Paul Ryburn's Journal

Neither of the two projects I’ve been working on is ready for launch this morning, but I’m ready to go ahead and tell you what they are.

Last Thursday I made the walk to Calhoun’s and stayed there for several hours.  “It’s a shame more people don’t know about this place,” I thought.  “Once in the door, people will find lots of reasons to stay… but I know what will get them there in the first place.  $1.50 PBR all day, every day.”

So the following morning I took a break from work and took a short walk, and as I did an idea came to me – how about a search engine for bars that sell beer for $2 or less all day, every day?  Hence my post around noon Friday asking people to recommend them.  That seemed like something that would be very useful – college students and people who drink on a budget would love to have that information at their fingertips.  And since the Internet is worldwide, I thought, there’s no reason to restrict the listings to just Memphis.  (I did decide to restrict it to the US, since prices will be listed in US dollars.)

So, Saturday I decided to take an entire day off from going out, and I started to program it.  About 6 hours in, I realized something:  It wouldn’t be terribly harder to program a second search engine, a happy hour/drink special search engine.  One that would let you input, for example, “Memphis, TN” and “38103” and check a “Monday” box, and find out that Sauces has a happy hour from 2 to 7, the Saucer has Pint Nite, the Tap Room has $1 PBR, Rio Loco has $6.50 jumbo margaritas 4 to 10, etc.  So I started work on that one.

I’ve thought about doing these before.  The reason I never finished them is, I’d basically be creating an unpaid full-time job for myself, entering the listings and keeping them up to date.  Even locally to Downtown that hasn’t worked too well; my existing Downtown happy hour page needs to be updated badly.

But then I thought of one of my favorite websites… Wikipedia.  Wikipedia works so well because every page is world-editable.  Every person can add new pages and update existing ones.  Why not do the same for the search engines, I thought?  Yes, I’m sure some problems will arise with immature people editing drink special listings for bars they don’t like, and with immature bar owners editing the competition’s specials (I’m purposely not giving users a “delete” option for this reason).  But, if the bar or restaurant has fans, they’ll see the altered listing and edit it to put the incorrect info back on there.  Wikipedia isn’t perfect but overall, it works.  I think these search engines will have about the same accuracy in the long run.

So, that’s why I haven’t been around as much lately – for the first time in a long time, I missed a Pint Nite in order to work on the bar search engines.  As of this morning, they’re both about 90% done.  I’m not going to miss trivia tonight, but I’ll load the laptop in the backpack and use the Saucer’s Wi-Fi to continue work on them after trivia is over.  I’m committed to rolling them both out before the end of the week.

I know I have a lot of calls and e-mails to return.  If you’ve contacted me over the past few days, sorry for the delay getting back to you, and I will eventually.  These two ideas were just so good that I had to put everything else aside and get rolling with them.

The cool thing is, I’m programming it in PHP and MySQL, which is exactly the platform I’m now using at work.  So my side projects are improving my skills on the job, and vice versa.  Shout-out to Otto, who I’ve learned a lot from about PHP and MySQL since he and I became co-workers a few months ago.

I have several items on my “to blog” list, so check back.

I had a reader e-mail me, asking if any bars will be running food or drink specials for college football this Saturday, and also asking for my recommendations on where Downtown to watch college football.

As of yet I don’t know of any specials.  If you do, e-mail me at paul@paulryburn.com and I’ll post ’em.

As for my recommendations, here they are:

1) Calhoun’s Sports Bar. 5 LCD TVs, they’re getting the ESPN college game package, and they’re opening early for the games (11 AM; normally they open at 4:30 PM).  $1.50 PBR all day.  Free bar snacks all day.  It’s a small bar so get there a little while before the game to get a good seat.  At least one LCD TV is visible from every seat in the house.  Friendliest crowd of any bar listed here.

2) Red Rooster. They have the most big-screen TVs in Downtown Memphis, cold beer, and great food served in huge portions.

3) Flying Saucer. 3 LCD TVs and 2 CRT TVs; I hear the remaining CRTs will be replaced soon.  Largest selection of beers Downtown, hot waitresses in miniskirts, pool table, dart boards.

4) (tie) Jillian’s and Hooters. These places have a lot of big TVs, and are usually known to get all the game packages.  The only reason I don’t rank them #1 above Calhoun’s is that, quite honestly, these places both suck.  Mediocre food, high prices.

5) (tie) The bar at Big Foot Lodge. Note: The TVs are all CRTs, so if you have to see the game in HD, avoid this one.  Also, the TVs are not visible from the restaurant area.  Also, you have to put up with Meghan if she’s bartending.  So why would I bother recommending this as an option?  34 oz. Big Foot Coors Lights to drink while you watch the game, and a better food menu than any of the places listed above.

5) (tie) Downtown Blue Monkey. TVs are visible from most seats in the house, although if you’re sitting at the bar you’ll have to crane your neck to the left or right.  TVs are HDTVs.  Reasonable beer and drink prices, very good food menu.

That should be a good list to get you started.  Go Tigers!  Go Hogs!

A New York magazine called City Journal had a great article recently entitled The Professional Panhandling Plague, discussing how many cities are seeing professional panhandlers on the street in increasing numbers – people who are not homeless and who beg for money as a way of life.  Memphis is mentioned as one of the cities in which professional panhandlers thrive, and the author discusses the Handling-Panhandling forum among other ideas cities are using to thwart the panhandlers.

Check it out.  It’s an excellent read.

 

I heard that the fence has been taken down that blocked off the parking lot next to 88 Sports Bar, at 88 N. Main. A fence had been put up to keep the bums out. The bums are notorious for congregating in that block of the Main Street Mall, between Jefferson and Adams, where they loiter and panhandle and drink beer they buy from Jack’s Food Store.

A friend of mine told me he got mugged on that block of Main, walking home from work this weekend. He’s in the service industry, so this would’ve been late, probably around midnight or 1 AM. A bum approached him and asked him for money. He said “I can’t help you, sorry” and kept walking. The bum then ran up behind my friend and got him in a headlock. My friend pushed the bum off him, but failed to notice that he had been pickpocketed in the process.  He didn’t realize his wallet was missing until the next day.

That block of Main has always been a problem and seems to be getting worse. It’s leading me to the conclusion that maybe Downtowners need to be more like Germantowners.

Let me explain what I mean. Germantowners are all about property values. Property values, property values, property values. Don’t you dare do anything that might decrease their property values. Try leaving your lawnmower in the front yard overnight in Germantown. You’ll get a letter saying you’re making the neighborhood look bad and hurting everyone’s property values.

Right across the Main Street Mall from the parking lot where the bums hang out is a very nice condo building, the Claridge House. It just went condo 2 years ago, and is nearly full with new owners now. My question to those new owners is, why do you put up with the bums across the street? Don’t you realize how much they decrease your property values? And if so, why aren’t you all up in arms about it, like the folks in Germantown would be?

By the way, when I say that the bums are decreasing the Claridge’s property values, it’s not speculation, it’s fact. I know this because I had someone e-mail me about six months ago, seriously looking at the Claridge and a couple of other buildings in the Downtown core, intending to buy. This person asked me questions about the neighborhood, and I talked up all the benefits of living down here. “Let me know which building you chose, after you make your decision,” I wrote in my last e-mail to him. But, it was not to be. He e-mailed me a couple of weeks later and said he had walked around the neighborhood, and was so disturbed by all the bums hanging out and arguing and drinking and bothering people that he decided to stay where he was in East Memphis. Wonder how many other potential buyers have been lost?

Another thing: I’ve decided I’m not going to go in 88 Sports Bar as long as they continue to allow bums, vagrants, and panhandlers to congregate anywhere near the entrance to their business. I’ve been meaning to give the place a try, because I’ve heard the people who run it are friendly and the happy hour specials are good. It’s also currently the closest “neighborhood bar”-type place to where I live, and I’ve thought it would be fun to hang out there and maybe meet some of the people who live in the Claridge, and also the Renaissance Apartments on that same block. But as long as there are bums outside the front door, sorry, not gonna happen.  I’ll just wait patiently for Bardog Tavern to open, and keep hanging out at the Saucer in the meantime.

One of the projects I’ve been working on will be ready for launch tomorrow.  In the meantime, expect at least one more post from me today.

As a Downtown Memphis blogger, it’s my duty to post a link to articles about the neighborhood’s most visible residents, the pigeons, from time to time.  Here’s an article about monks in France who are going green by turning pigeon droppings into food. Yuk.

The 5th annual Gandhi-King Conference on Peacemaking happens October 17-18 at CBU.  The focus this year will be “Continuing the Dream: Constructing the World House.”  I like that theme… I’ve been thinking for the past few years, we need to loosen the tight grip we have on our view of ourselves as U.S. citizens, and start thinking of ourselves as world citizens.  Cover charge is $70 adults, $30 students and low income, $20 high school students.  Includes 2 day conference admission, Friday night reception and performance event, Saturday breakfast and lunch, and Saturday banquet dinner.  More details and registration available here.

Don’t forget, The Dempseys play Downtown Huey’s tonight.  This is in my opinion the best place for Downtowners to catch a Dempseys show.  They’re winding down the week and have a fun time interacting with the locals and fooling around onstage.  And, you never know who’s going to show up.  Last time they played there, an Elvis line dancing troupe from France showed up and line-danced to “All Shook Up.”

They take the stage at 8:30 and play until 12:30.  “But Paul, I can’t stay out that late, I have to work tomorrow.”  Oh, get over it.  Tell ya what.  Come see the show, don’t turn on your alarm when you get home, sleep late, show up late to work tomorrow.  You can tell your boss you had trouble starting the car.  It doesn’t have to be a lie.  In my experience, it’s very hard to start a car if you don’t put the key in the ignition.

Really looking forward to next weekend for two reasons:  Number one, it’s a three-day weekend, and number two, the Center for Southern Folklore’s annual festival is next weekend, out on the Main Street Mall between Gayoso and Peabody Place.  One of my favorite festivals of the year… hugely diverse array of musical acts, diverse crowd, good food and beer, and I get to hear the puppet guy do the “I’m the top cat, I’m a saber-toothed cat” song.

And two weeks after that is my favorite fest of all, Cooper-Young on September 13.  I’ll be there from as close to opening time (9 AM) as possible until close at 7.  This year I need to bring a pedometer to measure how many steps I take… I tend to stay on my feet the entire time at C-Y, talking to people I haven’t seen in years and eating gyros and BBQ nachos and other festival food.

Didn’t go out yesterday, and I’m skipping brunch again today.  Here’s why:  Thursday night I had an idea for a new website.  This one isn’t an Amazon store like the ones I’ve been doing, but rather a web application, and readers of this blog will find it incredibly useful.  So I spent all day yesterday programming it… it’s 98% done, just gotta put a few finishing touches on it.  But yesterday, while working on that project, I had an idea for a second, even more useful web application that readers of this blog will absolutely love.  So I’m getting started on that one day.  Should have both of them rolled out sometime this week.

I’ll get as much programming as I can done by 1 or so, then head to the Saucer to play pool and drink beer with the gang.  Gotta have some fun, you know.  Besides, if I don’t, John D will send me text messages: “Where is our leader?”  I’m the leader now?  I don’t know if I like that, it sounds like a lot of work.  Anyway, I wouldn’t want to disappoint John D, so I’ll be at the Saucer.

I have tons of pics on the camera that I need to download and post.  One of these days I’ll get around to it.

One more week in August… that means it’s almost time for me to select a BFF of the Month.  If you think you should be the September BFF, it’s time to state your case.

All right.  Time to get started.

TIME Magazine recently did an online article about the 13 worst vice presidents in US History.  I clicked through them in historical order from the beginning (so first on the list was Aaron Burr), and I knew things were about to get good when I made it to Spiro Agnew (Nixon’s veep) and was only on number 11.

“Well, one of the remaining two has to be Dan Quayle,” I thought.  “But who’s number 13?”  I definitely had someone in mind.

TIME was thinking of the same person.  Number 13 on the list… our very own Darth Cheney.

Here’s a link to a Wikipedia page on the political positions of Joe Biden.

(Edit: I’ve decided to make it “$2 or less” – $2.00 maximum – instead of “under $2” – $1.99 maximum – to get more bars, restaurants and clubs on the list.)

While at Calhoun’s last night, I got an idea for a new project: A list of bars that carry one or more beers for $2 or less, every day. Meaning, not a happy hour special, or a particular day of the week special, or only for certain bar patrons (like ladies’ night). No more than (edit: $2.00), every day, available to every person in the bar of legal drinking age all hours that the bar is open.

Calhoun’s $1.50 PBR inspired this idea. What are others? I’m interested in not only Downtown Memphis bars, and even not only Memphis bars. Memphians will travel for cheap beer.

If you know of anyplace in the US that qualifies, e-mail me and tell me the name of the bar, the beer(s) they sell, and the price. If you have an address or URL that’ll help too. Send ’em to paul@paulryburn.com. More details to come soon.

Yesterday I took a walk and noticed that the parking lot next to 88 Sports Bar (88 N. Main) had been fenced off. GOOD! That lot was a haven for bums to hang out. They’d go buy beer at Jack’s and sit in the parking lot and drink. One less place for them to go. Maybe they’ll move on. Twice in the past two weeks, I’ve thought about giving 88 Sports Bar a try (haven’t been in there yet), but decided against it both times when I saw 5 to 8 bums congregated outside the front door.

Worse news for Barack Obama… the RealClearPolitics “no toss up states” electoral map shows him trailing John McCain for the first time, 274 electoral votes to 264. Latest polls flipped Indiana red, giving McCain the edge, although several states are still within the margin of error. He better hurry up and announce his VP.

The reigning Miss America will serve as honorary duckmaster this Saturday at the Peabody. She’ll march the ducks from 4:45 to 5 PM. If you plan on going, I recommend getting there at least a half hour early to stake out a place to sit or stand with a good view.

The Center for Southern Folklore has a new website, and it’s a ten million percent improvement over the old site. Check it out. Information about upcoming shows at the Center, and about the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival at the end of this month. If you’re a fan of real Memphis and regional music, you’ll want to bookmark their site and check their calendar frequently.

Divine Rags is planning a 5K Unity Run on the streets of Downtown Memphis on Saturday, September 27. There is a $25 entry fee to cover the costs of police blocking off the streets, but listen to this – winner gets a $1,000 store credit. Nice! Go by the store (Main at Pontotoc) if you want to sign up.

Yesterday I got MPACT Memphis’ e-mail summarizing what’s going on in the next month, and their calendar is loaded with good events: A 5K run/walk in Soulsville (tonight); a field trip to the Brooks’ “after hours” party (September 4); lunch bunch gatherings at the Flying Fish (9/5) and Swanky’s Taco Shop (9/9); happy hour at LoLo’s Table (9/9); a forum on crime featuring Larry Godwin and other speakers (9/10); a field trip to get a look at the operations of Hands on Memphis (9/17); a dinner club at Sweet Bistro and Desserterie (9/18); and an “Mpact 101” orientation session at Calhoun’s (9/22). If you’re a young professional looking to get more involved in the community or find people like you to socialize with, check them out at mpactmemphis.org.

Speaking of Calhoun’s, I was in there last night for the first time in a couple of weeks.  Had a good time playing the video crack machine (stupid money-eating trivia games) and watching the Olympics and drinking $1.50 PBR.  Tonight I have a plate party at the Saucer and a bon voyage party at Raiford’s to attend in the early evening.  Not sure what I’ll get into after that.

I feel a rant coming on about the bum situation around 88 Sports Bar.  Maybe I’ll type it up at lunch, or tomorrow if other things occupy me today.

(Edit: Dammit, I thought I posted this last night, but forgot to hit Publish.  Sorry.)

Welcome to the latest edition of “Reading the Flyer so you don’t have to,” where I go through this week’s issue of the Memphis Flyer and mention events of note to Downtown Memphians.

– p. 14: Glad to see Calhoun’s Sports Bar advertising in the Flyer. Their ad mentions that they have free bar snacks every day, 2 for 1 domestic bottles during happy hour, and $1.50 PBR every day.

– p.15: The Memphis Zoo is having a Zoo Brew fundraiser Friday, August 29. 30 beers to taste, appetizers from Cindy Krag catering, exhibit/sale by pottery artist Hayden Hall. $15 for non-members, a mere 30% of the non-member cost of the overpriced fundraiser at the Dixon the following Friday. Too bad the Memphis Zoo fundraiser is on a Friday, when Big Foot Lodge bartender Meghan works; otherwise, she could stop by and visit her relatives.

– p.16: East BumbleFest as I call it, AKA the fair for Cordovans and Germantowners who are too scared to go to the Mid-South Fair, AKA the Delta Fair and Music Festival, will be at the Agricenter August 29-Sept. 7.

– p. 24: There’s an ad from Bardog Tavern, the new locals’ bar going in on Monroe between Front and Main, telling readers to “start holding your breath.” Looks like we won’t have much longer to wait.

– p. 27: Tug’s at the River Inn on Mud Island is now offering “Good Ol’ Fashioned Sunday Fried Chicken,” with a fried breast, thigh and drumstick, turnip greens, creamy potatoes, and peach cobbler all day for $12.95. Sounds like a great place to eat after church. Or even better, skip church, sleep in and just go straight there. That way you can stay out later drinking Saturday night.

– p. 39: Widespread Panic plays the Mud Island Ampitheatre October 15. Tickets on sale this Friday at 10 AM through Ticketmaster.

– p. 42: Freekbass plays Blues City this Friday and Saturday. Bootsy Collins calls Freekbass “the new spiritual warrior for Funk.”

– p. 44: The Orpheum is already apologizing in advance for Avenue Q, which will run September 30-October 5. Tickets on sale Friday at 10 AM, orpheum-memphis.com. The Nuh-Uh Girl described this as “Sesame Street for Adults.”

– Back page: 2 condos at the Claridge will be auctioned this Sunday, regardless of price.