Introducing Memphis
Modern-day Memphis stakes its identity on two things: musical history and BBQ pork. It delivers marvelously on both. The slick downtown area bustles with pilgrims who come to worship at the altars of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Howlin’ Wolf and Isaac Hayes, to name just a few. While they’re here, they can’t help but stray from kosher living and indulge their inner love of slow-cooked swine. Some make a circuit, taste-testing dry versus wet, rib versus pulled.
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Between sated bellies and musical dreams realized, it’s easy to forget that Memphis is also a sprawling, struggling American city. Wander outside of the center and the rough and tumble reality of trying to make a living in the Mid-South becomes apparent. Radically different neighborhoods interlock: refurbished mansions sit near tumbledown shotgun shacks, college campuses lie in the middle of odd warehouse districts. So whether you are here to tour Elvis’ mint caddie collection or ferret out the liveliest dive bar, embrace Memphis with all of its glitz and grit.
Last updated: Sep 21, 2008
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Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Re: Washington DC to Memphis
by nicolas500 28 May 2012
Many thanks for all of the responses; very helpful indeed. We visited Asheville a few years ago but it would be nice to head back that…
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RE: Washington DC to Memphis
by Anonimo 28 May 2012
>Also, for me, no trip to Memphis is complete without a meal at Central BBQ. It's not far from Overton Park, in Midtown. Our favorite…
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RE: Washington DC to Memphis
by arkansawyer7 28 May 2012
I'm going to have to agree with Anonimo and VinnyD in saying that eastern Arkansas is pretty much a wasteland. My hometown of Little Rock…
