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July CONTENTS 2018 • VOLUME 15 • NO. 7
features 46 Taking Life Outside Outdoor Living Spaces
60 Celebrating Our Greatest Generation 9th Infantry Division Assn. 73rd Reunion
54 Libation Destinations Southern Bars with History
departments 14 Living Well Kids & Technology
42 On the Road Again Aberdeen, Mississippi
18 Notables Cindy Gordon
45 Greater Goods 66 Homegrown MB Greene Handbags
22 Exploring Art Two Decades of Peter’s Pottery
70 Southern Gentleman Drive Time in Memphis
26 Exploring Books Florists to the Field
72 Southern Harmony Paul Tate
30 Into the Wild Mermaid Schools
76 In Good Spirits Celebrating Tequila
34 Table Talk Huck’s Cove
78 Exploring Events
38 Exploring Destinations LEGOLAND Florida
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80 Reflections Independence Day
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editor’s note } july Celebrating Summer Summer “officially” arrived for me a few days before I wrote this editor’s note. I picked the first figs of 2018 from a tree that hugs the side of my house. It’s not just any old fig tree either. This roof-high, jungle-wide monstrosity began as a cutting -- a gift from my late father-in-law who shoved a rather spindly looking stalk into my hands and said “Don’t kill it.” Somehow it survived over the last 12 years and has become the most prolific fruit-bearing tree in our neighborhood. For me, those juicy figs symbolize summer as well as a tenacity to live and thrive in harsh conditions. I couldn’t help thinking about my late father-in-law, a World War II veteran, as I read about another member of America’s Greatest Generation, Paul Schumacher of Selmer, Tennessee. Assistant editor Andrea Ross interviewed Schumacher about his participation in this month’s 9th Infantry Division Association’s 73rd annual reunion in Southaven. The reunion will be a great event to honor veterans, but it was Schumacher’s poignant memories that grabbed my attention. He -- and men like him -deserve all the celebrations they can get. This month, DeSoto Magazine is celebrating summer with several stories to get you into the summertime spirit. Living life on the
JULY 2018 • Vol. 15 No.7
PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell EDITOR-AT-LARGE Mary Ann DeSantis ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrea Brown Ross
outside takes on special meaning when you look at some of the new outdoor living spaces. Pam Windsor shares the latest trends in creating outdoor living spaces. And if you are looking for places to have a cool drink, you may want to check out writer Cheré Coen’s list of historic bars from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Wherever your journeys take you this summer – even if it’s just to your own backyard – enjoy the time with family and friends, celebrating how special time together can be. Happy reading,
Mary Ann on the cover Hot summer days call for nice, cool drinks, and we’ve found the perfect Margarita recipe on page 76 to celebrate National Tequila Day later this month. Wherever your summer celebrations take place – whether in your own backyard or across the South – make sure to have fun and create some great memories.
CONTRIBUTORS Robin Gallaher Branch Cheré Coen Cathey Frei Jason Frye Verna Gates Debi Lander Julia Miller Karen Ott Mayer Andrea Brown Ross Heather Tate Karon Warren Pam Windsor PUBLISHED BY DeSoto Media 2375 Memphis St. Ste 205 Hernando, MS 38632 662.429.4617 ADVERTISING INFO: Paula Mitchell 901-262-9887 Paula@DeSotoMag.com DeSotoMagazine.com Get social with us!
©2018 DeSoto Media Co. DeSoto Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein t o b e re p ro d u c e d i n a n y m a n n e r. Any advertisements published in DeSoto Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. DeSoto Magazine is published monthly by DeSoto Media Co. Parties interested in advertising should email paula@desotomag.com or call 901-262-9887. Visit us online at desotomagazine.com.
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living well } digital addiction
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Technological Disconnect By Karon Warren | Photography courtesy of reSTART and PC Tech Magazine
Our technology-driven world has created an epidemic of digital addiction, especially among youngsters who spend more time in front of electronic screens than they do playing outside. Knowing how to use technology is a requirement for almost everyone in today’s workforce. Much of our time in front of computers, mobile devices and electronic screens is indeed attributed to work, but a large part of our time is spent in leisure pursuits such as gaming, perusing social media, and binging our favorite Netflix series. Furthermore, we are passing these technological addictions on to our children. In fact, according to Gallup, which surveyed American parents and caregivers, children ages 2-to-10 years old spend 18.6 hours per week looking at electronic screens. That is four hours more than time spent inside playing without screens and eight more hours than playing outside.
Not All Fun and Games Although media can provide great entertainment for children, too much of a good thing can be detrimental. In this case, kids who spend too much time staring at screens instead of interacting with the world around them are experiencing negative effects. “I am seeing an unprecedented amount of behavioral issues in my profession,” says Tom Kersting, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Valley Family Counseling LLC in Ridgewood, New Jersey. “When devices and games are removed, the response is usually verbal abuse and often physical aggression toward parents.” In the short term, children are struggling immensely DeSoto 17
with focus and concentration, and sleep deprivation has become epidemic among pre-teens and teens due to technology addiction, which is further complicating their learning, Kersting says. Another impact of tech addiction among kids is the lack of socialization they experience with their peers. “So much socialization takes place on the playground through the typical play and the ‘school of hard knocks’,” says Dr. Raun D. Melmed, a developmental pediatrician and director of the Melmed Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. “If screen time takes the place of those opportunities, there is a concern that a child might become socially isolated and less socially adept, especially those with social communication challenges to begin with.” As screen time increases and play with traditional toys such as wooden blocks, toy cars, dolls, and crayons and coloring books decreases, the long-term effects could be immense for children. “Current research warns of stifled imaginations, depression, poor interpersonal skills, health problems and a slew of other concerns, but only time will tell,” says Sharon Estroff, author of “Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah.” Maintaining Access According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children up to two years old should not have any screen time, while children ages two to five should have no more than one hour of screen time per day. Kids ages six and older should have consistent limits on their screen time, although there is no set recommendation for this age group. In addition, the academy recommends that parents share in their children’s screen time so they can engage with their kids and help them learn along the way. This could occur by playing video games with them to teach good sportsmanship or watching a favorite TV show each week and discussing any serious issues that may be covered in the storyline. Putting Screens Aside To limit screen time for children, parents are encouraged to engage their children in a number of activities ranging from outdoor fun and games to free play to imaginative play. With summer in full season, there’s no shortage of outdoor play 18 DeSoto
opportunities, including games like baseball and tag, as well as splashing around in a sprinkler or swimming pool. Summer also is a prime time for summer camps, where kids can enjoy some of their favorite pursuits such as sports, music and arts, as well as organizational camps like those with church groups and Boy and Girl Scouts. Other ideas of free and imaginative play include arranging playdates with the neighborhood kids, attending story time at the local library (and participating in the library’s summer reading program), building with LEGOs, and completing art projects at home (Pinterest overflows with examples, instructions and free coloring sheets). P l u s , d o n’ t p a s s u p t h e opportunity for kids to learn new skills while helping around the house. Have them sweep and vacuum floors, fold laundry, make beds, and help cook dinner. Outside, they can pick up limbs from the yard, help plant flowers or put down mulch in the flowerbeds. By limiting screen time and encouraging kids to play with nontechnical toys, parents can help their kids grow, learn and develop a wide variety of skills that are essential to their education and well-being. “Many would argue that we always adapt as a society and that we will adjust to the tech-saturated world we live in,” Kersting says. “I disagree. Humans are social, emotional beings, and the more time we spend in front of our screens the less we are spending face-to-face with our fellow humans. The consequences, as mentioned above, are evident and will only get worse.”
Karon Warren is a freelance writer based in Ellijay, Georgia. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Karon also writes for USA Today and her blog, ThisGirlTravels.com
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notables } cindy gordon
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Community Spirit: Cindy Gordon & Fairway Independent Mortgage By Robin Gallaher Branch | Photography courtesy of CIndy Gordon
Giving back is a way of life for Cindy Gordon who has been instrumental in many civic improvements around Hernando, Mississippi. Cindy Gordon enjoys helping people. When opportunities present themselves to do so, she takes them. It’s as simple as that. “I think people know to do the right thing. There’s a little voice inside that says, ‘This is the right thing to do,’” she explains. As area manager of the Hernando, Mississippi, branch of Fairway Independent Mortgage, she knows her community well and has served it professionally for 22 years. Recent civic involvements for Gordon and Fairway in Hernando have been a Veterans Day parade, construction of a
dog park, and the renovation of a downtown building to house the DeSoto County Arts Council. Fairway received the Community Star Award for 2017 from the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. Tom Pittman, president, said the yearly award recognizes a business that has provided exceptional service to the community in both time and money donations. The foundation was impressed with Gordon’s leadership in bringing to fruition both the dog park and the arts council building; both have enriched the community. DeSoto 21
“My wife takes our dog to the dog park,” Pittman adds with a smile. “It’s a great place for dogs and for people.” Gordon, 62, agreed, saying she’s impressed with “the way people of all ages interface.” The dog park near downtown started when a neighbor visited Gordon at her office. He had been trying to get some sort of community space for dogs, but his efforts had stalled. Gordon made calls to the Hernando Parks & Recreation Foundation and about a year later, things started moving. The city donated an acre and a half, a beautiful, forested space with large trees. People stepped up with money, time, in-kind donations, and “sweat equity.” Landscaping included separate play and running areas for large and small dogs. The infrastructure incorporated gravel, benches, a fence, and handy fountains for dogs and owners. The DeSoto County Arts Council building started in much the same way. Sensing a community sentiment, Gordon, who at the time was president of the board of directors of the arts council, approached the Hernando City Council with a proposal. Gordon asked if the arts council could lease the vacant, rundown, old city hall for its headquarters. She offered to raise money and renovate it in exchange for a low rent. The city council agreed. Word got out. Fairway and Cooke Insurance, which is owned by Gordon’s husband Charles, set up a community challenge grant of $10,000. Donations came in. People rolled up their sleeves. Out went the moldy walls and water damaged floors. The single level building and basement were gutted and brought up to code. Local artisans crafted a patio bar from a large tree. The old city hall had a jail downstairs, which is now a storage area. “And, yes, the ominous, iron bar, cell door is still there,” Gordon says with a laugh.
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The renovated building is now two years old and so permanent and visible on the square that people can’t imagine Hernando without it. Exhibits rotate. Townspeople brown bag lunches on the patio. Wine and cheese parties occur regularly. Locals especially like the First Friday Art Walks that start in April and run through September. “We have so many great artists in Mississippi,” Gordon said. Vickey McLendon, who replaced Gordon as arts council board of directors’ president, describes the building as “very quaint and charming.” McLendon praises both Cindy and Charles Gordon for the community work they and their companies do. “The two businesses sponsor a lot and give back to the community. They’re involved in very nice events and services,” she says. A recent involvement that took less time than either the dog park or the city hall renovation was Hernando’s Veterans Day Parade. “That was fairly easy,” Gordon says. The planning involved permits from the city for a route and street closings; getting the word out to area veterans; and organizing parade cars. Townspeople quickly contributed donations and in-kind gifts. “People in the area are very gracious, very giving,” Gordon said. Veterans, their families, and guests were treated to a lunch at the local armory. As Gordon cooked and served spaghetti, she listened to the chatter around the tables. “The veterans told a lot of stories and enjoyed themselves,” she said. “It’s going to become an annual event.” Gordon came to Fairway with an IT background. In addition to the Hernando office, she manages others in Batesville and Oxford, Mississippi, and Pensacola, Florida. She and Charles have been married for 35 years and have two sons, both doctors. They make a point of mentoring others, both children and adults. “Charlie and I live by this Bible verse, Ecclesiastes 11:1: Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days,” Gordon says. “There’s always something you can do. I am for people. I am for this county. I am for supporting our veterans. I am for supporting people who are in need.” fairwaysouth.com Robin Gallaher Branch freelances for many magazines from Memphis. A Fulbright scholar, she serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Christian Brothers University.
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exploring art } peter’s pottery
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Peter Woods and his sister Brenda help regular customer Julie Thimmes of Olive Branch
Celebrating 20 years
of family, faith, pottery Story and Photography by Julia Miller
A leap of faith 20 years ago has propelled Peter’s Pottery into a well-known business that has helped to put Mound Bayou on the map. Most towns with a population of less than 1,500 may not see much traffic, but in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, visitors from across the world come to Peter’s Pottery for its renowned Mississippi clay pottery. Over the past 20 years, it’s not surprising to find the name on wedding registries and Mother’s Day wish lists, and as Peter Woods and his brothers look to the future, they hope they have created something that will only grow in popularity with future generations. The business has thrived due to two important ideals: family and faith. The Woods brothers – Peter, Joseph, Arthur and Sandy – pooled together all their resources to open their
first 1400-square-foot shop in 1998. “When we first started, it was hard to get a small business loan,” Woods says. “I sold my house, pulled down from my retirement, maxed out my credit cards. We just took a leap of faith.” They built the first building themselves and invested a lot of sweat equity to make the business happen. Going in, the brothers were realistic about the potential pitfalls of working with family. In the beginning, Woods says they turned to the one thing they knew could get them through anything: their faith in God. “We prayed to not let any of our disagreements affect DeSoto 25
Peter Woods with three pieces of 2018 pottery items
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any of our business,” Woods says. “The logo is a P with a cross. We wanted God to be with us.” Unfortunately, the two big obstacles they’ve had to overcome have concerned family, but not in the way they had prepared for. Since Peter’s Pottery opened, the family has lost two siblings, including one of the founders, Arthur. “My brother died of a massive heart attack. He called himself the creative director,” Woods says. The struggle of grief while having to restructure at work was difficult. Luckily, family came through once again. Arthur’s son moved back from Hawaii to help realize the dream of his father. With 12 family members working at Peter’s Pottery, the focus is on ensuring the second generation is equipped for the future. “We’re training my nieces and nephews because they enjoy doing it,” he says, “We’re making sure they’ll be able to carry the legacy and be able to run the business.” For Peter’s Pottery, working together as a family has only fueled their success. The collaborative effort helps improve the pottery and give the customers new and exciting products. “We bounce ideas off of each other, and that gets the creative ball rolling,” he says. Each year, Peter’s Pottery releases three to four new pieces, but the downside, Woods says, is that also means each year they have to retire pieces. “That’s really hard,” he says. “And of course, once we retire it, everybody wants it.” In Woods’ mind, the strength of their foundation can be credited to his parents and the upbringing he and his siblings experienced. “I’m the baby of 11. They instilled a work ethic from a young age,” he says. The expectation to work is what led Woods to begin working in pottery at age 13. Working after school and
Saturdays, Woods begin to see the beauty of pottery as well as the satisfaction of working hard. “That was part of our upbringing,” he says. “I’m thankful to them for keeping God first and teaching us to give back.” Sharing their success with the community has been important for the Woods brothers from the beginning. They even petitioned to be included in the Mound Bayou City limits, so the town would receive the sales tax benefit. In turn, the town received a grant to pave the road and extend water and sewer services to the growing business. Woods also says they focus on their customers, and the interaction with them helps them continue to be successful “One of the things I enjoy the most is talking to my customers,” he says. “When they come in, I get ideas.” Over the years, Woods has been invited to special events, such as weddings, that showcase his work, and that is something very special to experience. “I make it every day, but we never get to enjoy the work,” he says laughing. As the 20th anniversary approaches, they are preparing a new design that will represent their years in business and planning a celebration in November. Right now, those plans are still in development, but Woods says they will honor their customers for their impact on the success of Peter’s Pottery throughout the years. Peter’s Pottery is available at select retailers and online. peters-pottery.net. Julia Miller is a freelance writer based in Brookhaven, Mississippi. Julia studies creative writing in the Mississippi University for Women’s Master of Fine Arts program.
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exploring books} florists to the field
Camflor in California Photo credit: Sarah Bell - SĂŠlavie Photograph
Nico Wigchert Delphinium Farm in Holland Photo credit: Sarah Bell - SĂŠlavie Photography
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Authors Greg Campbell and Erick New
Following the Flowers By Karen Ott Mayer | Photography courtesy of Southerly Media and Karen Ott Mayer
Newly released book follows Memphis florists’ journeys around the world as they create floral arrangements for all kinds of celebrations. Rare is the profession built upon the sun as it circles the globe. And perhaps even less common are the people who chase it and the seasons. Within the 192 pages of the newly-released “Florists to the Field,” we are introduced and reminded of how the everpresent and accessible cut flower is still so intricately tied to a place, a field or a farm. And not often in the same hemisphere or country as the seller. From Oregon to Holland, Israel to South America, Garden District founders and co-owners Greg Campbell and Erick New lead us down a new floral path. Their Memphis, Tennessee shop is already known for its unique artistry and unabashed style that has graced countless events, weddings and celebrations. Now, they’ve ventured into a new space with “Florists to the Field.” When the thought about compiling a book
occasionally crossed their minds, the veteran floral professionals and designers couldn’t find a truly inspiring topic. “We thought about a Christmas book, but that didn’t feel quite right,” says New. Just like their genuine styles, a book couldn’t exist without an honest connection to their work. After talking about it, the pair literally found grounding in the very roots of their 20-year old floral business and their relationships with growers and flower farms. “We have worked with suppliers all over the world for decades and we decided it would be interesting to actually go to them, in the field, and offer to design from the field,” says New. In many cases, the Memphians had neither visited nor set foot on any of the farms from which they had purchased for many years. So, the pair began following the seasons as they have done for years. This time, they captured their work on the page. DeSoto 29
One favored flower, the peony, tells the tale of how these florists follow the flower. “We start the season out in Oregon, move across the U.S. with the warmer climates, then to Israel and New Zealand as the seasons change,” New explains. “We circle the globe and start over again here.” Peonies are just one small example in a vast floral landscape that includes elegant orchids, tropicals, and delphiniums. While the finished book is breathtakingly exquisite in design and photography, its true strength and humor lies in the pursuit of the chase. From Oregon to Holland, New and Campbell tromped out in fields, hauling their clippers 30 DeSoto
and supplies with them, designing with what was available – sometimes while growers stood by in curious confusion. Unlike other farm-to-table events which are orchestrated and staged, these florists relied on each farmer to tell them what they wanted as far as their own event. “Some suppliers wanted to hold a dinner to say thanks to their customers, another just wanted a quiet dinner for two.” Despite the planning, everything didn’t always go perfectly according to expectations. At one peony farm, the pair arrived to find… no peonies. “They had just harvested all the peonies!” says New. Nonetheless, the designing duo scrounged and sourced until they found enough floral materials to create a final arrangement that fully reflected the farm and
plants grown there. In Wilson, Arkansas, Campbell and New set a dinner table in a cotton field. In Holland, they helped plan a surprise party. The pair found themselves working in the open elements, in barns and in sheds. Nothing was staged in studios. If the farmers got an education in floral artistry, Campbell and New discovered each operation was as different as the geography. “Nothing is guaranteed...except in Holland,” says New with a laugh. “Everything is controlled under glass, and the growing is so exact they can tell us how many flowers will be harvested on a specific day. In Oregon, a farm is completely different...more wild and informal.” The pair began working on the book in October 2016 and spent 18 months traveling, designing and compiling. Today, they are back home temporarily at the Garden District until a formal book tour begins. Originally located in Midtown Memphis, the Garden District has been located in East Memphis on Sanderlin since 2003. The shop itself feels like no other florist and for good reason. The pair laughed when asked about their training. “We needed a job. We’ve never been conventional in our thinking or designs, always playing with our own style.” Their work also knows no boundaries as New and Campbell travel the country for client’s weddings – from the East Coast to out West. In late April, locals gathered under a white tent in front of the shop, celebrating the book’s arrival and launch. With live music, a friendly Golden Retriever, lots of food and laughter, the event felt apropos... close to home and in the shop where so many relationships have blossomed and grown across the globe. southerlymedia.com/florists-to-the-field/
Karen Ott Mayer is a writer and editor based in Como, Mississippi.
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into the wild } mermaid schools
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Underwater mermaid at Weeki Wachee
FinFun Mermaid Tails
Mermania Strikes the South By Debi Lander Photography courtesy of The Mermaid Academy, Fin Fun Mermaid Tails, Weeki Wachee
Becoming a mermaid is not just a fantasy. At mermaid schools around the South, the dream can become a reality. There’s a thaw in the ice-covered waters of Disney’s “Frozen,” thanks to the comeback of Ariel, the “Little Mermaid,” who propelled the popularity of a new swimming apparatus – a tail. Children everywhere have dreamed of joining Ariel and Sebastian, the crab, under the sea after watching the Disney version of Hans Christian Andersen’s story. And now, adults have joined the mermaid frenzy. This summer, the dream is real, with mermaids rising from the deep and creating a huge splash. They show up in “schools” at mermaid conventions and lessons, and in jewelry, makeup lines, blankets, fin-shaped backpacks and, of course, mermaid swimming tails. Mermaid schools, popping up at many resorts in the
South, have become one of the highlights of family vacations. Young girls, typically ages 6-12, don mermaid tails for mermaid lessons at resort pools. Mermaid-themed birthday parties – lessons and photo shoot included – are in high demand. You’ll find child and adult-sized Lycra and Spandex stretchy tails for sale at pools, and for rent at some locations or through online companies. Wiggling both legs into the monofinned contraption while negotiating shallow water makes for quite a sight. Most lessons include use of a tail for the session. Wondering where you or your child can join the merworld? Lessons at the Sanderling Resort in the Outer Banks of North Carolina include various mermaid swimming techniques (think dolphin kick and fluid underwater movements). After DeSoto 33
Girls at the Mermaid Academy
FinFun Mermaid Tails
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One of the famous Weeki Wachee Mermaids
class, an optional underwater photo shoot proves the memories aren’t just a “fish story.” Sanderling’s mermaid swimming instructors are all lifeguard certified and knowledgeable about using mermaid tails safely and effectively. Minimum age is 7, and kids are required to pass a swimming test before joining a class. Brooke Rowe, an instructor at the Kitty Hawk facility, says, “It’s really heartwarming to hear our young students tell us their dreams are coming true. We’ve even had some returning students who excitedly showed us the tricks they’ve been working on.” Alabama’s Spectrum Resorts in Gulf Shores offers girls a transformational mermaid class, including games like diving for treasures and swimming through underwater hoops. They can enjoy optional pirate and mermaid beach photo shoots before class. Angela O’Rourke, owner of The Mermaid Academy near Orlando, says, “The experience allows participants to live out a fantasy and make a lifelong memory.” The Mermaid Academy provides instructors and gear for programs at 15 hotels in the Orlando area. Parents find the option another way to give their kids a magical experience in the city known for making dreams come true. Lessons from the Mermaid Academy cost $30 and last one hour. They are open for all ages and swimming levels. Swimming aides (bubbles, arm floaters, life-vests) may be worn. Parents may even assist their youngster during the lesson. An additional fee includes a photo shoot. “No one leaves disappointed,” says Angela. “Attendees love the classes and everyone has fun.” The mermaid experience can become an obsession, though. Mermania, a 2017 convention of adult and teen merfolk enthusiasts, took place in Greensboro, North Carolina.
A 2018 event called SoCal Scales & Tails will be held in Long Beach, California. Many of these professional mermaids and mermen work as actors in films. They invest thousands of dollars in silicone tails, suits and headpieces. But, they also teach classes. If your daughter slips into the craze, the stretchable, swimsuit-material mermaid tails will cost you around $50$110. You can choose among realistic mermaid scale prints to others that sparkle and shimmer. Not to forget the little boys, shark fins, worn on a waistband, cost approximately $40. Weeki Wachee, the kitschy and original home of mermaid shows, continues to attract curious tourists just as it has since it opened in 1947. This old-school facility showcases mermaids in naturally formed underwater caverns, some of the deepest in the U.S. Visitors watch through an underground window in the theater. Look closely to see the mermaids occasionally sneak a gulp of air from a hose hidden in the watery set. The half-hour act, performed 16-to-20 feet below the surface of the water, involves mesmerizing acrobatic moves. Weeki Wachee is serious about mermaid instruction and they offer a more intensive curriculum at their multi-day junior and adult mermaid camps. Those interested should apply early – all of the 2018 dates have already sold out. If you want to join the sirens of yore bobbing along in mermaid coves, get yourself a tail and whisk off to the nearest mermaid school. As Sebastian would sing, “We got no troubles, life is the bubbles, under the sea.” Debi Lander is a freelance writer/photographer and seasoned international traveler based in Ocala, Florida. She maintains a website at Bylandersea.com.
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table talk } huck’s cove
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Huck’s Cove on the Bayou
By Heather Gausline Tate | Photography courtesy of Coast Observer, coastobserver.virtualpaper.com
Huck’s Cove on the Gulf Coast offers a dining experience to be savored in a light-hearted, family friendly atmosphere. Huck’s Cove in Gautier, Mississippi is a waterfront diamond in the rough. As the 19-year owner of the selfproclaimed dive, Jo Ann Woroner, describes her establishment as family-friendly with a laid-back vibe and tons of personality. “We would not call ourselves ‘shabby chic’,” Woroner explains, but she says the funky atmosphere invokes their lighthearted ambiance. Moss-covered oaks and outdoor strings of lights adorn the outdoor eating areas. Even a lazy gator or two may be swimming nearby in the bayou. Despite the casual atmosphere, Huck’s Cove take its food very seriously. The proprietor suggests, “We like to go with
things that are different.” Featured starters such as fried dill pickles, heaping plates of covered nachos, and heavily-crusted fried green tomatoes kick off the diverse menu. Specialties include fried gator tail, fried crawfish (where the shell has been removed), and some of the best grouper anywhere – prepared grilled, fried, blackened, or with the signature Buffalo seasoning. Daily specials provide something for everyone. Whether patrons prefer Taco Tuesday, Angry Bird Wednesday (a zesty chicken dish), Thursday’s $5 burger day, or Friday’s pasta special. “We try to cover it all without spreading ourselves too thin,” says Woroner. DeSoto 37
Huck’s is known for its gourmet burgers, such as the Burgerletta, a take-off of the Muffuletta, a hamburger with cheese and olives. Other popular selections include the Huck-attack and the Hurricane Cat 6 – covered with debris – which just means every topping that they have in house from caramelized onions to cheeses and veggies. First time visitors should try the grouper blackened, according to owner Woroner, who also recommends the fried oysters or seasonal raw oysters. She says they have so many things that guests need to try: “If you haven’t had gator tail, you got to try it at Huck’s because we know how to make it.” Other options include more seafood, all from a local seafood company, po’boy sandwiches, and a variety of salads that can be washed down with a Long Island ice tea or the Huckie, their signature mixed drink that is fruit punch with a kick. Although it may seem hard to save room, Woroner says that diners need to have one of their many desserts. Her personal favorite is key lime pie, but other mouth-watering options include the salted caramel cheesecake drizzled with extra caramel and served with whipped cream or the death by chocolate made with four layers of chocolate bliss. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available in the tropical, Caribbean-atmosphere including teal, purple, and yellow hues throughout. Huck’s Cove brought bright colors to the Gulf Coast, which had become accustomed to more dark, muted color schemes in its local restaurants. Woroner and her 38 DeSoto
husband had traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean and were influenced by the vibrant colors. The major portion of the seating is outdoor on the waterfront where there is a nonsmoking section by the dock, near a shack with seating, lattice work, and pops of teal-pained benches and railings. “The children love Huck’s,” says Woroner. Some of the former young patrons are now older college students who work at Huck’s, especially during their peak season from March-September. Woroner says that Huck’s Cove is her first and only restaurant venture. She explains that she has always had the drive to be in business on her own. Combined with a love for eating and crunching numbers, becoming a restaurant owner has been a solid fit for her. Part of her secret has been finding the right people to work for her. Woroner works closely with her managers and meets with their staff regularly. Her other secret for owning a coastal restaurant is preparing her staff and working with the weather. Hurricane Katrina closed them for six months after they were flooded with 18 feet of water. “My husband and I worked every day for six months to repair it.” When it opened six months after the hurricane, they were the first restaurant open at the time. The determination to rebuild after Katrina and every storm since then deepens their bond with their regulars. Woroner says that they want their customers to come and enjoy themselves along with the view. Her goal is to provide
their guests with “a nice product and something that they haven’t had.” Special orders do not upset the kitchen. Woroner proudly clarifies, “If we have it in the kitchen somewhere, we can do it.” Everything in the small kitchen is cooked to order. Nothing is pre-cooked. During the week, business is steady, but on the weekends, the clientele come out in droves. One does not come to Huck’s to rush through a meal. Instead, it is meant to be savored with lots of laughter among family, friends, and work buddies. “We are a mom-and-pop place,” says Woroner. Huck’s Cove continues to offer a unique dining opportunity that has been embraced by the community and now pursued by patrons from all over the South who want to experience it for themselves. Heather Gausline Tate is a world traveler and freelance writer who lives in Guntown, Mississippi, with her husband and two boys, London and Christian.
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exploring destinations } legoland
Jackson Square
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LEGOLAND Continues to Build Family Fun By Karon Warren Photography courtesy of LEGOLAND Florida Resort and Chip Litherland Photography
Florida’s LEGOLAND Resort builds on its reputation as a family friendly destination, offering something for all ages. Central Florida has a plethora of theme parks and attractions and choosing to visit just one or two can be a challenge on both time and budgets. Often overshadowed by Orlando’s mouse and friends, LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven quietly welcomes kids and adults to come, stay and play awhile in Florida’s only interactive theme park where the LEGO brand comes to life. Geared to kids ages 2 to 12, the best thing about LEGOLAND is that all kids can participate in just about every
ride. Some may require mom or dad to tag along, but, otherwise, the younger kids don’t have to watch their older siblings go on a bunch of rides as they stand by waiting. When I took my kids a few years ago, this was a huge advantage because my son didn’t have to stand on the sidelines watching his older sister. Since opening in 2011, LEGOLAND has expanded to include more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, a water park, and, of course, the iconic Cypress Gardens botanical garden that formerly held court on the property. DeSoto 41
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One of our favorite rides was The Quest for Chi, which – at first glance – looks like a boat ride. But don’t be fooled. Those boats are equipped with water cannons so riders can shoot riders on other boats as well as bystanders watching the ride. However, these aren’t the only water hazards. Throughout the ride, water sprayers and waterfalls drench unsuspecting riders, and even bystanders have water cannons to wage their own water war against riders. Bringing a change of clothes is a good idea because you will get soaked. We rode this ride repeatedly because my kids couldn’t get enough of it. They love shooting the water cannons at anyone within reach, and they thought it was hilarious every time I got stuck under a waterfall (why was it always me?). Needless to say, we laughed a lot during and long after we rode this ride. Another favorite for us was Miniland USA with its interactive displays of famous landmarks near and far built of LEGOs. You’ll recognize Kennedy Space Center, Daytona International Speedway, and the themed hotels along the Las Vegas strip. Even Star Wars characters made their way into Miniland. The level of detail in these iconic scenes created with LEGOs is amazing. Plus, the kids especially enjoyed the displays that had interactive components. By pushing buttons outside the display, we could turn on lights, shoot water or move figures in the scenes. While my kids did not find it as exciting as I did, I loved walking through the botanical garden. It still includes the notable features from Cypress Gardens, one of Florida’s earliest tourist attractions, including the famous Banyan tree originally planted in 1939. It was a beautiful and quiet place to recharge, even if for just a few minutes, from the thrills and excitement of the amusement park.
A ride that became popular with park-goers after our visit is LEGO NINJAGO, which opened in 2017. The interactive ride allows kids to become ninjas who fight villains in an attraction comprised of 3-D computer animation, 4-D special effects (think heat, fog and strobe lighting), and interactive technology. Another exciting attraction, The Great LEGO Race, has also recently opened. This ride is the world’s first-ever roller coaster utilizing virtual reality technology to create a fully immersive, action-filled road rally. Riders compete against LEGO mini figures in a world where everything, including the riders, are made of LEGO bricks. LEGOLAND quickly became one of our favorite amusement parks, so we plan to return. When we do, we’ll keep the following tips in mind. First, we will stay more than one day. We didn’t have enough time to experience all there is to see, and now there is even more. The park is about 45 minutes from Orlando, so it’s easy to add a couple of days to a trip visiting Central Florida’s other theme parks. We will also think about another winter visit. We were there in February, which turned out to be a fabulous time. The weather was warm and pleasant without the crowds. Visiting LEGOLAND is like seeing a favorite toy come to life, and it’s a unique spin on the traditional amusement park. legoland.com/florida Karon Warren is a freelance writer based in Ellijay, Georgia. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Karon also writes for USA Today and her blog, ThisGirlTravels.com
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on the road again } aberdeen, mississippi
, n e e rdississippi AbeM 9:00 Start the day at Penny Lane’s Java Cafe in downtown Aberdeen. Enjoy a gourmet coffee with biscuits and gravy, breakfast sandwich, or eggs and bacon. Be sure to grab a homemade goody-to-go! Lunch is also served with daily specials and sandwiches and soups named after Aberdeen’s historic homes. 10:00 Tour one of Aberdeen’s most beautiful historic homes, The Magnolias. Built in 1850, the home is an excellent example of late antebellum classic Greek revival architecture. Visitors are greeted at the gorgeous columned front portico. Once inside, they are enchanted by period furnishings, a mahogany double staircase showcased by a Waterford chandelier, and more. The home is open year-round, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., or by appointment. Admission is $5 for adults, but there is a group discount for 20 or more. Noon: Lunch at the award-winning Cottage Tea Room. Menu items include quiche, salads, wraps, and plate lunches along with daily specials. Locals love Wednesdays for the delicious bread pudding. Another favorite local dish is the turnip green casserole. Open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 1:00 Take in the beautiful architecture of Aberdeen on a driving tour. Enjoy more than 50 historic homes and churches. Pick up a brochure and free audio CD with details and driving directions at the Aberdeen Visitors Bureau, located on Commerce Street. Be sure to check out the Elkin Theater on Commerce Street. Built in 1937, this renovated Art Nouveau-style theater with original ticket booth and neon marquee is an Aberdeen icon. The theatre hosts live productions and current movies every weekend. 3:00 Take North Meridian Street out of town to the Blue Bluff recreation area, located on the lake section of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. The stunning clay and limestone cliffs rising above the water make the perfect location for a hike, picnic, fishing, swimming, or just reading a book. The area also offers a class A year-round campground with picnic tables, grills, lantern posts, electrical and water hook-ups, and plenty of shade. 5:00 Dinner at Jugtown Grill. The great atmosphere, service and menu keep locals coming back. Order a delicious burger, salad or daily special. Lunch and dinner are served Wednesday through Saturday as well as Sunday lunch. On the weekends guests enjoy live music!
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To plan your visit:
aberdeenms.org magnoliasofaberdeen.com elkintheatre.com recreation.gov
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Upcoming Events: Bukka White Blues Festival October 5 - 6
Enjoy non-stop blues on the banks of Tenn-Tom Waterway during the 11th Annual Bukka White Blues Festival. In addition to great music, festivities will include arts and crafts, a barbecue contest, kayak rentals, inflatables, exotic animal show, and more.
bukkawhitebluesfestival.com
Annual Aberdeen Pilgrimage April 5 - 7, 2019 Located on the banks of the Tombigbee River, Aberdeen is the county seat of Monroe County and was one of the busiest Mississippi ports of the 19th century. Cotton was heavily traded in town, and for a time Aberdeen was Mississippi’s second largest city. Today, Aberdeen retains many historic structures from this period, with over 200 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The Spring Pilgrimage showcases many of these magnificent townhouses, cottages, Victorian homes, and other historic icons with tours for the public. In addition to the antebellum home tours, visitors can take carriage rides, enjoy luncheons, living history demonstrations, storytelling, cemetery tours, and more. For more information about the Pilgrimage and other related events, visit aberdeenpilgrimage.com or call the Aberdeen Visitors Bureau at 662-369-9440.
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greater goods } summer fun
Summer Fun!
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1. Nora Fleming tray with flip-flop attachment, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Road Olive Branch, MS 2. Girl’s baseball caps, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Road #115, Olive Branch, MS 3. Men’s Patagonia and Vinyard Vines swimsuits, SoCo Apparel, 300 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 4. Corksicle coolers and tumblers , The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 5. Beach blankets, SoCo Apparel, 300 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 6. Beach bags, towels, hats, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 7. Glitter Sunscreen, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Road, Marion, AR 8. Lampe Berger’s Summer Nights, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 9. Tag Living melamine plates and initial napkins, The Wooden Door, 6542 Goodman Road #104, Olive Branch, MS 10. Tidewater sandals,, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 11. Beach bags, towels, waterproof phone cases, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 12. Waterproof beach totes, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 13. Scout cooler, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Road Olive Branch, MS
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Outdoor
living spaces
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Outdoor living spaces are trendier than ever, and local companies offer a multitude of products designed to provide comfort all year long. By Pam Windsor Photography courtesy of Michael Hatcher & Associates Southern Screens and Keep It Casual Outdoor Living Space - Michael Hatcher & Associates
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Combs-Dulaney Home with Southern Screens Arcadia Pergola
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Americans are spending more time at home, but at the same time hearing the call of the great outdoors. The summer months are always popular for entertaining outside with cookouts and pool parties, but in recent years people have begun creating outdoor living spaces they can use to entertain family and friends year round. Michael Hatcher, who owns a landscaping business in Olive Branch, says things have changed since he first started in the late 1970s. “When I first got started, landscaping was truly planting plants and doing layouts for planting beds,” he says. “Now landscape architects and designers are actually designing how the space will be used, and plants are only a component of a bigger project. And those projects may include pools, patios, outdoor play areas, drainage and irrigation systems, and outdoor lighting.” He says outdoor living spaces are as varied as the families using them. “For the fa mily with young children they may want play areas in that yard that are big enough to throw or kick a ball, or it may include having the kids over and having a swimming pool. The trends we’re seeing are more toward the age group of the customers than the trend of what might be the hottest thing going.” He still does traditional landscape work along with everything else, but notes that’s also changed slightly. “We used to do a lot of seasonal color flowers which are begonias, petunias, summer flowers, and summer annuals. We’re still doing those, but we’re also seeing a trend toward more urns and planters, where people may be planting basil, thyme, mint, or lettuces, something that might be used for cooking or in a salad.” As the demand has grown for people to be able to do more within their outdoor living space, technology has also played a role, according to Mike Reilly, owner of Memphis-based Southern Screens. “Many people want an almost multi-function outdoor facility. They want a place where they can go out and cook, where they can watch TV, and where they can have conversations. And all of these things need protection from the elements and the insects. That’s why our business has thrived so much because retractable screens, which are so different from fixed DeSoto 51
Michael Hatcher & Associates - Pool, Outdoor Living Space
Keep It Casual - Furniture for Outdoor Living Space
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screens, do an excellent job of blending with the existing structure.” In addition to installing retractable screens, Reilly also represents Arcadia Pergola, a company that creates covered areas using a motorized louvered roof system which opens and closes by remote control. “You can open some sections of the roof to the sun and rain, close others, and sit underneath,” Reilly says. “These are becoming very popular in both residential and commercial structures.” Rebecca Combs-Dulaney owns a lake home on Mississippi’s Dalewood Lake and wanted to be able to spend time on the deck even during the hot summer months. “I love being outdoors whether it’s gardening, listening to the birds, or looking at the trees. And it was very difficult to do with no roof overhanging of any sort.” Reilly’s company had already provided screens for Combs-Dulaney’s home in Meridian, and someone suggested she consider Arcadia Pergola for the lake house. “When I first heard pergola, I thought, that denotes open,” she recalls. “You traditionally see pergola made of wood, it’s open, plants grow over it, and you put lights on it. So, at first I said ‘no, I don’t think that’s going to provide the shield from the sun’.” She discovered the new product was made of aluminum, and the louvers at the top (like shutters) can be opened or closed depending on the time of day or the weather. “Someone engineered this really well,” she says. “To be able to regulate the louvers to allow a little bit of sun, full sun, or no sun at all, to block out the rain, and also be able to regulate the air flow coming down, it’s ideal. And it also has ceiling fans.” Meredith Tollison owns Keep it Casual in Tupelo and sells outdoor and casual furniture, and accessories. “Outdoor living spaces have become a huge thing. We first try to figure out how clients plan to live in their space. Are they looking for a dining room table to put by the grill to sit and eat hot dogs with the kids; are they looking for a comfortable sofa seating group to put under the covered patio to watch football games on the weekends; or are they looking for furniture to go out by the pool? Then we help them DeSoto 53
Keep It Casual - Furniture for Outdoor Living Space
gauge the materials that will be most appropriate.” Those discussions are very valuable. “One thing we ran into several years back was when people started installing salt water pools. We’re here in the Deep South which has been wrought iron country for years. We had to start adding that question in for a lot of our clients because you don’t want wrought iron furniture sitting by a salt water pool. It will deteriorate the materials in short order.” Exposure to the sun is also important in choosing outdoor furniture. Rusty Mercer with Wicker N’ More in Olive Branch sells a lot of indoor/outdoor furniture. “This indoor/outdoor furniture is a vinyl plastic material. It’s pretty strong, comes in different colors, there’s no fading with it, and they make almost every piece imaginable,” he explains. Wicker and rattan furniture have been popular for years, especially for screened in porch areas, but while it’s long lasting when cared for properly and can withstand moisture, it does need to be shielded from the sun. 54 DeSoto
“You cannot put real wicker in the sun. If people are going to put the furniture in the sun, they want the indoor/ outdoor furniture.” Outdoor kitchens, even outdoor pizza ovens, have been the rage in recent years. People enjoy cooking outside whether in a kitchen, over a fire, or on a grill. Tom Bradley with Complete Home Center in Hernando, says when it comes to choosing a grill, he likes the Big Green Egg. “The benefits of gas are obviously convenience, it’s a quicker cook. But the benefit of the Green Egg is that it uses natural charcoal. It’s all hickory and oak charcoal, and you just can’t duplicate the flavor. It’s a slower cook, so you get that smoky flavor trapped into the meat and vegetables. It’s hard to mess up something with a Green Egg.” He also advises people to use natural charcoal when grilling because it’s free of chemicals and healthier. Since he sells a variety of products, Bradley fields a lot of questions about outdoor living spaces from whether it’s better to use paving stones or build a deck, to how to set up a
space to cook outside year round. For that, he recommends some type of fire pit. He also suggests some of the newer types of bug zappers to help keep outdoor living areas insect free. They aren’t as noisy and obtrusive as they used to be. With so many products available on every level of the outdoor living space industry, the best advice for anyone looking to create their own unique space is to think about how it will be used, and to seek out reputable companies every step of the way. Look for experience and expertise, then go from there. Pam Windsor is a Nashville-based freelancer, who has written for AARP, MotorHome Magazine, the Myrtle Beach Sun News, American Profile, Country Weekly, and other publications.
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n o i t a b i L 54 56 DeSoto
: s n o i t a n i t s e D n Ba r e h t u o S e u - Uniq
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By Cheré Coen Photography courtesy of The Flora-Bama, neworleans.com, Rock City Eats and Kings Tavern Restaurant
The South’s a colorful region, full of fascinating characters, foods and traditions. So, it’s fair to expect its bars to mirror that culture. These unique Southern bars are destinations unto themselves – full of character, history and lore. DeSoto 57
The Flora-Bama
Carousel Bar & Lounge
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Flora-Bama
Orange Beach, Alabama florabama.com Sitting here at the Flora-Bama ‘Bout to open up a big old can of Good times, unwind Fall in and out of love in the same night —Kenny Chesney, “Flora-Bama” Not often can a person enjoy a beer in one state, walk a few feet and order a cocktail in another. The famous FloraBama exists in both Perdido Key, Florida, and Orange Beach, Alabama, placed on the state line as a small bar and package liquor store in 1964, back when you could drink in one state but not the other. The honkytonk has expanded greatly since its inception and is now not only known for its unusual location, but regular live music, signature drinks and fun festivals, including the “Interstate Mullet Toss” where participants throw fish as a competition. There’s several bars and stages within the establishment, plus shuttles to take visitors back to their hotels. There’s even church service on Sundays. Specialties: The Bushwacker frozen cocktail. Perfect for: Tourists and locals alike, although the place fills up on special events and Spring Break. Fame: John Grisham wrote about the bar in his novel “The Pelican Brief,” Jimmy Buffett mentions the Flora-Bama in his song “Bama Breeze” and Kenny Chesney wrote a “Flora-Bama” song. Accolades: It’s routinely voted one of the world’s best beach bars.
Carousel Bar & Lounge
New Orleans, Louisiana hotelmonteleone.com/entertainment/ carousel-bar Whether it’s the drinks, circus-like atmosphere or the camaraderie, writers have flocked to the Carousel Bar in New Orleans’ historic Hotel Monteleone, located in the heart of the French Quarter. Numerous authors have graced the seats of the famous bar, which was added to the hotel in 1949 and remains the city’s only revolving lounge. The Carousel bar consists of 25 hand-painted seats featuring brightly colored circus animals with a lighted canopy DeSoto 59
The Ohio Club
Under-The-Hill Saloon
on top resembling an elegant Merry-Go-Round. The center bar rotates every 20 minutes or so, enough time to enjoy a drink. (When the original spot appears, you know it’s time to reorder.) Louis Prima and Liberace have performed here, and authors have included Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Eudora Welty, Anne Rice and Rebecca Wells. Truman Capote used to brag he was born at the Monteleone, but it’s more likely his mother went into labor there. Specialties: Vieux Carré, a marriage of rye, cognac, dry vermouth, Benedictine, Peychaud’s bitters and Angostura bitters. Perfect for: Everyone, but perhaps more so for writers. Fame: References to the hotel and the Carousel Bar are included in Tennessee Williams’ “The Rose Tattoo” and “Orpheus Descending;” Rebecca Wells’ “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” and “Little Altars Everywhere;” Stephen Ambrose’s “Band of Brothers;” Richard Ford’s “A Piece of My Heart;” Eudora Welty’s “A Curtain of Green;” Ernest Hemingway’s “Night Before Battle” (published in “The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway”); and Harry Stephen Keeler’s “The Voice of the Seven Sparrows,” to name a few. Accolades: Vogue Living named the Carousel one of the Top 20 Bars in the World.
The Ohio Club
Hot Springs, Arkansas theohioclub.com Hot Springs was once a hot bed of gambling, attracting some of the country’s most notorious gangsters in its day. The Ohio Club saw it all. Started in 1905 as a bar and casino, the club attracted the likes of Al Capone, Bugs Moran, Lucky Luciano and many more. And since the town was also spring training for Major League Baseball, famous players such as Babe Ruth crossed its threshold. Mae West, Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Bennett performed here as well and it’s rumored that 60 DeSoto
President Teddy Roosevelt once enjoyed a beer there. Today, The Ohio Club serves as both a restaurant and lounge and offers live entertainment, including blues every Wednesday and jazz on Thursdays. Specialties: The Ohio Club is known for its burgers and if you’re really hungry, choose the Big Al Double Cheeseburger. Perfect for: Everyone. Fame: Gangsters, Major League baseball players and famous musicians frequented the club. Accolades: Arguably the oldest bar in Arkansas.
Under-the-Hill Saloon
Natchez, Mississippi visitnatchez.org/business/under-the-hill-saloon Back in the day Natchez had a split personality. The highfalutin folks lived on the bluff above the Mississippi, which routinely flooded and attracted roughnecks moving products up and down the river. The po folks and working class hung out closer to the water. This tough section of town, filled with bars, gambling and prostitution, was known as Under the Hill. Remaining true to its history is the Under-the-Hill Saloon, a historic, colorful bar that attracts tourists, although doubtful the roughneck variety. Photos showcasing a different time line the brick walls, and back rooms contain almost everything, from Americana memorabilia and antique farm tools to a giant elephant that patrons love to use for selfies. Specialties: Just outside the front door are rocking chairs if the music gets too loud. Perfect for: Adults. Live music is performed here regularly so the front room may be too loud for conversation, but back rooms are quieter. Fame: Located in one of the oldest buildings in south Mississippi. Accolades: Country Roads magazine of Baton Rouge listed the bar as the “Favorite Place to Take a Visitor in Mississippi.”
King’s Tavern
King’s Tavern
Natchez, Mississippi kingstavernnatchez.com You can’t mention Natchez without including King’s Tavern, the oldest building in town with a bar known for its cocktails and delicious flatbreads as well as a ghost named Madeline. The story attests that three bodies were found inside the tavern’s wall during renovations in the early 20th century. The female bones were rumored to have belonged to Madeline, who once tended bar at King’s Tavern and was mistress to the previous owner, Richard King. As for spirits of another kind, bar manager Ricky Woolfolk serves up signature drinks incorporating rum from Charboneau Distillery located next door and run by Chef Regina Charboneau, who owns both establishments. Specialties: Cocktails with rum from local Charboneau Distillery. Woolfolk also offers mixology classes. Perfect for: Everyone, especially history lovers. Be sure to order food, too. Fame: Ask Woolfolk to show you the video of apparent paranormal activity. Accolades: Oldest building in Natchez, built in the 1760s. Cheré Coen is a food and travel writer living in Lafayette, Louisiana, and writes novels under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her Viola Valentine mystery series includes a reference to the Hotel Monteleone.
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Celebrating
OU R GREATEST Generation Story and photography by Andrea Brown Ross
World War II veteran Paul Schumacher will represent America’s Greatest Generation at the 73rd annual reunion of the 9th Infantry Division Association to be held this year in Southaven, Mississippi. DeSoto 63
Unidentified men 9th Infantry Division
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.” No one is quite sure who said it, but the quote has become one of the most popular in 20th century speeches and literature. And the triumph of evil certainly could have been the case in the 1940s if it weren’t for people like Paul Schumacher and others who served and made sacrifices in World War II. Now at age 94, Schumacher will join members of the U.S. Army 9th Infantry Division Association at the organization’s 73rd annual reunion July 2023 in Southaven, Mississippi. The association’s quarterly newsletter, The Octofoil, proposes the following question, “If we don’t remember, who will?”. With that in mind, the 9th Infantry Division Association holds an annual reunion, as it has done every year since 1945. The reunions serve as an opportunity not only to reunite, but also to reminisce and share experiences and research about 9th Infantry Division family members or other related topics. The closest reunion to the Mid-South was held in New Orleans several years ago. While membership in this association includes veterans of different wars, perhaps the most anticipated attendee will be 94-year-old World War II veteran, Paul Schumacher of Selmer, Tennessee. Reunion attendees typically bring photos and mementos to display and discuss at the reunion, including Schumacher. What’s so fascinating about Schumacher is he shares his experiences with the memory of a man decades younger. Born and raised in Indiana, Schumacher graduated 64 DeSoto
high school in 1941. He was already attending college when he received his letter that he was being drafted. “I felt it was inevitable I would go,” shares Schumacher. “We were getting reports about how bad things were going in the world. In school we talked about what Hitler was doing.” He was given five days to return home and report to Fort McClellan, Alabama, for training. He was assigned to Company C, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. “About 30,000 fresh troops were arriving every 13 weeks in Alabama. Soldiers were being shipped to the South Pacific, Europe, and Africa,” shares Schumacher. Schumacher would go on to serve the majority of his 4.5 years of service in overseas combat. He recalls that his platoon never fought at full strength, and they almost always seemed to be moving. “We slept with our clothing, socks, and shoes on. Our helmets were always close by. It was constant noise. I was always tired and fatigued. I probably got about two hours of sleep each night. We never really rested as we alternated guard duty,” he recalls. “I had my first shower in nine months around Thanksgiving 1944,” says Schumacher. “I finally got a break from the frontline and spent about a day and a half in Belgium. I had coffee and donuts and slept on a couch. I also had my uniform washed.” He is happy to talk military strategy and the success of the Marshall Plan. He will testify that WWII generals were not out for personal glory, and that one of the most outstanding leaders was Army General Omar N. Bradley. But, he would prefer not to discuss the liberation of Nordhausen-Dora, a
Paul Schumacher
Nazi concentration camp in Germany, in the spring of 1945. He will only say that he remembers marching past the liberated holocaust camp as medics from the 9th Infantry Division assisted the remaining survivors. Once back stateside, Schumacher would be introduced to his future wife while recuperating with a broken leg in a Memphis hospital. She was enlisted in the Navy with plans to become a Navy nurse. After the war ended, Schumacher would go on to finish college and eventually marry Ellen in June 1948. Pursuing a career in aeronautical engineering and the demands of family life would keep him busy for the next few decades. However, he managed to keep in touch with at least 50 other servicemen after the war through letters and visits. Schumacher made his first trip back to Germany at the age of 67 and his first trip back to Normandy at age 72. He and his wife returned to Europe 12 times over the years. After retirement, he began attending the reunions in 1995. This year’s reunion co-chairs are Jeanette Baswell Taylor of Collierville, Tennessee and her sister-in-law, Glenda Baswell of Ackerman, Mississippi. DeSoto 65
Chip and Jeanette Baswell Taylor
Shrapnel cross by Nazis
“We started going to the reunions with my father, J.W. Baswell, a World War II veteran,” explains Taylor. “Of course, now the responsibilities of organizing the reunions fall to the children and grandchildren of our veterans, but we carry on the tradition.” Baswell also began going to the reunions with her father-in-law. “I attended my first reunion in New York. It was the late 1980s or early 1990s. Although my father-in-law is now deceased, I continue to attend almost every year.” Each year, the reunion rotates to a different locale, affording the veterans and their families an opportunity to visit another part of the country. Guests attend from all parts of the United States. “We are extremely excited to be hosting the reunion in the South this year,” says Taylor. “We intend on using that hospitality that Southerners are known for to make it a memorable experience.” Friday evening as guests arrive, they will be served a “down home” meal. The menu will include Southern favorites, such as fried chicken, sweet tea, and banana pudding. Saturday’s events include a memorial service presented by the color guard, show and tell presentations by the attendees, and touring area 66 DeSoto
landmarks. The guests will then board a riverboat in Memphis, Tennessee, for a dinner cruise and entertainment. Sunday’s main event will be a banquet dinner, raffle, and entertainment held at The Red Barn Reception Hall in Hernando, Mississippi. Other informal events are planned, including tours of Graceland and Elvis’ birthplace in Tupelo. “My favorite part of the reunion is the memorial ceremony,” shares Schumacher. All of the soldiers he served with have passed away. The memorial serves as a way to commemorate the sacrifice of those who served and their families. He elaborates, “Everyone in the world went through the Depression, but we came out in different directions. The importance of sacrifice is what I want this generation to know about. Being part of the greatest generation meant sacrifice on the home front, too. From the manufacturing to the rations, it was a coming together which I’m not sure we’ll see again.” Andrea Brown Ross is a writer based in Como, Mississippi. Her grandfather’s service in WWII is often a topic of interest to her young boys.
Tour of duty jacket
Freedom Isn’t Free The 9th Infantry Division Association mission statement is a reminder that freedom comes with a price: “The 9th Infantry Division Association is formed by the officers and men of the 9th Infantry Division in order to perpetuate the memory of our fallen comrades, to preserve the Espirit De Corps of the Division, to assist in promoting an everlasting world peace exclusively by means of educational activities and to serve as an information bureau about the 9th Infantry Division.”
73rd Reunion for the 9th Infantry Division Association Hilton Garden Inn 6671 Towne Center Loop Southaven, Mississippi July 20-23, 2018 For information, please contact Jeanette Taylor at memetaylor10@gmail.com.
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homegrown } mb greene
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Mary Beth Greene
It’s in the Bag By Verna Gates | Photography courtesy of MB Greene
With a goal to make simple, attractive bags that are also functional, Mary Beth Greene created a company that has become a national sensation. As a manufacturer’s rep, Mary Beth Greene traveled. A lot. A born organizer, Greene found handbags available to a busy career woman, wife and mother fell short of being functional. At the same time, her customers would look over her company’s merchandise and ask, “Do you have a bag line?” The answer was “no,” but not for long. Filling the void that kept presenting itself in life and work intrigued Greene’s entrepreneurial sprit and challenged her keep-things-in-order mindset. For two years, Greene put the kids to bed and sat down at her Fairhope, Alabama, kitchen table with paper, scissors and tape. In July 2014, she proudly introduced a prototype to the Atlanta market. She returned home triumphant with big
news, and unfortunately met with sad news. Her sister, Amanda (Mandy), a successful artist who first introduced Greene to the wonders of the Atlanta market, died tragically the same day. The pause button was pushed. While rattled by the loss of her biggest fan, Greene soon pushed forward by ordering 17,000 bags, filling a garage and storage units. The gamble paid off. Her January 2015 launch was so successful: Neiman Marcus came calling by March. Her company earned a profit in its first year. “I have always been a bag person – attracted to cute bags. I never saw it coming that I would be a bag designer with a warehouse full of bags until I was in the middle of it,” says Greene. Today, more than 700 U.S. retailers carry MB Greene DeSoto 69
bags. They are attracted by the solid colors, good construction and lower price point than most upscale bags. Functional describes her practical design, such as the jumbo tote that stands by itself – only one pair of hands needed – with a vinyl bottom compartment for sandy/muddy shoes, wet bathing suits or towels, or the icky remains of a picnic. The waxed canvas bags, lined with easy-to-clean vinyl, are designed to go from office, to beach, to airplane, to ball field. Her biggest selling item is a tall tote, perfect for shampoo, sunscreen, knitting needles or baby bottles. A close second is the jewelry bag. As a lover of chunky jewelry, Greene designed a clutch that holds post and loop earrings, keeps necklaces from getting tangled and still leaves room for statement jewelry. The plush velvet lining is designed to protect precious metals and gems. With an ever-important zipper, the bag tucks safely into luggage, totes or hotel safes without spillage. While the ladies carry colorful turquoise and orange bags, the men can select Dopp kits for toiletries from a toned-down Oyster Collection. Here a tote morphs into a beige duffel and a jewelry bag converts into a valuables carrier. To accommodate flying regulations, the Be Clear Collection evolved for airports, and in some cases, schools, and ball games where clear bags are a must. This collection includes a tote, chain purse (with privacy pouch available), a wristlet and, popular with tweens, a phone purse. This collection scored her an appearance on Good Morning America on the anniversary of 9-11. 70 DeSoto
The bags that would prove so handy to college kids also provided scholarships for seniors in Greene’s hometown. One of her newest items was created to honor her sister. An artist, Mandy often saved paint by letting it drip on paint cans. Greene took a picture of one of the cans, with multiple colors flowing down the side. The colors perfectly matched her design palette, and a new tote was created. However, this popular bag that has sold out twice since its introduction on Mandy’s birthday. Greene donates all proceeds to the M. Bagwell Foundation. So far, Mandy’s children have awarded scholarships to three graduates of the Morgan Academy in Selma, Alabama, their alma mater. “It is more than just a cute bag. It is my story. My sister is still such a part of my daily life that makes it personal. I wouldn’t have this platform and all it means to me without her,” says Greene. Her first designs have stood the test – now Greene is adding more colors, sizes and styles. She constantly reinvests in the company. Her gift of organization and insight into markets paid off. “I never felt afraid. Although at times, my husband must have thought I was crazy. It has been an amazing journey,” says Greene. mbgreene.com
Verna Gates is a freelance writer from Birmingham, Alabama. She is the author of “100 Things to Do in Birmingham Before You Die,” and formerly worked for Reuters, TIME and CNN.
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southern gentleman } memphis international raceway
Life rolls on at Memphis International Raceway By Karen Ott-Mayer | Photography courtesy of Memphis Internantional Raceway and Karen Ott-Mayer
A new generation is discovering family friendly experiences at the Memphis International Raceway. Three men stand in the bright sun and heat at the Memphis International Raceway. Although strangers having met just moments before, the trio bridges age and familiarity gaps by sharing a simple conversation about a combined passion: cars. I stand patiently taking notes and listening waiting for my first-ever ride in a $150,000 Porsche that can top 190 mph. While my knowledge about cars, engines and racing is somewhere way down the knowledge scale, I have followed my father around for years in the garage or under cars, picking up the basics about an engine or mechanics. But on this day, I am introduced to an entirely new world. Located just north of Memphis, minutes from Midtown Memphis, Memphis International Raceway remains one of Memphis’ iconic hidden experiences. With a long, rich 72 DeSoto
history, the raceway has evolved, and even stalled, through different owners over the years but still remains due to the undying loyalty of car enthusiasts. Today, it’s entering an exciting new chapter as part of IRG Sports + Entertainment, which owns the Palm Beach International Raceway, the Maryland International Raceway and the Bertil Roos Racing School, among other race tracks and schools. This year has seen a flurry of new offerings, including street racing on the track or what’s called Roll Racing. “One thing we offer here is a chance to do what a driver can’t do...which is race a car in the streets of Memphis,” says Brendan O’Brien, marketing specialist for Memphis International Raceway. Memphis International Raceway began a new Street Legal Co-Rider program that allows a corider that meets all program requirements to ride shotgun in
11.00 and slower vehicles in the quarter mile and roll racing events up to 120mph. New to the track and position himself, O’Brien, however, isn’t new to the industry. As we all stand on the track, he stands next to his personal Subaru with a 2.0L turbo engine that he claims can reach 60 mph in less than five seconds. It seems, we are definitely in the right place for him to prove it. But today isn’t about a Subaru. It’s all about the Porsche. Joining O’Brien is Ric Travis, the high-performance education lead for the 500-member Mid-South Porsche Club. As visiting continues, I eye the white Porsche with sweaty palms. For someone who usually hugs the right lane and barely exceeds 70 mph on the interstate, I wonder what 125 mph feels like. And I’m about to find out. Memphis International Raceway covers 400 acres and opened in 1986. The property itself holds all the needed support services, space and expertise drivers expect and need. In fact, 2017 marked another milestone with NASCAR’s return to Memphis after an eight-year absence. The most recent NASCAR race just happened in early June 2018 when Ruben Garcia Jr. reigned over the three-quarter mile, tri-oval short track, going on to win the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship. As I settle into the Porsche, Travis helps buckle me in the seat. The interior of the car doesn’t appear that different from a luxury sports car...until he starts the engine. Even for a novice like me, the deep rumbling sound made my heart jump. When we’re cleared, Travis hits two buttons in the center console...and we’re off. He goes easy on the first lap, explaining the track and car and how drivers use the entire track when racing. Things get more serious on the second lap. In the
straightaway, Travis reaches 125 mph before he downshifts with the paddle brakes, brakes, then punches the car coming out of the turn. Through the S turns, I found myself gripping my hands as my body pushed against the side-to-side g-force. “You doing OK?” Travis asks me. My only thought was I didn’t know. I didn’t dislike it, but the ride felt addictive. When we stopped, I thought...I could go around again. While it may be natural for industry-blind novices like myself to discount a place like Memphis International Raceway as something too foreign to access, the truth is entirely different. As O’Brien knows, he sees men, women and children discovering the place through programs like the Test N Tune, Midnight Madness and Porsche Club of America’s events. While off-road UTV and drag-racing loyalists know the track well, Memphians looking for a new, inexpensive experience for families and kids are in for a surprise. For as little as $10 to $25, a guest can tailor an experience, choosing to watch, ride or race. As one man remarked upon leaving, the long-time fascination with mechanics and engines has, and always will, lead to a group of individuals who gather to share knowledge and expertise. Memphis International Raceway today serves not only as a place of recreation but is poised to become another cultural heartbeat of the Mid-South region, tying strangers together under bright lights ̶ and always under the hood. Karen Ott Mayer is a writer and editor based in Como, Mississippi.
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southern harmony } paul tate
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Gather ‘Round the Radio By Jason Frye | Photography courtesy of Taylor Square Photography
Leading the house band for “The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour” takes musical versatility, and Paul Tate stepped up to the challenge when he joined the Yalobushwhackers. “Well I’ve been playing music all my life,” says Paul Tate, guitar player, singer and all around musical wizard of the Yalobushwhackers, house band for “The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour,” the Oxford, Mississippi-based literary and musical radio program. “I started playing piano at 7 or 8, and I guess I was 11 going on 12 when I played my first gig at Blue Mountain College.” Tate, who plays just about every instrument he’s laid his hands on, said that first gig made him nervous even if that first jangle of nerves is a distant memory. The first time he joined the Yalobushwhackers, that’s a different story. Everybody in northern Mississippi knows “The
Thacker Mountain Radio Hour”; they’ve heard it or been to a recording or they’re loyalists who never miss a show. When Tate took the stage and saw the crowd – some 500 or 600 strong as he remembers – the band had only jammed together a few times and they had a short, inexact sound check. Though Tate knew the show, he didn’t know the show, all the cues, the stops and starts, and the rhythm of the well-tuned live performance. “Oh man, I remember playing a couple of times when I needed to be silent. I mean, welcoming listeners to the show and introducing the guests doesn’t need me playing guitar in the background,” he says. “There was a lot to take in that first night.” DeSoto 75
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By his reckoning, he must have done something right because Tate’s been with the Yalobushwhackers since that show in 2016. “The nerves I had then, that was just regular performance stuff; if I’d given thought to the history and importance of Thacker Mountain, I think I would’ve been a lot more nervous.” “The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour” started in 1997 when Richard Howorth, owner of Oxford’s Square Books, and local musicians Caroline Herring and Bryan Ledford decided to put on a sort of nouveau variety radio show. Featuring performances by a house band – the Yalobushwhackers – as well as interesting musicians and authors who stopped by Square Books for readings and talks, “The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour” found a loving and loyal audience. Thacker Mountain records and broadcasts the shows live on Thursday nights in fall and spring, and Mississippi Public Broadcasting replays the shows on Saturday evenings, giving it a reach and an audience that spread far beyond Oxford. Currently Thacker Mountain broadcasts 30 shows a year: 12 in spring and 12 in fall, with five or six road shows across Mississippi. Word of Thacker Mountain didn’t just reach the average listeners; musicians and literary figures found it, too. Chris Offutt, Lee Smith, George Plimpton, Billy Collins, George Saunders, former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Tretheway and Barry Hannah are among the writers who have appeared on the program. The musical side is just as impressive. Acts from Marty Stuart and Del McCoury to Elvis Costello, Neko Case, Charlie Musselwhite, Drive By Truckers, Super Chikan Johnson and the late Col. Bruce Hampton have graced the stage for a few songs. The array of musical guests means the Yalobushwhackers need to be well versed in a variety of genres and styles and have a deep well of songs in their repertoire. And that fits Tate just fine. As he says, “one of my gifts is that I can play just about anything you put in my hands” and the same goes for his band mates. Since Thacker Mountain records on Thursdays, the Yalobushwhackers need to know what they’re performing by Sunday or Monday, so that deep musical skill is a necessity. “Being in the house band, it’s a challenge,” Tate says. “Every show we play the show’s theme song then do a few more – which is what we do, we’re musicians – but we don’t just play anything. We find songs that match the guest author and the tone of that episode. One show it’s jazz, another show it’s bluegrass and then country. Next time it’s hard rock, and then blues.” There’s a certain nostalgic romance to “The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour.” It’s a radio show with no current podcast presence and virtually nothing on YouTube. Videos posted to their Facebook page often include the whole show, but there’s an “I was a member of the audience and I shot this” raw quality to them. The Yalobushwhackers have an even smaller digital footprint. But that’s the fun of it: if you want to see the Yalobushwhackers and “The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour,” you have to go to a show; if you want to hear them, you need to tune in to Mississippi Public Broadcasting on Saturday nights, gather around the radio, and enjoy. Jason Frye is a freelance writer from Wilmington, North Carolina. Jason has authored three travel guides for Moon Publications and written for Southern Living and the Dallas Morning News.
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in good spirits} tequila day
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Viva la Margarita By Cheré Coen | Photography courtesy of taste.com
National Tequila Day arrives July 24 and what’s better on a hot summer day than a cool frozen margarita. But not just any margarita. While celebrating this year’s tequila day — or any day for that matter — we encourage you to think outside the tequila bottle and liven up the standard cocktail with fruit flavors and liqueurs. Take Ricky LaCour’s version, for instance. Ricky and his wife, Sylvia LaCour, have restored an old commissary building in the historic Bermuda Community outside Natchitoches, Louisiana. The restaurant and bar have become a community gathering place, with much of that success owning to Ricky’s signature drink, the Richarita. The LaCours won’t release their secret recipe for this innovative margarita, but it’s a combination of tequila, Blue Curacao and lime juice. Avion Tequila, a Mexican company which produces an all-natural tequila from blue agave grown at high elevations, loves experimenting with margarita flavors. Those flavors include Paloma with grapefruit juice and a splash of club soda, a spicy sage-accented drink with a jalapeno-infused elderflower liqueur and garnished with sage leaves, and the Avion Sunset made with Lillet Rouge aperitif wine. Its small batch silver tequila with a crisp and fruit-forward taste that works well in a pomegranate margarita, and the recipe follows. Creating a margarita doesn’t require bartending skills. A classic margarita includes tequila, lime juice, a sweet ingredient such as triple sec, simple syrup or fruit liqueur, ice and salt for the rim of the glass. For margaritas on the rocks, mix ingredients in a shaker vigorously then pour over ice into a cocktail glass. For frozen margaritas, blend ingredients in a blender until smooth, then serve. To create a tasty salt accompaniment, wet the rim of the glass with a sliced lime. Pour coarse salt such as kosher or sea salt on to a plate, then dip the cocktail glass into the salt, turning slowly to develop a nice salt layer on the glass rim.
Here are a couple of margarita recipes to enjoy when the temperatures rise. Since margaritas are notoriously calorific, we’ve included one that watches its weight. It’s also ridiculously easy to make since all you need to add is tequila and lime — even the salt comes ready-made! Avion’s Flying Pomegranate Margarita 1 1/2 ounces Avion Silver Tequila 1 3/4 ounces pomegranate juice 3/4 ounces sour mix (2 to 1 lime juice/simple syrup) 3/4 ounces orange liqueur
Directions: Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lime twist. Stirring’s 5-Calorie Margarita 3 ounces Stirrings 5-Calorie Margarita Cocktail Mix 1 1/2 ounces tequila Lime wedge Stirrings Margarita Rimmer Ice
Directions: Rub the rim of a glass with a lime wedge. Dip the rim of the glass into the Margarita Rimmer. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine cocktail mixer and tequila. Shake well. Strain into the prepared glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime wedge. Serve. Cheré Coen is a freelance food and travel writer living in Lafayette, Louisiana, with deep Mississippi roots.
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exploring events } july Picturing Mississippi Exhibit Through July 8 Mississippi Museum of Art Jackson, TN 200 Years. 100 Artists. 1 Mississippi. For ticket information visit msmuseumart.org or call 601-960-1515. Panola Playhouse Presents “Beauty and the Beast” Through July 8 Panola Playhouse Sardis, MS Based on the smash hit 1991 Disney movie and dating back to a late 18th-century classic French fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who feels out of place in her provincial French village. Directed by Wesley Williamson. For ticket information visit panolaplayhouse.com or call 662-487-3975. Legends of Motown: Celebrating The Supremes Through September 3 GRAMMY Museum Mississippi Cleveland, MS For more information visit grammymuseumms.org or call 662-441-0100. Fireworks on the Farm July 1 Cedar Hill Farms Hernando, MS Gates open at 5:30pm – Fireworks start at 9:00pm Bring the family out to the farm for their annual fireworks! Let the kids play on the playground, pet the animals in the petting zoo, watch the chicken show, ride the train or take a hayride. Bring your lawn chairs; coolers and picnics welcome. No Pets! Live music under the Pavilion from 7:00pm-9:00pm by Michael New. Farm Activities open from 5:30pm-8:30pm. Admission: Included in parking donation: $20 per car, $40 per passenger van & $50 per bus (all proceeds to benefit the Palmer Home for Children) For more information, visit gocedarhillfarm.com or call 662-429-2540. City of Horn Lake July Fireworks July 3 Latimer Lakes Park Horn Lake, MS 4:00pm - 10:00pm Don’t miss the City of Horn Lake GRAND Fireworks display, presented by Belhaven University. Bring your picnics and blankets for fun, entertainment and fireworks. Fireworks show will start at 9:15pm. Gates will open at 4:00pm. Free parking and free admission. For more information, call 662-342-3489 or visit hornlakeevents.com. 4th of July Street Dance July 4 Tishomingo, MS Bring a blanket or lawn chair to the family friendly outdoor event. For more information, call 662-438-6302 or visit tishomingo.ms.
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Hernando Independence Day Fireworks July 4 Hernando Civic Center Hernando, MS 6:00pm Bring a blanket or lawn chair to the Hernando Civic Center (ball fields) and enjoy the City of Hernando 4th of July fireworks! Music and concessions begin at 6pm; fireworks will begin at dark. Music performed by Scary Lizard Ladies, Submerged, Alex Butler and Brand and the Bunch. For more information, call 662-429-2688 or visit hernandorec.com. Olive Branch 19th Annual 4th of July Fireworks July 4 Olive Branch City Park Olive Branch, MS Music at 7:00pm - Fireworks at 9:15pm Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to Olive Branch City Park for this free event. Enjoy Kids Zone, great food vendors and more. World class fireworks begin around 9:15pm. Enjoy live musical entertainment by Fingertrick 7pm-9pm, followed by a HUGE fireworks display set to music. Arrive early!! Entrances will be blocked once the park is filled to capacity. For more information, call Olive Branch Parks and Recreation at 662-893-5219 or visit obms.us. Southaven July 4th Celebration July 4 BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove Park Southaven, MS Gates open at 5:00pm - Fireworks 9:00pm Free admission and picnics and coolers are welcome. Entertainment will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. with the fireworks extravaganza beginning at approximately 9:00 p.m. For more information, call 662-280-2489 or visit southaven.org. All-American City Family Picnic in the Park July 4 Ballpark Tupelo, MS 4:00pm - 9:00pm The biggest 4th of July celebration in north Mississippi is here in Tupelo. There is prime entertainment for all ages, a variety of food in the vendor food court area, and fun activities for the kids. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. There will also be a charge for children to use the inflatables. For more information visit tupelo.net or call 662-841-6440. Live Nation Presents Journey and Def Leppard July 6 FedEx Forum Memphis, TN 7:00pm For tickets visit livenation.com or ticketmaster.com.
Bike Parade around the Square July 7 Hernando Baptist Church Hernando, MS 7:00pm-8:00pm This is a Fun family event! Help your child decorate their non-motorized bike in patriotic colors! Line-up at 6:30pm at Hernando Baptist Church with parade beginning at 7:00pm. The parade will go around the square. The Optimist Club’s Bicycle Safety Village will be set up on Panola Street. For more information, call 662-280-8875. 31st Annual Slugburger Festival July 12 - 14 Corinth, MS The carnival will begin on Thursday evening and run through Saturday at midnight. Other events include Miss Slug Burger Pageant, a Corn Hole competition and Voice Idol competition. Entertainment Friday night will be Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster. Saturday afternoon -Second Chance will take the stage at 4:00 and Saturday Night Lineup includes Skyelor Anderson, Adam Ham-brick and Trent Harmon. For more information, call 662-280-8875. Kudzu Playhouse presents “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” July 13 - July 22 Hernando Performing Arts Center Hernando, MS Audiences will be swept away by the magic of this truly unforgettable musical. Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” showcases the film’s Academy Awardnominated score, as well as new songs by Menken and Schwartz. For more information, call 888-429-7871 or visit kudzuplayers.com. Live at the Garden Featuring Boy George & Culture Club with the B-52’s July 13 Botanic Garden Memphis, TN Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets, lawn chairs and coolers for food and beverages to make their experience that much better. Gates open 5:30 pm, show starts at 7:30 pm. For more information visit liveatthegarden.com or call 901-576-4107.
Down on Main July 19 Downtown Tupelo, MS Down on Main is a free summer concert series that occurs once a month during July, August and September. Down on Main is a great way for us to come together as a community while enjoying a variety of live music, from country to blues to rock. For more information visit tupelomainstreet.com or call 662-841-6598. Kenny Chesney Trip Around the Sun Tour July 19 BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove Park Southaven, MS 7:30pm With Old Dominion. Purchase tickets at ticketmaster.com, LiveNation.com or BankPlus Amphitheater Box Office. Tedeschi Trucks Band Wheels of Soul 2018 Tour July 25 BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove Park Southaven, MS 7:30pm This year, the Wheels of Soul tour will feature two highly acclaimed special guests Drive-By Truckers and opener The Marcus King Band. Purchase tickets at ticketmaster.com, LiveNation.com or BankPlus Amphitheater Box Office. Live at the Garden Featuring Gladys Knight July 28 Botanic Garden Memphis, TN Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets, lawn chairs and coolers for food and beverages to make their experience that much better. Gates open 5:30 pm, show starts at 7:30 pm. For more information visit liveatthegarden.com or call 901-576-4107. Kenny Chesney Trip Around the Sun Tour
Turnrow Books Author event with Rick Outzen: City of Grudges July 19 Turnrow Books Greenwood, MS 5:30pm Mississippi Delta native Rick Outzen returns to share this political thriller, woven with threads from his own experience as the publisher of an independent weekly newspaper. For more information visit turnrowbooks.com or call 662-453-5995.
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reflections} fireworks, flags, and unsung heroes
Fireworks, Flags, and Unsung Heroes By Cathey Frei
When I grew up in Memphis, Independence Day was filled with waving flags, shooting firecrackers, and twirling sparklers until they fizzled out. The celebration always ended with my family driving to the fairgrounds or parking along the old Memphis-Arkansas bridge to watch fireworks bursting into an awesome array of colors against the night skies. As a carefree child, I never appreciated that we were commemorating our Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This date marked not only the end of the original 13 colonies’ subjugation to England but also the birth of the United States. Nor did I consider the pivotal point the American Revolution played in our nation’s history or the sacrifices the colonists made to win their freedom. In 1962, after my uncle retired from a 21-year career in the U. S. Air Force, he decided to go to dental school in Memphis, where he, my aunt, and their six children moved to my grandmother’s two-bedroom, one-bath house on her farm in Independence, Mississippi. They lived with her for several months until they bought a house in Memphis. When the seven of us in my family joined them at my grandmother’s house for Fourth of July, I wondered why my uncle was so quiet and reserved amidst the mayhem of 11 children darting around. I longed to know his story, but he never really talked about it. Later in life, I learned he had been a German Prisoner of War from 1943, when he was shot down, until 1945, when he was liberated. In November 2014, I pieced together his story by visiting his former prison camp, Stalag Luft III, in Zagan, 82 DeSoto
Poland. The director of the prison-camp museum spent all day helping me gather information. Then, we walked to the remains of the actual hut where my uncle had lived while imprisoned there. Only the crumbling foundations of the compound’s buildings remained, but as I stood among them in a foggy mist and surveyed the dismal place where our Allied forces had been separated from their loved ones for so long, I realized the true meaning of “sacrifice.” Imagining the thousands of men, who truly became a band of brothers while imprisoned there, I could almost feel their spirits. It was the most poignant experience of my life. The next day, we drove along the 57-mile forced march my uncle and his fellow prisoners of war endured during blizzardlike conditions, while en route to a disease-ridden, overcrowded, deplorable prison camp in Moosburg, Germany, where they nearly starved to death before their liberation three months later. Learning my uncle’s story gave me a deeper appreciation for all men and women who have served our country since 1776. As we celebrate Independence Day, let’s not forget the tremendous sacrifices these selfless heroes and their families have made to ensure liberty and justice for all while protecting the freedoms we often take for granted. Freelance writer Cathey Frei grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and now lives in Vienna, Virginia. She is the author of “Selfless Valor,” a self-published book about her uncle’s experience as a POW in World War II.