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february
CONTENTS 2015 • VOLUME 12 • NO. 2
features
52 Running with the Stars Pound the pavement with inspired training
64 Our Faith Affirmed An exhibit of African American self-taught artists
58 Wearing Mystery The stories behind those Mardi Gras masks
departments 14 Living Well Therapeutic massage can be medicine
44 A Day Away Covington, Tennessee
18 Notables Ole Miss’ Carol Ross makes slam dunk history
48 Greater Goods
22 Exploring Art Sketching the Civil War
72 Southern Harmony The City Champs taking music world by storm
26 Exploring Books “Cake My Day” takes the cake
72 Table Talk Chicago Steakhouse boasts more than steaks
30 Into the Wild Pedaling through nature
76 In Good Spirits AC’s Steakhouse Valentine’s Specialties
34 Exploring Cuisine This ain’t your Mama’s crock pot
78 Exploring Events
38 Exploring Destinations Hot Springs is still hot on romance
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70 Homegrown The local luxuries of Northern Street Boutique
80 Reflections Will You Go with Me?
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editor’s note }
february
The nature of February I am struck by the nature of February. Stuck in mid-winter, this month appears stacked full of things. Obviously, Valentine’s Day. More noteworthy, Black History Month and Heart Healthy month. It may be short, but this month can be dizzying. To me, all these events, while seemingly unrelated, in fact all relate back to one thing: Health. With so many messages out there about what constitutes the right food, the latest exercise gadget or what healthy living means, I am renewed by all those people still out there moving to their own ideas of healthy living. Our feature about the Star Runners on page 52 reminds me that everyone has a place---no matter if you’re the triathlete or the new runner. Likewise, Jill inspires us with the idea that exercise and movement doesn’t always need to feel like a burden. Grab a bike and explore some of our region’s best scenic pathways on page 30. It seems winter has perhaps pushed us indoors at our museums, but who can help it with so many relevant exhibits? Over in Oxford, the exhibit “Our Faith Affirmed” reminds us all that lack of opportunity or resources can’t quell the need to create and affirm a life. With over 90 works by African American selftaught artists, the walls tell stories without words. Read more on page 64. As noted, 2015 marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War and Mississippians have a rare treat to view the “Civil War Drawings from the Becker Collection”. Amazingly, some
February 2015 • Vol. 12 No.2
PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell
EDITOR Karen Ott Mayer
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Virginia Jenkins
of the original sketches were completed on battlefields. We are grateful to the Mississippi Museum of Art for sharing this story on page 22 with us. Finally, if you’re fretting because it’s February and you haven’t made Valentine’s Day plans, we are at your service. From AC’s Steakhouse right here in Hernando to the Chicago Steakhouse at Gold Strike in Tunica, you will discover amazing drinks, desserts and atmosphere. Read on and make your plans. I don’t know about anyone else, but I think I’ll settle for an eco-bike ride. Or chocolate? No, the bike ride…. hmmm...maybe the chocolate.... Good luck with all your February choices,
Karen
on the cover If you do over indulge in the Valentine chocolates, an eco-bike ride should be in your future! It’s a fun and healthy way to explore new areas with the entire family. Read about a few we recommend on page 30.
CONTRIBUTORS Adam Mitchell Karen Ott Mayer Paula Mitchell Cheré Coen Bobby L. Hickman Jill Gleeson Corey Latta Andrea Brown Ross Kat Farber
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living well }
massage therapy
Massage or Medicine A glance into the world of massage therapy By Kat Farber. Photography courtesy of Kat Farber
Over the last several years, Massage Therapy has grown from a luxury service into a well-established tool and what is quickly becoming known as Integrative Medicine. Integrative Medicine seeks to create a system of medical care that incorporates traditional, Western medicine (allopathic medicine) and evidence-based Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM). Massage Therapy has developed into an excellent source of complementary care for assisting in the aid and recovery of many medical treatments such as rehabilitative services, pain management, sports medicine, oncology care, surgery recovery, pregnancy care, and more. In addition, 16 DeSoto
Massage provides stress management care. We live in a culture that disregards stress, which is often spoken of, but never allowed to directly influence our lifestyles. In many situations, stress can become revered; for instance, the coveted “multi-tasker” label which often translates into a person who is willing to work into overload. Yet, many of our professional and academic associations identify stress as a major contributor to several of our most risky health problems including cardiovascular conditions and cancer. Stress management requires a preventive care philosophy. By allowing ourselves some regular care now, we can prevent the need for more invasive (and expensive) care later. While Massage
Therapy is useful in assisting the effectiveness of other allopathic medicines, it is superior as a preventative care tool. Swedish Massage is a traditional form of massage in the United States. Many other “types” of massage originate from this and build from it. It is characterized by combining flowing strokes with kneading of muscle tissue. It can vary in pressure applications. Gentle massage after surgery can reduce pain, decrease anxiety, reduce recovery time, and assist sleep. Post-surgical options are often reduced to pain medications, which many patients find limiting, especially when trying to return to work or other activities. Deciding how soon to receive massage after surgery (or injury) is dependent on the situation. It is best to discuss this with the surgeon or doctor, though, if they are unfamiliar with the use of massage care, it’ll be best to involve an educated massage therapist in the decision.
Manual Lymph Drainage Lymphedema is an abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid, usually restricted to areas near the removed or damaged lymph nodes. Lymphedema can also be caused by other issues, including damaged lymph vessels from birth. It can be a chronic condition that is uncomfortable and difficult to adjust to in everyday life. It can also occur temporarily after chemotherapy/radiation or other surgeries. Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) is a massage technique which can be useful for lymphedema, which can occur during cancer treatments, as well as temporarily after many surgeries. It is a gentle technique designed to help re-direct lymph flow from affected areas. MLD can increase the amount of lymph fluid moved through an area, have an analgesic (pain-relieving) and soothing effect, thereby assisting the management of lymphedema and edema. Many people who have lived with cancer can later suffer from lymphedema due to lymph nodes being removed during surgery or damaged during radiation therapy. MLD can be a useful technique for other situations as well, including sprains, whiplash, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines and sinus headaches. When searching for a therapist to provide assistance with any branch of medical care, including Manual Lymph Drainage, it is important to seek someone with specialized training. In the massage industry, this is referred to as Continuing Education (CE) classes. Much of the specific training is not taught in a basic massage program, or only discussed briefly to give the students ideas of what they may want to train in later. If considering massage therapy, I recommend first asking a therapist about their specialized training and certification. Licenses are issued in each state and do expire, so be sure to ask specifically about a license. As in medical specialties, a massage therapist might be board certified. This is a voluntary certification provided by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) which indicates the massage therapist has gone through additional training and experience, and is required to meet higher standards than required by most state boards for renewal. This does not replace a state-issued license, which is required to practice.
Kat Farber, LMT, BCMT
Kat is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Board Certified Massage Therapist, and Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist (Vodder Technique) with training for Oncology Massage. She owns Saille Healing Path, a private practice in Memphis. She also offers Swedish and Deep Tissue massage therapy with a focus on Orthopedic care, cupping therapy, aromatherapy, and nutritional counseling services at her office.
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notables }
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carol ross
nothing but
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success By Andrea Brown Ross. Photography courtesy of Carol Ross
As a young girl, Carol Ross cultivated a passion for basketball that has never dimmed through the years. This passion fueled her as a collegiate player, and ultimately led her to be named the WNBA Coach of the Year. “I grew up on a farm with a basketball hoop in the yard. My first organized team was at Oakland Elementary, Oakland, Miss. in fifth grade. I played from fifth grade through my college years at Ole Miss.” Ross explained why basketball was often a family affair. “My two older sisters, Linda Ross Aldy and Janet Ross Caulder, both played throughout high school. I grew up watching them play. My mother, Margaret Dorman Ross, was also a stellar high school player. She graduated from Oakland High School in 1950. My fondest moments and the ones that sparked my passion for the game were the pickup games on the farm with the Ross boys: Tommy, Paul, Rich, occasionally
Bobby and the farm guys, Earl, Floyd, Lloyd, Michael and anybody else that was around when we were choosing teams.” Earning an athletic scholarship to the University of Mississippi, Ross was a four-year starter, playing guard. Ross continues to hold the Ole Miss record for the most steals. Ross went on to graduate from Ole Miss in 1982 with a degree in education. DeSoto 21
Ross, The College Coach
Ross talks with pride about her career as a college basketball coach. “After graduating from Ole Miss, I applied for a Graduate Assistant Position at Auburn University. I was invited to work their summer basketball camp and interview. It worked out, and I was hired. I was promoted after one year to a fulltime assistant coaching position. I was there for seven years. During that span, we played for three National Titles, and won several SEC Championships. Being part of a nationally prominent program gave me exposure and I was hired in 1990 at the University of Florida as their Head Coach. Those fortunate and early decisions in my life led me into the exciting and fulfilling career in coaching,” said Ross. In 2003, Ross returned to Ole Miss to become head coach of the Lady Rebels. Ross continued as head coach through the 2006-2007 season. In 2009, Ross was hired as assistant coach for the Atlanta Dream. In 2011, she was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks where she remained until 2014. Her career path has had so many peaks, it’s hard to talk about just one or the other. As a true teacher, she views her accomplishments through the success of others. “The highlights of my career are really centered around the accomplishments of my peers and players. I have coached Olympians, All-Americans, WNBA MVP’s, All-SEC and ALL-SEC Academic Honorees. I have coached college, WNBA, and with USA Basketball. Seeing your players strive and achieve on the court, in the classroom and in the community and around the globe, is really what makes the profession of coaching special. I have always tried to surround myself with competent, compassionate and motivated people, whether it be friends, players, colleagues or family. The relationships will always out weigh wins and losses. When you are a part of something bigger than yourself (a team) you get to share in each others accomplishments. I have been blessed to be in the company of many outstanding and talented people.” 22 DeSoto
Leaving a Legacy
“I hope my legacy as a coach will be that if you asked my players about playing for the me, they would smile, be glad, and want to do it all over again!” exclaimed Ross. Going into her ninth season with the L.A. Sparks, player Armintie Price Herrington, commented on the impact that Ross has had on her life both on and off the court. “I played for Carol from 2003-2007 at Ole Miss. She was my assistant coach with the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA 2009 and 2010 seasons. She was my head coach with the L.A. Sparks in 2014 in WNBA. She taught me to control what I can control. Effort and hard work beats talent any day. I would do college over again. She has taught me so much about being a better person, helping others, giving 100 percent. And doing what makes me happy. We became closer than friends; we are family. To this day, I can call her anytime. What we built was a relationship that will last forever. I would smile, laugh and cry all over again in those moments we shared,” said Herrington. After all the years, Ross views the future with characteristic pragmatism. “I plan on doing some consulting and commentary work for the SEC. I’ve always landed better than I should. So, I am open to whatever comes my way.”
Notable Moments
2001 Inductee, University of Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame 2004 SEC Coach of the Year 2012 WBNA Coach of the Year 2014 SEC Women’s Legends Class
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exploring art }
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civil war drawings
sketches in time By Karen Ott Mayer. Photography courtesy of Mississippi Museum of Art.
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Over 150 years ago, the Civil War began, altering the American landscape forever. During a time when minds couldn’t fathom devices like cameras and mobile phones, visually capturing the war years began on the field, and in the hands of amateur artists. This year 2015 marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the war and Mississippians possess a rare opportunity to experience the war through the “Civil War Drawings from the Becker Collection” at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Joseph Becker and other artists working for Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper became the visual connection to the public through their pen and pencil sketches. These first-hand drawings of both the battlefield and everyday 19th century life present an immediate glimpse into the past. Many of the sketches have never been seen before. “These drawings were the way people learned about battle,” said Betsy Bradley, director of the museum. “Newspapers would hire artists, some trained, some not. The sketches were wired to New York and printed,” she added. The exhibit consists of over 85 original drawings. If it weren’t for Becker, the sketches would have been lost to time. In the course of work, the paper sketches were thrown out after imprints or engravings had been taken. Becker began saving the sketches. Decades later, a great-great granddaughter discovered 650 sketches, not only of the war, but sketches representing major 19th century developments like the railroad. Also a professor at Boston College, she worked to bring the sketches literally to the light of day. Eventually, 26 DeSoto
the Becker Collection premiered at the McMullen Museum of Boston College and curated by Judith Bookbinder and Sheila Gallagher. Perhaps the most moving part of the collection is the immediacy. “We see the role of the artist amidst history in the making,” said Bradley. Artists’ hands and eyes became the direct interpretative link. “These artist-journalists didn’t have careers as museum artists and produced works made in pencil, ink and charcoal.” The collection has been traveling since 2009, prior to which it had never been available to the public. While most scholars know about the collection, Bradley said many have never seen it first-hand. Not only do the sketches capture a moment, they are also precisely documented due to how the works were produced. “We know precisely when and where they were sketched because the artists recorded that information as well,” said Bradley. Many were sketched at places well known to many Mississippians, like the battlefields of Shiloh, Vicksburg and Gettysburg. Artist names included Edward F. Mullen, Joseph Becker, James E. Taylor, Charles E. H. Bonwill, and many others. Come April 2015, the war will have ended yet again, 150 years later. In a world of fast-moving communications, these sketches from the past somehow manage not only to physically reach across geographies, but emotionally connect to days past, where artists and journalists worked to capture the Civil War for readers then--and now.
Civil War Drawings from the Becker Collection January 31 - April 19, 2015 $10 adults $8 seniors $5 students. FREE children 5 and under FREE museum members www.msmuseumart.org 601-960-1515 The Mississippi Museum of Art event schedule this spring includes many chances to visit and learn more about artists’ connections with the Civil War. Please consult the museum’s website for detailed information about each event, including cost, roster of speakers and content. All events held at the Mississippi Museum of Art.
Saturday, February 7, 2015 Art of Commemoration with General Parker Hills 2 PM Saturday, February 21, 2015 Art of War 10 AM – 3 PM Saturday, February 28, 2015 Teaching the Civil War for the 21st Century Student 10 AM – 3 PM Saturday, March 7, 2015 Considering Edward S. Hall’s Occupation of Baltimore: Union Soldiers and the Challenge of Military Occupation during the American Civil War 2 PM Saturday, March 28, 2015 Artists Embedded in the MexicanAmerican War 2 PM Saturday, April 11, 2015 Perspectives in the Press: Using Civil War Era Newspapers in the Classroom 10 AM – 3 PM DeSoto 27
exploring books} cake my day
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Cake My Day! By Cheré Coen. Photography courtesy of Alan Richardson; Karen Tack; Houghton Mifflin
Alan Richardson and Karen Tack have been taking the baking world by storm — one cupcake at a time. The couple are the coauthors of the New York times best-selling cookbooks, “Hello, Cupcake!,” “What’s New, Cupcake?” and “Cupcakes, Cookies & Pie, Oh, My!” They have even created a cupcake app that includes 10 projects from the first two books. Coming in March, their latest book expands their canvas to include cakes in, “Cake My Day!: Easy, Eye-Popping Designs for Stunning, Fanciful, and Funny Cakes.” These are not ordinary desserts. Tack and Richardson make everything from a fireworks-emblazoned Fourth of
July cake to taco cakes and a turkey Thanksgiving dessert that appears so savory you’ll want to dip a roll into its gravy. Cupcakes run the gamut, including gift boxes, rubber ducks and detailed flowers. There are beehives, sports cars and golf courses artfully combined from individual cupcakes. Squirrels, DeSoto 29
dogs and other fanciful animals leap from the confines of cupcakes to become three-dimensional and lifelike. “We take cupcakes and cookies and candies and transform them into magical desserts,” Tack explained in a Bookstream video. In their latest book “Cake My Day!” Tack and Richardson spotlight only full-size cakes but insist — as they do in the previous cookbooks — that anyone can do what they do. “A round pan can create a rainbow cake or a chic handbag cake, and with a few simple cuts, you can transform a round cake into a barnyard rooster cake or even a classical guitar cake,” the authors write in the introduction of “Cake My Day!” “We’ve turned simple rectangular cakes into a retro toaster and a lawn mower. A loaf cake can become a canister vacuum or a pineapple with Pringle leaves, and a jelly-roll cake changes into a stump cake sure to please any northern woodsman.” Their specialty creations really take the cake, however bad the pun, mainly those vacuum cleaners and toasters, innovative centerpieces sure to wow any audience. For Easter and springtime, there are several recipes for eggs, including the egghead baby cake, an egg complete with diaper, bottle and charming face, and the Fabergé egg cake decorated in colorful jellybeans. There’s even a Louisville slugger and ball just in time for baseball season. The authors also include vital information on kitchen tools, plus recipes for frostings and candy clay. There’s even a handy guide to purchasing baking supplies and gourmet candy in the back. Tack is a food stylist living in Connecticut who was once called the “Cake 30 DeSoto
Whisperer” by Gourmet magazine. She has created cupcakes and other desserts for national magazines such as Bon Appétit and Martha Stewart Living, among so many others. Alan Richardson is the coauthor of “The Four Seasons of Italian Cooking” and “The Breath of a Wok,” which won the Best International Cookbook Award and the Jane Grigson Award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals. The New Yorker’s work has also appeared in major magazines as well as best-selling cookbooks. The two have been so successful with their cookbooks they have been featured on The Martha Stewart Show, The Rachael Ray Show, CBS’s The Early Show and several times on the TODAY Show. The authors insist bakers can create delightful and delicious cakes using ordinary candy and snacks and a few kitchen tools. Richardson, who’s been labeled the “MacGyver of Candy,” compares their baking process to finding found objects and “creating sculpture that you’d find in a gallery or museum.” Only you can just eat these masterpieces.
“We take cupcakes & cookies & candies & transform them into
magical desserts.” Karen Tack
For more information on the authors and their books, plus sample recipes, visit hellocupcakebook.com. DeSoto 31
into the wild } eco bike tours
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Life is Better
on a BIKE
By Jill Gleeson. Photography by Chandra Wright and Maggie Howard
For sweet simple pleasure, there may be no better pastime than eco-biking. Whether pedaling down a forested trail carved out of a former railroad track, or along a park path buffered by nature from the city’s din, eco-biking is about immersing oneself in the natural world. It’s the ideal way of moving through the landscape, giving riders the ability to cover more distance than they would on a hike, while not lessening the immediacy of the experience as a car ride would. Eco-biking affords the opportunity for exercise and for using green transportation, but its focus remains on the wonders surrounding the cyclist. DeSoto 33
With such wonders in mind, let’s follow three of the Southeast’s best spots for eco-biking. Less than 18 months old, Tanglefoot Trail is Mississippi’s longest rails-to-trails conversion, winding through the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area. Blazed by the Chickasaws, traveled by Hernando de Soto as well as Meriwether Lewis, the 43.6-mile-long trail follows the railroad corridor founded by Col. William Clark Faulkner, whose greatgrandson author William Faulkner would win the Nobel Prize for literature. Asphalt-paved and 10 feet wide, it runs from New Albany in the north, passing through four towns before reaching its southern terminus at Houston. There are six rain stops, six no-shelter rest stops and four whistle stops, which have amenities like bathrooms and picnic tables, along the way. “But,” assured Trail Manager Don Locke, “most of the trail is in the countryside. Probably 65 to 70 percent is treecovered. The rest is open farmland - pastures, row crops and such.” Populated with hardwoods like oak, hickory, poplar, maple and sweetgum, the Tanglefoot is also graced by swathes of wildflowers in springtime. Animals that call its environs home include deer, coyotes, rabbits, groundhogs, bobcats, owls and hawks. “What I love about the Tanglefoot” noted Locke, “is the solitude...just being out in the countryside, enjoying the beauty of nature.” For biodiversity, it’s hard to top the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a network of seven asphalt-paved paths that stretch 15 miles through Alabama’s Gulf State Park and the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Established in 2003, it boasts six distinct ecosystems, such as coastal sand 34 DeSoto
dunes, live oak maritime forests and wet pine flatwoods. “You’ll see everything from palmettos, palm trees and long-leafs, to carnivorous sundews and pitcher plants,” explained Chandra Wright, area nature tourism specialist. “We’ve also got ospreys, bald eagles and all kinds of migrating birds and butterflies, plus otters, foxes, armadillos and coyotes. It’s really fabulous - you can see all that literally on one bike ride!” Something else you’re liable to see is Lefty, a threelegged alligator beloved by visitors and who can often be spotted on Rosemary Dunes Trail lounging about with a passel of her babies. Other highlights of the Backcountry Trail include a butterfly garden and a rock climbing park for kids. Segway and golf cart tours are available seasonally and there are restrooms, water fountains, benches and swings located along the trail. The maximum speed limit is a relaxed, family-friendly 10 miles per hour. A work in progress, the Delta Heritage Trail is a rails-to-trails conversion along the old 73-mile Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way in southeastern Arkansas. Currently 21 miles in the northern section are open, from Helena junction to Elaine. Between Lakeview and Elaine the topography is fertile fields of corn, soybean and cotton, but much of the rest of the compacted, crushed-rock trail is lined with oak, sycamore, sassafras, maple and gumball trees. Wildlife such as deer, rabbit, fox, raccoon, possum, hawks and osprey abound, but perhaps what distinguishes it the most are the guided trail tours available through the Delta Heritage Trail State Park Visitors Center in Barton. Delta Heritage Trails Park Interpreter Maggie
Howard leads monthly bike tours and once the weather warms up, pedal and paddle tours with cycling to Lakeview followed by kayaking on Old Town Lake. “I love the trail,” said Howard. “Other than the sights you see as you’re going down it, which are beautiful, one of the best things about riding the trail is knowing what happened on it. For example, there was a Civil War skirmish at Lick Creek along our railroad! So, I tell the story of when the railroad was first built to when it became a hiking and biking trail.” Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all these trails. For Tanglefoot Trail, phone 662-489-2415 or visit tanglefoottrail.com. For the Backcountry Trail, phone 251-981-1180 or visit backcountrytrail.com. For the Delta Heritage Trail, phone 870-572-2352 or visit arkansasstateparks.com/deltaheritagetrail. For those without wheels, bicycle rentals are available close to each trail. Tanglefoot Trail: Hill and Trail Bicycle in Pontotoc rents bikes including singlespeed, multi-speed, two-seaters and tricycles, as well as battery-operated golf carts. Phone 662-489-2161 or visit hillandtrail.com. At the Tanglefoot’s trailhead in New Albany, Trails and Treads offers bicycle rentals and a full selection of outdoor gear and apparel. Phone 662-539-7088 or visit TrailsandTreads.net. Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail: Beach Bike Rentals, located at the Rosemary Dunes trailhead, rents cruisers, tandems and three-speeds. Phone 251-968-1770 or visit beachbikerentals.net. Infinity Bicycles, a full-service shop that rents, repairs and sells bikes, is just north of the Rattlesnake Ridge, Catman Road and Cotton Bayou trailheads. Phone 251-974-1727 or visit infinity-bicycles.com. Delta Heritage Trail: Bike rentals are available at the Delta Heritage Trail State Park Visitor Center in Barton. Phone 870-572-2352 or visit arkansasstateparks.com/deltaheritagetrail.
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exploring cuisine } crock-pot cooking
Chefs whipping eggs for the giant omelette
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Ingredients for Sweet Garlic Chicken
Red Beans and Rice
By Jill Gleeson. Photography courtesy of designwinedine.com and biscuitsncrazy.com
Is there anything as reassuringly all-American as a Crock-Pot? Mass marketed since the early 1970s when Rival Manufacturing bought the rights to a firstgeneration slow cooker called the “Beanery,� Crock-Pots seem nearly as iconic 40-odd years later as baseball, hot dogs and apple pie. They are the ideal culinary device for a country on the move: plop in a roast, add veggies and seasoning, set to low and go. Six hours later, thanks to the miracle of indirect heat, a homemade hearty feast is ready. DeSoto 37
White Chili
Crock-Pots, as slow cookers are often called after the ubiquitous Rival original, are also economical. They operate at low wattage, using less energy than other cooking appliances. They also turn tough, cheap cuts of meat tender by slowly braising them in their juices. With many Americans pinching pennies, sales of Crock-Pots have steadily risen in recent years, and manufacturers such as Hamilton Beach and Cuisinart are now making their own versions. High-tech features like digital timers, locking lids and temperature probes abound. Even better, healthy Crock-Pot recipes – made, for example, with skinless chicken instead of red meat and from scratch ingredients – have proliferated. Healthy, economical comfort food on a wet winter day...what could be better?
Red Beans and Rice
from Richard Lewis, Gulfport, Mississippi-raised, lives in Richmond, Virginia 2 cups dried red beans rinsed, sorted and soaked overnight in water 1 quart of water 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped celery 1/4 cup chopped green pepper 2 cloves garlic minced 1/2 pound andouille sausage 2 bay leaves Celery tops 38 DeSoto
Creole seasoning to taste Cut sausage into bite-size pieces and sauté in a skillet until browned. Remove sausage from skillet and pour out excess grease. Sauté onions, celery and green pepper in remaining sausage grease. Place beans and water into slow cooker and add sautéed sausage and vegetables, garlic, bay leaves and a few celery tops. Cook on low for seven hours. Remove about 1/3 of the beans, place in bowl and mash into a paste. Return mashed beans to cooker and stir. Taste for seasoning. If it needs a kick add a Creole seasoning such as Tony Chachere’s or Zatarain’s. Serve over white rice, or for a lower glycemic index, basmati brown rice. Garnish with chopped green onion tops if desired. “Red beans and rice,” explained Lewis, “is often better when served as leftovers after sitting a couple of days in the fridge. Use Camellia brand beans if you can - they’re available through cajungrocer.com. Whole Foods also sells chicken andouille sausage for a healthier option. Mighty fine!”
White Chili
from Jayne Cannon, Charlotte, North Carolina 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped 2 cans navy beans, drained and rinsed well 3 cups chicken stock
1 pound chicken breast meat, cut into 1 inch cubes 1/2 cup tomatillo salsa 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon oregano 3/4 teaspoon coriander Coarse salt to taste Freshly ground pepper to taste 1 jalapeno pepper, cored, seeded and finely minced 1 cup white shoepeg corn (thawed if frozen) Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions, garlic and carrot. Cook about five minutes or until onions and carrots are soft. Transfer to slow cooker. Add stock, chicken and beans, then salsa, spices and jalapeno. Cover and cook on high for three hours. “I add the corn about ten minutes before serving,” Cannon said, “and put it on simmer. I used this recipe in a chili cookoff at our church two years ago. It was a finalist!”
Sweet Garlic Chicken
from Michele Pearson, Bir mingham, Alabama 4-6 skinless chicken breasts 1 cup packed brown sugar 2/3 cup vinegar 1/4 cup diet lemon-lime soda 2-3 Tablespoons minced garlic 2 Tablespoons light soy sauce 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper 2 Tablespoons corn starch 2 Tablespoons water Red pepper flakes Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Place chicken inside slow cooker. Mix together brown sugar, vinegar, soda, garlic, soy sauce and pepper together. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for six to eight hours or high for four hours. Take chicken pieces out of slow cooker and pour remaining sauce into saucepan. Place saucepan over high heat. Mix together corn starch and water, pour into saucepan, and mix well. Let sauce come to a boil and boil for two minutes, or until it starts to thicken and turns into a glaze. Remove from heat and let sit for a minute. Sprinkle red pepper flakes on top if desired. This recipe can be served over quinoa or wild rice. “I use apple cider vinegar,” noted Pearson. “And fresh chicken, which will basically fall apart in the Crock-Pot. It’s simply delicious.” DeSoto 39
exploring destinations } hot springs, arkansas
Bath House Row
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Lake Hamilton
the Romancing Springs Hot Springs, Arkansas soothes romantic souls By Bobby L. Hickman. Photography courtesy of hotsprings.org
For generations, visitors have flocked to Hot Springs, Arkansas, relaxing and rejuvenating in elegant Victorian bathhouses fed by thermal springs. That unique natural setting, post amenities, and traditional resort-town atmosphere still exists today, making Hot Springs a picture-perfect setting for a romantic getaway. DeSoto 41
Arlington Hotel
Nestled in the Ouachita Mountains, the city is named for the naturally-warm hydrothermal springs found in the downtown area known as Bathhouse Row. In 1832, President Andrew Jackson designed Hot Springs as the first federal reservation, the forerunner of today’s Hot Springs National Park. Some of the original stylish bathhouses remain, supplemented by a variety of elegant new spas and other modern facilities. One of the best examples of past and present can be found at the Quapaw Baths & Spa. Quapaw sits on the site of two former bathhouses, and was reopened in 2008 after a massive restoration project. The reception area -- formerly a women’s massage parlor -- ushers in couples to meet the therapists who will provide massages, facials, body polishes, and other services. Guests may enjoy the thermal mineral water in 42 DeSoto
four large-capacity soaking pools or the newly-added private bathing areas. For hot baths and lodging, the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa in the heart of downtown Hot Springs offers the best of both worlds. The Arlington continues to provide the ambiance of a grand Southern hotel whose hospitality has drawn visitors for generations. The facility features the top-rated hotel and spa in the city, with a bathhouse fed by mineral waters from the area’s thermal hot springs. The mountainside twin-level heated pools and covered hot tub are open year round. Chocolatecovered cherries, champagne, and room service breakfast through the always-popular romance package makes the Arlington visit even grander. At Lookout Point Lakeside Inn, every guest room overlooks picturesque Lake Hamilton. You may choose to
snuggle by the fireplace, share a two-person hot tub, or indulge in a gourmet breakfast at this sanctuary for body and soul. The “great romance package” includes a spa basket, a dozen long-stemmed roses, fine chocolates and cheeses, a couple’s massage for up to 90 minutes, and admission to such attractions as Garvan Woodland Gardens and the Mountain Tower. Thirty minutes west of Hot Springs is the Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa on Lake Ouachita near Hickory Nut Mountain. This luxurious resort features both cabins and guest rooms, houseboat rentals, and hiking and biking trails. The deluxe suites offer a Jacuzzi and ceramic shower built for two. Their Valentine’s package includes rose petal turndown, chocolates, couple’s massage at Turtle Cove Spa, and cabins with wood-burning fireplaces and hot tubs on the deck. Whether you stay at a lakeside resort, the Arlington, or one of the many unique downtown B&Bs, there is plenty to do in Hot Springs. The Mountain Tower provides panoramic views of the city and the Ouachita Mountains. Stroll among quaint downtown boutiques, museums, and art galleries that ranked Hot Springs fourth on the list of 100 Best Art Towns in America. Downtown merchants stay open late for the Gallery Walk the first Friday of each month. Drop by the Artist’s Workshop Gallery and meet one of the 30 artists. Or browse Tillman’s Fine Antiques & Estate Jewelry, where you’re sure to find a professionally-crafted keepsake among their unique designs. Romantic activities are plentiful throughout the area. Nearby Garvan Woodland Gardens provide a cross-section of native flora and fauna, botanical gardens, and wooded canopies along more than four miles of wooded shoreline. The area surrounding Hot Springs is home to such recreational opportunities as world-class golf and water sports on lakes Hamilton, Catherine, and Ouachita. For added excitement, visit Oaklawn Racing and Gaming for live thoroughbred racing (January through April), off-track simulcasts, electronic poker, blackjack, and craps. The dining options are also everything you would expect from a top resort town. The Venetian Dining Room at the Arlington Hotel -- which dates to the earliest days of the hotel in 1924 -- is well DeSoto 43
known for its old world ambiance, Friday night seafood festival and award-winning Sunday Brunch. Italian cuisine, succulent steaks and top Italian cuisine are the hallmarks of the Belle Arti Group of restaurants. The restaurants (including Belle Arti Italian Ristorante, Porterhouse Steak & Seafood, and the Regency Banquet Room) are located close together in the 700 block of Central Avenue. If you prefer a bistro setting, Cafe 1217 on Malvern Avenue offers made-from-scratch favorites like shrimp and crawfish cakes, complemented by a variety of homestyle desserts. Hot Springs has a number of nicknames, ranging from the “Spa City” to “America’s First Resort.” Spend some quiet time here with that special someone, and you’ll no doubt come up with your own name for this charming city.
Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa: www.arlingtonhotel.com Artist’s Workshop Gallery: www.artistsworkshopgallery.com Belle Arti Group (restaurants): www.belleartigroup.com Café 1217: www.cafe1217.net Garvan Woodland Gardens: www.garvangardens.org Hilltop Manor B&B: www.hilltopmanorhotsprings.com
Steam from a hot spring in the national park
Hot Springs CVB: www.hotsprings.org (800-SPA-CITY) Hot Springs National Park: www.nps.gov/hosp Lookout Point Inn: www.lookoutpointinn.com Mountain Harbor Resort: www.mountainharborresort.com Oaklawn Racing & Gaming: www.oaklawn.com Quapaw Baths & Spa: www.quapawbaths.com Tillman’s Fine Antiques: www.tillmansantiques.squarespace.com 44 DeSoto
Bella Arti Restaurant
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a day away } covington, tn
C ovingt on, Tennessee 9:00 Enjoy a cup of cof fee and sausage biscu on the historic court square. Not onl y doitthateyC offee in the Attic, located Saturday nights they offer some great music have de licious cof fee but from local bands. Make sure to check back weekl y for the lineup. 10:00 Ready to shop! The C ovi ngton square is ful l of shop s and boutiques offeri ng ant iques, gifts, jewelr y, clothing , home decor and local art. 12:00 Take a break for lunch and grab a bite Old Town Hall Cafe. Servi ng up soups, salads and sandwiches since at1999 along wit h homemade desserts. The Choco late. Dail y speci als are offered at the 2014 Choco late Tour. You must tr y theC obbler won People’s Choice my concoction of crunchy pretzel crust , straw pretzel salad. A yum ber ry ge lat in and f luf fy cream cheese. 1:00 After refue ling at Old Town, the shoppin tinues. You can spend hours at UpScale Resale Antique Mall. A litgtleconove unique gifts and ant iques. Or visit Buckaroo r 22,000 square feet of Hatters for one of kind handmade, cust om hats. 3:00 Drive over to the Tipton C ounty Museu Located in the largest ur ban park in the count y, the museum bri ngs m.toget ronmental education and historical preser vat ionher mi litar y history, envi . Exhibits change frequent ly and admi ssion is free. 4:00 Take a walk on the nature trail through -acre wo od land forest and wetland st udy area. Great way to burnthoffe 20 lunch and soak up the view. 5:00 Before heading to dinner dr ive through to wn to see the beaut iful historic homes. 6:00 Dinner at Bi llings Bald Butcher on High y 51. Some local favor ites inc lude BB Q and steaks or the fried chiwa cken ser ved daily on the buffet. 46 DeSoto
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4th Annual Chocolate Tour February 7 Tour the square while tasting gourmet chocolate! On the Saturday before Valentine’s Day the downtown small business community hosts this delicious event. Shop while you sample a variety of decadent chocolates. After sampling be sure to vote for your favorite, and enter to win a gift basket filled with chocolates and gifts from local shops. Some past favorites‌chocolate dipped strawberries, oreo truffles, salted caramel chocolate and chocolate dipped potato chips! Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance at the Tipton County Chamber of Commerce or you can buy them on the day of the event.
Other upcoming Events:
Music on the Square Covington Barbecue Festival Annual Heritage Festival Dickens on the Square
For more information:
covington-tiptonchamber.com tiptonco.com coffeeintheattic.com facebook.com/OTHCovington facebook.com/pages/Billings-Bald-Butcher-Restaurant buckaroohatters.com
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greater goods } valentine’s
Gingersnap Braclets - $14.95 Charms - $5 each Bon Von Gift Shop 214 W Center Street Hernando, MS 662-429-5266
Musee bath balms - $6 each or 5 for $25 Merry Magnolia 194 E Military Rd. Marion, AR 870-739-5579
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Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her 18K yellow gold & diamond flex bangle bracelet from Sissy’s - starting at $1500 Sissy’s Log Cabin Laurelwood Shopping Center 404 Grove Park Road South Memphis, TN 901-834-0067
Lizzy J’s Bullet jewelry stud earrings - $29 Blue Olive Shop 210 E. Commerce Street Hernando, MS 662-449-1520
Fudge Pops with hearts from Dinstuhl’s - $3.95 a piece Laurelwood Shopping Center 436 South Grove Park Road Memphis, TN 901-682-3373
greater goods } valentine’s
Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him Royall Fragrances for men - $49 Orvis Laurelwood Shopping Center 4556 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 901-767-3592
Dopp Kits Main Street Collection - $24 each A Southern Charm 117 West Court Street Covington, TN 901-476-0078
Vintage Lure Domino Set Outside Inside - $29 A Southern Charm 117 West Court Street Covington, TN 901-476-0078
Drake camo cooler -$53 Blue Olive Shop 210 E. Commerce Street Hernando, MS 662-449-1520
Growler bottle and cover - $20 Bon Von Gift Shop 214 W Center Street Hernando, MS 662-429-5266
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greater goods } fitness
Fitness Gifts and Gadgets Yoga Mats from Fleet Feet - starting at $20 Laurelwood Shopping Center 530 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN Phone: 901- 761-0078 Misfit - Shine Activity and Sleep Monitor - $77.99 bestbuy.com
Nike Armband for iPhone 5/5s - $34.95 apple.com
Garmin watch from Fleet Feet - $130 Laurelwood Shopping Center 530 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN Phone: 901- 761-0078
Exerpeutic Air Elliptical - $99.99 Compact elliptical trainer that uses magnetic resistance for a challenging workout. target.com
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Star Runners owners and coaches, Keith and Star Ritchey
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Star Runners group
Running with the
Stars By Corey Latta. Photography courtesy of Star Ritchey
Among Memphis’ diverse health scene, one of the most exciting fitness happenings isn’t found in the newest gym or boot camp class. It’s a running group. The Star Runners began as a small training initiative for the annual Cooper-Young 4-miler race in 2009. Founded by certified personal trainer Star Ritchey, Star Runners developed from her own initial experience with running. DeSoto 55
Triathlete, Keith Ritchey
“I didn’t grow up an athlete, and I really never ran, even as an adult. When I was in my late 20s, a girlfriend and I decided to run the Cooper-Young 4-miler. We finished the race, had fun, and decided that we would sign up for the St. Jude half marathon.” Ritchey’s running career, and eventually Star Runners, was itself off and running. “After I learned the proper way to run, I got into running more and started loving it. I realized I could do it. I’ve run several marathons. I’ve done an ultra marathon. I’ve done a half Ironman. It’s really addictive, because it’s feasible if you do it the right way,” Ritchey said. By the time Ritchey started Star Runners, she was well poised to become an accomplished runner. Before becoming an avid runner, Ritchey took an interest in personal fitness, eventually becoming a Certified Personal Trainer at inbalance Fitness, a gym located in Harbor Town, Memphis. Interest in a running group for the CooperYoung 4-miler grew around the gym, and Ritchey took the helm. Around 20 people started in the running group with the goal of training for and completing the four miler, but after finishing the September race, the running group didn’t want to stop training. 56 DeSoto
That continued desire to keep running aptly defines the heart of Star Runners. “The group picks a race, and we start training for it. We train for half marathons, marathons, and triathlons.” Ritchey, now also a Certified Running Coach, takes both experienced and inexperienced runners through a series of training programs throughout the year. While the groups change as the races do, Ritchey works closely with each and every person. “We try to keep the group small. We’ve never really advertised, because growth can diminish intimacy. We cap each group,” Ritchey said. The intimacy within Star Runners has proven a secret to the group’s success, as Ritchey’s care for each runner’s goals determines her coaching. “I want people to become stronger runners, which helps create lifelong runners. I work with each person’s individual goals,” Ritchey said, going on to say, “We have all different levels, which is challenging as a coach, but I want everyone to get something from the training.” Star Runners officially begins its year in June with an emphasis on beginning runners and the Cooper-Young 4-miler. “If you’ve never run a step in your life, you can start there when we gear up for the Cooper-Young 4-miler,” Ritchey explained.
Owner, Star Ritchey preparing for a triathlon swim
Starting in June, neophyte runners can begin the journey. More experienced and even advanced runners can also begin a new phase in their running careers; throughout the year, runners of all stages – marathon groups starts in June, too, for example–can evolve and improve upon their progress. The yearlong training culminates in seasonal races with Star Runners choosing an in-town Memphis race in the fall and a spring race chosen in an out-of-town location. Leading alongside Star to help neophyte runners to meet marathon-sized goals is her husband and Triathlete, Keith (and, of course, Star Runners’ official mascot Georgia Love, the Ritchey’s 11-year old English Bulldog). “My husband helps a lot. He is an experienced athlete and helps our runners by working closely with them,” Ritchey said. Star Runners focuses DeSoto 57
on creating lifelong runners, but Star and Keith incorporate others types of fitness into a training session, like the occasional lunge and burpee challenge. It is the communal coaching atmosphere, an atmosphere that Star and Keith have uniquely woven into Star Runners, that makes induction into running so welcoming to those with no running experience. “We teach new runners confidence, motivation, and technique–there is a right way to run. Learning how to run is more than just getting out and doing it. We work with runners on important technical issues, like their mechanics,” Ritchey said. Rates for Star Runners depend on training, specific event, and weeks spent training. The rhythm of a typical Star Runners week consists of running throughout Midtown, and surrounding areas in Memphis, though Saturdays are more explorative. While Star Runners is a local treasure to Memphians, it also attracts out-of-towners who want the training quality and community that the Ritchey’s run groups bring to the fitness scene. Each week sees a diverse selection of runners daring new mileage, new trails, and new goals. “We love to travel and try new runs. We might do Shelby Forrest or maybe find a trail somewhere. We keep it interesting, everchanging, and fun.” Week in and out, whatever the goal, race, or time of year, Ritchey’s mission is to help runners advance: “I’ve had people who couldn’t run for 60 seconds who can now finish marathons. It’s awesome to see.”
Feb Boswell, manager at Fleet Feet in Memphis’ Laurelwood Shopping Center, gives runners the real dirt on running shoes. According t o Feb, a commo n misconception among runners and walkers is that tightness = support. Poor fit can lead to numbness in the toes, burning. Ingrown toenails, bunions, corns and hammertoes, muscular imbalance and injury. Running shoes should typically be one full size larger than an everyday shoe. You want roughly a thumbnail’s width of room at the end of the shoe between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. This allows the foot room to swell and expand during activity and allows the toes plenty of room to move around. The width of running and walking shoes is also important. A shoe that is too narrow can cause a number of problems similar to the length of the shoes. While you may not wear wide or narrow everyday shoes, you may need to consider a different width for your running shoes.
“We teach new runners confIdence, motivation, and technique - there is a right way to run. Learning how to run is more than just getting out and doing it. We work with runners on important technical Feb’s Five: Tips to Ensure a Great Fit issues, like their mechanics.” Tap your heel in the back of the shoe Star Ritchey 1.before you tie it to make sure your heel is all the way in the heel cup.
2. If your heel slips at all, tie the laces in the very back eyelet rather than the second from the back. 3. If you need more width room, skip the first pair of eyelets and start your lacing in the second pair of eyelets from your toes. 4. Try on the shoes with the socks you intend to wear with the shoes.
Star Runners official mascot, Georgia Love
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5. Don’t get hung up on the numerical size wear what fits and feels best.
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We aring My ste ry By Cheré Coen. Photography courtesy of neworleansonline.com, neworleanscvb.com and artistsmarketnola.com
At my first Carnival ball I waited anxiously at the periphery of the dance floor, watching grown women in elegant ball gowns dance with masked men, their headdresses completely hiding their identities. Just turned 14, I fiddled with my hair that refused to keep a curl and wondered who would be “calling me out” when my turn arrived. My dashing dance partner ended up being my older brother on leave from the Naval Academy; I recognized his voice beneath the mask, detecting a hint of bourbon on his breath. We laughed at our duties — he calling out women to dance and then handing them a favor — and me an adolescent girl trying to appear grownup.
“Don’t tell anyone,” he whispered to me as he escorted me back to my table and handed me a gift. I didn’t know if he was referring to his identity or the fact that he was drinking. Wearing masks and obscuring identities during Carnival is a long and varied tradition. For some, Carnival time means letting go of inhibitions with the help of a concealing DeSoto 61
mask. For those involved in Carnival krewes that sponsor balls and special events, the Carnival masks are de rigueur for completing a proper Carnival costume. In Cajun Country, obscuring a person’s identity is required in performing the courir de Mardi Gras, or the traditional Cajun Mardi Gras run through the countryside of southwest Louisiana. Whatever the reason, the tradition of wearing Carnival masks dates back centuries.
Return of the Sun Civilizations have long fought the darkness of winter by hosting feasts, bonfires and other types of revelry near the winter solstice, a time when the earth tilts back toward the sun and the days begin to grow longer. In Persia, the solstice marked the birthday of Mithra, the Sun King. In ancient Rome the lavish festival of Saturnalia, a sort of bacchanalian thanksgiving, was celebrated around the time of the winter solstice. In 275 A.D., the Roman Emperor Aurelian commemorated a feast day coinciding with the winter solstice: Die Natalis Invicti Solis or “The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.” Christianity adopted these pagan holidays into Christmas and Twelfth Night or the Epiphany, Jan. 6, which marks the day the three Wise Men visited the baby Jesus, bestowing gifts.
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“Twelfth Night, the holiday, emerged from the various pre-Christian celebrations,” writes Errol Laborde in “Mardi Gras: Chronicles of the New Orleans Carnival”. “During the cold months that characterized the change from one year to the other, when the days grew shorter and agriculture and fieldwork had ceased until the spring, winter became a time for lighting fires for illumination and partying with some of the bounty from the growing season.” Rather than fight the pagan celebrations, the Catholic Church adopted them. “The Catholic Church licensed Carnival, which means ‘farewell to flesh,’ as a period of feasting before the fasting of Lent,” writes Arthur Hardy in his annual “Mardi Gras Guide.” “The Church also established the set date for the start of the Carnival season — Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany — and the fluctuating date of Mardi Gras.” Throughout the Gulf South today — and indeed many parts of the World — Twelfth Night begins a season of revelry known as Carnival, which concludes on Mardi Gras day.
Venice In Venice, Italy, masks have been a part of the Carnival celebrations for centuries, although Venetians have
worn masks for other occasions as well. The mask conceals the wearer’s identity and social status, allowing the wearer to move around freely and interact with all kinds of people in festive situations such as Carnival parties and balls. Depending on how elaborate the mask and its ability to hide the identity of the wearer, people used masks to drink in abandon, perform romantic encounters and even perform criminal acts. Most wearers, however, used them simply to enjoy Carnival revelry and decorated their masks with ornate designs, colors and decorations. Venetian masks ranged in their styles and include La Bauta or full-face masks that hide a person’s entire face or Colombina or eye masks, which only conceal the eye area. According to “A Short History of Venetian Carnival Masks” by Michel J. Tieuli, “the original element of the Bauta disguise comprises of the typically shining white face-shaped mask, a black cape or veil of silk, a clock or mantle, and a threecornered hat. The Bauta was worn by both Venetian ladies and gentlemen alike.” The Colombina derives from the Soubrette of the Commedia dell’Arte (literally “comedy of professional artists”) popular in northern Italy beginning in the late 16th century. The character is a harlequin-type maid-servant who is free from the bonds of love and prone to intrigue.
Cajun Country In Cajun Country, the 22 parishes of South Louisiana outside the New Orleans area, residents celebrate a rural Carnival called a courir de Mardi Gras that dates to medieval France. On Mardi Gras day or the weekend preceding that Tuesday, a procession of masked and costumed riders on horseback or in wagons travel the southwestern Louisiana countryside performing and clowning around at homesteads. They beg for ingredients to a gumbo, including chasing chickens around the farmyard that the farmers relinquish. On return to town, the courir then creates a communal gumbo for all to enjoy. Masks and costumes are instrumental to the festivities, according to Barry Jean Ancelet, a folklorist and scholar who is now head of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Department of DeSoto 63
Modern Languages. “Their costumes reflect ancient as well as contemporary parodies,” he wrote in “A Brief Overview of the Louisiana Cajun Country Mardi Gras.” “Conical hats reflect European and African influences; miters and mortarboards reflect a traditional scorn for medieval and contemporary institutions; venerable roles are preserved, such as contemporary versions of the French paillasse and the false bishop. Some masks take on more modern characters, including political and popular culture figures.” Today’s courir masks are constructed from two window screens to darken the face and make the wearer unrecognizable, said costume maker Jackie Miller of Iota, Louisiana. Miller creates costumes of mismatched fabrics, screen masks and “capuchons,” the tall conical hats once meant to poke fun at French royalty. For the masks, the fake eyes are glued on front low so the wearer may see out and noses and mouths are added as well.
New Orleans In the “City That Care Forgot” masks are still a vital part of the New Orleans Carnival tradition. In fact, there are actual laws mandating the use of masks during Carnival, according to Hardy, who is also the author of “Mardi Gras in New Orleans: An Illustrated History.” Float riders within Orleans Parish, for instance, must wear masks when they ride in Carnival parades. The only exception would be celebrities whose appearances on parade floats are meant to capture the attention of their audience. “It’s traditional in all the parishes (to wear a mask when riding in parades) but it’s a law in Orleans Parish that you have to wear a mask,” Hardy explained. “That adds to the mystique — who was that masked man handing out treats?” Doning masks on the streets of the Crescent City is another thing. It’s illegal to wear masks walking the streets of New Orleans unless it’s Mardi Gras day, Hardy said. So for 24 hours on the eve of Lent visitors may mask to their heart’s content and let their inhibitions soar.
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The
Art of
Faith
“Our Faith Affirmed - Works from the Gordon W. Bailey Collection” on exhibit at the University of Mississippi Museum
By Andrea Brown Ross Photography courtesy of Gordon W. Bailey
Perhaps determined not to be trodden under the feet of men, the artists featured in “Our Faith Affirmed” did not allow the lack of formal art training to thwart them in bearing testimonies and sharing life experiences through their artworks. Instead, opting for materials that were available to them, these 27 African American self-taught artists born between 1900-1959, offer an extraordinary opportunity to reflect, ponder, and appreciate the talents of individuals with limited opportunities. DeSoto 67
Visiting the exhibit, I wondered if I would feel a connection, considering the artists’ life experiences had been so different from my own. On that cold winter morning walking through the exhibit, I smiled as I began to recognize the exhibit’s synergy. The artists’ attention to detail beckoned me to take a closer look. Dually amazed at the ingenious use of various materials, I paused to reflect the teachings of my youth. Had I not been taught that our Creator can do so much more with our lives than we alone can? The ability to take something and create more than what we perceive is its intended purpose, was this a type of spiritual gift possessed by these artists? I pondered this question as I continued through the exhibit. David Houston, director of the Bo Bartlett Center at Columbus State University’s College of the Arts in Columbus, Georgia, stated in the show catalog: “Today’s art world clearly reflects the larger polarization of wealth and opportunity that has come to reflect our changing world. Within this sphere of privilege, the African American self-taught artists are triple outsiders. In most respects their grounding in 68 DeSoto
place, unique points of view and singular visual languages are unassimilated, perhaps unassimilable, by those who have not experienced the range of personal and historical events that shaped their lives.” Later, noted scholar and collector, Gordon W. Bailey, shared his thoughts about the collection. “Though all of the artists included in “Our Faith Affirmed” are African American and share context as Southerners working outside of the mainstream, it is important to remember—and viewing their distinctive artworks quickly moves one to that conclusion—that they are unique individuals inspired by personal experiences.” Bailey explained the reason for the exhibit title. “The title ‘Our Faith Affirmed,’ is open to several interpretations. For many of the artists and visitors to the exhibition, it references faith in a higher power—one that guides them and provides spiritual strength; to others, faith in the decency of man, and a conviction that injustice will ultimately be democratically corrected.” The museum, located on the University of Mississippi
campus, served as the ideal contextual backdrop for the collection. “As Mr. Bailey intuited, the University’s geographic location sets the framework for the further exploration of Southern self-taught iconographies and points of view. For them the raging authenticity and soulful expressiveness that is chiefly responsible for their newfound popular and critical acceptance is solid evidence that they never bowed to limitations or expectations. In fact, they seldom altered their content of purpose whether cut off from the larger culture by geography or by law,” said Houston. Many of the artists have now passed away, but their indelible legacy remains. “Hosting ‘Our Faith Affirmed’ allows us to continue our conversation about racial reconciliation and to further our goal of participating in a more just society,” University of Mississippi’s chancellor Dan Jones said.
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“I felt a genuine connection with the art in Our Faith Affirmed. And I felt Gordon’s intense connection to each piece, not just a few favorites. For a while, I just sat in the gallery soaking it all in, contemplating the connections enabled by his respectful curation. Then, I got up, looked closely at some of the pieces to make some connections of my own, and noticed something different each time. The perspective of seeing the works together, all talking to each other and the minimal labels and interpretation simply blew me away. Gordon has a real vision as an advocate and as a curator.” University of Mississippi alumnus and editor of the Virginia Quarterly Review, W. Ralph Eubanks, UM Museum; Musenews, Fall 2014. 70 DeSoto
Jones plans to continue this dialogue as he looks forward to a more inclusive campus. “This university’s been working on diversity, inclusion, racial reconciliation for sometime,” he continued. “In ways, we’ve made quite a lot of progress, but we’re not where we want to be.” And art may be just the way to more connections. “The arts are our cultural mortar. They solidify the bridges connecting diverse communities. Though the region is rooted in conflict, there are many good people of all races, genders, and socio-economic levels pulling, or in some cases, pushing in the same direction. The University Museum is a terrific place to pay tribute to African American Southern self-taught artists who persevered and, against all odds, created works of genius that will surely inspire students for generations to come,” said Bailey. As I left the museum that morning, I developed a deeper appreciation for those resilient souls who afforded opportunities to connect through their spirits and resourceful means. Houston echoed similar strains from the catalog. “Perhaps we will soon reach a point where the artists are no longer considered exotic outsiders and will finally be allowed to assume their rightful place in the culture of the region and the nation. The time is long overdue to incorporate self-taught art into the larger history of American art and accept the artists on their own personal and historical terms as we do with their creative kindred.”
Our Faith Affirmed Now through August 8th, 2015 The University of Mississippi Museum Tuesday-Saturday, 10am – 6pm museum.olemiss.edu or 662.915.7073 DeSoto 71
homegrown } pam turman’s skincare
By Andrea Brown Ross. Photography by Adam Mitchell
As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of all invention. And it was necessity that led Pam Turman of Hernando, Mississippi, to create her own skincare line. After the retailer that carried her favorite line of soap closed, self-described artsy-craftsy Turman was determined to create a product better than what she had been using. Turman explained. 72 DeSoto
“I developed each and every one of the recipes myself. I spent months researching criteria regarding oils and butters -everything from their benefits to combining them and melting them and adding other beneficial ingredients to them. Thankfully, there was not a lot of trial and error due to all of the research, and I was pleased with my first results and every formula since then.” Making her products involves science and artful intuition. “The soaps and whipped butters require accurate measuring of the oils and butters that are then melted and blended with the added ingredients like essential oils and fragrances. Depending on the type of product, they are cooled and then whipped with a mixer or immediately whipped with an immersion blender. The body butters require 24 hours from start to packaging. The soaps take at least a week.” “I use only high-quality, all natural ingredients so that I produce top-quality products,” added Turman. Turman also explained an important component of her products. “None of them contain alcohol or water. Water and alcohol rob the skin of its natural oils leaving it dry. While it’s great to wash with water, continuing using it on your skin, along with alcohol, will dry it out. Because my butters are without these two ingredients, they feel somewhat greasy when you first apply them. But within a few minutes, they are absorbed into the skin leaving it soft and smooth.” After using Turman’s products, returning customer, Brian Hobbs, attested to their effectiveness. “I started out using her oatmeal soap, then her facial butter after I shave. I had really bad dry skin on my face and her soap cleared it up. I would never use soap now from a retail chain store.” Customers can also purchase custom-made products. Turman elaborated. “Because I make the products myself, I am able to custom make them for customers. I have a customer who asked me to make the whipped butter in her perfume fragrance, so I researched all of my fragrant suppliers until I found her perfume scent and have been shipping her full batches whenever she requests them. “ “I can make soap, whipped butter, scrub, bath bombs and candles all in the same scent - whether it’s one that I carry, or a special one requested by a customer. That makes for a very unique and special gift for someone, “continued Turman. She is also proud to use products made in the USA. “All of my supplies, including my packaging materials, are purchased from American suppliers and are recyclable, making me a green company. There are thousands of potential sources where I could purchase everything at lower costs, but I am committed to buying from American suppliers only.” Northern Street Boutique offers more than just skin care products. “Several years ago I took pictures of the landmarks and decided to design note cards. The pictures are on the front and the historic information is on the back. One day a friend, and customer, told me it would be great if I could make them into ornaments. I thought why not? Once again, I put my brain into creative mode, and they are a huge success!” said Turman.
Customers have a variety of products to choose from as gifts for a special occasion, or any occasion. Faithful customer, Kristy Hopper, offered suggestions. “I honestly believe I have tried all of Pam’s products, but my absolute favorites are the sea salt scrub, the body butters, and the oatmeal shea soap. I think the soaps, bath bombs, or candles would make nice gifts.” “This past Christmas, I added bow ties to my product line and everyone loves them, especially the collegiate ones,” said Turman. She explained why she believes her customers return, again and again. “Customers tell me all the time that their skin conditions have cleared up with my products, and/or they love the way they make their skin feel. They love what my products do for their skin. They make your skin say ‘thank you’.” Northern Street Boutique customers will soon be able to order products directly from the Facebook page. Bon Von in Hernando offers the most extensive selection of products in a retail location. The Sweet Boutique in Southaven, Miss. carries the candles.
“I can make soap, whipped butter, scrub, bath bombs and candles all in the same scent whether it’s one that I carry, or a special one requested by a customer. That makes for a very unique and special gift for someone.” pam turman
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southern harmony } the cty champs
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Playing to Tradition By Corey Latta. Photography courtest of The City Champs
The distinct soul, jazz instrumental sound that defines Memphis music can only be heard in a few current MidSouth bands, and “The City Champs”– a Memphis-based trio steeped in the Memphis jazz tradition–is certainly one of them. The City Champs stand in a long line of Memphis musicians pioneered by acts like Booker T & the MGs, Willie Mitchell, and The Bar-Kays. And with the support of a strong and faithful local following, The City Champs are carrying that distinct Mid-Southern tradition into the future of Memphis music. The City Champs began humbly, playing what trioband members Joe Restivo, Al Gamble, and George Sluppick called “Tuesday poker nights,” quaint weekly get-together performative jam sessions. The Champs also frequented the Buccaneer Lounge, where their instrumental sound became a regular local presence. It was, and is, that purely instrumental sound that recalls Memphis music in the 1960s, when bands would create their sound around the organ. “The Beale Street sound was really a horn sound with jazz, soul, and an organ. There is great instrumental history in the city,” said Restivo. Thoroughly influenced by Memphis instrumental artists, all three Champs band members grew up familiar with and playing R&B, Blues, and a wide range from the soul cannon. Eventually creating a relationship with Memphis’s legendary Stax museum and playing from the Stax musicians’ corpus, the Champs continued to solidify their sound. “You can’t play Soul and Jazz in and around Memphis and Memphis not be in what you’re doing,” believes Restivo. Around 2008, the band set their sound down in the studio, recording their first album. “Safecracker” was produced by Scott Bomar at Memphis’ own Electraphonic Records, whose work with films includes “Hustle & Flow”, “Black Snake
Moan”, and “The Blues”. “Safecracker” was released in 2009, and the City Champs’ following continued to grow. The City Champs saw a publicity surge, touring with the North Mississippi Allstars and eventually cutting another record, “The Set-Up.” About the progression of the Champs’ sound, Restivo said, “Our first record had a sort of Northeastern Atlantic City feel, but the next record “The Set-Up” was more adventurous. We brought in more horns and did the whole thing on analog.” The City Champs toured in 2009 and 2010, and through their two records each band member made connections that led to successful individual gigs. Restivo, Gamble, and Sluppick all pursued their own projects, while City Champs remained an ongoing passion to which they each returned. The year 2014 passed quietly for the City Champs, that is, until December. The Champs played a show at the wellknown Hi-Tone Café in Memphis to a sold-out audience. With a host of renowned musicians joining in, The City Champs gave a remarkable performance. Unbeknownst to the City Champs, the Hi-Tone show was recorded and the Champs featured on the Beale Street Caravan, a radio series broadcasting featuring live recordings of Memphis music to 2.4 million listeners. The record is set to release in the near future. Moving forward, the City Champs plan to do some shows, work on a new record, and continue representing Memphis music. “The band is special to us,” Restivo said. For fans of Memphis music, the Blues, Soul, R & B, Jazz, and instrumental music, the band is special to them too. As Restivo recognizes. “People appreciate our music. They appreciate what we’re about.” Continuing the Memphis sound and representing it as one of music’s richest histories, that’s what The City Champs are all about. DeSoto 75
table talk} chicago steakhouse
Chicago Steakhouse’s crabcake
Steaking Out New Ground Story and Photography by Karen Ott Mayer
Commonplace ideas of meat and potatoes may have met its culinary match at the Chicago Steakhouse in Tunica. Located within the Gold Strike Hotel & Casino, the restaurant nonetheless bears little resemblance to a casinostyle dining experience. White table clothes, rich dark woods and a wall of wine greet customers who happen behind the 76 DeSoto
doors. Quiet and dignified, Chicago Steakhouse creates an opportunity for north Mississippians to enjoy fine dining close to home.
Under the direction of Chef Chris Zelienski, the kitchen turns out creations that rival Memphis’ dining scene. Chef Zelienski spent his early years learning from some of Memphis’ best culinary names, initially at Frank Grisanti’s. “I learned through the school of hard knocks,” he said with a laugh. The native Memphian arrived at Chicago Steakhouse four years ago with a view to simplify, yet elevate, the menu. “We of course have steaks and pork chops, but we’ve also worked to create more profound flavors,” he said. The 98-seat dining room can accommodate larger parties in a private room or couples can enjoy a quiet dining experience, in either the main dining room or the adjacent bar area. Combined with the elegantly impeccable and humorous service of Andreas Karaminas who has managed the restaurant now longer than any others, dining at Chicago Steakhouse breaks the monotonous encounters with average restaurant service. “If guests are expecting steak and potatoes only, they will find we’re not just that. While we remain true to our loyal guests, we are also focused on innovation,” said Zelienski. Diners like Richard and Kay Dawson of Hernando, Mississippi prefer the quiet, accessible drive to Tunica so much, they frequent the restaurant at least once a week. “We really enjoy the fish specials. The best is when Chris get in Dover Sole but we also really like the sea bass,” said Richard Dawson. On a less exotic bent, the Dawsons also prefer soups prepared by Sherry Williams or Miss Sherry, as most regulars call her. “She makes true Southern soups with good stock,” said Kay. Chicken pot pie soup and homemade biscuits make Dawson smile. “It’s a very homey choice.” On the other end of the spectrum where Zel spends his creative thinking, guests can choose from lobster medallions
or appetizers like Ox Tail Arancini. Zelienski works with ingredients that set the stage for incredibly unique tastes: Celery root, truffles, mushrooms, mint, lemons, beets goat cheeses and more compliment everything from spinach salads to veal osso bucco. His signature crab cakes can’t be missed. While Zelienski works with the hotel pastry chef for his dessert choices, it’s clear his menu items like crème brulee cheesecake and chocolate eruption cake hit the same sophistication as his own creations. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Zelienski promises to make more than a few hearts flutter with his a la carte menu. The evening begins with Oxtail & Red Wine Ravioli or Cornmeal Fried Oysters with Muscadine GrapeCucumber Gazpacho. A roasted parsnip soup with honey and lavender or Sweet Pea & White Chocolate Salad arrives before a main entreé of stuffed quail, a braised Wagyu short rib or lobster medallions. And of course, a Strawberry Napolean finishes the evening off perfectly. Prices range from $80 to $100 per person. In a world filled with dining choices, attentive service ranks as rare as original venues. Chicago Steakhouse has that one beat. “It’s the atmosphere, the personality, how you serve,” said Karaminas. Once the doors shut on the casino bustle and the evening begins, guests no doubt will agree that any steakand-potato ideas may soon be replaced with visions of truffles or parsnips.
Chicago Steakhouse is open Sunday-Thursday from 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Friday & Saturday until 11:00 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Visit Mlife.com or opentable.com to book online or reserve by phone at (662) 357-1225.
Tomato and mozzarella salad
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in good spirits} valentine’s day cocktails
“If you can make a woman laugh, you can make her do anything.” Marilyn Monroe 78 DeSoto
spirits of
lo v e Information provided by A.C.’s Steakhouse. Photography by Adam Mitchell
Nothing says Valentine’s Day love like the words Cupid and passion. But from your local bartender? Absolutely, if you’re dining at AC’s Steakhouse this year where the Cupid’s Cosmo and the Passion-Tini will woo her because these drinks are all about a girl’s best friends: Chocolate, strawberries and something sweet. From the time appetizers arrive at the table until the last bite of dessert disappears, these two fit nicely through the course of a romantic evening, offering diners an alternative to the beer and wine routine. “The Passion-Tini is more of an after-dinner drink with a sweet profile. Think of chocolate milk, except it’s strawberry, and you’ll understand how we make it. It’s our own version of a chocolate, covered strawberry,” said Aaron Hahn, co-owner of the restaurant. AC’s annual four-course Valentine’s dinner offers a set menu paired for couples. “Even though the Passion-Tini is sweet, it pairs perfectly with our dessert that evening.” Which, he added offhandedly, happens to be called a Chocolate Cherry Mousse Cake--if that isn’t enough to shake the sweet lover’s rafters. In case all that chocolate has gone to your head, AC’s other signature offering called the Cupid’s Cosmo serves to start the evening off right. “This is much more of a beginning cocktail, before dining. We will be serving a seafood sampler as a first course and this goes well with appetizers or dinner,” said Hahn. The Cosmo bears a slightly fruity taste with a kick. “You’ll taste the cranberry, orange, lime flavors at the front and the vodka gives it a kick at the end,” he said.
Gentlemen, who perhaps spent any pre-Valentine’s Day confusion at the florist or jeweler, will be relieved to hear these cocktails bear one thing in common, according to Hahn. “They are very much geared to our female guests.” It’s the ideal time then for romancing your Valentine’s palette since the Cupid’s Cosmo and the Passion-Tini appear only on Valentine’s Day. Just like Cupid.
Passion- Tini 1 ounce Tequila Rose Liqueur ½ ounce Barcardi Rum 1 ounce Godiva Chocolate Liqueur 1 ounce Half and Half Drizzle Chocolate sauce around rim of martini glass. Shake cocktail and strain to serve.
Cupid’s Cosmo 1 ½ ounce Smirnoff Vodka 1 ounce Grand Marnier Liqueur 2 ounces cranberry juice 1 ounce fresh lime juice Chill Martini glass, shake cocktail and strain to serve. Garnish with lime peel. DeSoto 79
exploring events } february Mississippi Slim Music Exhibit Jan 9 - Mar 31 Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau Tupelo, MS. 8AM – 5PM This music exhibit tells the story of Carvel Lee Ausborne, better known as Mississippi Slim, and his influence on young Elvis. Mississippi Slim was billed as a “hillbilly” singer and was inspired by artists such as Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, and Jimmy Rogers. Mississippi Slim hosted a radio show on Tupelo WELO where he gave a young Elvis an introduction to show business and became his mentor. The exhibition features photographs, albums on display, and numerous songs he wrote. For more information call 1-800-5330611 or go to www.tupelo.net. “This Delta” Traveling Exhibit January 2 – February 28 DeSoto County Museum Hernando, MS Tuesday-Saturday. 10:00AM – 5:00PM “This Delta” features vivid and striking photographs created by photographer Debra L. Ferguson. Through the lens of her camera, Debra Ferguson has captured a sense of the Mississippi Delta with sincerity and stark reality. Visitors are encouraged to engage with the exhibit on a deeper level and consider their own story and piece of history connected to this place, known as The Delta. For more information, visit www. desotomuseum.org or call 662-429-8852. 4th Annual Carnaval De Mardi Gras and Gumbo Cook-Off February 7 Southern Cultural Heritage Center Vicksburg, MS. 5:00PM – 9:00PM Enjoy a Cajun Gumbo Cook-Off, block party, indoor live music, dancing, children’s activities, and much more! Admission for adults is $10 and includes gumbo, $5 for children and includes unlimited children’s activities. For more information visit www. facebook.com/vicksburg. mardi.gras or contact Nancy Bell 601-636-5010. Chocolate Tour February 7. 10:00AM – 4:00PM Covington’s Historic Court Square Covington, TN Take a chocolate tour through the shops of the charming Covington Square. As you enjoy the delicious chocolate 80 DeSoto
treats, browse the unique shops for the perfect Valentine gift. At the end of the tour, vote for your favorite treat and turn in your card for a chance to win a gift basket filled with chocolates and other goodies. Tickets: $5. The Lion King February 3 – March 1 The Orpheum Memphis, TN The city known for rock will transform itself to Pride Rock as The Lion King takes the stage at The Orpheum. This Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation will bring the unforgettable score which includes Elton John and Tim Rice’s Oscar-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “The Circle of Life”. For tickets call 901525-3000 or visit www.orpheum-memphis.com/events. Valentine’s Day Progressive Dinner February 13 Hernando, MS Three of DeSoto County’s Bed and Breakfasts are joining together to host a Progressive Dinner and Stay. Dinner will begin with appetizers and beverages at Meadow View Farm B&B in Hernando. Guests will then proceed to Andover Plantation B&B in Olive Branch for a seated dinner. Dessert buffet at Magnolia Grove B&B in Hernando. For pricing and reservations call 901-289-4677 or visit www.meadowviewfarm.info. Whiskey, Wine, and Chocolate Pairing February 13 Memphis Botanic Garden Memphis, TN The Memphis Botanic Garden features 96 acres of meticulously landscaped, naturalistic environment. This year-round property offers 23 specialty gardens and a seasonal farmer’s market. Admission: $8; Aged 62+ $6.50; Ages 2-12 $5; Under 2 free. Tickets are available online at www.memphisbotanicgarden.com or call 901-636-4131. Mavis Staples February 13 8PM Germantown Performing Arts Center Germantown, TN A legend in the world of gospel music, Mavis Staples recorded with her family, The Staple Singers. She brings her style of rhythm and blues to the Germantown Performing Arts Center for a night of pure
entertainment. For tickets, call the GPAC box office at 901-751-7500. Creedence Clearwater Revival February 14 Millennium Theatre, GoldStrike Casino Tunica, MS Creedence Clearwater Revisited is a band formed in 1995 by former Creedence Clearwater Revival members Stu Cook and Doug Clifford. For more information call 888245-7529 or go to www.ticketmaster.com. G. Love and Special Sauce February 15 Bluesville, Horseshoe Casino Tunica, MS G. Love & Special Sauce is an alternative hip-hop band known for their laid-back blues sound that encompasses classic R&B. For more information call 800-303-7463 or go to www.ticketmaster.com. Homeschool Day February 16 1:00 PM – 3:00PM Memphis Zoo, Memphis, TN Chow down with herbivores, carnivores and omnivores to uncover the links between animals in the intricate web of life. This two-hour program takes popular Zoo classes and adds a homeschool twist. Meet live animals, participate in hands-on activities and get an educator guided tour of exhibits. Registration Deadline: February 12 $15/members; $18/nonmembers. For more information go to www.memphiszoo.org Merle Haggard February 21 Bluesville, Horseshoe Casino Tunica, MS Merle Haggard is known as an American country and Western songwriter, singer, guitarist, fiddler, and instrumentalist. He helped create the Bakersfield Sound characterized by a unique twang with a mix of traditional country steel guitar sound and new vocal harmony styles. For more information call 800-303-7463 or go to www.ticketmaster.com.
Repticon Memphis Reptile and Exotic Animal Show February 21-22 Sat. 10:00AM – 5:00PM Sun. 10:00AM – 4:00PM Landers Center Southaven, MS Exciting, educational, family-oriented fun for everyone. Admission rates: Adults: $10, children 5-12): $5, under 5: free. For more information call 863-268-4273 or go to www.repticon.com/memphis.com. Lecture: Spirited Garden Design with Jon Carloftis February 24 3:30PM – 6:00PM Dixon Garden and Gallery Memphis, TN Mr. Carloftis is an award winning garden designer and pioneer in America’s rooftop and small space gardening. He is currently redesigning the grounds of Maker’s Mark Distillery in his home state of Kentucky. Enjoy an afternoon lecture and bourbon tasting. Lecture $10; Tasting $50. For more information go to www.dixon.org. 12th Annual Oxford Film Festival February 26 – March 1 Oxford, MS The Oxford Film Festival is a four-day film festival that attracts quality films and highlights the talent of young filmmakers from all over the world. The festival screens short and feature-length films in showcase and competition settings, hosts panel discussions on issues in contemporary filmmaking, and invites the filmmakers to interact with the audience at a number of social events. For more information or tickets call 877.560.3456 or go to www.oxfordfilmfest.com. This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement February 14 – May 10 Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Memphis, TN Exploring the Civil Rights Movement through the work and voices of nine activist photographers featuring images by Bob Adelman, George Ballis, Bob Fitch, Bob Fletcher, Matt Herron, David Prince, Herbert Randall, Maria Varela and Tamio Wakayama. For More information go to www.brooksmuseum.org or call 901544-6200. DeSoto 81
reflections} will you go with me?
Will you go with me? By Karen Ott Mayer
I remember the elementary classroom like it was yesterday. Fluorescent lights beamed overhead my hard desk with the attached chair, located mid-way down the aisle along the wall. I also remember the teacher who loomed above us, not in height, but in breadth. She was huge. Big and round. Because she was so nice, however, her appearance seemed just part of the deal in my mind. Maybe I was seven? Eight? Whatever age, it was a time when boys didn’t cross our girl minds. They were gross. Foreign to us as our parents. Sometimes they stared at us weirdly or laughed or made dumb jokes in class. They were of no concern to me--until one day. Class began with the usual drone and I sat with my elbow propped on the desk, head in hand as I listened to the teacher. I liked school and didn’t entertain doing much other than learning what these large people were trying to tell us. As I concentrated, I felt a nudge. I looked around and noticed a small hand pushing a folded piece of paper my way. Looking behind me nervously, I took it. Confused, I turned and glanced quickly behind me at the pack of nary-do-well boys at the back. They were smiling my way. Knowing the heavy penalties for passing notes in class, which included having to read them aloud, I panicked. Did anyone see? Did the teacher notice? I settled back in my chair and looked straight forward at her back. She was busy writing on the chalkboard. Placing the paper in my lap, I opened it up. One sentence loomed loud in the middle of the page, scrawled in pencil. 82 DeSoto
“Will you go with me?” My heart pounded as I noticed the small boxes drawn underneath. One box with a yes by it, the other with a no. True panic set in. My hands began to sweat. I knew the boy who sent it. He wasn’t bad, in fact, a little cute. But go with him? All of us girls knew the meaning of those notes. Serious business. But I had never gone with anyone. What would I have to do? Would I have to hold his hand? Or even worse…would I have to kiss him? It was all too much. I stared intently at the paper, listening to the rustling behind me. I just knew everyone in the classroom was watching me. I glanced around me but most kids appeared to be bored or busy writing. What should I do? I picked up my pencil and hesitated over the “yes” box. That didn’t feel right. I moved it to the “no” box. Would I hurt his feelings? Finally, I checked a box and folded the paper back again. When the teacher wasn’t looking, I held it over my shoulder and an unseen handed grabbed it from mine. The note was gone. Relief settled over me. Then, guilt, then confusion. I peeked over my shoulder at the young boy who opened the paper. In one swift moment, he crumpled it up, not looking up to meet my gaze. “Will you go with me?” More than that query, another haunted me equally long. What would life be like had I checked the other box?
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