Good morning, Memphis! ☀️
Fun fact: September was originally the Roman calendar's seventh month ("sept" means seven in Latin) until January and February muscled their way to the front.
Two months later and a lot busier, here's what's on deck:
a Chinese food grand opening
a "metal" double feature (two different kinds, we promise)
a health fest
a farm market
and a stadium who’s glow-up is finally complete
Oh, and Alabama's in town tonight.
Let's get into it.
Food & Drink
Little Petals Chinese
Chinese food fans, meet your new lunch spot: Little Petals just opened at 551 S. Highland St., joining Petals of a Peony's growing family of Memphis restaurants.
🌶️ Same roots, faster bite. Little Petals mixes Sichuan classics with American Chinese favorites, so you can get General Tso's chicken and mapo tofu at the same counter.
🍱 Buffet, meet budget. A lunch buffet runs $12.99 for adults and $6.50 for kids (ages 3-10). Kids under 3 eat free. To-go is $7.99 a pound.
Order or check hours here.
Music
🎸 Free Music Season Kicks Off With a Bang (and a Riff)
Orion Financial Free Concert Series
Overton Park Shell is giving Memphis a free double feature this weekend, courtesy of the Orion Financial Free Concert Series.
🤘 Friday: Metal Night. KARROT, a tribute to KoRn, headlines Friday, Sept. 4. It's the loudest way to kick off a free concert season.
🎤 Saturday: power pop takes over. The Memphis PowerPop Festival rolls in Saturday, Sept. 5, with The Smithereens headlining, plus Joybomb, Your Academy, and Sonny Wilsons.
Bring a blanket, bring the dog (leashed), and see the full lineup here.
Arts & Culture
🖼️ Memphis' Metal Museum Trades the River for the Park
Memphis Meetal Museum
After 47 years on the Mississippi River bluff, the Metal Museum is reopening Sept. 5 in a much bigger space inside historic Rust Hall in Overton Park.
⚒️ More room to make things. New classrooms, a fine metals studio, and an enameling studio mean way more class and workshop options.
🗿 Free art, no ticket needed. Nine large outdoor sculptures from artists like Albert Paley and Tom Joyce now live along a free public sculpture walk.
Health & Wellness
🏃 A Free Fest That Wants You to Move a Little
Healthier 901 Fest
The 4th Annual Healthier 901 Fest takes over Shelby Farms Park on Saturday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m… and it's free!
🥗 Fitness meets fun. Expect fitness activities, healthy food samples, live entertainment, and wellness resources for every age.
🏅 Want to race? Sign up for the 1-mile walk or 4K run, both timed, both open to anyone chasing a personal best (or just a good time).
Community
🌻 Millington's Monthly Market Is Back This Weekend
Lightfoot Farm Market
Lightfoot Farm Market opens its gates Saturday, Sept. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at its 58-acre family farm in Millington.
🥚 Farm-fresh everything. Shop fresh produce, eggs, honey, and Angus beef, all raised or grown right there on the farm.
🧑🌾 More than groceries. Artisan goods, baked treats, and food trucks round out the day. Check out the vendor list here.
🚗 Free to visit. Parking and admission don't cost a thing, so it's an easy add to your Saturday plans.
Daily Picks
🗞️ Other News Around the 901
🚌 Bus stop, glow up. Memphis Area Transit Authority unveiled its first 12 new buses Wednesday on Beale Street, part of a $48 million plan to roll out 56 buses total. Mayor Paul Young says it means more people getting to work and daycare on time. Fare stays free. Read more here.
✈️ Walk this way again. Memphis International Airport reopened its Pedestrian B Tunnel Wednesday after nearly a year of construction work. Travelers get brighter lights, higher ceilings, and easier access between parking and rental cars. Read more here.
🏟️ New stadium, who dis? After more than two years of construction, Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium is open at its new capacity. The Tigers host Arkansas State this Saturday, Sept. 5, the first game in the freshly renovated home. Grab tickets here.
🧻 Bigger plant, more jobs. A $35 million upgrade at Kruger Products' North Memphis facility means 20 new jobs and a serious boost in paper towel and toilet paper production. Mayor Paul Young joined the ribbon cutting. Read more here.
🎹 Jazz hands, tonight only. Grammy-nominated pianist Jon Cowherd sits in with the Ted Ludwig Trio tonight at The Green Room. It's an intimate room, so grab tickets ($25 advance, $35 at the door). Details here.
🎸 Patio weather, live music. Grab a beer and a lawn chair: Grind City Brewing's new Patio Sessions series runs every Friday this month, starting Sept. 4 with Delta Current. More on the taproom here.
🎃 Fall, but make it a festival. Germantown's Harvest Moon Fall Festival returns to Bobby Lanier Farm Park on Saturday, Oct. 17, noon to 6 p.m. Expect a corn maze, hayrides, and a pumpkin patch. Entry is $10, free for kids 2 and under.
⚽ Home turf, big test. No. 21 Memphis Women's Soccer hosts Houston tonight, 7 p.m., at Billy Murphy Track & Soccer Stadium. The Tigers are undefeated at home this season, so come make some noise. See the schedule here.
🎶 Lawn chairs, meet legends. Alabama headlines Live at the Garden tonight, 8 p.m. at Memphis Botanic Garden's Radians Amphitheater. Bring your own blanket and cooler — it's rain or shine. Details here.
📚 Catching up? Browse every past issue of 901 Today in our archive.
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Reader Survey
📝 Help Us Get to Know You (Yes, You)
We just crossed 11,000 readers — which is wild, and honestly a little emotional for us. So for the whole month of September, we want to hear from YOU. Take our quick Reader Survey (5 minutes, tops) and help us make 901 Today even better for Memphis.
That's it for today!
Thanks for starting your morning with us, Memphis. If this was forwarded to you, you can subscribe for free at 901today.com.
Have a great Thursday, Memphis. We'll see you tomorrow with our weekend events and live music roundup.
— 901 Today
