'''Clarksdale'''[http://www.clarksdale-ms.com/] is in Mississippi.
Get in
By car
Downtown Clarksdale is situated a little north of the junction of '''Highway 61''' and '''Highway 49''' (the famous "Crossroads"). Memphis, Tennessee is about 75 miles north of Clarksdale on Highway 61. Jackson, MS is about 150 miles south. It is about 15 miles east of the Mississippi River.
By Plane
Clarksdale is served by a public airport, which is capable of serving large private airplanes. There are no commercial flights into Clarksdale at present, but Memphis International Airport is only 75 miles north of Clarksdale.
By Bus
Greyhound Bus Line, 1604 N State St., (662) 627-7893.
Get around
Having a car is pretty much a requirement in Clarksdale. According to one website, 91% of Clarksdale residents drive to work.
Taxi services:
'''Jerry's Cab Co.''', 662 624-9222.
'''Jolly Cab''', 662 624-9256.
See
'''Riverside Hotel''' - Formerly "The Afro-American Hospital," the Riverside Hotel in Clarksdale was the site of the dedication of the fourth historic marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail. It is where Bessie Smith died after her auto accident on Highway 61 on September 26, 1937.
'''The Crossroads''' - The intersection of Highway 49 and Highway 61 where Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for musical genius.
'''The Blues Museum''' - A museum dedicated to "the blues," which is located in the restored Illinois Central Railroad freight depot.
Do
'''21st Annual Sunflower River Blues 7 Gospel Festival''' (August 8-10, 2008)
'''Mini Blues Fest''' (August 10, 2008)
'''Pinetop Perkins Day''' at Hopson Commissary (October 12, 2008)
'''Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival''' (September 26 -27, 2008)
'''Crossroads Half-Marathon''' (November 15, 2008)
'''Quapaw Canoe Company''', 291 Sunflower Avenue, Phone/fax: (662)627-4070, email - john@island63.com, [http://www.island63.com/about.cfm]. Offers wilderness expeditions on the Lower Mississippi River, its Back Waters, Bayous, Oxbows, and Flood Plain between the levees. Tours can be arranged by the day or the week.
'''Rock 'N Roll & Blues Heritage Museum''', 113 E. Second Street, [http://www.rockmuseum.biz/].
Buy
'''Cat Head delta blues and folk art, inc.''', [http://www.cathead.biz/story.html]. According to its website, "Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, Inc. is a 6-day-a-week store that features a full selection of blues CDs, videos, DVDs, books and collectibles as well as an affordable mix of Southern self-taught, folk and outsider art. 'It's kind of like shopping in a juke joint,' Roger (Stolle - owner) said, describing the building's rustic interior, colorful artwork and down home music. 'It's the kind of store we always dreamed of finding in our Delta travels but never did.'"
'''Mag-Pie Gift & Art Shop''', 253 Delta Avenue, telephone 662)624-8385, [http://www.magpiegiftshop.com/]. The Mag-Pie Gift & Art Shop has been open for 96 years. It features unique gifts, home accessories and a Bridal Registry. It is located across the street from Cat Head and is within easy walking distance from Ground Zero and other blues venues in the downtown area.
Eat
'''The Ranchero''' (know locally as _gThe Ranch_h), 1907 State St. (Hwy 61), [http://www.theranchero.com]. A family-owned restaurant that opened in 1959. While you are visiting Clarksdale, do not miss eating Ranch Ribs at the Ranchero. These are some of the most flavorful, tasty ribs you will ever find. The Ranch also has a full menu and has wonderful seafood dishes in addition to its tasty meat selection. While at the Ranch be sure to enjoy all of the photographs and sports memorabilia that the owners have collected over many years. Not only has the Ranchero Restaurant earned a reputation for outstanding food and a great place to bring the family, it has also become a picture gallery and a museum of sports memorabilia.
'''Rest Haven''', 419 State Street (Hwy 61), [http://www.clarksdale.com/resthaven/]. A Clarksdale tradition for more than fifty years. Travelers dropping by are surprised and delighted to discover Middle Eastern cuisine sharing the same table with traditional southern food, such as black-eyed peas and turnip greens. Rest Haven is probably best known for its kibbie specialties, which include stuffed kibbie, kibbie patties, kibbie sandwiches, and even raw kibbie. You can also have cabbage rolls, stuffed grape leaves, tabooli salad, and tasty homous dip with your kibbie. One final thing that must be said is that one cannot leave Rest Haven without tasting the coconut and chocolate cream pies that have been famous here for almost 30 years. One additional final thing is that it opens really early and serves an excellent American breakfast.
'''Ground Zero Blues Club''', Blues Alley Lane, [http://www.groundzerobluesclub.com]. So named because of the wide-spread belief that Clarksdale, Mississippi is where _gthe blues_h actually began. The club is partly owned by actor Morgan Freeman, who is a native of the Delta area of Mississippi. He helped open both Ground Zero Blues Club and Madidi_fs Restaurants partly because he wanted some to make sure he had good restaurants when he returned home from Hollywood. Ground Zero has pool tables in the front part of the restaurant, exposed brick walls, rough wooden floors, and purposefully mismatched furniture that could have come from a garage sale. In the evening, it is an excellent place to hear live music and drink cold beer.
'''Madidi''', 164 Delta Avenue, [http://www.madidires.com]. Offers a variety of French technique dishes ranging from Rack of Lamb to Hybrid Bass. It is set in a turn of the century building in downtown Clarksdale and its interior walls are decorated with artwork from some of the Delta's many artists. A comfortable bar and main dining area are located on the first floor with private dining rooms located on the second floor with seating from 6 to 72. Madidi has been featured in Food & Wine Magazine (Feb. '01 issue). Morgan Freeman, a part-owner, is seen frequently in the restaurant. Reservations are strongly suggested.
'''Abe_fs Barbecue''', at the Crossroads of Highways 61 and 49, [http://www.abesbbq.com]. Opened in 1924. According to its website, entertainers eating there include ZZ Top, Paul Simon, Big Jack Johnson, Thomas Harris, Steve Azar, Charlie Pride, Conway Twitty -- _gjust to name a few._h Abe_fs is famous for its barbecue pork and beef, hot tamales and ribs.
'''Atzimba Mexican Restaurant''', 706 S State St. (Highway 61). This has become a very popular spot in Clarksdale since it opened about ten years ago. It has a large staff of waiters who work very hard bringing out fresh, hot Mexican food and frozen margaritas to a hungry and thirsty crowd. The restaurant is usually filled to capacity, but there is never a long wait. If it_fs your birthday, be sure and tell them as they love to put a traditional sombrero on your head and sing _ghappy birthday_h to you in Spanish.
'''Ramon's''', 535 Oakhurst Avenue, 662-624-9230. Fried Butterfly shrimp is one of the favorite dishes at Ramon's, which boasts a full menu of delicious food. Ramon's is only open evenings.
'''Rust Restaurant''', 218 Delta Avenue, 662-624-4784. Rust Restaurant is a new trendy, upscale restaurant which was opened in March of 2008 by Randall Andrews, a Clarksdale native who graduated from the Memphis Culinary Academy. Rust Restaurant's fare includes gumbo, crawfish, and seared tuna.
Drink
'''Ground Zero Blues Club''', Blues Alley Lane, for cold beer and live "blues" music.
'''Madidi''', 164 Delta Avenue, for a full bar in an elegant atmosphere.
'''Red_fs Lounge''', 395 Sunflower Avenue, Clarksdale, Mississippi. A genuine blues club.
Sleep
'''Best Western Executive Plaza''', 662-627-9292, 710 State Street.
'''Comfort Inn''', 662-627-5122, 818 South State St., [http://www.ComfortInn.com].
'''Ground Zero''', 662-621-9009, 126 Desoto Ave, [http://www.groundzerobluesclub.com]. (Click on rental apartments.)
'''Big Pink Guest House''', 662-313-0321, 312 Yazoo, [http://www.bigpinkguesthouse.com].
'''Miss Dell_fs General Store''', 662-624-2381, 145 Delta, [https://missdels.com].
'''Shack Up Inn-Cotton Gin Inn''', 001 Commissary Circle, Clarksdale, MS 38614, Tel: (662) 624-8329, [http://www.shackupinn.com]. For those blues lovers visiting Clarksdale who want something really different, be sure to experience The Shack Up Inn or the Cotton Gin Inn, located on Hopson Plantation, only three miles south of the famous Crossroads of Highways 49 and 61. You can have the experience of staying in one of the renovated shotgun shacks or one of the newly renovated bins in the Cotton Gin Inn. These buildings are restored only enough to accommodate 21st century expectations (including indoor bathrooms, heat, and air conditioning. In addition, there are coffee makers, refrigerators and microwaves in all units).
'''Riverside Hotel''', 662-624-9163, [www.cathead.biz/riverside.html].
'''Econolodge''', 662-621-1110, [www.econolodge.com].
'''Royal Inn''' (formerly Days Inn), just re-opened; 662-624-4391.
'''Southern Inn''', 662-624-6558.
'''Budget Inn''' (formerly Plantation Inn), 662-624-6541.
'''Uptown Inn''', 662-627-3251.
'''Hick's Hotel''', 662-624-9900.
Blues Hound Flat. 09 Issaquena, Clarksdale, MS 38614. 01-272-0230. ttp://blueshoundflat.com/. Located in the heart of downtown Clarksdale, just steps from the Delta Blues Museum, and within easy walking distance to Juke Joints and restaurants. Blues Hound Flat brings the blues experience to life with an uptown feel and a howlin_f good time. Wide open loft space with stained concrete floors, combo living, dining, kitchen, and bedroom area, all featuring local artwork.
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Contact
Get out
Tunica — Just north of Tunica on the Mississippi River are numerous casinos which are always open. They are about 45 miles north of Clarksdale.
Oxford is the home of Ole Miss, and seeing the university is worth the trip to Oxford. In addition, there are many fine restaurants, Square Books, and some good shopping.
Memphis, Tennessee is about 75 miles north of Clarksdale and has all the amenities you would expect of a large city.
Helena, Arkansas — Just across the bridge from Helena are two nice casinos. They are about 25 miles from Clarksdale.