Mary Queen of Arkansas

Okay so finally on to the road trip...

LBG, J and I struck out early last Thursday morning, headed for Arkansas and The Rolling Stones. We were actually making pretty good time until we got to Memphis. Since we were doing so well time-wise we thought it would be cool to stop and eat lunch on Beale Street. In search of Beale Street we go. Now none of us have spent any time in Memphis and this was kind of an impromptu pit stop so we had no idea where Beale Street really was. We have an atlas and that's pretty much it. I'm driving and J and LBG are navigating. Somehow in our search for Beale Street, we managed to cruise the worst parts of Memphis. I liken it to a third world country. I had no idea that Memphis, for the most part, was so impoverished.

So after attempting to follow signs to Beale Street, crossing the Mississippi Rivier four times (yep, I said four and for the record we were laughing hysterically the entire time) and giving up, we passed Beale Street on the way to picking up the interstate that would get us to Little Rock. Since we happened upon Beale Street, even after wasting an hour looking for it, we still decided we had time to stop and eat. Just picking some random place, we rolled into The Pig on Beale (Pork with an Attitude). We all ordered barbecue sandwiches and onion rings. The food was pretty awesome. Some of the best onion rings I've ever had (although I think the ones from Chips in Dallas are just a little bit better, but it's almost like comparing apples and oranges, but I digress). After we eat it's back on the road.

We pull into Little Rock just before 6:30 p.m. The concert starts in roughly an hour. There's a mad dash to get ready and by the time we finally get to the show, having to stop for a big ol' beer before we find out seats, we'd missed just a bit of the opening act. Since Merle Haggard was the opener and I'm not all that familiar with his music, I wasn't too broken up about. He wasn't bad though. After the opening set, we decided to go in search of liquor, 'cause the beer just wasn't gettin' it.

We finally find the "cocktail bar" and wait in line FOREVER. Thankfully they allowed you to order a double and they were pretty strong. We made it back to our seats before The Stones took the stage. It was an awesome show and I got to see them perform several songs I'd never seen live. I got especially excited when they launched into Dead Flowers. It's one of my absolute favorites! Here's the set list:

Jumping Jack Flash
Let's Spend The Night Together
It's Only Rock'n Roll
Oh No Not You Again
Dead Flowers
Back Of My Hand
Tumbling Dice
Midnight Rambler
Night Time Is The Right Time --- Introductions
This Place Is Empty (Keith)
Happy (Keith)
Miss You (to B-stage)
Rough Justice
Get Off Of My Cloud
Honky Tonk Women (to main stage)
Sympathy For The Devil
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
You Can't Always Get What You Want (encore)
Satisfaction (encore)

The next day we decided to explore Little Rock. We ended up down at the river front area near the Clinton library (damn there go my Democratic tendencies again!). After lunch at The Underground Pub, J went to the library and LBG and I (in typical fashion) poked around the neighborhood and shopped. The River Market there on the Arkansas River was so cute. There were lots of different types of food vendors representing. Almost like the food court in the mall, only way cuter, more authentic and with much better food. Next we went to the crafty people and both ended up buying bracelets made out of old typewriter keys. They were too cute to pass up. So after exploring the neighborhood and meeting back up with J, we paid 50 cents to ride a trolley from Little Rock to North Little Rock and back. That was the best 50 cents I think I've ever spent. The trolley ride was nice and informative (we didn't know it included a mini tour of the city) and the trolley driver was pretty fucking hysterical.

That evening we ventured out for dinner to the Cajun's Wharf. The restaurant was pretty cool (albeit hard to find, 'cause once again we got a little lost). They had a pretty happening little bar area with live music, which we enjoyed while waiting for our table. All three of us ordered seafood and after sampling each other's plates determined that everyone had some damn good food. In my opinion the food wasn't really Cajun in the traditional sense, but more like nouveau Cajun cuisine. Still it was very good and I was pleasantly surprised to get seafood that good in Little Rock.

After dinner we cruised back to the river front area to hit a bar or two. After wandering around for a few minutes, we finally settled on The Flying Saucer. It looked laid back, not too trendy, they had a live band and the cover was cheap ($2). After ordering our drinks, the only table we could find was right up front near the stage. We grab the table and settle back to listen to the band.

They were called The Crumbs and the band consisted of three guys playing bluegrass music. They didn't just play bluegrass though. They played modern classics but bluegrass style. Purple Rain a la bluegrass. Some other songs they played: You Can't Always Get What You Want, Cocaine, The Tide is High and The Joker. They were awesome and so much fun to watch. These guys were having a damn good time playing music. I wish we could have hung out long enough to catch the rest of their set, but we'd had a big day and everyone was ready to go back to the hotel and crash.

Saturday after breakfast at the River Market, we were getting ready to start the journey home when we ran into two of the guys from The Crumbs. It was nice to be able to tell them how much we enjoyed their show. Apparently they quite enjoyed having us in the audience as well. On the way back we decided to stop in Memphis again. (We were trying to decide if Memphis might warrant a weekend trip and we'd had Memphis barbecue, but not Memphis ribs). This time we decided to try the ribs at The Blues City Cafe. We were not disappointed. They were some of the best ribs I think I've EVER put in my mouth. So we can definitely agree that Memphis has good barbecue.

LBG and J dropped me off in Alabama shortly after 9 o'clock Saturday night. I think I can safely say that we all had a great time on the way to Little Rock. We had fun on the way back from Little Rock. That trip is best made with companionship because after Birmingham there's not shit until Memphis (unless you count the Tupelo exit) and after Memphis there's nothing until Little Rock. We were all surprised how much fun we had in Little Rock. I might like to (at some point) go back to Little Rock. And last but not least, when they say that Memphis has good barbecue, they ain't lyin'!