This post is part of a series where we interview prominent Southerners or Southern transplants about what they love so much about this area and why others should visit. If you are interested in being featured, leave a comment or send me an email.
Kerry Crawford is the founder, editor, and all-around Girl Friday for ilovememphisblog.com as well as social media specialist for the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau. You are likely to find her at a roller derby bout in her time off.
What do you love most about living in the South?
I love the way that the south has a sense of place that’s all its own. It doesn’t look like anywhere else, and it seems like Southern people are more grounded and have a real connection with the places that they live. And, having lived in the Midwest for a few years, the weather here is awesome.
What are your favorite places in Memphis?
I go to Otherlands Coffee almost every day to do work, see people and drink their excellent, strong coffee. A solid 30 percent of my wardrobe comes from Hoot and Louise, a cute indie boutique on South Main.
My taste in bars leans to the dive-y side: the Buccaneer, the Lamplighter, Earnestine & Hazel’s and Alex’s are my favorites.
For dinner, it’s impossible to go wrong with Hog & Hominy, Restaurant Iris, Soul Fish, Lunchbox Eats, Jerry’s Sno Cones or Shanghai, the kinda sketchy, completely delicious Chinese/Vietnamese/Thai restaurant down the street from my house.
As for things to do, I play roller derby, so on bout weeks (and a lot of weeknights), you’ll find me at the Pipkin Building at Tiger Lane. Memphis is a great basketball town, so the University of Memphis Tigers and the Memphis Grizzlies NBA games are a must-see.
If you’ve only got time for one music-related thing in Memphis, make it the Stax Museum. They’ve got a dance floor.
What is your favorite Southern meal? What’s the best place to get it?
The meat and three, especially if it includes turkey and dressing on a day that’s not Thanksgiving. I love greens and mashed potatoes and green beans and raw tomatoes. Southern food is the best.
What are your favorite Southern traditions?
Macaroni and Cheese listed as a vegetable on restaurant menus. Snow days when it’s 30 degrees and raining. Staying up late, drinking beers on people’s porches during the summer, when it’s too hot to do anything during the day.
Thanks again to Kerry for telling us more about Memphis. You can read her blog or follow her on Twitter. Author photo is property of Kerry Crawford, credit of Jackie Ellison. All other photos are property of Caroline Eubanks.
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