
Photo by Flickr user Gadjo_Niglo
Red Ball Project
Follow the bouncing ball as Red Ball Project kicks off this weekend.
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, 1934 Poplar
April 28-May 7
I suppose it’s no secret, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is 100 years old. Of course there is a party. That Party for the Century is next weekend. To announce this grand event you’ll just have to follow the bouncing ball—literally—a bouncing red ball. And it will bounce all over Memphis, so try to keep up. You can send the ball on it’s journey this Friday between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Museum. That’s how we roll.

Five Fridays of Jazz
Join Bill Hurd at Benjamin Hooks Library—and don't forget to order dinner.
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar
Fri., April 29, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
This is Jazz Appreciation Month. Benjamin Hooks Library partnered up with the Levitt Shell and are offering library exhibits after hours and jazz—for free. And don’t wait for the next one. There is no “next one.” This is the last event in the series, just in time for International Jazz Appreciation Day on April 30th. Bill Hurd’s Jazz Ensemble will whet your whistle for the upcoming additional genre of music you will hear on the Levitt Shell stage this year. You can have dinner and dance under the stars at the library. They will take your dinner order by phone or email. Appreciate some jazz and get your wiggle on to some swinging cats, Daddy-O.
Photo courtesy of Amy Dobbins.
Mint Cream Vintage Expo
Amy Dobbins presents a vintage expo.
Tads Imaginarium, 343 Madison
Sat., April 30, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
If you have ever had the misfortune to ride in my car, you are well aware of a habit I learned from my father. I throw my trash in floor and clean it out later—by later, I mean eventually. I had a passenger recently who, to my horror, opened the window to throw out a bit of trash. I was mortified and asked him why he didn’t just throw it in the floor. He responded, “I didn’t think you wanted me to throw trash in your car.” Are you kidding me? But I simply replied, “I can clean my car. I can’t replace our earth.” Show some love to Mother Earth this last weekend of Earth Month with vintage. Really, it’s the best recycling program around. If something has been reused or repurposed, it’s not in a land fill somewhere. And that makes our earth very happy. In addition to the vendors, food, classic cars, and vintage fashion show that Amy Dobbins has in store, take a gander at Tad Pierson’s use of reuse in his Imaginarium. Or visit Crosstown Arts for the opening reception of "Belongings II: Repurposed.” Artists have purchased an item from the Cleveland Street Flea Market and turned it into something else. They’ve let their imaginations run free. Run over there and see. You can also see a collection of Star Trek goodies cherished by Trekkies over the last 50 years at a Memphis Pink Palace Museum exhibition. While you are there, enjoy a Star Trek adventure in the CTI Theatre. Another way to celebrate Earth Month might be to carpool or ride a bus. If you like traveling in packs, you will love the artist reception for "Nosey42: Out on the Highway,” a study of Americana inspired by a recent month long trip via Greyhound bus by way of large scale paintings. The reception will be hosted at Stock&Belle during the Friday night South Main Trolley Tour.
Independent Bookstore Day Celebration

Photo by Flickr user Ian Muttoo
Independent Bookstore Day
Visit your local independent bookstore on Saturday for special celebrations.
The Booksellers at Laurelwood, 387 Perkins Ext. and Burke's Book Store, 936 S. Cooper
Sat., April 30
The hours spent in Independent bookstores are some of my fondest memories. The smell of old paper and long dried ink mingled with the magical scent of fresh print is an olfactory sensation. Join Burke's and The Booksellers for all day activities, cupcakes, prizes, and an opportunity to be a part of the world's largest (temporary) tattoo chain. Lithographs taken from the text of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass will be broken up into 5,258 unique phrases and printed as a temporary tattoo. Take a photo of the tattoo and email it to be included in an online gallery that displays the work as written across 5000 bodies. These are just two of our fantastic local independent bookstores. Find one near you and celebrate.
Artist reception for "From the Drifted Ashore House”

Photo courtesy of National Ornamental Metal Museum
Corrine Hunt MIM Exhibition
Salute the arts in Canada at this exhibition of metal and wood jewelry and sculpture.
Metal Museum, 374 Metal Museum Dr.
Sun., May 1, 2-4 p.m.
You might have thought I forgot about Memphis In May kicking off with the Beale Street Music Festival this weekend. You would be wrong. But I figure unless you have been in a coma, you already know about all the big stuff. I have here a golden opportunity to alert you to the other fine salutes to Canada–our honored country this year. I don't care how you spend your loonies, but here are some suggestions for smaller events that will warm you like a chinook; "Capture Canada, “ an exhibition of photography connecting artists in Montreal with Memphis at Tvesco, 296 Adams: “Cultures on Cloth,” an exhibit of native textiles and prints from Baker Lake in the arctic region of Canada at Mississippi River Museum: "Lace Up,” an exhibit celebrating Canada's love of ice skating at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library: “Stories Told 100 Years,” showcasing the contributions of the Jewish community through history from the Jewish Public Library in Montreal at Memphis Jewish Community Center: and, of course Corrine Hunt’s works in metal and wood at the Metal Museum. Sounds great, eh?
For a full list of what’s happening this weekend in and around Memphis, check out our calendar of events. Also, be sure to tag your favorite Instagram photos of Memphis while you are out and about with the #memphismagazine hashtag. I hope you have a great weekend.