Paul Ryburn's Journal

Lansky, the men’s clothing store in the Peabody, is having a trunk show to debut the new Fall line of Robert Graham sport shirts this Saturday, October 3, from 11 AM to 3 PM.  Their Robert Graham sales rep will be on hand to answer questions.  There’s complimentary parking in the Peabody Place garage, and they’re offering a free gift with purchase.

If you’re not familiar with Robert Graham shirts, you can see what they look like here.  They are beautiful and well-made shirts that make you look like a rock star.  They are absolutely the best line of sport shirts I’ve ever seen.

In addition to the Fall line, they’ll be showing shirts from their Holiday and Spring lines, and you’ll be able to pre-order them.

Funny thing – I already had planned to go to the trunk show, and I had it starred in Gmail as one of the items I wanted to mention in my “Friday update” morning or lunchtime post.  Well, while I was playing the poker tournament tonight, I got an e-mail from Lansky.  You remember how I said I got another piece of good news, besides my cash prize from the tournament?  “We want to reward you with a Robert Graham sportshirt for winning Best Local Blogger,” they wrote.  “We know how you love them.”  WOOOHOOO!  That and the PBR hoodie within two weeks of each other… I’m gettin’ a wardrobe makeover here!  Some days it’s good to be a blogger.

I’m not done yet… fourth post of the evening still to come…

I’ve been so busy blogging the Best of Memphis stuff the past day that I’ve ignored a top Downtown news story – there’s a proposed ban on the sale of single-serve beers Downtown.  The affected area would be from Mill to Vance, so it would include Uptown and the core but not South Main.  Beale Street would be excluded, as would sales for on-site consumption.

The reason for the proposed ordinance has to do with the behavior of aggressive panhandlers Downtown.  They’ve been known to panhandle until they get enough to afford a tall-boy can or quart bottle of beer, then they go to Jack’s and buy one.  Then they hang out in public areas, especially Court Square, consuming their purchases, where they proceed to loudly argue with other panhandlers, intimidate passersby, use profanity, urinate in public, etc.  Cutting off the beer sales will cut off the fuel to their bad behavior, and will give them less reason to want to hang out Downtown all day.

I see both sides of this.  On the one hand, the aggressive panhandlers are a big problem, and cutting off their beer is a big step toward cleaning up Downtown.  I have no doubt it will help a lot.  We’ve already had a major win this past month with the police camera that has been installed in Court Square, complete with blue lights.  I didn’t get to go to the CCC’s Safety Task Force meeting yesterday, but I’ve been told that it was said that the camera is a huge success – the panhandlers and vagrants who hang out at Court Square have either left the park or have been on their best behavior.  The colonel who commands the Downtown precinct said he’s been thrilled lately to pass by and see citizens enjoying the park eating lunch outside, free from harassment.  That camera makes Court Square undesirable for the bums, and the ban of single beer sales will make it even less so.

On the other hand, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in Jack’s at 8 or 9 in the morning buying my wake-up Mountain Dew, when someone who had just gotten off third shift stopped in for a single beer on his way home.  I hate it that the workin’ man will no longer be able to get his go-home beer after a long day.  It’s easy for us to sit on our rooftops drinking our martinis and cosmos and whatever, and forget that the workin’ man is part of Downtown too.  It’s like punishing everyone for the bad actions of a few.  It’s easy for us to sit in the Saucer and watch TV and look at the girls and run up $25 bar tabs and overlook the fact that, that 24 oz. can of beer is to the workin’ man what our time at the Saucer is to us (or Bardog, Silly Goose or insert your favorite bar’s name here).

I don’t know… I won’t be sorry if the ordinance passes, because we’re so close to cleaning up the problems Downtown with aggressive panhandling, and this is a major step.  I can’t say I’m a hundred percent in favor of it though.

Another thing – even if we ban single-serve beer sales, we still have that blasted liquor stores on Madison near Main (CeCe’s) that caters to bums with sales of 50 ml bottles of cheap liquor, as well as bum wines like Wild Irish Rose.  Until something is done about that store, there will still be problems with public drinking in the Downtown core.

Anyway, that’s my take on it.  I doubt it’s exactly what the other people leading the fight against aggressive panhandling hoped I’d say, but the day I stop shooting straight is the day I give up this blog.

I thought about going to the poker tournament at Calhoun’s tonight, but when I saw rain moving this way on the radar, I decided against it.  “I’ll stay home and play on PokerStars instead,” I thought.  “Maybe I’ll win more than the $15 gift certificate I could possibly win at Calhoun’s.”

Turned out to be a good call.  I paid $4.40 to buy into a 180-person tournament about 6:30 PM.  Three hours later I found myself at the final table, and although I was nearly busted by that point, I managed to fight my way back to finish in 5th place.  That netted me a payoff of $46.80.

Too late to buy into another tournament, so I’m going to get some blog posts done.  I got another piece of good news tonight too.  More to come…

Yesterday I mentioned that I’d have to miss the Rendezvous alley party with the Dempseys and Soul Shockers, but I had a good reason… well, now I can reveal that reason.  I was invited to the Memphis Flyer’s 2009 Best of Memphis party at Minglewood Hall.  When the Best Of issue came out yesterday, I learned that I had won first place in the Best Local Blogger category.

A huge thank you to everyone who voted for me, and to those who check this blog regularly and find it useful.  I truly enjoy writing for all of you.  I wouldn’t win if I didn’t have such interesting subject matter – a great Downtown neighborhood and great friends.

Between my win for the blog, Michele from Calhoun’s second place in the Best Server category, and Mikey’s status as a former Flyer employee, we were able to get quite a few of the gang in.  Here are a few pics.

Chuck, Robin, and Otto.  Happy birthday Robin!

Harmony and me

Mikey, Harmony, Dave, and Ryan, with a cameo appearance by Otto

Jean from Bardog Tavern took third place for Best Server.  Bardog also took first place for Best New Bar.  Hey, you know what I don’t see on that dress?  Straps.  TUBE TOP DRESS!  “Looks best in a tube top” could be the best category the Flyer left out.

Michele from Calhoun’s, second place Best Server.

David from Bardog, looking snazzy in a suit.

Shane uses interpretive dance to explain the meaning of the Best Of party.

The venue was fantastic.  It was my first time in Minglewood Hall, and the bands sounded great no matter where I stood in their large room.  A first-class facility all the way.  Congratulations for their first-place in Best Place to See Live Music, and for all they’ve accomplished in their first year.

Then there was the FOOD!  Chicken and pineapple skewers from Huey’s, BBQ from Corky’s, sushi from Bluefin, fried green tomatoes from the Cupboard, some really delicious dry-rub hot wings from Central BBQ, some coconut shrimp that were really good but I can’t remember where they came from, and many more food vendors who catered the party.

Oh – speaking of which – I’m sure everyone’s wondering, “Free food… did the Nuh-Uh Girl show up?”  No, due to poor wristband management on our part.  The Flyer really cracked down on freeloaders this year… you had to be an invited guest to get in.  I had an extra wristband, but thought that birthday girl Robin needed it.  Once at the party, I found out she already had one.  There was another extra wristband as well.  So the Nuh-Uh Girl could have got in and enjoyed free food.  But she didn’t.  Too bad.  She actually kinda did deserve to be there – as much as she tweets and talks about Memphis restaurants and charity events, she really is sort of a stimulus to the economy.

About 9:30, the beer ran out, and not surprisingly, the party wound down about 9:31.  Otto was our designated driver.  “Want me to drive you home?” he said.

“Yeah, but not the home where I sleep and pay rent.  The home where I drink beer.”  So Otto dropped me off at the Saucer, where I hung out for about an hour more.  A tip of the hat to night shift bartenders Brionne, Graycen, and Whitney – out of everyone working the bar last night, they stood out for providing particularly excellent service.

When I get time, I’m going to post about the winners in some of the Best Of categories and compare to my votes.  There were some categories where the voters nailed it, and others where I thought “WTF” when I read the winners – not so much because of who was there, but who wasn’t.  That will be an extremely long post, so it will probably be Saturday or Sunday before I have time to type it.

All right.  Back to work.  Not sure what my after-work plans will be.

The Majestic Grille will hold a celebration from 5 to 6:30 PM this afternoon to announce their newest arts partner – the Memphis Music Foundation.  The first 20 people to donate $50 or more to the Foundation will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Majestic Grille.  There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine at the reception.  Free food?  Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Down the street, there will be a Rendezvous Alley Party tonight featuring The Dempseys and The Soul Shockers.  Music will start at 6 and will continue well into the evening; food, beer, and wine vendors, plus info on great organizations like Mpact Memphis.  Rendezvous Alley runs north from Union between Second and Third, across from the Peabody.

In addition to the alley party, other stuff going on tonight: It’s glass night at the Saucer, with a Yazoo Oktoberfest glass that I’ve been told comes with a free T-shirt. I heard there are only 110 of these, so better get there right at 7 if you want one. $3 Pint Night at South of Beale. Wine Down Wednesdays at Silly Goose with $3 glasses of wine and $4 sangrias. It’s poker night in the Underdog Room at Bardog Tavern – real tables, real blind structure just like Vegas.

Speaking of Bardog – if you’re not on their e-mail list, you need to get on. Among other things, Aldo writes about what Chef Demitrie has been dreaming up in the kitchen – this week he mentioned white bean chili, Scallops with Pea and Potato Hash, Shrimp and Spaghetti Alfredo, and Double Cut Pork Chops. Firecracker Shrimp is mentioned as a possible future project. I wish I could convince them to get on Twitter and start tweeting their specials.

I unfortunately won’t make it to the alley party tonight, but I have two very good reasons for missing it – free beer and free food.  I’ll explain why in the next post.

I don’t have much to talk about today, so I figured I’d update my list of favorite beers.  Haven’t done that since about 2007.

1. Dos Equis Special Lager – My favorite Mexi-beer.  Great on a summer day, although I’ll drink it when it’s 25 degrees outside too.  Must be served with at least one slice of lime.  An unofficial Flying Saucer beer is the “Paulie Lager,” which is a Dos Equis Lager garnished with 4 lime slices on the rim to look like a palm tree.  Avoid the Michelada though – it’s a beer mixer which ruins a perfectly good Dos Equis Lager by adding ice and a salted rim.

2. PBR – Better than Budweiser, and usually cheaper too.  The only beer I drink at Calhoun’s, Silly Goose, or Bardog (except when it’s Tuesday pint night at Bardog).  Almost always my beer of choice where it’s available.

3. Dogfish Head Midas Touch – brewed from a 3000+ year old beer recipe that was put together by brewmasters and archaeologists.  They had it good back in ye olden days if this is what beer tasted like.

4. Sunner Kolsch – A relatively new arrival at the Saucer.  It’s light, but not boring like Bud Light or Mich Light.  Lots of flavor.  One of my new favorites and my go-to Pint Nite beer when they run out of Dos Equis Lager.

5. Blue Moon – A nice orange-flavored beer.  I’m always happy to see this one show up on Fire Sale.

6. Ghost River Hefe-Weizen – The last time I did a beer list I had Paulaner Hefe ranked in the Top 10, but it’s been replaced by a local product.  You can taste the freshness as you drink it, which I attribute to the high-quality Memphis water that is used in the brewing process.

7. Stone Ruination IPA – Careful with this one.  This double IPA is definitely not for lightweights, at a whopping 8% ABV.  One 22 oz. bottle of this is probably all you will need to accelerate from sober to drunk in record time.

8. Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale – My favorite seasonal beer.  Tastes like pumpkin pie.  I love pumpkin pie almost as much as I love beer.

9. Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat – This blueberry-flavored beer was #2 the last time I did a favorite beer list, but I’m just not as jazzed about it as I used to be.

10. (tie) Warsteiner, Stella Artois – I couldn’t decide between these two, so I’m calling it a tie.  Both of them are classic beers that go down nice and easy.

For Lee:  I guess technically, Harp should be a tie for #2 since it tastes just like PBR.

BONUS!  My 5 least favorite beers.

1. Abita Turbo Dog – In past blog posts I’ve stated that this vile concoction tastes like the sweat off an elephant’s ass.  Absolutely disgusting.  I had to drink this one for my third plate and it must have taken me an hour and a half to choke down.  I thought about buying it and giving it to someone else to drink, but who would want it?

2. Natty – Natural Light is to beer what MD 20/20 is to wine – something you absolutely do not drink unless you’re so broke that you’re completely out of other options.  It’s as foul as it is cheap.

3. Liefman’s Goudenband – Not 100% sure I spelled that right.  If you pay double digits for a beer, it should be a delight to the senses, right?  Not in this case.  It tastes like someone mowed the grass and then put it through a blender.  You can probably get a 30-pack of Natty for what you’d pay for one bottle of this beer, but neither is a good idea.

4. Guinness – People tell me that if I’m a REAL beer drinker, this should be my favorite.  They’re out of their minds.  Yeah the bubbles are kinda cool, but it’s too heavy a beer and the taste, while not quite all the way to Turbo Dog bad, is still far from pleasant.  Plus, it takes a long time to pour because it has to be done in two stages.  I don’t like having to wait on my beer.

5. Coors Light – Coors Light is to Bud Light as Pepsi is to Coke – in second place and frankly, not as good a product, yet it still does well because it’s aggressively marketed.  People who respond to the company’s marketing efforts fail to notice one thing – that this beer is total crap.  Somewhat drinkable when served through a below-freezing tap line, but even then, it has to be at a discount to every other beer in the bar before I’ll consider ordering.

Oh, also, I guess Moretti should be tied for #2 since it’s Italy’s version of Natty Light.

The Weather Channel is predicting a low of 49 tonight… that means I’ll finally get to wear my PBR hoodie tonight!  Trivia at 7 PM, and the Rapscallions will once again dominate.

The photo album is finally uploaded and can be found here.  See the previous post for highlights.

We finally got some cooperation out of the weather for an outdoor festival last weekend.  It was absolutely gorgeous for the South Main Association’s Oktoberfest in Harry’s Detour’s courtyard.  Here are some pics.

News story that happened before Oktoberfest started: “Area man gets plate on ceiling at Saucer.  Hey now!”

The gang enjoying the first fruits of the keg

There was a food buffet with potato salad, brats, kraut, corned beef, cabbage, veggies, strudel, and brownies.  Guess who showed up?

Here’s a pic of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating.

Here’s a pic of Katie eating.

Here’s a pic of another Katie eating.  Every year around this time I have to hide from this Katie to avoid her “WHY DIDN’T YOU COME TO MY COOPER-YOUNG PARTY???” interrogation.

Big thanks to Robert, who did a lot of the organizing and planning for the party.

Chef John Bragg of Circa, who provided the delicious food.

In the door prize drawing, Bicycle Bobby won a $50 gift certificate to Shelton Clothiers.  Too bad Shelton doesn’t sell Hawaiian shirts.

Joan with the folks from BankTennessee, sponsors of the event.

The Nuh-Uh Girl tries to use a funny hat, sunglasses and her purse to disguise the fact that she’s eating again.

I’m going to put up a complete photo album of about 60 pics, but Facebook keeps crashing my browser on the upload, so it will have to wait.  Right now, I’ve gotta head to Pint Nite.

Eat lunch or dinner at Chili’s today!  100% of the profits at participating restaurants go to St. Jude.

A great day yesterday… thanks to the South Main Association for a fantastic Oktoberfest party yesterday afternoon.  John Bragg from Circa provided some delicious German food, and I loaded up on brats and kraut and corned beef and potato salad and other German goodies.  And, of course, there was Oktoberfest beer.  I got quite a few pics, but Firefox crashed when I tried to upload them to Facebook last night.  I’ll try again when I get home from work.  And yes, there are several pics of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating.

Before Oktoberfest, the gang gathered at the Saucer for John D’s plate party.  The Bud Light aficionado and namesake of a Majestic Grille breakfast got his catchphrase, “HEY NOW,” on his plate.  Thanks to John for the couple of Dos Equis Lagers I enjoyed on his plate party tab.

Speaking of plates… I’m now only 13 beers away from my third plate, and there are two new seasonal beers on the menu which I think are on Pint Nite prices ($2.75) tonight.  One is New Belgium Hoptoberfest, which I tried at Circa’s anniversary party and it is an outstanding beer, although rather hoppy.  There’s another Oktoberfest which is new on the menu as well – can’t remember if it’s Paulaner or Spaten.  Anyway, those will be beers 188 and 189 tonight as my chase to change my plate’s color to green continues.

The Saucer isn’t the only place in the Downtown core with beer specials tonight… right down the street, the Silly Goose is doing pitcher night, with $5 domestic pitchers and $8 imports.  Also, Kooky Canuck has specials on beer and wings during Monday Night Football.

The semi-annual Architects Party will benefit the International Children’s Heart Fund this time… it’s charity founded by Dr. William Novick who had his home on the DNA Home Tour several years ago, so there’s a Downtown connection despite the event being held in Midtown, at 1500 Union.  Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster and The Snake Doctors will perform, and the theme is Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”  They hope to fill the entire parking lot with people doing the Thriller dance.  Event will be October 30, the day before Halloween, so tickets will be $20 for this in costume and $25 for those who are not.  The International Children’s Heart Fund makes it possible to get aid to children with congenital heart conditions in developing countries.  So far more than 4,000 children have received operations, and more have benefited from the education and resources ICHF provides.

 Several more hours of sitting at a desk, then it’ll be time for beer.

The SMA’s Oktoberfest celebration is today from 3 to 7, in the courtyard next to Harry’s Detour on GE Patterson.  If you’re a member, you get free Boscos beer, and you get delicious German food cooked by Chef John Bragg.  Free food?  Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Not a member and want to come?  Well, you have two options.  One is to pay the $15 non-member entry fee.

Or, for $10 more you could become an individual member, which will not only get you access to today’s party, but various other events during the year.  They have a couple of parties with free food and booze – Cinco de Mayo is the other one – and during most months, they grill out at Trolley Tour, with burgers, dogs, and beer for members.  Many of their membership meetings have complimentary hors d’oeuvres from some of the best restaurants Downtown.  One restaurant, the Happy Mexican, put out a free dinner buffet that was so good that the Nuh-Uh Girl had 4 helpings.  Plus you get to keep up with what’s going on in the South Main area, and you’ll learn about volunteer programs where you can pitch in and help make the neighborhood better.

If you join today at the party, your membership will run through 2010.

Should be a fun day.  I’m skipping brunch this morning to make room for John’s food at the party.  About noon I’ll hit the Saucer for a friend’s plate party, then head south to Oktoberfest.  Afterward, maybe across the street to Calhoun’s or maybe back to the Saucer, after seeing what certain people decide to do next.

Sunday Fun Day!!!