Paul Ryburn's Journal

About 7:00 last night I hit 25-cent beer night at Pat O’Brien’s, and it was pretty fun. Beer was served at the small bar (they call it the locals’ bar) to the left when you first walk in, and you can either drink it there or take it to the piano room (where they had 2 players) or the fountain room. Kennedy and Q107.5 were there promoting. Crowd was about 50 people and was pretty diverse, I’d estimate 1/3 Downtowners, 1/3 from other parts of the city, and 1/3 tourists. The college crowd didn’t seem to have a lot of representation – guess that’s too early for them to go out.

The draft beer was Bud Light. They were very efficient handing it out – unless they were in the process of changing a keg, it usually took no more than 1 minute to get a fresh beer. Like most bars, they set their clock ahead so that their 8:00 (and the end of cheap beer) came at what appeared to be 7:50 to everyone else.

Before hitting Pat O’s I stopped at the Saucer, and asked one of the waitresses for advice on tipping on 25-cent beer: Is it enough to hand the bartender a dollar and say, “Keep the change”? Her reply: “I’d still be pissed.” She advised tipping on the full price of the beer rather than the discounted price. Hmmm. Guessing that Bud Light draft is probably around 3 bucks at regular prices, 75 cents is still a 25% tip, not bad. She thought I should tip $2 on each 25-cent beer. That seems a little excessive. I get the feeling her advice really had little to do with tipping at Pat O’s, and was actually a hint that I should tip her more than the 30% I’ve been leaving her at the Saucer.

Anyway, I ran into some of the Sleep Out Louie’s refugees and we worked out a system. One guy stood at the bar, and left a generous tip (I didn’t see it but I think it was $10) on the first round. Because of that tip we were guaranteed prompt service the rest of the time. He continued to stand at the bar, and we’d stand behind him in our group, near the bar but not at it. Every few minutes he’d buy a new 25-cent beer and then use it to refill our cups.

I hear that they’re doing this to try and build a regular crowd during the week – the place is busy weekends but has been pretty dead Sunday-Thursday. They’re hoping people stick around after 8 (or, really, 7:50) and order full-price drinks and food. I get the feeling this promotion will continue for the short term but won’t be permanent.

Fun night. Even if Pat O’s is not normally your place, it’s worth getting a posse together and showing up on a future Wednesday.

Thanks to regular blog reader Mendi for the info… there is indeed 25-cent draft at Pat O’Brien’s tonight, from 6 to 8. She also informed me that there are specials on Tuesdays as well, 2 for 1 beers until midnight and select drinks until 10.

What do you tip on a 25-cent beer? Even a 100% tip is still lousy – that’s only a quarter, and since I’ve become friends with so many service industry people downtown, I have a firm belief in tipping well. I guess I’ll give them a dollar for each beer and tell them to keep the change… that’s a 300% tip, pretty good, but still, I don’t think I’ve tipped less than a dollar a beer since I moved downtown (except for the infamous “47 and change” incident last October, but that was a unique set of circumstances).

Eh. I’ll just start tipping them 75 cents on 25 and see what everyone else does. Heading out now… gonna walk around and enjoy the sunshine a bit, then Frenchie’s bar, then possibly a trip to the Saucer to see if I can recruit any other regulars there to take a field trip to Pat O’s. Should be at Pat O’s no later than 7.

Here’s an opportunity for you to make yourself famous. Every June I do a special feature called Tube Top Month right here in this blog, designed to promote the buying and wearing of the tube top, in my opinion the greatest fashion item ever made. For the entire month every post will mention tube tops in some way, and/or will include pictures of people wearing tube tops.

Of course, that means I need to start collecting tube top pics, and now that the weather is getting warm (as I mentioned in the previous post, forecast highs of 78 or higher in Memphis for the next week), now is the time. So, if you’d like to be famous, with your pic in one of the city’s most well-read blogs, here’s your chance. All you have to do is either

1) If you see me out around town, and you have a tube top on, stop me and ask me to take your picture. I always carry my digital camera on me, except when I’m at work. Or,

2) Snap a pic of yourself in a tube top and send it to me.

I won’t include your name with the tube top pic when I post it, unless you specifically request it, since most people prefer to remain anonymous. Also, keep in mind that although I’m starting to collect the pics now, I don’t plan on posting them until June.

I’d also be interested in talking to any clothing store who would be interested in offering my readers discounts on tube tops for the month of June, in exchange for some free advertising on this blog.

Help make Memphis beautiful! Let’s see those tube tops!

The week’s half over! Let’s see what’s going on for the remainder:

– Tonight: Someone told me that they thought Pat O’Brien’s had 25 cent beer on Wednesdays. Can anyone confirm this, and tell me the hours? I may have to walk down there and check this out for myself – worst case scenario, it’s not true and I’m forced to drink a Hurricane instead. Oh darn.

Actually, that may NOT be the worst case scenario. Worst case scenario, the 25 cent beer rumor IS true but I have to deal with a room full of frat guys in fluorescent-colored polo shirts with the collar turned up, khakis, brown belts and brown loafers yelling “Wooooooooooo!” (the mating call of the North American frat guy) while I drink my cheap beer.

I haven’t been to see Frenchie at the Russwood Park Grill/Holiday Inn Select in over a week, so I’ll try to get by there tonight as well.

– Tomorrow: Looks like the gang is convening at Hooters to watch the (2) Memphis vs. (3) Texas A&M game and then (1) Ohio State vs. (5) Tennessee. They decided on Hooters because Hooters has the NCAA package, so they can also watch the other two games at the same time, which are (?) Team I Don’t Care About vs. (?) Team I Don’t Care About and (?) Team I Don’t Care About vs. (?) Team I Don’t Care About. Meh. I may skip this one. Last time I went to Hooters the prices were high and some of the staff looked like they should have been in a kennel rather than a restaurant.

By the way… last night I stopped by the Majestic to say hello to Tifaney with one “f” and an “e” (her parents apparently thought, “let’s give her a name that no one will EVER spell correctly”), and they had ESPN sports commentary on one of the TVs. They said that the regional final in the South looks to be good, with Ohio State vs. Texas A&M likely to be a good game. Um. We’re the 2 seed. A&M is the 3. Isn’t it a BIT presumptuous to just assume that A&M will beat us and go on to the regional championship game? Typical of the lack of respect the U of M gets in the national media.

– Friday I’ll be going to the Blue Worm on Airways for NewVo Blues’ first event. I blogged about this one on Monday – a blues dance lesson at 7, a home-cooked dinner and informal discussion at 9, and dancing with a live band and DJ at 10:30. I’ve never been to the Worm but one of the group organizers tells me it’s a lot of fun – I suspect that I may be about to stumble upon one of the hidden gems of the Memphis club scene.

– Saturday I’m getting together with some friends for a private beer tasting in the early evening. After that, don’t know. One option is the Memphis International Film Festival awards party at The Warehouse (36 G.E. Patterson), open to the public, $10 cover (free for festival attendees) includes beverages and munchies. Warehouse parties are always a lot of fun, and might be a good chance to meet a new group of people.

The Mpact Memphis party of the year will also be happening that night, out at the Botanic Gardens. $40 cover, James Bond theme (the official title is “Casino Royale”), cash bar, casino games. Just curious, who all is going to this? I’m trying to decide if it’s worth the effort to drive out east (which means I’d have to go real light at the beer tasting) and dress up in Bond attire. Mpact does have a history of throwing kick-ass parties of the year though. Personally undecided on this one, but people who like the kind of socialite/young-professional parties that Ptolemy Kat writes about on her blog should definitely consider putting this on their social calendar.

Hey, Mpact finally updated their website! It’s about time. Looks good.

– Sunday: Brunch, served by bartender Tifaney with one “f” and an “e” at the Majestic. Afternoon remains undecided – I usually go see my waitresses at the Saucer after I get done with brunch, but with the awesome forecast (supposed to be in the low 80s Sunday, and no high below 78 anytime in the next week) I’d kind of like to be outside.

However, Sunday evening I’ll be inside – at DOWNTOWN HUEY’S where THE DEMPSEYS will be playing!!!!!!!!!! Best band downtown, best place downtown to see them. Band starts at 8:30 but I recommend getting there no later than 8 to get good seats.

– There’s also an ad for Sauces in the new Memphis Flyer that came out today: “Attention Sleep Out Louie’s crowd! Sauces is looking for you! Visit us soon for great Happy Hour specials!” So it looks like we can add Sauces to the list of Downtown hangouts (which already includes the Majestic Grille, Big Foot Lodge, and Russwood Park Grill/Holiday Inn Select) which have taken very good care of us since we lost our home.

All right, that’s enough for now… got a second post – a warm-weather related post – that I’m gonna try to squeeze into this lunch hour, so be on the lookout for more.

My Midtown Memphis by Ryan Jones.

Looks like he’s going to do for Midtown what I do for Downtown… news on all the bars, restaurants, and art openings in the area. It’s been going for less than a month but he appears to be off to a good start. If you enjoy my posts I think you’ll enjoy Ryan’s. This one’s going in my bookmarks.

Thanks to Mark Richens who writes the Scene blog for the CA for leading me to Ryan. Richens is another one to keep in your bookmarks and check frequently.

I pay to park in a garage across the alley from my apartment building. It’s a small garage with tight corners, and recently I’ve had several near head-on collisions as I pulled in and out of the garage. This is my rant to my fellow parkers.

1) The garage is not your personal race track. 35 mph is not an acceptable speed. Not even if you’re late for work. Not even if you’ve had a lousy day at work and you just want to get out of there as fast as possible. Not even if you’re on your way to a booty call. SLOW DOWN. And stay on the right side of the lane as much as possible.

2) Would it really kill you to wait until AFTER you’ve driven out of the garage to start talking on your cell phone?

3) Turn on your lights when you enter the garage. Even if it’s daylight outside. Being able to see the reflection of your headlights as you round a corner lets other people know you’re coming.

4) If you see someone get in their car and they’re within SECONDS of backing out, it’s acceptable to wait on them so you can get their space. It’s *** NOT *** acceptable to sit there and wait three minutes for someone to back out, when there are 5 cars behind you waiting for you to move. Yeah, people do it on the Target parking lot the day after Christmas, but those are hardly the kind of people you look to as role models for good driving manners.

5) If you drive one of those mammoth SUVs, don’t park in the spaces nearest to corners. When you park there, it creates a huge blind spot and people can’t see if another car is coming ’round the corner in the opposite direction. My closest calls have usually been the result of a Yukon or Expedition blocking my view.

6) The garage floor is not your personal trash can. If you’re done with your beer bottle or restaurant to-go cup when you get out of your car, take it with you and throw it away in a proper receptacle. Don’t just leave it sitting there on the ground next to your vehicle.

… And that’s all I can think of. Whew, that’s one I’ve been meaning to type up for a while. Other news:

– Tonight I’ll be at the Saucer for Trivia Night. With Clay’s team tired out after a long New Orleans trip, this may be just the right time for the Rapscallions to open up a can of ass whoopin’.

– There’s also a Grizzlies game tonight. For those of you looking for a pre- or post-game beer, keep in mind that it’s Pint Nite at the Tap Room on Beale – $2.50 for a pint of your choice of about 20 different draft beers. Unlike the Saucer, Stella Artois is available for Pint Nite prices at the Tap Room.

– (2) Memphis vs. (3) Texas A&M, 6:27 PM Thursday. After that game is over (1) Ohio State will play (5) Tennessee. If the Tigers win their game, I’ll be pulling for Tennessee – since the winner of that game will play us next, I’d rather play the lower seed. If the Tigers lose, I’ll have an attitude of “don’t care” – while I usually pull for a school if I have friends who are alumni there, this is a case where I have friends who are alumni of both schools.

– Last night a friend of mine told me that there’s a Romanian girl in this month’s issue of Playboy. He said she’s the hottest girl in the entire magazine. Not surprised. I don’t normally read Playboy – well, no one reads Playboy – I don’t normally look at Playboy, but I guess I’ll have to pick up this month’s issue.

… And that’s all the crap that’s fit to print. Back to work.

Tonight in the Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament, I went out in the second round. Although, I have to say, all the waitresses were rooting for me. I have another chance next Monday and the winner goes on to a Memphis All-Stars tournament April 7, the winner of that going to Vegas in May to have a chance at $50,000.

Here’s a pic of regular blog reader Clonts, fighting for his life in the second round:

I was also at the Saucer Sunday night, where for some reason I felt the need to put a sofa cushion on my head:

We all ordered Blue Moon or Lienenkugel Sunset Wheat and everyone got 2 orange slices in our beer except me (I got 1). I asked our waitress, “Don’t you love me?” and then I got

5 oranges!!! Someone loves me! Our waitress had boots on and I commented that they should be fur-lined. “They are,” she said, and proceeded to turn her boots inside out. “Show us your fur,” I said, and luckily she didn’t catch the double entendre there.

Here’s another pic of us as we watched the Tigers move on to the Sweet Sixteen:

And that’s all for now. Off to bed.

A new business, NewVo Blues, has recently launched to promote blues dancing in the Memphis area. According to a press release they sent out, their focus will be to build a community of blues dancers, teachers, musicians and businesses.

The group intends to promote dancing to the blues music that Memphis is known for, and to teach people how to connect to the music through dancing. To that end, their first event will be this Friday, March 23 at 7 PM at the Blue Worm (1405 Airways), a popular local juke joint. There will be a beginner blues dance lesson from 7 to 9, followed by a home-style dinner at 9, followed by dancing with a DJ and a live band providing the music. For more info check NewVo Blues’ website.

NewVo Blues also will be planning road trips to regional blues events, such as the upcoming Juke Joint Festival on April 14 in Clarksdale, MS. They’ll be planning more classes, dances, and workshops in the months to come. You can get on their mailing list through their website, and you can also befriend them on MySpace.

We Downtown Memphians definitely find some strange excuses to go out and drink… we just got done spending a weekend looking at a stuffed billy goat hoisted up on a platform on Beale Street, and now this – rock, paper, scissors.

Needless to say, I’ve been training all weekend for this event. I ran 10 miles yesterday and did an hour on the stairmaster, and today I plan to eat pasta for lunch in order to “carb up” to be ready for rock, paper, scissors tonight. I’ve also spent much of this morning practicing, since practice is key to mastering the game. You have to have the fundamentals down pat, so that the key plays of the game (for example, throwing a rock, or throwing paper, or throwing scissors) are second nature. I think I’m ready, although I wish I had known about this event earlier so I could have had an extra month or two to train.

If tonight goes well, I may consider turning pro and joining the USA Rock Paper Scissors League. There’s a $50,000 tournament in Las Vegas later this spring and I think I’ve got as good a shot as anyone else at taking home that cash prize.

Just went to Jack’s for my morning wake-up Mountain Dew. As I walked down there, I thought, “Hmmm… I haven’t had a Hostess Fruit Pie in a while… if Jack’s has them I think I’ll buy one for breakfast… any flavor will do, as long as it’s not apple.” So, of course, what was the only flavor Jack’s had? Apple.

Here’s a quick weekend catch-up for you… Friday night was a BLAST. I went to a party at The Warehouse, a warehouse on GE Patterson across from the lot where they do the Farmers Market. A guy named Kris owns it and lives there and it was his birthday party. The Dempseys were playing, the beer and liquor were flowing, and there were a lot of familiar Downtown faces. Stayed there until about 12:30, then stumbled over to Earnestine & Hazel’s for a few beers. Had a good conversation with my friend Terry (aka Terrence aka Black Man) who was hanging out upstairs, left about 2:30 to begin the long stumble home, but my friend Ryan who owns Etched Art saw me and gave me a ride home.

Saturday: Walked down to Beale about 2:00… chased a bum off the street, taking pics of him every time he stopped to beg someone for money. Heh. He gave me his “I ain’t no bum” speech. Um, dude. You’re begging people for money. And cigarettes. And you’re missing half your teeth, which is a pretty sure sign you smoke crack. Yeah. You’re a bum. Now go away.

My plan was to put down a Call-a-Cab before the parade, but the Saucer had corned beef and cabbage as its lunch special, and that (plus staring at the waitresses) was too tempting an offer to resist. Guinness was the fire sale, which made a lot of people happy. The corned beef and cabbage turned out to be really good – wish they’d make that a permanent menu item. Tabbed out after one beer, got to Beale about 3:30 to stake my spot for the parade.

Found a primo spot right in front of the Black Diamond, and for the next hour I boxed people out the way a basketball defender would, to give me maximum opportunity at beads. They parked a guy in a wheelchair in front of me – perfect! Now the kids wouldn’t be able to get in front of me, and you know wheelchair guy ain’t jumping high to intercept the beads thrown in my direction. (Don’t feel bad for him, he got plenty of beads – more than I did). Ended up catching 8 sets of beads, a bottle opener, and assorted candy. Got a Twizzler licorice stick which I’ve decided to keep in my pocket – the next time a bum asks for money to get something to eat, I’ll pull it out and say, “Here ya go, here’s something to eat.”

I’ve got to say, the Ptolemy carvinal krewe, of which fellow bloggers Ptolemy Kat and Philip are members, had by far the best float. Maybe not in terms of the float’s appearance (there were several good ones) but in terms of the spirit of the people riding on the float. They were partying and they were thrilled to be there and having a great time and it showed.

After that, had another Guinness at the Saucer, but it quickly filled up with people I didn’t know, so I tabbed out and went back to Beale. Got a text message that some of the gang was at Silky’s. It took me 5 minutes to get 10 feet into the door and the place was jam-packed with people, to the point where it wasn’t any fun… I couldn’t find the group so I walked out and walked across the street to Blues Hall, where my friends Shane and Leigh had found the only bar on the street that wasn’t overcrowded. We hung out there for a while, then went over to the Tap Room to shoot pool.

By that time it had gotten dark. I wandered up to McGuinness to see what was going on there. As last year, there was a $10 cover, but the security guards at the door were very friendly and cordial. Glad to see they fixed that problem. By that point in the evening all the bars were overcrowded, and they were filling up with the wild, rowdy “partiers” who show up for New Year’s Eve and Music Fest. Big Foot had a long line to get into their party so I decided to walk south to Earnestine & Hazel’s… but no, they had a cover too and Nate’s bar upstairs did not appear to be open. So I started back north toward the core, and my chauffeur Ryan once again saw me and gave me a ride in the Etched Art truck.

Walked back up Second… the Saucer was just stupid crowded… crossed the street to avoid Sharp Dressed Bum… crossed back… STILL a long line at Big Foot. At that point I decided to defer my partying until today, and walked home and got a good night’s rest.

In a few minutes I’ll be heading to Sunday brunch at the Majestic. Looks like the Memphis-Nevada game will start sometime between 3 and 4… by that point I probably will have tabbed out and will be watching the game at the Saucer.

By the way, EP Delta Kitchen is now doing Sunday brunch as well. $20 for a brunch buffet prepared by chef Michael Patrick, plus $2 bloody marys and mimosas. I imagine the Sunday brunch crew will make a field trip down there in the near future, but the Majestic is likely to remain our long-term base on Sundays… they’ve really gone out of their way to make us feel at home, and the atmosphere up there really is as comfortable as it was at Sleep Out’s. Never a bad thing to have more brunch options downtown though.

All right, time to hit Publish and get the day started… have a good Sunday, everyone.