Elvis Graceland & Memphis

"Tourist traps that are worth it"... here's Graceland

2010-11-22T22:54:00.003-06:00

Memphis Summer Heat

2010-07-23T01:05:00.001-05:00

Start your Top Secret Hotel Search Now at Travelocity!

After you get your hotel remember you'll be in Memphis in the Summer.

Dry Bulb Temperatures have been in the upper 90s with the Heat Index well over a hundred for weeks.

We've had several deaths due to heat already .

Be Careful!

Memphis Summer Heat

2010-06-28T22:55:00.000-05:00

While Memphis visitors got off easy last summer with summer just now officially started there have already been 4 heat related deaths.

If you're planning on tent camping don't try to stay in a closed tent in the daytime.

Keep your motor-home's AC running.

Drink PLENTY of fluids (beer doesn't count ;-}).

If you need a good hotel in a safe neighborhood (the Graceland area is NOT safe at night) email me and I can set you up in either North Mississippi (those with a car) or Downtown Memphis (those without).

Death Week Hotels

2010-04-06T13:31:00.001-05:00

Hi,

You're going to need a hotel.

Generally I recommend Southaven or Horn Lake Mississippi hotels to people with cars and Downtown or Medical Center (medical center is cheaper) hotels for those without.

You can book them all via Travelocity.

Death Week (August)

2010-03-12T00:03:00.001-06:00

Just a reminder.

If you're planning on coming to Memphis in August for the anniversary of Elvis's death it's time to start thinking hotel reservations NOW.

I know it seems early, but Memphis and vicinity basically FILL UP for what we locals call "Death Week" and the good hotels fill up EARLY.

I recommend several Southaven/Horn Lake places for visitors who will have a car, and some downtown places for visitors who won't.

Regardless the time to start getting a good hotel room for Death Week is NOW.

Saint Valentine's Day is February 14th

2010-01-30T00:52:00.003-06:00

Vietnam Restaurant

2010-01-12T00:27:00.000-06:00

If you're downtown, don't have a car, don't mind walking a couple of blocks, and want something other than the same ol' same ol' should try the Pho Vietnam Restaurant.

Take the Medical Center tram line to Cleveland (where it ends for no good reason). Walk NORTH on Cleveland to Poplar (do NOT take back streets, do NOT carry a lot of money (pho, egg rolls, and iced tea with tax and tip is about 12-3$) or even your wallet/passport, walk with purpose and determination, this is NOT a great neighborhood), take a right (EAST) on Poplar and just past the McDonald's at 1411 Poplar you'll find it.

You will have passed Saigon Le, which isn't a bad place either btw, but it's worth the extra walk.

The namesake dish is Pho, a southeast asian noodle soup. I get the #4 (pho with brisket and round steak) and their wonderful egg rolls (these are southeast asian egg rolls not the cabbage rolls so many chinese places sell). I've never had a bad dish here but some may be a bit more exotic than your tastes... like pho with tripe.

You'll get your soup and a plate of sprouts, basil, jalapeno peppers, and sometimes other herbs. The idea is you tear them up to your taste and dump it in your soup, stir them in with your chopsticks (yes this is soup you eat with chopsticks and a spoon) and let it cook while you eat your egg rolls.

When you've finished your egg rolls (which were cooked FRESH for you) your soup will be ready.

You don't get a check here... just go to the register and pay when you've finished, this is what the number on the wall at your table is for.

If you'd rather have fried chicken there is a Jack Pirtle's across the street with really good fried chicken, and livers and gizards too. A local favorite they typically come with french fries and gravy.

If you've got a car just drive out Poplar Ave. to both.

EP at 10 Degrees F

2010-01-08T22:48:00.000-06:00

Elvis Presley fans began lining up before 7 this morning with temperatures in the low teens and light snow flurries no match for an Elvis birthday event that turned Graceland Plaza into an international Elvis celebration.

Graceland spokesmen estimated the crowd at more than 3,000 for the 9:30 a.m. ceremony

Individuals and tour groups from all over the world including groups from France, Great Britain, and Germany arriving as early as 7am saying they were willing to brave the cold January weather for the milestone birthday.

Claude and Thierry Schmidt of Sete on the south coast of France spoke little English, but said the trip was worth it in spite of the weather. “C’est bon (It’s good),” he said.

Atlantan Holly Johnson, 14, also had stood in line since 7 to watch as Elvis’ grandchildren, Riley and Benjamin Keough, cut a five-tier cake to kick off the year-long birthday celebration while their mother, Lisa Marie Presley, and grandmother, Priscilla Presley, watched. “I can’t feel any part of my body, but it’s worth it,” said Holly.

My Memphis Visitor

2009-12-10T19:47:00.000-06:00

Well I just had a visitor here in Memphis.

A cousin from Paris who just happens to work for Air France was just visiting and it was kinda interesting... we went to several very Memphis places... and caught up on old times and what's gone on in the family lately...like who's gotten married. who's got new kids, grandkids, etc.

But the restaurant she found the most interesting was Huey's.

Texas de Brasil was neat and the food very good....

but Huey's was unique.

The best burgers and incredible onion rings... the original on Madison is a few blocks past the end of the Medical Center tramline... one of the city's real mistakes... that tramline SHOULD go to East Parkway taking people out to Overtown Square. (Home to Bosco's... Memphis's Best Beer.

Memphis Really Isn't THAT Dangerous

2009-10-09T02:09:00.001-05:00

Memphis really isn't THAT dangerous for the casual visitor.

Stick to major streets, don't flash wads of cash, watch the traffic and the people around you and you'll be fine.

Don't go wandering off into strange rather dark neighborhoods... especially at night. Ask at your hotel or wherever you're visiting about the neighborhood if you're considering walking about at night.

The heart of downtown is actually pretty safe (besides the panhandlers and they're more of a nuisance) for example.

Probably the best general suggestion is to stick to place where people look like you do (though the best bar-b-que places are all black owned and operated... but the Neely's (of Interstate Bar-B-Que and Neely's Bar-B-Que of Food Channel fame) just want your business).

Get GOOD directions coming out of the airport or you're likely to end up on Winchester Road... and you don't want to be there at night... though really the biggest problem isn't being robbed it's there are no interstate ramps for Winchester.

So come to Memphis, have fun, be safe, and go home happy you visited.

Downtowner Motor Inn

2009-09-09T00:30:00.002-05:00

Hi,

You might wonder what I'd be doing writing about travel, hotels, and Memphis... especially all of them together... Well it seems I grew up in the "Hospitality" Industry.

Motels: In the Heart of It.
Time Magazine - May 27th, 1966

When Memphis Businessman Luther F. Matthews, 53, put up a glossy, 60-room motel in the heart of town seven years ago, the smart hostelry money had long since been out in the suburbs. Figuring that Matthews, whose business was parking lots, just did not know any better, some of the local hotelmen charitably warned him that he was bound to flop. Some flop! By its second day, Matthews' Downtowner Motor Inn was filled to capacity, and this week in Muskegon, Mich., Matthews opens his 66th motor inn. Plans are for a new one about every nine days for the rest of the year.

Texas-born Luther Matthews has prospered on the simple notion that people went to motels outside of town because city hotels were "obsolete and rundown." While other motel chains bent over backwards to be everything from convention halls to resorts, Downtowner Corp. zeroed in on the all-but-forgotten traveling salesman for its bread-and-butter trade. The motel mix Matthews offers is free and easy parking, a swimming pool and a good room within walking distance of the town's No. 1 retail center. Obviously the formula works. With a healthy 75% occupancy rate last year (v. 64% for hotels) Downtowner Corp. rang up sales of $15,300,000, or 37% over 1964.

In his Memphis office, Matthews keeps detailed files on property in every sizable U.S. city, looks with an especially sharp eye for anything "adjacent to the largest hotel in town." With few public rooms, small staff and relatively low capital investment, Downtowners can substantially undercut hotel room prices, thus siphon off an instant clientele. So far, the Downtowners have been keeping things hot for hotels mainly in smaller cities. As Vice President Ronald Kirkpatrick, 33, sees it, that is only the beginning. "We have been in training," he says. "Now we're big enough to take on New York and Chicago."

Death Week Went Well

2009-09-03T00:58:00.006-05:00

Well Death Week went well this year. Nobody died from heat stroke and it was really a pretty mild week in the low 90s with the weather holding now for a nice fall season.

This is really one of the best times to visit Memphis and Graceland. The fall colors will be on us soon and with all the trees in the front yard it is quite a site.

You'll need a room of course so check my location recommendations and get a nice room at a better price.

EVERYBODY paid full price during "Elvis Rememberance Week".

Death Week Weather

2009-08-12T03:24:00.003-05:00

Well you're having it easy this year so far.

It's been in the upper 80s with high humidity which for Memphis is pretty reasonable for August.

It's supposed to go back into the 90s for the rest of Death Week though... so remember to drink plenty of water and Gatorade/Powerade...

I don't want to hear another report on the radio that "Another Elvis Fan was found dead of heat exhaustion in his tent this afternoon".

Graceland Area Hotels

2009-08-06T02:02:00.005-05:00

There are several new hotels in the area and I'll post a list shortly.

General Recommendations if you have a car:

Avoid the Brooks Road/Elvis Presley Blvd. area. It's close and cheap but really seedy and somewhat dangerous at night. Plus there are few dining options other than fast food.

The Shelby Drive/I-55 area is a LITTLE better but still pretty seedy.

The Best Choices are actually in the Southaven/Horn Lake areas just barely in North Mississippi. Starting at the Goodman Road/I-55 interchange. Lots of choices, all fairly new, from a Motel 6 to a Hilton. Dinning choices are good though little High End. Plenty of good steak places, casual dinning (Friday's, O'Charlies, etc) plus cleaner nicer fast foodish places.

The best choices are at Church Road/I-55. Several small family run hotels, moderate prices, quiet... only 1 non fast food restaurant but Goodman Road and it's multitude of choices is only 1 exit north.

HEAT

2009-06-20T00:50:00.004-05:00

Hi Folks,

If you're coming to Memphis to visit Graceland, Sun Studios, The Shell, Beale Street, et cetera this summer you should be aware of a few things about Memphis.

1) Memphis is #1. It's the most dangerous city in the US according to Forbes Magazine.

2) Concealed Carry of a Firearm is legal in Tennessee with a permit. Check handgunlaws.us to see if there's reciprocity with your state.

Carry into restaurants serving alcohol is legal if 1) person carrying isn't drinking and 2) the restaurant doesn't post a sign prohibiting it. Other than Beale Street I haven't seen a single restaurant prohibiting firearms by legal concealed carry permit holders... but then recently a visitor was beaten by Memphis Police for walking across the street from the Orpheum with a glass of iced tea (perfectly legal btw).

You don't HAVE to carry concealed (but you should just so you don't stir people up) so don't freak out if your carry gun flashes the gas station clerk and the MPD officer standing there sees it.

3) The area south and east of Beale Street is dangerous at night.

4) The area around Graceland isn't the safest at night. I won't go the the Bank of America on Elvis Presley Blvd. at night because it's a walk up ATM, and I -do- carry a gun.

5) 80% of the people don't use their turn signals EVER. If you see someone going down the interstate with a blinker on they're probably NOT signaling a lane change.

6) People run lights here... there are 4 colors... Green, Yellow, Red, and FLOOR IT. Do not be in a hurry to be the first away from the light. You'll get hit.

7) It WILL be HOT. Hotter than you can imagine. Combined with the humidity and the lack of a breeze the effective temps will be over 100F until September. People DIE from the heat here.

8) There are no on/off ramps from Winchester Road (where the Airport is) to I-55. There SHOULD be but there isn't.

Memphis in August?

2009-06-03T14:36:00.002-05:00

Hi There,

Thinking about coming to Memphis in August for "Death Week" (that's what we call it here, there's "Birthday Week" and "Death Week")?

If so NOW is the time to get your hotels and car rentals (if you're flying in) lined up.

Email Me and I'll help you with hotel/car arrangements and keep you out of high crime areas and still close to Graceland!

My Latest Commercial Appeal Article

2009-05-24T12:47:00.005-05:00

I write about things other than my home town.

International Travel is actually my "big thing" and the Hackamore Travel Blog covers the international scene... and on that front I got an article published in the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

By L.F. Matthews, Special to The Commercial Appeal
Friday, May 22, 2009

During Spring Break 2008, my bride and I were married in a wonderfully romantic ceremony at Couples Negril in Jamaica.

We invited no one, yet had dozens of happy people applauding us as we kissed for the first time as husband and wife.

But what do you do for an encore?

Since the traditional first anniversary gift is paper, I gave my wife, Martha, paper for her gift: Tickets to Paris.

Our flight was uneventful and we arrived at Paris' Charles de Gaulle International Airport and took a cab to our hotel in the 6th arrondissement, or district, near Saint Germain des Pres and Montparnasse.

After check-in, we spent the afternoon people-watching from the terrace of a local café, enjoying a drink and watching the locals scurrying about getting their Saturday afternoon shopping done.

We had an early dinner at another local café, where I introduced my wife to something one doesn't see in the U.S., Hamburger du Cheval, horse meat hamburgers with a fried egg on top.

They were good, and we turned in early to help fight off jet lag and be ready for a full Sunday at the Marche au Puce (flea market) at Clignancourt.

The Clignancourt Flea Market is amazing. A weekend thing, it extends for blocks encompassing everything from knickknacks, T-shirts, records, surplus goods, African curiosities, vintage clothing, to collectibles of all sorts and high-end antiques -- all in a 19th century maze of alleys that defy description.

If you see something you want, buy it then. You'll never find that particular street again.

I was wandering through the market one morning in the early '90s and found a whole street of glass and crystal dealers.

I've been back to Paris at least a half-dozen times, but I've never found that street again.

After a day at the market, we headed back to the hotel for a short break, then to dinner.

Scouting our options, we decided on walking to Montparnasse and its assortment of cafes, brasseries, etc., and chose the Brasserie 1900. We had our one grand meal of the trip with a full seven-course menu, plus a bottle of wine. It took three hours to complete.

Monday and Tuesday, we spent touring the sites using one of the hop-on/hop-off bus services. If you've got a short time, this is the way to see Paris, giving you the advantages of a tour with the convenience of staying at the sites you like and catching a later bus to continue with your tour.

We ended at Notre Dame Cathedral, which totally moved my wife.

We spent some time around Place Denfert-Rochereau (the old neighborhood), and we took in the Rue Daguerre, which is a full market street where we picked up snacks for later at the fromagerie (cheese shop), boulangerie (bakery) and the charcuterie (a deli, kind of), and had crepes for dinner at a little Breton café.

I can't spend a week in Paris without doing some shopping, and my favorite way to find the local shops is to buy a French magazine and find the ads for the Parisian shops.

Thursday was a strike day, so many things were closed, but that Paris landmark Fauchon was open, so we did some shopping, lunch and spent time at the Madeline, a Revolutionary-era church that's just magnificent.

Friday we spent at La Louvre, which I'll note has free wheelchairs available and allows those in them special access routes from room to room.

Saturday was our departure day and our cabbie took us to Charles de Gaulle Airport talking about American football the whole way. When we told him we were from Tennessee, he knew all about the Titans, how they'd moved from Houston to Memphis, etc.

He, and all the other people we met, were wonderful.

http://www.hackamore.com/

The Sunset Symphony

2009-05-22T14:50:00.004-05:00

If you're visiting Memphis Saturday May 23rd be sure to make it downtown after lunch for the Memphis in May Sunset Symphony (start time 3pm).

Bring a picnic/snacks/drinks and have a good time listening and watching the Memphis Symphony as the sun sets in the West.

A good time will be had by all.

World Championship Bar-B-Que!

2009-05-13T23:04:00.002-05:00

This weekend it's all down to the wire.

Last week's music festival left Tom Lee Park a mess but the Q must go on.

Be ready for rain, bar-b-que, beer, fun, dancing and more... don't dress up!

Memphis In May

2009-05-05T02:28:00.003-05:00

Well the Beale Street Music Festival has come and gone.

And like clockwork it rained most of the weekend so unless you were fully equipped with rubber boots and ponchos you were a muddy mess almost instantly.

A great music line up as always but I don't usually recommend it to out of towners... unless the weather is good you don't want to commit to a 3 day ticket.

The World Championship Bar-B-Que Cooking contest is coming up and that can be a blast. It helps if you know a team but out-of-towners and internationals with a talent for gab can get invited in all over and there is commercial Beer and Q available.

The Grand Finally of course is the Sunset Symphony... worth rounding up a picnic lunch and camping out on a spot on the bluff.

Be Careful Now!

2009-04-24T18:52:00.004-05:00

According to none other than Forbes Magazine Memphis is the 2nd most dangerous city in the US.

Even including the suburban population in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi where crime IS much lower than in urban Memphis proper where Graceland, Sun Studio, etc are.

Population: 1,295,670

Violent Crimes per 100,000: 1,218

THIS is why I routinely suggest that our Elvis visitors stay in North Mississippi. Southaven, Horn Lake, and Hernando areas are MUCH SAFER and offer visitors everything they need and want.

Rumor... Memphis <> Paris Anyone?

2009-02-23T13:59:00.002-06:00

Hi,

Rumor has it that an Air France representative will be in Memphis this summer to discuss a possible direct flight between Memphis and Paris.

It's long been talked about... but this reporter KNOWS the Air France representative who'll be here personally.

Other Things To Do.... Casinos Anyone?

2009-02-09T19:39:00.002-06:00

Hi,

There are only so many fun things to do in Memphis... though there is a lot of music and music history stuff around town.

Some interesting War of Northern Aggression stuff (Nathan Bedford Forrest and his wife are buried in Forest Park near Sun Studio) and there's Confederate Park on the bluff downtown.

But what else?

How about Tunica? It's not a dusty cotton town anymore!

There are casinos galore from the high end HorseShoe (which has the best food and entertainment), the Gold Strike (still very Up Market and Very Nice), to places with other specialties and themes like Sam's Town with it's western motif and Fitzgerald's which is known for it's slot machines.

Ride down to Tunica for a night and have some fun!

Elvis is 74

2009-01-10T01:26:00.003-06:00

Well Elvis would be 74 now.

Turnout last night for the even was moderate but a good showing of the hard corp fans from all over the world... but then January in Memphis can be COLD (though the weather actually was quite nice) so I can understand why the August (death week) crowds are bigger.

Birthday Week (January)

2008-12-14T01:26:00.003-06:00

Elvis's Birthday is coming up soon and if you haven't made hotel reservations it's time to do it NOW.

I'll add a special Memphis/Elvis/Graceland hotels link to my hotels page to help.

You really don't want to be on Brooks Rd., Elvis Presley Blvd., or Shelby Drive.

Hotels Here

B B King

2008-11-15T00:40:00.004-06:00

There are other notable "Memphis Musicians" of course.

Probably the best known today is B. B. King (and btw... there's an excellent print of Elvis and B B King floating around that's really cool if you see it)

But... what does B B stand for?

Email Me Your Answer Here

Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, and Hank Williams Jr.

2008-11-04T00:40:00.005-06:00

While people think of Elvis, and Jerry Lee, and Hank Williams Jr. as "stars" for the most part they lived pretty regular lives. Elvis may have been the exception, but he was just so recognizable it was hard for him to get out.

For example Jerry Lee Lewis bought the house across the street from my Uncle Floyd on Coro Lake (Jerry Lee didn't have a waterfront house) and other than him not being a great neighbor he lived a pretty normal life... he wasn't stalked by fans or anything like that... these days he lives near Nesbit and has a big fence to keep the fans out of the yard and out of his hair.

Elvis... well he was just a big kid... he'd rent the Crosstown theatre to see a new movie when it came out... and invite "everybody" to come see the movie with him... and if you knew somebody who knew somebody you'd get invited to see the movies for free!

Hank Williams Jr. lives in Paris, Tennessee as gets along pretty well with his neighbors in a low key kind of way... though given his behavior in the Peabody I wouldn't be surprised if they're not welcoming him back ;-}

Memphis Trivia

2008-11-02T11:11:00.003-06:00

Hi There,

Here's a Memphis Trivia question that you can use to stump even local Memphians.

"How many east-west streets are there in Memphis"

Think carefully. It's really an easy question.

Email Me Your Answer

Graceland Area Hotels

2008-11-01T00:07:00.003-05:00

Hi,

One of the first tips I have to give any Memphis/Elvis visitor is information on where to stay.

You do NOT want to stay -in- Memphis near Graceland.

Sure there are inexpensive hotels on Brooks Road, Shelby Drive, and some on Elvis Presley Blvd. itself... but the area has gone down a LOT in the decades since Elvis lived here.

If you don't have a car stay downtown. It'll be more expensive but Memphis's rather pathetic public transportation system is very downtown focused.

If you DO have a car stay in Mississippi.

Mind you that while staying in Horn Lake or Southaven Mississippi has you across a state line you're still closer to Graceland than if you were downtown... Plus crime is -MUCH- lower and the atmosphere more pleasant with better hotel and restaurant choices.

I'll work up a page of Memphis/Graceland hotels and post them over on Hackamore.com.

A Sun Records Story

2008-10-31T23:50:00.000-05:00

Over the years millions of people have seen the Sun Record label...

But do you know who came up with it? Who actually drew the original?

My "cousin" Jay Parker (no relation to Tom Parker)...

I didn't know he'd been the artist for decades.

That was just Jay... he was a commercial artist and had married one of my Uncle Floyd's daughters... then a few years ago he mentioned during "death week" in August that he had to go to this "thing"... which turned out to be a big Elvis Anniversary Bash and they were bringing all the old timers in... including the guy who drew the Sun Label. :)

The First Post

2008-10-31T23:35:00.000-05:00

Hi,

This is going to be a little blog for Elvis fans and other Memphis visitors.

Tips on which hotels to stay at, and which ones not to (Memphis has a bit of a crime problem :-{).

Restaurants from the standards to those worth seeking out.

Things to see and do you won't find in your standard guides.

All from a guy who's lived in the area most of his life.

So come on in, browse around, see what we can help you with.

Have a Memphis Question feel free to ask.