Elvis Week jumps the gun, beads at the ballpark, and yellow fever after dark

Hey Memphis 👋 It's Friday. Sunny and 95, down to about 76 tonight, with nothing worse than a slight shower chance sneaking in late. The weekend we mapped out yesterday actually starts tonight — the full plan is here if you missed it — and it's already shifting: Elvis Week isn't waiting for Saturday, and the Redbirds decided August needed beads.

☀️ Today in Memphis

Ronnie McDowell for Elvis Week — Hernando's Hide-A-Way, 3210 Old Hernando Rd., doors 6, show 8, $28.15 general admission. The man who sang "The King Is Gone" — the tribute written in the days right after August 16, 1977 — plays Elvis Week eve at the juke joint minutes from Graceland. There's a 4 PM matinee too, if the night show won't work. Details

Halfway to Mardi Gras — AutoZone Park, gates 6, first pitch 7:05 against Nashville. Beads in August: the first 1,500 through the gates get a Mardi Gras jersey, kids decorate masks behind Section 106, and $5 Fiesta Friday covers the margaritas, the Dos Equis, and 2-for-$5 street tacos. Players sign autographs on the concourse from 6 to 6:30. Details

Tomb Talks: When Death Came to Memphis — Elmwood Cemetery, 824 S. Dudley St., 6–7:30 PM, $22 plus fees in advance, $30 at the door if any are left. The last night of Elmwood's after-hours chapel series: the cemetery's own executive director on the 1878 yellow fever epidemic, with wine and snacks, and an optional walk out to the yellow fever section at dusk. Details

Bluegrass Jam on the Collierville Square — Town Square Park, 96 N. Center St., 7–10 PM, free. An acoustic-only open jam on the old town square — bring an instrument at any skill level, or just bring a chair and listen. Details

ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience — Minglewood Hall, 1555 Madison Ave., doors 7, show 8, all ages. A Led Zeppelin tribute with the catalog to fill Midtown's biggest room. Minglewood keeps its prices at checkout, so that's where you'll see them. Details

Skyline Social Rooftop Sessions — Hu. Roof, 79 Madison Ave., 5–10 PM, free before 6 with an RSVP. A rooftop over the river where punctuality is literally worth money: RSVP and arrive between 5 and 6 and you walk in free; after that it's tickets and tables. Details

Memphis Silent Party — Piink Social Cafe, 1675 Barcrest Rd., 8 PM–1 AM, about $15, with a headphone battle: three DJs on three channels, and the crowd picks the winner by switching colors all night. Details

Sensory Storytime — Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Ave., 11 AM–noon, free. A storytime built for sensory-seeking kids, autism included — the library posts a preview guide so families know exactly what the visit looks like before walking in. First 30 children. Details

Still on from yesterday's guide — worth repeating, because Friday is when the plan pays off: Happy Friday at The Grove is free in Germantown from 5 to 8, Memphis Magic Night at Bar DKDC is about $25 at 7:30, Sunny Side's New Orleans jazz hits the Green Room at 7:30 ($22 ahead, $27 at the door) — and the Hein Park estate sale's address is public now, right on the listing.

📰 The Rundown

Elvis Week doesn't officially open until tomorrow, but Graceland's own schedule starts tonight: a 6 PM showcase of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist semifinalists in the TCB Showroom, a 9 PM kick-off party in the Guest House ballroom, and evening walk-ups to the Meditation Garden running nightly through the 14th. The Candlelight Vigil is Saturday the 15th, and the whole week runs through August 16. (via Graceland)

Baron Von Opperbean has its first report card: more than 10,000 visitors from 44 states in its first 90 days on Mud Island, with $220,000 in sales — and City Council members are already floating a Ferris wheel as the riverfront master plan comes together. (via Action News 5)

The Downtown trolleys are aiming for a fall comeback. MATA told a City Council committee the cars have passed brake-safety testing, system integration tests are underway, and the required 180-day notice has been filed with the state. They've been parked since 2024. (via Memphis Flyer)

The old Houston's building at 5000 Poplar has a $22 million second act on paper: a permit was filed for a three-story mixed-use building with retail, offices, and a 170-seat restaurant called The Tradition. No timeline yet — but that corner has been empty since 2024. (via Action News 5)

🍽️ Food & Drink

Uncle Red's Turkey Legs — the Broad Avenue spot just turned one, and the premise hasn't gotten any less fun: turkey legs stuffed with mac and cheese or shrimp, happy-hour legs at $12 Monday through Friday from 3 to 6, and Friday hours that run to 11. 2583 Broad Ave. Details

🎟️ Looking Ahead

Drake White tickets go on sale today — the show is Friday, October 2 at Minglewood Hall, doors at 7 and music at 8, all ages. We've flagged this one twice this week; today is the day. Prices at checkout. Details

Chance the Rapper at Satellite Music Hall — Tuesday, September 8. The Coloring Book 10-year anniversary tour lands in Crosstown's new 1,300-cap room when the room itself is four days old, and tickets are on sale now. Details

Cooper-Young Festival — Saturday, September 19, 9 AM to 7 PM on the strip. The 38th edition's music lineup just went up on the festival's site, stage by stage. Put the date in your calendar now; parking strategy can wait. Details

🏡 Community Corner

The mural question stays open all weekend. Tomorrow UrbanArt dedicates a mile of new mural along the Chelsea floodwall, and yesterday we asked for the best wall in the city — the famous ones or the one only your block knows about. Hit reply with the corner, send a photo if you've got one, and we'll run our favorites next week.

And the tip line never closes — a pop-up, a band, a Friday night we missed — no gatekeeping — send it to hey@heymemphis.co.

That's it for this week — the planning's done, the weekend's yours. See you Monday at 6.

— Josh