Couple of random pics

Cleaning old pics out of the camera. Here are a couple of random ones:

Uncle Ray, who loves to have his picture taken, and Robo at Shelton Clothiers Thursday night. Shelton partnered with the Squeal Street BBQ team for a benefit for LeBonheur. Attn Robo: I’m going to try to direct a birthday party happening Downtown tonight toward your favorite Saturday night place. Birthday girl is someone whose photographs have frequently appeared on this blog (recently, the same photo over and over).

I’ve been playing poker with Brick a lot lately at the Silly Goose’s Monday Night Texas Hold’em game (free to play, 10 PM). Based on her strategy, I suspect that Brick has been reading poker books. Particularly, the poker book that states, “K-3 is a powerhouse hand that is easily strong enough to call an all-in move pre-flop.” I busted Brick out of the tournament Monday night.

Someone post pics to Facebook of last night’s toga party at Max’s! Didn’t make it down there, because I was dealing with a bout of severe laziness. Highlight of my evening was the Cajun chicken eggrolls I had at Majestic Grille.

I will be at Max’s this afternoon for their courtyard party. I don’t know if I will stick around to watch the Grizzlies game – would prefer to head back to the core before evening – but I want to be there around 2 PM to catch Dynaflow play. Three bands, beer specials, crawfish, two HDTVs outside. It’s definitely the Downtown event of the day, so come down!

Early warning: BBQ Fest

It’s the start of a nice, relaxing Easter weekend, but I want to give everyone an early warning: Memphis in May BBQ Fest starts in less than 3 weeks. At BBQ Fest, about 250 teams compete in ribs, shoulder, whole hog, and Patio Porkers. The thing is, due to health regulations, you can’t go in the team booths and eat unless you’re on a team, or are an invited guest. So, now is the time to start gathering invitations.

(Note: As an invited guest, you still have to pay to get in the festival.)

A few tips:

  • Ask around among your friends; find out who you know who is on a BBQ team. Memphis is one of those towns where everyone knows someone. You probably know more team members than you think.
  • Look for people who are wearing BBQ team T-shirts and polos. That’s a sure indication they’re either on a team, or are very close to someone who is.
  • If you’re new to Memphis and have never been to BBQ Fest, use this to your advantage. Team members realize it kind of sucks to be at BBQ Fest when you don’t know anyone on a team; being on the outside looking in is no fun. As a result, many teams tend to be sympathetic to newcomers.
  • When you get invitations, be sure to get the team name. Most of the teams have similar names, some variation of pig, hog, swine, etc. It’s easy to get down to the park and have no idea whose booth you’re invited to. Write the name down or put it in your phone.
  • If possible, get their booth number as well. If you have an iPhone or Droid, the Memphis in May app will let you look up the team, find the booth number and get an approximate location in Tom Lee Park.
  • Let them know that you understand it’s expensive to run a team (budgets in excess of $20,000 are normal for the large teams), and if they have a tip jar you’d be happy to stick a few dollars in.
  • Be appreciative. Ask nicely, and be grateful if an invitation is extended. Don’t act like it’s your God-given right to come in. Being a douchebag is not a good strategy to get in booths.
  • Don’t ask if you can bring 8 other people with you. That’s unreasonable. One person, sure. Two, maybe. But don’t expect to ride up with your entire posse and be welcome.
  • Ask if they use any kind of system to denote invited guests – wristbands, cards, etc. – and arrange to get one.
  • If you go to Music Fest, that’s a good opportunity to network for BBQ Fest, because of the sheer number of people you’ll see there.
  • If you ask and are told no, be understanding. As a member of a team, I hate telling potential guests no, but sometimes I have to. We can’t allow more people in than the capacity set by the fire marshal, and it’s not fair for me to let 75 invited guests in when my teammates only have a few guests each.
  • Find out what dates and times are best for you to stop by. Many teams have a “sponsor night” when they have to limit guest access.

(Edit: A frequent guest of my team’s booth just reminded me that wearing a tube top is an excellent strategy for gathering booth invites.)

The early bird gets the worm. Start early, and you won’t get caught in a mad scramble to get in booths when BBQ Fest opens to the public.

If you want more info about BBQ Fest, you can get details here.

Fri update: Davis-Kidd, new restaurant/club in Quetzal space, Redbirds fun for kids, Sunday No-Fun Day for grownups, poker editorial and more

Today’s first item isn’t Downtown news, but it’s sad news… the Daily News reports that Davis-Kidd bookstore is likely to close after its parent Joseph-Beth goes through bankruptcy. I hate to see Memphis lose another bookstore. Then again, probably the last 20 books I bought were from Amazon (and most of those Kindle books), so I guess I helped contribute to the decline.

The CA reports that a new restaurant called Sky Grille will open in the old Quetzal space on Union near Marshall. It will be a family restaurant serving Huey’s-style food from 11 AM to 10 PM, then it will turn into a club with DJs, VIP rooms and even a bikini contest on Thursday. They say they will have free valet parking and a shuttle to various points Downtown. I always hope new businesses succeed Downtown, but the concept for this really sounds all over the place. They’re going to have to do many things well from the beginning, rather than focusing on doing one thing well (like Huey’s did with its burger) and then expanding from there. Nevertheless, I wish them luck.

Big weekend at the Redbirds. Saturday is fireworks night (game starts 6:05). On Sunday, there will be an Easter egg hunt at 1:00 before the game begins at 1:35. Kids will be able to get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny, and can run the bases after the game.

What are the grown-ups going to do on Sunday? The Saucer doesn’t open until 5. Two days away and I’m at a loss for ideas.

Great editorial from former Senator Alfonse D’Amato: Make online poker legal? It already is. If poker is a game of chance, as the Justice Department seems to think, then the average Joe could enter a tournament and have the same chance of winning as Phil Ivey. If that’s the case, how come Ivey has won tens of millions of dollars and I’m sitting in a cubicle?

Congratulations to my friends on the Squeal Street BBQ team, who had a special guest yesterday for their cookout at Shelton Clothiers. Mayor Wharton stopped by for a bite. I stopped by for a bite later in the evening, and the BBQ sliders were delicious.

Plans for tonight: No idea. I guess I may stop by the toga party at Max’s Sports Bar, where they’re giving out prizes for most authentic, best accessories, most likely to be a Roman God, etc. If there’s a prize for not caring enough to find a toga to wear, I might win.

Outta here for now. Happy Good Friday!

Memphis in May 2011 iPhone/Droid app now available

The Memphis in May app for the iPhone and Droid is now available in the App Store (and whatever the equivalent of the App Store is on the Droid). Even if you have the 2010 app, you’ll still need to download the new one.

I got it this afternoon and it’s very cool. I went straight to the BBQ Fest section, scrolled to my team, and found our booth. Then I looked at the Music Fest section. You can search by time or by artist, and you can build your own personal “My Schedule” and then share it with friends so you can arrange to meet up.

There are also sections for Sunset Symphony, and for the honored country, Belgium.

The app is free, so if you plan to attend any of the Memphis in May events, this is worth a minute to download.

Ferraro’s Pizzeria and Pub to start new trivia night next Tuesday

Ferraro’s Pizzeria and Pub, located at Jackson and Main in the Pinch, has announced that they are starting a new weekly trivia night next Tuesday, April 26. Trivia will begin at 8 PM and wrap up around 10.

Trivia will be hosted by Kevin Cerrito. Prizes for first, second and third, and a prize (which I hear is a pitcher of beer) for the best team name.

My trivia team, the Rapscallions, has played Tuesday trivia at the Flying Saucer since September 2005, but next Tuesday we’re going to take a break and try Ferraro’s. The Saucer adopted a new format recently, some of which doesn’t make much sense. (For example: A “beer question” where the first team to answer gets a beer. The team sitting nearest the trivia guy nearly always wins, and how does a team split ONE beer anyway?) We’re going to explore other options.

There’s a limit of 8 players per team at Ferraro’s, and since our team is often bigger than 8, we’ll have to decide how to handle that – split into two teams or something. Then again, I think we may actually see new team members, because unlike the Saucer, Ferraro’s is SMOKE FREE. We had people who wanted to play trivia with us, but the smoke bothered their eyes and stunk up their clothes. Not a problem at Ferraro’s. Also, since it’s smoke free, all ages can come and play.

(For people who insist on smoking, there’s a patio)

One person on Twitter compared it to the old Poplar Lounge trivia nights, but better. There will be beer specials, and they have PBR. I’ve eaten at Ferraro’s one time, and the calzone was excellent. Hoping I can talk a teammate or two into splitting a pizza on Tuesday, as I’ve heard nothing but good things about Ferraro’s pies.

For updates on Ferraro’s trivia night, “Like” them on Facebook and follow @cerrito on Twitter.

Thur update: Rooftop parties, MLGW app, new photo blog, yogurt place about to open

Rooftop party season gets into full swing tonight as the Madison Hotel starts their “Sunset at the Madison” Thursday night parties. Elmo & the Shades play tonight. Rooftop tapas menu, sophisticated drinks. Doors open 5:30, live music 6-10. $7 cover.

The Madison is adding a second party this year – “Moonlight at the Madison.” From 10:30 PM to 1 AM, DJ Tommy Austein will entertain. Cash bar continues, late night menu. $5 cover and Sunset attendees extend their party for free.

Over at the Peabody rooftop, one of the most popular bands they book, Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster, will perform tonight. Get down with ’70s and ’80s disco and enjoy a buffet of ’70s favorites like pigs in a blanket and fondue. In the VIP secion, the buffet will consist of deviled eggs, mac & cheese, and ham/asparagus rollups. $10 cover includes first drink, ladies free before 7.

If you hold a VIP season pass (buy them at the entrance for $75), the Peabody will occasionally have VIP pre-parties in the Corner Bar. There’s one tonight from 5 to 6. It will be a Bud Light Happy Hour. Complimentary Bud Light, Crispy Chili Glazed Chicken Wings, Bar-B-Que Pork Sliders, Spicy Traditional Pepperoni and Mozzarella Pizza.

(Disclosure: The Peabody gave me a VIP pass for the season.)

(John D: “Whaaaaaa? Complimentary Bud Light at the pre-party? Paul, can I borrow your pass?”)

There will be an after-party in the Corner Bar to which the public is invited (i.e. it’s not VIP only), from 10 to 12 with DJ Witnesse. 10 to midnight, benefits the Memphis Music Foundation.

In other news: If you’re one of the ones without power, MLGW has an iPhone app that you can use to check for status updates. (Of course, you’ll have to find someplace with power to charge your phone.)

Cool new street photography blog: seen memphis.

The CA reports that the new frozen yogurt shop on Main will be open Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

Second post on the way, about a new trivia night Downtown. Plans for tonight: Probably a warm-up beer at the Saucer, then a trip to Shelton Clothiers to eat Squeal Street BBQ at the Third Thursday party. Possibly Peabody rooftop to hear Dr. Zarr afterward, depending on weather.

Parties! Parties! Parties!

Despite being Easter weekend, a weekend that is usually slow entertainment-wise, the rest of this week and this weekend is pretty well stacked with parties going on Downtown. Here’s a summary.

Tonight FedExForum will host the watch party for the second Grizzlies vs. Spurs playoff matchup. Screens will be set up outside and in the lobby, and food and drinks will be available in Jack Daniels’ Old No. 7 bar. Details here.

Tomorrow night, the Third Thursdays block parties return to the block of Main between Peabody Place and Gayoso. It’s free from 5:30 PM until close, with retail discounts and food and drink specials at area restaurants. Performers this month will include Memphis Jazz Trio, Copper Possum, and Eric Hughes Trio.

A particularly good deal at the block party will happen at Shelton Clothiers. When you stop by and give at least a minimum $5 donation to LeBonheur, you’ll get to enjoy beer and BBQ from Squeal Street BBQ until it’s gone. All you can eat? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Friday night, the South Main District will have a block party, with great specials and selections of art and apparel. Hours will be 6 to 9 PM.

Saturday there will be a big party at Max’s Sports Bar from 2 to 10. “Concert in the Courtyard” will feature music by Dynaflow, Deering & Down, and Jimmy Davis. $3.50 New Belgium Draft, $2.50 Rolling Rock, crawfish by the pound. Grizzlies game shown at 7:30 on their 10 HDTVs inside and 2 HDTVs outside. Free to get in the bar, $5 to get on the patio.

As you can see, even though it’s Easter weekend, there’s still plenty to do.

Happy birthday to our friend Dennis, who is a frequent Downtown visitor with his wife Mary Pat. Dennis turns 50 today.

Apologies if I’m behind on e-mails, getting stuff on the blog that’s been requested… have been dealing with car repairs the past couple of days, and recovering from weekend festivals. Should be back on more of a normal routine from here on out.

Good news for those live Downtown but work elsewhere: Lunchbox Eats to open on Saturdays

I went to the food truck festival in Court Square, but the lines were so long that I didn’t feel like dealing with them. (This is a good sign that the food trucks will be successful.) So I decided to take a walk to one of my favorite eateries that I never get to enjoy, Lunchbox Eats.

Lunchbox Eats is on Fourth just south of Linden, a little out of the way but worth the walk. I had the Third Period Smoking Birds sandwich, consisting of turkey, chicken, and duck on buttered bread (it’s a turducken in a sandwich). I got a huge bowl of mac & cheese as a side.

Definitely one of Downtown’s best lunch spots, but I rarely get to eat there. The drive from Horn Lake, where I work, and back simply takes too lunch for an hour lunch. However, while eating I got some good news. Lunchbox Eats will start opening on Saturdays from 11 AM to 7 PM. Now Downtowners who can’t make it down here for lunch will have a chance to enjoy this amazing restaurant. If you haven’t tried it yet, you really need to!

Tue update: Food truck fare, new restaurant to open on Beale

This weekend, I took Monday as a vacation day to recover from hot wing fest/crawfish fest. It unexpectedly turned into a 4-day weekend, as I had the car in the shop for repairs and it wasn’t ready by the end of the day yesterday. I picked a nice day to be off, because it enabled me to walk over to Court Square and check out the food truck demonstration.

Lots of people out, and about seven vendors. I got there right at noon, probably the busiest time. The line for Fuel Cafe’s truck, serving the restaurant’s famous bison burgers, was about 30 deep. There’s a reggae band playing in the gazebo and people were having a good time. It’s actually kind of hot outside today!

The food truck demo was part of the CCC’s Downtown Alive series. Here’s the lineup for the rest of April (click the image to zoom in for full size):

Hmmm my camera seems to be leaving a smudge on every image. May have to invest in a new camera before BBQ Fest gets here. Will certainly need it then.

In other news, the Memphis Business Journal reports that a new restaurant is coming to Beale Street. Johnny G’s Creole Kitchen will open at 156 Beale by the end of April. It will serve traditional Creole fare including jambalaya, red beans and rice, etoufee, po’boys, and 8 different kinds of gumbo. Prices will be affordable, starting at $6.95 for entrees. The restaurant is in the former Alley Katz gift shop space.

Sorry I’ve been blogging a little less than usual lately. Been living it up at festivals and friends’ birthday parties, and fretting about having to spend vacation days dealing with car repairs. Hopefully I’ll resume my normal schedule tomorrow.

Food trucks get a test run in Court Square tomorrow

There will be a food truck party in Court Square tomorrow from 11 to 2. Fuel Cafe, YoLo, Rolling Pit and A Square Meal on Wheels will vend tomorrow, and there will be live reggae as part of the Downtown Alive! series.

The event happens as a new ordinance, designed to make it easier for food trucks to operate, makes its way through City Council. It will have its third and final reading tomorrow. Everyone come out and show your support for the food trucks!

I still need to type up a recap of the weekend but for now I’ll just say this… GO GRIZZLIES!!!!!!!!! We are no longer the lovable losers, but a team that is a legitimate threat to anyone. Great job, guys! How awesome would it be if the FedExForum is still hosting Grizzlies games in June?