May/June 2024

COME RIDE, EAT AND DRINK WITH US

This Summer in Natchez

There are places in Mississippi where the clay actually molds you .

Scattered throughout our state, you’ll find unique and surprising landscapes that will inspire your sense of adventure. Red Bluff, Mississippi’s “Little Grand Canyon,” is just one such place. Here, cliffs were sculpted out of the native red clay soil by eons of erosion, creating stunning views of the Pearl River valley below. Discover this and other travel experiences at VisitMississippi.org/Adventure.

#WanderMS

Red Bluff | Marion County, Mississippi

Trinity Church

Jax Frey

for Julianna Wallace

Local berries complement this beautiful and delicious Chantilly Cake designed by Christina Peoples of Farmhouse Cakery. A related recipe by Cecilia Stevens is featured in our Something Scrumptious, Summer Berries section on pages 24-27. Photography by Kaelin Daye Russell, Oakwood Media.

Loft-y Hat Fashionista Mississippi's only hatmaker custom designing felt hats

Mississippi Musuem of Art Exhibition

Became of Dr. Smith

A monumental exhibit unveiling a complex and courageous family mystery

MAGAZINE our team

225 John R. Junkin Drive

Natchez, MS 39120

601.442.6847

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Bluffs & Bayous is published monthly to promote the greater Southern area of Louisiana and Mississippi in an informative and positive manner. We welcome contributions of articles and photos; however, they will be subject to editing and availability of space and subject matter. Photographs, comments, questions, subscription requests and ad placement inquiries are invited! Return envelopes and postage must accompany all materials submitted if a return is requested. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Bluffs & Bayous are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Bluffs & Bayous strives to ensure the accuracy of our magazine’s contents. However, should inaccuracies or omissions occur, we do not assume responsibility.

Finally, we can embrace warmer weather and summer activities. This issue offers a plethora of information for our artsinterested readers. One of our features focuses on Mississippi Museum of Art’s new exhibit by Noah Saterstrom—What Became of Dr. Smith. Be sure to include the viewing of this amazing exhibit in your plans; it will run through September 22, 2024. In our Along and Beyond section, we offer three unique highlights: New Orleans artist and Natchez native Margie Tillman Ayers, who has been invited to display her art during the New Orleans Jazz Fest in May; Jax Frey, whose art has reached a milestone in having set the world record, 20,000 paintings, for the Most Original Acrylic Paintings on Canvas by One Artist; and for music lovers, the Natchez Festival of Music’s month-of-May multiple performances with two performances set at Trinity Episcopal Church.

In our Something Scrumptious section, this issue also features Cecilia Stevens’s delicious recipes using locally grown seasonal berries and spotlights a local u-pick berry farm in Louisiana. Our very special thanks go to Kaelin Daye Russell of Oakwood Media for the amazing photographs used in this feature and on the cover. Also, this issue introduces you to Mary Landrum Pyron, whom we met last month in traveling up to Crystal Springs, Mississippi. You will be intrigued by this young entrepreneur who has established ML Provisions, a one-of-a-kind, felt-hat-making business.

Finally, for coverage of recent social and community events and for those events on the horizon, check out our Up & Coming calendar and our Social Scenes. Throughout this issue, opportunities abound for you to enjoy reading about life along and beyond the Mississippi.

JEAN NOSSER BIGLANE Copy Editor

BONNIE DICKERSON Design Director

CHERYL FOGGO RINEHART Publisher/Editor/Sales

LISA WHITTINGTON Photographer

MELANIE SOJOURNER Sales

SAM GWIN Contributor

BILL PERKINS Photographer

ALMA WOMACK Contributor

CECILIA HOPKINS STEVENS Contributor

Vienna Visits Trinity Church in May

Sponsored by the Natchez Festival of Music and Trinity Episcopal Church, three events tightly related to Vienna, Austria, will take place May 9 and May 16, 2024, at Trinity Church in Natchez, Mississippi. Two events are ticketed, and one is free of charge.

Gustav Mahler’s The Song of the Earth, a symphony concert in six movements, will be presented for the first time in Mississippi at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 16, 2024. Mahler is famed in Vienna where he lived and worked until his death in 1911. Tickets for this event are $30.00

Conducted by Dr. Jay Dean, Natchez Festival of Music Artistic Director, the concert will feature the following:

• Two vocalists—Jonathan Yarrington, tenor, and Myka Murphy, mezzo soprano;

• The Festival of Music Chamber Players, musicians from nationally known music companies;

• Ward Emling, former Director of the Mississippi Film Office, who will present the poetry that inspired the symphony;

• Projected images of original oil landscapes by Will Smith, Jr., of Natchez, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana, that relate to the theme of the concert.

Setting the stage for the concert will be two additional Vienna-related events to be held Thursday, May 9, a week before the concert.

First is a free lecture entitled “The Magical Music of Gustav Mahler” at 11:00 a.m. on May 9. Presented by Trinity Church’s Marion Smith Speaker Series, the program will be by Dr. Joseph E. Jones, musicologist at the University of Southern Mississippi School of Music.

Dr. Jones will discuss Vienna in the early twentieth century when Austria’s artistic and literary elite came together. He will focus on Mahler, an intellectual and cultural giant whose style developed at the time.

Following the lecture, at 12:00 noon in Trinity Church’s Kuehnle Hall will be the ticketed luncheon “Let’s Visit Mahler’s Vienna.” Adding to the ambiance will be Austrian-inspired foods, Austrian flags, and images of dancers performing the Viennese Waltz.

Tickets are $20.00 and limited to 80 people. Tickets to the luncheon May 9 and to the concert May 16 are available at natchezfestivalofmusic.com and from members of Trinity Episcopal Church and the Natchez Festival of Music board. The concert benefits Trinity Church’s organ restoration fund and the Natchez Festival of Music.

Another Milestone for Mississippi Artist Jax Frey

The multi-expressive Jax Frey continues to impress with her artistry, both the written artistry of her novels and the creative artistry of her paintings. Aficionados of contemporary fiction have delighted in her Gumbeaux Sistahs novel series detailing the escapades and undertakings of a handful of savvy southern ladies.

Collectors local and worldwide also continue to tout the unique creative approach Jax Frey applies in her paintings, an approach that has popularized her works to the point of her having set the world record, 20,000 paintings, for the Most Original Acrylic Paintings on Canvas by One Artist, according to the World Record Academy in 2017. In April 2024, Jax Frey’s talent reached another milestone—30,000 of her Little Views mini-paintings sold.

For this Little Views series, Frey paints on four-inch square canvases in a mixed-media presentation of highly colorful and textured hues that depict such varying and eclectic Southern subjects as iconic buildings and settings, popular events, and cultural motifs. Much of her inspiration for these miniatures comes from a deep appreciation of her southern heritage, and she describes this collection as a “legacy and love letter to the South.”

Upcoming art shows featuring art by Jax Frey include the following: “Little Views Mini Painting Exhibit”; “White Linen Art Walk,” Natchez, Mississippi, Saturday evening, June 1, 2024, 6:00-8:00; and “White Linen Night,” Ariodante Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, Saturday evening, August 3, 2024, 5:00.

Currently, at home in both Natchez, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana, Jax Frey continues to paint on canvases small and large that reflect the complex, curious, comic, reflective, whimsical, and weighty customs and traditions of the South. Her paintings are “at home” in museums, galleries, and private collections as well as in select stores and boutiques.

For additional viewing and purchasing opportunities, visit www.artbyjax.com.

Area Artist to Display Work at Jazz Fest

Emerging from a bustling household of six children, Margaret “Margie” Tillman Ayres, raised in Natchez, Mississippi, and local New Orleans artist, found solace and expression in the realm of art from an early age. Despite her reserved demeanor, she discovered her voice through drawing—her way to “make noise.” Having struggled with anxiety, she turned to art just for herself and later realized her art was an amazing opportunity to make people smile. “Life sometimes feels out of control so I make little reminders of why life is worth living,” she explains.

Artistry permeated every corner of Margie’s upbringing. Though she aspired to study illustration in college, her father pushed her in the direction of jewelry making—the one form of art he believed attainable. After navigating the crossroads between her family’s expectations and her personal aspirations, Margie pursued her passion for art, honing her skills at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Despite initial post-graduation challenges in finding her footing, she began working for GoGo Jewelry, leading to her first taste of Jazz Fest. Owner Gogo Borgerding was a mentor and inspiration to Margie, teaching her the ins and outs of the business. Soon after, Margie began working for Stronghold Studios, designers of the famous Jazz Fest facades and leading producers of Mardi Gras House Floats, where she helped paint the signage at Jazz Fest for a number of years. This led her career into designing sets for TV shows such as Disney’s The Imagination Movers and HBO’s Treme and creating greeting cards for the national grocery store Trader Joe’s.

Painting sets “felt like going back to my childhood and I felt like I could scream, I was so in love with it,” Margie recalls. After taking a break to start a family, Margie began painting murals on her children’s bedroom walls because she missed the art scene. This was a way to create and to bring joy to her children. Sophina Uong, a friend Margie met in her Mardi Gras krewe, noticed her paintings on Instagram and inquired about commissioning a Margie original in her restaurant, Mister Mao. From there, her artistry has been one of multiplying venues, and her career, one of growing notoriety.

Margie Ayres will be displaying and selling her work at Jazz Fest New Orleans 2024 during its second weekend (May 2-5). To see more of her work, visit margieandthemoon.com.

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

Brookhaven’s Annual Taste of the Trust

“Taste of the Trust,” the annual charity fundraiser of the “Brookhaven Trust for the Preservation of Art, History & Culture,” enjoyed a fine evening with perfect spring weather at the Ole Towne Church in downtown Brookhaven, Mississippi, on Thursday April 4, 2024. Samplings of cuisine were provided by cafes and caterers of the area, and live music was performed by “The Lincoln Outfit.”

Photography by Bill Perkins

Brandon Ciaramitaro and Angela Furra

Theresia Perkins and Norman Ratliff

Anna and Mark Giust with Kara Whittington

Angela Furr and Isabel Smith

Kara Whittington, Hailey Hernandez, Fred Schwartz, and Stuart Pasley

Suzanne and Darrin Hirsch with Scott and Melia Christensen

Sabrina Wolff with John and Angie Lambert

Cicily and Rickey Ethridge

Nick and Jillian Ricceri

Sarah and Asa Reynolds

Tristen Peavey and Adrian Stafford

Jacob and Laura Tarver with Andrea and Lee Barry

Jeff and Veronica Richardson

Bill Perkins and Laura Groth

Caroline Rushing, Sabrina Wolff, and Michelle Tarver

Laurie Sullivan and Mayor Joe Cox

Will Phillips and Taylor Murray

Madeline Ezelle and Dana Matte

Trent and Abby Maddox, Kayla Lafhameyer, and Trey Maddox

James and Emma Campbell

Johnny Johnson and Jorje Torres

Nikki Edwards Balote and Rob Balote

Shannon and Robin Acker

Geralyn Russell and Tommy Sproles

Rebecca Harvey-Munn, Brad Carr, Caroline Rushing, and Ashlyn Gatlin

India Warshauer, Jennifer Temple, Tripp Jolly, Gena Smith, Kathy Brown, Jacie Bergeron, Becky Simmons, Sarah Nations, Ona Corley, Elaine Coffey, Angie Davis, Kaitlyn Jones, Nicole Van Norman, Techelinda Wilson, and Leslie Alexander

THE socialSCENE BROOKHAVEN, MS

THE socialSCENE MCCOMB, MS

61st Annual Azalea Ball

The 61st Annual Azalea Ball of the Junior Auxiliary of McComb, Mississippi, with this year’s theme of “Saturday Night Fever” was held on February 24, 2024, at Oak Hill Estate in Summit, Mississippi. JA of McComb strives to make a positive impact on children’s lives throughout their community with advantageous service projects, the largest being Camp Sunshine. The Annual Azalea Ball is the organization’s sole fundraiser.

Photography of royalty by Beth Hemeter, Image Maker Photography

Queen Nancy Smith and King Pat Brumfield

Queen Nancy Smith and Ashley Stovall

Jeana and Boo Bennett with Vane and Zach Mills

Brianna Causey, Hillary Freeman, and Lynn McInnis

Julius C. Butler and King Pat Brumfield with Tina Brumfield, Honorable Quordiniah Lockley

Rachel Galdino, Kristen McBeth, and Simmons Copeland

Courtney Richard, Ashley Stovall, Melanie Whitaker, and Kattie Hughes

Chad and Mallory Robinson, Mikey and Laci Godbold, and Allie and Chris Seay

Olivia Haskins and Brooklyn Schmidt

Jordan and Stephen Porter

Christina and Chris Mitchell

Betsy Lindsey, Suzanne Lindsey, and Kate Lott

Brad Woods and India Warshauer

Michael Parker, King Pat Brumfield, and Dr. Shane Hinckley

Sara Doyle, Carlyn Doyle, and Shannon Plunkett

Claire Mitchell, Brittany Crawford, Kandace Hart, Valerie Turner, and Rachel Galdino

Quentin Smith, Queen Nancy Smith, Dr. Scott Smith, and Oliver Smith

Jason and Michelle Cooksey with Kaitlin and Reed Jones

the garden

Bougainvillea Best Performance in Containers

If you’re considering adding some vibrant color to your landscape, bougainvillea might be the perfect choice.

Mississippi’s climate can be quite different from the tropical regions where bougainvillea is native; but with a little care and attention, you can successfully grow these stunning plants.

You can grow bougainvillea in containers as a climbing vine, shrub, or small tree. Because bougainvilleas are not cold hardy in most of Mississippi, it is best to keep them in containers and bring them inside during the winter.

I have grown several bougainvillea plants over the years in hanging baskets on my front porch. Their colorful and papery bracts, which are often mistaken for flowers, come in shades of pink, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow. The colors are really attractive, even from afar.

Two years ago, I went on an awesome trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. I soaked in all the stunning sights from smoking volcanoes to sandy beaches, but what really caught my eye was the beautiful bougainvillea plants and other tropical plants. In Hawaii, bougainvillea plants can get up to 40 feet tall. Unfortunately, it is often too cold in most of Mississippi to plant these in the ground so they can reach their full potential.

Bougainvillea thrives in warm climates and prefers full sun exposure. In Mississippi, they should be treated as an annual if planted in the ground. When planting bougainvillea, choose a container with well-drained soil to prevent root rot.

While bougainvillea is relatively drought tolerant once established, regular watering promotes healthy growth and flowering. Overwatering can lead to root problems, so it’s essential to strike a balance.

These plants are heavy feeders and respond best to a water-soluble fertilizer applied at least once a week during summer and fall. With a lot of light and constant feeding, these plants will bloom for many months of the year.

Pruning is crucial for maintaining the plant’s shape and promoting flowering. Be cautious when handling the plant, for the sharp thorns can give you a nasty poke. Prune after each flowering cycle to remove spent blooms and encourage new growth. Regular pruning also helps control the size of the plant and keeps it from getting unruly.

If growing your bougainvillea as a climbing vine in a container, provide a sturdy support structure such as a trellis. As the plant grows, gently guide branches along the support system, securing them with soft ties as needed. Regularly check the ties to prevent girdling or damage to stems.

During the winter, protect your plant from freezing temperatures. One way to do this is to place it in a room with a sunny window where it will continue to thrive.

I recommend bougainvillea as a stunning addition to gardens and landscapes, providing a burst of color and beauty with minimal maintenance needs. You can enjoy the plant year-round when you provide the right growing conditions and regular pruning.

Whether grown as a climbing vine, shrub, or tree, bougainvillea is sure to brighten an indoor or outdoor space with its dazzling display of vibrant bracts.

1

BOUGAINVILLEA COLORS | Bougainvillea is a tropical plant that comes in many colors and performs well in Mississippi while in containers.

2

BOUGAINVILLEA CARE | Bougainvillea is a fairly lowmaintenance plant that can remain beautiful for months.

ARTICLE | Dr. Eddie Smith

Dr. Eddie Smith is a gardening specialist and Pearl River County Agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. He is also host of the popular Southern Gardening television program. Locate Southern Gardening products online at www.extension.msstate.edu/shows/southern-gardening

COURTESY OF MSU EXTENSION SERVICE / EDDIE SMITH

COURTESY OF MSU

EDDIE SMITH

Retirement After Hours Party for Stubbs

Natchez Merit Hospital hosted a Happy Retirement Celebration for Dr. Ken Stubbs honoring 42 years of dedicated, loyal, and professional medical service to the Natchez- Adams County area. The community was invited to attend the event held on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, in the hospital’s Magnolia Room. Mayor Dan Gibson was on hand to offer a Key to the City of Natchez, and Merit CEO Kevin Samrow read a proclamation honoring Dr. Stubbs and presented it to him on behalf of the Speaker of the House and the Mississippi House of Representatives. Photography submitted

Dr. Stubbs with his customized cake Customized cake

Sue Stead, Dr. Ken Stubbs, and Dee Ham

Dr. Melissa Jones Cavin and Colton Cavin

Mike Luallen, Deena Keasler, and Jenny Vercher

Dr. John White, Pat and Karen Biglane, Dr. Christopher Martin, and Dr. Ken Stubbs

Chris and Dr. Chuck Borum

Norma West and Dorothy Sylvester

Dr. Geoff Flattmann and Michael Luallen

Amy Dunaway, Lee Hinson, Tammy Cranford, and Sue Stead

Dr. William Porter, Dee Ham, and Dr. Blane Mire

Dianne Parker and Michelle Babb

Stephanie Lindsey, Dr. Ken Stubbs, and Rod Lindsey

Mayor Dan Gibson, Dr. William Porter, Jennifer Vercher, and CEO Kevin Samrow

Dr. Frank Guedon, Dr. Ken Stubbs, and Lloyd Trisler

Let us pamper your pet with a staycation at Gregg Veterinary!

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Schedule a stay today & your pet will be the envy of the block!

THE socialSCENE NATCHEZ, MS

Save the Hall Ball

The Pilgrimage Garden Club’s annual Save the Hall Ball was held at Stanton Hall and The Carriage House restaurant in downtown Natchez, Mississippi, on March 2, 2024. The black-tie event is a fundraiser for the preservation of the historic Stanton Hall and Longwood properties owned by the Pilgrimage Garden Club. The event featured an open bar, dance band Radio Incorporated, and a late-night breakfast along with a silent auction.

Photography by J. Phillip Larson on behalf of Bluffs & Bayous magazine

Fayla Guedon and Stephani Serio

Nella and Michael Gahagan

Ora Reed and Dusti King

Melody Thayer and Joe Travis

Jim and Mary Lessley

Judy Powell and Jay Carlisle

Donna Harrison and Ann Obryant

Matthew and Elizabeth Hall

Victoria Baker and Heather Callon

Kevin and Elaine Berry

Beau Lutz and Esther Carpenter

Monesa Donaghy, Lennon Aldridge, and Jenna and Denton Biglane

Penny Jackman, Lou Ellen Stout, Hunter Stewart, and LaNee Henry

Jennifer Ogden Combs and Brandon Adams

Sue Pate and Dan Hays-Clark

Thomas Tiffany and Johanna Gaston

Scott and Robin Christian

Hazel Vanewkirk, Kathryn Stockett, Robert Vanewkirk, Angel Roberts, and Connor Rought

Courtney Taylor, Franco Gurman, and Marc Taylor

Brandy and Chris Beadingfield

Megan Guido and Tiffany Key

Laura and Chris Tate with

Heather and Mike Comingham

Summer Berries

OPPOSITE | Stacey McGraw, one of the owners of CM Farm Ranch in Clayton, Louisiana, enjoying a delicious strawberry grown on her farm

ABOVE | Early stage of one of the various blackberry varieties grown on CM Farm Ranch

BOTTOM | McGraw tending to one of the blackberry shrubs

Two entrepreneurs in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, are connected by berries—blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Stacey McGraw of CM Farm Ranch and Christina Peoples of Farmhouse Cakery are tied to the berries of summer. Stacey is a producer in Clayton, Louisiana, and owner of a “U-pick” berry, herb, and vegetable farm while Christina, a local banker turned part-time baker, shares with us a quick version of her classic Chantilly Cake which uses all four summer berries.

Stacey McGraw and her husband, Charlie, began their farm during the Covid lockdown of 2020. They were growing Arapaho blackberries for home use and realized that they could transplant the spring shoots to make a blackberry orchard. This original orchard has now expanded to include four varieties of blackberries in two orchard areas, a high tunnel greenhouse and raised beds for growing seasonal vegetables and herbs, and additional areas dedicated to blueberries and raspberries.

“It was my dream in the beginning,” says McGraw, “but then it quickly became our dream to have the farm.” The U-pick farm will have blackberries from late May to September. Herbs are available year round. Seasonal crops include fall pumpkins, winter greens, and spring/summer berries and vegetables. Customers who wish to visit the farm should contact McGraw for seasonal hours of operation.

McGraw also uses the farm as a means of community interaction. This past fall, she hosted two pumpkin days for school students and senior citizens. The groups were able to tour the farm, purchase fall greens and vegetables, and participate in activities such as pumpkin picking and painting. “This farm is a bridge to our community, “ says McGraw. The community events are a way for the McGraw family and CM Farm Ranch to share their love of agriculture with their neighbors.

Christina Peoples is an assistant vice president and bank officer at Delta Bank in Vidalia, Louisiana. She and her husband, JR, also own Marie’s Trees Christmas Tree Farm in Ferriday, Louisiana. Peoples has always enjoyed cooking and baking. When she was unable to get a Chantilly cake from New Orleans for a special event, she decided to bake her own. This has evolved into another part-time venture, Farmhouse Cakery, with Chantilly cake being Christina’s specialty. While she could not share her secret recipe with us, she did help develop a home version using a box mix that is a quick take on the classic version.

CM Farm Ranch will have blackberries from May until September as they grow four different varieties. Strawberries are in season at many Louisiana and Mississippi farms from March to May. Raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries are typically in season May through June. To locate a producer in your area, use online MarketMaker, a free service sponsored by the Louisiana and the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Services.

something scrumptious

Quick Take on Chantilly Cake

2 white boxed cake mixes

1 cup simple syrup*

1 cup fresh strawberries (Slice ½ cup and reserve ½ cup whole for topping.)

1 cup fresh blue berries (Reserve ¼ cup for topping.)

1 cup fresh blackberries (Slice ½ cup and reserve ½ cup whole for topping.)

1 cup fresh raspberries (Reserve ¼ cup for topping.)

1 pint heavy whipping cream

16 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon lemon zest Juice of 1 lemon

CAKE:

Prepare cake mixes according to box directions and bake in (4) 8” layer pans. Allow to cool. Remove from pans. Trim cake tops so all are uniform in height and are flat. Select the best three to use for the layered cake. Brush each cooled cake layer with ⅓ cup simple syrup. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate while you make the frosting.

FROSTING:

Whip cream till stiff peaks form. Refrigerate. Blend the cream cheese until smooth. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, and powdered sugar. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of whipping cream to thin the mixture. Slowly blend in the chilled, whipped cream. Once all ingredients are incorporated, immediately refrigerate the frosting.

ASSEMBLY:

Place one cake layer on cake stand. Spread with a thin layer of frosting. Add sliced berries. Repeat with second layer of the cake. Add the third layer of the cake, and spread a thin layer of frosting on the top and on the sides of the layered cake. Chill cake for at least one hour. Return remaining frosting to the refrigerator. Add a second layer of frosting to the top of the cake and sides. Pipe frosting around base of cake and edge of top layer if desired. Decorate top of cake with reserved whole strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

*Prepare simple syrup by mixing 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a saucepan. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove and allow to cool.

Yield: 8-12 Servings

Cecilia Stevens and Christina Peoples

ABOVE | Beautiful Chantilly Cake, designed by Christina Peoples at Farmhouse Cakery, shows off local berries ripe for picking in May and June.

BOTTOM | Justin, son of photographer Kaelin Daye Russell of Oakwood Media, couldn’t resist sampling one of the fresh, juicy strawberries from atop the Chantilly Cake.

OPPOSITE | McGraw strolls through rows of blackberry shrubs as she inspects her crop.

CM Farm Ranch

For more information about U-Pick berries, herbs, and vegetables, contact Stacey McGraw at 601.807.2009.

Farmhouse Cakery

For more information about ordering delicious baked goodies, contact Christina Peoples at 318.719.2456.

Blueberry Sauce

2 cups blueberries

½ cup water, divided

1 cup orange juice

¾ cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

½ teaspoon almond extract

⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the blueberries, ¼ cup of water, orange juice, and sugar.

Stir gently, and bring to a boil.

In a cup or small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and ¼ cup cold water. Gently stir the cornstarch mixture into the blueberries so as not to mash the berries. Simmer gently until thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon, 3 to 4 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract and cinnamon. Thin the sauce with water if it is too thick.

Yield: Serves 4-6 LSU AgCenter, Harvest of the Month

Strawberry Salsa

1 pint strawberries, hulled and finely diced

1 jalapeño, stem and seeds removed, finely diced

½ cup red onion, peeled and finely diced

⅔ cup finely-chopped fresh cilantro, loosely packed Juice of 1 lime, about 2 tablespoons

Pinch of salt and black pepper

Corn tortilla chips

Toss all ingredients (except chips) together until combined. Season with extra salt and pepper if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Use corn tortilla chips for dipping.

Yield: Serves 4-6 LSU AgCenter, Harvest of the Month

ARTICLE | Cecilia Stevens

PHOTOS | Kaelin Daye Russell, Oakwood Media

Cecilia Stevens (B.A. LSU and M.ED. Louisiana Tech) resides in Concordia Parish, works for the LSU AgCenter, and is the parent of two adult children.

THE socialSCENE NATCHEZ, MS

Bridal Brunch for Julianna Wallace

On March 23, 2024, Julianna Wallace, then fiancée of Michael Rabb, Jr., was honored at a bridal lunch hosted by Beth Shutt and Nancy Wallace. The brunch seating was on the porch of the Shutt residence, Montpellier, in Natchez, Mississippi. It was a perfect spring morning. The ladies enjoyed an assortment of food including a breakfast casserole, praline French toast casserole, cheese grits, chocolate covered strawberries, fruits and cheeses, jalapeño poppers, and of course the southern staple— homemade banana pudding. Mimosas, sweet tea, and coffee also were served. Juliana’s wedding color theme of blue and white was incorporated throughout the brunch, and each guest took home a small gift basket filled with goodies from local shops. Julianna and Michael were married on April 27, 2024. 1

Front gallery of Montpellier Mary Rabb and Julianna Wallace

Blue-and-white table setting Jackie Wild, Diane DuPont, Emily Merrill, Mary Rabb, Laura Copeland Tate, Robin Hebert, Molly Manning Robertson, Julianna Wallace, Betty Jo Harris, Heather Cunningham, Julie Johnson, Natalie Cavin, and Beth Shutt

Emily Merrill, Julianna Wallace, and Mary Rabb

Julianna Wallace and Molly Manning Robertson

Molly Manning Robertson, Julianna Wallace, and Natalie Cavin

Krewe of Killarney

Annual St. Patrick’s Party & Auction

The Krewe of Killarney held its annual St. Patrick’s Party and Auction on Saturday, March 9, 2024, in the Father David O’Connor Family Life Center in Natchez, Mississippi. During the party, the Shillelagh was passed from St. Patrick XXXII, Tom Graning, to the reigning St. Patrick XXXIII, Tate Hobdy. A potluck supper, a live auction, and the former St. Patricks’ traditional toast to the reigning St. Patrick were the events of the evening.

Mike Thompson, Tate Hobdy, and Darren Cowart

Randy Busick, Tate Hobdy, and Judy Busick

Carter Burns, Abby Hobdy, Hannah Butts, Russell Butts, Will Godfrey, Russ Butts, Sam Kirby, Mark Robinette, and Katie McCabe

Joe Garrity and Ricky Warren

James and Ann Shaidnagle

Tony Byrne, Ron Brumfield, Kevin Friloux, Pat Galloway, Mike Thompson, Darren Cowart, Tom Graning, Tate Hobdy, Charlie Blaney, Charlie Vess, Peter Burns, Pat McDonough, Ricky Warren, and Joe Garrity

Helene Buttress and Paul Maier

Abby Hobdy, Annette and Tony Byrne, and Tate Hobdy

Lisa Mundi, Maria Lambert, and Mary Ann Foggo-Eidt

Helene Buttross, Charles Feltus, Karen and Charlie Schibler, Tony and Annette Byrne

Kathy Graning, Johnny Junkin, Tom Graning, Dana Dupre, and Jane Weemes

Loft-y Hat fashionista

just off Interstate 55 at the Crystal Springs, Mississippi, exit and nestled alongside Cherry Grove Road (named for the plantation land it crosses), ML Provisions has set up shop in a renovated hayloft next to Cherry Grove Plantation home.

Mary Landrum Pyron is the artist and brains behind this retail venture. She is Mississippi’s only hatmaker of custom-designed felt hats, and she has set on fire the desire for these fashion accessories.

OPPOSITE | On the deck overlooking the family property, Mary Landrum Pyron holds one of her customized hats.

ABOVE LEFT | A variety of hat styles await hat enthusiasts.

ABOVIE RIGHT | In her shop, Pyron shaves the felt of a hat in the beginning stage of her hat design.

CLOCKWISE

FROM TOP LEFT | ML Provisions' unique sign is positioned at the entrance of the hayloft. In this comfortably furnished loft, guests wait as they work on their hat designs. Curling the edge of a hat is one of the many steps in each of these custom designs. Sewing the inside band into the hat requires a specialized sewing machine. OPPOSITE: Guests find Mississippi hospitality at its best as Pyron offers a cup of coffee to welcome all who enter.

A young Mississippi, home-grown gal, Mary Landrum Pyron was reared under the heavy influence of seasoned hunters (her father, uncle, and brother) and skilled cooks (her grandmother, mother, and aunt) in Crystal Springs. Later, as a graduate of the University of Mississippi, Mary Landrum embraced four years of Ole Miss traditions while majoring in hospitality management.

Upon graduation, she traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and landed a job as an expedition chef and caterer at one of the oldest guest ranches in the country. Its activities included horseback riding, fishing, and hiking, all adventures of her childhood, and all with hat-wearing an indigenous element. Here, she fell in love with western style hats; and the love relationship blossomed a few years l ater when she began working with a local hatmaker to understand the craft and style elements of western hat wear. After living five years in Wyoming, she headed home to begin her entrepreneurial business, ML Provisions.

The hayloft, where she once played as a child, has become the studio for pursuing her dream—to create unique western hats for those seeking an individualized treasure. The loft’s welldesigned restoration is not just a place where customized-hat-seeking patrons come; it is more of an experience in the surroundings of old and new treasures that Mary Landrum has created for her patrons’ personalized accessories.

Upon entering the building and ascending the stairs, ML Provisions’ clients feel the ambiance of southern hospitality surrounding them: With an infectious smile and warm, polite southern manners, Mary Landrum welcomes her visitors; against a backdrop of soft music, she stands in the kitchen area of the loft where coffee, water, and Bloody Marys await her guests. She’s dressed comfortably, wears an apron and boots; and atop her long, curly hair is her signature accessory— one of her specialty hats. Her hatmaking machinery, sewing machines, and steamers line the right side of the room

while the center of the room invites guests to its cushioned seating area complemented by an antique rug and a rustic coffee table displaying artifacts such as her great-grandfather’s sword and a pair of her own childhood boots.

From this cozy atmosphere, double glass doors beckon visitors to enjoy the outside front deck furnished with white wooden rockers and framed by a view of rolling green pastures and a stocked fishing pond against a backdrop of natural forests, an idyllic central Mississippi landscape.

An intriguing life-size painting, hung to the left of the balcony doors, is the 1800s original portrait of Miller Benson Lockwood who died at the age of thirteen, son of Cherry Grove’s first owner. When the widowed owner moved out of town, the portrait was too large to go on the train and was left at the train station and later landed in the hand of an ancestor who gave it to Mary

Landrum for her studio. Young Miller Benson appears in a suit and is holding a hat. Mary Landrum felt her loft would be the perfect place to display the portrait, melding the property’s historic past with its productive present.

On the wall opposite the machinery are display shelves and racks where various sizes, colors, and shapes of hats await the gifted hands of Mary Landrum’s artistry. Nearby are counters holding hat accessories such as duck and turkey feathers (all locally culled from Mary Landrum’s recent hunts), pheasant feathers supplied by a friend, yarns, ribbon, and beads for her distinct hat designs; or customers can bring their own trinkets and treasures for fashioning the flair of their hats.

Scattered throughout the hayloft are pieces of McCarty pottery, made originally by Lee and Pup McCarty at McCarty Pottery in Merigold, Mississippi, a business now run by their godsons, Stephen and Jamie. Interestingly enough, the McCartys began their pottery-making in an old mule barn while living upstairs in its hayloft.

As the McCartys did decades ago, Mary Landrum Pyron is honing her unique passion, that of artistic millinery designs—designs inspired by the West now made in the South, designs that are rocking the retail western hat world in loft-y style.

ARTICLE & PHOTOS |

Cheryl Rinehart

What became of Dr. Smith

Noah Saterstrom (American, b. 1974), What Became of Dr. Smith, 2023. Oil on canvas, 6 by 122 feet. Courtesy the artist. A

5 feet 6 inches

Hosted by the Mississippi Museum of Art, What Became of Dr. Smith is a large-scale panoramic narrative painting that will be on view through September 22, 2024. This painting by internationally noted, contemporary artist Noah Saterstrom, raised in Mississippi, is an amazing tribute to discovering a family history and promoting a discussion of mental health. Therein, it also engenders support for the Asylum Hill Project, a research consortium committed to uncovering the history of the Old Asylum in Jackson, Mississippi, and memorializing the approximately 7,000 individuals whose remains were recently discovered there. The exhibition is curated by Megan Hines, Ph.D.

In 2017, Saterstrom embarked on a years-long search in state, local, and private archives for information about Dr. D. L. Smith. He eventually discovered that his greatgrandfather spent the final four decades of his life at the Mississippi State Insane Hospital, also known as the Old Asylum, in Jackson, Mississippi, and later in nearby Whitfield, Mississippi.

The exhibition appears in three venues: Saterstrom’s monumental painting composed of 183 canvases spanning 122 feet; historical artifacts from Dr. Smith’s life including letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs; and an area dedicated to The Asylum Hill Project. In addition to the exhibition, MMA is partnering with the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson. This collaboration builds on existing art therapy programs at UMMC and MMA to illuminate art’s transformative power to address mental health issues and intergenerational trauma.

“Noah’s exhibition is an excellent example of the arts informing the sciences—especially the bio-medical sciences,”said Ralph Didlake, MD, a former surgeon and UMMC leader who directs The Asylum Hill Project. “The sick and injured come to us in social, cultural, and circumstantial contexts that impact their treatment and their outcome. The better we understand these contexts, the better we can care for our patients. It is through the arts that we gain this understanding.”

Close to ten years ago, Staterstrom was commissioned by the Natchez Tricentennial Committee to create a work of art for the 2016 celebration of the oldest settlement along the Mississippi River; this work was titled Natchez Bluff Friez. This project that began as a single painting grew to a mural a foot tall and forty feet long as it evolved from Saterstrom’s meticulous research involving family and community history and incorporating the spoken or written art of storytelling into the brush-stroke art of his paintings.

This panorama of Natchez’s three hundred years begins from the vantage point of the porch of Saterstrom’s grandparents’ home, Edelweiss, situated on Broadway Street overlooking the Bluff Park with its inspiring and imposing miles-long view of the majestic Mississippi River. This was a familiar view for him while growing up in Natchez; but his mural reflects a mature, eclectic, and multi-layered view of the depth and complexity of Natchez from all sides of its history.

“Noah’s exhibition is an excellent example of the arts informing the sciences especially the bio-medical sciences,”

–Ralph Didlake, MD

In his 2016 presentation of the mural, Saterstrom stated, “My intention and my hope are to focus not only on the difficult stories of Natchez, nor the crumbling aristocratic facade, but to work with the richness and contradiction to pave avenues of reflection and recognition. Art, according to some, is best used to open questions, to lengthen the resonance of those questions, not to answer them.” He dedicated the painting to his grandparents Margaret and Theo Wesley.

Upon completion of this project, Saterstrom turned his attention to the 2018 Mississippi Book Festival where his body of work featured Mississippi’s greatest literary treasures. Following this venture, he returned to a looming mystery he had uncovered during his research for the Natchez mural–the mystery surrounding the disappearance of his greatgrandfather.

Betsy Bradley, Laurie Hearin McRee Director of MMA, said, “We first featured Noah’s work during our Picturing Mississippi exhibition in 2017. When I heard him speak about his story during a panel discussion related to the exhibition, I was immediately captivated. Noah’s story is both complex and courageous, and I knew MMA was the ideal venue to showcase this exhibition.”

About MMA’s participation in and endorsement of the What Became of Dr. Smith exhibit, Bradley commented, “I’m also immensely grateful to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, which has been a pivotal resource for Noah’s research efforts.” Saterstrom also credits Mary Fischer Nessell, Director of Fischer Galleries, and Stephen Parks, State Librarian, who provided leads to several sources where he uncovered documented information, letters, and writings about his great-grandfather.

OPPOSITE & ABOVE | Noah Saterstrom (American, b. 1974), What Became of Dr. Smith (detail), 2023. Oil on canvas, 6 by 122 feet. Courtesy the artist.

| Noah

Exhibit’s viewing information:

Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

380 South Lamar Street

Jackson, Mississippi

601.960.1515 msmuseumart.org

BELOW

Saterstrom, photograph by Jeremy Cowart

ELLICOTT POOL SUMMER FUN

Opening May 25 at 10AM through September 2 Mon.-Fri. 1-7PM | Sat. 10AM-7PM | Sun. 1-7PM

Your goals are our goals. We look forward to crafting a financial strategy for your future.

Shimmer, &

Photograph submitted

Callie Hodge and Jessica Breazeale, both of JBConsulting 1 Jessica Breazeale of Wesson, Mississippi, recently received the top honor this year from the Pine Belt Chapter of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM). Breazeale, a local business owner who has operated her own marketing firm Jessica Breazeale Consulting (JBConsulting) since 2017, was awarded the 2024 Bud Kirkpatrick Practitioner of the Year Award.

The Transparency Act

What I am about to discuss in this article is the newly passed Transparency Act which is less exciting than watching paint dry on the wall. On the other hand, it may fire you up.

The Transparency Act now applies to virtually all businesses that are formed through any state agency, such as Secretary of State. This Act affects a fairly large number of people who own businesses or even holding companies that invest in land, etc.

It seems your government has passed this act in an attempt to ferret out terrorist organizations, money-laundering operations, corrupt foreign ownership of businesses, or any other illegal or illicit criminal organizations that may hide behind dummy corporations or sham or shell companies.

So, in their infinite wisdom, members of Congress (most of whom have never run a business) have passed this mandatory Transparency Act which requires you to file a “Beneficial Ownership Information Report,” also known by its acronym BOIR. You must do this online or have your attorney or CPA file it for you.

Why am I bothering you with this vague, obscure law? It is important because, if you own the type of company I am about to describe and you don’t register it with the federal government by January 2025, you become subject to a $500.00-a-day fine and possible imprisonment.

First, which company has to file a report? The answer is any company that you register with your state through the Secretary of State. That would be C-Corporations, Subchapter S Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, and so on. You may ask if there are any exemptions and the answer is—a few. Those exempt are sole proprietorships, 501(c)3 organizations, banks, and credit unions.

Again, what if your LLC, partnership or Sub-chapter S owns, for example, just land for hunting, are you exempt? NOPE!

Next, what information has to be supplied? Well, your government wants your company name, business address, state of domicile, and your EIN, TIN, or foreign TIN numbers (which they should already have.)

In addition to the above information, the government also wants you to identify and provide information of the “beneficial owners” of the company.

A beneficial owner is any individual who (1) directly or indirectly exercises substantial control of a qualified company and/or (2) anyone who is an officer, director, or manager, who exerts “substantial control of a company or is in any way involved in the decision-making process of operations.” (I am not sure I understand that last one.)

So, if you are lucky enough to be a beneficial owner, then you must provide your government with your name, date of birth, current address, and some form of identification like a copy of your driver’s license. But next, I have really good news. The act requires this all to be confidential. Yea, right!

Again, there are substantial fines and penalties if all this is not performed by January 2025. It is mandatory.

The word ludicrous comes to mind in reading all of this when you look at the so-called “purpose” of their law but then realize this same government let 7,000,000 illegal aliens come into this country last year with no protest. Our government further allows suspicious foreign countries like China to own land and businesses in our country, so what’s the use? I am suspicious of the real intent behind the never-ending red tape coming out of D. C. Are they just making it easier to “track” honest citizens?

Mississippi’s Secretary of State, Michael Watson, has just registered an objection with Congress over this act. He seems to be the only politician doing so.

To me, this act is much akin to gun control. If you pass gun control, then only the honest people will abide, for the “bad guys” will never give up their guns. Case in point, Mexico.

This Transparency Act is actually the same thing. Only the honest citizens will comply. The “bad guys” will just continue to be bad.

ARTICLE | Sam Gwin

Lucien C. “Sam” Gwin III was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1981 and has been practicing many aspects of the law at the firm of Gwin, Punches & Kelley in Natchez, Mississippi, ever since.

THE socialSCENE WOODVILLE, MS

WCCA Field Day 2024

Wilkinson County Christian Academy in Woodville, Mississippi, hosted its Annual Field Day on March 23, 2024. The Field Day, which was started in the 1970s, is the school’s largest annual fundraising event. The Senior Class of 2025 chose the theme “Shine Bright,” which turned out to be a perfect fit as it was gorgeous sunny day with an excellent turn-out that resulted in endless great memories and one of the school’s best fundraising events in years.

Photography submitted by Dawn Miley

Nathan and Kathleen Huff

Jacob Sessions, Gage Metz, and Davis Randall

Drew and Andrew Grezaffi

Virginia Whetstone, Lili Lewis, Estelle Whetstone, and Emily Hill

Sandy Kleinpeter and Sara Grezaffi

Seth Netterville

Toni Pritchard and Charles Whetstone

Savanna Clary and Mary Davis Grezaffi

Brittany Templeton and Emily Johnson

Andrew and Kellie Grezaffi

Andy Lewis, Edine Seal, Ida Whetstone, Evert Talbot, and Lili Lewis

Prentiss and Margo Ferguson

Tiffany Holloway, Kallie Slater, and Randy Holloway

D’Nella Cavin and Kellie Grezaffi

Madison Elam and Aliya Haney

Mitchell and Rebbie Whitaker

Chase Cavin, Warren Whitaker, and Bo Elam

Anna Klein Grezaffi and Millie Ashley

Leanne Hughes and Deana Ferguson

Hollie Walker, Emma Walker, and Dr. Jennings Owens

10

Aus�in & Jackson Wedding�

VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI | MARCH 23, 2024

On the evening of March 23, 2024, Matthew Scott

Austin and Emily Claire Jackson were joyfully married in the outdoor courtyard at Cedar Grove Mansion in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Officiated by Doug Spires, the ceremony was small and intimate with chosen family and friends attending from all over the United States. The bride, who was born and raised in Vicksburg, moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2016 where she met her groom, who was raised in Charlotte, and where the couple currently resides.

The bride is the daughter of Tracy Chaney and the late David Chaney of Vicksburg and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Rad Styron III, also of Vicksburg. The groom is the son of Tom and Debra Handy of West Jefferson, North Carolina, and of Ken and Angie Austin of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the grandson of Fern and the late John Handy of Miller’s Creek, North Carolina, and the dearly departed Herman and Ruby Austin of Charlotte.

Wearing a mermaid-style dress with lace overlay and a stunning, finished lace semi-cathedral train from Lace Bridal Experience of Ridgeland, Mississippi, the bride was escorted down the aisle by her mother, who wore a forest green floor-length gown with beaded detail and sheer back panel, also from Lace Bridal Experience. The bride’s bouquet featured white roses and hydrangeas with magnolia leaf greenery designed by Helen’s Florist of Vicksburg. As part of the something-old, something-new tradition, the bride’s grandmother, Linda, gifted her the same pearl earrings and necklace given to Linda by her husband, Rad, on their wedding day over fifty years ago. She also wore a diamond bracelet loaned to her by her mother-in-law, Debbie. The groom incorporated his love of Elvis by wearing blue suede shoes with his stone grey and blue windowpane suit from Brooks Brothers. Before the ceremony, the bride hosted an intimate champagne toast with some of her closest family members and with a few members from her new family also in attendance. Father PJ Curley, emeritus priest of St. Michael Catholic Church, with whom the bride is close, stopped by to provide a pre-ceremony blessing over her.

Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the Cedar Grove ballroom and courtyard with catering provided by Rusty’s Riverfront Grill. Music, a selection of the bride’s and groom’s favorites, was provided by DJ Dailon Huskey, host of The Early Show on K-Hits 104.5 in Vicksburg. The groom’s brother, Daniel Austin,

performed the first dance song, singing “Out of Left Field” by Percy Sledge. The bride’s and groom’s cakes were prepared by Hannah Bonelli of HannMade Cakes, and the stunning photography was provided by Karlton Jenkins of RIPPZ Media. Event planner and co-owner of Cedar Grove Mansion, Kendra Reed, worked closely with the couple to create a truly one-of-a-kind, no-stress experience.

As her very first place of employment twenty years ago, Cedar Grove holds a special place in the bride’s heart. Seeing the beautiful and elegant weddings held there so long ago and dreaming of her own special day, the bride was especially excited to create her own fullcircle moment on this day.

After the wedding festivities were over, the bride and groom, along with a group of their closest friends, traveled back to North Carolina by car, stopping in Memphis, Tennessee, to party it up with a little blues and BBQ on Beale Street and to visit Graceland—per the groom’s request. They also stopped in Nashville, Tennessee, to visit the bride’s former second hometown (where she lived prior to moving to North Carolina) and to haunt her old stomping grounds. The bride wants to make it clear that, despite what the groom claims, this was not the couple’s formal honeymoon and that they will be taking their formal honeymoon later in the year to some tropical destination that is still to be determined.

LOUISIANA

louisianatravel.com

A great site for everything Louisiana

_______________________

ALEXANDRIA / PINEVILLE

alexandriapinevillela.com rapidessymphony.org

riveroaksartscenter.com lagniappetheatre.com themuseum.org

_______________________

BATON ROUGE

visitbatonrouge.com lsumoa.org

rivercenterarena: baton-rouge. tickets-center.com

batonrougeballet.org

Red Stick Farmers Market Breada.com brso.org lasm.org

Saturdays in May & June

Red Stick Farmers Market

5th & Main Streets

8 am-Noon

1st Saturday in May & June

BR Arts Market

Red Stick Farmers Market 5th & Main Streets

8 am-Noon

May 10

Hot Art Cool Nights

Mid City Art & Cultural District 6 – 10 pm

FERRIDAY concordialibrary.org deltamusicmuseum.com

MONROE / WEST MONROE monroe-westmonroe.org

NEW ORLEANS

neworleanscvb.com ogdenmuseum.org nola.org

FB: nolajazzmuseum/live newcombartmuseum.tulane.edu nobt.org

neworleansfilmsociety.org

neworleanscitypark.com neworleanszombierun.com

FB: nolajazzmuseum/live theatreneworleans.org

May 17–19

Bayou Boogaloo Bayou St. John thebayouboogaloo.com

May 24–26

Greek Fest

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral gfno.com

June 8–9

French Market

Creole Tomato Festival Shops of the Colonnade 12 Noon

PORT ALLEN westbatonrouge.net westbatonrougemuseum.com

May & June

Site Events westbatonrougemuseum.com

RUSTON

June 1

Louisiana Peach Festival Downtown Ruston lapeachfest.com

ST. FRANCISVILLE

audubonstatehistoricsite. wordpress.com explorewestfeliciana.com/ events

stfrancisvillefestivals.com

FB: St. Francisville Farmers Market

St. Francisville Farmers Martet

Every Thursday

9961 Wilcox St. 9 am – 1 pm

May 31 & June 1

Walker Percy Weekend

St. Francisville Historic District walkerpercyweekend.org

VIDALIA cityofvidaliala.com concordialibrary.org

Wednesdays

Farmers Market

Old Court House

N. Spruce St. 9 am-1 pm

MISSISSIPPI

visitmississippi.org

hikinginmississippi.com

_____________________

BROOKHAVEN

FB: VisitBrookhavenMS visitbrookhavenms.com

brookhavenrecreation.com

brookhavenlittletheatre.com llf.lib.ms.us

May 28–June 9

Mean Girls, Jr.

Brookhaven Little Theatre Team Camp

2 & 7 pm

brookhavenlittletheatre.com/ meangirls

June 17–28

Finding Nemo Kids

Brookhaven Little Theatre

6 & 8 pm

brookhavenlittletheatre.com/ findingnemo

June 20

Girls Night Out

25 Vendors / $20 3 – 9 pm visitbrookhavenms.com

JACKSON

dulinghall.com

msmuseumart.org visitjackson.com

jacksonfreepress.com/ calendarmsnla.org balletms.com msmetroballet.com operams.org downtown-jackson.com newstagetheatre.com

May 11

Mississippi Makers Fest

Downtown Entergy Plaza 222 North St. 10 am – 8 pm / Free

June 8

Mississippi Pickle Fest

MS Agriculture & Forestry Museum

9 am – 5 pm msagmuseum.org

Through September 22

Mississippi Museum of Art What Became of Dr. Smith Tues. – Sat. 11 am – 5 pm Sun. 1 – 5 pm msmuseumart.org

601.960.1515

McCOMB pikeinfo.com

mccombarts.com

mcrrmuseum.com

pcltmccomb.org

FB: McComb Farmers Market

May 2 & Every Thursday in May & June

McComb Farmers Market 113 North Railroad Blvd. 7 am – 1 pm 410.693.7701

May 10

21st Annual Pike County Chamber of Commerce

Golf Tournament

Fernwood Country Club 8 am & 1 pm 601.684.22911

May 11

30th Annual Iron Horse Festival Car Show

Bo Diddley Pavillion Downtown/ 9 am – 2 pm _______________________

NATCHEZ

Live Music Events Calendar

visitnatchez.org/full-eventcalendar visitnatchez.org natchezpilgrimage.com thetowersofnatchez.com natchezgardenclub.org natchezlittletheatre.com

FB: Downtown Natchez Farmers Market

Saturdays

Natchez Farmers Market Downtown

300 N. Broadway 8:30 am-Noon

Through May 18

Natchez Festival of Music natchezfestivalofmusic.com

May 3, 10, 17 & 24

Live @ 5 Bandstand/River Bluff Park 5 pm / Free

May 4

Joe Fortunato-Allen Brown

Annual Golf Tournament

Duncan Park Golf Course

Tee-off / 8:00 am or 1:00 pm

$400 per 4-person team 601.493.6450

May 11

Ragtime Lecture

Historic Natchez Foundation 10 am / Free

May 11

Lunch, Tour & Ragtime Show

Magnolia Hall

Noon /$ 25 natchezgardenclub.org

May 18

Green Ribbon Run 5K

Smooth’s Grocery 8 am / $40 raceroster.com

May 16 – 19

Orion and the Goatman

Natchez Little Theatre

601.442.2233

Natchezlittletheatre.com

May 18

Pickleball & Tennis Tournament

Duncan Park / 7:30 am natchezcac.org

May 19

Natchez City Cemetery’s Grace Manning Maintenance Facility

Open House and Dedication

2 Cemetery Road

11:30 am – 2:00 pm 12:30 pm Dedication 601.445.5051

thenatchezcitycemetery.com

June 1

White Linen Night South Commerce St. Downtown / 6 pm

June 22

Miss-Lou Makers Market

Natchez Bluff 9 am – 4 pm

MADISON/RIDGELAND visitridgeland.com madisonthecity.com craftsmensguildofms.org mscrafts.org

May 4

The MIND Center / Santé South Wine & Food Festival

St. Andrews Episcopal School 7:30 – 10 pm 601.853.6000

May 10

Pepsi Pops Old Trace Park exploreridgeland.com/events

May 11

Dragon Boat Regatta Barnette Reservoir exploreridgeland.com/events

May 16–19

Snappy Sync Soiree (Synchronous Fireflies) Bill Waller Craft Center

VICKSBURG

visitvicksburg.com

vicksburgartassociation.org vicksburgtheatreguild.com downtownvicksburg.org

May 3 & 10

Classics in the Courtyard Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation 12 pm info@southernculture.org 601.631.2997

May 4

British Tea

The Martha Vick House 11 am or 3 pm / $45 tickettailor.com

May 10–19

Rock of Ages

Vicksburg Theatre Guild showclix.com/events

January/February

Weddings, Engagements

Mardi Gras Mambo

March/April

Spring Tours

Easter Delights

Spring Gardens

Travel Adventures

May/June

Healthy Lifestyles

Summertime Fun

Salute to Graduates

July/August

Patriotic Celebrations

Featuring Local Artists

Summertime Adventure

Fall Garden Preparations

September/October

Back to School Traditions

Football Frenzy

Fall Festivals

November/December

Holiday Decor

Holiday Traditions

Holiday Foods & Finds

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To learn more about PHS call 318-757-1225 or visit personalhomecare.net Service area includes all of Mississippi and Louisiana