Happy Monday Memphis! Start off your week right with this rundown of positive Memphis news and updates, plus your #ilovememphis tagged photos and Tweets from the past week.

photo via @kookycanuck on Instagram

Memphians are generous. Memphis is on a lot of lists (and not all are fair, and not all are good), but here's one we can celebrate: According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Memphis is the second most charitable big city in America, giving more than 5 percent of our income to charity. Here's another local story about the list.

Voting can be fun. Election Day is officially November 4, but you can start early voting as soon as this Wednesday. Go here for more info.

No time during the week? Go to the Voice Your Vote event this Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church (166 Poplar) with music, food, activities for kids, and parades across the street to go vote! I think voting is a very important part of loving Memphis, regardless of your political views, so I'm happy to spread the word about voting events, just let me know in the comments.

Join a green group. If you're the earth-loving, green-minded type, there is a new group for you. Green Drinks, Memphis' chapter of the international Green Drinks movement, will have their first informal meeting on October 21 at Alchemy. Go here for details. 

Getting creative in Memphis. Last weekend I attended the first-ever Creative Works conference in Memphis.This is a huge deal for the design community, because some of the industry's best designers had a chance to experience Memphis for the first time (and they had a great time). Read more in this Memphis Flyer article and this recap from artist Brandon Rike. Also, you have to watch this video, created by Creative Works speaker Joey Ellis. 

World of Knowledge: Memphis from Joey Ellis on Vimeo.

I promise, you're cool enough to ride a bike. Memphis now has the highest rate of bike usage in the state, and we're on track to become even more bike-friendly in the next few years. Sylvia Crum is the new director of Revolutions Bicycle Co-op at First Congregational Church in Cooper Young and her goal is to make cycling more accessible for causal riders (no Spandex required). Check out the full article on High Ground News.

a sample of Paper & Clay's amazing work, made right here in Memphis

Take a minute to vote for a Memphis artist. Today is the last day to vote for Brit McDaniel, owner of Paper & Clay ceramics studio, to win a Martha Stewart's American Made award. Help her represent Memphis and vote up to six times today. Go here to vote.

Never stop, Memphis. CNN Money recently named Memphis one of the top ten best cities to start a company. That's not news to Start Co., a start-up incubator in downtown Memphis. Check out this  Daily News article from Start Co founder Eric Matthews to learn more about how Memphis has set itself up for entrepreneurial success.

Grind and clear your mind. Muddy's Grindhouse (which was first announced on the August I Love Memphis podcast) is officially open in midtown, and will host yoga and thai chai classes in the backyard of the adorable shop. Go here for details.

Krogers gives back.  A lot. Last week, Kroger donated $50,000 to Bridges USA, a local organization that inspires and mentors young people in Memphis to become leaders in their community. Go Kroger.

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Want to know what's going on in Memphis? Check back here almost every Monday for a photo and Tweet roundup. Just tag your pictures #ilovememphis and follow me on Twitter (@ilovememphis), Instagram (@ilovememphisblog) and your picture could appear here.