18 minute read
ROSEMARY LEMONADE
Host the perfect summer soirée with this signature drink. This refreshing combination of Meyer lemons and rosemary is a great staple to serve by the pool, add your favorite spirit to kick things up a notch.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED: 1/2 cup fresh Meyer lemon juice 1 cup simple syrup 4 cups water Fresh rosemary
INSTRUCTIONS: Combine Meyer lemon juice, simple syrup, and water. Add in freshly squeezed lemon rinds and stir to combine. Chill until ready to serve. Add rosemary sprigs to garnish.
A Photographer’s Journal
After the Ceremony, All We Remember Are the People and the Photos
BY ROBERT WRIGHT
IHAVE HAD THE HONOR OF BEING THE PHOTOGRAPHER for over forty weddings. I began as a wedding photographer during my teen years. I actually bought my first car in the summer of my junior year in high school from photography profits. I was shooting with a film camera in the mid-1990s. However, my photography pursuits came to an end after one bad wedding job. I opened up the back of my camera and exposed the film before it completed the rewind process. The bride came to pick up her prints and to her horror, she learned that there were no images. I was devastated and it was a huge burden on the shoulders of a teenager. I told myself I would never pick up a camera again.
In 2000, digital cameras hit the market and my first one was a Sony Mavica 1000. It came with a CD, no more film. With this, I thought, I could not make the same mistakes that I made with film. I began a professional pursuit two years later, but didn’t shoot my first wedding as a digital photographer until the end of 2004. It has been quite an experience since and I’ve been selected dozens of times to document the moments of newlyweds. Many are still married today and my photos are probably somewhere in their homes on a wall. Here are just a few stories.
BRITTNEY AND COURTNEY SUTTON
Brittney Stevenson was married to Courtney Sutton on May 23, 2015 at the Venetian Room in Atlanta, GA. I was Brittney’s high school and debutante photographer and was delighted when she asked me to be her wedding photographer. I drove to Atlanta for the opportunity.
Bishop Dreyfus Smith was the officiant. The Matron of Honor was Dawnette Carter. The Maids of Honor were Shassity Stevenson and Brittany Beal. The Best Man was Byron Williams. The bridesmaids included: Robbin Robbins, Nicole Banks, Freda Todd, Jasmin Lewis, Jameslynn Owens, Kyler Robinson, Jaelynn Ballard, and Ikia Thomas. The groomsmen included: John Herring III, Ronnie Colbert, Jr., Freddrick Britton, Jr., Joshua Stevenson, Eric Williams, Shondell Ultsev, and Lewis Carter, II. The ring bearer was Caden Sutton. The broom bearer was Chase Ballard and the bride announcer was Paris Branch.
ASHLEE AND TERRY MARTIN
Ashlee Mechelle Christian was married to Terry Martin, II on June 16, 2018 in Shreveport, Louisiana. The outdoor ceremony was held lakeside at the Valencia on Cross Lake. The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Oliver W. Billups, Jr.
This was a very unusual wedding experience for me. It was the first time I’d ever worked as a wedding photographer without meeting the bride prior to the ceremony. I was hired at the last minute and had not met anyone other than the groom’s mother.
I made the transit to Shreveport and waited along with the rest of the guests. It was a hot evening, and many waited inside until moments before the preacher and groom walked out. I still hadn’t seen the bride. The ladies in attendance were very pretty so I was hoping this would not be an ugly bride. Then it happened. Her father escorted her from the side of the building to the outside gathering. She was drop dead gorgeous. I looked at the groom and thought “You lucky dog.” I’d forgotten about the heat and sweat and began to take photos. My camera was in love, for it loves beautiful subjects, and she was definitely that.
ASHLEE AND DEWAYNE WILLIAMS
I met Ashlee Hill when she was just a freshman at Neville High School. I was the school’s photographer. My first shoot with her was as a freshman cheerleader. She remained active as a cheerleader until her senior year. In 2012, she was selected by the football team to be the Homecoming Queen. At the homecoming football game, her cousin, the recording artist Torion Sellers (who would one day star in the the blockbuster movie Barbershop: The Final Cut) sang the National Anthem and came back the next night to hang out at the Homecoming Dance. She and I would work together on various photography projects including two weddings. I took photos for her 21st birthday in New Orleans. So in 2019, it was a treat for her to ask me to photograph her wedding.
Ashlee was married to Dewayne Williams on Saturday, August 3, 2019 at the Greater Realness Cathedral in Monroe, Louisiana. The wedding party wore pink dresses and blue tuxedos. The bride wore a white gown with a splash of pink and the groom wore a pink suit with brown shoes. The wedding party included: Amiya Pollard, Todd Sellers, Hailey Bachimen, Terrance Miley, Asia Brooks, Tyus Early, Kaylee Nettles, Kiri Brown, T’Anna Banks, Kirkland Hopkins, Neisha Carter, Jacory Anderson, Kawanna Carter, Willie Nettles, Ciara Evans, Marvin Millsap, Brianna Sellers (Maid of Honor), Donecia Banks-Miley (Matron of Honor), Hailee Giles (Junior Bridesmaid), and Skylar Mason (Ring Bearer). The flower girls were Ziva Hill, Amariyah Jefferson, Zoe Hill, and Isis Miley. The officiant was Bishop and First Pastor Don and Sharlaski Banks.
The reception was held at the Vantage Building downtown Monroe.
Men’s Health Month
Why Men are More Likely to Avoid a Doctor’s Visit
WE ALL KNOW THE AGE-OLD TROPE THAT MEN need to toughen up and avoid showing weakness. Maybe that’s also why men tend to avoid going to the doctor— often until it’s too late.
Studies show men aren’t paying enough attention to their health or speaking with their doctor regularly about health concerns. In fact, according to a 2019 Cleveland Clinic survey, about 50% of men have avoided getting an annual physical and other preventative care measures, though 82% said they wanted to stay healthy for the sake of their family, friends and business.
“Most men don’t want to even think about health issues. They tend to avoid those conversations. They think they are 10 feet tall and bullet proof,” says Dr. Charles Morgan, an internal medicine physician with St. Francis Medical Group.
As a result, men are more likely to develop heart disease, aortic aneurysms, kidney stones and chronic illnesses. They carry more excess body fat on their waistlines, making them more prone to heart attacks. And because they don’t pay attention to their health as closely as women do, the life expectancy for men is five years less than women, according to a 2019 Harvard study.
The age group of men most likely to skip out on doctor’s visits is around 35 to 54 years old. That’s also around the time men are recommended to start scheduling regular checkups.
That can include improving diet, decreasing alcohol consumption and increasing activity and exercise—all measures you can discuss at length with your doctor.
With June being Men’s Health Month, it’s important for men to get into a regular routine of meeting with their primary care provider. Here are some general guidelines about regular screenings for men to consider by age group:
MEN IN THEIR 30S
Now’s the time to start thinking about cardiovascular health. If heart disease runs in your family, talk to your doctor about your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and other factors related to your heart. You should be scheduling routine checkups every other year in your 30s.
MEN IN THEIR 40S
Routine checkups should take place yearly starting in your 40s. Recommended screenings for certain types of cancer also come into play at this point. In fact, the American Cancer Society dropped the recommended age for colon cancer screenings from 50 to 45 years old in 2018 as a response to an uptick in colorectal tumors among younger patients.
MEN IN THEIR 50S AND ABOVE
You should be discussing a variety of milestone medical tests and screenings with your doctor. At this point, colon cancer and prostate cancers should be discussed with your doctor regardless of family history. Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar should all be checked regularly.
Regular screenings and annual doctor’s visits are vital for a man’s health and detecting problems at an early stage. And your doctor can help answer many questions you have about your personal health as well as discuss potential treatment options—from cardiovascular issues and prostate health to erectile dysfunction and hair loss.
For Men’s Health Month and any month, don’t wait until you get sick to establish a relationship with a primary care provider. Take control of your health and your future.
Find a doctor who is ready to help you at stfran.com.
bayou PAGES
“The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man” by James Weldon Johnson
Published in 1912, Johnson’s autobiography is one initially released in anonymity. Fearful of the social and legal implications of disclosing the truth of his life, Johnson wrote the confessional without claiming it. Having passed as a white man in post-reconstruction America, Weldon’s account shows the internal turmoil of a man who felt pulled in two directions - both to defend his own race and to live a life of privilege afforded him by his white-enough skin. Johnson’s account of his life as a man of color is backdropped by an America reeling from the horrors of its original sin.
One of the opening scenes of the book begins with Weldon learning he is colored, when a Northern school teacher separates the children by race. Alarmed, Weldon admits being disappointed by the realization, running to his light-skinned mother for confirmation. Fostering a musical talent at such a young age, the piano prodigy decides to use his skills to give back to his people, to combine the lyricism of black music with the refined sounds of the European classics he learns abroad. Tragedy and reality challenge his efforts abroad and back home in the South. What follows is a man’s desperate search for selfhood and freedom in his home country founded on those very principles.
Johnson writes his narrative in a compelling, soothing style, as if the reader is curled up on the couch hearing the story from the author’s own mouth. Though a century removed from the historical events, the resonance and spirit of America leaps from its pages, grasping for recognition and confirmation. Weldon’s internal revelations of the social upheaval following the Civil War, of an America adjusting to a new reality, is layered with nuance - never totally vilifying the Southern aristocrat or absolving the Northern abolitionist. The exploration of dynamics at play in a country trying desperately to unify once more is reminiscent of today’s social turmoil, where everyone can find enough truth in his own version to cling desperately to one side of an argument. I read old novels to understand today’s problems. What’s the saying, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” African American authors, generations removed, provide a version of events from the people who lived it first-hand. Engaging these stories allows the historically suppressed voices a chance to speak.
“It is the spirit of the South to defend everything belonging to it. The North is too cosmopolitan and tolerant for such a spirit.”
REVIEW BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE
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“Mapping the Interior” by Stephen Graham Jones
Junior is the man of his house. His father has died years before, his little brother is suffering from some seizures not yet linked to any discernible cause, and his mother works so much to care for them that her presence is sporadic. Junior is not only the oldest living male, but he is the closest thing to an adult with a consistent presence. Though his family doesn’t own this modular home far removed from Indian country where he was raised, he still sees himself as its owner, a 12-year-old boy wearing the weight of adulthood long before being an adult. Poverty forces kids to grow up fast.
Jones’ novella is an exploration into identity, cultural awareness, manhood, parental absence, and undergirding it all, the confines of poverty. Junior feels a presence in the home, a feathered, decorated Native American presence, a ghost reminiscent of the ancestors of his father, a man he barely knew. It is tempting to glorify the dead, to espouse all the praise undeserved when they were drawing breath. But it is untoward to vilify the no-longer-living. Junior idolizes his father in his absence. He fantasizes that his father’s death is the cause of the family’s financial and emotional hardship, that if only he were still around, that things would be different. Such are his thoughts when this phantom graces the household, lingers around his brother Dino, and commands attention. Junior, still a boy, protects this secret, this knowing of the undead’s presence, this desire to connect with his longlost father causes him to summon the spirit, to crave the undead’s return.
Blackfoot author Jones navigates this exploration of Native American heritage through the fascination with the spirit world, through his character’s desire for connection with his past, his origin, and a longing for an example of who he should become. This horror story is not as scary as it is revealing, a portrayal of history and cultural identity and the loss of personhood on native soil, an experience of living hard while consistently looking backward for how to live better. This coming-ofage indigenous tale of an Indian boy becoming a man and viewing his life through the lens of his childhood resonates as we all owe who we are to where we come from. No matter how far we run, how much we resist, the past is inevitably present in some form...albeit a ghost, a memory, or a chance to live it all again.
“There’s a real you squirming down inside you, trying all through the day to pull up to the surface, look out. But it can only get that done when your defenses are down. When you’re sleeping.”
REVIEW BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE
A Gift for Dad
Washington Wine & Spirits Has Excellent Bourbon and Whiskey Selections
THIS MONTH WE’D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME GREAT products for Father’s Day and the heat of summer. We’ll take a quick dive into some incredible whiskey in a variety of styles to help you find the perfect gift to celebrate your dad. We’ll go over six different styles of whiskey that will cover a gamut of flavor profiles. We’ll start in North America and take a quick trip through some of the major whiskey producing areas of the world.
When it comes to bourbon for Father’s Day, we have to mention our private barrel selections. These barrels have been carefully selected by the team here at Washington Wine & Spirits to provide you with incredible flavor and value. We currently have selections from Barrell Bourbon, Barrell Private Release, Cathead Old Soul Bourbon, Jefferson’s Bourbon, Pinhook 6-yr Vertical Series Bourbon, Wilderness Trail High Rye Bourbon, Wilderness Trail Wheated Bourbon, and Tumblin Dice Heavy Rye Bourbon. Several of these have a very limited amount left in stock. If your father is a fan of any of these get it before it’s gone!
Now we’ll take a look at the Penelope Architect Bourbon finished with French oak staves. This is the first edition of the new Architect series from Penelope and it is delicious. In the glass it is a bright golden copper in appearance. On the nose we get tart cherry, blackberry, toasted croissant, and a touch of baking spice. On the palate we get honeyed vanilla bean, French toast, cherries, and green apples. The finish is generous and long with soft vanilla, apple, and chewy baked bread. This first edition was bottled at 104 proof, but drinks much smoother than one would think. An easy sipper that calls you back for more and would be a treat for any bourbon loving dad out there.
Our next selection is for the rye guys out there. Redemption 10 year old barrel proof rye is a stellar bottle that packs a punch of flavor. This is a classic 95% rye and 5% barley mash bill from MGP in Indiana and bottled at 116.2 proof. A rich nose opens with fresh cut dill and rosemary, but then transitions quickly to rich caramels, dried citrus, and a touch of tropical fruits. The taste is everything that you want from a classic aged rye with rich dark honey, apple, clove, cinnamon, dill, fennel, and a touch of sweet vanilla. The finish is surprisingly long with candied pineapple, sweet anise, cinnamon, and oak spice. There is a pleasant heat from the barrel proof that we find delightful when paired with the sweet flavors that this whiskey shows off. This is earthy, herbaceous, and sweet all at the same time.
As we look to the north we’re going to touch on the Crown Royal Winter Wheat from the Noble Collection. The winner of last year’s Canadian Whiskey of the Year, this is a departure for Crown Royal as most of their whiskey is rye. This newest edition has a mash bill of 51% red winter wheat, 39% corn, and 10% malted barley. The nose hits hard with sweet banana bread, peach cobbler, rich vanilla caramel, and toasty oak. The palate is reminiscent of bread pudding with toffee, vanilla, candied fruit, and a touch of gentle baking spice. The finish is superb! Peach cobbler blends with a touch of sweet honey, vanilla, and gentle oak. This is exceptional and one of the best in the series. These are in limited quantities so don’t miss out on this awesome whiskey.
Now we’re going to start looking across the oceans and we’ll start in Ireland with the classic Powers John’s Lane 12 year old single pot still. Distilled at the John’s Lane Distillery this offering from Powers is a true treat for fans of Irish whiskey. The nose glides out of the glass with vanilla, aromatic black cavendish, apple, and a little milk chocolate. The mouth feels pure silk with flavors of baked apples, vanilla, coffee, and some sweet raisins. The finish shows a balance of sherry sweetness with more candied fruit notes that linger on the palate in a luxurious softness.
Next up we’ll move over to Scotland where we have the 1998 Braeval from Signatory. This interesting rarity is one of only 283 bottles. Distilled in 1998 and bottled 13 years later this was matured in ex-bourbon barrels. The whiskey from the Braeval Distillery is rarely seen or bottled on its own. This offers up flavors of vanilla, green apple, and honeyed pear. The finish is smooth and lingers with gentle sweet tobacco, apples, honey, and vanilla. We only have two of these unique and rare bottlings.
We’re going to end our journey with Hibiki Harmony from Japan. This is a truly beautiful Japanese whiskey that fans of bourbon and Scotch can both thoroughly enjoy. Blended from whiskies from the Hakushu, Yamazaki, and Chita distilleries finished in five types of oak for an incredibly smooth and flavorful whiskey. The nose opens with apricots, golden raisins, refined oak, and a touch of cacao. The palate is full of tropical fruits, apricots, raisins, white chocolate, honey, and sandalwood. The finish is sublime with notes of honey, graham crackers, sweet citrus, and delicate notes of oak. This is a true treat for any whiskey lover.
This is just a small example of the vast variety we have on offer here at the store. We hope that all of the dads out there have a fantastic Father’s Day. Don’t forget about the Doe’s Eat Place steaks to take home for the grill. As always thank you for letting us be your spirits guides here at Washington Wine & Spirits.
