{"id":22981,"date":"2019-12-25T11:15:51","date_gmt":"2019-12-25T17:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paulryburn.com\/blog\/?p=22981"},"modified":"2019-12-25T14:02:58","modified_gmt":"2019-12-25T20:02:58","slug":"christmas-update-including-whats-open-closed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.paulryburn.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/25\/christmas-update-including-whats-open-closed\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas update including what’s open\/closed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday after I made my blog post, I wanted to do something different from my normal routine. “I know what I’ll do,” I thought. “I’ll go to the new Slider Inn.” I’ve never been there during the lunch hour before.<\/p>\n

I got there a few minutes after 11 and got a seat at the bar. The first time I was there, I wanted to try their Exhaust Pipe Chili, but it proved so popular that they had run out. By getting there a few minutes after Slider Inn opened, I made sure that would not be a problem yesterday.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It came with a spoon but the bag was so full that there was no point in trying to mix it up inside the bag. Realizing that was why they brought me a bowl, I dumped the contents out into the bowl.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I have three words to describe this: SO MUCH CHEESE. I think there was more cheese than there were Fritos. This is one of the best meals Downtown you will find at this price point ($3.99 for a bowl of Exhaust Pipe Chili \/ $6.99 to have it made as Frito chili pie).<\/p>\n

I finished my chili and PBR and thought to myself, do I stay here until the Silly Goose opens at 2, or do I go visit the Blind Bear? I decided to stick around and take in the Slider Inn vibe a bit. I had only been there twice before, and both visits were unusual – one was opening day, and the other was to visit my former Bardog bartender Panda, who was picking up shifts there during her week-long visit to Memphis. As a result, I had not got a sense of what the regular crowd was like.<\/p>\n

Was I ever glad I stayed! Longtime readers know there’s a woman who lies about me all over Downtown. This is the woman who stood me up on Valentine’s Day several years ago. As I started my third PBR, in she walked, with a friend of hers who is a longtime reader of my blog as well. I had no idea she was even in town; I thought she usually went to the beach during the Christmas holiday season. She took one look at me and ushered her friend to the chairs by the door. After a minute or two of frantic texting, they left. Buh-BYE! Smell ya later! She probably came there with her heart set on the panko-crusted, seasoned tofu and cauliflower “wings” and she didn’t get them!<\/p>\n

I’m sure she’s reading this blog today, so here’s a short message to her… you do know that I know the REAL reason you stood me up on V-Day ’15, right? The thing that happened?<\/p>\n

I polished off a fourth PBR at Slider Inn then headed north on Main around 2… noticed some people sitting at the bar at South of Beale staring at me as I walked past. Wonder why? Perhaps it was the Christmas socks I had on (love wearing shorts on Christmas Eve). On to the Silly Goose, where I had a chill afternoon with friends. Hung out with my buddy Clay for a while, then my friends Otto and Misty came in. About 6:30 my friends Randy and Theresa texted me that they were at Bardog, so I went over there.<\/p>\n

They came bearing gifts!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Randy had been on a trip to Malaysia recently. He brought me an assortment of Malaysian chocolates, and Theresa baked cookies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I will have no shortage of sugar for the remainder of my time off. Thank you Randy and Theresa for the gifts and for being such wonderful friends.<\/p>\n

All right.. now that I’ve made you sit through a bunch of troll photos, let’s move on to the real reason most of you visited this blog today. Who is open Downtown on Christmas, and what are the hours?<\/strong> The following have been confirmed either through sign on the door, social media or by speaking to an owner or employee:<\/p>\n