There are a few big events coming up this weekend. Longtime Memphians may know about these, but I want to mention them for those new to Memphis:
Smokin’ Aces BBQ Festival at Harrah’s Tunica Friday to Sunday. This festival is smaller than Memphis in May BBQ Fest, but the teams who compete tell me it’s more fun. If you know anyone on a team who will be there, this would be worth checking out.
The Cooper-Young Festival is this weekend. This is Memphis’ largest street festival, running about half a mile down South Cooper Street and a couple of blocks down Young Avenue. Hundreds of arts and craft vendors sell their work. There are bands on several stages. Plenty of food and beer vendors, and the restaurants and bars on the festival route often run specials as well. Cooper-Young is one of the most open-minded neighborhoods in the city, and there will be booths with info on the environment, women’s issues, gay/lesbian issues, homeless issues, etc. The festival is Saturday 9 AM to 7 PM. This is a different festival from the Cooper-Young Beerfest I’ve written about – that one is October 13.
Downtown Museum Day is this Saturday. 15 museums and attractions will offer free or half-price admission. Not only are the big names participating, but lesser-known museums like the W.C. Handy Museum, the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum, and the Fire Museum of Memphis. Lots of cool stuff to do, although I think they’d draw better crowds if they didn’t schedule this the day of C-Y Fest.
In other news: 16 groups have been selected for Park(ing) Day. On September 21 these groups will transform Downtown parking spaces into miniature parks, each with a different theme. Among the themes will be a life-sized Jenga game, a roller skating disco opera, a mini tennis park, and a bike maintenance and repair station.
The Daily News reports that new businesses are moving Downtown, including an antique/gift shop on Union and a public strategy planning business in Pembroke Square.
The company that makes White Cloud toilet paper is running two job fairs in DeSoto County today. They plan on doubling their Memphis-area workforce, and 100 positions are open. Pay is in the $13-17 range, not bad at all.
Jerry Lawler is said to be stable in a cardiac care unit after suffering a heart attack on WWE Monday Night Raw. His ex-wife Stacy “The Kat” Carter” tweeted that he had a stint and a balloon put in. Best wishes to the King as I close out this lunchtime blog post.