Paul Ryburn's Journal

Congratulations to MIFA Meals on Wheels. The program, which ensures meals get delivered to homebound seniors and the disabled, turns 50 this year. In its lifetime, MoW drivers and volunteers have delivered 26 million meals.

Bottomless buttermilk pancakes are back at IHOP through March 30. You have to order them as part of a breakfast combo, and specialty pancakes (like chocolate chip) are not part of the promotion.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds local PBS and NPR stations, is dissolving after 58 years due to the Trump regime cutting off its funding.

Map: Each state’s fav fast-food chain. HARDEE’S? Really? Do better, Tennessee.

It’s National Take Down Your Christmas Tree Day.

Wishing a very happy birthday to Air Traffic Mike!

Don’t Tell Comedy returns to The Underdog at Bardog Friday-Saturday, January 16-17. 6 PM early show, 7 PM late show.

Key lime pie is back on the dessert menu at Bardog.

Turn on WREG in the 3:00 hour this afternoon to catch South Main Sounds’ Mark Parsell discussing the venue’s Friday night show and other live music happenings around town.

Central BBQ seeks

• a line cook/pit crew member
• a cashier
• a busser

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

On Friday I mentioned I was considering making an investment in myself this winter or spring. I’m ready to say more about that now.

I’m considering buying a Chromebook to replace my current HP Windows laptop.

The current laptop was gifted to me by a blog reader in December 2024. I’m so grateful for it. Without it, this blog would be a shell of itself, composed on a combination of my phone and library computers.

But it’s time for the old HP to ride off into the sunset.

• The trackpad is janky, the mouse pointer jumping from place to place. There’s no way to turn off tap-to-click on the trackpad. These factors reduce my typing from 45-50 WPM to 5-7 WPM.
• There is ZERO battery life. The laptop must be plugged in to turn on. This limits the locations in which I can use it.
• The laptop weighs about 7 pounds, which is heavy to carry around town in my backpack. It makes my back hurt.

Chromebooks typically weigh less than 2 pounds and have batteries that can go 10-14 hours between charges. There are several models on Amazon in the $170 range, which I could afford if I saved up for a while.

Anyone have experience with Chromebooks? Do you think I’d be happy with my purchase? Email me at paul.ryburn@gmail.com or on Facebook Messenger.

On to the news… Let’s start with the hot lunch specials available 11-2 this week at Cordelia’s Market cafe:

• Monday: Mississippi pot roast poutine
• Tuesday: Picadillo with potatoes and rice
• Wednesday: Lasagna with kale Caesar
• Thursday: Chicken Caesar sandwich with fries or chips
• Friday: Catfish with fries and slaw

Ritual: Bistro, Coffee, and Sips is coming to the old Bluff City Coffee location at 505 S. Main.

There are signs that raccoons may be on the first steps to domestication, taking a place alongside dogs and cats as our pets.

You have four opportunities to catch the Grizzlies at the Grindhouse this week:

• Tuesday: vs. San Antonio, 7:00
• Wednesday: vs. Phoenix, 7:00
• Friday: vs. OKC, 7:00. Classic Edition Super Grizz bobblehead giveaway.
• Sunday: vs. Brooklyn, 2:30

All of these games will be on FanDuel Sports and Friday’s game will also be on NBAtv.

Trouble No More, an Allman Brothers tribute band, will play the Flying Saucer 8-11 Saturday.

Houseplant bingo is a thing in Memphis.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Y’all! I hit the JACKPOT at Room in the Inn last night.

It was a last-minute decision. I’d planned to spend last night at the Union Mission. But then I thought, why not at least try to avoid the $6 Mission cover charge and its evening chapel service? So I walked up to RITI headquarters at First Pres on Poplar and threw my name into the lottery for a free night’s lodging at one of the participating partner churches.

My name got called for Emmanuel United Methodist in Germantown. I boarded a bus with 13 others and we hit the road out there. Church volunteers served us a delicious dinner of hamburger steak with onion gravy, roasted potatoes and carrots, green beans, cupcakes, and ice cream.

After dinner I glanced over at the church’s clothes closet and realized I had a need. I’m grateful for the fabric tennis shoes a Mission pastor gave me back in October, but they’ve been a poor fit for my feet. I’d nearly walk out of them on inclines and uneven surfaces. They’d come close to making me fall several times.

So I asked the lady at the clothes closet desk, “Do you have any size 10s, preferably ones that don’t have laces?”

She handed me a brand-new pair of gray Skechers slip-ons, firmly built and as much padding as anything in Nike’s Air Max line. I tried them on. Perfect fit!

After the bus dropped us off this morning, I walked around Downtown for an hour in my new shoes. I was so much more steady and confident on my feet!

THANK YOU Emmanuel UMC and RITI!

WREG stopped by Sabor Caribe last night to get Venezuelans’ reactions to the Trumpster-ordered U.S. military capture of their president.

Blood donors are needed in Memphis, particularly type O.

Today is National Spaghetti Day.

LeBron and the Lakers host the Grizzlies again tonight at 8:30. TV: FanDuel Sports

The Magic of Motown comes to the Cannon Center Saturday evening.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

My bartender at the Flying Saucer gave me some rather surprising news last night. Oregon-based Rogue Ales, one of the first and most successful microbreweries, has closed.  A group of investors acquired the business and mismanaged it. A note-on-the-door situation informed employees they no longer had jobs.

There’s still some Rogue Dead Guy on tap at the Saucer. Get it while you can.

Like ol’ Willie (Nelson, not Herenton), Penny’s Memphis Tigers are on the road again. They play the Rice Owls at 2. TV: ESPN+

The U.S. has captured Venezuela’s president following military strikes on that country, the Trumpster announced.

Congrats to Navy on their 35-17 Liberty Bowl victory over Cincinnati yesterday.

It was good catching up with C.J. and Kyla of Saturday Sunset at Earnestine & Hazel’s last night. Their full 4-piece band will play downstairs there two Fridays this month, the 16th and 30th.

KUYA, the Filipino restaurant going in at Main and Vance, will bring in local DJs. Dancing with Filipina women??? I am SO there!

Action News 5 is looking to hire a news anchor.

First Horizon Bank seeks a marketing/creative intern.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Here’s a tip I picked up from a bartender at Earnestine & Hazel’s: Order Deep Eddy lemon vodka mixed with Tito’s handmade vodka. It’s a lemon drop, but ALL vodka, rather than just part.

How bout that college football action yesterday! I was NOT expecting Indiana to blow out Bama 38-3. I thought the Hoosiers would win a close 60-minute battle. As my friend Randy says, this’ll shut up all the doubters. IU’s run is clearly not a fluke.

Nor was I expecting Ole Miss to git-r-done vs. Georgia. Lots of “Kiffin, who needs him?” signs.

So we have Oregon vs. Indiana and Miami vs. Ole Miss in the semis. I’ll take Indiana and Miami to get to the championship game, with the ‘Canes pulling a huge upset.

Today is Swiss Cheese Day. Celebrate with a Huey burger topped with Swiss. So good!

The L.A. Lakers host the Grizzlies tonight at 9:30. TV: FanDuel Sports

The Liberty Bowl, 22 Navy vs. Cincinnati, is today at 3:30. TV: ESPN

Considering making an investment in myself. I need to do some product research over the weekend and will have more to say about it after that.

Gonna watch the Liberty Bowl at the Saucer. After that I’ll probably stay out all night. There are only 4 hours (E&H close to Chess Club open) when I’ll have to wander around outside in the cold.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Happy New Year and happy National Bloody Mary Day! It’s time for the professionals to get out and about. Amateur Night is over! Also, we made it through the darkest and historically the second coldest month of the year.

The Miami Hurricanes punched their ticket to the CFP semifinals last night with a 24-14 upset of Ohio State.

WREG has a look at today’s SkiFreeze event.

Where the Hogmanay parties at??? Someone work on this for 2027 please!

U.S. quarters, dimes, and nickels minted in 2026 will have a special design commemorating our nation’s 250th birthday.

Back tomorrow with a Frupdate.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

It’s the night when people who can’t handle their alcohol come out to play. A night of expectations that fail to get met. Of projectile vomiting. Of explosive diarrhea. Of breakups. Of DUI arrests. Of overinflated cover and parking and rideshare charges. Of crying. Of losing your wallet or your keys or your phone. Of being crowded into a bar like sardines. Of cheap, shitty champagne.

Have fun with that. For some, NYE is the real Friday the 13th.

How fast do champagne corks fly?

Slider Inn will have brunch all day on New Year’s with half-price Jameson slushies.

As I mentioned earlier, Bardog will do brunch on New Year’s. Opening time, according to Bardog’s parent company’s weekly email, will be 10 AM.

Music City Bowl: Illinois 30, Tennessee 28. Illini coach Bret Bielema put on a master class in clock management in the final minutes.

Waterski, barefoot, wakeboard, or wakesurf the mighty Mississippi on New Year’s Day – SkiFreeze

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Today is Bacon Day.

Memphis Chess Club has announced it will be open regular hours (7 AM-9 PM) New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. That means it’s MCC to start NYD for me! The chess club has released its specialty cocktail list for January:

Chicago: A brandy-based sipper with a little kick.

Champagne Cocktail: Bubbly and bright with a side of sparkle.

Americano (Low-Proof): Light, bittersweet and the precursor to the Negroni.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

The Brass Door, Downtown’s Irish pub, will have a “midnight in Dublin” New Year’s celebration. Dublin is 6 hours ahead of Memphis, so the big moment will occur at 6 PM our time. Now that’s a New Year’s party concept I can get behind… you can get out and party and get home before Amateur Night even begins.

BUT THE DOOR ISN’T THE ONLY BAR CELEBRATING DUBLIN THIS WEEK: “The Dubliner” will be this week’s burger of the week at Momma’s. Angus beef, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, onion, Guinness mayo.

GRIZZLIES ON NATIONAL TV ALERT: Tuesday’s 7:00 home game vs. the Philadelphia 76ers will be broadcast on NBC/Peacock. Free Superhero Ja Morant & Jaren Jackson Jr. Lunchbox to the first 3000 fans through the gate.

Penny’s Tigers are on national TV this week too: Their 3 PM home game hosting North Texas this Wednesday will be on ESPN2.

Memphis Filling Station is having a Music City Bowl watch party Tuesday 4:30-7:30. Go Fighting Illini! Make “NEXXXXT YEEEEARRRR” start for the Tennessee Vols a couple of days early!

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

It seems like I can’t go anywhere these days without my trolls making new friends.

Bardog will do brunch the morning of January 1st. That means an opening time of 11:00 rather than the typical weekday time of 7:30, giving staff extra time to recover from the “Bardog Royale” New Year’s Eve party the night before.

The Grizzlies are in our nation’s capital for a 5 PM game today with the Wizards. TV: FanDuel Sports

Flying cars exist now.

What makes an organization a cult?

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com