Fri update: River City Brewers Festival, MPACT Soul of the City gala, CA profiles, Bardog tweet, plans for the weekend

Good news for people attending the River City Brewers Festival afternoon session (12-4) on March 13: Right as the beer tasting wraps up, the St. Pat’s parade on Beale Street will begin! So you’ll be good and drunk for the parade! There’s also a 6-10 evening session if you prefer that one. Friends who attend a lot of beer fests tell me that these things sell out, so if you want to go, best to get your tickets now.

MPACT Memphis has announced that tickets to their “Soul of the City” gala at Central Station on March 12 will now include complimentary beer and wine all night. At this event you’ll be able to watch the Mpact Maker awards ceremony and get a copy of their newly-released Voice of Mpact Survey. There will also be gourmet food by Crave Catering, music by the Daddy Mack Blues Band, and there will be old school prom photos for you and your date. Tickets are $50 and you can buy them here.

Cocktail attire? Does that mean I have to wear a tie if I go? Yuk.

In the news: A Downtown chef was profiled in the CA’s “Meet the Chef” this week: Kjeld Petersen at the Inn at Hunt Phelan.

Meanwhile, over in the business section, IT recruiter Diane Tabulog was profiled. If you’re in IT and are looking for a job, or if you’re a hiring manager looking to fill a position, DIANE IS AWESOME. When I was job-hunting in 2007, she contacted me. She and another account exec took me to lunch at Sauces and did a great job asking questions to pinpoint the type of work envirnoment I prefer. She then set me up on an interview, and she did a great job prepping me in advance and gave me a leather VACO Technologies portfolio to take to the interview. It turned out that I ended up taking a different position, but I could not have been more impressed with Diane. Great person to know if you’re in IT.

Yay, Bardog is finally tweeting their specials! “Baked ziti bolognase grilled airline chicken citrus mustard bbq chicken noodle soup happy friday to all next week eggplant parmesan,” they tweeted. Follow them at @bardogtavern.

Shaping up to be a good weekend. Tonight I’ll start the evening with a Happy Hour beer at the Saucer, then head south for the South Main Trolley Tour around 7.

Tomorrow night is the Red Square Reunion at Nocturnal in Midtown, so I’ll probably hop a cab and do that. Hmmm Red Square closed in 1995, so the youngest legal customer was born in 1977 (because no one EVER got in underage there, yeah right)… so it will be a party full of club kids 33 and up. In an e-mail earlier this month, the elusive and mysterious Kimmy Kim indicated she may return to Memphis for the event… don’t know if she’s here or not though… I suppose she wouldn’t be elusive if I did know. Looking at the “attending” list on Facebook is quite interesting… several people I haven’t seen in more than a decade.

Considering taking Sunday Fun Day off. The thing is, Sunday is by far the best day for online poker tournaments. Not only do the most people play, but the most bad players play on Sunday. I have a feeling I’m giving up a potential gold mine by not being on PokerStars. A miserable 50-degree, gloomy Sunday is one I mind giving up less than a sunny 75-degree Sunday Fun Day when the Saucer has the windows open. Hopefully we’ll get some of those next month.

Check back this weekend… I’ll be rolling out a new blog, and I got a picture of the $125-value stein the Saucer gives you when you finish your 8th plate.

Thur update: Honest mechanics, Soup Sunday, beer festivals, photo show, Haiti benefit

Memphis has showed up as #1 on a new “city rankings” list, and this time it’s something we can be proud of. The CA reports that Memphis is #1 for fair and accurate prices for auto repair. We have honest mechanics here!

I’ve mentioned them before, but I’ll add my recommendation again… Quality Auto on Jefferson just east of Third. All the times I’ve been in there, I’ve been given great service and very reasonable prices. They even told me I didn’t need work I thought needed done. Give ’em a try if your car needs service and you don’t have a regular mechanic.

Soup Sunday at the FedExForum is this Sunday from 11-2, where you can taste soup from dozens of different restaurants and support Youth Villages. I’ll say the same thing I say every year… if you plan on going, get there at 10:55. Even by 11:30 the lines get ridiculously long, and by noon some of the more popular restaurants start to run out of soup.

I’ll probably pass on it this year… if I get up early Sunday morning (always a big if), I think I’ll walk down to Spindini and give their new brunch buffet a try.

Here’s a CA article on the upcoming beer festivals in Memphis this spring. It’s a great season to be a beer lover.

Stuff going on tonight: Photographer Kyle Blair has his “South Main in Pictures” exhibit at South of Beale at 8:00. At 9 there’s a benefit concert for Haiti at the Hard Rock Cafe.

I was going to stay home tonight and do some more work on the new blog I’m creating, but a Fire Sale of Leiney Wheat is probably going to get me out of the apartment. With no rain in the forecast, I suppose there’s no reason I couldn’t take the netbook to the bar and work on the blog there.

Still leaning heavily toward that MacBook purchase… finding more and more reasons to justify it. I don’t feel like I have to have the best car, or the best clothes… but I do feel like I need the best computer. And Macs are the best computers.

That’ll do it for now… I have an exciting afternoon reading and interpreting web stats in front of me, so back to work.

Wed update: I want a MacBook, Salad Expressions, pizza taste test, trolley tour, and more

I get a weekly e-mail listing specials from MacMall. Today I found this:

FREE SHIPPING on MacBook Pro 15″ 2.53GHz 4GB/250 only $1599.99 (was $1699)+Free Parallels & Printer after rebate(s). From 02/24 to 03/02

Seriously considering getting it. “Parallels” is the software that allows the Mac to run Windows, so I could get a copy of Windows 7, and have a dual-OS laptop along with MacOS.

It’s on sale until March 2, so I have a little while to weigh the pros and cons… the major “con” is, it costs twice what a comparable PC-based laptop would cost.  The main pro is, of course, it’s a Mac.  I really, really want it.

Here’s an article about Salad Expressions, the salad shop at 120 A. W. Willis (formerly Auction Avenue) across from the MATA bus terminal.  I need to give them a try… it wouldn’t kill me to eat a green vegetable every once in a while.

A couple of weeks ago I tweeted about trying Domino’s “new, improved” pizza to see how it measured up against the other chains.  Well, today I read that the folks at Brainwoo decided to do a taste test of their own, comparing Domino’s to Pizza Hut and Papa John’s.  Click here to see who won.

The monthly South Main Trolley Tour is Friday night.  Galleries and shops will be open from 6 to 9 PM and the public is invited to stop by.  Many of the businesses serve complimentary wine, beer, and/or appetizers.  Free food?  Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.  It doesn’t seem possible that the last Friday of the month is right around the corner, but that’s February for you.

That’ll do it for now.  I didn’t go out tonight.  I got in a $5.50 hold’em tournament on PokerStars after work with 6-max tables.  Normally I keep a notebook handy to journal what I did wrong during tournaments, but for this one I might as well have just written “everything” in the notebook.  After that I got busy setting up a new blog, and spent hours playing around with the settings for the Atahualpa theme for WordPress.  It’s so configurable!  More on the new blog in a few days.  So far it’s got everything but content, which is kind of the key ingredient.  I would have gone out about 9, but I was having fun with WordPress, and besides, it’s just too cold to walk to the bar tonight.

They may disagree, but they’re still our neighbors. Support them

I saw a comment on Facebook concerning the proposed single beer ordinance, and felt the need to address it here. The commenter wrote,

Support the panhandling and single beer ban ordinances . . . and consider avoiding downtown stores that do not support these. They have made their choice about who they want as cutomers.

I disagree with this statement 100%.  Most likely the commenter is talking about the people at Jack’s Food Store near Main and Jefferson, who voiced their opposition to the ordinance at the City Council safety committee meeting.  The folks at Jack’s may hold an opposing view to ours on this issue, but they are still our neighbors.  Furthermore, Downtown is a better place because Jack’s is here.  Need a roll of toilet paper or a Coke at 9:30 PM?  In the Downtown core, you’re not gonna get it at a big-box grocery store, because there isn’t one.  You’re not gonna get it at Walgreens, because they refuse to extend their hours past 8.  When I moved down here, Jack’s closed at 9 on weekdays, but recognizing that Downtown was growing, they extended their hours to 10 and then to 11 to better serve their customer base.

In my opinion, we need to support Jack’s more than ever.  You can’t blame them for opposing the ordinance – years and years of sales has convinced them that beer + bums = profit.  Studies have shown that when single beer sales are banned, sales at convenience stores actually stay steady or increase, because shoppers are no longer afraid to walk to the store.  But you can’t blame a store owner for being skeptical and trying to protect his business.  I think we need to not only continue to shop at Jack’s, but make an effort to shop there more.  Let’s show them that their business will thrive, even without the single beers.  Let’s be kind to our neighbors.

Whew… okay… I realize this has turned into “the anti-panhandling blog” over the past week.  Don’t worry, things are about to get back to normal.  I’ll still mention the ordinances from time to time until the April 13 vote, but your regularly scheduled posts about Downtown events, tube tops, Brick, and whatever else I find to talk about are on their way back.

Oh and by the way, there’s a Woot-off going on today at Woot.com.

Today’s Fire Sale is Turbo Dog.  Yukkkkkkkk.  I’ll probably stay home this evening and try another tournament on PokerStars.  If I get bored and bust out of the tourney early I may go out 9ish or so.

On Beale, MPD is watching to keep you safe

Last week, I profiled “Dallas,” one of our local bums/scam artists who is one of the main people targeted by the new aggressive panhandling and single beer ordinances.  Earlier this week I reported that he got arrested for robbery.  Last night I got more details.

“Dallas” was panhandling in one of his favorite spots, Beale Street.  The panhandlers like the Beale Historic District because it’s outside the patrol area of the Downtown safety patrol, and because there’s heavy foot traffic and a lot of tourists.  Apparently Dallas wasn’t having a profitable day panhandling, and decided to resort to other tactics.  He begged a couple for money, then followed them down the street and attempted to rob them.

What “Dallas” didn’t know is that he was being watched.  MPD has cameras set up all over Beale, which they monitor from a command center.  They already knew that Dallas had a long criminal history, and were keeping their eye on him long before he approached that couple.  When he attempted to rob them, the cops rolled right up on him and caught him in the act.  Fantastic job, MPD!  The police have really been proactive taking measures to prevent crimes Downtown, and this is one of the many instances in which it paid off.

Of course, the reason Dallas was on Beale in the first place was to panhandle.  If the ordinance passes on April 13, Beale will be part of the panhandling-free zone.  So, not only will the ordinance prevent panhandling, but other, more serious crimes as well.

Click here to read more about this proposed ordinance, to sign a petition in support, and to learn how you can contact City Council members and ask them to pass it.

BQotW

Yeah I know it’s a couple of days late, but it’s time for another “Brick” Quote of the Week.

There’s this theory that has been circulating lately, that Brick is actually a graduate student from Columbia University in New York, who is here doing research for the year.  Theory has it that’s she’s a Master’s student doing a double major in Psychology and Women’s Studies, and she’s in Memphis gathering evidence for her thesis, which if published will surely have my blog as a frequently-cited reference.

I shared this theory with my friend Nick tonight, and he liked it.  So much so that when Brick walked by, he told her, “I like your work.  Keep on doing what you’re doing.”

Brick replied, “What, sex?”

I hope you’ve enjoyed this evening’s post in Paul Ryburn’s Journal, aka footnotes number 15, 19, 26, 62, 133, and 147 in Brick’s thesis.

Panhandling and single beer ordinances approved by the City Council safety committee; to go before entire council April 13

I have good news to report this afternoon!  The proposed ordinances limiting panhandling and the sale of single beers in parts of Downtown have made it past their first hurdle.  The City Council’s public safety and homeland security committee met this morning at 8:30 to consider the ordinances.  I was not able to be there, but was told that a large number of supporters showed up, including Downtown residents and business owners, as well as representatives from the area’s neighborhood associations.  Some people even had signs reading, “Want to Meet Them?” with mug shots and copies of outstanding warrants for some of Downtown’s most well-known panhandlers.

The next big date is April 13, when the full Council will vote on the ordinances at their 3:30 PM meeting.  Once again, please put that date on your calendar and attend if at all possible.  The Council needs to see widespread support from Downtown residents and business owners, as well as from people from other parts of Memphis who enjoy all that Downtown has to offer.

After years and years, the community is finally saying “enough is enough” to aggressive, abusive, inebriated panhandlers.  I love it!

Mon update: Panhandling, Grizzlies Academy fundraiser, art show at Majestic tonight, trivia

If you support the panhandling and single beer ordinances, two important dates/times to remember within the next 24 hours. First of all, there will be a sign-making party at Kooky Canuck at 7 PM. We will make signs for people to hold at the Safety and Security Committee meeting tomorrow, to show our support for the ordinances. Even if you can’t attend tomorrow’s meeting, please come to Kooky tonight and make a sign for someone who can!

The Safety and Security Committee of the City Council meets tomorrow, Tuesday, February 23, at 8:30 AM at City Hall (125 N. Main, Conference Room, 5th floor). Everyone who wants to come out and show support for the ordinance is asked to gather by 8:15. Yes I know that’s early for those of you who don’t have 8-to-5 jobs, but this is very important. Please attend if you can! Activist groups and the beer companies will have people there. Downtowners need to been seen in support, so that outsiders don’t dictate what happens to our neighborhood.

In the news… The Commercial Appeal has endorsed the proposed ordinances, calling them “reasonable starts to get a handle on the situation” of aggressive, abusive, inebriated panhandlers.

Also in panhandling-related news, “Dallas,” one of the aggressive panhandlers I profiled last week, was arrested Friday on felony robbery charges. If convicted, he’ll be gone for a year. It just makes the point that the people these ordinances target are NOT the innocent homeless, as activist groups would lead you to believe. The last time I saw “Dallas” was Wednesday night, when he was panhandling at the Jefferson Avenue trolley stop, directly across the street from one of the conveniece stores that sells single-serve beers.

I actually do have some non-panhandling stuff to report as well. The Grizzlies are having a Grizzlies Academy Scholarship Fund Fundraiser at Boscos Squared in Midtown tonight from 5-9 PM. Grizzlies players, the Grizz Girls, Grizz the mascot and others will serve pizzas and meet fans. There will be a silent auction and drawings throughout the evening. If you can’t make it tonight, you can stop by Boscos anytime during the month of February to help the Academy. $1 from every “Hoopin’ Hawaiian” pizza sold (recipe from an Academy student) will go to the Academy, as weill 25 cents from the sale of each Academy Ale. You can also buy a Grizzlies Academy card from Boscos for $1.

The Majestic Grille’s rescheduled show ‘Student & Teacher: The Art of Blas Blanco Cuenca & Paul C. Clements’ is tonight from 5:30 to 7:30. Cash bar, drink specials, complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

There’s trivia tonight with Will at Local Gastropub (formerly Sauces), 8 PM.  Local is still working on getting their liquor license and currently have beer only, so if you want to bring your own liquor you’re welcome to do so.

Back to work, where I have a fun-filled afternoon typing up documentation to look forward to.  After work, I’ll make a brief stop at Pint Nite, then at 7 I’ll be at the sign-making party at Kooky.