BackinMemphis

The Beale Street Merchant's Association is considering charging cover to get onto the street on weekend nights between April and October . Tentatively, the charge would be 10 dollars, but you get nine back in vouchers to use for food, drink or cover. Ty Agee with the Merchant's Association estimates, on busy nights, roughly 1,000 people come to Beale and don't spend any money at all. "We want people to come down here. It might get rid of somebody that doesn't want to spend any money and just hang out all night long and not do anything. Maybe make some room for someone that could," says Agee. Locals and tourists didn't seem too bothered by the cover charge, as long as $9 of the $10 would come back to them. The Beale Street Merchant's Association says the idea is under serious consideration right now.

For all you celebratory types out there — and you know who you are — here’s an event that promises to be fit for a king. Or more specifically, for “The King,” thankyaverymuch. A musical tribute/birthday party for Elvis Presley (he would have turned 77 on Sunday) will be staged from 6 to 10 p.m. this Saturday at A. Schwab, 163 Beale. The Elvis-themed evening launches a new era for the store as part of what the proprietors promise will be an ongoing effort to spotlight artists from Memphis and the Delta region. Saturday’s musical entertainment will be provided by several artists, including Amy LeVere and the Tramps, the Jason Freeman Band and the Memphis Dawls. Admission is $5 at the door. The event marks the first weekend entertainment offering at the historic dry goods store since it was sold on Dec. 22 to a group of investors, led by Terry Corona Saunders, principal of Martin Group Realty, and her husband, Jake, a grandson of Piggly Wiggly founder Clarence Saunders. Othe...