Senior A&E Reporter Julie A. Satchfield finishes her tour of Memphis’ bars and nightlife. This is the last article in a two part series.
Are you into a neighborhood bar or do you like a place where the uniform is pink hair and eyebrow rings? We may not have a lot of things in the city by the river, but if you want to drink a cold beverage and unwind after a hard week at work there are many options open to you.
And here are the rest of the bars . . .
Zinnie’s East on Madison is a great place to hang out if you are not interested in cliques.
“You can be yourself, you know,” said bartender Holly Cagle, who loves working at Zinnie’s. The most popular shot is a pink lemon drop, which is a basic lemon drop with a splash of cranberry juice. To see some action, stop by Friday night because that is when the twenty-somethings are really partying.
If you thought a bar where everyone knows your name was only in TV land, think again. Murphy’s, a self-proclaimed staple on Madison, is the type of place where bartenders know what you drink and how you like it, according to Benny Carter, a bartender at the 25-year- old establishment.
“The most popular drink is a cold Budweiser,” said Carter. “What else could anyone ask for?”
Do you want something different? Do you really like original bands? Well, make your way down to Cooper and Young and hit up the Young Avenue Deli, AKA Murphy’s alter ego.
“We have a very diverse crowd here, a real melting pot of people,” said Todd Dudley, General Manager.
Young Avenue Deli offers over 120 different types of beer and Friday is the most popular night for the 21-35-year-old crowd.
Maybe you are a heavier drinker and really need something to quench that overbearing thirst. Well at The Blue Monkey, they are serving up Red Bull and Vodka, according to Dan, a bartender. He said they have the finest bar in Memphis.
“We have a nice back bar that is mahogany and marble with Tiffany glass,” said Dan. The crowd is jumping on Friday night and they range from 25-50. So take your mom and dad out for a drink once in a while.
Ahh, the famous Silky O’ Sullivan’s on Beale... According to manager Terry Leahy, the most popular drink is a Diver, which is a bucket of southern fun (secret recipe). If you are tired of the same cover bands with the same songs, then Silky’s is the perfect place to spend a Saturday night.
“Here you get to pick the show because we have an all request piano bar,” said Leahy.
Down the street is a rather new place called Dick’s Last Resort. This bar claims to sell a lot of Redheaded sluts, which are made of Crown, Amaretto and cranberry juice. The most popular night is Saturday and they have live music every weekend.
“Dick’s is fun for all and all in fun for those who dare to enter,” said Guy Gilbert, manager. According to Gilbert, Dick’s is the place your mama warned you about.
If you are ready to dance the night away to songs like “Jesse’s Girl” and “867-5309,” then Club 152 on Beale has your ticket. Be sure to wear your sexiest clothes because this is the place to pick someone up. Club 152 offers beer, but shots are number one for stifling the embarrassment factor when dancing to the eighties hits.
“I’ve seen some fine hotties out there tonight,” said one patron in the bathroom of the club.
Maybe you think since you are out east in Cordova or Germantown that there is no place for you to go. Well think again. For a great burger til 3 a.m., try Huey’s on Germantown Parkway. This sometimes overlooked hang out spot has cold beer everyday and live music on Sundays.
“Come out for a burger and a Killian’s,” said bartender Jamie Beckemeyer.
So, you may have felt trapped before. Jealous of all those other cities with a night life to die for. Well don’t move yet. Try some of the bars in Memphis and relax while southern comfort and hospitality take over. Soon you’ll be asking, “what was I complaining about?”
