SCO Student Michelle Alaimo, ’23, writes about spending the summer in Memphis
Summer semester of third year is in full swing, with a round of midterms already under our belt and a busy schedule of classes, labs, and clinic. This is my first full summer in Memphis, and there have been lots of fun events happening in the city. Last summer, most events were canceled due to COVID and public spaces had restrictions on capacity. Even with a mini-term starting last July, there was little opportunity to experience summer in Memphis. Now that my classmates and I are here for the whole summer for third year, it’s been a lot of fun getting to check out all that Memphis has to offer. So far, I have gotten to go to some sporting events downtown, check out different restaurants, and spend some time outside.
Memphis has the Redbirds, which is a minor league baseball team, and Memphis 901 FC, a professional soccer team, that share Autozone Park stadium downtown. The stadium is walkable to restaurants, bars, and even Beale Street. Between the baseball and soccer teams, there is always something to attend and show your Memphis spirit! On Saturdays when the Redbirds play, the stadium has a fireworks show afterward. I recently attended a baseball game and a soccer game and had a blast at both!
Although the weather is hot, it is always nice to spend time outdoors when there is a chance to, so my friends and I have taken advantage of some of the things that Memphis has to offer outside. On Thursday evenings, there are outdoor movie screenings in the park on Mud Island along the Mississippi River. There are also kayaks available for rental right near Mud Island, and there are even some days throughout the summer when rentals are free. The river is such a pretty area to explore, especially at sunset. There are lots of great restaurants and breweries that have outdoor patios to enjoy the weather as well. Some of my favorites include Grind City Brewery, Babalu, and Young Avenue Deli.
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One of the best things about Memphis is all of the great food options to choose from, and I’ve gotten to check out some different places lately. I recently ate at the Lookout at The Pyramid, which is the restaurant at the top of the famous Bass Pro Shop Pyramid downtown. The lookout has an awesome view that overlooks downtown Memphis and the Mississippi River. Some other places I have tried this summer and really enjoyed are Automatic Slims, Memphis Pizza Café, and Crumpy’s Wings. No matter what type of food you are craving, there is always a great local option in Memphis. I’m looking forward to the rest of this summer and all of the things Memphis has to offer!