Welcome back to The To-Do List, where Daily Memphian staffers suggest their favorite events and activities for the coming week.

This week, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra plays “Star Wars” tunes, Overton Park hosts a discussion on snakes and the Listening Lab celebrates a blues great’s 90th birthday. 

‘Ordaining Women for 50 Years: The Philadelphia Eleven’ at Malco Paradiso, Thursday:

In 1974, in Philadelphia, 11 women were ordained to the Episcopal priesthood. At the time, the move was viewed as a violation of the denomination’s constitution and canons. This documentary, which is screening for one night only in 11 cities, celebrates the 50th anniversary of that move by the church. And it comes at a time when women still face exclusion from service in other denominations. For example, the Southern Baptist Convention banned women from senior leadership roles just last year. Stick around after the film for a panel discussion with female clergy of various denominations. Read more about the event in Jane Roberts’ story. 6 p.m. 584 S Mendenhall Road. Click here for tickets. — Bianca Phillips

Drink a Beer, Save a River at Grind City Brewing Co., Friday:

Grind City Brewing Co. hosts “Drink a Beer, Save a River” on Friday, May 3. (Courtesy Wolf River Conservancy)

This event supports the Wolf River Conservancy’s efforts to protect the Wolf River watershed and the Memphis aquifer. There will be a drawing to win a paddle trip for two. Dale “Greybeard” Sanders, a Guinness World Record holder, will attend. He canoed the entire length of the Mississippi River when he was 87 years old and helped start the Conservancy’s paddle program. Can’t make it to the event? One dollar from every beer purchased from Friday, May 3, through Sunday, May 5, will be donated to the Conservancy. Read more about this event and other May food/drink events here. 6-10 p.m. Free. 129 Waterworks Ave. Click here for more information. — Nick Lingerfelt

‘A Monster Calls’ at New Moon Theatre Company, opening Friday:

When director Aliza Moran first saw “A Monster Calls” in London in 2018, she knew there was something special about the show. “The moment it started, I got the tingles. Like it reminded me why I love theater so much,” she said. The play is a stage adaptation of the novel by Patrick Ness, adapted for the theater by both Ness and Sally Cookson. It follows the story of Conor, a young boy grappling with his mother’s terminal illness. Conor is visited by a monster who emerges from a nearby yew tree and demands that Conor confront his deepest fears. You can read more about it here in our May theatre roundup. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through May 19. 2085 Monroe Ave. Click here for more information and tickets. — Alys Drake

Riverbeat Music Festival at Tom Lee Park, Friday-Sunday:

Mempho’s new Riverbeat Music Festival will be in Tom Lee Park Friday-Sunday, May 3-5. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

There’s a new music festival down on the river, and it’s the appropriately named Riverbeat, from the same promoters who’ve made the Mempho Music Festival a fall hit in East Memphis. The first Riverbeat will feature headliners electronic duo Odesza (Friday), reunited hip-hop legends the Fugees (Saturday) and unlikely country breakout star Jelly Roll (Sunday), along with an undercard of rock, rap and country acts and a large contingent of Memphis music. I wrote more about Riverbeat here. General admission tickets are $99 daily or $249 for a full-festival pass. For a full lineup and other info, see here. — Chris Herrington

Spring Flicker Fest at Urban Earth Gardens, Nursery and Market, Saturday:

Urban Earth Gardens hosts Spring Flicker Fest on Saturday, May 4. (Jim Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Urban Earth hosts this festival as a celebration of the changing seasons, as well as to highlight its staff and gardening customers. The lineup includes live music from Lucky 7 Brass Band (from 1-3 p.m.), free painting and balloon twisting (from noon to 2 p.m.), free beer from Memphis Made Brewing Co., free Amurica photo booth photos and gardening activities for kids and adults. Community partners slated to attend include Memphis Native Tree Works and Experience Memphis Gardens. Donna’s Taste of Love food truck will have food available for purchase. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. 80 Flicker St. Click here for more information. — Elle Perry

Community Resource Fair and Family Fun Day at Renaissance Pocket Park, Saturday:

The Works, Inc. community development corporation is hosting this free neighborhood fest with food trucks, games, arts and crafts, a family fitness activity and live entertainment. Plus, attendees can learn about Memphis organizations that focus on self-sufficiency and sustainability, like SeedCo, Restore Corps, Knowledge Quest, Just City and plenty more. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. 1471 Mississippi Blvd. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Memphis Symphony Orchestra: May the 4th Be With You at the Cannon Center, Saturday:

John Williams has composed some of the most recognizable themes for more than 100 movies, like “Indiana Jones,” “Harry Potter” and “E.T.” In 1977, “Star Wars” hit cinema screens, introducing characters and Williams tracks that have been cherished for generations, like “The Imperial March,” “Across the Stars,” “Duel of the Fates” and, of course, “Cantina Band.” The Memphis Symphony Orchestra will be playing the music of the franchise in honor of Star Wars Day, May the 4th (be with you). Let’s call it “A New Hope” for your weekend plans! 2:30-4:50 p.m. $5-$90. 255 North Main St. Click here to buy tickets. — Kelsey Bowen

The Big Squeeze Food Truck Festival at the Germantown Performing Arts Center, Saturday:

The Germantown Performing Arts Center hosts the Big Squeeze Food Truck Festival on Saturday, May 4. (Courtesy GPAC)

Saturday is Germantown’s inaugural Lemonade Stand Day, and 58 stands across the city will peddle lemonade to benefit the Germantown Education Commission and other non-profits. Once your thirst is quenched, you can score some food at this special lemonade-themed food truck fest in The Grove at GPAC. The Green Beetle, Steak Escape, Just Wraps, Nine Dough One, Collins Concession and Mempops will be on hand with meals and snacks. And of course, there will be more lemonade stands. Plus, Memphis Jones will perform a family-friendly concert. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and music starts at 5 p.m. Free. 1801 Exeter Road, Germantown. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Ben Nichols and Rick Steff at the Green Room, Saturday:

Ben Nichols and Rick Steff of Lucero will play a show at The Green Room at Crosstown Arts on Saturday, May 4. (Courtesy Crosstown Arts)

Ben Nichols is the lead singer and songwriter for stalwart Memphis roots-rock band Lucero. Keyboard player and multi-instrumentalist Rick Steff provides that band much of its sonic shadings. As a duo, Nichols and Steff sometimes split off from the full band for gigs, and they’ll do so this week at Crosstown Concourse’s intimate Green Room. Showtime is 7 p.m. Admission is $25. 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280. See here for more info. — Herrington

Beer mile at Global Cafe, Sunday:

Registration for Global Cafe’s beer mile on Sunday, May 5, includes a coupon for one of manager Juan Viramontes’ margaritas. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Drink one full beer, run one-fourth of a mile and repeat three more times. That’s the premise of a beer mile, and yes, that equals four beers. Speaking from experience (my PR is 20:17), I can say it’s not an activity for the faint of stomach. But if you think you’ve got what it takes, you can kick off your Cinco de Mayo with a beer mile at Global, benefitting Spay Memphis and All 4s Rescue League. Costumes are encouraged, and the brunch menu will be available at Global following the event. Plus, in addition to the four beers, your $40 registration includes a coupon for a free margarita. Sounds like a Sunday fun day. 10 a.m. 1350 Concourse Ave. Click here to register. — Phillips

Johnnie Taylor’s Heavenly 90th Birthday Celebration at Memphis Listening Lab, Sunday:

On Sunday, May 5, Johnnie Taylor would have turned 90. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Memphis Listening Lab are hosting a birthday party in honor of the late great blues/R&B/soul/gospel singer. Taylor, who was born in Crawfordsville, Arkansas, and raised in West Memphis, released the hit “Who’s Making Love,” while under the Stax Records label. (His catalog includes “Disco Lady,” “Cheaper to Keep Her,” “Good Love,” and my personal favorite, “Last Two Dollars.”) The celebration is slated to include DJs, listening sessions of Taylor’s music, memorabilia, his stage costumes, his friends and former collaborators, and also, cake. 1-5 p.m. Free. 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 269. Click here to reserve a spot. — Perry

Cinco de Mayo in Overton Square, Sunday:

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Overton Square this Sunday, May 5. (The Daily Memphian file)

Sunday is the day when Americans celebrate Mexican culture, so head over to Overton Square for performances by traditional Mexican dancers, live music by Alexis White and Mariachi Guadalajara, Mexican beers and margaritas from Tipsy Tumbler and a presentation on the real meaning of Cinco De Mayo. (No, it’s not Mexican Independence Day.) 3-5 p.m. Free. 2101 Madison Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips

AAPI Heritage Month student art show competition opening reception at the Cossitt Library, Monday:

Work by Hunter Russell

This year, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Memphis, has its first student art competition for AAPI Heritage Month. K-12 students from Memphis and Shelby County were invited to submit works showcasing their knowledge of AAPI heritage and the impact of AAPI culture on their lives. Winning selections will be displayed during the month of May at the Cossitt. 6-7:30 p.m. Free. 33. S. Front St. Click here for more information, and read about more AAPI month events in this guide. — Perry

Science Café: Copperheads in Overton Park, Tuesday:

Dr. Malle Carrasco-Harris will discuss copperhead snakes in Overton Park on Tuesday, May 7. (Chuck Burton/AP file)

If you’ve spent enough time in Overton Park, you’ve likely run across a copperhead snake. I’ve certainly run past a few of these venomous pit vipers on my trail runs through the Old Forest. Sure, they’re poisonous, but how dangerous are they to humans? And how to do they cope with human-altered landscapes, like the heavily trafficked footpath through the forest? Dr. Malle Carrasco-Harris, the Overton Park Conservancy programs manager, has a Ph.D. in biology, and she’s here to fill us in. 5:30 p.m. Free. Register here. — Phillips

Food Truck Garden Party at Memphis Botanic Garden, Wednesday:

The Memphis Botanic Garden will host a food truck garden party on Wednesday, May 8. (Courtesy MBG)

Enjoy the Memphis Botanic Garden after hours during the Food Truck Garden Party. Local vendors Fresh Gulf Shrimp, Mexico in Memphis, The Fry Guy, Sushi Jimmi and Big River Dogs will be serving up eats. While you’re chowing down and strolling through MBG’s 96 acres, enjoy live music from Memphis musicians Josh Cosby and Jeremy Stanfill. Don’t worry, your pup can join in the fun, too! 5-8 p.m. $12 for nonmember adults, $10 for seniors 62 and over, $7 for children 2-12 and free for members and kids under 2. 750 Cherry Road. Click here for more information. — Bowen 

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