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

This week, Memphis celebrates Tom Lee, Soul & Spirits celebrates smoked beer and Wiseacre is having the most metal pop-up shop ever.

An Army of Normal Folks interview with 9/11 firefighter Tim Brown at Grind City Brewing, Thursday:

Bill Courtney (pictured here) will interview firefighter Tim Brown at Grind City Brewing Co. on Thursday, May 8. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

New York firefighter Tim Brown saved the lives of people trapped on a ledge at the World Trade Center on 9/11. But he also lost 100 friends that day. Brown will share his story during a live recording of Coach Bill Courtney’s “An Army of Normal Folks” podcast, which highlights ordinary people who’ve done extraordinary things. The interview will last one hour, then there will be a 30-minute audience Q&A. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. 76 Waterworks Ave. Register here. — Bianca Phillips

‘Stage and Sketch’ at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Thursday:

Dixon Gallery & Gardens adult-programs coordinator Lacy Mitcham and Memphis artist Shelda Edwards organize the “Stage and Sketch” figure-drawing series in which the models dress in performance costumes while striking dynamic poses. This edition features Memphis wrestler Bobby Ford. Ford will do 30-second, one-minute and five-minute poses, then 10-15 minute poses and will end the session with 20-30 minute poses. For those ages 18 and older. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free admission. 4339 Park Ave. inside the Dixon’s Farnsworth Education Building. See more info here. — Perry

Memphis Greek Festival at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Friday-Saturday:

Yolanta Matika drizzled warm honey on an order of loukoumades at the Memphis Greek Festival on May 20, 2022. This year’s fest is Friday-Saturday, May 9-10. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

It’s back! Yes — again! After a one-off event last fall, the 66th festival celebrating Greek food and culture has returned to its usual springtime spot on the calendar for 2025. Partake in loads of Greek food, dancing, music, shopping and family-friendly fun for two full days. To learn more, listen here at the nine-minute mark. 1-8 p.m. on both days. $3 per person. 573 N. Highland St. More information and tickets are available here. — Holly Whitfield

‘Shine On: The Story of Tom Lee’ on WKNO-TV, Friday:

Amanzi Arnett Dowdy wrote and Matteo Servente directed a new short film about the life of Tom Lee called “Shine On: The Story of Tom Lee.” Kenon Walker, who acts as Lee in “Shine On,” will be in conversation with three of Lee’s family members after the film premiere. 7:30 p.m. on WKNO (channel 10). Click here for more information. — Perry

Jin Huang and John Powell’s ‘Fusion’ at ANF Architects, opening Friday:

From “Fusion” by Jin and John Powell. (Courtesy ANF)

Married artists Jin and John Powell are the subject of ANF Architects’ latest exhibition that features 20 mixed-media metal works and wood works. The Powells opened their 2Js Studio sculpture studio in 1996. Jin Powell was an artist-in-residence at the Seward Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture in New Jersey. John Powell has worked for more than 35 years as a design draftsman for architects and engineers in Memphis and Atlanta. The opening reception will feature a live performance of traditional Chinese music, including the pipa and erhu instruments. “Fusion” will be on view through Friday, June 6, and can be see 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at ANF. Read more about the show in our May art guide. Opening reception 5-7:30 p.m. Free admission. 1500 Union Ave. — Perry

‘Planet Luminarus’ opening at Off the Walls Arts, Friday:

“Planet Luminarus” is described as a community-built immersive-art installation and performing-arts space inside Off the Walls Arts. It features Infinity Stairs, Greely Myatt, Yvonne Bobo and other local artists’ sculptures. “Planet Luminarus” also contains an astrophotography exhibition in collaboration with the Memphis Astronomical Society called “Celestial Visions.” At the opening event, Alex Greene and Kate Tayler will play the theremin, an electronic instrument which is played by placing your hands near its two antennae but not actually touching the instrument. Admission proceeds benefit Off the Walls Arts and participating artists. 6-10 p.m. $10 suggested donation. 360 Walnut St. See more info here. — Perry

Heavy Metal Parking Lot pop-up at Wiseacre Brewing OG, Friday:

What’s more metal than a pop-up shop? JK, that’s typically not metal at all. But this one will be. Metal music will be playing courtesy of DJ Cole Wheeler, and Whisks of Doom will be serving up some brutal baked goods. You can shop from Holtermonster’s monstrous miscellany, Zoe Jett’s textiles, Zoe Loren’s leather goods, Bezel & Bone’s jewelry and Time to Waste’s vintage metal merch. 6-9 p.m. Free. 2783 Broad Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Tom Lee Centennial Celebration in Klondike-Smokey City, Saturday:

The Klondike-Smokey City CDC will host a centennial celebration for Tom Lee at Lee’s house. (Bill Dries/The Daily Memphian)

The Klondike-Smokey City CDC is hosting a party to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Tom Lee rescuing 32 people from a capsized boat on the Mississippi River. You can read all about that rescue and take a dive deep into Lee’s life in Bill Dries’ exhaustive “Making of a Hero” series. The party will be near Tom Lee’s former home in Klondike-Smokey City, and there will be pop-up community museum on the neighborhood’s history. The Memphis Symphony Orchestra and New Ballet Ensemble will perform. 11 a.m. Free. 1396 Jackson Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Jugfest 2 at Shangri-La Records, Saturday:

Jonathan Finder sifted through records during Jugfest 2024 at Shangra-La Records. This year’s fest is Saturday, May 10. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Shangri-La Records will hold the second Jugfest event in honor of its late co-owner Jared McStay. Also a record label co-founder and DJ, McStay died from colon cancer at age 57 in late 2023. This year’s event will include store sales beginning at 11 a.m. and live music beginning at 2 p.m. Turnstyles will perform at 2 p.m, Downsprouts will perform at 2:45 p.m., Jack Oblivian will perform at 3:30 p.m., Blvck Hippie will perform at 4:15 p.m. and Tommy Wright III will perform at 5 p.m. Click here to read about the inaugural event. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free admission. 1916 Madison Ave. See more info here. — Perry

Manes on Main at Soul & Spirits, Saturday:

Soul & Spirits will host its annual Manes on Main festival Saturday, May 10. (Jennifer Biggs/The Daily Memphian file)

Manes on Main is a “celebration of smoke,” Soul & Spirits brewery co-owner Blair Perry said. The Uptown taproom’s signature Hoochie Coochie American IPA returns along with a slew of limited-edition first-come, first-served releases. The What a Mane smoked festbier, which took home the top prize in the 2024 Tennessee Championship of Beer, is back along with three new ones: a traditional rauchbier, a smoked pilsner and a smoked Baltic porter. Smoke & Toast and Wings on the Fly food trucks will be there, too. 1-8 p.m. Free to enter. 854 N. Main St. Click here for more information. — Whitfield

Zack Orsborn’s ‘Mio Elory’ at Ugly Art Co., opening Saturday:

Work by Zack Orsborn (Submitted)

Visual artist, writer and musician Zack Orsborn blends all of his art disciplines (visual art, writing and music) in his first solo exhibition. “Mio Elory” includes a short story, 13 paintings, 40 collages, an art installation and electronic music. In his artist statement, Orsborn says the exhibition “asks audiences to step into the disordered world of a traumatized fictional character who grew up in the South without knowing how to love.” 6-9 p.m. Free admission. 635 Madison Ave. See more info here. — Perry

Spanish Cultural Series at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Sunday:

The master of the guaracha song form is playing at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Cuban singer and songwriter Pedro Luis Ferrer and his daughter Lena Ferrer are the second performers in the museum’s Spanish Cultural Series. With a career dating back to the ’70s, Ferrer combines influences from classical and popular Cuban genres, and his lyrics tackle life and its trials. 2:30-4 p.m. Tickets start at $22 ($16.24 for students). 1934 Poplar Ave. Click here to buy tickets. — Kelsey Bowen

‘Like Really Creative’ stanza poetry night at Bar DKDC, Monday:

When worlds collage: As a mega fan of both poetry and collage art, the “Like Really Creative” art collective’s art got my number with the stanza poetry workshop/open mic led by artist, poet and singer-songwriter Justin Williams. Dig through a bag of words and prompts and join like-minded romantics to draft blackout poems and collage poems inspired by Calliope, the Greek muse of epic poetry. Then type it up on a vintage typewriter provided by Ryan Knop of Mortgage Financial Services and step up to the mic to share your art. Mmm, I love the smell of fresh poetry on a vintage typewriter. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $5. 964 Cooper St. Click here for more information and to reserve a spot. — Bowen

311 at Graceland, Tuesday:

Nick Hexum (left) and Aaron "P-Nut" Wills of 311 played in Ventura, California, in 2020. The band will play a show at Graceland on Tuesday, May 13. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP file)

I was a JNCO-and-baggy-tee-wearing 14-year-old when 311’s self-titled album came out in 1995, and suffice to say I was “down” with “Down.” I still am, and I’ll be staying up well past my 44-year-old-lady bedtime for this show. The Omaha, Nebraska-based rock/reggae/rap group is much older now (and they’ll likely be up past their bedtimes, too), but Nick Hexum, SA Martinez, Chad Sexton, P-Nut and Tim Mahoney have managed to stick together all these years and continue touring. I’ve seen them play a number of times in recent years, and they always deliver all the hits, like “Amber,” “Beautiful Disaster” and “All Mixed Up.” I expect this show will be no different. Sitting on Saturn will open. 8 p.m. $59.50 advance or $65 on day of show. 3717 Elvis Presley Blvd. Click here for tickets. — Phillips

Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest at Liberty Park, starts Wednesday:

Natasha Mayton led the Tour of Champions during the third day of the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest at Liberty Park on May 17, 2024. This year’s fest starts Wednesday, May 14. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Four days of heated competition starts Wednesday, May 14, at Liberty Park (aka Tiger Lane) for more than 150 teams competing in the whole hog, pulled pork and ribs categories. This is the OG contest, the one locals have somewhat-erroneously called “barbecue fest” for decades. But things are changing. The public can buy combo tickets that include food at the Kingsford Tour of Champions or BBQ Alley area. Gate-admission ticket holders can likely grab some barbecue samples at the Home Depot cooking demo tent, too. Two MIM reps were guests on a recent episode of “Sound Bites,” going into a lot more detail on tickets and pro tips. Opens Wednesday and runs through Saturday. 333 S. Hollywood St. Click here for tickets. (By the way, SmokeSlam BBQ Festival begins Thursday, May 15, and that will be featured in next week’s To-Do List.) — Whitfield

.....