Paul Ryburn's Journal

Ice Cube, founder of the BIG3 basketball tournament, tweeted “FedExForum, thanks for nothing” yesterday. He was unhappy that arena staff and Ticketmaster staff implied that the event was a sellout when in fact many good seats were still available.

Beale Street Bears has a look at what the Grizzlies might do with their roughly $7 million Traded Player Exception (from the Dillon Brooks sign-and-trade) to bring talent to the team.

The DM has an explanation of the civil lawsuit involving Ja Morant. The legal principle being contested is “stand your ground” and it involves self-defense.

Today would be a good day to stop by Margie’s 901: It’s National Ice Cream Day.

College football news: The University of Tennessee has been forced to vacate wins in two seasons when Jeremy Pruitt was head coach.

St. Jude Next Gen Experience, introducing college students to the children’s research hospital, happens today and tomorrow at the Renasant Convention Center.

Craftsman Richard Carr brings his exhibit To See with New Eyes to the Metal Museum today through September 24. Carr’s work tells stories using salvaged materials.

There will be an intro to graffiti and basics of using spray cans class led by Paint Memphis co-director David Yancy at 484 Union this Saturday from noon to 3.

South Main Sounds will host a rockabilly night with Wyly Bigger and Mario Monterosso Saturday from 7 to 9 PM.

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow if there’s any news to report.

Yesterday I was searching the Internet in preparation for a job interview I had, and I came across a High Ground News article on Downtown’s alleys. It covers

• General Washburn’s Escape Alley
• Center Lane
• Park Lane
• Barboro Alley
• November 6th Street
• Stereo Alley

The article has a Part II which focuses on redevelopment efforts of Downtown’s alleys:

• Floyd Alley (in The Edge)
• Barboro Alley
• Maggie H. Isabel Street and the pocket park across from The Brass Door

The article also mentions Edge Alley, which is not an alley but a restaurant squeezed in between Monroe and Madison. Having been written in 2017, High Ground News’ article pre-dates the redevelopment of The Ravine.

Forbes ran a nice article on The Hospitality Hub this week, addressing the issue of homeless encampments in public spaces.

Among the Hospitality Hub’s services is the Hub Studios, providing temporary non-congregate housing for their clients. Let’s hear it for the good guys, and this story is proof that corporations can be good guys too: IKEA recently donated furniture to Hub Studios and sent 19 team members to assemble it.

Microsoft Office got a new default font this week. Goodbye Calibri, hello Aptos. It’s the biggest passing-of-the-baton moment since Queen Elizabeth II died, making Charles II king.

Grind City Brewing Co., Hook Point Brewing Co., Cooper House Project, and Urban Consequence Brewing Co. are teaming up to put on “beer.” – A Memphis Collaborative Beerfest on Saturday, August 19 at Grind City’s taproom at 1:30 PM. Tickets are now on sale. Details:

• Unlimited beer tastings
• Access to the taproom, patio, and green space
• Food will be available for purchase
• Each participating brewery will bring 2 beers
• Well-behaved pets on leashes are welcome
• Kids are welcome, but ages 2+ must have a ticket

In other FedExForum news, today is the day The BIG3 comes to town.

Jerry Seinfeld returns to the Orpheum Friday, September 29. Tickets go on sale this coming Friday.

The Summer League Memphis Grizzlies got an impressive win over the L.A. Lakers, 100-69, last night. David Roddy and Jake LaRavia both scored 20+. Memphis is back in action at 9:30 tonight vs. the Phoenix Suns. (TV: NBAtv and ESPN+)

Today is Gummi Worm Day. Someone bring me some spiked gummi worms!

The job interview I had on the phone yesterday went well and I have a second interview coming up. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

By the way – FORMER STUDENTS – If any of you would be willing to let me put you down as a job reference, email me your contact info at paul.ryburn@gmail.com or hit me up on social media. The position I am applying for is not a classroom teaching job but prior teaching experience is a big plus.

In other job hunting news, I got invited on ZipRecruiter to apply for a mobile pet grooming position. I guess “anyone with a pulse” was the search criterion the company used to find potential candidates.

I’m off to Bardog for Saturday brunch with my friends Randy & Theresa. Butt Slut #1 won’t be joining us – she’s on a fishing trip in Arkansas – but today is National Be a Dork Day, so she will definitely be on our minds.

Back tomorrow with more news.

The Tennessee Tribune has a look at the work of artist Jerome Fulton, currently on display at the Blues Hall of Fame Museum on South Main. Fulton combines Southern culture with ancient Egyptian history. The Memphis, Tennessee we know and love was named for Memphis, Egypt, another city that knew a thing or two about pyramids (they never put a Bass Pro Shops store in one, though, like we did).

NBA Summer League action: Memphis Grizzlies vs. L.A. Lakers, 10 PM on ESPN tonight.

Today is National Grand Marnier Day. It’s also National Mac and Cheese Day. And it’s Shark Awareness Day. You’ve probably heard of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, which is coming up later this month. but did you know the National Geographic channel is doing SharkFest all of July?

Congratulations to Memphis’ own Carol Coletta, named one of the 100 Most Influential Urbanists by urban planning site Planetizen.

Aidan Canfield plays Tin Roof on Beale tonight at 8 as part of the Nashville Hits the Roof series.

The Super 5 Acoustic Trio play Earnestine & Hazel’s tonight at 9.

Not Downtown but worth a Groove-on-Demand rideshare: Distillery Blue Note Bourbon is opening a tasting room today at 4 PM. The distillery is at 802 Royal Avenue, off Thomas about a mile north of Chelsea. You’ll be able to tour the facility and sample its output.

FOX 13 has a look at the Big3 basketball tournament coming to Memphis Saturday.

Take an umbrella with you today:

7:00am Rain is a couple hours out with a chance of t’storms as well. This complex is expected to break apart some as it approaches and severe weather is not likely, but locally heavy rain is possible periodically from mid morning through early afternoon. pic.twitter.com/7egwDF0nbw

— MemphisWeather.net (@memphisweather1) July 14, 2023

A couple of weeks ago, I reported that the Blind Bear had some new daily promotions. To recap, those are

• Moonshine & Martini Mondays – $5 moonshine / $8 Tito’s martinis
• Tacos & Tequila Tuesdays – $5 tacos / $5 margaritas
• Wine Down Wednesdays – $15 half-bottles / $15 charcuterie boards
• Throwdown Thursdays – “The silly little games we play. $25 gift card to the winner.”
• Freeballin’ Friday – ½ off Bear Balls app with a $10 purchase

Most of the promotions are self-explanatory, but I admitted to my readers I had no idea what Throwdown Thursday was about. I said I’d find out and return with more information.

Well, today I have that information. The first Throwdown Thursday was yesterday.

Every week they play a different game, and since the Bear is 21 and up after 3 PM, games with an adult theme are fair game. The game chosen for the inaugural Throwdown Thursday was Cards Against Humanity. There was a practice round at 3 PM for those new to the game, and then regular rounds at approximately 4, 5, and 6, with the winner of each round collecting a $25 Bear gift card. The lovely Maddie served as emcee.

They’ll be back next Thursday during happy hour, possibly with a different game. Follow the Blind Bear on Facebook to get advance notice of what the game will be. They have $3 domestic beers, $5 well drinks, and $7 MiCampo, Jameson, and Rumpleminze for Thursday Throwdown.

Thursday night poker players: Don’t worry, they wrap things up by 7, so your 7:30 game is not affected.

I didn’t play Cards Against Humanity yesterday. I was distracted for the very best of reasons, on Gmail scheduling an interview for not one, but two, jobs this afternoon. These would be fun jobs that would use my best skills – informing people, connecting them, and inspiring them. My commute to work would be less than 10 minutes on foot. Wish me luck!

Probably back tomorrow with more news.

Downtown development news, as reported on social media yesterday by DNA president emeritus Jerred Price: The Metro Shopping Plaza at the corner of Crump and Danny Thomas has been purchased. There are plans for 160 apartments on the lot’s north side, some market rate and some kept affordable for those who work in the area.

Closer to Crump would be retail. One of those buildings would be reserved for a grocery store.

It’s good to see Downtown development pushing east and south. The new owners must have a lot of faith that this project will transform the neighborhood. The area around Fourth and Crump, one block west of the shopping center, has been considered one of the most dangerous areas in the U.S. in recent years.

South Main shop Paper & Clay will close in late August. The business side of the shop has taken away from the owner’s pursuit of her craft work.

The University of Memphis Law School at Front and Madison seeks an Associate Dean.

Theo Von: Return of the Rat Tour comes to the Cannon Center August 4. You can use code RATKING here to grab tickets before they go on sale to the general public this Friday.

The Halloran Centre for the Performing Arts unveiled its own sidewalk of stars yesterday. The stars honor well-known artists who have performed at the Centre.

Let’s hear it for the good guys: A 15-year-old spent his birthday money feeding the homeless at First United Methodist Church. His generosity fed about 100 and I bet blessings will come back to him a hundredfold.

Orange Shinesicle Cream is the latest Ole Smoky moonshine to debut at the Blind Bear. At only 35 proof, you can enjoy a shot without ending up three sheets to the wind.

Local on Main has a new host, Wild Bill, for its Thursday night karaoke:

By the way, the Blind Bear had a new host for Wednesday karaoke last night as well. Rick McKee, I think his name was. Upbeat, brought a positive vibe. The only downside to the evening was that Butt Slut #1 kept singing right in my ear. She wouldn’t get on stage, so I got my own personal serenade – not of all the songs, just the ones that sucked. That girl has horrible taste in music.

Today is National French Fry Day. Flying Saucer and the Brass Door would be my picks to celebrate. Not sure if The Fry Guy truck will be at today’s Court Square food truck rodeo, but if so, that’s a pick too.

It’s also Beans & Franks Day. If you celebrate that one, please stay away from me afterward.

Quench, the wine and liquor store on Second across from the Peabody Hotel, was burglarized about 5:40 this morning.

This article could be useful to those who hang out in Downtown bars: If you use these 10 phrases, you can politely end any conversation. There’s always that one person who doesn’t “get it” that they’ve been talking too long and it’s time to move on.

FiveThirtyEight’s lead read this morning is interesting: A third-party candidate in the 2024 presidential election could benefit the Trumpster and hurt Biden’s chances of a second term. A third-party candidate is more likely in 2024 than most election years, as many voters will be fed up with both presumptive party nominees pushing or past 80.

Speaking of which, I was thinking last night: Isn’t it funny how the presidency skips generations? Let’s look at the past 63 years of election winners.

Greatest Generation (born 1900-1924)

• 1960: John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
• 1964: Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973)
• 1968-1972: Richard Nixon (1913-1994)
• N/A (inaugurated 1974): Gerald Ford (1913-2006)
• 1976: Jimmy Carter (born 1924)
• 1980-1984: Ronald Reagan (1911-2004)
• 1988: George H.W. Bush (1924-2018)

Silent Generation (born 1925-1945)

• Completely skipped during the 20th century

Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964)

• 1992-1996: Bill Clinton (born 1946)
• 2000-2004: George W. Bush (born 1946)
• 2008-2012: Barack Obama (born 1961)
• 2016: Donald Trump (born 1946)

Finally, the Silent Generation (born 1925-1945) gets a president

• 2020: Joe Biden (born 1942)

Generation X (born 1965-1981)

• Skipped altogether? The oldest millennials turn 41 this year. 35 is the minimum age to be president.

That’ll be it for today. Back tomorrow, probably.

The Downtown core is getting another Asian restaurant. Flame Ramen is coming to 61 S. Second, which I believe would be the space in One Commerce Square (near Second and Union) formerly occupied by Subway. Flame, a chain restaurant, has had its managers notice a lot of Downtowners at its Midtown location. They want to capture the 18-to-45 demographic down here.

Here’s a look at the menu from Flame’s Midtown location. Matthew Fite of the DM reports that the menu for the Downtown location will be smaller. Back in March, the DM had a look at a $10 Deal from one of Flame’s other locations: the Donburi rice bowl.

Reminder to restaurant owners/managers: If you update your menu, please make sure to get it current on

• your restaurant’s website
• review sites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google Reviews
• social media, especially Facebook

Last night I was at a restaurant and a couple became unhappy when they found out they couldn’t get certain items that they’d seen on the restaurant’s website. They walked out after paying for their drinks. Granted, they were unnecessarily rude about it and it was probably good riddance – but still, that was a potential $40 dinner tab out the door.

Which brings me to the next point. RESTAURANT PATRONS: I have a pet peeve with you, too. Well, some of you.

If every little aspect of your dining experience doesn’t go exactly the way you want, you shouldn’t automatically assume it’s because the person serving you has an “attitude.”

Let me give a few examples.

• Unhappy a 20% automatic gratuity got added to your bill? It’s not because your server has an attitude and wants to bilk you out of extra money. An 18 to 20 percent auto-grat is the norm in Downtown restaurants these days. Without it, restaurants wouldn’t be able to retain good servers – too many people write “N/A” on the tip line or think $4 on a $66 tab is a good tip.
• Got told there would be a $3 upcharge when you asked to sub steak on the chicken burrito you ordered? That wouldn’t be because your server has an attitude. It’s because steak is more expensive for restaurants to purchase than chicken.
• Did it take 25 minutes to get your food out to you? I sympathize; that’s certainly not ideal. Hospitality expert Jon Taffer advises restaurants to aim for 10-12 minute ticket times. When those don’t happen, though, it’s likely because the kitchen is backed up – not because your server has an attitude and delayed putting your order in.

When I hear a customer accuse a server of having an “attitude,” I think of a psychological phenomenon known as projection.

Pretty interesting diagram I found on Facebook yesterday. I wonder if people who manufacture Crayola 64-packs have this memorized.

Cossitt Library innovator-in-residence Ena Esco will discuss social media marketing on her podcast Thursday, July 13 from 5:00-7:00 PM. She’ll be joined by Kelvin Woods. Topics they plan to discuss include strategy, content, and adopting a promotion mindset.

In other Cossitt Library news: At Explore MemFest on Saturday, from 1 to 4 they will have a Books & Backpacks giveaway. Come by to get a backpack filled with school supplies. There will be library card signups too.

Cordelia’s Market has announced the promotion of Brian Prather to general manager. An interview in the market’s blog shines a light on Prather’s background and experience. He loves local!

STIX, the fast-food Asian joint on Second, reminded its followers that they offer sushi classes, and that you can contact the restaurant to make a booking for your group. Participants

• learn how to make 3 different rolls
• sip on a specialty cocktail
• enjoy a ginger salad with signature dressing
• get to take home a bottle of ginger dressing or yum yum sauce

The Blind Bear has announced its Features (specials) for this week. They’ll have them today through whenever they run out, most likely Friday.

• Chicken tortilla soup – cup 6 / bowl 8
• Southwest stuffed shells – seasoned beef, cheeses, pico de gallo – 14
• Strawberry pound cake – house-made butter cake, Grand Marnier strawberries, whipped cream – 7

Y’ALL. I tried a bite of that strawberry pound cake and it is AMAZING. Do not miss it if you have a sweet tooth.

Southwest Airlines has announced its seasonal nonstop flight to Washington DC. It runs daily through September 4, departing Memphis at 8:25 AM CDT and arriving in DC at 11:35 AM EDT.

From Lifehacker: Stop looking at the temperature dial on your grill. It only tells you what the grill’s temp is at that one spot. Instead, buy a digital thermometer.

Today is National Pecan Pie Day.

It’s also National Eat Your Jello Day. SHOTS SHOTS SHOTSSHOTSSHOTS

Day game! L.A. Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies in NBA Summer League action at 2:30 this afternoon. NBAtv is the channel to watch.

The CA has a look at the hip-hop architecture summer camp for kids hosted in Memphis.

The Mistress Saved My Marriage – The Stage Play comes to the Cannon Center Saturday.

FreedomFest comes to the Renasant Convention Center today through Saturday. The event is about all the ways we experience liberty in our lives. It’s a celebration of “great books, great thinkers, and great ideas.:” The event is non-partisan and encourages open-mindedness.

Eight & Sand Lounge in the Central Station Hotel will hold Yacht Rock Night with Katie Orlando Saturday from 9 to 1.

That’s it for today! I expect to be back tomorrow with more news.

Do you believe strongly in the fight against cancer? If so, there’s an upcoming party at Max’s Sports Bar you should attend. One of their regulars is 7 years cancer-free and they will have a celebration for her Wednesday, July 19 from 6 to 10 PM. 10% of purchases made during the event will be donated to the American Cancer Society. So come on down, eat, drink, and be merry!

The Hard Rock Cafe on Beale is scheduled to close at the end of this month. On Sunday, July 23 starting at 4 PM, the Hard Rock will hold a farewell party for current and former employees. About 250 are expected to attend.

The Memphis Grizzlies honored Dillon Brooks with a tribute video as his trade to Houston was finalized. DB was the longest-tenured Grizzly, having been drafted with the 45th pick in 2017.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Davonte Pack, Ja Morant’s best buddy. The charge is misdemeanor assault with the intent to do bodily harm, and it stems from a 2022 pickup basketball game involving Pack, Morant, and a teenager. The DA previously declined to charge Morant in the incident due to a lack of evidence. Pack always seems to be around when Ja gets in trouble.

The 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game is tonight at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. The game will be broadcast on FOX starting at 7 PM. More info – storylines, odds, starting lineups

Today is Cow Appreciation Day. Allow me to suggest some of my favorite ways to appreciate cows:

• Double-Double at Dyer’s
• Soul Burger at Earnestine & Hazel’s
• Yonge Street Burger at Kooky Canuck
• Burger sliders at Bardog
• Majestic Burger at Majestic Grille
• Texas Toast Burger at Huey’s
• Smashed Burger at Blind Bear

Moo.

Of course, you could get a Baconator at Wendy’s and make it Pig Appreciation Day as well as Cow Appreciation Day.

It’s also National Mojito Day.

Bluff City Bandits headline this Thursday’s Peabody rooftop party. 6-10 PM, $15 general admission, $30 to get into the VIP Lounge.

I finished Post Office by Charles Bukowski and will drop it off at the library’s drop box later today. I enjoyed it even more than the other book of his I have read, Ham on Rye. Thank you to those of you who recommended I check out the works of Bukowski.

My next read is a biography of 36th President Lyndon Baines Johnson by Doris Kearns Goodwin. She’s the one who wrote Team of Rivals, the Lincoln bio I read a couple of weeks ago. The LBJ book differs from most biographies in that the author doesn’t feel the need to chronicle every event in detail – the election of 1960, for example, is hardly mentioned. Where Ms. Goodwin shines, though, is imparting to the reader what was going on in LBJ’s head during critical times in his life.

That’s it for today. There was a job listing Downtown I was going to tell y’all about, but then I realized the job would be a good fit for me. So I’m gonna apply. It’s in a completely different field than what I’ve been doing most of my life. It’s something that would make me happy. Wish me luck.

Back tomorrow with more news.

Not Downtown but worth a Lyft or Uber: There will be an authentic Asian Night Market at Crosstown Concourse Sunday, July 23 from 4 to 9 PM. Food, music, games. Free to attend and most food items will be under $10. It’s being put on by Memphis’ Vietnamese community and an organization called WILLOW. Be a vendor or sponsor

It’s Sugar Cookie Day at Butterificc at 488 S. Second today. They’ll have a variety of sugar cookies and free samples will be available. Come back to Butterific tomorrow for National Blueberry Muffins Day. And come back Wednesday for Pecan Pie Day.

The Downtown Doubletree Hotel is hiring a general manager.

The DM has a look at new Grizzlies draftee GG Jackson. The team will now have a Jackson II as well as a Jackson Jr. Fun fact: Ja Morant’s father Tee used to cut GG’s hair back in South Carolina.

Today is Don’t Step on a Bee Day. Well that’s good advice.

Today is also National Pina Colada Day. Celebrate with a pina colada daiquiri at Wet Willie’s on Beale Street.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver unveiled the details of a new in-season NBA tournament that will happen in November and December. There will be a group stage and then a knockout stage, sort of like World Cup soccer. The Grizzlies will be in Group 4 along with Phoenix, the L.A. Lakers, Utah, and Portland. Ugh… not a great group draw for Memphis. Hello 9 PM tip times and hello LeBron.

The Major League Baseball Home Run Derby is tonight. It’ll be on ESPN at 7 Central. More info

Victorian mansion/museum The Woodruff-Fontaine House will have an attic sale this Saturday. Antiques, china, crystal, party decor, and more.

Brimstone Jones will play Loflin Yard this Sunday at noon.

Explore Memphest comes to Downtown’s Cossitt Library this Saturday. Live music; free food by The Check-In. Explore what Memphis libraries and community organizations have to offer. Take a Storywalk with your kids. Live music.

Will Sexton and Amy LaVere play The Central BBQ Sessions Tuesday evening from 6 to 9 at Downtown Central BBQ.

Weather: No chance of rain today, 86/68, northeast wind. For July in Memphis, that sounds pretty awesome.

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow (probably) with more news.

Wallpaper Magazine has an article on the reimagination of Tom Lee Park as a public space on the river. It has some nice images of what the park will look like when it opens this fall.

Max’s Sports Bar is expanding its staff to include a combination cook/barback who would work the following shifts:

• Monday-Wednesday 5:30 PM-1 AM
• Saturday 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
• Sunday 10:30 AM-5:30 PM (football season only)

The pay is $14 an hour plus tips.

Congratulations to former Memphis Grizzly Mike Conley, Jr., winner of the 2022-23 NBA Sportsmanship Award. Conley currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is the last active member of the Grizzlies’ Core Four. Conley has won the award 3 times previously.

Soul & Spirits brewery on North Main will host a Skol-astic Adult Book Fair on Saturday, August 12. “Skol” is Scandinavian for “Cheers.” Every beer you buy gets you entered into a raffle for prizes from the brewery and festival vendors. Vendors include

• South Main Book Juggler
• Burke’s Books
• Cafe Noir
• De More Books & Things
• Friends of the Library
• Novel

Food trucks for the book fair will be Paper Plate Pavilion and Tacos MonDragon.

Today is National No Bra Day.

The Callie Hines performs at the Ghost River taproom at Main and Crump today from 4:30 to 8:30. From the Facebook event listing: “If you like Brandi Carlile, The Indigo Girls, and Joni Mitchell – you’ll love them! Discover your new favorite Americana artist – coming to you from South East Louisiana!”

That’s it. Not a real newsy day. Back tomorrow probably.

Future and Friends, scheduled for next Thursday at FedExForum, has been canceled. If you have tickets, refunds will be issued through the appropriate channels. It’s not known why Future can’t make it, but Memphis is not the only canceled show on the tour.

Congratulations to WREG Channel 3’s chief meteorologist Tim Simpson, who is retiring after 29 years.

Memphis Farmers Market vendor Dodson Farms, maker of fine jams and jellies, announced on social media this week that they aren’t sure when, or if, they will return to the market. There is an illness in the family In the meantime, Muddy’s Bake Shop has some varieties of their sweet jelly for sale. Prayers to the Dodson family.

New Wing Order posted its July special:

The July special is Smokin’ Peach Wings! Made with fresh peaches, Jones Orchard peach jam, Calabrian chiles, and other spices for a sweet, spicy, and smoky bite.

Get them at the Ghost River taproom at 341 Beale or at the nWo food truck.

Riverside Drive’s closure has been extended to Labor Day. The scenic road was scheduled to reopen on the first of this month, but a Tom Lee Park contractor needed more time.

MemphisWeather.net tweeted that widespread storms are possible in the Memphis metro from 2 to 8 PM today. Some of those storms could be severe, with wind and hail being the main threats.

The Grizzlies’ new number 36, Marcus Smart, arrived in Memphis this week with a big smile on his face. The DM’s Chris Herrington discusses what Smart brings to the table.

Memphis 901 FC took a loss to San Antonio FC 4-0 last night, with one of San Antonio’s players picking up a hat trick.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Chicago Bulls in Summer League action today at 6. Catch the game on NBAtv.

A friend of mine found this dog near Front and Beale:

If this is your pet, email me at paul.ryburn@gmail.com or hit me up on social media and I will get you in touch with the person who has her. I promise your dog is in good, loving hands.

Today is National Freezer Pop Day.

The candidate I support for Memphis mayor, Paul Young, recently added a Meet Paul page to his campaign website.

DJ Tree plays Blind Bear 10-2 tonight and 7-midnight Sunday.

Elmwood Cemetery hosts From the Beyond: Ghosts, Spiritualism, and Cemeteries tomorrow from 6:30 to 8 PM. This will be a seated, indoor presentation by Elmwood director Kim Bearden. Snacks and beverages will be provided. $20 per person.

That’ll do it. I’m meeting friends for Bardog brunch in a couple of hours. I haven’t seen Butt Slut #1 for an entire week, which is rather unusual. I have missed her. Back tomorrow with more news.

I had a successful first day on Instagram Threads, the Twitter alternative. I followed every Instagram user I follow who’s also on Threads, and I collected 57 followers of my own. Again, if you jump on that platform and want to give me a follow, it’s @paulryburn.

One thing I don’t like about Threads is that you HAVE to use an iOS or Android app to post and view posts. When I’m at home working on my MacBook at my writing desk, I usually keep my iPhone in another room. It would be inconvenient and slightly distracting to have it by my side. The head of Instagram says they’re working on a desktop version of Threads.

The Grizzlies executed a trade with the Phoenix Suns this week.

Memphis Grizzlies get

• 6’9″ power forward Isaiah Todd. Todd, 21, bypassed college to play for the NBA’s G-League Ignite in 2020-21.  The Milwaukee Bucks drafted him in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft. He was traded to Washington before the season started in 2021. On June 24, 2023, he was traded to Phoenix as part of a deal that sent Chris Paul to Washington.
• 2024 first-round pick swap – if the Suns pick higher than the Grizzlies in that draft, the two teams trade picks
• 2030 first-round pick swap

Phoenix Suns get

• Grizzlies’ 2025 second-round pick (via the New Orleans Pelicans)
• Grizzlies’ 2028 and 2029 second-round picks

Sounds like a win for the Grizz. Zack Kleiman and Co. must have seen something in Todd that fits in with team culture.

One small red flag about Isaiah Todd: In January 2022, Washington suspended him for one game for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The Memphis Flyer has some nice artist mock-ups of the future Dream Hotel being built in and on top of the old Royal Furniture location at Main and Gayoso. The hotel will include a 10-story tower across Gayoso from the Barboro Flats parking garage. There will be 3 floors of luxury apartments in the tower in addition to hotel rooms.

The same Flyer article notes that the former Mason’s Lodge on G.E. Patterson will be converted into 10 one-bedroom lofts. It will also be the new HQ for UrbanARCH.

Memphis Magazine answers the question, what does it look like inside the Sterick Building today? The building hasn’t had tenants since the 1980s.

From the Flyer: Matt Petty’s sound baths are a vibe. Get in on the therapeutic sound bath action weekly (Mondays at 6:30) at The Broom Closet on South Main.

Memphis 901 FC hosts San Antonio FC tonight at 7:30.

Today is National Dive Bar Day, a good day to visit Earnestine & Hazel’s.

A risk for severe storms returns to the Memphis metro Saturday. Good news, though – the rain will hold the highs to the mid-80s this weekend.

Pam, the co-owner of River Time Market & Deli, has restaurant equipment for sale as she plans to close the deli later this month:

FOOD TRUCK OWNERS – DELI OWNERS –

New Start-up Owners Dream

I have the following equipment for sale :

Matco Stainless Steel Toolbox $5,000.00

49 inch Stsinless Steel Tables $50.00 each

72” Sandwich Mate Table $1100.00

Pizza Oven – $300.00 has 3 year protection plan – bought in Nov 2022

Electric Griddle. – $175.00 also has protection plan bought in Nov 2022

3 tier Pastry Warmer $225.00

Soup Warmer – $40.00

Upright Frigidaire Freezer – $300.00

Open Sign – $20.00

Shelves $50.00

BlueAir Coolers – $700.00 each

Chest Freezer – $59.00

Peak Cold Curved Deli Case – $1700.00

Meat Slicer – $300.00

2 Waring 1/2 Ovens needs repairs-$70.00 each – I have some elements.

All kinds of Stainless Holding pans and clear pans .

Text Me if interested (901) 482-0460 – email Pamela.edmondson@aol.com

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow with more.