Paul Ryburn's Journal

Do you want to know what the past 24 hours of my life have been like? I wrote a song about it. Wanna hear it, here it go:

(blues piano)

I got the pink chicken blues
Just a few steps from downtown
I had the pink chicken blues
And now I’ve got the pink chicken browns!

99 and 2
That makes 101
But even that ain’t hot enough
To get yo chicken done

Pink chicken blues
Cook that chicken til it hurts!
I had the pink chicken blues
Now I have the pink chicken squirts!

Tuna can be cooked rare
Steak can be too
But cook your chicken well done
If you don’t want the blues

Talkin’ ’bout pink chicken blues
Blues that just ain’t much fun
Like a baseball-playin’ mascot
I’m pilin’ up those pink chicken runs!

No, I was not at BBQ Fest yesterday. I’ll not mention where I was, in order to keep certain powers that be off my back.

Hey BBQ teams, if any of you want to license this song for Ms. Piggie Idol, hit me up and we’ll talk royalties.

Mark P – does this qualify me to perform at your South Main songwriter night?

On to the news…

The Orpheum seeks a patron services associate.

Love Food Hate Waste is a free event happening at Downtown Wiseacre tonight. Panel discussion, food waste trivia, live music, culinary demo.

The city looks to hire a digital content coordinator.

AutoZone seeks a senior SEO specialist.

Memphis Chess Club now has French onion soup gin.

Nominations are now open for the Memphis Flyer’s Best Of Memphis 2026 poll.

Back tomorrow with a Frupdate.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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Have you seen men downtown wearing yellow VIP badges around their necks? Have you wondered why the Union Mission has buildings practically across the street from each other, at 383 and 600 Poplar?

Today I will answer those questions. You see, the Union Mission has a couple of upgrade/VIP programs.

First, though, I need to explain what a non-VIP experience looks like. Regular, ordinary folks who stay at the Mission:

• Have to check in every day. If you hit the checkin line at the wrong time, it can take 30-45 minutes or longer.
• Pay $6 per day.
• Stand in another line to check their bag in. Bags are stored in a common closet.
• Are assigned a different bed each night in one of the dorms at 383 Poplar – or a mat on the floor, if all the beds are taken.
• Sign up for the waiting list for a shower; at times, it can take up to an hour for your name to be called.
• Stand in the dinner line with 150-200 other men.

When you go VIP, you

• Prepay $186 ($6 times 31) at the beginning of the month
• Get a lanyard and yellow VIP badge with your name and bed assignment
• Sleep in the same bed each night in a dorm in 383 Poplar
• Flash your badge to be admitted to the building, bypassing the checkin line
• Get your own private locker to store your stuff
• Jump to the head of the shower and dinner lines

Then there’s the Mission’s extended stay at 600 Poplar. If you choose this option, you

• Must have an income – a job or a government or pension check
• Must be alcohol- and drug-free and consent to random testing
• Prepay $217 a month
• Sleep in dorm rooms of 8-10 men (as opposed to 28-40 across the street)
• Are given key access and can come and go as you please – although, there is a 12 AM curfew
• Get breakfast and dinner daily and have access to the main building for lunch
• No requirement to attend chapel

That’s the scoop on the VIP programs. As for me, I’ll remain a “regular fellow’ and pay $6 for the nights I choose to stay at 383 Poplar, and $0 for the nights I choose not to.

On to the news…

So sad to hear of the death of Grizzlies center Brandon Clarke. Prayers and positive vibes to his family and teammates.

Ritual Coffee at 505 S. Main is open.

T-shirt I saw: “Bill Lee puts ketchup on hot chicken”

Southbound is the featured entertainment at Thursday’s Peabody rooftop party. 6-10 PM. $15 to get in, $40 VIP. VIPs get a BBQ-themed buffet of pulled pork sliders, pulled chicken sliders, sweet potato fries, and a crudite tray.

From Far Out Magazine: The tragic 1997 death of Jeff Buckley

A sinkhole has opened up on Main Street at Union.

Momma’s burger of the week comes with portobello mushroom, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, fried onion, and chipotle aioli. Unlike most of their BOTWs, this one does not appear to have a name.

The Orpheum will show blockbuster movies from the 1970s on the big screen this summer.

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

I’ve been saying for months now that the Grizzlies should choose Arkansas PG Darius Acuff Jr. in the upcoming NBA draft with their lottery pick.

However, I did not expect Memphis to hit the lottery and get the 3rd pick.

In that position, I think they have to pick Cam Boozer. Men’s college basketball player of the year and son of NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer. He’s NBA-ready. Imagine a frontcourt of Cedric Coward at the 3, Boozer at the 4, and Zach Edey at the 5. IMPOSING is a word that comes to mind. We’d just need Edey to stay healthy.

As for Acuff, remember the Grizz have the 16th pick as well, and an arsenal of other teams’ picks in future years. Could we put together a trade package that lands the 5th or 6th pick? Mega bonus points if we can get rid of Ja Morant in that trade.

Couple of brunch hacks I learned at Bardog Sunday:

• Pittsburgh rare is a way to order steak. Seared hard black on the outside, cool and red on the inside.
• Try asking for Hollandaise sauce atop your pork chop, or on the side.

Learn AI Layer by Layer

The Heavenly Hot Dog Buffet is back as the Redbirds host Jacksonville tonight at 6:45.

LGBTQ+ celebration Memphis Pride returns Downtown the first weekend in June.

Congratulations to The Rendezvous on its recent 100 on its health inspection.

Wordle will become a TV game show.

Still dealing with health issues but I’ll try to be back tomorrow.

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 Parkinson’s disease was out of control yesterday. I was shaking so bad that I almost couldn’t type my blog post. I felt so wired that I wanted to jump out of my skin, yet at the same time my body felt rigid. The feeling persisted as I joined my friends for brunch at Bardog. One of them commented that she’d never seen me so affected by the disease.

By 9:30 PM it was clear the condition wasn’t going away. I had the folks at Flying Saucer call me an ambulance. The EMTs diagnosed me with atrial flutter, a form of tachycardia.

A couple of hours on a gurney in Methodist and the wired + rigid feeling subsided, and my heart reverted to normal sinus rhythm. They released me and I walked back Downtown, arriving on Main Street about 3 AM. I’m on one of my favorite park benches now. At 8 the chess club opens and I’ll walk over.

Glad to get back to my normal life. Glad that awful wired feeling is gone.

Coming soon: Why are there two Union Mission buildings on opposite sides of Poplar? And what are those yellow VIP cards around the necks of some homeless men?

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

Memphis Chess Club has a BBQ cappuccino for the month of May only.

Memphis history lesson: The unlikely rise of Robert Church

View newly declassified files about UFO sightings

The May Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting will be 5:30-7:30 PM Wednesday the 27th at Ghost River on South Main. Councilman JB Smiley will speak and there will be free beer, wine, and snacks for members.

Jason Bonham brings a Led Zeppelin evening to Graceland Soundstage tonight.

Bardog’s brunch special today 11-3 is a sliced ribeye sandwich with house-made chimichurri. I’ll be there at 11. See you there?

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

Next Friday, May 15, is Bike to Work Day, and the city, the DMC, and the MMDC will have a breakfast and coffee station for riders in Court Square from 6:30 to 9:30 AM. Coffee by Jay’s and food and juice by Groovy Gratitude. There will be safety checks and minor repairs available. Enter a drawing to win bike swag.

That afternoon, there will be a bike to work happy hour at Flyway Brewing from 4:30 to 6:30. The first 50 to arrive on a bike will receive a free drink ticket.

Find all participating breakfast stations at biketoworkmemphis.com.

The city is hiring a 311 support center services analyst.

Today is National Have a Coke Day. Celebrate with a Mexi-Coke at Memphis Chess Club – glass bottle, real cane sugar.

State rep Antonio Parkinson is calling for Memphis to secede from Tennessee following the racist redrawing of the state’s U.S. congressional map.

Meanwhile, 9th District U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen plans to sue over the redrawing. Go get ’em, Steve!

Which tech innovation is the sign of the times? – answered by 25 tech leaders

Graduates, Flyway Brewing wants to take 20.26% off your tab. Flash your tassel, cap, gown, or student loan bill.

It’ll soon be skeeter season. Wired rates the best bug sprays.

If you’re a Daily Memphian subscriber, check the website – they posted the recipe for Bardog’s penne a la vodka.

The Avett Brothers with Drive-By Truckers will play Grind City Amp Thursday, October 1. Tickets go on sale next Friday.

Pink Floyd tribute band Brit Floyd will bring The Moon, The Wall, and more to the Cannon Center Sunday. Careful with that axe, Eugene!

It’s warm enough and dry enough for me to consider staying out all night… but my intuition is nudging me to spend one more night at the Union Mission. Back tomorrow or maybe Sunday 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

RIP Ted Turner

Claude, one of my favorite AI agents, is taking over the Colossus supercomputer in Southwest Memphis. The “gigafactory of compute” was built by Elon Musk’s xAI.

It’s Voter Disenfranchisement Day in Shelby County, especially if you are Black. The Tennessee legislature is set to vote on whether to gerrymander the county into parts of 3 reliably Republican U.S. House districts. Downtown will be placed in District 5.

If you bought an iPhone 16, 15 Pro, or 15 Pro Max between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025, you have class-action settlement money coming.

Sunset Jazz returns to Court Square this Sunday with the Bill Hurd Jazz Ensemble. Free. 6-8 PM. Food trucks will be onsite. Blankets and folding chairs welcome.

Crawfish return to Momma’s Saturday afternoon. First batch at noon. Live music by Alexis Jade and the Gemstones. Jello shots.

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week and Memphis Filling Station  has the following deals for teachers:

• Thursday: 20% off a pretzel and a pint
• Friday: 20% off a pizza and two pints

Flyway Brewing will host a vinyl record shop and swap Saturday from noon to 4:00. Local record stores and vinyl vendors will be there. DJs will be on hand to supply the tunes.

I’m typing this at the Memphis Chess Club, where there’s a Meddlesome beer tap takeover going on.

I’m gonna have to renege on my promise of a photo showing you what an “average” dinner at the Union Mission looks like… because last night turned out to be anything but average. Lucy Baptist Church came out with shredded chicken and fluffy biscuits, black beans, green beans, and dessert. My black beans had a huge piece of pork in them that practically doubled as a second entree. It’s still a little cold to stay out, so I will stay at the Mission again tonight, although I’m getting really short on money.

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

Very cool online magazine I found yesterday: Greater Good Magazine: Science-Based Insights for a Meaningful Life

Today is the day of the Great American Grump-Out.

It’s Vader time at Slider Inn Downtown tonight as they’ll show The Empire Strikes Back at 7.

On Friday, it’ll be singles’ night at Slider Inn. Pitch your friend, speed dating, match the red flag, build your dating profile, music, drinks.

Grit & Grind Music Machine headlines this Thursday’s Peabody rooftop party. 6-10 PM, $15 to get in, $40 VIP. If you’re a VIP, you get a buffet of crispitos, beef tacos, warm queso, chips and salsa, and churros.

The Memphis Flyer has published its spring beer guide.

Intriguing prospects for the Grizzlies as the NBA draft lottery approaches

I stayed safe from the rain at the Union Mission last night and got an unexpected treat – Getwell Church served us hamburger steaks in gravy, mashed potatoes, YUMMY homemade rolls, green beans, and macadamia nut white chocolate chip cookies. Thank you for coming out!

I’ll stay at the Mission again tonight and give the rain and cold one more day to get out of here. I’m starting to run low on money but have the $6 for tonight.

I don’t think there’s a guest church feeding us tonight. Shall I take a pic of what an “average” meal looks like at the Mission, and post it tomorrow?

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

Grind City Brewing will host an NBA Draft Lottery watch party Sunday at 2 PM. Come find out what position the Grizzlies will be drafting in. If it ends up being top 5, there will be $5 drafts the rest of the day. The lottery will be on ABC.

Hey, Macarena!

Momma’s Burger of the Week is “The Macarena” with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño, guacamole, pico de gallo, and bacon.

Someone asked me Sunday if Westy’s is still open. The answer is YES – but it is for sale.

Today is Election Day in Shelby County.

Hotel/vacation rental The Stallion is set to fully open at 436 S. Front. Wonder if that’s where Megan Thee will stay next time she tours Memphis.

Forbes called the power of Memphis “undeniable” after visiting Riverbeat music festival last weekend.

Jeremy Scott, Graham Winchester, and Frank McLallen play South Main Sounds Friday night.

Cordelia’s Market is hiring a butcher.

St. Jude seeks a security lieutenant. Weekday evening shift.

The Hyatt Centric seeks an engineering manager.

Cyrena Wages, Alexis Jade, and Rachel Maxann will be in the round at The Dame in Hotel Pontotoc Friday night.

Bodybuilding championships come to the Renasant Convention Center this weekend.

Staying at the Mission tonight due to weather. I stayed there last night and there was indeed Gus’s chicken. 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

We’re coming up on 6 months since MATA instituted its ride-for-free pilot program on buses and trolleys. I asked AI agent Google Gemini to list other cities where you can ride public transportation for free.

Permanent or long-term

• Kansas City, MO
• Tucson
• Richmond, VA
• Albuquerque
• Olympia, WA

Pilot or specialized programs

• Fayetteville (GO HOGS!!)
• Orange County, NC (Chapel Hill)
• Iowa City, IA
• Detroit (rail only)
• Commerce, CA

Ghost River Brewing Co. is closing its Beale Garden location and consolidating operations at its recently expanded headquarters at Main and Crump. Thursday will be the last day on Beale.

RIP Ask.com

Today is International Respect for Chickens Day.

What Now has an update on Ritual Bistro, opening this month in the old Bluff City Coffee space on South Main.

Downtown business owners saw a bump in business from Riverbeat; Midtown, not so much.

Bardog will have a dollar off the following this Tuesday for Cinco de Mayo:

• High Cotton Mexican Lager
• Corona
• Modelo
• Margaritas

Cordelia’s Market now has tinned fish from Portugal.

Jerry Seinfeld is at the Orpheum this Saturday.

Staying at the Union Mission the next 3 nights due to exhaustion (tonight) and rain in the forecast (Tue-Wed). New Salem MB, my favorite guest church, comes out there the first Monday of each month. Also, a lot of Mondays there’s chicken donated by Gus’s. 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