Welcome back to The To-Do List, where Daily Memphian staffers suggest their favorite events and activities for the coming week. Want more ideas? Check out The Daily Memphian’s event calendar, and feel free to submit your own events there as well.

This week, Opera Memphis kicks off 30 Days of Opera, animatronic dinos stomp into the Renasant Convention Center and an art show at Tone explores gender and gender variation.

Crosstown Arts presents “Thrilling Bloody Sword” on March 31 at Crosstown Theater. (Film still courtesy of Crosstown Arts)

“Thrilling Bloody Sword” at Crosstown Theater, Thursday:

This week, the “Crosstown Arthouse” film series becomes more Crosstown Grindhouse. As if the title “Thrilling Bloody Sword” weren’t advertisement enough, this 1981 Taiwanese cult flick is purported to be a kung-fu version of “Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs” with fantasy and sci-fi elements. This is a restored print of a movie previously only available on VHS. 7:30 p.m. $5. 1350 Concourse Ave. See here for more info. — Chris Herrington

International Transgender Day of Visibility panel at Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Thursday:

International Transgender Day of Visibility is March 31, and The Haven, in partnership with the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, will host a panel of Mid-South LGBTQIA leaders featuring Jasmine Tasaki of WeCareTN, Amaranthus Hyden of Memphis TransLove and Sam Tubikh of Memphis Area Prevention Coalition. The Daily Memphian’s Alicia Davidson recently wrote about the organizations’ partnership. 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Free. 4339 Park Ave. Food and beverages will be provided by Park + Cherry. Click here for more information. — Bianca Phillips

Former Handorf Company Artist Stephanie Doche performs during “30 Days of Opera” at Crosstown Concourse in 2021. (Submitted by Opera Memphis)

Opera Memphis Live in Health Sciences Park, Friday:

Get away from your desk, and take in some free opera in the park during your lunch break. Opera Memphis will kick off its annual 30 Days of Opera with a free performance in Health Sciences Park on Friday. Food trucks Millie’s Garden and Barbeque Off Da Chainz will be on-site. Every year for the past decade, Opera Memphis has offered free performances across the city during their “30 Days of Opera” festival. This year’s schedule includes shows at LeMoyne-Owen College, Crosstown Concourse and even Ikea. 1 to 2 p.m. Free. Madison Avenue and S. Dunlap Street. Click here for the full “30 Days” schedule. — Phillips

“Jurassic Quest” at Renasant Convention Center, Friday-Sunday:

Here’s your chance to invoke your inner Jeff Goldblum. The traveling Jurassic Quest exhibition is bringing animatronic dinosaurs to the Renasant Convention Center. Tour the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic periods amongst true-to-life-sized moving dinos that were created with input from paleontologists to ensure authenticity. There’s also a fossil dig and baby dinosaur shows, and future paleontologists can ride their favorite dinosaur. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $22 for kids and adults, and $19 for seniors. Unlimited ride passes for kids are $36. 266 N. Front St. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Joyce Cobb will perform a free jazz show at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library on April 1. (Submiited by Overton Park Shell)

“5 Fridays of Jazz” with Joyce Cobb at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Friday:

A collaborative effort between the Overton Park Shell and the Memphis Library Foundation, the “5 Fridays of Jazz” concert season is free and open to the public. All concerts will be held on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. The series kicks off this Friday with the Memphis Black Arts Alliance and local jazz legend Joyce Cobb. Concessions and drinks will be available to purchase at the events. 6:30 p.m. Free. 3030 Poplar Ave. See the full season here. — Phillips

Singer Bailey Bigger at her farm in Marion, Arkansas. Bigger will host a release party for her new album on Friday, April 1, at Hernando’s Hide-A-Way. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Bailey Bigger at Hernando’s Hide-A-Way, Friday:

Marion, Arkansas, singer-songwriter Bailey Bigger collaborated with another Arkansas/Memphis singer-songwriter, Mark Edgar Stuart, to produce her new album, “Coyote Red,” recorded in Mississippi at the late Jim Dickinson Zebra Ranch Studio. So it’s a fully Mid-South affair. Ezra Wheeler recently talked to Bigger, a rising star on the Americana scene, about the new album. She’ll celebrate it with a free show at Hernando’s Hideaway. Mark Alan McKinney opens. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. No cover. 3210 Old Hernando Rd. See here for more info. — Herrington 

Luke Conner (front) stars as Ace, a seventeen year-old boy who only wants what is best for his mother, in Cicada at Theatre Memphis from April 1 -16. (Steve Roberts/Courtesy of Theatre Memphis)

“Cicada” at Theatre Memphis, opening Friday:

Chicago-based playwright and University of Memphis graduate Jerre Dye wrote and directed this coming-of-age ghost story set in rural Mississippi. “Cicada” tells the story of a small Southern family — 17-year-old Ace and his mother Lily — attempting to dig their way out of the past and shed what no longer serves them in a world of secrets, mysteries and, yes, ghosts. “This was the first real play I ever wrote,” Dye said in a press release. “I wanted to write about the emotional landscape of my childhood and over time, the play evolved into a story about how memory behaves. How it betrays us, how it saves us.” “Cicada” will run through April 16. 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. on Sunday. $25. 630 Perkins Extd. Click here for more information. — Phillips

“Taking Over: Women in the Music Industry” benefit concert at The Green Room at Crosstown Arts, Friday:

Morgan Massey, a graduating senior from the University of Memphis, organized this concert featuring four female performers and an entirely female crew. Massey says the show’s intent is to encourage and empower young women navigating a male-dominated industry; the event was inspired by Massey being typically one of only a few female students in her music business coursework. The concert will feature performances from Alexis Jade, Trinity Adair and Sarah Spain — all U of M students, as well as Toni Mack. Proceeds benefit A Step Ahead Foundation. 7 p.m. $10 in advance, $15 day of show, $5 for U of M students (with student ID). 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280. Click here for more information. – Elle Perry

The Memphis Farmers Market opens Downtown on April 2. (Daily Memphian file)

Opening day at Memphis Farmers Market, Saturday: 

It’s here! The Downtown farmers market is open for the season. On Saturdays from April through October, you can find food and other merchandise from local and regional producers, live music and more. Click here to see a list of 2022 market vendors. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free admission. Corner of G.E. Patterson Avenue and Front Street. — Perry

Spring opening day at Cooper-Young Farmers Market at First Congo, Saturday:

It’s also a special day for the Cooper-Young-based farmers market. The neighborhood market features local and regionally sourced food and other merchandise, plus live music. It’s open year-round: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April through October and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. November through March. The spring opening event will feature music from The DoubleStops, a special education session from the UT Extension Institute of Agriculture and Clean Memphis giveaways. Check their Instagram for a list of the day’s vendors. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free admission. 1000 S. Cooper St. (in the First Congo parking lot) — Perry

Nadifah’s “outta house, outta home” will be part of Tone’s “Spectrum” exhibition. (Courtesy Tone)

“Spectrum” exhibition opening at Tone, Saturday:

Tone’s latest visual art exhibition explores gender and gender variation, and it includes a long list of notable Memphis artists. They are Alexandria Bell, Eso Tolson, Kylon Wagner, MadameFraankie, Nadifah, RTA, Sarai Payne, Zahria Cook, Em Norman, Ziggy Mack, Felicia Wheeler, Jasmine Smith, Kiara Sally and Aaron Turner. Saturday’s opening will include a one-day-only audio installation from artist Amanzi Arnett that combines soundbites and music. The exhibition will be on view until May 14. 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free. 2234 Lamar Ave. (in the Lamar-Airways Shopping Center). — Perry

Catlin Kelly flies a kite on the greensward in Overton Park. On April 2, Overton Park celebrates 50 years since the U.S. Supreme Court decision that prevented I-40 from being built through the park. (Daily Memphian file)

“Center of a Century Celebration” at Overton Park, Saturday:

It’s been 50 years since the U.S. Supreme Court decision that prevented I-40 from being built through Overton Park, and the Overton Park Conservancy is having a fundraiser party in the park’s formal gardens to celebrate. They’ll honor attorney Charles F. Newman, who represented opponents of the plan to take I-40 through the park, and other individuals and organizations who embody and uplift the Conservancy’s mission through volunteerism, activism and leadership. The event will feature live music by Ensemble X, live painting by Jamond Bullock, an Old Dominick whiskey tasting and WYXR’s Overton Park Stories collection. Dress is “Midtown festive,” and attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite sneakers in honor of the “little old ladies in tennis shoes” who saved the park all those years ago. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. $150 (benefitting Overton Park Conservancy). 1914 Poplar Avenue. Click here for more information. — Phillips

“Meeting in the Middle” symposium at Crosstown Concourse, Saturday:

WYXR 91.7 FM and the University of Memphis’ music industry symposium will share ways that musicians and fans can best serve one another. Panelists include KadyRoxz, Jordan Occasionally, PreauXX, entertainment lawyer Lee Rankin, artist manager McKenzii Webster and licensing expert Matt Holzmacher. The two panels will be moderated by U of M music business professors Alandis Brassel, a music rights attorney, and Jeff Cohran, tour and production manager. Noon to 4 p.m. Free with registration. WYXR HQ (1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 117) — Perry

On April 4, the National Civil Rights Museum will commemorate Martin Luther King’s life and legacy with a changing of the wreath ceremony on the balcony where King was slain 54 years ago. (Daily Memphian file)

“Remembering MLK: The Man. The Movement. The Moment.” at the National Civil Rights Museum, Monday:

April 4 marks the 54th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. The National Civil Rights Museum will present both an in-person and live-streamed event in commemoration of King’s life and legacy with a keynote speech by Dr. Leslie D. Callahan of St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event will also feature musical performances by The W. Crimm Singers (aka The Wakanda Chorale), Iris Orchestra’s Artist Fellows and Memphis Symphony Orchestra. The wreath on the museum’s balcony will be changed out, and there will be a moment of silence at 6:01 p.m., the time King was slain. 4:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Free. 450 Mulberry Street. Click here to learn more and register. — Phillips

V$NR presents “Art Friend$: A Pop Up Gallery & Mixer” at NKA Gallery (above Slim & Husky’s), Saturday:

Slim & Husky’s doesn’t just combine delicious pizza, cinnamon rolls and craft beer. Part and parcel to the Slim & Husky’s mission is their art gallery. This pop-up gallery and mixer will feature a live DJ, drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The artist lineup includes Richard Echols, Trey, Darrisu Woodard, Mango Maat, Juda Ezell, Derrick Love and Bryan Roberson. 8-11 p.m. $20 advance admission, $25 general admission. 634 Union Ave. Click here to learn more about the event or check out each artist’s Instagram. — Perry

“Shoot & Splice: Hair & Makeup” with Faizah Husniyah at Crosstown Theater, Tuesday:

The latest talk in Indie Memphis and Crosstown Arts’ filmmaker forum series features in-demand film and television hair and makeup artist Faizah Husniyah. She will discuss her career and how lighting, camera angles and continuity play a role when creating style plans for every character. Bonus: Husniyah will give a live demo for attendees. Doors open at 6:30, event begins at 7 p.m. Free. 1350 Concourse Ave. Click here for more information. — Perry

Tara M. Stringfellow. (Submitted)

Tara M. Stringfellow’s “Memphis” launch party at Novel, Tuesday:

Memphian Tara M. Stringfellow’s debut novel “Memphis” will be released on Tuesday. That’s also the same date as her American tour kickoff, which will start with a launch party in Memphis. Novel will serve a specialty cocktail called “Miss Dawn,” named after one of the book’s characters (it’s a take on a French 75). The book, which follows four generations of Southern Black women, opens with quotes from Toni Morrison and Andre 3000. Stringfellow says the novel is her gift to the Black women of Memphis. 6 p.m. Free admission. 387 Perkins Ext. Click here for more information. — Perry

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