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1580 Vollintine

(08-08-2014 08:44 PM)TylerTiger Wrote: [ -> ]All the information excellent! Trying to get a beat on kinda the general vibe, but it seems that I should keep away from the Wolfchase area. I think the main issue will be just trying to find the right hotel at the right price because I'm trying to keep it around $150 or less, just to save some money (though definitely considering Hampton Inn around Beale or the Residence Inn). But I also guess Beale after 11 gets bad (or just the area in general?) I was looking at maybe staying in Southaven as well. I've often been to Tunica, but I really didn't want to commute into Memphis from that far to do stuff, though it might be an option. Anyone know anything about staying in Germantown (I've always loved staying in Hyatt's...same for the one on Primacy Parkway)?


I definitely will keep a list of all the places mentioned. I also think I might go to Overton Square and try the Bayou Grill is it? (I had originally planned to go to New Orleans, but I have family in Memphis I've not seen in a very long time so Memphis kinda trumped it). So if there's any kinda cajun places in Memphis too, that would be nice. (Thought about also eating at Restaurant Iris.)

So for the most part I'm looking to stay relatively cheap with a high cost on food and doing things around town and seeing family. Like I mentioned, thinking about the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Southaven, thinking about maybe staying in Tunica, and of course somewhere downtown or East Memphis. I'm considering the Holiday Inn @ University of Memphis as well...and definitely would love a place to spend Saturday to watch Memphis beat Cincinnati (Go Tigers Go!)

Point by point: I would recommend the Hampton Downtown or the Holiday Inn-U of M on Central, or the other hotels downtown, more toward the Core. The trolleys aren't currently running, so getting back up to the Uptown area where the Sheraton and Crown Plaza are, on foot at night, is NOT advised. Wolfchase is too far away, too much traffic, not the best area; Southaven is too far. Germantown Road is far if you are going to be going Downtown and to Midtown, and lots of traffic. A commute from Tunica every day is too far. You will spend all your time on the road. I would definitely recommend staying downtown so you can walk and not worry about parking and won't be driving in Memphis after drinking.

I don't recommend Beale after 11:00, particularly on weekends. The atmosphere and crowd changes, but there are tons of other restaurants and bars downtown (200) and things to do until the wee hours of the morning. It's just Beale St. that gets a bit intense, although the later you are out, the less safe any area is. There are many places that serve food late night, some until 3:00 a.m. (Westy's, Blue Monkey, most of the restaurants in South Main, Blues City on the corner of Beale, and many more). You won't get bored Downtown even if you aren't on Beale late. Raiford's and Ernestine and Hazel's are just getting started at 11:00.

Also, I would not recommend having anything to drink and traversing this city all the way to Wolfchase or Germantown or even East Memphis. Memphis Police are everywhere and trolling for DUI drivers. Not worth the risk.

You can watch the Tigers at Max's Bar in South Main, Brookhaven Pub or Fox and Hound in East Memphis, Central BBQ on Summer, or most restaurants downtown, including the Flying Saucer, which has about 80 or more beers. Those are particular Tiger hangouts.

Restaurant Iris is a great idea. For Cajun, the Bayou in Overton Square would not be my first choice. Johnny G's Creole on Beale is excellent and casual. Memphis does not have abundant Cajun restaurants. I would also highly recommend Owen Brennan's for New Orleans food out in East Memphis, and Pearl's Oyster Bar downtown for great oysters and New Orleans-Mississippi style seafood. The Half Shell in East Memphis also has good seafood, and the Cove on Broad Street has excellent oysters and atmosphere. The iconic Belmont, just across the railroad tracks from the Half Shell, has the best hamburger in town and a cool old atmosphere.

A lot of great ideas already. I would add that we've stayed at the Doubletree on Poplar at Mendenhall / Sanderlin for a stay-cation and loved the area. You can walk to some great restaurants like Interim, The Half Shell, Belmont, Hog & Hominy, and Petra, you can walk to Brookhaven Pub to watch the game, and you can walk across the parking lot to Muddy's bakery for the best cupcakes in the world. There's also a Whole Foods in the same parking lot for in-room supplies. Plus, you're a straight shot down Poplar from Overton Park and Overton Square. The food and bar scene in Overton Square and Cooper Young is heads and shoulders above downtown at this point.

(08-09-2014 07:46 AM)Trapper John Wrote: [ -> ]A lot of great ideas already. I would add that we've stayed at the Doubletree on Poplar at Mendenhall / Sanderlin for a stay-cation and loved the area. You can walk to some great restaurants like Interim, The Half Shell, Belmont, Hog & Hominy, and Petra, you can walk to Brookhaven Pub to watch the game, and you can walk across the parking lot to Muddy's bakery for the best cupcakes in the world. There's also a Whole Foods in the same parking lot for in-room supplies. Plus, you're a straight shot down Poplar from Overton Park and Overton Square. The food and bar scene in Overton Square and Cooper Young is heads and shoulders above downtown at this point.

If you're going to eat at Hog N Hominy, the turnip greens are uniquely delicious. Pricey, but great.

(08-08-2014 08:44 PM)TylerTiger Wrote: [ -> ]All the information excellent! Trying to get a beat on kinda the general vibe, but it seems that I should keep away from the Wolfchase area. I think the main issue will be just trying to find the right hotel at the right price because I'm trying to keep it around $150 or less, just to save some money (though definitely considering Hampton Inn around Beale or the Residence Inn). But I also guess Beale after 11 gets bad (or just the area in general?) I was looking at maybe staying in Southaven as well. I've often been to Tunica, but I really didn't want to commute into Memphis from that far to do stuff, though it might be an option. Anyone know anything about staying in Germantown (I've always loved staying in Hyatt's...same for the one on Primacy Parkway)?

I definitely will keep a list of all the places mentioned. I also think I might go to Overton Square and try the Bayou Grill is it? (I had originally planned to go to New Orleans, but I have family in Memphis I've not seen in a very long time so Memphis kinda trumped it). So if there's any kinda cajun places in Memphis too, that would be nice. (Thought about also eating at Restaurant Iris.)

So for the most part I'm looking to stay relatively cheap with a high cost on food and doing things around town and seeing family. Like I mentioned, thinking about the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Southaven, thinking about maybe staying in Tunica, and of course somewhere downtown or East Memphis. I'm considering the Holiday Inn @ University of Memphis as well...and definitely would love a place to spend Saturday to watch Memphis beat Cincinnati (Go Tigers Go!)

I have to disagree with the Wolfchase area not being safe....sorry 21-17 (that is really weird calling you that...LOL ). But that's just my opinion....I think it's safer than downtown.

Edit: Germantown is also safe in my opinion.

Downtown is the safest precinct in Memphis by crime statistics. I've worked down there, you know, since I was a wee one (45 years) and spent a whole lot of weekends down there for about ten years now. People really watch out for each other and the neighborhoods are very close knit. It is definitely safer than Midtown. There is a huge police presence downtown, esp. on the weekends. Murders do happen anywhere in Memphis from Collierville to Downtown, though. There is also quite a bit of crime in the Poplar corridor of East Memphis.

I got curious as to the actual crime statistics in different areas of town, so I went to the Memphis Daily News Crime Report, and looked at crimes since January of this year. Downtown, except for the public housing projects and Beale St., has very few crimes. Midtown has more, esp. robberies of individuals and aggravated assaults, and the area around Wolfchase Mall has equal to Midtown, with a whole lot of residential burglaries, in particular.

It's quite interesting, and sobering, to be able to see all crime reports on one map. There have been a lot of car break-ins in my neighborhood lately, about 10 within a half a mile of my home.

(08-11-2014 01:57 AM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote: [ -> ]I got curious as to the actual crime statistics in different areas of town, so I went to the Memphis Daily News Crime Report, and looked a crimes since January of this year. Downtown, except for the public housing projects and Beale St., has very few crimes. Midtown has more, esp. robberies of individuals and aggravated assaults, and the area around Wolfchase Mall has equal to Midtown, with a whole lot of residential burglaries, in particular.

It's quite interesting, and sobering, to be able to see all crime reports on one map. There have been a lot of car break-ins in my neighborhood lately, about 10 within a half a mile of my home.

Not really a good comparison. Midtown is large and includes areas like binghampton, hyde park, etc.

Might as well include Mallory Avenue and the states in your downtown stats (south memphis).

(08-09-2014 02:52 AM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-08-2014 08:44 PM)TylerTiger Wrote: [ -> ]All the information excellent! Trying to get a beat on kinda the general vibe, but it seems that I should keep away from the Wolfchase area. I think the main issue will be just trying to find the right hotel at the right price because I'm trying to keep it around $150 or less, just to save some money (though definitely considering Hampton Inn around Beale or the Residence Inn). But I also guess Beale after 11 gets bad (or just the area in general?) I was looking at maybe staying in Southaven as well. I've often been to Tunica, but I really didn't want to commute into Memphis from that far to do stuff, though it might be an option. Anyone know anything about staying in Germantown (I've always loved staying in Hyatt's...same for the one on Primacy Parkway)?


I definitely will keep a list of all the places mentioned. I also think I might go to Overton Square and try the Bayou Grill is it? (I had originally planned to go to New Orleans, but I have family in Memphis I've not seen in a very long time so Memphis kinda trumped it). So if there's any kinda cajun places in Memphis too, that would be nice. (Thought about also eating at Restaurant Iris.)

So for the most part I'm looking to stay relatively cheap with a high cost on food and doing things around town and seeing family. Like I mentioned, thinking about the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Southaven, thinking about maybe staying in Tunica, and of course somewhere downtown or East Memphis. I'm considering the Holiday Inn @ University of Memphis as well...and definitely would love a place to spend Saturday to watch Memphis beat Cincinnati (Go Tigers Go!)

Point by point: I would recommend the Hampton Downtown or the Holiday Inn-U of M on Central, or the other hotels downtown, more toward the Core. The trolleys aren't currently running, so getting back up to the Uptown area where the Sheraton and Crown Plaza are, on foot at night, is NOT advised. Wolfchase is too far away, too much traffic, not the best area; Southaven is too far. Germantown Road is far if you are going to be going Downtown and to Midtown, and lots of traffic. A commute from Tunica every day is too far. You will spend all your time on the road. I would definitely recommend staying downtown so you can walk and not worry about parking and won't be driving in Memphis after drinking.

I don't recommend Beale after 11:00, particularly on weekends. The atmosphere and crowd changes, but there are tons of other restaurants and bars downtown (200) and things to do until the wee hours of the morning. It's just Beale St. that gets a bit intense, although the later you are out, the less safe any area is. There are many places that serve food late night, some until 3:00 a.m. (Westy's, Blue Monkey, most of the restaurants in South Main, Blues City on the corner of Beale, and many more). You won't get bored Downtown even if you aren't on Beale late. Raiford's and Ernestine and Hazel's are just getting started at 11:00.

Also, I would not recommend having anything to drink and traversing this city all the way to Wolfchase or Germantown or even East Memphis. Memphis Police are everywhere and trolling for DUI drivers. Not worth the risk.

You can watch the Tigers at Max's Bar in South Main, Brookhaven Pub or Fox and Hound in East Memphis, Central BBQ on Summer, or most restaurants downtown, including the Flying Saucer, which has about 80 or more beers. Those are particular Tiger hangouts.

Restaurant Iris is a great idea. For Cajun, the Bayou in Overton Square would not be my first choice. Johnny G's Creole on Beale is excellent and casual. Memphis does not have abundant Cajun restaurants. I would also highly recommend Owen Brennan's for New Orleans food out in East Memphis, and Pearl's Oyster Bar downtown for great oysters and New Orleans-Mississippi style seafood. The Half Shell in East Memphis also has good seafood, and the Cove on Broad Street has excellent oysters and atmosphere. The iconic Belmont, just across the railroad tracks from the Half Shell, has the best hamburger in town and a cool old atmosphere.

Just take Uber or Lyft - much better than driving+drinking and super cheap compared to a cab.

Another cajun restaurant not mentioned ( I can't read every line of this thread...) was DeJaVu on North Main.

Some of the best New Orleans / Cajun / Creole food in Memphis.

Go git you some gator...

(08-08-2014 09:09 PM)memp600 Wrote: [ -> ]If you haven't been to Memphis since '06 you won't regconize Overton Square. It's been completely revamped.

LOL at those folks that live around the Square with no driveway to their homes.

Just get off work on a Friday...can't park in front of your own damn house.

(08-08-2014 08:44 PM)TylerTiger Wrote: [ -> ]All the information excellent! Trying to get a beat on kinda the general vibe, but it seems that I should keep away from the Wolfchase area. I think the main issue will be just trying to find the right hotel at the right price because I'm trying to keep it around $150 or less, just to save some money (though definitely considering Hampton Inn around Beale or the Residence Inn). But I also guess Beale after 11 gets bad (or just the area in general?) I was looking at maybe staying in Southaven as well. I've often been to Tunica, but I really didn't want to commute into Memphis from that far to do stuff, though it might be an option. Anyone know anything about staying in Germantown (I've always loved staying in Hyatt's...same for the one on Primacy Parkway)?

I definitely will keep a list of all the places mentioned. I also think I might go to Overton Square and try the Bayou Grill is it? (I had originally planned to go to New Orleans, but I have family in Memphis I've not seen in a very long time so Memphis kinda trumped it). So if there's any kinda cajun places in Memphis too, that would be nice. (Thought about also eating at Restaurant Iris.)

So for the most part I'm looking to stay relatively cheap with a high cost on food and doing things around town and seeing family. Like I mentioned, thinking about the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Southaven, thinking about maybe staying in Tunica, and of course somewhere downtown or East Memphis. I'm considering the Holiday Inn @ University of Memphis as well...and definitely would love a place to spend Saturday to watch Memphis beat Cincinnati (Go Tigers Go!)

As others have said, stay in the downtown area, midtown, or east memphis for hotels. Anything else (wolfchase, germantown, southaven) puts you way outside of the entertainment districts. You can find rooms in all of those areas for $150/night or under. It won't be the caliber of the Madison or Westin, but will be perfectly fine.

If you are interested in eating at Restaurant Iris, make a reservation NOW. I tried last night to book dinner for 2 there mid-October for my 40th birthday, and they're all booked up on the weekends.

For other cajun options, skip Bayou & go to The Second Line, which is right next door to Iris, and is owned & operated by the same chef, Kelly English (Second Line & Iris actually share the same kitchen). Bayou is fine for grabbing a beer & a quick bite, but Second Line is superior in every way. You won't find jambalaya there, but you won't care.

They have the BEST po'boys in town, hands down....and get the spinach madelaine for your side. YUM.
http://www.secondlinememphis.com/menu/

(08-11-2014 12:02 PM)poppaslaw Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-08-2014 09:09 PM)memp600 Wrote: [ -> ]If you haven't been to Memphis since '06 you won't regconize Overton Square. It's been completely revamped.

LOL at those folks that live around the Square with no driveway to their homes.

Just get off work on a Friday...can't park in front of your own damn house.

the price you pay to live in a hopping area. Cooper-Young residents can show them how to deal with it.

(08-09-2014 07:52 AM)TigerBill Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-09-2014 07:46 AM)Trapper John Wrote: [ -> ]A lot of great ideas already. I would add that we've stayed at the Doubletree on Poplar at Mendenhall / Sanderlin for a stay-cation and loved the area. You can walk to some great restaurants like Interim, The Half Shell, Belmont, Hog & Hominy, and Petra, you can walk to Brookhaven Pub to watch the game, and you can walk across the parking lot to Muddy's bakery for the best cupcakes in the world. There's also a Whole Foods in the same parking lot for in-room supplies. Plus, you're a straight shot down Poplar from Overton Park and Overton Square. The food and bar scene in Overton Square and Cooper Young is heads and shoulders above downtown at this point.

If you're going to eat at Hog N Hominy, the turnip greens are uniquely delicious. Pricey, but great.

I should not be reading this thread around lunchtime. Now I want H&H for lunch.

(08-11-2014 12:15 PM)tigergreen Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-08-2014 08:44 PM)TylerTiger Wrote: [ -> ]All the information excellent! Trying to get a beat on kinda the general vibe, but it seems that I should keep away from the Wolfchase area. I think the main issue will be just trying to find the right hotel at the right price because I'm trying to keep it around $150 or less, just to save some money (though definitely considering Hampton Inn around Beale or the Residence Inn). But I also guess Beale after 11 gets bad (or just the area in general?) I was looking at maybe staying in Southaven as well. I've often been to Tunica, but I really didn't want to commute into Memphis from that far to do stuff, though it might be an option. Anyone know anything about staying in Germantown (I've always loved staying in Hyatt's...same for the one on Primacy Parkway)?

I definitely will keep a list of all the places mentioned. I also think I might go to Overton Square and try the Bayou Grill is it? (I had originally planned to go to New Orleans, but I have family in Memphis I've not seen in a very long time so Memphis kinda trumped it). So if there's any kinda cajun places in Memphis too, that would be nice. (Thought about also eating at Restaurant Iris.)

So for the most part I'm looking to stay relatively cheap with a high cost on food and doing things around town and seeing family. Like I mentioned, thinking about the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Southaven, thinking about maybe staying in Tunica, and of course somewhere downtown or East Memphis. I'm considering the Holiday Inn @ University of Memphis as well...and definitely would love a place to spend Saturday to watch Memphis beat Cincinnati (Go Tigers Go!)

As others have said, stay in the downtown area, midtown, or east memphis for hotels. Anything else (wolfchase, germantown, southaven) puts you way outside of the entertainment districts. You can find rooms in all of those areas for $150/night or under. It won't be the caliber of the Madison or Westin, but will be perfectly fine.

If you are interested in eating at Restaurant Iris, make a reservation NOW. I tried last night to book dinner for 2 there mid-October for my 40th birthday, and they're all booked up on the weekends.

For other cajun options, skip Bayou & go to The Second Line, which is right next door to Iris, and is owned & operated by the same chef, Kelly English (Second Line & Iris actually share the same kitchen). Bayou is fine for grabbing a beer & a quick bite, but Second Line is superior in every way. You won't find jambalaya there, but you won't care.

They have the BEST po'boys in town, hands down....and get the spinach madelaine for your side. YUM.
http://www.secondlinememphis.com/menu/

Great advice. Now I want to go to the Second Line.

(08-11-2014 08:37 AM)tiger2000 Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-11-2014 01:57 AM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote: [ -> ]I got curious as to the actual crime statistics in different areas of town, so I went to the Memphis Daily News Crime Report, and looked a crimes since January of this year. Downtown, except for the public housing projects and Beale St., has very few crimes. Midtown has more, esp. robberies of individuals and aggravated assaults, and the area around Wolfchase Mall has equal to Midtown, with a whole lot of residential burglaries, in particular.

It's quite interesting, and sobering, to be able to see all crime reports on one map. There have been a lot of car break-ins in my neighborhood lately, about 10 within a half a mile of my home.

Not really a good comparison. Midtown is large and includes areas like binghampton, hyde park, etc.

Might as well include Mallory Avenue and the states in your downtown stats (south memphis).

I was very careful to exclude from my comparison not only the projects in Downtown but all areas to the south of Crump and "state" streets, i.e. South Memphis. I only included the areas downtown where someone visiting it for an event or dining might go, north of Crump and not much past Uptown.

I also did not include in the Midtown stats the areas of Binghamton, Tillman, or south of Central.

I know these areas well from my past social worker experience.

I think it is a very valid comparison because crime on Beale, in the projects and in areas like Tillman/Red Oaks tends to stay there. And like I said, Downtown has a much bigger police presence than Midtown.

(08-11-2014 12:02 PM)poppaslaw Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-08-2014 09:09 PM)memp600 Wrote: [ -> ]If you haven't been to Memphis since '06 you won't regconize Overton Square. It's been completely revamped.

LOL at those folks that live around the Square with no driveway to their homes.

Just get off work on a Friday...can't park in front of your own damn house.

I dealt with the same thing for years living by the UofM. It was always worse when the school year started - a few notes on cars and it would clear up. New frosh were typically the worst offenders.

Guess my point is you kind of get used to it.

I think there's a Days Inn, Comfort Inn and Residence Inn on Court Square downtown. I stayed at one of those during the Basketball tourney and it was great. No problemo's at all and reasonable rates.
21-17 best time ever<------did you right in the recommend department. Hope you have a great visit.

I ended up choosing to commute into Memphis from Tunica due to two reasons: 1) I ended up getting three nights compt to stay there (plus free play money and discount on food). 2) The car I'll be taking gets about 40MPG so I won't really feel the squeeze all that much. I already made a reservation at Restaurant Iris that night (Oct 2). Now just kinda making plans around that for the most part. Certainly trying to choose either to go to Rendezvous or Central (maybe both). I'll make it down to Beale Street as well and the new landing (I think I want to try South of Beale). Probably going to head over to the Memphis Zoo and Pink Palace...definitely will hang around Overton Square while waiting on my reservation at Restaurant Iris (I am thinking about doing the five course tasting). Thinking about Hog and Hominy as well, at some point. Anyone have any reviews on Flight down on S. Main? (I'll also have to stop in at Flying Saucer. We have one here in Columbia, SC. And at BB King's Blues Club.)

But a little interest in the better areas to shop (or places).

(08-13-2014 05:24 AM)TylerTiger Wrote: [ -> ]I ended up choosing to commute into Memphis from Tunica due to two reasons: 1) I ended up getting three nights compt to stay there (plus free play money and discount on food). 2) The car I'll be taking gets about 40MPG so I won't really feel the squeeze all that much. I already made a reservation at Restaurant Iris that night (Oct 2). Now just kinda making plans around that for the most part. Certainly trying to choose either to go to Rendezvous or Central (maybe both). I'll make it down to Beale Street as well and the new landing (I think I want to try South of Beale). Probably going to head over to the Memphis Zoo and Pink Palace...definitely will hang around Overton Square while waiting on my reservation at Restaurant Iris (I am thinking about doing the five course tasting). Thinking about Hog and Hominy as well, at some point. Anyone have any reviews on Flight down on S. Main? (I'll also have to stop in at Flying Saucer. We have one here in Columbia, SC. And at BB King's Blues Club.)

But a little interest in the better areas to shop (or places).

Those are excellent plans. I'm not a fan of rendezvous but the atmosphere is something everyone should experience. If you want good wet ribs, sneak over to blues city cafe on beale and order a rack.


Grab a beer @ Local while waiting on your Iris reservations. You may also want to consider Iris's sister restaurant next door Second Line for lunch or brunch one day - different food (Cajun) and no reservations (although it can get very crowded). If they have the buttermilk hushpuppies appetizer, get it (it comes and goes on the menu).

Regarding the 5 course tasting at Iris - you won't be disappointed.

Flight - I recommend the meat flight (the chocolate bison is amazing) with an appropriately paired wine or bourbon flight.

If parking on the square sucks, use the parking garage. The process is - park, take a picture of your license plate, go to the machine and put in cash or credit card and enter your plate #. Cost is $3.00 - it's free if you are in and out before 6 PM

Have fun.