When I was listing all the fun stuff to do Downtown Thanksgiving weekend, I forgot one big event: Turkey of the Year glass night at the Saucer the night before Thanksgiving. Every year they pick a “turkey” and honor them on the “buy the beer, keep the glass” night. Not sure who this year’s turkey will be; my suggestion is in the photo above. Glasses go on sale Wednesday at 7 PM. Right down the street from Kooky Canuck who is doing 99 cent Bud Light on Wednesday. Should be a fun Thanksgiving Eve in the Downtown core.
In other news… South of Beale was reviewed in the Commercial Appeal today. I agree with the reviewer, the duck with duck fried rice is fantastic. And an egg on top too… yum. When eating the dish, I like to think how one day, there was a duck somewhere who was happily swimming and quacking, and then the next day he ended up on my dinner plate. Not good for poor Mr. Duck. Good for South of Beale patrons though.
The KKK is coming to Ole Miss’s campus. What, is it Homecoming weekend down there? The KKK is protesting the ban of Ole Miss’s fight song, where the students chant “The South Shall Rise Again.”
I was reading an article the other day speculating about SEC bowl births, and how Ole Miss may end up in the Liberty Bowl… God I hope not. One Memphis appearance by the most idiotic football fans in America per year is enough. New Year’s weekend is already enough of an amateur night without those clowns in town.
Now, on the other hand… it’s possible that Arkansas may end up in the Liberty Bowl. That would be a treat, to get to party with some Hog fans… I’ll definitely have the Hog Hat on most of New Year’s weekend if that happens. Of course, I’d love to see the Hogs upset LSU next week and make their way to a higher bowl berth, but if that doesn’t happen, it sure would be nice to have them here in Memphis.
Taking a break from online poker for a while, after a disastrous day Sunday. I think the next time I’ll play will be Thanksgiving. There should be lots of fish online that day, people who know nothing about the game, and are just playing to look busy on the computer so they can avoid talking to Aunt Ethel. Hopefully some easy money to be made.
Wait a minute… if I play PokerStars all day, then hit the Saucer at 5, then head south to the E&H Thanksgiving party, when am I going to EAT??? I guess it’s time to pose the question I ask every year… what Downtown restaurants/bars will be open Thanksgiving Day? E-mail me at paul@paulryburn.com or tweet me at @paulryburn and I’ll compile a list. Wang’s and Westy’s usually keep their normal hours. Any other places open during the daytime that aren’t massively expensive Thanksgiving buffets?
I forgot to mention, yesterday when I had to go Downtown to renew my license, I stopped at Main Street Hound Dogs to grab a dog to eat on the way back to the parking garage. Good stuff and they have an ample selection of toppings. They’re at Main and Union most days, weather permitting, and can deliver to your car if you pull over. Follow them on Twitter at @mainsthounddogs.
I’ll be at the flip-the-switch holiday lighting ceremony at Court Square tonight… will probably get there by 5:15, in time to see the lights come on. Plans after that are wide open. Maybe I’ll walk around and take pics of some of the storefront decorations. Weather is a lot better than last year’s lighting ceremony, when it was freezing cold outside, so come on by!