Memphis Recap 2 of 2: The Sights and Sounds

After arriving in Memphis on Saturday and eating at Corky's we headed to check in to our economy hotel--the Downtown Red Roof Inn. Right we got there it started pouring rain.


We entered our room, and we noticed something a bit odd. The lamp was leaking.

Turns out, the ceiling was leaking on to the lamp, and in a few other places. So they gave us a new room. This one had duct tape on a mattress and a toilet that had flushing issues. But it was definitely a good thing that it didn't start raining after we had already left for the night.

We headed out to Sun Records Studio, where Elvis, Johnny Cash and others got their start.


We went on the full tour that included the actual recording room and the microphone head that was used by every artist at Sun during the 50's.


From there it was off to Beale Street, three blocks closed to cars where open containers are allowed. Here the three of us stand in all our glory:


Including a beer garden where we played some of our many games of euchre:


And BB Kings, where we saw their All-Star House Band play:

From there we made our way to Pat O'Brians, home of the New Orleans hurricane and dueling piano bar. Also, Matt apparently thought it was called Peggy O'Flatterys.



Still on Saturday night on Beale St we saw Richard Johnston, a one man band playing a guitar he built out of a cigar box, singing, and playing 4 drums with just his feet.

At this point we headed to Blues City cafe to conclude our Saturday Night. Sunday morning we woke up and went directly to Graceland.

They converted his racquetball court into another room to hold all his gold records.


After Graceland, Matt and Niraj got some chicken strips at Checkers, and I got ribs at Neely's. Then we headed to the National Civil Rights Museum. There you can see the site where MLK Jr was assassinated.


In fact, you get to look into the motel room he was staying in, as they built the museum around the Lorraine Motel.

Unfortunately they didn't allow cameras and they closed an hour after we got there. But I was glad we made it.

From there it was on to Autozone Park to watch the Memphis Redbirds take on the Nashville Sounds. The Redbirds are the AAA-affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. We saw Anthony Reyes make his third start for Memphis this season. He pitched a season-high six innings, allowing only two hits and one run while recording six strikeouts and added a home run to help his cause. Outfield grass tickets were 6 bucks.


After that we got ribs at Rum Boogie and finished off the night at Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, sampling some of ther 75 beers on tap.

And then all that was left was the long drive back.


We jammed a lot into two days in Memphis and the trip was well worth it.