Good morning, Memphis! ☀️
We've had our coffee. We've scrolled the news so you don't have to. We've argued internally about which pun was too much (there is no such thing). All that's left is to hand it over to you.
Today:
The old Railgarten lot has a new lineup
Three Memphis theaters raise the curtain this week
A walk through the trees (cocktail in hand) at the Botanic Garden tonight
Plus: a rib competition worth planning your Saturday around, and Monday's poll results are in.
Let's get into it.
Family & Food
🥗 Wild Beet Is Open, and Cooper-Young's Family Hub Is Taking Shape
Stompin’ Grounds
Three businesses are turning the old Railgarten lot on Central Ave. into Midtown's newest family destination.
Open now: Wild Beet Salad Co. is serving its full salad and wrap menu daily in the old Railgarten restaurant space. See the menu.
Opening Sept. 1: Stomping Grounds, the indoor-outdoor playground and clubhouse next door, is targeting a 901 Day opening date. Learn more.
Opening in November: The Art Project, the kids' art studio, is moving into Stomping Grounds from their long-time Overton Square location. Read the announcement.
See more of what's coming here.
Performing Arts
🎟️ Three Memphis Stages Raise the Curtain This Week
Three different Memphis stages are opening shows within 48 hours of each other this weekend.
Hattiloo Theatre kicks off its 20th season tonight with Speak, Salvation, Speak. Grab tickets.
Theatre Memphis opens The Music Man tomorrow night. Grab tickets.
Bluey's Big Play lands at the Orpheum Saturday and Sunday with three shows for the kids. Grab tickets.
Events
🌳 Sip & Stroll at Memphis Botanic Garden Tonight
Sip & Stroll
Memphis Botanic Garden built tonight's walk just for the end of summer heat: shade, trees, and two drinks in hand.
Sip and Stroll runs 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Memphis Botanic Garden. Your ticket covers two specialty cocktails or mocktails plus a guided walk through the Woodlands.
Talkin’ bout trees: Garden staff members will teach you a few tricks to identify trees and remind you how important they are in our every day lives.
This one is 21 and up, rain or shine, so bring your ID.
Register here.
Food & Drink
🍖 Bumpus Harley-Davidson Hosts a BBQ Rib Competition Saturday
Skip the smoker at home. Saturday's rib competition at Bumpus Harley-Davidson benefits Elise the Beast and comes with a side of live music.
Ten bucks, all the ribs. Sample plates from competing teams for a $10 tasting wristband, then cast your vote for the People's Choice winner. Judging starts at 11 a.m.
More than BBQ. Expect live music, a dunk tank, and a “Whole Hog” demo from a Memphis in May champion. Awards wrap up the day at 3 p.m.
More details here.
Daily Picks
🗞️ Other News Around the 901
👑 Long live the Prince. Longtime Memphis fixture Robert "Prince Mongo" Hodges has died at 89. Known for goggles, a silver wig, and claiming to be a 333-year-old visitor from the planet Zambodia, Hodges ran for mayor more times than most Memphians can count. Memphis Flyer's Michael Donahue shares some great personal memories of him here.
✈️ It's official. Memphis International Airport is now Frederick W. Smith International Airport. Your boarding pass still says MEM, though. Read more here.
🔥 Teaching Memphis to be safe. Collierville firefighter Jessica Curran took home a statewide honor this month, the Bruce Womack Public Fire Educator of the Year award. Read more here.
📅 Save the date. The Grizzlies are back on the NBA's MLK Day schedule, hosting the Rockets on Jan. 18, 2027, and they'll also chase the Emirates NBA Cup this fall in West Group B - with OKC, NOLA and Minnesota. The full season schedule drops soon. Read more here.
🐻 Memphis to Alaska. University of Memphis researcher Dr. Emily Puckett just landed almost $168,000 from the state of Alaska to study brown bear populations. Her work will help track how the bears move and how many are really out there. Read more here.
🎉 Not your grandma's bingo. Minglewood Hall hosts the high-energy Bingo Loco Saturday night: part dance party, part bingo hall. Tickets are almost gone, so move fast if you want in. Get tickets here.
🍵 Sip, sip, hooray. Ouri Matcha held its grand opening Aug. 1 at 606 N. Main St. in Uptown. Husband-and-wife team Cameron and Dean Park built the shop after a year of pop-ups around town. See it here.
🌶 Hot chicken alert. Dave's Hot Chicken signed a lease for the old Spin Street space in Poplar Plaza, at Poplar and Highland. Construction is underway, with an opening targeted before the end of the year. Read more here.
🍔 250 vendors, one weekend. FoodieLand, billed as the nation's largest food festival, rolls into Tiger Lane at Liberty Park Aug. 21-23. Expect global food vendors, artisan shops, games, and live music. Get tickets here.
🦁 Better art collection than most of us. For World Lion Day, Memphis Zoo keepers gifted lionesses Akeelah and Jamela handmade paintings and scented treats. See it here.
Monday's Poll Results
📊 You Won the Powerball. Here's What You'd Do.
On Monday we asked: You win tonight's $900M Powerball. What's your first move? Turns out most of you would play it very, very cool.
🤫 Tell no one, change nothing — 47%
✈️ Disappear on vacation — 27%
🏠 Buy a house (or five) — 13%
💼 Quit the job Monday — 13%
Nearly half of you would keep your poker face and your day job. Respect. But if your coworker shows up Monday acting totally normal... maybe keep a close eye on them.
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That's it for today!
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Have a great Thursday, Memphis. We'll see you tomorrow.
— 901 Today
