Good morning, Memphis! ☀️
It's a stein-raising, string-plucking, Sports-Hall-of-Fame-inducting kind of Wednesday.
Oktoberfest is almost here
Crosstown's throwing an all-day Hispanic Heritage party
and tonight Memphis adds nine more names to its wall of sports legends.
Throw in a soul food comeback story, a funk-and-soul show, and a trivia question that'll test your suburb history, and this might be the fullest Wednesday we've had in a while.
Let's get into it.
Food & Drink
🔥 Chef Flavas Is Cooking Up a Comeback in Bartlett
Chef Flavas
Chef Flavas, the Bartlett soul food spot known for its catfish and shrimp and grits, is rebuilding after a fire gutted its Stage Road location back in May.
🔨 Total loss, total rebuild. The fire tore through the restaurant at 6301 Stage Rd. in late May, and city officials called it a total loss. Owners Chris and Regina Moore closed both their Bartlett and Downtown spots this summer to focus on rebuilding — same address, same soul food.
📅 Circle mid-November. The interior should be finished by Oct. 31, and the Moores are hoping to reopen by mid-November. Until then, you can still grab their famous spinach artichoke dip on Kroger shelves.
Music
🎶 Kool & the Gang and Patti LaBelle Close Out Live at the Garden Friday
Photo via Live Nation
Live at the Garden wraps its 2026 season with a funk-and-soul double bill: Kool & the Gang and Patti LaBelle share the stage at the Memphis Botanic Garden's Radians Amphitheater this Friday, Sept. 18.
🎉 Two legends, one stage. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., with music starting at 8. It's the season finale, so this is your last shot at Live at the Garden until next year.
🧺 Bring the blanket. Outside food, drinks and lawn chairs are all welcome. Lawn tickets start around $65, and free shuttles run from 5 p.m. to midnight. Tickets were still listed for sale as of this week, so grab yours before it's the season finale for real.
Food & Drink
🍺 Soul & Spirits Brewery Taps Into Oktoberfest Saturday
Photo via Memphis Travel
Soul & Spirits Brewery rolls out its fall Oktoberfest celebration this Saturday, Sept. 19, from 1 to 8 p.m., at its Uptown taproom.
🥨 Prost in the Pinch. The brewery (845 N. Main St.) is bringing food trucks Smoke & Toast and Hot n' Heavy Dogs along for the ride.
🍻 Expect the usual suds and fun. Past years have brought keg tapping, a polka band, a stein-holding contest and even a dog costume contest — check the brewery's social pages closer to the day for this year's exact lineup.
Community
🎉 Crosstown Concourse Throws an All-Day Hispanic Heritage Celebration Thursday
Crosstown Concourse kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with a free, all-day celebration this Thursday, Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the Central Atrium.
🎻 Four acts, one afternoon. The lineup runs from a flamenco guitar and flute duo to a mariachi band to a Tropical Fusion set, with Cazateatro performing "The Legends of Latin America" in between.
🪅 More than music. Expect piñata breaks all day, a pop-up shop from Mili's Flowers & Gifts, and craft activities for the kids. Admission and parking are both free.
Sports
🏆 Nine Memphis Legends Get Inducted Into the Sports Hall of Fame Tonight
The 2026 Memphis Sports Hall of Fame welcomes a nine-person class at the Renasant Convention Center tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 16.
🐯 Tiger pride leads the class. Former Memphis Tigers head coach John Calipari, who led the team to the 2008 national championship game, headlines a group that also includes ex-NFL kicker Stephen Gostkowski, Redbirds coach Stubby Clapp and basketball great Larry Kenon.
🎟️ You can go too. A 5:30 p.m. reception kicks things off, followed by the induction ceremony at 6:30. Single tickets are $75, and tables run $750 (if available).
Trivia
🧠 Wednesday Trivia
Think you know your Memphis suburbs? Today's question digs into a wartime name change right here in the 901. Missed last week's goat-themed stumper? Catch it in last Wednesday's issue.
Daily Picks
🗞️ Other News Around the 901
🐾 Buddy's badge is hung up for good. Bolivar's K-9 Buddy, partnered with Lt. Allen Sides since 2020, retired on July 14 after almost six years on the force. The department gave him a retirement ceremony on Sept. 4 — enjoy the naps, Buddy.
☕ Good grief, that's cute. Starbucks' Peanuts-themed fall collection landed this week, with a Snoopy glass cold cup, a ceramic mug and a plush Snoopy barista, all while supplies last. Check them out here.
🍪 Cookie season. Girl Scouts previewed two new flavors this month: Patch Pals, a blueberry-muffin dog treat made with BARK, and Sparkables, an allergen-friendly oatmeal cookie with chocolate chips and sprinkles. Both go on sale online starting January. See them here.
🥃 Shell yeah. Char Restaurant hosts the Old Dominick "Shell-ebration" Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 24, 6 to 8:30 p.m., a five-course meal paired with Old Dominick spirits honoring Overton Park Shell's 90th birthday. It's 21+.
🎸 Feeling blue never sounded so good. The free Memphis Country Blues Festival returns to Overton Park Shell on Sept. 25, headlined by the North Mississippi Allstars and Mr. Sipp, as part of the Orion Financial Free Concert Series. Food trucks on-site include Tops BBQ, BBQX, Soi No. 9, Hot & Heavy Dogs and Mempops.
🚌 Board's back together. Memphis City Council restored MATA's full nine-member board on Sept. 1, filling out the transit agency's oversight team after a stretch of turnover. See the board members here.
🏃 Reap what you run. The Golden Harvest Half Marathon and 5K/10K takes off from Overton Bark Park on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 8 a.m. Runners of every distance are welcome. Sign up here.
🗂️ Missed an issue? Every past newsletter is here, and all our guides are here.
📣 Want to reach Memphis? 901 Today lands in 12,500+ inboxes across the Memphis metro every weekday morning. Partner with 901 Today here.
Good News
🐾 Meet Darla, a Cuddle-Loving Couch Potato
Photo via HSMSC
This week's adoptable pup is Darla, a 5-year-old mixed breed at the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County.
💛 Calm and cuddly. She's an easygoing girl who'd rather curl up in your lap than cause any trouble — a certified professional napper.
🏠 Found as a stray, ready for a home. She's spayed and up to date on her shots, just waiting for her people to show up.
🎉 Save the date. The Humane Society's biggest bash of the year, the Paw Prints Party, is Saturday, Sept. 26 — an evening of food, an open bar and a silent auction that helps more than 800 shelter animals find forever homes each year. Details here.
That's it for today!
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Have a great Wednesday, Memphis. We'll see you tomorrow.
— 901 Today
