This past weekend several ladies (Julie, Stacy & Jane) and I headed down to Memphis for MLB’s annual Civil Rights Game between the New York Mets and the Chicago White Sox. Along the way we managed to eat as unhealthy as humanly possible in such a short span. Jane found us a bar that had $1.50 Yuengling (Memphis?), we toured Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Gibson guitar factory, hung out on Beale Street and saw the Mets beat the White Sox.
A successful weekend.
Because I’m into lists, here are the things to note from my trip:
- 1 Case of Yuengling was smuggled out of the South.
- Never laugh in the rain or an overly aggressive homeless man may try to assault you.
- White people in Memphis DO NOT want you to go to Wild Bill’s, including the kid who was our tour guide at Sun Studio.
- I prefer Wet Ribs to Dry Ribs and Corky’s to Rendezvous.
- Elvis impersonators are creepy.
- Unforgettable Fire is still the worst U2 album ever.
- State Patrolmen treat women much differently than they treat men.
- Regardless of what anyone says, there are only 3 ducks at the Peabody Hotel.
- Sweet Tea might just be the greatest thing ever invented.
- There are Mets fans in Arkansas.
- There are no speed limits in Missouri nor Arkansas.
The rest of the photographs from our trip are on Flickr.
Side Note:
I was prompted to do a little research after striking Yuengling Gold in Memphis. Most of you know all to well that you can’t get Yuengling anywhere in Ohio so to find it in Tennessee was a little confusing. I knew there was a brewery in Florida so I assumed it had to come from there. Living in New York City this past year Yuengling was everywhere but since I headed back West in June I haven’t had it. To then find it $1.50 drafts in Memphis was awesome. Possibly the best part of the trip for me.
The beer I brought back to Chicago was brewed in Florida.
Maybe this is what sonny boy meant when he said he heard it closed down, maybe wouldn’t have been the same anyway:
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Rest in Peace, “Wild Bill” Story
We lost one of the patrons of the Memphis sound Sunday morning. William “Wild Bill” Story, longtime proprietor of Wild Bill’s, an after hours juke joint known for live soul and blues, hot chicken wings, and ice cold 40 oz.ers, died at his home. An employee of the club reported Story’s age as 88, though other sources have him as 87.
Many visitors to the city have drank and revelled at the little juke joint on Vollintine Avenue in North Memphis, known for attracting a diverse crowd of grown folks, college kids, and out-of-towners. The place ranked, easily, as the top underground Memphis tourist attraction.
You could be right.
We really missed out. To find out that they have both Chicken Wings & 40’s. This is turning into a masse gaffe on our part.
Truly a mistake for the ages.