Scribble World Travel Blog

Home Of The Blues, Beale Street, Memphis, TN

I’m trying to think how to describe this experience. At first it kind of reminded me of Bourbon St. in New Orleans, the way all the happening places seemed to all be within walking distance.  The cobblestone street was blocked off to traffic and some very talented young men wowed us all as they would run down the middle of the street doing flips.

There was a great assortment of blues and soul music, as well as rock ‘n’ roll.  We had dinner at B.B. King’s Blues Club & Restaurant on 143 Beale St, Memphis, TN 38103 where they were extremely busy and it took forever to place our order.

I stopped back at B.B’s King’s later for a piece of chocolate cake to go but after paying and waiting darn close to half an hour, I was eventually told they had run out. This would probably be a fun place on a less busy night.

Pretty much all of Beale Street was hopping with activity. Bands were playing outdoors for tips, a couple people wanted to take our picture and they had their computer and printer right out there on the sidewalk, ready to print them on the spot for you. A young girl went up to people asking if they’d tip her if she sang them a song, while other people walked around selling roses, a man had miniature perfume bottles spread out across a table for sale, and a woman leaned out a shop window trying to sell us beer “to go” as we walked past her shop.

Our last stop of the night was Coyote Ugly where we were greeted with women of all ages dancing on the bar (including a skinny old granny).  My water, which they call a “Wusskey” came to  $3. Beale Street is probably not the best place for people traveling on a budget, but we are attempting to save money on gas for a while by getting a weekly rental at the Express Inn located across the bridge at 3700 Service Road Loop, West Memphis, AR 72301 where it was $30/night for the weekly rate.