Memphis

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Beale street, Memphis

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

  1. tiltedflipcurves avatar
    RE: South East North (but not West) America Road Trip

    by tiltedflipcurves 13 September 2011

    Yes, there's plenty to see, eat, and drink in the Nashville-Cincinatti area over 5 days without detouring as far as Memphis or St. Louis…
  2. mrpenney avatar
    RE: South East North (but not West) America Road Trip

    by mrpenney 13 September 2011

    >Not to beat around the bush we like drinking, sport, eating & banter. Keep in mind that here in the land where we call it "sports,"…
  3. vesperon avatar
    gyza pyramids: how does it work

    by vesperon 10 September 2011

    We plan to visit Gizah one afternoon (after Saqquarah + Memphis) and going back the following morning. 1) should one ticket be valid…

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