Ho, ho, ho, Memphis. It’s Friday, Nov. 21, and as much as it pains me to talk about holiday celebrations before Thanksgiving, here we are. Christmas creep is upon us, and two annual faves are on the stage this weekend: New Ballet Ensemble’s “Nut Remix” and Circuit Playhouse’s production of “A Tuna Christmas.”

On Saturday, Downtown’s giant holiday tree gets lit, and I hear Santa will be there. If that’s all too soon for you, no worries: ShapeShifter Art School and Gallery opens Saturday with a group art exhibition. And the Memphis Grizzlies play the Dallas Mavericks in an away game. 

Sunday brings a chance to sample Palestinian food and take in the culture at the ‘Angels of Gaza’ charity bazaar. For more weekend fun, go here.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Suing over school vouchers: A group of 10 Tennessee residents is suing the state over its Education Freedom Scholarship program. The suit claims the use of taxpayer-funded school vouchers to pay for private school education is unconstitutional, since the vouchers divert state funding to schools “that are by definition not part of the system of free public schools.” State lawmakers expanded the voucher program statewide earlier this year with 20,000 vouchers offering more than $7,200 per student. In related news, voucher renewals and new applications open soon. In other education news, some parents are concerned about what will happen if Memphis-Shelby County Schools closes a Frayser elementary school.

Hold the Frappucino: Don’t fret, you can get your grande iced caramel brulée latte at the Poplar Plaza Starbucks today. The location, the only unionized Starbucks in Memphis, closed Thursday as part of a nationwide strike of unionized locations but should be back open this morning. Employees are asking for better pay and hours and improved staffing. The rain dampened the Memphis protest, with only four employees — and State Rep. Justin Pearson — gathered under a small tent.

Peabody flooded: The gym, pool and spa at Downtown’s historic Peabody Memphis are closed until further notice, after a water main break flooded the hotel’s lower level. All other areas were unaffected, and the Duck March went on as scheduled Friday. No word on whether the ducks got a chance to swim on the flooded floor.

Ex-corrections officer pleads guilty: Former Shelby County Corrections investigator Deon Scott admitted this week that he took a bribe in exchange for providing contraband to an inmate. Scott was an internal-affairs investigator at the time of the alleged bribe, and he was fired in September, immediately after being charged. He’s one of several local corrections officers charged with work-related crimes this year.

QUOTED

“The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is to always do two acts of kindness every day. ”

— DeSoto County Sheriff Thomas Tuggle II
Tuggle, the first Black sheriff to serve DeSoto County since 1873, came to the job with more than 30 years of law enforcement experience. And that’s all fine and good. But we really want to know what the man eats for breakfast. The Daily Memphian’s Brandon LaGrone II sat down with Tuggle to talk dream destinations, pet peeves and, yes, favorite foods. (Spoiler: It’s Cap’n Crunch).

THE NICE TO KNOW

The Bug saves the day: Memphis Grizzlies fans finally got to see the streamers again at FedExForum Thursday night. The team broke their five-game losing streak with a 137-96 win over the Sacramento Kings, marking the first time this season a team has been held to under 100 points. And they did it all without a real point guard. Vince Williams Jr. (aka The Bug) was filling in that position, and he set a franchise record with 42 assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. was also out, but Zach Edey was in. And he, too, did his part on the offense.

Take that, Tigers haters: The Memphis Tigers basketball team were expected to lose to No. 1-ranked Purdue in the Baha Mar Hoops Championship in the Bahamas. And they did, 80-71. But after a disappointing start to the season, some said they might lose by a margin of 30 or 40 points. Instead, the Tigers put up a fight and held a lead for 34 of the game’s 40 minutes. Coach Penny Hardaway said he doesn’t “accept moral victories” though, and he’s considering this effort “something to build on.”

Croughnut worry, be happy: The croughnut craze may be so 20 years ago, but does a doughnut with croissant-style layers ever really get old? Barefruit Cafe is opening in Arlington on Saturday, and they’ll be serving coffee and croughnuts. In other old-meets-new news, fast-food chain Cook Out wants to open in the old Back Yard Burgers on Union Avenue. (You know, the one that had a “temporarily closed” sign up for years after it closed.) Read more on those stories and others in Food Files.

Something to taco about: Birria is another food trend from a few years ago making a local menu debut. Babalu has added a birria bowl, tacos and a quesadilla, and each dish will run you less than $15. Food writer Erica Horton took one for the team, risking “birria and fat-stained fingers” and “au jus dripping down" her chin, an experience she says was totally worth it.

More than a century of Centenary: Centenary United Methodist Church in Soulsville, which has been around for 160 years, played a vital role in the Civil Rights movement. And that story was honored Thursday with a new historical marker unveiled on the church’s front lawn. The church has had four locations since its founding in 1865, the year slavery ended in the U.S., and one of its pastors, Rev. James Lawson, invited Martin Luther King Jr. to come to the city during the 1968 sanitation workers strike. Today, the church is helping lead opposition to what they call an “occupation” by the Memphis Safe Task Force. 

What’s popping at Carriage Crossing? The realty company behind Collierville’s open-air mall is hosting a contest for a new tenant. And the winner will receive six months of free rent. Voters can choose their fave business in Pop Local’s online voting form through Dec. 13. Among the seven finalists are a human-grade dog-food company, a music school and coffee trailer Monkeygrass Mayhem.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

The New York Times featured Memphis Thursday in its “36 Hours” series. The article offers an itinerary of things to do if you only have 36 hours in Memphis. And sure, there are the obvious things — Graceland, Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, etc. — but they also gave nods to The Lobbyist, Overton Park and Burke’s Books. 

If you get bored with holiday events this weekend, try being a tourist in your own city with The New York Times’ recs. Alright, see you Monday!