There was a little bit of smoke on the river early on Wednesday, but plenty more to come. The 2021 Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest was about to begin.

Two old friends and longtime Memphis in May volunteers take a few minutes to talk about this year’s festival and about some memorable times in the past.

Restaurateurs aren’t happy with a new health directive that suggests people wear masks but puts the burden of the decision on them.

Panda Garden offers a lunch special with a selection of more than 20 meals, each under $10. The food is good, and the portions are generous.

Bhan Thai, Molly Smith’s restaurant on Peabody Avenue that opened in 2002, has closed its doors for the last time. Smith officially shut down on the day she usually hosted the fundraiser Cinco de Thai-O.

Whataburger is coming back to the Mid-South: One will open in Southaven in late 2021.

Where there’s smoke, there’s 🔥🔥🔥 when it’s in Tom Lee Park. Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest returns after a forced 2020 hiatus, proving you can’t keep a good festival down. 

A deep clean and purge of the kitchen might not spark joy, but can cause an existential questioning of time. And as the world moves on, festivals are planned and Hog Wild East opens.

Ernie Mellor opens Hog Wild East for takeout only in the former Garibaldi’s location on Yates Road on Wednesday.

There’s a flurry of events and festivals in mid-May, and you need to get tickets now because they’re all pre-sale and they’ll be gone soon.

Jennifer Biggs joins Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of The Sidebar.

One variant linked to India’s recent COVID-19 surge was detected in Shelby County this week, said David Sweat, Shelby County Health Department deputy director.

Sullivan, Knox, Hamilton and Madison counties lift mask mandates; Davidson is waiting.

The Four Way’s owner Patrice Bates Thompson got a gift of $40,000 when she appeared on NBC’s “Today” show, and Gibson’s Donuts participated in The Kindness Revolution.

During an appearance on the ‘Today’ show this morning, Four Way owner Patrice Bates Thompson learned the restaurant was getting a grant courtesy of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express. 

The restaurant justifies its name with a list of fanciful “Signature Grit Bowls” that make use of the excellent stoneground grits from Oxford, Mississippi’s Original Grit Girl.

Taco Bell is relocating in Arlington, part of the changing landscape of convenience food options in the northeast Shelby County community.

Doughnuts were free for a while at Gibson’s Wednesday morning, the first local food giveaway campaign sponsored by The Kindness Revolution.

Villa Castrioti commits to The Lake District, Parish Grocery has a new location a few doors north of the intersection of Cooper and Young, and they’re selling tomatoes at Elwood’s Produce Stand on Saturdays.

Black Sheep Bottling sells its hot sauce at four local farmers markets in season: Downtown, Cooper-Young, Bartlett and Hernando. You can also find it on the shelf at the Curb Market, Tamboli’s, Oxbeau and Charlie’s Meat Market. 

Derk Meitzler talks about Backlot, the new sandwich shop to open in the Paramount building, also known as Strait & Associates in “Bluff City Law,” and what else he has coming up.

Parish Grocery has moved from Evergreen to Cooper-Young and they’re frying up oysters, and getting ready to serve frozen drinks on the patio.

Villa Castrioti has inked a deal to open a second location in The Lake District and plans to expand its Cordova restaurant to enlarge the bar area.

On Saturday mornings, the restaurant on Summer Avenue will become home to Elwood’s Produce Stand, starting April 17.