Live music was one of the first sacrifices when the COVID pandemic hit last spring, and it has unsurprisingly been among the slowest to return.

Rick and Brenda Frembgen are bringing Carrington Oaks Coffeehouse and Floral, along with their newest franchise — The Exercise Coach — to Phase 1 at the $70 million mixed-use project on U.S. 70 at Seed Tick Road.

Emilio’s has been around since 1994 and claims to be the first store in Memphis to serve “authentic menudo, carnitas” and other items, including fresh specialty produce from Mexico and Latin America. The butcher counter is a contender for “best-kept secret in Memphis.”

The owners of Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken plan to preserve Leonard’s Pit Barbecue for now, and possibly move and expand the restaurant later. 

A local favorite, Restaurant Iris will move to a space in Laurelwood. But, don’t worry, the current Iris location will reopen as a different restaurant under the same ownership.

New East Memphis cheese shop begins a workshop series this week, has added sandwiches for Saturday lunch and will soon have them daily.

By the Brewery is a new restaurant Downtown, conveniently just across the street from where The Daily Memphian is moving. 

We’ll start swapping recipes later this month; Agricenter has opened for the season and Memphis lost a favorite son over the holiday weekend with the death of Phil Bryant.

Roar and Pour is the first big event at the Memphis Zoo since the onset of COVID.

Agricenter Farmers Market opened Tuesday, with shoppers and vendors clad in light jackets on an unseasonably cool day in June.

Phil Bryant, who served millions of biscuits over the years, handed out free bacon to dogs and loved to spin a tale just for the fun of it, died on Memorial Day.

Folks say they love to share their favorite recipes, so it’s up to us to ask for them. Start sending in your requests for recipes and I’ll do my best to get them for you.

The Roto-Sphere has been repaired and reinstalled in front of Joe’s Wines & Liquor in Midtown.

RP Tracks has been around since 1987 and it’s not just home to the “world famous” BBQ tofu nachos, it also makes great french fries.

Zen is a pretty restaurant in the Thornwood complex on South Germantown Road, the food is good and the menu is large but not overwhelming.

Earlier this month, Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite announced that a location of the burger joint was coming to his town.

Tickets are available for the June 4 event at Memphis Zoo. And the May 25 dinner at Dory in East Memphis will feature French wines from Michael Corso Selections.

The Bartlett Station Farmers Market is back for the 2021 season with a new, more visible home at the A. Keith McDonald Pavilion, located at W.J. Freeman Park, 2629 Bartlett Blvd.

Hope Church’s kitchen ministry has had a bustling takeout business for years. During COVID, it’s grown as folks have taken advantage of curbside delivery and now, the Hope Shoppe has reopened for limited hours.

Every eligible restaurant should seize the opportunity of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund while it lasts. The only downsides are having to fill out an application and track the used funds.

The Austin-based taco restaurant will open at the end of June in Williamsburg Village Shopping Center on Mendenhall.

Another Memphis in May is in the books, and here’s the roundup (with a recipe you need in your life). Also, LBOE is closing and Greys Fine Cheese and Entertaining is open.

Greys Fine Cheese and Entertaining is a welcome addition to East Memphis that will bring in cheese lovers from all around the area.

Chef Sobie Johnson of Flying Sobie’s Gourmet Kitchen will provide the food at the second Ghost River location.