Tuesday News Update: Tons Of Fun Events Coming Up

Tuesday News Update: Tons Of Fun Events Coming Up

Happy Mardi Gras Memphis! Schools and many businesses are closed, and I hope you're safe and warm at home or that you made it to work all in one piece. There are still some Fat Tuesday events that you can check out here. If you're looking for live music in Memphis, don't forget that I publish a guide the last week of every month called Listen Up.

Also: I have a special discount just for I Love Memphis readers to save on tickets to the last event on this post, Volunteer Odyssey's "Mix-Odyssey" cocktail party this Saturday. Get $10 off ($60 tickets will be $50, includes all food, drinks, and cab ride)  when you go to this link to buy a ticket to Mix-Odyssey, or enter ILoveMEM at checkout. 

Screen Shot 2015-02-17 at 9.37.14 AM
Here's a great shot of downtown Memphis in the snice (snow + ice) via @mphelps311. Tag your photos #ilovememphis and they might show up here.

In today's news update, I'm doing what y'all asked for in that reader survey we did a while back, and I'm including more events with more advanced notice. I've divided the post into sections about Events (lots of fun stuff happening in the coming weeks), News (lots of list-making lately) and a giveaway at the bottom of this post (giveaway has ended, congrats to Eric on winning the random drawing!)

Events

Sears Crosstown Building, Memphis, TN
The Crosstown Groundbreaking Block Party is Saturday.

2/18 through 3/1: The International Jewish Film Festival kicks off this Wednesday the Malco Ridgeway Four at 7:15 p.m. with "The Green Prince". Go here to see the full schedule of movies. The festival lasts from Feb. 18 to March 1.

2/19 and 2/21: Happy New Year! The Chinese Year of the Goat begins this week. There are several events around town, including a Chinese New Year Tasting dinner at Acre on Thursday, Feb. 19 and a Family Day at the Belz Museum on Saturday, Feb. 21. 

2/19 through 3/28: The annual Calvary Waffle Shop lunches begin Thursday, Feb. 19 at Calvary Episcopal Church downtown and are offered Tuesdays through Fridays until March 28. Check out this post about the Waffle Shop.

2/21: The Dixon is hosting a free British Family Day this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with actives, demos, games, music, and snacks all themed with their Hail Brittannia! collection.

2/21: The Junior League of Memphis is hosting a Bridal Show with caterers, planners, and florists at their Community Resource Center (that pretty mansion-looking building at the southwest corner of Central and Highland, which is also available as a wedding venue). The Show is Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and is free.

2/21: The official Crosstown groundbreaking is this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sears Crosstown building. It's going to be more of a block party than a guys-in-suits-with-shovels type of event. Stay tuned to this blog for more detailed look at what to expect on Saturday.

2/21: Got a good poker face and a love for animals? Enter in the "All in for Animals" poker tournament on Saturday to benefit the Humane Society. It's a $50 ticket if you register here before 2/20, or $60 at the door, and that ticket includes poker game entry, food, and a beer and bourbon bar. 

2/21: Say goodbye to the old Black Lodge and make room for the new Black Lodge this Saturday night at the officially-named Assault on Black Lodge. There will be a ton of music (five bands at least), lots of partying and dancing and carrying on, and a chance to tag, grab a piece of, or otherwise deface the old building. Check out the FB event for more details.

2/27: Next Friday is the 6th Annual Brew Movement Against M.S. at the Pink Palace from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., featuring home-brew and craft beer, music, food, and auction, all to benefit the Mid-South Chapter of the MS Society. Tickets are $35 if you buy here ahead of time and $40 at the door, while supplies last.

2/28: You don't want to miss this year's edition of Condomonium, a fashion show, party and fundraiser for CHOICES, a nonprofit that provides reproductive healthcare to local women. This year's event is at Playhouse on the Square on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Tickets cost as much as your age, not to exceed $50. The theme, "Put A Bird On It" is sure to result in some great fashion and accessories (all made of condoms, of course) and plenty of revelry. 

3/6: If you're looking for a fun themed party to go to this spring, the Flappers and Fellas Roaring 20s MAND Gala is in early March at the Pink Palace and benefits Grow Memphis. Stay tuned for more details. 

News

Screen Shot 2015-02-16 at 6.04.02 PM
Screenshot from the Bass Pro video.

- Memphis made an appearance on a couple of Thrillist "Best Of" lists lately, including Best Burgers in the Country, Best New Breweries in America, and Best BBQ Cities in America. If you haven't checked out the Thrillist pieces on Essential Restaurants and Essential Brunches, you might want to. (Full disclosure: those two pieces were written by yours truly.)

- Bill Dance took a tour of the in-progress Memphis Bass Pro Pyramid and there's a video that you can watch here. Can we please stop calling it a "bait shop" now?

- It looks like there's a decent chance that we're going to have a fifth brewery in Memphis called Crosstown Brewing. A lot of the details are still up in the air, but it looks like the folks from the Memphis Brewers Association are looking to build a brewery in the Crosstown area somewhere at some point in the future, probably 2016 or 2017. I'll keep you posted as I learn more.

- Memphis: The Musical, which is now playing in London's West End, won Best New Musical at the WhatsOnStage Awards this weekend. Memphis is so famous, y'all.

- Looking for public art around town? (Or maybe when it's warmer?) Rhodes College students have created a very nice, mobile-friendly directory of public art in Memphis, from murals to sculptures, called Memphis Art Project. Check out the website here. Seriously, it's worth a look.

- Miss Jillian's downtown? Something similar is schedule to come to the Mid-South. The concept, called "Eat. Bowl. Play." will have bowling, laser tag, a restaurant, billiards, a gravity ropes course, a bunch of huge TVs, and alcohol. Read more at in this article on Memphis Daily News

- Crowd-funding community project site ioby is offering $50,000 to Memphis neighborhood-based projects. Have an idea to improve your neighborhood and a small team to get it done? You still have time to submit. Check out ioby.org for the rules and details. 

- Paste Magazine featured the National Civil Rights Museum on its online article about the Coolest Museums You've never Heard Of. Read more about the newly renovated NCRM here.

Giveaway

Mix-Odysseytarot

This Saturday, Feb. 21 is Volunteer Odyssey's second annual Mix-Odyssey fundraiser and volunteer discovery event. It's at Visible Music College from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Your $60 ticket covers cocktail tasting, voting on the mixology competition, food from local restaurants, and - get this - a round trip cab ride. 

If you want to buy tickets to ensure your space, go here. If you want to wait for a chance to win, leave me a comment on this post. I'll pick a random winner tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Giveaway has ended. Congrats to Eric for winning the random drawing. 

All hope is not lost, though. I have a special discount code just for I Love Memphis readers. Go to this link to buy a ticket to Mix-Odyssey with a $10 off discount, or enter ILoveMEM at checkout. 

Comments Make Us Happy

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Natalie
How fun! Cab ride provided? What a great idea!
February 17, 2015 11:22am
Antonico Thomas
I would love to win :)
February 17, 2015 11:22am
Chase
I would like to win!
February 17, 2015 11:28am
Josh Campbell
This is a great post Holly. February has seemed very dreary so far. These events all seem like good pick-me-ups to finish out the month.   
February 17, 2015 11:36am
Danesha
Hi Holly! I would love to win this! Thanks for this awesome blog!
February 17, 2015 11:39am
Holly Whitfield

Thank you Josh!

February 17, 2015 11:39am
Crystal Walker
Just in case the Mardi Gras party is cancelled tonight, I would love to go to the Mix Odyssey! 
February 17, 2015 11:40am
JR Kamra
I would live to win!!! YAY!!
February 17, 2015 11:45am
Emily
I would love to win tickets to Mix Odyssey!!
February 17, 2015 11:52am
Reid
Sounds like a great time! I want to win!
February 17, 2015 11:57am
Lisa Lissner
I'm having cabin fever and winter time blues. I would love to go to Mix-Odyessey for some therapy!
February 17, 2015 12:00pm
Ben Brumleve
Just wanted to say thanks for what your doing! All of your posts about events has made me love Memphis again.
February 17, 2015 12:04pm
Melissa
I just need a date night and a free ride my husband and I could have alot of fun with this. We would love this for a date!
February 17, 2015 12:13pm
Nick
I would love to go! And that cab ride is cluuuuutch
February 17, 2015 12:14pm
Kristen
Would love to go to Mix Odyssey!  Was so sad to miss it last year.
February 17, 2015 12:18pm
Ben
Hey-o!!
February 17, 2015 12:20pm
Christine
Sounds awesome!  Would love to win the cab ride in particular!  
February 17, 2015 12:25pm
Kendyl
Oh my, I would loooooove to go! Sounds super fun.
February 17, 2015 12:32pm
Sarah
so many things going on. we all love your website. would love to win tickets! 
February 17, 2015 12:43pm
Cassi C.
A night out would be awesome.
February 17, 2015 1:11pm
Michelle Quinn
I want to go to Mix Odyssey! Can't go wrong with food,drinks,and a ride! 
February 17, 2015 1:16pm
SJ
I am such a winner!!!:)
February 17, 2015 1:17pm
Holly
Leaving you a comment for Mix Odyssey! Would be a great Birthday Adventure! :) 
February 17, 2015 1:30pm
Alexa
This sounds amazing! All this weather has given this teacher cabin fever. My husband and I would love to attend this event!
February 17, 2015 1:40pm
Katie
Would love to win! Great article Holly!
February 17, 2015 1:41pm
April Holifiel…
Get me out of the house!  Thanks for the great blog.  Fingers crossed.
February 17, 2015 1:44pm
Leslie Ann Harris
Thanks for letting us know what's going on! Memphis is awesome!
February 17, 2015 2:00pm
Tiff
I'd love to go to the Mix-Odyssey event! Thanks for this great event round-up!
February 17, 2015 2:01pm
Chris
I would like to win the tickets!
February 17, 2015 2:10pm
Amanda
What a great event! Put me in the running :D
February 17, 2015 2:17pm
Rachel
Would love free tickets!!
February 17, 2015 2:23pm
Ann
I would love to win the tickets!
February 17, 2015 2:27pm
AJ
:) Go Memphis! 
February 17, 2015 2:35pm
Deanna
This event sounds like so much fun! Would love to go.
February 17, 2015 2:51pm
Hayley Isaac
Hey Holly--I'd love tickets to Mix Odyssey!!
February 17, 2015 3:08pm
Melanie Montgomery
Wow, would love to go thanks for the chance.
February 17, 2015 4:44pm
Margaret Henderson
Always love to see what is happening in Memphis and would love tcikets to the Mix Odyssey
February 17, 2015 4:48pm
CarlyWill Sloan
Please choose me!
February 17, 2015 4:56pm
Nicole
I'd love to actually do things on the weekend - please pick me!
February 17, 2015 5:31pm
Karen Soro
Pick me!
February 17, 2015 9:57pm
Sarah
Ooooo-- that party sounds great! I'd love to go!!
February 17, 2015 9:59pm
Daniela gomez
This is a great giveaway! 
February 17, 2015 10:20pm
Andrea Fenise
Pick meeeeee! I would love to win.   
February 17, 2015 11:33pm
Micah
Mix Odyssey, yeah! Memphis is such a cool place!
February 18, 2015 1:48am
Laura
Those tokens just look so cool, I've gotta put my hat in for free tickets. Thanks so much for keeping Memphis informed!
February 18, 2015 6:08am
Carrie Harris
I Would love to be a part of volunteer odysseys fund raiser. Love all they do. And thank you for always keepin memphis in the know on all the awesome this town has to offer
February 18, 2015 9:35am
Eric
I need these tickets because I have cabin fever and the only cure is winning something over strangers that are probably more deserving than me. I have a strange doctor, don't ask how he came up with this diagnosis. 
February 18, 2015 10:21am
Will T
Awesome article! Throw me in the hat
February 18, 2015 10:52am
Mark
woohoo!
February 18, 2015 10:58am