Good morning, Memphis! ☀️
Imagine getting a text that just says: "block party, free food, vote closes tonight, bears in Alaska, call me." That's basically today's issue, minus the phone call.
Good news too: the city just patched up 7,700 potholes, so your car's suspension can relax a little this week.
We've also got a ukulele deadline, wiffle ball for a good cause, and more, all packed into one 5 minute Monday morning read.
Let's get into it.
Community
🦒 Last Day to Vote on the Memphis Zoo's New Look
Memphis Zoo
Today is the last day to vote in the Memphis Zoo's Brand Refresh Community Vote. The Zoo is picking a brand new look, and it wants Memphis to help decide before the polls close tonight.
🎨 Pick your favorite. The Zoo is choosing between four different design directions for its new logo and brand. Just vote for the one you like best. No design degree required.
⏰ Last call, seriously. Voting closes at the end of today, so if you've been putting it off, this is it. The winning idea moves on to become the Zoo's full new look, colors and all.
Events
🎨 The 38th Cooper-Young Festival Takes Over the Neighborhood Saturday
The 38th annual Cooper-Young Festival turns Cooper Street and Young Avenue into one giant, free block party this Saturday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. No tickets, no sign up, just show up.
🎨 425-plus artists, one street. Browse booths from local and regional makers, grab a bite from the International Bazaar, and let the kids loose in the family zone.
🎶 Two stages of hometown music. The Guaranty Bank Stage closes out with the Afrikan Jazz Ensemble, plus sets from Raneem Iman and Twin Fiction. The Mempho Presents Stage runs all day with San Salida, The Narrows and more.
Food & Drink
🍽️ A Taste of Memphis Fills Tiger Lane Wednesday, Free
The 12th annual A Taste of Memphis rolls into Tiger Lane at the Fairgrounds this Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 5 to 10 p.m. Best part? It's completely free.
🏘️ Neighborhoods showing off. Community groups and neighborhood organizations from across Memphis and Shelby County compete for bragging rights with their own booths, all under this year's theme, "Memphis Communities: Together We Rise!"
🌮 Food, free, fun. Expect food vendors, live entertainment and plenty of Memphis pride, thanks to the City's Division of Housing and Community Development and a boost of energy from Overton Park Shell's Shell on Wheels.
Good News
🕳️ Memphis Just Filled 7,700 Potholes
via Daily Memphian on IG
Memphis Public Works just wrapped the first year of its Zone Strategy street maintenance push, and the numbers are in.
🚧 Big numbers, smoother rides. Crews filled more than 7,700 potholes, swept 3,500 miles of city streets and cleaned 5,700 storm drains, all between July 2025 and July 2026.
📞 Your street's turn. Public Works Director Scott Morgan says a pothole can grow if nobody reports it. If yours needs attention, call 311 or 901-636-6500 to get it on the list.
Daily Picks
🗞️ Other News Around the 901
🎸 Uke better hurry. Bartlett's beginner ukulele class needs sign ups by the end of today, Sept. 14. Register through the City of Bartlett's calendar before the deadline closes.
🥎 Whiff, don't cry. Wifflestock swings into Willow Park Fields Sept. 26 and 27 for a two day wiffle ball tournament benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of West Tennessee. The event has raised more than $119,000 for local families since it started. (wifflestock26)
🐻 May the fattest bear win. Fat Bear Week is back. Public voting on Alaska's chunkiest Katmai National Park brown bears runs Sept. 22 through 29. It's not exactly Memphis news, but we can't resist a good bear bracket. (Vote here)
👂 Ear today, here to stay. Researchers at the University of Memphis just wrapped up testing a Samsung Galaxy Buds hearing aid feature. The goal: make hearing help cheaper and less awkward to get. (Read more)
⚾ Diamond dynasty. The Redbirds closed out their home season Sept. 13 with a win over the Norfolk Tides. They already locked up the 2026 International League First-Half Championship back in June, and now it's on to the IL Championship Series, starting Sept. 22 at AutoZone Park.
🎲 Bored no more. Max's Sports Bar downtown hosts free board game night every Monday, 6 to 8 p.m., with $6 craft drafts to sip while you play. (maxssportsbar.com)
🧘 Flow with the river. Hustle and Flow Pilates meets tonight at Tom Lee Park, Monday at 6 p.m. It's free, no sign up needed. Just bring a mat, a towel and a little hustle. (Details here)
📚 Homework you'll enjoy. Memphis 101 stops by the Dixon Gallery and Gardens tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 5:30 p.m., and it's free. Expect a fast, fun crash course on Memphis history, food and culture. (Details here)
📬 Snail mail, steady paycheck. USPS is hiring in Memphis for Mail Handler Assistants, City Carrier Assistants and Postal Support Employees. The hiring event is today, Monday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Memphis Processing and Distribution Center, 555 S. B.B. King Blvd. (Details here)
🏈 Fri-yay recap. Catch up on last week's Memphis-area high school football scores, plus records and standings for all 76 metro teams, on the 901 Scoreboard. (Check it out here)
📣 Want to reach Memphis? 901 Today lands in 11,000+ inboxes across the Memphis metro every weekday morning. Partner with 901 Today here.
Poll of the Week
🕳️ The Monday Poll
Have you noticed fewer potholes on your regular routes?
Reader Survey
📝 Tell Us About You, Win Dinner on Us
We're building 901 Today for you, so we want to know who you are and what you want more of. Fill out our quick reader survey and you're entered to win a $50 gift card to the Memphis-area restaurant of your choice. It takes less than five minutes. One entry per person. We'll pick the winner at the end of September.
That's it for today!
Thanks for spending part of your morning with us.
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Have a great week, Memphis. We'll see you tomorrow.
— 901 Today
