Paul Ryburn's Journal

When I did my last post, I looked at my blog’s administrative dashboard for a moment, where there are recent search terms that led visitors to my blog. Someone searched for “christian inspirational message for women’s meeting in june.” HUH??? Is that what they’re calling Tube Top Month these days?

By the way, I am debating whether or not to bring back Tube Top Month for an 11th year. I don’t know, I will see how I feel after BBQ Fest, but I am at least considering not doing it. It will begin May 22 if it does come back.

Papa Murphy’s, the world’s leading take ‘n’ bake pizza franchise, has signed on as a sponsor for BBQ Fest. To celebrate National Pizza Day on May 15, Papa Murphy’s will be handing out free samples of its new BBQ pizzas during the days BBQ Fest is open to the public, May 14-16. There are three different pizzas, made with chicken, angus steak, and pork sausage. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

I heard from someone who was at the Tennessee Brewery last weekend that they are now selling big beers, twice the size of regular beers, for $10. If you want to go back to the bar half as often, there you go.

I got my BBQ team bag last night. The bags are at Cafe Keough for pickup (must show ID), but when you’re “Mr. Load-in” you get your bag hand-delivered because team leaders want you to conserve your energy for the build. Here’s the 2015 Moody Ques soccer jersey, front and back.

Already had a Polish princess ask if we have an extra shirt in size small. I don’t think we ordered a lot of extras but I will see what I can do.

Mud Island news: A boardwalk is planned for the Wolf River harbor.

On May 8, 1985, Rum Boogie Cafe opened, one of the first clubs to spark the rebirth of Beale. Friday they are having a 30th anniversary celebration.

I want to mention another of the Start Co. 2015 accelerator class that pitched to me Monday night. MLS My Nest offers two ways to sell your home for a flat fee, avoiding the 6-7% commissions that real estate agents usually take. You can get representation from an agent, or represent yourself but still be listed in MLS. Great concept and I have to mention that they think I’m the coolest blogger in Memphis (they’re right).

By the way, Eric and Andre from Start Co., if you’re reading this – give MLS My Nest a gold star. Of the companies that pitched me Monday night, they were the only one to follow up with an email.

Time for a run to Target then back to work. Two and a half more days until BBQ Fest. Out at the usual places after work.

Before I get started with the news, Moody Ques BBQ team announcement: Your team bags will be ready for you to pick up at Cafe Keough by tomorrow. Cafe Keough is at 12 S. Main, on the Main Street Mall on the ground floor of Number 10 Main where team workhorse “Mr. Load-in” lives. If you’ve never been, I would advise you to come hungry: Great sandwiches, great salads, great breakfasts. The meze plate with a glass of wine (they have a full bar) is a hit. If you’re into healthy stuff, they have things like quinoa and tempeh and hummus.

They also have a new item: Donkeys. They used to have “ponies” which were 7 ounce Miller High Life. Now they have “donkeys” which are miniature Coronas.

It’s Cinco de Mayo, and to celebrate both Local locations will be serving menu items from Agave Maria Cantina, the new Mexican restaurant soon to open on Union next to Parking Can Be Fun.

Going to the Redbirds game tonight? If you’re one of the first 2000, you will receive a Redbirds koozie, courtesy of Pancho’s Cheese Dip. Also, it is $1 King Cotton hot dog night.

Holly from the I Love Memphis blog tweeted some interesting news yesterday: Bass Pro at the Pyramid is pet-friendly. They aren’t allowed in restaurants and only service animals in hotels, but everywhere else is fair game as long as your animals are on leashes. Follow @ilovememphis on Twitter for more of Holly’s tweets.

A convention center has been proposed for One Beale, according to an article the MBJ posted last night.

Swarm is bringing back mayorships soon! That is the feature I have missed most about Foursquare/Swarm. Unless they change the rules, the deal is, whoever checks into a venue the most in the past 60 days (only 1 checkin a day counts) becomes “mayor” of that venue. I was mayor of Flying Saucer for all but a few days mayorships existed, and I was mayor of Blind Bear for over two years uninterrupted. I was also mayor of Silly Goose several times, and Bardog several times. The only of my “main five” hangouts where I never became mayor was Max’s Sports Bar (dammit Mikey).

Last night I stopped by the Flying Saucer for a few Pint Nite beers, and I had the pleasure of meeting some of the Start Co. 2015 accelerator class. Eric knows he is always welcome to send founders over to pitch their businesses to me, and he sent several over last night. I will mention some of them on the blog this week. One of the companies is called Preteckt and it uses data mining to offer predictive preventative maintenance for your vehicle. Based on data from your vehicle and similar vehicles, Preteckt will tell you when you are in need of service and keep you from getting stuck on the side of the road.

Grizzlies play Golden State in Game 2, 9:30 on TNT. Ugggghhhh I hate those late start times. If I stay up and watch it, it will probably be at the Blind Bear. Time to grab some lunch and get back to work.

Okay, folks, before I start with the news, I would like to announce the daily special: FREE PUNCHES IN THE FACE for people who post “May The Fourth Be With You” on Facebook.

One of the happiest times of the year for me is when I start “The BBQ Fest Note” in Evernote. That’s the note where I write down the names and booth numbers of teams that have invited me to stop by, and who on the team invited me. Today I started the note. The Moody Ques are on the far south end of the park, about as inconvenient a spot as possible for someone who lives in the Downtown core. A member of one of the rib teams on the far north didn’t think I should have to walk thirsty all the way to my booth, and invited me to stop in his booth to grab a beer. Of course I made the invitation reciprocal.

I also need to make a “people I need to invite to my team’s booth” list in Evernote. It’s actually a fairly short list, because 1) I don’t put service industry people on the list, they’ll show up anyway; 2) I don’t put people on the list who another Moody Ques member knows better than I do; and 3) I don’t put team leaders of the other local BBQ teams on the list, because they should have no problem getting in. That leaves a pretty small list, and not surprisingly it’s mostly females. I need to get those invites out today, because if I wait until next week, let’s face it, I’ll forget.

Pro tip for first-year team members: Don’t give out any of your guest wristbands until your guests are physically in the park. People SAY they’re going to stop by, but in my experience only about 30% of people who say that actually DO. This is especially true for teams like ours that are at the far south. Guest wristbands are a precious commodity and you don’t want to waste them. Have your guests text or call you once they are on the way to come see you, and meet them with their wristbands.

Pro tip for people visiting our booth: You have the best chance getting in before 7 or on Saturday. 7 to midnight Thursday and Friday are our peak times and we really have to police the door (literally – we have MPD at the door). There are times when we hit capacity and have to turn people away, people that we would really like to come visit. I hate that but we have to do what the fire marshal says. Please don’t take it personally if you get turned away during peak hours.

The Salty Dogs running group will have a run from Bardog to Sun Studio and back this evening at 7. They are a great group, there is no cost to join them for the run, and after the run the Dogs enjoy specials in the Underdog Room. I would join them, but I need to get lots of practice lifting 16-ounce mugs of PBR so I will be in shape for load-in on Saturday.

The event listing for Best Memphis Burger Festival is now on Facebook. It will be Saturday, October 3. There will be competitions for Best Veggie Burger, Best Anything But Beef Burger and Best Memphis Burger. There will also be Best Bloody Mary and Best Margarita competitions, eating competitions, live music, food trucks, kids’ events and more. Save the date!

For those of you who are fans of the Say Cheese grilled cheese food truck, it will be Downtown Friday from 4-9 at the High Cotton Brewery.

It was good to be back at Bardog for brunch with Bloom… actually, it was Brooke filling in because Music Fest is Bloom’s spring break. My “DAWG” John D joined me. Mid-afternoon I moved over to Blind Bear for the Grizzlies game and D-RANKS with B-RAD. Lots and lots of D-RANKS:

A guy at the bar ordered 20 Fireballs and told Brad, “Hand them out to the bar.” I normally try to avoid Fireball these days but I went along with the crowd. I needed it to get through that Grizzlies game too. Mid-afternoon I walked down to the brewery, where it was Sunday crawfish boil day. I decided to have a box.

10 bucks for a pound and a half. They were good but not as spicy as the crawfish I have had at spring festivals. Corn is optional, but of course I wanted it.

That’ll wrap it up for this Monday. Four and a half days until vacation. I’ll be out at Melissa Monday at Bardog and Pint Nite at Saucer tonight.

Yesterday I started off the day with some food truck munchin’ and yoga pants watchin’ at the Memphis Farmers Market. Once again I returned to the tandoori truck, and this time I didn’t want just a snack. It was getting close to 11 and I was ready for lunch.

I got the chicken curry over rice, with a side of vegetables with yogurt sauce for dipping. An enormous serving of food for only $7.  Delicious, and the gentleman who operates the truck takes great care to make sure that your food is exactly the way you want it.

I’ll say it one more time… if you live within walking distance of this fabulous market and you don’t go there at least a few times during the season, you are missing out. Even if you don’t buy anything from the vendors, there is still live music, food trucks, and the chance to mingle with your neighbors. I have been to 4 of the 5 markets this year. Next Saturday is probably a week off, though, given that it is load-in and you know what a workhorse I am during that time of year. Hey guys, can I be the one to carry in the flamethrower?

(I mentioned the flamethrower )

Residents of the Wm. Farrington building on South Main: Did you notice a puddle near your sidewalk entrance yesterday morning? Yeah, I can explain that. I was walking back to the Downtown core about 10:45 after leaving the market. Two women were about 100 feet ahead of me. One of them dropped her drawers and proceeded to urinate on the sidewalk right there in public, not caring if anyone saw. Yep, it’s Music Fest weekend.

Do girls still use “tinkle” as a synonym for “urinate”? I remember watching the Match Game in the early 1980s with Gene Rayburn as host and Brett Summers and Charles Nelson Reilly as regulars, and the word “tinkle” was used all the time.

At 11 it was time for a BBQ planning session at Bardog with head cook Frank, vice-president Clay, my “DAWG” John D, and team workhorse “Mr. Load-in.” We discussed last minute entries to join the team, our shopping list, and recent media coverage our team received.

While we were meeting, a girl came in to retrieve her credit card that she left at Bardog Friday night. Before I continue this story, let me point out that she violated a cardinal rule: If you leave a credit card at a bar, and you’re female, and you come in the next morning to pick it up, you MUST have your hair in a ponytail. That is a requirement. But chicky was from out of town and I guess she didn’t know. Anyway, while she was there she decided to order food to go as well. She signed her receipt, grabbed her bag, and walked out… and left her credit card again.

You know, I really didn’t think that story was all that funny, but when I posted it to Facebook it got 53 likes. That’s approaching hot girl post territory. Do you know what I mean when I say “hot girl post”? For example, my friend Jessica who bartends at Silly Goose can post “I just microwaved a piece of pizza” and it will get 50 likes. 150 if she attaches a selfie to the post. 350 if she’s wearing a bikini in the selfie.

After a stop at Blind Bear to see my favorite pair of librarian glasses, I wandered down to the brewery. The Pranom Pop-Up booth was open and serving drunken noodles. Even though I had already eaten a few hours before, I couldn’t resist.

All the chili pepper you see on top there was added by me after the noodles were served. I love spicy food. Very tasty and I see why this guy has become a national sensation. He will be back at the brewery today. May be your last chance for a while to try Pranom Pop-Up.

It’s Sunday Fun Day. After more than a month of absences, brunch with Bloom at Bardog is back on the agenda as the first stop. Mid-afternoon I will relocate to the Blind Bear for D-RANKS with B-RAD, the weekly episode of the Rahul and Tony Show, and the Grizzlies game (2:30 tip-off, ABC). Happy Sunday and try not to wear out your vocal cords going “Wooooooooooo!!!!!!!” if you go to Music Fest.

Several times yesterday I was asked the best place Downtown to see tonight’s fight. For a while I had no answer – Hooters will show it but that’s not really a place I recommend. However, about 5 yesterday the post above went up on Facebook. Well, there’s your answer. The brewery is showing it for FREE. Why would you go anywhere else if you live down here?

Man. The brewery is KILLIN’ IT this year. Last Saturday I got a Revival growl towel (which if you’re viewing this on the web, you know that I made it my profile pic on the blog, first profile pic change in 7 1/2 years) and tonight the fight. I can’t wait to see what they do next. I kinda hate it that I am going to have to spend a weekend this month (BBQ Fest) away from the brewery.

Speaking of the brewery, last night BBQ team president Moody and workhorse “Mr. Load-in” ventured up there, where we met teammate Otto. I went to the bar and got a PBR. “You know all the beers are $5,” Moody commented. “You could have a better quality beer for the same price.” Does anyone understand what Moody is talking about? I don’t.

Pranom Pop-Up was there serving huge boxes of Pad Thai for $10, and I understand the pop-up will be back up there today. I haven’t tried the Asian dish yet and may have to get down there at some point this afternoon. Might be back for the fight too. It is bound to be a long day.

Jeanne Bogino, author of Rock Angel, the story of a 1990s guitar goddess and her romance with a bandmate, will be at South Main Book Juggler to sign copies of her book at 1 today. The shop is at 548 S. Main in the Arcade building, across from Central Station. If you haven’t figured out a game plan for today, a noon trip to the brewery or Farmers Market followed by a short walk over to the book signing might make for a good early afternoon.

Tonight is the annual Speakeasy fundraiser at the Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum. There will be Gatsby-esque entertainment, dancing under the stars, and 1920s-era cocktails and decorations. $25 donation goes toward the continued preservation of the museum. Starts at 6 PM.

Memphis Symphony Orchestra performs Beethoven’s Ninth tonight at the Cannon Center at 7:30. With Music Fest going on and Bass Pro open, Symphony fans will be lucky to find a parking spot in Frayser tonight.

Moody Ques members: We have secured a spot for you to pick up your team bags, which should be available by the middle of next week. I won’t reveal the location quite yet, but a word of advice: Come hungry and order food while you are there. One of the best chefs in town is at this location. If you like healthy food you are especially in for a treat.

(Why am I talking about healthy food to people who stick a damn pig in a smoker for 16 hours?)

(By the way, we light the smoker with a flamethrower )

That’ll wrap it up. Plans for today are wide open. I probably am not going to Music Fest but I love Music Fest people-watching. Sitting on the concrete blocks outside of Silky’s and drinking a Call-a-Cab watching the world go by will probably happen at some point. I need to make the most of this weekend, because next weekend is load-in and that means nothing but hard work.

Today is not only the first day of Beale Street Music Fest, but the start of Memphis in May in general. There are a few lesser-known Memphis in May events going on today.

At the National Civil Rights Museum, there is a “Human Rights and Struggle – Polish Transformation and the Art of Posters” exhibit going on. It displays posters as a method of communication and catalyst for change in Memphis in May’s 2015 honored country.

The Metal Museum has an exhibit of metal artifacts by the well-known Brothers Lopienska firm, founded in Poland in 1862.

Mud Island River Park has an exhibit from the Chopin Museum in Warsaw, displaying an unconventional look at the pianist’s artistic process and personality.

The Orpheum has announced its 2015 Summer Movie Series:

• Thur 6/4 7PM – Top Gun
• Fri 6/5 7 PM – Back to the Future
• Thur 6/11 7 PM – Grease
• Fri 6/12 1:30 PM – Family Matinee: Space Jam
• Fri 6/12 7 PM – Casablanca
• Thur 6/25 7 PM – Clueless
• Fri 6/26 1:30 PM – Family Matinee: James and the Giant Peach
• Fri 6/26 7 PM – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Thur 7/9 7 PM – The Wizard of Oz
• Fri 7/10 7 PM – Airplane!
• Thur 7/23 7 PM – The Sound of Music
• Fri 7/24 7 PM – Double Feature: Nightmare on Elm Street/Friday the 13th
• Thur 7/30 7 PM – Hook
• Fri 7/31 7 PM – Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
• Fri 8/14 7 PM – Young Frankenstein
• Fri 8/28 7 PM – Gone with the Wind

A new liquor and wine store called Quench will be coming soon to Second Street. It will be operated by the people who own City Market. Finally, a decent liquor store in the Downtown core! We have needed one for years.

Remember Pranom Pop-Up, the traveling Thai street food pop-up that did nights at High Cotton Brewery and Silly Goose a while back? You can find it at the Tennessee Brewery today. Thanks @ilovememphis for tweeting that info.

High Ground News had a list of 10 obscure sites to visit in Memphis. One of them is Downtown: the art gallery in the main First Tennessee branch at Third and Madison. Agreed, absolutely worth a visit.

Less than four hours until the weekend. I really hope I get a spot in my parking garage before Music Fest-goers take them all. I really don’t want tonight to be a late night, but due to people outside my building going “Woooooooooo!!!!!” in the wee hours of the morning, it will be whether I like it or not.

 

Rare early-morning post. Woke up about 4, couldn’t get back to sleep…

If you need a break from the craziness of Music Fest this weekend, or if you need an alternative to Music Fest, don’t forget that Tennessee Brewery Revival is ongoing. This week’s musical entertainment includes Side Street Steppers from 3 to 7 PM Saturday, May 2; and Artistik Approach 3-4 and Delta Cats 4:15-7 Sunday, May 3. There are always food trucks (crawfish on Sundays too) and lots of regional craft beer, Brewery staple Goldcrest 51, and the Cadillac of beers, PBR.

I got an interesting little tip last night that I thought I would pass on: There’s a bar menu at Texas de Brazil. For around $12 you get six pieces of meat, mashed potatoes, and bread. The only catch is, you don’t get to pick the pieces of meat. When you order, the bartender goes to the back and gets you three pieces of meat, then when you’re ready the bartender gets you three more. Six pieces is enough to fill up someone with an average-sized appetite, and for the price I could live with not being able to pick my pieces. The deal is only available if you sit at the bar.

Various puns involving lettuce (Lettuce Eat, Lettuce Toss It Up A Bit This Week, Lettuce Turnip the Beet) are the theme at Memphis Farmers Market tomorrow. It’s the beginning of National Salad Month and the market has everything you need to make the perfect salad, even toppings you might not associate with the market including artisan cheese, croutons, and seafood morsels. From 9 until noon you can get your blood pressure screened for free courtesy of UT College of Pharmacy. Live music by The Three Kings 8:30-10, Ashlee K. Thomas 10-11, Eric Crays 11-12:30. Downtown bike ride departing from the Market at 9 (must wear helmet). Pet adoptions too. 7 AM to 1 PM tomorrow at the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson. PRO TIP: If you must drive a car to the market, come as early as possible, preferably before 11 when the Music Fest crowd will begin to converge in the South Main area. Walk, bike, or ride the green bus that sounds like a trolley if at all possible.

There’s a Groupon for Flynn’s, the karaoke bar on Beale Street, currently ongoing. $14 for $25 worth of American food.

Over on Mud Island tonight at 5, there’s a Kentucky Derby Dinner at Tug’s. Menu features bourbon salmon, Kentucky Hot Browns, and mint juleps.

For the first time for any BBQ team I have ever been on, our team T-shirts were ready before May 1. I saw them last night and they look awesome. If you need shirt printing done, be sure to talk to Josh at Winfield’s at 2 S. Main, across the street from Walgreens. Moody Ques team president Moody, vice-president Clay, and workhorse “Mr. Load-in” met last night to discuss a plan to get team bags together. We hope to have them ready to distribute by about Wednesday of next week.

If you live in the core or South Main, it might not be a bad idea to leave work early this afternoon (I am). Parking is going to be crazy down here with Music Fest going on. I am about to leave for work 30 minutes early so I can check out early this afternoon. Happy Music Fest if that is your plan this weekend.

Congratulations to the Majestic Grille, which recently renewed its lease for another 10 years. Glad the restaurant will be sticking around, but not surprised. Speaking of the Majestic, its next dinner in its Ten til Ten series will be held on May 5, Cinco de Mayo, and it will feature dishes from the Oaxaca region of Mexico. Chef Patrick Reilly will be joined in the kitchen by longtime Majestic Chef Luis Reyes, a native of the region. Here’s the menu.

While we’re on the subject of events with a Mexican menu, there will be a Mexican buffet at the Peabody rooftop party tonight (sorry, I don’t have exact details on the food that will be served). The Brad Birkedahl Band will headline (you may remember Brad from my favorite Memphis band ever, The Dempseys) and special guest Cash Cash will also perform. $10 cover, doors open at 6, ladies free until 7, and you can purchase season-long VIP passes with lots of special perks at the door.

The Grizzlies closed out Portland last night at home, and will get a few days’ rest before their Western Conference semifinals opener at Golden State on Sunday. I had heard the game was going to have a 12:30 start time, but ESPN’s NBA schedule is showing a 2:30 tipoff with the game on ABC. That works perfect for my schedule. That will allow me to hit brunch with Bloom at Bardog when that bar opens Sunday at 11 – Bloom is regaining her spot on my Sunday agenda after having not had it for several weeks – then over to Blind Bear for D-RANKS with B-RAD to watch the game. With a Grizzlies game midday, I definitely won’t be going to Music Fest on Sunday.

Speaking of which, here are the Music Fest performance times and stage information. I usually don’t do Music Fest, but with gorgeous weather all weekend long I haven’t totally ruled out going Saturday.

Several Downtown restaurants are participating in Dine Out for Life today, donating a portion of their proceeds to Friends for Life, an organization that supports those with HIV, AIDS, and their caregivers. Downtown restaurants include Rizzo’s Diner, Silly Goose, McEwen’s, Mollie Fontaine Lounge, Blind Bear, eighty3, Grawemeyer’s, and Chez Philippe. It would be a good night to not deal with cooking and washing dishes and eat out at one of these restaurants instead.

I Love Memphis is throwing a party in Court Square Wednesday, November 6, from 11 to 2:30 at lunchtime.

Bass Pro Pyramid got tons of media coverage, but Gizmodo is not a fan.

That’s it for now. Back tomorrow or maybe tonight with more news.

Today’s the big day. Bass Pro at the Pyramid has its grand opening this evening at 6. Can’t make it in person? The Memphis Flyer has a video tour as well as a guide.

The Grizzlies have Game 5 against Portland tonight at 8:30. Between that and Bass Pro, expect extremely heavy traffic Downtown this evening.

The Tennessee Brewery is open 4-8 tonight for people who want a spot to pre-game for the Grizz.

The man who stole Elton John’s glasses from the Rock & Soul Museum is now in custody and the glasses have been returned.

Forecast is looking mostly excellent for Music Fest this weekend. The only negative is that low near 50 Friday night. Don’t let that stop you from wearing those tube tops though. The thing about good weather for Music Fest, is that it’s often a sign of bad weather for BBQ Fest two weeks later. I hope I don’t find myself walking home in the 52 degree rain again.

Reminds me: Moody Ques, check your email. Head cook Frank sent out the menus and shopping lists for each day, along with requests for a few items we need in the booth. Of course, a flamethrower is not on the request list because we already have one. I’d post the menu here but it might attract freeloaders, so check your email and let me know if you did not receive an email.

(I mentioned the flamethrower )

The Flyer’s Hungry Memphis blog has a report on Oshi’s Danger Dog. Bacon!

The Flyer is having a margarita fest Saturday, June 27 out in Overton Park.

I’ll be out at the usual spots after work, and will stay up to see the end of the Grizzlies game.

Wow, I just looked at my traffic counter. As usual, my blog traffic more than doubled the day after Wine Race. Welcome to all my new readers, and feel free to stick around.

Bass Pro at the Pyramid has its grand opening tomorrow evening at 6. There will be free parking and shuttles to alleviate congestion in the area. Here’s a map.

Part of the reason Downtown will be congested tomorrow is that Portland beat the Grizzlies last night, forcing a Game 5 which will be played at FedExForum. Game 5 tickets are now on sale.

One of Downtown’s kindest, most wonderful people is Suhair Lauck, affectionately known as “Miss Su” to the Downtown community. Miss Su operates the Little Tea Shop on Monroe, and she has never met a stranger. This past weekend, whether an accident or intentional vandalism, one of the two benches outside the front of her restaurant was destroyed. Her friends have started a GoFundMe account to raise money to replace the bench.

Last week I posted that a Chili Cheese Fritos taco was spotted at the Taco Bell at Third and Crump. It’s now official: Memphis is a test market for the new taco.

I tried the build-your-own nachos at the new Mexican joint at 154 Beale yesterday for dinner.

I chose to have mine topped with Peppadew pepper beef brisket. This was a whole lot of food at an inexpensive price, and it was very good.

The Daily News has coverage of the first mayoral forum of the season, held yesterday at the Tennessee Brewery.

A new thrift shop has opened on South Main.

That’s all for now. Back at it after a three-day weekend. Will be out at the usual places after work.