Mardi Gras Celebrations!
Let the good times roll, baby! No need to go all the way down to NOLA to enjoy the Gras when Memphis brings the purple, green, and gold right here. Just check out some of these events.
- Valentine’s Dinner & Music Cruise: Enjoy a little romance with your favorite Valentine aboard the Memphis Riverboats. Memphis Riverboats, Friday, February 9, 6:30 p.m. | Saturday, February 10, 6:30 p.m. | Wednesday, February 14, 6:30 p.m., $65
- Whiskey, Wine, and Chocolates (21+): Attendees will enjoy perfect pairings of chocolates by Memphis Chocolatier Phillip Ashley Rix with select whiskeys, wines, and craft beers. plus live music from Beale Street All Star Band. Memphis Botanic Garden, Friday, February 9, 7 p.m., $75
- Shake & Sip: Valentines Cocktail Class Date Night: Learn how to mix and muddle your favorite romantic drinks with expert mixologists. 310 Beale, Saturday, February 10, 6 p.m., $100
- Valentine’s Game Night: Friends and crushes are invited for board games in the courtyard with tons of treats as Overton Square screens How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. Match wits against your besties with a variety of board games, take a love-ly pic at a Valentine’s photobooth accessorized with free heart necklaces and goodies, and get a personalized tarot card reading from 901 Astrology & Tarot. Overton Square, Saturday February 10, 6-9 p.m.
- Valentine’s Day Portrait Painting Workshop: Bring your loved one(s) and join us for a portrait painting workshop hosted by Terri Scott. Personal instruction and stencils will be provided to help you create an illustrated memento of your love. The Art Project, Sunday, February 11, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $50
- Plantable Valentines Workshop: Join farmer florist Marisa Mender-Franklin to learn about making your own seed paper Valentines. Midtown Bramble and Bloom, Sunday, February 11, 2 p.m., $35
- Frequency of Love Sound Bath: Embrace the frequency of love — whether that is self-love, universal love, or romantic love — with this special edition sound bath. The Broom Closet, Monday, February 12, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Valentine’s GAY Celebration: Join Lodge for a special night celebrating queer romance, with an evening of events, including a screening of But I’m a Cheerleader, a live performance from Polyglamarous, and a dance party. Black Lodge, Wednesday, February 14, 5:30 p.m., free, 18+
Valentine’s Shenanigans
Will you be my Valentine? Unless you’re my dog, you better say no because I probably don’t know you personally and that, my dear reader, would be weird. Stranger danger and all that. So get your own dang Valentine or Galentine or Palentine and bring them out. Here are just a few of the Valentine’s events you can attend. You can check out our full calendar for more. And yes, there are more. Lots more.
- Mardi Gras Bash at the CMOM: Design a float. Decorate a mask. Join the DJ dance party and Mardi Gras parade. Children’s Museum of Memphis, Saturday, February 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., free with general admission
- Mardi Gras DJ Set with Marcella Simien and Kristen Hobbs: Celebrate Mardi Gras and Louisiana music at The Lab with a special DJ set from Marcella Simien and Kristen (MLL). Memphis Listening Lab, Saturday, February 10, 3-5 p.m., free
- 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Party: Enjoy great Cajun food (including shrimp), live music, and beads. Silky O’Sullivan’s, Tuesday, February 13, 3 p.m.
- Mardi Gras Concert with Mighty Souls Brass Band: Take in a free concert and bayou experience. Pick up free Mardi Gras beads, join the second line, and parade with the band from Chimes Square to Bayou Bar & Grill. Overton Square, Tuesday, February 13, 7-8 p.m.
Sue: The T. Rex Experience
Museum of Science & History
Friday, February 9
Sue is here! Sue is here! Alert the presses! Sue is here! Wait, we’re the presses! Sue is here! Sue, the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex specimen ever discovered, is here — or at least a cast of her is here at MoSH along with an immersive experience for visitors of all ages. In honor of her arrival, MoSH will celebrate with a Rock Swap on Saturday (10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.), where folks can play with tools of the trade, make their own pet rocks, and enjoy special mini presentations at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Later in the day (6-8 p.m.), MoSH will host a Toast to T. Rex, where guests can take in captivating science demonstrations, sip on signature pop-rock cocktails, immerse themselves in tunes beneath the stars in the planetarium, and marvel at the magnificent T. Rex. Both events are included with a general admission ticket. Sue will be sticking around until May 13th.
Lunar New Year Celebration 2024
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
Saturday, February 10, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Spend the day with the Brooks filled with exciting performances, live music, art-making for all ages, authentic food, and more. Enjoy a performance of a traditional Chinese Fan Dance or the culminating performance of the Vietnamese Lion Dancers. Learn about the collection of Chinese art at a Gallery Talk about the exhibition, “China Blues: The World of Blue and White” at 10:30 a.m., or enjoy a traditional folktale about Lunar New Year traditions during story time at 11:30 a.m. See the full schedule here. The event is free with registration — register here.
SkyDog Release & Street Dog Adoption Event
WISEACRE Brewery
Saturday, February 10, 1 p.m.
It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s SkyDog. And, no, unfortunately, it’s not a flying dog. It’s a *premium* American lager that’ll be launched on Saturday — launched as in released to the public, not launched as in released into the sky. No flying beers, and no flying dogs. But do not be disappointed: There will be dogs available for adoption from Street Dog Foundation, plus live music by Walt Phelan.
Meet the Author: Vince Vawter
Novel
Saturday, February 10, 2 p.m.
Manboys. We all know at least one. They’re an interesting breed. But this Manboy isn’t like other manboys. This manboy is a cool manboy, at least that’s what Michael Donahue tells us. Donahue’s a fan of Vince Vawter’s newest addition to his Paperboy Trilogy, and he interviewed the writer for this week’s Flyer (check out the article here). Vawter celebrates the release of the new book at Novel on Saturday.
“Ghetto Girls Deserve Good Things”: Panel Discussion + “ETTO” Screening + More
Beverly + Sam Ross Gallery at Christian Brothers University
Saturday, February 10, 3 p.m.
Zaire Love’s exhibition stay at CBU has been extended through March 1st, which means more fun things are in store for the gallery show. This Saturday, at 3 p.m., you can engage in a lively panel discussion, capture moments with photos, and dive into “ghetto” games. Art-making and “rump-shaking” will commence at 4 p.m. Then at 5 p.m., “ETTO,” which served as the muse for “Ghetto Girls Deserve Good Things” and recently bagged the Best Hometowner Narrative Short award at the Indie Memphis Film Festival, will be screened in the Spain Auditorium. For more info on the show, check out this article, and for more info on “ETTO,” read this one.
Chinese Connection Dub Embassy Presents: Forever Loving Marley
Black Lodge
Saturday, February 10, 7 p.m.
Chinese Connection Dub Embassy celebrates the Life & Legacy of Bob Marley, with Yubu & the Ancient Youth, Kween Jasira, I-Sypha, Moses Crouch, and special guests and a special surprise. Advance tickets are $15, and it’s $20 at the door.
“Radical Jewelry Makeover: The Artist Project” Artist Talk
Metal Museum
Sunday, February 11, 3-5 p.m.
Join the Metal Museum for a conversation with the Radical Jewelry Makeover co-directors, Susie Ganch and Kathleen Kennedy, at the opening reception of the museum’s latest exhibition. Radical Jewelry Makeover: The Artist Project brings together jewelers working together to examine mining issues while making innovative jewelry from recycled sources. Volunteer “miners,” “smelters,” “refiners,” and metalsmiths join forces to recycle and reuse donated jewelry to create unique, innovative, handmade jewelry. RSVP for the talk here and read more about the exhibit here.
Harriet Tubman Oratorio
Cannon Center For The Performing Arts
Sunday, February 11, 2-4 p.m.
The Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the National Civil Rights Museum proudly present the world premiere of the Harriet Tubman Oratorio, composed by the renowned Earnestine Rodgers Robinson, a remarkable woman whose own journey embodies the power of resilience and defying limitations. Witness the power of music as the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, joined by a chorus of over 100 vocalists from local choirs, brings Tubman’s story of courage, determination, and unwavering spirit vividly to life. Tickets are $20/adult and $5/youth. There is a pay-what-you-can option, with a minimum of $5. Purchase your tickets here and learn more about Earnestine Rodgers Robinson here in this piece by Alice Faye Duncan.
The Urania Trilogy (with Tav Falco in attendance)
Malco Studio on the Square
Thursday, February 15, 7 p.m.
Musician, actor, filmmaker, and photographer Tav Falco presents his completed The Urania Trilogy, channeling silent movie stylistics and old-world atmospherics to follow the journey of disenchanted American girl Gina Lee, who, after impulsively traveling to Vienna, becomes embroiled in an intrigue to uncover buried Nazi plunder. Tickets for the screening are $12 and can be purchased here.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
Submit events here or by emailing calendar@memphisflyer.com.
