We live in a 1922 bungalow in the fun and funky Cooper Young district in Midtown, Memphis. We have the best job in the world, teaching at a local university. We love our city and are proud to introduce visitors to its many facets, including art, music, and history. Oh, and craft beer - that's Maureen's specialty.

Covid put a little crimp in our Couchsurfing activities but we are "back in business" and accepting guests who can provide proof of Covid vaccination when requesting/confirming their stay.

We prefer not to plan hosting too far in advance because we want to keep our social and travel opportunities open. Thus, we prefer same-week requests, but don't let that keep you from asking for a surf that is farther out. We will be happy to receive your request and will quickly let you know if we can host you.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

For our honeymoon we visited New Zealand and heard a Maori saying: "What is the most important thing? It is people. It is people. It is people." We could not agree more and are looking forward to meeting new friends from around the world.

After Couchsurfing for a while now, we have found that our work keeps us busier than we would like and we often can't spend too much time with our Couchsurfing guests. As such, the more independent a traveler you are, the better suited we are as hosts for you. We'll certainly WANT to spend time with you, we just may not be able to. Still, we'll point you in the right direction and provide a comfortable landing spot at the end of the day.

Interests

Social sciences, social justice, socializing.
Investment property. Road trips. Laughing. Cute animals. Scrabble. Nice people. Doing good.

• animals
• dogs
• arts
• books
• concerts
• civil rights
• cooking
• beer
• coffee
• bbq
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• live music
• guitar
• baseball
• social science
• tourism
• road trips

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: old country western, folk, singer/songwriter, bluegrass, indie, soul.
Books: Between the two of us we read all kinds of books (Maureen reads more), some related to our teaching, some not. Mostly non-fiction.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Inner tubed through glow worm caves in New Zealand.
Had a summer gig shooting t-shirts for the Memphis Redbirds AAA baseball team.
Road trips around the US, including seven days through tiny Vermont and a couple cross-country jaunts, on one Route 66.
Maureen was a Graceland tour guide, and once played guitar onstage with Belinda Carlile and the Indigo girls.
Went dogsledding on an Alaskan glacier.

Teach, Learn, Share

Tracie and Maureen's Guide to Memphis

If we can't host you and you you can't find another CS host, you may wish to check out Memphis' only hostel, Hostel Memphis, in our Cooper-Young neighborhood. https://www.hostelmemphis.com/

Memphis is very much a driving city, so if you want to explore we recommend having/renting a car. However, some surfers have found the bus system completely workable during their visit. Also, there is a hop on hop off bus (http://www.memphishop.com) that will take you to Graceland and the major sights in downtown.

As mentioned, we live in the historic neighborhood of Cooper-Young in Midtown Memphis. Some of our recommendations include places in and around Midtown as well as downtown.

Must dos for a weekend in Memphis: If you only have a weekend here and you've never been, we recommend Sun Studio (they give a great live tour), the National Civil Rights Museum (Maureen accompanied Noam Chomsky through the museum--just had to say that), and, of course, Graceland. The first two are downtown. Graceland is a trek. A fourth must-do is Crosstown Concourse, www.crosstownconcourse.com, a repurposed Sears Building that has won several national design and use awards.

If you visit Memphis during late spring/summer/or early fall and like music, check out the Overton Park Shell schedule of free concerts Thurs-Saturdays. https://overtonparkshell.org/

Some links to local attractions and information about things to do in Memphis:
Who doesn't want to go to Graceland? Maureen went every day for an entire summer. Granted, she worked there as a tour guide. But, she loved it! http://www.graceland.com/

Here is a January 2022 article published in our I Love Memphis blog, a guide to local activities. It includes the important categories of to-dos in Memphis. https://ilovememphisblog.com/memphischeatsheet?mc_cid=1a571e0cd8&mc_eid=d9d4c08fdd

The New York Times "36 Hours In Memphis" video: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/travel/what-to-do-in-36-hours-memphis.html?_r=0

A spring 2018 article about our Cooper-Young neighborhood published in the American Airlines magazine "American Way": http://americanway.ink-live.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=e81d8f42-731e-4176-b1dd-c11df2ac2293&pnum=89.

An even more recent Cooper Young blog post https://styleblueprint.com/memphis/everyday/cooper-young-neighborhood/.

Stay With Me: One day, one adventure in a familiar — and fabulous — city: Memphis. Published May 2018. http://memphismagazine.com/features/columns/stay-with-me/?utm_source=Memphis+Magazine&utm_campaign=1a451445e1-MM+Dish+Email&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_08903dcca7-1a451445e1-273088909

A Nov. 2018 Memphis travel blog entry by a couple Tennessee travelers, Two Upright Tray Tables (cute!): http://twouprighttraytables.com/blog/2018/11/8/memphis-tennessee-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do

The Broad Avenue Arts District is super cool: https://styleblueprint.com/memphis/everyday/how-to-spend-a-day-in-broad-avenue-eat-drink-shop-play/.

A June 2021 article about Broad Avenue Arts District: https://styleblueprint.com/memphis/everyday/how-to-spend-a-day-in-broad-avenue-eat-drink-shop-play/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=48+Hours+on+Everyone+s+Favorite+South+Florida+Island&utm_campaign=SB+Daily+Memphis+2021-06-01

The Pinch District, which includes the largest Bass Pro Shop (Maureen hates it; Tracie loves it), and the best view of the surrounding area, is highlighted in this post: https://styleblueprint.com/memphis/everyday/pinch-district/

This blog has lots of great info on our super cool city: http://ilovememphisblog.com/

Want some great Memphis shots to post on Instagram? https://styleblueprint.com/memphis/everyday/the-most-instagrammable-spots-in-memphis/

The visitor's information Web site with even more ideas: http://www.memphistravel.com/

Here are some of our favorite eateries and drinkeries (all pretty casual) and farther down are recommendations for attractions and some links to more information about Memphis. This is by no means comprehensive, but it will get you started.

Deli
Kwik Chek Food Store (2013 Madison Avenue) has great sandwiches, bi bim bop, falafel. Tracie's favorite is the Turk (no cheese). Maureen likes the My Feta Smells Good. Young Avenue Deli (2119 Young Avenue, in our neighborhood!) has a great menu and very good beer selection. They're also open late. Maureen likes the build your own pizza (so does Tracie), the homemade cheese sticks, and the rockin' pimento cheese. Fino's From the Hill (1853 Madison Avenue) has some of the best sandwiches in town. If you get a whole sandwich, it will be bigger than your head!

Burgers
Huey's (locations in Midtown and downtown) has what most people call the best burger in town. They fix their burgers in lots of styles, and they even have a house made veggie burger that is to die for. The first time Maureen ordered it, she had to ask the server if there was a mistake, as it looked like a regular cow burger. :) We also love the fried mushrooms with the horseradish dipping sauce. That will clear your sinuses!

Dyer's Burgers (205 Beale St., downtown) is the place, legend has it, that has 100 year old grease. They've even moved their grease when changing locations, and have armed guard escorts during the move.
BBQ (while we don't do a lot of BBQ, we must give you some recommendations for this famous Memphis food; ribs and dry rub BBQ are what Memphis is known for--other than Elvis, of course)
Charles Vergos' Rendezvous (52 South 2nd St., downtown) is the place to go for ribs. It's a Memphis icon. Many of the servers have been there for 40 years. If you've never been and you like to eat meat, it's worth a try. The only vegetarian item is a small bowl of red beans and rice. And some cheese and dill pickles.

Central BBQ (147 East Butler, downtown, next to the National Civil Rights Museum or, near us, 2249 Central Ave., Midtown) is where the locals go to get their bbq. Really. That's their slogan. And, it's true. They also have a great grilled portabello sandwich for the vegetarians.

Tops BBQ (lots of locations) is another Memphis establishment and a local favorite. Not even as fancy as Central (and that ain't fancy), but good and cheap.

Cozy Corner (745 North Parkway) specializes in bbq bologna and cornish hens. It's off the beaten path, but it's also been featured on Food Network and in the book "1,000 Places to See Before You Die." I guess you need to go!

The Bar-B-Q Shop (1782 Madison Ave) is another local favorite and the originators of barbecue spaghetti.

Catfish
Soul Fish Cafe (862 Cooper St, in our neighborhood!) has awesome fried (and grilled) catfish, great sandwiches, and other great soul food. And good local beer.

Flying Fish (105 South 2nd Street, downtown) also has really great fried catfish. They also have other seafood baskets and the "World's First Billy Bass Adoption Center." Bring them your mounted Billy Bass fish, they'll give you a free basket of catfish!

Pizza
Aldo's Pizza (752 S. Cooper and 100 South Main St. #101 ) Yum!

Little Italy (1495 Union Ave) has changed its name to Memphis Slice (summer 2023) and we have not been there since the name change. Here was our review before the change: It has the best NY style pizza outside of NY. Maureen absolutely loves this place, as it reminds her of the NY pizza she had as a kid when visiting NYC and Long Island. Sold by the slice or pie. You'll miss the place if you blink, but take a u-ey and keep looking. It is worth it.

Breakfast
Brother Juniper's (3519 Walker Avenue, in U of M area) has hands down the best breakfast in town. There is always a wait, but there is some kind of call ahead system. So, call ahead.
Here is an August 2023 breakfast blog: https://styleblueprint.com/memphis/everyday/best-breakfast-memphis

Late night grub and the best dessert in Memphis
Westy's (346 North Main St.), has a super extensive menu with a kitchen open until 3:00am every night. They have the most amazing dessert, Jake's Famous Hot Fudge Pie. Never heard of it? Order it, and you will know.
Young Avenue Deli (see above) also has a late night kitchen, open until 3:00am most nights. On weekends, there is often live music. It's super loud, though. If you want to sit and chat, it could be difficult here.

Coffee shops
Java Cabana (2170 Young Ave., in our neighborhood!) has been around forever. Maureen went in college for their open mic and poetry reading nights. They serve a good cup of coffee in a funky atmosphere.
Otherlands Coffee Bar (641 Cooper St., not far from us) is another funky Midtown coffee shop with a good lunch menu and baked goods. They also have free wi-fi.
Bluff City Coffee (Cooper Young neighborhood and also 505 South Main St., downtown) is a highly rated downtown coffee shop and can be reached by foot for anyone staying downtown. They are not open late (usually closing by 6:00pm, maybe earlier).
Cafe Eclectic (603 N. McLean St.) is just a cool place with a nice sit down style, good breakfast menu, an ice cream and soda fountain, and excellent coffee. Maureen loves the brie and fresh pear panini. Yum! (Oh, and their Web site informs us that Elvis used to jam with friends in the unit above their place.)
And here is an Aug 2023 coffee shop article: https://styleblueprint.com/memphis/everyday/memphis-coffee-shops

Beer bars
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium (130 Peabody Place, downtown), while a chain, has the largest selection of draft beer in the city.
Young Avenue Deli (see above) really does have a great beer selection. Good food, too! Boscos (2120 Madison Ave.) is a restaurant that brews its own beer. They have always on tap styles as well as rotating taps.
Never a bad beer at Boscos. They also have a great food menu. Maureen loves the fried artichoke hearts.
Hammer and Ale (921 Cooper St., in our neighborhood!) is technically a growler station (you can get a gallon of beer to go) but you can also buy a pint from their wall of taps. They have more than 20 beers on tap. Here is an article about our breweries: https://styleblueprint.com/memphis/everyday/memphis-microbreweries/.

Growler stations
Cash Saver (1620 Madison Ave.) is a grocery store. Yes, they have a bar in the grocery store. Awesome selection of bottles, and you can make your own six pack. Very affordable bottles and growlers. This has become midtown's hipster grocery store. At least check it out.
Hammer and Ale in Cooper Young (see above) is a cool space with great beer. Drink in, drink out. Your choice.
This article https://www.memphistravel.com/trip-ideas/craft-beer-memphis-tennessee
is all about the Memphis beer scene, which includes several small, craft breweries--with tasting rooms.

Cocktails:
https://styleblueprint.com/memphis/everyday/the-best-cocktail-bars-in-memphis/

What I Can Share with Hosts

A relaxing space, washer/dryer, good beer, good coffee, two super cute kitties.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Switzerland, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States