Rock 'n' Roll and Ribs

Eat to the Beat
We heard the music wafting from Elvis Presley's Memphis--a restaurant/music hall that looks more like a theme park eatery than a serious venue. Richard insisted we check it out. "Table by the bandstand, please," we demanded. This waitstaff didn't recognize Richard and sat us by the kitchen door, but we weren't disappointed. The floor show was big enough for the entire room. One of the house bands, The Dempseys, proceeded to blow the roof off the place. The trio--an upright bass, a guitar, and drums--cranked out rock 'n' roll favorites by Jim Morrison, the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and, of course, Elvis Presley.

We ordered a fried peanut butter-and-banana sandwich just for the fun of it (you can bypass this option on your visit) and a slice of Gladys' Apple Pie (be sure to try this). We munched and tapped our toes while Joe Fick manhandled the upright bass with the flexibility of a yoga-inspired contortionist. He played it behind his back and behind his neck, rode it like a horse, and stood on it. He rocked it, he hugged it, and he plucked sweet music from it. During the more-than-an-hour set, we realized we were exhausted from just watching The Dempseys. Time to call it a day.

Love Me Tender
The next morning we tried to pass up breakfast at The Peabody, but as Elvis said, "That's all right, Mama." We ate anyway, and then turned our sights to Graceland.

Shod in blue suede shoes, we shuffled through a tour of rock 'n' roll's most famous home. With headsets keeping a steady rhythm and historical commentary, we explored Elvis' seventies kitchen, his fuzzy jungle room, and the colorful pool room. We spent a quiet moment at the Meditation Garden, where Elvis, Gladys, and Vernon came to their final rest. Afterward, we scoured the gift shops for memorabilia.

By this time we were hungry again. Dana turned aside for another fancy lunch, while the rest of us made our way to Corky's. Wanda ate wet ribs, and Annette ate dry. We were in hog heaven. Richard went for the tamales with chili and cheese (how could he?). Squeezing our way out through the crowded tables, Wanda and Annette began arguing the merits of wet versus dry ribs. Richard offered a solution to the controversy. "Let's go try them somewhere else and decide."