Saturday update: BBQ Fest and Music Fest rescheduled

Check out what I had to eat yesterday!

If this food looks somewhat familiar, it’s because it’s already been on the blog this week. MK, who makes homemade food weekly and brings it to the door of delivery customers, brought me baked cannelloni, Italian spinach, a garlic roll, and her sister’s chocolate chip pie. Yum! I am stuffed right now.

If she does a delivery special next week, I will have the details up on this blog in plenty of time for you to order. It tends to be around Tuesday morning when she makes the announcement.

BBQ teams got an email yesterday afternoon announcing that BBQ Fest is moving to September 30-October 3 for 2020. BBQ teams who can make the new dates have nothing to worry about for fees they have already paid. Teams who can’t make it those dates have three options:

  1. Roll their dues over to 2021 BBQ Fest, to be held May 12-15, 2021
  2. Make the money already paid a donation to Memphis in May, a 501(c)(3) profit (this is the option Memphis in May really, really, really hopes you choose)
  3. Request a refund between April 1 and May 13, 2020

Music Fest has been rescheduled for October 16-18. 42 of the 65 artists committed for May will still perform, and Memphis in May is working to fill out the rest of the schedule. If you have tickets and can’t make the new dates, you have essentially the three options laid out above for BBQ Fest teams. More info on the new event dates

Lanksy Bros. is doing a special $50 off orders of $150 or more when you use the promotional code SPRING2020. Their store is closed right now but you can order by phone at 901-529-9070 or you can order on their website. Some restrictions apply to this promotion, which is valid through April 25.

From the Downtown Memphis Commission:

Mayor Strickland has closed dog parks, so you won’t be able to take your dog to the South Main park at Front and G.E. Patterson, the one at Main and Jefferson, the one on Mud Island, or the Edge Triangle. Skateboard parks, athletic fields, and basketball courts have also been closed. As for now city parks remain open, although monitoring is being done to ensure that people keep proper social distance.

Attn: Memphis city government, just wanted to plant this idea in your head:

The economic stimulus package was passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump yesterday. News analysts are saying if you didn’t file 2018 taxes, and haven’t filed for 2019 yet, might want to get one of those years done ASAP to ensure your piece of the stimulus pie arrives promptly.

Virtual Cerrito Trivia must have gone well this week, because it’s going to become an every Thursday thing starting at 7 PM. The trivia will continue to be “a hodgepodge of questions about science, history, geography, current events, sports, food, TV, movies, music & more” and you can use whatever conferencing method works to discuss the answers with your team. More info on how to play virtual trivia

Let’s hear it one more time for the good guys:

Not Downtown, but a damn fine deal nonetheless:

If you’ve never had the Duck Fried Rice at South of Beale, you need to make it one of your to-dos during this quarantine. I’m a fried rice fan in general, but duck takes it to a whole ‘nother level.

I’ve been trying to come up with the words for my own personal reaction to the coronavirus pandemic but just haven’t been able to. Eric Barnes of the Daily Memphian nailed it this week. I’ve been scared for myself before, but this is new; I’m scared for all of us.

Also in the DM: Info for small business owners about loans that can help you survive during the pandemic, and what you can do to have the principal of those loans forgiven.

Currently reading King, Kaiser, Tsar. This is the story of three cousins: Willy, who grew up to become Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany; Georgie, who grew up to become King George V of England; and Nicky, who grew up to become Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Georgie and Willy had a common grandmother, Queen Victoria of England. The Queen of Denmark was the grandmother of both Georgie and Nicky. Understanding the relationship between the cousins is key to understanding Europe in the 50 years leading up to World War I.

Time for the morning “is toilet paper in stock” run to Walgreens. Even if it’s not, today is the last day Cinnamon Toast Crunch is on sale so I’ll pick up a box. Back later today or tomorrow with more news.