The day after graduating from Northwestern, my mom and I packed up my room and made the 9-hour drive from Chicago to Memphis. We arrived at our hotel around 1 a.m. My mom had plans to fly out the following day, giving us just enough time to tour one site in Memphis that morning. We decided on Graceland.
We paid too much for the Platinum ticket and waited in the long line to take the shuttle across the street (does anyone walk places anymore?). There were a few crazy fans on our tour, but we both liked the mansion — the rooms were cool, my mom loved the music (it brought her back to high school) , and I had no idea Elvis had been that good looking.
After Graceland, I took my mom to the airport, leaving her feeling a little unsatisfied. Sure she’d seen where Elvis lived, but she completely missed the present-day Memphis.
After living here for a few weeks, I question whether Graceland was the best site for my mom to see. If you had time to take visitors to only one place that represents Memphis, where would you go?

I’m currently writing a story about the old Imperial Lanes bowling alley over on Summer Ave. The place is closing after 48 years. It’ll be torn down and probably turned into another strip mall, according to manager Bob McKenney, who started working there when he was 16. Now he’s 49.

Yesterday I spent a few hours with some of the alley’s old-timers, men who’ve been bowling here since the place opened in 1958. These guys come three or four times a week to bowl and hang out.

No one wants the place to close down… but another strip mall would probably generate more money than a bowling alley that charges only $1.50 per game (during the summer).

Plus people don’t bowl like they used to. When I showed up Tuesday afternoon, maybe 5 of the 48 lanes were in use.

Are people upset about this? If a beloved place (I’m also thinking about Libertyland) doesn’t get the same kind of business it used to, does it make sense to tear it down?