Paul Ryburn's Journal

Breaking news: I’m seeing reports on Twitter that Zach Randolph will be out for 8 weeks. NOT GOOD NEWS AT ALL.

This weekend while I was at the Blind Bear, a local blogger approached me and asked me to take a look at his blog, Memphis Que. Niche food blogs are becoming more and more popular, and this is a good one. It will educate you about restaurants serving BBQ in the Memphis area that you never knew existed, as well as different styles of BBQ. Recent posts cover Vietnamese and Mexican BBQ, a West Memphis BBQ shop that uses CB radio to deliver to truckers, a soul food cafe on Brooks, a country bar in Millington serving ‘que, and well-known spots like Interstate and Cozy Corner. Writing style is laid-back and conversational, and photos of both the food and the restaurants let you know what kind of experience awaits you.

In the past I’ve butted heads with the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center about Downtown panhandling, but I have to hand it to them: They’ve scored a major coup for their 30th anniversary gala. Noam Chomsky will speak. Chomsky is a professor at MIT who has influenced the fields of linguistics, psychology, philosophy, computer science, and mathematics. He’s known for the Chomsky hierarchy and the universal grammar theory. No matter what you think of the MSPJC, this is a chance to hear one of the great thinkers of our era. See the MSPJC home page for more info/ticket purchases. Banquet is Saturday, January 14. Theme is “Living the Legacy of Nonviolence.”

It seems like the FedExForum is busy every night these days. Tonight the Memphis Tigers host the Tennessee Vols at 7. It will be a rematch of the Tigers’ 99-97 double OT win in Maui in November. Buy tickets here. It will be nice to not have Bruce Pearl’s douchey presence at the Forum. In the event the Vols win, I suggest a certain neighbor of mine keep her iPhone away from jukeboxes at bars.

Reminder to my friends who play poker: Bardog is closed today and tomorrow for renovations, so no poker in the Underdog Room tonight.

Last night I was walking down Peabody and I noticed this sign hanging on the Silly Goose’s patio:

Memphis will play a road game against the L.A. Lakers, and the Grizzlies will host a watch party at the Goose. Specials on Bud products. Game time is 8:30 Central.

Time for lunch. Plans for tonight: Bars.

The caucus and primary season for the Presidential election kicks off tonight in Iowa. Many people complain that the early states like Iowa and New Hampshire have too great a role in selecting the candidates. Well, I saw a comment on Twitter that is a great idea: Let the state that had the highest % of voter participation in the previous general presidential election be first to hold their caucus or primary… then second highest would go next, and so on. It would encourage citizens to go out and participate in the democratic process, to try and get a reward for their state. By using the previous general election participation numbers, you’d have almost 4 years to sort out the next election’s primary dates.

Of course, it’ll never happen. The chance of politicians doing something that makes sense is about as low as the chance of the BCS selection process making sense.

I ate at the Blind Bear for the second time last night. This time I chose one of the “Bear Cat” menu options, the Fried Bologna sandwich and a side. Since I didn’t have any black-eyed peas on New Year’s, I chose that as my side item.

Other choices for sides include sweet buttered corn, french fries, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green beans. The bologna sandwich was topped with cheese and BBQ sauce, and sells for $8. You can get a plate of four sides for $6.

The word I’m now hearing is that the Black Diamond closed because next-door gift shop Tater Red’s plans to expand into the space. That’s not officially confirmed but I heard it from a source who talked to Diamond doormen and bartenders this weekend.

The Grizzlies are at home at the FedExForum tonight, taking on the Sacramento Kings at 7 PM. Get tickets here.

Tonight’s the second week of poker with Jamie at the Blind Bear. Starts at 8, so come on by, I’ll be there! Trivia nights at Saucer, Goose, Green Beetle and Ferraro’s if that’s more your thing.

The weekly broadcast of WWE’s Monday Night Raw will happen right here in Downtown Memphis tonight, from the FedExForum. Superstars from both the RAW and Smackdown brands will perform.

The main event is advertised as C.M. Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE title. Having followed wrestling for years, I think there’s a good chance Ziggler wins the title here. He dropped the U.S. title to Zack Ryder at the last PPV, which could mean they’re getting that belt off Ziggler to prepare him for bigger and better things. A lot of people are saying he will be the breakout star of 2012. Tonight may be the night he gets to the next level.

Another advertised match is a battle of the announcers, Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. Michael Cole in a street fight. Applying the longtime booking logic of “Lawler doesn’t lose in Memphis,” signs point to Cole getting his ass kicked tonight.

The third event announced is John Cena vs. Kane (who is back under the mask again) in a RAW Challenge Match. Other wrestlers – er, WWE Superstars, Vince McMahon hates it when they’re called wrestlers – include “World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry, R-Truth, The Miz, Big Show, “Celtic Warrior” Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, “Dashing” Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger, The Bellas, and Kelly Kelly. Get tickets here.

Just wanted to post a few thank-yous and shout-outs to people who made my New Year’s Eve a fun one.

Rather than venture out to Amateur Night at the bars, I had a fantastic house party to go to. Every year in February, my friends Robin and the Bartons invite everyone to their condos in Barton Flats for a Super Bowl party. When no good option for New Year’s had emerged a couple of weeks prior, they said, “Why don’t we have another party? Like our Super Bowl parties, but with dancing instead of football.” They did and it was a wonderful evening with good friends, good food, and champagne at midnight. And good beer – they had a keg of PBR! Thanks to our hosts for providing us with the best kind of environment for ringing in the New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, I had several people approach me (both at the party, and earlier when I was day drinking at the Saucer) to say they wanted to meet me, because they read my blog. Shout-out to my readers who I met this weekend. It makes me very happy to hear that people have a better experience Downtown because of things they read here. If you’ll keep reading, I’ll keep writing.

Usually I take a lot of pictures at these parties, but for some reason I just plain forgot to do it on New Year’s Eve. The only photo I took was of the Mad Hatter and me, which we texted to a friend who spent the New Year in Dallas.

Obviously this was taken well after we tapped into the PBR keg, and after I’d discovered the Jello shots in the freezer. I think there might have been some Fireball consumed prior to this pic too. Anyway, I wish I’d taken a few more photos. This is first time in at least 3 years that I’ve been at a party with Uncle Ray and failed to get at least one bad photo of him to post on the blog.

After midnight a few of us decided to venture out to a couple of clubs. We went to Paula & Raiford’s, which was packed to the gills. After one 40 we’d decided we’d had enough. Good to see the club doing so well though, not that I had any doubt it would. Our next stop was Rehab Disco. J.J. was so excited to see us and treated us like royalty, which is what happens pretty much every time. I regret that I haven’t spent more time there. J.J. and Mo and the staff there have created such a wonderful, positive vibe in that place. Looking for reasons to go back – if anyone feels like going hit me up on text or Facebook or whatever your communication method of choice happens to be.

Also wanted to give a shout-out to my next door neighbors, who had a house party of their own and were gracious enough to invite me. I didn’t make it – by the time I left Rehab I was just completely spent physically and mentally – but I really appreciate the invitation. Hope to see you guys soon.

As for yesterday, my day went Blind Bear, Saucer, Johnny G’s Creole Kitchen, Saucer, Blind Bear. A palindrome of Downtown bars and restaurants. The Bear didn’t yet have their brunch menu – that will start next Sunday. Nevertheless, they opened at 3:00, and by 3:20 every bar stool was taken and there were people at both poker tables. It was so busy that Jamie, who’d just made a brief stop in, had to get behind the bar and help Jeannette pour drinks. Later in the evening I was back and Colin had one of the TVs on Adult Swim, which brought back memories of watching cartoons with Maurice and Niles at the Tap Room.

Last day of a 3-day weekend. My tentative plan is to hit the Saucer 2:30 to drink some $3 drafts for Pint Nite. When the Blind Bear opens at 6, I’ll make a stop there. Then at 7:30 I’ll be Goosin’ it for poker night. Time to hit Publish and go drink some beer!

Last night about 8, I wandered down to Beale Street to eat. I ordered New Orleans Nachos and their Bucket House Greens, and pulled up Foursquare to check in. I scrolled through my friends list to see where everyone was, and saw a comment from a bartender who works nearby about Black Diamond being closed forever. After I ate and paid my tab, I walked back out on Beale Street and indeed, the Diamond was not open (it should have opened at 6). Can anyone confirm it’s closed for good/provide details? Email me at paul@paulryburn.com if you can. If there are details you don’t want made public on the blog, just say so and I’ll respect that request.

The Diamond is one of those places I never thought would close. I haven’t been there much in recent years, but in my first few years Downtown when I had a good friend working next door at Tater’s, I went there all the time. It had decent bar food at reasonable prices (the pizza in particular was better than I expected) and beer and liquor. Much of its regular crowd was bartenders and servers who’d gotten off work at other bars on Beale. Sad to see it go. Thanks for the memories.

I never got around to the New Year’s Eve recap post yesterday… it will probably go up today.

One thing I left off the “what’s open daytime New Year’s” list, because I wasn’t sure they were starting it this week: Blind Bear will have their “Hung Over Like a Bear” brunch for the first time today, at its regular hours 3-6 PM. They just confirmed they will be open with a post on Facebook.

I’ll do a recap of last night later tonight if I have time… right now I want to hit Publish as quickly as possible so people will be aware that the Bear is an option. I’ll be there at 3, Saucer at some point after 5 when they open.

The sign that greets people as they cross the I-40 from Arkansas into Memphis will come down soon. ABC 24 reports that the Memphis sign, with a guitar in place of the “i”, will have to be removed as part of the Bass Pro renovations to the Pyramid. CVB head Kevin Kane hopes to replace it with a new sign, possibly an LED sign on the side of the Cook Convention Center. More info here.

Downtown Memphians will have to do without one of their favorite bars for a few days. Bardog Tavern is closing the 1st through the 5th for renovations. They’ll re-open Friday morning at 8 AM.

Dreaming about opening a restaurant? The Memphis Business Journal reports that the Riverfront Development Corporation is looking for a restaurant to operate in Beale Street Landing. They want something moderately upscale, comfortable, that has reasonable price points and appeals to both tourists and locals. Read the article here.

The Memphis Daily News blog reports that two buildings at Main and Union will be turned into revolving art galleries. The Downtown Memphis Commission will showcase the works of local artists in the vacant buildings at 82 and 85 S. Main, in an effort to beautify Downtown. The first two artists to have their work exhibited will be Chip Chockley and John Henry. Their work will be rotated out in February and two new artists will come in. This is a non-paying gig, but it’s a big opportunity for artists to get exposure.

When Local Gastropub emailed to tell me they’d be open regular hours on New Year’s, they also told me about a new thing they are doing – $10 “Blue Plate Special” lunches, with huge portions, from 11 to 3 Monday-Friday. They especially recommended “Meatloaf Thursdays.”

One more to add to the “open New Year’s Day” list: Rizzo’s Diner will be open for Sunday brunch tomorrow.

Also add Kooky Canuck to the open New Year’s list. They’ll open tomorrow at 11 AM.

eighty3 will be open for brunch 10:30-4:00 tomorrow. It’s the former Grill 83 in the Madison Hotel, for those who haven’t been yet.

Tigers’ sophomore guard Joe Jackson has been given the night off from tonight’s game against Charlotte (FedExForum, 8 PM) to deal with “a personal matter.” CBS Sports writer Gary Parrish reports that a transfer is possible for Jackson before the beginning of the spring semester. Sad to hear it; I’ve enjoyed watching Joe play for us. An unhappy player can’t perform at his best, though. However it works out, we owe Joe a debt of gratitude for hitting those two key free throws that sent us to the Big Dance last year.

There is one good thing that I think could come out of it if Joe leaves. In my opinion, sophomore guard Antonio Barton is the most underrated member of the team. He didn’t come in with the hype that Jackson and his older brother Will did, but he goes out there and gets the job done when he’s asked. If Joe leaves, maybe it will give Antonio the chance he deserves to shine.

Shout-out to the douches from Cincinnati who ran up a $37.50 tab with car bombs last night at the Saucer, then tipped a whopping $2.50. If there was any doubt I’d be rooting for Vandy in the Liberty Bowl today, that made up my mind. I stayed at the Saucer until about 9, then moved over to the Blind Bear. Stayed there until about 1 and had a great time chatting with friends.

Tonight I’m going to take my own advice: I’m staying away from Amateur Night at the bars, and going to a house party at friends’ condos in the Downtown core. “We picked up the keg,” they told me when they saw me at the Bear last night. “Just for you, we got PBR.” Do I have wonderful friends or what?

The amateurs won’t be out until the evening, though, so it’s time for some day drinking. May wait a little closer to the Liberty Bowl start time of 2:30 to give the college crowd time to get out of here. Everyone stay safe this New Year’s Eve!

 

On New Year’s Day, many bars don’t open until 5 PM, giving their staff time to recover from Amateur Night/New Year’s Eve. In an attempt to plan my day, I asked my readers and Facebook, what Downtown bars and restaurants will be open earlier than 5? These are the responses I got.

Majestic Grille will be open for New Year’s brunch from 11 AM to 3 PM. Final seating is at 2. Reservations are highly recommended. Each table will get a complimentary bowl of black-eyed peas for good luck.

Downtown Huey’s will open at noon.

Max’s Sports Bar will be open and will have all the NFL games on. Lauren will be bartending.

All of River City Management’s places will be open normal hours. Those include Papa Pia’s, Mesquite Chop House, Spindini, The Pig on Beale, King’s Palace Cafe, Tap Room, Absinthe Room, Rum Boogie and probably a couple of others that I’m leaving out.

Local will be open and doing brunch 11-3, then switching to the dinner menu after that.

Peabody Lobby Bar will open at 11, Corner Bar at 4.

That’s what I have now… if I missed anything, email me at paul@paulryburn.com or hit me up on Facebook, and I’ll revise if needed.