Good morning, Memphis! ☀️
Did you know: today is International Literacy Day. So congrats, you're celebrating just by reading this. Bonus points if you read all the way to the bottom. Extra bonus points if you read a menu at one of the 19 restaurants participating in Black Dining Week.
Today's forecast:
a week of great eating
a 90th birthday party in Overton Park
and a legendary football game that's back in the 901 on Saturday
You have our permission to wear the stretchy pants.
Let's get into it.
Food & Drink
🍽️ Black Dining Week Is On. Eat Up.
Photo: @thetasteofmemphis on IG
Taste of Memphis: Black Dining Week runs through Saturday, Sept. 12, with 19 Black-owned restaurants across the city.
🆕 New name, new boss. It used to be Memphis Black Restaurant Week. Now Charles Nwankwo, owner of Sage downtown, runs the show. His goal: get Memphians out of their food ruts and into a new spot.
🗺️ Old friends, new faces. The list has legends like The Four Way and Cozy Corner next to newer spots like Hungry AF, The Genre and Curry N' Jerk. No passport, no rules. Just go eat.
See all 19 restaurants here.
Music
🎂 The Shell Turns 90 This Weekend
Overton Park Shell
Overton Park Shell is throwing itself a four-day birthday party, Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 10–13.
🎹 Green Onions first. Booker T. Jones kicks things off Thursday at 7 p.m. It's the only ticketed show: $25 in advance, $30 day of. Get tickets here.
🆓 Then it's all free. A Friday noon picnic with the Memphis Youth Symphony, a Saturday night tribute show called "9 Decades of Delight," and on Sunday a gospel gathering at noon plus a 7 p.m. show that puts Stax, Sun, Royal and more Memphis studios on one stage.
Fun fact: the Shell was built in 1936 for $11,935. Elvis played his first paid show there in 1954. See the full schedule here.
Sports
🏈 The Classic Is Back on Its Saturdays
Southern Heritage Classic
The 37th Southern Heritage Classic returns to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m.
🔁 Rematch. UAPB and Alcorn State meet again. UAPB won last year 24–20. Tickets start at $23.
🎺 More than a game. The free parade rolls down Park Avenue at 9 a.m. Saturday. The Battle of the Bands is at Whitehaven High at 10 a.m. ($12 in advance). The Fashion Show & Brunch is at The Great Hall at 11 a.m.
We put the whole weekend in one place: every event, every price, where to stay, and where to buy tickets. Read our guide to Southern Heritage Classic weekend here.
Events
🌭 The Germantown Festival Returns (Weenies Included)
Germantown Festival
The 53rd Germantown Festival takes over the Germantown Civic Club Complex (7745 Poplar Pike) Saturday, Sept. 12, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 13, noon to 6 p.m.
🎨 Free to get in. Nearly 400 artists and craft vendors, a Kids Zone with pony rides and rock climbing, an auto display, and live music all weekend. Free parking and shuttles too.
🌭 Run, weenies, run. The Running of the Weenies dachshund race is Saturday at 11:30 a.m. (best dressed at 11). Sign-ups are closed, but you can totally come cheer.
Get the details here.
Reader Survey
📝 Tell Us About You, Win Dinner on Us
Starting this week - and through the end of the month - every subscriber who fills out our 901 Today reader survey will be entered to win a $50 gift card to the Memphis area restaurant of your choice. It takes less than five minutes. Only one entry per person. We'll pick the winner at the end of September. Thank you!
Daily Picks
🗞️ Other News Around the 901
🎡 Last call at the fair. The Delta Fair runs through Sunday, Sept. 13 at Agricenter. Wednesday is free admission if you sign up for their emails, and today and Thursday ride wristbands are 2 for $40.
⛳ Fore-ever home. Quail Ridge Golf Course in Bartlett is back open after closing in late 2024. New greens, a new driving range, pro shop and restaurant. Tee times and driving range bookings are live now on their website.
🚶 Steps back in time. Arlington is building "10,000 Steps Through History," a 5-mile walking trail with interactive stops at historic spots like the S.Y. Wilson store. Ribbon cutting is Oct. 1, part of the town's 125th birthday.
🏛️ Blueprint to the stars. A free exhibition opening Saturday at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis honors Paul Revere Williams, who broke barriers as the first documented Black member of the American Institute of Architects and designed the original star-shaped St. Jude hospital. See 200-plus photos of his work through Oct. 10, Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
🛰️ Memphis, we have a venue. Satellite Music Hall, the brand-new 1,300-person room at Crosstown, is officially open. And tonight it continues a huge opening run: Chance the Rapper brings his Coloring Book 10 Year Anniversary Tour to Memphis. Grab tickets here.
⚾ Last call at the ballpark. The Memphis Redbirds play their final regular-season home games this week, tonight through Sunday vs. Norfolk at AutoZone Park. They've won 4 straight and already clinched a playoff spot, their first since 2018. Tickets start at $9.01, and the playoffs come to AutoZone Park Sept. 22–24.
📺 Claim it today. Had YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream anytime since April 2019? Today is the last day to file a claim in a $50 million settlement with Disney. No receipts needed.
🎓 Business is booming. LeMoyne-Owen College plans a $1.5 million makeover of the old Bethel Presbyterian Church on Mississippi Blvd. It'll be the new home of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
🎬 Kids run the show. The Like You Children's Film Festival returns to the Pink Palace Sept. 11–13 with family films, kid-made shorts, workshops and crafts.
📣 Want to reach Memphis? 901 Today lands in 11,000+ inboxes across the Memphis metro every weekday morning. Partner with 901 Today here.
That's it for today!
Thanks for reading 901 Today. Go eat somewhere new this week!
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Have a great Tuesday, Memphis. We'll see you tomorrow.
— 901 Today
