10 Reasons to be Thankful for Memphis (2010 Edition)

10 Reasons to be Thankful for Memphis (2010 Edition)

Tomorrow, as you sit down with your family or friends over a huge turkey (or Tofurkey) dinner, take a second to be thankful for living in Memphis. I know I will.

Invest in Good Times, Memphis, Tenn.

If you're stuck for reasons why you should be thankful for Memphis, here are 10 good ones:

1. Memphis doesn't feel like anywhere else. There are some cities that may be cleaner or safer or open later, but there's no other city that comes close to having the amount of pure, gritty, beautiful soul that Memphis has.

2. Basketball season. Between the Tigers and the Grizzlies, you can almost catch a live game every night between November and March.

3. Ghost River beer. The guys that make Ghost River swear that the beer is so good because the water in Memphis is so delicious. All of their beer is made locally at their brewery on S. Main.  Though you can't buy it at the grocery store, you can get their three constant brews and their seasonal brew on tap at bars all over town (or in kegs at their dock).

4. The Greenline. Since the seven-mile paved trail that runs from Tillman to Shelby Farms opened earlier this year, it's been packed with bikers, walkers, joggers and skaters. There's nothing else like it in the city, and I'm so thankful that it's been a success. We can only hope that it will be expanded deeper into Midtown and East Memphis in the future.

5. Easy traffic. When I asked you guys what you were thankful for on Facebook and Twitter, a handful of you mentioned how easy it is to deal with Memphis traffic. I know I might not always think so when I'm trying to go to YoLo at 5 p.m., but compared to other cities, even our worst rush hour traffic is easily managed.

6. There's so much to do. So much, in fact, that I've been blogging about Memphis for more than a year, and I haven't even come close to seeing or doing everything I've wanted to. If you wanted to go out every night, you could. If you wanted to hear a band every day, you could. If you only wanted to shop at locally owned shops and eat in locally-owned restaurants for a year, it would be fairly easy.

7. We're making progress. It's amazing how much progress we've made in the last two years. We've got more locally grown food, a vibrant outdoor concert venue, brand new festivals and events, new bands and all sorts of movers and shakers making their own opportunities. Memphis is a city where you have the opportunity to create the community you want to live in. Think about that, then do it.

8. Holes in the wall. The best Cajun food in Memphis is served up in a yellow brick shack on S. Florida (Deju Vu). The best hot wings come from a shopping center on Getwell (Ching's) and one of the best bars in town is covered in graffiti and named after being poor and hungry (The P&H.) You can eat at chain restaurants in Memphis, but I'm not sure why you'd want to when our best food and drinks come from holes in the wall and dive bars.

9. The weather. Yeah, I know it's probably not supposed to be 70 degrees in late November, but I don't see most of you complaining. You're all too busy hanging out on the Greenline.

10. The people. Memphians are some of the warmest, friendliest, nicest and most wickedly funny people I've ever met. We're generally pretty relaxed and we know how to have a good time. We're also resourceful, creative and attractive (no matter what other people think).

As for me, I'm thankful for every single person that reads this, that comments or emails me, sends me tips or asks me questions. Thank you for making what I do so incredibly special.

Have a great Thanksgiving holiday. I'll be back on Friday morning - for now, I've got a ton of baking to do.

Comments Make Us Happy

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Eric Tate
You are just a bright , little ray of sunshine, ain't cha'? Oh, and nice "Ho.Ho" poster. Keep at it.
November 24, 2010 12:23pm
Elizabeth
I love this list! I follow you an Twitter and would absolutely love to meet up with you for coffee and chat about Memphis, BBQ...or anything! I'm @liebastrom on Twitter.
November 24, 2010 12:31pm
rachel
Thanks for what you do! You are definitely an asset to this town!
November 24, 2010 1:15pm
Kelli
I agree! #11 reason is this blog! I am always informed of things going on here in Memphis - thanks to you! Happy Thanksiving!
November 24, 2010 1:29pm
Caroline
I'm thankful for all the Memphians by choice who are reminders that this city is a great place to call home.
November 24, 2010 1:45pm
Jenna
This is fantastic! Thank you for this! Very nice to see others that appreciate living in Memphis!
November 24, 2010 1:46pm
Joey
Nice job. Keep spreadin' the love and have a fantastic Thanksgiving! M-town rocks! Joey
November 24, 2010 2:45pm
Whitney
Yay, Memphis! I am thankful to be living back in my hometown after three years away...
November 24, 2010 3:12pm
Hooper Troopers
Thank YOU, Kerry! I learn so much by reading your blog daily! It's simple and full of awesomeness.
November 24, 2010 3:19pm
Lynn
Thank you for your blog and adding another reason - the river walk along mighy Mississippi! Lynn
November 24, 2010 8:55pm
Sadie
I lived in Memphis until I was 11 then came back for college. I had no idea what I was missing. Now, after 3 years of 2am drives down poplar and a fair amount of #8, I can't understand why my family ever left! Memphis is so diverse and full of adventures and you capture her spirit with the quirk and humor it deserves. THANK YOU!
November 25, 2010 12:15am
frisbee tom
cool, thanks
November 25, 2010 9:35am
Chris
I love your positivity about Memphis.
November 25, 2010 10:05am
Jarrod Terry
11. Shelby Farms is 5 times larger than New York's Central Park. And we have bison. We win.
November 25, 2010 11:54am
Hometown (Blog…
[...] 10 Reasons to be Thankful for Memphis [...]
November 25, 2010 3:09pm
Tyler Wainright
Awesome! It's easy to take things for granted but there are a lot of good things about this city.
November 25, 2010 9:49pm
hubbell
memphis "traffic" is relatively nonexistent to those of us who've fled traffic-clogged cities to be here, or lived in places where horns are used almost like mating calls. it's also convenient, in this part of the world, that they mark the counties on the license plates, so you know who to simply keep an eye on, who to really watch out for, and who is an absolute nuclear threat to your being.
November 26, 2010 3:12pm
Gone and Glad
Lived there my entire life, until I was almost 30. You people seriously need to get out.
November 26, 2010 5:48pm
Gigi
Some of my favorite things were left off the list: I love Memphis blog Graceland The Peabody Mud Island The Orpheum The River South Main Trolley The Museums - Brooks, Pink Palace The Zoo Rock N Soul Museum Overton Park (Levitt Shell)
November 27, 2010 8:04pm
Doctor J
You might be interested in this (growing) collection of "Why I Chose Memphis" stories: http://readmorewritemorethinkmorebemore.blogspot.com/search/label/Why%20I%20Chose%20Memphis To your readers: please send me your own "Why I Chose Memphis" story if you have the time or inclination!
November 28, 2010 3:57pm
jenna
I LOVE Memphis too! i'm 5th generation Memphian. Why do some people seek and focus on the negatives instead of taking advantage of all the limitless positives! you're great! jenna
November 30, 2010 2:56pm
Nico
I lived in Memphis for four years. I've always had mixed feelings about the city. Now that I've left -I'm leaving in France- I realize I loved it more that I thought. This site is a great idea. Congratulations! Nicolás
January 13, 2011 12:12pm
Lisa C.
Happy to have stumbled on to your blog. I just moved to Memphis 4 weeks ago from Austin, TX. Since I've been here, I have really enjoyed the feeling that Memphis gives me, which is what Austin gave me in 1995 when I first moved there. Don't quite have that feeling in Austin any more, although it is truly a great city in it's own right....a city should never get rid of it's true grit and I feel like Memphis never will.
July 10, 2011 8:39am
clyde
What bar is named after being hungry?
November 24, 2014 12:02pm
Holly Whitfield

You mean the Poor & Hungry, more commonly known as The P&H!

November 24, 2014 12:05pm
Memphis Claire
Thanks for posting this.  As a Memphian by choice for the last 12.5 years, I love seeing what others like about my city.  I'm thankful for the Peace and Justice Center.  And Hope House. And Literacy Mid-South.  And Memphis Heritage.
November 25, 2014 12:25pm
The Daily News…
[...] In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Memphis-advocate Kerry gives us 10 Reasons to be Thankful for Memphis. [...]
November 24, 2010 2:29pm