MLK Days of Service
Lots of Places
Through Monday, January 15th
Get your booty up and volunteer this week (or any week) with Volunteer Memphis. They’ve got a host of opportunities you can sign up for, so why not? Learn more here, and if you’re like, ugh, idk. Here are some other volunteer opportunities:
- Volunteer Day at Overton Park: Join Ranger Heather in a volunteer project at Overton Park. All participants must be over the age of 18 years old. Old Forest Gate at Rainbow Lake Parking Lot, Saturday, January 13, 10 a.m.-noon.
- MLK Day of Service at Wolf River Conservancy: Volunteers will expand an unpaved trail, clear streets of litter and debris, remove nonnative invasive plant species, and other onsite projects. Wolf River Conservancy, Saturday, January 13, 10 a.m.-noon.
- Pick Up for a Pint: Meet up at Memphis Made, where you’ll receive a trash bag; volunteers will disperse across the neighborhood to pick up trash and meet back at the brewery after it opens at 1 p.m. to receive their free beer (!). Memphis Made Brewing Company, Saturday, January 13, noon-2 p.m.
- MLK Day of Service at Shelby Farms Park: Groups will be mulching trees, clearing privet, picking up limbs on the Shelby Farms Greenline, and filling potholes in the Outback Off-Leash Dog Park. Shelby Farms Park, Monday, January 15, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Greater Illinois
TheaterWorks
Performances Friday, January 12-28
Memphis, you are about to be treated to the world premiere — I repeat, WORLD premiere — of Steven Strafford’s Greater Illinois, thanks to Playhouse on the Square. The show tells two interwoven stories that examine the intersections of fear, race, and homophobia. Performances run through January 28, Thursday to Saturday with an 8 p.m. curtain and with a 2 p.m. curtain on Sunday. Tickets ($25) can be purchased here.
Beale Street Monster Club
A. Schwab
Saturday, January 13, 1 p.m.
If you are into monsters, horror, and sci-fi, you might be into this brand-new club. Not like an unce-unce-unce club with the beep bops, but a club for nerds because, let’s face it, that’s what you are. This will be the inaugural meeting, so you can get in at the start, which is a good strategy if you’re joining an MLM, not sure about clubs, but it can’t hurt. For the first meeting, attendees will share monster memories and watch vintage trailers.
ABBA Revisited
Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center
Saturday, January 13, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Tonight the super trouper lights are gonna find you at BPACC. Why? Because ABBA is coming! Well, not THE ABBA (that’s a lot of capital letters), but ABBA Revisited, a tribute band. They might not be the real deal, but hey, take a chance on them. If you’ve got no place to go, if you’re feeling down, if you’re all alone when the pretty birds have flown, honey, take a chance on ABBA Revisited. At the concert, you can dance, you can jive, you might even have the time of your life. So go on and spend your money, money, money — it’s a rich man’s world at only 40 bucks a ticket (purchase ’em here).
Bonfire and Crafts
Black Lodge
Saturday, January 13, 3-7 p.m.
Celebrate the winter solstice with arts and crafts vendors, cult films, good eats (including s’mores), and live music.
The Plot Thickens: The Writers and Raconteurs of Elmwood Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery
Sunday, January 14, 2 p.m.
One day I’ll be dead, and maybe you’ll learn about me in this presentation about Memphis’ novelists, journalists, broadcasters, and poets. I know what you’re thinking, ‘Oh please, no, not the girl, who drags out these On the Fly things, don’t add her to a perfectly good, concise presentation.’ Don’t worry, I’m not dead yet, and I plan on outliving you. So, learn about the (already dead) writers that have made a mark on Memphis this weekend. Tickets which are $20 a person are available for purchase here, but there appears to be some 2 for 1 deal going on at the time of this writing, so get on that — money, money, money, it’s a rich man’s world, ya know? Snacks are included in the ticket price.
A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
National Civil Rights Museum
Monday, January 15, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
The National Civil Rights Museum will celebrate MLK day with free admission and extended hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The daylong event includes local organizations, children’s activities, entertainment by local artists such as vocalist Gerald Richardson, Overton High School choir, and more. Guests are encouraged to give back by bringing canned goods and nonperishables to donate to the Mid-South Food Bank. NCRM has also partnered with Vitalant for a blood drive at local centers from December 15th to January 15th and onsite on January 15th. Donors will receive free admission for two people in 2024.
Laser Tag Night + Screening of Tron Legacy & Starship Troopers
Black Lodge
Wednesday, January 17, 7:30 p.m.
You won’t catch me at this event. Laser tag doesn’t match with my no-sports lifestyle. Also, I don’t like losing, and I know I’d lose at laser tag because I have no sense of aim or whatever and I went to a laser tag birthday party as a kid because no. Anyways, Black Lodge is putting on a laser tag + movie night. I don’t know. They’re going to screen Tron Legacy (never seen it) at 7:30 p.m. and Starship Troopers (never heard of it) at 9:30 p.m. with laser tag happening simultaneously. I don’t think they were thinking of me when they created this event, but maybe this is right up your alley. You’ll need to sign a waiver and be 16 or over. They’re taking no chances.
2024 Women in Blues Showcase
Alfred’s
Thursday, January 18, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Women in Blues Showcase aims to level the field for female blues artists and musicians by showcasing female blues artists. This year’s showcase MC and opening performer is the dynamic Gina Coleman. Performing artists include Alex Richmond, The Bustle – Sami Chong, Jennifer Swistun, Jenny McPhail, Chantell with Diego Mongue Band, Dawn Lepere – LeFever, Mandalyn And The Hunters, Kiersi Joli, PK Hanna, Sunny Bleau, The Gayle Harrod Band, Niecie, and Sayed Sabrina. The event is free to the public, and donations are accepted. Also, it’s a part of the International Blues Challenge, which is also happening this week and seems like something I should mention.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
Submit events here or by emailing calendar@memphisflyer.com.
