Paul Ryburn's Journal

You can get the fries with any sandwich at Kooky Canuck upgraded to sweet potato fries for a dollar more.  Good decision.

I didn’t think anyone would buy this year’s April Fool’s joke, but apparently several people have. Come on, do you really think Brick could hack a box of Tic Tacs, much less a blog?

Sitting in the window at the Saucer, blogging from my phone. Watched a hooker pick up a customer earlier tonight. Several bums out too. Enjoying a free pint, my reward for making it 1/4 the way to my 4th plate. At 9 I’ll head to Blues City to catch Brad Birkedahl’s new band.

If you’re looking for cheap, good beer, Bardog is doing a bonus $3 pint night tonight until 3 AM.

hey paul this is katie or as you call me “brick” you remember the other day when you said you were surprised i knew how to creat a text file? well i just hacked your blog so whose stupid now

This isn’t a Downtown thing, but I’d like to ask everyone to visit this link and vote. Pepsi is giving away $250,000 grants to worthy causes, and Skatelife Memphis is in the running for one of the grants, to be used to build a skate park in Bimghampton.

The grant would provide a skate park for inner-city youth, and skate equipment. It would provide a safe place for youth to hang out, and this is an activity that is said to transcend socioeconomic boundaries.

Out of over 1100 competing ideas, Skatelife currently ranks 20th in the voting. Please take a minute to vote and make ALL of Memphis better. Also, please note that you can return to the site and vote once a day through the end of April. Let’s give the kids of Memphis this park!

I’ve learned of a new soon-to-be-published novel set in Memphis. Author Jon Pendergrass has written Pepper Jack, described as “a thriller much in the style of James Patterson. Jackson Pritchard journeys towards redemption across Memphis and beyond, towards a new love and then with her, while people around him are being killed one by one.” The book is currently at the printer and Jon hopes for the book to be selling by Tax Day. As soon as I hear that it’s selling in local stores or online, I’ll post a link.

Jon will be in Memphis on May 8 for two book-signings. The first will be at 4 PM at the Midtown Blue Monkey. The Monkey is one of the settings in the novel.

The second signing will be at 7 PM at another setting in the book, Mollie Fontaine’s Lounge. Great place to chill out and have a drink.

You may wonder why I’m mentioning this book, since this is hardly “the literary blog” most days… well, it’s because Jon is my high school classmate. Funny to think that the guy who stood next to me on bleachers yelling “HALL HIGH WARRIORS” is now about to be a published novelist. Pretty cool.

Join the group “Pepper Jack–The Novel” on Facebook to make sure you receive updates about the book.

I’ve blogged several times that the Downtown core is getting a new pizzeria, Aldo’s Pizza Pies, soon.  It looks like Uptown will be getting a pizzeria too.

Yesterday I saw a “coming soon” flyer for a pizzeria and pub called Ferraro’s, which will be at 111 Jackson.  Is that the old High Point Pinch location?

Their flyer reads, “Free delivery, free WiFi, big screen TVs, cold beer, patio dining, handmade pizzas, fresh baked stromboli, lunch specials, family style dinners, fresh salads, catering and parties.”

Sounds good!  Downtown has been without a pizzeria for too long, and now we’re about to have multiple choices.

Those of you who’ve read this blog for a couple months know I keep Sonny Salt handy to sprinkle on food I bring home.  (They sell it at A. Schwab on Beale, and I believe at Lit on Union too.)

Sonny Salt on calamari from Bardog?  Pretty badass, I must say.  Possibly the best match I’ve found yet.

At the Saucer with the netbook. This is a live, drunk post.

There’s a large water bottle on the bar, taking up a collection for some cause, related to autism I think. Bartender Hannah has decided that her new favorite thing to do is to shake the bottle right in my face.

I’m Hannah’s friend on Facebook, where she likes to write about her “poo” all the time.  She might want to check out this product.

Several big news items came up after I did my lunchtime post, necessitating a second post before I head to the bar with the netbook.

First of all, there will be a Spirit of Memphis rally Friday, April 9 in Handy Park on Beale from 5:30 to 7 PM. Tired of hearing people complain about Memphis? This will be a gathering of people who love the city and are excited about all that goes on here. There will be footage of old and new Beale, and speakers will include Roby Williams of the Black Business Association and Kevin Kane of the CVB. Watch the induction of R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough into the Beale Street Brass Note Hall of Fame, hear blues music, and enjoy beverages from a cash bar.

Three weeks from now, it will once again be time to rock out with your cock out Downtown. The Red Rooster will re-open Thursday, April 22 at 5 PM in their new location on Beale Street. It’s in the old Double Deuce building, next to the New Daisy. I’ve missed the Rooster and am really glad it will be back!

By the way – ladies, if you’re looking for a job, they posted that they’re looking for bartenders, servers and shot girls. Apply between 12 and 6, and I assume they mean afternoon, not early morning.

MPACT Memphis has released their long-awaited Voice of MPACT survey. View it here.

From the Memphis Business Journal: The building at the southwest corner of Main and Union, most recently Smooth Moves, will be renovated so that it’s ready for retail space. No tenant mentioned yet but it’s great that they’re getting it ready. That’s one of Downtown’s most visible corners and we need for the buildings on it to be occupied.

All right, with that out of the way, time to head to the Saucer with the netbook.  I have much to do.  Schlafly APA is the Fire Sale.

The Majestic Grille is serving a special Easter Brunch menu in addition to their usual Sunday brunch and lunch menus. Options will include Spring Asparagus Soup, Lobster Benedict, Seafood Wellington, and Roasted Loin of Niman Farms Lamb. They’ll have live music by the Rudy E. Scheidt School of Music from the U of M. Reservations are required – call 901-522-8555 to make reservations.

Attn Sunday Fun Day crew: With the Saucer not open until 5 on Easter, what’s the plan for Sunday Fun Day? I could stay home and either do websites or play poker until 5, but the forecast is sunny with a high of 77… I hate to waste such a beautiful day.

South of Beale has announced the date of their first Sunday brunch – it will be Sunday, April 25.

Last night I was at the Saucer, and before and after trivia I did affiliate website work on my netbook. At one point I created a new text file to save info for a new Twitter account I created, and when I saved it I noticed a file called “i love katie.txt” in My Documents. Looks like I’m going to have to start locking the computer when I step away from it. I’m shocked that Brick actually knows how to create and save a text document. We won trivia, by the way.

I got some news from the Peabody this morning about their spring rooftop parties:

– They’re getting rid of the stupid drink tickets!!! Thank goodness. Those things were nothing but a hassle. They’ll have credit card machines at every bar.

– Admission will increase from $5 to $10, but now includes your first drink, so it’s really a “wash” since some parties last year were $5 and others were $10 depending on the act that was performing. Ladies free until 7.

– More time to party – they’re going until 10:30 PM this year.

– They’ll continue to have light snacks in the Skyway, and in the VIP area.

– More up-and-coming national recording artists will be showcased this year.

– Lord T & Eloise, Ryan Peel, and national recording artist Kevin Rudolf on April 15

– Rhoney G on April 22

– Party Planet on April 29

I just found out today that there’s a Grizzlies mobile app. I’ll definitely be downloading it on my iPhone today after work. There’s also a version available for the CrapBerry.

Here’s another article on Escape Alley Sundry. I have got to check this place out.

The netbook and I will be back at the Saucer after work. Sucks to have a head full of exciting affiliate marketing ideas and to not be able to implement any of them until after 5 PM. With a Grizzlies game tonight (vs. Mavericks at 7) I wonder if the Saucer will be less than an ideal work environment… will move next door to the Silly Goose if that proves to be the case.