Paul Ryburn's Journal

Did you know there are FREE workout classes every Saturday at 10 AM at Wiseacre Downtown? Every week there’s an instructor-led class on a different discipline, followed by happy hour with 10% off your draft beer tab. Coming up:

• Sep 19 – SANA Yoga
• Sep 26 – Training by Kendyll
• Oct 3 – Grit Group Fitness
• Oct 17 – SANA Yoga
• Oct 24 – Club Pilates
• Oct 31 – Mind/Body HAUS Pilates

The Redbirds are in the playoffs! Memphis hosts TBD next Tue-Wed-Thur. First pitch 6:45. Tickets

Memphis will be challenging its record high daily temperatures today through Sunday. By the middle of next week, highs should drop to 89, WREG forecasts.

Today is National Guacamole Day.

Felicia Suzanne’s Restaurant is hiring multiple positions.

Back soon with more news.

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Clue, the Broadway adaptation of the classic murder-mystery board game, runs at the Orpheum tonight through Sunday.

There will be a convention of pediatric hematology and oncology nurses at the Renasant Convention Center Wed-Fri this week.

Learn to connect and take action at Democracy Day in Action tonight at 6 at the civil rights museum.

Ouri Matcha Bar at 606 N. Main, Donut Mane at 109 NORTH Main, and Spoken For at 477 S. Main lower level are new restaurants Choose901 says you need to try right now.

Listening to heavy metal may improve pain tolerance, a study has found.

StyleBlueprint looks at antique shops in Memphis including an excellent shop on South Front.

One item I neglected to mention on the Flying Saucer’s football munchies menu is 2 Dad Bod patties. These are burger-sized mac & cheese patties. Comfort food just doesn’t get more comfortable than that.

College football games of local interest this weekend:

Friday

• 22 Houston at 13 Texas Tech, 7:00 PM, FOX

Saturday

• 2 Georgia at Arkansas, 11:00 AM, ABC
• Kentucky at 9 Texas A&M,  2:30 PM, ESPN
• Florida State at 10 Alabama, 2:30 PM,  ABC
• 16 SMU at 23 Louisville, 2:30 PM, ESPN2
• Mississippi State at South Carolina, 3:15 PM, SEC Network
• Florida at Auburn, 6:00 PM, ESPN
• UT Martin at Memphis, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
• 7 LSU at 8 Ole Miss, 6:30 PM, ABC
• Kennesaw State at 15 Tennessee, 6:45 PM, SEC Network
• UTSA at 1 Texas, 7:00 PM, SEC Network
• Arkansas State at TCU, 7:00 PM, ESPNU

Back soon with more news.

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DEAL ALERT: The Flying Saucer will offer half-off wings during Thursday football games. Normal price is $17.49 for 10 jumbo party wings, so when the special is on you can get ’em for $8.75. I believe the flavor choices are traditional Buffalo, honey sriracha, and Cajun dry rub.

The Saucer has a munchie menu during football. It features healthy choices such as chili cheese Rocket Tots and a chicken-jalapeno sausage corn dog. Last night I cashed in some of my trivia winnings on Nachos Libre, a big plate of cheesy goodness with spiced ground beef, black beans, and pico de gallo.

Loflin Yard will have brunch beats with DJ Tree Sunday.

Grind City Brewing is giving away 2 tickets to the SEC championship game in Atlanta… and the winner will travel there in style, on a chartered private jet.

For your chance to win:

• Watch College Football Saturday at Grind City
• Buy a beer
• Get a raffle ticket

Keep in mind, this year’s SEC championship game could be historic. If the CFP expands to 24 teams next year, that’ll be the end of conference championship games.

Get chased by dogs and deliver snail mail for a living! USPS is hiring.

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in the South of Forum neighborhood has completed the restoration of its bell tower.

A Memphis magazine food writer visited Filipino snack bar KUYA recently.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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Happy Aunt’s Day to all the aunts out there.

Raleigh – You’re about to get a Little Petals location. I love the Downtown one, the Peony Chicken and Cumin Beef being my faves.

Yet another road closure is coming to South Front Street, this one in the Mina/Butler area through September 30.

It’s Grizzlies Night at the Redbirds. The first 5000 fans get a replica jersey. First pitch is 6:05. Fireworks after the game.

Deep Roots plays Earnestine & Hazel’s tonight 9-1, with Wave Form upstairs 9:30-1.

I got some personal good news yesterday. I stayed at the Union Mission, and was standing in the dinner line when a supervisor approached me. “Effective the next night you stay here, you can sit with the handicapped in the dining room. You don’t have to stand in this line anymore.”

That means 30-45 minutes a day when I won’t be on my feet. My tray will be brought to me at the table. The handicapped get served before the general-admission crowd, so I’ll have a little longer with my food (I’m a slow eater). It may mean I get better food on nights when a restaurant has a limited amount to donate. And when I’m done, I can leave my tray and drink cup on the table; I don’t have to carry them to the dishwasher window.

YAY! For once I am looking forward to my next stay at the Mission – which’ll probably be Monday. I still have to pay $6 a night to get in.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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I want to say more about the Grandma’s Pizza from Little Italy I had Wednesday night.

It’s thin-crust pan pizza. Yes those two concepts can coexist. Don’t worry, there was plenty of cheese. It’s a pizza you may choose to eat with a knife and fork. 10/10 would definitely recommend.

There’s a reality TV show filming couples on dates at Downtown restaurants and bars this week.

It’s Dolly Day at the Redbirds. The first 1000 fans get Dolly cake mix. $5 pink cowboy hats to benefit her reading foundation. Live music. 7:05 vs. Norfolk.

New district 8 county commissioner Will Richardson has been indicted on charges of falsifying tax returns for his Harbor Town business Fat Charlie’s Speakeasy.

Park(ing) Day returns next Friday. Indivvidual parking spaces along Peabody Place will become mini pop-up parks offering treats, games, and ways to relax. 11 AM-2 PM. Free Margie’s 901 ice cream sandwiches while supplies last.

Grizzlies games will stream on DAZN this season.

The U.S. is $38 trillion in debt and its president is floating the idea of handing every American $5000.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
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I had the pleasure of meeting the Bartlett Bee Whisperer yesterday. Very friendly guy! He and his assistant were Downtown looking at a hive attached to the Goodwyn Building. You might want to avoid the southwest corner of Second and Madison while they figure that situation out.

9 to 5 on 9/25: FREE screenings of the late Dolly Parton’s classic movie at the Halloran Centre on Dolly Day.

Looking for commercial real estate in the 38103? Go on the Downtown Property Crawl next Thursday and see what’s available.

MemphisWeather.net blog: When will this summer weather end?

Today is National Hot Dog Day.

I had a slice of Grandma’s Pizza from Little Italy yesterday. YUM… so good.

Memphis football under head coach Charles Huff has benefited from the advice of a sleep physician.

MPD has released suspect video in the Labor Day Court Square shooting case.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

Let’s look at college football games of interest this Saturday:

• 11 Oklahoma at Michigan, 11:00 AM, FOX
• 16 Penn State at Temple, 11:00 AM, ESPN2
• Western Kentucky at 2 Georgia, 11:45 AM, SEC Network
• 12 Alabama at Kentucky, 2:30 PM, ABC
• Mississippi State at Minnesota, 2:30 PM, CBS
• 30 Memphis at 26 Boise State, 5:00 PM, USA (Xfinity 28/HD 848)
• 18 Tennessee at Georgia Tech, 6:00 PM, ESPN
• West Georgia at Arkansas State, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
• 1 Ohio State at 4 Texas, 6:30 PM, ABC
• Louisiana Tech at 8 LSU, 6:30 PM, SEC Network (if LSU is still an SEC member by then)
• Charlotte at 9 Ole Miss, 6:45 PM, ESPN2
• Southern Miss at Auburn, 6:45 PM, SEC Network
• Arkansas at 20 Utah, 9:15 PM, ESPN

Hey SEC, if you’re gonna expel schools, can you get rid of Tennessee too?

KEER releases her debut EP at Ugly Art Thursday at 6:30. Immersive experience, poetry, track-by-track breakdown, snacks, beverages.

8Ball and MJG team up with Bun B featuring The Renaissance Orchestra at the Orpheum Friday and Saturday night.

Fall Bash: There’ll be free family fun with bounce houses Saturday 10-3 at the Renasant Convention Center. Face painting, yard games.

Marky Mark Wahlberg was in town yesterday to celebrate the grand reopening of his restaurant Wahlburgers Wild in the Pyramid.

Where, oh where, has the National Guard gone?

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
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Congratulations to the Memphis Redbirds, whose main kitchen recently scored 100 on its health inspection. Winning off the field as well as on! The Birds host Norfolk tonight at 6:45.

This is Taste of Memphis: Black Dining Week. Participating Downtown: Sage, SugaShack, Curry N Jerk, The Genre, One11 Madison, Cozy Corner, Cache 42

HBCU celebration the Southern Heritage Classic is at the Liberty Bowl Saturday. UA-Pine Bluff will face Alcorn State.

“The Lorraine,” a documentary about the South Main hotel that is now the National Civil Rights Museum, will kick off Memphis Indie Film Fest on November 5.

There was a shooting in the 7 PM hour in Court Square last night. One wounded, one detained.

Dy-no-MITE!!! There will be a script read of 2 episodes of 1970s TV show Good Times at Withers Gallery on Beale Friday night 7:00-8:30. IMHO, Good Times is the best sitcom ever.

The Memphis version of Monopoly is one of the games you can play on a $5 game day pass at Memphis Chess Club. Free for members. If you want to own the game, Feelin’ Memphis gift shop at 509 S. Main sells it.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com

RIP Memphis wrestling icon Superstar Bill Dundee. The lil’ Aussie was 82. He was diagnosed with dementia in 2023. He was a 9-time AWA Southern Champion and twice held the AWA World tag title with friend/foe Jerry Lawler.

Does Taco Bell have a secret menu?

We finally have a giveaway date for that sweet Flyway Brewing cooler bag that’s been on display at the Flying Saucer – Wednesday, September 16. Buy any Flyway or High Cotton beer for a raffle ticket.

PBR is offering a $20,000 reward for information about a 40,000-lb. beer theft in Cali.

Popular drag racing and stupid car trick strip Riverside Drive is now closed between Beale and Georgia 11 pm-6 am weekends.

Convert text documents into audio files: Paper2Audio

Labor Day trivia

WREG has a look at the Tennessee state chess championship tournament happening Downtown this weekend. I am writing this post from the chess club. At the table next to me, a vendor is selling a chess database.

Boise State looked strong in its loss to 2 Oregon Saturday… and the Broncos’ opponent this coming Saturday is none other than Memphis. The Tigers will have the chance to pick up a signature win on Boise’s blue field.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com