1. What People Call Barbecue Isn’t Actually Barbecue
Know that when your non-Memphis friends invite you over for a “barbecue,” they’ll probably serve you hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill outside. And when you try to explain to them why that isn’t barbecue, they’ll just stare at you blankly.
2. Your Taste Buds Will Be Pining For Jerry’s Sno-Cones
Nothing, I repeat, nothing tastes better than a Jerry’s Sno-Cone on a hot summer day, so you’ll start planning your trips home around satisfying your craving.
3. All You Want Is To Wash Down Food With Ghost River
Your favorite small, local Memphis Brewery doesn’t have the national reach you wish it had, so you’re stuck with your weekend cravings.
4. You Can Tell Who’s From Memphis Too When The Southern Heritage Classic Is On
Let’s face it, you’re definitely going to head back home for the the Jackson State versus Tennessee State game anyway. There’s no way you’re missing out on those epic tailgates.
5. You Can Find True Friends By Wearing Your Grizzlies Jersey
When you’re out of town and you spot someone in a Grizzlies jersey, you’ve just made a friend for life.
6. That Time You Saw Justin Will Be A Great Party Story
It won’t be a big deal to your friends from Memphis, but out-of-towners will have you telling the story of when you saw Justin Timberlake at the market over and over again.
7. Carnival Food Is Only Served At Carnivals
It just doesn’t seem fair to the rest of the country that they can only eat fried dough, cotton candy, and candy apples at carnivals while Memphians get to gobble up these treats all year round thanks to the restaurant and food truck Carnival Food.
8. May Is Just Another Month
Memphis lights up in May with the Memphis in May International festival, but everywhere else it’s just another month. But hey, at least it’s spring, right?
9. Other People’s Tap Water Tastes Terrible
Does everyone else in the world know what they’re missing when they drink that gross water from their home faucet? Clearly everything is sweeter in Memphis.
10. Everybody Is Going To Ask You About Graceland
Look, you love Elvis as much as any red-blooded American, but only tourists go to Graceland.
11. If You Ask For A Coke, You Get A Coke
If you ask for a Coke at a restaurant, the waitress isn’t going to ask you what kind. You’re just gonna get a Coca-Cola, even if you actually wanted a Sprite.
12. You’re The Best Person Ever When You Bring Pancho’s Cheese Dip To A Party
If you bring the glory of Pancho’s cheese dip to any party, you’ll make new friends for life.
13. People Will Comment On Your Accent, A Lot
Whatever, you know that everyone else in the country are the ones with the accents.
14. Everyone Else Puts Coleslaw In The Wrong Place
The slaw goes on the sandwich, of course. Where else would it go?
15. If You Say Prozac, People Won’t Think You Mean Sweets
No, not the antidepressant. The insanely delicious cupcakes from Muddy’s Bake Shop, which might just cheer you up as much as the drug.
16. Wait, Not Everyone Works At FedEx?
You’re so used to knowing someone who knows two people who knows another dozen family members who work at FedEx that it’ll come as a shock when most people know about… zero people.
17. Some People Don’t Even Know Who John Calipari Is, Nevermind Hate Him
You’re already prepared to boo whenever John Calipari is mentioned, but outside of Memphis you’ll find yourself having to explain just who the former basketball coach of the Memphis Tigers is.
18. You’ll Get The Side Eye When You Order Spaghetti With Your Fish
Fried catfish with spaghetti is delicious and no one can tell you otherwise.
19. No One Knows Who Dave Brown Is When You Talk Weather
Everyone in Memphis knows what you mean when you say “Dave Brown said it was going to rain,” but leave the city and you’ll encounter a lot of confused faces.
20. Nobody Else Puts Pulled Pork On Their Nachos
And they’ve all been seriously missing out.
21. People Will Look At You Weird When You Call A Girl “Bruh” Or “Mane”
In Memphis, you can call everyone “bruh” or “mane” regardless of gender, but once you leave, it just doesn’t work that way.
22. Everybody Else Doesn’t Know What Pronto Pups Are
Frankly, it’s their loss because no corn dog compares to the pleasure of eating a local Pronto Pup.
23. When You Ask For Sweet Tea, You Won’t Get It
For the last time, a glass of iced tea with some sugar packets on the side does not equal sweet tea.
24. Everyone Will Want You To Cook For Them
It’s clear you have more skills with the grill than anyone you know outside of Memphis, so when people invite you over, they’ll likely want you to come show them how it’s done.
25. You Know More About Soul And Blues Than Anyone
Sure it’s not really fair because Memphis is proudly the home of soul, blues, gospel, and rock n’ roll, but man, out-of-towners really have a lot to learn about their country’s musical heritage.
26. Nobody Else Serves Memphis Pizza And It’s A Shame
Pulled BBQ pork and coleslaw on top of a pizza? Yes, please. Why the rest of the nation hasn’t caught on and followed Aldo’s lead is anybody’s guess.
27. Not Everybody Else Is As Excited For Snow
When Dave Brown calls for flurries, Memphians go nuts with excitement while a whole lot of the rest of the country just thinks “Ugh, more snow.”
28. Sometimes Graffiti Just Looks Like A Mess
Memphis is graffiti spoiled because the city’s Urban Art Commission is dedicated to giving incredible local artists the chance to paint colorful murals on so many otherwise boring walls. Can’t say the same about most cities.
29. There’s No Live Music Quite Like At Home
Clearly the home of so much amazing music has great live music venues, but you never knew just how much it outpaced so many other places in the country. Your ears miss the constant music.
30. You Will Actually Miss Beale Street, Tourists And All
Sure you can’t move a foot without accidentally bumping into a tourist looking for one bar or another, but hey, it’s home and you’ll miss it all the same.
What else do you miss about Memphis? Tell us in the comments below!
