Paul Ryburn's Journal

Just got home from my morning Mountain Dew run.  For those of you who rarely make it to the north end of the Main Street Mall, here’s a pic of the now-completed Courtyard by Marriott:

This new hotel fills what was formerly one of Downtown’s most prominent open spaces, at the southwest corner of Main and Jefferson.  I don’t think it’s open yet but it surely won’t be long.  It’s good to see more mid-range hotel space in the Downtown core.  That will attract more conventions and more tourist dollars to the area.

On the way home, I passed by Court Square, and saw the new sign listing the rules of the park (click for a larger, more readable image).

To summarize in one sentence, “Don’t be a bum.”  The really funny thing was, while I was reading the sign, a bum came up to me and used the standard opening line – “How you doin big bro? Y’alright?”  I just walked away, but about half a block down Main I turned around and saw that the Downtown safety patrol had caught up to him.  Good work guys!

Don’t forget that Kooky Canuck has 99 cent Super Cold Bud Light all day today.  If you have tomorrow off, they’re open until 3 AM so you can drink for cheap.

Some of my fellow online poker fans have told me they enjoy the knockout tournaments on Full Tilt Poker, where you get paid a bounty for each player you eliminate from the tournament, in addition for the chance to make it into the money and share in the prize pool.  Well, DoylesRoom.com, the online poker room created by poker legend Doyle Brunson, is holding the ultimate knockout tournament the first and third Monday of every month.  Called “Beat the Brunson 10,” the entry fee is $22 or $10 + $10 + 2.  The first $10 goes to the prize pool for finishing in the money.  The second $10 goes to knockout bonuses – you earn $10 for every player you knock out.  So, if you knock out 5 players, you’ll win $50 even if you yourself get knocked out before cashing into the prize money.  Furthermore, the “Brunson 10,” ten rising stars in the poker world personally selected by Doyle, will play in the tournament.  Knock one of them out and you win $500.

Last night was a sad night at the Saucer as bartender Katie worked her last shift.  She says we’ll still see her, though, on the other side of the bar from time to time, which is a lot more fun place to be.  So now there’s only one remaining Katie at the Saucer.  We will no longer have to distinguish between “bartender Katie” and “waitress Katie,” between “blond Katie” and “brunette Katie,” between “smart Katie” and “Brick.”  Brick, by the way, is trying to learn French so that people won’t know when she says dumb things.  “She’s learning French?” one of the other servers commented.  “Maybe she should work on learning English first.”

I have advance knowledge that Harp is the Fire Sale today.  In my opinion, Harp tastes almost exactly like PBR, so if you’re a PBR fan today is your day.  Maybe I’ll wear the PBR hoodie in honor of the Fire Sale.

Ah, Sunday.  The start of a new week, which means it’s time for a new “Brick” Quote of the Week.

This particular quote happened last Sunday.  I got to the Saucer about 12:30 and found that Brick was working.  By “working” I mean sitting on her ass on the couch, talking.  “I wonder how long it will take before I get something quotable,” I commented.

Not two minutes later, a discussion broke out about good places to eat Sunday brunch.  “Bardog is really good,” someone said.  “Especially the lobster sandwich.”

Moody replied, “Yeah, but I don’t eat seafood.”

Brick, who was sitting next to Moody, exclaimed, “IT’S NOT SEAFOOD!”

You know, NBC is looking to fill 5 hours of prime-time programming now that they’ve pulled Leno.  Maybe they should just put Brick in front of a camera and let her talk.  The show would probably become the #1-rated comedy of the season.

South of Beale is the latest restaurant to be certified by Project Green Fork, a nonprofit organization that encourages restaurants to use environmentally friendly practices.  In order to be certified, SOB had to

• Have sustainable products in place
• Set up a recycling program
• Set up kitchen composting
• Replace toxic cleaners with non-toxic ones
• Complete an audit by MLGW, and based on their findings, take steps to consume less energy and water
• Take steps to prevent pollution

Congratulations to SOB on this fine accomplishment.  Other Downtown restaurants certified by PGF include Blue Fin and the kitchen at Miss Cordelia’s.

In the lunch recommendation post earlier this morning, I mentioned Flight.  You can now keep up with Flight’s lunch and dinner specials online.  They asked noted downtown foodie the Nuh-Uh Girl to help them with their online presence.  Wonder how much free food she’s getting for this?

You can become their fan on Facebook by searching for “Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar.”  They’re already posting specials there.  Thursday night they had a filet flight special which sounded delicious.

You can also follow them on Twitter at @flightmemphis.

To view their menus and wine flights, check out their website at flightmemphis.com.

As I typed the previous post listing lunch recommendations, I realized that maybe I should do breakfast too.  Here are a few places near the law school where you can grab something good for breakfast.

Elliott’s (Second between Madison and Monroe): My absolute top pick. Breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and bowls. I like the burrito with sausage, potatoes, and jalapenos. I forget its name. The “Tribute to Bill Saba” makes my health guru AL shudder, consisting of sausage, bacon, ham, cheese and egg on buttered Texas toast. If you eat Elliott’s breakfasts, you probably won’t be hungry when lunch rolls around. They serve breakfast until 10:30 I think.

Bardog Tavern (Monroe between Front and Main): Bardog might be even better than Elliott’s, but I don’t work Downtown anymore so I haven’t had a chance to try their breakfasts yet. I believe they also serve until 10:30.

Blue Plate Cafe (Court Square): Huge selection of breakfast items – pancakes, waffles, omelets, egg breakfasts, sausage biscuits, you name it. They serve breakfast even during lunch hours, all the way up to their 2 PM close.

I’m finally getting around to posting lunch recommendations for the U of M law students who started classes Downtown this past Monday.  With one exception, these are all within a two-block radius, so they’re a quick walk for when you have a break between classes.

Bardog Tavern (Monroe between Front and Main): Way, way better than your average bar food. Burger sliders, hot dog sliders, the “island club” sandwich, spaghetti and meatballs are all outstanding. Heck, the entire menu is. Since it’s a bar, you can have a beer with lunch if you want, and you can watch TV or play the jukebox. It’s over 21, so smoking is allowed inside.

Little Tea Shop (next door to Bardog): Meat and two, veggie plates. This lunch-only diner is a Downtown institution. Owner Suhair is a great person to know Downtown.

Court House Deli (Main between Madison and Monroe): Really good chili, crawfish etoufee, jambalaya. They also have good sandwiches and burgers, and they pre-cook burgers so they can handle the lunch rush fast. I like the mushroom Swiss burger a lot. Very affordable, very friendly.

Blue Plate Cafe (Court Square): Meat and two, meat and three, veggie plates, and they serve breakfast during lunch hours.

On the River Seafood (Main between Monroe and Union): Fish dinners, crawfish, frog legs. Excellent sides, especially the spaghetti.

Flight (Main at Monroe):  This is more of a fine-dining place, so expect to pay a little more than the other places on this list, but it’s worth it when you want to treat yourself.  Sandwiches, salads, and entrees based on trips to different cities in the Western Hempisphere.

Elliott’s (Second between Madison and Monroe): Great burgers. The only salad bar in the Downtown core. Good sandwiches. When I worked Downtown I loved their grilled chicken sandwiches.

Leonard’s BBQ Buffet (Main between Adams and Jefferson): If you’re hungry, they have a full lunch buffet with ribs, pork shoulder, BBQ chicken, smoked sausage, veggies, breads, and dessert.

Lenny’s (Front at Court, in the Falls Building): Sandwiches, salads. The Philly Cheese Steak sub is my favorite.

Front Street Deli (Front and Union): Sandwiches, bratwurst, knockwurst. Inexpensive. Like the Little Tea Shop, this is one of those places that has been there for years and years.

Majestic Grille (Main between Gayoso and Peabody Place): Okay, this is a little farther than the two-block radius I was trying to stick to, but I can’t help but mention it. Follow them at @MajesticGrille on Twitter to get their lunch specials, and if they sound good, by all means, go.  I would probably rate the Majestic as my favorite restaurant down here.

That should be enough to get you started… and again, welcome to Downtown.

Tonight I walked into the Saucer, and got punched on the arm.  Brick was not happy with her recent quote about the space program.  Here it is:  “Obama’s going to bomb the moon to see if there’s water.  But that could mess up gravity.”

After punching me, she said, “Paul. You always try to make me look stupid in your blog.  You know what I meant.  I meant. if the moon got thrown off course, it would screw shit up.”

OK, thanks for clarifying, Brick.  Now it all makes sense.

Automatic Slim’s is the latest restaurant to get in on the beer dinner action.  They’ll have one Wednesday, February 10, at 6:30 PM.  Here’s the menu:

GREENS : Grilled Romaine Salad – Ginger & citrus vinaigrette, fresh pear, feta cheese & toasted pecans
paired with ~ Ale Mary Winter Seasonal
FROM THE SEA: Prosciutto-wrapped seared diver scallops over wild mushroom & roasted pumpkin risotto
paired with ~ Dogfish Head Punkin Ale
AIRMAIL: Smoked duck sliders with a fig BBQ sauce & warm fennel slaw
paired with ~ Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier
FROM THE SEA: Citrus-encrusted swordfish with mango gastrique & smashed new potatoes
paired with ~ Bellhaven Twisted Thistle IPA
SWEET TOOTH: White chocolate bread pudding
paired with ~ Rogue Mocha Porter

Cost is $45 per person. Call 901-525-7948 to make reservations.

Whew.  Home from work and I’ve decided I’m too tired to attempt poker tonight – just not in the kind of mental state that leads to profitability.  So, if I’m tired, am I going to bed?  No, of course not, I’m going to the bar.  Blue Moon is the Fire Sale.  The Saucer’s been on a “hey, we finally realized we should Fire Sale beers that don’t suck” kick for the past few weeks, so I figure I better take maximum advantage of it.

One final thought:  The Hot Chicks with Douchebags blog did a post on orange female douchebags earlier this week.  Those of you who hang out in bars in the Downtown core, does this remind you of anyone we know?

Lots of news to report today.  Let’s get to it.

First of all, this would be a good week to buy a Memphis Business Journal if you’re interested in keeping up with Downtown development.  Downtown-related stories this week:

• Aldo of Bardog Tavern plans to open a second restaurant, Aldo’s Pizza Pies, serving New York-style pizza at 64 S. Main.
• A new Lenny’s will open in the old Viking space at Main and Peabody Place.  This one is expected to do weekend and night sales, unlike the Lenny’s in the Falls Building.

There will be a parade Monday to celebrate MLK Day from 10 to noon.  Parade will start at Main and Auction, heading south to Exchange, then east on Exchange to Second, then south on Second to Beale, then east on Beale to W.C. Handy Park.  If you have to work Downtown Monday, might want to figure the parade into any driving you do for lunch.  If you don’t have to work Monday, come watch the parade!

The Center for Southern Folklore will have three blues Brown Bag lunch concerts Wed-Fri of next week to celebrate the International Blues Challenge.  Son Jack, Jr. on Wednesday, Mark “Muleman” Massey on Thursday, Slidin’ Clyde Roulette on Friday.  Concerts are noon to 1 PM, they’re free, and you can bring your own lunch or buy lunch from the Folklore Store.

Looking for stuff to do this weekend?  The I Love Memphis blog has some suggestions.  Bonus tip:  I’ve heard that Main Street Hound Dogs will be at the Rock’n’Romp.  Come buy a “U Dirty Dog!” chili dog.

Soup Sunday, the annual fundraiser for Youth Villages where you can sample 70 different soups from area restaurants, is coming up.  It will be at the FedExForum on Sunday, February 28.  Tickets on sale here.

If you’re a fan of the Young Guns, catch them on WREG Live at 9 Monday morning.

That’s all for now.  I’ve got absolutely no plans for tonight.  Debating whether to stay home and play on PokerStars, or go out and see what I can find to get into.

I was at the Saucer where Dos Equis Lager was the Fire Sale… and I had way too many of them.

While there, I received a text from the bartender at Kooky Canuck.  “Come down, ur friends are here,” said the text.   Unfortunately I had a full beer, and by the time I finished it I received word that they had left.  “Well, come get food after you leave the Saucer,” texted the bartender.

It’s good to be wanted, and I will stop in Kooky very soon.  However, before I even stepped out the door of my apartment pre-beer I had my stomach set on a West Coast Burger from Huey’s.  I had one earlier this week, and tonight I wanted the same thing again, but as a turkey burger, with fries.  When I walked in and ordered, the bartender asked, “Ranch instead of ketchup?”  Which I had totally forgotten about, but that’s how I ordered the fries earlier in the week.  Awesome suggestion.

It’s funny how we can be in the Downtown of a metro area of over a million people, and yet this is truly the place where everyone knows your name.  I wouldn’t live anywhere else.

Thanks to Huey’s and Kooky for reminding me why I love this neighborhood so much.