Paul Ryburn's Journal

Rest in peace, brother. You were never my favorite professional wrestler, but you changed the industry forever, and that’s a fact, jack. What cha gonna do, heaven, what cha gonna do…

Meemphis wrestling icon Jerry “The King” Lawler and announcer Dave Brown reacted to Hulk Hogan’s death.

It’s Tennessee’s tax-free weekend for computers under $1500 and clothing and school supplies under $100.

GloRilla was arrested on felony marijuana possession charges in Georgia this week, but her show tonight at FedExForum will go on.

Action News 5 spoke to the cast of The Wiz on what performing in Memphis means to them. Choose901 has a complete guide to taking a Wiz in Memphis.

Today is National Wine and Cheese Day.

You can be an advocate for the homeless if you’re hired for this full-time position at Room in the Inn.

Memphis Rap Tour seeks a tour guide.

Memphis City Council seeks a legislative analyst.

There will be a dog fashion parade on Beale Street Saturday from 4 to 7.

The Flyer’s Michael Donahue has a look at the 10 rooms of Hotel Pontotoc as well as its bar The Dame. The boutique hotel is set to open mid-August.

Back sometime this weekend with more news.

I gratefully accept tips:
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It didn’t take me long to go back to Little Petals Chinese and try the Sichuan fried rice.

Simple and elegant and mmmmm, so good. That brown stuff is pork, but it’s much closer to bacon than the pork used in Americanized Chinese restaurants.

It’s a big day for drinkers, because today is

• National Tequila Day
• National Shiraz Day
• National Refreshment Day

I recommend making your refreshment an ice cold PBR.

Saturday is art crawl day out in The Edge. From 4 to 8 PM, check out gallery exhibits and meet local artists. There will be live music in the neighborhood, and restaurants and bars will have food and drink specials. I’m going to try to make it to the last 2 or so hours of this event.

The Flying Saucer will have Disney trivia the evening of Tuesday, July 29.

The M-80s headline tonight’s Peabody rooftop party with DJ Sledro between sets. $15 gen adm, $40 VIP.

Reminder: There’s a fundraiser at Slider Inn Downtown for Texas Hill Country flood victims tonight.

There will be DJs at Handy Park tonight from 7 to 10, kicking off a new series called Spinville.

Y’all, I am just dead tired after staying out 2 nights in a row. Plus I badly need a shower. Tonight the $6 cover charge at the Union Mission is a good investment. I plan to be back with more news tomorrow.

I gratefully accept tips:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
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For months now, I’ve been wanting to try Little Petals, the Chinese restaurant on Madison next door to the First Horizon office tower. I’d heard that Little Petals – and its sibling restaurant, Petals of a Peony – feature food cooked in the style of China’s Sichuan region, making extensive use of spices. I love spicy food!

Yesterday was a day at long last when I had both the time and the money to go. Peony Chicken in a spicy sauce with red and green peppers seems to be the signature dish, so that’s what I ordered.

BEST CHINESE MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD. The spices brought out the flavor profile of the food. After eating Americanized Chinese food all my life, I felt like I had finally found the real thing. 10/10, will go back.

… And when I go back, I want to try the Sichuan fried rice. I love fried rice and measure Chinese restaurants by how well they do it.

It’s been a very weird morning. I stayed out last night, and about 7 AM I was sitting on a bench outside the Moxy Hotel, texting my friend Randy the latest gossip about our favorite bar. A man I’d seen digging through garbage cans came straight up to me.

“Hey, mane, lemme see your phone,” he said, grabbing for it.

I pulled back, keeping the phone out of his reach. “Come on, man, lemme take a look at it, don’t you know who I am?” he said, grabbing a couple more times.

“NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! GET AWAY, GET AWAY, GET AWAY!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. That backed him up and I grabbed my bag and moved far away from him.

He proceeded to go into both Walgreens and the Main Street Smoke Shop and take stuff and tear stuff up. He turned east on Monroe, where he climbed atop a white Camry and proceeded to try to cave the roof in by stomping on it.

The police were on their way last I saw of him.

Just a short time after his farewell concert, Ozzy Osbourne is dead at 76. He’s another celebrity who had Parkinson’s among his health issues.

The Showboats UFL football team is leaving Memphis. Really, who cares?

The Old Daisy Theater on Beale is on its way to becoming a historic education center.

Through 8/27, Wednesdays are Arkansas Days at Momma’s. Show your valid Arkansas ID between 7 AM and 1 AM to get

• $1 off drafts
• $1 off domestic cans
• $1 off wine
• $1 off well drinks

Easy access from Arkansas via the newly completed I-55/Crump roundabout.

Soulin’ on the River featuring Talibah Safiya happens at Fourth Bluff Friday night.

That’s all for today. Back tomorrow.

I gratefully accept tips:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
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Today is National BLT Sandwich Day. I recommend you celebrate with Kathy’s BL”FG”T at Kooky Canuck. Fried green tomatoes are what makes this sandwich special, and it also comes with bacon, house-made pimiento cheese, lettuce, and mustard remoulade on toasted white or wheat.

The University of Memphis tried to bribe the Big 12 conference $200 million to let it join. The money would come from sponsorship agreements and from the U of M refusing its share of conference media revenue for 5 years. The proposed agreement stated that if the U of M did not bring the conference sufficient prestige and positive publicity, the Big 12 could kick Memphis out after 5 years.

Sounds like the University did everything but drop the soap and bend over for the Big 12. Still, the conference rejected the offer.

I notice the conference refers to itself as “Big XII” in the media. I guess it’s trying to “elevate” its brand. Very jazzy.

From Action News 5: Unhoused population seeks shelter from the heat at the Hospitality Hub, which operates a cooling center on days heat indices are expected to climb to danger levels in the city.

The Maria Montessori School is looking to hire a teacher’s assistant.

RIP Malcolm Jamal-Warner AKA “Theo” from The Cosby Show.  He died of an accidental drowning in Costa Rica.

Midnight Sun game: In Fairbanks, Alaska from May to July you can attend a baseball game where the first pitch is at 10 PM and the field never needs to be artificially lit.

Catherine and Mary’s seeks a line cook.

Black Panther is the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s summer movie series movie of the week . It’s this Wednesday at Slider Inn at 7:30. Card-carrying DNA members get 20% off food.

DNA president Jerred Price reports that Nura autonomous cars are currently being tested on Memphis roads.

Tin Roof on Beale, a new business member of the DNA, is offering individual members 15 percent off food tabs, plus no cover.

There’s a Christian Women’s Expo at the Renasant Convention Center this weekend.

MemphisWeather.net blog: The heat is on – but how hot and for how long?

Anyone else getting a lot of AI-generated fake animal videos in their Facebook Reel feed? I got one of a crocodile with a jaguar cub in its mouth, running for the water with the mother jaguar in pursuit. It was very realistic, but the camera angle was a little too perfect.

Still so happy to be in possession of my backpack and computer. Back tomorrow.

I gratefully accept tips:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

About 3 this morning, it looked as though this would be a very unhappy post, typed on a library computer.

I stayed out of the Union Mission last night, not wanting to pay the $6 cover charge there. I planted myself on a park bench outside the Moxy Hotel, prepared to sit there ’til morning dodging mosquitoes.

At some point I dozed off. I woke up and pulled my phone to check the time. 2:03 in the morning.

Wait a  minute, I thought… WHERE’S MY BACKPACK????? With my laptop inside. And my phone charger and cords. And my Ziploc bag of toiletry/hygiene items I use at the Mission.

All gone. Once again, I had drifted off and allowed someone to steal my stuff. Just like what happened last year. How could I be so STUPID????? Again?

Just as I was starting to rock the blog posts again. And now I’d be forced to post from library computers with their hour time limits. That would kill my joy for blogging.

I paced up and down the northern half of the Main Street Mall, looking for anyone carrying a gray Under Armour backpack. I thought I may have spotted it – with a man in a tight pink dress who seemed to be hiding what he was carrying, “Is that my bag?” I yelled out to him. He hissed at me and picked up a big stick and I decided not to pursue the matter. He took off east on Madison, at least to B.B. King.

“How much longer until the sun comes up?” I thought, reaching into my pocket for my phone. Thank God it didn’t get stolen too. Nor did my wallet, so I wouldn’t have to replace my ID.

“AirTag moved out of your vicinity,” said a notification on the phone. “Approximate location 250 N. Main.”

It totally slipped my mind that I’d put an Apple AirTag in my backpack after I’d gotten it. I pulled up a map in the Find My app and started reducing the distance between the circle representing my location and the backpack icon. That took me to a homeless encampment under I-40 on Main.

Find My told me to move around to help it find the backpack. I did, and a message popped up. “18 feet to your right.” That put me smack dab in the middle of a big pile of clothes. The owner of the clothes wasn’t there, but his next-door neighbor in the encampment, we’ll call him Harry, said he had been earlier – and he’d been bragging about finding a laptop.

I started digging through the pile of clothes. Yep, there was my backpack. And my laptop and its power cord. Harry helped me put everything back in the bag and asked if I could spot him a little money so he could buy himself a beer. I did.

Then I got the hell out of there, never coming face-to-face with the the thief. I lost some hygiene items and protein bars, but there was no damage to my laptop when I powered it up a few hours later.

God is good. And AirTags rock.

Back tomorrow with a regular news post.

I’m ponying up the $6 to stay at the Mission tonight.

I gratefully accept tips:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
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I learned something yesterday. You know the expression “God willing and the Creek don’t rise”? It doesn’t refer to a body of water. It refers to the Indian tribe.

Memphis Made Brewing Co. will celebrate one year in The Ravine on Saturday. Live music by Johnny and the Seagulls, food by the Good Groceries truck, and a Wifflestock home run derby.

I’ve been hearing good things about Guac Fresh Mex at 782 Washington. They have Tex-Mex, breakfast, and wings.

The city has clarified the paid parking situation in Tom Lee Park. The first hour is free and Sundays are free.

WREG is predicting 99/80 for Wednesday and almost that hot for the rest of the week.

The Wiz will be at the Orpheum Tuesday-Sunday.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

… since Friday updates are now Frupdates. But then I guess it would be unclear whether this is a Saturday or Sunday update.

Sup?

Typing this post at the Memphis Chess Club. There’s a 4-person chess match on TV here. Things I learned exist this week: blueberry Moon Pies and tag team chess.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association got what it wanted – more Tom Lee Park spaces along Riverside. But, except for 4 designated ADA spaces, you’re gonna have to pay to park in them.

Hotel Pontotoc has bartender, guest services, and housekeeping positions open.

Memphis Riverboats has photographer, deck hand, bartender, and diesel mechanic positions open.

Today is Stick Out Your Tongue Day. I suggest that you #VoteForAllison to celebrate.

The Secret Garden Bookery is having a pop-up shop at Flyway Brewing this afternoon.

Jesse Wilcox plays the front porch of South Point Grocery today at noon.

Strooly and TEHKAL play b2b tonight at Central Station.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

I stayed out all night Tuesday and Wednesday, choosing to avoid the $6 nightly cover charge at the Union Mission now that there are no more blocks of time when you can get in free there. It was HEAVEN having control of my schedule back.

There was no way I was going to miss last night – the third Thursday of the month – at the Mission, though. That’s the day when Crossroads Baptist comes out to guest-preach. They always bring dinner from Commissary BBQ:  pulled pork sandwiches, slaw, BBQ beans, and individual bags of Keebler Fudge Stripe cookies. It hit the spot and got me ready for a sound night of catching up on sleep.

I keep notes in my phone about what can be expected there each day of the month. Those notes indicate we have a guest preacher tonight named Tony who is succinct, clearly cares about us a lot, and doesn’t spend his time on stage shouting and lecturing. So, yeah, I’ll pay the $6, especially because I want a shower so I can look (& smell) good for my friends at brunch tomorrow. I’ll head back over to the Mission around 2 PM when the shower line tends to be short.

On to the news…

Saturday is National Daiquiri Day. Wet Willie’s on Beale will celebrate with daiquiri flights all day long. Try four different varieties of the frozen beverage and find your new fav.

Backbeat Tours seeks an evening ghost tout guide. The guide will lead a tour around Beale Street and South Main past the Orpheum, E&H, and some other places believed to be haunted. Generous base pay plus tips.

You and me, baby, ain’t nothin’ but mammals, so let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel… however, the week starting Sunday will be all about large predatory fish as Shark Week returns.

The WNBA skills challenge and 3-point contest are on ESPN tonight at 7. The league’s All-Star game will be Saturday at 7:30 on ABC. Unfortunately, Caitlin Clark will be out with an injury.

Beale Street Bears: The Grizzlies’ front office showed genius in the way they structured Santi Aldama’s new contract

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

The Cossitt Library was a miserable place to work yesterday, with its AC unable to get the temperature below 78. I decided a trip to the old-fashioned soda fountain at A. Schwab was necessary.

Vanilla milkshake. Go ahead and call me basic if you want. It was so good.

Yesterday I learned that blueberry Moon Pies exist and Schwab has them.

Flying Saucer will have a Christmas in July party this Saturday including

• An ugly sweater contest
• Food and cocktail specials
• Gifts from Santa

Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers men’s basketball program has been put on probation for 2 years. The NCAA found that an academic counselor who was employed at the university paid softball players $550 to do assignments and take tests for a basketball player.

The Grizzlies battle the Atlanta Hawks in NBA Summer League action today at 6 PM on NBAtv.

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Voting opens in the 2025 Memphis Flyer Best of Memphis poll at 9 this morning and runs through August 13. This is not the city’s only “best”/”most” poll, but it is the one with the most credibility.

The Orpheum’s summer of sing-a-longs continues Saturday at 2 PM with a screening of Sing 2. Tickets are $12. The song lyrics will be displayed on the screen for your singing convenience.

Today is National Hot Dog Day. My recommendation to celebrate would be Max’s Sports Bar. They have a chili cheese dog, a Chicago-style dog, and a Memphis-style dog with BBQ pulled pork. Wash your dog down with a PBR.

LANCO with KC Johns headlines KIX on Beale Thursday night at 7:30. The show is free and all-ages. Listen to KIX 106 for an opportunity to win VIP passes.

Seeing Red will headline the Peabody rooftop party Thursday with DJ A.D. spinning between sets. Special performance by singer/songwriter Sarah Reeves. $15 general admission, $40 VIP. Those in VIP get a buffet of crispy chicken meatballs, buffalo chicken dip, hot spinach & artichoke dip, pita, and crostini.

Remember, folks… Seeing Red = good, Peeing Red = not good.

Central Station series Live at the Tracks is on heat break for the rest of July and will return Thursday, August 6.

i visited Earnestine & Hazel’s last night, where the bar was staffed by #VoteForAllison and first-day trainee Dani. Of course, I had a Soul Burger.

As good as always. Those grilled onions are the magic ingredient.

Lenny’s now has Korean BBQ subs. Choose from regular or “fiery.”

The Dinstuhl”s location on Main is hiring. Must be able to work weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Inquire within if interested.

Possibly worth a Lyft or Uber to Crosstown: There will be an oddity & curiosity market at the Hi-Tone 4-10 Saturday.

Brent Hopper, Adam Buczyna, Sam Raines, and Angelina David play South Main Sounds Friday from 7 to 9.

Memphis Made will have a Mahjong Night in its taproom Friday night from 5:30 to 8:30. Lessons and open play hosted by Mahjong Merriment.

From GoTo Destinations: How Kooky Canuck won the hearts of locals in Memphis

Back tomorrow with more news.

I gratefully accept tips:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com