Paul Ryburn's Journal

Revive, a new women’s boutique, is now open for business on Second Street, just north of Union in One Commerce Square. This is kind of a successor store to Coco & Lilly, owned by the same people. Coco & Lilly lost its space when the Peabody Place mall closed last year. Here’s an MBJ article about Revive.

Speaking of One Commerce Square, there’s a second new business in that building – Independent Bank, accessible through the entrance at Main and Monroe.

One of my favorite bands, ’60s British Invasion cover band Jeffrey and the Pacemakers plays Downtown Huey’s tonight. They take the stage at 8:30 PM.

John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats moved on in the NCAA tournament yesterday with a victory over Iowa State. Calipari is trying to add to the one Final Four appearance he previously had as the coach of UMass*, Memphis*, and Kentucky.

Yesterday turned out to be a drama-filled St. Patrick’s day, due to an incredibly rude and creepy post that someone made to Facebook. It got screen captured and texted all around Downtown. The post itself didn’t shock me as much as the fact that some of my friends continue to associate with this individual. He didn’t get invited to be on the new BBQ team (he probably blames me, incorrectly, for that) and yesterday’s behavior was a classic example why. I heard he plans to “drop some money on Squeal Street” and hang out in their booth all weekend at BBQ Fest since he wasn’t invited to ours. Have fun with that, guys!

Anyway, due to that drama, I got thrown a little off schedule for St. Pat’s. I missed the parade, but I did make it to Brass Door, Saucer, Silly Goose, and Bardog. I hate it that I didn’t get back to the Brass Door for some of the bands. At least I got their delicious fish & chips, with curry sauce, to start off my day right. And at least I got to see Panda Manda walk on the bar at Bardog in a plaid skirt and tiny green shorts underneath.

MemphisWeather.net reports that a high of 84 is expected today. That’s 20 degrees above normal! Should be an awesome Sunday Fun Day. Going to kick it off with mimosas at the Majestic at 11.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day! The first St. Pat’s to fall on a weekend in several years, this is sure to be a day of celebration and debauchery. I posted a list of St. Pat’s parties earlier in the week, but here are a few final thoughts before I venture out.

I still think the Brass Door’s alley party is going to be THE place to be. View the Facebook event listing for a full list of bands. I have absolutely no problem paying the $10 cover for an event of this quality. I plan on making it my first stop, not long after it opens at 11, and I’ll be coming and going all day.

Besides the alley party, the Brass Door will be showing the Ireland vs. England 6 Nation Rugby match at noon.

I also plan on spending quite a bit of time at Bardog today. Panda Manda and Jean will be wearing their extremely short green shorts, which is reason enough. Plus, there will be drink specials. And besides, I really like hanging out at Bardog!

The St. Patrick’s Day parade happens on Beale Street at 4. Most likely I’ll be there for that. Insider tip: It isn’t green, but a Call-a-Cab from Wet Willie’s is an excellent beverage to enjoy while watching the parade.

Insider tip #2: If you’re driving, ignore the previous insider tip, or you might end up seeing blue rather than green later in the evening.

I also plan on making quick stops at the Saucer and the Blind Bear to say hello to friends. Saucer I plan on doing early in the afternoon – remember, St. Pat’s is the second biggest Amateur Night of the year after New Year’s Eve, so I expect it to get stupid in there later. Bear doesn’t open until 6 so that will have to be an evening stop.

Due to the number of excellent options in the core where I live, I doubt I’ll get down to South Main today. However, if you make it south, there are a lot of reasons to go to the Double J. One, as I previously reported, is the $2 PBR they’ll have all day today. In addition, all the other draft beers will be happy hour prices all day. They’ll have Pam & Terry 7-10 and Lance Strobe and Friends 10-2 tonight. They have acquired the Cadillac convertible they had been hunting for, and they’ll put the longhorns on the hood today.

If your plan today is more about watching basketball than doing the St. Pat’s thing, my recommendations would be Max’s Sports Bar (South Main/smoking) or Flying Saucer (Downtown core/nonsmoking).

Regarding Amateur Night: A general rule of thumb is, the closer the bar to the tourist district, the more likely it will be to fill up with amateurish douche who don’t know how to party, especially between the hours of about 8 and 1 tonight. One exception: Silky’s patio is always a good idea on St. Patrick’s Day, even though it’s on Beale.

What to wear? My only green T-shirt is a work T-shirt, and I don’t like the idea of getting wasted with my company logo emblazoned across my chest. That just seems unprofessional. I have a green long-sleeved windbreaker shirt but it’s way too warm to wear that. I guess my solution will be my drinking partner today, Ms. Tube Top (see photo). She hangs off a set of green beads, so technically I will be wearing green.

I’m ready to rumble but the bars don’t open for another 40 minutes. Guess I’ll pop a PBR open and do a little pre-gaming at home. Hope to see you out today!

The word of the day is basketball. The 8th seeded Memphis Tigers taken on 9th seed Saint Louis today at 5:50 PM. The game will be televised on TBS.

Speaking of the Tigers and March Madness: One of my favorite political blogs is FiveThirtyEight, written by Nate Silver. It has detailed statistical analysis predicting the outcome of upcoming elections, and it was nearly dead on with the 2008 presidential election. Nate Silver is a basketball fan too, and here are his percentage projections that each team in the tourney will make it to each round. As of the time of this post, he has the Tigers at about a 9% chance to reach the Final Four. No other 8 seed is anywhere near 9%.

The Tigers aren’t the only big news in Memphis basketball today. The Grizzlies have a home game tonight at the FedExForum, and it looks like we’re going to get Zach Randolph back. Remember when he got injured, and people said we’d be lucky to hang around .500 until his return? We did a little better than that – 24-17 and fourth place in the Western Conference. Welcome back Z-bo!

There’s a job opening for a Collections Manager/Registrar at the Metal Museum. It requires a Master’s degree, preferably art-related, and 5 years’ museum experience. Details of the job can be found here.

I found this online this morning, and figured it might be useful to some of you: Online PDF to HTML converter.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association is having a happy hour tonight at the Green Beetle at 6. You don’t have to be a member to join them for a pint or two. Tip: Come hungry and try the food.

Time for some quick Chinese food and then a few more hours at work. I’ll be out somewhere to watch the Tiger game.

So, I headed down south to Max’s Sports Bar to play poker tonight. It’s a bit different than Monday-Wednesdays. It’s only a $15 prize. Also, it’s a true freezeout tournament, and you start with 10,000 chips at 25/50. For those reasons it’s more like “real poker” than the other games Downtown.

Tonight I won. However, I got on Twitter a little while afterward and found that some people think I got lucky or caught cards.

Those people know who they are, and I’d like to invite them to prove their point by playing me in a $1 small blind/$2 big blind cash game. Buy in for whatever feels comfortable, up to 100 big blinds. We’ll find a place to play and chips. Due to variance this won’t absolutely settle who’s the best player, but it will be a start.

The Memphis Daily News has a long article about the St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Brass Door. They’re going to have an outdoor alley party with 8 bands, as well as food specials in the bar including corned beef and cabbage and $5 fish and chips. Their last alley party, their grand opening last summer, drew 800 people. There are a lot of events going on Downtown Saturday, but I tend to believe this one will be the biggest and the best. I plan on getting there early in the day, paying the $10 cover, and then coming and going throughout the day (I’m assuming they’ll have wristbands or some kind of system that will make this possible).

The article is worth a read not only for info about the party, but for what managing partner Seamus Loftus has to say about St. Patrick’s Day. He grew up in the western part of Ireland, where the holiday is celebrated much differently than in America. It’s treated as more of a solemn religious event there. That said, Seamus very much likes the fact that Americans have turned it into a party, a celebration of being Irish.

In other St. Patrick’s news, I’ve learned that Double J SmokeHouse and Saloon will have $2 PBR all day Saturday to celebrate.

If you want to watch the NCAA tournament at lunch tomorrow, Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Restaurant in the FedExForum will be open – not only the restaurant, but the patio. You’ll be able to watch the game on 20 TVs. They’ll have the following lunch specials, all with a Pepsi beverage included:

Spicy Popcorn Chicken w/fries $8.50
Sausage & Cheese Plate $8.75
Chicken Wings with celery, carrot sticks and ranch $8.50
Old No. 7 Half Pound Burger with fries $9
Cajun Catfish Basket with fries $8.75
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad $7.50

They’ll also have 16 ounce domestic beers for $5 (for the Forum that’s dirt cheap). Free parking in the Toyota garage. Promotions and giveaways will be happening during lunch. They’re open for lunch and game viewing today too, but since I don’t do my lunchtime post until around 1 PM on weekdays, it’s probably too late to do any good.

Rumor has it that Sam Young is being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Sad to see him go, but it’s a win-win – it reduces the Grizzlies’ payroll so we don’t have to pay the luxury tax, and it will probably get him more playing time. Thanks for all your hard work here, Sam. Memphis will miss you.

The Peabody Hotel Group has launched a new duckmaster blog. The Memphis, Little Rock, and Orlando duckmasters will blog about their jobs. View it here.

That’ll do it for now. Time to grab a quick burger then back to work.

The Downtown Memphis Commission is supporting an intriguing plan to turn the Chisca Hotel at Main and Linden into apartments. Paul Morris, who runs DMC, said the units would be smaller square footage studio apartments that would rent for less than the Downtown market average. The group that hopes to redevelop the Chisca is the same group that is working to redevelop One Commerce Square. The Daily News has more details.

I think it is fantastic that these kinds of apartments are being developed. We haven’t had anything like that Downtown since the William Len closed in 2005 to be redeveloped as a hotel. It’s near impossible to find anything Downtown for less than $700 a month. I’ve said for years, we need affordable apartments down here to attract teachers, artists, college students and others who will make the community more diverse. I hope this project moves forward.

Besides, as Morris points out, the Chisca in its current state is a huge psychological barrier. It stands at the gateway between the core and South Main, and gives a huge impression that Downtown is still boarded up, dilapidated. Something needs to be done with it sooner rather than later.

The Riverfront Development Corporation has chosen an operator and concept for a restaurant/bar in Beale Street Landing. Riverside Grille & Dockside Bar will open by July 1. It will be operated by successful Beale Street restaurant owner Bud Chittom and his partners. Bud runs several properties on Beale, including two of my favorite places to eat, Johnny G’s Creole Kitchen and Blues City Cafe. Makes sense to go with someone who’s already been there, done that and been successful several times. That restaurant will be in too important a location to fail. More info on the restaurant in the MBJ.

Tonight is Open Mic Night with Diamond Dave at the Brass Door. They’ve got a full PA, a piano, and some guitars in the Cavern, so come on down and show ’em what you’ve got. It’s also Wine Down Wednesday at the Brass Door, with $3 house wines, $3 pints, and $3 wells.

Meanwhile, over at the Saucer, it’s Buy the Beer, Keep the Glass night. Tonight is the St. Patrick’s Day glass, featuring new (to Memphis) brewer Green Flash. You can get the glasses starting at 7 PM, unless you’re a Master of the Universe (5+ plates on the wall) in which case you can get it earlier.

Brad Birkedahl and his lovely wife Anna Marie performed an acoustic set last night at Double J SmokeHouse and Saloon. If you missed them, this morning the saloon announced that the former Dempseys frontman and his wife will be back. They’ll have a regular Tuesday night gig on the Double J’s Front Porch stage from 7 to 11. Blast it all, that’s going to be tough for me to get to for a few weeks. I’m trying to accumulate points in Blind Bear’s Tuesday poker league to get to the final table and win an iPad. There are four weeks left in league play I believe. Soon as I can get down south and hear Bradley D, I will.

Time to go eat a dull Zaxby’s lunch and wish I was Downtown eating at Lunchbox Eats or Majestic or a food truck. I’ll be out somewhere tonight. Too nice to stay in.

So, after a loss at poker at Blind Bear (a 14,000 vs 13,500 loss, leaving me with the proverbial chip and a chair), I went to Bardog. Panda Manda was covering for another bartender and she was correct that I’d hear she was working her night off and come in. I saw the Dog of the Day – mayo, Swiss, and mushrooms – and ordered.

“Paul, I just want you to know, I’ve got your wiener handled,” said the panda as she made my order.

Handled she did indeed. That was one of the tastiest Dogs of the Day I’ve had in a while. Bardog’s kitchen is open serving the Dog of the Day until 2 AM. Monroe Avenue between Main and Front.

Yesterday as I was walking to the bar, I noticed that Downtown is getting a Life is Good store. It will be in the Peabody Place office building, next to the post office on Main.

If you haven’t seen this Strong Side, Weak Side Infograph of John Calipari on The Onion, you really need to.

WREG had a good interview last night with former pro wrestler Kamala the Ugandan Giant. Kamala started out in the Memphis territory in the early ’80s, and went on to wrestle for Bill Watts’Mid-South promotion, the World Class territory, and others. In the early ’90s he made the big jump to the WWF. These days he is battling diabetes and had to have a leg amputated.

Segway Tours of Memphis will begin March 22. These are 2-hour tours of historic Downtown Memphis, starting at the Peabody Hotel, ridden on a Segway once you’ve been through a quick safety lesson. Here’s what the company says about the tours:

“The 2-hour Segway Experience of Memphis tour begins with a safety video and Segway PT product orientation. It departs from the hotel, which is located in the heart of the ëBlues Cityí and glides down the areaís lovely tree-lined streets continuing through the eclectic Beale Street entertainment district. Along the way, riders will see spectacular views of the mighty Mississippi River and explore historical landmarks including Cotton Row, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel and the Orpheum Theatre. Theyíll learn everything they ever wanted to know about the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll!”
You must be at least 14 and weigh between 100 and 260 to take the Segway tour. For safety, they require you to wear a helmet for the duration of the tour. Email memphistours@segway.com for details about making a reservation. You can follow the tours on Twitter at @SegwayMemphis and “Like” their Facebook page.

The Flyer’s Hungry Memphis blog paid a visit to Blind Bear for lunch – it’s now open for lunch Wednesdays and Fridays. They had the mozzarella Bear Balls and the veggie plate, both excellent choices. Read the review here.

The Memphis Business Journal reports that $2 million has been approved for the Harahan Bridge Project that will turn the bridge into a pedestrian walkway linking Downtown Memphis to West Memphis.

Grawemeyer’s, the new restaurant about to open at 520 S. Main, will be taking applications and conducting interviews for employment this Friday from 1 to 5 PM. They are looking for mature, happy, hard-working individuals.

Should be a busy night Downtown, with the sold-out Jack White show at the New Daisy and the sold-out Grizzlies vs. Lakers game at the FedExForum. About to head out for a beer. Will be at Blind Bear for poker at 8.

Starting my annual list of places to party Downtown on St. Pat’s. Being on a Saturday with great weather, this should be a big year. If you want your place’s info added, email me at paul@paulryburn.com and maybe I’ll update this list later this week.

Bardog Tavern: 4th annual Erin-Go-Bragh-Less party. $3 Yuengling pints, Jameson drink specials. Panda Manda and Jeannie in short green shorts.

Beale Street: 37th annual Beale Street St. Patrick’s Day parade at 4. The Raising of the Goat at Silky’s afterward.

Blind Bear: St. Patrick’s Day Speakeasy Style, starting at 6 PM. $2 green PBR, $3 Guinness, $3 Harpoon Ale bottles, $5 car bombs, $5 Irish cocktails, $5 Jameson shots. Blind Bear girls in beer girl and leprechaun costumes. Jamie and Colin in kilts.

Brass Door: Party with outdoor music starting at 11 AM. Artists include Myla Smith, Candy Company, Good Luck Dark Star, Jeremy Stanfill, Susan Marshall, Planet Reel, Wampass Cats, Deering & Down, and Big Betsy. Food and drink specials. $10 cover. Given the weather on Saturday (sunny, high 77, low 61) this outdoor party could be THE party of the day.

Flying Saucer: Menu of Irish favorites, $3 Irish beers all day. Music by The Real McCoy, Innis Acla School of Irish Dance, Highland Bag Pipes and the No Hit Wonders.

Kooky Canuck: $3 34 oz. green beer, Irish menu, drink specials. They’re having an Irish pre-party Thursday the 15th as well.

Majestic Grille: Lunch specials Thur-Fri March 15-16: Beef and mushroom pie, fish and chips, corned beef on rye; dinner specials Thur-Sat March 15-17: Smithwick’s Ale steamed mussels, sausage & cheese platter featuring Irish cheeses, grilled salmon in bacon leek sauce with colcannon potatoes, filet mignon with Guinness & mushroom sauce

Silly Goose: $2 PBR, $3 Guinness, $4 Irish car bombs. DJ Cody. Doors open at 2 PM.

I’ll be back after work with a “Tuesday update” news post. I’m planning on playing poker at Blind Bear at 8, after illness kept me away from the table last week.

If you play the card game bridge with friends or family, but have never played in a club or tournament setting, you ought to come Downtown this weekend to the convention center. As many of you know, I work for the non-profit that sanctions bridge in North America. We hold three major North American championship tournaments a year, and for the first time ever, one of the tournaments will be held in Memphis, at the Cook Convention Center March 15-25.

The tournaments attract the big dogs of the game, who come from all over the world to compete for bridge’s top championships. However, there is plenty for players who are relative newcomers to the game to do as well. Here are some things you’ll be able to do at the tournament:

– Get free bridge lessons from three of the top bridge teachers in the world – Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 10 AM. After the lessons there are 14-deal games that are free for newcomers, and you receive a record of the hands you played for further analysis.

– There’s a reception for newcomers Saturday the 17th at 6:30

– There are games exclusively for newcomers every day

– There are free newcomer pairs games on Friday the 16th

– There’s a 75th anniversary celebration Friday night the 16th, with the Beale Street Flippers performing at 10:30 and Reba Russell at 11:15

– Almost every day, there are celebrity speakers at 9:15 and 6:45. This is a great chance to get tips on how to improve your game from some of bridge’s top players, and the talks are free to attend.

– Try your hand at duplicate if you’ve never played before. In duplicate, you and your partner are not really playing against the two other people at the table; rather, you’re playing against the other North-South or East-West pairs, who are playing the same hand you are.

– Watch top players play (this is known as kibitzing). Volunteers at the tournament can tell you who’s good to kibitz and what kind of etiquette should be observed if you do this.

A few common questions people ask:

I’d like to play, but I have a feeling I’ll be the worst player there. I don’t want others to make fun of me. Not a problem. We have a zero-tolerance policy against rudeness at our tournaments. Also, the newcomer games are much more laid-back and relaxed that the North American championship contests the pros play.

I’d like to play, but I don’t have a partner. That’s no problem. Just show up about an hour early, and our partnership desks can help you find someone to partner with.

Sounds like fun, but doesn’t it attract mainly old people? No. That’s a common myth about the game. The North American tournaments, and particularly the newcomer games, attract a wide range of ages.

The tournament lasts 10 days. What’s your recommendation for best day for a newcomer to go? I’d say Saturday the 17th. Take the free bridge lesson at 10, play in the 14-deal game at 12:30. Then ride the trolley south to Beale, catch the St. Patrick’s Day parade, then trolley back north for the newcomer reception at 6:30. The reception is a good opportunity to meet people to play with in the future.

You can view the newcomer schedule here (PDF) and find full tournament information here. I won’t be at the tournament much, because I need to be in the office to do my website stuff. However, I will be volunteering at the information desk the morning of the 21st. If you’re looking for something fun and different to do, come check it out.