Good morning, Memphis! ☀️
Today is National Bacon Lovers Day. To celebrate, here's a fact you didn't ask for but will absolutely repeat at dinner:
Legend says that the phrase "bringing home the bacon" started in the 1100s, when an English church gave a side of bacon to any husband who swore he hadn't argued with his wife for a year and a day.
No word on how many actually collected, but you can probably guess.
Now, here's what Memphis is serving up today:
"Mean Girls" hits the Playhouse stage this weekend
a free block party is taking over a downtown alley
a new drive-thru coffee stand is landing near Wolfchase
and St. Jude just named its next leader.
We've also got a the results from Monday's breakfast poll.
Let's get into it.
Theater
🩷 "Mean Girls" Takes Over the Playhouse Stage This Friday
Mean Girls The Musical
Grab your pink — Mean Girls: The Musical kicks off Playhouse on the Square's new season this Friday.
So fetch. Tina Fey turned her hit 2004 movie into a Broadway musical, and it earned 12 Tony nominations. It follows new girl Cady Heron as she takes on queen bee Regina George and her clique, the Plastics.
Three weekends only-ish. Performances run Aug. 21 through Sept. 13 at 66 S. Cooper St. in Overton Square. Yes, wearing pink is always encouraged.
Get tickets here.
Events
🎶 Alley Dayz Brings Free Music and Vendors Downtown Next Wednesday
via Downtown Memphis Commission
Downtown's favorite alley party is back! Alley Dayz returns to Barboro Alley on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Right up our alley. The free neighborhood celebration runs 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with live music from Preauxx and DJ Zetta. No ticket needed, just show up.
Sip and stroll. Browse local pop-ups like Cxffee Black and River City Records, then wander the Main Street mall shops while you're down there.
RSVP and get the details here.
Food & Drink
☕ A New Drive-Thru Coffee Stand Is Landing At Wolfchase
Seven Brew Coffee
Drive-thru coffee chain 7 Brew opens its new Wolfchase-area stand on Germantown Parkway on Monday, Aug. 31, but the free coffee starts even sooner.
Fast, friendly and free (at first). Swing by during Friends & Family weekend, Aug. 28-30, for a free small drink (one per person, during set hours each day).
Déjà brew. The freebies and deals keep going on grand opening day and through Sept. 4 during daily Community Hours.
Then comes the swag. On Saturday, Sept. 5, buy any large drink and get a free 7 Brew t-shirt while they last. This will be the fourth 7 Brew in the Memphis area.
See the store details and grand opening schedule here.
Good News
🏥 St. Jude Has Picked Its Next President
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital named Dr. Charles W.M. Roberts its next president and CEO this week.
Passing the torch. Roberts steps in Jan. 1 after Dr. James Downing's 12 years at the helm. He's no stranger; he has run St. Jude's Comprehensive Cancer Center for the past decade.
"The dawn of a new era." That's how Roberts describes what's next for childhood cancer treatment. Since St. Jude opened in 1962, survival rates for kids with cancer have jumped from about 20% to more than 80%.
Read more here.
Daily Picks
🗞️ Other News Around the 901
🌙 Night at the museum. The Dixon Gallery & Gardens keeps its doors open until 8 p.m. tonight for its monthly Third Thursday. All ages are welcome to roam the art, the gardens, and the kids' interactive gallery after hours.
🎓 Name game. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is now the University of Tennessee Health Sciences — UTHS for short. Chancellor Dr. Peter Buckley announced the change Tuesday, along with plans for a $361 million, seven-story College of Medicine building at Madison and Pauline. It should welcome students in 2030.
🌱 Leaf it to Lichterman. The Native Plant Palooza takes over Lichterman Nature Center this Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission all day. Shop deals on native plants, catch talks like Foraging 101, and let the kids loose in the Discovery Forest.
💃 Runway ready. After two sold-out collections with the Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis designer Brezay debuts her biggest show yet — Brezerk: Crowned — Saturday at Crosstown Concourse. Expect a cinematic runway, live music, vendors, and plenty of photo moments.
🏌️ The comeback course. Bartlett's Quail Ridge Golf Course is targeting a Labor Day reopening. It closed in late 2024 and was nearly turned into houses before the city saved it.
🕯️ A rare night out. The beloved Mollie Fontaine Lounge is back — but only a few nights a year. Owner Karen Carrier opens the 1886 Victorian Village mansion about once a quarter, and the next public night is Friday, Sept. 25.
🥎 Peace, love, and wiffle. Mark your calendar: Wifflestock hits Willow Park Sept. 26-27, raising money for the Ronald McDonald House. It's a two-day wiffle ball tournament with music and food — and it has raised over $119,000 since it started.
🤝 Raise your hand, Germantown. Leadership Germantown is taking applications for its Class of 2027. Over 30 years, the program has helped train more than 600 local leaders who learn how the city works and build lasting friendships along the way.
📢 Want to Reach the 901? 901 Today goes out to thousands of Memphis-area readers every weekday. Advertising with us means growing your business and supporting a feel-good, homegrown newsletter. Let’s chat!
Monday’s Poll Results
🍳 You Voted: The Full Plate Wins
Monday we asked what kind of breakfast person you are, and Memphis, you don't rush your mornings.
43% of you go full plate, no hurry
29% said you're brunch people at heart
17% run on coffee alone
and 12% grab and go.
Keep those biscuits coming.
That's it for today!
Thanks for starting your morning with us.
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Have a great Thursday, Memphis. We'll see you tomorrow with our weekend roundup.
— 901 Today
