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

This week, watch a four-hour Taiwanese epic, indulge in self-care at Shelby Forest and sample wine as DJs spin wax at Stax. 

WYXR Dowd Awards at the Cossitt Library, Thursday:

WYXR will host its annual Dowd Awards on Thursday, June 27. In this file photo, WYXR DJ Brandon Eaves spun for an event at Crosstown Concourse. (Ziggy Mack/The Daily Memphian file)

Named in honor of Memphis radio jockey Nathaniel Dowd Williams (better known as Nat D. Williams), WYXR’s annual Dowd Awards honor those “whose contributions transcend musical excellence, reaching into the realms of community service and cultural enrichment.” This year’s honorees include Larry “Mr. Fingers” Heard, Jason “Da Hater” Harris, Yvonne and Lorraine Mitchell, Deborah Swiney, Cherisse Scott and Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg. 5:30 p.m. Free. 33 S. Front St. Click here for more information. — Bianca Phillips

‘A Brighter Summer Day’ at Crosstown Theater, Thursday:

“A Brighter Summer Day” screens at Crosstown Theater on Thursday, June 27. (Courtesy Crosstown Arts)

What’s the best use of an Elvis song in a movie that’s not about Elvis? I’ve got two contenders in mind. One is Jim Jarmusch’s 1989 film “Mystery Train,” which was shot and set in Memphis and uses Elvis’ “Blue Moon” on late-night radio to tie together three stories happening at the same time. The other is the four-hour, 1991 Taiwanese epic “A Brighter Summer Day,” a late 1950s/early 1960s period teen crime drama in which one young character sings Elvis’ “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” The film’s English title is a reference to a lyric from the song: “Does your memory stray to a bright summer day?” And that kind of bittersweet yearning infuses late director Edward Yang’s opus, an admittedly slow-burning work that accrues tremendous power over its 237 minutes. Judged one of the 100 greatest films in British film magazine Sight & Sound’s most recent once-a-decade poll, you will likely never have another chance to see it in a theater. 7 p.m. $5. Screening as part of the Crosstown Arts Film Series. See here for more info. — Chris Herrington

‘Over the Edge’ at Forum I building, Friday:

Aisling Mäki (Credit: Lance Murphey)

Ever looked up at the office building at Poplar Avenue and Kirby Parkway and thought, “Man, I’d like to rappel down the side of that thing?” If so, here’s your chance. Personally, I’d rather peel my fingernails off one by one, but fun isn’t for everyone, as they say. Those brave enough to sign up will rappel over 100 feet from the top of the building to help fund the operations and programming at Memphis Rox. (This photo features our very own, very brave Aisling Mäki participating in a past version of “Over the Edge” at iBank Tower back in 2012.) Here’s the catch: You need to raise a minimum of $1,000 through peer-to-peer fundraising to sign up, so if you’re planning to do this on short notice, make yourself some rich friends today. $35 to register, $1,000 in donations to participate. 6750 Poplar Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Wax & Wine at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Friday:

Cole Jeanes, left, Harrison Downing, center, and Schuyler O’Brien, right, of Secret Smash Society will provide the food for Stax’s “Wax & Wine” event on Friday, June 28. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Southern soul and R&B music intersects with gourmet food and hand-selected wines at this fundraiser for Stax. Enjoy DJ sets by Las Vegas DJ Paola Puente, James Beard Award-winning chef/vinyl aficionado Chef Sean Brock, DJ Bizzle Bluebland of WYXR and others. As for the food, Brock’s South by Sean Brock cornbread chips will be on offer, plus bites from Cole Jeanes, Harrison Downing and Schuyker O’Brien of Secret Smash Society and the coming-soon Hard Times Deli. Each ticket also gets you a sampling of 15 wines, many of which are from natural, low-impact and Black winemakers. 7-10 p.m. $75. 926 East McLemore Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips

North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, Friday-Saturday:

Kenny Brown will perform at the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic in Waterford, Mississippi. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

This annual festival celebrates traditional North Mississippi hill country blues music. This year’s performers include Duwayne Burnside, Alvin Youngblood Hart, the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band, Kudzu Kings, Kent Burnside, Jimbo Mathus, Affrissippi, Kenny Brown and many others. The picnic will also include a guitar workshop led by Kenny Brown, Garry Burnside, Eric Deaton and Joe Ayers on Thursday, June 27. Bring your own chair or blanket. All vendor sales are cash only. 4 p.m.-midnight on Friday; 10 a.m.-midnight on Saturday. Cash-only tickets are $25 per day at the gate. Kids 12 and younger get in free. Betty Davis Ponderosa, 7252 Hwy. 7 South in Waterford, Mississippi between Holly Springs and Oxford. Click here for details. — Beth Gooch

‘Get Away For A Day’ Self-Care Summer Kickback Retreat at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Saturday:

Self-care is not selfish, or so says bumper sticker wisdom. So, do yourself a solid and take a break at this one-day forest retreat. Activities include yoga, meditation, nature walks, self-massage, craft sessions and journaling sessions. A vegetarian lunch will be provided, and you can learn juice and smoothie mixology. Exhale Spa Escapes will also share some self-care best practices. 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. $65.81. 910 Riddick Road. Click here for tickets and more info. — Phillips

Mark Greaney: ‘Sentinel’ at Novel, Saturday:

Meet novelist Mark Greaney at Novel on Saturday, June 29. (Submitted) 

Memphis-based novelist (and New York Times best-seller) Mark Greaney is best-known for his “Gray Man” series, which inspired a 2022 Netflix film starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. Now, he’s back with a new-ish series called “Armored,” the second novel of which just dropped. “Sentinel” tells the story of Josh Duffy, who must choose between his work of protecting U.S. diplomats and his family’s safety amid an unexpected coup in Ghana. Greaney trained alongside military and law enforcement in more than 35 countries in his research for both the “Gray Man” and “Armored” books. 2 p.m. $30 for the book (includes meet-and-greet with Greaney). 387 Perkins Extd. Click here for more information. — Phillips

The 24-Hour Plays at Theatre Works at the Evergreen, Saturday:

The 24-Hour Plays will be at Theatre Memphis at the Evergreen on Saturday, 29. (Submitted)

Who needs sleep when there’s theater? For the third year, LoneTree Live is bringing together a group of six local playwrights, six directors and 24 actors, who will write, rehearse and perform six new plays in a span of 24 hours. Fresh popcorn, cotton candy and beer from Hampline Brewing Co. will be served, and musician and composer Eileen Kuo will perform before the show and between plays. The 24-Hour Plays concept has been around for a few years in Memphis, but it’s based on a long-running format that got its start in New York and has since spread across the globe. 7 p.m. $15. 1705 Poplar Ave. Click here for tickets. — Phillips

‘It’s a Fine Line’ exhibition opening reception at Sheet Cake Gallery, Saturday:

“Andromeda” by Khara Woods will be on view at “It’s a Fine Line” at Sheet Cake Gallery, opening on Saturday, June 29. (Courtesy Sheet Cake Gallery)

Sheet Cake Gallery’s newest exhibition features work by Greenville, South Carolina-based Stephanie Howard and Memphis-based Khara Woods. Pieces in the show explore time passage, mortality and personal experiences of the artists. Howard’s pen-on-paper works, mostly featuring women and children, are in a Southern Gothic style. Like Howard, Woods’ works feature heavy use of patterns and lines. Woods uses those techniques along with geometric shapes and bright colors. Her sculptures and paintings examine the life cycles of stars. Outsider and folk art, vintage photography and illustration, and embroidery and quilting all influence Howard’s creations. Woods works in painting, wood assemblage and public murals. Her public art projects include a large-scale data-visualization mural in Uptown (at Greenlaw Ave and North Main Street). 5-7:30 p.m. Free admission. 405 Monroe Ave. — Elle Perry

Queer Prom at Crosstown Concourse, Saturday:

Haley Ehret wore a red ballgown to Queer Prom in 2023. This year’s event is Saturday, June 29, at Crosstown Concourse. (Ariel Cobbert/Courtesy OUTMemphis)

After the pandemic waned, OUTMemphis wanted to launch an event to gather people in person. Enter Queer Prom, which is now in its third year. General-admission ticketholders will receive one welcome drink, and then drinks will be available for purchase. VIP ticketholders will have access to a complimentary full bar. There will also be refreshments, desserts and snacks. DJ Space Age will command the dance floor. Read more in this story on Queer Prom. 7-11 p.m. $35 for general admission in advance or $50 at the door; $100 for VIP. 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280 (in the Crosstown Arts East Atrium). Click here for tickets. — Nick Lingerfelt

Bi Bi Bi: Y2K Pride Party at Longshot, Saturday:

Longshot will host Bi Bi Bi: Y2K Pride Dance Party with DJ Alpha Whiskey on Saturday, June 29. (Brad Vest/The Daily Memphian file)

If you’re still in the mood to celebrate Pride month (or maybe Justin Timberlake getting a DWI), head to Longshot for a 2000s party. DJ Alpha Whiskey will be spinning all your Hit Clips faves, like Destiny’s Child, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and more. Plus, there will Pride-themed cocktails and free glow sticks to light up the dance floor. 8 p.m.-midnight. No cover. 477 S. Main St. Click here for more information. — Kelsey Bowen

Glam Rock Picnic at Off the Wall Arts, Sunday:

The Glam Rock Picnic, set for Sunday, June 30 at Off the Wall Arts, is a fundraiser for Mike McCarthy’s David Bowie sculpture (pictured). (Submitted)

It’s all hands on deck at Off the Wall Arts to help artist Mike McCarthy build his newest sculpture “The Aladdin Sane Weathervane,” a 10-foot tall statue honoring David Bowie. Every entry to Sculpt Memphis’ Glam Rock Picnic will come with a piece of clay to place on the sculpture of the music legend. DJ Kitschy Kay will play everything Bowie, naturally, and Eat at Eric’s food truck provide the grub. Plus, there will be vendors and face-painting. It’s gonna rock. Hard. Here’s a tip: For all those die-hard fans, if you bring your “Diamond Dogs” Mid-South Coliseum ticket from June 30, 1974, you’ll get in free! Noon-5 p.m. $10, kids are free. 360 Walnut St. Click here for more information. — Bowen

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