Hey y’all, crazy morning around here so I am going to have to delay most of my Monday news until this evening or possibly tomorrow.
I do have one time-sensitive item: Today is National Pi (Pie) Day, 3/14. The Brass Door is celebrating with two savory pie specials: They have a Steak Pie and salad for $10, as well as a Shepherd’s Pie and salad for $11.50.
I haven’t been to the Brass Door happy hour in a while, so I will swing by there today and check it out. Check back at 5:30 or so… I can’t promise a news post, but maybe.
Memphis is still alive in the American Conference tournament, having beaten Tulane 74-54 in the semifinals yesterday. Once again, the Tigers looked like a team who belong in the NCAA tournament. There is only one obstacle standing in their way now: The Tigers play UConn at 2:15 on ESPN in the American Conference finals. Winner gets an automatic bid to the Big Dance.
Jimmy Ogle leads a free Bridge Walk tour, walking the Memphis-Arkansas (I-55) bridge. Meet at Crump Park (exit 12C, Metal Museum Drive) at 2 this afternoon.
Seen on Facebook yesterday: A receipt signed by a woman who left a decent tip on an $18 tab. However, the decent tip was then scratched out and $1 tip was left instead, along with a note “I’m her aunt I can’t let her spend like this.” To the woman who had the tab: Next time, don’t bring Aunt Cheap Ass with you.
Wine lovers: Food & Wine has a great article on how to talk to your sommelier. It lists five questions that could lead to the unexpected discovery of wines you will love, and five questions that really don’t lead to much value at all.
I made it to the Beale Street St. Patrick’s Day parade yesterday, at least for a while. I got a spot outside the Tap Room, and met up with friends.
I can always find some good people to watch a parade with at the Tap Room.
I saw a family walk by with an Aldo’s Pizza box and thought, “Those are the smartest people here.” I didn’t catch any beads, but thanks to my friend Michael I got beads earlier in the day at Bardog, shamrocks with a green shot glass. Due to being on call for work I had to refuse several offers to fill that shot glass.
I kept an eye on the radar on my phone, and about 3:30 I knew it was time to head for the hills before the rain moved in. I considered where to go… Blind Bear is the default, but I have had bad luck being at Blind Bear during parades. Max’s to watch the Tigers play was an obvious choice, but then I would have to deal with getting back to the Downtown core in possibly heavy rain. Diamond Dave put on Facebook that he and Seamus were bartending the Brass Door. I asked if they would have the Tigers on and Dave replied “Yes sir!” Having had such a good experience Wednesday night, I decided it was time for another Brass Door visit.
While the place had been packed Wednesday, it was relatively empty yesterday… which made sense, everybody was at the parade. Of course, it got full afterward. I stayed through the end of the Tigers game. I asked for a menu, but Dave advised me that I should try the chef’s daily special, the corned beef with cabbage. That’s a dish I love, so I was happy to take Dave’s suggestion.
This was some of the best corned beef and cabbage I have ever had. After I finished eating I shook the executive chef’s hand and thanked him for a delicious meal. If corned beef and cabbage ever shows up as the chef’s special again, get it; you will not be disappointed. “Like” the Brass Door on Facebook to keep up with specials and other things going on. They open early (like, sometimes as early as 6 AM) when there are important soccer matches on TV.
They are giving away a cooler:
Drink a Bud Light to enter to win. I decided not to enter because 1) I already have a similar Dos Equis cooler at home that just sits around and takes up space; and 2) Bud Light kinda sucks.
I am just heartwarmed by the respect Seamus has shown me the times I have gone in there this week – and really, every time I have ever been in the Brass Door. It makes me think, I may have to evaluate the list of bars I call my “Big Five” and determine whether the Brass Door should be in that list. More and more I think it should.
“Paul, I want to get you re-introduced to the staff here,” Seamus told me. Of course, I already know Diamond Dave, and I am friends with one of the servers there who I know from other Downtown bars. The Romanian bartender who served me Wednesday came in for the night shift, and I got to talk to her a bit. For those of you who remember the Romanians who were here for the summers of 2003-2006, she is from the same city they were – Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania.
Seamus, Dave and the staff at the Brass Door gave me plenty of reasons this week to keep coming back. However, Swarm by Foursquare gave me one more. I have a new mayorship to defend.
I’ve held three Foursquare bar mayorships simultaneously before, but never this combination: Brass Door, Bardog, and Blind Bear.
I gave Seamus my phone number so he can let me know about upcoming events. Expect to hear more about what’s going on at the Brass Door in this blog.
I am pleased to announce that the Moody Ques have acquired a partial sponsor. I will make an official announcement this week on the team website. The sponsor will help us with liquor and beer as well as a small amount of cash. I had a beer with him at the Blind Bear yesterday and he asked me who was the distributor for PBR in Memphis, because he wanted to talk to them. Things continue to move in a positive direction for the BBQ team. We still have room for another sponsor; if your company would be interested, send us an email at moodyques@gmail.com.
Yesterday I commented that it would be a fantastic civics lesson for the kids if the Republican convention became contested. On that note, I want to give some advice for my readers who have children: Watch the news with your kids. Part of the reason I am the person I have become is because my mother and grandmother had the news on all the time as I was growing up.
I remember when I was a toddler, sitting in my high chair eating Gerber’s beef stew and watching TV. I wasn’t watching The Bozo Show or Sesame Street; I was watching a bunch of men in suits having a hearing of some sort. It didn’t make sense to me, but my grandmother explained that the president did something really bad, and the hearing, called Watergate, was to determine if he should still be president any more. If he left office, my grandmother told me, it would be the first time in the history of the United States something like that had happened, and the vice-president, a man name Ford, would become president.
Because my mother and grandmother had the news on all the time, I understood what was happening when Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin signed their peace treaty. I learned what inflation was. I watched news of the Shah being overthrown and Ayatollah Khomeini taking power. I watched the 1980 Democratic and Republican conventions all the way through. That fall, my elementary school held a mock presidential election. I voted for Carter and he won my school, but lost the real election.
Of course, when I was little the news was subject to the interpretation of adults. I remember running into my grandmother’s room to tell her that a special report was on TV, and that Elvis Presley had died. “Oh, don’t worry about him. He’s just a drug addict,” she said. Well, while that was technically true, he was also the most important figure of a major genre of music. Three years later, that genre’s second most important figure, John Lennon, was shot and killed and my grandmother made a similar comment. (She liked Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr though. If she had an opinion on George, she never shared it with me.)
Watching the news as a little boy probably aided in a few of my trivia team’s victories over the past decade. So, if for no other reason than that, I urge you to watch the news with your kids (and please, not Fox News) and if they have questions, explain to them what’s going on.
I will lead off at D-RANKS with B-RAD today at the Blind Bear. About half an hour before the Tigers play, I will make a decision whether to stay there for the game or walk down Main to my home away from home on the south side, Max’s, which will open at 12:30 and will have the patio open as well. Go Tigers! An NCAA tournament bid could be just hours away.
Time to alert my readers to an absolutely screaming deal in South Main. Reel 2 Real Photography sells beautiful prints of iconic Memphis scenes. This weekend only, they are doing a Rain Sale where you can get any 14 x 20 canvas print for only $100. If you have been on the lookout for art to decorate your home, this is your chance to pick some up at a very reasonable price.
I had a typo on yesterday’s blog. I said that the winner of the Memphis-Tulane game would play in the AAC semifinals at 5 today. I forgot to convert Eastern time to Central time, so the game actually starts at 4. The Tigers will be in it! They trounced Tulsa 89-67 yesterday and looked like a team that belongs in the Big Dance. More good news: In the game to decide the Tigers’ opponent for today, 10-seed Tulane beat 2-seed Houston. So the Tigers are favorites in today’s AAC semifinal today. The game will be on ESPN2.
I watched yesterday’s game at my home away from home on the south side, Max’s Sports Bar. Before the game started, Max announced that if the Tigers won, he would open at 3 today. If it is not raining terribly hard, I want to go to the Beale Street parade, but I may head south to Max’s after that to catch the game.
I almost ended up in an entirely different location yesterday. My friends Feeny and Chicken Fried Steak Rodger went to Silky’s to see our friend Russian Aleks who was bartending. I was already settled in at Max’s, though. Good thing I didn’t go. Rodger made multiple reports on Facebook that he had pooped his pants. That must have been very embarrassing for Feeny.
I do want to get by and see Alexs sometime soon. I like Silky’s and am always looking for an excuse to go there. I see him at the Blind Bear now and then and next time I do, I will ask his schedule.
This is not a Downtown restaurant but check this out. Worth the drive, and those who work in Whitehaven or North Mississippi need to pay special attention.
Collard Green Egg Rolls filled w/ Chicken & Yam Dipping Sauce 😋 #1 Seller at The Bistro. 2945 Millbranch #MBRW16pic.twitter.com/aFm3ov5Sc0
Memphis is best known for BBQ and has many food-related festivals (crawfish, wings, breakfast, burgers to name a few). I have said for a while now that the city has enough diversity in egg rolls to have an egg roll festival. My friend DJ Lil’ Eggroll could supply the music. I am pretty sure that The Bistro would win.
The Big Hog Run, America’s premier 0.2K festival, happens again this year at Memphis in May on Friday, May 13. Only the strongest of the strong can survive this two-tenths of a kilometer run. You know, now that I am my BBQ team’s Director of PR and am no longer expected to be the Moody Ques workhorse at load-in, I will be in much better physical condition that day than I have been in past years. Perhaps I will enter the race. I plan on practicing every day between now and BBQ Fest. In other news, the Blind Bear is approximately 0.2 kilometers from my front door.
Wait, the Friday of BBQ Fest is Friday the 13th? We might as well go ahead and start making the “Welcome to Memphis, tornadoes” signs.
This is over a month away, but save the date: GrowMemphis is having an edible plant sale Sunday, April 17 from 1 to 4 PM at Idlewild Presbyterian at 1750 Union. If you’ve thought about growing a garden of your own, this is the place to get started. They will have all kinds of veggies, including heirloom and organic. They will also have herbs, flowers and more. Proceeds benefit GrowMemphis and they take cards, cash, and checks written to GrowMemphis.
The Grizzlies watch party organized by Choose901 and 3 Shades of Blue is tonight at Kooky Canuck 6:30-9:30. Food and drink specials, giveaways, and you can enter raffles to support the Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation. The Grizzlies play in Atlanta tonight.
I got a post up on the Moody Ques website with final details for next Saturday’s MEAT & Greet. Since it’s the official team site, I went a little bit more in-depth about the team mixer than when I announced it here.
One thing a lot of people don’t realize is that a contested Republican convention is not guaranteed if no candidate reaches 1237 delegates at the end of the final primary in California. In modern times the convention is supposed to be four days of advertising for the chosen nominee, and the Republicans will miss out on that advertising if they have to spend the time negotiating to pick a nominee at the convention. There is six weeks of wheeling and dealing leading up to the conventions where some of the delegates can legally change sides according to their state’s rules.
I personally hope for a contested convention, though, because 1) it would be a fascinating civics lesson for our children, and 2) If Trump or Cruz gets the nomination, then I think the Republican party will be where the Whig party was in 1852, and we’ll get to watch it self-destruct before our eyes.
Plans for today: I will start off at Bardog with my “DAWG” John D. I want to maximize my John D time, so when I get low on my beer, I will start drinking it real slowly and look at John’s beer out of the corner of my eye to see how much he has left. If he orders another one, then I will have one more with him. If he asks for his check, then I can ask for mine too.
After that, a stop at the Blind Bear to see my favorite pair of librarian glasses. Weather permitting, I will wander down to Beale a little bit before 3 to stake my spot for the parade. Post-parade activities TBD. Max’s to watch the Tigers is the most likely option, but Pam and Terry are playing Rum Boogie at 4 and that sounds good too. Feeny works at Rum Boogie so maybe we could sit in her section, although Rodger needs to run by Walgreens for a box of Depends if he plans on joining us.
One thing I do want to do sometime soon is visit the bars in what I call my Overlooked Zone. Most of the time I hang out in the Downtown core, with the Silly Goose and Flying Saucer being my farthest bars south in my neighborhood. When I make the trek to South Main, I tend to go straight to Max’s and walk right past some really good places on South Main. I have never been to Cafe Pontotoc and I need to, not only because I have heard the food is great but because I told a friend I would go there to repay a favor. I want to go to the Green Beetle more often. I want to try Ray’s Barbecue. I do stop at South of Beale occasionally, because there’s a bartender who secretly loves me calls me a turd. It’s been too long since I’ve been to Nate’s bar at Earnestine & Hazel’s. I have yet to go to the reopened 5 Spot, and I have an inside tip that they have $2 PBR. Obviously I won’t make it to all those spots this weekend, but now that we’re getting into nice March-April weather, all of these places are on my agenda in the weeks to come.
Time to dig through my cabinets and find some green beads so I have something green to wear for the parade. Back tomorrow with more news and maybe some photos.
The Memphis Tigers play their first game in the American Athletic Conference tournament tonight. They play Tulsa in a game televised on ESPNU at 8. The winner of that game moves on to play the winner of Houston/Tulane at 5 tomorrow on ESPN2. Go Tigers!
You’ve probably heard by now, but it you take I-55 north to Riverside to get home from work (or to come to work from points east or south), you will want to think of an alternate route. Heavy rain the past few days caused a mudslide on Riverside north of Georgia into the northbound lanes.
There will be an UpRise Memphis Arts Festival Saturday, May 14 at Court Square Center from 2 to 7 PM. The description of the event reads,
The UpRise Arts Festival seeks to enhance the quality of life of Memphians by promoting greater appreciation of the arts through exposure and education; as well as build greater synergy throughout Memphis’ arts, business and residential communities.
I will be getting ready to go on stage with my team to collect a BBQ trophy that day, so I guess I won’t be uprising.
A new menu was announced to Agave Maria this week. They are now getting away from heavy Mexican, going for Vietnamese and Thai fare, while retaining Latin American influences for a fusion cuisine. Interesting. I wonder if their decision to get away from heavy Mexican had anything to do with Maciel’s opening around the corner.
Wednesday night when I went to Diamond Dave’s birthday party, I noticed that the bartender had a bit of an accent. I thought, “maybe she’s Irish” although she didn’t look it. Yesterday Dave emailed me to thank me for the recap of his birthday celebration… but, Dave said, I failed to notice one thing… the bartender was not from Ireland… but rather, Romania. Okay, everyone… I write this blog for free, but I do ask one thing from my readers. If there are Romanians working at bars Downtown, I need to know about it.
Seamus, you asked me if I would stop by once a week so you can tell me about upcoming plans for the Brass Door and the bar next door… I would say it’s downright likely I will be in at least once a week from now on.
The historic police headquarters on Adams, vacant since 1982, may have a buyer.
It’s wrestling night at the Grizzlies tonight at FedExForum. Free luchador masks to first 3000 fans, and Jerry “The King” Lawler will perform in the ring.
That’s it for now… working from home again today, so time to swing by Court House Deli for lunch.
Yesterday I posted a tweet from the @MemphisScanner account, which tweets funny things heard on the Memphis police scanner. The tweet said that a woman was chasing a man with a broom in the Peabody Place parking garage and would not let him leave.
Well, it turns out that I knew one of the people involved in the incident. A friend of mine for over 10 years contacted me and said it was the other way around, that a man was chasing a woman with a broom in the 110 Peabody garage and would not let her leave – and she was the woman. She said the man assaulted her in the garage and then trapped her, terrifying her. When the police arrived, one of the first questions they asked her was “What did you do to provoke him?” In general, I am a huge fan of MPD but that was just REALLY, REALLY BAD. One of the worst things people can do to a victim of an assault is make her feel like it must have been her fault somehow. Although this is the first time I have ever heard of an incident in that garage, I would remind my readers to be careful and to be aware of your surroundings.
Memphis has been named one of the worst cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The St. Patrick’s Day parade on Beale (happening this Saturday) is always a lot of fun, but the 17th itself tends to turn into Amateur Night at the bars Downtown. I will probably go to the Erin Go Braghless party at Bardog that evening – partly because Bardog attracts fewer douchebags than other bars, and partly because the idea of women taking their bras off appeals to me.
The Harbor Town River Music Series dates for this spring have been announced. The series happens in the Harbor Town Amphitheater and the dates are April 23, May 14, and May 28.
The Mollie Fontaine Lounge is now non-smoking. Excellent decision that was praised by many on Facebook following the announcement. Permitting smoking in public places is so 20th century.
Have kids who love the Redbirds? Sign them up to be part of Rockey’s kids club for 2016 for $15. Club members get a ticket to every Sunday home game, as well as 5 Boardwalk tokens. They get a chance to be “kid announcer of the game,” they get to lead the running of the bases after games, and more perks. There are ticket packages available for Mom and Dad as well.
Bleu has announced a new Downtown Social Hour from 11 AM to 6 PM with $3 bottles of select craft beers from Yazoo, Blue Pants, and more.
Working from home today, and I have been surfing Downtown lunch menus to try and figure out where to eat today… sad to hear that Bon Ton Cafe has ceased day-to-day restaurant operations and is now operating as an event space and catering company only.
The Tennessee Stiffs perform at the High Cotton Brewery at 4 PM this Sunday. There is no cover and all ages are welcome. The Hot Mess Burritos food truck will be there, and the patio is dog-friendly.
That’s it for now… everyone being real careful driving home.
Last night was Diamond Dave’s birthday and he sent me a Facebook invite to his party. Dave calls British Bingo around town and Wednesday was not only his party at the Brass Door, but bingo night as well.
(By the way: Apologies for the crappy image quality of this post. My image editing software is messing up this morning and I don’t have time to find the fix.)
It was raining cats and dogs to the point that I took the rare step of bringing an umbrella with me. Normally I hate umbrellas. Anyway, I led off at happy hour at the Silly Goose, and there were maybe 8 people in there, and I would call that a good crowd given conditions outside. About 6:45 I got ready to walk to the Brass Door. “Poor Dave,” I thought. “I bet hardly anyone is going to show up for his birthday party.”
Was I ever wrong! Every table was occupied, and every bar stool was taken. The only reason I got a bar stool was because the DJ got up to do his gig and offered me his seat. A packed house, despite miserable weather, and during the time of year (January 1 through St. Patrick’s) when Downtown bars are at their slowest. Last night was the first time I had been in the Brass Door in about 16 months. Now, I know some of the people were there to see Dave, but looking at that crowd, the Brass Door is clearly doing something to attract folks for happy hour!
Not long after I got there, Seamus made a presentation. He said there is one thing Diamond Dave has always wanted:
… And now that guitar was Dave’s birthday present. The crowed clapped and cheered “SPEECH!” but Dave was a man of few words.
At 7:30 Dave began calling bingo. British bingo works a little bit differently than bingo in the United States. Here’s a look at the card:
You’ll notice that each number 1 through 90 appears on the card exactly once, in one of six colored boxes. Each colored box is a separate game. You have to get a “full house,” in other words every number in the box you are currently playing, before anyone else does to win.
Once the game starts, it goes fast! Dave calls a new number once every six seconds! Fortunately there is a video board where you can keep up with what was called:
Dave has sayings that go with each number. 22 is “two little ducks.” 62 is “tickety-boo.” 66 is “clickety-click.” 4 is “knock on the door.” 11 is “legs eleven.” 90, the highest number, is “top of the shop,” with 89 being “nearly there” and 45 being “halfway there.” The crowd plays along with some of the numbers, quacking twice for “two little ducks” for example and knocking on the bar for 4. This is a lot of fun and if you are looking for a reason to get out of the house and drink a few beers, I recommend it. There are Brass Door gift certificates for the winner of each game.
Seamus, the managing partner of the Brass Door, and I did a Jameson together. He then took me over to the other side, the former Mad Earl, and shared with me some of his vision for that space and the block of Madison his bar is on. He really wants the Brass Door to be a true public house (from which the abbreviation “pub” is derived), where the customers feel like it is their place, that they have a stake in it. He suggested that we meet once a week so that he can give me and my readers updates, and I agreed that was a good idea. So I guess the Brass Door will be seeing more of me!
As for the worry that I wouldn’t know a soul there, I knew a couple of people sitting at the bar. I also knew one of the servers. As I left and walked down Madison, a friend of mine texted that she wanted to say hello but was trapped by other people inside one of the booths.
I drank Memphis Made Fireside Ninja. That is a delicious beer.
I am glad I re-discovered the Brass Door. Very comfortable place. I will be back. Happy birthday Diamond Dave, and thanks for giving me a reason to be re-introduced to this fine Downtown public house.
Yesterday after work, I caught up with my friend Chicken Fried Steak Rodger at happy hour. Rodger is a Texan and he recently returned from a trip there. He checked in on Facebook at the Dallas Cowboys store, which he described as “Mecca.”
Rodger asked about a comment I left on his checkin. “You asked me to pick you up a 4-12 shirt. I don’t get it. What’s 4-12?”
“You know how teams make T-shirts with their season record on them,” I replied. “4-12 was the Cowboys’ record last season.”
Rodger doesn’t like me anymore.
Feathers Spa at the Peabody has started a new promotion called Feathered Friends targeting those in zip codes 38103 and 38104. Just bring an ID or business card showing you work in one of those zip codes, and you will be given a card indicating you are a Feathered Friend. Friends get
25% off all spa services, Sunday-Thursday
Complimentary use of sauna rooms
Special salon and spa product promotions
Free self-parking
Also, I have been told that there are still a few spots open for tomorrow’s wine dinner at the Peabody. Here’s the menu. 901-529-4000 to make reservations.
In other Peabody news, rooftop party season begins April 14, and the schedule will be announced next Thursday, March 17.
So, this happened:
Woman chasing a man with a broom in the Peabody Place Garage. Refusing to let him leave.
I hated to hear about the fire at Saigon Le in Crosstown yesterday. Thank goodness no one was injured, but the Vietnamese restaurant was called a total loss. This is the second time Saigon Le has burned down, suffering a previous fire in 1995. I have enjoyed it the few times I have eaten there. Several of my Facebook friends said, “NOOOOOOO!” when the news was reported.
Tonight is Hockey Night at Kooky Canuck with $6 poutine, 50 cent wings, $4 Labatt Blue 34 oz. draft. It happens every Wednesday during hockey season.
A new book about Memphis wrestling, 1978: Building the Legend, is now on sale at Amazon. In 1977, Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler started a new wrestling promotion in Memphis, shutting out promoter Nick Gulas who had presented events in Memphis for years. In 1978, the new promotion needed to prove it had staying power. Every weekly card of the year is in the book, along with the major storylines that drove Memphis wrestling in 1978.
Local brewery news: Wiseacre brewery out on Broad Avenue will present Gotta Get Up to Get Down on Saturday, March 19. That’s already the name of Wiseacre’s coffee beer, but now it is also the name of a “Run, Yoga, Beer” event. It will start at 10:30 in the morning with a 3-mile run. At 11:30 yoga ambassador Amy Morse will lead participants through a flow, then after that it will be time for some Wiseacre beer. Except for the running and yoga parts, this sounds like an event I would really enjoy.
Rising artist Fred X has reached an agreement to provide upscale entertainment for The Lookout restaurant in Bass Pro.
Congrats to Bernie Sanders on upsetting Hillary in Michigan last night, even though no poll in the state prior to the primary showed him ahead. Feel the Bern! What an upset.
Plans for tonight: I’ll make a quick stop at Silly Goose happy hour to say hello to Jessica, then over to Diamond Dave’s birthday at the Brass Door. It’s been 14 months since I posted my summary of how to play British Bingo; I have gained new readers since, so perhaps it’s time to take some photos and post another one. Working from home today, so it’s time for a quick trip to Court House Deli for lunch.
Before we get started with the news, a note for my Moody Ques teammates: Complete details are now set for the team MEAT & Greet Saturday, March 19. It will be at the Holliday Flowers warehouse at 444 Monroe, with drinks at 4:30 PM and dinner at 6:00. We will have shoulders and ribs. Please email moodyques@gmail.com and RSVP if you plan on attending.
The St. Louis Cardinals have sold a majority interest in the Memphis Redbirds to Peter B. Freund, the principal owner of Trinity Baseball Holdings. Mr. Freund has an excellent track record of developing minor league ballparks, and says he has fallen in love with Memphis and plans to ensure that AutoZone Park remains the premier ballpark in Triple-A baseball.
While we are speaking of AutoZone Park, there is yet ANOTHER event happening on Saturday, April 16: Memphis Brewfest. This is a beer festival in the ballpark’s concourse and there will be a lot of beers not normally available in this market. If I remember correctly, the Cadillac of beers, PBR, had a booth too. I have been to this in previous years and have really enjoyed it, but given all else that is happening, it is unlikely I will be there this year.
The Peabody is hosting a Castello Monaci Winemaker Dinner in Capriccio Grill this Thursday, March 10. Brand ambassador Luigi Seracca Guerrieri will host. Menu here. $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. 901-529-4000 to make reservations.
Choose901 has 30 pet-friendly places in Memphis. Many of these places are Downtown. It’s not on the list but I know for a fact that the Blind Bear’s patio is dog-friendly. (If you see me in person, ask me how I know that)
Interesting article about the history of our city: Memphis Burning
Working from home today. I will be out after work, probably leading off at Blind Bear.
Central BBQ is well known for its ribs, its BBQ nachos, its pulled pork. However, if you never stray away from pig, you are missing out. Yesterday I had a full order of Central’s dry rub wings. In my opinion they are the best wings in the city. You get 6 whole wings, carrots, and your choice of ranch or blue cheese for $9.99. Messy and they are whole wings so you have to pull them apart, but worth it.
*Sigh* I feel like a giant douchebag. I spent all weekend blogging about Downtown Olympics on April 16, typing I WILL BE THERE ALL DAY in all capital letters. I wrote a follow-up post about how the Memphis Flyer’s bacon & bourbon fest will be the same day immediately following DTO, and what a shitshow that will be. Unfortunately in all my blogging the past few days, I overlooked an important fact about April 16 – two of my good friends get MARRIED that day. That completely slipped my mind. J and R, I am truly sorry, and my last few posts were not intended to be insulting toward you in any way.
Yesterday I witnessed an elderly couple require the assistance of three people to get out of a parallel parking spot because a maroon car had parked behind their SUV, six inches from their bumper. The maroon car was parked illegally – no part of it was in front of the No Parking sign. The police were called and a ticket was written. The car’s owner saw me take a photo of the ticket on the windshield, and came out and moved it. Then she walked to a nearby business and used a key to open the door and get in. I am not going to call out the business by name because I appreciate what you bring to Downtown, but be a good neighbor. You could have had access to legal parking, that wouldn’t have inconvenienced anyone, not far away at all.
Exciting news for Beale Street: Jerry Lawler is buying Flynn’s Bar and Grill at 159 Beale and turning it into a wrestling-themed bar. There is perhaps no city in the world that lives and breathes wrestling more than Memphis, and I am happy to see it being celebrated in the city’s #1 tourist district.
Yesterday I pinged Diamond Dave at the Brass Door to find out what Downtown’s Irish pub is doing for St. Patrick’s Day. He’s gathering details for me, but in the meantime, he had some additional news: He invited me to his birthday party this coming Wednesday, March 9, at the Brass Door! There will be drink specials all night, including $4 house wine and $4 Fireball. There will be a live DJ, and of course British Bingo called by Dave will happen as usual at 7:30. Dave, I plan on being there! I have played Dave’s bingo before, but never at the Brass Door, and I am looking forward to it. By the way, this is a public party, so even if you don’t know Dave feel free to come have a good time (and meet him).
The Salty Dogs running group does a run to Mud Island tonight at 7. It’s free to participate, and all are welcome. The gathering point is Bardog, which will have specials for runners in the Underdog Room post-run.
Night at the Lorraine benefiting the National Civil Rights Museum happens Saturday, June 4 from 7 to 11. Come experience the history of the Lorraine Motel, which hosted notable guests including B.B. King, Nat King Cole, “Count” Basie, Isaac Hayes and Booker T. & the MG’s, Satchel Page and Jackie Robinson. There will be food by Memphis restaurants, cocktails, beer, wine, live music featuring ’60s hits, a silent auction, signature gifts, and more.
I am sad to hear of the passing of Alabama pottery maker Jerry Brown, a fixture at the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival for many years.
Business as usual for me this evening: I will lead off at Melissa Monday at Bardog about 5:30, then over to Blind Bear about 7. Back after work or tomorrow with more news.
Parking scam alert: There is a scam going on at the lots around Fourth and Gayoso. Customers pay the electronic meter and type in their license number to indicate which car the payment is for. That part is legit. However, they come back to find a boot on their car, and an “attendant” wanting money to take it off. The couple who reported the scam asked, “Why did we have to punch in our license number then?” and the scammer got in his truck and pulled away. However, I am sure many tourists pay, because they don’t want to be hassled or because they feel intimidated.
To me, this sounds like it could be the work of a person called Jumper Cable Guy who runs automotive-related scams, mostly in Downtown and Midtown but who has been seen in East Memphis too. If anyone has encountered this “boot” scammer, hit me up at paul@paulryburn.com and I will email you a photo of Jumper Cable Guy. I would love to confirm whether or not this is him.
I have a request from one of my readers who asked me, “What’s happening at the Brass Door for St. Patrick’s?” For those who don’t know, the Brass Door is Downtown’s Irish pub, located on Madison between Second and Third. They usually do it up big for St. Pat’s, but as of yet I have no idea what their plans are. Pinging Diamond Dave: Hit me up at the email address above or on Facebook and share any details you would like me to post.
You know, I don’t mention the Brass Door on here much, and I don’t want my readers to get the impression I have anything against the place. It’s a great pub, with the best fries (chips) Downtown and a really good vibe. It’s just that I can’t get the crew I run with to go there, because they view it slightly too far to walk from The Center of the Universe AKA the Silly Goose. Also, the Brass Door doesn’t give the gift of lung cancer, which is inconvenient for some of my crew. I remember the first week Brass Door was open, when I commended Seamus for his decision to go nonsmoking. “Well, Paul, it’s an Irish pub, yes, but I see this bar as a modern Irish pub,” Seamus told me. But anyway, the Brass Door is a fabulous place and I recommend it. The only reason I don’t go there much is because it’s one of the few bars Downtown where I wonder if I will know even one person there if I go.
If you’re an Elton John fan, impersonator Jerred Price will perform as “Almost Elton John” tonight at the Hard Rock at 9.
High Ground news continues their run of excellent articles with one on envisioning a creative district. They want to create a district where creative types of all ages can live and work, and they see that district running from Riverside to Second, and Madison to Gayoso. Hey, I live in that district! And I’m a creative type (seriously, can you name one other blogger who has written a rap song about chicken fried steak?) I’m part of the movement! Let me know if this blog can help spread the word.
Cognac, Cars and Cigars happens today 5-9 PM on the rooftop of the 200 S. Second garage. This is a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish, and it’s all-inclusive with samplings from cognac makers and a premium cigar from BeLeaf Cigars. Attendees will be able to check out some of the hottest cars on the market, including the personal cars of NBA players. You get great food (I would tell you which restaurants are sponsoring but I get a “server error in / application” when I click on the Restaurants link), live music, and a souvenir glass. Tickets are $100 with 15% net tickets benefiting Make-A-Wish.
This just popped up as a memory on Facebook and I thought I would share:
These moais were part of the 2009 Ques Brothers booth design honoring Chile. That was a special year because it was the first year Brent and his staff at Holliday Flowers built our booth. We took third place that year. If you need your event or wedding reception to look beautiful, talk to Brent and his team. You should have seen the interior of our booth; he turned a mud pit into what looked like a swanky Miami nightclub.
It was also special because it was the last year the teams that became The Moody Ques and Squeal Street BBQ were united under the Ques Brothers banner. I am so excited that our sibling team moves into the shoulder division this year. I hope we have booths near each other. Due to the long walk, I did not get to spend as much time in the Squeal Street booth as I wanted last year; I think I did not make it over there at all 2 of the 4 days (counting Friends & Family Night). I look forward to spending a lot of time in Squeal Street’s booth this year, and of course you know I like to leave thank-you notes with pictures of Andrew Jackson for the hospitality.
One of the best comedians in America, Brian Regan, performs at the Orpheum tonight at 8. His stand-up work has been praised by greats like Jerry Seinfeld and David Letterman.
There are some food service positions open at the VA. These are part-time positions, 15 hours a week with your choice of 2 shift schedules, paying $11.64-$13.58 an hour.
High Ground News has an article about the Old Dominick Distillery that will open later this year on Front Street near Gus’s. They are reaching to the past to make artisanal spirits.
The CA’s food writer recently visited Sabor Caribe, the restaurant that opened in the former Arepa and Salsa location in The Edge. The menu is said to be much the same, and the cachapa is still on the menu. For the 90% of my readers (and me) wondering “WTF is cachapa?”, Wikipedia to the rescue. They have a more extensive selection of arepas than the old menu, and there is a Cuban sandwich, a mixed grill, and several burgers.
From FiveThirtyEight: What happens when you eat like The Rock for a month. The People’s Champion, the Great One, the Brahma Bull consumes over 5000 calories a day in the form of seven meals as well as snacks, if you smeeeeeeellllllll-la-la-la-la what the Rock. is cooking. (eyebrow)
Saturday! As usual, I will lead off with my “DAWG” John D. I want to get his feedback on what I need to do Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of BBQ Fest. As the team’s Director of PR, I need to make sure key people get the information about the Moody Ques that they need. I have identified the following key people: Bloom and Teryn, morning bartenders at Bardog; and Mary, Lacey, and Stacey, happy hour bartenders at Blind Bear. I want to present that list to John D and see if he agrees. He will probably tell me to go the extra mile and work the Sunday before BBQ Fest as well, to make sure B-RAD at the Blind Bear is well informed. Anyway, after I consult with John D, my schedule is open until a birthday party tonight at the Goose. A trip to Maciel’s for lunch is a possibility. The weather is getting nice and I am gonna go enjoy a beautiful day!
