Reading the Commercial Appeal these days is not the most uplifting way to start a morning. We’re hit over the head with stories of crime, corruption, war, death and despair. Many of us understandably long for some good news, about our world and country in general and about our city in particular.
So I’ve been thinking about some of the wonderful and unique things our city has to offer. I’ve temporarily donned my rose-colored glasses to focus on the MANY positive aspects of our hometown, and that’s the theme for this, my first blog entry for All Things Memphis.
Here are a few of my favorite things about the Bluff City, and I invite you to share with me your own tributes to Memphis (and the Mid-South). Although mine is a top-10 list, feel free to write as few or as many local favorites as you’d like. You former or non-Memphians can get on board, too. What do you miss about Memphis, or what do you long to see/hear/do when you visit our fair city?
And the winners are:
1. The Riverfront—I loved going there as a child, and some things never change. I can remember watching Fourth of July Fireworks from Ashburn-Coppock Park, and I spent many a night in my high-school years hanging out there with friends. Today, I love taking the kids on the Riverfront Trolley line, and they’re just as impressed with the view of the Mighty Mississippi as I was. Tom Lee Park is a great place to take a stroll with the family.
2. The Music—The Memphis Sound is difficult if not impossible to describe. Just as Justice Potter Stewart couldn’t precisely define obscenity, I can’t quite place my finger on it, but what I CAN say about the Memphis Sound: “I know it when I hear it.” We’ve got the history--W.C. Handy, Elvis, B.B. King, Beale Street, Stax, Sun, etc.—but our fair city has no shortage of great musicians on the scene today. (I’ll touch more on some of those in a later blog entry.)
3. The Arts—Theater, fine art, classical music, dance, and more. Great venues, talented people and community support make for a vibrant local arts scene. Our local gems include The Orpheum, Germantown Performing Arts Centre, Ballet Memphis, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis College of Art, Dixon Gallery & Gardens, South Main Historic Arts District (and monthly trolley tour), Playhouse on the Square and many more.
4. University of Memphis Basketball—Tiger fever is running at an all-time high right now, but we’ve also had many great moments over the years. This year’s squad looks poised to give us our third Final Four team in history, joining the guys from 1972-73 and 1984-85. If I were a superstitious person, I would be afraid to predict that we’ll go all the way this year. (Check this blog later for a chance to discuss some favorite all-time players and moments in Tiger basketball history.)
5. The weather—We complain when the temperature dips below 40 degrees or rises above 90, but secretly we know how good we’ve got it here. Memphis has four distinct seasons but relatively nice weather for much of the year, which lends itself well to:
6. Many outdoor festivals—Memphis in May, Cooper-Young, It’s Greek to Me, Arts in the Park, The Pink Palace Crafts Fair, Crawfish Festival, Memphis Italian Fest, Live at the Garden and many others year-round.
7. The people—I’m sure I’ll find some detractors on this one, and there’s no denying the overall decline in manners around this country. However, I maintain that one of the reasons we Memphians complain so loudly when we’re treated rudely is because we’re just not used to it. For the most part, people in this town smile at one another, say “please” and “thank you,” and offer a helping hand to those who need it. Just not when they’re driving.
8. Midtown--It’s diverse, it’s fun, it’s artsy. There’s the Memphis Zoo, Overton Park, Cooper-Young, Overton Square, Brooks Museum of Art, some grand old homes, unique architecture, lots of great restaurants, nightlife galore and a slew of fond memories.
9. The Rendezvous--As casual as this world-famous restaurant is, I still feel like it’s a very special night every time I walk down that alley and catch a whiff of those ribs cooking, then stroll through those double doors and down the steps to give the hostess my name before waiting an hour for a table. It’s always worth it, when about five minutes after inquiring “How many full racks you want?” the waiter sets a plate of mouth-watering dry ribs in front of me. Our city is loaded with great restaurants (another blog entry) and I hesitate to highlight just one, but I’ll always consider The Rendezvous as the consummate Memphis dining experience.
10. Our parks—Recreational opportunities abound in and around Memphis. There are large parks like Shelby Farms, Overton and Audubon, and most Memphians will find a small park within walking distance of home. Whether you’re looking for a playground, walking trail or sports field, you’ll usually find it nearby.
So tell me what you think I left out. It was hard narrowing it down to the top 10, and I might change my mind tomorrow, but it’s a jumping-off point. Thanks!
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2 comments:
First I'd like to say thanks for writing about something upbeat!
Born & bred here myself; below are a few of my Memphis favorites. I'm with you on the music, river and BBQ/ribs.
- Music: I went to Overton High and studied under Mrs. Lulah Hedgeman, a testiment to both Memphis music and the public school system (plus the stuff you said) :-)
- The River: the fact that it is referred to as "the River" says enough.
- Ribs: Like half of the folks who live here, I think mine are the best!
- WEVL: commercial-free volunteer radio where DJs select the music. There is a show for everybody and many cities do not have this.
To expedite I'll add Beale St, the low cost of living and diversity to my list of things things I love about Memphis.
For the most part, I would have to agree with you on your top ten! Having lived in Memphis for about ten years but also having been "away" for the past twenty years has given me a unique perspective when we go back to visit. As in most large cities, there is ALOT to do. And compared to other large cities, Memphis is by far, in my opinion, the most diverse. For a large city, it's actually very neighborhood-oriented. I think that's why it seems so friendly. It's an adventure of sorts trying to cram in all we'd like to do when we are there, seeing what has changed since we were there last, trying to explore on the "new" roads and ending up going the "old" way... But I'd have to say my favorite thing about Memphis is our FAMILY! Your Dad said he agrees with your top ten but he would multiply BBQ by 5...and add that NO ONE in SC makes BBQ like Memphis BBQ -- except him, of course!!
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