I’ve never been to Memphis before, and I can already tell that I need to come back. I even tried to convince my buddy in Nashville to get his ass down to Memphis instead of me heading up there, but it wasn’t an option. So I had a couple of hours at high noon to wander the town in the blazing heat, snap some photos and find a good local BBQ.
I had rolled into town for lunch, with great expectations of amazing BBQ. Unfortunately for me, I came on a Monday—and the highly recommended “Charles Vergo’s Rendezvous Charcoal Ribs” were closed. Tragedy struck! The door was open though, and the (intimidatingly large) man at the front suggested I try Blue City Cafe. But on the way there, a stranger who saw me come out of Rendezvous with a hung face offered another suggestion. Look for the sign that says “Pig with attitude” he says. I found it and went in—apparently well past the lunch rush, as the Pig was mostly empty. But I took my place at a table and ordered up some ribs.
As I tweeted after, while these were good, I’ve definitely had better. Which just made me want to stay in Memphis even more, determined to find some amazing BBQ. But as I’ve already said, I was getting a little on the anxious side to get to my destination. Plus, my buddy in Nashville (who wussed out on joining me in Memphis!) was expecting me there that night.
I’m gonna take a stab in the dark here, and guess that this town is off the hook at night. Just maybe.
I spent a couple of hours wandering, at first on the main drag, which is fabulously closed to street traffic.
Then I met Elvis. Nice man. Doesn’t talk much though.
Next I headed towards the National Civil Rights Museum, wandering through some pretty desolate parts of town along the way.
Interesting legacy in this city, of course.
Something tells me this limo doesn’t get too many calls anymore.
The balcony where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, at the Lorraine Motel, on April 4th, 1968. These cars represent the cars parked there when he was shot, waiting to take him to dinner. (They are not the original vehicles.)
From there, it was time to head back to the car, and hit the road for Nashville. I jumped the streetcar heading back the direction I came.
Everything in town was like this… empty, vacant, nearly deserted. I hope it was just because it was a Monday, and in the middle of the day. It’s a city rich with history, and I look forward to returning one day to properly enjoy the music, the food, the drink, and the people!