Tue update: MIFA, Common Ground, PRSSA at Pembroke Thur, scooter rally, Rooster parties, free pizza, and more

MIFA is holding a volunteer fair this Saturday, August 29, from 9 AM to 1 PM. If you’re unable to volunteer during the week due to work or school, this is a good chance to help. You’ll be able to select the kind of activity you most enjoy doing. Activities include delivering meals, training to be a handyman volunteer project leader, preparing celebration bags for children and seniors, learning about serving MIFA as a rep in your congregation, and more. There will also be youth activities for ages 9-13.

A group called Common Ground is planning sessions for this fall, one for the weeks of September 14 to October 26, and another for the weeks of October 12 to November 30. In Common Ground groups, 10 people of all different races and backgrounds – men, women, blacks, whites, Asians, Native Americans, Hispanics, different ehtnic backgrounds, different religions, different generations – come together for an open, frank discussion on race relations, led by a trained facilitator. For more info or to take part in one of the groups, check out their website for more info.

The Public Relations Society of Memphis (PRSSA) is holding a mixer this Thursday, August 27, on the rooftop of Pembroke Square. It’s open to anyone in PR, marketing, advertising, and communications – you don’t have to be a PRSSA member. The event is the PRSSA’s VOX take-in party, where they take in entries for the annual awards competition. There will be a chance to win door prizes from the Peabody, Harrah’s, Arts Memphis, Malco, Corky’s, and more. There will also be a cash bar, a masseuse and make-up artist to help you relax after the work day, and complimentary appetizers. Free food? The Nuh-Uh Girl is in marketing. Wonder if she’ll show up.

Do you own a scooter? Are you an Elvis fan? If the answer to either of those questions is “yes,” you should check out the Memphis Kings scooter club’s Dead Elvis III scooter rally to be held in Downtown Memphis the week of September 11-13. Cookouts, rides to sites of Elvis significance, and more.

A couple of unique parties are coming to the Red Rooster in the next month. This Friday, August 28, they will have a Stop Light Party. According to the instructions, it works like this: If you’re taken/in a relationship, wear red. If you’re dating but you’re leaving your options open, wear yellow. If you’re completely single, wear green. Hmmm. Would be interesting to be a fly on the wall for this one…

Then on Thursday, September 17, the Rooster is having a foam party. That’s basically what it sounds like… they fill the place up with foam and people party in it.

If you own a Camaro, you can get a free large one topping pizza if you drive it to Papa John’s tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26. No kidding. Details here.  Free pizza?  Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will e-mail everyone in her address book and ask if anyone has a Camaro she can borrow.

And in case you missed it… King Willie has decided not to run in the special election to replace himself as mayor. At least that’s what he decided as of yesterday. He’ll probably change his mind Thursday-Friday or so when he realizes he hasn’t been on the front page of the newspaper in a few days and starts to miss the attention.

You know, I remember reading that when Napoleon was exiled to the island of St. Helena, as a joke his captors declared him the “emperor” of the island and even set him up with his own court. A year or two from now when King Willie is finally committed to a mental hospital, maybe the people who run the place can declare him the “mayor” of the facility and appoint a couple of the other crazies as his “aides.”

That’s all for now… I’m going to run down the street and do something different with the remainder of my lunch break – actually eat lunch.  There’s this new place called Pita Oven over on Brooks that seems to be really good.  I tried their chicken fajita wrap yesterday and really enjoyed it.  Today it’ll be either the gyro or the seafood wrap, will decide when I get there.  Info on some really cool after-work concerts coming soon.  I also have an idea to help promote several of my friends who are artists, more to come on that too.  Right now though, it’s time to eat.  Trivia tonight at 7 PM, hope Pete the Trivia Guy is feeling better…