2018 was A LOT. Some good, some not so good, but all-in-all a year of memorable Bluff City moments. The end of the year is a time for reflection, so let’s take a moment to reminisce on some of the highlights. This isn’t everything that happened, and we’re not even saying these are the most important things that happened. These are just some of the things that resonated with us.
When Lonely Planet named Memphis as one of North America’s Best Emerging Destinations for 2019, it had us like, ” Nashville, who?”
We love seeing our city getting the recognition it deserves. Speaking of recognition, let’s talk about when Rolling Stone named Goner Records one of the top record stores in the country. Saying that we were proud parents is probably an understatement.
And when a wave of black queens were elected to office in Shelby County, we tried to hold our composure…
but ultimately had to let it out…
YAAAAAAAAAAS QUEEEEEEEEEEEEEENS! GO AWF!
As if that wasn’t enough local black excellence, when James Wiseman, ????THE NUMBER ONE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY ????, decided that he’s more of a tiger than a cat, we just…
and then…
We can’t forget who helped make it happen, though. He came to us earlier this year and his first name doesn’t quite equate to his worth and value to our city.
But we’re still a little bitter that neither Drake nor Justin Timberlake pulled up to Memphis Madness like Sports Illustrated alluded…
Since we somehow got on the topic of sports, our local athletes really came through this year! The University of Memphis Football team got that AAC Title once again!
Plus the Memphis Redbirds secured that back-to-back championship win.
And watching once-a-tiger-always-a-tiger-but-now-a-bear Anthony Miller flex on the field, Memphis style, has been a treat.
But enough about basketball, football, and baseball. Memphis 901 FC released their branding and season schedule this year and now soccer fans are heading into 2019 like…
and everybody else is picking up Soccer for Dummies books because they, too, are soccer fans now.
So we’ve got sports on lock in the “M” AND we’ve got music, but you might have already known that. Remember when Beale Street Music Fest sold out on Sunday because everyone and their mama wanted to say “Congratulations” to Post Malone?
If you were one of the many humans who waited to buy tickets at the gate…
But luckily, you got a second chance at Mempho Music Festival where not only Post Malone, but Janelle Monae, Nas, Mac Demarco and many others blessed us with their presence and vocals.
Also, the Roots, THE FREAKING ROOTS, played a free show at New Daisy for TN Music Pathways.
Speaking of feeling thankful, when Trader Joe’s FINALLY opened, we all felt that.
But word to the wise, Trader Joe’s, you probably shouldn’t have opened a store in MEMPHIS with complimentary tote bags that say Nashville…
But we didn’t just get a Trader Joe’s! This year, Memphis got its first rage room, it’s first axe throwing venue, an REI, and an indoor skatepark meets coffee shop!
Plus, it was the year that Bird scooters and Explore Bike Share bikes hit the streets making transportation around town a little easier…
Except for when silly people abandon their scooters in the most inconvenient spots…
2018 was the year for sports, music, openings, AND film? Man, we really crammed it all in. Shout out to Indie Memphis for giving us even more badass movies, shorts, programming, celebrity guests, and parties this year.
and to the peeps that decided Memphis was a good location to host Diner en Blanc: y’all had us ready to show up and show out like…
Is it just us or does it feel like the 901 has more eyes on it than ever before? After all, Glassdoor named Memphis one of the top cities for jobs, St. Jude surpassed Google as number one dream job for Gen Z, and our jobs board received over half a million views and connected more people to jobs than ever before.
So basically what we’re saying is, 2018 you were something, but Memphis, mane, you were something else!
Here’s to you and all your excellence.
