Paul Ryburn's Journal

Today’s Beale Street Christmas parade and associated holiday market are being postponed due to expected bad weather. Makeup date will be announced.

It’s National Screwdriver Day. The drink, not the tool.

Magician Jen Kramer performs at the Halloran Centre tonight.

Slider Inn’s signature winter drink the Polar Bear is back: Smirnoff Peppermint Vodka, Meletti Cioccolato Liqueur, Mozart Chocolate Liqueur, sprinkle rim.

Tickets are now on sale for Bardog’s NYE party. $150 gets you a premium buffet and open bar and includes tax and grat. Champagne toast at midnight. I went to this party last year and it was a blast. I ignored the suggestion of formal attire and wore a T-shirt.

Momma’s has announced its NYE party as well. No cover, music by Memphis Drivers.

Tune in to FanDuel Sports Network at 8:30 Sunday to see Ja & Co. make LeBron look like a chump.

The annual Army-Navy football game is today at 2 on CBS.

Mich Ultra has surpassed Bud Light as the #1 shitty beer on draft in the U.S. Discerning beer drinkers, of course, drink PBR.

… which is what I’m about to go do. Back soon with more news.

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The Orpheum has a cornucopia of upcoming Christmas-themed shows over the next week. Let’s have a look:

• Drew & Ellie Holcomb’s Neighborly Christmas – Americana duo from Nashville – Wednesday the 18th
• A Drag Queen Christmas – Thursday the 19th
• Wurlitzer Wonderland – Organ concert – Saturday the 21st
• Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis – Sunday the 22nd

From Beale Street Bears: How to vote for Grizzlies players to play in the NBA All-Star Game

A new restaurant by Petals of a Peony, Little Petals Chinese, will open in the former Smurfey’s Smokehouse space on Madison. So says a sign hanging on the window.

Prior to the 2 PM Christmas parade on Beale this Saturday, there will be a holiday market beginning at 11 AM at the corner of Peabody Place and Main. Local vendors, live music.

The Edge District will host an Art Crawl next Thursday, December 19, from 5 to 8 PM. Marshall Arts, Sheet Cake, Ugly Art Co., and Solid Ground Studio will stay open late.

Burlesque performer Velvetina will host a Christmas cabaret Saturday night at Sun Studio beginning at 6:30.

Soul & Spirits will host a Taylor Swift birthday party Friday from 4 to 9 PM. There will be 6 new Eras-themed beer releases.

More details have been revealed for a proposed hip-hop museum. Downtown is said to be the preferred location.

The Grizzlies have a home game vs. the Brooklyn Nets Friday at 7.

Penny’s Memphis Tigers play a road game at 16 Clemson Saturday at 10 AM. Good chance to get a quality win. TV: ESPN2

A man and woman are accused of burglarizing the new interactive Baron Von Opperbean exhibit on Mud Island.

Explore Bike Share seeks a sponsorship manager.

It’s past 5 PM Thursday and I’m just now posting. The reason why is that the Cossitt Library was late opening. AGAIN. Back sometime soon with more news.

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I’ve eaten lunch at Kooky Canuck a couple of times recently and they’ve had an awesome ’80s mix going – Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, Morrissey, to name a few. Check Kooky out if that’s your jam. Jessica (who you may know from Local on Main or Silly Goose in the past) bartends lunch there Tuesdays-Fridays.

Recently I lamented a lack of Wi-Fi in Court Square. BankTennessee has come to the rescue. Look for their network in the list of available ones. There’s no password. And you’re not mooching; they want you to use it, so says a sign on the door. The signal is strongest near the intersection of Second and Court.

Today is National Stretching Day.

Jhene Aiko comes to FedExForum Saturday.

Ballet Memphis brings The Nutcracker to the Orpheum this weekend.

Delta Joe Sanders, Lindsey Hinkle, and Kim Garmon Hummel play Songwriter Night at South Main Sounds this Friday at 7.

Memphis’ annual Christmas parade is Saturday at 2 on Beale Street.

Get your photo taken with Godzilla at A. Schwab’s holiday party Sunday from 1 to 4. There will be a screening of one of the monster lizard’s films.

Loflin Yard will hold a gingerbread house building bash Sunday afternoon.

Wiseacre Downtown will have free Pilates Saturday at 11.

It’s salsa by the fire at Firepit Friday this Friday at Tom Lee Park 4:30-6:30 PM. Rumba Room will provide a lesson at 5:30 and there will be photos with Santa.

Flying Saucer is holding an ugly sweater party for its Beerknurds Sunday 3-7 PM. Bring an ornament for the Christmas tree.

Stock&Belle will host Cocoa & Carols this Thursday 5-8 PM. It’s a holiday sip & shop with hot cocoa by Dr. Bean’s.

Memphis Farmers Market has its annual Christmas market Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM.

Probably back tomorrow with more news.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
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This year’s schedule of bowl games is now official. Coming to the Liberty Bowl on Friday, December 27 are the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Arkansas Razorbacks. That should be a FUN matchup between old Southwest Conference rivals. Both schools’ fans travel extremely well. It should be a profitable few days for Downtown businesses.

As for our #25 Memphis Tigers, they’ll head to Frisco, Texas to take on good ole West Virginny in the Frisco Bowl next Tuesday, December 17 at 8 PM on ESPN.

That new convenience store on Adams between Front and Main is now open.

Again, apologies for the infrequency and brevity of these posts. I hope to do better soon. Good news – I successfully navigated the GoDaddy maze to get my domain name renewed, so paulryburn.com won’t disappear as I had feared it might.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
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There will be a reunion party for legendary 1990s Downtown nightclub Six-1-Six on Saturday, December 21 at B-side, 1553 Madison. DJs will include

• David the Worm
• Mirrorboy (the party will also be a celebration of his 50th)
• Mary Jane
• Justin Hand
• Fase
• Graflin

9 PM-2 AM. $10 cover. I can’t promise it but I’m gonna try to be there. I BELONG there.

3-day passes and VIP tickets to RiverBeat Fest, May 2-4, 2025 in Tom Lee Park, go on sale tomorrow. Get in while tix are at their cheapest. Lineup has not been announced yet.

Bardog will open at 7:30 AM this Saturday for the St. Jude Marathon. Last chance to buy a drink or breakfast from Allie Cat before she moves to Nashville. St. Jude runners/walkers get 20% off food today through Saturday – just show your race bib or medal.

Automatic Slim’s seeks weekend brunch servers.

Still in a dark place mentally (see yesterday’s posts) but trying to fight my way through.

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In the 1980s there was a young professional wrestler named Mike Von Erich. On an overseas tour with his brothers, he developed toxic shock syndrome. After a long hospital stay, he was released, but he was never the same again physically or mentally.

On November 1, I was taken to the hospital for cellulitis. My body became septic trying to fight the condition. I remained at Regional One for 19 days. They released me, but like MVE I fear I may never be the same again.

I’ve already had to go back to the hospital for 3 additional days.

My swollen left foot hurts except when my shoes are off and lying in bed.

I’m constantly nervous and anxious.

And I’m staying in a homeless shelter, where I still have to follow the rules – sit still in chapel 1-2 hours a day, keep my shoes on, shower every day.

I promise I won’t do what Mike did. (He killed himself in 1987.)

But I worry I’ll never be the same physically or mentally and it scares me to death.

I need my friends. I need the people who love me.

paul.ryburn@gmail.com

 

I had to go back to the hospital on Friday – Methodist this time. I was treated and got better. Monday I was released. I’m back staying at the Union Mission.

Y’all, I am not well mentally. I have about 1001 things stressing me out. I feel so alone. I feel like the world is closing in on me. My anxiety level is to the moon and back.

This blog may disappear soon. My paulryburn.com domain expires next week. I have the money on a debit card to renew it, but the renewal form requires a phone number and I no longer have one.

I need to get out of the Mission but I don’t see a path to that.

I need help. More than anything I need a friend who will listen and not judge me or lecture me.

My apologies to those who have come here expecting the Downtown news. I have let you down the past couple of months.

The Downtown Christmas tree lighting is tomorrow, Saturday, November 23, from 4 to 6 PM at Peabody Place and Main. Holiday vendor market, free hot chocolate and Butterific cookies. Get your photo taken with Santa.

The Tigers got a 68-64 win at San Francisco last night. Next up: vs. 2 UConn at 1:30 Monday in the Maui Invitational. TV: ESPN

Dumbass of the Day

Apologies for the brevity of this post. Still not feeling 100%.

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I’m out of the hospital and just left Bardog, where it was Allie Cat’s last regularly-scheduled shift. (She’ll work Saturday, Dec. 7, the day of the St. Jude Marathon. They’ll open at 7:30 that day.) While I was there, someone ordered a sausage patty, well done. As opposed to a medium rare sausage patty?

HOT GIRL ALERT: Downtown will be crawling with hot girls, dressed to the nines, starting about 3 PM this Saturday. The reason why will be a Justin Timberlake concert at FedExForum that night.

The Grizzlies hit the road to visit the Chicago Bulls Saturday. Slider Inn Downtown will host a watch party beginning at 7 PM.

In other Grizz news, congrats to Taylor Jenkins on becoming the winningest Grizzlies head coach of all time. He surpassed Lionel Hollins with last night’s win over the 76ers.

The McRib returns December 3 and this year, you can buy the sauce by the jug.

The Metal Museum seeks a guest services assistant.

The Archives Bistro inside Hotel Napoleon is hiring all positions.

I’m walking around Downtown but am still a little shaky. Give me a week or two to get this blog back up to full speed. I still plan on celebrating my belated birthday at Bardog Saturday from 11 AM until 3 PM or later if anyone wants to have a PBR with me.

Gotta go chase down a couple of interesting snippets of Downtown gossip. Back maybe Saturday with more news.

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

It looks like I’m going to be released from the hospital tomorrow, Wednesday, November 20. It was weird spending my birthday in the hospital, but it’s absolutely where I needed to be.

I’ll be at Bardog Saturday from about 11 AM to 3 PM if anyone wants to have a birthday PBR 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
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com