Daily thoughts of a Downtown Memphis resident
Bardog won Best Bar. Allie Cat wants me to remind you that they have waffles for breakfast now.
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Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com
Yesterday I mentioned that Northern Illinois and Boise State were Memphis’ biggest competition for the College Football Playoff. Memphis has no Top 25 or Power Four opponents remaining. What about those schools?
Tigers fans need to root for those two teams’ opponents.
And now, BREAKING NEWS: The Pac-12 is meeting to consider Memphis and Tulane for membership. That conference already has (for a future season)
The new Pac-12 is not ideal, but it beats being in a conference with Rice.
Games of interest this weekend (Saturday unless otherwise noted):
Soul & Spirits has its annual Oktoberfest party this Saturday.
The DMC’s Alley Dayz event comes to The Pinch District next Wednesday, September 25.
DMC Chief Operating Officer Brett Roler won the 2024 IDA Inspired Leader Award at this year’s International Downtown Association Annual Conference. Congratulations, Brett!
A former Peabody Hotel employee is accused of stealing more than $80,000 from the hotel.
I posted two news updates yesterday, so if you haven’t seen both of them, keep scrolling.
It’s free to read this blog, but 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
Well, not THIS day, as in today.
November 1, rather.
You see, the drawing for a real funeral hearse is returning to Bardog Tavern at approximately 11:59:59 PM on Halloween.
This was a tradition for the bar’s first 11 years. A stretch Cadillac DeVille or Fleetwood would be parked outside the ‘Dog for the month of October. As the month ended, someone would win it in a raffle.
Then COVID ruined everything.
More details to come.
A month after New Wing Order shut down its food truck, its wings have made their return. The Ghost River taproom at Main and Crump now has nWo specialty wings on its updated menu.
Ghost River, by the way, is having a book fair on Saturday.
Oktoberfest glasses have not yet arrived at the Flying Saucer, but a little birdie told me this year’s glass will be “a silly glass” – a rubber stein.
There will be a halfway to St. Patrick’s Day party this Friday at Silky’s. Wear your Irish gear to get in free.
Memphis Made Brewing Co. in The Edge will have a vegan comfort food/BBQ pop-up this Sunday. From the Facebook post:
Menu highlights include Fried Chickun, Smoked Meats, Mac N Cheeze, Beer-Cheeze Battered Beyond Burgers, Jambalaya, Po Boyz, Cajun Corn, Totchos, and more!Our menu is Nut-Free with several Gluten-Free options.
Also in The Edge, The Jack Oblivian Band will be at High Cotton on Saturday.
Edible Memphis reported today that Kinfolk on Harbor Town Square is back open.
I’m back on Facebook! I sorted out that 2-factor authentication mess today. Add Facebook Messenger back to the ways you can contact me.
That’s all for now. Back soon!
It’s free to read this blog, but 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
Action News 5 has a look at Memphis Filling Station (MFS), the new Downtown brewery on G.E. Patterson. Patrons can see the beer being brewed.
RIP Tito Jackson, member of the Jackson 5 and older brother of the late Michael Jackson. Tito was 70.
Today is National Guacamole Day. Maciel’s is the place to celebrate… or the Saucer, which puts a generous scoop of guac atop its carne asada fries.
It’s also World Play-Doh Day.
The National Association for State and Community Services has its annual training seminar at the Renasant Convention Center this week.
Good news: ESPN and the other TV channels owned by Disney are back on DirecTV after the two sides struck a deal this weekend.
Max Kaplan plays Live at the Tracks at Central Station Thursday evening.
Waffles have been added to Bardog’s breakfast menu.
Congrats to the football Memphis Tigers on what some are calling a signature win over Florida State on Saturday. It’s a step toward the College Football Playoff, but Memphis still needs to win the AAC championship and end up ranked higher than the champs of the Mountain West, MAC, Sun Belt, etc. In particular, Memphis fans need to keep their eyes on Northern Illinois (AP #23 this week; Memphis is not ranked) and Boise State. The Tigers have no ranked or Power Four teams left on their schedule.
Saints 44, Cowboys 19… LOL @ “America’s Team.” As in past seasons, they beat up on the bad teams but lose to the good ones.
I’m starting to unravel the two-factor authentication mess that occurred when I lost my MacBook and iPhone within a day of each other. I have a new (to me) iPhone and this weekend I got it working with my Apple ID and got my data restored from iCloud. Progress!
I’m not back on Facebook yet but am working on that today. Best ways to reach me in the meantime are Apple Messages if you’re on there (ID is paul@paulryburn.com) or Gmail (paul.ryburn@gmail.com).
It’s free to read this blog, but 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
A new brewery, MFS Brewing on G.E. Patterson near BB King, opens today.
Both the Southern Heritage Classic and Cooper-Young Fest are Saturday. That’s gonna create a traffic snarl in Midtown. Uber and Lyft surge pricing will get huge, I bet.
There will be a pep rally for the Classic tonight at Handy Park on Beale from 6 to 8.
Tickets go on sale Saturday for the St. Jude Tip-off doubleheader at FedExForum on Oct. 15: Penny’s men’s Tigers vs. North Carolina at 6, women’s basketball Tigers vs. South Carolina at 8:30.
The Orpheum seeks a manager of individual giving.
Memphis in May seeks an events operation coordinator.
Memphis vs. Florida State football is on ESPN at 11 AM Saturday.
Amelia Gene’s seeks back of house staff and front of house staff.
MJ the musical comes to the Orpheum next week.
The Memphis Symphony Orchestra will perform Rachmaninoff and Copland Saturday night at the Cannon Center.
Still in two-factor authentication hell. I have a new (to me) iPhone and am in the process of getting signed in with my Apple ID. Once I get that mess unraveled I will work on getting another computer.
Thanks for sticking with me.
It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips!
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
On a fact-finding mission, I went by Bardog this morning to see what additional info I could glean about its alley party this Sunday, September 8.
This is gonna be an old-school good time. Come hang out. Weather should be perfect, with a low in the mid-50s Sunday morning, then a high about 80. Even October wants to come to the alley party!
It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips!
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
The DM reports that Michael Patrick, the former namesake/chef at Rizzo’s in the South Main district, is opening a new restaurant in the former BT Prime Steakhouse space in Nesbit, Mississippi. It’ll be called Magnolia Bend Grille. The chef says to look for “elevated Southern fare” but it will not be “Rizzo’s 2.0.” The Lobster Pronto Pup will be back, though.
Today is National Baby Back Ribs Day.
Dredging is happening on the Mississippi River to keep commercial barges moving during times of low river levels. Beaches along the river are exposed.
Don’t forget: The Bardog alley party (“Sweet Sixteen”) is this Sunday. Music, food, and fun are promised. I hear Sunday bartender Magic Mike will be DJing. He has fabulous taste in music. I plan on being there.
Music Export Memphis is throwing a party in The Ravine this Thursday from 6 to 9. The party will be a preview of the organization’s presence in Nashville for the international AmericanaFest. Wyly Bigger, Josh Threlkeld & Alice Hasen, Alexis Jade and Talibah Safiya will be among those performing.
Laid-off Memphis Trolley employees and South Main business owners are asking Memphians to sign a petition to bring the trolleys back in service.
There was a Race for Reconciliation Downtown on Labor Day morning.
Downtown stayed safe over the long holiday weekend. That is fantastic news!
GloRilla received a key to the city over the weekend.
Alcenia’s chef B.J. Chester-Tamayo plans a ’70s bash for her 70th in Fourth Bluff Park this Saturday. There will be guest chefs in town for the party, including Chef Okr and Coconutcup NYC. Bonus reason to click the link: a recipe for Alcenia’s candied yams.
Terrace at the River Inn will be closed Wednesday for a private event.
Update on me
Not sure when I’ll be back with another post. Thanks for hanging in there with me.
It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips!
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Let’s have a look at college football games this weekend of interest to Memphians:
Nice to see a few matchups that aren’t Power Four powerhouse vs. cream puff in Week 1.
Welcome to Memphis will host a Hospitality Night on Beale Street Tuesday, September 3 from 6 to 8 PM. Servers, housekeepers, wait staff, bartenders, chefs, cooks, bussers, come on out. Free food & drinks to the first 100. Discounts, giveaways, live music at Alfred’s, history tour of the street. RSVP
Beer recommendation: Old Nation Boss Tweed, a New England IPA. I tried one at Pint Nite at the Saucer on Monday and it was the most delicious IPA I have had in years. 97 score on Beer Advocate.
In other Saucer news, they’ll have half-priced wings (dine-in only) during NFL Thursday Night Football games this season. Also, the Saucer will have the NFL Sunday Ticket package again this season.
It’s National Mai Tai Day.
St. Jude has purchased Tom Intrator’s properties in the Pinch. They were expected to be developed into 900 hotel rooms as well as office space. The purchase will give the children’s hospital a presence on North Main.
The DM has a list of ways to celebrate 901 Day on September 1.
The CA has a look at Tom Lee Park’s first year.
Why people put rubber ducks on Jeeps
South Main Trolley Night is tonight 6 to 9.
That’s it for now.
It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips!
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
In my last post, I said I got one more piece of bad news last week, in addition to losing my computer and iPhone – but it was a piece of news that would affect many more people than just me.
In the six-ish months I have been staying at the Union Mission regularly, it has always been free to check in for the night, as long as you checked in before 2 PM. After that (until 7 PM when the front office closes) it was 6 dollars. It gave guys ample time to go out around Downtown and take care of their personal business, and then still get back and get in free.
Last week the mayor and City Council members met with the folks who run the Mission and toured the facility. I wasn’t there that day; it was one of the days I chose to stay out.
Shortly thereafter, a new policy was announced: Beginning September 1, the daily get-in-free cutoff time would be moved to 11 AM.
So we’re going to have 3 hours a day less free time.
Let me give one example of how this will affect the lives of myself and other guys. We come to the Cossitt Library every morning to check our email, social media, bank accounts, etc. on the public computers or on the library’s Wi-Fi.
But the library’s posted opening time is 10:00 AM. And some days the library is late opening and it’s more like 10:10.
And it’s a 20-minute walk to the Mission.
And if there’s a sharp 11 AM cutoff at the Mission front window to get in free, guys are going to need to be in line by 10:30 in order to make it to the window.
Do the math. We’re left with no time to get our personal stuff done at the library.
And this is just one of probably many examples of how guys’ lives will be affected by taking away 3 of our hours. I’ll give you another.
The Mission is a 1-block walk from the Hospitality Hub. Guys who are more able-bodied than I will walk over there in the mornings, attempting to get a spot in the Hub’s Work Local program for that day. If selected, they go out on trucks and help clear nearby neighborhoods of trash and blight for 3-4 hours.
What they get from Work Local in return for their labor is $50, lunch, and the good feeling that comes from earning a day’s pay.
A friend of mine did Work Local yesterday. “What time did you get done?” I asked.
“Around 11:45,” he said.
That means that starting September 1, his $50 pay will be devalued to $44. He won’t be back to the Mission in time to get in free and will have to cough up six bucks – 12% of his pay.
I don’t mean to criticize the pastors and supervisors who run the Mission. Everything they do is a reflection of their love – and God’s love – for us. I am grateful for them beyond words. And I’m sure there are issues that led them to change the get-in-free cutoff, possibly with the “encouragement” of city officials.
But it sure feels like it punishes a lot of innocent people as a side effect – people who don’t do anything to the detriment of the community surrounding the Mission – people who simply want to get to a better place in life.
Thanks for reading. I’ll try my best to be back tomorrow with a normal news update, if any such thing as “normal” exists on this blog.
It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips!
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Wednesday night my backpack was stolen in front of the Moxy Hotel on Main. My MacBook was in it, as was my Ziploc bag containing hygiene items.
Thursday I lost my iPhone and my charger either at Momma’s or on South Main or somewhere in between. I checked Friday morning and Momma’s didn’t have it. Find My indicates that the phone is on W. Norwood Ave. in the Riverside neighborhood in South Memphis.
I’m on a public computer in the library. It’s currently the only way I have for people to contact me – email paul.ryburn@gmail.com. (I can’t get in Facebook either.) I’m also at my usual spot from about 7:30 to 10:00 AM weekdays and 11 to 6 AM Saturdays. R and T, I hope to see you Saturday.
KN – I need your help especially, please email me.
To top it all off, I fell crossing Second at Madison Saturday morning and injured my shoulder. No I had not been drinking. I spent Friday night at the Union Mission and had stopped to get a Coke at the Memphis Chess Club and was walking to the library.
There’s one other piece of bad news that affects a lot of people, including me, as of September 1. I’ll talk about that later.
I still have my wallet and my debit cards and can still use them and access those accounts.
That’s what’s going on and why I haven’t posted in 5 days. Please pray for me.