Chris Herrington

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Good morning in Memphis, where preseason hoops tips, but first …

Plan ahead: Mostly leaving Halloween itself aside, here are 36 interesting things happening in Memphis this month:

Six Decades of Funk: Honoring the Bar-Kays at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music (Tuesday, Oct. 3): After 50 years, Bar-Kays frontman Larry Dodson is retiring. The Stax Music Academy will honor the band by playing some of their funktastic tunes. Dodson and band founder James Alexander will speak.

Lecrae at Minglewood Hall (Wednesday, Oct. 4): The Grammy-winning, Christian crossover rapper.

Garrison Starr at Folk All Y'All (Wednesday, Oct. 4): One of the signature made-in-Memphis artists of the 1990s returns to town for a Folk All Y’All “house” show.

Road to the Biscuit on Beale Street (Thursday, Oct. 5): The annual King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas, is one of the great regional events. You can sample a little King Biscuit without crossing the river as a host of performing artists -- including Kenny Brown, Bob Margolin and Rev. John Wilkins -- will stop off for a mini-festival in participating Beale Clubs.

Wilco at the Orpheum (Thursday, Oct. 5): Jeff Tweedy’s band has evolved from alt-country standard-bearers to the American Radiohead to a kind of new-breed classic rock institution.

Werner Herzog at Rhodes College (Friday, Oct. 6): A towering figure as both a feature filmmaker and documentarian, German director Werner Herzog might be one of the medium’s greatest living artists. He might be best known for a couple of studies of reckless men, the 2005 doc “Grizzly Man” and the 1972 descent into madness “Aguirre, the Wrath of God.” Herzog will be in town as a guest of the Rhodes Film & Media Studies department, screening his 2005 sci-fi film “The Wild Blue Yonder” and conducting a Q-and-A.

Mempho Music Festival at Shelby Farms (Friday-Saturday, Oct. 6-7): This first-time fall music festival includes headliners of the roots (Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit), rock (Cage the Elephant) and hip-hop/R&B (Anderson.Paak & Free Nationals) varieties, along with Memphis music both current and classic and more. It will be interesting to see how the new-look Shelby Farms functions as a host and whether this fest proves to having staying power and growth potential.

Best Memphis Burger Fest at Tiger Lane (Saturday, Oct. 7): There’s something very Memphis about a fried chicken restaurant (Jack Pirtle’s) sponsoring a burger festival. Though a relatively recent creation, this fest already feels like a community staple.

“Romeo and Juliet” on the Collierville Town Square (Saturday, Oct. 7): The Tennessee Shakespeare Company’s free “Shout Out Shakespeare” series offers an afternoon performance of the ninth-grade English class staple. Bring your kids, and some lawn chairs.

Memphis Women in Film at Crosstown Arts (Monday, Oct. 9): The Memphis Women in Film group will hold a screening and discussion of documentary on Alice Guy-Blache, a now largely forgotten filmmaking pioneer.

Memphis Madness at FedExForum (Thursday, Oct. 12): The once-annual Tiger hoops pep rally returns to help you get the season started.

Memphis Music weekend at the Levitt Shell (Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 12-15): The last full four-day weekend of the Levitt Shell fall concert series is a doozy of Memphis or Memphis-connected music. Thursday is the Love Light Orchestra, re-creating the sounds of the vintage Beale Street band era. Friday is contemporary Beale stalwarts FreeWorld celebrating their 30th anniversary. Saturday is a 60th anniversary celebration for Royal Studios, and Sunday is Australian singer-songwriter Emily Barker, whose recent album “Sweet Kind of Blue” was recorded locally at Sam Phillips Recording.

Maren Morris at Minglewood (Oct. 13): The dirty secret of modern, mainstream country: The men get most of the radio play but most of the best artists are women. Pop-country’s top newcomer last year was probably Maren Morris, a Texan who brings a tinge of soulfulness to so-called Music City and who recently brought home a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance.

MemFix Madison Heights (Madison & Cleveland, Oct. 13): What is Madison Heights? Apparently it’s the area around the intersection of Madison and Cleveland, which links Crosstown to the Medical District, and MemFix will bring pop-up shops, public art, pedestrian improvements and more to bring people there and help rethink what the area could be.

Pink Palace Crafts Fair at Audubon Park (Friday-Sunday, Oct. 13-15): This Memphis institution will celebrate its 45th year. Artisan crafts are, of course, its centerpiece, but it’s also a nice general fall family festival with music, food, activities for the kids and more.

“Shocktober 4/Legends of Horror” Time Warp at Malco Summer Drive-In (Saturday, Oct. 14): Time-Warp Drive-In is not fooling around this Halloween. “Legends of Horror” is no joke, with Alfred Hitchcock’s groundbreaking “Psycho,” John Carpenter’s slasher apotheosis “Halloween,” Tobe Hooper’s disquietingly artful exploitation “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” the late George Romero’s genre-launching indictment “Night of the Living Dead” and the Herk Harvey’s beguiling low-budget classic “Carnival of Souls” all on tap.

University of Memphis vs. Navy (Saturday, Oct. 14): Are you ready for some football? And to salute some midshipmen on the opposing sideline?

Ballet Memphis’ “Take Shape” at Playhouse on the Square (starting Saturday, Oct. 14): Overton Square’s newest neighbor, Ballet Memphis, pirouettes down the block to perform this “creative selection of boundary-breaking work” at Playhouse on the Square.

GPAC Food Truck & Music Festival at Germantown Performing Arts Center (Sunday, Oct. 15): From the truth-in-advertising department …

Memphis Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans at FedExForum (Wednesday, Oct. 18): The Grizzlies home opener is always an event, but this time fans will be waiving “Grit Grind Forever” towels and the Grindfather himself, Tony Allen, will be making his return in the opposing jersey. It should be a scene.

Spoon at Minglewood (Wednesday, Oct. 18): Britt Daniel’s Austin-formed outfit has proven to be one of the most durably pleasurable indie-rock bands of their generation.

National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards at the Orpheum (Thursday, Oct. 19): Civil rights movement inheritor Bernice King, South African musician/activist Hugh Masekela, and Southern Poverty Law Center co-founder Morris Dees are the recipients this year. The theme: Where Do We Go From Here?”

“Beetlejuice” at the Levitt Shell (Friday, Oct. 19): “Mary Poppins” at the Shell last weekend worked well and so should this family-friendly Halloween selection, a PG-rated comedic 1988 ghost story starring Michael Keaton.

Le Bonheur Zoo Boo at the Memphis Zoo (starting Friday, Oct. 20): The popular trick-or-treating-and-more event takes over the Memphis Zoo for two weekends. Closed-circuit to my kids: You’re not getting me up in the Ferris Wheel again this year.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors at FedExForum (Saturday, Oct. 21): The defending NBA champions make their only appearance in Memphis this season (at least until the Conference Finals, natch).

The Big River Crossing Half Marathon + 5K (Saturday, Oct. 21): The first race to span the Mississippi.

Wolf River Greenway opening, Downtown (Saturday, Oct. 21): The Downtown portion of the Wolf River Greenway trail opens, and that sounds like a good excuse for a day party.

Soulsville USA Festival (Saturday, Oct. 21): The South Memphis neighborhood throws a party, with music, arts, food, kids’ activities and free admission to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

Stanley Booth at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music (Tuesday, Oct. 24): Author Stanley Booth’s essay collection “Rythm Oil” is one of the great Memphis books, even if it’s not all about Memphis, including a priceless portrait of Janis Joplin performing at a Stax Christmas party. Booth will be back at Stax for a reading and conversation, with our own Bob Mehr introducing.

Foo Fighters at FedExForum (Tuesday, Oct. 24): Dave Grohl’s group feels almost like the Last American Arena Rock Band and they kept the cigarette lighter burning on their last stop through town a couple of years ago. This should be a similar good time.

“An American in Paris” at the Orpheum (Tuesday-Sunday, Oct. 24-29): The Tony Award-winning Broadway version of the 1951 Gene Kelly movie musical arrives for a week-long local run.

RiverArtsFest in the South Main Arts District (Friday-Sunday, Oct. 27-29): South Main’s signature street festival is a showcase of regional art.

Memphis Music Hall of Fame induction at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts (Friday, Oct. 27): Roy Orbison, the Memphis Horns, Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White and others enter the Memphis Music Hall, with this year’s ceremony doubling as a kind of after-party for the Music Cities Convention being held in Memphis this week.

Memphis-Mid-South Race for the Cure at AutoZone Park (Saturday, Oct. 28): The local race, raising awareness for breast cancer research, turns 25.

Rock 103 40th Anniversary Party at Snowden Grove Amphitheater (Saturday, Oct. 28): Every rose may have its thorn, but here’s betting this bash will be nothin’ but a good time (sorry) with Poison’s Bret Michaels headlining a bill of Memphis-area hair-metal-era heroes (Tora Tora, Roxy Blue, Every Mother’s Nightmare)

Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts (Sunday, Oct. 29): Lovett sang “I’ve Been the Memphis,” Hiatt sang about “Memphis in the Meantime,” and in a battle of Memphis-themed songs, the 9:01 declares Hiatt the victor. Otherwise, these loosely country singer-songwriters are highly compatible and should make for a nice show.

Inside the Coliseum: Thanks to the Coliseum Coalition for including me on a tour of the building over the weekend. I probably won’t write on the issue again until closer to the city’s next Fairgrounds presentation, but will share some photos from the inside here. Who knew that before there was “Beale Street Blue” there was “Mid-South Blue”?

Weekend Reads:

So Long Matt Cain: The Memphis native pitched his last Major League game over the weekend:

Quick-and-Pop: The Grizzlies open their preseason tonight against the Orlando Magic. I’ll return to my roster preview series in Pick-and-Pop tomorrow. But until then, a few last links: Last week’s post on JaMychal Green and James Ennis. My Pick-and-Popcast conversation with the Memphis Flyer’s Kevin Lipe. For late-planning purposes: My Consumer’s Guide to the Grizzlies 2017-2017 Home Schedule.

The Fadeout:

Reach Chris Herrington at chris.herrington@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter at @chrisherrington and @herringtonNBA.