the NCAA is telling Penny, to use a catchphrase from The Rock for the second paragraph in a row, know your role and shut your mouth.

And Penny’s having none of it.

In other news, the Grizzlies have a big game tonight. They host Golden State at FedExForum at 7 in a game that will be nationally televised on NBAtv.  With 9 games left in the regular season, Memphis holds a 4-game lead over Golden State for second place in the Western Conference. A win would bump that lead to a nearly insurmountable 5 games with only 8 left. Let’s go Grizzlies!

One more piece of sports news: Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin had the honor of throwing the first pitch in Ole Miss’ baseball team’s game against the Tennessee Vols. He threw a golf ball rather than a baseball. It was a nod to Tennessee’s losing effort to Ole Miss in the 2021 football season, where horrible Vol fans responded by raining debris down onto the field, including golf balls and mustard bottles.

I had a yummy brunch yesterday!

This is the Blind Bear’s salmon hash, blackened salmon over a bed of the Bear’s breakfast fries, topped with a sunny side up egg and a balsamic reduction. So tasty!

By the way, I couldn’t find a way to get the troll in the picture without getting balsamic on her, but trust me, she was there!

Three teens have been charged in a shooting that killed a 15-year-old boy and injured a 16-year-old girl earlier in March near Riverside and Beale. The boy and girl were not believed to be the intended targets.

The CA reports that CIMAS, the restaurant inside Hyatt Centric, has a new menu to help you start early on your way to Broadway shows at the Orpheum. The dishes are tailored to each show – for example, fish for the recently-concluded Cats run because street cats would eat fish.

From ABC 24: After 5 years of work, Equality Trailblazers monument opens in Downtown Memphis

A man was arrested for a car break-in Downtown Saturday night, WREG reports.

Today is a holiday I’m sure many will celebrate, Weed Appreciation Day.

Saturday is opening day for the Memphis Farmers Market. The market operates every Saturday from April to October in the pavilion behind the Power House movie theater at Front and G.E. Patterson. This is an especially good farmers market because, besides fresh produce and flowers, you’ll also find

• Meats
• Seafood
• Hot sauces
• Dog treats
• Breads
• Pottery
• Bird houses
• Cheese dip
• Pastries
• Live music
• Food trucks
• Coffee
• and lots more

MATA has begun testing of a heated, air-conditioned light rail trolley car on the Madison Avenue line.

That’s all the news. Back tomorrow!

Yesterday I got a chance to try one of the items added to the new brunch menu at the Blind Bear. They now have two kinds of quiches. One has bacon, tomato, spinach, and cheddar; the other has cheddar and pepper jack. The former is pictured below.

The Bear has gotten super popular for brunch and they needed to simplify their menu in order to keep up with demand. Quiche is perfect because it can be prepared in advance. It’s also versatile – there are a limitless number of ingredients you can add to the egg custard base.

Know what else I like about quiche? It’s a dish that will make women want to come there for brunch. Anytime a bar can bring in more women, without resorting to promotions that run off their existing base of regulars, it’s an easy win.

The quiche was delicious, as were the fried breakfast potatoes that came on the side. Would definitely get again, and probably will when I return to brunch there. The Blind Bear has its Hungover Like a Bear Brunch menu available 11 AM-3 PM Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The Memphis Tigers baseball team hosts Mississippi State at AutoZone Park Tuesday night at 6.

Food & Wine reports that many British pubs will be allowed to stay open two extra hours for the Queen’s platinum jubilee – pushing back closing time to 1 AM. WTF? Pubs across the pond normally close at 11? People in Memphis are pre-gaming, getting ready to go out at 11.

The Daily Memphian has the recipe for Rizzo’s bread pudding in this week’s Recipe Exchange.

Today is the Memphis Tequila and Taco Fest in Court Square. 2-6 PM. $25 to attend and sample.

The CA’s Jennifer Chandler has a look at Feast & Graze, its grand opening at 55 S. Main this week, and its charcuterie offerings. Stop by today, Saturday, March 26 for samples from Feast & Graze at 11, Hackberry Tea at 2, and Disbalef Tequila at 4.

Congratulations to the Saint Peter’s Peacocks, who defeated Purdue last night 67-64. They become the first 15 seed ever to reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.

Today’s Elite Eight action:

• 5 Houston vs. 2 Villanova, 5:09 PM, TBS. If the Cougs go all the way, Memphians will be able to say our team beat the national champions twice.
• 4 Arkansas vs. 2 Duke, 7:49 PM, TBS. Can the Hogs make the record books as Coach K’s final opponent?

The Grizzlies host Milwaukee tonight at 7. Free Grizzlies shoelaces to the first 5000 fans to celebrate Grizz’s birthday. Dammit I wish the Grizzlies weren’t playing tonight… that’s gonna make it very hard for me to get the Arkansas game put on the TV at the bar.

Action News 5 reports that Beale Street businesses are thrilled that the Grizzlies have clinched a playoff spot.

Today is National Spinach Day… look no further than the quiche at the top of this post for a way to celebrate.

Taylor Hawkins, the drummer of the Foo Fighters, has died at age 50. The band was on a tour of South America when he was found dead.

Gonna camp out at the Blind Bear today for some brunch and some PBR and some people-watching. Back tomorrow with more news.