Paul Ryburn's Journal

If you’re in the restaurant industry and will be working Sunday, February 14 and won’t get to enjoy Valentine’s Day with your loved one, John Bragg is thinking of you. Circa will do a special Service Industry Valentine’s Day Monday, February 15. Call 522-1488 to make reservations, and mention the restaurant you work in. They won’t be taking online reservations for this night, because they want to be sure that all their friends in the service industry get a chance to celebrate.

Kooky Canuck has added a lunch menu. Reduced portions at reduced prices… view it here (it’s in Word format). Menu is available 11 to 2 Monday-Friday.

The Peabody Ducks are at Winchester Elementary this morning. Let the Peabody know if you’d like for the ducks to visit your school.

Speaking of the Peabody, Lansky at the Peabody has marked some items down in their men’s store. 40-75% off on select sweaters, sport coats, jackets, Robert Graham items, Cole Haan shoes. Attn Lee: Robert Graham shirts marked down? We may have to do some shopping this weekend.

RiverArtsFest 2010 is almost nine months away, but you can already get a start supporting it. On Friday, February 12, there will be a party at The Cove on Broad Avenue from 5:30-8:30 PM. They’re trying to spread the word about the Historic Broad Avenue Arts District, while at the same time getting people in tune with RiverArtsFest and what it does for the arts communities in Memphis. All the galleries on Broad will be open.

RiverArtsFest has started a group called ARTitude, for young people who want to have fun, meet new people, and support the arts and RiverArtsFest. Membership is $50 and it gets you access to 5 parties, a festival T-Shirt, and signed and numbered festival poster, VIP access at the festival, and more. You can join ARTitude at the party at the Cove on the 12th.

For more info on RiverArtsFest and ARTitude, check out their website.

Mindless evening at home last night… I noticed that MTV had the first five full episodes of Jersey Shore online and I watched them. WTF is wrong with these people? While I watched the episodes on my laptop, I played poker on my netbook. I entered another H.O.R.S.E. tournament and finished 43rd out of 188 players, just 11 spots short of cashing. Good news is, the entry fee was only $1.10, so I didn’t lose much money. I felt a lot more comfortable at Stud and Stud/8, which were my weak games in the tournament I played Saturday. There seem to be a lot of players in these tournaments who don’t know how to play Omaha/8 or Razz at all. Those games are probably why I’ve nearly reached the money in my first two tourneys. I need to check and see if PokerStars has H.O.R.S.E. Sit’n’Gos so I don’t have to sit around waiting for a scheduled tournament to begin.

Trying to figure out what kind of beer to bring to a Super Bowl party I’m attending Sunday. Tempted to bring some Dos Equis Lager, but the problem with bringing premium/import beer is that you have people who show up with the cheap stuff (or empty handed) and then proceed to drink everyone else’s good beer. Maybe I’ll just bring good ole PBR.

I’ll be out after work tonight, rain or no… probably the usual place.

Brick, who is quoted on this blog every week, is rumored to be a front-runner for the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics, based on words of advice she gave that may have saved our planet and its moon.

Weeks ago, she said, “Obama’s going to bomb the moon to see if there’s water.  But that could mess up gravity.”  Some people, who lacked the necessary background in physics to appreciate the intellectual depth of her quote, required further clarification, and she gave it.  “I mean, if the moon got thrown off course, it would screw shit up!”

Last week, these words apparently made it to President Obama.  While he may have never met Brick personally, he instantly recognized sage advice from a learned citizen, and removed the moon mission from the NASA budget.

If Brick does indeed win the Physics prize, it is believed that she will be the first Nobel laureate in history to have once been a waitress at Hooters.

Next Tuesday, February 9, Commercial Appeal sports writers Dan Wolkien and Scott Cacciola will be at Calhoun’s Sports Bar on GE Patterson for a Grizzly (Edit: Grizzlies, not Tigers, that’s what I get for trying to blog and play poker at the same time) watch party.  They’ll watch the game and stick around as long as there are people to talk to.

If you RSVP for the watch party (it’s under “CA Grizzlies Watch Party” in the Facebook events section) and then show up, you’ll have a chance to win several prizes.  These include 4 tickets to Grizzlies vs. Heat, 4 tickets to Tigers vs. SMU, and 2 tickets to the Cellular South Cup tennis tournament.

Plus they have PBR for the everyday low price of $2.

I’ve decided I’m going to take a night off from going out… my injured rib really needs a night of rest.  So, no poker at Bardog tonight even though I’d previously planned to go.  It’ll still be there next week.

I’m going to have a post by a guest blogger soon – none other than the Nuh-Uh Girl.  I make lots of “free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up” jokes on this blog, but the fact is, she has been really helpful to downtown restaurants promoting special dishes, dinners, etc. via social media.  So I’m going to let her post and talk about that.  She can also tell her side of the “free food” issue or whatever else she chooses to talk about. 

Not a whole lot going on Downtown tonight… the big thing is that the Tigers host UAB at the FedExForum at 7 PM, in what is pretty much a game the Tigers must win if we want to keep our hopes alive of getting an at-large bid from the NCAA next month.  We’ve got another huge game Saturday, when we host Gonzaga at 3.

In the news – the Courtyard by Marriott at Main and Jefferson opened Monday.  There’s a new restaurant inside the hotel, called The Bistro at Court Square, which also opened Monday.  I’ll have to give that a try soon.

That’s all for now… time to run downstairs and pick up the sandwich I ordered from Domino’s.

Last night I attended a presentation by Larry Bloom, the CCC safety director, on the proposed city ordinances to strengthen panhandling restrictions and to restrict the sale of single-serve beers for off-premise consumption in much of the Downtown core and Uptown. Look for a detailed post about these in a few days. I just need time to review my notes before I post. Thanks to Larry for inviting me.

I mentioned an upcoming beer fest in late April a couple of times on this blog, but that will be the second beer festival of the season. River City Brewers Festival will happen Saturday, March 13 in two sessions in Handy Park on Beale Street. First session will run from noon to 4, second from 6 to 10. For more details check out their website. I will post more about this as time gets closer.

Next Wednesday, February 10, will see the publication of the Memphis Flyer’s annual “Hotties” issue. They’ll celebrate their selections with a party at the Hi-Tone from 7 to 10 PM that night, with drink specials, a cheesy pick-up line contest, and free hors d’oeuvres. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

WWE Smackdown and ECW will be taped at FedExForum tonight. I doubt this will sell out, so if you’re in the mood to watch some rasslin’ sports entertainment, might want to run by the box office and see if there are still tickets. The Undertaker, Chris Jericho and CM Punk are among the wrestlers WWE Superstars who have been announced for this show.

Time for trivia… looking for a strong comeback after a rare loss last week.

If you go to Pint Nite tonight and don’t see me there, don’t worry that I might have died or something. I’ve been invited to attend a presentation on the proposed changes to the panhandling ordinance. I’ll take notes if anything interesting gets said. Should be at Pint Nite no later than 7 though.

Slight correction to my post about the Flying Saucer’s upcoming beer dinner on 2/11: Drew from French Broad brewery will be the speaker, but the 8 beers will not all be French Broad beer as I’d previously posted, but rather beers from all over. Menu: Bacon potato soup, salad, braised pork tenderloin, strawberry shortcake. Did you know that beer pairs better with food than wine does?

You have 5 days left to enter to win a romantic Valentine’s Day package worth over $1,000. Go here and share what you love about Downtown Memphis, and you could win a one-night stay on February 13 in the Madison Hotel, flowers from Holliday Flowers, champagne from the Corkscrew, dinner for two at The Inn at Hunt-Phelan, chocolates from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and a personal driver and car for the evening from Premier Transportation. Winner will be drawn at random on February 5.

I’m thinking I may skip the poker tournament at the Silly Goose tonight and attend the one Wednesday at Bardog instead. My friend Chuck went for the first time last Wednesday. “The tables are small,” he said. “We had 25 people on 5 tables, or around that number. There may have been six at one table, but no more than that.” Hmmm interesting. With a 5-handed or 6-handed table, it’s possible to loosen up starting hand requirements considerably and see a flop with almost any two cards. I kinda like that. Great food and frosty cold mugs of PBR… Wednesday should be a good night. Maybe I can break my current poker losing streak, which continued yesterday afternoon in a live game.

South of Beale held its second speed dating event recently, and it was reportedly a success. They’re planning a third one for March 6, so e-mail southofbeale@gmail.com if interested.

Porter-Leath sent out an e-mail today saying that tickets for The Swamp at Rajun Cajun Crawfish Fest are now on sale. The Swamp is the VIP area, where you can sit in the shade and enjoy unlimited gumbo, crawfish, beer, and soft drinks. Festival will be Sunday, April 18 from noon to 6 on Wagner Place between Union and Beale. Swamp tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased by calling 901-577-2500, ext. 1100.

That is all for now… bruised rib still hurts… ow…

A couple of articles in the CA that I’ll link to before leaving for work…

First of all, there was a wonderful article about my friends Jamie and Aaron and their new condo on Riverside.  Jamie and Aaron are two of the nicest people Downtown and it’s good to see the article about their new home.

Here’s a link to an article about yesterday’s Arkansas-Ole Miss game.  Weather delayed the game by a day.  The Hogs managed to beat #18 Ole Miss on the road, impressive since their star player Courtney Fortson spent most of the second half benched by foul trouble.  Always nice to see a win for the Hogs, and a loss for Ole Miss.

Ow ow ow.  I bruised a rib somehow… probably in for a couple of weeks of pain.  It hurts like hell when I cough, and considering how much time I spend in smokey bars that means I’m probably in for a lot of hurt.

Off to work.  The streets Downtown are partly clear and partly still covered in ice, depending on whether shadows from tall buildings prevent them from getting sun.  Hopefully the drive in will be OK.

I had a reader e-mail come in last night that I thought needed to be addressed.  To sum it up, the reader asked, “Are you and Brick friends?  Does she know about this blog?  Or are you just being mean and picking on her?”

The answer is:  Yes, Katie/Brick and I are friends.  She checks this blog nearly every day on her iPhone.  Usually, when she reads a “Brick Quote of the Week” post, next time she sees me she’ll give me a playful punch on the arm, explain what she meant (which often results in another quote), and then give me a hug and say, “I love you, Pauly.”

Actually, she enjoys the attention.  In fact, yesterday I was considering giving her the ultimate torture – not posting a Brick quote at all.  If I had done that, most likely by Monday or Tuesday, she’d come to me with a sad face and say, “Paul… you didn’t say anything about me in your blog.”

She’s even taken to her new nickname.  Yesterday I posted a pic to Facebook of a smoke beer I was drinking.  One of my Facebook friends who is not a fan of smoke beers commented, “yuck… and no brick today?”  Katie, who is my friend on Facebook as well, responded, “Nope no Brick.”

I often follow up my teasing with, “… but she sure can wear a skirt” or something similar.  She loves that and eats it up like candy.  It’s a running gag with my group of friends… even the gay guys in my group comment on her that way.  Heck, they probably get more comments in than anybody.  But anyway, the reason I tease her and make those kinds of comments is because she’s comfortable with it and enjoys it.  If I thought it would make her uncomfortable in any way I wouldn’t do it.

Hope that clarifies things… my friends and I all love Katie and are laughing with her, rather than at her, when we tease her.  I can understand how people who haven’t been there and seen it might get the wrong idea from the quotes on my blog, might think I’m being mean.  If you have any doubt, I suggest you go to any of the bars I frequent regularly – Saucer, Calhoun’s, Bardog, Silly Goose – and ask the people who work there whether I treat them with respect.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled blogging.  I’m up early for a change so I may get another post in before I leave for work.

If you had tickets to last night’s Grizzlies game vs. the New Orleans Hornets at the FedExForum, but couldn’t make it to the game due to icy conditions, there’s good news.  You can exchange your unused tickets for tickets of comparable value to this Friday’s game against the Houston Rockets, subject to availability.  Details here.

While I’m on the subject of the Grizzlies, huge congratulations to Zach Randolph on being named as a reserve on the Western Conference All-Star team.  A very well deserved honor.

Finally done posting, so now I’m counting the minutes until the bar opens… looks like I may get a little poker in (the live variety, not PokerStars) this afternoon too.

For the past week, I’ve heard rumors of an upcoming beer dinner at the Flying Saucer.  Last night I got the details.

Drew Barton, who worked at the Saucer years ago, then left to become a brew master, will present 8 of the beers from his brewery, French Broad.  The beers will be served with a 4-course dinner.  $25 for UFO members, $30 for non-members.  $25 to sample 8 beers, and you get to eat, too?  That’s a pretty good deal.

It’s been 3 years since they had their last beer dinner and I’ve been waiting for another one.  The last time they did one, they really hit a home run with the food.  Can’t wait.

Attn whichever manager is working night shift this Tuesday:  Expect to be pestered by the Nuh-Uh Girl asking, “What kind of food are you having?” She’ll probably hint around that she’d like to come to the dinner for free too.

All right, one more post and then it’ll be time to get Sunday Fun Day started…