Linda Burkard Boswell
Summer Drive In
Summer Avenue Drive-In Theatre
If you drive down Summer Avenue slowly, you can actually see the architecture change by the decade — a visual legacy of Memphis’ expansion. Towards the east end of the street is a 1960s-era drive-in movie theatre, still operational, and a favorite haunt of Memphians during the warmer months. Complete with four screens and a concession hut, the drive-in remains the most romantic spot in town. — Eileen Townsend
Port Restaurant on Presidents Island
Home of one of the best catfish sandwiches in the tri-state area, the Port Restaurant is the only dining establishment on the otherwise industrial Presidents Island. There is a buffet and a down-home bar, but the real draw is conversation with the folks who run and frequent the diner, which was originally known as “The Islander.” — Eileen Townsend
Elizabeth Alley
Crosstown
Sears Crosstown Building
Once a massive distribution warehouse for the major retailer, the Sears Crosstown Building was constructed in 1927 and closed in 1965. The massive art-deco style building was left vacant in 1993, where it collected dust until recently, when a group of developers teamed up to reinvent the building as a vertical urban village. The new “Crosstown Concourse” has plans to open sometime in the coming year, and will feature a school, art gallery, nonprofit health center, residential, and retail. — Eileen Townsend
Goner Records
Memphis’ preeminent independent punk and garage rock label, Goner Records has been homebase for front-running acts such as Jay Reatard and Ty Segall. Founded in 1993, Goner hosts a yearly music festival known as GonerFest that draws crowds from all over the world for a weekend of disreputable, dirty fun. — Eileen Townsend
