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I stole most of this off the Memphis boards, but added a couple of things myself. Hope ya'll have a good time, I'm jealous.

Weather: Next week will be a cooler, wetter beginning to March than we are accustomed to. The projected conditions are below:

1.Wednesday, Mar 12: Showers, 53°/36°; Chance of rain:40%, Wind: N at 14 mph
2.Thursday, Mar 13: Partly Cloudy, 46°/31°; Chance of rain: 10% Wind: NNW at 15 mph
3.Friday, Mar 14: Sunny, 53°/38°; Chance of rain: 0% Wind: S at 9 mph
4.Saturday, Mar 15: Partly Cloudy, 57/31°; Chance of rain: 0% Wind: W at 7 mph


Barbecue:
- Everyone wants to go to the Rendezvous (http://hogsfly.com/) but like other well known places, most Memphians consider it to be more for tourists than for us.
The three places within 5-6 miles of downtown are
- Central Barbecue (http://www.cbqmemphis.com) behind the National Civil Rights Museum - Downtown;
- The Barbecue Shop (http://www.dancingpigs.com) at 1762 Madison;
and just because it is close to the FedexForum:
- Blues City Cafe at 138 Beale.
Also,
- Cozy Corner - downtown 745 North Parkway - 901-527-9158 - http://www.cozycornerbbq.com - great ribs and barbeque cornish hens
Payne's Bar B-Q - midtown - 1762 Lamar Ave - 901-272-1523 - hole in the wall - one of the best chopped pork sandwiches in town, the bar b-que baloney is great also - both messy with a tangy mustard slaw - if you don't know the area, come for lunch

What to Do:
- Gamblers tend to want to go to Tunica, but Southland Park (http://www.southlandpark.com/) is just a 10 minute drive across the river in West Memphis, Arkansas, and, according to what I have heard, it has all the Machine Games and most of the table games.

For the Families:
- The Memphis Zoo (http://www.memphiszoo.org) is very highly rated and only 15 minutes from the Forum.
- The Children's Museum of Memphis (http://www.cmom.mom)


Gettin' likkered up...
- Overton Square (http://www.overtonsquare.com/eat-shop-enjoy/dining/) is just now being revived after 20 years of being ignored. A number of new places have opened up. For the microbrewery lover, check out Bosco's at 2120 Madison Avenue. Also a newer location is Bar Louie on the corner of Madison and Cooper just 50 yards away.

- Cooper Young District (http://cooperyoung.biz/night-out/). Just 2 - 3 miles from Overton Square, the District has a couple of really eclectic places. For the unusual try Alchemy Memphis (940 South Cooper Street). For the down and dirty, try Young Avenue Deli (2119 Young Avenue)

Bars/gastropubs:

- South of Beale - 361 S. Main (http://www.southofbeale.com/)
- Local - 95. S. Main (http://www.localgastropub.com/)
- Bargog Tavern - 73 Monroe Ave. (http://bardogtavern.com/)
- Ernestine & Hazel's (late night spot - don't miss the Soul Burger if you go!) E&H was once an old whorehouse, and still very much looks like a dive, but it's as true to an old school bar as you will EVER see. Make sure you play the jukebox.
- Madison Growler inside the Cash Saver grocery store - midtown - 1620 Madison Ave - only open M-Sat 12-8 - 30 tap craft beers plus a 96 foot cold beer box - best selection and prices in the city
-The Growler - midtown - 921 S Cooper - 901-410-8223 - http://www.thegrowlermemphis.com - 24 craft beer taps - pints, flights and growlers - credit cards only.
-Wisacre Brewery - midtown - 2783 Broad Ave - 901-888-7000 - http://www.wiseacrebrew.com - brewery tap room only open F 4-8 and Sat 1-8.
On Broad Ave, which has a few good places to eat and drink -
-Flying Saucer Draught Emporium - downtown - 130 Peabody Place - 901-523-8536 - http://www.beernurd.com - for those who are staying downtown and do not want to get in a car. Many of you will recognize this same bar from the one in Dallas.
- Mollie Fontaine Lounge - Vicotian Village on the edge of downtown - 679 Adams Ave - 901-524-1886 - http://www.molliefontainelounge.com - Wed thru Sat - old Victorina mansion with bar upstairs - more laid back, but kind of unique and a bit funky
-The Cove - midtown - 2559 Broad Ave - 901-730-0719 - great drinks, happy hour and good oysters and one of the best bartenders in town - Evan Potts
- Bari Ristorante e Enoteca - midtown - 22 S Cooper - 901-722-2244 - http://barimemphis.com - good (and expensive) Italian food, but the bar area has great drinks, good wines and one of the best bartenders in Memphis, Brad Pitts - more upscale and laid back - great for some wine, specialty drinks, cheese and salami - if you're going to grab a few bites at the bar, I recommend the Ostriche Crudo (oysters) and spaghetti alla carbonara.

Recommended Restaurants:
Upscale but worth the $, IMO:

- Flight (http://flightmemphis.com/)
- McEwens (http://mcewensmemphis.com/)
- Felicia Suzannes (http://www.feliciasuzanne.com/index.php)

Casual:
- Gus's Fried Chicken - lunch and dinner (http://gusfriedchicken.com/)
- Franks Deli - great sandwiches - 327 S Main St - Lunch - are they open late, too?

Additional:
- Graceland. It's a cliché, and I think a little overated, but if you have any interest in Elvis, go.
- Stax Museum. I don't know a whole lot about Stax, but I've heard good things. F
- National Civil Rights Museum. Practically next door to the Forum, it is definitely worth a look.
- Peabody Hotel and the Ducks. Of course, stay here if you can, but if not catch the ducks. Classic old style hotel and a Memphis landmark.
- Sun Studio. Downtown, not too far from the FedEx forum, and the list artists that recorded there is UNREAL.
- Beale Street - Touristy, but right next door to the forum (which is why they put the arena there in the first place, the smartest thing the city has done in decades) and the clubs are still owed by B.B. King and other actual blues legends. Very fun.

#25 SMU Basketball ‏@SMUBasketball 21m

In Memphis for the @American_MBB Tournament. First stop @Rendezvous_Ribs. #PonyUp pic.twitter.com/HZsPWa2NVP

Good list. I knocked off a few last weekend and plan on hitting a few more this week. Central BBQ and Cozy Corner were my favorites for food. Rendezvous is a cool place, but it's just not my thing I guess. The Forum being on Beale St is pretty cool. I didn't know it was so close. Definitely trouble for tourists. See y'all tomorrow night.

Ok, I grew up in Memphis so here's my advice:

Rendezvous - do it. It is worth the wait. Now, you Texans need to remember that real barbecue comes from a pig, not a cow... once you accept that you'll be embraced by the barbecue goodness that is Memphis.

If you're a bit more daring, go to Interstate Barbecue. Even better... in fact, probably the best in the area. The Neely family has been putting out great barbecue for as long as I can remember.

For your libations and beverages of an adult nature, do not fear Beale Street. Plenty of good spots to wet your whistle and tune up properly before or after a game. Hit Silky's with your group and have a Diver before the game... then put on your Smurf costume and cheer on the Mustangs.

Touristy and all, see the ducks at the Peabody if you haven't seen them before. It's just one of those things you're supposed to see in Memphis.

Do not go to Graceland... unless you're not old enough to remember the 70s. If you are, you've seen it before even if it wasn't in a grand old home that was ruined by that decade's poor taste.

Go to Gus's fried chicken. That is all.

RebStang wrote:Ok, I grew up in Memphis so here's my advice:

Rendezvous - do it. It is worth the wait. Now, you Texans need to remember that real barbecue comes from a pig, not a cow... once you accept that you'll be embraced by the barbecue goodness that is Memphis.

If you're a bit more daring, go to Interstate Barbecue. Even better... in fact, probably the best in the area. The Neely family has been putting out great barbecue for as long as I can remember.

For your libations and beverages of an adult nature, do not fear Beale Street. Plenty of good spots to wet your whistle and tune up properly before or after a game. Hit Silky's with your group and have a Diver before the game... then put on your Smurf costume and cheer on the Mustangs.

Touristy and all, see the ducks at the Peabody if you haven't seen them before. It's just one of those things you're supposed to see in Memphis.

Do not go to Graceland... unless you're not old enough to remember the 70s. If you are, you've seen it before even if it wasn't in a grand old home that was ruined by that decade's poor taste.

Adding a few notes here.

Rendezvous is owned by an SMU alum.

Interstate BBQ is awesome. Top 10 in the country. Other locations called Neely's are owned by the other half of the family and aren't as good as Interstate.

Harry0569 wrote:Go to Gus's fried chicken. That is all.

This.

Germantown Commissary (Even better BBQ)
Huey's (Best local burgers)
Erling Jensen (Best chef within 300 miles)
Folks Folly (Fabulous steaks, southern charm)

If we win Friday night, I am driving up early Saturday morning. Would love to meet PF's for beers before the game / buy a ticket off of someone.

The commissary in Germantown was unbelievably good. Went there after the smu football game last fall. Jealous of everyone going to Memphis, if we win thursday I might drive up and get a ticket with some buddies

CalallenStang wrote:

RebStang wrote:Ok, I grew up in Memphis so here's my advice:

Rendezvous - do it. It is worth the wait. Now, you Texans need to remember that real barbecue comes from a pig, not a cow... once you accept that you'll be embraced by the barbecue goodness that is Memphis.

If you're a bit more daring, go to Interstate Barbecue. Even better... in fact, probably the best in the area. The Neely family has been putting out great barbecue for as long as I can remember.

For your libations and beverages of an adult nature, do not fear Beale Street. Plenty of good spots to wet your whistle and tune up properly before or after a game. Hit Silky's with your group and have a Diver before the game... then put on your Smurf costume and cheer on the Mustangs.

Touristy and all, see the ducks at the Peabody if you haven't seen them before. It's just one of those things you're supposed to see in Memphis.

Do not go to Graceland... unless you're not old enough to remember the 70s. If you are, you've seen it before even if it wasn't in a grand old home that was ruined by that decade's poor taste.

Adding a few notes here.

Rendezvous is owned by an SMU alum.

Interstate BBQ is awesome. Top 10 in the country. Other locations called Neely's are owned by the other half of the family and aren't as good as Interstate.

I don't think any of Charlie Vergos' children went to SMU. Isn't the Rendezvous still owned by the Vergos family? I know it passed on to his 3 children when he passed.

diveonthefloor2014 wrote:Germantown Commissary (Even better BBQ)
Huey's (Best local burgers)
Erling Jensen (Best chef within 300 miles)
Folks Folly (Fabulous steaks, southern charm)

Excellent choices!


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RebStang wrote:

CalallenStang wrote:

RebStang wrote:Ok, I grew up in Memphis so here's my advice:

Rendezvous - do it. It is worth the wait. Now, you Texans need to remember that real barbecue comes from a pig, not a cow... once you accept that you'll be embraced by the barbecue goodness that is Memphis.

If you're a bit more daring, go to Interstate Barbecue. Even better... in fact, probably the best in the area. The Neely family has been putting out great barbecue for as long as I can remember.

For your libations and beverages of an adult nature, do not fear Beale Street. Plenty of good spots to wet your whistle and tune up properly before or after a game. Hit Silky's with your group and have a Diver before the game... then put on your Smurf costume and cheer on the Mustangs.

Touristy and all, see the ducks at the Peabody if you haven't seen them before. It's just one of those things you're supposed to see in Memphis.

Do not go to Graceland... unless you're not old enough to remember the 70s. If you are, you've seen it before even if it wasn't in a grand old home that was ruined by that decade's poor taste.

Adding a few notes here.

Rendezvous is owned by an SMU alum.

Interstate BBQ is awesome. Top 10 in the country. Other locations called Neely's are owned by the other half of the family and aren't as good as Interstate.

I don't think any of Charlie Vergos' children went to SMU. Isn't the Rendezvous still owned by the Vergos family? I know it passed on to his 3 children when he passed.

John Vergos went to SMU. Not sure about the others

diveonthefloor2014 wrote:Germantown Commissary (Even better BBQ)
Huey's (Best local burgers)
Erling Jensen (Best chef within 300 miles)
Folks Folly (Fabulous steaks, southern charm)

Great additions.

Majestic Grill is pretty tasty and Central BBQ gets my vote - get some bbq nachos for the table and have a Ghost River Copperhead Red or Golden Ale.............