DeSoto Magazine February 2019

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February CONTENTS 2019 • VOLUME 16 • NO. 1

features

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A Guide to Mississippi’s Spring Pilgrimages

The Children of Whitney Plantation

Riding the Rails To Good Health

departments 14 Living Well Pediatric Dentistry

42 On the Road Again Lucedale, Mississippi

18 Notables Cardiologist Kishore Arcot

44 Greater Goods 66 Homegrown Kitzi Jewelry

22 Exploring Art The healthy art of Yoga

70 Southern Gentleman Budget-Friendly Dates

26 Exploring Books Okay Fine Whatever…

72 Southern Harmony Thomas Gabriel

30 Southern Roots Become a Valentine’s Hero

76 In Good Spirits Toasting Valentine’s Day

34 Table Talk Biloxi’s White Pillars

38 Exploring Destinations The Hermitage, Nashville

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78 Exploring Events 80 Reflections Finding Home

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editor’s note | FEBRUARY

Healthy Living

Most of us are starting to get weary of our New Year’s resolutions to exercise more by going to gyms or doing morning calisthenics. The best exercise usually involves finding something you love that doesn’t seem like exercise. For me, that includes bicycling and I was delighted to read more about the Rails-to-Trails pathways that crisscross the South.

Cycling enthusiast and writer Ann Yungmeyer examines the history of these unique routes and offers a glimpse of the South’s best trails in her story “Riding the Rails to Good Health.”

It’s not too early to plan to attend one of Mississippi’s spring pilgrimages. Karen Ott Mayer looks at these annual traditions in cities around the state from the Gulf Coast to Natchez to north Mississippi. In the past, pilgrimages focused only on the Old South’s grandeur, but today’s tours often include the stories of the people who built, ran and worked the properties. As Karen states in her story, today’s pilgrimages open more than just doors to homes – they open doors to knowledge and hope.

One of those places that has brought slave life to light is the Whitney Plantation in Wallace, Louisiana.

Whitney is the first plantation museum in Louisiana – and one of the few in this country – to focus exclusively

FEBRUARY 2019 • Vol. 16 No.2

PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell MANAGING EDITOR Mary Ann DeSantis ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrea Brown Ross

on the lives of the slaves. Writer Debi Lander’s exquisite photographs in “The Children of Whitney Plantation” will touch the hearts of readers, who may want to visit and hear these children’s stories through the art and oral histories at this historic estate.

This month’s DeSoto Magazine offers a lot more, including Valentine’s Day suggestions to healthy living tips.

We hope our stories will help encourage you toward wellness, love, happiness, and even some laughter.

Happy reading!

Mary Ann on the cover

Rosedale (c. 1856) is considered one of the finest examples of Italianate architecture in Mississippi. The home’s colorful, design-perfect interior is often the subject of articles and reviews. The Imes’ collection of American-made antiques is unsurpassed in the state of Mississippi.

This beautiful home will be open for touring during the Spring Pilgrimage from March 28 - April 6. visitcolumbusms.org Photo courtesy of Visit Columbus.

CONTRIBUTORS Rebecca Bingham Robin Gallaher Branch Cheré Coen Mary Ann DeSantis Jason Frye Jill Gleeson Debi Lander Charlene Oldham Karen Ott Mayer P. Allen Smith Karon Warren Pam Windsor Ann Yungmeyer PUBLISHED BY DeSoto Media 2375 Memphis St. Ste 208 Hernando, MS 38632 662.429.4617 ADVERTISING INFO: Paula Mitchell 901-262-9887 Paula@DeSotoMag.com DeSotoMagazine.com ©2019 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 | PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

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Richard Williams & Nathan Hamman

Growing Strong Pearly Whites

By Karon Warren | Photography courtesy of Nathan Hamman and Bennie Durham

Make proper dental hygiene and care a priority for children as soon as the first tooth appears.

One of the most exciting moments of watching our children grow up is seeing that first tooth come in. And then the second. And the third. And so on.

Those precious little toothy grins are some of our favorite memories from our kids’ childhoods. However, to make sure those toothy grins turn into gorgeous, lifelong smiles, it’s imperative we start caring for those teeth as soon as they show up.

“Parents should start providing care as soon as the first tooth erupts,” says Dr. Bryant Trotter of DeSoto Family Dental Care in Hernando. “Brushing an infant’s teeth can be very difficult — as a parent of a 4- and 2-year old, I understand— but very important.”

Initially, parents can use a damp washcloth to wipe the child’s gums and teeth after eating, then switching to a toothbrush once they are used to the process.

“The goal, early on, is to establish a routine so the child will get used to having someone care for their teeth,” says Dr. Nathan Hamman of Williams & Hamman Orthodontics, which operates three locations in Southaven, Olive Branch, and Hernando.

Once that first tooth appears, parents also are discouraged from putting children to sleep with a bottle or sippy cup.

“The milk, formula or juice does not need to bathe the teeth for a prolonged period of time,” Trotter says. Doing DeSoto 17

Bryant Trotter

so allows sugars to stay on the teeth for an excessive amount of time, leading to rampant decay, Hamman adds.

Soon after that first tooth appears, parents should schedule their child’s first dental appointment. In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should see a dentist by their first birthday or within six months after the first tooth comes in.

At this initial appointment, expect a more relaxed approach rather than a traditional cleaning appointment usually reserved for older patients.

“Depending on the age of the child, sometimes the most important thing is getting the child comfortable and acquainted with the dentist,” Trotter says. “These first appointments can dictate how a child responds to dental treatment the rest of his or her life. We want them to have a wonderful first experience.”

As the child grows more comfortable with the dental staff and environment, X-rays and a cleaning will be performed.

As with older patients, dentists recommend bringing in young children for cleanings every six months. X-rays generally are taken on a yearly basis.

For children who experience anxiety when visiting the dentist, Trotter says licensed pediatric dentists can use conscious or IV sedation to comfortably fix the child’s mouth.

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As children grow up and have more teeth come in — most children have 20 baby teeth, there may be cause to see an orthodontist for more specific dental care. These causes include crossbites, excessive protrusion of the front teeth, detrimental oral habits (thumb-sucking, mouth breathing, tongue thrusting and so on), space maintenance or guided eruption of teeth, and psychosocial reasons (child is teased due to teeth appearance).

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, children should first see an orthodontist around age seven. At this time, the first permanent molars and incisors should be in, meaning existing problems such as crossbites or protrusions can be identified.

During this first meeting, the parents and child can expect to meet the orthodontist staff, and the child will undergo an examination by the orthodontist. If needed, X-rays also will be taken. If there are no issues, the child will be checked periodically as determined by the orthodontist. If issues are found, the orthodontist can discuss a treatment plan with the parents.

Although it seems children are receiving braces at an early age, Hamman says there is little-to-no benefit to the patient unless they address one of the aforementioned conditions. Otherwise, he recommends waiting until after all the baby teeth are gone.

“In our office, we try to avoid early treatment as much as possible because it results in increased time in appliances, increased cost to families, and an increased time commitment for patients and parents,” Hamman says. “The observed increase in early treatment is a recent trend that has no basis in scientific fact.”

When the time comes for a child to receive orthodontic care, Hamman says the average treatment time is around 18 months for comprehensive treatment with a full set of braces.

To ensure the best dental care for children, Hamman says parents should start reinforcing good oral hygiene as early as possible for the prevention of future gum disease. A part of that process, Trotter says, is to make going to the dentist fun.

“Don’t treat it as a chore or a punishment,” he says.

“The younger the child gets comfortable, the better a positive dental experience can shape their dental habits for the future.”

Karon Warren is a freelance writer based in Ellijay. Georgia. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Karon also writes for FamilyVacationCritic.com and her blog, ThisGirlTravels.com.

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notables | DR. KISHORE ARCOT

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In Praise of the Heart

By Robin Gallaher Branch | Photography courtesy of Dr. Kishore Arcot

In honor of American Heart Month, Desoto Magazine reached out to noted cardiologist Kishore Arcot with Memphis Cardiology and Vein Center with questions about keeping hearts and veins healthy.

Why did you choose cardiology?

It’s one area where minutes matter. I knew I could be available 24/7. I knew I could pull people back to life who had only minutes to live. This is one area in medicine where, with intervention at the right time, you can almost normalize the patient.

Please describe your specialty.

I specialize in heart problems and vascular problems.

Heart disease is the number one killer in America. Vascular intervention can prevent amputation. Veins are part of vascular

medicine. We specialize in treating varicose veins without surgery.

Varicose veins in the legs can cause people pain, aches, swelling, and itching. Most of the time varicose veins are a health problem. They are covered by most insurances — Medicare, Medicaid, and regular insurance. Treatment of spider veins is cosmetic and is not covered by insurance.

What’s a typical day like?

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without surgery, thanks to technology and science. Over the last 30 years, cardiology has been transformed to interventional cardiology. In interventional cardiology, there is no cutting.

Most heart problems can be fixed with minimally invasive procedures in a hospital on an outpatient basis.

How does a heart work?

The heart beats 70 times a minute. The heart as a muscle does not change. It’s an amazing, most efficient pump.

It pumps five liters of blood every single minute and continues that all your life.

Death from heart disease can be averted if the patient seeks medical attention in response to symptoms. In America, 20 percent of adult males have a vascular problem in their legs and only one to two percent seek medical attention.

What is good heart care?

It’s simple basics. Eat healthy. Exercise. Make sure you are not gaining weight. Avoid stress. A lot of research shows that stress increases heart attacks. Consider doing yoga or meditation. Have good relationships. They lead to longer life. People who have pets, family, friends, grandchildren, and spouses tend to have healthier lives.

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How does the heart become diseased?

It becomes diseased because the blood vessels can get clogged with cholesterol. Clogging of the arteries can cause a heart attack. That means a part of the heart may be permanently damaged or dead. Once the damage has been done, there’s not a whole lot you can do. Prevention is the key.

The patient with symptoms needs to seek evaluation.

Symptoms are chest pains, difficulty in breathing, and extreme fatigue. Extreme fatigue is important. Most people make the mistake of thinking fatigue is age-related. It’s not. It’s the heart.

It’s the same with leg pains, cramps, and swelling of the feet and ankles. The patient with symptoms needs to seek evaluation. And the doctor needs to act right away.

What about veins?

Veins are the body’s drainage pipes. If the drain is clogged or leaking, all the blood will pool in the legs. If veins are not draining properly, the patient develops fluid retention in the legs. Fluid retention causes pain.

Genetics plays a role. If your parents had problems with pain in their legs, you probably will too. Your chances of having a vein problem are very high.

Lifestyle also plays a role in developing varicose veins.

These are people who have standing jobs like teachers, doctors, hairdressers, and nurses. Wearing compression stockings will help.

Can you share some stories about your work?

Every day we see somebody whose life we can change completely.

There’s instant gratification, every day.

I remember a woman who could barely walk because of the pain in her legs.

After our treatment, she ran in several St. Jude Marathons. Stories like hers make you excited about doing good work.

I’m so passionate and have a team of 11 or 12 people who are equally excitable. We all have fun all day. We do serious work and, at the same time, it’s so much fun. It’s fun because of the good we can do and the positive results we can see. There’s so much we can do to help people get back to normal and to have a happy life. I love it when a patient tells me, “I feel so much better that I’m going back to work.”

Please share a bit about your background.

I am an interventional cardiologist. I am 60 years old and was born in India. I graduated from medical school in India and did fellowships at the University of California in San Francisco; and then in Rochester, New York, at Strong Memorial Hospital; and also, at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City in critical care medicine.

Critical care is crucial for heart patients.

I am an American citizen. I am board certified in interventional cardiology, phlebology, and vascular medicine. I started Memphis Cardiology and Vein Center 18 years ago when I came to Memphis.

Robin Gallaher Branch, a Fulbright scholar, teaches adjunct classes in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Christian Brothers University in Memphis and writes for many news sources.

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exploring art | THE ART OF YOGAÂ

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Transforming Mind & Body at Parinati

By Charlene Oldham | Photography by Adam Mitchell

“Any action done with beauty and purity, and in complete harmony of body, mind and soul, is art. In this way, art elevates the artist. As yoga fulfills the essential need of art, it is an art.” – Yoga Master B.K.S. Iyengar (1918-2014)

Many practitioners have described yoga as an artistic interpretation of the mind, body, and soul, and internationally renowned yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar even promoted yoga as art and science. Called the “Michelangelo of yoga,” Iyengar is credited with bringing yoga to the Western world from India after he helped violinist Yehudi Menuhin improve his musical skills in the 1950s by practicing yoga relaxation techniques.

Menuhin later presented Iyengar a watch, which was inscribed “To my best violin teacher, BKS Iyengar.”

Music, painting, and yoga all enable us to relax, calm the mind, center ourselves, and enter deeply into our own creative process. Many people talk about the transformative powers of yoga and meditation. Just as material is transformed into something different – whether a sculpture or a piece of canvas – so can the body experience a transformation.

That kind of transformation occurred for registered nurse Giselle Hankins of Hernando a few years ago. Pain from arthritis and other health conditions forced Hankins off DeSoto 25

her feet in 2000, prompting a move to a desk job after decades of providing patient care. Over time, her health worsened, especially after years of helping her husband Dan through a long illness before he passed away in 2014. She was in no mood to tag along when a friend and coworker suggested she try a yoga class about six months after her husband’s death.

“She’d been working on me for a while and I just wasn’t interested,” Hankins says. “Basically, what I told her was, ‘I’m fat. I’m old. I hurt all over. And I don’t feel like going.’

She says those were all the reasons I needed to go and kind of dragged me kicking and screaming to my first yoga class.”

Hankins could only get through about a third of that initial session held in the wellness center at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, where she works. But after a few more classes, she surprised herself by attending without a fuss.

“It’s hard to explain, but once you get into a room full of people doing yoga together, it’s like there’s this really sweet energy you share,” she says.

Speaking of energy, she found she had more of it after a few months of practicing yoga. Hankins, now in her 60s, felt stronger and more flexible than she had in years. She also sensed yoga was helping her process her grief.

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figuratively. Friends and acquaintances have told her she looks like a different person today, and Hankins says the change goes from the inside out. Now a certified yoga instructor, Hankins credits yoga with helping her deepen her overall spirituality.

“People have asked me, ‘Is yoga a religion?’ And the answer to that is, yoga is not a religion,” Hankins explains.

“Yoga is a discipline that encourages you to incorporate your own personal spirituality into the practice without coming into conflict with your own belief system.”

In addition to other obvious health benefits, such as helping control weight, blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels, studies have also shown yoga and other mindfulness practices such as meditation can help reduce stress and manage symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. Hankins says that increased connection between mind, body and spirit helped her emerge from a cocoon created by grief and physical pain.

“The way I walk, the way I carry myself – yoga has changed me mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, complete transformation,” she says. “And that’s what I wanted to bring to our community.”

During her yoga teacher training, Hankins found many others who were interested in practicing in a local studio space. And, while videos and online resources served as a

starting point for them, they craved the collective energy she’d found in group classes. So, at a juncture when many people’s thoughts turn toward retirement, Hankins – who still works at St. Jude – opened Parinati Yoga, which hosted its first classes in July 2018.

Parinati, a Sanskrit word that translates to “transformation,” adopted a butterfly as its logo, another symbol of the positive metamorphosis Hankins hopes to share with others. And, so far, the studio is off to a strong start.

The studio offers a wide variety of classes, all taught by certified instructors who can modify moves to fit students’ needs. A typical week might include everything from gentle yoga, slow flow, or chair yoga sessions that might be a good fit for beginners dealing with an injury or mobility issues, to Buti yoga, an athletic style that blends plyometric moves, tribal dance and dynamic yoga asanas – or poses – in an intense cardio workout.

Parinati also offers meditation classes, some free, and beginners’ yoga workshops. There is also a special buy-one, getone class free for new students, which is designed specifically to make mindfulness on the mat accessible to all.

“I was a very reluctant starter,” Hankins says. “I didn’t understand what yoga was about and I just really wasn’t interested. But I’m telling people if they give it a good, honest

try, it can do wonders for their health and completely transform them too.” parinatiyoga.com

“The way I walk, the way I carry myself – yoga has changed me mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, complete transformation, And that’s what I wanted to bring to our community.”

Giselle Hankins Charlene Oldham is a freelance writer based in St. Louis who grew up in the Arkansas Delta.

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exploring books | OKAY FINE WHATEVER

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Courtenay Hameister

TITLE: Okay Fine Whatever: The Year I Went from Being Afraid of Everything to Only Being Afraid of Most Things AUTHOR: Courtenay Hameister PUBLISHER: Little, Brown and Company (July 31, 2018) SUGGESTED LIST PRICE: $26

Facing Fear

By Jill Gleeson | Photography courtesy of Michael McCrary and Jennie Baker.

Book jacket courtesy of Little, Brown and Company

Courtenay Hameister describes herself as chronically anxious, and her new memoir chronicles her quest to become braver by seeking experiences she’s spent her life avoiding.

Courtenay Hameister appears to be – at least judging by her new memoir, “Okay Fine Whatever” – the ideal candidate for a best friend. She’s smart, perceptive, and hilarious.

Hameister spent a dozen years at “Live Wire,” a Portland, Oregon-based, nationally-syndicated public radio variety show for which, among other duties, she interviewed creative, brainy folks, including “Wild” author Cheryl Strayed and “Good Will Hunting” director Gus Van Sant.

Lines in her book like, “I think falling in love is half attraction to the best parts of someone and half gratitude for that person’s ability to forgive the worst parts of you,” reveal just how perceptive she is about relationships.

And Hameister is laugh-out-loud hilarious. In fact, Hameister is so funny that the only thing even better than her sense of humor is how honest and vulnerable she allows herself to be with her readers, often describing her most embarrassing DeSoto 29

moments in detail. It all makes her tremendously likeable. The ideal narrator, in fact.

But Hameister isn’t quite ready to call this ability to be vulnerable one of her biggest strengths as a writer.

“Maybe it’s more a pathology,” she says, with a low chuckle. “I’m not sure why I don’t have trouble with people knowing things that other people are just like, ‘Oh, I’d be so ashamed if people knew that about me.’ Maybe it’s that after 12 years of reading essays in front of audiences for ‘Live Wire’ I recognize how freeing it is to reveal things that you’re ashamed of and hear that the world feels that way, too. Because that takes shame away.”

“Okay Fine Whatever” is the story of how Hameister sought to temper her lifelong, oft-debilitating anxiety by doing things that scared her. More specifically, it was an attempt, as she notes in the book, “to climb out of the ruts in my neural pathways that said everything was about to suck...to teach my brain that everything is going to be okay. It was my version of exposure therapy – to the entire world.”

It took a while for Hameister to reach her rock bottom, the catalyst that finally pushed the author, in her mid-40s, to change her life so drastically in the service of better mental health. After a 2013 panic attack left Hameister unable to work, she was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Forced to finally admit to herself that hosting “Live Wire” was torture, thanks to her fear of... everything, Hameister stepped down. She was able to transition into head writing and co-producing duties on the show, but she knew something had to be done.

And thus, began Hameister’s “Year of Living (Relatively) Dangerously,” during which she undertook activities that were, if not quite unbearable, then at least seriously uncomfortable: things like submerging herself in an 30 DeSoto

isolation tank; spending a session with a professional cuddler; and perhaps most terrifying of all, embarking on 28 first dates.

But the merriment that comes with reading what it was like, for example, for Hameister to get a Brazilian wax, is tempered throughout with a poignancy that deepens the fun romp into something much richer. Whether she’s writing about her father’s suicide or the cruel taunts she’s been subjected to throughout her life as a chubby woman in a thin woman’s world, Hameister doesn’t gloss over the pain she’s endured.

According to Hameister, “Okay, Fine, Whatever” wasn’t easy to write. It took her two years, despite having penned a series of columns about her adventures for an online magazine that were the book’s genesis. But those battles have faded away in the face of what she’s accomplished, and that’s not only fulfilling a lifelong dream.

“I get emails and messages on social media, and I love getting them,” Hameister says. “People say, ‘Oh, this made me feel less alone; oh, I didn’t know anyone else felt this way…’

That’s the whole reason we write. Writers write to feel less alone and people read to feel less alone. I’d hoped this book would help people who struggle with anxiety recognize how universal some of these experiences are for people who have it. And so, the fact that it’s made a single person feel less like a freak is extraordinary to me and makes every minute of it worth it.” courtenayhameister.com Jill Gleeson is a travel writer and memoirist who has written for Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist and more. Find her at www.gleesonreboots.com.

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southern roots | BACK TO BASICS

The vivid blooms of tulips usher in the warmer months and knock out the remaining gray of winter.

Dahlias- One of the most cheerful blooms in the garden

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Everyone loves old fashioned hydrangeas and why not?

What’s not to love about those showy blooms?

Becoming a Valentine’s Day Hero

By P. Allen Smith | Photography courtey of Mark Fonville and Hortus Ltd.

Getting back to basics with flowers, candles, and candy can be oh-so romantic, especially when you plan ahead for the most romantic day of the year.

As a public service, I’d like to remind everyone that Valentine’s Day is almost upon us. I find the most successful sweetheart celebrations are those that have the benefit of a little planning and forethought. Spouses and partners seem to know when a Valentine’s Day gift, token, or dinner have been cobbled together, and believe me, that is not a good day.

You can make this the year when you get a gold star for not only remembering the holiday, but also doing something a little different and special. It’s your time to shine.

Buying flowers? Think outside the box (the box that

contains red roses). Red roses are readily available for Valentine’s Day – almost too available. Unless you have a partner who has a special affinity for them, why not try something new, but equally glorious? I’m especially fond of Stargazer Lilies with their striking pink and white petals and heady fragrance. Many other cut flowers are guaranteed to delight, including miniature or sweetheart roses, tulips in a variety of colors, hydrangeas, and mixed bouquets.

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These make great edible-gifts!

the flowers are in a vase with fresh water. And you know the little packet of “plant food” that often comes with the bouquet?

Don’t throw it away! It’s actually an effective floral preservative that contains sugar, citric acid, and bleach to help extend the life of the flowers.

If your bouquet didn’t come with the packet, that’s okay, too, because you can make your own. Start by filling your flower vase halfway with fresh water, then fill the remainder of the vase with lemon-lime soda. The soda has citric acid, which will help open the pores in the stems to enable absorption of the sugar, which will feed the blooms. And if you’d like to take a page from my grandmother’s book, add an aspirin to the water to help lower the pH even further. Finally, add half a teaspoon of bleach to help keep bacteria from building up.

It’s pretty easy to give someone a bouquet of flowers, but it takes a real hero to prep the water in the vase so that the floral show is extended for maximum enjoyment.

The next step in your Valentine’s Day playbook might involve setting a romantic mood, and for many of us, that involves candles. But here’s a tip: not all candles are created equal.

I almost exclusively use “natural” candles made from beeswax or soy, even though they’re slightly more expensive.

They simply burn cleaner, preventing the buildup of soot, and you don’t have to worry about unknown chemicals being released in the air from paraffin candles.

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Plan ahead and have some of these natural candles on hand. This is a hero moment where you can get credit for keeping your indoor air cleaner and your honey safe from airborne chemicals. (Bonus idea: Decorative beeswax candles as a Valentine’s Day gift!)

Beeswax and soy candles come in all shapes and sizes, including votive candles. If using votives, put a few drops of water in the glass before adding the candle. This will help prevent the melted candle wax from sticking to the glass, making cleanup headache-free.

And last but not least, you are guaranteed hero status with homemade candy. I’m sharing a recipe here for ChocolateDipped Orange Sections with Sea Salt – an incredibly easy and relatively quick recipe to make. Consider placing in some strawberries and marshmallows next to the chocolate-dipped oranges for a delightful and romantic platter.

Whatever you decide to do this year, take a few extra moments to plan ahead and maybe try something a little different. And remember that even though the joy is in the giving, it doesn’t hurt that you will also get to enjoy the fresh cut flowers, a romantic candle-lit evening, and chocolate-dipped fruit. Does that make you a hero -- or a genius?

These are delicious with afternoon tea or that first cup of morning coffee.

Chocolate-Dipped Orange Sections with Sea Salt Ingredients 1 pound of baker’s chocolate 1 or 2 oranges (or tangerines) per serving Sea salt 1 tablespoon Crisco Instructions 1. Peel oranges or tangerines and separate slices.

2. Melt chocolate with Crisco. Heat on low, constantly stirring until smooth.

3. Once chocolate is melted, dip orange or tangerine slices at least halfway and let them drip before placing on a parchmentlined surface.

4. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt before they are completely dried.

5. Once chocolate has hardened, remove and arrange on a serving platter with some strawberries and/or marshmallows.

P. Allen Smith, an author, television host, and conservationist, is one of America’s most recognized gardening experts as the host of three national award-winning television shows. Smith uses his Arkansas home, Moss Mountain Farm, as an epicenter for promoting the local food movement, organic gardening, and the preservation of heritage poultry breeds. Tours of his farm may be booked at pallensmith.com/tours.

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table talk | WHITE PILLARS

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A Landmark Reopens

By Cheré Coen | Photography courtesy of Cheré Coen

The famed White Pillars restaurant in Biloxi reclaims its past glory under the helm of Ole Miss grad and Chef Austin Sumrall.

Austin Sumrall was halfway to graduating Ole Miss when he had an epiphany. After years of growing up in a culinary family and hosting dinners for friends, he called his family and dropped a bomb.

“I told them I wanted to switch my major from mechanical engineering to hotel and restaurant management,” he remembers.

Sumrall’s parents were understanding — his maternal grandfather owned a restaurant in the French Quarter and his mother was quite the cook — but they asked that he test the waters first. He worked 30 hours a week at John Currence’s Bouré restaurant in Oxford and took 22 hours of classes to remain on schedule.

And in his spare time, he cooked.

“That’s when I knew this is what I wanted to do,” he says.

After Ole Miss, the McComb native attended the Culinary Institute of America in New York and “spent a lot of time enjoying food I couldn’t afford,” he says. He went on to work at the acclaimed Hot and Hot Fish Club in Birmingham with Chef Chris Hastings, who won the James Beard Best Chef: South award in 2012. Once in Alabama, Sumrall married his Ole Miss sweetheart, Tresse Young, a native of Gulfport. In 2015, their son, Ollie, came along.

That’s when the couple had another epiphany.

“We had this longing to get back to Mississippi,” Sumrall says. “Once we had Ollie we had this draw to get back to our home state.”

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While working together, Sumrall and Hastings had discussed the impact of a good restaurant on a city. Hastings’s Hot and Hot aided in turning a depressed downtown Birmingham into a thriving culinary hub, Sumrall says.

“We had a conversation about how you can affect a community and that just stuck with me,” he explained. “We (he and Tresse) felt the Gulf Coast needed it the most.”

Reopening a classic

Facing the Gulf is a neo-classical home built in 1905 that the Mladinich family used as a restaurant for 20 years from 1969 to 1989. After the Biloxi restaurant closed, the building sat empty and fell into disrepair. A gas station was built near Highway 90 and all that was left of the White Pillars restaurant seemed to disappear.

Hurricane Katrina destroyed the property in front of the old White Pillars restaurant and that’s when John Mladinich decided to renovate the landmark. His daughter, Deborah Holstein, and her husband, Brooks Holstein, took over the property and renovation after his death in 2013.

Here’s where fate seemed to take a hand. Brooks Holstein had been to charity events that Sumrall catered, and he had eaten at Hot and Hot, even visited Holstein’s table.

When Sumrall first viewed White Pillars, he thought it was beyond his means, but his connection with Holstein helped bring the dream to fruition.

The couple created a business plan and Hastings’s “was very supportive,” Sumrall explains. They moved to Gulfport in May 2016, “with really nothing in writing, no commitments,” he says, but his Birmingham house sold in two days so he felt he was on the right track.

It took a full year of funding and design but White Pillars opened under Sumrall’s helm in December 2017.

Today, the restaurant continues to receive numerous accolades, such as four first place awards in the Sun Herald’s People’s Choice Awards, including best new restaurant, best chef, best happy hour, and best wedding venue.

Sumrall’s cuisine alters with seasons and availability, relying on fresh Southern ingredients. Visitors will see regularity 38 DeSoto

on the menu but also constant changes. White Pillars prints its menu daily so there is always something new to enjoy.

“We don’t put it on the menu unless we’re passionate about it,” Sumrall explains, adding that creating new culinary items is his joie de vivre – or joy in life.

On the night we visited we enjoyed the crab avocado toast topped with local jumbo crabmeat, micro greens, satsumas and a preserved lemon aioli on brioche toast. The Gulf seafood tower, a great introduction to Mississippi seafood for two, consisted of Hopkins Island oysters on the half shell with three sauces, poached shrimp, shrimp ceviche, Mississippi paddlefish caviar and tile crudo. For entrees, we stayed with the Gulf, enjoying wood-grilled amberjack and a pan-seared triple tail.

The restaurant doesn’t stop at food when serving local, however. The dishes and serving platters have been custom designed and made by Satterfield Pottery, reflecting coastal colors. Each table is handcrafted by Mark Perrot at Mississippi Farm Tables, the restaurant sign was created by Greg Moran of Amberglow Forge and the restrooms feature soap from Pass Christian Soap Company.

Food sources include Coast Roast Coffee from Long Beach, Delta Blues Rice, Two Dog Farms of Flora and the Original Grit Girl of Oxford, to name a few.

“We wanted to show the Mississippi we know and not the stereotype you get once outside the state,” Sumrall says.

Once again, it’s all about affecting a community.

“Our hope is if we support the community, the community will support us,” he says. biloxiwhitepillars.com

Cheré Coen is a freelance food and travel writer from Lafayette, Louisiana, with deep Mississippi roots.

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exploring destinations | THE HERMITAGE

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Home of the People’s President

By Mary Ann DeSantis Exterior and Interior photography courtesy of The Hermitage. Other photos by Mary Ann DeSantis.

A visit to Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee, is a great place to visit during the long Presidents Day weekend. Known as “the People’s President,” Jackson was one of the nation’s most influential leaders.

Even before he became the seventh U.S. president, Andrew Jackson was a legendary figure. He enlisted in the Revolutionary Army at age 13; he asked for 3,000 volunteers from Tennessee in the War of 1812, but 5,000 showed up, thus giving the Volunteer State its nickname; and his victory in the Battle of New Orleans launched him into the national spotlight in 1815. He had a notorious temper, but his heart was big –

he fostered 20 children over his lifetime and he never stopped loving his Rachel, who died shortly before his presidential inauguration.

“I was born for a storm, and calm does not suit me,” Jackson wrote to Founding Father James Madison, who served as the fourth U.S. president. However, The Hermitage and its park-like setting belie his words, because the home and its more DeSoto 41

than 1,100 acres are a tranquil oasis near Nashville’s urban development. After all, the word ‘hermitage’ in French means ‘secluded retreat.’

Jackson’s classical-style mansion is definitely the centerpiece of the property – literally and figuratively – and is the draw for most visitors. Completed in 1821, the home contains 90 percent of original artifacts, including French wallpaper in the foyer that is 182 years old. Jackson’s office contains bound newspapers on which he wrote comments in the margins. He read 15 papers regularly, and the comments were his way of arguing with the writers.

Visitors should make time for “Born for a Storm” exhibit at the visitors’ center to learn about the contentiousness of politics in Jackson’s day. The exhibit brings Jackson’s story into the 21st century with family friendly, interactive exhibits that help visitors understand his life before he became the nation’s commander in chief. “Born for a Storm” focuses on Jackson’s modest origins as an orphan, his resiliency as a general, and his visionary leadership as the U.S. President from 1829 to 1837.

A new visitor’s experience includes a dueling demonstration that occasionally allows visitors to participate.

Arguments were often settled with a duel, as Jackson had to do with attorney Charles Dickinson. For the rest of his life, Jackson had a bullet lodged near his heart that couldn’t be removed after the duel; Dickinson, who actually fired the first shot, died from his wound.

“We need to engage with history in open and honest ways,” says Mike Zimmerman, an interpretative manager at The Hermitage. Just as dueling is honestly discussed so is the issue of slavery.

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“We talk about slavery up front and refer to Jackson’s slaves by name whenever we can,” explains Zimmerman.

For almost 30 years, The Hermitage has attempted to recover rare personal biographies of the African-American men, women and children who also lived at The Hermitage.

Only a few of their stories are known, but The Hermitage continues to search for more. On Feb. 16, as part of its 2019 Black History Month programming, the Hermitage will host a panel discussion about the role of archaeology in learning more about enslaved communities at the Hermitage and in the Southeast. Other free events are scheduled throughout Black History Month.

One of the slaves who was known for many years, even after the President’s death, was Alfred Jackson who was born into slavery on the property but stayed after he won his freedom. Alfred became the property’s first tour guide when it opened to the public in 1889 as a museum. Today, visitors can see Alfred’s grave in a place of honor near those of Andrew and Rachel Jackson.

More than 200,000 visitors a year tour The Hermitage, which is considered one of the best preserved of early U.S. presidential homes. The home has been kept as authentic as possible. If President Jackson were to again walk through the front doors of the mansion, it is said he would recognize his home as just about how he had left it, right down to the cracks in the mansion windows. thehermitage.com

Did You Know?

PRESIDENTS DAY HISTORY

Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February, but that wasn’t always the case. The holiday was established in 1885, originally to honor President George Washington, and was celebrated on his February 22 birthday. The holiday became Presidents Day in 1971 when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Act, an attempt to create more threeday weekends for the nation’s workers.

It now honors Abraham Lincoln, who also was born in February. Some workers still get the day off, but it’s mostly celebrated by retailers with Presidents Day sales.

PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS

The Office of Presidential Libraries, which is part of the National Archives and Records Administration, currently administers 13 presidential libraries. The presidential library system formally began in 1939, when President Franklin Roosevelt donated his papers to the federal government.

However, private foundations, historical societies, and some states operate libraries and museums for the earlier presidents, including The Hermitage which is managed by the Andrew Jackson Foundation.

Another example is Abraham Lincoln’s Presidential Library and Museum, which is run by the State of Illinois.

A native of Laurel, Mississippi, Mary Ann DeSantis is the managing editor for DeSoto Magazine.

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, e l a d e c u L issippi

on the road again | LUCEDALE, MISSISSIPPI

Miss

TAKE A BREAK ON THE WAY TO THE BEACH

8:30 Grab a quick bite at Lucedale Donuts and Breakfast. The donuts are fresh, and the cinnamon twists and apple fritters will melt-in-your mouth.

9:00 Head west from downtown on Highway 98 to the historic Palestine Gardens, one of Mississippi’s most unique roadside attractions. Built in 1960, the Gardens are a miniature replica of the Holy Land. Current owner Don Bradley often leads the free tours through the site, which is a quarter-mile long.

10:45 Scratch your back at the Bailey’s Scratching Post, an iconic 4X4 post with serrated edges that most longtime Mississippians remember as the place to stop on their way to the beach. Locals say President Ronald Reagan once scratched his back here.

11:00 Shop at downtown boutiques, including Anything & Everything Arts and Crafts which features handmade items by local vendors. Buttons and Bows is a children’s boutique and gift shop where you’ll find children’s books and games to entertain your little ones for the drive to the beach.

12:15 Eat lunch at the Landmark Café & Grill, one of Mississippi’s oldest restaurants.

Founded in 1917, the Landmark has a varied menu with interesting starters like Redneck Caviar and Boudin Balls. Sandwiches include a variety of Po’boys. If you are really hungry, try a delicious entrée that comes with two sides.

1:30 Stretch your legs at the Lucedale City Park where you’ll find a splash pad, a 300-seat amphitheater featuring hand-painted tiles, and a war veterans memorial. In addition, the nearby Depot Greenway offers walking trails and views of Beaver Dam. 2:30 Be sure to grab a cupcake from Taylor Made Bakery, where owner Taylor Cooley creates some of the most beautiful desserts you’ve ever seen.

3:00 Stop at Aunt Fancy’s Take & Bake to pick up a fresh, oven-ready casserole for later when you arrive at your beach condo. Aunt Fancy’s makes it, you take it and bake it.

3:30 Continue your journey to your spring break destination. You’ll be there before dark after a delightful day in Lucedale.

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To plan your visit:

palestinegardens.org cityoflucedale.com georgecountychamber.com facebook.com/landmarkcafeandgrill facebook.com/AuntFancy16

Upcoming Events: Feb. 7 Aromatherapy Make ‘n’ Take Workshop

Learn to create your own blend of essential oils to enhance your emotional well-being and mood. The workshop is set for 2-4 p.m. at the Lucedale-George County Library.

Feb 9 Mardi Gras Parade and Family Fun Day

Hosted by the Lucedale Carnival Association, this annual event features food, games, rides, arts and crafts, and music. Join in the family friendly Mardi Gras revelry along Oak Street at the Lucedale City Park from 11:30 to 4 p.m.

Free admission.

March 16 Annual Spring Citywide Yard Sale

Residents and businesses join the fun for this annual event at various locations around town.

April – July 2019 Saturday Farmers Market

Get your fresh fruits, vegetables and more every Saturday from sun-up to sell-out through July at Courthouse Square.

Nov. 9 Gingham Tree Arts & Crafts Festival

Entertainment, food, and over 300 arts and crafts booths will be at the George County Fair Grounds from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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greater goods | VALENTINE’S DAY

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1. Southern Tide men’s cologne, SoCo Apparel, 300 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 2. Grumy Man salsas and pepper jellies, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 3. Allyn Ties, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 4. Men’s house shoes, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 5. Shark bottle opener, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 6. Etta B Stemless wine glasses, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Road, Marion, AR 7. Oak River dop kit, The Wooden Door, 6542 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 8. Rolex Watch, Guns and Fine Jewelry, 570 Goodman Road East. Southaven, MS

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greater goods | VALENTINE’S DAY

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1. Picture frame, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 2 Hand painted art, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Road, Marion, AR 3. Musee bath balms, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 4. Ermish jewelry, SoCo Apparel, 300 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 5. Muddy Mae picture frames, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 6. Rose lotion and scrubs, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 7. Clear Purses, Paisley Pinapple, 6542 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 8. Qudo Interchangeable Rings, Paisley Pinapple, 6542 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 9. Fingerprint Pottery platter, Southern Traditions, 120 West Bankhead Street, New Albany, MS 10. Earrings, The Speckled Egg, 5100 Interstate 55, Marion, AR 11. Red Heels, Upstairs Closet, 136 Norfleet Drive, Senatobia, MS DeSoto 47

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Lauri Mundi Home in Aberdeen, MS

Spring

Pilgrimages

By Karen Ott Mayer Photography courtesy of Aberdeen Visitors Bureau, Visit Natchez and Visit Columbus

Pilgrimages are more than just historic home tours. They open doors to knowledge about our past, our culture and our hopes for the future.

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Ladies Parlor in Rosedale - Columbus, MS

Brandon Hall - Natchez, MS

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Pilgrimage is an interesting word.

Defined loosely as a journey to a place of significance, the word is also largely associated with the pursuit of a belief or the fulfillment of faith. But what does it mean in the context of the South, particularly in the well-known context of a pilgrimage to a large mansion?

Each journey truly lies in the heart of the pilgrim, and as a tourist, in personal preferences.

The national conversation has shifted, and with it, how we understand the settings for these Mississippi places and from where the stories grew. For years, the large residences remained the primary narrative and focus.

Today’s pilgrimages give insight not only into the grandeur and romance of the Old South, but now include tours of slave dwellings and stories of the people who built, ran and worked the properties.

What begins in one place ends in another.

“In Natchez, pilgrimages actually began in gardens around large, stately homes. Garden clubs invited ladies to see gardens, but in the case of inclement weather, invited the ladies inside for tea and cookies,” says Sarah Smith-Jones, senior customer service representative for Natchez Pilgrimage Tours. Over time, a small fee was charged to help fix homes. The idea of visiting a prominent place grew to include a collection of homes where the owners agreed to open for the public.

Today, many questions have expanded the narrative to include a complete picture of how these historic properties came into being. Walking through a big house means thinking about all the lives and hands that went into building the homes, businesses, plantations and farms.

“The story belongs to everyone,” says Jeremy Houston of Natchez who founded Miss Lou Heritage Group & Tours in 2016 with his partner Bryan McKnight.

The two Natchez natives offer tourists the opportunity to tour key African-American historical sites like The Watkins Street Cemetery and The Forks of the Road Slave Market.

“We tell the story from a slave’s point of view,” says McKnight. “The Forks of the Road Slave Market sold thousands of slaves. It’s one of the most sacred places to visit during a pilgrimage,” says Houston.

Three large homes, D’Evereux, Linden, and DeSoto 51

Brandon Hall - Natchez, MS

Monmouth sit within sight of the former slave market, which is near D’Evereux Drive and St. Catherine Street at the Liberty Road intersection.

Over in Holly Springs, the organization Preserve Marshall County & Holly Springs has led historical conversations by founding the “Behind the Big House” program, which highlights the surviving structures and stories associated with the grand homes. Founded in 2012, the initiative has grown to include site excavations, authors, preservationists and restorations.

In Aberdeen, Gail Dalrymple, vice president and head of the pilgrimage for the last five years, says it’s not clear how the pilgrimage began more than 44 years ago. This year, the tour highlights several smaller residences never before seen.

“While we’re known for Victorian architecture, Aberdeen has all different kinds of houses and architectures.

During our tour, we also have a free tour of city hall and the First Methodist Church, both of which have beautiful Tiffany windows.”

In addition to the 10 properties showcased, Aberdeen also hosts tours of the Old Aberdeen Cemetery where high school students perform “Lies and Legends” a competitive performance to win a scholarship funded by the pilgrimage.

More than just a string of open residences, Mississippi’s pilgrimages offer towns an opportunity to showcase their local assets like churches, storefronts, cemeteries and landmarks.

Festivals, music, storytelling, reenactments, contests, food and period costumes appear in some degree as part of each pilgrimage. Most pilgrimages also highlight endangered properties and hold fundraisers to raise awareness and money 52 DeSoto

Tennessee William’s home and Welcome Center - Columbus, MS

to prevent losing more historic gems.

What is the journey? It’s as individualized as each visitor’s curiosity. Maybe it’s to learn more about architecture, gardens or African-American history. Maybe it’s simply to take a carriage ride or visit one of Mississippi’s small towns. In the end, the pilgrimages open doors to more than homes. They open doors to knowledge about our past, our culture and our hopes for the future.

To tailor your own pilgrimage, explore more about each event and its personal offerings on the event websites.

Most all of the pilgrimages can be found on Facebook as well.

Natchez Pilgrimage Tours Spring pilgrimage: March 16-April 16 Fall pilgrimage: Sept. 20-Oct 7

The mother of all pilgrimages, the Natchez Pilgrimages happen both in the spring and the fall. Ranked as one of America’s most noted historic towns for Southern architecture and history, Natchez still hosts Mississippi’s most noted pilgrimage with more than 600 historical properties.

Both spring and fall pilgrimages have multiple tour tracks, highlighting many elements from decorative arts to movies and private collections.

natchezpilgrimage.com misslouheritagegroupandtours.com

67th Mississippi Gulf Coast Spring Pilgrimage March 27-30

Deemed one of the “Top 100 Events in North America” in 2016, this pilgrimage covers a string of coastal towns, gardens and homes. The pilgrimage was forced to take a break after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 but resumed in 2011.

Organized by the Council of Garden Clubs, the event is stronger than ever.

springpilgrimage.com

79th Annual Columbus Spring Pilgrimage March 28-April 6

One of the larger towns, Columbus itself has plenty to do and see any time of year. During the pilgrimage, visitors can run the 5K, eat catfish, or climb into a carriage. “Tales from the Crypt” at Friendship Cemetery will entice anyone interested in learning more about local legends and personalities

visitcolumbusms.org

44th Aberdeen Southern Heritage Pilgrimage April 5-7

K n o w n f o r e a rl y Vi c t o r i a n architecture, Aberdeen’s large lovely homes grew from the abundance of cotton wealth accumulated in the 1800s. Set along the Tennessee-Tombigbee River Waterway, Aberdeen also offers visitors the chance to roam through historic churches, cemeteries and store fronts.

aberdeenpilgrimage.org

81st Annual Holly Springs Tour of Historic Homes April 5 - 7, 2019

Sponsored by the Holly Springs Garden Club, this pilgrimage’s proceeds will benefit the historic property Montrose as it has since 1940. This group serves up gracious dining as well as tours. The Plantit-Pink luncheon benefits both Montrose and the fight against breast cancer. Steeped in aged beauties, Holly Springs is also home to the Ida B. Wells-Barnett museum.

hollyspringsmsgardenclub.com

Karen Ott Mayer is a freelance writer from Como, Mississippi.

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Delta Heritage River Trail

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s l i e h a t R Riding

h t l a e H to Good

By Ann Yungmeyer Photography courtesy of Tom Dulaney, Melissa Campbell, Louisiana Northshore.com, Jake Lynch, Ann Yungmeyer, Melanie Horner, Brenda Moore, Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development.

Relics of the railroad offer a glimpse into regional heritage while making fitness more accessible – and fun – for bicyclers of all ages.

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Chief Ladiga Trail

Reams Wilson Clearwater

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A well-groomed, peaceful pathway leads ‘over the river and through the wood,’ quietly beckoning us to follow.

Into the distance we’ll peddle through scenic meadows and canopied forest, leaving the urban landscape behind. Like countless trains that once chugged along the route, we’ll roll through damp, echoing tunnels and rattle across quaking wooden trestles that stand high over rocky riverbeds.

Train tracks long gone, the characteristic setting describes any number of “rail-trails” across the U.S., developed through advocacy efforts of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC). The national nonprofit organization facilitates partnerships to help communities convert abandoned railway beds into multiuse trails.

Since 1986, RTC has supported development of more than 2,000 trails with the mission of “connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people.”

Through trail development, once sleepy towns are being revitalized as bike rental shops, bed and breakfasts, and whistle-stop cafés pop up near trailheads.

In the Mid-South region, RTC statistics show that Mississippi has 110 miles of known rail-trails to date; Tennessee has 136 miles; Arkansas has 73 miles; Louisiana has 134 miles; and Alabama has 87 miles of rail-trails. Expansion projects are happening in all five states to complete rail-trails and connect greenways.

Planning is underway for several major developments: Arkansas’ Southwest Trail, a proposed 65-mile trail between Little Rock and Hot Springs; the 100-mile Louisiana Bootlace Trail Network from Baton Rouge to the Mississippi Gulf Coast; and the Mid-South Regional Greenprint, a long-term proposal to connect parks and greenways throughout Greater Memphis and surrounding counties.

Nuts and Bolts

Rail-trails are popular with cyclists as well as walkers, joggers, skaters, and equestrians (in some areas). With terrain that is generally flat or slightly graded, the trails are suitable for recreationists of all skill levels. Surfaces are either paved or covered in crushed stone with occasional grassy strips. Restrooms are commonly found at trailheads.

Some urban trails are quite short but they often link to city greenways and DeSoto 57

Tammany Trace, a bridge over the bayou

Tanglefoot Trail

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linear parks, while other pathways are developed as long-distance trails, such as Missouri’s Katy Trail. At 240 miles, it is the longest continuous rail-trail in the U.S., running nearly the width of the state along part of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail.

Regardless of trail length, users can easily make out-and-back excursions, and those wanting to cover greater distances will often leave cars at a starting or ending point and shuttle back. As with all multi-use trails, safety is emphasized, and trail users should always be alert to other users and at street crossings. Though rail-trails are fairly wide, cyclists are advised to ride single file and expected to call out when passing.

Recreation, Camaraderie, and Tidbits of History

Trail devotee Melanie Horner of Kingsport, Tennessee, coordinates and plans weekly rides for an enthusiastic ladies biking group in her region of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. “We like rail-trails and greenways for safety and relaxed riding, also for trailside amenities and parking,” she says.

“Rail-trails take you off the beaten path,” Melanie adds. “Many times we explore an old depot or discover a historical marker or hidden gem that we wouldn’t normally come across. Generally, we plan lunch or an ice cream stop along the way and enjoy the social time as well.”

In addition to riding locally, the group has explored trails in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia, including some Hall of Fame trails recognized by RTC for outstanding scenery, historical significance, community connections, and other merits.

When asked how she maps out new rides, Melanie explains, “RTC’s TrailLink. com is the best source for maps and trail description, and their Facebook page with 128,000 followers. I often chat in the group asking questions to get feedback, and people post pictures of trails that make you want to investigate further.”

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Delta Heritage River Trail

Discover the Trails

Whether you’re looking to take a quick spin or to discover a new destination for biking, here is a sampling of Southern favorites. (Hall of Fame trails are marked with an asterisk.

Alabama, Chief Ladiga* – From Anniston to the Alabama/ Georgia state line, the 33-mile asphalt trail passes through small towns and quiet countryside. Following a former CSX railroad corridor, it is named for the Creek Indian chief who signed the 1832 treaty surrendering the tribe’s land.

Arkansas, Delta Heritage River Trail – Rural landscapes of the Delta dominate the 21-mile section from Lexa to Elaine and another 14-mile stretch from Arkansas City to Rohwer, part of a larger 85-mile rail-trail project under development

by Arkansas State Parks. Arkansas City trailhead has a replica of a historic depot and park facilities.

Florida, Pinellas Trail* – Stretching 49 miles from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, Pinellas is a beautifully paved, flat ride with Gulf Coast views and a wonderful rest stop in the town of Dunedin, a charming spot to have lunch and browse. Pinellas is part of the Coast-to-Coast Connector, a developing trail network across the state.

Georgia, Silver Comet* – The 61-mile paved track from Smyrna to the Alabama line (connecting with Chief Ladiga Trail) follows the old Seaboard Air Line rail corridor. One of Georgia’s most popular and busiest, particularly on the Smyrna/Atlanta end, the trail is named for the luxury passenger train that operated from New York to Birmingham until 1969.

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Louisiana, Tammany Trace* – North of New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain, the 27-mile Trace leads through mossy oak and pine forest and quaint towns including Abita Springs, home of the famed Abita Brewpub, where you can enjoy a trailside lunch. Don’t miss a stop at the quirky H.J. Smith and Sons General Store and Museum.

Mississippi, Tanglefoot and Longleaf Trace* – The paved 44-mile Tanglefoot (named for a historical narrow gauge engine) runs along the former Mississippi-Tennessee Railroad, built by William Faulkner’s great-grandfather in 1872. Tanglefoot has parking and facilities at New Houlka, Algoma, Ecru and Ingomar. To the south, the paved Longleaf Trace (43 miles) runs from the University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg to Prentiss, traversing urban landscape and rural farmland. A designated National Recreation Trail, it follows part of the former Mississippi Central Railroad line.

Tennessee - Shelby Farms Greenline and Big River Crossing – The 11-mile asphalt Greenline follows a former CSX line under a canopy of large oak trees and passes by Shelby Farms Park. Big River Crossing, opened in 2016, connects downtown Memphis with West Memphis, Arkansas, along the north side of the Harahan Bridge.

South Carolina, Swamp Rabbit– Connecting the pretty town of Travelers Rest to Greenville, the 20-mile asphalt trail follows the path of the old Carolina, Knoxville and Western Railway, a train that allegedly “hopped” over rough wetlands and was nicknamed “Swamp Rabbit” by passengers. Route highlights include Furman University, the urban waterfalls

Swamp Rabbit, Reedy River Falls - Greenville

of hip downtown Greenville, and Lake Conestee Nature Park.

Virginia Creeper Trail* – Arguably one of the prettiest trails, the 34-mile graveled path from Abingdon to Whitetop Station features rushing streams, idyllic countryside, nostalgic locomotives, and 47 trestles. The stretch up Whitetop Mountain is quite steep and many people shuttle up from Damascus and ride downhill.

West Virginia, Greenbrier River Trail* – A premier trail for wilderness views, the 77-mile graveled pathway follows the meandering Greenbrier River. For a slight downhill grade, ride north to south from Cass Scenic Railroad State Park to North Caldwell near Lewisburg. You’ll see old rail depots, historical markers, and long tunnels. www.traillink.com

Ann Yungmeyer is a writer from Tennessee with family roots in Mississippi and Louisiana. She loves discovering new places by bike, boat, train, and on foot.

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The Children of

Whitney Plantation

By Debi Lander Photography courtesy of Debi Lander and Elsa Hahne

The “children� of Whitney Plantation tell their stories through art and oral histories, touching the hearts of visitors to this historic estate in southern Louisiana.

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Georges Braque, a famous French artist who helped develop Cubism said, “Art is a wound turned into light.” That quote describes the Whitney Children perfectly: 40 life-sized terracotta statues of enslaved African-American children created by sculptor Woodrow Nash.

The haunting boys and girls in ragged clothes are scattered around the grounds of Whitney Plantation, in Wallace, Louisiana. Most are placed in Antioch Baptist Church, where guided tours begin.

As you move throughout the church, the statues pull at your heart and make you question what they are thinking.

The endearing children are the work of Ohio-based sculptor Woodrow Nash, commissioned by Jim Cummings, Whitney Plantation’s owner. Nash, who describes his style as African Nouveau, has a consuming passion for elevating the human spirit. He builds a sense of mystery and charisma into each piece, clearly evident in the Whitney children.

While working on the sculptures, Nash said: “I want these pieces to be as genuine to true slave life as possible. This project has been a challenge that I’ve looked forward to for a long time. My pieces will breathe life into the whole plantation.”

Whitney Plantation opened in December 2014 as the first plantation museum in Louisiana to focus exclusively on the lives of the slaves, and one of very few in the country. Many of the famous Louisiana River Plantations, like Oak Alley, have finally begun to include slave stories and slave cabins on tours. Most tours of Old South estates continue to focus on the grandeur of the big house and lives of the wealthy landowners, but Whitney Plantation portrays the opposite.

Whitney focuses the point of view on children because the collected oral histories from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s came from former slaves. These people were children at the time of emancipation in 1865, so their stories came from their own experiences. Whitney presents their recollections as told in their own words.

To accomplish this, each visitor receives a lanyard with a card imprinted with a photo and name associated with an individual sculpture. The flip side of the card contains a brief narrative — in the original dialect and vernacular as told to the WPA. These snippets are among the 2,200 DeSoto 65

collected by the Federal Writers’ Project during the Great Depression. The museum thus brings the past to life when visitors search for the child on their card, find the replica and make a connection.

John Cummings, a wealthy New Orleans lawyer, bought the plantation property about 16 years ago. Originally German immigrants, the Heidels (also spelled “Haydel”), were the landowners. They grew indigo and then the more profitable sugarcane from 1752 to 1867. The second owner named it Whitney, after his grandson.

Cummings came to the realization that Americans knew little about the lives of slaves. He developed plans to educate them through visits to the plantation. He spent over $8 million of his own money to establish Whitney, a work still in progress. Especially noteworthy are the church and seven slave cabins, purchased and moved to the site to help tell the story.

Guides move tours through the Whitney in a specific order. After leaving the church, visitors encounter The Field of Angels, a circular courtyard featuring a poignant bronze statue of a black angel holding a baby. The area is dedicated to the 2,200 slave children who died before their third birthdays in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Further along, a Wall of Honor, similar to war memorial walls, recognizes the 354 people who were enslaved at Whitney.

The most shocking part of the tour is the memorial 66 DeSoto

to an 1811 slave uprising. Dozens of black, life-sized men’s heads stand on sticks in the ground. This is a brutal display, but unforgettable art. About 500 slaves participated in the uprising with the aim of escaping to New Orleans. Most never made it that far. Many of the captured were killed – and their decapitated heads were put on sticks along the river to terrify others.

The tour continues toward the slave quarters where guests discover a few more Whitney Children, one sitting on the front porch. Stepping into the cramped cabin provides a perspective on the bare-bones accommodations provided for the slave population. At one time, Whitney had 22 slave cabins, each serving at least two families. Nearby sits the kitchen, the oldest in Louisiana, where typically female slaves toiled over burning fires.

Last stop is the French-Creole-style Big House built in 1803.

A few children worked in the house along with other servants.

Another statue of a little girl rests there, in opposition to the fine antique furnishings and artworks. Guides use her to talk about the lives of the house slaves, the long hours they kept and the pallets where they slept on the floor. By the end of the tour, most visitors fall silent. Whitney is an attention-grabbing and moving place.

Plantation owner Jim Cummings said, “You can’t rewrite history but you can right many of the wrongs—primarily with education.” Whitney Plantation makes significant strides in that direction. whitneyplantation.com

If you go

Whitney Plantation is about 32 miles from the New Orleans airport, 5099 Highway 18, Wallace, Louisiana. (225) 265-3300.

Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and major holidays. Advance reservations are recommended. Tours on the hour are 90 minutes, all on foot and mostly on gravel paths. Those with special needs should call in advance.

Admission is $22; $15 for students with ID, military, seniors age 65 and older; free for children under age 12.

Debi Lander is a freelance writer/photographer based in Sarasota, Florida. She maintains a website at ByLanderSea.com.

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homegrown | KITZI JEWELRY

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Kitzi Jewelry:

A Go-To for Fun & Fashion

By Robin Gallaher Branch | Photography by Mary Catherine Russell

The perfect Valentine’s Day gift is jewelry, especially if it’s made by Karyn Turnage – more commonly known as Kitzi in boutiques and shops.

Olive Juice Gifts, a shop in Oxford, Mississippi, that smells good and sells all things trendy, has a center table showcasing Kitzi Jewelry. “Our customers love it,” says Erin Young, owner. “We’ve had it since we opened eight years ago.”

Young gives several reasons why the multi-metal, multi-styled, and turquoise-to-tortoise wares are her bestsellers. “They’re all handmade. She knows what she’s doing. She’s genuine.”

The “Kitzi” is Karyn Turnage, the line’s owner and originator. Kitzi Jewelry is retail only and currently sells in 130 boutiques and stores in 16 states. While prices vary, a pierced earring and necklace set sells for under $100 at Olive Juice

Gifts, Young says. As a gift, it’s a sure hit for Valentine’s Day.

Turnage, 63, calls the Kitzi hoops her bestsellers.

“They go with anything, everything.” Describing herself as selftaught, Turnage adds, “I started making jewelry 30 years ago and 12 years ago turned it into a business. Working is a joy.”

The distinctive name Kitzi comes from a nickname her father, a doctor, gave her. “I grew up in Collins, Mississippi.

We could ride our bikes all over town. It was a peaceful, safe place to be. My mother was very creative and taught me to sew,” she recalls.

Kitzi married her high school sweetheart and they DeSoto 69

raised two children. Her husband, a computer sales representative, died six years ago.

Before his death, the couple frequently traveled around the country and to Bermuda and Quebec. “Each trip took me in a different direction with my jewelry,” Turnage remembers.

Roaming San Francisco’s shops gave her many ideas. While in Quebec, the couple visited a shop that had turquoise stones; they bought quite a few. Turquoise, by the way, is her favorite stone.

After her husband’s death, Turnage considered closing the business. “My children stepped in and told me to keep it because it would keep me sane,” she says.

And she’s glad she did. Her daughter, Kelly Pace, now handles the bookkeeping and does much of the design work as well.

Turnage has an office and workroom in her Germantown, Tennessee, home. She’s a big fan of home businesses. For her it means that when an inspiration comes at 3 a.m. (as it often does), she can go to work immediately in her pj’s and take a break when her grandson comes to play.

Her flexible hours also allow her to be what she calls “the Mamaw” in the Parent Teacher Fellowship at Briarcrest Christian School, her grandson’s school.

What about tips for others for starting a home business? “Go for it!” Turnage advises with confidence, spirit, and glee.

In addition to knowing what’s current and having a knack for what sells, Turnage has a good sense of style and marketing. “There’s a market for single, unique pieces right now. That’s what people want,” she says.

In terms of fashion, her advice is simple: “Always wear earrings. Layer necklaces. Mix the metals.” She favors combining various, even dissimilar, necklaces—for instance a pearl choker with two other necklaces of different lengths and mediums. She prefers matte gold and mixing metals like gold and silver. Her favorites are pearls, crystals, and “anything aqua.”

Karen Rounsavall likes Kitzi Jewelry’s variety of squares, circles, ovals, and rectangles. “It’s really cool how she does them. She’s very modern,” Rounsavall says, adding that her daughter Ashley, 18, models Kitzi Jewelry.

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Vendors call Turnage frequently. Sometimes they simply say, “Send me whatever,” which means they trust her judgment and know that quality’s coming.

Kitzi Jewelry is also the top seller at Paisley Pineapple, a gift shop boutique in Olive Branch, Mississippi. “The earrings are so light; you don’t even know you’re wearing them,” says Keely Davis, owner. “People come back again and again.”

When Turnage was asked if she had made any mistakes in her designs and jewelry making, she paused and said she could not think of any. “My daughter and I just keep working on something until we love it. We only do the things we love,” she explains.

Turnage enjoys her fellow jewelry artisans in the Memphis area, calling them “a good group” of friends. “A small, creative business is a good way of getting to know others,” she says. “We really have fun. There’s room for lots of us.”

Kitzi Jewelry self-advertises the modern way on Facebook and Instagram. In addition, Turnage gives many handmade gifts. She laughs that in her Germantown subdivision she has many friends who look forward to an inevitable and new pair of earrings on their birthdays.

When asked about future plans for Kitzi Jewelry, Turnage says, “I see my daughter continuing and growing the business over the years. She’s super creative.”

Young of Olive Juice Gifts adds an insight that illustrates how remarkable both Turnage and Kitzi Jewelry are. “So many tell us Kitzi is their go-to jewelry,” Young begins. However, sometimes a customer will come in holding a single earring and literally be in a fashion predicament because its mate is gone. “Kitzi replaces what’s lost,” Young says with a smile. facebook.com/kitzijewelry Robin Gallaher Branch, a Fulbright scholar, teaches adjunct classes in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Christian Brothers University in Memphis and writes for many news sources.

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southern gentleman | BUDGET-FRIENDLY DATES

Inexpensive and Romantic

By Jason Frye | Photography courtesy of starchefs.com

If those holiday bills continue to roll in or if you are on a tight budget, you don’t have to forego Valentine’s Day. Get creative and find some inexpensive – but still romantic – ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your special someone.

Apologies to the chefs, owners, and servers at fancy restaurants that put together an $80 prix fixe Valentine’s Day dinner for two, but I’m recommending something a little different than the four-course culinary masterpieces served on February 14.

I’m going another direction, one where $80 – plus drinks, plus tip – is enough for two, three, even four dates.

Rather than go full-force fancy in mid-February, how about some simple things that give you and your sweetie the chance 72 DeSoto

to celebrate each other?

Here are five ideas for you and your Valentine to help you stretch the budget and squeeze in a few more dates (like that four-course, prix fixe dinner) on your terms.

Stargazing: less than $5 What’s more romantic than cozying up to your sweetheart and looking up at the stars? Not much (not much we can print anyway). Find a state park, a stretch of beach or an empty field,

spread out your blanket and lie side-by-side with the heavens wheeling above. Can’t name a constellation? Don’t worry. Apps like Night Sky, Sky Guide, or Star Walk 2 tell you what planets, stars, and constellations are visible. The best part: they’ll only set you back a buck or two. Sure, it’s cold this time of year, but if you bring two blankets, you can get even more snuggly while you stargaze.

Bonus: plan ahead and bring a thermos of hot chocolate, hot toddies, or even mulled wine to sip while you count the stars.

Bigger Bonus: learn the location of your love’s sign and point it out to them before you ever pull out the app.

Share a Sip: $10-$30

Swing by an area brewery or winery for a taste.

Most offer tastings in the form of short pours or flights. You can order two flights and taste everything on tap. Who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love again – not with the server, but with a new drink – and find a favorite for a full pour.

Bonus: turn it into a game. Each of you tastes the full flight, then you guess the favorites of your bunny.

Bigger Bonus: make it a little more interesting with a romantic wager (no matter the outcome, everyone wins).

Get Outdoors: free-$40

With so many free or inexpensive gardens, parks, forests and nature preserves around, finding a spot near your home for a hike or a little exploring, and a picnic shouldn’t be much trouble. Whether you go to the top of a mountain or find a deserted stretch of beach or wander through the pine flats, slow your pace, take your honey’s hand and tell them how you feel about them.

Bonus: plan a picnic complete with lunch, drinks, and sweets.

Bigger Bonus: try writing your belov’d a poem. Who cares if you aren’t Shakespeare, the gesture will be enough to move mountains.

Bonus: the soundtrack. Play the song that was in the air the moment you looked over and thought, “yup, this one’s a keeper,” and you’re looking at a heart-melting moment.

Bigger Bonus: any chance you could put your hands on that car you owned in college? If so, pick up your partner and go for a spin. On the radio is that special soundtrack, of course.

Sweets for the Sweet: $30-60

Talking with travel writer and chocolate maven, Terri Marshall (of travelswithterri.com), about romance, she says, “There’s no better way to have a special Valentine’s Day than with a treat from French Broad Chocolate. The story of the owners is the ultimate in romance: they met when he was a bartender at her brother’s wedding, and now they own a chocolate roastery and tasting lounge in Asheville, North Carolina. Nothing is more decadent than chocolate for Valentine’s Day; their story and their chocolate make the perfect pairing.”

French Broad’s bars and truffles are imbued with the couple’s love for one another and for the cacao bean, so try ordering a big box of goodies to try. And if you’re reading this on February 12 and wondering how to get yourself out of this pickle, don’t worry, there are plenty of boutique chocolatiers across the south selling decadent bars to try.

Bonus: reading DeSoto Magazine in time to order your chocolates.

Bigger Bonus: pretending it’s your idea.

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.

Recreate the First Date: $20-50

Come on, maybe the ultimate in romantic gestures is showing your boo that you remember every… single... detail of that first date, so recreating it at home without missing a trick will mean a V-Day win. Cook that meal (taking control of the whole meal is a romantic – and sexy – gesture in and of itself), pour a glass of that wine or beer you thought was so great at the time, and show them that one of the best nights of your life is burned into your memory.

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southern harmony | THOMAS GABRIEL

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A Long Way Home

By Pam Windsor | Photography courtesy of Diana Sterk

His journey back to music has taken Thomas Gabriel through some dark and difficult places, but the eldest grandson of Johnny Cash believes he’s overcome his obstacles. The Man in Black would be very proud.

When people first hear Thomas Gabriel sing, they are struck by the rich, gravelly quality of his voice. Fans of his famous grandfather catching Gabriel’s version of “Ring of Fire” or “Hurt” often remark, “He sounds a lot like Johnny.”

But it soon becomes clear Gabriel has his own, unique style.

He’s been surprised by the positive response to his Cash Legacy Tour.

“I thought people would be curious because of him and then if they liked my music they would catch on,” he says.

“But the majority of the people who come to see the shows say they’ve heard my album or been told about me by a friend or

relative and come to hear my music.”

Much of this is new to Gabriel because that rich, gravelly voice has been silent for most of the past three decades.

Gabriel was born to Cash’s daughter, Kathy, when she was only 16. Since she was so young, he spent a lot of time on the road with Johnny Cash and his wife, June Carter Cash.

“Sometimes my grandpa would get us up on stage when we were kids. We’d do songs like “Will the Circle Be Unbroken? I can even remember being on stage with Mother Maybelle Carter (matriarch of the Carter Family), so that had to be at least 1978.”

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He saw his own future in music, but as a kid, he began drinking and getting involved in drugs. So, when Gabriel was about 19 and took some of his music to Cash (who’d had his own problems with drugs and alcohol through the years), the legendary performer steered him away from the music business.

“He did give me props,” Gabriel says. “He said the writing’s good, but I needed to work on my vocals. He said I reminded him of himself when he was younger.”

But Cash wanted Gabriel to do something else first.

He wanted him to become a police officer.

“Knowing the business as he did, knowing me like he did with me having addiction problems at the time, I totally understand it now,” Gabriel says. “But back then, I was heartbroken.”

He spent the next eight years in law enforcement until drugs and alcohol intervened. It led to a series of arrests, the end of his police career, and eventually 10 long years in prison.

Through it all, he and his grandfather were often at odds as Cash tried to help Gabriel get on the right track.

In prison, Gabriel began writing songs and had quite a collection when he was released. But with no clear direction, he returned to drugs and alcohol. One night, he received a call from a man he’d never met, who got his number from Gabriel’s mom.

Brian Oxley, the son of missionaries, had grown up in Japan and recently bought Johnny Cash’s former hideaway farm in the country.

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They met the next day and Gabriel told Oxley he wanted to get back into music. Oxley offered to help if Gabriel would go to rehab. Gabriel agreed. A year later, he got out and began pursuing music.

Gabriel’s first album, titled “Long Way Home,” includes a number of songs he wrote in prison. He’s been surprised to find how they’ve resonated with people experiencing some of that same darkness.

In October, he had the chance to perform at Folsom Prison some 50 years after Johnny Cash recorded his famous live album there.

“We weren’t allowed to go in with a full band like he did in 1968,” Gabriel explains. “It was just me and Derek Toa, my guitar player. It was just an acoustic set, but it turned out to be extremely powerful.”

They did two shows, the first for a group of inmates with lower security restrictions. The inmates had their own guitar class and did a short performance. Then Gabriel sang.

“The response was fantastic. They gave us their undivided attention and afterward they all lined up and I got to talk to them and share some of my experiences when I was locked up.”

Then, Gabriel and Toa performed for a second group with much higher security restrictions. The inmates were watchful and wary, and one told Gabriel he’d been there when his grandfather performed all those years ago. The inmate said “he” would judge whether Gabriel was any good.

“It wasn’t very comfortable in the beginning,” Gabriel says. “It was like they were trying to see if I was legit. But about two songs in, we were suddenly all on the same page and they were just as warm and welcoming as the first crowd had been.”

Many of the inmates seemed to connect with his song called “Cell.” He wrote it in solitary confinement during one of the darkest times in his life.

“To go to another prison and sing that song to somebody that experiences that every day and have them realize, wait a second, he got out and now he’s telling people how it is to be me. It was a really incredible feeling.”

Gabriel’s now working on writing songs for his second album and touring the U.S.

“I’ve got the best band. We’ve met some great people on the road and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for us.”

It’s been a long journey, but Gabriel believes he’s now right where he’s supposed to be.

“The reason I’m where I am today, as far as with myself, is because I’m happy.”

He thinks his grandfather would be pleased.

“I think he’d be proud and maybe surprised because I was in a much darker place when he passed. But he always told me I could do anything I wanted; it’s just that I needed to be okay with me first.”

Pam Windsor is a Nashville-based journalist who writes about music, travel, food, culture, and extraordinary people.

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in good spirits | VALENTINE’S DAY COCKTAILS

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Festive cocktails for Valentine’s Day Story and photography by Cheré Coen

When a new Hotel Indigo property opens, the emphasis on the boutique hotel’s design is to reflect the character and culture of the town in which it is located. For example, Hotel Indigo – Hattiesburg, which opened last summer, uses the region’s railroad and timber industries for inspiration, with a nod to the University of Southern Mississippi. Visitors will always find a golden eagle looking down from above.

The hotel’s front desk resembles a train ticket booth and walls are accented by natural woods. Each guest room includes a photo of W.S.S. Tatum, the local timber company patriarch, plus large round bath mirrors resembling train station clocks. The hotel’s gift shop sells locally made products, including train whistle toys, Bee Gold Honey and Country Girls Creamery items.

Off the lobby, the Brass Hat lounge and restaurant continues the railroad décor with a room reminiscent of a 1930’s dining car. Above comfy chairs for relaxing with company and enjoying the tapas, small plates and specialty dishes are books with railroad themes.

Keeping with the local focus are cocktails crafted with Mississippi ingredients by two native mixologists, Nicci McNease and Conner Lewing. The hotel gives them free reign to experiment, McNease said, and the duo serves up six to 10 new cocktails every two weeks.

“We try to use as much local or regional distillers as possible,” she explained, adding that local breweries such as Hattiesburg’s Southern Prohibition are on tap as well.

One of their most unusual drinks is a vanilla chai latte martini with coffee bean-infused vodka using espresso beans from the Hattiesburg Grin Coffee Roastery. The bartenders also use Grin’s products to make a cold brew old fashion “with a hint of whiskey on the back side to let you know it’s there,” McNease said.

Signature cocktails that remain on the menu include The Sip, “a play on how people shorthand Mississippi,” McNease said, and Seelbach, like an old fashion but more flavorful and lighter.

The Sip combines two vodkas and blueberry lemonade, the latter of which comes from Sandy Run Farms of Hattiesburg. The hotel has also used Aunt Polly’s blueberry lemonade, another local establishment.

“The Sip was our first featured signature drink,” McNease explained, adding that they created it to represent Hattiesburg.

Both drinks are easy to create at home, she insisted, and when poured into elegant glasses will be an impressive display this Valentine’s Day. The Sip 1 ounce Cathead Honeysuckle vodka 1 ounce Absolut Citron 4 ounces blueberry lemonade Squeeze of fresh lemon juice Club soda

Directions: Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Stir or shake the mixture and strain into a glass and add a splash of club soda. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Seelbach 1 ounce Four Roses bourbon ½ ounce Cointreau 4 dashes Angostura bitters 3 dashes Peychaud bitters Dry Brut Champagne

Directions: Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and mix. Strain the drink into champagne flutes and top with dry Brut champagne.

Cheré Coen is a freelance food and travel writer living in Lafayette, Louisiana, but her Mississippi roots run deep. Read her quirky stories at WeirdSouth.blogspot.com.

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exploring events | FEBRUARY Author event with Snowden Wright: “American Pop” February 6 Turnrow Books Greenwood, MS 5:30pm Snowden Wright returns to Turnrow with this sweeping and epic tale of a Mississippi family set loose upon the world. “American Pop” is a clever, stylish novel about the rise and fall of a fictional American dynasty – the Forsters, famous for creating the world’s first major soda company. For more information visit turnrowbooks.com or call 662-453-5995.

Panic at the Disco February 6 FedEx Forum Memphis, TN 7:00pm For more information visit forummemphis.com, ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.

Home Show of the Mid-South February 8 - 10 Agricenter Memphis, TN Home decor, landscaping, pools & patios, furniture, lighting, bath, flooring, windows, paint, awnings, general contractors, architects, pest control and much more! Featuring Brett Tutor from TLC’s “Trading Spaces.” For more information, visit memphishomeshow.com, or call 901-867-7007.

DeSoto Family Theatre Presents “Annie Jr.” February 8 - 17 Landers Center Southaven, MS Directed by Wesley Williamson. For more information visit dftonline.org or call 662-280-6546.

Kelly Clarkson: Meaning Of Life Tour February 9 Landers Center Southaven, MS 7:00pm With Kelsea Ballerini and Brynn Cartelli. For more information visit KellyClarkson.com/Tour, ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.

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“Dancing with the Stars: Live!”

February 9 Orpheum Theatre Memphis, TN TV’s biggest dance show returns on tour this winter with “Dancing with the Stars: Live!” featuring fanfavorite professional and troupe dancers. For more information visit orpheum-memphis.com or call 901-525-3000.

Kudzu Playhouse Presents “Check Please” Dinner Theatre February 14 - 16 Sweetpea’s Table Olive Branch, MS “Check Please” follows a series of blind dinner dates that couldn’t get any worse -- until they do. Could there possibly be a light at the end of the tunnel? Advance ticket purchase required. Seating begins at 6:30 pm.

Show at 7:00 pm. $43 per person • $80 per couple.

Includes a delicious dinner with refreshments. Bring your own Cocktails & Wine. For additional information about this production, visit kudzuplayers.com or email kudzuplayhousems@gmail.com.

Mid-South Sports Boat & RV Show February 15 - 17 Agricenter Memphis, TN Check out all the hottest new boats with dealer incentives. Load up on tons of tackle with discount pricing. Adults - $10.00. Children 12 and under - FREE. For more information, visit memphisboatshow.com or call 901-867-7007.

Panola Playhouse presents “Father of the Bride” February 15 - 24 Panola Playhouse Sardis, MS Directed by Daniel Thompson. For more information and tickets visit panolaplayhouse.com or call 662-487-3975.

James Taylor February 16 BancorpSouth Arena Tupelo, MS 7:30pm Featuring special guest Bonnie Raitt. For more information visit arenatupelo.com or call 800-854-2196.

R&B Valentine’s Rewind with BBD, Monica, Dunhill, K-CI of Jodeci and 702 February 16 Landers Center Southaven, MS 8:00pm For more information visit ticketmaster.com, call 800745-3000 or email info@landerscenter.com.

An Evening with Sarah McLachlan February 22 Orpheum Theatre Memphis, TN Sarah McLachlan is one of the most celebrated singer songwriters in entertainment with over 40 million albums sold worldwide. She has received three Grammy Awards and twelve Juno Awards over her career and was recently inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. For more information visit orpheum-memphis.com or call 901-525-3000.

KISS February 23 FedEx Forum Memphis, TN 7:30pm For more information visit forummemphis.com, ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.

“The Wizard of Oz” February 26 Bologna Performing Arts Center Cleveland, MS 7:30pm There truly is no place like home as the greatest family musical of all time, the wonderful “Wizard of Oz”, twists its way into the Mississippi Delta! For more information visit bolognapac.com or call 662-846-4625.

Southern Women’s Show March 1 - 3 Agricenter Memphis, TN The popular annual consumer show returns with three days of shopping, cooking classes, seminars and more all geared for Mid-South women. The lineup includes an appearance from Savannah Chrisley from “Chrisley Knows Best”. For group discount tickets and more information, call 704-494-7563 or visit SouthernWomensShow.com.

Dancing with the Stars: Live!

Funny As Ish Comedy Tour featuring Mike Epps February 23 Landers Center Southaven, MS 8:00pm For more information visit ticketmaster.com, call 800-745-3000 or email info@landerscenter.com.

Warfield Concert Series presents Barret Baber February 23 Historic Malco Theatre Helena, AR Baber gave millions of viewers an unforgettable introduction to a rising new star and entertainer on the country music scene when he appeared on season 9 of “The Voice”. This concert is free to the public and tickets can be downloaded at warfieldconcerts.com.

For more information, please contact Alana Pinchback at the Phillips County Chamber of Commerce at 870-338-8327.

James Taylor

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reflections | FINDING HOME

Finding Home

By Rebecca Bingham

Home is people, not a place. If you go back after the people are gone, then all you can see is what is not there anymore. -Robin Hobb, Fool’s Fate

The first time I returned to my childhood home as an adult, I was shocked how the differences in what I saw contrasted with what I had expected to see. For starters, Oakwood Drive seemed a lot shorter; our three-bedroom red brick house with white shutters and columns, much smaller.

Sure, the trees are quite taller now. And as a little girl, I was closer to the ground back then. But the length of the street is what really stumped me. I would have sworn it was nearly twice that long. At least that’s the way it seemed when I pedaled my pink high-handlebar Huffy bicycle to the corner to catch up with the popsicle truck.

A few years ago, I spent a day walking around Oslo, Norway, with my colleague Nick Walton. An award-winning travel photographer, Nick taught me the importance of framing a photo to give the image perspective. “No perspective, no perception. New perspective, new perception,” he said.

Whenever life seems out of focus, I apply my version of Nick’s valuable lesson: How I frame the facts will determine my perspective.

Last fall, I completed a difficult divorce. At the beginning of the process, I downsized my belongings and stacked what was left in a 10- by 10-foot storage unit – thinking it would be only a few months until I settled into a new place of my own. Four years later, I had moved eight times, traveled a quarter-million miles and visited 27 countries. Meanwhile, the earthly treasures that for decades had filled my home and 82 DeSoto

punctuated my life sat silent and invisible inside a non-descript metal building behind Super 8.

When the judge signed the final decree, I realized how fully I had lived without my “stuff.” American travel writer Pico Iyer describes it this way: “Home lies in the things you carry with you everywhere and not in the ones that tie you down.” Do I still have my china and crystal? Yes. Did I keep the nutcrackers my son picked out one at a time each Christmas? Yes. But what makes those things valuable is not the things themselves. It’s the memories attached to them.

I still remember our family’s house at 26 Oakwood Drive in Monroe, Louisiana, and how we called it “our home.”

More accurately, it was just a place we lived until we didn’t.

After we moved, home was somewhere else because we were somewhere else.

And that’s pretty much how life is. We string together a few experiences. We frame our stories. We move on. Then we look back, and marvel how dramatically time and distance have changed our perspective – especially while we weren’t paying attention. “In the end,” says American psychologist and spiritual teacher Ram Dass, “we’re all just walking each other home.”

Rebecca Bingham is a travel journalist and photographer based in Hot Springs, Arkansas. When she is not on the road, Rebecca plays cello with the Four Seasons String Quartet. This year, she is completing her first book, “Finding Home: Creating Comfort in a World of Chaos.”