Memphis

Sunrise Memphis is a colorful diner serving up delicious southern breakfast dishes with generous portions.   Got the "King Biscuit" - fried chicken, ham, egg on a biscuit smothered in sausage gravy.  So good, hope to get back there someday.

 The National Civil Rights Museum exceeded expectations.  The galleries follow a chronological flow.  Unlike most historic museums where you must read everything, the recency of events allows for videos.  Highlights:  The actual Rosa Parks bus, the Freedom Riders bus, and MLKs room at the Lorraine motel.

Taste of downtown memphis food tour was a great way to sample local favorites:  Blues City and Central Barbeque, Memphis Gumbo, and a famous cheeseburger.  On top of the food, this was a great historic walking tour.  The guides (a father/daughter team) have tremendous pride in the city they love and they have lots of stories to tell.

Rum Boogie Cafe is located on Beale St.  Guitars hang from the ceiling and over 200 autographed guitars (all the greats).  This is home to award winning Gumbo (different than NOLA Gumbo).  Fun old place established in 1895.  Picture above is not Rum Boogie, Lorraine Motel again.

Sun Studio Tour is amazing.  Only about 30 minutes but covers an incredible amount of music history.  This is where BB King, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins got their start.   Blues, Rock and Roll, and Country collide.   Hear actual recordings, see where Elvis recorded his first hit.

BB King's Blues Club is a live music venue with good food and drink.  We stopped in for a drink and the band was so good we stayed a couple hours. Lots of Motown covers, Stevie Wonder, Temptations, Jackson 5, etc.  Had Gumbo and Catfish Po Boy.  Great time.

Hampline Brewing Company has a great selection.  Enjoyed the IPAs, especially the double called Tandem Pilot.  Also had a good Bock and Quad.  Popular place, families with small children getting together (we actually like this).

High Cotton Brewery was a friendly neighborhood type taproom, people walked there with their dog.  They had 10 beers on tap, I had two flights, 8 different beers, Kristi had a different one and the bartender gave me a sample of the other, all were very good.   Highlighted by a Scottish Ale, Rye IPA, and Weizenbock (an underrated beer).

Arcade is the oldest restaurant in Memphis.  Greek revival architecture and 50's diner inside (faded boomerang table tops and lots of chrome).   Elvis sat in the back booth and ate fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches.   I got "Eggs Redneck"  and Kristi got the French Toast "made the Arcade way" which is deep fried with powdered sugar, like a french toast beignet.  All very good and filling.

Graceland was more than a house tour.  Elvis had a stunning collection of cars.  Multiple Caddy's of course (purple and pink), Lincolns, Rolls Royces, Dune Buggies, etc.   He also had two airplanes you can walk through. We paid extra for "Entourage VIP" tickets to get some extras and to skip the line at the mansion, probably worth it.  

Silky O'Sullivan's is a dualing piano bar with a large courtyard.  Our tour guide called it a "Redneck Pat O'Brien's".  I think they would be proud of that description.  It is loud, fun, rowdy.  Good beer selection (couple local IPAs) and food.  Enjoyed the Gumbo and BBQ sampler.