Beale Street

It's been a long time since I've been to Beale Street. When I lived here before, even, I didn't go to Beale much - I was more of a Midtown guy.

But our friends Dean and Kelli were in town this weekend, and Saturday we gave them a Big Day Out In Memphis. Graceland, the Rendezvous, ducks at the Peabody, then drinks at Side Street...and a trip to Beale Street.

What's changed?

We had to go through security to get it. A gate, metal detectors, pat-downs, everything. I guess somebody got shot one time.

Also, it was really, really crowded. Crazy packed.

And Schwab's was open! I probably hadn't been in there since college, and nothing has changed. Great huge piles of interesting and useless crap.

We had a last few drinks at Pat O's, which is creepy it's so much like the original. Just as much butt-sniffing going on, too.

Dean and Kelli were impressed with Beale Street.

"It's kind of like Bourbon, but wider," Kelli said.

"And so much cleaner!" Dean added.