Here comes Trader Joe’s with a Friday opening in Germantown after lots of mystery and delays and changes for what is a pretty simple concept. For so many of us, this has been a long-hoped for goal. It’s kind of up there with smuggling in Coors beer from the west in the 70s before it became available everywhere and Coors had a brewery here.

2. Last Word: Jagger, Jerry Lee, Whalum & More and Harris' Plans on BTH - Thursday, September 13, 2018

Sir Mick Jagger and Jerry Lee Lewis walk into Sun Studio Wednesday. That’s not the start of a joke. Variety has reported that Jagger’s film company has signed on to the Elvis biopic being made from Peter Guralnick’s definitive two volume biography of the king. You connect the dots or don’t – who knows if there is a connection? Yes, but they aren’t talking.

3. Last Word: Fever Obscured, Beale Cover and Who Had The First Supermarket? - Wednesday, September 12, 2018

For all of the talk about Memphis turning 200 next year and the ongoing discussion and examination following the 50th anniversary of the sanitation workers strike and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, the Yellow Fever epidemic has a way of being obscured.

4. Last Word: Gun Group Endorsements, Kirby Complexities and Purple Haze Closes - Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Two races on the Nov. 6 ballot within the Shelby County legislative delegation to Nashville getting some attention as our Nashville correspondent Sam Stockard takes a look at “gun sense” ratings from the group Moms Demand Action, which has called for stricter gun laws.

5. Last Word: Graceland Opens Vigil, Hunt-Phelan For Sale and Southern Heritage - Thursday, September 6, 2018

After two years of making the Elvis candlelight vigil more about who paid and getting people in line, Graceland said Wednesday the vigil will return to being a free event next August – no admission, no buying packages that include the vigil. The timing on this is interesting coming about two weeks after the 2018 edition of the vigil.

6. Court Dismisses Club 152’s Suit Against Purple Haze - Saturday, September 1, 2018

Last call at Purple Haze nightclub near FedExForum won’t get any earlier thanks to a judicial ruling.

Club 152, whose ownership team includes spokesperson and co-owner Wilber Hensley, filed a lawsuit April 28, 2016, immediately prior to Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival to stop Purple Haze Nightclub from serving alcohol between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., claiming it was not physically located in the Beale Street Historic District.

7. Last Word: Tiger Fortunes, Union Mission Expansion and Beale Cause and Effect - Friday, August 31, 2018

The Tigers open the football season Saturday at the Liberty Bowl against Mercer and many of you are ready for football season – college or NFL but rarely both – to begin. Never mind that the World Series still awaits in October or that every time I look up at an NFL pre season game someone is running a kickoff back from one end zone to another because no one wants anyone to hit too hard out there until it counts.

8. Memphis City Council Debates Reality vs. Perception on Beale - Thursday, August 30, 2018

A stabbing in the Beale Street entertainment district the Saturday night before Memphis City Council members took up safety and crowd-control recommendations from a task force added some urgency to an already emotional subject.

9. Last Word: New Council Smell, Harris's First Pick and Detroit's Comeback - Wednesday, August 29, 2018

After months of renovation work, the new Memphis City Council committee room was ready for the council Tuesday on the fifth floor of City Hall. The council had been meeting in its chambers on the ground floor for the seven hours of committee meetings that precede the council’s main voting meeting at 3:30 p.m. two Tuesdays a month. The council room has that new council smell -- kind of ironic for a body that is about to get three new members by the end of the year.

10. Last Word: Firestone Developments, Commission's Busy Day and Main and Beale - Tuesday, August 28, 2018

The Firestone plant site in North Memphis is one of nine across the city the Greater Memphis Chamber is seeking grant funding for as the chamber starts to role out an economic development policy shift on its part. Here is what it means on several levels as well as the eight other sites in the Memphis area that are on the grant applications.

11. Court Dismisses Club 152 Lawsuit - Monday, August 27, 2018

Last call at Purple Haze nightclub near FedExForum won’t get any earlier thanks to a judicial ruling.

Club 152, whose ownership team includes co-owner Wilber Hensley, filed a lawsuit April 28, 2016, immediately prior to the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival to stop Purple Haze Nightclub from serving alcohol between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., claiming it was not physically located in the Beale Street Historic District.

12. Last Word: Police Surveillance on Trial, Elvis Alternatives and Firestone's Dilemma - Monday, August 20, 2018

In Memphis Federal Court Monday morning, Memphis Police surveillance of protesters over the last two years is on the docket of U.S. District Judge Jon P. McCalla. McCalla ruled earlier this month in advance of the nonjury trial that police conducted “political surveillance” of protesters in violation of a 1978 federal court consent decree.

13. Last Word: Southgate Signs, Suburban Deadline and Kingsbury Allegations - Thursday, August 16, 2018

Seven months after it closed, the Kroger supermarket at the Southgate shopping center reopened Wednesday as a CashSaver grocery store in what has to be a blueprint for future efforts but is also nonetheless something that is not easily replicated. Showing the way on this has been The Works Inc. at its store at the South Memphis Farmers Market. We wrote about this earlier this year just as the Southgate solution began to take shape.

14. Last Word: Hotel on the Mall, The Twist in Council Day and Rallings on Surveillance - Wednesday, August 15, 2018

At this point, the second convention center hotel is a bit like the Pyramid was at one point. Before the first dirt was turned on the Pyramid in the late 1980s, there was the discussion about where it should go and there were a lot of ideas on that covering a lot of territory – so much so that then-Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris had a model of a pretty generic looking Pyramid on his desk that had some lego wheels attached to it.

15. Last Word: Bigger Goodlett, Collierville's Dilemma and Ronnie Grisanti's at Regalia - Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Shelby County Schools officials breaking ground Monday evening on the new Goodlett Elementary School to open a year from now on the grounds of the current Goodlett Elementary at 3001 S. Goodlett. The bigger Goodlett will allow for nearby Knight Road Elementary to close and its students to attend the new Goodlett. GOODLETT.

16. Last Word: MIM Numbers, Feeding 700 Teenagers and Elvis Week Arrives - Friday, August 10, 2018

The honored country tradition of the Memphis In May International Festival is one of those things that gets called into question whenever there is some thought about changes to the city’s biggest party. And the keepers of the festival’s flame always defend the tradition against the notion that they should just go straight to the party and not worry about anything profound.

17. 2019 Memphis In May Festival to Honor City's Bicentennial - Friday, August 10, 2018

For the first time in its 42-year history, the month-long Memphis in May International Festival will depart in 2019 from its tradition of honoring a country and promoting trade ties with that country.

18. Commercial Appeal, Amazon Eying New Locations - Monday, August 6, 2018

262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105

Permit Amount: $412 million

Project Cost: $330 million

19. Last Word: Election Day, Inland Bails Early and Cannons Out - Thursday, August 2, 2018

The TV breaks are wall to wall with political ads. The campaign robo-calls have crowded out the hang-up clone calls to your landline phone. Your mailbox has no fewer than three mailers a day. And all of the parties set for Thursday night are “victory” parties at least until the polls close. Here comes election day.

20. Commercial Appeal Looking at New Spot Downtown - Thursday, August 2, 2018

The Commercial Appeal building was a nexus of local news coverage for Memphis and the Mid-South for nearly a half-century, but The CA won’t be operating out of its 495 Union Ave. location for the first time since the Ford Administration.

21. The CA Looking at New Spot Downtown - Thursday, August 2, 2018

The Commercial Appeal building was a nexus of local news coverage for Memphis and the Mid-South for nearly a half-century, but The CA won’t be operating out of its 495 Union Ave. location for the first time since the Ford Administration.

22. Events - Saturday, July 28, 2018

Tennessee’s 2018 Sales Tax Holiday takes place Friday, July 27, at 12:01 a.m. through Sunday, July 29, at 11:59 p.m. Shoppers can save nearly 10 percent on clothing, school and art supplies that cost $100 or less per item and computers that cost $1,500 or less. Visit tntaxholiday.com for details and lists of tax-exempt and taxable items.

23. Events - Friday, July 27, 2018

Tennessee’s 2018 Sales Tax Holiday takes place Friday, July 27, at 12:01 a.m. through Sunday, July 29, at 11:59 p.m. Shoppers can save nearly 10 percent on clothing, school and art supplies that cost $100 or less per item and computers that cost $1,500 or less. Visit tntaxholiday.com for details and lists of tax-exempt and taxable items.

24. Last Word: T.O. Jones, One Beale's Launch and De-Annexation in Trouble - Wednesday, July 25, 2018

You might call it the final act of the MLK 50 observances around our city this year. With very little fanfare at the start of Tuesday’s city council session, the council honored T.O. Jones, the leader of the union representing city sanitation workers and the leader of the 1968 strike by those workers. Jones was a pivotal figure in the strike who soon after lost his position with the local union in the internal politics of AFSCME as the local became a powerful political symbol.

25. Around Memphis: July 23, 2018 - Monday, July 23, 2018

The Daily News offers a weekly roundup of Memphis-related headlines from around the web, adding context and new perspectives to the original content we produce on a daily basis. Here are some recent stories worth checking out…

26. Last Word: MemFix 4's Big Weekend, Early Voting Six Days In and Grizz Moves - Friday, July 20, 2018

A big weekend to avoid the interstate with a rare closing of I-240 between the 385 split and the I-40 split and Poplar over I-240 also closed in both directions. This kicks in Friday evening and runs up to Monday morning’s rush hour as TDOT crews work to replace four bridges in East Memphis using a relatively new process in which parts of the bridges are assembled in advance and then moved into place. The bridges are both Poplar bridges, the Park Avenue bridge and the Norfolk Southern rail bridge. And this will happen all over again in about a week’s time using the same schedule, weather permitting. Weekenders on the interstate already have some experience with a milder version of this with the interstate projects on the south leg

27. The Week Ahead: July 16-22 - Monday, July 16, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! The popular Roundhouse Revival at the Mid-South Coliseum returns this weekend, along with a retro skate night against the scenic backdrop of the Mississippi River at sunset. Check out those events and more happenings you need to know about in The Week Ahead...

28. Last Word: Opening Day at the Polls, Court Square Sighting and Different Moonlight - Friday, July 13, 2018

For some candidates summer heat is a campaign tradition that they thrive on. Governor Ned McWherter was one of those candidates. But for most of those running for political office in an election year, it amps up the grueling pace immeasurably, especially the pace of a statewide campaign in a state whose northeastern most point is closer to Canada than it is to Memphis. That is the atmospheric setting for Friday’s first day of the early voting period. And a look at the past turnout for this election cycle shows the statewide primaries on the ballot will likely tell a good part of the story.

29. Heat Wave - Saturday, July 14, 2018

After what was a banner year in many ways for Memphis commercial real estate in 2017, projections for this year were bullish. But at the halfway point of 2018, have expectations in the area risen with the temperatures or have they begun to dry out under the sweltering summer heat? 

30. Last Word: Another Twist in Court, Harris-Lenoir at NCRM and Fairgrounds Specifics - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

One more twist in the early voting schedule that kicks off Friday. It came in the second day of hearings Tuesday in Chancery Court as Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins was preparing to sign the court order from Monday night’s hearing. The election commission said it couldn’t meet the order’s deadline of opening all 27 sites on Monday. Jenkins made it a Tuesday opening but this nearly went off the rails.

31. Last Word: The Jenkins Ruling, No More City Court Clerk and Harwell's Quest - Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Making your early voting plan for Friday’s debut of the voting period in advance of the Aug. 2 election day? Well, you might want to hold off until after Tuesday morning. That’s when the latest changes could get set in stone … or not.

32. The Week Ahead: July 9-15 - Monday, July 9, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! This week delivers a blast with some entertainment straight out of the '80s, plus your chance to tour a midcentury property in the midst of a restoration. Plus, we share what you need to know about early voting, I-240 closures, and plenty of other local happenings in The Week Ahead...

33. Last Word: River Museum Review, Tigers' Blended Family and Oxford Crackdown - Friday, July 6, 2018

It’s not the Gulf. It’s Lake Pontchartrain that draws the crowds on Mud Island. The Riverwalk replica of the Gulf of Mexico’s neighbor that is. A few adjustments is all it took to return authorized wading to the area at the end of the scale model of the Mississippi River. The river park is changing as it continues to make its way through the annual season from the summer and into the fall.

34. Last Word: Draft Done, New Beale Moves and New Elvis - Friday, June 22, 2018

Well, this is off to a rocky start. Jaren Jackson Jr. indicated he didn’t want to come to Memphis until minutes before the Grizz used their number 4 pick in Thursday evening’s NBA draft to select him and reverse years of bad history in draft selections. That was a lot to ask for in the pick of the youngest player in the draft at 18 years of age. But that’s what drafts in the NFL and NBA have come to be about – big moments, declaring victory and celebrating all before anything pans out.

35. Events - Friday, June 22, 2018

Luna Nova Music presents the 12th annual Belvedere Chamber Music Festival through Saturday, June 20-23, at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1720 Peabody Ave. Concerts start at 7:30 each night; Thursday and Friday also feature a 3:30 p.m. concert. Concerts are free and open to the public. Visit belvederefestival.org.

36. Around Memphis: June 18, 2018 - Monday, June 18, 2018

The Daily News offers a weekly roundup of Memphis-related headlines from around the web, adding context and new perspectives to the original content we produce on a daily basis. Here are some recent stories worth checking out…

37. The Week Ahead: June 18-24 - Monday, June 18, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Summer officially arrives Thursday with the solstice (aka the longest day of the year). Celebrate by taking in an evening Redbirds game or outdoor movie – or head indoors for one of nearly a dozen chamber music concerts. Here’s what else you need to know about in The Week Ahead...

38. Events - Friday, June 15, 2018

The Memphis Juneteenth Urban Music Festival returns Friday through Sunday, June 15-17, in Robert R. Church Park, 345 Beale St. The annual event features live music, vendors, senior activities, kids zone and more. Admission is free. Visit memphisjuneteenth.com.

39. Last Word: Kiwanis Debate, Haslam on the Gov. Race and Street Work - Thursday, June 14, 2018

For the last couple of days there has been this brewing story that Kim Kardashian West was on her way to the city to meet with Alice Marie Johnson, the convicted drug dealer sentenced to life in prison who was pardoned by President Donald Trump last week after serving 21 years in federal prison. And that is just what happened Wednesday – almost. The meeting was in Southaven. And, according to People, it included lessons in how to use Snapchat. The meeting included an interview with the Today show that will air Thursday morning.

40. Events - Thursday, June 14, 2018

Memphis Botanic Garden hosts 30 Thursdays: Cocktails and Canvases June 14, at 6 p.m. at 750 Cherry Road. The plein air (outdoor) painting class takes place the second Thursday of each month during 30 Thursdays and uses one of MBG’s 31 gardens as a background. Bring your own beverage and painting supplies. Free with garden admission. Visit memphisbotanicgarden.com/30thursdays for details.

41. Last Word: Riverfront Change, Skeleton to Canopy and Summer Camp - Wednesday, June 13, 2018

The two contenders for Shelby County Mayor in the Aug. 2 county general election – Democratic nominee Lee Harris and Republican nominee David Lenoir – meet for the first time in the general election campaign Wednesday at the Memphis Kiwanis Club weekly luncheon. It is the first of several debates between the two. And judging from what Harris and Lenoir have said separately and what we’ve reported from those appearances, this is a highly anticipated debate/discussion about the future of Shelby County on several fronts.

42. The Week Ahead: June 11-17 - Monday, June 11, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Father’s Day is this weekend – and no matter whether yours is a rocker, a runner or a reader, there’s something to do with dear ol’ dad. Plus, check out where to see Gov. Bill Haslam, former VP Joe Biden and the “winningest woman in racing” in The Week Ahead.

43. Events - Monday, June 11, 2018

The Memphis Juneteenth Urban Music Festival returns Friday through Sunday, June 15-17, at Robert R. Church Park on Beale Street, with several related events before the three-day festival.

• Tuesday, June 12: Memphis Juneteenth Jobs & Career Fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at JIFF, 254 S. Lauderdale St. Job seekers are encouraged to bring a resume and dress for success.
• Thursday, June 14: Juneteenth Evening of the Stars, youth talent showcase and awards show, 6 p.m., and Memphis Juneteenth Lifetime Achievement Awards, 8 p.m., Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave.
• Friday, June 15: Festival begins with live music, activities for seniors, kids zone, vendors and more. Hours 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Saturday, June 16: Veterans 5K Walk/Run, 8 a.m. (registration 6:30 a.m.); festival hours 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
• Sunday, June 17: Food Truck Sunday and Praise Fest at Juneteenth; festival hours noon-10 p.m.

Visit memphisjuneteenth.com for full schedule.

44. Last Word: Firestone's Legacy, Malco In Lakeland and Alexander on Cell Phones - Friday, June 8, 2018

What about Firestone? That’s the quick way of getting into the latest turn in our ongoing civic discussion about whether there should be changes to how Memphis approaches economic development and the growth it brings. Eric Robertson, the president of Community LIFT, which works with community development corporations across the city, says the definition of economic development should be broader and the approach to it should go beyond answering the questions of site consultants to keep them from walking away to the next city on their list.

45. Events - Saturday, June 9, 2018

Hattiloo Theatre performs “Raisin,” a musical adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” Friday, June 8, through July 1 at 37 S. Cooper St. Visit hattiloo.org for showtimes and tickets.

46. Last Word: One for Graceland, Randy Boyd in Millington and Green Eyeshades - Tuesday, June 5, 2018

From the distance of 50 years – half a century – it’s hard to relate what it was like to grow up in the 1960s – in particular the year 1968 in a city that figured prominently in the year’s turbulent trajectory.

47. Memphis News, Daily News Win 9 Green Eyeshade Awards - Tuesday, June 5, 2018

The Daily News and the Memphis News placed in nine categories in the Society of Professional Journalists’ annual Green Eyeshade Awards, including five first-place finishes. The regional awards cover an 11-state area.

48. Around Memphis: June 4, 2018 - Monday, June 4, 2018

The Daily News offers a weekly roundup of Memphis-related headlines from around the web, adding context and new perspectives to the original content we produce on a daily basis. Here are some recent stories worth checking out…

49. Last Word: SCS Budget Travels, Carlisle on One Beale and Hickman's Comeback - Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Shelby County Schools officials are Downtown Wednesday to formally present the school system’s budget proposal to the Shelby County Commission. The budget committee hearing Wednesday morning won’t see any decision just yet. But the school system’s ask of county government is a big part of the commission getting to a more complete view of county government’s budget since north of $400 million of the county’s $1.3 billion consolidated budget is funding for public education across seven school districts in the county.

50. Week Ahead: May 28-June 3 - Monday, May 28, 2018

Happy Memorial Day, Memphis! Once a grand hotel and commercial skyscraper to be located at the base of Beale Street near Riverside Drive, a scaled-back version of the One Beale project is still alive and goes before a key city board for a closing extension this week.

51. Last Word: St. Jude's Reach Across A Divide, One Beale Numbers and Draft Math - Friday, May 25, 2018

To no one’s surprise the legal skirmish over Confederate monuments is on its way to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Forrest family filed notice Thursday of their appeal of the Davidson County Chancery Court ruling of last week holding that the city of Memphis broke no laws in selling two parks, including the monuments in them, to a private nonprofit which then had the monuments removed.

52. Last Word: One Beale Changes, Treedom and Motel Mirrors in Cooper Young - Thursday, May 24, 2018

For all of the expectation and ambition present in a Memphis where Crosstown Concourse is almost a year old, Shelby Farms Park is an institution and the local economy in general has shaken off a lingering recession that wanted a rent to own deal – there may be some limits to our ambition. At least the scope of some of our ambition, which brings us to the One Beale project at Beale and Riverside.

53. Last Word: Pete & Sam's and Barbecue, Neutral Turf and Ralph Wiley on Penny - Monday, May 21, 2018

Pete & Sam’s, one of the city’s long running restaurants in a vibrant culinary scene, reopens Monday afternoon on Park Avenue following an extensive renovation following a major fire this past December. There should be lots of curiosity about what change looks like in a restaurant devoted to sticking with the past so much so that at times Pete & Sam’s and its reputation have been debated vocally among foodies. Kind of like the debate that occasionally surfaces over the Rendezvous and its place in our local world of barbecue.

54. Last Word: Being Fourth, Barbecue and Davos on the Delta and Steamboat Exit - Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Not. Top. Three. The Grizz got the fourth pick of the NBA draft in Tuesday’s draft lottery in Chicago. Grizz president of business operations Jason Wexler had probably the best reaction on Twitter: “So for the next 5 weeks we are in a window where everyone can be wrong and everyone can be right at the same time.” The memory of Hasheem Thabeet’s arrival in Memphis looms large in this uncertainty and draft day is the only thing that can make that memory fade. At least for now, that image just got a bit sharper. And it becomes more vivid every time between now and the draft in June that you start a sentence with “The Grizz could still…”

55. Week Ahead: May 14-20 - Monday, May 14, 2018

Go hog wild, Memphis! One of the most anticipated community events of the year kicks off this week when Tom Lee Park again becomes ground zero for the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. Teams from around the world will try to win over judges with their savory renditions of all things pig. It will be a lip-smackin’ good time win or lose, though. 

56. Last Word: Making Memphis Easier, Strickland on Graceland and Construction Jobs - Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Some of the BSMF reviews in from this past weekend are thumbs up for the way Memphis In May has ramped up what you might call its infrastructure around Uber, Lyft and little items like muddy boots for the increasing number of Memphians and visitors who are ready to go no matter what the weather is doing. And they may opt for some other way into Downtown beyond driving a car and finding a parking place and walking, especially when there’s a drop off at the northern end of the music festival. Even a fire hydrant water flow to take the mud off your boots. We can make Memphis easier with less effort than we think at the outset.

57. Last Word: BSMF Notes, Political Dominoes and The Teacher Pipeline - Monday, May 7, 2018

Yes, it rained. There was even hail for a brief period. None of that appeared to make a dent in the run of the Beale Street Music Festival. We are still waiting on exact box office numbers. The park was sold out – Ticketfly and at the gate -- early Sunday evening. It wasn’t a sellout Friday and Saturday but ticket supplies were tight for Tom Lee Park with the festival estimating there were thousands more people Saturday than there were Friday. Much to be said for a lineup this year that managed to strike a balance between hipster, cutting edge nobody-knows-about-this-yet new and used-to-be-big-not-so-long-ago nostalgia.

58. Week Ahead: May 7-13 - Monday, May 7, 2018

Happy Monday. This weekend is the one between the Beale Street Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, but there are still Memphis in May International events to attend. Great month to be in Memphis!

59. Events - Saturday, May 5, 2018

The 2018 Beale Street Music Festival takes place Friday through Sunday, May 4-6, in Tom Lee Park on Riverside Drive. The kickoff to the Memphis in May International Festival includes four stages with more than 60 acts spanning every genre. Tickets are $55 each day; three-day passes are $125 if purchased before May 1 and $165 if purchased after. Visit memphisinmay.org for details and a lineup.

60. Last Word: BSMF Opens, Germantown's New Elementary and Links at St. Jude - Friday, May 4, 2018

The Beale Street Music Festival opens Friday and the clouds appear right on cue. But that, in and of itself, doesn’t stop the proceedings in Tom Lee Park. Lightning is another matter, of course. Poncho and boots are a part of the Memphis In May identity. And one day there will be a digital map of the park’s terrain that shows the areas that are the mud pits and those that are largely mud proof. That’s for some of you to avoid them and others among you to find them and “celebrate” them.

61. Events - Friday, May 4, 2018

The 2018 Beale Street Music Festival takes place Friday through Sunday, May 4-6, in Tom Lee Park on Riverside Drive. The kickoff to the Memphis in May International Festival includes four stages with more than 60 acts spanning every genre. Tickets are $55 each day; three-day passes are $165. Visit memphisinmay.org for a lineup.

62. Events - Thursday, May 3, 2018

Porter-Leath will host its Books From Birth spring luncheon, “Growing New Readers by Leaps and Bounds,” Thursday, May 3, at noon in the FedEx Events Center at Shelby Farms Park, 415 Great View Drive E. The luncheon will feature a panel discussion with Memphis literacy advocates about the necessity of early literacy. Tickets are $75; tables of 10 are $750. Visit porterleath.org.

63. Events - Wednesday, May 2, 2018

“Toward Justice: A City-Wide Upstanders’ Project” kicks off with a keynote by civil rights leader Bob Zellner on Wednesday, May 2, at 7 p.m. at the Memphis Jewish Community Center, 6560 Poplar Ave. The monthlong “Toward Justice” project is presented by nearly a dozen local organizations and features exhibits, installations and more. All events are free and will be held at MJCC. Visit jccmemphis.org for a schedule.

64. Memphis in May Offers Tips to Avoid Ticket Fraud - Tuesday, May 1, 2018

In advance of the Beale Street Music Festival this weekend, Memphis in May officials are warning attendees about the possibility of fraudulent tickets being sold by street vendors and online scalpers.

65. Events - Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust (MOST) will host a reception honoring its 17 high-school scholarship recipients from the class of 2018 Tuesday, May 1, at 6 p.m. at Dixon Gallery & Gardens, 4339 Park Ave. Dr. Mary McDonald, a National Education Consultant and columnist for The Daily News, will be the guest speaker. Visit memphisscholarships.org.

66. Memphis Army Depot, CA Building Get New Owners - Monday, April 30, 2018

2028 Memphis Depot Pkwy.
Memphis, TN 38114

Sale Amount: $50 million

67. Events - Monday, April 30, 2018

The Shelby County Mayor’s Office and the Division of Community Services will host a community meeting to gather community feedback on the development of a youth assessment and resource center Monday, April 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Knowledge Quest (Universal Parenting Place), 990 College Park Drive, suite 104. Visit shelbycountytn.gov/calendar.aspx for details.

68. Last Word: The City's Windfall, Chandler Parsons' Knees and Keith Sykes on Flying - Wednesday, April 25, 2018

When you think of economic engines that drive the Memphis economy there are a lot of corporate names past and present that come to mind. One further down the list is the Memphis Defense Depot in southeast Memphis more than 20 years after the Army closed up shop. Along the stretch of Airways near Memphis International Airport are the blue collar neighborhoods built by the hub for Army supplies that located here in the early 1940s on 4.2 million square feet of land.

69. Last Word: Reading Early Voting Tea Leaves, Corker Qualifies and New Carrot - Monday, April 23, 2018

This should be the week that the Tennessee Legislature adjourns and state Senators and state Representatives return to their districts to begin campaigning in earnest for the August primaries and the November general election beyond that. The only hold-up to adjournment this week would be any more tremors surrounding education policy, specifically the TNReady test debacle of last week.

70. CA Sells Land, CBRE Inks New Office Deal - Monday, April 23, 2018

597 Beale St., Memphis, TN 38103: Gannett Co. Inc., The Commercial Appeal’s parent company, has sold 5 acres adjacent to the CA’s 495 Union Ave. location to a New York-based investment company that specializes in acquiring underperforming and underutilized locations from legacy newspapers.

71. Last Word: Parking Distrust, Early Voting Numbers and Missile Strike Reaction - Monday, April 16, 2018

There is probably no better symbol of the distrust that has been a factor in reaching a compromise in Overton Park to end greensward parking by the Memphis Zoo. It is what happened to the idea of a walkway from the zoo plaza to the greensward with the critical juncture being where the gravel driveway is now that is used by cars to park on the greensward. We examine that and other larger points from last week’s decision by City Hall to change the design and make the amended plan the final plan.

72. The Week Ahead: April 16-20 - Monday, April 16, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! It’s time for Africa in April, which in the minds of many Memphians, is the seasonal kick-off for festivals. The annual Southern Hot Wing Festival comes this weekend on Tiger Lane, so get ready for good times to replace that winter weather. Check out what else you need to know about in The Week Ahead...

73. Events - Saturday, April 7, 2018

Art by Design, a designer showcase benefiting ArtsMemphis, is underway through Sunday, April 8, in the Pipkin Building at the Mid-South Fairgrounds. More than a dozen interior design team have created custom “vignettes” within a chic gallery showroom, with special presentations each day. Single-day tickets are $20.  Visit artsmemphis.org for details and hours.

74. Events - Friday, April 6, 2018

Art by Design, a designer showcase benefiting ArtsMemphis, is underway through Sunday, April 8, in the Pipkin Building at the Mid-South Fairgrounds. More than a dozen interior design team have created custom “vignettes” within a chic gallery showroom, with special presentations each day. Single-day tickets are $20. Visit artsmemphis.org for details and hours.

75. Last Word: MLK50s Big Day, Hotel Changes and Murica on Capitol Hill - Thursday, April 5, 2018

The peak of the MLK50 events came Wednesday with a chill but some sunshine and lots to consider. Understand -- this isn’t over. There are still a few more events to go through the weekend and even into next week. If nothing else, a lot more Memphians and visitors got a good look at most of South Main in the best way possible – on foot. And if the Beale Street District ever expands east to Danny Thomas, the intersection there makes a really good place for a party.

76. Events - Tuesday, April 3, 2018

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees holds the I AM 2018 “Mountaintop” Speech Commemoration Tuesday, April 3, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mason Temple. The program will include Bernice King and Martin Luther King III, the children of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; ambassador Andrew Young; COGIC bishop Charles Blake; AFSCME president Lee Saunders; and other dignitaries. Seating at Mason Temple is by invitation only; overflow seating at Temple of Deliverance, 369 G.E. Patterson Ave., is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit iam2018.org.

77. The Aftermath: Memphis' Political Journey Since 1968 - Saturday, March 31, 2018

For 50 years and counting, April 4 has been an important day in the life of Memphis.

To some Memphians, it is a holy day; to others, it’s a day of reflection, or perhaps one of action and service.

78. MLK50 Events: A Roundup of Memphis Happenings - Saturday, March 31, 2018

Here's a selection of events in Memphis marking the 50th anniversary of the 1968 sanitation workers' strike and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. April 3 is the 50th anniversary of King’s last speech – the “Mountaintop” speech at Mason Temple, while April 4 is the 50th anniversary of his assassination on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel.

79. Visiting Memphis 50 Years After King's Assassination - Thursday, March 29, 2018

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Fifty years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The civil rights leader's shocking murder on April 4, 1968, marked one of the most significant moments in U.S. history.

80. Last Word: The RDC's New Leader, Potter on 100 North Main and FedEx Moves - Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Is Memphis big enough for FedExForum and some kind of event space on the Graceland campus in Whitehaven? The city administration thinks that could be the case. But it requires an “honest broker” between Graceland and the Grizz – who run the forum for the city and county – to quote city chief legal officer Bruce McMullen – if there is a deal to be had.

81. The Week Ahead: March 19-25, 2018 - Monday, March 19, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Spring fever’s in the air as the equinox officially arrives Tuesday morning. Tell winter to take a hike at the new Heels 4 Healing 5K for St. Jude this weekend, then let the kids dance the blues away at a pair of family ballet events. Here’s what else you should know about in The Week Ahead…

82. Events - Saturday, March 17, 2018

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art hosts its final community engagement session to gather feedback on its Downtown relocation Tuesday, March 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Memphis fire headquarters (the site of Brooks’ future home), 65 S. Front St. Museum officials are seeking input on several topics as they begin the process of selecting an architect and creating a vision for the new space. Free and open to the public, but RSVPs requested via the Facebook event. See facebook.com/brooksmuseum for details.

83. Events - Friday, March 16, 2018

Circuit Playhouse will present “James and the Giant Peach” Friday, March 16, through April 8 at 51 S. Cooper St. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for times and tickets.

84. Events - Thursday, March 15, 2018

Nobel Prize winner John Mather will present “The History of the Universe from the Beginning to the End: Where Did We Come From, Where Can We Go?” as Rhodes College’s 2018 Peyton Nalle Rhodes Physics Lecture on Thursday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m. in McNeill Concert Hall on Rhodes’ west campus, 613 University St. Mather is a senior astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the senior project scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope. Free and open to the public; reception and book signing will follow. Visit rhodes.edu/events for details.

85. Dedication Of Plaza Among King Observances - Thursday, March 15, 2018

The city will formally dedicate a plaza in honor of the 1968 striking sanitation workers at an April 5 ceremony, one of numerous events surrounding the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.

86. Events - Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Karen L. King, Hollis Professor of Divinity at Harvard University, will present “The Gospel of Mary Reads the Gospel of John” as part of Rhodes College’s annual Batey Lecture Wednesday, March 14, at 7 p.m.in the Hardie Auditorium of Palmer Hall on campus, 2000 North Parkway. Free and open to the public. Visit rhodes.edu/events for details.

87. Events - Tuesday, March 13, 2018

APICS Memphis Chapter, the premier association for supply chain management, will host its professional development meeting, Top Management Night & Yearly Awards Ceremony, on Tuesday, March 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Duncan McLeod, founder and president of DBM Systems, will present “Understanding the executive S&OP story for your business: Managing the future.” Cost is $20 for members and nonmembers, and $10 for students. Invite your manager to attend for free. Register at apicsmemphis.org.

88. Last Word: River Crests, Tigers Post-Season and Library Shift - Monday, March 12, 2018

The slow fall of the Mississippi River begins. The river at Memphis crested at 39.2 feet over the weekend. By Friday it should be below flood stage, which at Memphis is 34 feet. The high river season here was marked mostly by a lot of watching by Memphis public works and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the river and its tributaries moved into the bottom land it usually occupies at this time of the year.

89. The Week Ahead: March 12-18 - Monday, March 12, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Go green and capture the luck of the Irish as both Cooper-Young and Beale Street celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style this week. Maybe you’d prefer to explore the universe with a Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist? We’ve got details on those, plus more local happenings you need to know about in The Week Ahead…

90. Digest - Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Memphis Grizzlies Suffer 15th Consecutive Loss

The Grizzlies lost their 15th straight game, 119-110 at Chicago, on Wednesday, March 7.

The team has not won since defeating the Phoenix Suns at FedExForum on Jan. 29.

91. Last Word: On The EDGE, Tubby Smith and Timing and TVA Keeps Its Wells Off - Thursday, March 8, 2018

Remember when the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission got together a week ago at Beale Street Landing? Here’s a refresher. Among those watching the discussion was Richard Smith, the chairman of the Greater Memphis Chamber, who responded to the criticism of the local approach to economic development this week with an email to members of both bodies that could prompt some changes to the approach and specifically to EDGE.

92. Events - Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Leadership Memphis hosts its 2018 Leadership Awards Luncheon Wednesday, March 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hilton Memphis, 939 Ridge Lake Blvd. Social and business entrepreneur Josh McManus will present the keynote, and the organization will honor three community leaders and eight SUCCESS high school students for their outstanding leadership and community service. Tickets are $50. Visit leadershipmemphis.org for details and tickets.

93. Events - Monday, March 5, 2018

Memphis Heritage Inc. will present its 2018 Preservation Film Series Mondays March 5-26 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Howard Hall, 2282 Madison Ave. Join Memphis Heritage each Monday in March to view a preservation issue captured on the big screen, followed by a discussion with local experts who bring the topic home to Memphis. Registration for the four-part series is $50 for members and $75 for nonmembers. Visit memphisheritage.org for the lineup and details.

94. Last Word: The Ballot, By the River and The 'Good Ship Ineptitude' - Friday, March 2, 2018

What blooms before spring and after the rains? It is the quest. The quest that must be declared over and over again – in the confidence of homes and the parlors of supporters – across kitchen tables and behind the soundproof doors of conference rooms -- the patios where supporters have gathered and the rented spaces where campaigns are located. Usually with food. Perhaps a corner table or possibly a catered buffet. Maybe just coffee.

95. Events - Saturday, March 3, 2018

Playhouse on the Square will present “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” Friday, March 2, through March 25 at 66 S. Cooper St. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for times and tickets.

96. Last Word: Rising River, Driving The Dream and Harwell Advances Medical Pot - Thursday, March 1, 2018

The Mississippi River at Memphis should reach flood stage at any moment. As Last Word was going up online Wednesday evening the National Weather Service at Memphis put the river level here at 33.52 feet. Flood stage at Memphis is 34 feet. The river is forecast to crest some time next week at 38 feet, four feet over flood stage. Keep in mind that in April 2011, the river at Memphis crested 10 feet higher, at 48 feet on the Memphis river gauge – which turned to be the one on the support beams of the bridge over Beale Street at Riverside Drive. That was the second highest river level at Memphis ever recorded.

97. The Week Ahead: February 26-March 4 - Monday, February 26, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! There are plenty of business, government and sporting events to keep your interest this week, along with the annual farm and gin show. And Shakespeare could inspire some Shelby County students to have their works published in a literary magazine.

98. Events - Saturday, February 24, 2018

Hattiloo Theatre will perform “Selma: A Musical Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” Friday, Feb. 23, through March 18 at Hattiloo, 37 S. Cooper St. The dramatic musical captures prominent moments such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Visit hattiloo.org for showtimes and tickets.

99. Last Word: Plans and More Plans, Badu and Byrne and Gun Bills In Nashville - Thursday, February 22, 2018

Plans, plans, plans. I’ve seen so many overhead views and schematics in the last 24-hours that I had to go for a walk in the rain Wednesday to avoid vertigo. I saw a lot of green Save the Greensward t-shirts Wednesday evening at the Pink Palace that looked like they hadn’t been out of the bottom drawer in a while and even a couple of banners.

100. BSMF Lineup Features Diverse Mix of New and Familiar - Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The Beale Street Music Festival's 2018 lineup is out, and it features a mix of BSMF first-timers and familiar faces for longtime attendees of the three-day music fest in Tom Lee Park.

Headliners for the May 4-6 event include Tyler, the Creator, Jack White, R&B singer-songwriter Erykah Badu, rapper Post Malone, the EDM duo Odesza and Queens of the Stone Age, along with Alanis Morissette and Incubus.