Memphis?

[KCPowercat]

Anybody been?  Suggestions?

[Tosspot]

when I was driving on St. Louis highways I saw Interstate signs that pointed to Memphis.

[KCPowercat]

that's about all I've got too...oh and I think the Beatles lived there or something.

[DaveKCMO]

a friend of mine was just there last month and said memphis is "3 years ahead of KC" as far as downtown redevelopment goes. he lives downtown here and i trust his opinion. i have personally never been, but am curious since i have a thing about mid-sized cities. i usually hit tripadvisor.com and fodors.com for info.

[bry456]

Stax Records Museum (if you're into music history)

Beale Street

Uhhhhh.....

Hell, I've never been to Memphis.

[ddw334umkc]

Stay cool.  The humidity around this time down there is ferocious.



BTW, if your an Elvis fan, check out Graceland.

If you're into history, check out the MLK motel assasination site.

If you love barbeque, just pick a restaurant at random.

[chingon]

In this order:
1.Corky's
2.Stax Museum of American Soul Music
3.Sun Records
4. A bar with a band playing as far away from Beale as you can find
5. Spend the rest of your time in STL on the way back home

[ddw334umkc]

Almost forgot, take a gondola ride across the Mississippi onto Mud Island.

Too bad the Grizzlies sucked balls this year, you could've enjoyed a playoff game at FedEx Forum.

Check out the Pyramid.

West Memphis, Arkansas has the best weed in the area, if that's your thing of course.

And on the way back, stop in Cape Jarrardeu.  It's quite interesting.

Then enjoy a Cards game.

[KCPowercat]

a friend of mine was just there last month and said memphis is "3 years ahead of KC" as far as downtown redevelopment goes. he lives downtown here and i trust his opinion. i have personally never been, but am curious since i have a thing about mid-sized cities. i usually hit tripadvisor.com and fodors.com for info.

how so?  Talking on other sites with Memphis residents I'm not getting that vibe.....are there a lot of residential units downtown?  I know Beale St. is pretty cool but is there anything else...crossroads areas?  River market area? type things?

[chingon]

The last time I was there (3 years ago) I was underwhelmed, to say the least. But it takes all kinds, and perhaps things have changed for the better.  Beale Street is in downtown Memphis. So if you like Wesport but with drunk, aging, obese crackers biting their lower lips, eyes closed, nodding on beats 1 and 3 to cheesy blues covers instead of teenage thugs and post-college morons grinding to top forty rap, its worth going to.  If thats not your thing, I'd say DT Memphis isn't much to see. Graceland is as an embarassment to all of us. And much of the rest of the urban core bears a striking resemblence to the blandest or most blighted parts of urban KCK.

Great radio though, seriously.

[DaveKCMO]

how so?  Talking on other sites with Memphis residents I'm not getting that vibe.....are there a lot of residential units downtown?  I know Beale St. is pretty cool but is there anything else...crossroads areas?  River market area? type things?

let me get back to you on that...

[KCPowercat]

any help would be great....we decided on this trip on a whim and now I'm tasked with "what the f are we going to do"

if your source has any cool outdoor hang out bars, non-bbq restaurants, attractions....I'll report back faithfully.

[brighteyedgirl]

Are you taking any kids or just adults? What are you looking to do? Are you into music or history or just looking for the tourist traps? I have been a couple of times. Where are you guys staying in downtown or outside?

[KCPowercat]

looking to do whatever Memphis has to offer....looks like the civil rights museum would be cool to see....stuff like that.  I'm not a big music guy but I'll drink some beers listening to blues.....we'll be downtown.

[brighteyedgirl]

Here is the link to the Memphis Chamber of Commerce. http://www.memphischamber.com/ I also know that AAA has books about that area along with a map if you are a member there.
Here are somethings that either I or friends have been to
Mud Island
Pink Palace Museum
Graceland
The Peabody Hotel
Memphis City Zoo (nowhere near as cool as the FREE zoo in STL)
Beale Street
Rock and Soul Museum
Gibson Guitar
finally B.B. King's (a little on the touristy side)
Oh and you are not that far from Tunica if you want to gamble. Hope that helps.

[KCPowercat]

Thanks.

I heard Tunica sucks.....and the casinos around here are just as good (if not better)...true?

mud island....is that just for kids?

[brighteyedgirl]

Well I would say no Mud Island is not just for kids, but you do see alot there so if they annoy you, maybe skip that.
I have not been to Tunica but my parents liked it OK. My dad won at Sam's Town so he really liked it. I would say that it is nowhere near Vegas style or anything judging by their trip. I work for AAA and we send tons of older people to that area. You are not going this weekend are you? I bet it will be super crowded in Tunica and Memphis. I know that some of the restaurants will allow you to make internet reservations and browse their menu's so you may want to do a little leg work before to ensure that you get to eat where you want. Happy planning.

[KCPowercat]

nope not this weekend.

[chingon]

If you don't want BBQ, there is an incredible soul food restaurant on just north of McLemore.  The owners are incredibly amiable, and the place has a long, proud history in the Memphian black community, which they will happily tell you about as you shovel cheese grits into your fat, freckled white face...
If you dig soul food, I'd suspect there are a lot of reputable options besides the one my wife and I breakfasted at, but I'd highly recommend it, and if you want I can look it up and get you the name and exact location. If you are interested let me know.
PS - I'd suggest dressing nicely, a lot of people come in in their sunday clothes.

[KCMax]

Memphis is a city I've always wanted to visit but never have. I look forward to hearing your report on the city. I'd hit the Civil Rights Museum, take in a Memphis Redbirds baseball game downtown, visit Graceland for the camp value alone, and definitely hit Corky's. That's about all I know about Memphis.