Paul Ryburn's Journal

Today I took a long walk, stopping by Beale Street (where I ran some bums off), the Saucer, Kooky Canuck, back to Beale to eat at Dyer’s (double-double combo), Tom Lee Park, and then back home.  Here are some pics I took and thoughts I had:

I saw this sandwich board listing BB King’s happy hour specials, and I figured I’d help spread the word.  Click the image to see the specials in a larger size.

They were putting up the Ground Zero sign on the old Pat O’s building.

After that I walked by the Elvis statue at Main and Beale, and one of our regular panhandlers, who has a rap sheet as long as my arm, approached me and told me he was looking for work.  Now, I’ll grant you, this is a better opening line than most use, but if he’s looking for work, wouldn’t he do better walking around and, maybe, talking to people who own businesses?  As opposed to sitting by a statue where most of the passersby will be tourists.

This dog has been wandering the streets of Downtown the past few days.  He seems pretty friendly – if you talk to him, he’ll follow you for a couple of blocks.

About 2:00 I went down to Tom Lee Park, and took some photos of the BBQ team booth under construction.  Here are a few:

All right, those are enough pics for now.  There will be many more later in the week.  Just got an e-mail from teammate Chad saying help is needed to decorate the booth from now until 7.  Of course, my responsibility is once again holding down the fort for the team at the Flying Saucer.  Trivia tonight at 7:00.

Apologies to those who came out to Beale based on misinformation I posted.  It was a trolley parade and therefore on Main.

Complete photo album (28 pics) here. As far as I know, I was the only member of any BBQ team photographing the parade, so, ANOTHER BIG WIN for the Ques Brothers!

I’ve been asked to make a public service announcement regarding BBQ Fest.  Ladies, if you’re trying to figure out what to wear, I have a suggestion:  Wear a tube top.  There is a lot of practical value in this suggestion – you’ll be out in the sun, and with a tube top on, you won’t get tan lines.  Also, find me and get your photo taken to appear on the blog sometime during Tube Top Month, which is only 21 days away.

Just in case any of my teammates haven’t checked their e-mail or followed the Twitter account… Chad will be at the Flying Saucer tonight with membership packets, and then later Calhoun’s.  “Later” probably means “after trivia,” so 9, 9:30ish.  If you can’t make it to either location, give Chad a call to arrange pick-up.

The Peabody has announced the menu for their Thursday night rooftop party this week, and if you’re not going to BBQ Fest, you can attend the party and get some BBQ anyway.

The buffet will consist of pulled pork sliders with coleslaw and BBQ sauce, BBQ beans, and miniature fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches.  In VIP there will be BBQ ribs, onion rings, and banana pudding shooters.  Coors Light and Miller Lite will be the featured beers, and the entertainment this week will be provided by Kevin and Bethany Paige.  (Wonder if their stalker will be there?)

Two important notes about this week’s party:

1)  This is a good week to get some food, because THE NUH-UH GIRL WILL NOT BE THERE.  She’s on the same BBQ team I am, so she’ll be at Tom Lee Park.  That means the food will last an extra long time.  I actually wouldn’t be surprised if the Peabody orders and prepares less food than usual, knowing she won’t be eating.

2) If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to VIP, you better do so this week, because the hotel will probably run out of VIP season passes this Thursday.  They cost $50 and get you into all of the season’s parties, so if you plan on attending 5 of them you’ll break even.  In addition to entry, you get access to a private VIP area, which is very nice when you want to get away from the crowds.  In the VIP area there is additional food, and beer samplings.  They gave me a free pass for being a blogger, but having used it so far, it’s my opinion that it’s absolutely worth the money if you go to a lot of the rooftop parties.

There’s a parade on Beale Street at 10 this morning, celebrating National Tourism Week.  Think I’ll head down there and take some pics.  Might as well do something other than hang out at the Saucer for at least one hour of my vacation.

When it’s 8 AM and my post title is “Drunk post,” you know it’s been a good week.

I’m here to announce YET ANOTHER victory for the Ques Brothers:  A record broken.  Last night at 11:25 PM, I downed my 16th Pint Nite beer, surpassing my previous record of 15.  See, this is the kind of thing that happens when I hold down the fort all day for the team.  Accomplishments happen.  This in addition to the two Foursquare mayorships I’ve picked up since my vacation began Friday afternoon.

Time to stumble across the street and buy my wake-up Mountain Dew.  More later.

I just found out that we’re going to have a camel in our booth, as part of the Tunisia-themed decoration.

Personally, I had hoped for a sheep, and a private space in the booth large enough for one team member and a sheep, but whatev, a camel will work, sure.

On Saturday, May 22 at 6:30 PM, Memphis Farmers Market and Grill 83 will be grilling out on the Madison Hotel rooftop.  Awesome local food, Ghost River beer, and live music.  Call 901-333-1224 for reservations.

In the news:  Four police officers were hurt in a brawl involving more than 100 people outside the Plush Club. Seriously, when is the attorney general’s office going to get around to shutting that place down as a nuisance?  It may not be part of the Beale entertainment district proper, but it’s right across the street.  Tourists see it and it’s scary.  It’s a detriment to the end of the Beale entertainment district between Rufus Thomas and Fourth, which is a shame because that area is getting a boost with three recent business openings.  Click the link to read the CA article listing all the acts of violence that have occurred there.  Personally, I’d like to see 380 Beale turned into a parking lot.

Just saw this on Twitter: George Clinton and P-Funk in Handy Park on June 18.

This week in Court Square for the Downtown Alive! series:  Trump Tight on Tuesday; performances by Hattiloo Theatre on Thursday; Barbara Blue and Deering & Down on Friday.

It’s Monday and I’m off work, but I’ve got a busy day ahead of me taking care of BBQ team business.  First of all, I have to represent the team at Pint Nite at the Saucer, which starts at 11 AM.  Furthermore, I have to be the Ques Brothers representative at one of the poker games at the Silly Goose.  I doubt I’ll be done with my Pint Nite duties by 7:30 PM, so it’ll probably have to be the later 11:30 game.  I hope Brick is working tonight.

Lastly but not leastly, here are a few pics I snapped yesterday.

Breakfast at Cockadoos yesterday morning: Cat head biscuits and gravy and country ham

Yesterday at Calhoun’s, Joe managed to accomplish a feat I’ve never been able to: He finished 16 of their Habanero Wings.

Harmony had on a cool PBR shirt

Coming up on 10 AM, so I’ve got about an hour to get things done around the apartment before it’s time to head to the Saucer.  Need to figure out where I’m going to eat lunch too – will probably wait until about 1 to do that to give the lunch hour rush time to disperse.  I may blog from my iPhone this afternoon, so check back.

Last week I stopped in Second Street Shoppers, the convenience store on Second across from the Peabody, and I talked to the people who run the store for a while.  They’ve had a deli for a while that serves wraps, salads, subs, pizza, wings, burritos, desserts, and breakfast items.  However, now they’ve taken it a step farther.  They’ve hired a chef who is going to prepare Italian food.  He gave me samples of macaroni salad, spaghetti and meatballs, and Italian potato salad, all very good.  If you need something to eat Downtown, and you don’t have time for a sit-down meal, Shoppers is an option to get some very good food in a hurry.

Of course, they also carry all the items you’d expect a convenience store to carry, including beer, snacks, basic toiletries, souvenir items, cell phone accessories, coffee and soft drinks.  Hey, speaking of soft drinks, it’s time for my morning Mountain Dew run.  I think I’ll stop by.  And I’ll check in on Foursquare.  Wonder who the mayor is there?

One of the managers at the Downtown Saucer asked me to help put the word out that he’s looking for a doorman for Thursday and Friday nights of this week.  Hours are 8 to close, so you’d probably be out around 2:30 AM.  It’s a pretty docile crowd and the position is more host than doorman.  You’d be collecting money and would need to be somewhat outgoing and friendly.  If you need to pick up some extra cash this week, here’s a chance to do it working a relatively easy job.

Normally I’d say to contact me via e-mail at paul@paulryburn.com, but since I’ll be out most of the day it might be faster just to call and ask for a manager.  Number is 523-7468.