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

This week, Broad Avenue cures your sweet tooth, Blue Suede Vintage reopens in a new spot and Lunar New Year celebrations continue at the Agricenter.

AAPI Hour Memphis at Pearl’s Tea & Coffee House, Friday:

SunAh Laybourn co-organized an AAPI happy hour at Pearl’s Tea & Coffee House on Friday, Feb. 7. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

SunAh Laybourn, founder of AAPI Heritage Month Memphis and Hungry Tiger Memphis, and Randy Truong, community impact program associate of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, have organized this networking and social event to bring together the local Asian and Pacific Islander community. Attendees are invited to drop in at their leisure to enjoy conversation and bubble tea. 4-6 p.m. Free admission (RSVP here). 1330 Peabody Ave. — Elle Perry

Sweet Street: First Fridays on Broad in the Broad Avenue Arts District, Friday:

If you’ve got a hankering for something sweet, grab a $5 punch card and take a tasty tour of Broad Avenue. During the first First Fridays on Broad of the year, your punch card will get you a little something sweet at participating shops, including Sugar Ghost, Falling Into Place, Muddy’s Bake Shop, Planeta 777 and many more. When you’ve had your fill, leave your punch card at the last stop for a chance to win a prize. And if this deal wasn’t sweet enough, 20% of punch card sales and shop sales will go to the Carpenter Art Garden. 5-8 p.m. $5 for a punch card. Click here for more information. — Kelsey Bowen 

Opening receptions for Maritza Dávila-Irizarry, Danielle Sierra, Juan Roberto Murat Salas and Nelson Gutierrez at Crosstown Arts, Friday:

Crosstown Arts opens four new exhibitions this weekend: “From the Ashes” by Maritza Dávila-Irizarry, “Supernatural Telescope” by Danielle Sierra, “The Colors of the Caribbean” by Juan Roberto Murat Salas and “A Journey into the Shadows” by Nelson Gutierrez. After printmaker Dávila-Irizarry’s studio burned down in 2024, she repurposed her salvaged works and also uses damaged pieces and studio remnants in new works. Visual artist Gutierrez uses 3D cutouts and shadow to act as a metaphor for displacement, migrant experiences and “the fluidity of identity.” Sculptor, painter and set designer Murat Salas’ first solo exhibition is inspired by Caribbean and Cuban culture, and is meant to highlight the challenges Cuban artists face to share their work internationally. Painter and muralist Sierra’s exhibition is based on her father’s legacy and is “a visual meditation on the ways love, faith and time shape our perception of the world.” Guests will receive a free, signature cocktail from the adjacent Art Bar called the “Frosted Citrine.” Ted Ludwig and Michael Shults will perform live jazz. The exhibitions will be on view through May 11. Opening runs from 6-8 p.m. Free admission. 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280. Click here for more information. — Perry

Dance Theatre of Harlem at the Orpheum Theatre, Friday-Saturday:

Dance Theatre of Harlem company artists Kouadio Davis and Alexandra Hutchinson in “Higher Ground.” The Dance Theatre will perform at the Orpheum Friday-Saturday, Feb. 7-8. (Theik Smith/Courtesy Orpheum)

Arthur Mitchell, the first Black dancer with the New York City Ballet, had a rough childhood growing up in New York’s Harlem neighborhood. When he was just 12, Mitchell’s dad was incarcerated, and he was forced to take jobs to support his family. He ended up getting involved with street gangs until he found classical ballet. So, in 1969, he and choreographer Karel Shook founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem to give kids like Mitchell a chance to dance. The Dance Theatre of Harlem continues their work today, and they’re stopping at the Orpheum for three shows this weekend. 7:30 p.m. on Friday; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. $62.50-$97. 203 S. Main St. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Dilla Day at Eight & Sand at Central Station, Friday:

James Dewitt Yancey (aka producer J Dilla) was born on Feb. 7, 1974, in Detroit. Yancey, who died in 2006 at age 32, was known for his large influence on hip-hop production, including work with artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Slum Village, Q-Tip, Erykah Badu and Common. The Dilla Day event will feature a DJ set from House Shoes, Yancey’s friend and collaborator. It will also feature a live beat set from Unapologetic artists IMAKEMADBEATS, Kid Maestro and C-MaJor. 8 p.m.-3 a.m. 545 Main St. Free admission. Click here for more information. — Perry

‘The Minutes’ at TheatreWorks, opening Friday:

“The Minutes,” presented by New Moon Theatre Co., is a satire on small-town politics set in the fictional town of Big Cherry. The dark comedy follows an investigation into a missing colleague that results in uncovering the town’s racist founding. The play critiques historical revisionism, institutional power and how complicity perpetuates harmful narratives. Director Gene Elliot says the play explores the interactions between people in a small town and how they become interwoven. You can read more about it in our February theater guide. Runs Feb. 7-23. Times vary. 2085 Monroe Ave. See here for more information. — Alys Drake

Memphis Lunar New Year Fair at Agricenter International, Saturday:

Celebrate the Year of the Snake with lion and dragon dances, live musical performances, themed arts and crafts and lots of food from many Asian cultures. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. $15 for adults and free for kids ages 10 and under. 7777 Walnut Grove Road. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Blue Suede Vintage grand reopening, Saturday:

Blue Suede Vintage’s Casey O’Rourke has moved her clothing shop to Broad Avenue. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Blue Suede Vintage is doubling in size, and more space means more clothes. Owner Casey O’Rourke is opening her new location on Broad Avenue, with deals on vintage women’s, men’s and children’s clothing. And accessories. Also furniture. There’s truly no limit to what you can dig up in her vintage shop. And don’t worry, guys! The disco ball will be at the new place. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 486 N. Hollywood St. Click here for more information. — Bowen

Student Exhibition at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis, opening Saturday:

Gabe Lewis installs “Memory.” (Courtesy AMUM)

The annual Art Museum of the University of Memphis’ Juried Student Exhibition includes works from U of M art and design students. Organizers say this allows students to get experience preparing work for exhibition and submitting it to a jury. Memphis Brooks Museum of Arts’ photography curator Rose Smith chose the works included in this year’s show. Read more about the show in our February visual-arts guide. Opening runs from 3-5 p.m. Student awards will also be presented at that time. On view through March 13. 3750 Norriswood Drive. — Perry

Mystic Krewe of Pegasus ‘Mardi Gras Ball’ at Coronet Memphis, Saturday:

Memphis’ only LGBTQ+ Mardi Gras krewe has chosen a Broadway theme for this year’s Mardi Gras Ball. The event will feature drag performances inspired by Broadway shows and a second line, where guests can compete in a decorated umbrella contest. (Just a wild guess, but I’ll bet you’ll see a number of Wicked-inspired decorations this year.) Proceeds from the ball will benefit OutMemphis. 7-11 p.m. General admission is $50, and VIP tables range from $1,000 to $1,500. VIP tickets include early entry for cocktails with the Krewe. 5770 Shelby Oaks Dr. Click here for tickets. — Phillips

Works of Heart at Memphis Botanic Garden, Saturday:

The annual Works of Heart art auction will be held at the Memphis Botanic Garden on Saturday, Feb. 8. (The Daily Memphian file)

Still looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day present? Give the gift of local art, and support the Memphis Child Advocacy Center. The 33rd annual Works of Heart art auction/fundraiser will feature heart-themed works by artists from across the region, and guests can get an in-person view at the party before bidding online. (There will be no in-person bidding.) DJ Alpha Whiskey will spin tunes while you mingle, sip on beer and wine and munch on apps. VIP tickets will get you access to the Big Heart Lounge with seating, a complimentary full bar and music by 3 Degrees. 7-10 p.m. $100 for general admission or $225 for VIP. 750 Cherry Road. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Blind Boys of Alabama at the Germantown Performing Arts Center, Saturday:

The Blind Boys of Alabama will play the Germantown Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Feb. 8. (Courtesy GPAC)

Gospel group The Blind Boys formed way back in 1939 at a school for Black students who were visually or hearing-impaired. They toured around the South during the Jim Crow era, singing at benefits for Martin Luther King Jr. and became part of the soundtrack of the Civil Rights Movement. The membership has changed over the years, but the group has stayed relevant as they performed and recorded with artists like Prince, Bonnie Raitt, Bon Iver and plenty of others. Think you can’t name one Blind Boys of Alabama song? If you watched the TV series, “The Wire,” you know at least one. 8 p.m. $29-$71. 1801 Exeter Road, Germantown. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Floyd Newsum Jr.’s ‘House of Grace’ at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, opening Sunday:

Floyd Newsum’s “Sirigu Janie’s Journey” will be on view in his show at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens beginning Sunday, Feb. 9. (Courtesy Dixon)

A July 2024 Instagram post shows Floyd Newsum Jr. at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens preparing for this exhibition, which was to be his first major one in Memphis. He died on Aug. 14. And now that exhibition is finally opening. The South Memphis native served as an art professor for the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) for nearly 50 years. He also was one of seven founders of Project Row Houses, which renovated shotgun houses in Houston’s Third Ward into art studio and exhibition space, homes for single mothers, retail spaces for small businesses and event venues. “House of Grace” features Newsum’s works made between 2002 and 2024, including large paintings, photo transparencies and more. Read more about the show in our February visual-arts guide. Mark Cervenka, director of the O’Kane Gallery and UHD art professor, will give a talk on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. On view through Sunday, April 6. Dixon admission is free. 4339 Park Ave. Click here for more information. — Perry 

‘Discover Painting … It’s Never Too Late’ and ‘Let’s Eat’ exhibitions at Memphis Botanic Gardens, opening Monday:

Work by Bob McCabe will be on view at the Memphis Botanic Garden, beginning Monday, Feb. 10. (Courtesy, MBG)

Artist Bob McCabe is here to tell you that you can teach an old dog new tricks. McCabe took up watercolor painting at age 75, after signing up for an Introduction to Watercolor Painting class at the Watkins Art Institute. His “Discover Painting ... It’s Not Too Late” exhibition at Memphis Botanic Gardens features his latest works in watercolor, acrylics and oil paint. Those will be on view in MBG’s Grand Hallway through March 31, and there’s an opening reception scheduled for Feb. 23 from 2-4 p.m. Running concurrently is “Let’s Eat,” featuring work by Carolyn Moss and Georgia Smith. The two artists/friends take turns painting tablescapes and still lifes of food on the same canvas. “Let’s Eat” will be on view through March 30 in Fratelli’s Cafe. Included with garden admission. 750 Cherry Road. — Phillips

Carlyle Wolfe Lee’s ‘Wonder’ at David Lusk Gallery, opening Tuesday:

From Carlyle Wolfe Lee’s “Wonder”

“Wonder” includes eight new, large-scale oil works of floral landscapes. Lee, who is based in Oxford, Mississippi, draws her and her friend’s gardens, works on the images in the studio then creates stencils for paintings, which she layers. Read more about the show in our February visual-arts guide. The show will be on view beginning Tuesday, Feb. 11, and there’s a virtual tour on at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12. On view through March 22. 97 Tillman St. Click here for more information. — Perry

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