Christmas in July

Christmas in July; it has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? With the weather warming up, oh well, let’s face it; it’s just plain hot. Many of us are wishing for the cooler months of the Christmas season to make it’s appearance. Until then, we’ll just have to settle for Christmas in July, and Lexus of Memphis along with the Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South, is bringing you it’s 3rd Annual Christmas in July extravaganza.

The event is taking place on Thursday, July 29 from 5-9 pm. There will be wine, hors d’oeuvres, live music, and performances by Company d. There will also be door prizes and gift bags to the first 50 attendees.  A $5 donation at the door gets you all of these things and more, plus access to a good number of different vendors. It’s a shopping paradise!

Proceeds will go to the Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South. Come out, empower, and have fun! This is all taking place at the Lexus of Memphis on Ridgeway Road. Support a good cause!

photo credit: SarahMcD

The Big One aka the Memphis Flea Market

Hey everyone! Are you a big fan of flea markets? Well, you have a big one coming your way this weekend. It’s The Big One! Also known as the Memphis Flea Market, and it’s taking place this weekend, July 17 and 18 at the Expo Center at Agricenter International (7777 Walnut Grove Road).

‘The Big One‘ is almost elusive if you think about it. It only occurs on the third weekend of every month and is open from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on both Saturdays and Sundays.

You can find everything at the Big One! It has vendors set up for trading cards, collectibles, antiques, jewelry, electronics, clothing, furniture, gardening supplies, food, and more!

The Big One/Memphis Flea Market is only about 20 minutes from Madison at Schilling Farms, so you can definitely round  up a group of friends and head out to do some prime bargain hunting!

Sleepover on the River!

Yes folks, you heard right. It’s a sleepover on the Mississippi River! Doesn’t that sound like fun? You can have your own ‘camping’ adventure with no insect and grizzly bear infested foliage. This all takes place at the Mud Island River Park, this Friday, July 9th.

The best thing about this sleepover is that it kind of reminds you of the sleepovers you went to when you were younger: just bring a sleeping bag! Mud Island River Park is providing a 12’x12’ tent, dinner, live entertainment, recreational activities, campfire with marshmallows, and breakfast. You can’t beat that!

The only catch is that you have to reserve your spot in advance due to limited space. For more information, call (901) 458 – 2678. If you miss this opportunity and really want to participate, don’t worry! They have one of these every month. The next available dates are: 8/13, 9/10, and 10/08. I don’t believe November and December dates are available due to the cold weather. So plan ahead, and get ready to Sleep Out on the Mississippi!

photo credit: Dano

Sunset on the Square: Jeffrey and the Pacemakers

Hey MSF! Have you attended an of the Sunset on the Square concerts here in town? If not, tomorrow would be the perfect time to go! On Thursday, July 8, the featured act at Collierville’s Sunset on the Square Concert Series is: Jeffrey and the Pacemakers.

Why should you attend? Only for an evening full of live music, food, and fun! While the concert is free, food is not. Vendors will be on site selling their goods, but they’re never too expensive.

So, just who are Jeffrey and the Pacemakers anyway? Well, they are a local Memphis band with a sound reminiscent to the the Beatles, the Kinks, the Rolling Stones, Gerry and the Pacemakers and various other British Invasion groups as well as the Byrds and other 60’s groups. They will definitely be bringing some old school pop and rock and roll to the square, so if you’re a fan of this kind of music, it’ll definitely be a treat for you.

All of the concerts start at 7 pm and are located on Collierville’s Historic Town Square. Check the website for the remaining dates.

Star Spangled Celebrations!

Hello everyone! It’s that time of year again: time to celebrate the date of America’s independence. The biggest question for  you will be where to celebrate! There are a bunch of celebrations happening around the Memphis area, but the one that is the closest to you, Madison at Schilling Farms, is the Collierville Independence Day Celebration.

The Collierville Independence Day Celebration will take place on July 3rd from 6 to 10 pm at  H.W. Cox Jr. Park. There will be live entertainment, good food, and plenty of things to do for the kiddies. Don’t forget about the fireworks spectacular beginning at 9:30 pm, like so many other displays around town. Don’t forget your blankets and lawn chairs! Personally, I would opt to bring lawn chairs. The ground begins to get uncomfortable after a while.

To honor our Veterans and their families, the Veterans Hospitality Pavilion will be having light refreshments and beverages. This is sponsored once again by the Town of Collierville.

Have fun this weekend, and be safe, no matter what you do!

Every Time I Close My Eyes…

Get ready everyone at Madison Schilling Farms! Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds is coming to the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts!

This is sure to be a treat, especially for those who are Babyface fans. I don’t know about you, but I really believe that (during my time, now) that the 80’s and 90’s brought us the best music. And Babyface definitely falls into that category.

With hit’s like ‘When Can I See You’, ‘Every Time I Close My Eyes’, ‘For the Cool in You’, and ‘Whip Appeal’, you can’t help but love the man! I’m sure he’ll be performing some of these hits at the concert, which is on Saturday, July 17 at 8 pm.

Tickets range between $50 and $70 and is open to all ages. If you’re a Babyface fan, this may be something for you to look into.

Directions to Cannon Center (About 30 minutes)

Head east on Federal Ridge Rd toward Federal Row. Turn right at Schilling Farm Rd. Turn left at E Winchester Blvd. Turn right at S Byhalia Rd. Slight right to merge onto TN-385 W. Take the exit onto I-240 W toward Jackson Miss. Take exit 31 to merge onto I-40 W toward Little Rock. Take exit 1A to merge onto N 2nd St toward 3rd St. Turn right at Winchester Ave. Take the 1st left onto N Main St. Destination will be on the right.

Water Spray Park Fun in Collierville!

Hey everyone! Are you looking for a cool way to beat the heat? What about a venue for the younger ones to let lose some pent up summertime energy? If so, you should check out W.C. Johnson Park for your summertime needs!

Sure, Johnson Park is like other parks, but they have certain added bonuses that definitely appeal to wide crowds. One such appeal is the water spray area. The water spray park has 12 “stations” in an area slightly larger than the size of a basketball court. The poles that activate the water sprays for a set amount of time until the poles are touched again. So don’t even think about frolicking amongst the sprays at night; the sprays are on a timer.

Collierville is the only city in the area to have such water spray parks, which makes us special. You can do a lot more at the park such as running the trails, having a picnic, and just visit with friends. If it’s not too hot, get outside and play!

If you don’t feel like leaving the confines of the Madison at Schilling Farms area, just take a dip in the beautiful pool. You’ll be glad  you did.

Treat Dad to a Car Show This Father’s Day!

What guy doesn’t like cars? Okay, there may be a few out there that may not, but for those who do, there’s an event this weekend that will be perfect for them. It’s also in time for Father’s Day, so if you’re still trying to plan your gift, the Exotic Italian Car Show just may be your ticket into his good graces.

The Exotic Italian Car Show takes place this Sunday at the Hilton Operations Center near Perkins and Spottswood in Memphis, and will run from 11 am to 4 pm. What kind of cars will be featured? My mouth waters just thinking about it: Ferraris, Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Porches, and many other exotic cars will be on display. I have goosebumps already!

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 2-10. A big plus is that you’re helping the community just by attending and having a good time:  proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity.

You can make it a family affair!

What are you doing for Father’s Day?

Directions to Hilton Operations Center

Head north on Madison Farms Ln toward Madison Row. Take the 1st left onto Madison Row. Take the 1st right onto Schilling Blvd. Turn left at Schilling Blvd W. Turn left at W Poplar Ave. Turn left at S Perkins Rd.

Dance Theatre of Harlem Hits Memphis!

Okay guys. It’s official. I’m excited! Why? Because the Dance Theatre of Harlem is coming to Memphis! It was a dream of mine long ago to be able to audition for them and Alvin Ailey, but other things got in the way. For now, I’m just content to sit and watch a beautiful, majestic, strong, powerful, moving, GREAT show! (Can you feel my excitement? )

This extraordinary one night performance to be held tomorrow, June 17 at the Cannon Center for Performing Arts, will feature will  new and re-staged pieces, including Episodes, Excerpts from the South African Suite, and New Bach. The troupe knew that they had to perform in Memphis again after receiving such rave reviews the last time they were there.

This appearance is one that will surely bring arts and dance lovers to their feet time and time again. I just may stand up the whole time. Tickets to the performance can be purchased through Ticketmaster and the Cannon Center Box Office.

The Cannon Center for Performing Arts is about 30 minutes from Madison at Schilling Farms with no traffic. That’s not really a far drive, and the show is most definitely worth it. Remember the blog that I wrote about Alvin Ailey when they were in town a few months ago? Well, after the show, imagine a blog of those proportions but slightly bigger…since it’s most recent.

Tickets are between $55-$65.  A little pricey, but worth it. Check it out if you can!

All the World’s A Stage…

And it’s just waiting for your all-star performance! Hey Madison at Schilling residents, have your friends ever told you that you belonged on stage? Do you ever watch movies and say ‘I could’ve played that part!’, or have you ever seen television shows where you just wish that you could have been an extra for just one minute? If so, don’t you think it’s about time for you to hone  your skills to make your dream come true? And to have fun while doing it?

FreakEngine is hosting an Open Improv workshop tonight from 7-9 pm at the Evergreen Theater. True enough, improv acting may not necessarily land you an Oscar, but it’ll definitely be fun (and entertaining to your friends!).

This sounds like a really fun event, so if you’re in the Memphis Midtown area tonight, why not stop through. Otherwise, it’s about a 20 minute drive.

Directions from Madison at Schilling:

Head north on Madison Farms Ln toward Madison Row. Turn left at Madison Row. Take the 1st right onto Schilling Blvd. Turn left at Schilling Blvd W. Turn left at W Poplar Ave. The Evergreen Theater will be on your left.

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