Hi, Folks.

Let's start a thread for our conference friends so that they can maximize their time in River City. Once it gets to 10 or so responses I will link to the conference board.

Weather: Next week will be a cooler, wetter beginning to March than we are accustomed to. The projected conditions are below:

1. Wednesday, Mar 12: Showers, 53°/36°; Chance of rain:40%, Wind: N at 14 mph
2. Thursday, Mar 13: Partly Cloudy, 46°/31°; Chance of rain: 10% Wind: NNW at 15 mph
3. Friday, Mar 14: Sunny, 53°/38°; Chance of rain: 0% Wind: S at 9 mph
4. Saturday, Mar 15: Partly Cloudy, 57/31°; Chance of rain: 0% Wind: W at 7 mph
   

Barbecue:
Everyone wants to go to the Rendezvous (http://hogsfly.com/) but like other well known places, most Memphians consider it to be more for tourists than for us. The three places within 5-6 miles of downtown are Central Barbecue (http://www.cbqmemphis.com) behind the National Civil Rights Museum - Downtown; The Barbecue Shop (http://www.dancingpigs.com) at 1762 Madison; and just because it is close to the FedexForum: Blues City Cafe at 138 Beale.

What to Do:
Gamblers tend to want to go to Tunica, but Southland Park (http://www.southlandpark.com/) is just a 10 minute drive across the river in West Memphis, Arkansas, and, according to what I have heard, it has all the Machine Games and most of the table games.

For the Families:
The Memphis Zoo (http://www.memphiszoo.org) is very highly rated and only 15 minutes from the Forum.

The Children's Museum of Memphis (http://www.cmom.mom)


Gettin' likkered up...
Overton Square (http://www.overtonsquare.com/eat-shop-enjoy/dining/) is just now being revived after 20 years of being ignored. A number of new places have opened up. For the microbrewery lover, check out Bosco's at 2120 Madison Avenue. Also a newer location is Bar Louie on the corner of Madison and Cooper just 50 yards away.

Cooper Young District (http://cooperyoung.biz/night-out/). Just 2 - 3 miles from Overton Square, the District has a couple of really eclectic places. For the unusual try Alchemy Memphis (940 South Cooper Street). For the down and dirty, try Young Avenue Deli (2119 Young Avenue)

Beale Street - 'nuff said.

Graceland.
Stax Museum.
National Civil Rights Museum.
Peabody Hotel and the Ducks.
Sun Studio.

Cab fare from downtown to midtown (Cooper Young or Overton Square) is bewtween $10 - $15 one way. Cab drivers should take you up union or peabody avenue NOT the interstate.

BTW, if any of you local folks have seen Overton over the past few weekends, you'd take a cab too - parking was non-existent last Saturday night even with the new $3 parking garage.

High end dining Downtown

Flight
Felicia Suzanne's
McEwen's
Itta Bena
Spindini

Everyone has their favorites but these are tried and true.

Downtown, but not on Beale:

Bars/gastropubs:

South of Beale - 361 S. Main (http://www.southofbeale.com/)
Local - 95. S. Main (http://www.localgastropub.com/)
Bargog Tavern - 73 Monroe Ave. (http://bardogtavern.com/)

Recommended Restaurants:
Upscale but worth the $, IMO:

Flight (http://flightmemphis.com/)
McEwens (http://mcewensmemphis.com/)
Felicia Suzannes (http://www.feliciasuzanne.com/index.php)

Casual:Gus's Fried Chicken - lunch and dinner (http://gusfriedchicken.com/)
Franks Deli - great sandwiches - 327 S Main St - Lunch - are they open late, too?

Irish pub: The Brass Door - 152 Madison Avenue - (http://thebrassdoor.com/)

Cuban food: lunch only - Havana's Pilon - 143 Madison Ave (http://havanaspilon.com/)

Other bars downtown:

South Main Neighborhood (you can ride the trolley if you're not in a hurry):

Max's Sports Bar - just what it sounds like - laid back, cheap beers, lots of TV's.
Blind Bear Speakeasy
Green Beetle
SOB (South of Beale)
Ernestine & Hazel's (late night spot - don't miss the Soul Burger if you go!)


A few more downtown casual restaurants:
Majestic Grille - Main Street
Aldo's Pizza Pies - Main Street

(03-06-2014 04:39 PM)OldManTiger Wrote:  .....
Saturday, Mar 16: Partly Cloudy, 57831°; Chance of rain: 0% Wind: W at 7 mph
...

AAGGGGGHHHHGHHHAHHAHHHHAHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGAHHHHHHGAGHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

(03-06-2014 04:39 PM)OldManTiger Wrote:  Hi, Folks.

Let's start a thread for our conference friends so that they can maximize their time in River City. Once it gets to 10 or so responses I will link to the conference board.

Weather: Next week will be a cooler, wetter beginning to March than we are accustomed to. The projected conditions are below:

1. Wednesday, Mar 12: Showers, 53°/36°; Chance of rain:40%, Wind: N at 14 mph
2. Thursday, Mar 14: Partly Cloudy, 46°/31°; Chance of rain: 10% Wind: NNW at 15 mph
3. Friday, Mar 15: Sunny, 53°/38°; Chance of rain: 0% Wind: S at 9 mph
4. Saturday, Mar 16: Partly Cloudy, 57831°; Chance of rain: 0% Wind: W at 7 mph
   

Barbecue:
Everyone wants to go to the Rendezvous (http://hogsfly.com/) but like other well known places, most Memphians consider it to be more for tourists than for us. The three places within 5-6 miles of downtown are Central Barbecue (http://www.cbqmemphis.com) behind the National Civil Rights Museum - Downtown; The Barbecue Shop (http://www.dancingpigs.com) at 1762 Madison; and just because it is close to the FedexForum: Blues City Cafe at 138 Beale.

What to Do:
Gamblers tend to want to go to Tunica, but Southland Park (http://www.southlandpark.com/) is just a 10 minute drive across the river in West Memphis, Arkansas, and, according to what I have heard, it has all the Machine Games and most of the table games.

For the Families:
The Memphis Zoo (http://www.memphiszoo.org) is very highly rated and only 15 minutes from the Forum.

The Children's Museum of Memphis (http://www.cmom.mom)


Gettin' likkered up...
Overton Square (http://www.overtonsquare.com/eat-shop-enjoy/dining/) is just now being revived after 20 years of being ignored. A number of new places have opened up. For the microbrewery lover, check out Bosco's at 2120 Madison Avenue. Also a newer location is Bar Louie on the corner of Madison and Cooper just 50 yards away.

Cooper Young District (http://cooperyoung.biz/night-out/). Just 2 - 3 miles from Overton Square, the District has a couple of really eclectic places. For the unusual try Alchemy Memphis (940 South Cooper Street). For the down and dirty, try Young Avenue Deli (2119 Young Avenue)

Beale Street - 'nuff said.

Where'd March 13th go???

^^ hahaomglol that was great

Additions to the OP

Barbeque -
Cozy Corner - downtown 745 North Parkway - 901-527-9158 - http://www.cozycornerbbq.com - great ribs and barbque cornish hens

Payne's Bar B-Q - midtown - 1762 Lamar Ave - 901-272-1523 - hole in the wall - one of the best chopped pork sandwiches in town, the bar b-que baloney is great also - both messy with a tangy mustard slaw - if you don't know the area, come for lunch

Beer -

Madison Growler inside the Cash Saver grocery store - midtown - 1620 Madison Ave - only open M-Sat 12-8 - 30 tap craft beers plus a 96 foot cold beer box - best selection and prices in the city

The Growler - midtown - 921 S Cooper - 901-410-8223 - http://www.thegrowlermemphis.com - 24 craft beer taps - pints, flights and growlers - credit cards only

Wisacre Brewery - midtown - 2783 Broad Ave - 901-888-7000 - http://www.wiseacrebrew.com - brewery tap room only open F 4-8 and Sat 1-8. On Broad Ave, which has a few good places to eat and drink -

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium - downtown - 130 Peabody Place - 901-523-8536 - http://www.beernurd.com - for those who are staying downtown and do not want to get in a car

Bars -

Paula & Raiford's Disco - downtown - 14 S Second St - 901-521-2494 - http://www.paularaifords.com - no other place like this - late night dance place that can get rather bizarre - lighted dance floor, fog machine, mirrorred ball, etc.

B.B. Kings Blues Club - downtown - 143 Beale St - 901-524-5464 - http://www.bbkingclubs.com - good house band the All-Stars - usually good visiting artists

Bardog Tavern - downtown - 73 Monroe Ave - 901-275-8752 - http://www.bardog.com - good basic bar with good food

Earnestine and Hazel's - downtown - 531 S Main St - 901-523-9754 - hole in the wall with a great jukebox - used to be a brothel - good late night bar burgers (Soul Burger) cooked on the flattop right at the bar, gumbo - take your drink upstairs, which has a history of being haunted, dark and somewhat creepy - a true dive bar with history

Mollie Fontaine Lounge - Vicotian Village on the edge of downtown - 679 Adams Ave - 901-524-1886 - http://www.molliefontainelounge.com - Wed thru Sat - old Victorina mansion with bar upstairs - more laid back, but kind of unique and a bit funky

The Cove - midtown - 2559 Broad Ave - 901-730-0719 - great drinks, happy hour and good oysters - one of the best bartenders in town - Evan Potts

Bari Ristorante e Enoteca - midtown - 22 S Cooper - 901-722-2244 - http://barimemphis.com - good (and expensive) Italian food, but the bar area has great drinks, good wines and one of the best bartenders in Memphis, Brad Pitts - more upscale and laid back - great for some wine, specialty drinks, cheese and salami - if you're going to grab a few bites at the bar, I recommend the Ostriche Crudo (oysters) and spaghetti alla carbonara

Peking in Poplar Plaza

(03-06-2014 04:55 PM)Memphomaniac Wrote:  High end dining Downtown

Flight
Felicia Suzanne's
McEwen's
Itta Bena
Spindini

Everyone has their favorites but these are tried and true.

Definitely give Flight a try if you're into fine dining. And I'm not just saying that because my cous' runs the place.

(03-06-2014 05:15 PM)Briskbas Wrote:  

(03-06-2014 04:39 PM)OldManTiger Wrote:  .....
Saturday, Mar 16: Partly Cloudy, 57831°; Chance of rain: 0% Wind: W at 7 mph
...

AAGGGGGHHHHGHHHAHHAHHHHAHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGAHHHHHHGAGHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I accidentally copied the August temperature. Thanks.

(03-06-2014 06:07 PM)OldManTiger Wrote:  

(03-06-2014 05:15 PM)Briskbas Wrote:  

(03-06-2014 04:39 PM)OldManTiger Wrote:  .....
Saturday, Mar 16: Partly Cloudy, 57831°; Chance of rain: 0% Wind: W at 7 mph
...

AAGGGGGHHHHGHHHAHHAHHHHAHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGAHHHHHHGAGHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I accidentally copied the August temperature. Thanks.

Downtown seems well covered. If folks are staying more out east, there are some decent places - Half Shell, Belmont Grill, Pete n Sam's, Folks Folly, etc.

For those looking for some peace and quiet, I'd recommend a visit to Memphis International Airport and especially to the shiny new parking garage.

Louisville fans who want to get their hoop on should stroll south of the Forum into a neighborhood known as Riverside or 'Da Riva'. Be sure to wear your red Louisville gear and ask the locals where the games are at. When greeting people just flash your hand-sign for UL.

Breakfast at Cafe Eclectic in Midtown
A sandwich from Kwik Check on Madison
BBQ at Central BBQ
Beers at Young Ave Deli
And thats only Day 1 and only one part of town...so many great places to eat and drink in Memphis. I live in San Diego now and while there is plenty of great food here it doesn't compare to what y'all have going on in Memphis.

One of the best and most consistent restaurants in Memphis is Restaurant Iris. Or you can try Chef Kelly English's new/related more casual joint next door, the Second Line. Can't go wrong with either one, although you might want to plan on reservations for Iris and a long wait for Second Line... It's worth it.

(03-06-2014 06:07 PM)OldManTiger Wrote:  

(03-06-2014 05:15 PM)Briskbas Wrote:  

(03-06-2014 04:39 PM)OldManTiger Wrote:  .....
Saturday, Mar 16: Partly Cloudy, 57831°; Chance of rain: 0% Wind: W at 7 mph
...

AAGGGGGHHHHGHHHAHHAHHHHAHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGAHHHHHHGAGHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I accidentally copied the August temperature. Thanks.

haha, aint that the truth...

Also, the horse and carriage rides are really cool. They usually launch from the Peabody. The drivers do a good job of pointing out the free mason symbols on the buildings, for those who are into that.