SchoolCEO Conference 2023 Guide to Memphis

SchoolCEO Conference 2023

Guide to Memphis, TN

Halloran Centre, Memphis, TN September 25-26

Intro

At Apptegy, we love finding ways to make every experience better. Whether you’ve been to Memphis many times before or you’re visiting for the first time, we want to make sure you get the most out of your trip.

The basics

Welcome!

Known as the city of blues, jazz, and rock-n-roll, Memphis is bustling with busy streets, buildings, and people. Easily recognizable by the music and nightlife, the area is home to art, culture, and good eats.

Some of the food and drink spots we recommend are Blues City Cafe , Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken , and The Rendezvous.

For destinations to explore, the Sun Studio and Big River Crossing are must-sees!

Weather

In September, the average weather has a high of 84 and a low of 66. Bring a light jacket for your evening adventures!

84 average high

Airports

Memphis International Airport:

15 minute drive to Downtown Memphis. Uber and Lyft are currently operating at Memphis International Airport. At the terminal, Pickup AreasView on Map are located outside each of the A, B and C ticketing lobby exits on the outer commercial drive. Follow “Uber/Lyft” signage to the designated area for pickups. For rental car customers, there is a pick-up and drop-off area on the 3rd floor of the economy parking garage.

15 minute drive

66 average low

Airport to Downtown Memphis

Conference Location and Hotels

Each hotel is a 2 minute drive from the Halloran Centre , with an average walking distance of 4 to 6 minutes. Located right next to the world famous Beale St., the conference will be hosted at the Halloran Centre. Both of the conference hotels, Hyatt Caption and Hyatt Centric , are within a five minute walk of the Halloran. If you prefer another option, Hampton Inn & Suites is just three minutes further away.

• Hyatt Caption: 2 minute drive, 4 minute walk

• Hyatt Centric: 2 minute drive, 4 minute walk

• Hampton Inn & Suites: 3 minute drive, 9 minute walk

• The Halloran Centre does not have parking so walking from your hotel is your best option. Or if you’re driving in, the easiest option is to valet at a hotel.

Note: The Halloran Centre has great A/C so if you chill easily, bring a sweater or light jacket for the sessions.

Food & drink

Drinks

Food

Travel time is based on the distance from the Halloran Centre

McEwen’s Memphis

Travel Time: 3 minute drive, 8 minute walk

Price: $$$

Hours: Saturday: 5:30-10 PM

Sunday: Closed

Monday-Wednesday 11 AM-2 PM

Thursday: 11 AM-2 PM, 5:30-9 PM

Friday: 11 AM-2 PM, 5:30-10 PM

Insider Tip: Be sure to visit the “Wine Cellar,” which is available for parties and luncheon meetings for up to 20 guests!

McEwem’s Memphis is known for their good food, great atmosphere, and excellent service. The wine selection at McEwen’s is loved by local guides and tourists alike!

The Rendezvous

Travel Time: 3 minute drive, 8 minute walk

Price: $$

Hours: Friday-Saturday: 11AM-10PM | Sunday-Monday: Closed | Tuesdsay-Thursday: 11AM-9PM

Insider Tip: Call for reservations bigger than 5 at (901) 523-2746.

With Memphis being known as the “barbecue mecca of the world,” The Rendezvous doesn’t disappoint. In operation for three quarters of a century, the culinary destination celebrates their first class BBQ, service, and local beginnings of a brother duo.

Blues City Cafe

Travel Time: 1 minute drive, 3 minute walk

Price: $$

Hours: Friday-Saturday: 11AM-3AM

Sunday-Thursday: 11AM-1AM

Insider Tip: Be sure to try the chicken and waffles, they’re loved by locals!

Flying Fish

Travel Time: 1 minute drive, 5 minute walk

Price: $$

Hours: Friday & Saturday: 11AM-10PM

Sunday-Thursday: 11AM-9PM

A must for seafood lovers, there are a plethora of choices when it comes to Flying Fish. The food and staff are exceptional, and the service is quick.

Described as an old-school juke joint with the best food in the city, you don’t want to miss out on eating at Blues City Cafe. After sessions, take a 3 minute walk to this beloved local destination.

INSIDER TIP:

Try the hush puppies and Vera Cruz sauce on the side. According to locals, they’re like no other!

The Majestic Grille

Travel Time: 1 minute drive, 2 minute walk

Price: $$

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11AM-9PM

Sunday: Closed

Insider Tip: Make reservations at (901) 5228555.

Located in the Fifty Peabody Place, The Majestic Grille gives a 1920s vibe. The renovated movie theatre layout provides good food and a show—silent, that is.

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

Travel Time: 1 minute drive, 2 minute walk

Price: $

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11AM-9PM

Sunday: Closed

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken lives up to the hype of the best fried chicken in Memphis—a tradition among locals.

B.B. King’s Blues Club

Travel Time: 1 minute drive, 3 minute walk

Price: $$

Hours: Thursday-Friday: 11AM-1AM

Saturday-Wednesday: 11 AM-12AM

If you’re a lover of live music, you’ll love B.B. King’s Blues Club. With Memphis being known for its music scene, B.B. King’s offers classic soul, soulful blues, and rock-n-roll, as well as good food and service.

Drinks

Hammer & Ale

Travel Time: 12 minute drive

Price: $

Hours: Friday-Saturday: 12-9PM | Sunday:

1-6PM | Monday: Closed | Tuesday-Thursday: 2-8PM

Insider Tip: Try the beer inspired by geologists Hutton & Smith!

Hammer & Ale is known for its local, craft, and regional beers. Described as a relaxed vibe, this is a great place to get your evening started with a curated menu of over 20 drinks.

Alchemy Memphis

Travel Time: 11 minute drive

Price: $$

Hours: Friday-Saturday: 4PM-12AM | Sunday: 3-9PM | Monday-Thursday: 4-10PM

If you’re in the mood for a good, handcrafted cocktail, Alchemy Memphis is the place to be.

The Green Beetle

Travel Time: 1 minute drive, 4 minute walk

Price: $

Hours: Friday-Saturday: 11AM-11PM

Sunday-Thursday: 11AM-10PM

The Green Beetle is known for its Southern-influenced comfort food and live weekend entertainment. The welcoming atmosphere, friendly service, and good food will have you wanting to come back for more.

Eight & Sand

Travel Time: 2 minute drive, 12 minute walk

Price: $$

Hours: Friday-Saturday: 4PM-1AM

Sunday-Thursday: 4-11PM

As a restored railway station, Eight + Sand provides nothing but cool vibes. Relax, drink, and listen to laid back, soulful music at this local destination.

Flying Saucer Draught

Emporium

Travel Time: 1 minute drive, 4 minute walk

Price: $$

Hours: Friday-Saturday: 11AM-1AM | SundayThursday: 11AM-12AM

Insider Tip: If you enjoy a sweet and savory combo, locals recommend the Whiskey Burger.

Just a 4 minute walk from the Halloran Centre, enjoy a drink selection of over 200 global beers—The SchoolCEO Conference Welcome Dinner will be here on Sunday night starting at 6pm. See you there!

Art Bar at Crosstown Arts

Travel Time: 10 minute drive

Price: $

Hours: Friday-Saturday: 5PM-1AM | SundayThursday: 5PM-12AM

Made with fresh, local, and foraged ingredients from Memphis and around the world, Art Bar at Crosstown Arts provides a full-service bar with curated wines, craft beers, and cocktails.

Things to do

Graceland

Travel Time: 16 minute drive

Hours: Monday-Sunday: 9AM-4PM

Insider Tip: The Elvis: The Entertainer career museum features his iconic jumpsuits—recently showcased on the big screen in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic Elvis.

This Memphis mansion was home to The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Elvis fans around the world flock to Graceland for a chance to tour the famed singer’s home and pay their respects at his gravesite. The Elvis Experience Tour costs $77 and includes access to the mansion, the Elvis career museum, and his car collection.

National City Rights Museum

Travel Time: 11 minute walk

Hours: Tuesday: Closed Wednesday-Monday: 9AM-6PM

Insider Tip: The museum’s permanent I Am a Man exhibit tells the story of the Memphis sanitation strike, which is what brought Dr. King to Memphis.

Explore Black Americans’ long struggle for civil rights through a series of powerful exhibits that trace five centuries of American history. This extensive museum complex is centered around the former Lorraine Motel, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assasination in 1968. Tickets cost $18.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music

Travel Time: 10 minute drive

Hours: Monday: Closed | Tuesday-Sunday: 10AM-5PM

Insider Tip: Among the cool music artifacts on display, none catch the eye more than Issac Hayes’ beautiful custom Cadillac Eldorado.

For a time, Memphis was known as Soulville, U.S.A.—and it’s all thanks to Stax Records. Check out studio space, gold records, and memorabilia from legendary artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Wilson Pickett. General admission is $13.

Sun Studio

Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 10AM-5:15PM

Friday-Saturday: 10AM-6:15PM

Insider Tip: Sun is the record company that gave Elvis his big break, and you can hold the microphone he used to sing early hits like “That’s All Right” in the Sun studio!

Visit the place rock and roll was born! Sam Phillips’ Sun Records was home to legendary recording artists such as B.B. King, Ike Turner, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Guided tours run hourly starting at 10:30am for $15.

Cooper-Young District

Travel Time: 16 minute drive

Hours: There’s always something going on in this hip neighborhood!

Insider Tip: Memphis’ first ping pong bar can be found at the Railgarten, a fun outdoor space where you can enjoy ice cream, cocktails, and more.

Home to both historic houses as well as contemporary restaurants and shops, this neighborhood in Midtown is one of the most vibrant areas of the city. From coffee shops (Bluff City Coffee) to historic book shops (Burke’s Books) to live music (Bar DKDC), there’s no shortage of things to check out in Cooper-Young.

Memphis Zoo

Travel Time: 14 minute drive

Hours: Saturday-Sunday: 9AM-6PM

Located in Midtown’s Overton Park, the Memphis Zoo has been delighting visitors for well over 100 years. The zoo is one of only 3 in the U.S. to showcase giant pandas—Memphis’ Le Le and Ya Ya arrived from China in 2003. General admission is $21 on weekdays and $23 on weekends.

Big River Crossing

Travel Time: 16 minute drive

Hours: Saturday-Sunday: 6AM-10PM

Big River Crossing is a bicycle and pedestrian bridge that spans the mighty Mississippi river, connecting the communities of West Memphis, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee. The bridge is nearly a mile long and offers great views of the Memphis skyline (including the famed Memphis pyramid). The bridge is free and open to the public.

INSIDER TIP:

The bridge itself becomes part of the scenery at night, when it’s lit up by more than 100,000 LED lights. Light shows occur hourly from sundown to 10pm, depending on rail and river traffic levels.