in honor of our visit to Graceland! As well as Marc Cohen's Walking Memphis. And like the song, we were there "in the middle of the pouring rain." 
This was the first time we had had rain on the entire trip and the skies did not hold back! It was a HUGE storm. As we explored downtown Memphis we focused on Beale Street ( a smaller, tamer, bluesy-er version of Bourbon street) Our hotel was on Union, just a few blocks away from Beale. 
My favorite aspect of Beale, DRINKS TO-GO!!! Best concept ever! 
My general rule when visiting and eating in a new city is: ask a local. And, of course, the best local to ask in a town like this: a bartender. Therefore, we befriended the man who sold me my "big-ass beer to-go" and asked him where was the best place to eat "Memphis food?" He suggested The King's Palace. It was a fantastic place with vibrant paintings of old blues singers on the walls and the token large black man playing Ottis Redding's Sitting on the Dock of the Bay on a small stage framed by red velvet curtains. As we looked over the menu I decided to order a half rack of ribs.
Charles (our waiter) asked me if I wanted them "wet or dry?" My dumbfounded look and Katie's slight giggle must have tipped him off to the fact that we were kinda new at this whole eating meat thing. Being not much of a carnivore, I asked Charles which way I should have them and we decided wet. When he brought them out he also handed a large stack of napkins and wished me luck. They were tasty little things with spicy sauce and a slice of amazing garlic bread. The King's Palace was fantastic!After dinner we went back to the bar where our new bartender friend works and listened to some very fun Memphis Blues. We waited out the storms as much as we could and enjoyed the scene.
The next morning (with, admittedly, a slight hang over) we headed out of town. We made one last stop before heading south. We visited the hotel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot on April 4, 1968. I cringed a little as we did a "drive-by" of the balcony he was shot on, but it was 7:30 in the morning, there wasn't much else we could do.
They have built the Civil Rights Museum pretty much attached to the hotel, very cool.
The next morning (with, admittedly, a slight hang over) we headed out of town. We made one last stop before heading south. We visited the hotel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot on April 4, 1968. I cringed a little as we did a "drive-by" of the balcony he was shot on, but it was 7:30 in the morning, there wasn't much else we could do.
They have built the Civil Rights Museum pretty much attached to the hotel, very cool.From Memphis we drove south for one more day of fun!
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