Beale Street - A step closer to New Orleans
Written: Feb 04 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lots of entertainment, special events, and late hours
Cons: Parking can be a bit of a challenge
The Bottom Line: Beale Street is a great place to see a bit of history, enjoy good food, entertainment, and plenty of good people-watching.
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| diverpam's Full Review: Beale Street, Memphis, TN |
Walking down Beale Street you realize that downtown Memphis has dramatically changed in the past few years. Not only is Beale Street lined with clubs and restaurants and bright neon lights, there is Peabody Place to the North and the Gibson Guitar Factory to the South.
Soon the FedEx Forum will be hosting NBA games, with thousands of fans spilling onto Beale Street following the games. A new Westin hotel is planned nearby to help bring even more people to Downtown Memphis.
Walking down Beale Street to Pat O'Brien's I was stuck by the feeling that I was in a quieter, smaller version of the New Orleans French Quarter. It was still early in the evening and we were there for a Christmas party. The crowds wouldn't start arriving until late in the evening, where the clubs would hop until 5am.
The Memphis Pat O'Brien's is an amazing replica of the famous New Orleans locale, complete with flaming fountain. The Hurricanes and Purple People Eaters are served in souvenir glasses and the decor is eerily similar to its predecessor.
Looking over the courtyard from our upstairs vantage point (we were in a private party room for dinner) I was almost transported back in time. I remembered my first visit to Pat O'Brien's when I was barely old enough to drink and trying my first Hurricane on a long week-end visit from Ole Miss. I remembered sitting in front of the fountain years later on my honeymoon, posing for a picture graciously snapped by a stranger for our photo album.
There are several other well-know names to be found on Beale Street. Among them are B.B. Kings, Silky Sullivan's, and the Hard Rock Cafe. However, there are more than two dozen shops and clubs where you can find entertainment, souvenirs, and just plain strange things.
A. Schwab dry goods opened in 1876 and remains the longest running business on Beale. This wonderful store offers an eclectic collection of items that never fails to entertain me. I browse from love potions to knick-knacks that remind me of my grandmother's house, to some great cheesy Memphis souvenirs, never failing to find some unique item that has to go home with me.
I enjoy going to lunch on Beale Street, where Alfred's offers wonderful home-cooked meals or Hard Rock beckons with its awesome bacon cheeseburgers and blues memorabilia.
There is always a raucous New Year's Eve crowd where the local news channels broadcast live. It's generally a fairly young crowd, sporting wrist bands for admission to the clubs, and being watched over by the officers from the Beale Street Police Precinct.
During special events, such as Memphis in May, or following a popular college football game, people crowd onto Beale Street to party.
When you're in Memphis, Beale Street should be on your list of places to visit. There is a little bit of something for everyone there.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
diverpam
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Pam
Location: Collierville, TN
Reviews written: 263
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~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
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