More St. Pat's, Hip Hop Legends, Tigers

Here's a St. Pat's party if you are looking for some Irish-inspired fun on March 17. The 6th Annual Green Carpet Sham-Rock Party at Kooky Cancuck starts at 11am on St. Patrick's Day. You can't beat the drink specials - 34oz Green Bud Light Draft for $3 and $5 Car Bombs. They will also give $100 to the person who wears the most green.

If you are a hip hop fan, you can't miss Salt-n-Pepa's Legends of Hip Hop Tour this Sunday at the DeSoto Civic Center. Outside of the headliner and Biz Markie, I honestly haven't thought about the other guys in years. This could be a very interesting show. Anyone going?

It's pretty safe to say that today will be a great happy hour day. No more work, decent weather and the Tigers will be on TV against East Carolina in the semi-finals of the Conference USA basketball tournament. Tip off is scheduled for 5:30, so get the running start towards the door just before quitting time. Today's winner takes on the the winner of the UTEP-Tulsa game in tomorrow's championship game.

The Memphis Tigers baseball team is also in action this weekend with three games against visiting St. Peter's at FedExPark. The weather should be perfect for baseball.
 





Here's a quick sampling of the Legends of Hip Hop.

Tigers Play Today, St. Pat's, Jack Daniels Dinner

Josh Pastner and his Memphis Tigers basketball team will face Southern Miss for the third time this season in the quarter finals of the Conference USA tournament in El Paso. The Golden Eagles have given the Tigers fits in both games this year, but Memphis has found a way to come back and win in both contests. Prediction - Either USM will find a way to hold on to the lead and never look back or Memphis will blow them out. Tip off is set for 2:30pm and the game will be televised by CBS College Sports.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade on Beale is this Saturday (March 12) from 4pm to 7pm. This should be a big party kicking off St. Patrick's Day week. If you need a costume, its not too late to pick up some St. Pat's gear.

Speaking of St. Patrick's Day, where is everyone going to celebrate next Thursday? Obvious choices are the traditional Irish pubs like Dan McGuinness, Celtic Crossing and The Dublin House. Where is your favorite St. Patrick's Day hangout? Let us know on Twitter.

The Grove Grill is hosting a "Bourbon Dinner in the Kitchen" on Friday, March 18 at 7:00pm. For $45 (plus tax and tip), you get four courses paired with beverages from Jack Daniels Distillery. Here's the menu:


Duck, pistachio and dried cherry terrine with dried fruit mustard

Jack Daniels

****

Lobster Bisque with eggplant caviar and bourbon crème fraiche

Angelo Lucchesi's Old No. 7

****

Wood Grilled Pork Loin with prosciutto wrapped grilled peaches and spring onions
and Habenero peach BBQ sauce

Single Barrel

****

Fuji Apple Tart Tatin with Gentleman Jack caramel sauce and brown sugar ice cream

Gentleman Jack

Moustache March, Mardi Gras, Trimm - Sweet Grass

Check out what the University of Memphis baseball team is doing to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. The Tigers are playing good ball so far this year and will bring their 5-2 record to FedExPark this weekend for a round robin tournament against Oral Roberts, Southern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky.



Mardi Gras is coming up very quickly. Several bars are having promotions geared to a Fat Tuesday holiday on March 8. Here are a few promotions that I know about. I'll add more as they are announced.

Boscos
Fat Tuesday Brewmaster's Beer Dinner - a five course chef created dinner with beer pairings for $50 a person.. The dinner begins at 6:45pm and reservations are required.

High Point Pub

The High Point Pub's annual Mardi Gras celebration will be Saturday, March 5th. Stop by for food, beads (earned and unearned!), and fun. A parade will start at 10:00 pm. Anyone wishing to enter a float (wagon, wheelbarrow, garbage can, etc.) will be eligible for prizes.

Kooky Canuck
$3 Specials on 34 oz draft, hurricanes and hand grenades, 34 oz specialty drinks only $5! There will also be a limited Cajun menu.

The Grove Grill
Fat Tuesday Abita Beer Dinner will be Tuesday, March 8 at 7:00pm. For $45.00 plus tax and gratuity you get four courses paired with your favorite Abita beers. Wine is also available for those who aren't beer fans. Here's the menu:

Crab Meat Ravigote
Beer battered onion ring, bell pepper-avocado salsa
Beer Pairing: Abita Amber

****

Blackened Red Fish
With spinach stuffed mirliton and tomato etoufee
Beer Pairing: Turbo Dog

****

Pekin Duck and Home Made Andouille Sausage Roulade
With Louisiana brown rice and gumbo sauce
Beer Pairing: Save Our Shores

****

Chocolate and Raspberry King Cake
& Abita Root Beer Float
Beer Pairing: Purple Haze


Chef Ryan Trimm of Sweet Grass in the Cooper Young area has been nominated as one of Food & Wine's The People's Best New Chef of 2011. Take a minute and vote for him. If you haven't been to Sweet Grass, it's worth the trip.

Free Pancakes, Zinnie's East Closing, Dublin House

To honor National Pancake Day, IHOP is giving away free pancakes until 10pm or while supplies last. Get there early, before supplies run out.

Midtown now has one less restaurant/bar. Zinnie's East has closed its doors. It's sad to see it go, but using the smoking laws that have been in effect for a three years or so as an excuse is pretty weak. Better food and drinks will always save the day. By the way, Zinnie's East was very underrated for Sunday brunch. Hopefully someone else will take the spot and turn it into a thriving business. No word yet on the future of the original Zinnie's.

Finally had a chance to get to the Dublin House. The bar has a great atmosphere and I'm very impressed with was they did with the old Melo's space. Regulars of the now closed Downtown Dan McGuinness will be happy to know that Mal is back in Memphis and is serving your favorite drinks at the Dublin House.  




 

Basketball, Toomer's Corner, Project Green Fork

It looks like the Tigers are peaking at the right time. With wins over Southern Miss and UAB, Memphis now has the lead in Conference USA down the home stretch. Memphis also has what some would say is the easiest road before the C-USA Championship in El Paso. The Tigers remaining games are at Rice, Houston, at UTEP, at East Carolina and home against Tulane. Barring any mess ups, Memphis should be the the #1 seed in the C-USA Tournament.

The Grizzlies received horrible news yesterday about Rudy Gay's shoulder. He will be out for at least four weeks with the injury. If there is any bright side, week one is now, so hopefully he will be back three weeks after the all-star break. Time of the other players to step it up and stay in the playoff hunt. In other Grizzlies news, the front office is shopping O.J. Mayo.

Have you heard about controversy at Toomer's Corner in Auburn? Talk about insane fans. Is it possible that Alabama fans have eclipsed Florida and LSU fans as the worst in the SEC? I would have to say yes.

Huey's Midtown is the latest addition to the growing number of Mid-South restaurants achieving Project Green Fork certification. I didn't realize that so may restaurants were already PGF certified.


Don't forget the opening day for the Memphis Tigers baseball team is tomorrow. The Tigers will host Evansville at FedExPark.

Cafe Society Tasting Postponed, Upcoming Concerts

The snow is coming down pretty good right now in Midtown Memphis. Latest forecasts are calling for four to six inches. Everyone be careful on the roads.

Due to the latest round of snow, Cafe Society has rescheduled tonight's St. Germain tasting to Wednesday, February 16th.

FedEx Forum has announced that Kings of Leon and Bon Jovi will be coming to Memphis. Tickets for King's of Leon April 9th show with opening act Band of Horses go on sale on February 12th. Bon Jovi will play on May 19th with tickets sales starting tomorrow (February 11th).

More On The Dublin House

I tried to get into The Dublin House a couple of times over the weekend, both times they were already closed. They plan on opening full-time starting February 16.

Super Bowl, More Snow, Grizzlies vs Lakers, Snoop Dogg

Congrats to the Green Bay Packers for winning the Super Bowl last night. The game looked ugly early, but it got much better. The game was great, but Christina Aguilera and Black Eyed Peas' performances were horrendous. 



You can't talk about the Super Bowl without mentioning the commercials. Here are my Top 5.












Is anyone else getting sick of the snow? Yes, it pretty to watch, but the frenzy that everyone goes through is a royal pain. Can't wait to see what will happen if the next wave of snow expected on Wednesday actually happens. According to the latest Winter Storm Watch, Wednesday may be the worst snow/ice event of the year for Memphis

There are a couple of solid options if you are looking to get out tonight. The Grizzlies have a huge game tonight at FedEx Form against the Lakers. The Grizzlies have been hot lately and usually play the Lakers pretty tough, with more wins than you may think. And Snoop Dogg is performing at Minglewood Hall. This would be a tough decision if I had tickets to both events. Home watching the Grizz game is sounding good right now.

Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday has arrived. Most bars are having some type of game watching party with specials, etc. Some of the better options are at High Point Pub and Kooky Canuck. A random wild card may be the party at Cafe Ole in Midtown.

The game should be pretty good - evenly matched teams, blue collar teams with limit big name players, great historic franchises, etc.  So who's going to win? It's time to fold and put away the towels and strap on your cheese head. Packers beat the Steelers 24-20.

One more thing, if Congress wants to do something nice for the people of America, why not make the Monday after the Super Bowl a federal holiday. It would be a perfect way to celebrate the end of the season for America's favorite sport. If Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker or Steve Cohen is reading this, get on the ball. Get moving. Heck, earmark it if you have to.  This something all of your constituents would support.

Dublin House

Midtown's newest bar is open this weekend only with a limited sampling of beverages. I walked by The Dublin House last night and it looks like they did a great job renovating the space formerly occupied by Melo's on Madison Ave. I'll have to try and get over there tonight to check it out.

Grizzlies Above .500, Cafe Society Events

How about that? With last night's win over the Orlando Magic, the Memphis Grizzlies are one game above .500. It may be tight, but if the Grizzlies keep up the good work, a playoff opportunity may be a possibility. As of right now, the Grizzlies are just one game out of the playoffs.

After a quick trip to Minnesota for a game on Wednesday, the Grizzlies return to FedEx Forum on Friday to play the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs extended their losing streak to 21 games last night. Bottom line, both games are very winnable.

Keeping with the Grizzlies, there have been rumors that Jason "White Chocolate" Williams may return to Memphis. Williams was a crowd favorite, but the Grizzlies need to move on. They've been there and done that.

Cafe Society will be hosting a few events throughout the month of February.

Belgian Beer Tasting - February 8th at 7pm
Five beers with cheese and fruit for $25 per person, plus tax and gratuity. $7 small plates will be available during the tasting.

St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur Tasting - February 9th at 6:30pm
Five cocktails for $25 per person, plus tax and gratuity. $5 small plates will be available during the tasting

Wine Tasting, - February 22nd at 6:30pm
$25 per person, including tax and tip. $5 small plates will be available during the tasting.

Space is limited for all of the events. Call 722.2177 for reservations.


In addition to the tastings, Cafe Society will have a 4-course set menu on Valentine's Day for $55 per person, plus tax and tip.

Memphis Area College Baseball Heating Up

With the weather we have been having, its hard to believe that college baseball season is just a few weeks, if not days away. For Memphis area college baseball programs, the warmer temperatures we are seeing the weekend are coming at the perfect time.

Memphis will be hosting a few "marquee" games this season. On March 23, the Tigers will host the Arkansas Razorbacks at Autozone Park, the Mississippi Rebels on 4/5 Autozone Park, Southern Miss 4/8 - 4/10 at FedEx Park and Mississippi State on 5/17 at Autozone Park.

It's disappointing to not see the smaller schools face each other this year. It seems like a 3 game set spread out through the season between Rhodes and Christian Brothers would make the most sense. Best record wins a some sort of trophy, etc. It would also reduce travel costs for out of conference midweek games. 

2011 College Baseball Schedules

Memphis Tigers

Christian Brothers Bucs

Rhodes Lynx

Charlie's Meat Market Groupon, Basketball

There is a great Groupon offer today from Charlie's Meat Market. You can get $25 worth of steak, chicken, etc for only $12. Charlie's already provides quality cuts at low prices. Add in the the Groupon offer and it's can't miss deal.

The Grizzlies and Tigers are both in action tonight. With a win at New Jersey, the Grizzlies will improve their overall record to 23-23. The Tigers have been on a tear over the past few games and hope to continue the streak tonight at FedEx Forum against Central Florida. Rumors are floating around that Michael Jordan will be in attendance. Jordan's sons play for the Knights.

More Snow, Canadians Love Rudy Gay

It looks like more snow is on the way to the Mid-South this evening. Weather reports are forecasting that anywhere from 1-3 inches of snow will fall between 4pm today to 3am tomorrow morning. Its not looking like temperatures will be cold enough for everything to ice over, so a snow day is not likely, but you never know.

The Grizzlies beat the Toronto Raptors last night with Rudy Gay's game winning shot with less then a second left in the game. Check out this fan video and see how much Toronto fans really love Gay. Language in the video is NSFW.

Tigers Win, Rankings, Interpol, Another Snow Day?

What a game in Hattiesburg tonight. Memphis was down as much 18 points to Southern Miss, but the Tigers fought back and earned a "W" with a last second three-pointer by Charles Carmouche. I told you guys earlier this season that "Mouche" would be a key player down the stretch. Did anyone else notice Pastner going nuts on the sidelines all game? It looked like he wanted to beat someone up.

So Memphis made the Top 20 in a not-so-friendly list. The Bluff City is ranked #13 in the America's Rudest Cities list compiled by Travel and Leisure and AFC. Here's the description from the site: "Even if the locals here don’t win raves for being friendly, they do better on this front than on other personal qualities. AFC readers rank these Tennesseans dead last for being attractive, athletic, and smart. Good thing that barbecue (No. 1) and music (No. 8) are such tourist magnets." Wow!

Tickets go on sale this Friday for Interpol's April 25th show at Minglewood Hall. I continue to be impressed with the concerts that Minglewood is lining up.

There's a good chance that Memphis will see sleet, snow and ice tomorrow afternoon and into the evening hours. Could Memphis be in for another snow day on Friday? Short work/school weeks can be really fun.

Free Museum Day, Restaurant Notes, MLK Weekend

Keeping with tradition, a handful of Memphis-area museums will offer free admission on Saturday to celebrate the governor's inauguration. Some of the local museums on the list include Sun Studios, the National Civil Rights Museum and the National Ornamental Metal Museum. Check out which Memphis-area museums will be offering free admission this weekend.

Cockadoos BBQ Omlet

Here a few quick restaurant notes.

I finally had a chance to stop by Cockadoos a couple of weeks back. There were several breakfast options, including all the basics, catfish and grits and more. I went strong and selected the Memphis Bar-b-que Omelet, a three egg omelet stuffed with pulled pork and provolone cheese, topped with bar-b-que sauce. You can't go wrong with this choice.

Jim's Place has opened in East Memphis on the corner of Poplar and Perkins Extended. So far, I have only experienced the spacious, smoke-free bar. The bar was fun, with great bartenders and good crowd and even better drinks. May have to try the food at some point. 

Staying out east, The Grove Grill is hosting an Aninori Family of Wines Dinner on Thursday, January 20 at 7:00pm. The dinner is $55 plus tax and tip. Reservations are recommended. Here's the menu:

Yellow Fin Tuna Carpaccio
preserved lemons and Grana Parmesan

Santa Cristina Orvieto, 2009

****

Wood Grilled Shrimp and Sweet Potato Gnocchi
with fresh sage brown butter

Bramito Chardonnay, 2009

****

Braised Short Rib and Swiss Chard Pappardelle Pasta

Cristina Chianti Superiore, 2007

****

Porchini Mushroom Stuffed Veal
with roasted root vegetable risotto

Peppoli Chianti Classico, 2007

****

Fresh Winter Berries and Italian Sponge Short Cake
with honey pine nut gelato

This weekend will be of the three-day variety for most people to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. In addition the free museum day on Saturday, there is a good bit of fun stuff going on this weekend, including the Tigers and Grizzlies both playing at home and Walrus playing at the East Memphis Swanky's Taco Shop. There will also be cheap suds (99 cent Bud Light draft) at Kooky Canuck on Sunday.

Aldo's Update, More On AT&T vs Verizon

For those that have been waiting, a few Bardog staffers mentioned that Aldo's Pizza Pies target opening date is now March of 2011. Better late than never?


If you are looking for more info on the Verizon iPhone, check out this comparison of AT&T vs Verizon. Verizon should see a a new customer pick up with this new product, especially from New York City customers. Apparently, AT&T coverage there is weak at best. Has anyone had any AT&T coverage problems in Memphis? I've been a customer for almost ten years with zero issues.

BCS Game, Tommy West, Verizon iPhone

Congrats to Auburn on the win. If you didn't watch the BCS Championship game between Auburn and Oregon last night, you missed one of the best championship games since the inception of the BCS. Overnight ratings are indicating that it might be the highest rated cable TV broadcast. The weather seemed to keep many football fans home last night, but fans who showed up at the few bars I went to seemed to be have a blast.

If you are a Auburn fan, check out this essential BCS Championship gear.


Former Memphis football head coach Tommy West has been hired as UAB's defensive coordinator. West has always been a highly respected DC and should instantly make the Blazers a better team. 

In what was probably the worst kept secret of all time, Verizon announced today that a Verizon iPhone will be available beginning on February 10th. Before AT&T users start bailing to the new network, it should be noted that the AT&T iPhone will not work on the Verizon network. If you want get in on the Verizon plan, you will have to buy a new phone, probably beginning in the $200 range.

Snow Day, Spirits Tasting

Its looking like tomorrow will be a snow day in the Memphis area. City and county schools are already closed and businesses will make announcements in the morning about closures. If you are off tomorrow, how will you enjoy your snow day? Playing in the snow? At home watching trashy daytime tv? At a local pub? Make the most out of the day. Check myfoxmemphis.com for updates. Fox also has some great live shots of the snow falling in Memphis.

Midtown's Cafe Society is hosting a Corsair Artisan Spirits Tasting on Wednesday, January 12th at 6:30PM.

Featured spirits will be Vanilla Bean Vodka, Spiced Rum, Gin-Head Style Gin and Triple Smoked Whiskey.  Each spirit will come with its own small special plate.  The cost per person is $25 plus tax and gratuity.  Additional small plates will be available for $5. This may be the perfect way to warm up with the cold weather we are expecting this week.

Paulette's on the Move

The were were rumors floating around over the past couple of week's that Overton Square's Paulette's was closing. Those rumors proved to be some what false. Paulette's will leave its Midtown location and move to Mud Island. Their new location will be in the current space occupied by Currents beginning in early March, with the last service at Paulette's current location being on February 27.

I'm hoping so the changes, including adding some of Currents staff, will improve the Paulette's experience. The quality, service and overall feel of the restaurant had gone stale. If not, we may be talking about Paulette's shutting its doors around this time next year.

Snoop Dogg, New Year's Week Activites

Snoop Dogg is coming to Memphis on Monday, February 7th at Minglewood Hall. Tickets go on sale on January 3, 2011. There's even a V.I.P. option where you can meet Snoop Dogg and Minglewood seems like the perfect setting for a Snoop show.

There's all kinds of fun things going on this week. In addition to the normal New Year's Eve festivities, the Tigers are playing on Thursday night and the Liberty Bowl is on Friday afternoon. If you are looking for something to do before the Tigers play Lipscomb, you may want to the Liberty Bowl Beale Street Parade. If the weather is nice, this should be a good time with fans from Central Florida and Georgia.
 

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Festivus or whatever you celebrate this time of year. I hope that you were able to spend the day with friends, family and others that you care about. More fun posts starting soon.

Cannon Smith Arrested

It's fairly safe to say that everyone in the Memphis area has heard that Memphis quarterback Cannon Smith has been arrested for his actions near Beale Street. It's a minor charge that is just being blown up because of Smith's connection with FedEx. What's more surprising is the fact that the Commercial Appeal has failed to mention Smith's prior arrests when he was 19. The point being, this isn't Smith's first rodeo.

Retaurant Updates: Grace & Reef Closed

Cooper-Young's Restaurant Grace and The Reef have closed. Grace is sort of a shocker, but The Reef is far from a surprise.

Bar None, BBQ Nachos, Cafe Society Corsair Artisan Tasting Update

A few people have asked what's the best thing to eat at Bar None. Having only been there twice, with limited snacking, it's hard to say. The few items I did try tasted great, with the mango-sriracha wings being my favorite. Any recommendations?

Central BBQ nachos

Have you ever had bbq nachos at Central BBQ? If not, make sure you try them the next time you visit one of their locations. They are fantastic. Most people get them loaded with pork shoulder, but give the chicken a try. You will love it. One more thing, it is a huge plate. Easy for two people to split for a meal.

The Corsair Artisan Distillery tasting scheduled for this Wednesday night at Cafe Society in Midtown has been rescheduled to Wednesday, January 12, 2011. More details as they become available.

Music Updates - NOLA Bingo Show & Huey Lewis

Bingo cards from last night

Anyone who wasn't at the Hi-Tone on Sunday missed a fantastic night of entertainment. Amy Lavere, the opening act, could entertain most people for hours. Great performance as always. The special surprise of the night was The New Orleans Bingo Show. The best way to describe the Bingo Show is an interactive music and theater/cabaret show. They played great music, had original skits, short films and we even got to play bingo. On the way home, all I could think was "wow!" I can't wait to see this group again.

Minglewood Hall has announced that Huey Lewis & The News will be playing on January 27, 2011. Many people will remember these guys from their 80's hits like "The Power of Love" and "Hip To Be Square." Their latest CD "Soulsville" was recorded in Memphis at Ardent Studios in Midtown. Tickets go on sale on Friday, December 17.

Here's a little Huey Lewis & The News for your enjoyment.





'

Libert Bowl Set, Cafe Society Events, Umai Closed, Steve Martin

We are looking forward to seeing Central Florida and Georgia fans roaming the streets of Memphis on New Years weekend for the Liberty Bowl. UGA usually has a strong fan following, but with the Bulldogs having an off year, there is a chance for weak turnout. UCF is familiar with playing in Memphis during December. The Knights last played in the Liberty Bowl in 2007, a 10-3 loss to Mississippi State.

Midtown's Cafe Society is having a couple of fun events next week. On Monday, local artist Patti Smith is having an art show/open house and wine tasting at the restaurant. Smith's art will be featured and there will be $5 samples of wine. A portion of the proceeds from the art and wine sales will be donated to the Memphis Food Bank.

Gorgonzola Stuffed Filet at Cafe Society

The fun continues at Cafe Society on Wednesday night at 6:30pm for a Corsair Artisan Spirits Tasting. $25 plus tax and tip will give you the opportunity to taste Triple Smoke Whiskey, Vanilla Bean Vodka, Spiced Rum & Gin-Head Style Gin. $5 small plates will be available as well.

Next time you are at Cafe Society, ask if the Gorgonzola Stuffed Filet is still on special. Great stuff!

In some less glamorous news, Midtown's Umai has closed after failing to pay taxes to the state of Tennessee. I never had the chance to go to Umai, but many people said that they had a good product.

Tickets are on sale now for Steve Martin's one night show at the Orpheum on Saturday, May 28, 2011. Martin may have some jokes up his sleeve, but the main focus of the evening will be his banjo playing skills. Should be a great night of banjos and bluegrass.

Here's a quick sampling of some of the sounds you may hear at Steve Martin's show.



On tonight's agenda, either checking out Robert Earl Keen at Minglewood or Walrus at Swanky's.

 

Who's Playing In The Liberty Bowl?

Central Florida earned a spot to play in the 2010 Liberty Bowl yesterday with the Knights win over SMU in the Conference USA Championship game. Which SEC opponent will the Knights face on New Year's Eve? Right now, it could be between Georgia and Tennessee-Knoxville. The Vols seem like a logical choice with the built in fan base in the Memphis area, but they will most likely receive a bowl invitation from the Music City Bowl in Nashville.

So that leaves the Bulldogs from Georgia. If invited, it would be UGA's third appearance in the Liberty Bowl. The Bulldogs last appearance in the game was in 1987, a 20-17 victory over Arkansas.

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions Week Of 12/6/10 - FINAL

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions are published weekly to show a possible college football playoff format. Similar to the NCAA basketball tournament, 11 conference champions receive automatic bids. 5 additional spots are available for at-large bids.

Round 1 games would be hosted by the higher ranked seeds. Rounds 2 - 4 would incorporate the bowl system with host cities/bowls bidding to host the games. The "Big 4" BCS bowls would be permanent playoff hosts on a round-rotating basis (Championship, semi-finals and 1 round 2 game).

For the week of December 6, 2010:

1. Oregon (PAC 10 Champion)
2. Auburn (SEC Champion)
3. TCU (Mountain West Champion)
4. Wisconsin (Big 10 Champion)
5. Stanford (At Large PAC 10)
6. Ohio State (At Large Big 10)
7. Michigan State (At Large Big 10)
8. Arkansas (At Large SEC)
9. Boise State (WAC Champion)
10. Virginia Tech (ACC Champion)
11. LSU (At Large SEC)
12. Oklahoma (Big 12 Champion)
13. Central Florida (C-USA Champion)
14. Connecticut (Big East Champion)
15. Miami (MAC Champion)
16. Florida International (Sun Belt Champion)

Dropped out: Northern Illinois (#13, MAC Champion)

Number Of Teams by Conference:
Big 10 (3), SEC (3), PAC 10 (2), ACC (1), Big East (1), Big 12 (1), C-USA (1), MAC (1), Mountain West (1), Sun Belt (1), WAC (1), Independent (0)

Match ups round by round assuming higher seeds win.

Round 1
(16) Florida International at (1) Oregon
(9) Boise State at (8) Arkansas
(12) Oklahoma at (5) Stanford
(13) Central Florida at (4) Wisconsin
(11) LSU at (6) Ohio State
(14) Connecticut at (3) TCU
(10) Virginia Tech at (7) Michigan State
(15) Miami at (2) Auburn

Round 2
(8) Arkansas vs (1) Oregon
(5) Stanford vs (4) Wisconsin
(6) Ohio State vs (3) TCU
(7) Michigan State vs (2) Auburn

Round 3
(4) Wisconsin vs (1) Oregon
(3) TCU vs (2) Auburn

Championship Game
(2) Auburn vs (1) Oregon

Bacon Club, Cheap Local Eats, St. Jude Marathon

Overheard at a Midtown bar last night was talk of a bacon club. Yep, a bacon club. I didn't hear the entire conversation, so I had to do a little research and came across Zingerman's Bacon of the Month Club. The basic three month intro club membership includes bacon delivered monthly, "just in time for weekend frying." Great concept. Not sure if it's worth $99, but it might be worth a shot or it could make for a nice gift for the bacon fans your life. We all have them.

Side note - the Zingerman's are, apparently, into all kinds of food ventures. Check out all of their businesses.

The December 2010 issue of Memphis Magazine has a great list of great local food under $20, $15 and $10. They did an awesome job putting this together. Guess I know wear I'll be eating for the next few weeks.

Congratulations to all of the runners in the St. Jude Marathon today! Seems like perfect weather for the run.

Bar None Website Up & Running

Bar None by John Bragg has their website up and it includes the new menu. Can't wait to try it out. May have to get a sampler of all of the sliders.

Liberty Bowl Entertainment

By the end of the weekend, we should know which Conference USA and SEC teams will be participating in this year's Liberty Bowl. One thing we know for sure is the halftime entertainment. The O'Jays will bring their R&B and soul inspired music for everyone's enjoyment.

Here are a few of their hits.





Can't have The O'Jays without a Soul Train Line Dance.



Kick off for the Liberty Bowl is scheduled for 2:30 on New Year's Eve. Tickets are still available.

Bar None Opening Friday Night

John Bragg's newest concept is opening Friday night in Downtown Memphis. Bar None by John Bragg opens its door at 8pm. To help celebrate, it will be happy hour all-night!

What can you expect at Bar None? As with any Bragg venture, you can can expect great food. In this case, great pub grub. Although downtowners will miss Circa, Bar None will bring a new festive spot to Main Street.

Might have to check this place out Saturday night after the parade.

Stumblin' Santas, Welcome Back Le Chardonnay, Football

Just a reminder to dust of your Santa suits, elf costumes or whatever holiday costume that you like to wear. The 6th Annual Stumblin' Santa Pub Crawl will take place Saturday night in Downtown Memphis. All the fun starts at 6:30pm at the Flying Saucer. Make sure you get an early boost of Christmas cheer by going to the Memphis Holiday Parade before you get your stumble on. The parade starts at 5pm with a short route on South Main Street from GE Patterson to the Orpheum.

Le Chardonnay is back! Owners closed the popular Overton Square spot last year to open Italian-themed The Villa. The new Le Chardonnay will feature its popular menu items in addition to some of the best dishes from The Villa.

It's hard to believe how quickly the 2010 college football season has gone by. The story lines were great this year. Cam Newton, undefeated teams, BCS busters and we still have the bowl season to add to the drama. Championship weekend kicks off tomorrow with the MAC Championship game. Here's to another fun-filled football weekend.

Here's the picks for this week.

Last Week: 2-4
Season: 51-27 (65%)

MAC Championship - Northern Illinois over Miami (OH)
C-USA Championship - Central Florida over SMU
SEC Championship  - Auburn over South Carolina
ACC Championship - Virginia Tech over Florida State
Big 12 Championship - Oklahoma over Nebraska
New Orleans Saints over Cincinnati Bengals
Tennessee Titans over Jacksonville Jaguars

Weekly Liberty Bowl Projection: Central Florida vs Georgia

Assuming Central Florida wins the Conference USA championship on Saturday, a UCF vs Georgia match up would be great. Both teams are evenly matched and it having UGA and their fans in town for the game and New Year's festivities would be great for Memphis.

Small Biz Support, Rio Azul, Dunkin Donuts

American Express has extended its Small Business Saturday promotion throughout the holiday season. American Express will give $25 back to cardmembers who register and used their AmEx card at any small business through December 31. This is a great promotion encouraging consumers to shop at locally owned shops, restaurants and more. Plus it doesn't hurt to get a $25 credit on your AmEx card.

Over the past few years more and more quality Mexican restaurants have opened in the Memphis area. Rio Azul is another Mexican eatery that fits this description. Located in Cordova near Houston Levee and Macon, Rio Azul has great traditional Mexican food at low prices. The staff is very friendly and the drinks are fantastic. If you are out that way, it's worth a stop.

Dunkin' Donuts' Union Avenue location will open on Wednesday. I may stop by to welcome the new business, but it may be hard to step away from Donald's Donuts. Dunkin' does serve a mean cup of coffee though. Much better that Starbucks.

Dunkin' Donuts is also hosting the 5th annual Holiday Recycled Bicycle Giveaway. All collected bikes will be refurbished and distributed to kids in the Binghampton neighborhood. New and used bikes will be collected at the at the Union Avenue location through the first weekend in December. Anyone who donates a bike will receive a $10 Dunkin’ gift card.

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions Week Of 11/29/10

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions are published weekly to show a possible college football playoff format. Similar to the NCAA basketball tournament, 11 conference champions receive automatic bids. 5 additional spots are available for at-large bids.

Round 1 games would be hosted by the higher ranked seeds. Rounds 2 - 4 would incorporate the bowl system with host cities/bowls bidding to host the games. The "Big 4" BCS bowls would be permanent playoff hosts on a round-rotating basis (Championship, semi-finals and 1 round 2 game).

For the week of November 29, 2010:

1. Oregon (PAC 10 Champion)
2. Auburn (SEC Champion)
3. TCU (Mountain West Champion)
4. Wisconsin (Big 10 Champion)
5. Stanford (At Large PAC 10)
6. Ohio State (At Large Big 10)
7. Michigan State (At Large Big 10)
8. Arkansas (At Large SEC)
9. LSU (At Large SEC)
10. Boise State (WAC Champion)
11. Virginia Tech (ACC Champion)
12. Oklahoma (Big 12 Champion)
13. Northern Illinois (MAC Champion)
14. Central Florida (C-USA Champion)
15. Connecticut (Big East Champion)
16. Florida International (Sun Belt Champion)

Dropped out: Oklahoma State (#9, Big 12 Champion),  Alabama (#10, At Large SEC), Pittsburgh (#15, Big East Champion)

Number Of Teams by Conference:
Big 10 (3), SEC (3), PAC 10 (2), ACC (1), Big East (1), Big 12 (1), C-USA (1), MAC (1), Mountain West (1), Sun Belt (1), WAC (1), Independent (0)

Match ups round by round assuming higher seeds win.

Round 1
(16) Florida International at (1) Oregon
(9) LSU at (8) Arkansas
(12) Oklahoma at (5) Stanford
(13) Northern Illinois at (4) Wisconsin
(11) Virginia Tech at (6) Ohio State
(14) Central Florida at (3) TCU
(10) Boise State at (7) Michigan State
(15) Connecticut at (2) Auburn

Round 2
(8) Arkansas vs (1) Oregon
(5) Stanford vs (4) Wisconsin
(6) Ohio State vs (3) TCU
(7) Michigan State vs (2) Auburn

Round 3
(4) Wisconsin vs (1) Oregon
(3) TCU vs (2) Auburn

Championship Game
(2) Auburn vs (1) Oregon

Thanksgiving Wine Line Up

Here's a quick sampling of some of the wines we will be enjoying on Thanksgiving Day. It's safe to say, there are more to come. As always, there will be winners and losers. Look for more details later this weekend.

 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Paso Robles

La Crema Pinot Noir 2007 Sonoma Coast

 Bogle Merlot 2007 California

 Layer Cake Primitivo aka Zinfandel 2007 Puglia, Italy

 Luna Rosa Malbec 2006 Procedencia Mendoza

 Concannon Limited Release Pinot Noir 2007 Central Coast

Substance Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Washington

Turkey Day, TurBaconEpic, Restaurant Poll

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Hopefully everyone is able to be with family and friends this holiday weekend. Safe travels to all who are on the road and to those who received an airport pat-down this weekend.

Keeping with the notion of over-indulgence on Thanksgiving day, Here is something that may just clog your arteries.



Don't forget that Memphis Magazine's Restaurant Poll is still running through December 1, 2010. The poll only takes a few minutes and you just might win dinner for two.

More Italian In Midtown, Turkey Tip Off, Super T, Football

It looks like a new Italian restaurant will be opening in Midtown Memphis. Cortana will open in the space formerly occupied by Dish on the corner of Cooper and Young. It is expected to open in early 2011.

Don't forget that Kooky Canuck's Turkey Tip Off starts Wednesday at 11am and runs through 2:30am on Thanksgiving morning. In addition to traditional Turkey Day lunch and dinner specials, there will also be 99 cent Bud Light draft all day.

What's Thanksgiving night in Memphis without spending time with Super T at Newby's? The Tyrone Smith Revue returns again Thursday night for his annual Thanksgiving night party. It's good to see that Super T is still working his magic after all these years. They have been using this same promo picture for years. Wonder what Super Tyrone looks like now.

Tyrone Smith Revue, aka Super T

The Memphis Tigers football season will mercifully come to an end on Saturday. It has been a long campaign for first-year coach Larry Porter. Lack of depth, young players and little support have doomed the Tigers this year. A win over Central Florida is a long shot at best, so it's fairly safe to say that Memphis will finish the year with a 1-11 record. Some are calling for Porter to be fired.  Changes will most likely happen, but Porter will still be the coach next year. Look for changes at position coach and possibly the coordinator levels. Thank goodness it's basketball season.

Here's the picks for this week.

Last Week: 5-1
Season: 49-23 (68%)

Dallas Cowboy over New Orleans Saints
Alabama over Auburn
Central Florida over Memphis
Arkansas over LSU
Oklahoma State over Oklahoma
Tennessee Titans over Houston Texans

Weekly Liberty Bowl Projection: Central Florida vs Tennessee-Knoxville

There is a possibility that Liberty Bowl officials will not select the Conference USA Champion, instead the SEC may force bowl officials to take a Big East team. This scenario only comes into play if all of the SEC bowl slots are not filled.


What I'm reading: Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions Week Of 11/22/10

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions are published weekly to show a possible college football playoff format. Similar to the NCAA basketball tournament, 11 conference champions receive automatic bids. 5 additional spots are available for at-large bids.

Round 1 games would be hosted by the higher ranked seeds. Rounds 2 - 4 would incorporate the bowl system with host cities/bowls bidding to host the games. The "Big 4" BCS bowls would be permanent playoff hosts on a round-rotating basis (Championship, semi-finals and 1 round 2 game).

For the week of November 22, 2010:

1. Oregon (PAC 10 Champion)
2. Auburn (SEC Champion)
3. Boise State (WAC Champion)
4. TCU (Mountain West Champion)
5. Wisconsin (Big 10 Champion)
6. Stanford (At Large PAC 10)
7. LSU (At Large SEC)
8. Ohio State (At Large Big 10)
9. Oklahoma State (Big 12 Champion)
10. Alabama (At Large SEC)
11. Michigan State (At Large Big 12)
12. Virginia Tech (ACC Champion)
13. Northern Illinois (MAC Champion)
14. Central Florida (C-USA Champion)
15. Pittsburgh (Big East Champion)
16. Florida International (Sun Belt Champion)

Dropped out: Nebraska (#7, Big 12 Champion)

Number Of Teams by Conference:
SEC (3), Big 10 (3), PAC 10 (2), ACC (1), Big East (1), Big 12 (1), C-USA (1), MAC (1), Mountain West (1), Sun Belt (1), WAC (1), Independent (0)

Match ups round by round assuming higher seeds win.

Round 1
(16) Florida International at (1) Oregon
(9) Oklahoma State at (8) Ohio State
(12) Virginia Tech at (5) Wisconsin
(13) Northern Illinois at (4) TCU
(11) Michigan State at (6) Stanford
(14) Central Florida at (3) Boise State
(10) Alabama at (7) LSU
(15) Pittsburgh at (2) Auburn

Round 2
(8) Ohio State vs (1) Oregon
(5) Wisconsin vs (4) TCU
(6) Stanford vs (3) Boise State
(7) LSU vs (2) Auburn

Round 3
(4) TCU vs (1) Oregon
(3) Boise State vs (2) Auburn

Championship Game
(2) Auburn vs (1) Oregon

Basketball: Huge Win For Grizzlies,Tigers Battle

Wow! What a huge win for the Memphis Grizzlies tonight! Rudy Gay nailed a buzzer-beater to lead the Grizzlies to a 97-95 victory over the Miami Heat. Yep, I were wrong in predicting a Memphis loss, but the Heat were without superstar Dwayne Wade. The win could be the start of good things for the Grizzlies, but if things should stay mediocre, then Hollins should go.

The Memphis basketball Tigers hit the road tomorrow to play LSU in Tupelo. LSU isn't playing good basketball right now and that Josh Pastner's club should win with ease. The game will be televised on CBS College Sports at 4pm.

Wrigley Football Changes, Grizzlies Lose, Carl's Commentary

It appears that the earlier mentioned dangers at the Illinois vs Northwestern game at Wrigley Field have been addressed. The new rules for this game are a little confusing, but it safety should come first. Just feel bad for the fans that bought bleacher seats at Wrigley. With or without the rule changes, you know there is going to be a big party outside of the stadium.

The Grizzlies lost tonight on the road against the Washington Wizards. The loss is the fifth in the row for the Lionel Hollins' club. Is it too soon to be exploring a coaching change for the Grizzlies? The schedule doesn't get easier for the Grizzlies. Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosch will be at FedEx Forum Saturday night with the rest of the the Miami Heat. A Memphis win would be nice, but it's more likely that the Heat will be win BIG.

Speaking of the Heat, Chris Bosch may be the key to their success. If he continues to play well, Miami will be unstoppable.

And now some commentary from Carl Brutananadilewski.

Zoo Open For Skating

The grand opening for the Memphis Zoo on Ice is tomorrow (November 19) during the introduction of SunTrust Zoo Lights. Ice skating will be available daily from November 20 - January 30, 2011. Daily ice skating hours will be from 9:30am to 4:30pm. The rink will also be open on select nights through out the season. Admission will be $6, including skate rental and one hour of skate time. If you have your own skates, admission is only $5.

More On Broad, Boa Ball, Creme Fraiche

WMC ran a segment about the Broad Avenue activities going on this weekend. This is a great idea that will hopefully make Broad a destination spot for Memphians.

The Red Cross Boa Ball is Saturday night at the Central Station on South Main. It looks like there will be auctions, food and drinks and live music courtesy of The Bouffants. Tickets are $75 per person, $130 for couples and $500 for an eight person table. Proceeds will go to Mid-South Red Cross. The good times start at 7pm. You can purchase tickets by visiting www.midsouthredcross.org.

Great episode of South Park last night. Here's a clip from the episode.

Creme Fraiche
Tags: SOUTH
PARKRandy Marsh,Sharon Marsh,more...

New Face for an Old Broad, Memphian Honored By Jack Daniel's, Football

Just a reminder that the Broad Avenue face lift is scheduled for this weekend (November 19th & 20th). The goal is to showcase Broad Avenue's long-term vision as an arts district and connector between the Greenline and Overton Park. There will be mural painting, bike lane striping, live music and temporary retail and restaurant vendors in currently vacated buildings.

Luchessi's Bottle

A long-time Memphis alcohol salesman, the first for Jack Daniel's,  is being honored by Jack Daniel Distillery with commemorative birthday bottle. Congratulations Mr. Luchessi!

This is much classier look than the John Calipari Maker's Mark  bottle issued last year. I wonder what it would take to have a special edition bottle in my honor. One of these days I'll might have my name etched on a bottle of Ketel One or Macallan. To be honest, I would be just as honored on a bottle of Taaka or Old Smuggler.

Yankees Stadium

 Two Major League Baseball stadiums will host college football games. Yankees Stadium will host Army and Notre Dame and Chicago's Wrigley Field will host Illinois and Northwestern. Yankees Stadium will also host the Pinstripe Bowl later this year featuring teams from Big East and Big 12.

Wrigley Field

The football layout in New York looks comfortable, but squeezing the college field into the ivy at Wrigley looks dangerous. How professional football games were played there decades ago is beyond comprehension. If you take a close look at the Wrigley set up, you will notice that the goal post is mounted on the outfield wall and there is limited space between the end zone and the brick wall. The right field corner isn't much better. God bless any receiver running a post or corner route. It almost looks like arena football. Regardless of the safety issues, its nice to see athletic directors thinking of out of the box and working with promoters to bring games to non-traditional stadiums. Let's hope there aren't any serious injuries for Wildcats and Illini players.

Rhodes College completed their 2010 football campaign last week with a home victory over Sewanee. The Lynx finished the season with a disappointing 4-6 overall record, including a 3-3 record in conference play. Rhodes finished in a two-way tie for third place in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference standings. Following the season, head coach Joe White tendered his resignation ending his 14 years with the program.

Here's the picks for this week.

Last Week: 4-2
Season: 44-22 (66%)

UAB over Memphis
LSU over Mississippi
Illinois over Northwestern
Arkansas over Mississippi State
Tennessee Titans over Washington Redskins
New Orleans Saints over Seattle Seahawks

Weekly Liberty Bowl Projection: Central Florida vs Georgia

There is a possibility that Liberty Bowl officials will not select the Conference USA Champion, instead the SEC may force bowl officials to take a Big East team. This scenario only comes into play if all of the SEC bowl slots are not filled.

Vehicle Inspection, Motorsports Auction, Carmouche

Things were different today at the Memphis vehicle inspection station on White Station. It may have been the rainy weather, but the lines were relatively short and inspectors were friendly and efficient in getting cars checked and back on the road. For those that have a car made from 1996 to the present, be prepared for a new process.

Have you ever wanted to own your own race track or drag racing strip? Now there's a chance to own both. Memphis Motorsports Park will be sold to the highest bidder at a December 14 auction at the facility. Many Memphis area residents may not be fans of NASCAR or NHRA racing, but it was nice to have tourists in town the three or four weekends a year when the larger racing events were in town.

Carmouche
(courtesy of gotigersgo.com)

How can you not be a fan of Charles Carmouche? In last night's game against Miami, he was a scrappy player, physical on defense, had five steals and made key free throws down the stretch. He may be overshadowed by bigger name players like local product Joe Jackson, but if he continues this kind of play he may be the fan favorite by the end of the season.

Carmouche has been earning frequent traveler miles since 2005, when his family was forced to move to Houston after Hurricane Katrina. After playing a year for a Houston high school, he returned to New Orleans and eventually signed with the University of New Orleans. Earlier this year, UNO announced it was moving from Division 1 to Division 3 in all sports. Carmouche knew he was too talented to play at that level, so he transferred to Memphis. It's pretty safe to say that Josh Pastner and Tigers basketball fans are happy that he picked the Bluff City for his latest stop and would like to see him stay for a couple of years.

Carmouche and the rest of Tigers return to action tomorrow night against the Demons of Northwestern State. Tip off is set for 7pm at FedEx Forum.

Mug Club Sells Out, Cake Coming To Minglewood

Boscos staffers weren't kidding when they said that the available mugs would go fast. Close to 50 mugs were available this morning at 11am and they were gone in less than 30 minutes.

Tickets go on sale Friday for Cake's live show at Minglewood Hall on Friday, January 21. Did anyone realize that Cake was still together or touring? Glad to hear that Memphis will be on the next tour. It's safe to say that Cake will be promoting their new album Showroom Of Compassionwhich is set to be released in January of 2011.

Here are a few of their hits.






 

Restaurant Week, Mug Club

Just a reminder that Downtown Dining Week kicks off tonight and runs through Sunday. Most of the participating restaurants are offering three courses for $20.10. After checking out the menu's, McEwan's On Monroe, Felicia Suzanne's and the Majestic will be on the top of my list. Based on last year's DDW, reservations are highly recommended.

The Boscos Mug Club renewal period ended last night at midnight. Any available mugs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting today at 11am. Get there early, because they will not last.

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions Week Of 11/15/10

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions are published weekly to show a possible college football playoff format. Similar to the NCAA basketball tournament, 11 conference champions receive automatic bids. 5 additional spots are available for at-large bids.

Round 1 games would be hosted by the higher ranked seeds. Rounds 2 - 4 would incorporate the bowl system with host cities/bowls bidding to host the games. The "Big 4" BCS bowls would be permanent playoff hosts on a round-rotating basis (Championship, semi-finals and 1 round 2 game).

For the week of November 15, 2010:

1. Oregon (PAC 10 Champion)
2. Auburn (SEC Champion)
3. Boise State (WAC Champion)
4. TCU (Mountain West Champion)
5. Wisconsin (Big 10 Champion)
6. LSU (At Large SEC)
7. Nebraska (Big 12 Champion
8. Stanford (At Large PAC 10)
9. Ohio State (At Large Big 10)
10. Oklahoma State (At Large Big 12)
11. Alabama (At Large SEC)
12. Virginia Tech (ACC Champion)
13. Northern Illinois (MAC Champion)
14. Central Florida (C-USA Champion) 
15. Pittsburgh (Big East Champion)
16. Florida International (Sun Belt Champion)

Dropped out: Michigan State (#11, Big 10 Champion), Troy (#16, Sun Belt Champion)

Number Of Teams by Conference:
SEC (3), Big 10 (2), Big 12 (2), PAC 10 (2), ACC (1), Big East (1), C-USA (1), MAC (1), Mountain West (1), Sun Belt (1), WAC (1), Independent (0)

Match ups round by round assuming higher seeds win.

Round 1
(16) Florida International at (1) Oregon
(9) Ohio State at (8) Stanford
(12) Virginia Tech at (5) Wisconsin
(13) Northern Illinois at (4) TCU
(11) Alabama at (6) LSU
(14) Central Florida at (3) Boise State
(10) Oklahoma State at (7) Nebraska
(15) Pittsburgh at (2) Auburn

Round 2
(8) Stanford vs (1) Oregon
(5) Wisconsin vs (4) TCU
(6) LSU vs (3) Boise State
(7) Nebraska vs (2) Auburn

Round 3
(4) TCU vs (1) Oregon
(3) Boise State vs (2) Auburn

Championship Game
(2) Auburn vs (1) Oregon

Beaujolais Nouveau, New Basketball Court Designs, Football, BTE

The Grove Grill is hosting a Beaujolais Nouveau dinner on Thursday, November at 18th at 7pm. The five course dinner is $55 plus tax and tip. Reservations are recommended. See below for the menu.

1st Course
Duck Pate on Baguette
Blue Cheese Gougeres, (puffs)

BeaujolaisNouveau, Cask, 2010

2nd Course

Riz au Fruit du Mer,
(Seafood Risotto)

Georges Duboeuf Macon Villages Domaine des Chenevieres, 2009

3rd Course

Columbia River Sturgeon Bourguignon
With baby carrots, pearl onions and button mushromms

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages Flower Label, 2009

4th Course

Roasted Pekin Duckling
With grilled stone fruit and Kircsh demi glace

Georges Duboeuf Morgon , 2009

5th Course

Millefuille de pomme Caramèlisèes
(Spitzenburg Apple, Almond and Puff Pastry)


The University of Oregon is already known for its unique football uniforms every Saturday, but now the Ducks basketball team is getting into the mix. The basketball program is rolling out its new basketball court this season. According to Wired.com, the wood floor "features a trippy, inverse perspective that makes it appear as if you’re looking up through a grove of fir trees."

What's up with Northwestern schools and their "special" field/court designs? First, there was Boise State's blue football field. Then earlier this year, Eastern Washington's football club rolled out its red turf. And now this gem at the soon to be completed Matthew Knight Arena at Oregon. By the way, the arena is named after Nike founder Phillip Knight's son. Knight and Nike are both huge supporters of Oregon athletics.


Just finished reading  Death to the BCS: The Definitive Case Against the Bowl Championship Series. It's a great book that advocates a 16-team playoff (similar to this blog's weekly playoff predictions) and shows all of the financial sense and hurdles that a postseason playoff is facing. If you think there is a better way than the BCS, then check out this book.

Here's the picks for this week.

Last Week: 4-2
Season: 40-20 (66%)

Mississippi over Tennessee-Knoxville
Ohio State over Penn State
Rhodes over Sewanee
Marshall over Memphis
Auburn over Georgia
Tennessee Titans over Miami Dolphins

Weekly Liberty Bowl Projection: Central Florida vs Georgia

Better Than Ezra is playing at Minglewood Hall on Saturday night. There is no doubt that this will be a great show. Here's a sampling of what you might hear if you check out BTE's show this weekend.



The Memphis Tigers basketball team opens up their regular season tomorrow night against Centenary at FedEx Forum. This should be an easy win for the Tigers.

Porter Heat, High Point Triathlon, Backstreet Closed, Circa On The Move

The local media is probably giving Memphis football coach Larry Porter the most heat of any first coach in the country, maybe ever. Yes, the Tigers are 1-8, but does Porter deserve a little more slack? It's not like Tommy West left the program with a lot of talent. A new system combined with sub par players will result in a losing season. If the Tigers have the same issues and record next year, give Porter the boot.

The High Point Pub's Triathlon is coming up this Saturday from 6:30pm until 11:30pm. This event consists of a two-person team competing in three events - shuffleboard, darts, and a "Mystery" event. To sign up, visit a bartender at the Pub as quickly as possible. The entry fee is $15/person which includes food and beer, while supplies last.

The Commercial Appeal is reporting that Midtown's Backstreet club has been closed, once again, by law enforcement officials. Since this isn't the first time the club has been in trouble, there is a good chance that city and county officials may prohibit the bar from opening its doors again. 

As expected, Circa has officially begun the moving process from Downtown to East Memphis. Circa is planning to reopen in the Regalia Center in mid-December. In Circa's place will be Bar None, a casual restaurant/bar. Bar None will be open during Downtown's restaurant week (Nov 15-21), but will close until late November for renovations.

Belgian Beer Tasting

Just heard that there will be a Belgian beer tasting at Cafe Society tomorrow night (November 9). There will be five Belgian beers to sample all for $25 per person plus tax and tip. There will also be a $5 small plate menu available during the tasting. Space is limited, so reservations are recommended at 722-2177.

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions Week Of 11/8/10

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions are published weekly to show a possible college football playoff format. Similar to the NCAA basketball tournament, 11 conference champions receive automatic bids. 5 additional spots are available for at-large bids.

Round 1 games would be hosted by the higher ranked seeds. Rounds 2 - 4 would incorporate the bowl system with host cities/bowls bidding to host the games. The "Big 4" BCS bowls would be permanent playoff hosts on a round-rotating basis (Championship, semi-finals and 1 round 2 game).

For the week of November 1, 2010:

1. Oregon (PAC 10 Champion)
2. Auburn (SEC Champion)
3. TCU (Mountain West Champion)
4. Boise State (WAC Champion)
5. Wisconsin (At large Big 10)
6. Nebraska (Big 12 Champion)
7. LSU (At Large SEC)
8. Stanford (At Large PAC 10)
9. Ohio State (At Large Big 10)
10. Oklahoma State (At Large Big 12)
11. Michigan State (Big 10 Champion)
12. Virginia Tech (ACC Champion)
13. Central Florida (C-USA Champion)
14. Northern Illinois (MAC Champion) 
15. Pittsburgh (Big East Champion)
16. Troy (Sun Belt Champion)

Dropped out: Alabama (#5, At Large SEC), Utah (#6, At Large Mountain West), Oklahoma (#10, At Large Big 12)

Number Of Teams by Conference:
Big 10 (3), Big 12 (2), PAC 10 (2), SEC (2), ACC (1), Big East (1), C-USA (1), MAC (1), Mountain West (1), Sun Belt (1), WAC (1), Independent (0)

Match ups round by round assuming higher seeds win.

Round 1
(16) Troy at (1) Oregon
(9) Ohio State at (8) Stanford
(12) Virginia Tech at (5) Wisconsin
(13) Central Florida at (4) Boise State
(11) Michigan State at (6) Nebraska
(14) Northern Illinois at (3) TCU
(10) Oklahoma State at (7) LSU
(15) Pittsburgh at (2) Auburn

Round 2
(8) Stanford vs (1) Oregon
(5) Wisconsin vs (4) Boise State
(6) Nebraska vs (3) TCU
(7) LSU vs (2) Auburn

Round 3
(4) Boise State vs (1) Oregon
(3) TCU vs (2) Auburn

Championship Game
(2) Auburn vs (1) Oregon

Jockey Fights & Beer Drinking Horse

Apparently it was just another day the Breeders Cup yesterday. Side note - Calvin Borel is even more of a scary looking guy when he is angry.



So Zenyatta is 19-0 in 19 career starts. What's her secret? Great trainers? High calorie diet like Michael Phelps? Little chocolate donuts? The correct answer might involve happy hour. Zenyatta is a big fan of Guinness beer. Are Irish Carbombs on the menu if she goes 20-0? Maybe the Flying Saucer or Celtic Crossing should bring her in for a drinking contest.

 

And for those of you who didn't get the chocolate donuts reference, enjoy this great clip featuring the late John Belushi.

Harvest Celebration, Carl's Commentary

Just noticed that the 2010 Harvest Celebration is coming up later this late afternoon (4-7) at Central Station on South Main. This is probably the best event of the season for the Memphis Farmers Market. It features tastings from local restaurants, entertainment and a complimentary bar, with all proceeds going to the Memphis Farmers Market. I'm guessing its too late to get advance tickets, so its looking like it will cost you $55 to join in on the fun.

And now some commentary from Carl Brutananadilewski.

Memphis Airport Overpriced, Moss To Titans, Chipotle

Confirming what Memphis travelers have known for a long time, Memphis International Airport was named the fifth priciest airport in country. Everyone is excited about the proposed merger of Air Tran and Southwest Airlines, but will the merger actually reduce prices at MEM? Are Memphis airport fees too high?

The Tennessee Titans have claimed wide receiver Randy Moss off of waivers. Now there might be a good reason to watch the Titans, besides Chris Johnson. Still not sold on Vince Young or Kerry Collins at quarterback, but the addition of Moss should open things up for Johnson's running game.

Chipotle Mexican Grill will finally open in Memphis at the Ridgeway Trace center in the second quarter of 2011. Chipotle is very similar to Moe's and Swanky's. Nothing against Chipotle, but Swanky will continue to be my "go to" taco/burrito shop. Plus, there are tons of authentic Mexican food restaurants that provide more value. Whenever I think of Chipotle, this video always pops in my mind.
 

Dead Celebrities
Tags: SOUTH
PARKmore...

Sip Around The World, College Basketball, Football

Sip Around The World is this Friday night at the Memphis Botanic Garden. This is usually a great event with lots of wine, hors d'oeuvers, music and more. This year event organizers have added a new Champagne Lounge for an additional fee. For ticket information, call 683-6185 or visit the nkfwtn.org.

Memphis Tigers basketball kicks off exhibition play tonight against LeMoyne-Owen at FedEx Forum. The contest shouldn't be competitive in any way, but it will give Tigers fans something to focus on instead of the hapless football team.

Speaking of the football team, Larry Porter's squad will host Tennessee-Knoxville Saturday night at the Liberty Bowl. Both teams will be playing for, what is most likely, their last win of the season. With the Volunteers having a horrific season, this could be one of the best opportunities for the Tigers to earn their second victory over Tennessee-Knoxville. Unfortunately, Memphis doesn't have the weapons to pull it off Saturday night.

This game is usually a sellout when it is played at the Liberty Bowl. With both teams playing so poorly, I wonder how many fans will actually attend the game. 

Here's the picks for this week.

Last Week: 3-3
Season: 36-18 (66%)

Air Force over Army
Birmingham Southern over Rhodes
Alabama over LSU
Utah over TCU
Tennessee-Knoxville over Memphis
New Orleans Saints over Carolina Panthers

Weekly Liberty Bowl Projection: Central Florida vs Kentucky

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions Week Of 11/1/10

Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions are published weekly to show a possible college football playoff format. Similar to the NCAA basketball tournament, 11 conference champions receive automatic bids. 5 additional spots are available for at-large bids.

Round 1 games would be hosted by the higher ranked seeds. Rounds 2 - 4 would incorporate the bowl system with host cities/bowls bidding to host the games. The "Big 4" BCS bowls would be permanent playoff hosts on a round-rotating basis (Championship, semi-finals and 1 round 2 game).

For the week of November 1, 2010:

1. Oregon (PAC 10 Champion)
2. Auburn (SEC Champion)
3. Boise State (WAC Champion)
4. TCU (Mountain West Champion)
5. Alabama (At Large SEC)
6. Utah (At Large Mountain West)
7. Wisconsin (At Large Big 10)
8. Nebraska (Big 12 Champion)
9. Ohio State (At Large Big 10)
10. Oklahoma (At Large Big 12)
11. Michigan State (Big 10 Champion)
12. Virginia Tech (ACC Champion)
13. Central Florida (C-USA Champion)
14. Northern Illinois (MAC Champion) 
15. Pittsburgh (Big East Champion)
16. Troy (Sun Belt Champion)

Dropped out: Missouri (#6, Big 12 Champion), Stanford (#10, At Large PAC 10), Florida State (#12, ACC Champion), East Carolina (#13, C-USA Champion)

Number Of Teams by Conference:
Big 10 (3), Big 12 (2), Mountain West (2), SEC (2), ACC (1), Big East (1), C-USA (1), MAC (1), PAC 10 (1), Sun Belt (1), WAC (1), Independent (0)

Match ups round by round assuming higher seeds win.

Round 1
(16) Troy at (1) Oregon
(9) Ohio State at (8) Nebraska
(12) Virginia Tech at (5) Alabama
(13) Central Florida at (4) TCU
(11) Michigan State at (6) Utah
(14) Northern Illinois at (3) Boise State
(10) Oklahoma at (7) Wisconsin
(15) Pittsburgh at (2) Auburn

Round 2
(8) Nebraska vs (1) Oregon
(5) Alabama vs (4) TCU
(6) Utah vs (3) Boise State
(7) Wisconsin vs (2) Auburn

Round 3
(4) TCU vs (1) Oregon
(3) Boise State vs (2) Auburn

Championship Game
(2) Auburn vs (1) Oregon