It can be a snack or a meal, a side or main dish, meat or plant based, and you can eat it just about anywhere at anytime. 

This flexible food is known to some as a frankfurter, weenie, red hot, coney, frank or even wiener but most know it as just a plain old hot dog. Though this tasty treat was created in Germany, Americans have claimed it as their own.

Today you can find hot dogs being sold in movie theaters, at school plays, and at dine in and fast food restaurants. Another place you can find franks is at hot-dog eating contests.

Supposedly, one of the first hot-dog eating contests was used to determine just how patriotic a group of immigrant were. They gathered at a Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog stand in Coney Island on July 4, 1916, and held a friendly eating competition.

Today thousands follow suit and compete in hot-dog eating contests, not necessarily to show their patriotism but just for the fun of it.

This month the Hot Dog Man and the Vicksburgapp.com are coming together to bring some of that fun to Vicksburg.

On Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. the two groups are hosting a local hot-dog eating contest. Folks will gather at the Hot Dog Man, 1710 Monroe St., to scarf down as many frankfurters as they can in 10 minutes. The winner will take home $200. 

The entry fee for this contest is $10 and prospective winners can register by visiting the Hot Dog Man or Vicksburgapp.com. 

As we prepare to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with our family and friends, many of us have a Norman Rockwell scene in our heads: Big smiles and happy chatter to go with that golden, perfectly roasted turkey and all the trimmings.

The reality is that all that togetherness can cause friction, especially when the talk turns to politics or religion or Uncle Bob’s latest run in with the law.

So how do we keep the peace long enough to enjoy the day without devolving into shouting and accusations and vows of never speaking to one another again?

Here’s a little advice from the experts:

• Set some ground rules. If you already know that mom is a staunch Trump supporter and aunt Caroline organized locals for the Women’s March, take some topics off the conversation menu, such as the impeachment hearings. Setting ground rules is usually the prerogative of the hosts. You don’t need to be rude, just have people agree what subjects are off limits for today, and then insist they stick to the rules.
• Stick to family friendly topics, including sports, pop culture, food and travel.
• Avoid gossiping. Whether it’s George’s latest breakup or the money your brother owes you, keep it to yourself. You can bet cousin Betty doesn’t want to tell the entire gathering why she’s gained 30 pounds since last year, and Jake and Julie aren’t interested in sharing about their adventures with in-vitro fertilization. Give it a rest.
• Keep it civil. No name-calling or off-color language.
• Don’t engage. The easiest way to avoid confrontation is to stay out of it. You don’t have to engage, especially when someone is goading you. If you’re the one doing the goading, stop, and then apologize and move on.
• If you see a conversation begin to get heated, intervene and try to steer it back to safety. Sometimes a little humor or just changing the subject can avoid a blowup.
• If your family thrives on politics, religion or other potentially heated topics, take the time to really listen to different opinions instead of just waiting for the next opening to express your own. Be respectful and be as considerate to others as you would want them to be of you.
• Go light on the alcohol. Drinking tends to exacerbate tense situations and make everything louder and hotter. If you’re hosting, be sure to have plenty of alternatives, and refill water glasses before wine glasses.
• If all else fails, apologize. Nothing diffuses an argument faster than apologizing for a mistaken impression or a heated comment. It may be difficult to bite your own tongue but worth it to produce a little family harmony.
• Finally, take time to reflect before the gathering, and then express what you’re grateful for. It’s Thanksgiving, after all. Say please and thank you a lot. Show gratitude for even the little things.

What’s your family’s way of keeping the peace at family gatherings? Share it on our Facebook page.

A busy Saturday is on the agenda for our community.

Photo Courtesy of VTV

The Annual Bricks and Spokes event kicked off at 8 a.m. this morning and has bicyclist doing a 10, 30, 50 or 62-mile route all through the city of Vicksburg, the Old Highway 80 Bridge and other scenic parts of the community.

Law enforcement is working hard to protect their path. If you are out this morning, please use caution and be aware of any bicyclists you may see.

Photo Courtesy of VTV

The gates opened at 8 a.m. and will be open until 7 p.m. for Bucko’s BBQ Challenge at Sports Force Park (255 Fisher Ferry Rd.). Top pit masters from across the region will be competing for a Grand Prize of $1,000.

Entry is $10, and proceeds benefit Warren, Humphreys, Issaquena and Sharkey counties long-term recovery committee and other charities. This event includes live music, great food and other family-friendly fun. Visit the Sports Force website or the event Facebook page for more information.