BLUES N'AT

Here's a little geography lesson for you today, courtesy of Mrs. Black-N-Gold. In what part of the United States can you find music lovers congregating in late January for the International Blues Challenge? If you answered "Memphis, TN" give yourself an A. However, you can visit Memphis any time of the year for the 3 B's, BBQ, Blues & Beale St. Mrs. Black-N-Gold had the pleasure of visiting this blues mecca a few years back and hopes to do so again in the future. If you haven't done so, you may want to book that trip. There are many historical landmarks for music fans. Of course, most people associate Memphis with Elvis Presley's home, Graceland. There are far more stops to make, though. You can tour the homes of iconic record labels, Stax and Sun Records. You can catch a show at the legendary Orpheum Theatre. For you guitar heroes, Gibson Guitar has a showroom and factory on Beale Street. Speaking of Beale Street you can get your blues and barbecue fix along the most famous street in Memphis. You may see kings, B.B., that is. He has a nightclub on the strip as does the Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis. The music never stops on Beale Street. You can visit other world-renowned clubs such as Silky O'Sullivan's (Pittsburgh's own Barbara Blue takes up residence there) or Coyote Ugly or the Rum Boogie Cafe. You can even stay out on the street and enjoy the many performers who busk along the sidewalks for your entertainment pleasure. Whew, after all this music and mayhem, you're sure to have worked up an appetite. Feel free to peruse the menus at Miss Polly's Soul City Cafe, The Pig on Beale or King's Palace Cafe. Of course, all this merely scratches the surface of the good times that can be had in the Home of the Blues, Memphis, TN. If you haven't been there yet, call your travel agent. You may run into Mrs. Black-N-Gold on your next trip. Until next time, boys and girls. Keep It Bluesy!