City in Review Memphis TN

Memphis, TN

As many cities Memphis has it's ups and downs. It has a ton of culture and if you like the Blues and jazz you can't miss this experience. Memphis has just about everything. Beal street is a constant party. Memphis has some of the best night life and dining of anywhere. I had a good experience at all restaurants I visited in the city. There were so many of them I wasn't able to sample all but I can give you a few pointers of the best ones I did visit.

Dining

My favorite was Cafe 61 a fusion spot the chicken melts in your mouth. Service was excellent. It's hip young atmosphere is a blast. Down the street on the corner of 2nd and Beale is Blues City Cafe. This gem is a fixture at the beginning of the busy Beale. They do the Memphis rib reputation a one up. Another hot BBQ spot is the Famous Corky's. It lived up to its billing as the best BBQ in the world. It just doesn't get any better. If you're into Japanese then there are two great spots in Memphis. Blue Fin another hip fusion spot decorated with tons of Modern art fixtures and neon lights, very reminiscent of a Hip Tokyo sushi bar. They serve more then sushi, whatever you choose you cannot lose. They have a lot of creative recipes to choose from. The other Hibachi grill is Sekisui they also have a sushi bar which I recommend the Japanese snapper. The show was not great but he did have a few good knife tricks. Not enough to get me excited though. A couple of cool bars I had the opportunity to go to where one, Sleep out Louie's a cozy little bar on Union. It was great place to unwind and the local bunch are quite witty. If you are looking for a good conversation you can find it there. Beale Street tap room offers cool Blues bands on an outdoor patio to sit down have your big ass beer and jam to some sweet blues. There is a ton of live music in Memphis I wasn't able to see it all but don't worry you'll find a good time. French dining try Chez Philippe for Goût de la France. This is a top notch French restaurant inside the Peabody Hotel.

Neighborhoods

One has to be careful in Memphis this city has one of the highest crime rates in the US. So use caution. The best areas are Downtown riverfront and Midtown. Midtown is a mixed crowd of some of the artistic types. There are plenty of great cafes shops and bars in this neighborhood. You can find Corkys' there and a Sekisui. A mix of Korean and Vietnamese with plenty of specialty shops. One of my favorite places which I rode my bike almost everyday was the riverfront. Memphis has some great parks including Meeman Shelby State park north of the city which offers some excellent biking and hiking. There is also a lake for a good quite day of fishing. The river front park is a class A park. It is the definition of walk in the park. It's worth a trip to Memphis just to experience the sunset by the river with a loved one. A romantic walk or sit on the bench. Bike riders it is a rush to ride the river walk.

Arts and Culture.

As I mentioned previously Memphis has tons of culture. The city is rich with history from the cotton trade to civil rights. Mud island and the cotton exchange are a must see. Mud Island tells of the history of the Mississippi river. A true gem for any history buff. Memphis has plenty of small theatres with plays running constantly. I wasn't able to see any while I was there but if you get a chance to check some out there are plenty to choose from. Another place to make a stop is the Gibson store just south of Beale. It's a fantasy for any Musician or enthusiast. Grace land one of Memphis' biggest attractions was a big disappointment in my opinion. It is located in one of the worst areas of the city. I'd recommend staying away. Beale street lives up to it's billing the park often has concerts with Blues and jazz. Take a stop at the park on your way down Beale

People

Southern hospitality seems a bit lost in Memphis though for the most part the people are friendly. This city has tons of crime. Thieves are around every corner so keep a tight watch on your money. For the most part Midtown and Downtown areas are well patrolled by Police and relatively crime free. But be careful. Be ready to be panhandled every five minuets.

All in all Memphis is a place to see it's worth the trip there are tons of places to see. Life is laid back there and there are plenty of arts culture fine dining and some great scenery. I give Memphis 7 out of 10. I'm not sure I'd pick up and move there but I do think it's a great place to visit. Many of the Northerners and southerners talked ill of the city most of them wishing they hadn't moved there. With the crime. Hopefully the city can turn that tread around in the near future but I wouldn't miss out on this great place just because of that. there is much to see and it ranks up there with many world class cities in my book.

Memphis TN 7 out of 10