Sat update: Bitch I Might Be, a talking pigeon, National Train Day, and a bunch of other stuff that I’m too lazy to put in the title

This morning I received a sign that this vacation is long overdue. I had a dream about marking up unordered lists using HTML and CSS. Seriously, I did. I should be dreaming about tube tops and PBR. Hopefully events of the coming week will effect that change.

Speaking of tube tops, here’s a scenario that will likely occur sometime this week at BBQ Fest. I’ll get caught looking and be asked, “Are you staring at my tube top?” And I’ll have to consider my possible responses:

() yes
() no
() bitch I might be

It’s National Train Day today. There will be special exhibits and trains by Amtrak and Canadian National at the Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum. The museum is in Central Station at S. Main and G.E. Patterson.

The Blind Bear is opening early today, at 2 PM, for those who want to pre-game before heading to FedExForum as well as those who want to watch the game there. Say “basketball special” to your server or bartender from 1 hour before game time until the end of the game for $2.50 select domestics, $3.50 apps, and $5 chili cheese Bear dawgs.

In a new TV show, Mike Tyson will team up with a talking pigeon to solve mysteries. No, I’m not kidding.

The Redbirds host the Fresno Grizzlies (hey, nice name!) tonight at 6:05 and there will be fireworks after the game. The theme will be “2 strikes, 2 outs, no problem,” paying tribute to the clutch hitting of the Cardinals’ David Freese in the 2011 World Series and Pete Kozma in the 2012 NLDS.

Interesting how social media and apps add value to BBQ Fest. Yesterday I started the annual “BBQ” note in Evernote to keep track of who said they were stopping by the booth and what day and time, so I can make sure I’m there. After I got home, I checked Foursquare to see who was out and about. In addition to the usual checkins, there was a notification that the Nuh-Uh Girl had saved several BBQ booths to her Foursquare “to-do” list. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Good catching up with one of the leaders of one of the other local BBQ teams last night at the Flying Saucer. Although I have great respect for their team in general, they made a bartending hire that I wouldn’t have made. When I go visit their booth I’ll make sure to get a full cup of beer in my own booth before I walk over, so I don’t have to deal with their bar. My prediction is that when BBQ Fest is over and they look back in review, this will be a “WTF were we thinking” type of thing.

I see one of the new patio porker teams has “We like pig butts and we cannot lie” as their slogan. Wow. That’s original.

Back to Foursquare for a minute… It’s going to be nearly impossible for me to maintain three bar mayorships while in a park for 12-13 hours a day. The Saucer opens early, so I can stop by there on the way. The Blind Bear is the sponsor, so most likely I’ll get by there after the park closes. But the Silly Goose mayorship is probably going to change hands before BBQ Fest ends. I’ve been watching checkin patterns and have identified the three people most likely to steal it, and I’m comfortable dropping it to any of the three. If I thought some dumbass from Collierville or Cordova might steal it I’d fight to keep it.

In case you haven’t heard, the majority of ESPN analysts are now expecting a Memphis Grizzlies-Miami Heat matchup in the NBA Finals next month. Let’s make that happen with a win today at the FedExForum! For those not going to the game, it will be on ESPN at 4. As usual I will watch the game at the Blind Bear. Dennis and Karen, will you be joining me?

Fri update: Mother’s Day at Hooters, Bluff City Oktoberfest, Geek Trivia, highest-paid public employees by state, what rent will get you in NYC

I normally don’t post a lot of Mother’s Day specials at Downtown restaurants, but this one is too funny to pass up: Moms eat at Hooters for free on Mother’s Day. Well, as long as their meal is $10 or less. If you’re trying to get written out of your mother’s will, this is about as good a way to make that happen as any.

Downtown’s newest festival, Bluff City Oktoberfest, will be discussed tomorrow on Action News 5 in the 8 o’clock hour with Kontji Anthony. The festival will be held on Riverside Drive in early October.

The first-ever Geek Trivia will be held Tuesday night at Ferraro’s, 8 PM. Test your knowledge of Sci-Fi, video games, comic books, fantasy, zombies, and more. All six rounds will be themed toward stuff you would see at Comic Con. $1 PBRs during trivia.

Chart that has gone viral today: Highest-paid public employee, by state. In most states, the highest-paid public employee holds the same job. Can you guess what that is?

Think you pay too much for rent? Check out these rooms for rent in New York City.

Vacation will start at 4:45 and I’m off all next week. There will still be posts but on a much less structured schedule, and also THE FILTER WILL BE COMPLETELY OFF. That applies to Facebook and Twitter too. Time for a quick lunch and then “I know you’re about to leave for vacation, but before you leave, can you…” requests this afternoon.

Drunkass Thur update: We love our Grizzlies, Bike to Work Day, RDC in question, pupplies, bacon-infused bourbon, Trader Joe’s

Last night, after the BBQ team meeting ended about 7:30 at the Blind Bear, I walked over to the Flying Saucer, wanting to see what the Grizzlies commemorative glass looked like. I didn’t get to! The glasses went on sale at 7 and were sold out by 7:10. Just goes to show how crazy people are in this town about our Memphis Grizzlies!

Memphis will participate in National Bike to Work Day next Friday, May 17.  It’s a day to celebrate the bike as a viable means of transportation. Sounds like fun, although for me that day will be National Walk to Tom Lee Park and Eat BBQ Day.

Mayor Wharton is questioning the effectiveness of the nonprofit Riverfront Development Corporation that manages our city’s riverfront. ABC 24 article WMC-TV article Wharton wonders if the riverfront could be managed as effectively by the city, with employees who make less than those working at the RDC. I’ve generally been a supporter of what the RDC does over the years, and I’m not real concerned with their salaries. What I want to know is, that $16 million cost overrun building Beale Street Landing – which still isn’t done – where exactly did that money go? I do not support giving them any more until we get a complete explanation, with open books.

Puppies were found in a laundry basket on Harbor Town last night. Take a look if you’re interested in adopting.

South of Beale will have bacon-infused Maker’s Mark by the time you read this. My favorite bourbon.

There’s still no word on Memphis getting a Trader Joe’s, but a new distribution point gives us some hope. There’s one opening in Irving, TX, less than 500 miles away, an easy day’s truck drive.

That will do it. Home from Max’s Sports Bar/Saucer with to-go food from Huey’s. 8 more cubicle hours and vacation will begin.

Moody Ques BBQ team update: New pitmaster who’s in it to win it, menus planned for each team meal, booth with two large stories, parties in the evenings with drinks by Blind Bear and music playlist by DJ Cody

Last time I wrote about the 2013 BBQ team, we had entered a partnership with last year’s next-door team. They would join forces with us, cooking both the championship meat and the day-to-day meals for the team, and we would supply the party. Since then there has been a change, but things are working out very, very well.

The next-door teamwill still be with us, but the man who was going to be our pitmaster will not be able to cook due to medical reasons. None of the other next-door members felt qualified to be a pitmaster, so we had to search for one. One day the team leaders were discussing the matter at our sponsor, the Blind Bear. Various names were tossed around. Then Jeannette said, “Hey, how about David Scott Walker?”

Jamie and Jeannette visited Chef David Scott Walker (I’ll abbreviate DSW from here on out) on a vacation to New York City a couple of years ago, where he was executive chef at a trendy restaurant. Jamie and DSW had known each other since college. Since that visit, DSW decided he wanted to move back to Memphis. He took a job as a chef at Rhodes College’s cafeteria, affectionately known as “The Rat” by students. That’s important, because he knows how to feed the masses, and he also knows how to do upscale catering for special functions. After a couple of interviews, we were convinced that he could do the job and was a good personality fit for the team. So DSW will be our pitmaster and head cook for the day-to-day team meals, and the remaining crew from next door will act as his sous chefs.

One thing DSW didn’t have was competition experience, but we had that covered. Robert aka “Bones” from the Squeal Street BBQ team, who has been to judging classes, offered to meet with DSW, cook a few shoulders, and show him the things the judges are looking for when they award top scores. “Paul, I tell you, DSW isn’t just here for the party. He’s in it to win it,” Jamie told me last night. Besides pork shoulder, the team is entered in three ancillary categories: beef, seafood, and poultry. Jamie told me DSW is serious about winning trophies in every category that we entered, and DSW confirmed that in a team leadership meeting I attended last night.

For the competition pork to be served to the judges, DSW located the best pork he could find in a 5-state radius. Since other teams read my blog, I won’t say where he found the shoulders, but they are a cut about what is typically served at BBQ Fest in terms of quality.

Then DSW told us about the menus he has planned. To discourage freeloaders (well, you know…) I won’t post exact dates and times, but menus include a fish fry with hushpuppies… a whole hog luau… a traditional BBQ meal with ribs, chicken, beans and slaw… “breakfast for lunch” with pulled pork benedict… a backyard picnic… and more. Of course, on Saturday there will be plenty of leftover competition shoulder after the judges leave, and there will be leftover beef, seafood, and poultry after the ancillary judging. Between meals there will be meat and cheese trays for snacking. Our team members are going to be well-fed throughout the festival this year.

Our booth location will be almost all the way to the south end of the park, on the bluff side, booth S-215. We decided to go 2-story again, and it’s a tall structure so team members will have access to river views. Brent from Holliday Flowers is helping again this year as time permits, but it’s a much simpler structure than last year. However, I’ve seen the artistic rendering, and this thing is still going to have a shot at Best Booth. It’s going to be huge and orange and you’ll feel like you’re in Stockholm when you see it.

For those of you who have a lot of friends on Squeal Street BBQ, their booth will be about a 1 minute walk from ours. The south side of the park is the place to be this year!

Our sponsor WordPress will be back, and much of what you’re reading about is possible thanks to their generous donations. Team members will get to meet WordPress guru Matt Mullenweg and his crew.

The Blind Bear will be running the bar. With pros stocking the liquor, we won’t have a situation like last year where someone thought “any clear liquor must be vodka” without reading the labels, and we ended up with 15 more handles of gin than we expected. Lots of vodka, rum, and bourbon. For those who prefer beer, there will be kegs available (I hear there will be some PBR) with tap handles that work.

We expect Thursday and Friday evenings to be big party nights. DJ Cody, who performs at the Silly Goose on the weekends, has stocked our iPod with playlists, so the music will be excellent. By the way, we party Saturday night too – we’re not one of those teams who starts breaking down right after the awards ceremonies. And with Chef DSW so serious about winning trophies, we may have a lot of reason to party on Saturday!

Team members: An official email just went out. Team member bags will be available for pick-up at our sponsor, the Blind Bear, starting Saturday.  (The Bear opens at 3 Saturday and Sunday, 5 weekdays.) T-shirts are being printed by Sache and won’t be ready until Monday. If you pick up your bag Monday or later, your shirt will be in there; if not, you can get your shirt on Wednesday Friends & Family Night.

Help is needed for painting Sunday, May 12, 10 AM at the Holliday Flowers warehouse; with load-in from 10 to 5 at Tom Lee Park on Monday, May 13; and load-out on Sunday, May 19, all day. In past years we have learned that during load-in, it’s a best practice to leave one team member behind at the Flying Saucer to handle anything that comes up there. I have volunteered to cover that extremely important role on Monday.

If you’re a paid team member and did not get the team email, email me at paul@paulryburn.com and I will forward. It includes things I didn’t post here, like the dates and times for each of the menus.

Last night someone was saying the park opens at noon some days. I don’t know where they got that info but it’s wrong. Park hours are 10 AM-midnight Thursday, 11 AM-midnight Friday, and 10 AM-10 PM Saturday. I believe the Friends & Family event Wednesday night is 5:30-10:30 PM.

Looking forward to partying with my teammates next week! See you at Tom Lee Park.

Quick Thursday update: Grace Askew @ Bear, Peabody rooftop party

I’m probably going to do a BBQ post at lunchtime, so let me go ahead and bang out a quick news update before work.

Grace Askew, who recently competed on The Voice, performs at the Blind Bear tonight at 10 PM. They’ve been booking some really strong acts on Thursday nights and it definitely continues today.

Kevin and Bethany Page play the Peabody rooftop tonight. $10 cover includes first drink, doors open at 6, ladies free until 7. Buffet will have red beans and rice with smoked sausage and catfish dip. If you’re in VIP, you will also have a buffet of shrimp remoulade shooters, mini fried oyster po’boys, and savory bread pudding with andouille sausage. Svedka Strawberry Colada will be the drink special ($4) and the VIP Budweiser of Memphis tasting will be Beck’s Sapphire.

16 hours left in the cubicle until vacation. I have a fun project to work on, so the time should fly by. Most likely back around 1 to talk about the BBQ team.

Wed update: River news, good Google Doodle, Lansky opens accessory shop, get a Grizzlies pint glass tonight

The Mississippi River is expected to crest this week at flood stage of 34 feet. But fear not, BBQ Fest goers; that’s still 14 feet below the 2011 level that forced the move to Tiger Lane. Tom Lee Park is safe this year.

In other river news the developers of Beale Street Landing have requested an increase in city funding. Because, you know, the project has been so incredibly cost-efficient and so much progress has been made already. Sure, let’s throw some more money at it! The taxpayers won’t mind! It’s being reported that the City Council had some tough questions about this request, and I don’t blame them; they wouldn’t be representing their constituents well if they didn’t.

There’s a good Google Doodle today. It’s a tribute to designer Saul Bass. www.google.com

A new shop has opened in the Peabody. Lansky-The Accessory Shop. This shop will showcase women’s accessories to include jewelry, handbags, shoes, scarves, hats, and other trendy apparel. It will also enhance the shopping experience of the three other Lansky-branded shops in the hotel. It will be open seven days a week.

In honor of the Memphis Grizzlies’ playoff run, the Flying Saucer will sell a special Grizzlies pint glass tonight for Wednesday glass night. You can see a pic of it here. Glasses go on sale at 7 PM.

Plans for tonight: Some of the BBQ team leaders are going to be at the Blind Bear tonight, so I’m going to head up there and get the latest team news. Maybe I’ll do a BBQ post tomorrow. After I get done there I’ll walk over to the Saucer and have a look at the Grizzlies glass. Two and a half work days left until vacation!

Tue update: Meet your firefighters, Gatsby party, Big Bill Broonzy tribute, Southwest flights scheduled for Memphis, Redbirds, Blind Bear basketball specials

The South Main Association is having a “meet your firemen” cookout Saturday. Weather permitting, from 11 to 2 PM the cookout will be at Station #2, 474 South Main. You can come meet your local firefighters that keep you protected and safe.

The Blind Bear is having a Great Gatsby party Thursday, May 9 to raise money for St. Jude. Costume contest, blackjack tournament. Dress in period attire and get your photo taken for the Bear’s dining room wall. Party starts at 8 PM.

The Center for Southern Folklore will hold a salute to Big Bill Broonzy featuring Billy Boy Arnold Friday, May 10 at 7:30 PM. Arnold will perform songs from his Broonzy tribute CD and will share first-hand stories of Big Bill Broonzy and the Chicago blues world of the 1940s and 1950s, along with Robert Riesman, author of a Broonzy biography.

Southwest Airlines has scheduled its first Memphis flights for later this year.

The Redbirds are back in town tonight and it’s “Two”sday. $2 hot dogs, sodas, and popcorn, and $2 off Budweiser draft products. Opponents are the Sacramento River Cats. Who names these teams? Game time is 7:05.

Plans for tonight: After the good experience I had Sunday at the Blind Bear for Game 1 of Grizzlies-OKC, that’s where I plan to be for tonight’s Game 2. Tip-off is 8:30. From 7:30 until the end of the game, say “basketball special” to your bartender or server to get $2.50 select domestic bottles, $3.50 apps, $5 chili cheese dawgs with fries, $6 chili cheese burgers with fries. You can also get the specials by playing poker, which starts at 8. I’m going to pass on poker this week so I can concentrate on watching the game. Come join me at the Bear!

Mon update: Grizz news, Damon Stoudamire, Justin Timberlake to play FedExForum, shoe trunk show, open jobs, Beale Street Mess Around

I’d like to start off this post by thanking the Blind Bear for providing such an excellent environment for game-watching yesterday. They had brunch specials, Cinco de Mayo specials, and basketball specials all happening at once – it was a “special” place to watch the game! I drink a margarita to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, possibly the first time in the 17 months that the Bear has been open that I have had a drink there that was not a PBR or a Fireball. After yesterday, my issue of “where to watch the game?” has been settled for the rest of the 2013 playoff season. Except for games that happen during BBQ Fest, I will be at the Blind Bear.

About those remaining games: The NBA has released the complete schedule for the Western Conference semis. Game 2 will be in Oklahoma City Tuesday night at 8:30 (TNT); Game 3 in Memphis Saturday afternoon at 4 (ESPN); Game 4 in Memphis Monday 5/13 at 8:30; Game 5 (if needed) in OKC Wed 5/15; Game 6 (if needed) in Memphis Fri 5/17; Game 7 (if needed) in OKC Sun 5/19. Time TBD for games 5-7, TV TBD for games 4-7. Game 3 and 4 tickets are now on sale here.

If you want some free Grizzlies swag, head down to the FedExForum today between 11 AM and 6 PM. They’re handing out sunglasses, headbands, and posters.

Official watch parties have been announced for Tuesday night’s Grizzlies game. Downtown, the party will be at Aldo’s Pizza Pies. Great choice for a watch location – yummy pizza, great beer selection, plenty of alternatives on the menu if you don’t want pizza. There will also be two parties in Midtown, at Celtic Crossing and Local on the Square, and one in the U of M area at Buffalo Wild Wings on Poplar.

In other basketball news, Tigers assistant coach Damon Stoudamire has left the organization to return to his alma mater, Arizona. He was with the Tigers for two years, and his status as a former NBA All-Star was a help with recruiting. Before that he was an assistant for the Grizzlies. Best wishes to Coach Stoudamire, who looks to have a promising coaching career ahead of him.

Justin Timberlake has announced that he will play the FedExForum on Monday, November 18. That happens to be my birthday. I have little interest in attending, but lots of interest in people-watching that night. Tickets go on sale a week from Friday.

If you love fine Italian shoes, there will be a trunk show at Lansky at the Peabody from 11-4 Saturday for Donald J. Pliner shoes. Sales rep Jimmy Richmond will be on hand to showcase the spring line and preview the fall line for these shoes that stand out for fashion and comfort. 20% off all Donald J. Pliner shoes during this event.

A Facebook friend of mine who works at Lokion posted that there are jobs open: Bookkeeper, ATG developer, Java developer, account exec, entry-level C# developer, C# developer. I have heard that this is an excellent place to work.

The second annual Beale Street Mess Around benefitting the Blues Foundation is this Friday, May 10 at 7 PM at the Rum Boogie Cafe on Beale. Fundraiser presented by Brandon Santini for The Blues Foundation’s Raise the Roof! campaign, features performances by Mud Morganfield, John Nameth, Bryan Lee, Terry Hanck, Sugar Ray Radford, Dennis Gruenling, Little G. Weevil, Brandon Santini, Jeff Jensen, Greg Nagy, Redd Velvet and more. $10 at the door.

That’ll wrap it up for now. After-work plans: Pint Nite at the Saucer for some $3 drafts.

Why I’m watching the game at Blind Bear

I’m just going to be lazy and copy their Facebook status.

Sunday opening at 11am Grizz game at noon!! CINCO DE MAYO $5 Very nice Brand Tequila shots, Margaritas & Skinny Rita’s all day!! Say Basketball special 1hr Before & throughout every Grizz & PLAY OFF game $2.50 select domestic bottles, $3.50 apps & $5 Chili Cheese Dawgs!! SOFIA SUNDAYS!!!! $15 bottles of Yellow Tail Bubbly & $30 bottles of Sofia Blanc de Blancs!! Plus Brunch!!! special till 6pm!! $20 bottles Handcraft Pinot Noir, Hess Select Chardonnay, Buehler Chardonnay & Kunde Sauvignon Blanc!!

Plus, my friends Dennis and Karen will be there. Come join us.

I totally forgot it’s Cinco de Mayo. That plus Grizzlies = a very good day.

Drunkass Saturday night update: Bars opening early for Grizz, types of drunk people, pro wrestling video of the week

It’s 11 PM Saturday of Music Fest weekend and I’m home drunk. I took a nap this afternoon and could easily stay out until 2 or 3, but I want to be well rested for the Grizzlies tomorrow. Game is at noon and several bars are opening early. Let’s have a look at the list.

The Blind Bear will open at 11. They have a basketball special during Grizzlies games where all apps are half off (so, $3.50). You have to say “basketball special” to your bartender or server to get the deal.

“Grizzville” at Max’s Sports Bar will be open at 11. They will be serving their famous nacho brunch. Don’t ask, I have never heard of brunch at Max’s before.

Silly Goose will open at 11. They have a $3 Bloody Mary bar (sriracha as a Bloody Mary ingredient is the best).

The FedExForum will host the official Grizzlies watch party. Doors open at 11:30. Free to enter, concessions available, watch on Grizz Vision. Claw Crew, Grizz, and the Grizz Girls will be there.

There are also bars whose regular opening time is noon or earlier and will be showing the game. In the Downtown core these include the Flying Saucer, Bardog, Local, and the Brass Door. I think Mad Earl opens at 11 now too.

One of my BBQ teammates posted this link to Facebook earlier today: The 15 Kinds of Drunk People. Visit the Silly Goose about midnight on Saturday to meet all of these people.

Random pro wrestling videos of the week: No classic ’80s videos this time. This week’s footage is from Spring 2013, from WWE’s developmental territory NXT Wrestling. Developmental talent Emma (and the use of the word “talent” here is very questionable) makes her way to the ring in several videos. You may have heard of legendary women’s wrestlers like The Fabulous Moolah and Trish Stratus. You probably haven’t heard Emma mentioned among them. Here are reasons why. Emma 1
Emma 2
Emma 3 (Harlem Shake)
At least the theme song is catchy
To the music of Fandango
Full match vs. Audrey Marie April ’13 Dude, this girl sucks.

Off to bed. I will be watching the Grizzlies at the Blind Bear with my friends Dennis and Karen in the morning. Going to skip brunch at Majestic and go straight to Bear to get a good seat.