Paul Ryburn's Journal

I know it’s been a week since the Liberty Bowl parade, but I forgot to report something I observed as I walked onto Beale about 35 minutes before the parade start. The street was crowded, mostly with Kansas State fans, and people were walking single file east and west as they attempted to get to their desired watch spot on Beale. Well, most people were walking single file; one was not. I recognized him as one of Downtown’s petty criminals and scammers. He was moving erratically through the crowd, shifting from one direction to the other, cutting through lines of people as though in a hurry. I have little doubt he was looking for an opportunity to pick a pocket or grab a purse. I just wanted to warn everyone, at future parades, keep your hand on your valuables as you navigate your way down Beale.

Loflin Yard will host a free Tennessee Titans watch party this Saturday at 7:15 PM.

Bluff City Backsliders play Loflin Yard at 8 Friday evening. They’re described as “high-powered, hip-shaking, barrelhouse hoodoo music that’s as profane as it is glorious.” Not exactly sure what all that means, but I’ve seen this band before and they’re good.

Random thing I learned over the holiday break… you can now buy wet wipes shaped in the form of a mitten. The product’s name? Shittens.

Couple of cool events happening at the Halloran Centre this month. History fans are gonna love this one… Give ’em Hell, Harry! is an accurate and often whimsical look at the life of Harry Truman, from his beginnings as an apprentice in the political world through his two terms as president. Since 2017, Truman has been portrayed by Clifton Truman Daniel, Harry Truman’s oldest grandson. That performance will happen on Saturday, January 18.

On Friday, January 31, conductor Robert Moody and the Memphis Symhpony Orchesta will perform The Complete History of Music, Abridged. The performance will explore how music evolved from 9th century single monastic tunes to 21 century musical styles. Everything from Gregorian chants to Frank Zappa will be on the menu.

All Elite Wrestling, the relatively new wrestling promotion with a national TV deal, will broadcast its weekly Dynamite TV show live from the Landers Center at Southaven at 7 PM Wednesday. Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that AEW will go out of its way to pay tribute to legends of Memphis wrestling on the show, far more than any other national promotion ever did. Among those honored will be “Macho Man” Randy Savage and his father Angelo Poffo, Lance Russell, “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert, “Dangerous” Doug Gilbert and their father Tommy Gilbert, Brian Christopher, Austin Idol, Dave Brown, The Rock & Roll Express, Randy Hales, Brandon Baxter, and the “Boogie Woogie Man” himself, Jimbo from Mempho, “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Why will Jerry “The King” Lawler not be among those honored? He works for AEW’s competition, WWE, as a color commentator so AEW can’t use his likeness.

Matches for the AEW show in Southaven are expected to include

• Riho defends the AEW women’s title against Kris Statlander
• Cody Rhodes and Dustin Rhodes vs. the Lucha Brothers
• Jon Moxley (formerly Dean Ambrose in WWE) will give his answer to the Inner Circle’s invitation

The holidays are over! Back to work. After work I am going to continue on my study of data science. If you don’t see me out some days this week, don’t worry, I’m probably at home studying. Back tomorrow with more news.

We tried an experiment at Bardog yesterday. We all played our birthdays on the jukebox, in the form of CD number (day) / track (month). Mine was “When the Lillies Die” by IO Echo. Never heard that song before.

In other Bardog news, regulars know how the chorizo sliders and the turkey melt have been on the special board every day for the past several months, effectively attaining menu status without being on the menu. It now looks like the fried chicken sliders, previously a Friday staple, have attained that status as well.

The CA reports that Vogue has named Bishop, the new Ticer/Hudman French restaurant in Central Station Hotel, to its list of most anticipated restaurants for 2020.

French dressing on pizza is a thing. Makes more sense than pineapple at least.

I wholeheartedly agree with what Holly tweeted yesterday:

Please your restaurant/bar address and hours in every bio on social media, and on the homepage on your website. Why is this so hard?

— Holly ❤️ I Love Memphis (@ilovememphis) January 4, 2020

Also, if your restaurant hours change, make sure you update them on every social media platform.

Cigar bar Havana Mix will have a game night Thursday evening, January 30. Dominoes, spades, Jenga, and other popular games, as well as food and drink specials.

Primas Bakery + Boutique on South Main will host a Charcuterie and Chocolate event on Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14 from 5 to 6:30 PM. Tickets include a charcuterie plate for two, chocolate pastries to share, and complimentary wine for those 21 and up.

Loflin Yard will host a Saints watch party today at noon. New Orleans cuisine and drinks will be served and there will be a DJ during commercials. Vikings vs. Saints on the big screens. Stick around after the game for Cerrito Bingo at 4 and have 10 chances to win prizes, swag, and food.

That’s it for this post. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to cut back my going-out hours and start seriously studying data science on the new laptop. If you don’t see me out, it’s for a good reason. As for now, I’m headed to D-RANKS with B-RAD at the Silly Goose. Back tomorrow with more news.

 

Pabst Brewing Co. has announced that PBR Hard Coffee will soon be available all throughout the lower 48. The new beverage at 5% ABV was sold in select test markets last year, and proved popular enough to be mass-produced. People who have tasted PBR Hard Coffee compare it to Bailey’s, Yoo-Hoo, and Starbucks Frappucinos. Ask your favorite retailer who carries PBR to add this new product to their inventory. I wonder which Downtown bars will carry this, at least on a trial basis? Flying Saucer would be the most obvious place, but given that it took 10 years of requests to get regular PBR in there, I won’t hold my breath.

As your #1 source of news and information about The Edge District, it is my pleasure to link you to this article from the CA offering a first look at Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe at 668 Union (there’s also an entrance on Marshall). The Edge giveth and The Edge taketh away. Goodbye, Trolley Stop Market Farm Burgers; hello, Tam’s Peach Cobbler Nachos. Visit Tam’s Soul Food Superstore in the same location for your favorite retro candy.

Those of you who go out regularly Downtown, please read the following article and in particular take a good look at the mug shot: Rizzo’s damaged by unruly guest. Jonathan L. Miller came in the restaurant and after sitting at the bar for a little while, was asked to leave and vandalized the place on the way out. As a result, Chef Michael Patrick had to close the restaurant for lunch service Friday, although Rizzo’s got open for dinner. Miller was kicked out of the Blind Bear and the Silly Goose earlier in the week. The bartender on duty at the Bear said the same thing Michael Patrick told the CA – the bartender immediately sensed something was wrong. The bartender on duty at the Goose saw him both Monday and Wednesday and commented, “We knew he was crazy.” Be on the lookout for this guy and if he comes in a bar or restaurant, let management know.

Comedian Bill Burr has two shows at the Orpheum tomorrow night, at 7:00 and 9:30. Tickets are $39.50-$49.50.

Bleacher Report has results from WWE Smackdown broadcast live from FedExForum last night. Former World champion Sheamus made his return. Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan defeated King Corbin and Dolph Ziggler in the main event, and following the pinfall, Reigns’ cousins The Usos returned and superkicked Corbin and Ziggler.

Stephen Michael plays an acoustic show tonight at the Brass Door at 7. $5 cover.

Stephen Stryjewski of New Orleans will join chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman for the first guest chef dinner at Bishop, the new French restaurant in Central Station Hotel, on Monday, January 6. This four-course dinner is $75 with an optional wine pairing for $50.

That’s it for today. As expected, not a whole lot of news for the first weekend of the year. Back tomorrow with more.

 

The Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team hosts the Georgia Bulldogs at FedExForum at noon Saturday. This is a chance to get a win over an SEC opponent and over a projected top-3 NBA 2020 draft pick in Anthony Edwards. There’s incentive to get there early – first 7500 in the gate get a Memphis Tigers stone car coaster from CoasterStone. For those wanting to watch from home, the game will be broadcast on CBS.

There will be a celebration of life for Ray Werfelmann, known to many as Uncle Ray, Wednesday, January 8 at Local at 6 PM. This is not a somber memorial service; this is a chance to laugh and have a good time swapping Ray stories. All who knew Uncle Ray are welcome to attend. The venue is quite appropriate; the bar at the Downtown Local was one of Ray’s favorite places to be. Ray passed away in early December after an October stroke left him paralyzed from the neck down.

I saw a meme a couple of times on Facebook yesterday that actually is a quite valid piece of advice: When signing legal documents, checks, or anything official that requires being signed and dated, don’t use the two-year abbreviation for the date this year. For example, when I wrote my rent check this morning I dated it 1/3/2020 rather than 1/3/20. Why is this a good practice? Because if you use “20” as the year, someone could come along behind you and add two more digits, turning your intended date of 1/3/20 to 1/3/2017, for example.

As your number-one source of news and information about The Edge District, it is my duty to link you to this Memphis Flyer story about Trolley Stop Market, whose owner Jill Forrester has announced the restaurant will close January 10, with hours of 10:30 AM-3:00 PM here on out. From The Daily Memphian: Trolley stop was at the vanguard of a new era in Mermphis. Very true. It was one of the first restaurants to get patrons in the mindset of consuming locally sourced meats and produce. It was also one of the cornerstone businesses that led to the rise of The Edge as a residential, walkable neighborhood. Forrester and her husband also own Whitton Farms in Arkansas, and operating both businesses simultaneously had become too much to handle.

In other news from The Edge, Venezuelan restaurant Sabor Caribe announced they will be closed this weekend, reopening on Tuesday, January 7.

One of my South Main friends reports that the Little Italy signage is back up in the window in the former Scoops location, across the street from Cheesecake Corner on G.E. Patterson. So hopefully that’s a go again after a couple of false starts.

WWE Friday Night Smackdown broadcasts live from FedExForum tonight at 7 PM on Fox. The Cerrito Live podcast recently previewed the event, including an interview with former WWE World Heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan. Bryan is expected to get a shot against current WWE Universal champion The Fiend.

There are two other non-basketball FedExForum events coming up this month:

• Grizz Bash will happen Thursday, January 9. This is a Grizzlies themed game night where you can reserve your spot to play Jaren Jackson Jr. in ping-pong or take on Ja Morant in a game of putt-putt while enjoying food and cocktails. Tickets start at $75. Proceeds will benefit St. Jude.
• Tool will appear live in concert Friday, January 31.

It’s Firepit Friday at River Garden this afternoon starting at 4:30. Free S’mores with all the fixings.

The “Letters to Santa” mailbox will stay up at the corner of Main and Peabody Place through early January for kids who want to send Santa a thank-you letter.

John Paul Keith will play the downstairs lounge of 3rd and Court diner Saturday, January 4.

A looming 100% tariff on European wines could drastically raise their prices here in America, or knock them out of stores/restaurants altogether. Thanks Trump! Prosecco will be affected? Oh my. I’m going to have some very unhappy BBQ teammates if this tariff goes into effect.

Pizza happy hour, when $11-16 pizzas are discounted to $10, and the fact that I had some money on a gift card left over from my birthday, led me to try another of the Silly Goose’s recent additions to the pizza menu yesterday.

Introducing the Greece Lightnin’: Shrimp, basil pesto, feta, mozzarella, Greek olives, red onion, tomato. They were generous with the shrimp and the combination of the Greek ingredients gave this one a taste quite different than any other pizza on the menu. This is now my second favorite behind the Louisiana Saturday Night Cajun pizza, and will be my go-to when I don’t want to eat something spicy.

Time to head to work. Back tomorrow with more news.

 

The Metal Museum will offer a Day of Tasters for those who want a hands-on look at the different ways to work with metal on Saturday, January 11 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. There will be four 90-minute classes, including

• Blacksmithing: You’ll use a coal forge, hammer and anvil to make a taper or hook.
• MIG Welding: You’ll complete a small project in the workshop.
• Casting: You’ll cast a personalized name plate to put on a keychain or magnet.
• Fold forming: You’ll use this process to form a dish out of copper.

Sessions are $50 each. Register here

Shamichael Hallman had a piece in The Daily Memphian yesterday: Reimagining the Cossitt Library. Work on the library starts today and should be complete by September. In the meantime the library has a pop-up location at the Puck Food Hall at 409 S. Main.

This is sad news: A woman was run over by a car in the parking garage above the Flying Saucer on New Year’s. Friends tell me that as of yesterday, she was on life support. (Edit: Updated story)

Our days of pigging out at the Pizza Hut buffet are coming to an end. The restaurant chain is changing the focus of its business to carryout and mobile orders. At least we still have the buffet at Garibaldi’s.

Speaking of pizza: The Silly Goose released the latest version of its pizza menu, adding a few new ones. (Click the image to view in a larger size)

I decided to try the Louisiana Saturday Night, an experiment from several weeks ago then known as the “Coon Ass.” It comes with confit chicken, Andouille, tasso ham, a Creole cream sauce, peppers, onions, mushrooms, mozzarella and parmesan.

This is absolutely my new favorite pizza at the Goose. It’s a tiny bit spicy, and the medley of flavors all mesh together so well. The pizzas are on happy hour special price of $10 2-5 PM Monday-Tuesday and 4-6 PM Wednesday-Friday.

Yesterday I went to the Blind Bear and got my blackeyed peas for good luck in 2020.

After lunch, Perjorie T. Roll got blessed by Pope John Paul II.

I was told the pope travels all over America and gets his photo taken by lots of people.

Time to get back to work. Back tomorrow with more news.

Blogging on the road today, having brought the new laptop to the Monroe Avenue Branch Office. I’m not on the part of Monroe that runs through The Edge District, but for those who are, as your #1 source of news and information about that neighborhood, I have a timely tip for you today. Trolley Stop Market on Madison will serve their annual Hoppin’ John meal from 10:30 AM to 3 PM today. In case I have any vegetarians reading this post, they will have options available for you as well. Go get you a big ol’ bowl of good luck.

For those who live in the Downtown core, your spot for blackeyed peas, greens, and cornbread is the Blind Bear, where they will have a Roaring Twenties brunch from 11 AM to 6 PM. I plan on being there after I take the laptop home.

More on the beer pricing for special events at the King’s Palace Cafe Tap Room (scroll down and read yesterday’s post for background): After paying $11 for a 32 ounce PBR at the Tap Room at the Liberty Bowl parade, I started a thread on Facebook. One person said he paid $5.50 for a Big Ass Miller Lite. Another person said he paid $6.95 for the same. A third friend chimed in and said that the day College GameDay was here, they charged him $14 for a Big Ass PBR. It sounds like they have no set price on these domestic draft beers and are charging whatever they feel they can get away with. Therefore, at the current time it is my recommendation that you AVOID the King’s Palace Cafe Tap Room on special event days.I will repeat this recommendation before the St. Patrick’s Day parade. If River City Management who runs the Tap Room has a problem with that, I suggest that they print drink menus with the prices clearly indicated and place them on the bar during special events. Be transparent!

Guy sitting next to me at the bar at the Monroe Avenue Branch Office estimates there were about 8 prostitutes were in here last night. They need to put the “NO HOOKERS” sign back up.

Regina’s Cajun Kitchen at 60 N. Main will host a Couples Game Night on Valentine’s Day.

All right folks, the Wi-Fi connection in here sucks, so I’m going to push the remaining news until tomorrow, hit Publish, and say a prayer that this post actually goes through. Back tomorrow with pizza and Perjorie pics and more news.

I will never again make a purchase at the King’s Palace Tap Room or recommend people go there during parades or other events. Yesterday I went down there, the place already jammed with Kansas State fans about 35 minutes prior to the parade. I knew I would be overpaying for a beer: Last year the King’s Palace Tap Room jacked their prices for a 32 oz. Big Ass PBR from the $5-6 range to $8.75 for the Liberty Bowl parade. I decided I needed a beer to deal with the crowd though. So I pulled out my ID and ordered one, and the bartender poured it and put it on the bar.

“How much?” I asked.

“Eleven,” she said.

ELEVEN DOLLARS for a fucking PBR! Yes, a big one, but still. It wasn’t the bartender who set the price, I figured, so I tipped her two. I was out thirteen dollars before the first float ever rolled down Beale.

Apparently they set the beer prices at special events to whatever they think the tourists will pay. What really shocked me, is that the beer stand outside The Pig on Beale, RUN BY THE SAME FUCKING COMPANY, had a sign that said “Big Ass PBR $6.”

So there’s the moral of the story: At Beale Street events, buy from beer stands who have prices clearly posted. I may still stand outside the Tap Room for future parades – it was good to see our BBQ team’s father figure and G-Rock and Dennis and Mary Pat there yesterday – but I will buy my beer elsewhere.

Good luck to both teams in the Liberty Bowl today. For those watching at home, the listed start time and channel is 2:45 on ESPN.

One of the Navy players is from West Tennessee and will get to play in front of about 50 of his family members.

The Daily Memphian has a photo gallery of the parade.

Sad news today: B.J. Tamayo, owner of North Main soul food cafe Alcenia’s, reports that her mother, Alcenia Clark-Chester, passed away at the age of 98.

The Blues Foundation has announced that it will broadcast the 41st annual Blues Awards on several outlets Thursday, January 7, at 8 AM. The broadcast outlet I would recommend is Downtown’s own Americana/roots TV station, Ditty TV.

In other Blues Foundation news, they will host the January South Main Association member meeting on Tuesday, January 14. If you’ve never toured the Blues Foundation headquarters and Hall of Fame at 421 S. Main, this is your chance. Social at 6:30, program at 6:30, with Barbara Newman, the Foundation’s president and CEO, speaking. Free for SMA members, $10 for non-members.

The Silly Goose is adding a new pizza, the Low & Slow, to their menu. As the name implies, it’s a BBQ pizza. In Memphis, you pretty much have to have a BBQ pizza if you have a pizza menu.

Sage will open New Year’s Day for a special brunch noon to 5 PM. Chef Eli has put together a brand new menu for this event, including croissant French toast. There will be mimosa and drink specials along with a “dessert action station,” whatever that is.

3rd and Court Diner has some New Year’s Eve events going on tonight. If you want to get a good meal in you – probably a good idea if you plan on celebrating the new year with alcohol – they will have a buffet in the diner from 6 to 10 PM. Downstairs in the lounge, John Williams & the A440 Band will supply the live tunes, starting at 9 PM.

Fun times at the Blind Bear last night. We had a woman act all batshit crazy and get asked to leave. Later a friend of ours came in and we told him what happened. He attempted a guess at the woman’s identity, and the guess was incorrect but it made me laugh. My guess certainly would have been the same.

My plan was to be at the Blind Bear to ring in the Roaring Twenties at the stroke of midnight tonight – and I still make it, but I’m not committed to it due to a piece of unexpected news I received yesterday: The office is closed today, so I don’t have to work. So my initial plan was to not go out until 1 PM, the time I would normally get off work, to rest up for tonight. But since I’ve been reading this new book, Stop Trying So F*king Hard, I thought to myself, being able to go out at 9 AM is a rare treat, and I am lucky enough to have a great neighborhood bar around the corner that is open at that hour. So, in accordance with what the book teaches, I asked myself, if I’m only able to do one of the following today, which would make me happier: being out at 9 AM, or being out at midnight on New Year’s, when society tells me I “should” be out? At 9 AM I get to see friendly faces and listen to tunes on Bardog’s jukebox (wonder if Rico has removed 74/01 yet). At midnight there’s people who can’t handle their alcohol screaming “WOOOOOOO!” and playing the “gunshots or fireworks” guessing game. Don’t worry, Blind Bear folks, you will see me tonight – but when I’ve decided I’m done for the night, I will leave, whether it’s 2019 or 2020 when I do.

Time to get dressed up for New Year’s Eve. For me, that means putting on a T-shirt that doesn’t have a bar logo or a beer company logo on it. I may take tomorrow off. Back sometime in the next 48 hours with more news.

The Liberty Bowl parade happens on Beale Street today from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. Kansas State and Navy fans, as well as locals, will line the streets. I’m going to go down there just to check out the crowd. I know from a former national Fireball rep who traveled there that K-State is a big-time party school. Navy is not so much a party school, but I would not be surprised if a number of active Navy members and veterans turn out to support. Getting to see the Navy marching band do their thing live should be a real treat.

Some of the clubs on Beale have things going on to draw in the K-State and Navy crowds… Rodd Bland will play Club 152 at noon. For out-of-towners not familiar, he is the son of the legendary Bobby “Blue” Bland and he inherited his late father’s musical gifts. Jerry Lee Lewis’ nightclub will open up its balcony for those who want to watch the parade from up high.

For those who liked my “where do the locals go?” post on Saturday, here’s my take on where the locals go on Beale Street:

• King’s Palace Cafe Tap Room: 20 beers on tap, dive bar feel, jukebox, TVs. This place draws a good mix of locals and tourists. This is where I will likely be for the parade.
• Absinthe Room: Pool hall above King’s Palace Cafe; however, I am not sure it will open for the parade. Google says its next regularly scheduled opening is Tuesday 6 PM.
• Wet Willie’s: Daiquiri bar. Get a Call-a-Cab, a punch-flavored daiquiri made with 190 PGA… unless you’re driving, then absolutely do not get one.
• Silky O’ Sullivan’s: Big open courtyard with goats. No I am not kidding.
• If you want to eat while on Beale: The wings or pasta dishes at King’s Palace Cafe; the ribs, steaks, tamales, and crab au gratin at Blues City Cafe; the Double-Double at Dyer’s Burgers; Insomnia Cookies
• I repeat my recommendation Saturday that A. Schwab is a neat place to shop. Lots of interesting trinkets you won’t find anywhere else in Memphis.
• I’ll throw in one off-Beale recommendation: Monday nights Rizzo’s, five blocks south on Main Street, has an excellent $9 burger and beer special.

The Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team has its first conference game of the season tonight, hosting Tulane at 8 PM at FedExForum. CBS Sports Network will broadcast the game.

@FrasierSein, a good local account to follow on Twitter, posted some new items on the menu at FedExForum:

New menu items at FedEx Forum, Memphis pic.twitter.com/vi6Chlszq4

— Frasier Seinfeld (@FrasierSein) December 29, 2019

I’m reading a new book. Yesterday Tawanda Pirtle (of Jack Pirtle’s Fried Chicken) recommended a book called Stop Trying So F*king Hard: Live Authentically, Design a Life You Love, and Be Happy (Finally) by Honoree Corder. It discusses how most people don’t project their true self out into the world; they project “the representative,” the person they fill will make the best impression on their peers, their co-workers, their parents, or whoever. They choose the career they think the should choose, they drive the car they think they should drive, they have the job they think they should have; and as a result they are unhappy. Corder has steps you can take to start living your true, authentic life and stop being a slave to the impressions you make. This book is 99 cents on Kindle and is well worth that small investment. It’s an easy read (I’m already on chapter four) and it’s fairly short at 176 pages.

That’s it for today. I return to work today and I notice how good I feel that my return does not involve driving or sitting in a cubicle. Back tomorrow with more news.

The Memphis Tigers football team may not have won the Cotton Bowl yesterday, but I could not be prouder of them. Let’s look at all they accomplished: First 11th win in a season, first 12th win in a season, first time to have home field advantage in the AAC championship game, first trip to a New Year’s Six bowl. Compare that to 11-12 years ago, when the basketball Tigers were competing for championships and the football program was an afterthought that might get lucky and go 5-7.

Next year the Fiesta and Peach Bowls will be the New Year’s Six bowls without conference tie-ins. Hopefully the Tigers will hoist a trophy in Glendale or Atlanta to further improve their reputation as a football powerhouse.

A lot of people want to do something New Year’s Eve, but want to avoid Amateur Night full of drunk people, high cover charges, and big crowds. Well, here’s something different: The Cossitt Library will host an NYE party in its pop-up location at the Puck Food Hall, 409 S. Main, from 8 PM to 12 AM. There will be a DJ, sparkling water and snacks, board games, and water pong (beer pong’s sober cousin). They’ll be signing people up for library cards and giving away library swag. If you come to the party from outside of Downtown, they recommend you use Peabody/Vance as your access route.

If it were any other year, I would consider going to the Cossitt party, and the lack of booze wouldn’t bother me at all. But when the clock strikes midnight, the Roaring Twenties resume for the first time in 90 years, and I can’t imagine being anywhere but the Blind Bear Speakeasy for their New Year’s Eve celebration. They’re family.

As for other New Year’s Eve events, I’m not going to build a comprehensive list, but I’ll post events as I hear about them. Loflin Yard will have their NYE party beginning at 9:30, with DJ Kaz and drink specials.

Pontotoc Lounge will celebrate NYE with a 3-course dinner and champagne toast at midnight. Menu:

The Majestic Grille will have its standard NYE celebration with the regular menu available along with some specials from Chef Patrick Reilly. I’ve been to this one before and it is a great time.

Random thing I learned yesterday: The Old Fashioned is actually two different drinks. There’s the pre-Prohibition version and the post-Prohibition one.

Soul band Maze featuring Frankie Beverly plays the Orpheum tonight at 7:30. Tickets start at $82.

Hardwood Classic Night Retro Fanny Pack to the first 5000 fans in attendance for the first 5000 fans in attendance for the Grizzlies game against Charlotte tonight at 7 PM. I wonder if Bloom is getting the night shift bartender at Bardog to come in early so she can go score a fanny pack?

I ended up watching the Cotton Bowl at Silly Goose yesterday, after seeing a post from B-RAD that he was working and had opened at 10. My friend Tripp came in and asked, “Where’s The Nose?”

“The Nose?” I replied.

“You know, The Nose,” said Tripp. After about 10 seconds I realized who he was talking about.

She’d been standing on the bar watching the Cotton Bowl with me, but I forget to get her back out of my pocket after using the restroom.

Sam Goff gets it. You don’t have to be pro-choice, anti-gun, pro-big government, pro-welfare, etc. to understand that Donald Trump has abused the office of the presidency.

Time to get out there and enjoy my last day of my 9 days off! Back tomorrow with more news.

Welcome to any Kansas State and Navy fans who stumble upon this blog as they’re in town for the Liberty Bowl. For those staying Downtown, I’ll offer a few pointers before I get on to my regular post.

• Everyone’s going to tell you to go to Gus’s for fried chicken. They are not wrong. It will rock your world.
• Everyone’s going to tell you to go to the Rendezvous for BBQ. Rendezvous is an experience, to be sure, but if you only have one BBQ meal Downtown, make it Central BBQ (on Butler behind the National Civil Rights Museum). Those of you who have wheels, The Bar-B-Q Shop on Madison in Midtown is an excellent option too.
• Speaking of the Civil Rights Museum, that’s a must-see as well.
• The best nightclub in the world is Paula & Raiford’s Disco on Second between Madison and Monroe. It’s open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 PM to 3 AM.
• A must-visit hole-in-the-wall bar is Earnestine & Hazel’s at Main and G.E. Patterson. Order a Soul Burger and play classic tunes on the jukebox.
• A. Schwab on Beale is a neat place to shop. It is a dry goods store that has been open since 1876.
• People always ask where the locals go to hang out. My favorites: Bardog (friendly neighborhood bar that has been open 11 years but feels like it has been there forever); Blind Bear (speakeasy which is a great place to drink and watch sports); and Silly Goose (craft cocktails and wood-fired pizzas). All three of the bars I just mentioned have the greatest beverage in the world, Pabst Blue Ribbon, on tap or in cans.
• People always ask where the locals go to eat that’s not BBQ. My favorites: Majestic Grille and Rizzo’s by Michael Patrick. Both offer upscale food in a great environment, and neither is pretentious in any way (I wore shorts when I ate at Rizzo’s Thursday).
• Downtown is the safest part of Memphis, but be smart. Don’t take shortcuts down alleys. Don’t leave valuables in plain sight in your cars. Also, single males: If 2 women approach you in a bar and say “Hey baby, let’s go have some fun,” don’t go with them; they’re setting you up to be robbed by a male accomplice. They always come out of the woodwork this time of year.
• If you were a Penny Hardaway fan when he was in the NBA, you have two chances to check him out as the head coach of the Memphis Tigers: Today at 12:30 and Monday at 8. Both games are at FedExForum.
• If you want to see future stars Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant, the Grizzlies play Sunday at FedExForum at 7.
• Trolleys are fun to ride but don’t depend on them to get you from point A to point B within a certain time frame. Lyft and Uber are popular here; I’d recommend Lyft over Uber but either is good. Notice I didn’t recommend the local cab services.

Here’s a pic of the meal I had at Rizzo’s Thursday:

Rizzo’s is open for lunch Tuesdays-Saturdays 11-2, brunch on Sundays, and dinner Monday-Saturday. Pictured here is Thursday’s chef’s blue plate special of the day: Blackened catfish with tasso ham in a yummy cream gravy, along with spinach, cheese grits, and Cajun blackeyed peas. For those new to this blog, that’s my troll staring at the food. She’s been a fixture on this blog for over 3 years.

By the way, if you dine at Rizzo’s, be sure to tell Chef Michael Patrick CONGRATULATIONS! He got engaged this week.

Edible Memphis reports that Rizzo’s will have a four-course dinner for $65 on New Year’s Eve. 901-304-6935 to make reservations. Check out Edible Memphis’ new classic cocktail guide.

I got my new computer! It was scheduled to arrive January 3, but showed up a week early. I love Amazon! I am setting up the computer this morning and it seems to be as blazing fast as advertised.

The fire department was called to South Main Sushi on Christmas. It was just a heater blower motor that overheated. One of the oldsters who hangs out in South Main Instragrammed sushi pics Friday night, so the damage didn’t knock them out of business. Good to see.

There is now no hope of James Wiseman returning to Memphis. He signed with an agent yesterday and is preparing for the NBA draft, where he is a projected top-three pick.

Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins happens at the Flying Saucer tonight. There will be a spaghetti dinner and a beer and candy flight.

Random thing I learned yesterday: At McDonald’s in Europe, the Quarter Pounder is called Royale with Cheese. So that’s how one of the Flying Saucer’s burgers got its name, although it isn’t prepped the same way as Mickey D’s. For those in town for the game, by the way, the Saucer has great burgers, and their fries are some of the best Downtown.

My apologies to those of you who went to Westy’s during the day on Christmas after reading the “what’s open” guide. They were open, but they were serving dinner to the homeless. A few of my friends had a really awkward moment when they went in there.

As your #1 source of news and information about The Edge District, it is my pleasure to inform you that Jamaican restaurant Evelyn and Olive will have a New Year’s Eve party Tuesday night.

Know what The Edge needs that it doesn’t have? A hair salon that does extensions.

WTF is up with The Rutledge Report? Arkansas’ attorney general buys TV time to talk about various topics. I’ve never known an AG to do that before, and it seems like the most self-serving thing ever. My guess is she has her eye on the governor’s chair and she wants to build name recognition. Arkansas has a precedent for attorney generals being elected governor… and then president.

Did you know that Insomnia Cookies on Beale delivers? Guy a few seats down from me gave them a call yesterday, and 10 minutes later we had a box of warm cookies that had just come out of the oven.

It’s time to play the phone service provider version of the “Fuck, Marry, Kill” game, where I give you the names of three people, and you have to choose one to have sex with, one to marry, and one to kill. Your choices are

• Sprintern
• Lily from the AT&T commercials several years ago
• The redhead (the adult, not the baby) in the iPhone 11 Pro commercials.

Here’s how I would play it:

• F: Lily. Well, duh. She’s hot.
• M: Sprintern seems like she might be a lady on the streets and a freak between the sheets.
• K: The iPhone 11 pro redhead. That bitch looks like she might be crazy.

Wondering where to get your blackeyed peas on New Year’s Day? Wonder no more. The Blind Bear will open at 11 AM with a Roaring Twenties brunch. Hanin behind the bar with $15 bottles of bubbly, $30 Sophia bottles, $4 moonshine, $3 mimosas, $3 Bloody Marys, and $3 flavored whiskeys. Brunch specials run until 6 PM. Food specials will include blackeyed peas,  greens, and cornbread.

A Memphis basketball legend has announced his retirement. Zach Randolph, one of the Grizzlies’ Core Four for years, is hanging up the sneakers.

Why do people at bars keep breaking the soap dispensers? It’s happening a lot during this holiday season. If you have anger management issues, take them out on a punching bag at the gym. Bar owners might want to invest in a multi-pack of liquid hand soap dispensers to use as backups when idiots attack the soap dispenser attached to the wall.

From Distractify: Nap at work with an under-the-bed hammock

Longshot will stay open until 1 AM to ring in the New Year. That night there will be no cover, chef snacks, and a champagne toast at midnight.

Sorry for taking two days off in a row but I needed to enjoy my week off… and I did. I saw a lot of my favorite people, went to Bardog early a couple of days, stayed out late a couple of days, ate some delicious food, and partied hard but didn’t take it to extremes. Now I’m heading out to Bardog to watch the Tigers in the Cotton Bowl. Back tomorrow with more news.