Paul Ryburn's Journal

I’m reading reports on Twitter that someone jumped off the rooftop of the Peabody Hotel today and committed suicide.  A good friend of mine walked through the hotel about an hour ago and happened upon the crime scene.  The official @PeabodyMemphis account has said the person was not a guest or employee, and is asking for all questions to be directed to the police rather than the hotel at this time.  As far as I know this is not a joke.

Okay… we’ve finally put the schedule together for the Elvis pub crawl this Saturday, August 15. Here are the details:

– Honor the King by dressing up as Elvis. You can buy Elvis gear at CostumeCity.com (will probably need to get rush shipping at this late date though) or other online costume sites. You can also go to Graceland’s gift shop, and Beale Street may have some stuff too. Or, you can be creative and make your own outfit.

– We will be collecting cans and cash for MIFA’s Food Bank. Come have a good time and support a worthy cause too! Details on what to bring are at the bottom of this post.

– The bars listed below have agreed to waive their cover charge for people dressed in Elvis attire who are part of the pub crawl.

– Please bring cash to pay your bar tabs. It looks like there’s considerable interest in this event. We want to avoid a situation where dozens of Elvises all try to close out credit card tabs at the same time.

– Please bring IDs too. This is especially important for getting on Beale Street.

OK, here’s the running order. Times are approximate.

7 PM: Meet at Flying Saucer
8 PM: Leave Saucer
8:10 PM: Arrive at Blue Fin
8:45 PM: Leave Blue Fin. We’ll probably walk through the Peabody next.
9:15 PM: Arrive at Silky’s
10 PM: Leave Silky’s and walk down Beale Street
10:30 PM: Arrive at Red Rooster
11:15 PM: Leave Rooster
11:30-11:45: Back to Flying Saucer

If this is starting to sound similar to the Stumbling Santa pub crawl that happens in December, it is. The person who came up with the Elvis idea and drafted Mike King and I to coordinate it based the idea on Stumbling Santa. “The first thing I want to do is make sure we’re not stepping on toes,” Mike said. “I want to contact one of the people who is in charge of Stumbling Santa and make sure it’s OK. And I don’t want to call it Stumbling Elvis.” I was 100% in agreement with that move.

So Mike talked to one of the Santa coordinators, and not only did he assure us we would not be stepping on toes, but he said he had no problem with us using the word “Stumbling.”

Mike and I then met at Calhoun’s and created a Facebook page for the Stumbling Elvis event. He invited some people, and then I signed onto my account and invited some people, and the people who run the bars we’re going to invited some people. “If we get two dozen confirmed attendees I’ll be happy,” I told Mike.

I apparently underestimated interest in this event. As of this post we have 72 people who have confirmed they will attend, and more “maybes” on top of that.

Now, as for what to bring for the Food Bank – any of the following:

– Cash: A $1 contribution buys $3.70 in food distribution

– Meat/protein: Cans of chicken & dumplings, chunky soup, canned beef stew, etc.

– Fruit: Canned fruit cocktail, pears, apple sauce, 100% fruit juice

– Vegetables: Canned green beans, corn, lima beans, etc.

– Fish and other protein: Canned salmon or tuna, chili with beans, pork and beans

– Other: Dried beans or peas (1 or 2 lb. bag), rice (1 or 2 lb. bag), mac and cheese, vienna sausage, evaporated milk

– No perishables

– No jumbo cans – no canned foods over 29 oz. or juice over 64 oz.

So there ya have it… search for an event called “Stumbling Elvis” if you’re on Facebook. Hope to see you Saturday!

Several of my friends have tried Bardog Tavern for brunch in recent weeks, and have said really good things about it.  In particular, they’ve mentioned the lobster sandwich.  That does sound good.  They said Bardog also has $1.50 PBR during brunch, and you get a free drink (a mimosa or I think a couple of other choices) with your brunch entree.  Not a bad deal.

They don’t open until noon on Sunday.  I think next Sunday, I’m going to have to sleep for an extra hour (I usually go to brunch at 11) and give Bardog a shot.  That means I’ll get to the Saucer an hour later than usual, but oh well.  They see plenty of me the rest of the week.

I got up too late for brunch yesterday, but I did get some good food… I went to South of Beale when they opened at 4 and ordered the Crock, a country pot pie of duck, Andouille sausage, and root vegetables.  I also got to try an oxtail wonton, which was really good with mango salsa.

I’ve got the info for the Elvis pub crawl almost ready… will probably post it tonight.

Today is National S’mores Day, a celebration of the campfire treat made with marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers.  Kooky Canuck is celebrating by selling its S’mores for half price all day.  You make them right there at your table with your own miniature campfire.  They’ll also have their new Deluxe S’mores for $6.99, made with gourmet marshmallows from Plush Puffs.

Two of the best things about being a Downtowner are

1) Getting to know my Downtown neighbors and having an ever-expanding circle of friends

2) Getting to go to parties on rooftops

Last night, our friend Brent, who did such an amazing job decorating the Ques Brothers’ booth at BBQ Fest (photos here) threw a birthday party on the rooftop of his building, which also happens to be my building.  Here are a few pics:

The bar

There was an ice luge for people who wanted to do shots.

The mystery beer tub.  The only reason you can see the caps and the labels is because of my camera’s flash.  In reality the tub was almost completely dark so you had no idea what you were getting.  I pulled out my first bottle and saw that it was green.  “Dos Equis Lager Especial.”  Nice!  I did see a Bud Light in the tub – too bad John D wasn’t there.

As I’ve said before, you can’t have a Downtown photo album without Mikey hamming it up for the camera.

Another pic of everyone enjoying the rooftop, with the Mississippi River in the background.

A fantastic party, and with a pro like Brent planning it I’m not surprised.  If you want Brent to help you plan and decorate an event for you, you can reach him through the Holliday Flowers website.

It’s brunch time but I’m not hungry yet… think I’ll get in an hour on PokerStars before I go out.  Getting bored with Hold’em… think I may try 7-card Stud, which I played all the time in college.  I’ll meet up with the gang at the Saucer later on.  It’s Pint Nite at South of Beale, so I may make a visit there after they open at 4 PM.  Interested to see what a Sunday Fun Day will be like there.

Wow Twitter has been a disaster this week.  I just refreshed my blog, and apparently none of my Fire Sale tweets that I make to my blog have gone through since Wednesday.

The Fire Sale today is Blue Moon.

I stopped by South of Beale last night, and they had their draft beer list and specials posted on their chalkboard.  Figured I’d snap a pic and share the info.

Eight premium beers on draft, $3 during happy hour 4-7 weekdays and all night Wednesday and Sunday.  Hmmm this could become a new stop on Sunday Fun Day.

They also have more beers, including domestics, in bottles.  John D: “Paul, do they have Bud Light?”  Yes, John, they do.

Nothing to do until 8 when I have a party to go to… guess I’ll log onto PokerStars and play a Sit’n’Go tournament.

Just got word from the folks at South of Beale that they will be open to the public tonight from 4 PM to 3 AM, with $3 draft and $4 well specials all night long.  Congratulations to them on getting their liquor license!  I had a great time there Wednesday night at the pre-opening party… check it out if you’re looking for something to do tonight.

Speaking of which… I’m looking for something to do tonight… I want to get some quality time in on PokerStars right after work, but around 9 I may wander down there.  Anyone want to meet up?  Hmmm… Hollywood Disco (formerly the original Raiford’s) is right around the corner… I don’t get down there much anymore because the other place is so much closer to where I live, but last time I went I had a really good time at Hollywood.  Maybe it’s time to pay them a visit.

Speaking of PokerStars, I placed third in a Sit’n’Go tournament last night, which means I landed in the money.  I’m getting addicted to those.  Thought I had a good shot at first place when I got dealt QQ late in the game, and went all-in.  Someone called me with AJ, and an Ace showed up on the river.  Oh well.

We’re in the process of finalizing the running order for the Elvis pub crawl.  To clear up any confusion, it’s a week from Saturday, on the 15th, not this Saturday, the 8th.  It was originally the 8th but got changed not long afterward.  More details to come.  We’ll be collecting cans and donations for MIFA’s Food Bank at the event.

That’s all for now.  Dead tired from staying up late to catch the Dempseys’ entire performance last night.  I don’t know where I’m going to find the energy to go out tonight, but go out I shall.

If you’re going to suggest that people follow you on Twitter, it might be a good idea to tell them your username if you put out ads/flyers.

In the words of the philosopher Homer, “D’oh!”

(It’s @FlyingSaucerMEM by the way.)