Edible Memphis recently published its updated Farmers Market Guide, and guess what, folks… April will be here by the end of the week. That means that the Memphis Farmers Market season gets underway Saturday. The Market is under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson, behind the Power House movie studio, where it runs 8 AM to 1 PM every Saturday.
Those of you who’ve read this blog for more than 2 years can probably predict what I’m going to say next.
First of all, the Market is so much more than fresh produce. They have meat vendors, dog treats, hot sauces and Bloody Mary mix, pottery, bird houses, flowers, coffee, frozen treats, cheeses, breads… I’m probably forgetting a dozen more categories. They usually have some good food trucks onsite, and once the pandemic restrictions lift, they’ll have live music. This is seriously an unusually good farmers market. I’d rate it one of the best in the country.
“But Paul,” you might be tempted to protest. “I mean, no offense, buddy, but you have a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and a box of Pop-Tarts on your table. In the refrigerator, you have Mountain Dew. How could you possibly know a good farmers market from a bad one?”
Good question.
I tend to be a middle-to-late morning Farmers Market customer. However, one Saturday morning a few years ago I couldn’t sleep. So I walked down there at the ass crack of dawn (the Market opened even earlier, at 7, back then).
Guess who I saw shopping? Chef Michael Patrick (Rizzo’s) and Chef Felicia Willett (Felicia Suzanne Restaurant). If chefs from the best restaurants Downtown shop at the Market, don’t you think you ought to be shopping there too?
Due to pandemic restriction BS I only made it to the Market once in 2020. That’s gonna change. Announcing my plan for this coming Saturday:
- 10:30: Memphis Farmers Market
- 11:00: A nearby bar. Candidates are Max’s, Earnestine & Hazel’s, and Slider Inn Downtown.
The highly contagious P.1 variant of COVID, one of two which originated in Brazil, has made its way to Memphis. It ain’t over, folks. I’m not saying, don’t go out, but make a trip to a vaccine site part of your going-out as soon as you can. In the meantime, wear a mask. Parts of Europe are in a fourth lockdown right now because of these variant strains.
From the MBJ: After pandemic delays, the new, super-sized South of Beale is nearly ready to open
The Pet Hospitals’ Downtown location at 660 Jefferson is looking to hire a veterinarian.
Ever Given. That’s the name of the ship that was stuck in the Suez Canal. Just wanted to mention that for the benefit of my readers who will attend a trivia night this week.
Congratulations to Memphis’ AAC rival the Houston Cougars on making the Final Four last night. Unfortunately, my Arkansas Razorbacks did not join them, although they kept me up well past what has been my pandemic bedtime. FiveThirtyEight’s predictions give the Cougs an 18% chance to claim the national title.
Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum on N. Second will reopen next month. It’s right around the corner from Grind City Brewery, so some local history followed by a beer might be a plan you could make for a future Saturday.
Remember the Tug’s employee who said he was kidnapped and robbed after a Sunday night shift? Police believe he was lying. He told police he was actually driving around with the men looking to score some drugs. Throw the book at him! As many of my readers know, I’m not a fan of people who falsify police reports.
I’ve seen this a couple of times on social media but it’s worth repeating. It’s the Derek Chauvin trial. It’s the trial for the murder of George Floyd. But it’s not the George Floyd trial. Usually, I’m not one to get nitpicky over words, but in this case, it’s important.
Scrolling through Facebook Events to see if there’s anything worth writing about. Two crawfish festivals have “online” listed as their location. WTF?
That’s it for now. Time to go kick some more ass. Back tomorrow with more news.