Paul Ryburn's Journal

It’s a yearly tradition at Barton Flats… our friends Chad, Chuck and Robin open their condos and everyone gathers for food, friends, and football… and, of course, beer.

Everyone picked blue and white, or black and gold, beads on their way in.  Most of the people had on black and gold beads.  Nice to see a group with such good taste in football teams.

Most people were drinking beer, but Frank went straight for bourbon.

Chuck was really excited about the guacamole.

There was time for a little Texas Hold’em before the Super Bowl came on.  Fabian and the Nuh-Uh Girl were the winners.

Italian roast beef sandwich

Here’s a pic of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating.

The gang watching Peyton throw away a Super Bowl championship.  I’m just sayin’.

Chad picks his squares for the Super Bowl pool.  Congrats to Gokben, Joe, the Nuh-Uh Girl and Chad, who were the eventual winners.  Geez, does the Nuh-Uh Girl have to win everything?

Full photo album (58 pictures) here.  Thanks to Chuck, Robin and Chad for an awesome party that just seems to get better every year.

With the party pics posted and snow on the ground, it’s time for PINT NITE!!!!!  Normally I don’t want to see Peyton on TV because the guy is massively overexposed, but I hope they replay that interception 50 times this afternoon on SportsCenter.

As I was enjoying the beginning of my snow day, I checked Twitter and Bardog said they’d be open for breakfast at 9.  So I went in and had a great breakfast burrito and hash browns.  Outstanding.  When it’s not snowing they’re open for breakfast at 8 on weekdays.

While I was there, Aldo told me that Luke Perry, who played Dylan on 90210, was in Bardog for dinner last night.

The Majestic Grille has announced that they are closed because of the snow.  Tonight’s art show will be rescheduled.

You may have heard that the individual members of the Dempseys have moved on to other projects.  Wednesday through Saturday, “Slick” Joe Fick will be playing bass with his new band, The Travis Mann Band, at Blues City.  I’ll have to stop by there one day this week and check them out.

Denny’s is giving away free Grand Slam breakfasts tomorrow, February 9, from 6 AM to 2 PM.  Free food?  Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.  Hmmm… large-scale food giveaways Downtown can get out of hand… I remember when Wendy’s introduced the Baconator and gave them away for free in Court Square.  It seemed like every bum in a 100-mile radius showed up.  The guy in line in front of me asked if they were giving away free beer with the burger.  The guy behind me kept yelling, “I WANT THAT BURGENATOR!”  I have a feeling that’s what Denny’s will be like tomorrow.

Here’s a great blog post from marketing guru Seth Godin: The relentless search for “tell me what to do.”

The Silly Goose is having their second annual anti-Valentine’s Day party next Sunday, February 14.  Everyone is encouraged to bring a picture of their ex to stick on their dart board of shame.

American Apparel is having a search for the best bottom in the world.  This may be the greatest contest in history.

That’ll do it for the news this Monday… I’ll try to tweet what places in the Downtown core are open/closed to my @paulryburn account.

Up next:  Super Bowl party pics.

I hate the “WHO DAT” thing but I’m going to run with it just this one time.  Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints on a fine Super Bowl victory.

Attn Peyton:  Chin up, lil’ buckaroo.  True, you threw an interception that dashed the hope of your team, your town, my friends Clay and Lee who borrowed Colts ponchos from our friend Terry.  But there will be more football games.  You have plenty of time to practice throwing the football to the guys in the blue jerseys.  BLUE jerseys.

I’m just sayin’.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO just called into the office and it’s CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!  SNOW DAY!!!! Wish I’d done that before I jumped in the shower though.  Pint Nite begins at 11 AM today!

I guess I’ll download yesterday’s Super Bowl pics from the camera, since I now have unexpected time on my hands.  Look for a post later today.

I know that many of you have been waiting a long time for today.  No, not because of some stupid football game, but because it’s time for a new “Brick” Quote of the Week.

The Earth revolves around the sun, the moon revolves around the Earth, and many of Brick’s best quotes revolve around the moon.  This week’s quote is no exception.

The path to this week’s quote began when my friend Bicycle Bobby posted to his Facebook page, “How do we know that the moon is a moon?  Could the moon be a planet, and the Earth a moon for that planet?”  A lively discussion broke out, and many comments were made.  I replied that we’d probably have different definitions of “moon” and “planet” if we all lived on a celestial body which is what we currently consider a moon.  Otto told everyone they’re full of shit and went into a long-winded scientific explanation.

“You know whose opinion needs to be sought on this matter?” I thought.  “World-famous astronomer/waitress Brick.”  That night I asked her, and she didn’t disappoint.

“The moon is the moon because the sun is behind it, and the sun lights up the moon,” Brick explained.

Brick saw me typing that quote into my phone and decided to explain further, which in most cases means digging an even deeper hole for herself.  “I mean, if you’re on the moon and you look at the earth, it doesn’t look like the moon.  That’s why the moon is the moon.”  OK.  Thanks Brick.  Why hasn’t this girl written an astronomy textbook?  It would be the best selling textbook in that category of all time, although it would probably be placed in the “humor” section of the bookstore rather than “science.”

Whew… dragging this morning… I was about to go home last night when I checked Foursquare and saw that my friends Shawn and Joe had just returned from their ski trip and were at Kooky Canuck.  Hung out with them and Shawn and Lana until almost 3.  I think I did shots.  Ouch.  Terry and Nice Magan were at the bar… now that’s an all-star bartending combo.

I had a wonderful sushi dinner at Bangkok Alley last night.  They have a salmon roll on sushi special for $7.50.  If you go to Bangkok Alley you must get it… one of the best sushi rolls I’ve ever had.

Time to load the PBR into the cooler and head out… after a brief stop at the Second Street Branch Office, it will be time to head to the Super Bowl party… I’ve heard that there may be a poker game, giving me the chance to not only enjoy the party but turn a profit on it as well.  Lots of news to report, but it will probably have to wait until tomorrow.  Or maybe even Tuesday, because tomorrow will probably be party pic upload day.

I’ve now got updated info on what the Flying Saucer will be doing for the game tomorrow.  It will be a Home Team Huddle fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity.  There will be beer specials and $1 hot dogs at the Downtown location; at the Cordova location, there will be beer specials and a $9.99 All-U-Can-Eat taco bar.  Halftime trivia with giveaways from the Saucer and Memphis Habitat.  The Saucer will be collecting donations for Memphis Habitat, so you can support a good cause and enjoy the game at the same time.

Probably a smart move not doing an all-you-can-eat promotion at the Downtown Saucer, since the Nuh-Uh Girl lives down here.

Here’s a list of suggested places Downtown to watch the Super Bowl.  Note that this isn’t a complete list by any means; these are just a few places I’ve heard about.

Couple of notes before I get started:  First of all, I won’t be at any of these.  I’ll be at the BEST SUPER BOWL PARTY EVER at two friends’ condos in the Downtown core.  If you know about this party and are undecided between it and any of the options below, choose the party.  You won’t regret it.

Secondly, if you’re attending a Super Bowl party and need to bring beer, don’t forget about Memphis Cash & Carry at Second and Carolina.  Better hurry down there though – they’re only open until 2:45.  And since it’s a Cash & Carry, bring cash.

Rehab Disco will be open, with $4.50 vodka Red Bulls, $1 jello shots, and $1.50 beer.

Bardog will have 25 cent wings from 3-10 PM, $2 Fireball shots all day, and T-shirt giveaways.

B.B. King’s:  $2.50 domestic bottles, $3 domestic pints, $3 Alabama Slammers, 3 domestic bottled beers and 3 hot dogs for $10 (add chili $1 per dog), $3 bowls of chili, 35 cent wings, $5 cheese nachos (add chili for $2), $2 hot dogs, $3 chili dogs.  $15 super combo with 3 domestic bottled beers, popcorn chicken, catbites, mini corndogs.

Primetime has party packages with reserved tables, appetizers, buckets of beer for $35.  $2 PBR all night long.  Contest for the best fan.

South of Beale will have $3 drafts, $4 wells, and 20% off the entire menu all day.

Majestic Grille will have a shrimp po’boy created by New Orleans’ own James Moore, sous chef.  They will also have a pork tenderloin sammie created by Indianapolis’ own Rickie Jones, grill chef.  They’ll also have a buffalo chicken flatbread (“just because”), and happy hour all night with $2 domestics, $3 wells, $3 imports, and $4 selected wines.

Republic Nightclub:  100 inch projection TV, $2 drafts, $10 buckets, half-time giveaway, Grizzly Girls will be there.

I’ve heard Calhoun’s is doing something involving a radio simulcast but don’t have full details.

Flying Saucer:   I’m in there every day, there are signs hanging all over the place about Sunday, and you’d think I’d have actually read them.  But, no.  I think it said something about some beer being $2.75 (which means, they’re doing a Fire Sale just like every day) and hot dogs.  I’m sure I’ll be up there in a few hours and will get more info.

It’s 9:40 and I’m drinking Mountain Dew Throwback, which means the day is off to a very good start.  I’m charging all three camera batteries, because there will be food galore at tomorrow’s Super Bowl party, which means lots and lots of pics of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating.  Tigers host Gonzaga at 3 PM today… game will be on ESPN2.

The Jersey Shore pub crawl is tonight, with check-in at Wet Willie’s between 8:30 and 9.  To get everyone in the mood, here’s a video from Jersey, voted the “Douchiest Home Video of 2009” on the Hot Chicks with Douchebags site.

Early night last night (was only out until about 11) but fun times.  I was hanging out with friends by the pool table at the Saucer, while Kings of the Delta played on stage.  All of the sudden we looked up and our friend Lauren was on stage, dancing around and playing tambourine.

When the band went on break, Greg who is the leader of the band came over to me.  “Hey, was that girl a friend of yours?  Sorry for kicking her off the stage.  She was up there for three songs.”

Here’s a pic of Lauren after getting kicked off the stage:

Attn Saucer girls: Brick had gummi worms last night and didn’t share them with any of you.  She kept the bag in her apron and popped them in her mouth when no one was looking.

Lots more to post this morning.  The Super Bowl post is on the way.

First of all, a request. I’ve had several Saucer regulars tell me, “I love the Brick quotes! Keep ’em coming! If you ever need more, I have a ton of them!” Well, I’m two days away from the beginning of the new week, and I don’t have a quote yet. The only day she worked this week when I was there was yesterday, and they got slammed with a huge crowd, so she didn’t really have time to talk much. If anyone has a good one, send it to me at paul@paulryburn.com.

The Peabody has announced that its first rooftop party of the year will be April 15. Doesn’t seem possible that rooftop season is only two months away, but it is.

The Hard Rock Cafe on Beale is hosting the Ronald McDonald House Band-a-thon tomorrow night, Saturday, February 6. For $10, you can hear some great local music, and the cover goes to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis. Ric and Bad Dog from Rock 103 will be the emcees, and there will be music by New Era, Tim Plunk, Roses Unread and Roxanne Lemmon.

Couple of Downtown food-related articles in the CA. First of all Felicia Willett from Felicia Suzanne’s is featured in this week’s Meet the Chef.

Also, Patrick Neely of Neely’s BBQ is the newest inductee into Memphis’ Society of Entrepeneurs.

If you like pancakes, mark your calendar for February 23. From 7 AM to 10 PM, IHOP will give away short stacks of their buttermilk pancakes. All they ask in return is that you consider making a donation to local children’s hospitals. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Inside joke dept: Geez. Next December I’m not only going to get a pic of a cat in a Christmas sweater, but now a dog too.

Still working on the Super Bowl list… should have it up tomorrow.

I’m compiling a list of restaurants and bars offering specials during the Super Bowl this Sunday.  If you’re a Downtown restaurant or bar, shoot me the details at paul@paulryburn.com.  Will post the list tomorrow or Saturday.