Memphis is the City of Blues, Elvis, Hot Chicken, and More
Table of Contents
Story and photos by Scott Kendall
Memphis has long attracted visitors from throughout the US and the world. Known as the home of blues and the birthplace of rock and roll, it is also the melting pot for other genres of music including soul, jazz, and country. Beale Street is at the epicenter of musical activity, with great restaurants, shops, and museums interspersed among the live music venues.
Memphis has featured musical legends like like BB King, Isaac Hayes, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Booker T and the MGs. Add in great shops, food, museums, and sports teams, and you have something for everyone.
A recent addition to the revitalized South Main Street, Arrive Hotel is a great place to stay when visiting Memphis. Within easy walking distance are the Civil Rights Museum, Arcade Restaurant, Central BBQ, and Bishop Restaurant. It even has a trolley car stop outside its front door.
Arrive Hotel is located in an older historic building and has been renovated with all the modern conveniences to make your stay fantastic. Start your morning with a cup of coffee from Vice & Virtue and a bite to eat from the in-house bakery, Hustle and Dough. The decor is lively, the staff is friendly, the beds are comfortable, and the location is perfect. We were very pleased with our accommodations at Arrive Memphis
477 S. Main Street
The Civil Rights Museum located in the old Lorraine Motel chronicles the fight for civil rights through the years. A plaque marks the spot where civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in 1968. Outside Room 306, a red and white wreath commemorates the spot on the balcony where King was shot that fateful night at the Lorraine Motel.
A multi-million dollar project resulted in a riveting presentation of the Civil Rights movement. Stories, photos, videos, exhibitions, artifacts, and special events all combine to tell the story of the fight for the rights of all Americans.
As the museum’s website summarizes, the museum presents the history behind the movement: “Slavery. Separate but equal. Boycotts. Assassinations. Black power. This is the history of the uprising that pushed national and international civil rights forward.” The Civil Rights Museum in Memphis provides a moving experience to help people from all walks of life have a better understanding of this important movement in our nation’s country.
450 Mulberry St.
Sun Studio will forever be remembered as the “birthplace of rock and roll.” In this studio in the mid 1950s, pioneering producer Sam Phillips recorded some of the earliest musicians bringing a new sound to the people.
From Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Booker T and the MGs, Roy Orbison, Ike Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sun Studios was the incubator for artists who paved the path for rock and roll, blues, gospel, and country musicians.
706 Union Avenue
Back in the 1930s, a manager at The Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis and his hunting buddy thought it would be funny to place their live decoy ducks in the fountain of the main lobby. The ducks made themselves a home, circling the beautiful travertine fountain and entertaining guests.
A tradition was started, and now the Duck Master presides over two duck marches each day. At 11 am, the ducks come down the elevator from their rooftop home and march across the red carpet to the fountain. Then, at 5 pm each evening, the five Mallard ducks reverse course, and march back to the elevators and up to the Duck Palace on the rooftop.
149 Union Avenue
Who doesn’t like to spend a few hours at the zoo?
Most people love to wander through the big cats, playful monkeys, giant elephants, and cute meerkats. The Memphis Zoo does a wonderful job of combining intriguing animals, enticing landscapes, Egyptian architecture, and a schedule of interesting interactive events to entertain families for hours on end.
Activities like Grizzly Feedings, Polar Bear Chat, Penguin Feedings, and the Sea Lion Shows provide constant entertainment throughout the day. The expansive grounds can accommodate a large number of folks without being uncomfortably crowded.
2000 Prentiss Place
Arcade Restaurant is recognized as the oldest cafe in Memphis. Elvis used to come here for peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and they have some of the best sweet potato pancakes around.
Since it’s humble beginning in 1919 through several reincarnations, the Arcade has withstood booms and busts in south Memphis. In addition to great home cooking, the Arcade Restaurant has quite a collection of memorabilia hanging on its walls and available in the gift shop.
540 South Main Street
Although best known for barbecue, soul food, and fried chicken, Memphis does have some great fine dining restaurants. Bishop, located on South Main in the Central Station Hotel, is a popular new French Restaurant just blocks from the Arrive Hotel.
The casual elegance of the restaurant and a nice variety of dishes give diners a pleasant place to relax and unwind. Guests can choose from entrees like Trout in a Champagne sauce, fork tender filets, and the delicious Bishop Burger. I tried the Chef’s Special, a savory Beef Bourguignon cooked in wine with flavorful carrots, mushrooms, and turnips served over homemade mashed potatoes. I finished my night with a dessert of Pot de Creme, a sinful combination of banana foster, toffee, and banana crisps.
South Main at G. E. Patterson
There are many great barbecue joints in Memphis, and Central BBQ is one of the best. We ate at the South Memphis location on Butler Street across from the Civil Rights Museum, just a few blocks from the Arrive Hotel.
With so many great meats and sides to choose from, you can’t go wrong with the dry rubbed ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, smoked turkey, and sausage. Sides include potato salad, beans, greens, macaroni and cheese, and more.
We chose the ribs, which are marinated overnight and slow smoked. For sides, we got the greens, macaroni and cheese, and a roll. The ribs were oh so tender and tasty, full of flavor.
On the dessert menu, the five layer chocolate cake and the homemade banana pudding caught our eye, but we were so full we couldn’t eat another bite. Next time.
147 E. Butler Street
You really can’t leave Memphis without trying their world famous fried chicken. And what better place to try than Gus’s Fried Chicken. Following the Bonner family recipe since 1953, Gus’s Fried Chicken has expanded to over 30 locations in the US. Each restaurant is proud to maintain the same quality and flavor that has withstood the test of time.
I tried the plate that included two breasts and sides of greens and macaroni and cheese. Other sides include fries, potato salad, coleslaw, fried rice, and baked bean. The chicken was delicious – moist and tender with a spicy crust, perfectly deep fried to a golden brown.
Had I more room in my full belly, I would have tried one of their delicious desserts. Although choosing from the Pecan, Chess, Sweet Potato, or Coconut Pie would be difficult – they all looked so tempting!
310 S. Front Street
Scott Kendall is the Founder, Editor, and frequent contributor to PlayStayEat. He is a former Navy Officer, teacher and tennis coach who is an avid traveler and writer. Scott has traveled extensively throughout the United States and overseas to Italy, France, England, Croatia, Slovenia, and others. In addition to his contributions to PlayStayEat, much of his published work can be seen at scottkendalltravels.com.