Paul Ryburn's Journal

It’s 8:17 PM and I’m still at Blind Bear with the MacBook. So let’s do another post.

I’ve learned this week’s specials (“The Features”), although they don’t have prices attached yet. Those have yet to be determined.

• A coffee-encrusted ribeye. I had a bite, and while I’m not generally a fan of things coffee-flavored, it interacted REALLY well with the natural flavors of the steak.
• A shrimp salad. This was tasty and the presentation was gorgeous.
• Looks like that cheesecake returned for an encore, with strawberry or blackberry sauce.

More on that cooking demo by Chef Eli Townsend of Cossitt Library this Wednesday:

Monday is National Cheeseburger Day. McD’s and Wendy’s have deals.

iOS 17 will be released Monday.

That’s it for now.

 

CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP

That’s the sound of the Florida Gators ripping the Tennessee Vols’ national title hopes to pieces. The Vols suffered a 29-16 loss at Florida yesterday. True, one loss is not the end of a team’s CFP hopes, but the Vols have upcoming dates at Alabama and vs. Georgia. They’ll be very lucky to escape the regular season as a three-loss team,

NEEEEXXXXXT YEEEEEAAAARRRRM, THOUGH… I TELL YOU WHUT, BOYYYYEEEE… THASSSS GONNNNN BEEEEE ARRRRR YEEEEARRRRRR….

Check out this cool shot glass Butt Slut #2 got me on her recent trip to Mexico!

Nothing like taking a drink out of a boot! The tip of the boot could easily put an eye out. So I guess I now carry a weapon – like just about any other Memphian.

But wait, I have additional butt slut news: Butt Slut #1 will be working the upstairs bar at Bardog for happy hour this Monday. She quit the bar business about a year ago to manage her dad’s liquor store, but she still has her ABC card and can pick up here and there.

For those of you who have trouble keeping track, But Slut #1 is the brunette and #2 is the blonde. Topics to talk to Butt Slut #1 about include

• soup
• soccer
• the Dallas Cowboys

Congrats to The Daily Memphian on five years! Far and away the best news source in this city.

Radio DJs Drake and the late Zeke got their brass note on Beale Street yesterday.

Central Station Hotel has opened a new music-themed event space. Weddings and corporate events are expected uses.

Memphis 901 FC picked up a 4-2 win against Hartford Athletic last night.

Today is National Monte Cristo Day. Kooky Canuck’s Waffle Monte Cristo is your move to celebrate.

Charlotte Taylor plays Downtown Central BBQ Tuesday evening.

LEO Events is hiring a Communications Manager.

Logistics firm TQL is hiring an entry-level sales rep.

Dos Hermanos, the restaurant inside the Cossitt Library, will host a Cooking with Chef Eli demo Wednesday night. White bean chicken chili and cornbread!

Bishop in Central Station will host its first wine dinner on Wednesday.

This is my second post of the day. Keep scrolling for info on Blind Bear price rollbacks on mimosas, Bloody Marys, and PBR.

 

 

Folks, I have some great news. Blind Bear has rolled back its prices on some of your favorite beverages.

For some reason, last month mimosas and Bloody Marys went up to nine dollars during weekend brunch hours. That was an astronomical eighty percent increase. And you couldn’t avoid the price increase by ordering a champagne bottle with mimosa setup – that underwent a fifty percent price increase to thirty dollars.

I am pleased to announce those increases have been REVERSED. Catch Chico behind the bar 11 AM to 7 PM on Saturday and Sunday for

• $5 mimosas
• $5 Bloody Marys
• $5 white peach sangria
• $5 Ole Smoky moonshine shots
• $20 mimosa bottles

In addition, one more price issue has been reversed. Last month, the price of Pabst Blue Ribbon cans shot up to five dollars, a sixty-seven percent hike.

Yesterday Jeannette told me the PBR price has been reset to $3.

Yay.

A full Sunday update is coming, but I wanted to go ahead and get this news item out quickly since it’s time-sensitive. News on football, butt sluts, and more to come.

By the way, I’m at the Blind Bear now. Come hang out!

Earlier this week I mentioned that All Elite Wrestling, the number-two pro wrestling promotion in the U.S., would broadcast its Saturday night show Collision from FedExForum on October 21. It’s now been revealed that Memphis wrestling announcing legend Dave Brown will be a special guest announcer for that show.

A man was found dead yesterday at N. B.B. King Blvd. and Washington Avenue. There were not any signs of foul play.

A man who lives at an apartment complex in The Edge was arrested for allegedly stealing an American Express credit card from a neighbor. The man was reported to have run up $2000 in charges paying his rent.

Saturday is Batman Day.

From Action News 5: Skate instructor Ebony Lemons is electrifying Downtown Memphis at Sunset Skate

Memphis 901 FC hosts Hartford Athletic Saturday at AutoZone Park. 7:00 kickoff time.

Hive Bagel & Deli, the new bagel shop on S. Front, is hiring a barista.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Greg Cartwright plays Eight & Sand Lounge in the Central Station Hotel Saturday night.

That’s all for now.

Hispanic Heritage Month on Mighty Lights:

Early voting in Shelby County elections begins today. List of polling places/hours. Downtown, your location is the Shelby County Election Commission at Second and Poplar.

If you vote early, you can vote at any location/date you want.

May I offer a recommendation? PAUL YOUNG for mayor!!!!!!

Going to Cooper-Young Fest tomorrow? Look for my friend Tre (the #baldbeardedbartender) who will have a booth there and will be selling decorative drink coasters, cutting boards, and other amazing crafts . #catchtrewhere His booth number is B-11.

Tre will be assisted by our buddy Jason. Jason would love it if you bought him a Pronto Pup. Or some peanuts to feed Steve the squirrel who lives in a tree next to Local on Main.

Thanks to Lindsey who introduced me to a word game called Connections. It’s a New York Times game like Wordle.

Memphis 28, Navy 24. It’s 10:13 Thursday night but I’m gonna go ahead and publish this as a Friday post. Possibly back in the afternoon with another.

 

 

Navy Midshipmen vs. Memphis Tigers, 6:30 tonight on ESPN. I sure hope I can watch the game at the bar in peace without some dumbass coming in and trying to get the channel changed to NFL Thursday Night Football. It’s Minnesota and Philadelphia tonight, two teams you wouldn’t think would have big followings in Memphis. But in this age of sports betting on your phone, you never can be too sure someone won’t want that game on.

ESPN FPI has the Tigers as a 90.2% favorite. Navy sucks this year. Most of the time, they’re pretty decent.

Wow I just noticed Memphis is the ONLY American Conference team with a 2-0 record going into this week. 11 teams sit at 1-1 and East Carolina and North Texas are 0-2.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW), the second most prominent pro wrestling promotion in North America, will live-broadcast its Collision show from FedExForum on Saturday, October 21. Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan when he was in WWE), Samoa Joe, and Jon Moxley are some of that show’s top stars.

Rapper Tyke T and his friends present Ten Years of Driven at The Orpheum Sunday night. Tickets are $25. More about Tyke T

The riverboat company that operates the Island Queen Booze Cruise on the Mississippi said a missing 21-year-old woman made it safely back to shore Sunday night.

Boats are stuck on Mud Island due to critically low river levels.

Beale Street Landing will host a National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration Friday evening. There will be a theatrical presentation, a screening of the movie VIVO, and guest speakers.

MMA fights come to the Cannon Center Saturday.

DJ Dig Dug plays the Eight & Sand Lounge in Central Station Hotel Friday night from 9 to 1.

This is your last weekend to visit the Barbie Disco pop-up at The Lounge on Main above IBIS.

Rural Oklahoma Pride presents The Rural Journey Drag Show at Atomic Rose tonight.

That’ll wrap it up for this second Thursday post. Go Tigers!

I don’t know if I have any West Memphis readers, but it’s apparently become much more difficult to get to the closest Memphis bar to your city, Momma’s, “the diner and dive off I-55.” To get there from WM, do the following:

• Go eastbound on I-55 across the old bridge
• Exit onto Metal Museum Drive
• Turn right onto West Illinois Ave.
• Turn south onto Riverside Blvd.
• Turn east on McLemore Ave.
• Turn north on Kansas St.
• Turn right on Illinois Ave.
• Turn left on Kentucky St.
• At the corner of Crump – you FINALLY made it to Momma’s!!!
• If you see a sign that reads “EXIT 152 – Bucksnort,” you took a wrong turn somewhere

There’s a map on Momma’s Facebook page if that helps.

Early-bird tickets for Memphis’ best beer festival, Cooper-Young Beerfest, are now on sale. Saturday, October 21 is the date. Definitely worth a Lyft or Uber.

Local on Main will have homemade Mexican pizzas today as a special.

Some restaurant down here needs to do their take on an Enchirito. Gotta be topped with black olives though, like ‘ritos were back in the 1980s…

The Beale Street Bears website writers think Desmond Bane has a good shot at making the 2024 U.S. Olympic team. Ya know, I think Des has probably become my fav Grizzly… not flashy, just goes out there and gets the job done well. Low drama kind of dude.

Today is National Coloring Day.

The MBJ reports that a new restaurant is coming to The Ravine out in The Edge District, launched by Chef Kevin Sullivan (no relation to the professional wrestler of the same name). The menu will be a blend of Asian and Southern.

Word on the street is that a French/American fine dining restaurant named Amelia Gene’s is coming to 1 MLK Ave. They’re said to start training people in about 3 weeks.

I played Donkey Kong on that video game console at the Cossitt Library yesterday. I couldn’t make it past the first screen!!! I used to be really good.

Cossitt staff will present story time at the Memphis Farmers Market this Saturday at 11.

The Cossitt branch will host Momversations from 3-5 PM this Saturday.

Memphis 901 FC hosts Hartford Athletic 7 PM Saturday at AutoZone Park.

30ME (Thirty Minute Ego) plays Slider Inn Downtown this Friday.

There’s a Valero Reelin’ for Good Bass Tournament this Friday. $10,000 grand prize and $2500 Big Bass prize. Hosted by Bill Dance and Bass Pro.

Madaline Collins Duo plays Live at the Tracks at Central Station tonight 6:30-9:30.

David Graham & The Eskimo Brothers play Blues City Cafe Friday night.

Pete, Brevin & Fish will be back on Bally Sports Southeast broadcasting all but 4 of the Grizzlies games this season. That is great news – it was unclear if the broadcasts would be back after the network’s parent company filed Chapter 11.

Adam Sandler is coming to FedExForum on November 16. Tickets go on sale to the public this Friday.

A tattoo festival is coming to the Renasant Convention Center in April 2024.

Curry N Jerk has some limited-time deals at its new location at 150 Monroe:

Pick 2 meals for $35:

• Salmon & grits
• Jerk shrimp alfredo
• Curry Jerk combo
• Curry shrimp & grits

Pick 2 meals for $30:

• Oxtail fried rice
• Jerk combo fried rice
• Oxtail pasta
• Veggie Panamanian pasta
• Jerk shrimp fried rice

Pick 2 meals for $25:

• Jerk chicken plate
• Vegan jerk burger
• Jerk chicken alfredo

Silly Goose has $8 Hugo and Aperol Spritz for the month of September.

Action News 5 has a look at the new Muggin coffeehouse location in Uptown.

That’s it for now. This is my Thursday update post but I’m typing it Wednesday evening at Blind Bear. Gonna schedule it for 12:01 AM so the date will be right, then sit back and silently judge people singing karaoke. Back when I have more to write.

Free video games at the Cossitt Library!

Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga are the featured games on the console, but there are 10 pages of ’80s retro games available. It’s in the upstairs corner by the young adult fiction and the giant Connect Four game.

The Majestic Grille’s Saturday (11-3) and Sunday (10-3) brunch returns this weekend, and they have upgraded their menu. New items include

• Bakery selections
• Harissa chicken hash
• Oysters

Yum that new menu looks good!

Let’s have a look at this weekend’s college football games of interest to Memphians:

Thursday, September 14

• Navy at Memphis, 6:30 PM, ESPN

Saturday, September 16

• 14 LSU at Mississippi State, 11:00 AM, ESPN
• South Carolina at 1 Georgia, 2:30 PM, CBS
• 10 Alabama at South Florida, 2:30 PM, ABC
• 11 Tennessee at Florida, 6:00 PM, ESPN
• Stony Brook at Arkansas State, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
• Georgia Tech at 17 Ole Miss, 6:30 PM, SEC Network
• BYU at Arkansas, 6:30 PM, ESPN2
• Colorado State at 18 Colorado, 9:00 PM, ESPN

Not one ranked vs. ranked matchup.

Blind Bear has announced its specials for this week:

• Chicken & wild rice soup – rice, onion, celery, chicken cup 6 / bowl 8
• Fish & chips – dill tartar sauce 14
• Shrimp & grits – shrimp, peppers, onions, pepper jack cheese grits 16
• Colossal cheesecake – strawberry puree 8

Today is National Peanut Day. Time for a Peanut Shoppe visit!

A woman is missing after boarding one of the Downtown riverboats for a cruise.

The Mississippi River is once again nearing record low levels.

The CA has a look at The Lobbyist, Momma’s, and Slider Inn Downtown in outdoor patios you need to try.

StyleBlueprint looks at the best burgers in Memphis. Momma’s, Bishop, Green Beetle, Slider Inn, and Earnestine & Hazel’s were among the Downtown spots that made the list.

The ARRIVE Hotel is hiring a programming & culture manager.

The Memphis Grizzlies are hiring a digital marketing intern.

Bobbie Stacks & Jack Rowell play Momma’s tonight 6 to 9.

Tonight is Whiskey Wednesday at Eight & Sand.

That’s all I have the time & energy to post right now. Back sometime with more news.

 

The Brass Door will open early today for the Rugby World Cup. Matches to be shown:

• Ireland vs. Romania – 8:30 AM
• Australia vs. Georgia – 11 AM
• England vs. Argentina – 2 PM

Soul & Spirits will have 12 oz. cans of their beer available at Kroger starting next week. Of course, you can also get the cans at their 845 N. Main taproom.

Memphis River Parks Partnership has sued Memphis in May for $1.4 million in damages to Tom Lee Park that MRPP claims happened at Music Fest and BBQ Fest ’23.

MPD investigators believe Thursday’s shooting at the Lil Baby concert inside FedExForum was premeditated.

Jaren Jackson Jr. won’t come home with a FIBA World Cup gold medal. Team USA lost to Germany yesterday 113-111. Team USA will play Canada for the bronze medal at 3:45 AM Sunday.

Mental Floss has offbeat attractions in every state. For Tennessee, it’s a salt & pepper shaker museum.

MLGW restored power to Downtown after a substation outage knocked out electricity south of Monroe for about five hours.

Memphis 901 FC hosts Monterey Bay FC tonight at 7 at AutoZone Park.

Expect extremely heavy traffic Downtown once the Southern Heritage Classic lets out about 9 PM.

Cutting this post short because I have to go in and work the ticket window at 9. Back tomorrow with more news.

Legendary radio hosting duo Drake & Zeke will be honored with a Brass Note on Beale Street’s Walk of Fame next Friday, September 16. Drake Hall and the late Zeke Logan were hosts of Rock 103’s afternoon drive-time show for many years.

Their note makes a point I stress in my Beale Street Walking Tour. Most of the notes are awarded to musicians – but not all. Anyone who had a long-lasting influence on the Memphis music scene and/or on Beale Street is eligible.

Here is another example of a Beale Street Brass Note. Lillie Mae Glover was a Beale Street blueswoman of the mid-20th century. She was also a conjure doctor who prepared mojo bags for her bandmates.

Did I use some unfamiliar terms in that last paragraph? Take my Beale Street Walking Tour and get familiar with them! The next time I lead the tour is Thursday, September 14 from 1:30 to 2:30.

A day ahead of the Southern Heritage Classic, there will be a UAPB pep rally on Beale Street in Handy Park from 5 to 7 PM.

Payment services providers Square and Cash App went down for a while yesterday evening. I was at one of my regular spots and several customers there were unable to pay their tabs.

Jonny and Clyde with Naomi Campbell perform tonight 7 to 10 at South Main Sounds.

FIBA World Cup basketball semifinals: USA vs. Germany, 7:40 this morning, on ESPN2.

Fast Company looks at the improvements to Tom Lee Park.

This sign board by Dinstuhl’s on Main Street is a reminder that pineapple is best served covered in chocolate, not atop pizza:

Deep Roots plays Slider Inn Downtown tonight at 7.

Volunteer opportunity: Take Action with the Grizzlies Wednesday, September 20 from noon to 3 PM. Volunteers must be 18+ and will receive a T-shirt and food truck voucher. The project will include school supply kits, food aid kits, and bicycle building.

A bride had her wedding dress stolen from her car while she was attending a wedding rehearsal dinner at Second and Monroe. This is the SECOND time her car has been stolen in Downtown Memphis while working on wedding plans.

There was a shooting at the Lil Baby concert at FedExForum last night. One victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

YogaSix seeks a teacher for vinyasa-based heated yoga and Sculpt Studio.

Not Downtown but likely fulfilling enough to make a drive to work worth it: Make-A-Wish seeks a wish coordinator

The Brooks Museum says that stopping work on the new Downtown location could cost $7 million.  Friends for Our Riverfront claims the museum is not within the “public promenade” wishes of the land’s original owners.

From the CA: Hive Bagel & Deli will bring bagels and much more to 276 S. Front

Also in the CA, Jennifer Chandler has a taste of Tom Lee Park’s food offerings.

That’s it for this morning. Back tomorrow.