A pointedly posed photo of Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Michael Donahue at Bacon & Bourbon
Bacon goes with everything, in my opinion. I remember the first time I tried a bacon-and-chocolate candy bar. It was over the top.
So, needless to say, I thought Memphis Flyer’s Bacon & Bourbon, which was held October 7th at the Metal Museum, was a great idea. A total of 550 people attended the sold-out event, which included 10 restaurants and caterers plus 20 bourbon brands.
Richard Schenk, Calvin Green, Morgan Shumate, and Robert Schenk at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Sallie Sabbatini at the Penelope Bourbon booth at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Jordan Martin at the Crown Royal booth at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue) Austin Bethany and Anthony Donati at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)
This was the seventh Bacon & Bourbon event. Memphis Farmers Market was this year’s charitable partner.
And it included an extraordinary sunset, which wasn’t exactly the color of bacon, but it had reddish hues.
Jewel Towles and Amber Reeves at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue) Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Leigh Ann Reese and David Kirkland at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Laura Alexander-Dodds and Gloria Dodds Harlan at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)
As the email announcement read, “We’ll have creative bacon-inspired dishes of all kinds from some great Memphis restaurants, plus a vast array of distilled spirits to tempt your tastebuds.”
My first stop was, actually, the first stop on entering the Metal Museum grounds: the Bain Barbecue & Bakery booth. I had to go back for seconds and would have done thirds, but I thought I might leave some for the guests.
They served a pork bellied burnt end, which one of the team members dubbed “Pork Bell Firecrackers.” “Pork belly is what bacon is before it’s cured and smoked and sliced,” says co-owner Bryant Bain. “We skipped the curing step. Instead of curing, I just went and seasoned it and smoked it and tossed it in a glaze I made out of our Texas sauce and added some extra ingredients. I smoked it again and let the glaze set.”
Well, if that doesn’t make you hungry.
Heather Bain, Bryant Bain, and Ryan Glosson at Bain Barbecue & Bakery booth at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)
I then made my way to Draper’s Catering of Memphis. They served a fig, bacon, and goat cheese bruschetta. “There’s seasoned herb toast,” says owner Matt Draper. “We put goat cheese spread over it, fig preserves, and crispy bacon.”
Add figs to anything and I’m there.
Anthione Boyland at Draper’s Catering of Memphis booth at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Jesse Boyd with Heirloom Catering described the fare at their booth, which was manned by her partner, Brandy Flagg, and Lori Beck. “We had BLT dip, pork tenderloin on rolls, bacon-wrapped potato bombs.”
And they were the bomb, let me tell you.
Lori Beck and Brandy Flagg at the Heirloom Catering booth at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Lernard Chambers, owner of The Genre, didn’t do a bacon-inspired dish. “We just did a fried U.S. catfish with a sauce two different ways,” Chambers says. “And then we had Southwest egg rolls.”
The event organizer cut him him some slack. “Our menu didn’t have bacon on it.”
Well, I’d attend a “Catfish & Bourbon” event any day.
By the way, Chambers and his twin brother, Bernard, are celebrating their 30th birthday with a three-day event, which is open to the public. It will include a blacktop event October 21st, a midnight brunch on October 22nd, and Soul Food Sunday on October 23rd For information, call 901-410-8169.
Lernard Chambers at The Genre booth at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Kim West, Latasha Jones, and Amber Bowden at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Maddy Linton and Whit Marbut at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Dominic Echols and Dewann Jones at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Logan Welk, Carson Reaves, Alyce Craddock at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Adrian and Maia Pugh at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Lydia and Martial Morrison at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Michelle Burgess and Clinton Ward at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Justin Maclin and Tashanna Minton at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)Nadia and Tyler White at Bacon & Bourbon (Credit: Michael Donahue)We Saw You
Little Willie Farmer plays at the Juke Joint Festival. (Photo: Courtesy Juke Joint Festival)
For the past two years or so, our calendars have been a bit bare. But things are looking up as Memphis is going full-throttle with events once again. With food, fashion, art, music, and more, it’s time to celebrate the return of the fair and festival season!
APRIL
Bluff City Blues Crawfish Festival
Where crawfish are red and the music is blues, this festival is perfect for a rendezvous. Benefiting A Betor Way, the festival will have arts and crafts vendors, food, and music by Memphissippi Sounds, Mick Kolassa and the Endless Blues Band, the Eric Hughes Band, and more.
Carolina Watershed, April 16, tinyurl.com/bluffcityblues
Farm to Tap Festival
As part of an initiative to have more Tennessee brewers use more local farm products, the festival will showcase more than 20 guild member breweries, with tickets including unlimited samples, tasting cups, and great times with farmers, food trucks, vendors, and more.
Wiseacre Brewing, April 16, farmtotap.org
Shelby Forest Spring Fest
Shelby Forest Spring Fest is going to be a hoot — at least that’s what the owl there tells me. With live music, shopping, kids zone, food trucks, and wildlife exhibits and lectures throughout the day, you won’t want to miss out.
Shelby Farms, April 16, shelbyforestspringfest.com
Africa in April
Saluting the Republic of Malawi for its 35th festival, the family-friendly Africa in April event will be filled with live performances, food and merchandise vendors, and the International Diversity Parade.
Robert R. Church Park, April 20-24, africainapril.org
Double Decker Festival Oxford
In 1994, Oxford, Mississippi, made the bold decision to import a double-decker bus from England. A momentous occasion for the history books if you ask the Double Decker Festival, which speaks to the momentous-ness, with 100+ art and 20+ local food vendors, an impressive slew of musical performances, art demonstrations, and a Best Dressed Pet Contest.
Oxford Courthouse Square, April 22-23, doubledeckerfestival.com
Sashay! Memphis Fashion Week walks the runway. (Photo: Courtesy Sierra Hotel Images)
Memphis Fashion Week
Walk, walk, fashion, baby. You’re gonna want to work Memphis Fashion Week into your schedule. The live runway show will feature emerging designers and a special headlining designer guest, Amanda Uprichard.
Arrow Creative, April 22, memphisfashionweek.org
Juke Joint Festival
The Juke Joint Festival celebrates the Delta’s past and living history. Kicking off at 10 a.m., the day will include blues music, racing pigs, arts and crafts, food, and a dozen free outdoor stages of blues and roots music.
Clarksdale, MS, April 23, jukejointfestival.com
Taste the Rarity: Invitational Beer Festival
The best and weirdest beers from breweries all over the country are coming to Memphis to celebrate the seventh Taste the Rarity with unlimited drinking, plus live music, food trucks, and other nonsense.
Wiseacre Brewing, April 23, tastetherarity.com
Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival has crawfish galore. (Photo: Courtesy Porter-Leath)
Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival
Too few occasions present themselves when you can bob for crawfish, race crawfish, and eat crawfish, but you’ll have the chance at Porter-Leath’s festival.
Downtown Memphis, April 24, porterleath.org/rajun-cajun-home
Art in the Loop (Photo: Courtesy Greg Belz)
Art in the Loop
Some of the region’s most talented artists will set up shop at this festival celebrating the arts, where you can also enjoy live music and food trucks.
Ridgeway Loop Road, April 29-May 1, artintheloop.org
Storyfest
Forty Memphians, ranging in ages from 9 to 93, will share their stories through live performances at the Halloran Centre. Engagement activities and community reflections will follow at the free fest.
Halloran Centre, April 29-30, orpheum-memphis.com/event/storyfest
May Day Festival and Memphis Children’s Theatre Festival
Theatre Memphis celebrates a century of entertaining with live entertainment, an array of artists’ and artisans’ booths, food trucks, and more. On the same day, Theatre Memphis will host the Children’s Theatre Festival as a pay-what-you-can event.
Theatre Memphis, April 30, theatrememphis.org
MAY
Beale Street Music Festival
Megan Thee Stallion, Weezer, Van Morrison, Lil Wayne, and many more (60+ artists) are coming for the city’s legendary springtime music festival.
Fairgrounds in Liberty Park, April 29-May 1, memphisinmay.org/BSMF
Memphis in May International Festival
For the month of May, this annual festival brings the world to Memphis and Memphis to the world, and this year, it is saluting Ghana through cultural events and performances, museum and gallery exhibits, films, luncheons, and a gala.
Various locations, May 1-31, memphisinmay.org
Bookstock: Memphis Area Authors’ Festival
You’re gonna want to book it to Memphis Public Libraries for this festival of author talks, activities for teens and children, and 60 local authors’ exhibits.
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, May 7, memphislibrary.org/bookstock
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
When May rolls in, Memphis knows that’s the cue to start getting our tummies ready for what USAToday calls the “Most Prestigious Barbecue Contest.” For four days, the best of the best barbecue buffs will compete in such categories as Ribs, Shoulder, and Whole Hog, as well as Hot Wings, Sauce, and “Anything But Pork.”
Fairgrounds in Liberty Park, May 11-14, memphisinmay.org/WCBCCtickets
Bluff City Fair
This fair isn’t bluffing when it comes to fun and excitement. You’ll be entertained with a majestic thrill show, rides galore, fair food, and an all-day petting zoo.
Liberty Bowl Stadium, May 20-30, bluffcityfair.com
DreamFest Weekend
A dream is a wish your heart makes, but this festival is doing more than just wishing for its dream of unity, collaboration, and community. For this three-day event, an impressive array of artists will come together to promote Memphis music and artist collaboration.
Overton Park Shell, May 20-22, dreamfestweekend.com
Memphis Greek Festival
Cue the groans from children as parents inevitably evoke the phrase “It’s all Greek to me” at this family-friendly festival with scrumptious Greek food, tours of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, live music, artisan booths, and activities for kids.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, May 20-21, memphisgreekfestival.com
Beale Street Artcrawl Festival
Before the barcrawlers creep onto the street we call Beale, artcrawlers can go amuck at this pop-up market of art and merchandise.
Beale Street, May 21, bealestreetartcrawlfestival.com
Memphis Mushroom Festival
All fungi, fungals, and funpals are invited to this five-day, four-night camping festival that celebrates the foods and fungi grown in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. With speakers, workshops, forays through the forest, yoga, dancing, cooking classes, and tastings — let’s just say this festival covers a lot of ground.
Shelby Forest Park, May 26-30, memphismushroomfest.com
JUNE
Memphis Italian Festival
Is it sauce or gravy? Well, the folks at this fest have taken a side, seeing that the festival boasts a Spaghetti Gravy Contest. In addition to their food-related competitions, the event will have live music, along with art vendors and, of course, tons of great food.
Marquette Park, June 2-4, memphisitalianfestival.org
Memphis Pride Fest Weekend
Spanning four days, the celebration includes a Drag N Drive, dance party, parade, and full festival with two stages, more than 150 vendors, food trucks, and so much more.
Various locations, June 2-5, midsouthpride.org/pridefest
Memphis Margarita Festival
Sometimes all life gives you is limes, and all you can do is make margaritas. Thankfully, the city’s best margarita-makers are ready to inspire you at this festival where you can sample margaritas from your favorite restaurants alongside awesome entertainment.
Overton Square, June 4, memphismargaritafestival.com
Craft Food & Wine Festival
Showcasing scrumptious, locally-produced breads, cheeses, fruit preserves, cured meats, and more, this event will raise funds for Church Health.
The Columns, June 5, craftfoodandwinefest.com
MidSouth Nostalgia Festival
Veteran actors from your favorite classic movies and TV shows — from the likes of Leave It To Beaver and Laramie — are appearing in person to talk about their careers and give out autographs at this fest.
Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center, Olive Branch, MS, June 9-11, midsouthnostalgiafestival.com
Memphis Vegan Festival
If you’re living on the veg, you’ll want to check out this day full of vegan food, live entertainment, and a marketplace featuring local businesses, plant-based health and beauty products, and clothing.
Pipkin Building,, June 18, facebook.com/901veganfestival
Tri-State Black Pride Weekend
Tri-State Black Pride presents workshops, lectures, a drag show, stand-up comedy, and a Sunday Funday of live music.
Various locations, June 16-19, tristateblackpride.com
Bluff City Balloon Jamboree
Scheduled for Father’s Day weekend, the Bluff City Balloon Jamboree will delight its attendees with hot air balloon rides, a balloon glow event, carnival attractions, arts and crafts, and live music.
Shelby Farms Park, June 17-19, bluffcityballoonjamboree.com
With Juneteenth being declared a federal holiday in the U.S. last year, the 29th Annual Memphis Juneteenth Festival promises to celebrate African-American culture, food, entertainment, and the overall significance of the holiday. Along with food, music, and entertainment, festival-goers can look forward to the annual Juneteenth Career and Health Fair Expo, the Memphis Juneteenth Lifetime Achievement Awards, the Juneteenth Ultimate Dance Showdown, Food Truck Sunday, and Praise Fest at Juneteenth.
Health Sciences Park, June 18-19, juneteenthfreedommemphis.com
Mid-South Air Show
It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s … yeah, it’s a plane. While Superman might not be in the sky for the Mid-South Airshow, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels are just as impressive, featuring military demonstrations, aerobatic performances, static display aircraft, and local emergency response helicopters.
Millington-Memphis Airport, June 18-19, midsouthairshow.com
Memphis Crafts & Drafts
Shopping is exercise. Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. So if you don’t want summertime happiness to be smothered by rising temperatures, you’ll want to head over to this market of local makers and artists. It’s called the transitive property, right?
Crosstown Concourse Plaza and Atrium, June 25, memphiscraftsanddrafts.com
July
Summer Cocktail Festival
Shake it up a bit this July with this epic dance party with summer-inspired cocktails, fresh local food, photobooth ops, and fun activities.
Overton Square, July 29, memphisfestivals.com/summercocktailfestival
AUGUST
Memphis Chicken & Beer Fest
If, like the Zac Brown Band, you appreciate your chicken fried, a cold beer on a Saturday night, a pair of jeans that fit just right, and the radio up, you’ll appreciate the Memphis Chicken & Beer Fest where you can get all that — except the jeans. With live music, interactive games, a bungee run, and more, tickets include more than 90 beverage samples, and a portion will benefit the Dorothy Day House.
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, August 6, memphischickenandbeer.com
Elvis Week 2022
This August marks the 45th anniversary of Elvis’ death and the 44th anniversary of the first Elvis Week. What began as a small group of fans gathering at Graceland’s gates has turned into the multi-day phenomenon we know today. Highlights from the week include personal tours of Graceland led by Priscilla Presley and Jerry Schilling, the Candlelight Vigil, the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, and nightly parties.
Graceland, August 9-17, graceland.com/elvis-week
SEPTEMBER
Delta Fair & Music Festival
Carnival rides, live music, attractions, livestock shows, oh boy, there’s so much going on every day at the Delta Fair.
Agricenter International, September 2-11, deltafest.com
Germantown Festival
This festival is one of the few places in town where you’re guaranteed to see a weenie and say, “Aww, look how cute.” In addition to its Running of the Weenies race, this festival of arts has children’s activities, rides and games, entertainment, a car exhibit, community displays, and more.
Germantown Civic Club Complex, September 10-11, germantownfest.com
Cooper-Young Festival
There’s no need to stay cooped up in your house when you can join in on the fun at the Cooper-Young Festival, where art, music, and crafts come together to celebrate Memphis’ culture and heritage.
Cooper-Young, September 17, cooperyoungfestival.com
Gonerfest 19
Music enthusiasts won’t be able to resist Goner Records’ siren call, and yes, somehow, this siren call reaches all the way to Australia. Be on the lookout for the lineup.
Railgarten, September 22-25, goner-records.com/pages/gonerfest
Mid-South Fair
At this must-do event since 1856, fair-goers can enjoy more than 50 rides, an array of ground acts, and of course favorite fair fare — funnel cakes, turkey legs, candied apples; you name it, they’ve perfected it.
Landers Center, September 22-October 2, landerscenter.com/mid-south-fair
Mighty Roots Music
Whatta fest, whatta fest, whatta mighty good fest. Mhhm, this event is back for year two, taking place at the same spot the famous blues singer-songwriter Muddy Waters began his love of blues music. The lineup will be announced April 11th, so keep an eye out.
Stovall, MS, September 23-24, mightrootsmusicfestival.com
Latin Fest
We may not be talking about Bruno once September rolls around, but we should be talking about Latinx representation year-round. Though this fest takes place for just a day, it captures that spirit of appreciation with live Latin music, Latin food and drinks, crafts, and fun for everyone.
Overton Square, Saturday, September 24, overtonsquare.com
Pink Palace Crafts Fair
The Pink Palace Crafts Fair is back to celebrate its Big 5-O with 150 artists from around the country, ready for you to explore their works.
Museum of Science & History, September 24-26, moshmemphis.com
Mempho Music Festival
Mempho never disappoints, and you know it. Three days of music’s biggest names playing amid the natural beauty of Memphis Botanic Garden. The lineup will be released next week and tickets are already selling fast.
Radians Amphitheater at Memphis Botanic Garden, September 30-October 2, memphofest.com
OCTOBER
King Biscuit Blues Festival
Founded in 1986, this fest celebrates blues music with the highest regard across five stages; plus you’ll see a variety of buskers. Of course the three-day event wouldn’t be complete without the Flour Power 5K, the Tour da Delta bicycle race, and a Kansas City-sanctioned barbecue contest, all in historic Downtown Helena.
Helena, AR, October 5-8, kingbiscuitfestival.com
Memphis Bacon & Bourbon Festival
You might ask, what’s shakin’ over at this festival? Well, bacon, that’s what’s shaking — bacon and bacon-inspired dishes to sample. Oh, and bourbon, lots of bourbon.
Metal Museum, October 7, memphisbaconandbourbon.com
Edge Motorfest
Start your engines and gear up for this day of more than 150 cars, food trucks, vendor booths, and more in the Edge District. Trust us when we say, this’ll be more than a pit stop in your weekend activities.
Edge Motor Museum, October 8, edgemotormuseum.com
Soulsville USA Festival
We all know Memphis wouldn’t be Memphis without its roots in soul music, and this festival aims to remind us of that fact. In addition to educational and interactive activities, the festival will include live music, food trucks, vendors, games for kids, and free admission to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
Soulsville USA District, October 14-16, soulsvilleusafestival.com
Memphis Food & Wine Festival
Benefiting FedExFamilyHouse, the Memphis Food & Wine Festival, which showcases local chefs alongside acclaimed national chefs and top global vineyards, will leave your tummy so full and happy that you’ll miss the festival dearly until its return.
Memphis Botanic Garden, October 15, memphisfoodwinefestival.org
Indie Memphis Film Festival
If you’re a bit more introverted, a lot of the events on this list will probably leave you needing a day to recover from the social exhaustion. And while it’s worth it in exchange for all the fun you’ll have, what if I told you there was a festival where you can have fun while being your introverted self? Yep, at this one, you get to be a semi-couch potato and watch indie film after indie film to your heart’s content while in the company of your fellow movie-lovers. Plus, enjoy behind-the-scenes panels and discussions.
Midtown, October 19-24, indiememphis.org
World Championship Hot Wing Fest
A championship that is everything we wish it to be — dare I say, it’s the wind beneath our wings, there to bestow the glory upon the best chicken wings, content to let the winners shine and the festival-goers sample the fare, all the while supporting The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis.
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, October 22, worldwingfest.com
RiverArtsFest
The largest juried artist market and urban festival in the Mid-South, the RiverArtsFest brings more than 180 artists from around the country to show off and sell their fine arts. As an added bonus, the festival features artist demonstrations, hands-on art activities for all ages, and local music.
Downtown Memphis, October 22-23, riverartsmemphis.org
Dia de Los Muertos Parade and Festival celebrates the Day of the Dead. (Photo: Angel Ortez)
Dia de Los Muertos Parade and Festival
If you think Dia de Los Muertos is Mexico’s version of Halloween, you’re dead wrong. The Brooks Museum and Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre will show you what the day is all about: honoring ancestors and celebrating the cycle of life and death. A parade begins in Overton Square with floats and performers making their way to the plaza at the Brooks Museum, where you can enjoy art-making activities, face painting, music, costumed performers, and more.
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, October 29, brooksmuseum.com
While attending nursing school, Carolyn Mallett was moved to make a major lifestyle change while working on a special project.
“I was taking a community health course, and we were each assigned a zip code,” Mallett says. “Mine was Orange Mound. I knew there was a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables, but until I actually went into the neighborhood and did field research — I was shocked at how limited their options are.”
This research sent her on a course that resulted in her becoming vegan in an effort not only to lead a more healthy lifestyle but also to have an impact on her world.
“I found out how much water was used in animal agriculture and all the deforestation that goes into all the land that is needed,” Mallett says. “The amount of people that livestock can feed is far less than grain or plant-based, meanwhile millions of people go hungry.”
Now, she and her friend Angel Jackson, who is transitioning to a vegan diet, are taking the next step in their efforts to impact their world — they’re putting on a vegetarian festival.
On Saturday, April 22nd, Memphis’ first Veg Fest will take place at the Levitt Shell, an ideal day and location for a festival celebrating animal humaneness and environmental sustainability (that’s Earth Day in Overton Park).
“It was completely coincidental, and it’s awesome,” Mallett says.
The festival kicks off with free yoga, presented by Sumits Yoga, at 10 a.m. followed by festival activities including food vendors, who will offer $3 sample plates, food trucks, live music, food demos, and speakers.
Food vendors include Zaka Bowl, City Silo, Seasons 52, Imagine Vegan Cafe, Merge Memphis, Phillip Ashley Chocolates, Ms. Lillie’s Z-Muffins, Nikki’s Products, Guilt-Free Pastries, Lydia’s Healthy Edibles, and others.
One of the highlights of the event is a vegan cook off, which is open to anyone and offers prizes in entree to dessert.
“No experience is needed,” Mallett says. “We have high schoolers doing it.”
Those interested in entering the contest can sign up online at memphisvegfest.com until April 14th.
“We have had people ask if this is an effort to aggressively convert people, and that is absolutely not the case,” Mallett says. “This is simply for learning about and shedding light on the benefits and the impact of incorporating even a little more plant-based food into your diet.
“This is to promote the elimination of nutritional disparities in our city,” Mallett continues.
The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit memphisvegfest.com.
Memphis Veg Fest, Saturday, April 22nd at Levitt Shell.
Memphis is nothing if not diverse. On the other end of the spectrum of celebrating and promoting plant-based foods and living a healthy lifestyle there is The Memphis Flyer‘s Bacon and Bourbon festival.
It’s just what it sounds like — a celebration of pairing two of the South’s best exports — meat candy and whiskey.
Saturday, April 15th will mark the Flyer‘s second annual festival, and if last year is any indication, it will sell out.
“It’s always a happy day at Bacon and Bourbon,” Molly Willmott, chief operating officer of the Flyer‘s parent company, Contemporary Media Inc., says.
A $35 ticket will get you 15 bourbon tastings and free food samplings.
Bacon experts include Central BBQ, The Casual Pint Highland Row, Maximo’s on Broad, Spindini, Tops Bar-B-Q, Pete & Sam’s, Memphis Pizza Cafe, Celtic Crossing Memphis, Marco’s Pizza, Kooky Canuck — Memphis, Pimento’s Kitchen + Market, and others.
Some of the bourbon being offered to taste and learn about includes Eagle Rare Bourbon, Stillhouse American Whiskey, American Born Moonshine, Four Roses Bourbon, Bird Dog Whiskey, Chattanooga Whiskey Co., Wild Turkey Bourbon, 1792 Bourbon, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Belle Meade Bourbon, Coopers’ Craft Bourbon, Jim Beam, as well as other adult beverages presented by Athens Distributing Company of Memphis, Southern Glazer’s of Tennessee, Budweiser of Memphis, and Ghost River Brewing Co.
There will also be live music and vendors, including a cigar station, as well as a cash bar for those of the craft beer or martini persuasion.
All activities will take place at the Memphis Farmers Market at S. Front and G.E. Patterson from 6 to 9 p.m.
Sponsors this year include Henry Turley Co., Gossett Fiat, Another Broken Egg Cafe, and Memphis Farmers Market, and a portion of the proceeds benefit the Farmers Market.
The Flyer’s first-ever Bacon & Bourbon was last Saturday (everything was last Saturday!) at the Memphis Farmers Market downtown.
Says Events Manager Jackie Sparks-Davila, “We had 500 people, not a single drop of bourbon was left over, and so much bacon, pork belly, bbq, pizza, bacon cupcakes were eaten!”
See all the pictures, taken by Don Perry and Cole Wheeler at the Flyer’s Facebook page.
Each November Cynthia Daniels doesn’t just look forward to Memphis Downtown Dining Week — she has a game plan.
“My friends and I go every day. We have a strategy. We save our money. We do the whole nine yards,” Daniels, public relations coordinator for the Workforce Investment Network, says.
At the same time, the Atlanta native has a strong appreciation for the sense of community her new hometown of Memphis practices, and she wanted to get in the middle of it. So she came up with the idea of developing a dining week for minority-owned restaurants and has dubbed it Memphis Black Restaurant Week.
“There wasn’t a place to go and get the numbers, but African-American-owned restaurants are few and far between,” Daniels says. “I thought why not bring some awareness to those restaurants and get people spending money there. A lot of people don’t know who they are.”
The first annual Memphis Black Restaurant Week will run March 7th through 13th.
Eight local African-American-owned restaurants are participating.
Terrance Callicutt and QuaSheba Jones-Callicutt
They include: Scoops Parlor at 106 E. G.E. Patterson; the HM Dessert Lounge at 1586 Madison; DeJaVu at 51 S. Main; Onix at 412 S. Main; Evergreen Grill at 300 S. Main; Mot & Ed’s at 1354 Madison; the Bistro at 2945 Millbranch; and the Office @ Uptown at 594 N. Second.
“I focused on Midtown and downtown because of easy access,” Daniels says.
She tried to mix it up cuisine-wise to keep the African-American restaurant scene from seeming boxed-in.
“I didn’t want it to necessarily be soul food, because that’s what it’s generally known for,” Daniels says.
Sweet and savory servings from Scoops Parlor
Scoops specializes in savory and sweet crepes and gelato, and the HM Dessert Lounge offers unique savory cupcakes as well as desserts such as key lime cheesecake.
Each restaurant will offer a specialized menu of two-course lunch specials for $15 and a three-course dinner for $25.
“I wanted to keep it as easy as possible,” Daniels says.
Daniels, who has worked in the world of fund-raising, conference planning, and event planning, found it impossible to resist the community spirit of Memphis.
“I’m from Atlanta, and I moved to Memphis in 2009. This is a culture that supports local business, and I volunteer for a lot of different organizations, so I bought into the culture here immediately,” she says.
She says she sees MBRW as an annual event and hopes to grow it each year and let it do the work she set out for it to do.
“We have a committee, and we’ll be collecting data from the week, looking at the numbers and how much spending power it has brought. Then we will take that data and make it bigger and better going into the next year,” she says.
“It makes me feel good to be able to create a week that brings attention to these restaurants and hopefully get them some new customers.”
Peas and carrots. Chocolate and peanut butter. Coffee and cigarettes. Some things are just made for each other.
Take bourbon. While bourbon goes with a lot of things — water, Coke, mint, ice — the “it” food bacon probably takes home the gold when it comes to what best to pair with the oak-barrel-aged corn liquor.
The Flyer took one for the team and labored through a cumbersome amount of research, came to the same conclusion, and wanted to offer to its readership the same divinely inspired coupling while serving a good cause.
On Saturday, April 16th, the first Bacon & Bourbon event will take place downtown at the Memphis Farmers Market at Central Station, located at the corner of S. Main and G.E. Patterson.
“They just go so well together,” event planner Jackie Sparks-Davila says.
For just $35, bourbon enthusiasts, or pork enthusiasts, or some combination of the two, will receive a sampling card with 10 bottles marked on it.
Bourbon reps from all over the country will be stationed throughout the market to keep the alcohol flowing and talk about their product, while 20 local restaurants will serve up pork-inspired dishes and show off their bacon expertise.
Confirmed restaurants so far include: Central BBQ, Celtic Crossing, the Brass Door, Bardog, Aldo’s Pizza Pies, Paradox Catering, IPOP Gourmet Popcorn, Ray’z World Famous Dr. Barbecue, and Broadway Pizza.
Attendees will be able to sample as many of the bacon dishes as they can stand, and if after 10 shots of whiskey, the party just ain’t over, there will be a cash bar with alcohol available for purchase.
Papa Tops West Coast Turnaround will provide their usual bourbon-infused ballads and such, and if bacon is bourbon’s soul mate, its mistress will be lurking somewhere on the premises, as there will also be a cigar-rolling station.
Bacon & Bourbon is presented by The Memphis Flyer, Roadshow BMW, Miss Cordelia’s, and Southland Park Gaming and Racing, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Memphis Farmers Market.
The event is 21-and-up only, and ticket prices will increase closer to the event.
“We do expect to sell out. Tickets are limited,” Sparks-Davila says.
