🍀 Memphis Goes Irish: St. Paddy's Day Events in the 901

Good morning, Memphis! The Grizzlies just assigned Brandon Clarke, Desmond Bane, and Yuta Wanabe to the Memphis Hustle for practice. All three players will be back on the Grizzlies roster soon.

It’s the little things this season 😤.

In this week’s This is Memphis newsletter:

• Overton Park to reopen a dozen acres of land 🌳 

• St. Patrick’s Day celebrations this weekend 🍀 

• 9 things to do in the 901 🤸 

Let’s get to it.

-Jonah Baer & Reuben Skahill

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🗞️ Stories this week

Overton Park to reopen a dozen acres of land 🌳 

After an eight-year-long dispute, the Memphis Zoo and Overton Park’s leadership agreed to reopen a dozen acres of old-growth forest that’s been separated by a chain-link fence for decades. The land could open to the public later this year and give Memphians even more trails and nature to enjoy.

University of Memphis might become its own K-12 school district 🎒 

The U of M, which operates three high-performing schools for K-12 students, could become its own school district under new legislation from two Republican congressmen from Memphis. The lawmakers want the schools to be under the jurisdiction of the university, rather than the Memphis-Shelby County Schools. This would also give the university purview to open new schools across the city.

Read more about the initiative here.

Tigers AAC Tournament this week 🏀 

Today at 1:30 CST, Penny Hardaway and the Tigers men’s basketball team take on Whichita St. in the AAC Conference Tournament. The Tigers will most likely need to win the entire tournament in order to make the NCAA Tournament. Only time will tell from here.

100 N. Main Developers target Autograph Collection by Marriott hotel 🏗️ 

As the development for the historic 100 N. Main building is underway, developers say they have been approved to apply for a Marriott hotel. Specifically, they are applying for a 160-room Autograph Collection hotel, which is a premium Marriott brand. They will find out in the next 4-6 weeks if they have been approved to build the hotel.

Learn more about the development here.*

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📷️ Photo of the Week

📸 @adarrylljacksonsr | The Mississippi Bridge at Sunset

DM or tag us @This_Is_Memphis_ for the chance to be featured next week!

🐻 Together with the Memphis Grizzlies Team Shop

Did you know we partnered with the Memphis Grizzlies for you to get deals on the latest Grizzlies jersey or retro snapback? Well, now you do.

Shop our storefront and level up your Grizz wardrobe today.*

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💰️ Small Business Spotlight

Start Co. Introduces the Memphis Mobility Challenge 📈 

Start Co, a startup accelerator for Memphis-based entrepreneurs, along with 12 local partners, is launching an initiative for founders to bring innovative mobility solutions to life in Memphis.

Founders can receive a portion of over $600k in grants, seed funding, and business and technical assistance to launch pilots into the community this year.

Learn more about the initiative here.

🤸 9 things to do in the 901

From special films and comedy shows to Grizz games and music festivals, check out 9 thingsgoing on in Memphis over the weekend.

Theater & Comedy 🎭️ 

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents THE AWFUL TRUTH| Crosstown Theatre | Mar. 14 @ 7 PM | $5 at the door

You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown | Circuit Playhouse | Showing from Mar. 15 - Apr. 13 | Get tickets

The Nuthin But Funny Tour | Chuckles Comedy House | Mar. 17 @ 8 PM | Get tickets

Sports 🏀 

WWE Friday Night Smackdown | FedEx Forum | Mar. 15 @ 6:45 PM | Get tickets

Memphis Grizzlies vs. OKC Thunder | FedEx Forum | Mar. 16 @ 7 PM |

Men’s & Women’s Track Rhodes Invitational | Rhodes Track & Field | Mar. 15 & 16

Music 🎶 

5 Fridays of Jazz | Benjamin Hooks Library | Mar. 15 @ 6 PM

Justin Timberlake Album Release Party | Soul & Spirits Brewery | Mar. 15 @ 4 PM

Whiskey South + Lucky 7 Brass Band | Lafayette’s Music Room | Mar. 16 @ 9 PM

_{Have an event you want us to cover? Let us know!}

〽️ This Week in Memphis History

On March 16 and March 17, 1974, Elvis Presley performed four sold-out live shows in Memphis at the Mid-South Coliseum, his first time performing in Memphis since 1961. He played both his old hits from the 60s and new songs in the 70s. A true Memphis king.

Have a cool piece of Memphis history to share? Send it to us, and you might get included in the newsletter (with a shout-out)!

🍀 St. Patrick’s Day Festivities

Looking for some St. Paddy’s Day parades or parties this weekend? Memphis has a TON of events for you to check out across the city this weekend — and toss back a green beer or two.

Saturday

• Slider Inn (All Day)

• Celtic Crossing (All Day)

• Flying Saucer (11 AM)

• Soul & Spirits Brewery so (1 PM)

• 51st Annual Silky O’Sullivan’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade (2 PM)

• 310 Beale (3 PM)

• The Official Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl @ Atomic Rose (4 PM)

Sunday

• St. Patrick’s Day at Bog & Barley (11 AM)

• Grind City’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party (12 PM)

• Memphis Official St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl @ Coyote Ugly (1 PM)

• St. Paddy’s Day Crawfish Boil @ Crosstown Brewing Company (1 PM)

• St. Patrick’s Day Parade @ Cooper-Young (2 PM)

• Overton Square (5 PM)

🌡️ Weather This Weekend

Friday

67 🌡️ 47 | 🌧️ | 91%

Saturday

68 🌡️ 51 | 🌤️ | 8%

Sunday

62 🌡️ 39 | ☁️ | 24%

THANK YOU MEMPHIS!

Thanks for reading the This is Memphis newsletter today. Please share it with someone who loves wearing green.

Reply to this email with anything else you’d love to see us cover in the newsletter or reactions to anything we shared today.

Let’s do this again next Thursday!

This is Memphis Team

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