RE: Coming to Memphis October 2-7
My favorite subject! I love my hometown. You are coming at a great time of year.
Where to stay? If you will have a car, I like the University of Memphis Holiday Inn because it is in a pretty residential area across from campus, is safe, and moderately priced. Being just outside of Midtown, it is convenient to Downtown and East Memphis, and is easy to find. A trip to the Tiger Bookstore is not too far!
If you will be flying in or just want a lot of restaurants (200+) and attractions in a small area, stay
Downtown. My preference would be the Hampton Inn and Suites near the Peabody Hotel and Beale Street. If you have a big piggy bank, the River Inn in Harbor Town is very nice, too.
I would not stay anywhere near Wolfchase, no matter the low price; it is not safe and will be inconvenient. Any of the hotels Downtown will be much better, or the ones near Poplar Avenue in East Memphis.
By all means, "do" Beale Street (best restaurants: Blues City, Miss Polly's, Johnny G's, Itta Bena above BB King's for upscale. See the Will Tucker Band, the early show, 5:00, at BB King's on Fri. and Sat., and don't miss Schwab's store) Get off Beale by 11:00.
90% of the "great stuff" Downtown is "off Beale." Restaurants galore, up and down Main Street (pedestrian only) and on all the side streets, and from Harbor Town to Uptown through the Core and all the way down Main Street to the South Main Arts District.
I love South Main because the parking is easy, it's a real urban neighborhood like you find in New York, and the restaurants are very cool. Don't miss the historic, iconic, late-night Earnestine and Hazel's bar for people watching, the best juke box, and the location of eight movies. Go upstairs and say hi to Nate, bartender. The 5 Spot restaurant at the back of Earnestine's is awesome. Also, visit the Green Beetle for homecooking and the Blue Monkey on Front Street in South Main.
There is a Central BBQ in South Main, and it's well worth a visit. Westy's in the Pinch serves great food until 3:00 a.m.
Let me know what food you like, and I can give you a list of places to pick from.
What to do? Another endless list, depending on your interests. On the Must Do list by location: Downtown: Rock 'n Soul Museum, Gibson Guitar Factory, watch the sunset from the banks of the Mississippi, and the rooftops of the Madison Hotel and the Peabody Hotel; roam all over the Peabody Hotel and see the Ducks March; Civil Rights Museum; a drive around Harbor Town, the "island" to the north; a look inside Memphis' own Raiford's, late-night impossible-to-describe "disco." You may like a tour of St. Jude. Step inside any of our historic churches. Take a Ghost Tour, or a tour of the Woodruff-Fontaine Home in Victorian Village. Go to Molly Fontaine's Lounge in Victorian Village to see another historic home and people-watch. Drive by the historic Hunt-Phelan Home just outside Downtown. Belz Museum of Judaic and Chinese Art, incredible! Take a riverboat ride for a unique view of Memphis. Our historic courthouse is gorgeous; go in and walk all over; don't miss the law library. Check out the U. of M Law School in a large, historic building on the river. Downtown Farmer's Market on Saturday morning in South Main.
Outside Downtown: Midtown ~ Save an evening or afternoon for both Overton Square and Cooper-Young, for dining and shopping. Favorite restaurants in Overton Square are Chiwawa's, Local, Bari for Italian, and Babalu. Try Mulan, the Beauty Shop, Soul Fish, and Sweetgrass in Cooper-Young. Check out the House of Mewes for adoptable cats and Burke's Bookstore for great used books. Swing by Broad Street in Midtown and see who is playing at the Cove. Check out Overton Park for an Old Forest and an excellent zoo and the Brooks Museum of Art, and swing by Rhodes College for the sheer beauty of it. Drive down Central Avenue and Belvedere and Peabody to see the lovely historic homes of Central Gardens.
East of Midtown: Visit or drive by the Pink Palace, a palatial home that was never inhabited and is now a wonderful museum; drive through Chickasaw Gardens to see the homes and the lake; see the Liberty Bowl and Tiger Lane; and head out the Poplar Ave. corridor to East Memphis with its restaurants of all prices and kinds. Just ask me for suggestions there, too! The Botanic Gardens, Lichterman Nature Center, Dixon Gallery and Gardens.
I could go on and on. Let us know what sounds good and this board will point you in that direction. We will be glad to help you select a great place to watch the Tiger football game that Saturday.
Sources for info: the weekly Memphis Flyer newspaper, the Visitors Center downtown, TripAdvisor on the internet, and getdown@downtownmemphis.com
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