Beale, Barbecue, and Blues

“Walking in Memphis, I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale. Walking in Memphis, but do I really feel the way I feel.”(Marc Cohn)

Moving west from Atlanta on I-20 and I-22, our next destination on this road trip would take place along the Mississippi Delta, birthplace of the blues. After a brief lunch at the Hollywood Cafe in Tunica for a taste of traditional southern barbecue and a glimpse of its star studded musical past, we then followed historic Blues Highway 61 to Memphis, Tennessee. For this one night stay, we felt fortunate to obtain an affordable motel within walking distance of the famed Beale Street corridor. This location also made for a pleasant walk along the river at dusk as well as a brief tour of the downtown district at night. Ending this mile long jaunt on Beale Street at night proved to be the best choice from a photographic perspective as I enjoyed taking pictures of the striking neon presence of entertainment clubs along this three block corridor. More tasty barbecue awaited us for dinner at the Irish Pub , Silkie O’ Sullivan’s that night with a live band performance included as well. On our walk back to our hotel, we spent a few minutes walking through the lobby of the famed Peabody Hotel.