Just back from a trip to Memphis, Tennessee. It was a weekender to celebrate a birthday and we had a great time. After arriving and checking into our hotel Friday we hit the street, Beale Street to be exact. First stop, BBQ, and the best BBQ on Beale Street is at the Blues City Café. We had a half rack of delicious wet ribs.
Beale Street has changed a lot since the last time I was there. There was more neon and more places like the Hard Rock Cafe and Coyote Ugly, but the old places were still there also. After dinner we went to Rum Boogie to listen to music, drink and watch the NCAA Basketball Tournament. A quick stop at B.B. Kings for a t-shirt and then back to the hotel. Great first night!
Saturday morning we went to the Arcade Restaurant for breakfast. The Arcade is a Memphis landmark. Established it in 1919 it is Memphis' oldest restaurant. According to their website, many famous and distinguished people have eaten at the Arcade. They have served Cybill Shepherd, Robert Duvall, Dennis Quaid, Susan Sarandon, Rufus Thomas, Elvis and his buddies, and many others. The restaurant has been in many videos and movies. Mystery Train, Great Balls of Fire, The Client, Elvis: The Early Years, Memphis, A Family Thing, and 21 Grams all had scenes filmed at the Arcade.
Just a few blocks from the restaurant is the National Civil Rights Museum. Formerly the Lorraine Motel, this is where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assasinated on April 4, 1968. I had visited the museum in high school shortly after it opened. The exhibit had changed a lot since high school. It had nearly doubled in size and now includes information about the Civil Rights Movement following King’s death.
After the National Civil Rights Museum we headed back to the car and down to Sun Studio, birthplace of Rock & Roll.
Sam Phillips, the owner Sun Studio discovered a few rockers like, ummm, I don’t know… ELVIS! Johnny Cash, Ike Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Carl Perkins and Howlin’ Wolf, just to name a few. It is still an active recording studio used by everyone from local flavors to U2.
On the way to the car I saw this logo on a furniture store. Whatever works, He looks nice enough; I guess I would buy a couch from him.
Last stop before a nap, Neely’s Interstate BBQ for a late lunch. I recommend the sampler platter; it is more than enough for two.
Trolleys make a loop around downtown every ten minutes and you cant beat'em for convenience, plus you can ride the whole line for a buck!
After a nap we took the trolley to the Cheese Cake Corner for dessert. If you like cheesecake you must stop at this small local eatery. They don’t open till late in the afternoon but their cheesecakes are unbelievable.
A quick stop to take some photos of the Orpheum Theater and then back to the hotel to get some rest for the long drive home in the morning.
