Paul Ryburn's Journal

Last night the gang stopped by opening night at Bar None, the “chef’s pub” in the space formerly occupied by Circa. Here are some pics.

View full photo album here (55 photos).

Bar None will be open again tonight from 8 to midnight for another sneak preview, with more menu samplings. You can view their menu here.

A second Friday update before I head out:

I haven’t made it to City Market at Main and Union yet, but Kerry from the I Love Memphis Blog has. Here’s her report. I’ll probably swing by there for my morning caffeine run tomorrow and will check the place out then.

John Bragg’s new “chef’s pub,” Bar None, now has their website online. Among other things it has the complete menu. Five different types of sliders! You can also follow them on Twitter at @barnonememphis.

If you’ve been Downtown for a while, you’ve probably seen a man named Tad giving tours in his ’50s Cadillac. You can now “Like” his business on Facebook at “American Dream Safari.” If you want to impress friends or business associates coming to town and really introduce them to the soul of Memphis, consider booking one of Tad’s tours.

All right, time to hit the bars. I’ll try to snap some pics at Bar None tonight, both of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating and of the bar itself.

WMC-TV has released a list of street closures for the Memphis Marathon tomorrow. Let me summarize: If you plan on driving anywhere Downtown between about 7 AM and 1 PM tomorrow, you’re screwed. Just don’t do it.

Welcome to all the runners who are in town. If you’re looking for locations to carb up tonight, here’s a list of area restaurants who will have specials or discounts. In most cases you have to show your official race number. If you want a recommendation, I’ll say that the Mardi Gras Pasta at King’s Palace Cafe on Beale Street is one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had.

Tonight is also the party to end Movember at Max’s Sports Bar. For the month of November, many men in Memphis took the pledge not to shave and to grow a Movember moustache. The Memphis chapter, I was told last night, was one of the most active nationwide, raising $8,000 for men’s prostate cancer research and awareness of men’s health issues. Great job guys!

My plans for tonight: Will make a quick stop by the Saucer, where my friend Jake will be celebrating his fifth plate. That means he’s now a Master of the Universe and gets a snazzy black membership card. I’m 133 beers away from joining Jake in the club.

Afterward it looks like some of the gang will head over to Bar None to celebrate our friend Clay’s birthday a day early. “What’s Bar None?” you’re probably asking. It’s the chef’s pub that John Bragg has created in the old Circa location. They’re open for a sneak preview 8 PM to midnight tonight and tomorrow night, with happy hour prices all night long. There will also be menu tastings and I know for a fact the Nuh-Uh Girl will be there, so expect photos.

Speaking of the Nuh-Uh Girl… Air Traffic Mike has invented a new holiday in her honor. It’s called HaNuh-uh-kkuh. Read about it here.

All the talk about pasta has made me hungry… think I’ll hit Fazoli’s for lunch. Outta here for now.

Won at poker tonight but it wasn’t easy. Benjie quickly became the huge stack. For the first hour I could not get cards. 9-4, 8-3, J-2, 10-6, those kinds of hands.

Then finally… with my stack down to 9000 and the blinds at 1500/3000… my luck changed. Got three good hands, went all in. All folded and I stole the blinds.

Got KK, small stack went in, thankfully no Ace showed up. Happy to prove that I only show down good cards like KK. That showdown made me the big stack.

Got A3 at 1500/3000. Raised to 10,000. Other two opponents called. Flop was 5-2-3. Went all in with my pair of Threes, two Queen high hands called. Hit an Ace on the turn and that was it.

That makes four poker certificates. Thinking of getting two more, then doing a mini-party like the ones we do at the Saucer, but PBR only… two more certificates and I’m there…

Sleep calls. Good night all.

The big news Downtown is that City Market opens today! Located at the corner of Main and Union, City Market is the Downtown core’s newest grocery and deli. It will be open until 10 Monday-Saturday night which is great news. It’s also great news for people who keep health-conscious diets, as the shelves will contain products you might find at Whole Foods or Fresh Market. It’s owned by Sunny and Hamida Pirani, two super nice people who I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for a couple of years. Please come support them! Here’s a Commercial Appeal article about the new market. I haven’t been by yet but will probably stop in tomorrow.

One thing I forgot to mention when I posted about everything going on Saturday… if you come to South Main for the Rock’n’Romp or the holiday parade, stop by 517 S. Main between 3 and 9 PM for a Christmas bazaar featuring handmade goods by local vendors. It’s presented by Indie Style Market.

I have to laugh at a position @tmj_mem_jobs tweeted yesterday. There’s a Specimen Management Representative job open at Concentra. I recognized that name immediately because it’s where I had to go to take my drug test for my current job. Well, I guess it’s the type of job where no one could blame you if you got really pissy at work.

Don’t forget that it’s open house night at Shelton Clothiers and Christine by Shelton tonight from 5 to 9. Chair massages from Mona Spa, 20% off everything in the store, get a $25 gift card free when you buy a $50 card. Giveaways, food, wine. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Trying to decide what to do tonight… there’s a WordPress meetup at Republic Coffee at 6 PM. My friend Otto (Otto42 in the WordPress community) is trying to talk me into going. Hmmm… could do that… then again it is poker night at Max’s Sports Bar… or I could always go to the Saucer and do the usual. Lots of options.

Right now it’s lunchtime though. Hungry for Mexican.

There are a lot of events going on Downtown Saturday, December 4. Here’s a quick list.

The Memphis Marathon, half-marathon and St. Jude 5K happen Saturday morning. Runners take off from AutoZone Park at 7:15 (5K) and 8:00 (marathon and half-marathon). All races except the family race are sold out at this point. Funds raised from the events will benefit St. Jude. Visit the Memphis Marathon home page for more info.

Some of the Stumblin’ Santa attendees (see below) plan on meeting outside The Pyramid at 8 AM, in costume, to cheer on the runners. If you’re stumbling Saturday night and want to put on your Santa suit early and join them, they say you’re more than welcome.

At 2 PM there will be a family-friendly event at 409 S. Main – The Rock’n’Romp. This is a rocking concert with music by The Luv Clowns, Cody Dickinson, and Gasoline Grace. Adults must be accompanied by kids to get in. Free for kids, $5 adults.

This isn’t a Downtown event, but one a lot of Downtowners are interested in: The SEC championship game on CBS at 3 PM Central time. Not only are fans of Auburn and South Carolina, the participating teams, going to be watching this one, but Arkansas fans as well. If Auburn wins, they advance to the BCS National Championship, and Arkansas will likely be invited to the Sugar Bowl.

The Memphis Holiday Parade happens at 5 PM on South Main between G.E. Patterson and the Orpheum. Bands, dancers, floats, scooters, and of course a special appearance by Santa Claus. This year Jerry “The King” Lawler, who main evented WWE Monday Night Raw this week, will be the grand marshal.

The Memphis Tigers host Western Kentucky at the FedExForum at 7.

Also at 7, the granddaddy of all Memphis pub crawls, “Bob and Roland’s Stumblin’ Santa,” will begin at the Flying Saucer. There are Elvis crawls, Snuggie crawls, and more, but this is the first and the finest. Today they released their list of bars – after starting at the Saucer, Santas will crawl through Alfred’s, 152, and Coyote Ugly. There are so many Santas expected that they will likely have to break into groups and rotate through the three Beale bars in shifts. If you want to participate, show up at the Saucer at 7 PM in costume – preferably Santa, but there have also been Mrs. Claus, reindeer, elves and Christmas trees in past pub crawls. Be sure to bring a toy for the Ronald McDonald House. Since these toys will be shared among many kids, they’re not accepting stuffed animals due to germ concerns. For latest news on the pub crawl, find the event “BOB AND ROLAND’S 6TH ANNUAL STUMBLIN’ SANTA!!!!!!!!!” on Facebook and click Attending or Maybe Attending.

Not sure if I’ll be stumbling this year… it’s a friend’s birthday and the one weekend this month he’ll be in town, so whatever he wants to do. I have the costume if need be, but I’ve done SS twice before and am comfortable missing it if he’d rather do something else. If I don’t stumble I’ll buy a toy and drop it in the box before 7 Saturday. Others who want to donate a toy but can’t attend the pub crawl can bring it to the Saucer before that date and time.

The annual gift card sale is on. $25 for $50 gift cards. Starts at 9. Will probably run out by 1. If you want a deal on one of the best restaurants in Downtown Memphis you better take advantage. No online sales. You have to be there to get it.

I’ve received a security alert that counterfeit $20 bills have been passed in the Medical Center/Downtown area recently. If you are in a job where you take money from customers, be sure to hold 20s to light and make sure they are real U.S. currency.

Bad news for those of you who were looking forward to authentic Russian banya in Downtown Memphis: It ain’t gonna happen. A businessman from Russia named Yuri, who moved here after studying aeronautic engineering at Georgia Tech, had planned to open an authentic Russian bath house, or banya, at the southwest corner of Union and Main (old Smooth Moves location). However, when he had to travel home to visit his sick mother, he encountered problems when he returned to the US. Customs agents in Atlanta told him his visa only allowed him to work as an aeronautic engineer here. He cannot legally open a bath house under his visa. His lawyers have been fighting it for the past week, but today he posted to Facebook and Twitter that his appeals have fallen upon deaf ears. He must go.

Thanks Yuri for trying to bring something different to Downtown Memphis. I wish you well, and hope that one day you get to fulfill your dream of opening a bath house in the city of Elvis Presley.

Yuri posted something interesting to Facebook this morning. He went to visit the property at 85 Union one last time, and there was “a most intelligent gentleman” looking around. Yuri posted, “here is business:” and a link to Thompson, an advertising agency located Downtown. Could Thompson have their eye on that space, now that it’s available? I’ve been familiar with the company for a while, since I judged an employee baking contest there in 2009. Very nice people, and I’ve heard from sources within the company that they have been looking to expand. That location would be ideal for a growing company like Thompson.

Still sick… made it to work today though. Remains to be seen if I’ll make it until 5… sorry again for the lack of blog output this weekend, but when I’m not out talking to people and taking photos, that happens.

James Taylor is coming to the Orpheum February 27. Tickets will be on sale Friday, December 3, at 10 AM, through Ticketmaster or by calling the Orpheum at 901-525-3000 or 800-745-3000.

The Madison Hotel has started an afternoon tea from 2-4 Monday-Friday. You get your pick of the following teas: House blend spiced chai, dragon well green, Egyptian mint, citrus chamomile, wild encounter, sapphire Earl Grey, or Kenilworth Ceylon English Breakfast. Teas can be purchased with choice of sweets (scones or petit fours) or finger sandwiches, and you can add sherry or champagne. Live music, complimentary hot chocolate bar. Glass ornaments to benefit the children of LeBonheur will be available for purchase.

A reception for artist David D. Lynch’s latest show will be held at the Majestic Grille from 5:30-7:30 PM Tuesday, December 7. The show will be entitled “Memphis: A City for All Seasons” and will feature artwork from his 2011 Memphis calendar. Original artworks, prints, and the calendar, “Art & Anecdotes around the River City,” will be available for purchase. As always, the Majestic takes no commission, with all proceeds going to the artist. Validated parking can be found in any Peabody Place parking garage. Champagne and drink specials will be available, and there will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres by Chef Patrick Reilly. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

I’ve been asked several times about the annual Stumbling Santa pub crawl… it’s this Saturday, December 4. The absolute best way to get the latest and most up to date news on the crawl is to search for “BOB AND ROLAND’S 6th ANNUAL STUMBLIN’ SANTA!!!!!!!!!” on Facebook under Events. They’ll post the latest details there. Click Attending or Maybe Attending to receive any messages they send out. I’ll try to post a summary later in the week, but if you go there you’ll hear it straight from the organizers.

The Razorbacks made it to #7 in the BCS standing this week! Nice! If Auburn wins the SEC championship next Saturday, projections have the Hogs taking on Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. That will be a sweet game indeed.

If I feel up to it, I’ll be at Pint Nite about 6.