Paul Ryburn's Journal

There were only three trucks in Court Square for the food truck rodeo yesterday. I hope that was only because of the weather. In case anybody is wondering, Smurfey’s Smokehouse (which has a brick-and-mortar location a block away), Tacotitlan, and Rice Burner were the three that showed up.

Choose901 profiles Sarah Cai, co-founder and chef at Good Fortune Co.

Flying Fish has a deal on crawfish this Memorial Day weekend:

Given the shortages we’ve had this season, 4 pounds for $30 is an excellent price.

The Cossitt Library will host an artist mixer from 5 to 7 today.

Sunny Bleau and Nic Cocco play South Main Sounds tonight at 7.

Memphis 901 FC hosts the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Saturday at AutoZone Park. 7:30 PM. Fireworks after the match.

The University of Memphis is hiring a Neighborhood Preservation Clinic Attorney. The position will be located at the Downtown law school.

Grind City Brewing will have live music 3-6 Memorial Day.

There’s a weekend-long Sundresses & Linen party that will bring many visitors Downtown.

It’s National Escargot Day. Bishop would be my recommendation to celebrate.

It’s also National Cooler Day. Fill that thing with PBR!

Memphis in May’s Great American River Run is Saturday.

A luxury hotel, 15 stories, is planned for the corner of Fourth and MLK.

Zio Matto Gelato is the DM’s $10 Deal this week.

Pyramid Wines & Spirits now has High Noon Iced Tea with vodka.

NOAA predicts an extraordinarily busy hurricane season.

Cicada-infused Malort is a thing. Max, will this be coming to your bar soon?

Graphic I saw on ESPN yesterday: Years since Dallas-based teams made the conference finals:

Mavericks 0, Stars 0, Rangers 0, Cowboys 28

That’s all the news for now. Back sometime this weekend.

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Slider Inn Downtown is celebrating Tennessee Whiskey Week with two cocktails: Gold Rush with Blue Note Bourbon and Sour Cherry Negroni with Old Dominick gin. Get them through Saturday.

There’s Star Wars trivia tonight at 7 at Downtown Slider.

Time for me to get on my soapbox again.

This is looking eastbound on Washington Avenue. The intersection in the background is Danny Thomas. Note how the two Bird scooters are parked on the sidewalk. There is NO WAY someone in a wheelchair could get by.

What makes me mad is, this time I know the people in the wheelchairs. This photo was taken about a block from the Union Mission, where I’d estimate 40-60 of the nightly guests have mobility challenges.

I betcha anything those scooters were parked by teenagers on their way to Wendy’s on the corner. Parents, please teach your kids to be considerate of others.

Today is our friend Nappin’ Ass Nate’s heavenly birthday. There will be a celebration at his favorite place at 5 and Nate’s parents will be there.

Effective July 1, drag racing will become a Class E felony in Tennessee.

Today is International Chardonnay Day.

There will be a Beginners’ Watercolor Class on Riverside Drive on Saturday, June 1.

Archer Malmo seeks an Associate Creative Director – Art Director.

Thumpdaddy headlines tonight’s Peabody rooftop party. Upgrade to the VIP experience and get a buffet of popcorn shrimp, BBQ sausages, spanakopita, and fruit skewers.

If you work in hospitality, show proof and get a free general admission ticket to tonight’s Peabody rooftop party to celebrate National Hospitality Week.

That’s it for now. Back tomorrow.

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Memphis magazine has a look at Redbird revelry.

All Blind Bear T-shirts are $15 this week only.

The Cossitt Library is back open and it’s nice and cool inside! Yay!

Also, if you saw a “Temporarily Closed” sign on Bardog’s door this morning, that lasted only a few minutes. They’re back open and Allie Cat is ready to serve you.

Graceland WON’T be auctioned on the courthouse steps tomorrow. A judge ordered the sale to be put on hold.

Back tomorrow.

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The Cossitt Library was STILL closed yesterday for maintenance issues (A/C out). It leads me to a question for anyone in the HVAC industry who can answer.

When I lived in a high-rise, there were several occasions where the air conditioning was out for 1-2 weeks. The issue was that a needed part had to be shipped from California in each case. Why is California A/C central? Half the state doesn’t even need air conditioning! Email paul.ryburn@gmail.com if you have insight into this.

Having the library closed is not hurting my ability to write this blog, but it is hurting my ability to publish on Medium and earn money.

Backbeat Tours is the subject of Action News 5’s latest 5 Star Story.

Raise a glass of your favorite Old Dominick spirit to National Craft Distillery Day.

Volunteers are needed at Sunset Skate on the river.

The CA has a look inside the Sterick Building.

ALSAC is hiring a creative director.

Looks like I’ll be wandering the Main Street Mall for a while this morning… and not just because the library is closed. Back tomorrow with more news.

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Been wondering what’s up with that Pac-Man themed building on South Main near Huling? The DNA posted an update this week.

Level Up by Ryan Marsh will be a “barcade” with classic arcade games, pinball, classic video game systems, sports on 10 TVs, and a secret downstairs entrance. The downstairs will be a speakeasy with craft cocktails, live music, and comedy. Late summer is the hopeful opening date. For the full announcement, visit Downtown Neighborhood Association on Facebook.

Widespread Panic plays Radians Amphitheater Friday and Saturday.

From the DM: Slow and painful nightmare ends without closure for Phil Trenary’s family

GG Jackson has been named to the NBA All-Rookie second team.

Graceland could go up for foreclosure auction. If it happens, it’ll be on the steps of the county courthouse Thursday.

Storms are coming overnight tonight.

Tip your server well today, for it’s National Waiters and Waitresses Day.

Blind Bear specials this week: Chicken enchilada soup, chicken Parmesan, chef salad

The Cossitt Library was still closed yesterday for maintenance. No idea if they’ll open today. I wish they’d post an update to Facebook.

That’s it, back tomorrow.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
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Max’s Sports Bar will host a watch party for Karen Waldrup on The Voice tonight at 7. Karen has been a musical staple at the Farmers Market and other South Main venues for more than a decade.

My buddy Kendall recently redid Local on Main’s website and it looks great. Check it out.

Sad to hear that the Pizza Dis, Pasta Dat food truck was ransacked Saturday morning. The owner is known for hiring people with felonies who otherwise would have trouble getting work.

A bookstore is opening at 55 S. Main in the former Feast & Graze location.

From Bloomberg: Beer sellers use a loophole to break into weed drink market

Go Pacers and go Timberwolves. We Memphians gotta support other small-market teams.

From The Guardian: The story of Stax

Building plans have been approved for a Chick-fil-A location in Uptown.

Jeeps on Beale happens Tuesday evening.

E.T. will be this week’s free movie presented by the DNA at BRIDGES. 7:45 PM Thursday.

Thanks to Labelle Haven Baptist Church of Olive Branch for-coming out to the Union Mission to feed and preach to us last night. Their monthly meal of Salisbury steak in onion gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, and banana pudding is always received with a warm welcome.

Back tomorrow with more news.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

The weatherpeople have reintroduced the “muggy meter” to their forecasts. The feels-like reading will be in the 90s all week, and the actual temperature could hit 90 Monday and Tuesday.

Memphis in May BBQ Fest winners

SmokeSlam winners

Bobby Whitlock gets his Brass Note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame today.

It’s Celebrate Your Elected Officials Day.

TWO! FOUR! SIX! EIGHT!
WHO DO WE APPRECIATE?
WANDA!
WANDA!
YAAAAAAAYYYYYY WANDA!

A Downtown porch pirate was booked into jail as John Doe Friday.

Perjorie T. Roll enjoyed an enormous piece of caramel cake at Bardog yesterday.

Star Dance Competition comes to the Renasant Convention Center today.

Downtown Walgreens’ systems are down this morning and they’re accepting cash only.

ALSAC is hiring a specialist in printing and graphic design.

Beale Street Bears has a look at three trade possibilities for the Grizzlies’ 9 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

That’s it. Back tomorrow if there’s news to report.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

The city removed the park benches on the Union-Gayoso block of Main Street. I wonder if the benches’ frequent flyers were drawing complaints for making noise late at night? Or smoking weed? There was definitely a group that made that area their home.

The first 1500 fans in AutoZone Park tonight get a free Memphis Redbirds replica jersey, button-up, navy with the musical M logo. First pitch 6:35. Fireworks after the game.

It’s World Whiskey Day and I Love Reese’s Day. Celebrate both with a shot of Skrewball peanut butter whiskey at Bardog.

The Preakness Stakes, the second leg off the Triple Crown, runs late this afternoon.

Gotta cut this one short and meet friends for brunch. Back tomorrow probably.

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WordPress ate half my post yesterday. If it seemed like it ended abruptly, that’s why. Between that and the library closing 20 minutes after opening, things just weren’t going my way.

Day 4 (final day) recap of the “good old-fashioned revival” at the Union Mission:

There were. no additional believer’s baptisms. The preachers had said they’d be thrilled if last night’s service was nothing but baptisms, so that may have been a bit of a disappointment for them.

A number of religious leaders from around the city who guest-preach at the Mission one day a month were lthere. Brother Ronnie Johnson from a church out in Nutbush gave the opening prayer.

A traveling group from the Korean Baptist Church came in and gave a video presentation. Seoul is the home of the largest Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches in the world. Koreans are grateful to America for saving their church in the 1950-1953 war. Now they want to repay the favor by helping restore American churches to greatness.

Most of the Koreans were in jeans, but a few wore traditional religious clothing. They did a song- and-dance performance with colorful props.

Atlanta preacher – whose name is Chris McDaniel- led us through about 6 songs on his keyboard.

Then David (Ford? Fort? Something like that) from Buckeye, AZ got up to preach. He’s much more of a fire-and-brimstone guy, preaching about JEEEEEsus, than Chris.

At one point David asked us to turn to the person next to us and pray for them. The “Interact with a stranger” thing is one of the things I hate about church. Especially in a homeless shelter. Fortunately my seat neighbors weren’t feeling it either.

Davjd called all the religious leaders in the room to the front, then told us if we need JEEEEEsus in our life, to come up and talk to one of them. About 30 people came up.

And that was it. No mass-saving like we had Tuesday. The service still went 45 minutes over. Most in the audience didn’t seem to mind but I did hear some complaining.

On to the news…

Sam’s Hamburgers at 7 N. Main had added a new side business: Humble Drip, serving coffee, tea, and pastries.

Well damn… Scottie Scheffler has been arrested while arriving to the second day of the PGA Tournament. Valhalla I am coming…

A suspect has pled guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Phil Trenary.

The Cossitt Library will host a songwriter’s salon on Monday.

Today is National Pinot Grigio Day.

You can’t make this stuff up: They’re giving away White Cloud toilet paper at tonight’s Redbirds game. First pitch 7:05.

Happy birthday to my buddy Coyote who is 23 today.

That’s it. Back tomorrow or Sunday.

It’s free to read this blog, but I gratefully accept tips! 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
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It’s 78.5 degrees in the Cossitt Library as I type this. Is the A/C broken?

Dream Magic Daily Market, a convenience store with a deli and cafe, is coming to the Exchange Building at Second and Madison. The store is being opened by a filmmaker who is making a film based on the building.

The Blues Museum on South Main has the first full-body hologram in Tennessee, the Flyer reports. It’s of bluesman Taj Mahal. You can ask it anything and it will use AI to respond. 

Biscuits & Jams on North B.B. King opens Friday. You can wakey wakey with eggs & bakey, but the menu goes way beyond that.

A 3.8 earthquake shook Dyersburg this morning.

Appropriately enough, today is National BBQ Day.

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