{"id":320,"date":"2009-04-20T09:34:08","date_gmt":"2009-04-20T16:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lastgreatroadtrip.net\/?p=320"},"modified":"2009-04-24T10:12:38","modified_gmt":"2009-04-24T17:12:38","slug":"picks-and-pans-in-and-around-memphis-tn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.lastgreatroadtrip.net\/?p=320","title":{"rendered":"Picks and Pans – in and around Memphis, TN"},"content":{"rendered":"

PICKS:
\n<\/strong>Billy Tripp’s Mindfield<\/a> in Brownsville, TN<\/p>\n

Billy Tripp uses his welding skills, metal scavenging abilities and and tremendous vision to create a continually evolving sculptural representation of his life. We arrived at the site during a sunny break in the torrential rains of the day. Looking at the Mindfield, I kept noticing more and more symbolic details that were woven in with the structure. I am not sure the meaning of all of them, but maybe the Mr. Tripp’s stream-of-consciousness novel that was free for the taking at his comment box will aid in my understanding. Regardless, the Mindfield is an incredible monument of this artist’s life.<\/div>\n

Gus’s World Famous Hot & Spicy Fried Chicken<\/a>, Memphis, TN<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, this was the best meal we have had thus far on the trip. Gus’s is located in an unassuming cinder block building located near the river and serves up some of the best food in the south. We started out with their fried pickles. You bite through the hot, crunchy breading to release the steamy dill pickle deliciousness all complemented by the ranch dressing served on the side. We quickly finished our appetizer and sat in great anticipation of the chicken to come. Gus’s chicken is spectacular. Slightly spicy, expertly fried to crispness and wonderfully juicy on the inside. I doubt we’ll come across any better in our travels.<\/div>\n

T.O. Fuller State Park<\/a>, Memphis, TN<\/p>\n

This state park is located in south Memphis and that’s mainly the reason we are recommending it. It is perfectly functional and relatively well maintained. We did, however, have the misfortune of being there after a torrential rain storm which caused some malodorous problems with their sewage lines.<\/div>\n

National Civil Rights Museum<\/a>, Memphis, TN<\/p>\n

The Civil Rights Museum presents an incredibly detailed history of the civil rights movement in the U.S. It starts from the early slave rebellions and guides you through the years all the way up to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death. It is definitely one of the things you must do if you’re in Memphis, but if you go, wear comfortable shoes and be ready to read, as most of the information is presented in written format (historic documents, first person testimony etc). The one disappointment of our trip to the museum is the lack of information about the race riots in cities around the U.S. in 1964. During our time in Newark, we came to realize that these riots had shaped the city in a very strong way, as they had in Detroit, Chicago and a handful of other cities. Sean and I were both hoping to learn more about the impetus for these riots and how they shaped the civil rights movement going forward, but there were only a few nonspecific references scattered among the museum’s narrative.<\/div>\n

Crystal Shrine Grotto<\/a> in Memorial Park, Memphis, TN<\/p>\n

Built in the late 1930s by Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez, the Crystal Grotto is in the middle of a large cemetary. It’s made out of cement and rock crystals found throughout Tennessee. The inside of the grotto is entirely coated in crystals of all sizes and has alcoves with artistic representations of the important events in the life of Jesus. It’s quite the odd mixture of artistic dedication to a vision (just collecting and assembling all these crystals must have been a serious feat), kitschy plaster figurines and wooden sculptures from the 1970s. Somehow, the whole thing seems very Memphis.<\/div>\n