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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Steph Cook is at Rawk’n Grub Side Stage, back inside a gas station, this one in Olive Branch. 

LBOE on Madison will end its seven-year run next month, and a small local chain will open in its space.

To be a Memphis in May barbecue judge, you have to go to class and get certified. But there’s more to judging than just having a certificate; you need to be dedicated.

Mixon is a celebrity pit master who has written cookbooks and been on numerous television shows, including the TLC reality show BBQ Pitmasters. He left Saturday night, as did the first place winners of the ribs and shoulder division, with a check for $10,500. In addition, he received $24,000 as the grand champion.

Before they left, barges stuck on either side of the Hernando DeSoto Bridge received a delivery of Rendezvous ribs to see them on their way.

The faces of barbecue include Don and Carolyn McLemore, owners of Big Bob Gibson’s restaurant and the matriarch and patriarch of the most winning team at Memphis in May.

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.