Paul Ryburn's Journal

A blog reader sent me this story from the NWTN Today website (from Union City, TN) about an armed robbery of a visitor from Knoxville Saturday night who was in town for the Memphis-UT game. The robbery started on Beale Street and ended in a nearby residential neighborhood around 11:15 PM Saturday night, and the robbers took the victim’s credit and debit cards, $200 cash, driver’s license, watch, cell phone and Nike shoes. I wanted to post this because I haven’t seen it covered in any of the local media.

Thanks to the Nuh-Uh Girl for sending me this link to Onix Restaurant’s website. Onix is the new chicken & waffles restaurant in the old Zanibar space at Main and Huling. Looks like their specialty is buffalo-style chicken served with ranch, roll, celery and carrots. They have a variety of flavors available, including the usual ones (medium, hot) as well as more exotic ones (seasoned, honey glazed, lemon pepper). Hmmm… now I’m really going to have to check this place out. They also have catfish, shrimp and chicken tenderloin dinners, sandwiches, and a healthy choice menu.

Found this on WREG’s website today… Mississippi’s House voted to get rid of the waiting period to get a marriage license. Looks like they’re trying to make the casino districts in the state more like Vegas, where you can elope and get married the same day. Yikes… I don’t know if I like having that option that close to home. Gonna have to be careful that I don’t meet a girl in a club and have a little too much to drink and take a road trip and make The Ultimate Mistake. This could especially be a problem if we get a new group of Romanians in town for the summer.

That’s all I’ve got for now… still having fun at work, getting to move through the “software development life cycle.” The work we’ve done the past month is now in testing. Fun to see how it all comes together. Never been with a company that does it in such an organized manner. Outta here, back to the office.

We had a GREAT time tonight.  The gang met at Itta Bena a little before 6, where the complimentary appetizers this week consisted of sushi and Asian chicken.  After a few drinks there, we moved on to the Red Rooster, where we had reservations.

One of the owners, the one with whom I had made the reservation, picked out a section for us to the right of the front door where we had our own private TV for viewing for a party of 16.  Although, no one really paid attention to the game after the food I ordered showed up – the Sexy Fat Boy Nachos ($12).  As I wrote last weekend, that seemed a little high for nachos, but once it came out, I understood – it was Mount Nachos and it was even bigger than the nachos I saw on Saturday.  Seriously, this thing was piled higher than the tallest mountain peaks in seven U.S. states.  Not only is it way more than one person could eat, but I doubt two people could split this thing and get through it.  Here’s a pic.

That’s BBQ meat, BBQ sauce, cheese, black olives, tomatoes, jalapenos and onions atop multi-colored chips.

And here’s a pic of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating the nachos:

It couldn’t have been any better.  Every seat in the house had a good view of at least one TV.  The bartenders came over and introduced themselves, and once they found out we lived within walking distance, they treated us like royalty.  They seriously want our business.  The owner also came over a few times and asked if there was anything he could do for us.  It was busy but not jam-packed during the game.  They had the sound on for the game; once over, the DJ started spinning.  A few selections to give you an idea what they play:

“You Give Love a Bad Name” by Bon Jovi
“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
“Summer of ’69” by whoever the hell sings Summer of ’69

I am really starting to love that place to the point where it may challenge the Saucer for my #1 ranking.  I will definitely be back either Friday or Saturday, not sure which.  Dammit I wish it wasn’t Dempseys night tomorrow at the Saucer so I could go to the Rooster for “Rock Out With Your Cock Out” aka cheap beer night.  Thumbs way up based on what I’ve seen so far.  This is a much needed alternative to the clubs on Beale.

Time for the beer report.  I did two beers at lunch and a third before hitting Itta Bena.

Previous total:  $378.50

Beers 70, 71, and 72 (but 66, 67, and 68 according to the Saucer):
LaBatt Blue Fire Sale $2.75
Clausthauler non-alcoholic beer (NASTY) $4.00
Pacifico $4.00
Tip:  $10.75 x ~ 30% = $3.00
Total:  $13.75

Grand total:  $392.25

Plan for tomorrow:  I’ll probably take a nap after I get home for work, then hit the Saucer about 8:30 and grab a good seat for the 9:30 Dempseys performance.  I plan to make it through all 3 sets before going home.  Rather, I plan on making it through all 3 sets before going to McGuinness before going home.

More good news:  Through the Handling-Panhandling group we got one of the bums banned from the Premier Parking lot at Main and Beale.  I got photographic evidence of him back on that lot tonight.  That photo has already been brought to the attention of the lot owner and MPD.

Even more good news:  I renewed my lease today, my sixth lease at 10 South Main.  That will make me a Downtowner until at least February 2009.

Been an awesome day, time to get some sleep and recharge in prep for another awesome day tomorrow.

Be sure to check out the opinion column in today’s CA where Downtowner Barbara Bradley shares her thoughts on panhandlers and how much they scare her and people who come to visit her.  “We’re at a tipping point, CCC,” she writes.  “Please help save Downtown.”

Posting from the Second Street branch office and reading the Memphis Flyer during my lunch break.  For lunch today:  Clausthauler (a nonalcoholic beer), and LaBatt Blue (which is alcoholic, but is basically Canadian Bud Light so it’s not like one pint will do anything).  I’ll be eating twice in a short time span tonight, so I’m skipping the food portion of my lunch break.

This week’s horoscope says I should “do the wild thing as much as possible.”  Now that’s the horoscope I’ve been waiting for!  Attn female Scorpios:  You have the same horoscope I do, let’s hook up!  Actually, some of the biggest psychos I’ve ever met have been female Scorpios, I better be careful what I wish for.

I made the Flyer twice this week.  Pa Pa Pia’s quoted my review from last month in their ad, where I called the place “outstanding.”  Got no problem with that.  May not be a fan of some of the other restaurants their company runs (the one across the street, for example) but I was thoroughly impressed with Pia’s in every respect when I went in – food, service, they way they went above and beyond to take care of the large group I came with.  Great job!

Then on page 9, I’m quoted in the “Policing Panhandling” news article.  The Handling-Panhandling forum has seen a huge bump in activity the last week due to all the media coverage of the Downtown security patrols.  We’re getting new information on some of the bums who cause a lot of trouble down here.  Not the homeless (as in someone without a home) but the bums (as in, people who aggressively beg for money).  H-P is not and never will be about harassing the homeless for no reason.

One event in the Flyer that’s especially worth mentioning… “Rock n Roll for Red” tomorrow night (Feb 28) at EP Delta Kitchen.  All proceeds benefit the American Heart Association.  $5 general admission, $50 for exclusive VIP lounge with free cocktails and apps 7-9 PM.  Show up in red attire and receive a complimentary signature drink.  For more ticket info call the AHA at 901-383-5400.

Unfortunately I’ll have to miss the event due to the Dempseys show tomorrow night at the Saucer.  Another event I’m going to have to miss is “Rock out with your cock out” Thursday night at the Red Rooster, with $1.50 Miller Lite/Amber Bock all night long, and $2.50 Stella Artois and Blue Moon all night long, and Route South on the stage.  Now those are some good beer specials!  Looks like the Rooster may present a serious challenge to EP’s/Hoop’s as my Thursday night hangout once the weather warms up.  The Rooster now has a MySpace page, so you can be their friend and check their calendar for the latest news.

This non-alcoholic beer sucks.  The ticket describing the beer said “surprisingly tasty” but LaBatt was the better tasting of the two beers I’ve had in my lunch break, if that tells you anything.   I’ll come up here right before I hit Itta Bena tonight and knock my third one out.  Hmmm… “Irish Car Bomb” is one I have yet to do.  Wonder if Air Traffic will be here this afternoon.  I need a car bomb drinking buddy.

My hour is up already!  Back to work.

… And I’m back.  Couple of quick items before I head to work.  It’s Tiger Blue Day, as deemed by an e-mail sent out by the Leadership Academy, and I have blue on.  Do you?  For those of you who missed last night’s post:  1) Game has been changed to 7:00, so Rapscallions/extended family/random hot girls are invited to meet up with us at Itta Bena at 5:45, then head to the Red Rooster at 6:45 for game viewing.  2) Tennessee lost to Vandy last night, so we’ll likely get our #1 ranking back in the AP poll.

Couple of more quick items that I was too tired to post last night…

The CA has a good article today on NewVoBlues, an organization that is reviving the tradition of blues dancing here in the home of the blues.  NewVo has one of their biggest events of the year, Bluesalicious, this weekend, with dance classes and outings to local juke joints.  Schedule for the weekend is at the bottom of the article.

I’ve been receiving e-mails about a site called nofoodandbeveragetax.com that is petitioning against a proposed 2% tax on the local food and beverage industry.  This tax will passed on directly to your bill when you eat out, and is especially hurtful for locally-owned restaurants who don’t have a national corporation behind them.  If you eat out a lot like I do, this is a petition you should consider signing.  It isn’t the restaurants’ fault that the county can’t manage to balance its damn budget.

Plans for the rest of this week:

Tonight:  Itta Bena then Red Rooster, see above.

Tomorrow:  Dempseys @ Saucer, 9:30.

Friday:  MAYBE South Main Trolley Tour.  Looking forward to next month’s Trolley Tour though, when the weather will be much nicer.

Saturday:  Don’t know.  Probably out getting new pictures of bums in the afternoon.

Sunday:  Brunch at McGuinness (week 1 of 2)

Time to head to work.  Things have been picking up lately and I’ve gotten a lot of great experience programming in a true multi-tiered environment (where the data logic, business logic, and business objects are all separate) and working with a team on projects (in previous jobs I tended to work on projects alone).  It can be a lot of fun sometimes.  Outta here til later, will have my laptop with me at lunch, could be another post then.

(PROFANITY/VULGARITY ALERT:  This is a drunk post.  If R-rated and above topics offend you, skip this post.)

Pictured above is the “Maple Leaf,” one of the 34 oz. mixed drinks on Big Foot Lodge’s drink menu.  According to the menu, it consists of Forty Creek Canadian whiskey, spiced rum, Southern Comfort, banana liqueur, cranberry juice and a splash of Sierra Mist.  Bartender Terry tells me that sloe gin is a secret ingredient.

The reason I got to have one of these tonight is that the Saucer SUCKED.  We were in a 4-way tie for first place in trivia.  For the tie-breaker (total million $ taken in at the box office for Shrek 3) we came in second and picked up a $25 gift certificate, bringing our total to $225 for the next party.  By the time trivia was over the place was dead and the 9 people who still go to Grizzlies games were not going to revive the place, even if they all came in after the team’s latest loss.  I tabbed out at 9:20, one of my earliest Tuesday night exits ever.

So I moved on to Big Foot.  My main reason for picking that bar was not so much the huge-ass drinks, but the blackened meatball Caesar salad that my BFF told me about the night before.  (Okay.  I’m going to admit something here.  Between you, me and the lamp post, my BFF is actually a pretty awesome girl.  But I will never tell her that to her face, as it would ruin the dynamic of our relationship.  If anyone asks me publicly and I think my response might get back to her, I’ll say that she’s a douche bag and she fucking sucks.)  It comes with a Heinz 57 Caesar dressing and pita bread on the side.  Yummy!

While eating the salad and drinking my 34 oz. drink, I watched #14 Vandy take down #1 Tennessee.  Gosh, that #1 ranking didn’t last long, did it? Bruce Pearl looked like a complete fucking tool and he’s lucky he didn’t get ejected from the game.  Watching that orange tie flap around made me think Bruce’s unspoken message was “this tie is 50 times as long as my penis.”  Hope you enjoyed being #1 while it lasted, Tennessee!  NUH-UH GIRL?  FRANK?  YOU HAVE COMMENTS???  Didn’t think so.  CARMEL?  Haven’t forgotten you’re a UT alum.  Not even if you put on an orange tube top would I root for the Vols.

Also new on Big Foot’s menu:  Cheese logs, which are basically fried mozzarella sticks, but with a strawberry jalapeno dipping sauce.  They also have a new “Canadian” burger, with Canadian bacon, cheddar cheese, grilled onions, and BBQ sauce.

Let’s get the beer report out of the way before I move on to actual important announcements.  Oh by the way, the Saucer forgot to scan ANOTHER one of my beers.  That makes four.

Previous total:  $353.00

Beers 67, 68 and 69 (but 63, 64 and 65 according to the Saucer):
Hornsby Crisp Cider $4.00
Samuel Smith Lager $10.00
James Boag’s Premium Lager $5.50
Tip:  $19.50 x ~30% = $6.00
Total $25.50

Grand total:  $378.50

Damn this is getting expensive.  The Samuel Smith beer functioned as the bonus beer for trivia (drink a British beer, get 5 free points).

Shaq was seen eating at Sam’s Hamburgers at Main and Madison today around 1 PM.

The Center City Commission is in the process of hiring security to patrol Downtown April-June, now that the patrols have been funded.  Beyond the training provided by their company, they will receive 24 hours of additional training.  Handling-Panhandling co-moderator Mike King and I have been asked to teach an hour of that training  We’ve been asked to talk about panhandlers’ methods of operation and residents’ reaction to constantly being panhandled.  Needless to say we are delighted to be asked.  I plan on giving the security personnel an earful about some of our favorite bums down here.  Maybe we can finally get some of the worst of the worst off the streets.

I want to take a moment to tell you how awesome the people who run the Red Rooster are.  For every Tiger game there’s a big debate among my group about where to have the watch party.  Up until now, I’ve been pro-Saucer, and people assume it’s because of the waitresses.  Actually it’s that it’s a big bar in the core of Downtown, and you never know who will stop in… Downtowners, people from other parts of the city, tourists.  As opposed to watching at someone’s house where it’s the same people I see every day, or Calhoun’s where it’s just us and people who live in South Main and South Bluffs.  So I saw one of the Rooster owners last night and asked if he would be open for the Wednesday game against Tulsa, because a bunch of us wanted to come up and watch.

“I hadn’t planned to open,” he said.  “But there’s a Tiger game?  And you guys want to come?  I tell you what, I’m going to open the place just for you.  We’ll be open at 5.”  And he gave me his personal e-mail and cell number.  I contacted him today and reserved an area for 20, letting him pick the spot since I didn’t notice the locations of the TVs when in there last weekend.  I have it on good authority that the game has been moved back to 7, so here’s the revised agenda:  Itta Bena at 5:45, change of venue to the Rooster at 6:45.  Just in case I don’t make it to the Saucer afterward, I’m going to go there on my lunch break and knock out my 3 plate beers (I still have the nonalcoholic beers to do, no I don’t plan on getting wasted and then going back to work).  Rapscallions/extended family/random hot girls are invited to join us in our section.  Although he said he would open “just for us” I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if the general public showed up and watched the game and bought food and beer, so come on down, should be plenty of room.

All right… I had some other stuff to blog about but I’ll save it for tomorrow.  I’m getting tired.

So I got to Pint Nite last night and saw John D sitting at the bar.  So I figured I’d sit at the bar with John D and start a tab there.  But before I made it to the bar I was intercepted by the waitress who calls me her “BFF.”  “WHAT DO YOU WANT,” she said.  “GIVE ME YOUR UFO CARD.  I’M GOING TO PICK OUT THE 3 BEERS YOU’RE DRINKING FOR YOUR PLATE TONIGHT.”  So I gave her my card and she walked to the computer (I checked out her ass as she walked over), and she came back with receipts for Black Velvet, Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat, and Rogue Nut Brown Nectar which she said were 3 of her favorite beers.  I refused Sunset Wheat, as that sometimes shows up on Fire Sale and I want to save it for then.  So she went back to the computer (I checked out her ass again) and came back with a receipt for Hummingbird Water, which is one of the most girly beers there, but hey it has to be knocked off the list sometime.  So for the beer report we have

Previous total:  $342.50

Beers 64, 65, and 66 (but 61, 62 and 63 according to the Saucer):
Hummingbird Water $2.50
Black Velvet $2.50
Rogue Nut Brown Nectar $2.50
Tip:  $1 x 3 beers = $3.00
Total:  $10.50

Grand total:  $353.00

Those were not the only 3 beers I had, though.  I managed to follow up my plate beers with 9 Dos Equis Lagers, for a total of 12 pints, and I could’ve easily broken my record of 14 if not for this stupid “job” thing I’m expected to go to on Tuesday mornings.  My BFF continued to be her sweet self throughout the course of the evening, making comments like, “SO THE WAITRESS YOU ASKED TO WORK YOUR PLATE PARTY GOT PROMOTED TO BARTENDER.  WHO’S GOING TO BE YOUR WAITRESS NOW.”  Actually, she was in an unusually good mood last night.  She only flipped me off once and punched me once in the entire time I was there.  Someone bought one of my beers (thanks), so I had to pay for 11.  My BFF got mad at me for only tipping $11.  “YOU’RE NOT TIPPING FOR THE BEER THAT WAS BOUGHT FOR YOU?  COME ON.  CHANGE THAT 1 TO A 2 ON YOUR DEBIT CARD RECEIPT.  DO IT.”

Y’know who I should fix her up with?  Nappy haired, extremely loud and aggressive “CAN I AKS YOU A QUESTION.  U GOT 50 CENT” bum who works the streets Downtown.  Know the one I’m talking about?  He makes a beeline up to you and gets right in your face to panhandle you.  They would be perfect for each other; they have the exact same personality.  I should set them up on a blind date.  If he’s not in jail right now.

Now we transition from the “crap no one cares about” section of the post to the “useful information” section of the post.  I’m not quite done with the Saucer though.  Beginning next week, the Pint Nite price increases to $2.75.  In usual Saucer fashion, they announced the increase as “beginning March 1” even though March 1 is a Saturday and therefore not a Pint Nite.

Calhoun’s Sports Bar & Grill on G.E. Patterson Avenue wants everyone to know that they will be showing the Tennessee-Vandy game tonight at 8 on their 5 flat-panel TVs.  Go Vandy!  Let’s root for the Vols to lose so we can get our #1 ranking back.  Calhoun’s will also carry both Tiger games this week.

The Leadership Academy has deemed tomorrow, Wednesday, February 27, to be Tiger Blue day.  They are asking everyone to wear blue in support of the soon-to-be national champion Memphis Tigers.  They’re also asking you to e-mail all your friends and make sure they know about Tiger Blue day.

The Peabody and Jack Daniel’s will host a Southern dinner and whiskey tasting Thursday, March 27, with Lynne Tolley, the great-grandniece of Mr. Daniel himself.  Tasting will be at 6 PM in Capriccio Grill, and will consist of a 3-course tasting of JD whiskeys, followed by a 4-course meal with recipes from the “Cooking with Jack” cookbook.  Cost is $85, call 529-4183 for reservations.  This is one of a series of Jack Daniel’s events that will take place this year to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Peabody Ducks, a concept that was allegedly invented when someone had a little too much Jack Daniel’s.

My BFF told me she had a new item at Big Foot Lodge which was really good, a meatball/Caesar salad thing in a pita.  I just checked their website and don’t see it on the menu yet, but I did notice that they’re re-done their site.  Check it out here.

First United Methodist (you know, the church that burned down a couple of years ago) is hosting a trivia night this Friday to benefit the FirstWorks scholarship fund.  It will be at Union Avenue Methodist at Union and Cooper, $20 entrance fee per person, with teams of 6 competing.  Entry fee gets you an all-you-can-eat dinner, the trivia game and door prizes.  Doors open at 6:30, game begins at 7.  Theme is Western, but that applies only to the decor, food and attire, not the trivia questions, which will come from a variety of categories.  Questions can be directed to Kelly at kellym210@bellsouth.net or 359-7667.

Speaking of trivia nights, it’s time for the Rapscallions to kick some more ass at trivia tonight.  Since having our last party, we’ve scored two first-place finishes, and since Rapscallion Party VII will also be my plate party, that means we’re off and running with $200 already, with approximately two months to go.  Not a bad start.  Pete the Trivia Guy will be back this week.

Time to head to work.

I just took a walk to the ATM a few minutes ago, and as I walked down Madison I noticed that the restaurant at 143 Madison, just east of Second, is undergoing renovations.  That’s the former King of Wings location that closed about a year ago.  A sign in the window says the place will open soon as “Java, Wings and Waffles.”

What’s up with all the waffle places Downtown?  First Miss Polly’s on Beale opened, then Onix on South Main, then this place.  Do Downtowners really like waffles that much?

Anthony Bourdain and his show “No Reservations” will visit ROMANIA in an all-new episode tonight, Monday, February 25 at 9 PM CST on the Travel Channel. Romania has a lot to offer… the food, the history, the culture. Also, the girls there are really hot.

Thanks to my former bartender Josh for calling and passing along that information.

Time to post some pics from this weekend.

From Friday night:  Here’s a pic of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating.

 

The Red Rooster has a TV where you can text whatever you want and have it show up on the TV screen.  As you can see, the Nuh-Uh Girl and the Nuh-Uh Sister were in the house.  I also texted “Paul loves Romanian girls” to the screen.

 

D’oh!  Allison done growed an extra head!

 

Frank (wearing the wrong colors, you’ll notice) worries about the outcome of Saturday night’s game.

 

A Tiger fan attempts to reconcile the blue and the orange.

 

Here’s a pic of the Nuh-Uh Girl eating at Saturday’s watch party.  Note that she is wearing the wrong colors.

 

Thank goodness one member of the Nuh-Uh Family had the sense to wear appropriate colors to Saturday’s watch party.

 

Sunday:  My BFF shows me how much she loves me.  This pic may pop up yet again in a different format.

 

Here’s a pic of the guy who was outside panhandling all day Sunday.

 

Pete and Clay salute you!  P.S. Ask Pete who kicked his ass in pool

And now it’s time for the beer report.

Previous total:  $326.50

Beers 61, 62, and 63 (but 58, 59 and 60 according to the Saucer):
Beck’s bottle $4.00
Bavaria bottle $3.75
Bohemia bottle $4.25
Tip:  $12.00 x ~30% = $4.00
Total:  $16.00

Grand total:  $342.50

Did you know that Bohemia is a Mexican beer?  Yeah me neither.  I was surprised when I ordered a beer I thought was from Eastern Europe and it came out with a lime.  If I made my own beer I’d name it “Romania.”

Home early from Sunday Fun Day.  I’m going to do a load of laundry, may go back out later on.  The Oscars are on, but I never watch movies so who cares.