Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the Liberty Bowl (Memphis, Tennessee), which pits Kentucky against East Carolina.Overview/Matchup: A strong finish by the East Carolina Purple Pirates -- including a Conference USA championship -- has them headed to a rare post-New Year's bowl game. Skip Holtz -- who already announced he would return to Greenville next year -- has a tough matchup in Kentucky, if only because the Pirates are so dinged up. It would be tougher but Wildcat signal caller Randall Cobb appears to be out for this contest, and that will make a Beale Street victory that much tougher to come by for UK.
Hotels: There isn't much in the way of luxury accommodation near the stadium, so downtown near Beale Street is the next best thing. The five-mile drive to the stadium is well worth it. The Westin Memphis Beale Street is a trendy new downtown establishment with modern design, luxurious guest rooms and good quality on-site dining. The Doubletree Hotel Memphis is a great midrange hotel with a good location. The guestrooms are comparable with the much ritzier Peabody, but at a much more reasonable price. Budget-minded travelers should stay at the Artisan Hotel. The hotel is just two miles from the stadium and offers rooms for less than US$100 per night.
Restaurants: If you're looking for fine dining, or just need a celebratory steak, try Grill 83 in the Madison hotel. Over time it's earned a reputation for serving the finest steaks in town. Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous (known in town as "The Rendezvous") is one of Memphis' all-time great barbeque restaurants and is known nationwide for its exceptional ribs and superior service. For a cheap delicious meal, head to Interstate Bar-B-Que. Many aficionados consider it the finest spot for a pork sandwich in the city.
Nightlife: While paying a visit to Memphis, taking in some live music is a must. Try B.B. King's Blues Club, Rum Boogie Café, or The Lounge for great Memphis blues on Beale Street. All of the clubs charge a cover (usually around five dollars unless there's a big name) but the money is well worth it for a true Memphis experience.
All travel related information provided by Professional Travel Guide.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-02-2009 @ 6:12AM
Unforgivable Wetness said...
Strip Clubs: Talk to someone who's familiar with the Memphis strip club scene and he'll at some point say, sooner or later, "... since Platinum Plus closed." The Platinum Plus was considered to be the wildest, dirtiest, and best club in the city and maybe the region before it was raided and padlocked in December, 2006. (The owner was convicted of racketeering and prostitution on February 18. 2008, and the club's contents were auctioned off early last month.) Ever since, the remaining clubs, chastened by the raid of its former oppressor, have tried to horde its dancers and fashion themselves as heir to the throne. But insiders know that the halcyon days of the Memphis scene vanished with Platinum Plus' demise.
Nearly all the 10 "shake joints" in the city are topless, but all are allowed to serve beer and wine. You will see many more African-American strippers here than in nearly any other city. For best club, it's a fight between Gold Club and the Pony, with Christie's Cabaret a compromise choice for stripper hounds.
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