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The Memphis Parties Party Scene
A biased guide for non-locals (an eastward journey)
The Mississippi River - Don't party with this dude. He's already taken one great person . Don't be the next.
Harbor Town - A self-sustaining community, Harbor Town rests on the North side of Mud Island. Known by most as an affluent area, known by some as a late night pool party. Be cautious, travel in a group; someone tried to sell me a gun there once.
Beale Street - A tourist trap on weekdays, a frat trap on weekends. Let's put it this way: if MTV were to do a Real World Memphis the cast would party on Beale Street. An exception is The New Daisy Theatre which features live music and midget wrestling. Beale Street is also the namesake for a yearly concert festival in May, though the festival is actually on the river in Tom Lee Park.
South Main - An art haven . Home to numerous galleries, a volunteer radio station ( WEVL ), Memphis's oldest cafe ( The Arcade ), and a bar that used to be a brothel (Earnestine & Hazel's). American Apparel recently opened a store here. South Main is also an important historical area: The Lorraine Motel is now a memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the National Civil Rights Museum is here. The last friday of each month is the Art & Trolley tour, a great time to get free booze.
The interstitial area between Downtown and Midtown - Not much goes on here. OH! Except for all-ages shows at The Complex, the preferred venue for Back On The Map .
Midtown - The general area of Midtown is the heart of Memphis and home to several prominent neighborhoods (discussed later). Excellent restaurants, diverse nightlife, and a thriving music scene. Several notable businesses: The Buccaneer - the most raw stage, because there isn't one, in Memphis, no pretentions here, just blood, sweat and beers, mostly courtesy of Goner Records , plus they have the sweetest bartender, Michelle. The P&H Cafe is where Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Black Snake Moan) shot his first film, The Poor & Hungry, and they also have great karaoke on Friday nights. Murphy's - a great small venue with free wireless access, you're more likely to find Adult Swim on the television than Sportscenter. The Hi-Tone - inarguably the best small venue in Memphis. (period, best sound, best bands, best staff, Tuesday Beer Bust)
Overton Square - Home to Memphis Pizza Cafe (the best pizza in Memphis), Bosco's (they brew their own beer), Studio On The Square (showing the more popular art-house flicks), and many other fine establishments (except for Yosemite Sam's - the beer tastes like dirt and the karaoke is worse). Also in the area you'll find Overton Park, The Hi-Tone, and The Memphis Zoo. Overton Square also holds a yearly Crawfish Festival.
Cooper-Young - If you ask a hipster where they're going tonight, half of the time it will be in this area. Otherlands Coffee & Giftshop (small gifts and a large deck), Black Lodge Video (the BEST place to rent ANYTHING - be sure to look in The Book Of Filth), Light Years Vintage (great clothes, great staff, great parties), Tear It Up (rock clothing and rock parties), The Celtic Crossing (Pam is the only reason I will ever set foot in this place, it's mostly yuppies), Dish (White Trash Wednesdays and Punk Funk Thursdays, high metrosexual quotient), the aforementioned Goner Records (swamp rock to French disco, Zac & Eric [the Unkown Pleasures DJs], Java Cabana (late night coffee for the non-corporate whores), Young Avenue Deli (shitty sound but good shows, great staff - say hi to Chuck in the Smoke Shop), The Beauty Shop (great food, kind of expensive, Retro Rehab Mondays), First Congo Church (which houses The MeDiA Co-Op , The Midsouth Peace & Justice Center and Revolutions Bicycle Co-Op)and Last Chance Records (gutter punk to Southern crunk, Jason [Witnesse] and Nichole), and the best place to get tattooed or pierced in Memphis: Underground Art (I get mine there). Cooper-Young is also home to the yearly Cooper-Young Festival.
The interstitial area between Midtown and Highland - The only thing here is Senses, and this ain't that kinda party, brah.
The Highland Strip - sucks. It's right next to the University of Memphis so the patrons are mostly Fratholes and sorostitutes. I've gotten in 3 fights in one night and some of my friends were pepper-sprayed at Newby's by an over zealous bouncer. The attitude of the staff at many establishments leaves much to be desired, but I don't blame them, they have to deal with that clientele. Exceptions include R.P. Tracks (BBQ tofu nachos), Crazy Beautiful (keg parties) and The Rally Point (underground punk and rock shows).
Summer - The intersection of Summer and Highland is home to 4 or more thrift stores and antique stores. Further up the street are the best burritos in Memphis at La Guadulapana.
East Memphis - Not much happens here but you'll surely find some high school kids hanging out in Audobon Park.
Germantown, Cordova, Collierville - Home to the Skate Park Of Memphis and Smithseven (a charitable label).
There are many other wonderful and not so wonderful things going on in Memphis, so don't think that this list is in any way comprehensive.
