Paul Ryburn's Journal

Last night I finally made it to Bardog for their Wednesday night poker night in the Underdog Room.  Poker Jon, in the tux above, gives a poker lesson for newcomers at 7, and then the action begins at 7:30.  Enough people showed up to run four tables.  Because of the size of the tables at Bardog, they are played 6-max, which I like because you can exercise looser starting hand selection than at a full 9- or 10-max table.

Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the final table, as my all-in blind stealing attempt with AJ found a customer in a pair of pocket Fours.  A Four on the turn put me out.  Still, though, it was a lot of fun, great way to meet knew people and improve poker skills.

I’ll probably get some ridicule for this one, but it was requested by a hot girl, so I don’t care.  She wanted to know what hair products I use.  She wanted to know how my hair holds up so well under summer humidity and temperatures, such as those last night in Bardog’s basement, when a large gathering of people gave the air conditioner a challenge.  “I appreciate your hair’s performance the way you appreciate #tubetops,” she wrote on Twitter.  Now, in my world, compliments just don’t come any higher than that!

At the time I didn’t know… “It’s stuff in a tube,” I told her.  “I think Pantene may make it.”

Now that I’m home and have the camera, I can go into a little more detail.  Here’s a pic of the shampoo and conditioner I use.

Pantene Pro-V Restoratives, Breakage Defense is the name of the shampoo and conditioner.  I used to use the cheap stuff – the big $1.99 bottle of Suave I think – but every day, when I got out of the shower there’d be a small clump of hair near the drain.  I clearly wasn’t going bald, so I wondered what was going on.  I asked whoever was cutting my hair at the time, and he (I think it was Silver) said I needed to use better quality products.  It didn’t take long for me to get tired of paying $13 for a tube of shampoo or conditioner at his shop, so I found these premium Pantene products and they’ve worked well.  They sell for about $4 a tube at Target, not bad.

All right, with the hair post out of the way, it’s time to drink a beer.  Sunset Wheat on Fire Sale will work.  May stop by Bardog or Kooky later.

Here’s a recap of MPACT Memphis’ 9th birthday party at Bardog Tavern last night: I drank a PBR. Then I drank another PBR. Then I drank another PBR.  I think someone was speaking about volunteer opportunities but I was too busy drinking PBR to listen.  Then I drank another PBR.

No, but seriously, happy 9th birthday to MPACT. I’m not that active in the organization anymore, but I can attest to the fact that it works. Having been an active member 5-8 years ago, I now know people on the Mayor’s staff, people on the school board, people on the City Council, people who are involved with local nonprofits, etc. MPACT really delivers on its promise to get the next generation of leaders working together at an early age. It’s also a good way to meet other young professionals. If you’re looking to meet more people and get more involved in the Memphis community, you should definitely check it out.

While there, MPACT member Susie asked what kind of conditioner I use on my hair. She told me that women want to know, because they admire the way my hair holds up in the heat. Trouble is, I couldn’t remember the name of it for several minutes, because to me it’s “the stuff in the tube.” I finally remembered it’s a Pantene product. I guess I’ll take pics of my shampoo and conditioner and do a blog post about it.

Amanda was there as well. Now usually, I have a rule of thumb – “if it’s a party Amanda is attending, it will probably suck.” For example, tea parties, Kentucky Derby big hat parties, Young Republicans parties, Ptolemy parties. However, MPACT parties are the rare exception where Amanda and I can agree to agree, although I did snicker when she mentioned “festive headwear, you know I’ll be there” on the Facebook event page.

So anyway, Amanda was doing an informal survey of men. I guess I shouldn’t skew the results by publishing the questions. Results of her survey will appear in a post on another blog later this week. I’ll link to it once it’s published.

In other news, Grill 83 is doing a new brunch on both Saturday and Sunday, featuring new twists on Southern-style food items and heavily using locally grown and produced food products. Highlights include Memphis barbecue Benedict, banana-stuffed French toast, several varieties of pancakes, a salmon BLT, and a fried green tomato sandwich. Call 901-333-1224 for reservations.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will have 70 checkpoints in place this weekend. This is not a good time to drink and drive! Find a designated driver, take a cab, or do I like do and live Downtown and walk everyplace!

Rapscallions took second in trivia last night, so that’s the start of our next party tab. Off to lunch. No definite plans for tonight, but I will surely be out.

My readers have spoken.  The votes have been overwhelmingly in favor of beginning Tube Top Month early, so that Memorial Day weekend can be a part of it.  This was the best of the arguments in favor of the change:

My vote is to start it early. Friday at 5 pm sounds like a great way to kick off a holiday weekend. As a side note, I think you should give special recognition to anyone wearing a traditional tube top. It’s like playing punch bug with VWs. Sure you get points for a new one, but it’s extra special when you find a vintage model. Let the quest for the lime green, 70s-style tube top begin!

Great idea.  Tube Top Month will begin Friday, May 28 at 5 PM.  So put on your tube top for Trolley Night or Sunset Symphony this weekend, and let the party begin!

Bardog Tavern has organized a Monday night run for the past month or so… I haven’t participated, but I’ve heard that it’s been successful. Now they’re organizing a Bardog Breakfast Run, starting tomorrow morning… meet at 7 AM for a 5-7 mile run, followed by breakfast and a bloody mary or two.

Mesquite Chop House has announced that it’s now open all weekdays from 11 to 2 for “Lunch with Michael Patrick.” Come enjoy lunch created by one of Downtown’s most talented chefs.

Don’t forget that Mpact Memphis’ 9th birthday party is tonight at Bardog Tavern at 6 PM. Members will enjoy an open bar from 6 to 7 and free appetizers (wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up). There will be opportunities to hook up with local nonprofits. Trivia team: Since I’m an Mpact member, I’ll be late tonight. Not missing out on an open bar!

Don’t forget that there’s a masquerade ball at the Silly Goose tomorrow night at 9 to benefit Make-a-Wish. $200 to the person wearing the best mask.

All right, time to get out of the cubicle prison for a few minutes.  I’m thinking Steak’n’Shake for the second day in a row.

You’d think a beer bar would know how to spell the beer capital of the world.

(Edited to add:  They fixed it.  I pick on them a lot, but the fact that I’ve checked in there on Foursquare 59 of the last 60 days is an indicator of how much I like the place.)

As you can see on the countdown timer on my right sidebar, there’s hardly more than a week until June 1, the traditional beginning of Tube Top Month.  I’ve celebrated Tube Top Month in my blog for five years now, and it’s caught on to become a city-wide and even a national and international celebration.  It’s an attempt to educate the public about the greatest item ever made in women’s fashion – the tube top.  For the entire month, every post I do will have a pic of a tube top, or a link to a pic of a tube top, or a mention of tube tops no matter how irrelevant tube tops are to the rest of the post.

However, I’m thinking about starting Tube Top Month early this year.  June 1 is a rather depressing back-to-work Tuesday this year, the end of a long Memorial Day weekend.  Seems like it would make more sense to start Tube Top Month at 5 PM on Friday, May 28, so we can include that beautiful party weekend.  In either case it would end on June 30.

What do you think?  I’m going to poll a few people tonight at Pint Nite, and I’ve also asked the question on my Facebook Wall.  Should I be a traditionalist about the date?  Or is Tube Top Month all about having as much fun as possible?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the June 3 Peabody rooftop party will have a Jersey Shore theme, but before we get to that one, we have this Thursday’s rooftop party, May 27.

The entertainment will be Andy Childs, and the theme will be “My Big Fat Middle Eastern Party.” They sent me the buffet menu and WOW this sounds like one of the best of the year. You’ll be able to make your own gyro sandwich with your choice of lamb or beef, pitas, and tzatziki sauce. There will also be hummus with chips, as well as fresh fruits with melons. $10 general admission includes the buffet and your first drink. Ladies free before 7.

If you have a VIP pass, you’ll find more food in VIP. There will be an olive bar, with an assortment of olives, feta cheese, and bread. There will also be curried chicken with rice, and baba ghanoush with pita chips.

Better get there early to get food… the Nuh-Uh Girl has missed the last two parties, but I have a feeling she’ll be there attacking the buffets with a vengeance Thursday night.

The last Friday of every month is Trolley Night on South Main. The shops and galleries open from 6 to 9 PM. Many of them have sales and discounts, and some of them offer free wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres to entice customers to come in.

This Friday will be the first of their “new, improved” trolley nights, and the South Main Arts District is really pulling out all the stops for this one. There will be a circus theme, with magicians, fire throwers, and sideshow acts. There will also be cotton candy, face painting and artisans, as well as music by a barbershop quartet, DJ Sean, and other bands.

At 9 there will be a free showing of the Indie Memphis award-winning film “Act One.” It’s presented by Old School Pictures and the Memphis Indie Film Festival.

You can also donate to the Red Cross at Trolley Night. They need your help so they can provide relief to victims of the recent flooding across Western and Middle Tennessee.

In addition, if you’re a member of the South Main Association, join the SMA in the parking lot next to Bluff City Coffee beginning at 6 PM. They’ll be grilling burgers, and they’ll have free Boscos beer for members. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up. Not a member? Enjoy the burgers and beer for a $5 donation, or they’ll be happy to sign you up as an SMA member.

There’s a chance of rain all week, but hopefully by Friday night it will have moved out. With highs predicted in the mid-80s, we should have some stellar weather to look forward to. Don’t forget that Friday night is also the Memphis Zombie Massacre, with the zombie march beginning in South Main. Lots to see and do. This looks like it will be one of the best Trolley Nights ever.

Last night the group gathered at the Saucer for our most massive party ever.  Over the past three months we won $475 in Saucer gift certificates at Tuesday night trivia.  We also had another $100 for finding the Easter Keg last month.  Team member Chad had his plate party last night, adding $100 more for a total of $675.

We always invite the trivia masters to our parties.  This is the first time in several parties that both Pete the Trivia Guy and Mikey the Trivia Guy have both been able to attend.

A couple of days ago, I had a talk with Bicycle Bobby.  “We may need your help,” I said.  “This tab is so enormous that I’m afraid we’ll die if we don’t get some people in here to help us drink it.”  Bicycle Bobby immediately offered to step up and help us take care of the problem.

Chad did something rather unusual:  He finished 200 beers to get a plate without paying full price for any of them.  Every one of them was a Pint Nite beer, or Fire Sale or happy hour, or were purchased with a gift certificate.  In the pic above, Brittney announces Chad’s accomplishment.

The group watching the unveiling of the plate

Happy Chad

Chad wasn’t the only one having a plate party last night.  Here’s Brittney announcing Minnesota Dave’s plate.

After the party ended and a stop on Beale, I was ready to call it a night, but Lana and Sarah convinced me to come in Kooky Canuck for a beer.

Full photo album (34 pics) here. My camera seems to have trouble adjusting to lighting conditions at the Saucer.  Big thanks to Jessica, who did an AMAZING job as our server.  Several times, right as I finished the last sips of my Dos Equis Lager, she walked up with another one.  Also big thanks to my teammates who tipped generously.  I am proud to be around people who understand the importance of taking good care of our servers and bartenders.

And now it’s Sunday Fun Day.  Not hungry yet, so skipping brunch, but I’ll be at the Saucer at 12.  I’m sending “good Fire Sale” vibes that direction…