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Beale Street, Memphis

Beale St sign, Memphis, Tenneessee, USA - Memphis
Beale St sign, Memphis, Tenneessee, USA
by marinarena
Beale Street tips and photos posted by real travelers and Memphis locals.

Beale Street
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Memphis Beale Street Reviews 1 - 10 of 17  
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Beale Street: Beale Street
  • Tip Rating:
    • nomorewars
  • By nomorewars on August 12, 2004
  • Memphis Page by nomorewars
    • Beale Street - Memphis
    by nomorewars
    Life is jumping & the music is thumping all night long on Beale Street. Not that I speak from experience. I read it on a sign. However, for three or so hours that I was on the street, it was a pure party. Well, as much as a party as you could possibly have at 10:30 a.m.

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    Beale Street: Beale Street
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    • myrtle
  • Updated By myrtle on March 31, 2004
  • Memphis Page by myrtle
    • Beale Street - Memphis
    Beale Street
    by myrtle
    Beale Street is a great entertainment district for the 21 & up crowd. On the weekends at night the street is blocked off from traffic and becomes a pedestrian only area. You will be carded at night time upon entering the pedestrian only area of Beale and again at any bar or club you try to enter once you are on Beale. You may very well also be carded once you order a drink inside. It can be very annoying, but I suppose they feel it is necessary to check in case someone didn't. I'm not sure if they still do this or not, but I know you used to be able to purchase a wrist band for about $10 and it would get you into all the clubs on Beale St on Friday nights. This is a very good deal since you may otherwise be paying about $5 per venue. If you do go on a wrist band night be sure to get there somewhat early (around 10pm) because they have been known to sell out of wrist bands. One great thing about Beale Street is that most places are open until around 5:00am unless there's not enough business to keep them open that long.

    Beale Street is also a great place to visit during the day time if you want to go with children or if you're not into the night scene. Many of the places on Beale serve great southern food, so don't hesitate to check out these places & some of the stores in the area.

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  • Website: www.bealestreet.com
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    Beale Street: get yer murder & mayhem out
  • Tip Rating:
    • richiecdisc
  • By richiecdisc on May 6, 2009
  • Memphis Page by richiecdisc
    • lucky to catch some live music outside - Memphis
    lucky to catch some live music
    outside
    by richiecdisc, 1 more photos
    Beale Street is one of America's most historical arteries, ranked perhaps only behind Broadway and Bourbon in fame. This is due in large part because of its importance in the inception and propagation of a style of music which came to be known as the blues. But its history predates that era. None other than Ulysses S. Grant utilized the now famed street as his headquarters during the Civil War and during the 1920s it was noted as much for murder and mayhem as for its music, parlaying a Wild West atmosphere of gambling, prostitution and gun fights into a reputation for unrestrained and dangerous entertainment. Today, it's a much cleaned up scene but live music is on tap in just about every venue and at all hours of the day and night. We were lucky to catch some live music outside in one of the courtyards and the quality was top notch. What else would you expect in the birthplace of the blues. Do check out the Orpheum Theater at the far end of Beale. It's the blues answer to the Grand Old Opry in Nashville., where many a blues legend played.

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  • Directions: Beale Street
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    Beale Street: My "Must Do" for Memphis is Beale Street
  • Tip Rating:
    • dlandt
  • Updated By dlandt on October 24, 2005
  • Memphis Page by dlandt
    • Beale - Memphis
    Beale
    by dlandt
    My must do for Memphis isn't Graceland or Mud Island, it is Beale!! The street is sealed off at either end for three or four blocks and you can walk around with beer or drinks in the open air. There are a few souvenier shops but mostly they have blues clubs and a couple of record stores. Some restaurants are windows onto the street if you want a slice of pizza, but even during the day people come to relax and drink. We had a great time here, and the ony downside is that there are a lot of panhandlers hanging around the (outside) fringes of the street. Whatever police presence is here has to be undercover, because I didn't see it.

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  • Directions: Beale Street
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    Beale Street: Beale Street
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    • Jim_Eliason
  • Updated By Jim_Eliason on February 14, 2009
  • Memphis Page by Jim_Eliason
    • Beale Street - Memphis
    Beale Street
    by Jim_Eliason
    This is my favorite and the reason why I will always return to Memphis. The "University of the Blues" is a two or 3 block long district of Blues clubs where many of the greats (B.B. King, etc) got to start. It was the music here that also inspired the artists of Sun Studio (Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins) and gave birth to Rock music.

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  • Directions: South portion of downtown
  • Website: http://www.bealestreet.com/
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    Beale Street: Don't Bail on Beale
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    • marinarena
  • By marinarena on April 21, 2008
  • Memphis Page by marinarena
    • Beale St sign, Memphis, Tenneessee, USA - Memphis
    Beale St sign, Memphis,
    Tenneessee, USA
    by marinarena, 4 more photos
    Beale St is a must-do to capture the heart and soul of Memphis. This is music central. I will remember the colorful streets, smells of barbeque, sounds of bluesy and soulful sound and the southern Americana feel here. Nightlife is quite vivid and wild but daytime is steady and easy. Catch the cable car while it runs or do by feet.

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  • Directions: Beale Street
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    Beale Street: Beale Street
  • Tip Rating:
    • TFLawhorn
  • By TFLawhorn on July 2, 2007
  • Memphis Page by TFLawhorn
    • Beale Street - Memphis
    by TFLawhorn
    No trip to Memphis would be complete without visiting Beale Street. "A little taste of the heart, funk, rock, and soul that made Memphis famous". One of America's most famous musical streets! Located in the heart of downtown Memphis with three blocks of more than 30 nightclubs, restaurants and retail shops. Music includes traditional Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz and Rock 'n' Roll. Catch a concert at Handy Park or attend one of the annual festivals or parades.

  • Directions: Beale Street
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    Beale Street: Beale Street
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    • sswagner
  • By sswagner on March 16, 2005
  • Memphis Page by sswagner
    • Beale Street - Memphis
    Beale Street
    by sswagner
    If you are interested in the music scene, eating, or both, this is the place to be. Beale Street is not a huge area, so it is easy to walk between all of the places. Traditional Memphis fare such as catfish is served up here. You will also find the blues clubs and hear the music in the streets. Naturally, it is also easy to find music stores here as well. The police station even has some exhibits, and my wife enjoyed looking around at the exhibits and posing behind the old jail cell.

    The best time to come to Beale Street is after dark when the neon signs are lit and the clubs and restaurants all come to life.

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    Beale Street: Beale Street
  • Tip Rating:
    • cruisingbug
  • By cruisingbug on April 23, 2004
  • Memphis Page by cruisingbug
    • Beale St., Memphis, Tennessee - Memphis
    Beale St., Memphis, Tennessee
    by cruisingbug
    "Walkin' with my feet 10 feet off of Beale"

    THE center of blues and jazz in Memphis. Just be careful if you keep going on Beale - it turns pretty rough-looking. Stick to the crowded areas.

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    Beale Street: Cruising Beale Street. When...
  • Tip Rating:
    • SCondrey
  • Updated By SCondrey on August 26, 2002
  • Memphis Page by SCondrey
    • Beale Street - Memphis
    by SCondrey
    Cruising Beale Street. When you cruise Beale you do it at such a pace it takes atleast an hour to walk the two blocks. It seems as the night wears on it takes longer than that. The pace in Memphis is sloooooooow. The heat and humidity necessitate that. Be sure to stroll down the middle of the street and not on the sidewalk. Tourist stick to the sidewalks until there are enough locals in the street. Just kidding. Locals habitate Beale Street as much as the tourists.
    I have been here long enough to see the rebirth of Beale Street. In the early 80's Beale was downtrodden and then some business men here decided to revive it. You can see just about anything on Beale some nights. There are acrobatic kids that do somersaults on the street for tips. They have been doing this for years and are quite good. Some of them have gone off to college and come back for guest appearances. There is almost always a band playing the blues in Handy Park.

    Beale Street has recently (June, 2001) made the street 21 or older access. Liquor is sold on the street.

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  • Directions: Beale Street is in downtown Memphis. South of Union at Front Street.
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