Paul Ryburn's Journal

Red rova, red rova, who’s coming ova? Not just everyone. Happy birthday to NEAL aka HOLLYWOOD!

I’d like to start off this post with a word for people who come Downtown, especially from Germantown, to attend matinee Orpheum shows. It is NOT REASONABLE to walk into a crowded nearby restaurant 40 minutes before curtain time and think you’re going to have time to be seated and order and be served and eat and tab out and walk to the theater. I saw so much food being returned to the kitchen yesterday because customers didn’t have time to eat it. And some of the guests were blaming the servers when it wasn’t the servers’ fault at all. Nor was it the kitchen’s.

My advice would be, if the show is set to begin at 1:00, you need to be walking into the restaurant no later than 11:55. Worst case scenario, you make it to the Orpheum 20 minutes early and have time to enjoy a nice glass of wine before you take your seats.

MemphisWeather.net has a blog post about the cold spell that will hit Memphis this week. It’s possible we could see freezing temperatures, which would be one of the earliest freezes ever recorded in Memphis.

Memphis 901 FC defeated FC Tulsa Saturday to clinch the 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They’ll host the opening round Saturday at a time to be determined. The 2 seed guarantees they’ll have the home-field advantage in at least the first two rounds.

The Grizzlies have signed Brandon Clarke to a 4-year, $52 million extension. The deadline to extend players is today at 6 PM. The big question is, will they extend Dillon Brooks? I sure hope so.

Today is National Pasta Day. Spaghetti with Grandma’s New Jersey meatballs at Bardog would be my suggestion to celebrate.

On a personal note, I’m kinda worried about the weather this week. In October 2018, the temps dropped from 87 to the low 50s like a rock, and the change in the weather caused my legs to get really bad. I fell trying to get on my bike and I fell trying to get up the entry steps to the Blind Bear. I hope that doesn’t happen again.

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

Well. Even I have to admit that was an exciting football game. It just didn’t produce the result I wanted.

In case you’re wondering what I’m talking about, the Tennessee Vols ended their 15-year losing streak to Alabama yesterday, kicking a field goal to win 52-49.

I didn’t watch the game at Max’s Sports Bar, but I hear the people at the Old Coots Corner Table were so excited that they played some Lawrence Welk on the jukebox to celebrate.

Meanwhile, over in K-ville, Vols fans tore down a goalpost and threw it in the river. That is such a Tennessee thing to do.

UGH… now we’re gonna have a week of Vols fans going “I REALLY THINK THIS YEAAAARRRRR…. THIS COULD BE ARRRRRRR YEARRRRRRRR.” Let’s have a look at their remaining schedule and see who might be able to shut the Vols’ horrible fans up: (rankings are last week’s, writing this before today’s AP poll has dropped)

• October 22: vs. UT-Martin. Well, I think it’s safe to say the Vols have this one. Although, it would be SO VERY TENNESSEE for them to lose this game a week after beating Bama.
• October 29 vs. 22 Kentucky. I’d give Kentucky a chance if this was a road game for the Vols. ESPN FPI has Tennessee as an 82.5% favorite.
• November 5 at 1 Georgia. The Vols are a 21.8% underdog. Trouble is, if they lose to Georgia but otherwise run the table, they’d still have a good chance of making the CFP.
• After that it’s three of the SEC bottom-dwellers: Missouri, South Carolina, Vanderbilt. It’d sure be funny if Tennessee wins against Kentucky, Missouri, and South Carolina, and the playoff seems within reach… and then the team pulls a typical Vol move and loses to Vandy.

All right. I don’t have ANY Sunday news in the Evernote app I keep on my phone and MacBook… usually I come home with 8-10 news items to write about the next day. I have almost two hours before the Blind Bear opens, though, so let me dig around the Internet a bit and see what I can find…

Today is National Liqueur Day.

Today is also Global Cat Day.

And since I own a MacBook, iPhone, Apple Watch, and HomePod Mini, I guess I should celebrate Steve Jobs Day.

One more… it’s National Sunday School Teacher Appreciation Day. I don’t have a Sunday school teacher, but I do have a bartender. When I get to the Blind Bear, I’ll tell Kelly I appreciate him.

Oh! That reminds me… I hear a new trainee will be working the brunch shift today. If you meet the trainee, here are some questions you can ask her:

1. Can you recommend a moonshine shot? Maybe a mixture of two types of moonshine?
2. Can you name an outdoor activity that’s fun?
3. Can you name a season of the year that’s fun?
4. How many times have you been mentioned in Paul’s blog?
5. Has Randy texted you today to tell you that you were mentioned again?

There was a shooting in The Edge, near 630 Madison, around 4:00 this morning. One person was transported to the hospital in non-critical condition. A black Infiniti was seen leaving the scene, going down Union. It figures a Fin Fin would be involved. With drive-out tags, I’m guessing.

There’s a mimosa festival this morning in Court Square. I wonder if the rain will be enough to push it back to next Sunday, which is the rain date.

Cordelia’s Market will have a Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat next Sunday, October 23, from noon to 4. Live music, food trucks, photo booth. Costume contest at 2 PM. Trunk-or-treating in the Montessori School parking lot.

Dallas vs. Philadelphia is the Sunday Night Football game tonight. Dallas is a team it seems like I should root for – they’re geographically proximate, and the owner of the team played for the undeclared 1964 national champion Arkansas Razorbacks. But for some reason I can’t bring myself to get behind “DEM BOYZ.” I don’t hate them the way I do the Tennessee Vols, but I’ll probably be cheering for the Eagles tonight.

All right. That’s all I can think of for now. Still got about 30 minutes until it’s time to get ready for the Bear so I guess I’ll play Wordle and Globle and Factle. Back tomorrow with more news.

Big game day! Alabama takes on Tennessee at Tennessee’s home field, Neyland Stadium, this afternoon.

Worst fan base in college football, for sure.

Wow… ESPN FPI has Memphis as a 44.1% underdog against East Carolina, traditionally one of the worst football teams in the AAC.

Jennifer Biggs of the DM has a recipe for the Rendezvous’ famous BBQ shrimp. If you order this dish at the restaurant, it’s enough to feed up to 8 people and they ask that you call a day in advance.

Comma Comedians present Comedy Underground at Memphis Clover Club tonight at 7. Renard Hirsch is the featured act and the night will be hosted by Hayden McOlgan.

Have you seen the weather forecast? Upper 30s Tuesday morning with the high only rising to the low 50s. Mid 30s Wednesday morning, high rising to the upper 50s. One TV station had the Wednesday morning low at 31.

Kroger is about to buy Albertson’s.

From TimeOut: The 51 coolest neighborhoods in the world. Might be a good list to bookmark for the next time you plan a vacation. U.S. neighborhoods on the list:

• Ridgewood, Queens
• Barrio Logan, San Diego
• Avondale, Chicago
• Silver Lake, Los Angeles
• Coconut Grove, Miami
• Dogpatch, San Francisco

Might want to bring a raincoat if you go out tonight. Strong to severe storms are possible.

Nuvo Dance Convention is happening at the Cannon Center this weekend.

Loflin Yard, in conjunction with Mid-South Pug Rescue, is holding a National Pug Day celebration tonight at 7.

Mary J. Blige comes to FedExForum Sunday at 7.

The people I normally meet up with at Bardog on Saturday can’t make it today, so I’m going to lead off at Blind Bear at 11. I may have to be kind of subdued in my hatred of the Vols there because the owner is a Tennessee fan. Back tomorrow with more news.

Good news for those of you who hit the Starbucks at Main and Monroe for your morning caffeine: You’ll soon be able to earn Delta frequent flyer miles for your purchase.

Birdies, the virtual golf bar opening in South Main around late November or early December, is on Instagram as @birdies901.

Yesterday I was hanging out with a few people at Bardog when Allie Cat the bartender came up with a great idea: What if bars had T-shirt printing machines? We could make our clever drunk utterances wearable in just minutes.

One thought that came to my mind while I was sitting at the bar yesterday: How come no restaurants do breakfast quesadillas? Seems like it’d be easy to do bacon or sausage or ham in a quesadilla. Plus, restaurants need more breakfast/brunch items that don’t have eggs in them. Not everybody likes eggs.

The Grizzlies have announced plans for their regular-season home opener next Wednesday at 6:30 vs. the New York Knicks.

• All fans get a “Big Memphis” T-shirt
• Garry Goin and the Grizzlies house band will perform pre-game on the Slim & Husky’s stage
• Plaza party begins at 5
• Kirk Whalum sings the national anthem
• Rapper NLE Choppa will perform during player introductions
• Project Pat and Big Boogie at halftime

Yesterday a friend of mine who works in a liquor store tagged me in a photo. Ole Smoky has a new flavor of moonshine!

Photo credit: Allison. Pools are fun.

White chocolate strawberry moonshine!!! I immediately tagged Jeannette and Michael from Blind Bear in a comment and said “we need this at the Bear.” Jeannette then tagged her liquor rep in a comment. So, hopefully it’ll be in soon. I think Friday is their liquor delivery day, so maybe as soon as today.

Felony charges are being dismissed against Eastern Michigan basketball player and former Memphis Tiger Emoni Bates. Last month Bates was pulled over in a borrowed car and police found a gun.

Yesterday I was at Local on Main and a guy told the bartender, “Make me a drink that reps the Tennessee Vols.” I thought, equal parts raw sewage and Malort, with a splash of Sunny Delight for color?

Speaking of Local, I hear that chicken & dumplings is going to be the $10 lunch special with two sides today.

Former Memphis Tiger Lester Quinones has been waived by Golden State.

Yesterday some of us were discussing the possibility that Memphis in May might not ever return to Downtown again, making the fairgrounds its permanent home. I tried to come up with an analogy for what that would be like. I thought of two:

• The two albums the surviving members of The Doors released after Jim Morrison died
• That last season of Bonanza when the producers decided to carry on after Dan Blocker (Hoss) died

Trouble is, no one under 50 is going to understand those. Anyone got a more relevant analogy?

A new wine bar called Three Cups of Wine will open in The Edge at 644 Madison. The bar is seeking a grant for improvements, the DM reports.

Former Downtown Neighborhood Association and “Almost Elton John” Jerred Price plans to run for one of the three City Council Super District 8 seats.

There’s a tribute to Bob Dylan tonight at 7 at Wiseacre Downtown.

Support Memphis Black-owned businesses at Shop Black Fest this Saturday at the corner of Riverside Drive and Bass Pro Drive.

Lady Gaga’s costume designer will dress Ballet Memphis as the crew performs “Dracula” at the Orpheum October 28-30.

From WREG: Downtown businesses around Main and Monroe are frustrated with costly water main breaks. Olymbec Plaza (formerly Brinkley Plaza), home to 25 businesses and an immigration court, has been shut down for 2 weeks.

That’s it. Back tomorrow.

Interesting map: Last call in every state. At 3 AM we Tennesseans have it later than most, although a couple of states, Nevada and Louisiana, have no last call at all. Illinois, Georgia, and New Jersey don’t either but last call seems to be dictated at the county level in those states.

If you’re looking for a place to watch Thursday Night Football and you’re starting to realize you can’t do that just anywhere now that TNF is exclusively on Amazon Prime, I have news for you. Blind Bear was showing TNF last Thursday via their smart TV’s Prime Video app. So that’s an option for you.

Hmmm… not only is that exclusive deal between Amazon and the NFL going to sell a lot of Prime memberships… it’s also going to sell a lot of smart TVs.

The University of Memphis has extended Penny Hardaway’s contract. He’ll be the men’s head basketball coach through at least the 2027-2028 season.

Tennessee Vols football player Jaylen McCollough was arrested for aggravated assault this week. McCollough leads the Vols in snaps played on defense. The Vols host Bama this weekend.

Inkwell, the new cocktail bar out in The Edge, has started doing happy hour every Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 7. $10 well drinks, $10 wine (on Thursdays), and half off grilled cheese. They’ve also started Wine Down Wednesday, with $8 wine pours all day every Wednesday.

Man… you know inflation has gotten bad when a $10 well drink is a “special.”

Elmwood Cemetery is hosting From the Beyond: Ghosts, Spiritualism, and Cemeteries on Sunday, October 30. $20 per person. Beverages and snacks will be provided.

I had the lunch special at Local on Main yesterday:

A large chicken breast, a cornbread pancake, turnip greens, and mac & cheese all for $10. They have a new cook in the kitchen (Miss Helen) and her food is outstanding.

Elijah Craig Kentucky bourbon is having an Old Fashioned Week charity fundraiser tomorrow through October 23. Here’s how it works:

1. Drink an Elijah Craig Old Fashioned
2. Share it on Instagram
3. Tag @elijahcraig and #oldfashionedweek

Every time someone does this between the 14th and 23rd, the distillery will make a donation to the Southern Smoke Foundation, an organization that puts dollars into the pockets of food and beverage workers when those dollars are needed the most.

Downtown company Terminix has been acquired by Rentokil.

Today is National M&M Day.

Wyly Bigger performs at the Memphis Farmers Market this Saturday.

South Main Sounds will host a Sunday Funday with Kelly Hunt and The Country Duo at 5:30 PM Sunday.

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

The Commercial Appeal reports that we are less than 7 months away from Music Fest 2023 and Memphis in May has not secured a contract with Memphis River Parks Partnership to use Tom Lee Park. The issue is the security deposit for damage. Without a contract in place, Memphis in May cannot begin booking bands for the festival. Memphis in May has lost $4 million since 2020, the CA reports, due to the pandemic and moving the 2022 Music and BBQ Fests to the fairgrounds.

Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, is coming to Collierville to play in a game on October 22. Bronny is a 4-star recruit in next year’s college freshman class. Coach Penny has already offered Bronny a scholarship to play for the Memphis Tigers.

Taco Bell announced that the best menu item it has ever offered, the Enchirito, will return on November 17.

Downtown Neighborhood Association and South Main Association will team up to put on National Night Out on Tuesday, October 25. It’ll happen from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in the Malco Powerhouse parking lot. Come meet and thank your local law enforcement officers while enjoying burgers, hot dogs, and beverages.

Alcenia’s is throwing a block party with food and vendors Friday, October 21 from 11 AM to 3 PM.

The annual NBA general manager survey is out with predictions for the upcoming season.

Today is National Gumbo Day. Ben-Yay’s can help you celebrate.

It’s also Pulled Pork Day. Central BBQ would be my recommendation.

Thunderstorms and gusty winds are a threat this afternoon.

That’s it for now. Back tomorrow.

Today is National Kimberly Day, a day to celebrate our Kimberlys, Kimmy Kims, and Kimsters. HOWEVER… mamas, might want to think twice about naming your babies Kimberly, because there is evidence that it stunts their growth. I know two Kimberlys who are only 4-foot-11.

Yesterday several of us were playing Wordle as a group effort at Bardog, and after we solved that puzzle, we tried a game I had never seen before: Factle. You’re given a statistic, and you have to rank the top 5 for that statistic in order out of a list of 23. Yesterday’s statistic was “The 5 countries with the highest marriage rates.”

The Grizzlies are on the road tonight, playing the Orlando Magic in a preseason game. It’ll be on NBAtv tonight at 6. Good, a night when there’s no football to compete with on the bar TVs.

I’ve received word that Blind Bear trivia will have a special guest host tonight: The one and only CHARLES, who hosted trivia there years ago, and who hosted trivia at the Saucer and the Goose before that. The fun kicks off at 7:30.

The best show I’ve ever seen at the Orpheum is coming back – Blue Man Group, November 1 and 2. Their show is a celebration of percussion and color.

Feast & Graze put out an announcement yesterday: Due to supply issues the packaging of their products has temporarily changed. They do want everybody to know that the quality of the products inside the packaging has not changed at all – it is still as high as ever. While they are working through this, they invite customers to bring their own boards for $10 off.

The Brass Door will be closed today, Wednesday, and Thursday, giving their staff a fall break to recharge.

Every woman who is brought into the Hospitality Hub’s new Hub Hotel shelter for women is given a throw blanket. The blankets provide warmth and comfort. There’s an opportunity for your organization to donate blankets and get recognized on the Hub’s social media, as Fish and Associates Financial Services did this week. Email info@hospitalityhub.org to talk to them about donating.

Let’s have a look at college football games of interest to Memphians this Saturday:

• 10 Penn State at 5 Michigan, 11:00 AM, FOX
• Auburn at 9 Ole Miss, 11:00 AM, ESPN
• Vanderbilt at 1 Georgia, 2:30 PM, SEC Network
• 3 Alabama at 6 Tennessee, 2:30 PM, CBS
• 8 Oklahoma State at 13 TCU, 2:30 PM, ABC
• 15 NC State at 18 Syracuse, 2:30 PM, ACC Network
• Arkansas at BYU, 2:30 PM, ESPN
• LSU at Florida, 6:00 PM, ESPN
• Arkansas State at Southern Miss, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
• 16 Mississippi State at 22 Kentucky, 6:30 PM, SEC Network
• Memphis at East Carolina, 6:30 PM, ESPNU
• 7 USC at 20 Utah, 7:00 PM, FOX

Real Time Crime cameras helped MPD catch a man who broke into a car at Danny Thomas and Gayoso.

Today is National Sausage Pizza Day. Grab a slice at Aldo’s Pizza Pies.

I wondered if anyone would blast me for pointing out that yesterday was Columbus Day, saying, “IT’S NOT COLUMBUS DAY!!! IT’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY!” Sure enough, someone did.

And that’ll wrap it up. Back tomorrow.

The World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival makes its return to Tiger Lane Saturday, October 22. The event is a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House. In addition to teams competing to see who has the best wings, there will be live music all afternoon, a festival parade, a hot wing eating competition, and a “Roost on the Row” competition which is similar to BBQ Fest’s Best Booth.

I learned of another moonshine mixer yesterday: the “fart stick.” A fart stick is blackberry moonshine in a glass with Simply lemonade. I did not get to try one, so I don’t have a report on its taste.

The Grizzlies had a lot of fun at their open scrimmage yesterday at FedExForum. Having Kenneth Lofton Jr. on the G-League roster is going to spike the sale of Memphis Hustle tickets down in Southaven.

Yesterday during the NFL games, a commercial came on with Santa in it. It’s NOT EVEN THE MiDDLE OF OCTOBER. Jeez.

The makers of Texas Pete hot sauce are being sued. The class-action suit claims false advertising because the sauce is not actually made in Texas, but rather in North Carolina. Again, jeez.

From The Ringer: Is the NBA ready for 7’4″ prospect Victor Wembanyana? He’s said to be a generational talent. I suspect there will be teams in the bottom half of the NBA who tank hard this season to try and get a chance at him in the 2023 NBA draft.

Today is Columbus Day in the U.S. and Thanksgiving Day in Canada.

The Flying Scrub Jays play Music Monday from 6 to 8 tonight at Cordelia’s Market.

That’ll do it for today. Back tomorrow with more.

The lead story in the Daily Memphian is a shocking one: There are people who stay locked up in 201 Poplar for 500 days without a trial (subscribers-only link). Damn. That is just terrible. Even the pandemic is not an acceptable excuse.

There’s also an infographic in the story that explains why this matters even to people who’ve never spent a day in jail in their lives. Housing the 649 people who’ve been in the jail 500+ days has cost the taxpayers more than $32 MILLION.

Imagine if we’d renovated Mud Island Park with that money instead. Or hired the county clerk’s office some additional help to get caught up with license plates.

Kooky Canuck has a new menu item, maple-glazed salmon. Co-owner Lana suggests it over the Log House salad or Cobb salad.

Pretty Woman: The Musical comes to the Orpheum this week.

Next door to the Orpheum at the Halloran Centre, The Mersey Beatles play Wednesday night. They are a Beatles cover band from Liverpool. They spent more than 10 years there as the resident band at the Cavern Club, where the Beatles themselves played from 1961 to 1963.

It’s International Beer and Pizza Day. Aldo’s Pizza Pies would be the logical choice to celebrate.

Yesterday I learned that some Bardog employees call the downstairs, officially known as the Underdog Room, the “Fungeon.”

From Fox 13: Video shows a car doing donuts in an intersection while an MPD officer sat idly nearby in his vehicle, doing nothing about it.

STAX Jazz Ensemble plays Sunset Jazz in Court Square today from 5 to 7. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome and food trucks will be onsite.

Memphis 901 FC hosts New York Red Bull II at AutoZone Park today at 3. This is the final home match of the regular season.

Austin AKA Coyote who works at the Blind Bear asked yesterday, “When am I going to be cool enough to be mentioned in Paul’s blog?” Today, that’s when.

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow or maybe Tuesday with more news.

Only in Memphis will you see a Honda Civic used to haul scrap metal.

The new sign above the corner booth at Bardog has become Memphis’ second-most-ignored sign behind “SPEED LIMIT 55”

The Memphis Tigers got upset by Houston 33-32 last night after the Cougars recovered an onside kick and drove for a touchdown. Memphis falls to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in AAC play.

The DM reports that Havana Mix, the cigar emporium on Peabody Place, is about to undergo a 7500 SF renovation. A stage for live music, a chef-driven menu, and a new humidor will be among the improvements.

John Mulaney: From Scratch Tour comes to FedExForum tonight.

TMZ Sports has video of the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green punching teammate Jordan Poole at practice:

Loflin Graveyard will return to Loflin Yard Saturday, October 29. Spooky specials and no cover. Costume contests pay out cash to the best single, couple, and group.

The South Main Association is presenting a Haunted South Main Tour on Tuesday, October 18. They’ll partner with area business Historical Haunts for this event. Reservations are required and they’re capping attendance at 50.

Wiseacre Downtown will host a beer and Halloween candy pairing on Saturday, October 29. Specifically, it is a Women & Witches in Beer celebration. The first beer brewers were women. There are spots available at 1, 3, and 5 PM.

The DM has a look at Downtown’s upcoming Sip and Serve cleanup series.

Devil Train plays Memphis Clover Club 11 PM to 2 AM tonight.

There’s a chili cook-off for charity in Robert Church Park today beginning at noon.

Two Saturdays ago, I failed to show up at Blind Bear at its opening time of 11 AM and I found out later in the day, people were concerned that I was okay. Which I was. It’s going to happen again today, and Saturdays to come. I want to explain so people don’t worry.

Previously, I had been leading off at Blind Bear at 11, then waiting for my friends Randy and Theresa to text me “We’re at Bardog” around 1 and then I’d tab out and walk over.

However, a friend of ours (who has now been mentioned in this blog for a THIRD time this week! She’s getting famous!) recently got a new job, with her work hours starting at 2 on Saturday and it’s a 40-minute drive from Downtown. So, she’s only available to hang out with us at Bardog from 11 to about 1:20. We agreed to move our Bardog meet time to 11. Hence, I’m no longer leading off at the Bear.

I do plan to be there later today, though. Back tomorrow with more news.