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

This week, Peabody rooftop parties return, Africa in April is back and Saddle Creek opens another art show.

Peabody Memphis rooftop party kickoff with Almost Famous, Thursday:

The Peabody Memphis kicks off its rooftop party on Thursday, April 17. (Ben Fant/The Daily Memphian file)

Sure, spring starts on March 20 or whatever, but it’s still cold then. Memphis spring actually begins on the day of the first Peabody rooftop party of the year, and that is happening Thursday. Local party band Almost Famous will play at 7 p.m., just in time for a spectacular sunset view. Doors open at 6 p.m., and DJ A.D. will be spinning tunes. $15. 149 Union Ave. Click here for more information. — Bianca Phillips

Cake at BankPlus Amphitheater, Friday:

John McCrea of Cake (Laura Roberts/AP file)

Cake, the 1990s alternative-rock band that gave runners an unintentional marathon anthem, is still making new music with a new album expected this year. But here’s hoping they’ll play all the hits from 1996’s “Fashion Nugget” at their Southaven show, including “I Will Survive” and the aforementioned “The Distance.” 8 p.m. $24-$140. 6285 Snowden Lane. Click here for tickets. — Phillips

Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival at Beale Street and Robert R. Church Park, Friday-Sunday:

Africa in April will be at Robert Church Park Thursday-Sunday, April 18-20. (Ziggy Mack/The Daily Memphian file)

The 38th annual event, created by David L. Acey Sr. and Yvonne B. Acey, honors South Africa. The weekend’s events showcase education, economics, fashion, arts and crafts, music history and food. Friday is Children’s and Seniors Day with an International Diversity Parade at 10 a.m. Health and Wellness & Community Day is Saturday, and there’s a blues showcase from 6 p.m. to midnight. Sunday is International Music Day. 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. 191 Beale St. Click here for more information. — Elle Perry

Open Genre x Jookin Warz at 600 Marshall Ave., Friday:

Hosted by DJ NyceLyfe and acclaimed jooker G Nerd, this event is a fusion of music and dance. NyceLyfe is also the co-founder of the Lyfe is Dope platform and co-creator of the Young, Gifted and Dope art showcase. G Nerd has represented brands including Louis Vuitton, Nike and Red Bull. During Open Genre x Jookin Warz, 10 DJs and 10 dancers will team up to create a 5-10 minute performance. The event will also include surprise musical performances, food from The Genre’s food truck, craft cocktails from Candy Bar and a vendor marketplace. Attendees must be ages 21 and up. 5 p.m. doors; 6-11:30 p.m. event. $20 (tickets here). 600 Marshall Ave. — Perry

Earth Day at Lichterman Nature Center, Saturday:

Lichterman Nature Center will host an Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 19. (The Daily Memphian file)

Earth Day is April 22, and shouldn’t every day be Earth Day? (The answer is yes.) At the very least, April 19 is Earth Day at Lichterman Nature Center, because a Saturday celebration is better than a Tuesday celebration. Attendees can meet Lichterman’s native animal ambassadors, help monitor purple martin colonies (those are birds, btw), make Earth-friendly crafts and more. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free with nature center admission. 5976 Quince Road. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Memphis Vintage Market at Memphis Made Brewing Co., Saturday:

The Memphis Vintage Market, shown here at Grind City Brewing Co., will be at Memphis Made Brewing this Saturday, April 19. (Courtesy Steven Lopez)

Looking for some secondhand items? Memphis Vintage Market has you covered, maybe literally if you buy something. They’re taking over Memphis Made Brewing this weekend. More than 30 vendors will be selling pre-owned garments, and there will be live music, food and, of course, beer. This is a chance to make some sustainable choices while getting out in the community. Noon-6 p.m. Free to enter. 16 S. Lauderdale St. For more information, check out @thememphisvintagemarket on Instagram. — Nick Lingerfelt

Opening art reception (round two) at Saddle Creek Gallery, Saturday:

Until a tenant moves into the former Brooks Brothers location, Saddle Creek’s operators are hosting rotating artist exhibitions. The second exhibition features the work of Will Powell, MosalArts, Dani Harris Studio and the children and teens at the Carpenter Art Garden in Binghampton. The reception will include cocktails, charcuterie and live music. The works will be on display through Sunday, May 11. Read more about plans for the space here. 4-6 p.m. Free admission (RSVP here). 7509 Poplar Ave., Germantown. — Elle Perry

Shell Daze Music Festival at the Overton Park Shell, Saturday:

Lettuce will play the Shell Daze Music Festival at Overton Park Shell on Saturday, April 19. (Courtesy Mempho)

Sunday is 4/20, and some will certainly spend it in a hazy daze. But the Daze starts early at the Overton Park Shell with Mempho’s annual Shell Daze Music Festival. Boston-based funk band Lettuce is headlining, and the lineup also includes psychedelic-country band Daniel Donao’s Cosmic Country, guitarist-singer-songwriter Grace Bowers with her band Hodge Podge and classic-rock cover band The Velvet Dogs. 3-10 p.m. $49-$133. Click here for more info. — Phillips

April Live Band Dance at the Rumba Room, Saturday:

The New Memphis Hepcats are bringing their 16-piece, big-band extravaganza to the Rumba Room for swing-dance night. And if you don’t know how to swing dance, no worries. The $15 cover includes a lesson for beginners. And if you come dressed in 1940s attire, you could even win future tickets, class passes or a private lesson. There will be a photo booth, too, so all the more reason to dress up. Lesson begins at 7 p.m., and the band starts at 7:30 p.m. $15. 303 S. Main St. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Mary J. Blige at FedExForum, Saturday:

Mary J. Blige will play FedExForum on Saturday, April 19. (Chris Pizzello/AP file)

Grammy and Emmy award-winning singer and actress Mary J. Blige’s rescheduled show, which was originally planned for Feb. 2, is this Saturday. Her “For My Fans Tour” also includes singers Ne-Yo and Mario. Blige is a 2024 inductee in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and has eight multi-platinum albums to her name, as well as nine Grammy Awards (from 37 nominations), an Emmy award, two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nomination. Read more about Blige and the tour here. 7 p.m. Tickets start at $57. 191 Beale St. Click here for tickets. — Perry

‘Time Warp Drive-in: Future Unknown’ at the Malco Summer Drive-In, Saturday:

Time Warp Drive-In returns to the Malco Summer Drive-In on Saturday, April 19. (Brad Vest/The Daily Memphian file)

The seasonal Malco Summer Drive-In returns this weekend with the first 2025 installment of the monthly Time Warp series. This month’s edition features a triple-bill of flicks adapted from works by the cult author Phillip K. Dick. Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” (1982), widely considered one of the greatest sci-fi films, is set in dystopian future Los Angeles (circa 2019!). It stars Harrison Ford as a private detective of sorts, charged with hunting down android-like “replicants.” The more action/comedy-oriented “Total Recall” (1990) is a typically mischievous work from director Paul Verhoeven (“RoboCop”), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a futuristic construction worker who gets mixed up with implanted memories. And Richard Linklater’s “A Scanner Darkly” (2006) is a work of realistic animation, with Keanu Reeves as an undercover cop tracking an identity-altering drug. 7:30 p.m. $25 a car. 5310 Summer Ave. See here for more info. — Chris Herrington

Tony’s After Dark Comedy Show at Tony’s Trophy Room, Sunday:

Need a break from the fam after the Easter festivities? Memphis comedian Cleatis Allen Jr.’s got you. Allen is legit funny. He’s toured with Steve Harvey and opened for D.L. Hugley, but this Sunday, he’s headlining a show at a Collierville diner. Also on the line-up are local comedians Charlie Vergos (yes, of barbecue fame) and Abayneh Cunningham. Comedian Richard Douglas Jones will host. Ages 18 and older. 8 p.m. 929 W. Poplar Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips

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