Fun ideas for Memphis & New Orleans and the In-Betweens

[mcsea]

My girlfriend and I are driving from Chicago to New Orleans around New Years...we have some fun plans (possibly Black Lips for NYE) but if anyone has had great times in the region or if you're a local please help us out! Thanks.

Mark

[Hugman 3.0]

I'm not local, but I looooove Memphis.   These are Memphis suggestions.
Unless you're vegetarian, you have to get a cheeseburger at the Lamplighter. Last time I saw Jack O. playing in LA he was talking about the Lamplighter cheeseburger. 
I personally love Wild Bill's, a juke joint on the other side of the tracks but very welcoming. They sell beer by the quart. Don't sit off to the side, get in the mix.
Aside from all the great music spots (Stax, Graceland, Sun) I HIGHLY recommend the Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel.  Definitely a different gear than all the fun of Memphis, but a very moving experience.  I was overwhelmed.
I'll let other folks handle the bbq suggestions.

[mcsea]

Awesome, those suggestions all sound great. Most of our "plans" are for NOLA so these will come in handy!

[Hugman 3.0]

http://www.goner-records.com/memphis_tips.php

[mcsea]

The day is upon us! 2 hours from Memphis and ready to explore! Thanks for the tips-- so far it's lamplighter, either cozy corner or corky's for some Q, the nat'l civil rights museum, sun, stax, and a drive past graceland (shit is $30 and I'm not an elvis man). I'd like to shop at Goner's store. Yeeeehaaaa! Shout with more ideas for memphis, NoLa or points between!

[Hugman 3.0]

I can't believe I didn't mention Graceland, Too in Holly Springs, MS (about 40 minutes south of Memphis). It's a crazy elvis fanatic whose house is completely plastered with Elvis stuff.  He gives tours 24/7. You show up, knock on the door and he's off, gums and dentures a flappin'.  Find out how much the Elvis TV Guide plexidisc (goes for about two bucks on ebay) is worth now.  When I went, years ago Bill Clinton had offered him "a half a million bucks for it. Turned 'em down flat."  Then Nicolas Cage offered him a million, and he again he turned them down flat. When I went the tour was five bucks.  It might have gone up since as he was in the process of turning the back yard (where he told me to pee when I had to go) into a mockup of the jailhouse rock jail.
This place is legendary, and a must see.

[buffcoat]

The Memphis Zoo is significantly better than you'd expect it to be, based on city size.  It's a bit of a hike from the main drag.

[free plax]

Stax Museum and the Civil Rights Museum, as mentioned above, are essential stops. 

For food, Paynes has the best BBQ sandwich on earth.  Hit the Goner Store and ask the guys for directions as it's right up the street.  Cozy Corner is the spot for ribs and their BBQ cornish hen is to die for.

As sated already, The Lamplighter is a great dive bar and the cheeseburgers are sublime. The P&H is cool too.

Interested in vintage clothing?  My wife sells a lot of great/reasonably priced mens and womens clothes at a shop called Hoot and Louise on GE Patterson.  Its two storefronts east of The Arcade (where they filmed a lot of Mystery Train.)

More upscale dining options include Tsunami (great asian inspired seafood,) Sweetgrass (Low Country) and Restaurant Iris (New Orleans style.)

Check the Memphis Flyer for goings on including rock shows.

Any other questions, feel free to ask. The guys at Goner can be a big help as well.  Tell em Ryan Brown sent ya.