Good morning, Memphis! ☀️
The 901 is keeping things interesting today.
A new restaurant is bringing some serious personality to The Edge
The Memphis theater scene is gearing up for its next act
And there’s still time to squeeze in some summer fun before school starts back.
Plus: one very impressive (or questionable) BBQ nacho achievement.
Let's get into it.
Food
🍸 Gussied Up Is Bringing Dinner and Nightlife to The Edge District
The team behind Hard Times Deli is turning the back half of their Marshall Avenue spot into Gussied Up, a nighttime bar and restaurant set to open soon in the Edge District.
The concept is simple: "Lunch is Hard Times. Dinner is Gussied Up." Hard Times handles lunch Tuesday through Saturday, while Gussied Up will take over Wednesday through Saturday evenings, plus a Sunday "Kinfolk" brunch.
The design is going all in on personality: think red neon lights, tufted lipstick-red leather chairs, wavy glass blocks separating the booths, Pizza Hut-inspired chandeliers hanging overhead, and wooden bar tops made from old bowling lanes.
The fun spills outside, too: Gussied Up will add a patio with extra seating, and the owners plan to throw parking lot parties with live music for the neighborhood.
Get the full story on the Edge District’s newest hangout.
Performing Arts
🎭 Theater Thursday
Theatre Memphis
Places, everyone! There's a lot happening across Memphis' theater scene.
It's audition season, and the Collierville Arts Council is kicking things off with casting for The Happy Elf — a chance to get in on the holiday show early.
Bartlett Performing Arts is also holding auditions for Matilda, so aspiring performers have a couple of weeks to get their audition pieces ready.
Suffs, the Tony-winning musical about the suffragist movement, arrives at the Orpheum beginning July 31 for its Memphis run. Get tickets here.
Your Romeo takes its final bow at Playhouse on the Square this Sunday, July 26 — last call if you've been meaning to catch it. Grab tickets here.
Theatre Memphis has opened ticket sales for its 2026 - 2027 season, which kicks off with the classic crowd-pleaser The Music Man.
One Memphis landmark is getting a second act: restoration work continues on the historic Daisy Theater on Beale Street following last year's fire, another step toward bringing one of the city's iconic venues back to life.
And Hattiloo Theatre, the Mid-South's only freestanding Black repertory theatre, has unveiled plans for a major expansion that will add new performance space, a café, and additional programming opportunities.
If you've been waiting for your cue, this might be it.
Kids and Family
☀️ Last Chance for Summer Camps
Summer break is almost over, but several Memphis organizations still have one final week of camps, next week, July 27-31.
Memphis Botanic Garden is hosting Wildlife Safari Camp.
The Pink Palace's Idea Factory camp returns for young creators.
Lichterman Nature Center is offering its Apex Adventure camp.
See which camps still have openings before school starts back.
Daily Picks
🗞️ Other News Around the 901
🏨 Raise the roof... The Peabody's famous rooftop parties continue tonight with live music from Thomas Caine and one of the hottest sunset views in Downtown Memphis.
🎾 Game, set, Memphis... Professional women's tennis returns this weekend as the WTA Memphis Classic serves up another weekend of world-class competition.
🏈 One last howl... The Memphis Hound Dogs (the Mid-South’s indoor football team) will play their final home game of the season Saturday night against the Ozarks Lunkers at the Memphis Sports & Events Center.
🎲 Roll for celebration... Happy first anniversary to Game Nite Lounge, which has officially been bringing Memphis together over friendly competition for a full year.
🏀 Making an early impression... Grizzlies first-round pick Cam Boozer earned First Team All-Summer League honors after turning heads throughout the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
🌻 Sun's out, bloom’s out… The sunflower field at Ducks Unlimited Park near Big River Crossing is officially in bloom and makes for one of the prettiest free photo spots around town.
🌮 Now that's competitive eating... Joey Chestnut closed out last weekend's Redbirds game by taking on several local challengers in a celebrity eating contest. He proceeded to demolish five pounds of BBQ nachos in just two minutes.. And yes, there's a video.
🤠 Country roads lead to Southaven... Luke Bryan takes the stage tonight at BankPlus Amphitheater, and there are still tickets available if you're looking for some last minute plans.
👵 Happy National Gorgeous Grandma Day to all the Memaws, Nanas, Grannys, Gigis, and Grandmas who somehow still have more energy than the rest of us.
🛰️ Internet from outer space... Starlink is offering discounted satellite internet for many Mid-South residents, at roughly half its usual residential price. See if your address qualifies here.
🎙️ Tiger Talk... Inside Memphis Athletics dropped new podcast episodes featuring interviews with golf coach Blake Smart, soccer coach Richard Mulrooney, and rifle coach Gabriela Zych. Listen here.
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That's it for today!
Thanks for reading this issue of 901 Today.
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Have a great Thursday, Memphis. We’ll see you tomorrow with a fresh batch of this weekend’s events and live music around town.
— 901 Today