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AMERICA'S MUSIC CORRIDOR
SUGGESTED GROUP ITINERARIES
ST. LOUIS, MEMPHIS & NEW ORLEANS
DAY ONE - ST. LOUIS
Start your group's journey down America's Music Corridor by getting acquainted with some of St. Louis' most favored sons and daughters on the St. Louis Walk of Fame (http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/) in The Loop neighborhood. Music legends like Chuck Berry, Scott Joplin, Miles Davis, Tina Turner and Nelly are commemorated with bronze stars in the sidewalk along Delmar Boulevard, the "main drag" of the eclectic neighborhood. More famous St. Louisans are honored here, including playwright Tennessee Williams, cabaret star Josephine Baker, baseball's Stan "The Man" Musial, and author T.S. Eliot.
Your tour also can check out the neighborhood's assortment of one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants and cafes. Vintage Vinyl has an enormous selection of LPs, CDs and 45s, and frequently hosts in-store performances. Cicero's hosts live local and national bands nightly, while the Red Sea restaurant serves up spicy Reggae, Blues and alternative music. The Delmar Restaurant and Lounge and the Red Carpet Lounge at Brandt's feature live jazz nightly and Riddle's Penultimate Café & Wine Bar also has live music seven days a week. The Pageant, one of the region's most popular small concert venues, hosts a variety of national bands and DJ spins in the adjacent Halo Bar. (http://www.visittheloop.com/).
Blueberry Hill (http://www.blueberryhill.com/) The Loop's epicenter, is filled with Rock 'n' Roll collectibles and an entire room devoted to Elvis paraphernalia. Your group will love the displays dedicated to the Beatles and Howdy Doody, along with Chuck Berry's famous guitar. The Elvis Room is filled with memorabilia related to the King of Rock 'n' Roll and hosts live bands on weekends. Local resident Chuck Berry makes regular concert appearances in the Duck Room, a clubby concert space named after Berry's trademark "duck walk." Your group can grab a bite to eat from Blueberry Hill's famous kitchen as they listen to some of the 2,000-plus songs on what Cashbox magazine has called the world's greatest jukebox.
Scott Joplin, known as the Father of Ragtime, spent some of his most productive years in St. Louis at the turn of the century. The Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark, is where the young pianist lived from 1900-1903. The restored, post-Civil War structure has re-created the feel of Joplin's home during this period, and includes some player piano rolls of rags cut by Joplin himself. The house also includes an exhibit on the 1904 World's Fair, where Joplin first played his new music for the entire world. Group members can pump the foot-powered player piano and perform their own versions of Maple Leaf Rag or The Entertainer, some of the King of Ragtime's most popular tunes. A re-created version of the Rosebud Cafe, one of Joplin's favorite haunts, is open next door to the house. The original Rosebud was located near St. Louis Union Station, and Joplin and his contemporaries would take over the cafe to practice their new compositions on the patrons. (www.mostateparks.com/scottjoplin.htm)
Laclede's Landing (http://www.lacledeslanding.com/), listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a living reminder of St. Louis' past as America's greatest riverboat port. The district's cobblestone streets are lined with cast iron street lamps and its restored warehouses, which once housed cotton, tobacco and other river-borne commodities, now contain group-friendly restaurants and dance clubs. The Landing is a great place for tour groups to spend free time exploring the historic surroundings. Special events include the annual Big Muddy Blues Festival (September), and nightclubs such as The Big Bang, Throttle, Club Buca, Xces, Fat Tuesday and Big Daddy's rock the house with live music and DJ spins. A variety of restaurants such as Hannegan's Pub & Restaurant, Jake's Steaks, The Feisty Bulldog, Morgan Street Brewery and The Drunken Fish are available to tackle your group's appetite.
DAY TWO - ST. LOUIS
No visit to St. Louis would be complete without a trip to the top of the Gateway Arch, towering 630-feet above the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. Once your group reaches its destination, they'll find a 30-mile panoramic view of the region, downtown skyline, and Mississippi River traffic. Back on the ground, they won't want to miss the Museum of Westward Expansion or the Odyssey Theatre with its four-story screen and stunning visuals. Every summer, the Arch grounds is home to Fair Saint Louis and the Live on the Levee concert series, two free, back-to-back events that feature concerts by national headliners, local bands and spectacular fireworks displays over the Mississippi River (http://www.celebratestlouis.com/).
What better way for your group to get a feel for Ol' Man River, the backbone of the America's Music Corridor tour, than with a relaxing Gateway Riverboat Cruise. Two paddlewheel riverboats, the Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher, offer one-hour narrated cruises daily along the mighty Mississippi, or bring your crew aboard for a dinner cruise complete with live blues or jazz bands. (http://www.gatewayarch.com/)
Soulard, the city's oldest neighborhood, is also one of the most musical. More than 30 restaurants and music clubs are scattered throughout the red brick townhouses and ornate churches. Soulard Farmer's Market, founded in 1779, springs to life each Wednesday through Saturday with assorted fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, herbs and spices. The area's culinary circuit runs the gamut from casual pub grub to upscale modern American cuisine. After dinner, your group can stroll through the streets or visit a variety of music clubs, including BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups, Broadway Oyster Bar, Beale on Broadway, McGurk's Irish Pub, Hammerstone's at 9th & Russell, Lucas School House and many others. Annual events in the Soulard neighborhood include Soulard Mardi Gras in February and Bastille Day each July. http://stlouis.missouri.org/Soulard
Forest Park (www.stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark) is home to some of St. Louis' most popular attractions, including the Missouri History Museum (http://www.mohistory.org/). Its broad collection, which is displayed periodically, of sheet music, personal items, costumes, photographs and much more documents noted St. Louis-area musical artists and their contributions to Ragtime, Blues, Jazz, Gospel, Classical, and Rock 'n' Roll. Forest Park's other popular attractions include the Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Art Museum, and Saint Louis Science Center - all of which are open free of charge - and The Muny (http://www.muny.org/) outdoor theater where Broadway musicals such as "South Pacific," "Camelot" and "A Chorus Line" are performed under the stars for seven weeks each summer.
Grand Center arts and entertainment district (http://www.grandcenter.org/), located in midtown St. Louis, is home to a variety of entertainment and cultural offerings, including the renowned Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (http://www.slso.org/), which stages performances September through May at historic Powell Symphony Hall; and The Fox Theatre (http://www.fabulousfox.com/), which hosts an assortment of events such as touring Broadway shows, dance performances, comedy and live music concerts. Grand Center is also home base for the St. Louis Black Repertory Company (http://www.stlouisblackrep.com/), the largest, professional African-American theatre company in the nation; The Sheldon Concert Hall (www.sheldonconcerthall.org); Jazz St. Louis (http://www.jazzstl.org/), and the Creepy Crawl (http://www.creepycrawl.com/), home to underground and up-and-coming rock ‘n' roll bands. The day-long Saint Louis Jazz & Heritage Festival (http://www.saintlousjazzfest.com/) takes place in late May/early June each year at Shaw Park in nearby Clayton.
Another only-in-St. Louis music offering is found at the St. Louis Casa Loma Ballroom (http://www.casalomaballroom.com/), original home of the dance craze known as Imperial dancing. Groups will love this throwback to the grand days of dancing in this art deco ballroom and 5,000-square foot dance floor. Cut a rug or two to the live music from local rock, swing, and rockabilly bands or enjoy special events like Mardi Gras balls and theme nights.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ST. LOUIS
For up-to-the-minute information on all of the Gateway City's music-related attractions and events, visit http://www.explorestlouis.com/, and refer to the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission's Group Tour Manual and Official Visitors Guide. While in town, if your group needs additional information, maps, or friendly advice, steer them to downtown's Visitor Centers at the corner of Seventh and Washington streets and in Kiener Plaza, or inside the Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center in Forest Park. A complete listing of live music in the area is available in the Riverfront Times (www.riverfronttimes.com), a free weekly newspaper available at the Visitor Information Centers and in restaurants and office buildings throughout the city.
DAY ONE - MEMPHIS
Your group's second stop along America's Music Corridor is Memphis, Tennessee. Known as the Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll, this city on the bluffs of the mighty Mississippi River is home to a number of musical landmarks. Elvis Presley's Graceland (http://www.elvis.com/) is where the late King of Rock 'n' Roll lived until his death in 1977. Take a step back in time and get a glimpse of the man behind the flash and sequins. Tours include the mansion and grounds, his personal tour jets, his car collection, and Meditation Garden where Elvis and members of his family are buried.
If Memphis is the Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll, then Sun Studio (http://www.sunstudio.com/) must be the delivery room. Legendary producer Sam Phillips opened the tiny studio in 1950, and recorded such legendary performers as Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Carl Perkins, and many more. Today, Sun still operates as a studio at night, recording current stars like Ringo Starr, U2, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and provides studio tours during the day.
Not far from Sun Studio, in an area where many of Memphis' African-American musicians lived and worked, was the Lorraine Motel. Today, the National Civil Rights Museum (http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/) is located in the former Lorraine Motel, site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on April 4, 1968. The museum provides a comprehensive overview of the American civil rights movement and the everyday people who became heroes during this turbulent time in the nation's history. Interactive exhibits, audiovisual presentations, and displays trace the history of the movement and its leaders from the days of the Abolitionists, school integration, and the March on Washington to Dr. King's assassination during the city sanitation workers' strike in Memphis.
The Memphis Rock ‘n' Soul Museum's (http://www.memphisrocknsoul.org/) features an impressive exhibition about the birth of rock and soul music that was created by the Smithsonian Institution. It provides a comprehensive Memphis music experience that begins with the rural field hollers created by sharecroppers in the 1930s and transports visitors to Memphis musical heyday of the 1970s and the explosion of the Sun, Stax and Hi Records labels. The museum includes seven galleries worth of audiovisual programs, instruments, costumes and other musical treasures. Beale Street by day offers a variety of shopping and dining options, but when the sun sets, the historic street turns into a totally different place. Nighttime on Beale Street is the right time to let your group members dance to the beat of their own individual drummers, as a plethora of clubs line the streets with music that will appeal to everyone. Rum Boogie Café is home to an abundance of music memorabilia, and longtime anchors King's Palace Café, Alfred's on Beale, Silky O'Sullivan's and B.B. King's Blues Club serve up hot licks and live music that keep the party going. Impromptu jam sessions among amateur musicians often strike up under the watchful eye of the W.C. Handy statue in Handy Park and on street corners throughout the historic street. Each May, the Beale Street Music Festival takes over the friendly confines of Tom Lee Park for three action-packed days of live music on multiple stages (http://www.bealestreet.com/).
DAY TWO - MEMPHIS
During the 1960s, some of the country's most exciting music was coming out of a former movie theater on McLemore Avenue. Stax, a record label formed by siblings Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, produced soul hits by Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Sam & Dave, the Staple Singers, and Booker T & the MG's. Today, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music - Soulsville USA - (http://www.soulsvilleusa.com/) has been created at the original site of Stax Records. The museum pays tribute to the artists who recorded for the label and includes a collection of more than 2,000 interactive exhibits, films, artifacts, items of memorabilia, and galleries. Exhibits include videos, stage costumes, photographs, instruments and items such as Redding's favorite brown suede jacket; Albert King's purple Flying V guitar; Tina Turner's gold sequined stage dress and Hayes' restored, peacock-blue 1972 Superfly Cadillac El Dorado complete with television, refrigerator, and gold trim. The tour wraps up with a walk through a re-created version of Stax's legendary Studio A, ground zero for the great Memphis sound.
Next stop: the Center for Southern Folklore (http://www.southernfolklore.com/), a museum that documents the people and traditions of the South. The center, known for its research and interpretive programs, has enriched the understanding of the people and traditions of the South for more than 30 years. The Center features a folk art gallery with photography and exhibits by Southern artists, as well as using public events, performances, exhibits and media to present folk culture to audiences of all ages. Visitors can enjoy live music every weekday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the organization produces the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival every Labor Day Weekend.
Mud Island (http://www.mudisland.com/) has everything your group needs to know about "Big Muddy." Trace your crew's America's Music Corridor journey down the Mississippi River while walking along the River Walk, a five block-long scale model of the river. Then head for the Mississippi River Museum (http://www.mississippirivermuseum.org/), which features 18 galleries that detail river life, legends, models, and the cultural history of the Lower Mississippi River Valley. The museum features more than 5,000 artifacts that tell the story of river transportation, the Civil War and the roots music of the Delta region.
It's been said that the Mississippi Delta starts in the lobby of The Peabody Hotel - well that's not all that starts there. The Peabody Marching Ducks (http://www.peabodymemphis.com/), permanent fixtures in the lobby fountain of the South's Grand Hotel, strut their stuff daily. From their penthouse digs, the famous fowls march down their red carpet at 11 o'clock each morning to the tune of "King Cotton March." At 5 pm, it's back to the duck house, via the hotel elevator, of course, for a snack and a good night's sleep.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MEMPHIS
Visit http://www.memphistravel.com/ or refer to the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau's Official Visitors Guide for a complete list of the attractions, activities and restaurants throughout the area. For additional information, maps, and friendly advice, check out the Tennessee State Welcome Center at 119 North Riverside Drive, (901) 543-3333. Pick up a copy of the free weekly newspaper, The Memphis Flyer (http://www.memphisflyer.com/) for a complete live music listing during your stay. The publication is available at restaurants and office buildings throughout the city.
DAY ONE - NEW ORLEANS
The final stop on America's Music Corridor is "The Big Easy," New Orleans, Louisiana. Known for its laid back attitude and a penchant for good times, your group will have no trouble locating good music and good times. While New Orleans is considered the cradle of Jazz, there are plenty of music genres stashed in every nook and cranny throughout the city. To get a handle on all of the local music history, start the group off with one of the many New Orleans city tours and learn about all of the mysterious eccentricities that make New Orleans such a unique place. A narrated history by your tour guide details the landmarks, legends and architecture that made this city famous, and explains what has changed since Hurricane Katrina hit the region in August 2005. From the "cities of the dead," also known as cemeteries, to the bawdy details of the legendary brothels and barrooms of Storyville, your group will get a thorough grounding in what makes New Orleans tick.
New Orleans is synonymous with good food, so tickle your group's tastebuds with traditional Jazz at the Court of Two Sisters Jazz Brunch. While they digest all of the facts and figures from their city tour, they can choose from an incredible array of Creole delights, all set to music in the restaurant's lush, tranquil courtyard. Linger as long as "y'all" like, soaking up the local attitude and atmosphere -- and maybe a glass or two of champagne. The Court of Two Sisters (http://www.courtoftwosisters.com/) also offers a full lunch and dinner menu, and opens its historic patio illuminated by charming gaslights for nighttime diners as well.
If your group is looking for a way to walk off those lunch time calories, they're in the perfect place. Shoppers and walkers in the group will love the historic Vieux Carre, more commonly known as the French Quarter. The "Old Square" is filled with enchanting shops, historic homes, neighborhood bars, art galleries, and antique shops. Souvenir shoppers will find a variety of items to take home, as the stores stock everything from t-shirts and hats to fine crystal and Louisiana crafts. Louisiana Music Factory (http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com/) specializes in regional music, including Cajun, R&B, Zydeco, Jazz, Blues, and Gospel, as well as videos, books, posters and sheet music.
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas (http://www.auduboninstitute.org/), located near the Quarter along the mighty Mississippi River, is home to more than 10,000 specimens of fish, birds, and reptiles displayed in their natural habitat. Your group will get a glimpse at who's lurking beneath the current of the Mississippi in the walk-through Mississippi River habitat. The exhibit, complete with a fishing pier, is filled with the creatures who call "Ol' Man River" home. The 500,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico exhibit teems with sharks, stingrays, barracuda and other undersea creatures, and the world's only white alligators. (Aquarium of the Americas - foot of Canal Street at the Mississippi River, 504-861-2538)
In a city with so many great restaurants, it's not hard to find a good place to eat. From Cajun to Creole, there are plenty of ways to wreck a diet in New Orleans. Some of the more well known eateries catering to groups include Commander's Palace (http://www.commanderspalace.com/) and Brennan's Restaurant (http://www.brennansneworleans.com/) - both owned by members of the Brennan family. The Palm Court Jazz Café (http://www.palmcourthazz.com/) offers live Jazz nightly along with delectable New Orleans cuisine, while Arnaud's Restaurant (http://www.arnauds.com/) features spectacular Creole cuisine and outstanding service. Take to the river again aboard the Creole Queen (http://www.neworleanspaddlewheels.com/) riverboat for a dinner cruise of hot Jazz and a Creole/Cajun dinner buffet.
After dinner, let your group stroll the streets of the French Quarter and name their own individual musical pleasure. Zydeco, Jazz, Country, Rock 'n' Roll, Blues -- the clubs are stocked with a dizzying array of live music. Preservation Hall (http://www.preservationhall.com/) and Maison Bourbon Jazz Club (504-522-8818) are good places to catch traditional New Orleans Jazz, and Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro (http://www.snugjazz.com/) is considered by many to be the city's premiere Jazz club. Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville (http://www.margaritavilleneworleans.com/) is a popular spot for rockers and "Parrot-heads" alike, and groups love the House of Blues (www.hob.com/venues/clubvenues/neworleans), with their nightly line-up that reads like a who's who of popular music. Legendary Blues artists and big name Rock bands pay homage nightly, or group members can belly up to the Hard Rock Cafe's (http://www.hardrock.com/) guitar-shaped bar and the wealth of music memorabilia. Get a taste of Cajun music and dancing at Michaul's Live Cajun Music Restaurant (http://www.michauls.com/), or visit Blue Nile (http://www.bluenilelive.com/) for live Jazz, Rock, Latin, Funk and R&B.
DAY TWO - NEW ORLEANS
The world famous Cafe Du Monde (http://www.cafedumonde.com/) is a great place for your group to wrap up a late night or kick off a new day. In business since the 1860s, CDM continues its tradition of serving hot cafe au lait and beignets 24 hours a day. Beignets are a tasty concoction consisting of fried dough and a mound of powdered sugar - sort of like doughnuts without the holes. Wash them down with a cup or two of cafe au lait, strong New Orleans-style coffee laced with chicory, and served half and half with hot milk.
The Louisiana State Museum (http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/) is actually a collection of museums tracing the history of New Orleans' culture and customs. The Presbytere houses an extensive exhibit on New Orleans' favorite party with The Mardi Gras Museum. Masks, throws (the beads and other goodies everyone fights for during the parades), ball gowns and assorted memorabilia explain the history of Carnival in New Orleans. Additional museums in the Louisiana State Museum system include The Cabildo and The Arsenal, both located on historic Jackson Square. The Cabildo contains Napoleon's death mask and the original deed to the Louisiana Purchase, while The Arsenal features photographs of post-Katrina New Orleans.
A great way for your group to explore other parts of the city during their free time is aboard the century-old St. Charles Streetcar for a relaxing ride through the Garden District in Uptown New Orleans. The Garden District, known for its lush greenery and fabulous architecture, is a picture postcard of Southern charm. Some of the group may want to hop off at Audubon Park, directly across the street from Tulane and Loyola universities, and head for the Audubon Park Zoo. Or they can take in the sights of the historic French Quarter from the back seat of an authentic horse or mule drawn carriage. Royal Carriages (http://www.royalcarriagesneworleans.com/) tour guides provide a narrated history of the Old Square's architecture, legends, and most notable characters. Have a buggy pick up group members from their hotel and shuttle them to and from any of the fine restaurants located in the Quarter.
Point the motorcoach in the direction of the Uptown music clubs, and get your group ready to dance the night away. One of the most popular music halls is Tipitina's (http://www.tipitinas.com/),
a favorite gig for hometown heroes like the Neville Brothers, as well as regional and national headliners. Another popular locals hangout is The Maple Leaf Bar (504-866-9359), cranking out Cajun, Creole and Caribbean-style rhythms, and don't miss a trip to the Mid-City Rock ‘n' Bowl, (http://www.rockandbowl.com/) for great live music and - of course - bowling!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON NEW ORLEANS
Be sure to refer to the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau's Official Visitors Guide and Web site, http://www.nomcvb.com/, for a complete list of the attractions, activities and restaurants throughout the area. For additional information about festivals, special events, and live music, pick up a copy of the New Orleans Times-Picayune's "Lagniappe" section (http://www.nola.com/), which comes out in the Friday edition of the newspaper. A thorough overview of the local music scene and up-to-date live music listing are also available in Offbeat Magazine (http://www.offbeat/) and Gambit Weekly (www.bestofneworleans.com). Encourage your group to pick up free copies at most businesses in the French Quarter and in restaurants and office buildings throughout the city.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AMERICA'S MUSIC CORRIDOR:
TOUR OPERATORS, TRAVEL AGENTS, AND GROUP LEADERS SHOULD ASK FOR THE GROUP TOUR SALES DEPARTMENT AT THE ST. LOUIS CONVENTION & VISITORS COMMISSION
1-800-916-0037 (USA and Canada)
314-421-1023 (International)
OR VISIT ST. LOUIS' ONLINE GROUP TOUR CENTER http://www.explorestlouis.com/groups/planning.asp
TRAVEL TRADE MEDIA SHOULD ASK FOR THE PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT
1-800-916-0037 (USA and Canada)
314-421-1023 (International)
OR VISIT ST. LOUIS' ONLINE MEDIA CENTER
http://www.explorestlouis.com/media/index.asp
INDIVIDUAL LEISURE TRAVELERS INTERESTED IN FLY/DRIVE INFORMATION, SHOULD CALL THE AMC HOTLINE
1-800-916-0038 (USA and Canada)
314-421-1023 (International)
OR VISIT ST. LOUIS' ONINE VISITORS CENTER
http://www.explorestlouis.com/visitors/index.asp
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Updated: March, 2008
MEDIA NOTE: For more information or photography of St. Louis, send an e-mail to pr@explorestlouis.com or call Becky Sharp at 1-314-992-0652. For up-to-date information about St. Louis, your readers should call the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission at 1-800-916-0040 or check out our website at www.explorestlouis.com. This news release is also available in electronic form. To obtain an electronic version, e-mail your request to pr@explorestlouis.com or go to St. Louis’ online media center at www.explorestlouis.com/media.
