Living on 29K (Memphis, Athens, Midtown: credit card, student loans, safe area)

[Pearlbob]

True, it's sort of late to be booking for the weekend. but, there should be plenty of hotels around that have openings. I'm not sure if there is something going on this weekend that would fill the hotels downtown. Just check expedia, hotels.com, etc. Be sure it's a real downtown hotel though, if you chose to stay there. Some motels list themselves as "downtown" but they are not, and they are horrible.

Sleep Inn is probably the cheapest downtown.

[ElleT]

Ok, is it a decent place though? I'm on hotels.com right now. There is a chance we'll stay til Sunday---My dad wants to go to Graceland and The Peabody.

[Pearlbob]

Sleep Inn is fine. Nothing fancy at all. Just a building with some rooms. But it's fine. It's on the trolley line downtown if you want to use that, and they do have a small on-site parking lot, although it often is full. I'm not sure what they do when that happens, but I'm sure they validate parking in a nearby garage.

Or, you can just stay at the Peabody (he wants to see the hotel you mean?)

[ElleT]

Well, the ducks. He's never been. I saw Graceland when I was there over New Years. Once was fine. Saw a pop-up book of the place at Barnes and Noble. The BF said we should have bought that for $20 instead of paying $60 for the tour

[Pearlbob]

You gotta be a fan of Elvis to really enjoy it I think. It's interesting, but I agree with you - I personally don't "get it." If your dad is a big fan, hopefully he'll enjoy.

Be sure to get there about an hour before the duck march to get a spot - it seriously turns into a mad house with people there pushing and shoving to get a spot in front to see it. My hint would be to go to the 2nd floor and watch from above, if there are spots on the balcony open. Again - I don't "get it" but I suppose it is cute. You can go up the roof anytime and see the ducks in their cages.

[Pearlbob]

FYI...there is a Rasall Flatts concert going on at the Forum this weekend, as well as some shows at the Orpheum. May be why hotels are harder to come by. Not sure if there are any Grizzlies or Tigers games going on, but those would also bring a ton of people (well...not the Grizz.....)

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

FYI...there is a Rasall Flatts concert going on at the Forum this weekend, as well as some shows at the Orpheum. May be why hotels are harder to come by. Not sure if there are any Grizzlies or Tigers games going on, but those would also bring a ton of people (well...not the Grizz.....)

The Tigers are on the road but the Grizzlies have a home game. That may add, what, a dozen people downtown?

[Pearlbob]

Minus Pau's family now, so down to about 8 people at the games.

[ElleT]

Ok....I've gone through this thread, searched the forums, looked at memphis flyer and midtownmemphis.net. Here is a "master list" of sorts of places I'm interested in looking/areas to look in for rentals. Some of these are repeats, I know. Give me your opinion on any of them. Also, we are working with a locator. Are there any I should say NO to that aren't listed?

Also, there are a couple of downtown locations as well.

The Bristol on Union
Riverset
The Arbors
The Estates
HighPoint Terrace
Stonegate Apartments
Kimbrough Towers
Estates at River Pointe
1823 Evelyn Ave
The Biltmore(1812 Madison)
The Gilmore
Peabody Place/Gayoso/Pembroke
1512 Madison
The McAlpin
Central Station
Number 10 Main
Crescent at Wolfchase
Woodmont Towers and Gardens
Park Terrace (2195 Poplar)
Echelon at The Ball Park
Park Lane
Rosecrest
1772 Poplar
1896 Peabody
Ashley Manor

Areas:
North of Central, East of Cleveland, and South of North Parkway
Area around Madsion and McLean
Cooper Young
Central Gardens
Evergreen
Idlewild
Stonewall south of Poplar
Madison West of McLean
Poplar East--Poplar & Yates

Obviously it'd be hard to see all these in a day! Help me narrow it down. I asked for a good estimate of take-home pay which will help in budgeting.

It sounds like midtown really is the place for me---the people I've read described in other threads make it sound a lot like my college town.

[Pearlbob]

[quote=ElleT;2957051]

The Bristol on Union - new, nice place, but right on the interstate and could be loud. Union is an extremely busy street and I think having to turn on that light right there is a headache for people.

Riverset - the oldest complex on the island. Very cheap, but also not renovated and is not really nice. It's fine - it's just not nearly as nice as the other apts down there. Has a 1980's feel to it

The Arbors - very nice

The Estates - is this the one at the end of the island? Those are very nice, if so.

HighPoint Terrace - i'm drawing a blank.

Stonegate Apartments - no clue, sorry

Kimbrough Towers - very nice area, Central Gardens. Art deco building, very cute on the outside. Has a big back yard with grills, benches, etc. I've never quite understood parking there, but maybe the garage is underground.

Estates at River Pointe - is this the same as the Estates you listed above?

1823 Evelyn Ave - look at a map...this is literally about 30 yards from a very active train line. Meaning trains every 15 minutes or so.

The Biltmore(1812 Madison) - good area, near everything you'd need

The Gilmore - love it! Everyone I know who has lived here loves it.

Peabody Place/Gayoso/Pembroke - Very nice, but will be smaller for more money.

1512 Madison - this is a little closer to Cleveland, and thus not as good of an area as the 1800 block

The McAlpin - not sure where this is

Central Station - good place in South Main, but still a bit of a hike to the main part of downtown (where i think you said you'll be working)

Number 10 Main - everyone loves this place

Crescent at Wolfchase - oh my. All these above, and now Wolfchase?! Wolfchase is an insanely crowded, conjested, suburban mall area.

Woodmont Towers and Gardens - i'm drawing a blank on this too

Park Terrace (2195 Poplar) - right across from Overton Park, cute area.

Echelon at The Ball Park - NO NO NO. It's not even called that anymore. Some new name. I lived there briefly once, as did many people I know. We all hated it. The apts were cheaply built, things broke all the time, partyers would trash the halls on the weekends, the "management" was all 22 year old party girls, it was one nightmare after another.

Rosecrest
1772 Poplar - okay area, right near Poplar/McLean. Don't go much further west of that though.

1896 Peabody - very nice area of Central Gardens

Ashley Manor


Just curious - what is your college town? Midtown is really spread out, so I'm not sure if I'd think of it like that, but I get what you mean.