Good morning, Memphis! ☀️
Happy Labor Day. Your only job today is to do nothing, and we believe in you.
In today’s issue:
A short Labor Day history lesson
BBQ bragging rights
A new sushi spot in Lakeland
And a months long Gatsby party out in Germantown
Also, a poll. Because it’s Monday.
Let's get into it.
901 History
✊ Four Words That Changed Memphis (and the Country)
Photo: MFAH Collections
Before you take the day off, there's a Memphis moment in history that gives Labor Day more weight: The 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike.
On Feb. 1, 1968, sanitation workers Echol Cole and Robert Walker were crushed inside a broken garbage truck the city had been asked to retire.
Eleven days later, 1,100 workers walked out carrying signs that said I AM A MAN.
Dr. King came to Memphis to advocate for these men, and was killed here.
On April 16, the city finally recognized the union. The strike lasted 65 days.
There's a lot more to this story. You can read the full 901 History piece here.
Food & Drink
🍖 Memphis Just Made America's Top 10 for Food
Photo: Memphis Travel / Cozy Corner
U.S. News ranked Memphis No. 8 among the best food cities in America.
King of the 'cue. U.S. News says we have the most barbecue joints per person in the country, with shout-outs to Elwood's Shack, Cozy Corner and Gibson's Donuts.
Don't tell Nashville. Only 19 cities made the list. Nashville isn't one of them.
See the story here.
Food & Drink
🍣 Lakeland Town Square Has a New Sushi Spot
Ahi Asian Bistro
Ahi Asian Bistro is open at Lakeland Town Square.
From takeout to table. Owner Johnny Chen ran a small takeout sushi spot on Highway 64. The new place at 9789 Market Green Place S. has real seating and a Japanese and Chinese menu.
Just not today. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Mondays.
See the menu here.
Events
🥂 Germantown Is Partying Like It's 1922
The Germantown Community Library picked The Great Gatsby for this year's NEA Big Read, with three months of Jazz Age events.
Free books, old sport. The kickoff is Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the library. It's free, and they're handing out free copies of the book. Flapper dresses encouraged.
Then it keeps going. Lectures, a 1920s Germantown history night on Oct. 10, and an outdoor showing of the 1974 movie on Nov. 21.
See the lineup here.
Daily Picks
🗞️ Other News Around the 901
🐯 Name that tiger. The Memphis Zoo has two new Sumatran tiger cubs, both girls, and wants your help naming them. Options include Boneka (for Dolly Parton). Vote through Sept. 15. Vote here.
🚴 Old friends, Old Man River. Two friends of 47 years rolled through Memphis Saturday on a 2,500-mile ride down the Mississippi for Tunnel to Towers. Goal: $25,000. Raised so far: $40,000+.
🤼 So long, Superstar. Memphis wrestling legend Bill Dundee died Sunday at 82. He was Jerry Lawler's partner and rival for decades and a nine-time Southern Heavyweight champ.
⛵ Smooth sailing. Yacht Rock Revue plays the Graceland Soundstage Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Captain's hats optional.
🍌 Bring your own banana. Sugar Ghost is hosting a Bring Your Own Banana split party tonight. You bring the banana, they bring the rest. Both locations are participating from 12-9pm. Today only!
🏆 Freedom's honor roll. The National Civil Rights Museum named its 35th Freedom Award honorees: attorney Fred D. Gray, Shavon Arline-Bradley, Bakari Sellers and WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike. Ceremony is Oct. 1 at the Orpheum.
🏈 Just in time for kickoff. Brookhaven Pub & Grill reopened its remodeled dining room, with a bigger game room and a new TV nook, right on time for football.
🌪️ Dust in the wind. A Gatlinburg woman's camera was rolling Friday when she drove straight into a dust devil outside Memphis. The mini twisters form on hot, dry days and usually fizzle out in minutes. Watch it here.
🐯 New house, same result. The Memphis Tigers beat Arkansas State 42-24 Saturday in the first game inside the newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Running back Jaylin Carter scored four touchdowns, and the Tigers are 2-0. See what the new game day looks like here.
🏈 Friday night lights. Every high school football score from this weekend is on the 901 Scoreboard.
🗂️ Missed an issue of 901 Today? Every past issue lives in our archive here.
📣 Want to reach Memphis? 901 Today lands in 11,000+ inboxes across the Memphis metro every weekday morning. Inquire about advertising here.
Poll of the Week
The Monday Poll 🍖
Memphis is the king of the 'cue. Now settle it: wet or dry?
Reader Survey
📝 Tell Us About You, Win Dinner on Us
Starting this week, everyone 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. One entry per person, and we'll pick the winner at the end of September.
That's it for today!
Thanks for reading. Enjoy the day off. You earned it.
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Have a great week, Memphis. We'll see you tomorrow.
— 901 Today
