901 Today

Good morning, Memphis! ☀️

Good news comes in threes today. The Indie Memphis Film Festival is back next week, the Humane Society cut dog adoptions to $31 and the Mid-South Monarchs are about to give their lion mascot a name. Plus a little Halloween history to impress your friends.

Let's get into it.

Movies

🎬 The Indie Memphis Film Festival Returns Downtown Next Week

Movie lovers, your hometown film fest is back! The Indie Memphis Film Festival returns Nov. 5–8 at the Halloran Centre and Malco Powerhouse in the South Main Arts District. It's the festival's 28th year, and its first since taking 2025 off.

  • 🎞️ Reel Memphis. Opening night, Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6:30 p.m., is The Lorraine, a new documentary about the Lorraine Motel from director Sam Pollard. The fest closes Sunday, Nov. 8, at 7:15 p.m. with The Man I Love from Memphis native Ira Sachs. Both play at the Halloran.

  • 🎟️ Pick your pass. Single tickets are $15, or $20 for opening and closing nights. A Festival Pass is $140 and covers up to 12 films, and members save 20%. Can't make the weekend? Encore screenings run Nov. 9–10 at Malco Studio on the Square.

See the full schedule and grab your tickets here.

Sports

🦁 The Mid-South Monarchs Need a Name for Their Lion

Calling all hockey fans and pun lovers! The Mid-South Monarchs want your help naming their new lion mascot. Just drop your best idea in the comments on the team's Facebook post.

  • 👑 Lion around. The team says its lion needs a name worthy of "The Fortress," and royal, fierce or funny ideas all count. We're partial to anything with "roar" in it.

  • 🏒 Two nights of hockey. Then go see the lion in person. The Monarchs host the Columbus River Dragons at the Landers Center in Southaven on Friday, Oct. 30, and again on Halloween night, Saturday, Oct. 31. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the puck drops at 7 p.m. Heads up: the Landers Center has a clear bag policy.

Share your name idea here, and get game tickets here.

Community

🎗️ Breast Cancer Awareness Month Ends Saturday. Here's How to Help.

October is almost over, but the need isn't. Earlier this month we told you about the West Cancer Foundation, and its help for Memphis women keeps going all year.

  • 💗 Give a 'Gram. A gift of as little as $20 helps pay for a mammogram for a Mid-South woman who can't afford one. The foundation also offers free breast screenings to women who qualify, free rides to cancer treatment and free wigs for cancer patients with hair loss. Call 901-322-2984 to ask.

  • 🩺 Free screenings from the state. Tennessee women 40 and older who are uninsured or underinsured, and meet income limits, may get free breast screenings through the Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program. Memphis clinics like Church Health and Christ Community Health Centers take part. Call 1-877-969-6636 to see if you qualify.

Give a 'Gram here.

Pets

🐶 Adopt a Dog for $31 at the Humane Society Through Saturday

Looking for a spooky-season sidekick? The Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County is offering $31 adoptions on all shelter dogs through Saturday for Puptober Fest.

  • 🦴 School's in. Adopt a puppy or dog under 1 year old, and you get four free training classes. Your new buddy will learn sit, down and leave it. Treats not included, but strongly recommended.

  • 🏠 Swing by the shelter. It's at 935 Farm Road, and adoptions are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You'll apply in person, so bring a valid ID.

Meet the dogs here.

Daily Picks

🗞️ Other News Around the 901

🗳️ Last call, voters. Early voting in Shelby County ends Thursday, Oct. 29. Most sites are open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the Downtown site at 157 Poplar is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Our 901 Today Voter Guide walks you through every race on the ballot, from governor to suburban mayor and school board races.

🎸 Second chance, Shell yeah. Missed them in September? The Indigo Girls make up their postponed show at the Overton Park Shell on Monday, Nov. 2. Linda Perry opens at 6:30 p.m., and the Indigo Girls take the stage at 7:45 p.m. Tickets are still available, and general admission is $42.

🤠 Motownphilly to Music City. Here's one we didn't see coming. Boyz II Men signed with Warner Records Nashville and plan to release their first country album in 2027. It'll be their first new album in years.

🍽️ Plate expectations. Congrats to Memphis' Michelin crew! At the 2026 Michelin Guide American South ceremony in Nashville, Bao Toan in Crosstown Concourse earned a new Bib Gourmand, and Hog & Hominy kept its Bib. Fawn is newly Recommended, along with returning picks Felicia Suzanne's, The Lobbyist, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen and Petals of a Peony.

🍸 Witch's brew. The Memphis Botanic Garden hosts a Halloween Sip and Stroll (21+) on Thursday, Oct. 29, 6 to 8 p.m. You'll tour the Herb Garden and learn about plants behind spooky drinks and tonics. Tickets are $35 ($30 for members) and come with two themed cocktails or mocktails.

🏀 Nothing but tank. A famous Jeff Koons artwork, a basketball floating perfectly still in a tank of water, is on view at the Children's Museum of Memphis through Dec. 31. It's on loan from Art Bridges, so catch it while it's here.

👍 Gig 'em, Dylan. Congrats to Bartlett High star Dylan Jones! The Class of 2027 forward is ranked the No. 1 player in Tennessee, and on Monday he committed to Texas A&M.

📰 All the news that's free. Got a Memphis Public Libraries card? It gets you The New York Times online for free. The city renewed its deal with the Times this month, so the perk sticks around. At home, grab a 24-hour pass on the library's website each day. Inside any Memphis library branch, read as much as you want.

🚒 Flush hour. Heads up, Germantown! The city's fall fire hydrant flushing starts today and runs Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. If your water looks cloudy, run a cold tap for 15 minutes or until it's clear. Still discolored after four hours? Call Public Works at 901-757-7350.

🗂️ Missed an issue? Every past newsletter is here, and our 901 Guides are here.

📣 Want to reach Memphis? 901 Today lands in 16,000+ inboxes across the Memphis metro every weekday morning. Partner with 901 Today here.

Trivia Time

Wednesday Trivia 🎃

🎃 Before pumpkins, the first jack-o'-lanterns in Ireland were carved from what?

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Out and About

🌙 Tonight in the 901

Trivia, karaoke, live music and more happening tonight around the Memphis metro.

Downtown

Midtown

East Memphis

  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Corn maze at Mid-South Maze, from 4pm ($12, $8 kids)

  • 🎸 Live music: The Pretty Boys at Huey's Poplar, 5:30pm

  • 📚 Author talk: Stephen Black on The Middle of Somewhere at Novel, 6pm (RSVP)

  • ⚽ Tigers men's soccer vs. Charlotte at the Track and Soccer Complex, 7pm

Cordova, Bartlett & Lakeland

Germantown & Collierville

Millington & DeSoto

Hosting an event? Reply to this email and let us know!

That's it for today!

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Have a great Wednesday, Memphis. We'll see you tomorrow.

— 901 Today

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