Best Memphis Burger Fest is taking applications to be a judge. The festival will be held at Tiger Lane Sunday, August 28. Fill out the judging application here. You must be over 21 with no food allergies, willing to consume all food toppings and condiments, and must agree that you will be in the judging area on time with no alcohol consumed beforehand.
For those new to the area, let me say a little about Best Memphis Burger Fest. Teams compete in four categories: Bloody Mary, Veggie Burger, Specialty Burger, and Best Memphis Burger. Any team can enter, whether you are a guy with a grill in his back yard (or even a George Foreman Grill, as one team last year demonstrated), or a 600-restaurant chain. There are also eating contests and a cornhole tournament. In addition to competing, cooking teams will be giving samples of their burgers away to the public for a small suggested donation to Memphis Paws. Admission is $10 and there is also a $50 VIP ticket.
My team The Moody Ques competed in this last year, along with our sibling teams Weekend at Porky’s and Squeal Street BBQ. It was a lot of fun and there were shenanigans all day long. I spoke to our team president yesterday and he said it is very, very likely (although not yet 100%) that we will be back competing at Burger Fest this year.
High Cotton Brewing Co. is looking for silent auction items for their Sunday, June 12 fundraiser (1-6 PM) for Streetdog Foundation. No item is too big or small, so email taproom@highcottonbrewing.com if you have something you want to donate. The party will feature adoptable dogs, food trucks, pint discounts, and beer grain treats for dogs as well as the silent auction. By the way I have met the founders of Streetdog Foundation on several occasions, and they are wonderful people who find foster homes and forever homes for dogs that might otherwise be put down.
The Flying Saucer will host a Father’s Day Seafood Boil on Saturday, June 18 from 3 to 5 PM. This will be a Cajun-style boil with mussels, crawfish, scallions, corn, and potatoes. There will also be canned beer specials for those at the boil. $35 if you’re a UFO Club member, $40 otherwise. 901-481-4066 to order tickets, or just ask your beertender or server about the event next time you’re in the Saucer.
Last year the Burger King across from The Brass Door on Madison was torn down to make way for a small pocket park. Plans have now been revealed for the little park.
The Memphis Flyer visited Jerry “The King” Lawler’s new bar and grill on Beale Street. Be sure to check out the deep-fried ribs. Also, the crawfish corn chowder is Lawler’s favorite.
Appetite for Destruction, the premier Guns ‘n Roses tribute band, plays the Tin Roof Friday, June 17 at 8 PM.
If I die, I would not mind being buried in one of these.
Come out to the river and watch the St. Jude Dragon Boat Races Saturday, May 21.
Mayor Strickland is close to naming a director of the Memphis Animal Shelter after conducting a nationwide search. He said that the shelter has operated pretty well in the absence of a director, with adoptions up and euthanasias down. Very good to hear. UPDATE: Strickland has appointed Alexis Pugh, formerly the executive director of Mid-South Spay and Neuter Services, to the position.
The weekend is just a few hours away! My plans for the evening are as of yet undetermined. Jessica at the Silly Goose says I am required to be at her bar for happy hour since I missed all last week. The Blind Bear happy hour is always entertaining (or should I say its regulars are). Then again, it’s Fireball Friday at Max’s Sports Bar with perfect weather for a trip to the south side. It’ll be a game-time decision. Time to go get some lunch, see you this weekend.