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Memphis BBQ ’13

What Leonard’s Pork Volcano Taught Us About Being “Memphis Famous”

2017-12-29
On: 12/29/2017
In: Memphis, Memphis BBQ

Leonard’s Pit Barbecue is one of the oldest and “top” spots in one of America’s barbecue capitals, but it has very little national hype. We went to find out why.

Exterior of an old mall with text that reads "CULTURE WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT: URBAN PLANNING LESSONS FROM THE MALL OF COOKEVILLE, TN"

Culture Where You Least Expect It: Urban Planning Lessons from the MALL of Cookeville, TN

2016-11-13
On: 11/13/2016
In: Near South

We see the MALL of Cookeville, TN as an authentic, local reinvention of a place that the corporate world forgot. Perhaps it can offer urban planning lessons to other communities stuck with abandoned big boxes.

Summary graphic: A photo of Hattie’s Tamales food truck on Lamar Ave. in Memphis, TN

Our “Memphis” Portfolio, Spring 2016 Edition

2016-04-30
On: 04/30/2016
In: Memphis, Photo Essays

“Memphis” is an evolving portrait of an American city’s people, places, creative energy, and how each shapes the others over time.

Summary graphic: A cheeseburger with barbecue pork atop it, next to two small dishes of sides.

Tops Bar-B-Q: Home of the Barbecue Cheeseburger (Memphis, TN)

2015-08-26
On: 08/26/2015
In: Memphis, Memphis BBQ

We like barbecue. We like cheeseburgers. In Memphis, the Tops Bar-B-Q franchise is known as the place to go for a barbecue cheeseburger.

Memphis Dive Bars: A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Guide to Drinking in Memphis

2014-06-18
On: 06/18/2014
In: Memphis

The Memphis dive bar scene is legendary, but not many people know that. We went out every night, and something zany or insane happened every night.

Summary graphic: A man warming up on his saxophone stands in silhouette between two cars in front of a bar. Above is a hand-painted sign announcing that this bar is WILD BILL’S.

Memphis Dive Bar Adventures: Wild Bill’s, The Last Real Place in Memphis

2014-06-18
On: 06/18/2014
In: Memphis, Music

The night was far younger than we realized. Someone invited us to have a drink at Wild Bill’s, which a local would later call “the last real place in Memphis.”

Memphis Dive Bar Adventures: Bar-B-Brawl at the Bar That Never Closes

2014-06-18
On: 06/18/2014
In: Memphis, Memphis BBQ

It was about 3 a.m. and time to eat dinner again. Even before leaving the Northeast, we’d labeled the ribs at Alex’s Tavern one holy grail of our Memphis quest.

Memphis Dive Bar Adventures: Down by Sundown

2014-06-18
On: 06/18/2014
In: Memphis

The P&H, or Poor & Hungry, Cafe looks both poor and hungry. The whole building looks like it would be the first thing to blow away in a tornado.

Memphis Dive Bar Adventures: Perfect Ribs at 3 a.m.

2014-06-18
On: 06/18/2014
In: Memphis, Memphis BBQ

The Ribs. Succulent, platonically moist, fall-aparty, infused with Memphis-style charcoal smoke, served with a dusting of finishing-spice and a side of sweet house sauce. In other words, perfection.

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