Shock and awe: The Nuh-Uh Girl devours a breakfast burrito in one bite as Air Traffic Mike looks on @ Blind Bear brunch

Today was the inaugural “Hung Over Like a Bear” brunch at the Blind Bear. It’s Sunday from 3 to 6. They were open last Sunday, but because it was New Year’s they didn’t have the entire menu ready. The menu was good to go this week and here it is:

I got the sausage, egg and cheese sandwich.

Good times. Good friends. I’m not usually hungry when I go to the Majestic at 11 so the Bear’s brunch at 3 is perfect. It lasts until 6 on Sundays.

The new, improved Bardog

Yesterday I went to Bardog Tavern, getting there at noon, right when they opened. Bardog was closed all last week for cleaning and renovations, and I wanted to snap a few pics before the place got busy.

As you can see, the new Bardog looks a lot like the old Bardog, but shinier. Aldo told me he’s particularly proud of the shine the floors have now. Check out the new chandelier:

While I was there, I had lunch. I ordered the sausage & peppers sandwich that is Aldo’s uncle’s recipe.

The sandwich was so seriously overloaded with sausage that it kept falling out of the bun. Aldo told me that this sandwich is going to be on the regular menu at Aldo’s Pizza Pies. “It’s going to have even more peppers,” he said.

After that I went to the Saucer, where I had a Moscow Mule with Air Traffic Mike. He gave the Saucer version his stamp of approval. After that I went to the Goose, then back to the Saucer, then Blind Bear and called it a night.

Plans for today: 11:00 mimosas at the Majestic; 3:00 Hung Over Like A Bear brunch at the Blind Bear; 8:30 Grizzlies watch party at the Goose; TBD in between. A return trip to Bardog is a strong possibility at some point.

When duty calls

After 4 days in a row in a cubicle, I planned on a peaceful, relaxing day today with no set plans. But just now I got a message that changes everything. The PBR Liberation Army has requested my help at Bardog at noon. When called to serve, one must not argue or question it. One must go and serve to the best of one’s ability. There is cold beer trapped in that keg at Bardog, and if I don’t set it free, who will?

WOOOOOOOOOOO PIG SOOOOOOIIEEE! Plus, the Friday update I didn’t have time to do at lunch

The Cotton Bowl is tonight, with the Arkansas Razorbacks taking on the Wildcats of Kansas State. Former CA writer/current sports writer for The Daily Dan Wolken has a column about where he sees the Razorbacks next year. Would not mind seeing that prediction come true. Let’s get through tonight first, though. It’s time to CALL THOSE HOGS!!!

After five days of renovations, Bardog Tavern has re-opened and claims to be the best-looking bar Downtown. I’ll try to get in there tomorrow and take a look… if it’s anything big maybe I’ll post pics. Good to have Bardog back. It was definitely missed by many this week.

Many of my readers travel for a living, or are involved in the air travel industry in some way. I thought they might be interested in this app I found on a mailing list today: Airport Monitor Lite. It lets you track the departure and arrival times at up to 7 airports.

The MemphisWeather.net 2012 calendar is now on sale on CafePress. It has beautiful images of Memphis weather. Buying a calendar is a great way to support a local meterologist and entrepreneur who keeps us informed on MemphisWeather.net, Facebook, and Twitter.

If you’re a Redbirds fan and want to keep up with news about the team from now until the time the season starts, there’s a new radio show for you. AM 560 will carry the Redbirds Hot Stove radio show Tuesdays at 6 PM through April 3. It will be hosted by play-by-play man Steve Selby and former Redbird/Cardinal Bo Hart.

The City Council has passed an ordinance restricting dumpsters in the public right-of-way Downtown. Read about it here. Glad to see it. There used to be one in Scratchy Alley that stank to high heaven and attracted vagrants, pigeons and rats.

Part 3 of the Memphis Beer Beat blog’s interview with Ghost River brewmaster Chuck Skypeck is up. He talks about experimenting with different styles, collaborating with other brewers, and whether he thinks there’s room for another craft brewer in Memphis.

In the past I’ve written about anniversary parties at the Downtown Saucer, with prizes and specialty beers. Well, for those of you who are unfortunate enough to live in the suburbs, now it’s your turn. The Cordova Saucer will have its 6th birthday party on Saturday, January 21. There will be tappings of rare beers from Stone, Sierra Nevada and other breweries. At 8 PM FreeWorld takes the stage. Admission is free, must be at least 21. The Saucer is at 1400 N. Germantown Parkway in a bland looking strip mall that looks like all the other bland strip malls in East Bumblefuck. Good luck finding it.

Plans for tonight: Without going into too much detail, let’s just say it will be a very interesting night for those who played on the Rapscallions trivia team between June and August (and who did not play on a team that opposed us during that period). We’ll also be celebrating the birthday of our friend Air Traffic Mike, who’s in town for the weekend. I’m looking forward to hearing his opinion of the Saucer’s Moscow Mule. Also, those of us with good taste in college teams will be doing one more thing tonight: CALLING THE HOGS! Work week is over, time to get the weekend started.

Thur update #2: Local birthday party, Cardinals Caravan, VIP passes on sale for Music Fest and BBQ Fest

Correction: I posted a photo of the banner on the Silly Goose patio announcing a Grizzlies watch party for Sunday, January 6. Sunday is actually the 8th, and that is indeed the date of the game and the watch party. Tip-off time is 8:30 PM.

Local Gastropub is celebrating its 2nd birthday this Sunday. Starting at 5 PM there will be $2 domestics, $2 sliders, and $2 Fireball.

The following Sunday, January 15, AutoZone Park will host the annual Cardinals Caravan in the park’s club level. Former 2011 Redbirds Tyler Greene and Pete Kozma will appear, along with prospects Zack Cox and Ryan Jackson. Former Cardinals John Mabry, Alan Benes and Cal Eldred will also join the Caravan along with Cards broadcaster Rick Horton. Doors open at 5:30, program starts at 6:30. There will be a silent auction to benefit the Redbirds’ RBI and STRIPES Program. Season ticket holders and kids under 14 will be able to get autographs. Free admission, and there will be complimentary food and soft drinks. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

VIP Passes are now available for Memphis in May Beale Street Music Fest. The passes get you 3 day entry, with access to raised and covered platforms at the stages and a private area in the Blues Tent. You’ll also have access to complimentary light snacks, beer, wine, water and soft drinks. At the outdoor stages you’ll have access to private restrooms. You’ll receive a copy of the festival poster, autographed by artist George Hunt, and you’ll have in/out privileges all weekend. There are options with and without parking. Buy the VIP passes here.

If BBQ Fest is more your thing, there are V.I.Pit Passes on sale for that festival. Passes get you 3-day admission with in/out privileges. You’ll have knowledgeable guides to show you around, and you’ll be invited to up to 6 championship teams’ booths to eat BBQ and get grilling tips. There will be a private area with light snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine. You’ll receive a special welcome from the fest’s Volunteer Chairman, and you’ll get a goodie bag to take home with you. As with Music Fest, parking and non-parking options are available. Get them here.

The annual Pi Kappa Alpha convention is in town. Nothing against the Pikes – they’re nice guys – but from what I remember, last year’s convention packed the Flying Saucer with 100-200 extra dudes in the evenings. Not really what I look for in a bar. My plan is still to start at the Saucer for after-work beers, but if they arrive in large numbers the Blind Bear or possibly the Goose will be my backup plan. Time for beer!

Thur update: A. Schwab party, Union Mission, promote your blog, Santorum’s views on sex, and an unexpected trivia victory

Saturday night the public is invited to party at the oldest business on Beale. A. Schwab, the dry goods store that has been on the street since 1876, is throwing a 77th birthday party for Elvis from 6 to 10. Party will be in the newly cleaned-up second story, and will feature Amy LaVere, the Jason Freeman Band, the Memphis Dawls, Dan the Man, and Hanna Star. $5 cover. Beer and light refreshments will be sold.

The Memphis Union Mission is expanding. They go before the Land Use Board next week in an attempt to purchase the 3.1 acres behind their building at 383 Poplar. Best of luck to the fine folks at the Mission in expanding their capabilities to serve those in need. If you want to support the Mission you can do so in a variety of ways here.

Bloggers: If you want to learn how to better promote your blog using social media, you might want to attend the WordPress Meetup at EmergeMemphis tonight at 6. Details here. Even if you’re using a blogging platform other than WordPress, there should be plenty of useful info for you.

Not a local story but too funny not to link: A Colorado woman, believed to be drunk, visited an art gallery. There she proceeded to pull down her pants, punch a hole in a $30,000,000 artwork, then slide down the artwork and urinate on herself. The work was by Clyfford Still, one of the leading figures of Abstract Expressionism in the 20th century. She did $10,000 worth of damage. Full story here.

Those who hang out in the same joints I do: Anyone else read that and think that woman’s behavior is much like that of someone we know?

Rick Santorum finished a close second in the Iowa caucus this week. According to this article, Santorum wants to eliminate all birth control and believes that sex should be avoided except to procreate, even among married couples. Does anyone else read stories like this and think the GOP is playing mind games with us? They parade all these nut cases – Palin, Bachmann, Perry, Cain, Santorum – around the media. I think they’re hoping that the general populace will decide that the eventual candidate – Romney – seems downright sane and reasonable and centrist by comparison, convincing independents and conservative Democrats to vote for him.

Last night I was at Blind Bear when their weekly trivia started. The two people next to me at the bar asked me to play on their team. “I’m retired from trivia,” I told them. “I don’t do it anymore.”

“Come on, play,” they said. “We just want to have fun. If we win you can have the gift certificate.” So I relented and played with them. The result?

$50 will buy a lot of PBR at the Bear. Thanks to my teammates from last night for inviting me to play. Enjoyed it.

Plans for tonight: Just a quiet evening at home. And by that, I mean I’m going to go to the Saucer and drink a Moscow Mule. Haven’t had one since Sunday.