Today Memphis based blogger, Alyssa Perrella, from Ten Feet off Beale is taking us around her newfound city. She moved to Memphis upon graduating college and has been getting acquainted with her new hometown ever since. Read below to learn about the greatness that is Memphis, Tennessee!
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Memphis hasn't always been my home. In fact, I'm not even Southern! I'm just a Jersey Girl who moved to Memphis on a complete whim following a dream and never left. I fell in love with a man (who I'm set to marry in the spring) and I fell in love with this wonderful city.
If you were to visit the beautiful city of Memphis (or even if you live here) here are some of my favorite places and spaces:
Where to eat:
Central BBQ: Memphis means barbecue. In my opinion, the best BBQ can be found at Central BBQ. My favorite thing to order is the BBQ Chicken Nachos. Out. Of. This. World.
Aldo's Pizza: Being that I'm originally from New Jersey, I love some good pizza. Pizza is definitely different in the South. However, the way Aldo's makes it reminds me of home. SO delicious. Every pie I've had there has been amazing.
Local Gastropub: For a fun place to just hang out with friends and eat good food, Local is the place to go. They have the most delicious Lobster Mac n' Cheese ever!! I crave that stuff.
South of Beale: Dessert. Let's talk about dessert for a second. Sometimes, after a night out on the town, you need something sweet. My favorite place to go is South of Beale for their Jack and Coke. It's Jack Daniels ice cream over coca cola bread pudding. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Shopping:
Langford Market: Well, duh! I will say Langford Market has some great stuff. The prices are perfect, and even the atmosphere in the shop is wonderful! It's a great place to go if you ever need an outfit for an event, or simply just to browse.
Things to do:
The Orpheum: One of my favorite things to do in Memphis is grab a bite to eat at a fantastic restaurant downtown then walk to The Orpheum, a beautiful old theater, to see a musical. They have a broadway series, and in the summer they play classic movies for super cheap. We saw the original King Kong this summer for only a few dollars! It's a fun way to spend a night out.
South Main Arts District: My favorite area of Memphis is the South Main Arts District. In fact, this is where I live! Between the trolley, the gorgeous buildings, and the interesting art galleries and shops, South Main always has something going on. When visiting, it's definitely worth taking a stroll down South Main Street.
The Peabody Ducks: The Peabody Hotel is a gorgeous old hotel right in the heart of downtown. Every morning at 11 am the cutest little ducks come down the elevator, march through the lobby, and jump into the fountain where they wade around all day. At 5 pm, they march back into the elevator and up to the roof where they spend the night in their palace (no joke, that's what it's called). So, every morning at 11 and every evening at 5 you can wait in the lobby to watch the ducks march through the hotel. Definitely a must see!
Beale Street: There are three things Memphis is best known for: Barbecue, Elvis, and Beale Street. Even though I don't spend much time on Beale Street, it's definitely worth visiting. The street is lined with amazing bars and restaurants, with different live music at each place. Even the alleyways have been converted into miniature stages for performers. No traffic is allowed to drive down Beale Street so it's essentially one big fun party.
My Favorite Memphis Style Blogs:
I can't talk about Memphis and not mention two of my favorite Memphis area style bloggers!! I've had the opportunity of meeting both these ladies in real life and it was an absolute treat! They're both amazing, definitely go check out their blogs.
Matters of Merrymaking
Walking in Memphis in High Heels
Super touristy place i like to visit:
Graceland: People from all over the world visit Memphis just to spend time with the King. I'm talking about Elvis! Graceland is definitely a place everyone should visit at least once. It's very touristy, but it's full of amazing history. Elvis was so important to music and is still so important to people today. I especially love walking through the house and seeing it decorated exactly how it was in the 70s. It's so retro!
My ideal day in Memphis:
I would start my ideal day in Memphis by grabbing a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop and walking down to the Mississippi river. I'd spend the morning soaking in the sunshine. After moseying around town a little bit, I'd grab some lunch at Central BBQ, possibly watching a Memphis Tigers game on TV with some other sports fans. That night, I'd walk to Beale Street to one of the best hole in the wall bars to watch an incredible local band play favorites like Johnny Cash and Elvis. Between the history, food, and fun, it's not hard to have an amazing day in Memphis.
Common Misconceptions:
There are definitely misconceptions when it comes to Memphis. People often relate Memphis to crime. Yes, there is crime here, but there's crime in every city! I don't care where you are, you should always be aware of your surroundings. Memphis has so many things you can't find other places. The people are friendly, the food is amazing, and it's very easy to find something fun to do.
If you want to know more about Memphis, stop by my blog! Among other things, I am always talking about this fascinating city that I now call home.