Starting off today’s post with a programming note: Those of you who have events coming up next week (Saturday, May 13 through Sunday, May 21) that you want me to mention in the blog, go ahead and email them to me (paul@paulryburn.com) this week. Next week I will be in a muddy park and although I will have email access on my phone, looking at email will not be foremost in my mind.
One other note about that time period – yes, I will still be at the Farmers Market and Earnestine & Hazel’s on Saturday. Yes, I will be at D-RANKS with B-RAD on Sunday. Yes, there will be plenty of Bardog (and maybe some Saucer) weekday mornings. However, instead of “this is where I’m hanging out instead of going to Tom Lee Park,” it will be, “this is where I’m pre-gaming before going to Tom Lee Park. Teammates, come join me and we’ll walk down there together!” The team needs me down there every day. It’s not like I was told I had to be there – I wasn’t – but it feels like the right thing to do this year, for the team and for myself.
For my new readers who aren’t sure what I am talking about: The next big event for Memphis in May is the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, Wednesday-Saturday May 17-20, almost universally called BBQ Fest by the locals. Teams compete in ribs, shoulder, or whole hog. Many teams build elaborate booths, some being multi-story and having 5-figure budgets for a 4-day event. My team is called The Moody Ques and we compete in shoulder. We have finished top three in Best Booth four of the past five years.
Unfortunately, the competing teams aren’t allowed to feed the public, and you have to be a team member or invited guest to get in a team’s booth. That means BBQ Fest is a lot less fun if you don’t know any of the teams. They do have vendors (including former champions) who sell to the public. You can also sign up as a People’s Choice judge and get to sample competition BBQ.
I will be writing more about my team and BBQ Fest this week. It is my 11th year on a team. I will have tips for BBQ Fest visitors, and tips for first-year team members.
One of the other local BBQ teams had an exciting announcement this week. Porkosaurus’ products can now be bought in the gift shop at the Peabody Hotel. They haul off trophies by the truckload every year and their sauce and rub will definitely make a good impression at your dinner table.
It’s a night of legends at FedExForum as Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and Joe Walsh come to town. Show starts at 7 PM.
Whoa, this is interesting news:
The owners of Majestic Grille will take over operations of restaurant at Beale Street Landing as manager consultant.
— Daily News Politics (@tdnpols) May 8, 2017
The Flyer’s Toby Sells (@TobySells) reports that Patrick and Deni will operate the restaurant, re-branded into a concept called The Front Porch, from June through Halloween. There will be new outdoor seating and a new menu, and they may run a golf cart shuttle from Peabody Place to Beale Street Landing.
All-you-can-eat Thursday returns to AutoZone Park this coming Thursday, May 11. A special ticket to the Memphis Redbirds vs. El Paso Chihuahuas will get you an all-you-can eat buffet with burgers and all the sides.
Hmmm… wouldn’t be surprised if I see Seth in my neck of the woods on Thursday…
Country duo Locash will play Tin Roof on Beale Street on Friday, June 2.
Jim Seward will bring his middle-aged, middle Tennessee comedy to the High Cotton taproom for a free show tomorrow evening, May 9, 7:30-9 PM. The show will feature Cortney Warner, Natasha Ferrier & Derik Zoo and will be hosted by Doug Gillon & Jonny Bratsveen with Ben Aviotti.
That’s it for now. Back tomorrow with more.