Anyone know Memphis real well?

[Arlos]

I ask because I'm going to be there for a weekend in a bit under two weeks. I don't have a whole lot of time to see the sights, and I have zero interest in Graceland, but I was wondering if there were any spots that were MUST-sees. I am guessing Beale street down by the river, but anything else?

Also, I keep hearing about how Memphis is a major center for amazing BBQ. What's the best place in town to go to, if I'm only going to be able to go to 1, maybe 2 places? Just by looking on dar intarwebs, the place that looked the best is called Leonard's Pit BBQ, as it got 5 stars from local reviewers, has been in business since 1922, and the current owner started working there in 1962. So, they must be doing SOMETHING right. But, if anyone actually IS a local, I'd love to hear your take on where to go.

Thanks much!

-Arlos

[Evermore]

You MUST hit the Rendezvous and Jim Neely's Interstate bbq. They are both excellent and i speak from experience. Corki's is good too. I have not had the chance to eat there.

[Maeya]

Just be careful where you go. Memphis has turned into a real shithole from what I hear. Beale Street is mostly safe, but don't stray off of it. Ugzug has been spending a lot of time there lately for work, and he says the city is just corroding. I'll ask him for some good BBQ places, and the places to avoid.

[Arlos]

The Rendezvous is pretty close to the hotel I'm gonna be at, so that may well get put on the agenda for, say, Saturday dinner. For that one, as well as Interstate BBQ and Corky's, I've been reading several user comments on them suggesting they're not what they once were, and aren't as good as their rep. Suppose I'll see.

Thanks for that Maeya. The Leonard's BBQ Pit place is in east Memphis, so that worries me a bit. Interestingly, the place is apparently getting shown on the Food Network show, "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" on the 14th of this month, so I should get the chance to get a look at the place before I go, and see if I really want to hit it up. I'll look forward to Ugz's list too.

-Arlos

[Maeya]

Alright, this is the scoop I got from Ugzug. Now, this is just what he's gathered from going up there a bunch recently for work; talking to the people at St. Jude's, and listening to what they're saying about their town.

Basically Memphis is a run-down crime haven. The mayor of the town is extremely corrupt, and it's just fallen apart recently. It has the 2nd highest violent crime rate in the country, behind St. Louis. It's even higher than DC at this point. And I am not attempting to spark a racial debate, but the story from the Memphis natives is that he's basically racist against white folks and is determined to give the city to the blacks. He is pulling a bunch of shit, like heavily taxing the affluent areas (such as Germantown) to pay for his crap downtown, and has also declared that the city will no longer support the schools, that it's now the county's job. There was a bunch of other things he listed off, but I can't remember all of them. But basically the town has corroded and is very dangerous now to be in the wrong areas. And there are a lot of wrong areas. Ugzug didn't give me the specifics on which areas were bad, but when I asked him he said "everywhere."

The places to go in Memphis are Graceland (if you're into that), and Beale Street. Having never been to Graceland, he actually had a lot of positive things to say about Beale Street. He says you can look up more information at Bealestreet.com. He ate at the Rum Boogie Cafe, and said they had good BBQ and an excellent fried catfish. He says he is NOT a catfish person at all, but actually really, really enjoyed it, and highly recommends that you try it. He says the atmosphere of the restaurant is great too, and they have live music. It's a great place to grab a beer and some BBQ and listen to the band. Beale Street on Wednesdays is when the street really lights up. It's Bike Night, so up and down the street are motorcycles of all kinds. Bands play on the streets, and most restaurants have bands playing inside as well. He thinks there's a BB Kings and a Hardrock Cafe on Beale Street as well. He says you could probably spend a couple nights here trying out the different restaurants, cafes and clubs. He also stresses do not pass the police line around Beale Street, or you risk getting mugged and/or shot.

I've never been there myself, so all this is second/third hand, but Ugz definitely suggests you spend one, maybe two nights on Beale Street, and go on a Wednesday if you're able.

[Arlos]

Unfortunately, I'm really just going to be there over the weekend. I'm arriving at about 2:30 in the afternoon on Friday, and flying out again at about 10:30 am on Monday. So, my available time is pretty limited, and I have less than no interest in EVER going to Graceland. heh.

-Arlos

[araby]

the only time I spent in Memphis was the airport, and the most important thing I could think to do was buy Elvis memorabilia, the tackiest thing I could find.

[Drem]

lol @ this review

I waited 30 years to go see Graceland because I'm a true Elvis fan, I took my husband and 15 year old daughter. We paid for the VIP tour it was anything but VIP, then we were crunched into the foyer where the staff was yelling at the people not to take their vacation pictures, one of the staff women yelled at my 15 year old daughter to get in their, my daughter was at the back of the line i was in the middle. My daughter was still within the roped off area when this women started yelling at her. I paid over 2,000 for that trip to Memphis and i can say it was awful. I was so mad.The neighborhood was bad, we went thru down town Beal street and we packed up and left Memphis thats no place to be with a young daughter. I wish their reviews would have said " if you stay in Memphis and are apart of the Elvis tour we ask that you stay at the heart break hotel" At least at the heart break they have security. That was Easter and that will be the last that we will ever spend our money going to Graceland. YOu would think if they wanted Graceland to be like it was when Elvis was alive they would have protected the area that graceland is on, you have Taco Bell and car lots around the seedy area . Beware.

[Narrock]

I'd rather go to Nashville than Memphis. I heard there are lots of kick ass music stores there with hard-to-find guitars and such.