Memphis (Day Three...)

Thursday - our last full day in Memphis - was action packed!

Following breakfast it was off to St. Jude to pay our respects to its founder, the late, great Danny Thomas.

The only slight monkey wrench in the plan: When we arrived we were informed that the Pavilion was being used for a private event (and all day/evening affair) and thus closed to the public.

BUMMER!

(Plan B: We'll visit today - Friday - prior to heading back to Nashville.)

Next MAJOR tourist destination... the Bass Pro Shop!

(Nope... not kidding... not being sarcastic... haven't lost my mind; just check out the link!)

Folks... the store is set within the Nashville Pyramid!

Folks... I'm not kidding; put this on your bucket lists! We're talking Disneyesque; "''Outdoorsman' meets Universal Studio's Theme Park!"

(*GRIN*)

Anyway... we spent a good hour wondering around there, and then it was off to Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken for lunch and libations!

GREAT fried chicken! Great fried pickles! Great fried green tomatoes! GREAT mac & cheese! Great "slaw!" GREAT "chess" pie! (And a fine selection of local bottled beer!) Oh... and GREAT service as well! Gus's is another "must stop" for anyone finding themselves in Memphis!

Next... back to The Peabody - time to hit the pool! (And the hot-tub!)

Next... (by now it was 5:20 p.m.)... happy hour at Automatic Slims - right across the street from us!

WHAT... A... GREAT... PLACE...!!!

Fine, fine, fine cocktails! An incredible list of cocktails - incredibly priced during happy hours at a mere $5 per awesome concoction!

(ADVICE: Folks... each and every one of you reading this NEEDS to IMMEDIATELY run out to your nearest liquor store and pick up a bottle of Crown Royal Regal Apple Whiskey (and some cranberry juice) and after mixing to taste (I'd suggest two parts whiskey, one part cranberry to start) start drinking! (Oh... by the way... use a shaker! Ice in the shaker - NOT in the glass!)

Anyway... after three MARVELOUS cocktails for me (and two for The Poops) it was time to hit the Rooftop Party at our hotel...

(*HUGE FRIGGIN' GRIN*)

Again... folks... IT'S GOOD TO BE BILL...!!!

Such... a... fun... time...!!! REALLY cool! Definitely one of the highlights of the trip! Great band (Swingin' Leroy)...  great crowd... and $7/$8 drinks!

Well... after the party... after the dancing and singin'... time for a little snack! First stop... Local Gastropub for a pint! (Nice atmosphere... we sat outside. Mary and I both had Wiseacre brews.)

LAST BUT NOT LEAST...

(*DRUM ROLL*)

Ernestine & Hazel's for SOUL BURGERS!

Folks... these burgers we SO... FRIGGIN'... GOOD... that after eating one each... we each ordered - and scoffed down - a second!

And by the way, folks... this "dive" bar is the real deal! Not a tourist in sight except for us! Definitely a "working man's" bar - a shift worker's bar! (Serves food till 3:00 a.m.!)

Anyway... we finally arrived "home" around 12:30 p.m.

A great night's sleep... followed by breakfast (this morning) with Jerry Seinfeld...

Oh! But wait; that's a story for tomorrow's travelogue wrap-up!

(*WINK*)

TO BE CONTINUED...