Paul Ryburn's Journal

Yesterday I had two cheesecake-stuffed chocolate cookies from DVOUR Desserts. Absolutely delish. DVOUR is at 523 S. Main, just steps away from Earnestine & Hazel’s.

If you’ve been missing gyros since the Grecian Gourmet on South Main closed, check out Kellie’s Deli at Tennessee and G.E. Patterson.

Grind City Brewing has Singo music bingo Thursday at 6:30.

Downtown Nutrition has a Seattle Tea this week only to celebrate the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl.

Tomorrow is Wild Winter Weiner Wednesday at Wiseacre. Buy an award-winning Sky Dog beer, get a hot dog.

Today is International Cribbage Day. Folks, I downloaded a cribbage app onto my iPhone a few months ago and it is one of the most fun card games I’ve ever played.

It’s also Extraterrestrial Culture Day. Celebrate at the Flying Saucer.

Who wants to buy me a brownie at Memphis Chess Club for National “Have a Brownie” Day?

Memphis City Council seeks a legislative analyst.

Congratulations to Crazy Gander coffee shop on Madison on its recent 100 on its health inspection.

I had the pleasure of talking to some Old Dominick Distillery employees and their associates last night at E&H. The distillers’ belief is that if they produce a $30 bottle of spirits, the quality should be comparable to their nationally-distributed competitor’s $50 bottle. Sounds like a winner to me.

Bleacher Report previews the Feb. 16 WWE Monday Night RAW, to be broadcast live from FedExForum:

On tap for next week’s show: Bayley vs. Asuka vs. Nattie in a Women’s Elimination Chamber qualifier, Je’Von Evans vs. Gunther vs. Dominik Mysterio in a men’s Elimination Chamber qualifier, and AJ Lee appears live.

Back tomorrow with more news.

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NO NFL on TV for six months!!!!!

Yes, there will be other sports on TV as boring as NFL football (e.g. golf, tennis), but those sports’ fans aren’t nearly as annoying to sit next to at bars.

For me, the vacation from the NFL got started a day early… I threw my name in the hat for a Room in the Inn bed yesterday, because after 2 weeks of cold weather I’m positively SICK of staying at the Union Mission! I got picked to spend the night at one of my fav host churches, West Union Cumberland Presbyterian in Millington.

They fed us meatball sandwiches. I went back for seconds and asked for no bread, just meat and cheese. They must have loaded my plate up with 15 meatballs! For dessert there was a birthday cake someone forgot to pick up from the bakery. I got a corner piece and it was more icing than cake. To quote The Archies, ah, SUGAR, SUGAR! To quote Road Warrior Hawk, WHAT A RUSH!

Can you tell I’m in a good mood today?

BUT THEN, THE BEST PART…They couldn’t get the Super Bowl on the TV they wheeled into the gym where our cots were. The other guys were disappointed. I was elated. Ten hours quality sleep, followed by two THICK sausage & cheese biscuits, followed by a bus ride back to Downtown Memphis. THANK YOU West Union CP for a wonderful night!

Curious what a “Cumberland Presbyterian” is? Wikipedia to the rescue.

I started my Sunday at Bardog brunch, where a girl in a red beret told me I had “Resurrection energy” and held onto my hand for a looooooooong time. Her behavior reminded me of someone from my past. I was tempted to ask if she owned chihuahuas or did yoga, but I decided not to.

This week’s 11 AM-2 PM hot lunch specials at Cordelia’s Market:

• Mon: Italian meatballs with Italian grits
• Tue: Chicken cakes with rice and beans
• Wed: Pot roast
• Thur: Chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans
• Fri: Fried cod with fries

Hot n Heavy Dogs will have their cart at Main and Union 10:30-2:30 Tuesday of this week.

Slider Inn is hiring for both locations. Apply weekdays between 11 and 5.

What Now Memphis has more info on the opening of Playa Bowls in The Edge.

Did you know it’s possible to live in a national park for free?

The Orpheum hosts dinner on stage Thursday.

Shen Yun comes to the Cannon Center Tuesday.

The Grizz play at Golden State at 9 tonight. TV: FanDuel Sports

Wayne Alexander, Curtis B. Scott, and Leah Grams Johnson play South Main Sounds this Friday 7-9.

On Saturday at South Main Sounds, there will be a Farmhouse Studio Night with Brian Hayes, Rice Drewry, and Gerry Finney. Fun Fact: My friends and I would go to Buffalo’s on Winchester to hear Gerry Mondays in ’94-’95. I have not since found a wing as good as Buffalo’s extra hot.

Over the weekend I had a dream about OTASCO. A defunct tire and auto supply store. I wonder what a psychiatrist would say about that.

When I was a kid, I thought the drugstore Osco was a subsidiary of OTASCO because OTASCO contained all of its letters in the same order.

If I don’t get rid of this janky-ass laptop soon, I’m gonna go crazy. The junk food binge I went on in the aftermath of the winter storm took a big bite out of my Chromebook savings.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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Friday night at the Union Mission, our guest preacher from New Hope MB, Orange Mound took a poll on which Super Bowl team audience members were rooting for. “I don’t have a dog in the hunt,” he said. “I haven’t had a dog in the hunt in 30 years. I’m a Cowboys fan.”

My spirit guides want you to know that Penny’s 11-11 Tigers host Charlotte today at 1 PM. TV: ESPN+

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins had this to say following the trade deadline:

Ja Morant better wake the hell up. Cause in two years, after this contract, he could find himself out the league.

South Main sim-golf bar Birdie’s will have a Galentine’s Day celebration Friday beginning at 6:30. NO BOYS ALLOWED. No cover. Complimentary refreshments, drink specials, golf at Candy Land (I guess that’s a course?) on the sims, karaoke, door prizes.

The Grizzlies have waived Eric Gordon. They acquired him in a trade last week.

Today is National Pork Rind Appreciation Day.

Tip from Recomendo: You can read Substack newsletters in your favorite RSS reader. Just add /feed to the newsletter’s URL.

The folks at Havenhaus announced that the music venue is moving to 2487 Broad.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
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The National Guard deployment to Memphis has Hotel Indigo booked solid for the first 9 months of the year. While that’s great news for the hotel, Action News 5 reports that it’s not so great for Biscuits & Jams, the restaurant on the ground floor of the building. B&J depends upon business from hotel guests, but the Guard brings its own breakfast. As a result, revenue is down 70%.

Today is National Patty Melt Day. Celebrate with a Smokey Melt from Huey’s or a Maddy Paddy from Momma’s.

Once again the Grizzlies have a 9 PM game at Portland. TV: FanDuel Sports

Bleacher Report gave the Grizzlies front office a grade of A- on its trade deadline moves.

If you want to excel at Scrabble, learn those 2-letter words.

The Sporting News has a day-by-day Winter Olympics TV schedule.

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
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The NBA trade deadline has passed and Ja Morant is still a Grizzly. ESPN’s Shams reports that several teams showed interest but none were willing to make a serious offer.

Memphis did, however, get a trade in before the deadline, sending the draft rights to Justinian Jessup to the 76ers. The Grizz get Eric Gordon and a 2032 second-round pick swap.  Memphis also waived Georges Niang, who was part of the JJJ trade.

The Grizzlies have a 9:00 game tonight at Portland. TV: FanDuel Sports

The South Main Association will hold its first Social of 2026 at Tonica, 265 S. Front, Tuesday at 6 PM. Speakers will be new business owners:

• John Paul Gagliano, Tonica
• Kristen Cerda, Farm Market Co-op
• Shayne Diaz, Kuya
• Atlaf Ali, owner of the new South Main liquor store

Members’ first wine or beer is on SMA, with special drink prices after that. Tonica will serve small plates.

The Winter Olympics opening ceremony is live on Peacock at 1, or catch the encore on NBC tonight at 7.

Puppy Bowl XXIII is Sunday at 1 PM on Animal Planet. Meet the players

The Downtown Memphis Commission has a list of Valentine’s and Galentine’s events.

Indie Memphis Film Festival moves to South Main this year.

Tevin will host Karaoke of Love at Flyway Brewing tonight 7-10.

In other Flyway news, Alexis Jade and Carter Wenger will perform live there on the 10th and 24th of both February and March.

Memphis Filling Station will move its Sunday trivia to 2-4 this week so it’ll be over in time for the Super Bowl. Nacho specials all day.

Bardog has a new dessert – peanut butter cheesecake.

Wings will be back at Bardog for one day only this Sunday. They’ll also be slinging two specialty drinks: the Seattle Sea Breeze and the New England Gimlet. $25 buckets of Mich Ultra, Bud, Bud Light.

On Sunday for the game, Slider Inn Downtown will have $20 Mich Ultra buckets, $6 Lalo tequila and Old Dominick, and a fire pit raffle.

The calm person’s guide to handling toxic people

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
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You may have noticed a lack of PBR on draft at bars and restaurants the past 3-4 weeks… this morning I found out what happened. The brewers had a bad ingredient in the recipe and as a result, kegs had to be pulled out. No timetable for the beer’s return.

When you want your finger on the pulse of Grizzlies fandom, you go to Max’s Sports Bar. That’s what WREG did to get local reactions to the Jaren Jackson, Jr. trade.

Max’s will do a raffle at the end of the Super Bowl this Sunday and every drink order gets you a ticket. Prizes include a Bud Light cooler and an Angry Orchard foosball table.

Joanna Serenko from The Voice along with Tyler Dale will perform at the Silly Goose Friday, February 13 starting at 10:30 PM.

Cordelia’s monthly Meet Your Neighbor mixer happens today 5-7 in the market’s cafe. Free beer samples.

King cakes have arrived at Cordelia’s. Three flavors:

• traditional cinnamon
• cream cheese
• strawberry cream cheese

They’ve got minis for $4.89 and full-sized cakes for $23.39.

Frost’d, Grind City Brewing’s winter tasting event, is set for Sunday, February 21. Music, raffles, and 5 new beers available for one day only.

Out in The Edge, Flyway Brewing will sell cases of beer for $25 this Friday-Sunday.

Guac Fresh Mex at Washington and Manassas has added a Guac Potato to its menu. It’s loaded with tender steak, chicken, and shrimp in the restaurant’s signature cheese sauce.

Penny’s 10-11 Tigers have an 8:00 game tonight at UAB. TV: ESPN2

Keep your eye on Bleacher Report – today is the NBA trade deadline.

Back tomorrow with a Frupdate.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
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Well, I ALMOST made it through the winter storm of ’26 without incident.

After 11 days of successfully walking around Downtown, yesterday my feet managed to find one of the few remaining patches of black ice on N. Fourth Street and down I went. Some kind people helped me up. I was not hurt.

Beale Street Bears’ Abbas Bokhari reacts to the Jaren Jackson, Jr. trade. Bleacher Report graded the trade a D+ for Memphis and a B+ for Utah.

Grizzly (not basketball) cam

Consider jetting out of work early this afternoon to catch the 5 PM Peabody duck march, for this is National Quacker Day.

Loflin Yard is having a watch party for that football game on Sunday.

Momma’s burger of the week is a mushroom Swiss burger with crispy bacon, sauteed onions, and Momma’s mayo.

The Grizz are on the road until the All-Star break. Tonight: at Sacramento, 9:00. TV: FanDuel Sports

Winter Olympics storylines to keep an eye on

Friday night, February 6, South Main Sounds will host a qualifying event for Tennessee Songwriters Week. Then on Saturday, Alexis Jade, Josh Green and Carter Wenger will bring Outlaw Country to South Main Sounds.

Playa Bowls will have its grand opening in The Edge Saturday at 11 AM. First 50 get a free bowl and T-shirt.

Just in time for the big game, Memphis Made has $20 specials on select cases of beer in its taproom all week.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
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See BR post – MEM reportedly gets 3 firsts, 5 players including Kyle Anderson, trade exception worth almost 29M

We ship out Vince Williams, Konchar, Landale also

Apologies for the brevity – short on time

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
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StyleBlueprint has a look at Memphis’ tastiest candy shops, and most of them are Downtown – Beale Sweets Suga Shack, Dinstuhl’s, A. Schwab, The Peanut Shoppe, and Wayne’s.

Calvary Episcopal will build a memorial for slaves who were bought and sold at 87 Adams near the church.

Astronauts are headed back to the moon as soon as next week.

The 84-year-old mother of a Today Show host is missing in Arizona and foul play is suspected.

The NFL’s stupid Pro Bowl crap is tonight.

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

The 2026 Winter Olympics start Friday. Who cares about the Super Bowl? I’m ready for some CURLING!!!

Bad Bunny will be this year’s Super Bowl halftime performer.

The Grizzlies host the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight at 6:30. TV: Peacock

Today is Tater Tot Day. Celebrate at Huey’s.

Unified Professional Theater Auditions are at the Renasant Convention Center this weekend.

11 AM-2 PM hot lunch specials at Cordelia’s Market this week:

• Mon: Rigatoni al Segreto with herb ricotta
• Tue: Nachos with rice and beans
• Wed: Tomato basil lasagna
• Thur: Mushroom Swiss burger with lettuce, tomato, and fries
• Fri: Shrimp and smoked chicken alfredo with garlic cheese toast

Cordelia’s will revert back to its regular closing time of 9 PM starting today.

Back tomorrow, I hope.

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