Paul Ryburn's Journal

Working from home today. You know, using a netbook with a 10″ screen to proxy into a work computer with a 19″ monitor is not ideal, but it beats driving on ice I suppose.

Sitting here typing my lunchtime post as Winter Storm Cleon rages through the Mid-South. Cleon? Yep, the Weather Channel is naming winter storms now, in an attempt to establish itself as the ultimate authority about weather, even more important than NOAA. The problem is, the names the Weather Channel has picked just plain suck. What if we let Beavis and Butt-head pick winter storm names? Ass-Munch, Bunghole, Cornholio, Dumbass, Fart-Knocker. “Winter Storm Fart-Knocker is dumping sleet and freezing rain on the metro area…” That’d be cool.

Tonight’s Prohibition Dinner at Chez Philippe has been cancelled due to the weather. If my blog yesterday got you excited and you planned to go, sorry, guess it’s time to order some pizza.

If the ice cuts your power this weekend and you plan to temporarily re-locate to a hotel, you’re out of luck. Marathon runners have the hotel rooms booked. The marathon by the way, is still on as scheduled, although officials will monitor the weather.

The Max’s Sports Bar vs. Green Beetle bowling showdown scheduled for tonight has been cancelled due to the weather.

There’s a good review of A.Schwab’s new soda fountain on the Hungry Memphis blog.

At least two or three people I follow on Twitter soiled their pants this morning after the USA drew into a group with Ghana, Germany, and Portugal for the 2014 World Cup. Apparently that is THE WORST DRAW EVER and if today’s ice storm doesn’t kill us all, being in Group E will.

It’s been confirmed that the Trans-Siberian Orchestra show is on for tonight at FedExForum.

Miss Cordelia’s now has local Wiseacre Brew beers in stock.

Fsacebook quote from the Nuh-Uh Girl: “I have a love/hate relationship with the Costco sample stations.” Sigh… she just doesn’t care at all that she has a reputation for showing up wherever there’s free food. She relishes it, in fact.

Green Beetle will be closing at 4 today due to the weather.

Roser from the Chris Vernon Show reports that a trolley hit a car on South Main minutes ago. It’s getting icy out there, so please be careful and take it slow. I’m going to work for a few more hours then hit the Saucer for happy hour. Happy snow (ice) day!

 

Tomorrow night is the first-ever performance of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “The Lost Christmas Eve” at the FedExForum. Great thing to do with a date or the family on a Friday evening. Here’s a preview.

Also tomorrow night is a Prohibition Repeal Dinner at the Peabody’s Chez Philippe, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the repeal of one of the stupidest laws ever. There will be a buffet supper and period cocktails. $85 per person plus tax and grat. 901-529-4188 for reservations.

Also tomorrow night is “A Rock N’ Roll Christmas” at the Cannon Center for Performing Arts. The show features Visible Music College students and special guest, Sarah Simmons from NBC’s The Voice and Neighborhood Christian Center’s Children’s Choir, with fresh interpretations of both traditional and contemporary Christmas music. Admission is free, but the music college will happily accept donations.

There’s a New York pizza place getting ready to open at 45 S. Main, a couple of doors down from DeJaVu. That’s a gutsy move, opening only a block away from Aldo’s Pizza Pies which already serves New York-style pizza. I suppose it’s better to have two pizza places within a 3-minute walk of my front door as opposed to zero, though, which was the case not long ago.

The National Weather Service has upgraded the Memphis area to a 4 on the Ice Impact Index for the predicted impact of tomorrow’s ice storm. That means “Prolonged and widespread utility interruptions. Damage to many main feeder lines possible. Utility outages lasting up to 10 days possible.”

Conversation at the Silly Goose last night: “I feel sorry for the Memphis Tigers. Between the marathon and the ice, no one is going to be able to get to the FedExForum for their game at noon Saturday.”

I replied, “Well, only Downtowners will be able to get to the arena, because we can walk. But a lot of us will probably walk to a bar and watch the game there.” The Blind Bear has proved to be a fine basketball watch spot, so I will probably land there for the game. Hopefully I will be spared the day bartender’s “tube tops are gross” comments. Who doesn’t like tube tops?

Everybody be safe driving home tonight, and if at all possible stay off the roads tomorrow. I plan on hitting the Blind Bear’s Prohibition repeal party after a couple of stops this evening.

Since it’s a speakeasy, it’s only appropriate that the Blind Bear would throw a party to celebrate the anniversary of the end of Prohibition. It will be Thursday night starting at 8 with $3 moonshine and whiskey all night. Charles will host “Waste Your Brain” trivia at 8, and then at 10 Jen & Levin take the stage.

Pizza with Santa is back next Saturday, December 14, at Aldo’s Pizza Pies from 1 to 4 PM. A $5 donation to the Mid-South Food Bank or a toy for Toys for Tots will get you a photo with Santa and more.

A. Schwab on Beale has a new retro soda fountain up and running. Flavors include Cherry Phosphate, Raspberry, Four Root. They serve sandwiches at the counter, and have Sweet Magnolia ice cream, Dinstuhl’s candies, gelatos, and sorbets. If you have kids or grandkids, this sounds like a great place to take them.

For the third day in a row, I’m mentioning the weather and its effect on Saturday’s St.Jude marathon. Organizers have posted tips to stay warm and comfortable as you run the race in the bitter cold.

MemphisWeather.net has an updated blog on the ice storm expected on Friday. We’re already under a Winter Storm Watch, which they expect to be upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning or Ice Storm Warning no later than tonight. A new index being tested by the National Weather Service locally for the first time this year, the Ice Storm Index, places Memphis and northern DeSoto County as likely to have a Level 3 Ice Storm Friday, based on accumulations and wind speed. This level of storm can produce utility interruptions of up to 5 days.

The blog also mentions that it was 70 one day before the ice storm of 1994. Those of you thinking, “The ice will melt on the roads because it’s been so warm recently” need to think again.

Home from work and headed to the Silly Goose to celebrate a friend’s birthday and the last day I will be able to wear shorts out for a while.

The first Saturday morning in December is not a great time to drive Downtown. The streets will be clogged with St. Jude Marathon runners. Best advice is to not drive at all that day, but if you must, Action News 5 has a list of what streets will be the most crowded and at what times.

The MemphisWeather.net blog has info on the icy weather that will be headed our way Friday. Temperatures will be in the mid-upper 30s Friday morning, and as they fall below freezing midday precipitation will change to freezing rain or sleet. Models indicate that enough ice may accumulate to warrant a Winter Storm Warning or an Ice Storm Warning. Yikes. I will say it again: If you’re headed to Memphis from out of town for the marathon, taking vacation and getting here Thursday would be a very good idea.

We’ve made it through Black Friday, Shop Local Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Today is Giving Tuesday. Instead of shopping for material goods for yourself or others, why not donate to a local nonprofit or charity? You have plenty of choices: A large charity like St. Jude, MIFA, or the Mid-South Food Bank; or smaller nonprofits like the Memphis Farmers Market or the Center for Southern Folklore. Or, you could give your time to a charity like Memphis Grizzlies TEAM UP that mentors young people.

Obsidian’s PR 180 project has launched for 2014. Your organization could win six months of pro bono PR from the firm, and receive the same focus and resources as Obsidian’s paid clients. Apply here. Nominations will run through December 6. On December 9, voting will begin on Obsidian’s Facebook page, and will run through the 16th. Two winners will be selected.

The Redbirds have announced a special exhibition game against the defending National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals, for March 28 at AutoZone Park. “The Battle of the Birds” will be the Redbirds’ final pre-season game leading up to Opening Day.

Good article on Josh Pastner on the USA TODAY website today.

That’s it for this Tuesday. As usual I will play the 8 PM poker game at the Blind Bear tonight.

CONGRATULATIONS to Coach Josh Pastner on getting that first win over a Top 25 team, and what a win it was! Memphis beat #5 Oklahoma State to win the Old Spice Classic last night, 73-68. Shaq Goodwin was named tournament MVP, and also American Athletic Conference Player of the Week. Austin Nichols was named conference Freshman of the Week. Your city is so proud of you, Tigers! Here’s a full report from CBSSports.com.

Bad weather is on the way for the weekend. The MemphisWeather.net forecast shows temps falling on Friday with rain changing to freezing rain or sleet. Very cold on Saturday, and then another chance of ice or snow on Sunday. I had a St. Jude half-marathon runner email me today and ask how Memphis handles icy weather. The answer is, not well at all. If you are coming from out of town for this Saturday’s race, I would recommend taking vacation and getting here Thursday if it all possible.

The marathon/half-marathon is not the only thing happening on Saturday. The Tigers have a home game at noon. The SEC championship will be played that day, and the bars will be packed with people watching the game. The Grizzlies have a home game at 7. Also at 7 will be Bob & Roland’s 9th annual Stumblin’ Santa pub crawl and toy drive. Last year over 700 Santas marched around Downtown, and it will probably be even bigger this year. If you want to join in, put on a Santa suit or other and bring a toy to the first stop, the Flying Saucer, about 7.

A man is accused of punching a cop and throwing another cop through a window at B.B. King’s Sunday morning. Read the story here.

That’s all for now. I am just dead tired but will try to make it out for a little while after work.

I promised you a post today, so here you go. It’s going to be a fairly short one though. If you need to buy anything today, I took a walk around the northern part of the Downtown core this morning. Walgreens is closed. Jack’s Food Store is open. The convenience store at Second and Madison is open, but don’t go there if you want Mountain Dew; they’re out. City Market is closed.

The once-a-year Majestic Grille 50% off gift card sale happens next Wednesday, December 4, from 8 AM until they run out. You can buy as many $50 gift cards as you like for $25. There are some restrictions, though: The cards can’t be used until after the New Year, and they can’t be used to purchase alcohol. It’s still worth it, though, because their food for half-off is a value indeed. You must purchase the cards in person, no phone orders, so if you can’t be there Wednesday morning, give your money to someone who can buy the cards for you. These cards will run out fast. I recommend getting there right at 8 if you can, and if not that early by no later than 10 AM.

The Mid-South Food Bank is moving out of Downtown. They acquired a warehouse in Oakhaven that will be their new headquarters. It will amount to a $10 million renovation. I hate to see any business move out of Downtown, but if it helps feed Memphis’ hungry people more easily, it’s a good move.

The Memphis Tigers face Siena at 5:30 today in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic. If the Tigers win, they’ll play the winner of LSU vs. St. Joseph’s tomorrow. On the other side of the bracket are Oklahoma State, Purdue, Butler, and Washington State.

MK who bartends the Double J Loft Bar and who operates Cake Madam posted a yummy photo of a stuffed turkey with apples, carrots, and cranberries on the side this morning… except it wasn’t a turkey at all. It was a cake! She’s clearly very talented, so if you need a custom cake give her a call.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers. In case you’re wondering why I’m not traveling out of town, it’s because of work. We’re having one of our three major national tournaments starting today and running through next Sunday. This time it is in Phoenix. I have them all set up to post results and news remotely, but just in case there’s a problem I have to be able to get to a computer and proxy in to my work computer relatively quickly. I’ll still get my turkey though; heading over to a friend’s house on Mud Island in a little while. He always puts on a fantastic Thanksgiving spread. If my memory is correct this will be the third time in calendar 2013 that I’ve driven the car on a day off. That’s what I love about living Downtown! I usually ride my bike but it’s just too cold. Driving the car means I will have to hold off on the adult beverages until I get back Downtown, but I can do that. By the time the Flying Saucer opens at 5, I will be back down here and then it will be game on. Happy Thanksgiving and Go Tigers!

Starting off today’s post with an urgent plea for help. The Mid-South Food Bank needs turkey donations. As of yesterday afternoon, they were 1700 turkeys short. You can drop off a turkey or $15 at 239 S. Dudley through the end of business today.

Thanks to the Flying Saucer for their Beerknurd appreciation party last night. We had a buffet of BBQ pulled pork, slaw, rolls, and cupcakes. (I cleaned my plate by myself but some of my friends had “help” eating their food.) Each Beerknurd also got a free glass of Yazoo Sue. We were told 8 glasses had black dots on the bottom, and those glasses won a prize. I finished my beer, and there was a black dot. The prize was a Memphis Made Brewing Company T-shirt – a very nice prize, but since I already own one I gave it to one of the bartenders. Thanks to the Saucer for a very nice gesture toward its beer club members.

Tonight, by the way, is the “Turkey of the Year” glass night at the Flying Saucer. Buy the glass and see who is 2013’s biggest turkey. Glasses are on sale at 7:00, or earlier if you’re a Master of the Universe with 5 or more plates on the wall.

About 7:55 last night I left the Saucer and walked up the Main Street Mall to my Tuesday poker game at the Blind Bear. I saw two fire chief SUVs in front of Aldo’s Pizza Pies, with a fire truck on standby. Then I noticed that Aldo’s had been evacuated. A car had driven down Main Street and hit a gas main. From what I hear MLGW did an excellent job fixing the damage quickly, allowing Aldo’s to re-open.

The “Slice of the Day” today at Aldo’s is “A Slice of Thanks from Aldo’s,” with house-roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry, and light mozzarella on giblet gravy. Thanksgiving pizza! Here’s a pic.

Two cameras that can listen for gunshots have been placed in Downtown Memphis, with 10 more coming to other parts of the city soon. The cameras can “hear” gunfire, and swivel and capture an image within 1 second. The cameras were paid for with grant money and no taxpayer dollars were spent on them.

From the Flyer’s Hungry Memphis blog: A new Memphis-based vodka called Roaring Tiger has hit the shelves.

A pop-up gift shop called Metal and Mink is coming to South Main beginning Friday night for South Main Trolley Tour. According to their Facebook page, they sell “Unique handmade gifts, jewelry, home decor and art from local artists. Vintage and antique one of a kind jewelry and accessories including fur and leather.”

The office closes at 3 today. In possibly related news, I will be at happy hour at 4. That’ll do it for now. I don’t take Thanksgiving off from blogging, so there should be a post sometime tomorrow.

If you’re thinking about going to Dishcrawl’s Cocktail Wars on December 12 at Alfred’s, I have a promo code you can use. You can go to the event website and enter “blackfriday” as the promo code for 25% off any Cocktail Wars ticket or package. In addition to the mixology competition, the Memphis Queens will perform their new single “Unity,” and bottles of liquor will be raffled off throughout the night.

The Peabody Hotel’s tree-lighting will be this Friday, with things happening throughout the day. Here’s the schedule:

11 a.m.: Peabody Duck March
11:05 a.m.: Overton CAPA Choir
11:45 a.m.: Cordova High School Choir
12:30 p.m.: Overton CAPA Choir
1:15 p.m.: Cordova High School Choir
2 p.m.: Overton CAPA Strings
2:45 p.m.: Ballet Memphis
3:30 p.m.: Central Church Children’s Choir
4 p.m.: Memphis Symphony Orchestra with Opera Memphis
4:30 p.m.: Central Church Children’s Choir
5 p.m. Peabody Duck March,
Central Children’s Choir sings “Here Comes Santa Claus,”
Arrival of Santa Claus and his Elves,
Lighting of the Peabody Christmas Tree
5:15 p.m.: Memphis Symphony Orchestra
6:15 p.m.: Paul McKinney Quintet performs STAX classics

The Peabody’s tree stands 30 feet tall and uses approximately 20,000 lights. There is also going to be a lobby gingerbread display.

There will be an Operation Tucci fundraiser at the Green Beetle Sunday, December 8 from 2 to 7. Operation Tucci has turned one random act of violence into random acts of kindness, and now they are spreading goodwill throughout the city. Here’s what you’ll find at the Beetle that afternoon:

* Learn about Operation Tucci
* Buy Operation Tucci t-shirts and more
* Live Music by Fletcher, Bell, & Ward
* Prizes
* Food/Drink Specials
* Free admission
* All ages welcome

There’s a web designer/web developer position open with the Grizzlies. Copeland Coaching has the details.

Tonight is the Flying Saucer’s Beerknurd Appreciation Party, and that’s where I will be after work. If you have a UFO or MOU card, bring it for a free buffet and possibly other goodies. See all you Beerknurds there!

This isn’t going to be an award-winning post. I went to Purple Haze this morning about 4:25. It’s considered part of the Beale Street district so it can stay open until 5. I closed down the Flying Saucer, Blind Bear, and Purple Haze tonight.

There will be a farm truck at the corner of Front and Nettleton selling fresh produce from 2 to 5 today. If y’all come out and support the truck will return regularly during the Farmers Market off-season.

Here’s a Dishcrawl blog about their recent secret supper, featuring the cuisine of Brian Michael “Rizzo” Patrick from down South and David Scott Walker from up North.

So yesterday, I started out at Panda’s bar at Bardog as always. This is the conversation I heard from two seats down:

“Our tab at Local was $540 for the four of us. We had 88 Fireballs.”

That’s how us Downtowners do it. Congrats on keepin’ it real in the 38103.

Also at Bardog, I overheard a guy say he bought chicken from Gus’s, then took it to Hooters and had them put their sauce on it. Then he took it home to eat. This is the first time in my life I’ve ever found a reason to go in Downtown Hooters.

Also overheard at Bardog: Slider Inn, Bardog’s sister restaurant, has Frito Pie in a bag. I am calling a cab to Midtown now.

After I left Bardog, I moved on to Blind Bear, where I helped one of the bartenders figure out how to use Siri on her iPhone. “Siri, find me a hooker,” I commanded. It called one of her friends.

The Blind Bear went through 17 cases of PBR in 5 days. Nice to see that people appreciate the Cadillac of beers down here.

All right. Time to enjoy Sunday Fun Day to the fullest, then tomorrow I get in the car and drive to work. Gas prices are a lot like tube tops: I’d like to see them come down. That’s it for now, back tomorrow with another post.

 

A new coffeehouse and French-style cafe will open at 12 S. Main soon, possibly as early as next month. This is the ground-floor space of the Number 10 Main apartment building (formerly the Commerce Title Building) that has not been occupied since Dr. Bob temporarily located there in 2005 to escape Hurricane Katrina. I haven’t said anything about it on the blog yet, but I know some of the people involved and this is going to be a VERY cool cafe. Demitrie Phillips, who was the original executive chef at Bardog, will be the chef at the new cafe, which will be called Cafe Keough. I’ll post more details as the people in charge give me permission to do so.

Shelton Clothiers is having a sidewalk sale today 10 AM-4 PM. The clothing is gone but they have the following items to sell. It’s cash-and-carry, and just make them an offer:

Stereo and speakers
Kitchenware, appliances, cocktail round
Antique table
Functional tables, rugs, mirrors
Cordless phones
Shelving units and hardware
8 ft. Industrial Ladder
Vacuum cleaners, upright/can vac
Six red velvet curtain panels – 7.5ft x 5ft. with curtain rods/hardware

Busy night Downtown tonight. The Tigers have a home game against Nicholls State at FedExForum at 5, and MGMT plays the Oprheum at 8.

If you’re into African culture, there’s another event tonight that you might want to check out. The Center for Southern Folklore is having a benefit for Be Free Revolution featuring handmade accessories from Kenya and Uganda. You can shop for unique gifts while enjoying live entertainment, a silent auction, and food from Paradox Cuisine. It gets started at 7 PM and tickets are $40 for one/$75 for two.

Marc Gasol injured his knee last night. That sucks. We won’t know the time frame for his return until he gets it looked at today. Trading for Kosta Koufos as a backup center in the offseason looks like a savvy move indeed.

The Blind Bear has announced that blackberry moonshine is back in stock. Their regular customer Wingsauce said she would not return until they had the moonshine back, and the owners of the Bear, horrified at the thought of losing “the coolest Indian in Memphis” (according to Wingsauce), rushed out and got more.

About time for me to head to Panda’s bar at Bardog. There’s a walk for St. Jude going on Downtown right now, so perhaps I’ll see some of the walkers at Bardog after they finish. Well, at least the walkers who don’t have kids, because Bardog is 21 and up. Time to walk over there and have some PBR and Fireball with the grownups!