🎬️ Stax doc nabs not one, but TWO Emmy noms

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Happy Thursday, Memphians! Welcome to This is Memphis, the newsletter smoother than Tennessee whiskey, sweeter than strawberry wine, and warmer than a glass of brandy.

In this week’s edition:

• 9 things to do in the 901 🤸

• Stax Museum documentary lands Emmy nomination 🎬️

• City of Memphis scammed for nearly $1M 🤦

• Weather “cooling” down this weekend 🌤️

Let’s get to it. 〽️

🗞️ The Rundown

Stax Museum documentary gets an Emmy Award nomination 🎥

Memphis music is back on the map as Stax: Soulsville U.S.A., a recent HBO documentary about the legendary Memphis record label turned museum, has garnered attention with not one but two (2!) Emmy Awards nominations.

According to the Emmy’s website, the nominations are for an Outstanding Documentary / Non-fiction Series and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program. Shout out to everyone involved in making this documentary a huge success!

City of Memphis scammed for $773k 🥷

Your grandfather isn’t the only one getting scammed out of money from the Internet. Just ask Memphis City Hall, as a city employee accidentally sent $773,695.45 to the wrong account in February 2022. By the time the city discovered the error, it was too late to recover the money. Who doesn’t love seeing nearly $1M of taxpayer money going to phishing scams.

FedEx Forum moves to next step in $500M Renovations 🏟️

On Wednesday, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners made a procedural move for Shelby County hotel-motel tax dollars to fund the $500 million+ FedEx Forum renovations*.

If you’re a Grizzlies / Tigers fan, this is incredible news as we will see a huge boost in the stadium. But for many Memphians, this money could better be used elsewhere, like improving the root of the crime problems. What do you think? Does the FedEx Forum need this $500M renovation?

Elon’s xAI supercomputer set to turn on Aug. 15 🤖

Elon Musk moves FAST. The supercomputer, which requires over 100,000 H100 Nvidia chips and hundreds of employees, is set to go live* in about a month on August 15. With the company announcing its supercomputer in Memphis just a month ago, the team is moving well ahead of its original construction schedule of a year or more. It’s hard to say what xAI’s impact will be on the community, both in terms of revenue for the city and new jobs / talent, but here’s what he hope happens…

_{*Paid 3rd party news source}

🥵This Week in Memphis History

On July 13, 1980, the temperature in Memphis hit 108 degrees, the highest temperature EVER recorded here. 44 years later that record still stands!

🤸 9 Things To Do in the 901

ALL Weekend

Memphis Redbirds Baseball Games | Friday @ 7:05 PM, Saturday @ 6:35 PM, Sunday @ 1:05 PM | AutoZone Park

Head to the ballpark this weekend! The Memphis Redbirds face the Iowa Cubs all weekend. Catch the action, enjoy Saturday Postgame Fireworks, and savor Ice Cream Sundays—perfect for National Ice Cream Day.

Friday

• Food Truck Friday | 5 PM - 7 PM | Caption by Hyatt
  
  Start your weekend right with the bi-weekly Food Truck Fridays event series at Caption by Hyatt, featuring delicious eats from local favorites and live music. 
  
  For more information, click here.
  

• Pokemon Go Battle Night | 6 PM | 901 Games Memphis
  
  Be part of 901 Game's first-ever Pokémon Go night! Engage in Great League battles and follow the link for details.
  
  Cost: $5
  Click here for more info.
  

• Brind Your Dog to Music Bingo | 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM | Grind City Brewery
  
  Jam to your favorite tunes and mark the song titles on your bingo card. Bringing your dog is optional but highly encouraged. Hollywood Feed will have prizes and treats for all the pups in attendance.
  
  Register here (FREE).
  

• Shrek Rave | 9 PM | Growlers
  
  

  

  
  Check out the Shrek Raves craze where you can let loose and have a great time! Throw on your best ogre gear for a night of pure, goofy fun.
  
  Cost: $15-$25
  Learn more here.

Saturday

• Bookstore Meets Bakeries | 9 AM - 11 AM | Novel
  
  Grab some treats from Muddy’s before Novel’s storytime on Saturday. This event happens twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays (with local bakeries on Saturdays) until August 10th.
  

• Family Summer Event | 12 PM - 4 PM | Bass Pro Shops @ The Pyramid
  
  Bring the whole family for a day filled with fun and learning! Grow beautiful wildflowers, create your own trail mix, discover easy conservation tips, and many more exciting activities. FREE to attend.
  

• Downtown Taproom Grand Opening | 1 PM | Memphis Made Brewery
  

  Last weekend, they held the closing party at their old Cooper Young location and this weekend, they have their opening party in the downtown location! They’ll be unveiling several new taps along with live music and food. FREE to attend.
  

• You Look Like Comedy Competition | 9 PM | HiTone
  
  Your favorite comedy competition returns! Six comedians face off, delivering their best roasts...about each other. Expect loads of audience involvement and rapid-fire burns, making for non-stop hilarity.
  
  Cost: $10

Sunday

• Memphis Music History | 2 PM | Chapel at Elmwood Cemetary
  
  Hear about the musicians buried in Elmwood Cemetery: a Big Band legend, blues singers, horn players, producers, and many more individuals who captivated the world with their original Memphis sound. They'll play their music and talk about their incredible journeys and legacies. Refreshments will be served.
  
  Cost: $20
  Learn more here.
  

• Sunday Line Dance Social | 3 PM. -6 PM | High Rollers Motorcycle Club
  
  If you’ve never line danced before, or if you’ve been line dancing your whole life. Bring both left feet and join M10 as they bring back Sunday Memphis line dancing.
  
  Cost: $10
  Click here for more info.

📸 Photo of the Week

📸 Danielle Lewis @daniellesphodogpraphy | Memphis skyline at sunset 😍

Want your photo featured? DM us on Instagram!

🌡️ WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday

86 🌡️ 69 | ⛅️ | 7%

Saturday

87 🌡️ 71 | 🌧️ | 38%

Sunday

88 🌡️ 73 | 🌦️ | 58%

THANK YOU MEMPHIS!

Thanks for reading the This is Memphis newsletter today. Please share it with someone who’s obsessed with Memphis music — both the old and the new.

Have ideas or scoops for future editions? Reply below and let us know!

See you next Thursday!

The This is Memphis Team