Paul Ryburn's Journal

Got a lot to post about today, but let’s go ahead and start with the important stuff – what to do tonight? There’s a lot to choose from.

The biggest thing going on tonight is the first Grizzlies home game of the season! The Memphis Grizzlies play the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight in a pre-season game in the FedExForum at 7 PM. Get tickets here.

Tonight is also the Makeshift Music Alley Party in Gayoso Alley, part of the Alley Jams concert series. Two Way Radio, Paul Taylor, Pezz. Food, beer and wine vendors. I had to miss last week’s Alley Jam and heard it was a lot of fun. This week I’ll be there. Gayoso Alley runs north from Peabody Place between Front and Main. Music starts around 6 I believe.

It’s also “Buy the Beer, Keep the Glass” night at the Flying Saucer. This week is the John Lennon glass, and they’re doing a take-off of the photo of him in the “New York City” shirt from the early ’70s. Glasses go on sale at 7 and will probably run out quickly. If you plan on attending both the Gayoso Alley concert and glass night, I recommend you walk over to the Saucer about 6:50.

Pint Nite at South of Beale – all their pints $3. Also, today is the unveiling of their new menu.

Poker night in the Underdog Room at Bardog Tavern. Poker tournament with real tables and chips, increasing blind structure, the real deal. Once Alley Jam season is over, I’m going to hit the tables at Bardog on Wednesday nights, so watch out.

I have a couple more posts saved in Drafts that are scheduled to post at various times this afternoon.  Check back.

The Center City Commission posted on their @downtownmemphis Twitter account that they’re looking for volunteers to decorate Downtown for the holidays. You can help them decorate Main Street and Court Square. They did a fantastic job with this last year and it really made Downtown feel special during the holiday season. If you want to help, send them a direct message on Twitter, or contact them through their website.

Bardog Tavern is the latest Downtown restaurant to get on Twitter.  You can follow them at @bardogtavern_tn.

In the latest e-mail newsletter, Aldo said he isn’t sure exactly what he’s going to tweet.  Suggestion: Tweet the specials, the great food that Demitrie cooks up that isn’t on the regular menu!  The thing is, I don’t know what the specials are unless I happen to walk by and see them on the sandwich board outside.  But, usually I don’t walk by Bardog except when I’m walking to Bardog – that block of Monroe just isn’t on my usual path.  So the specials as they’re posted now don’t get me in the door any extra times.

On the other hand, if the specials were tweeted, I might think to myself, “Hmmm they have arrabiata pasta with sausage? I hadn’t meant to stop in there today, but it looks like now I have a plan for dinner.”  As good as Demitrie’s food is, it would surely get me in Bardog a few extra times, and I imagine other people too.  And then the $2.50 PBR would keep me around…

At trivia last night, someone ordered a sandwich.  Not long after it came out, the Nuh-Uh Girl swooped in like a pigeon and asked, “Are you going to eat that pickle?”  Then she dipped it in ketchup and ate it.  Here’s a pic.

She then said, “Hey, don’t knock ketchup until you try it!”  She thinks everything’s better with ketchup.  No, everything’s better with bacon.

I have four or five more things to post about today, so check back.  I’m going to type as many posts as possible before I leave for work and save them in Drafts, then put them up throughout the day.

Mpact Memphis has a few opportunities and events coming up that I wanted to mention on the blog.

First of all, they’re looking for a Program & Event Planning Intern. Click the link to read complete details, but as a quick summary, you’d be working with MPACT leaders to reserve venues, coordinate volunteers for events, purchase food and materials, and maintain event data.

It’s an unpaid internship… why would you want to do this for free? Simple – because of the connections. You’d be working with some of the city’s most promising young leaders in the Executive Director and the committee chairs. You’d also get to know people who run the city’s best venues, most well-known nonprofits, etc. Yeah you’d be working for free now, but I bet it would pay off big in the future. Plus Mpact is a flexible organization, and Gwyn the executive director would be a great person to work with.

Now, let’s talk about a couple of Downtown Mpact events, the type the intern would help plan. First up, next Tuesday, October 13, Mpact is holding a happy hour at South of Beale. The new menu will be out by then, so come give it a try and wind down the day with a cocktail and friends.

Then they’ve got an event Saturday, October 17 which sounds really interesting… it’s Downtown at Bangkok Alley, which is quickly becoming my favorite restaurant (had edamame and two sushi rolls there Friday night). This night of food, fun and entertainment kicks off at 8, but really gets going at 10 – MPACTinis and tasty tapas. Mpact gets a portion of the proceeds, so come support. Hmmm food-related event… I’ll have to bring the camera, because I suspect there will be opportunities to photograph the Nuh-Uh Girl eating.  Plus there’s a very good chance I’ll end up at either Bardog or Paula & Raiford’s later in the evening.

Just got home from work.  Going to catch up on Twitter then head to the Saucer for trivia.

Taking a quick afternoon break to post info I received from the Peabody on their New Year’s Eve party.  They say it will be two parties in one:

The Wild Side
Saving Abel with Al Kapone and DJ Mark Anderson’s Party Train
Location: Grand Ballroom

The Scene
Andy Childs with DJ Bobby Smith and John Felix Trio
Location: Continental Ballroom, Lobby, Corner Bar

Sounds good… NYE is so far away that I haven’t thought about it at all, but this is probably the first time in 5 years I’m going to give serious consideration to the Peabody. Their rooftop parties improved a lot this year compared to what they were in the past. Hopefully they’ll bring that level of improvement to their NYE party as well.

Back to work… another exciting afternoon of renaming and redirecting files.

Update 2:14 PM: I just received an e-mail from someone who parks in this garage.  The attendant told him Central Parking will be closing it tonight after it clears out.  There’s no word yet on alternate locations for the garage’s monthly customers.

… and this time it’s not because of bums pretending to be parking attendants.  This Action News 5 story says that the ceiling of the 62-year-old structure is starting to fall.  Several people had their vehicles damaged, and they could have been injured if they’d been there at the wrong time.  If you’re coming Downtown to the Rendezvous, Cadre Building, Paula & Raiford’s, or other area attractions, you may want to look elsewhere for parking until the garage management gets this fixed.

Update on my Big Mac combo meal lunch:  My health guru AL has already seen my post about it and has texted to voice her disapproval.

If you’re into cigars, fine food, and wine, you may want to make reservations for the Smoking Up High Cigar Dinner, to be held Thursday, October 15 on the rooftop of the Madison Hotel. $75 per person (plus tax and gratuity) includes the food and beverage parirings listed below, and one cigar from Havana Mix. Mike Candebat from Vignoble Wine Distributor will be on hand to discuss pairings. Here’s the event schedule:

6:15-7 PM – Passed hors d’oeuvres, mojitos, and cigars. Bring your own cigar or purchase on-site.

7:05 PM – dinner service begins.

First Course
Arkansas Rainbow Smoke Trout with Applewood Bacon Vinaigrette and Smoked Caviar
Prinsi Chardonnay

Second Course
New Orleans Seafood Gumbo
Le Rive, Nebbielo

Third Course
Veal Osso Bucco
Prinsi, Calvario

Dessert
Key Lime Shooters
Assorted House Made Truffles
Dark Roast Coffee with Domanier Cognac L’Orange

Call 901-333-1224 to make reservations.

Update on my lunch from McDonald’s:  Because I upgraded to the large combo meal, I got four Monopoly game pieces.  I was hoping for a $1,000,000 instant winner, but instead I got North Carolina Avenue, Indiana Avenue, States Avenue, and Pennsylvania Railroad.  Wonder if any of those are the “scarce” pieces.

I have two more posts already typed up.  When I feel like I need a minute or two’s break this afternoon, I’ll log in and post them.  Check back.

Eating lunch as I post this… today’s lunch is a Big Mac combo meal.  Just had to mention that in case my health guru AL is reading.  “Do you want to upsize it to large?” they asked.  Does a fish like water?

If you have metalwork you need repaired, this weekend is your chance… Repair Days will be this weekend, October 9-11 at the Metal Museum. Metalsmiths from around the country will be on hand to solder, sharpen, fix dings, remove dents, re-tin cookware, and repair garden furniture. Estimates for repair work are free, and all proceeds benefit the Metal Museum. Visitors with repair receipts receive free admission to the museum during the event.

In addition to repairs, there will be other fun stuff going on at the museum all weekend. Friday at 7, there will be a Master Metalsmith Demonstration. Saturday will be Family Fun Day, with casting, jewelry making, and blacksmithing demos. In the evening, there will be a gallery talk with Master Metalsmith Elizabeth Brim, a live auction, and music by DJ Witnesse. Elizabeth Brim will be back Sunday morning for a tech talk.

Plans for tonight:  Trivia at the Saucer at 7.  The team has been smaller lately but I kinda like it that way… seems like 8-10 people is ideal.   Got several more posts in the queue, so check back.

Rio Loco has Pollo Loco Tapatio on special for under $10 all day Sunday.  That’s a huge portion of chicken breasts topped with cheese, bacon, and mushrooms, along with beans with cheese, rice, sour cream, guacamole, pico, and lettuce.  Plus chips and salsa.

If you’re single it’s enough to have leftovers for Monday.

If you’re a couple it will easily feed you both.

I made the mistake of thinking it wasn’t enough and getting the beef nachos with it.  Was that ever unnecessary.