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December CONTENTS 2019 • VOLUME 16 • NO.12
features
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Nativity Scenes Come Alive for the Season
An Alpine Christmas in Helen, Georgia
Celebrating 150 Years Of Tupelo History
departments 16 Living Well Compassionate People
42 On the Road Again St. Augustine, FL
20 Notables Karolyn “Zuzu” Grimes
44 Greater Goods 68 Homegrown Capri-Blue Candles
24 Exploring Art A Collection of Santas
72 Southern Gentleman Trimming the Tree
26 Exploring Books Gardening Books for 2020
74 Southern Harmony John Berry
30 Southern Roots Christmas at Moss Mountain Farm
78 In Good Spirits The Chocolate Fetish
34 Table Talk BRAVO! Italian Restaurant 38 Exploring Destinations The Grand Hotel
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80 Exploring Events 82 Reflections Digital Grinch
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editor’s note | DECEMBER
Holiday Wishes
One of the very first Christmas decorations I bought as an adult was a crèche from Italy. The small stable with the holy family is the first holiday adornment to appear in my home. That simple nativity scene began what has become my collection of crèches from around the world. When I place them around my house, I am reminded about the true meaning of Christmas, but I can only imagine what that holiest of nights was like. Luckily, many churches recreate the scene during the holidays and writer Corey Latta takes a look at several of the more elaborate living nativity scenes in our area. If you’ve always pictured spending the holidays in an Alpine Village but didn’t have time (or the budget) to book a trip to Germany, you may want to head to Helen, Georgia. You won’t need a passport to visit this Bavarian village that transformed itself from a dying town into a hot destination, especially during the holidays. Closer to home, we find Tupelo getting ready to celebrate its 150th anniversary, beginning on New Year’s Eve. Writer Jackie Sheckler Finch shares some of the city’s little-known history and some new revelations about the city’s favorite native son, Elvis Presley, who would have been 85 in 2020.
DECEMBER 2019 • Vol. 16 No.12
PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell ADVERTISING Consultant Melanie Dupree MANAGING EDITOR Mary Ann DeSantis ASSISTANT EDITOR Cheré Coen
Our holiday stories include an interview with Karolyn Grimes, the original “Zuzu” in the classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and a look at what could be Mississippi’s largest Santa Clause collection. We also have tree-timing tips as well as several gift-giving suggestions from books to candles. DeSoto Magazine wishes you all the joys and miracles of the holiday season. Peace on Earth and Good Tidings,
CONTRIBUTORS Tom Adkinson Michele Baker Cheré Coen Mary Ann DeSantis Jackie Sheckler Finch Jason Frye Verna Gates Corey Latta Karen Ott Mayer P. Allen Smith Heather Tate Karon Warren Pam Windsor 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 SUBSCRIBE: DeSotoMagazine.com/subscribe
on the cover
The warmth of the holidays is reflected with a timeless Kris Kringle, designed by Coontown Pottery. Photo by Adam Mitchell.
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 | COMPASSION
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Leo Babauta
Becoming More Compassionate By Mary Ann DeSantis | Photography courtesy of Eartha Goodwin and Leo Babauta
The spirit of the season doesn’t have to end with the holidays if we learn to practice compassion all year. Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could make the feelings of goodwill and cheerfulness in December last all year? Some are lucky if it even lasts through January. One place to start is within ourselves by becoming more compassionate. Compassion can be a powerful force whether it’s for strengthening our own personal relationships or building a stronger community – or even a better world. Our society is more polarized and divisive than ever but hopefully the Christmas season will let us put aside our differences. We can only hope the goodwill we feel this month will continue throughout the new year. Developing compassion is not a new notion. Leaders throughout history have advised becoming more sensitive and caring of others. Greek philosopher Plato said, “Be kind, for
everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle,” while Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Theresa shared “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” More recently, best-selling author and popular blogger Leo Babauta has written about making life more meaningful by practicing compassion. Babauta has written extensively about ways to make compassion a daily habit. He also says it’s important to our own physical, emotional, and spiritual health. “Scientific studies suggest there are physical benefits to practicing compassion — people who practice it produce 100 percent more DHEA, which is a hormone that counteracts the aging process, and 23 percent less cortisol, known as the stress hormone,” he says. DeSoto 19
He adds that there are other, more important benefits as well. “The main benefit is that it helps you to be happier, and brings others around you to be happier. If we agree that happiness is a common aim for each of us, then compassion is one of the main tools for achieving that happiness. It is therefore of utmost importance that we cultivate compassion in our lives and practice it every day,” he advises. MEDITATING ON HAPPINESS The link between compassion and happiness is not a new concept. In his book, “The Art of Happiness,” the Dalai Lama says happiness and compassion are intertwined. “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion,” he advises. Defeat negative emotions by looking within yourself through meditation and quiet reflection. When we focus on inner love and peace, we reflect those back to those people around us. “Without love and compassion, humanity cannot survive… they are necessities not luxuries,” says the Tibetan monk who has guided world-renowned scientists in trying to help individuals achieve peace of mind. REACHING OUT Why is it we become generous during the holidays, from food drives at Thanksgiving to collecting toys for underprivileged children at Christmas yet by July the food banks are empty and many children are home alone? Making a difference can happen when we stop being self-focused and reach out to others all year long. Maybe it’s something as simple as a hug when a friend is blue or offering a ride to someone who no longer drives. British anthologist Jane Goodall, who is in her mid-80s, has practiced and preached the importance of spreading kindness all her life, whether with her chimpanzees or with human beings. She launched an organization called Roots & Shoots to inspire young people to reach out and change the world with kind acts. “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make,” Goodall says. RECOGNIZING COMMONALITIES Author Babauta reminds us that we are all human beings who need the same things: food, shelter, and love. And we crave attention, recognition, affection, and mostly happiness. “Instead of recognizing the differences between yourself and others, try to recognize what you have in common,” he says. “Reflect on these commonalities you have with every other human being and ignore the differences.” Once you can empathize with other people and understand their humanity and suffering, the next step is to want them to be free from suffering. This is the heart of compassion, says Babauta. Develop the feeling that you want their suffering to end. Then, do something small each day to help others, even in a tiny way. A smile, a kind word, doing an errand or chore, or just talking about a problem with another person goes a long way to ease another’s suffering. Practice doing something kind every day – and long after the holidays have ended – to help ease the suffering of others. And perhaps, Mother Theresa summed it up best: compassion and peace begin with a smile. zenhabits.net/a-guide-to-cultivating-compassion-in-your-life-with-7practices/
A native of Laurel, Mississippi, Mary Ann DeSantis is the managing editor of DeSoto Magazine.
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notables | KAROLYN “ZUZU” GRIMES
Karolyn Grimes now travels to talk about her role in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’
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Zuzu gives her father, George Bailey, her wilting rose petals to revive.
An Angel and Her Wings Jackie Sheckler Finch Photography courtesy of Karolyn Grimes and Getty Images
Former child actress recalls her role in the holiday classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” When Karolyn Grimes answers the phone at her Northern California home, her voice still has that musical sweetness that endeared her to millions of moviegoers. And, of course, she can still recite her famous line, “Teacher says, ‘Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.’” That’s right, Karolyn Grimes is the little girl in the 1946 film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” She was six years old when she played Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed’s daughter and proclaimed her memorable words as Clarence the angel got
his wings. But it wasn’t until she was 40 years old that Grimes finally saw the movie. “I was busy raising my children,” she says with a laugh. “I didn’t have time to watch movies.” Turning back the hands of time, Grimes recalls how it all started and the long path she has traveled – both good and bad – since those childhood actress days. “It hasn’t always been easy, but it has made me who I am today, brought me to where I am today,” she says. “I truly DeSoto 23
Zuzu helps her father and mother read a message from Clarence the angel – ‘No man is a failure who has friends.’
believe this is the path I was meant to follow.” Born July 4, 1940, in Hollywood, Grimes was the daughter of a Safeway grocery store manager and a mother who was determined that her child was going to be a star. “I was an only child and I think my mother was kind of living through me. She wanted me to be special.” By the time she was four, Grimes was cast in her first movie, “That Night with You” with two speaking lines. “I couldn’t read so my mother would go over the lines with me the night before and right before we went to the filming,” Grimes says. In total, Grimes appeared in 16 movies between 1945 and 1952. But it was “It’s a Wonderful Life” for which she is most remembered. “It wasn’t a popular movie at all when it came out in 1946,” she reminds. “The movie was too dark. That was after World War II and people wanted to be entertained. They didn’t want a movie about some man thinking of committing suicide.” Two tragic events happened to the young Grimes that changed the course of her life and derailed her movie career. Her mother died of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease when Grimes was 14. Her father died in an automobile accident when Grimes was 15. Her movie career ended with those immense losses. “I do believe that I would have had a smashing acting career if my mother hadn’t died,” Grimes says. “She was the force behind me, the parent pushing me out the door.” A court ruling sent Grimes to live in Osceola, Missouri, with her aunt and uncle in what Grimes describes as a “bad 24 DeSoto
home… My aunt was cruel, a wicked person. It was a really traumatic situation.” Although she doesn’t dwell on it, Grimes does mention that life was not always kind. She married young, had two children, became a medical technician, got divorced, and her ex-husband was killed in a hunting accident. Years later, she married a man with three children and together they had two more. Her youngest son committed suicide at age 18. Her husband died of cancer. Life might not have seemed so wonderful. Then a strange thing happened. In the 1980s, Jimmy Stewart tracked her down. “People had been asking him whatever happened to that little girl in the movie and he found me,” Grimes says, adding that the two made several public appearances together. “The movie had sat on a shelf for 25 years and suddenly in the early 1970s, it seemed to be on every TV channel. It developed into this wonderful magical piece of film history that people love.” In fact, Grimes is kept busy making appearances and granting interviews, especially around the Christmas season when the movie is always shown on TV stations. Grimes also has written a cookbook and a children’s book titled “Zuzu’s Petals” patterned after a scene in the movie where Zuzu is upset because a rose that she brought home from school has started to lose its petals. Her father pretends to fix it but actually slips the petals into his pocket. For 15 years, Grimes has returned to Seneca Falls, New York,
on the second weekend of December for the “It’s a Wonderful Life” Festival. In 2010, Seneca Falls opened a museum by the same name. Now 79 years old, Grimes says she never tires of talking about the film. One of her favorite memories was during the end of the movie when Jimmy Stewart is holding her and the entire cast is singing “Auld Lang Syne.” “I didn’t know the words to that song but I kept moving my mouth and saying words that weren’t right,” she says. “The camera was taking a tight shot of me singing with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.” If you look closely, Grimes says, you can see Jimmy Stewart trying not to laugh as he sees the little girl’s mouth moving with the wrong words coming out. “That’s the way he always was,” she says. “Jimmy Stewart was kind and friendly. He was just the greatest man, and I am so glad that people still love to see him in this movie.” wonderfullifemuseum.com Scenes with the Stars Jimmy Stewart wasn’t the only star that Karolyn Grimes worked with. From 1945 to 1952, she appeared in 16 movies, including the following:
“Blue Skies” with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire “Mother Wore Tights” with Betty Grable “Unconquered” with Gary Cooper “The Bishop’s Wife” with Cary Grant “Albuquerque” with Randolph Scott “Lust for Gold” with Glenn Ford “Rio Grande” with John Wayne “Hans Christian Andersen” with Danny Kaye
An award-winning journalist, Jackie Sheckler Finch loves to take to the road to see what lies beyond the next bend.
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exploring art | SANTA COLLECTION
Here Comes Santa By Karon Warren | Photography courtesy of Leah Michelle Bullock
With more than 6,000 Santas in her collection, Linda Sokovich carries on a family tradition. When Linda Sokovich’s mother, Norma Jean Clinton, started collecting Santa Claus mementos more than 40 years ago, Sokovich never imagined that collection would take over her life. Walk into Sokovich’s extra bedroom at home in Collins, Mississippi, and you’ll think you’ve entered a Christmas shop filled with Santa Claus-themed collectibles. The jolly old elf smiles back from a Christmas tree, row after row of shelves, in groups on the floor and even from the walls. In fact, there’s barely any room left that does not contain a Santa in some form or another. Although Sokovich, age 65, can’t remember exactly how many Santas she has, she’s certain it’s more than 6,000 pieces. “I never dreamed that I could have something like this,” she says. “One Santa Claus became more than 6,000. They all make me happy, the grandeur of it. I enjoy people coming to see it.” 26 DeSoto
Of course, the collection overflows with Christmas ornaments, figurines and stuffed Santa dolls. But you’ll also find painted oyster shells featuring Santa, a corn cob fashioned to look like Santa, cookie jars, salt and pepper shakers, birdhouses, jewelry, clothes, dishes, crystal Santas, Coca-Cola Santas, college-themed Santas, and famous characters dressed as Santa (think Smurfs, The Grinch, etc.). She even has pieces from England and Germany. And don’t forget the egg decorated with Santa on it. One of her favorite pieces combines two of her favorite things: Santa Claus and teaching. Now retired, Sokovich taught high school math for 25 years. The collectible actually shows Santa teaching math (addition problems displayed on a chalkboard) to a class full of young Santas seated at desks. “There are no repeats of anything,” Sokovich says. “When I’m out shopping, I know instantly if I have it at home. Every now and then there’s something exciting to see.” That’s quite impressive given that it’s taken more than
40 years to amass such a collection. It all started with Sokovich’s mother. “My mother has everything so we tried thinking of something she enjoyed,” Sokovich says. Santa Claus was the answer, and, before long, Clinton had quite a growing collection of the Christmas mainstay. Sokovich estimates her mother collected Santas for 20 to 25 years before Sokovich took over approximately 20 years ago. The mother-daughter duo often finds Santa Claus collectibles at Goodwill stores, thrift shops and yard sales. And, not surprisingly, they also receive Santas from family and friends. “I don’t spend a lot on it,” Sokovich says. “It’s the thrill of the hunt. My husband hunts deer, and I hunt Santa Clauses.” When the collection overtook Clinton’s home, Sokovich packed up all the Santas and stored them away. However, after her own children were grown and moved out of the house, she and her husband, Charlie, pulled them out, unpacked them, and displayed them in an extra bedroom. That’s where the Santas have resided ever since. Sokovich says her husband of 46 years never even questioned the collection or putting it on display. “I think he’s just used to me doing strange things,” she says. “He’s proud of it, too. He buys me something for it every year.” Not surprisingly, her four grandchildren love coming to see the Santas, too. Today, Sokovich welcomes everyone to stop by and see the Santa Clauses. In fact, to help keep track of the visitors who come to see her collection, Sokovich maintains a guest book for people to sign when they stop by the house to check out
the Santas. Right now, she estimates there are more than 2,000 signatures. Two years ago, she hosted an open house for those interested to come check out the collection. But folks don’t have to wait for an open house to stop by. They can contact her through Facebook to schedule a time. “It’s becoming well-known,” Sokovich says. “I don’t mind if everyone comes. I really love for people to bring their kids.” She says that even when the pest control man comes for his regular service visit, he will take pictures of the Santas to send to his children. While it may seem like Sokovich has every kind of Santa Claus imaginable, there’s still a noticeable absence of one particular St. Nick she wants: An Asian Santa. Sokovich would like to have one to honor her granddaughter who was adopted from China. After all, it’s family that inspires Sokovich to carry on the collection. She says it’s a continuation of what her mother started. “She’s the sweetest thing in the world,” Sokovich says of her mother. “I don’t remember having a fuss with her. These Santa Clauses are something we’ve done together, and I just carry on.”
A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Karon Warren is a freelance writer who lives Ellijay, Georgia.
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exploring books | GARDENING
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A Gardening Library By Karen Ott Mayer Photo courtesy of Floret Farm, Karen Ott Mayer and Tony DeSantis
These classic gardening books make the perfect Christmas gifts for the gardeners on your list. As a young gardener, I lived in several pre-internet rural areas during which gardening and horticultural books served as my lifeline. One day, I opened my mailbox to find a gift. Mom, knowing I had an interest in herbs, sent me “The Complete Book of Herbs” by Lesley Bremmes. As I thumbed through it, I felt like a window opened onto a new world of resources, designs and plants. It’s still in my book collection 30 years later. Many of us who spend hours outdoors during the high season come to relish winter, a time to slow down, regroup and simply daydream about new gardens. December is an ideal time to think about what’s on the shelf, or needs to be on the shelf, for the gardener in your life. Finding a book isn’t a problem these days; discerning
which ones truly hold valuable and practical knowledge can be a challenge. After querying garden friends with specific horticultural specialties and scanning my own shelf, we’ve put together a solid list of favorites as a starting place. Seed Collection 101 “Seed to Seed” Author: Suzanne Ashworth When I wanted to start saving seeds a few years ago, I reached out to Martin Walsh at Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. Working with dozens of contracted growers, seed expert Walsh knows a thing or two about seed collection and preservation. His words to me, “Go find and read “Seed to Seed” DeSoto 29
by Suzanne Ashworth.” Filled with practical advice, the book covers major vegetables and flowers, giving specific guidance as to how to preserve seeds. Entirely in black and white with dense text on every page, the book details everything from botanical classifications to pollination. Photos focus on showing readers specific information rather than just entertaining with glossy images. The only downside for newcomers is the book may feel more like a technical read rather than a standard coffee table book. A Literary Plot of Land “One Writer’s Garden” Authors: Susan Halton and Jane Roy Brown In Mississippi writer Eudora Welty’s world, writing and gardening filled her days. Working alongside her mother, she learned the art of gardening. Today, the family’s threequarter acre garden has been restored to the original plan designed by her mother Chestina Welty. Authors Susan Halton and Jane Roy Brown’s “One Writer’s Garden” leads readers on a cultured and sentimental journey to this beloved garden place. Historical photographs by Welty are combined with current-day photos by noted photographer Langdon Clay to make this a gorgeous addition to any gardener’s library. The original handwritten notes by Welty and her mother add an intensely personal feel throughout the pages. More a gardener’s memoir, the book nonetheless contains solid information about the native plants chosen for the Welty garden. Inspirational Floral Crops “Cut Flower Garden” Author: Erin Benzakein Anyone who’s been growing specialty cut flowers in the last decade most likely knows Erin Benzakein. Her seminal book “Cut Flower Garden” has inspired and galvanized a new generation of growers focused on producing high-quality local floral crops. With photography as alluring as the information is practical, this book is a proven must-have for flower growers. Benzakein explains in detail how to plan, execute and produce cut flowers throughout the year. This book is particularly important for any grower interested in high tunnels, large fields and learning Benzakein’s own production model. Wild Things “Tough Plants for Southern Gardens” Author: Felder Rushing Not many gardeners grow their garden in the bed of a truck or have a wild area as a front yard. But any Mississippian who knows Felder Rushing understands anything goes for this laid-back gardener, who is now retired from a formal career with the Mississippi State Extension service. Rushing’s bestselling book, “Tough Plants for Southern Gardens,” was first published in 2003, and has remained one of the best reference books for growing plants tough enough for the South. An iconic figure across Mississippi, Felder himself 30 DeSoto
is known for his quirky nature and offbeat inspiration. His original book grew to include other tough plants books for Florida, California, and northern gardens. Rushing’s travels, especially to England, have added another colorful layer of knowledge and his own unique brand of humor. Woody Ornamentals “Manual of Woody Landscape Plants” Author: Michael Dirr Used extensively in education, “Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Or namental Characteristics, Culture and Propagation and Uses” by Michael Dirr has been in circulation for more than 20 years. An award-winning professor and researcher, Dirr earned a doctorate in plant physiology and taught in both northern and southern universities, including University of Georgia. With more than 1,000 pages of highly detailed information about woody landscape plants, this book weighs in at nearly five pounds. Dirr has also written other books focused on ornamentals and trees. On the Horizon “A Year in Flowers” Author: Erin Benzakein Although “A Year in Flowers” by Erin Benzakein will not be released in time for Christmas gift-giving, it should be added to your springtime reading list. Coming in February 2020, the book will explore creative ways to incorporate homegrown and seasonal flowers into everyday life. From her Floret Farm in Washington State’s Skagit Valley, Benzakein supplies cut flowers to florists across the Pacific Northwest. She also has created an award-winning blog and a mail-order seed business. And in case you’re wondering what’s on her shelf ? “In Bloom” by Clare Nolan, “The Complete Gardener” by Monty Don and “On Flowers” by Amy Merrick. When she’s not writing, Karen Ott Mayer can be found in her garden at Moon Hollow Farm and Country House in Como, Mississippi.
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southern roots | MOSS MOUNTAIN FARM
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The dining table is set with China gathered from estate sales,junk shops, and family gifts. Chargers from William-Sonoma and water glasses from Anthropology.
Christmas at Moss Farm Story and photography by P. Allen Smith
Take a look in your attic and in your garden to create eclectic and surprising holiday themes. Christmas at Moss Mountain Farm is a busy time of the year. We enjoy receiving guests throughout the season and sharing the beauty of this special time. Planning holiday themes and decorations begins in early fall, and we enjoy trying new approaches to decking the halls from one year to the next. No matter how early we start planning, it does seem it’s always a scramble to finish in time. I suppose I’ve always been a bit of a contrarian when it comes to seasonal decor of any kind. For me, it must flow with the design and colors of the rooms of the house... and for that matter, the exterior as well. So, what if the traditional colors of the season are red and green? If these “status quo” colors don’t harmonize with my home, I move past them unapologetically. The combination of artificial (yes, artificial) and fresh farm greenery is the basis of everything we create. Over the
past 15 years we have used the same artificial garland and wreaths as ‘forms’ on which to apply the fresh greens and other elements of interest. Last year I shared our secret with a group where one guest responded with a look of horror. “Artificial!?” she screeched. “Have you ever made garlands and wreaths from scratch?” I asked her. Of course, she had not. “It’s not a task for the faint of heart or for those who are time oppressed,” I explained. So much for the judgmental purists. I simply don’t have time. The real creative fun for me begins when integrating ‘this and that.’ Anything goes – from persimmons to taxidermy – if colors, texture, and forms harmonize and create visual interest as well as an occasional ‘wow’ moment. My mantra has always been to use the ordinary to DeSoto 33
The front porch hosts a 19th-century sleigh donned by farm greenery and sleigh bells from our draft horse ‘Trudy’.
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create the extraordinary. Having creative friends help and they add to the fun. Holly Heider Chapple, the floral virtuoso, is just one of those shining stars for me. Often dubbed the “Flower Mama” by her industry peers, she operates Hope Flower Farm, and inspires other designers across the country with her designs. Bodacious white Amaryllis blooms in the chandeliers? Why not? And, Holly and I share the same obsession for Russian Olive (Elaeagnus ebbing and E. angustifolia), that multipurpose grey leafed shrub. Our other obsessions include Osage oranges (Maclura pomifera) and magnolia, ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ and even those glorious grey lichens... you get the idea. And then, there’s that use, reuse and recycle part of me that is a voice from my past. You probably have those same old tapes playing in your heads from your mothers and grandmothers: don’t throw anything away. You just might need that someday. Use it again and again. It’s an addiction, but I will say, coming from a long and distinguished line of pack rats, it does come in handy. We have used the same silver bowls, cone wreaths and various bits and bobs of bling for years. But we’ve always used it a slightly different way each year.
I love a well-set table, not only for special occasions, but any time. Although it seems to have gone the way of good manners and curiosity these days, I still like a beautiful table. It may seem to be passé with the younger set to drag out all that old dining accoutrement, but I say let them eat on white Chinet® disposable plates and drink from plastic cups. However, it does seem like an environmental double standard for those quick to chide you for your carbon footprint. Our old dishes are a mishmash of gathered and inherited pieces. Yes, it’s a place where Williams-Sonoma meets Old Paris cups and 19th century Coalport porcelain. Oh, what the heck... they all play well together. Don’t bow to convention. Take a look outside and in your attic, and then get creative and have some fun. 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 | BRAVO! ITALIAN RESTAURANT
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A Feast for the Senses By Michele D. Baker Photography courtesy of Michele D. Baker, happycow.net and zagat.com
Stepping inside this Jackson, Mississippi, restaurant is just like coming home for a special Christmas celebration. The mouth-watering scents of fresh basil, sizzling garlic and onions, and simmering tomato sauce perfume the chilly winter air outside BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar in Jackson, Mississippi. Inside the toasty restaurant, Christmas carols compete with lively conversation and the clink of silverware on china. Starburst light fixtures cast their golden glow over indigo blue banquettes and sparkling glassware. The atmosphere is festive, and rosy-cheeked patrons fresh in from the cold are enjoying mulled wine and the holiday spirit that exudes from comfortable surroundings and cheerful staff. “Especially during the holidays, BRAVO! has a homecoming feel,” explains co-owner Jeff Good. “We benefit from the 25 years of memories, starting back in our ‘cocktail hour’ days. Now, patrons return with their grown children to
celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and, of course, the winter holidays. Our menu includes Veal Parmesan and grilled yellowfin tuna, but families can also just come to share a woodfired pizza.” The glass-walled restaurant nestles atop a short tunnel connecting the east and west wings of north Jackson’s venerable Highland Village Shopping Center with wide views of the live oaks, pines, and mimosas wrapped in twinkling lights that dot the landscape below. Plush scarlet bows crown huge pine bough wreaths tastefully displayed across the whitewashed brick of the shopping center’s courtyard. “The view at sunset and twilight is stunning,” says Good. “It’s one of the reasons we chose this location.” The restaurant has been a holiday fixture for a quarter DeSoto 37
of a century. “What sets BRAVO! apart is the service and warm atmosphere,” continues Good. “High class, but not stuffy. Relaxed and welcoming, but polished. Not a white tablecloth in sight! Our wait staff dress in pressed blue jeans and longsleeved black button-down shirts. This is fine dining without the attitude.” Co-owner and executive chef Dan Blumenthal agrees. “This is a carefully-considered menu of fine Italian cuisine. Year-round, we offer traditional Italian recipes that have been updated for modern times, such as Veal Marsala, Chicken Cacciatore, our double-cut pork chop, and classic Italian gelato.” During the holidays, Jacksonians are also treated to fried turkeys, prime rib, spinach casserole, bourbon-glazed carrots, Brussels sprouts with bacon and duck fat, a luscious couscous salad, and the holiday white chocolate bread pudding. The menu also offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-sensitive options, including gluten-free pastas. The open kitchen – the first of its kind in Jackson at the time – boasts a wood-burning oven imported from Modena, Italy. Winter holidays offer the perfect excuse for a party, and limited-seating events, such as “Cheers at BRAVO!, a Holiday Sparkling Wine Tasting,” and the luxurious Moët & Chandon Champagne Dinner are popular events that fill quickly. “BRAVO! offers wine tastings with leading winemakers from around the world, innovative cocktail tastings by our very own skilled bartenders, and five-course, gourmet dinners with wine flights,” says sommelier Laura Collins. The BRAVO! team is justifiably proud of its long history of success and has the accolades to prove it. As of 2019, BRAVO! has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 23 years in a row for its more-than-250 wine selections, most of which are classified by Wine Spectator as inexpensive – under $50 per bottle – and inventory of over 1,700 bottles. Wine Spectator’s annual Restaurant Awards recognize restaurants 38 DeSoto
whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine, and deliver sufficient choices to satisfy even discerning wine lovers. The holiday season is best to experience the special magic that has allowed Good’s and Blumenthal’s everexpanding vision to endure the test of time. In addition to BRAVO!, the pair also owns and runs two other successful restaurants in Jackson: Sal & Mookie’s New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint and Broad Street Baking Company, which supplies all the breads and pastries for the other restaurants. The catering arm, Mangia Bene – Italian for “eat well” – supplies sandwiches, salads, pasta and desserts for corporate retreats, family reunions, Christmas parties, and other events throughout the year. And since the restaurants are all part of the BRAVO! family, “3-in-1” holiday gift cards can be used at any of the three restaurants throughout the year. “BRAVO! is more than a restaurant. It is an attitude of excellence that begins with our mission,” concludes Good. “We source the finest raw ingredients, prepare them by hand using creative, original recipes and time-honored processes, and serve attractive, flavorful creations to our guests with confidence and grace. “We uphold a company culture which celebrates and rewards personal excellence and collaborative effort. We are committed to a culture of guest care and service to others. We always strive to do the right thing.” Buon Natale and mangia bene! bravobuzz.com Michele D. Baker is a freelance travel writer and food lover in Jackson, Mississippi, who shares her restored 1929 Craftsman-style bungalow with three cats and 4,000 books. She also loves baking and 80s music.
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exploring destinations | THE GRAND HOTEL
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Fireplaces abound in the historic Grand Hotel, a perfect place for marshmallows and Christmas decor.
In keeping with the historic hotel, garland drapes the doors with a holiday welcome and the scent of cedar.
A Grand Christmas By Verna Gates | Photography courtesy of The Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa
The magic of the season comes alive with an overnight transformation at The Grand Hotel in coastal Alabama. Goose bumps pop up on Mike Roach as he passes through the entry gate and drives the last 100 yards into The Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in Point Clear, Alabama. Seeing the lights on the century-old live oaks and the marina, just says Christmas to Mike and his Atlanta family. Soon, his mom will have the backgammon game set up by the fireplace and the Christmas tradition will begin. His family’s history at The Grand dates back to the time when it was a Civil War hospital for Southern soldiers. After Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, his family will pose by the Christmas tree for yet another holiday photo.
“It is pretty amazing how it transforms overnight into Christmas,” Roach said. The Thanksgiving turkey is put away and the happily stuffed guests are tucked away in the beds when Santa’s elves, in the guise of The Grand Hotel staff, transform the historic resort into Christmas. When sleepy guests come down to breakfast, the fall golds have given way to silver balls. Red leaves became red poinsettias. Pumpkins turn to gingerbread houses. All is sprinkled with the magical glow of thousands of white lights. To the guests, the decorations appear as if Santa came down all of the chimneys; however, in reality the planning DeSoto 41
Magic is in the air as ancient oaks are covered with starry lights, beginning on the Friday night after Thanksgiving starts the season with a glow of magic.
started in April. Or perhaps even further back to 1847, when The Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa was built near Fairhope, Alabama. The luxury hotel was designed as a summer and holiday escape from the heat and dirt of the city. The guests indulged in the cool ocean breezes on the promenade by day and the sumptuous dinners by night, just like today. That kind of luxury has led The Grand Hotel to win the 2019 Hotel of the Year in the 400+ guestroom category from the Historic Hotels of America. A tradition of extravagant holidays began with the original 40 rooms, which is now 405 rooms and suites and part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Many families come for Christmas at The Grand and stay through New Year’s Day, a tradition of family fun and holiday ease. For Lee Mikell, who has visited the resort with his wife for 33 years, it is a reunion of old friends who also spend the holiday here, and playing croquet and reading a few good books in front of the fireplace. “I have been bitten by The Grand, and it is a grand addiction. I love the charm and tradition,” said Mikell, of Charleston, S.C. The magic begins in one of the meeting rooms commandeered as a staging area. Here, the scents of garland and ginger escape to the inquiring olfactory of curious patrons. The colorful ornaments reflect the aqua ocean and navy blue along with gold and silver, to honor the thousands of World War II sailors who trained at the property before heading for the Pacific. 42 DeSoto
The pastry chef starts preparing gingerbread and icing as early as October to create a giant, 16-foot by 8-foot replica of The Grand in gingerbread. The massive pastry will stand in the lobby with a model train circling the hotel and lagoon, all made of cookie, candy and plenty of sugar. The Grand’s florist begins collecting poinsettias, garlands and colorful flowers to create the giant sprays in the lobby. Dozens of garlands swag across doors, mantles and lamp posts around the property. She makes wreaths with garlands, lights, bells, bows and ornaments. The trees are assembled and wrapped with ribbons and lights, ready to decorate. Around the property, which is often called the “queen of Southern resorts,” the dozens of ancient, sprawling live oak trees are wrapped with thousands of white lights. The oaks each spread as widely as 30 or more feet as their trunk-sized limbs cascade out in long, elegant lines. They dot the walking paths in the heart of the Grand, which is a park-like center with ponds and walking paths. The entire length of the fence and the bridge are lined with lighted swags of garland. Late on Thanksgiving Day, an army worthy of a North Pole workshop assembles. A flurry of activity results in the hanging of wreaths, garlands and hundreds of ornaments. By breakfast, the Grand is ready for the holiday spirit with decorations throughout the resort. After the daytime discovery of Christmas glee, the evening brings the greatest delight. Guests assemble outside for the lighting of the oaks. The switch turns on a fairy land of majestic, glowing trees across the park-like center where mullet
jump in the ponds. The ducks may need to waddle around the set pieces such as oversized lighted ornaments and snowflakes. Guests console them with their beloved crack corn nibbles, available at the front desk. The season now launched, the Grand fills the days starting with breakfast with Santa and ending with either a Santa, reindeer or an elf tuck-in at night. Along the way, children can join Rudolph in a candy cane hunt, cookie decorating, story time, and crafts. Adults and families can enjoy sleigh rides, bonfires, trivia nights and making aprons, snow globes and stockings. Every afternoon, the Grand celebrates its history with a procession and firing of the cannon. As both Roach and Mikell said, “It’s so relaxing” to spend your holiday at The Grand. grand1847.com
The pastry chefs work for months to create a room-filling replica of the Grand Hotel Resort. Don’t touch the icing!
The Grand Gingerbread Hotel By the Numbers 150 lbs. Flour 30 lbs. sugar 6 cups cinnamon 6 cups ginger 24 lbs. molasses 150 lbs. royal icing 20 lbs. assorted candy 10 lbs. coconut 10 lbs. chocolate
Freelance writer Verna Gates is based in Birmingham, Alabama.
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on the road again | ST. AUGUSTINE, FL
, e n i t s u St.Aug a Florid
8:00 Mornings are easier to face after breakfast at The Blue Hen, a café located in the historic Lincolnville neighborhood of St. Augustine. Choose locally sourced items for breakfast, everything from blue crab quiche to chicken biscuits. The restaurant is open from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily except Mondays. 9:30 Take in an historic overview of the oldest city in America with an Old Town Trolley Tour. While guides explain the city’s history, from its inception in 1565 by the Spanish to present day, the trolley pauses at numerous historic sites. Visitors will enjoy elaborate churches, 19th century hotels and the Castillo de San Marcos fortress facing the harbor and Atlantic Ocean. 11:00 Henry Flagler and John D. Rockefeller made their riches with Standard Oil Company but Flagler sought to develop Florida into a tourist mecca. He founded many businesses in St. Augustine, including high-end hotels that attracted the rich and famous. His enormous Ponce de Leon Hotel, with its Tiffany glass windows, statues and paintings, has now become Flagler College and is open for tours daily. Noon The Alcazar Café serves up entrees at the bottom of what was once the largest indoor swimming pool inside the Alcazar Hotel. The hotel opened on Christmas Day 1888 and was purchased in 1946 by Otto Lightner and the building now houses the Lightner Museum. After lunch, view relics of the city’s Gilded Age inside the museum, which also contains a large collection of music boxes. 3:00 Check into the St. Francis Inn, an old historical Spanish residence dating back to 1791. The inn features a pool, courtyard, comfy seating areas with fireplaces and antiques, gourmet breakfast and nightly desserts. 4:00 Visit thirsty when visiting the St. Augustine Distillery Co., because the 45-minute tour of craft spirits utilizing Florida ingredients includes sample cocktails. Visitors can taste why the distillery received numerous accolades, including a Southern Living Food Award for “Best Gin of the South.” 5:00 Take a trip back in time at Castillo de San Marcos, a 17the century Spanish stone fortress located on the St. Augustine Inlet. Learn why the Spanish found the area the perfect spot for a presidio and view demonstrations of historic weaponry. 7:00 Lorna Macdonald’s family purchased an 1879 colonial Spanish home in St. Augustine to open the Raintree restaurant in 1981. Today, Lorna runs the elegant establishment, serving “uptown casual dining,” including a special holiday menu. 44 DeSoto
To plan your visit: floridahistoriccoast.com trolleytours.com stfrancisinn.com staugustineecotours.com raintreerestaurant.com
Upcoming Events: St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights Nov. 23, 2019-Feb. 2, 2020 The city and its many historic sites, restaurants and boutique shops become emblazoned with lighting displays during the holidays. Unlike many cities, this one lasts way through the New Year. The lights come on every evening beginning at dusk. floridashistoriccoast.com/nights-lights Dark of the Moon Ghost Tour Ongoing Visiting the 1874 St. Augustine Lighthouse is a treat during daylight hours, but it’s best to visit at night to enjoy the ghost stories of the historic landmark. Dark of the Moon tours are offered at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and include the history of the people who have worked at the lighthouse and the 1876 Keepers’ House, some who may not have left. staugustinelighthouse.org Regatta of Lights Dec. 14, 2019 The city shines bright with holiday lights for two months, but on Dec. 14, it’s the waterfront’s turn. The annual Regatta of Lights boat parade sails along the bayfront north of the Bridge of Lions with boats and ships decorated in everything from whimsical to patriotic themes. The 6 p.m. Regatta is free and open to the public. staugustineyachtclub.com/regattaoflights.html DeSoto 45
greater goods | STOCKING STUFFERS
Stocking Stuffers
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1. Bracelets with scriptures, Center Stage Fashions, 324 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 2. Logbooks, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS 3. Cozy hats, gloves and scarves, Upstairs Closet, 136 Norfleet Drive, Senatobia, MS 4. T-towels, Bon Von, 230 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 5. Socks in Balls, Bon Von, 230 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 6. Multi tool, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 7. Super soft socks, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 8. Crossbody with detachable wrist strap, The Speckled Egg, 5100 Interstate 55, Marion, AR 9. Erimish jewelry, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 10. Cozy socks, keychains and Amy Head lipsticks, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 11. Do it Yourself Snowman, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 12. Jewelry pouch, Against the Grain Mercantile, 880 US-64 Marion, AR
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greater goods | CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
Christmas Ornaments
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1. Vintage ornaments, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS 2 Haind-painted Wooden ornaments, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS 3. Vintage ornaments, Bon Von, 230 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 4. Giant ornaments, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 5. Etta B Santa ornament, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 6. Glory Haus cardinal ornament, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 7. Dog ornament, Keep it Casual, 106 S Industrial Rd, Tupelo, MS 8. Christmas ornaments, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 9. Muddy Mae Pottery ornaments, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 10. Teacher ornament, Against the Grain Mercantile, 880 US-64 Marion, AR 11. Hand painted ornaments, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Road, Marion, AR 12. Angel and cross ornaments, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS DeSoto 47
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O HOLY
NIGHT By Corey Latta | Photography courtesy of Germantown Baptist Church
During the Christmas season, churches around the South bring to life the manger scene described in the Holy Gospels. DeSoto 49
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The need for visual aids wasn’t lost on St. Francis of Assisi, the Italian Catholic friar who became the patron saint of animals and nature. St. Francis is believed to have been the first to propose the idea of “animated props” to teach the story of the birth of Jesus. Many miracles are attributed to St. Francis, and his idea that became a worldwide phenomenon should be counted among them. This holiday season, churches around the world will recreate the scene as a gift to their communities, including these established denominations in Tennessee and Mississippi.
Longview Heights Baptist Church
4501 Goodman Rd. Olive Branch, Mississippi Dec. 6-8 We can experience a little something of Bethlehem in Olive Branch. For a fourth year, Longview Heights Baptist Church will host its Living Nativity. With the help of more than 200 volunteers, Longview Heights will present a 12-scene narrative nativity that begins with the Old Testament prophet Isaiah’s foretelling of the Messiah’s birth and concludes with the empty tomb. Visitors will be immersed in Longview Heights’ living nativity, peopled by tax collectors and census takers, populated by sheep and chickens in the marketplace, and Mary and Joseph with requisite donkey. The great care behind this production doesn’t come without interesting anecdotes. Once, a trailer that housed hinges, nuts, bolts, ladders, and tools used for constructing sets was stolen right off the church lot only to turn up outside of town with the name scratched off. But Bethlehem still endures. Liz Jennings, director of Longview Heights’ nativity, believes in the power and purpose of staging the event. “We love offering our community this. It means a lot to the many people.”
Germantown Baptist Church
9450 Poplar Ave. Germantown, Tennessee Dec. 6-8 Germantown Baptist Church is pretty far removed from an Italian cave, but DeSoto 51
the scene remains. For 30 years, GBC has presented a living nativity. “The living nativity is our gift to the community,” says Recreation Pastor John Longworth. Visitors are welcomed to a replica of a Bethlehem village before entering into a tent that houses the living nativity. Visitors enjoy refreshments, kids enjoy a petting zoo, and everyone enjoys the warmth of a heated canopy while they wait their turn for the performance, which in St. Francis fashion, includes three camels, donkey, and sheep. The 15-minute program is scheduled every 30 minutes. Approximately 3,000 to 5,000 people annually witness this visual depiction of the nativity.
Bartlett United Methodist Church 5676 Stage Rd. Bartlett, Tennessee Dec. 18-23
Another local church that’s kept the 800-year-old tradition going is Bartlett Methodist Church. Around 1975, the youth group at Bartlett UMC started putting on a living nativity. Just like St. Francis and Germantown Baptist, Bartlett UMC stages its nativity for the people. 52 DeSoto
“This has always been something special we’ve done for the community,” Youth Minister Lynn Thompson says. Lynn was a part of that original youth group that started the living nativity. Along with Joseph, Mary, and an infant Jesus, visitors also will find the church’s youth dressed up as wisemen and shepherds. But they won’t see any live animals around this stable. Livestock haven’t always stuck to the script. In years past, the goats ate the shepherd’s costumes, and the donkey decided to just stop walking halfway down the street to the manger. So, while you won’t find animals, not real ones anyway (the sheep are now played by kids), you will find a lot of heart. And not unlike those who came to St. Francis’s cave, visitors pause to reflect. “People can stop and see the love of God,” Lynn says, “people can even stop to see Santa kneeling in the manger.”
Something about a Stable
C. S. Lewis once said of the birth of Christ in the manger, “once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.” This paradox of belief, that a manger might contain what the universe can’t, has found its place into the festive fixtures of Christmas traditions. The scene is familiar: Joseph, Mary, an infant Jesus, a few wisemen, and hopefully some livestock. All staged in familiar form, posed out front of local church. These live action versions of the historical account of Jesus’s birth find their inspiration in the biblical narrative. Of the four gospels, two, Matthew and Luke, give accounts of Jesus’s birth. But it’s Luke who lays out the script for today’s live depictions: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (2:812). It took a millennium or so after Luke’s account to bring us living nativities as we now enjoy them. The dramatic bridge from biblical text to modern presentation was actually built around 800 years ago by St. Francis of Assisi. St. Bonaventure, a French monk born shortly after St. Francis’s death, writes in his biography of Francis that the Saint of Assisi proposed the idea of setting up a manger, complete with hay, one ox, and a donkey, in a cave in the village of Grecio. The presentations varied, the cast expanded to include Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus, and perhaps a shepherd or wiseman or three, but St. Francis’s intent, faithful to the gospel writers before, has stood the test of time.
Corey Latta is a teacher, speaker, and the author of four books, including ‘C. S. Lewis and the Art of Writing.’ He lives and writes in Memphis.
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By Jackie Sheckler Finch Photography courtesy of Oren Dunn City Museum, Tupelo Main Street and Jackie Sheckler Finch,
Tupelo has a lot to celebrate in 2020, starting with a New Year’s celebration to ring in its 150th anniversary and the 85th birthday of native son Elvis Presley.
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Tupelo’s Main and Broadway streets in the 1800’s
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Tupelo’s Main Street as it looked in 1908 Tornado rips through Tupelo on April 5, 1936
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Were it not for some civicminded leaders, the Mississippi town now celebrating its 150th anniversary might still be called by its original name – Gum Pond. “The early settlers called it Gum Pond because of all the Tupelo gum trees and because there was a pond here,” said Leesha Faulkner, curator of the Oren Dunn City Museum. When the city was incorporated in 1870, however, founding fathers decided a better name was needed. “They named it Tupelo because the area was rich in native Tupelo gum trees,” Faulkner says. Born in Tupelo, Jack Reed Jr. said he has seen many changes in his hometown. “We had a 50th high school reunion this month and two things my fellow classmates said they noticed… we have a lot of great independent restaurants in the downtown area now and we put our downtown on a ‘road diet.’” By that, Reed says, he is describing how the Tupelo road system once seemed designed to get truckers and motorists through town as quickly as possible. “The downtown was a great place for cars but not for people,” he remembers. “Now we have bicycle lanes on each side, trucks are now going around town instead of through downtown, and we have parallel parking which has made downtown a lot more pedestrian friendly.” His family-owned business, Reed’s Department Store on Main Street, also will be celebrating its 115th anniversary in 2020. Founded in 1905, the store and the town sort of grew up together, Reed says. “When my grandfather R. W. Reed Sr., opened the store, it carried what people needed back then when our customers were riding horses or traveling in wagons,” says Reed, who is president of the family business and a former mayor of Tupelo. “We carried everything from food to saddles,” Reed says. “We sold the first dress in Tupelo back in the 1920s. Before that, women made their dresses; they made most of the clothes.” T h e h i s t o r y o f Tu p e l o i s fascinating, Reed says. Originally inhabited by Chickasaw Indians, the local area saw Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto pass through in 1540. But he didn’t stay long. With a reputation as fierce fighters, the Chickasaws drove De Soto westward to his discovery of the Mississippi River. DeSoto 57
A statue commemorating the homecoming concert of Elvis is a popular photo spot.
Two new statues at the Elvis Birthplace honor Elvis the young dreamer and Elvis the legendary performer.
Tupelo Hardware is where Elvis got his first guitar for his 11th birthday.
Built in 1912, the Lyric Theatre is said to be where Elvis stole his first kiss in the theatre balcony
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Shake Rag was an historic African American community in Tupelo.
The Chickasaws also established an important route of commerce with the Natchez Indians to the south that still exists today. The historic Natchez Trace linked the fledgling Gum Pond to the outside world. Today, Natchez Trace Parkway is administered by the National Park Service and runs 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. Located close to the road’s halfway point, Tupelo is home to the Natchez Trace headquarters and visitor center. Another major transportation boost was the arrival of the railroad in 1850. “The railroad is essentially what made Tupelo,” Faulkner says. “The Mobile & Ohio Railroad ran along what is now Front Street.” That important railroad became a battleground during the Civil War when both the North and the South wanted to control it. In July 1864, Union troops fought the Confederate cavalry which wanted to stop the railroad from delivering supplies for the Union campaign against Atlanta. Neither side could claim a clear victory but Union troops did succeed in their main goal of keeping Confederates from taking the railroad. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Tupelo National Battlefield Site is located along Main Street. The battlefield no longer exists but the one-acre memorial site honors the more than 2,000 men killed in the battle. Incorporated on July 20, 1870, Tupelo became a major manufacturing and rail distribution center and was the first city in the nation to provide its citizens with dependable, inexpensive electric power through the Tennessee Valley Authority. “That was in 1934 and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt himself came to Tupelo to make the announcement,” Faulkner says. ‘His wife Eleanor came with him and she went around to look at housing. As a result, the WPA spruced up and built houses here in Tupelo.” Reed’s had the honor of becoming the first air-conditioned store in northern Mississippi. “At first, some people were afraid to come in,” Reed says. “There was a story going around that if you walked into air conditioning and then walked out into that 100-degree heat, you would get the flu. But once people came in, they decided they liked air conditioning.” In the spring of 1936, Tupelo was DeSoto 59
The two-room shack where Elvis was born is now part of the Elvis Birthplace.
hit by one of the worst-ever natural disasters. A tornado leveled 48 city blocks and more than 200 homes, killing 233 people and injuring more than 700 people. Hardest hit was the old Gum Pond neighborhood which was virtually obliterated. Among the survivors was a three-month old baby. “We didn’t know who he would grow up to be,” Reed says. “Did his birth influence the future of Tupelo? Definitely. We get people from around the world who come here to see where he was born and grew up.” That baby, of course, was Elvis Presley and Reed’s Department Store has one of the first photos of Elvis. “We have a 1934 photo hanging on our wall that shows a pregnant Gladys Presley taken at a July 4th picnic. At the time, Gladys worked for a garment manufacturer also owned by the Reed family.” Shortly before dawn on Jan. 8, 1935, Gladys Presley gave birth to twin boys. The first baby was born dead. The second grew up to become one of the most famous men in the world. The two-room shotgun shack where Elvis Presley was born stands in stark contrast to the Graceland mansion where he died in Memphis on Aug. 16, 1977. “My mother, Fay, was here helping Gladys when Elvis was born,” says childhood buddy Guy Harris. The stillborn identical twin named Jesse Garon Presley was buried about five miles away in Priceville Cemetery in an unmarked grave. “That bothered Elvis for the rest of his life,” Harris says. “Even as a kid, sometimes we would be talking and Elvis would start crying, saying, ‘I lived and he didn’t.’” 60 DeSoto
For the first three years of his life, Elvis grew up in this cramped birthplace, with only a front room where the family slept and a kitchen. “They were poor, but everybody around us was poor,” Harris says. When they could sneak away, Harris says he and Elvis liked to go skinny dipping in the creek. “We’d just jump in naked,” he recalls. “We barely had clothes to wear, and we sure had no swimming clothes. We couldn’t go swimming in our clothes because if we went home with wet clothes we’d be in a lot of trouble and get whipped.” The annual state fair in Tupelo was a big deal that youngsters looked forward to every year. “Of course, we didn’t have much money to go, but we’d sneak over the fence,” says Harris, a retired policeman. “It wasn’t but a few years later that people were paying to see Elvis at the fair. We had a big laugh about that.” In fact, it was that performance at the state fair when Elvis was a rising star that saved his old birthplace. Elvis signed over the money from a 1956 performance for the city to buy the property for a park for neighborhood children. But it wasn’t until the mid 1970s that the birthplace was opened to the public. “Prior to that, it was in really bad shape,” says Dick Guyton, executive director of the Elvis Presley Birthplace. “People were shocked when they found out that was where Elvis used to live.” Today, the Elvis Presley Birthplace attracts about 100,000 visitors a year and has grown to include a museum, memorial chapel, Walk of Life, fountain of life, story wall,
gift shop, theater, conference space, church and statue of Elvis at age 13. The newest addition is two statues atop a hillside. One depicts a young Elvis sitting on a milk crate, dreaming of the future. Behind him stands a statue of Elvis the legendary performer that boy would become. When Elvis was 13, his family headed to Memphis to try and make a living. At the Birthplace is a 1939 green Plymouth, a replica of the car the Presleys drove to Memphis seeking a better life. “Elvis was just one of us. We didn’t know how his life would turn out,” Harris says. “He was on the same level as me when we grew up here, and he was on the same level as me when he died. Elvis never forgot where he came from.”
Celebrations in Tupelo Dec. 31, 2019 7 p.m. to midnight Fairpark Tupelo rings in the New Year, marking the city’s 150th birthday and Elvis Presley’s 85th birthday. As part of the celebration, a new Toyota Corolla will be given away. Jan. 8 1 p.m. Elvis Presley Birthplace Elvis 85th Birthday Celebration Fans from around the world gather to celebrate Elvis’s birthday with cake and special guests. Jan. 9 2-3 p.m. Tupelo Community Theater Tupelo unveils a new marker on the Elvis’ Tupelo Driving Tour commemorating Elvis’ heritage at the historic Lyric Theatre. June 3-7 22nd Annual Tupelo Elvis Festival Featuring concerts, special events, and the Elvis Tribute Artist Competition. See up-to-date celebration information throughout the year at www.tupelo.net.
An award-winning journalist, Jackie Sheckler Finch loves to take to the road to see what lies beyond the next bend.
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An Alpine
Christmas By Mary Ann DeSantis Photography courtesy of Alpine Helen/White County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Georgia Mountain Coaster
Picture-perfect and holiday ready, this Alpine village nestled in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains is the setting for a Lifetime movie to air Dec. 21.
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Downtown Helen at Christmas
Helen in snowfall
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The postcard-perfect Alpine Helen, Georgia, looks like a mountain town in Bavaria, Germany, and that’s exactly what its community leaders intended 50 years ago. Officially called Alpine Helen, the small town on the banks of the Chattahoochee River has had an amazing transformation story. Like many other small Southern towns in the 1960s where industries had left or declined, Helen had seen better days. But a small group of community leaders got together and discussed ways to improve the town, which in 1968 consisted of 10 buildings. Hoping to increase tourism in the area, they talked to Georgia artist John Kollock about adding some “color” to Helen. Kollock, who had been stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army, had fallen in love with Bavaria. The Blue Ridge Mountains around Helen reminded him of Europe. He took pictures of the buildings and returned to his studio where he “alpinized” the exteriors in drawings. “The business owners paid to have their own building facades changed to fit the Alpine Bavarian theme that Kollock had shown in his drawings,” said Jerry Brown, executive director for the Alpine Helen/ White County Convention and Visitors Bureau. If celebrating Christmas in Germany – where many of our favorite holiday traditions began – is not in your travel budget this year, you can still get an authentic taste of Bavaria without leaving the American South. Helen is a quintessential Alpine village complete with cobblestone streets, Old-World towers, gingerbread-style buildings, and Christmas decorations that have enticed Hollywood producers to come calling. In fact, visitors last April got a taste of what Helen looks like during the holidays because decorations were put back in place for the filming of “Christmas Love Letter,” a Lifetime Films movie that will air on Dec. 21. This is the second holiday movie to use the picturesque town in the storyline. In 2017, a Hallmark Christmas movie, “The Sweetest Christmas,” starring Purvis, Mississippi native Lacey Chabert, took place in Helen although most of the filming actually happened in Vancouver, British Columbia. The economic impact of this year’s “Christmas Love Letter” was more than a DeSoto 65
Alpine Helen, GA
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half-million dollars when it was filmed on location last April and May, according to the producers. And it’s a gift that will keep on giving. “I’m certain that after “Christmas Love Letter” airs the county and city will benefit from additional visitation and further economic impact for years to come,” says Brown. And that’s exactly what Helen’s early leaders envisioned with their unusual dream of infusing some German flavor into their town in January 1969, when renovations to exterior buildings began. By September of that same year, Alpine Helen hosted its first promotional event – the Chattahoochee Trout Festival and Alpine Hoedown. Today, the area receives more than 1.6 million visitors annually and is the third most visited city in Georgia, behind Atlanta and Savannah, according to Brown. Many new visitors come to Helen thinking it was a community of German immigrants who settled the town but that wasn’t the case. It was an all-American community full of visionaries. “Helen had about 250 residents then,” says Paula Ash, who co-founded the Helen Arts & Culture Center with a group of friends. “Many of the builders who were doing the construction had served in the military in Germany and had a good idea of what the town would eventually look like.” She remembers Austrian Bernd Nagy falling in love with Helen and moving there to open the House of Tyrol, which for many years sold Austrian and German merchandise. The Link family built the Old Heidelberg restaurant and other relatives from Germany followed. Bavaria is certainly well represented now with four authentic German restaurants among the 29 total eateries in town. Auril and Doina Arodan emigrated from Baden-Wuerttemberg about eight years ago after visiting Helen and realizing the town needed a fine-dining German restaurant. A master chef, Arodan prepares German specialties like Tafelspitz (slow-cooked beef) and Holzfaellersteak (pork loin), bringing a taste of OldWorld Germany to the couple’s Bodensee Restaurant on Munich Strasse in downtown Helen. Part of the Helen “experience” includes having a pastry or gigantic pretzel at Hofers Bakery and Café, also one of my DeSoto 67
favorite breakfast places. Horst and Gerda Hofer, who came to the U.S. in the late 1950s from Schwabach, Germany, opened the Helen bakery in 1991 after running a successful bakery chain in Atlanta. OTHER TIMES OF YEAR While the holidays are a delightful time to visit Helen, the city also offers so much to do all year, especially for nature lovers. Hiking trails lead to the glorious Anna Ruby Falls and through Unicoi State Park. On summer days, the Chattahoochee River is filled with people lazily floating on tubes right through the downtown area. Art lovers will enjoy visiting the Folk Pottery Museum and The Gourd Place, both located in nearby Sautee, Georgia. The Sautee Nacoochee Arts Center features works from 47 juried artists in the area and attracts more than 47,000 visitors annually. The newest attraction is the Georgia Mountain Coaster, which feels like a ride on a bobsled without the snow. This unique ride heads up a mountain ridge and back down through switchbacks and roundabouts before dropping riders in downtown Helen. The rider controls the speed, so it can be as breathtaking as your courage will allow. Dancing-at-the-Festehall-in-Alpine-Helen
Hofers Bakery
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Alpine Helen/White County has done an excellent job of promoting the authentic sites near town. The Hardman Farm Historic site is an educational experience for all ages. “Hardman Farm was years ahead of its time and very innovative,” says current farm manager Will Wagner. In December, the Hardman house will feature period holiday decor and docents dressed in their finest 1870’s garb. No matter what time of year you visit, it’s just what Helen’s far-sighted leaders imagined for their beloved town 50 years ago. helenga.org
GETTING THERE The main route in and out of Helen is Georgia State Route 75 (not Interstate-75). Helen is located 102 miles northeast of Atlanta International Airport. From Memphis or North Mississippi, it is about a seven-hour drive. ACCOMODATIONS If you are only going to Helen for a day or two, you will find many well-known hotel chains right in town, making it possible to walk just about everywhere you want to go. However, if you plan to go for several days, you may opt to stay at one of the nearby lodges or resorts. The Unicoi State Park and Adventure Lodge offers not only a recently renovated lodge but also unique barrel cabins. The luxurious Valhalla Resort Hotel is situated next to the Innsbruck Golf Course which stretches for more than 6,500 yards in the shadow of the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Mary Ann DeSantis is the managing editor for DeSoto Magazine.
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homegrown | CAPRI-BLUE CANDLES
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Scents for All Seasons By Heather Gausline Tate | Photography courtesy of Keely Davis and Christie Whittington
Fashion meets fragrance in these Mississippi-made candles that are perfect holiday gifts. Pumpkin, velvety vanilla, firesides, and fresh pines are all scents often associated with the holiday season and with fragrances found in the Mississippi candle company CapriBlue. Originally known as DPM (Desire Path Mississippi) Fragrance, Capri-Blue Candles began in Starkville, Mississippi, in 1999. All of the candles are locally hand-poured and use only top-quality oils and soy wax. The carefully crafted scents themselves, including pomegranate, smoky tobacco, hibiscus, jasmine, guava, and patchouli, would be enough to lure customers; however, their aesthetics are as attractive as their aroma. The company’s mantra is “Where Fashion Meets Fragrance,” and for 20 years the anything-but-ordinary vessels
make ideal gifts year-round for a variety of occasions whether for birthdays, showers, or Christmas gifts. With a range of stylish colors and patterns, the candles become eye-catching centerpieces of jewel tones, silver, gold, and glitter... and there’s lots of glitter this holiday season. Capri-Blue Candles create ambiance through their signature scents and their newest ones, such as Havana Vanilla: a fantastic, rich vanilla fragrance that blends a smoky tobacco with sandalwood and bergamot. The right candle sets the desired mood, and these candles are engulfed with personality. The original Capri-Blue Candle store is the corporate store in Starkville called Curio, open seven days a week. This flagship store on Starkville’s Main Street boasts the largest variety of Capri-Blue products. Expanding from candles, the company DeSoto 71
now offers an assortment of fragrant products from diffusers and room sprays to a new bath and body line, which includes hand lotions and creams, hand and body wash, lip balms, bath bombs, perfume, bar soap, sugar scrub, and dry oil spray. Christie Whittington, the Capri-Blue’s territory manager for Mississippi and West Tennessee for the past 11 years, services over 400 stores in her district that carry these trend-setting candles. Whittington is passionate about these luxurious candles and the local businesses which offer them. “With so many locally owned businesses that carry Capri-Blue Candles, it will be no problem for shoppers to find them in their own downtowns through Mississippi,” says Whittington. Tupelo is home to several stores that carry Capri-Blue products, including well-known Reed’s and Keep It Casual. New Albany hosts Southern Traditions, a boutique in the bustling downtown owned by Bobby and Darlene Williams, and Corner Gifts in Booneville both offer a wide selection of Capri-Blue products. Another local Mississippi boutique that proudly carries Capri-Blue Candles is Paisley Pineapple, located on Goodman Road in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Owner Keely Davis focuses on locally made items such as pottery, jewelry, handmade frames, and candles in addition to clothing, accessories, and entertainment pieces. “Holiday shoppers throughout Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, and the surrounding areas come to my store to take advantage of the wide range of gifts and complimentary gift wrapping,” says Davis. In her 12 years of owning Paisley Pineapple, Davis has carried Capri-Blue candles for the past eight years. “The scent that my customers keep requesting more of is Volcano, which is Capri-Blue’s lead seller,” she says. This addictive scent of infused tropical fruits and sugared citrus has been around since Capri-Blue began. The candles come in multiple sizes as well as styles of vessels. Candle prices at Paisley Pineapple range from $9-$42, depending on the size and the vessel. Sizes range from 2-ounce travel tins to 8-to-48-ounce candles in the holiday lines and the 72 DeSoto
everyday lines, which feature the signature cobalt blue containers. Because Capri-Blue feels like its fragrances are as versatile as its consumers, the same fragrance can be found in multiple types of containers from elegant to everyday. Situated among local pottery brands, the glittery vessels of Capri-Blue Candles shine brightly throughout Davis’ 2,000 square-foot store. The holiday line of candles means not only innovative fragrances like Frosted Fireside and Pumpkin Dulce, but also holiday vessels dressed in champagne glitter and copper. Alpine Juniper comes in a green glitter glass for the holiday season, while Crystal Pine is presented in a gorgeous gold and silver ombre glass vessel. And even the ever-sopopular Volcano, which can be found in every season, receives a holiday makeover with a ruby slipper red glitter glass. With vessels as lovely as these it seems a shame to throw them away after using, which is why they were designed to become permanent fixtures. “The purpose of the vessel is to be reusable after the candle has been burned,” explains Whittington. Capri-Blue offers four easy steps for reusing their decorative vessels after the candles have been burned to the last drop. 1. Freeze the candle overnight to harden any remaining wax. 2. Chip away any remaining wax the next day. 3. Hand wash the vessel. 4. Repurpose into a container, cactus planter, or jewelry box. Both stylish and reusable, these candles are the perfect Christmas presents this holiday season. capri-blue.com
Heather Gausline Tate is a travel planner and freelance writer. She lives in Guntown, Mississippi with her husband Logan and their two sons.
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southern gentleman | TREE TRIMMING
Tree Trimming Tips By Jason Frye
Nothing sets the tone for Christmas decorating like a real tree.
Now that Thanksgiving is past us, it’s time to put Christmas in the spotlight and get a tree. Whether you chop one down or buy one pre-cut, by the time you’re finished reading this story you’ll be part lumberjack, ready to whip out your saw to get your tree in shape, and part Martha Stewart, fully capable of expert-level decorating. Tree Basics You can pick up a pre-cut tree from the grocery store, but why not go to the experts? Tree farms throughout the South offer a variety of selections. Merry Christmas Tree Farm, in Nesbit, Mississippi, has a selection of cut-your-own trees as well as pre-cut varieties. They grow Leyland and Blue Sapphire Cypress trees, which you can cut yourself, but they also stock Fraser Fir trees. Which one is right for you? Availability plays some part in it, but so does the size. “We like to say our trees grow a little when you get them inside,” says Sharon Hawkins, manager at Merry Christmas Tree Farm. “It’s just a trick of the eye, but trees seem much larger in the house than in the field or on the lot.” 74 DeSoto
To avoid buying a tree that’s too big, evaluate your space and find one a couple of feet shorter than your ceiling and a little thinner than you think. Once you’ve settled on a tree, look at it from every angle you can and see if the overall shape works for you. If it’s a fit, bag it up and take it home. Bring a blanket or moving pad to prevent the tree from scratching the top of your car or dripping sap on the paint, and be sure to secure the tree in a way that will keep it from flying off like an evergreen missile when you hit the brakes. Trimming Now that you have your tree, it’s time to shape it up. Reevaluate your tree in the space. Are branches sticking out? Is the top ready for your angel? Are the bottom branches high enough for gifts and access to water the tree? Grab your pruners for the smaller branches and a small saw for larger ones and start trimming. Be careful as you can take branches off because you can’t put them back on.
Among the most important cuts you’ll make is the one at the bottom. Here you’ll want to cut the bottom to allow the tree to suck up water and level it out so it sits properly in your stand. Trace Barnett, the Birmingham-based style-setter known as The Bitter Socialite, suggests driving a finishing nail into a nearby wall or piece of trim and securing the tree to the nail with a bit of fishing line, which will help keep the tree upright. He also recommends keeping trimmings for wreaths, boughs and sprays, adding to the festive mood in your home. Decorating In Asheville, North Carolina, the Biltmore Estate puts on a massive Christmas show, with 57 trees in the house and 55 across the estate, and Floral Manager Lizzie Borchers has thoughts on how to decorate with class. “You need a mix of ornaments – different sizes, shapes and textures,” she says. By layering your ornaments – larger ones deeper in, smaller ones near the tips of branches – you can play with scale and create more visual interest in your tree. “Large or unexpected items add wow factor,” she adds. Borchers also likes ribbon for adding leading lines and color to a tree. “Mind the size and fabric of your ribbon, you don’t want to block your lights,” she says. Trace Barnett agrees. “Work ribbon in and out of the branches from the top down,” he says, adding that vintage fabric remnants can add a lovely finishing touch. Barnett says your lights work best when you wrap the branches next to the trunk and work your way to the tips, creating depth and more interesting light schemes, making your
tree really pop. Keep your decoration scheme simple, sticking to a few colors to tell a coherent story and you’re on your way to a picture-perfect tree. Disposal Once the holidays have passed, it’s time to do something with that tree. If you snapped up a live tree with an intact root ball, you’ll be planting yours. Where and how depends on the type of tree you bought. Some municipalities accept live trees and plant them in parks and on public land, so ask what your city, town or county offers. Some parks and Natural Resources departments accept trees to use in building reefs and cover for fish. Some will pick up trees curbside and others accept trees at a central location, but they all end up in a river or lake where they’ll add to the aquatic ecosystem. Check with your local folks to learn if a program like this exists near your home. Parks and recreation departments for cities and counties may take trees, grind them up, and use them for landscaping on public property, or even provide free mulch to the public. Check with local park departments to see if they have programs like this in place.
Jason Frye is a freelance writer from Wilmington, North Carolina. Follow him @beardedwriter on Instagram.
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southern harmony | JOHN BERRY
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Counting His Blessings By Pam Windsor | Photography courtesy of Rick Diamond Photography/Shutterstock
Country music performer John Berry finishes a challenging year with his 23rd annual Christmas tour. The holidays have always had special meaning for John Berry. The Georgia-native spends an extended amount of time celebrating the season on the road. Not long after he made his way onto the country music scene in the 1990s with songs like “Standing on the Edge of Goodbye,” She’s Taken a Shine,” and “Your Love Amazes Me,” he did his first Christmas tour. And he’s been doing one for 23 years in a row. “I’ve always loved Christmas,” he says. “It’s my favorite time of year. I love the weather, the time of year, and the celebration of Christ’s birth.” A man of strong faith, he’s come to enjoy sharing the season and all it means through music. “We have people that came with their parents and now they’re coming and bringing their own kids,” he says. “It’s really extraordinary.”
This year though, celebrating the holiday has an even greater significance for Berry. It was about this time last year that he began noticing something in his throat that didn’t feel quite right. “I was recording my EP called “Thomas Road” and I kept having to drink water all the time because I had a feeling of having something like the skin of a Spanish peanut stuck in my throat,” he recalls. “I made it through the entire Christmas tour and never missed a lick, but it just kept bothering me.” He finally went to see a doctor. He was diagnosed with throat cancer. There were difficult months ahead as Berry underwent 35 doses of radiation and seven doses of chemotherapy. He finished treatment in April and has been trying to rally back ever since. “It’s has been a really impactful year for me,” he says. “Personally, emotionally, and spiritually.” DeSoto 77
Barry gradually returned to performing, but has limited the number of shows – a challenge for someone who has spent most of his adult life performing. His love of music came early. He was just a young boy when his father brought home their first stereo complete with a turntable and speakers. “I listened to everything from John Denver to the Allman Brothers to The Letterman,” he recalls. “And then my sister brought home Carol King’s “Tapestry” and that changed everything for me.” He didn’t start actually playing music, though, until high school. “Over Thanksgiving break we unexpectedly moved from one side of Atlanta to the other and I had to change schools. I went from knowing everybody to knowing nobody, and my guitar became my best friend.” His dad helped him build a recording studio in the basement and he soon began recording his own records. Then, he got a regular gig at a small club in Athens. It was there he met his future wife, Robin. In those early days she hadn’t tapped into her own musical talent yet, but would later find her own “voice” and become a backup singer for her husband. They formed a strong partnership, sharing music, raising a family, and coping with life. The cancer diagnosis, while daunting, wasn’t the first time Berry had to overcome something that challenged his health and well-being, as well as tested his faith. “How many challenges does one person have to have,” Robin asks in a lighthearted yet serious tone. “I mean, being run over by a car on your motorcycle, then have major brain surgery (for cysts on his brain) when you have your first No. 1 hit, then having to have vocal cord surgery, then having to take six months off because you have a horse accident and have to have your shoulder and your hand put back together. And then this.” When they got the diagnosis, Berry says he told Robin these things were just God’s way of getting his attention. She then asked, “Can you listen this time?” 78 DeSoto
They both laugh as they share the story, but Berry says he believes every circumstance can take a person in one of two directions. “I can get run over by a car… and either draw closer to God or further away from him. Just like I can lose my job and it might cause me to be angry or bitter or it can allow me to depend on him more. I could run out of gas in my car, have to walk four miles, and I can be ticked off and mad, or enjoy the beauty of walking outside.” One of the greatest gifts from his cancer diagnosis came in April when some of the biggest names in country music came together to perform at a fundraiser to help cover Berry’s medical costs. (Some proceeds were also donated to the Music Health Alliance.) Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, the Oak Ridge Boys, Clint Black, Travis Tritt, and so many more showed up to show their love and support. “My publicist, Bev Moser, took photos from that night and put them in a book,” Berry says. “I recently had a chance to sit down and look through it. I had tears running down my face at the generosity of so many people giving their time and their talent.” As this year winds to a close, Berry looks back with gratitude, and ahead with hope. “I turned 60 years old a couple of months ago and to be able to get out and play music like I love to do, is a precious gift. I’m honored I still get to do it.”
Pam Windsor is a Nashville-based journalist who writes about food, travel, music, art & culture, and extraordinary people.
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in good spirits | THE FETISH
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On Angel’s Wings By Cheré Coen | Photography courtesy of Samet Yuksekgonul
Chocolate is the perfect holiday treat, especially in cocktails.
The name says it all at The Conche restaurant in Leesburg, Virginia. In the late 1700s, experiments with chocolate saw the quality improved after passing the chocolate through a prolonged refining process. The days-long aeration, churning and stirring through rollers eliminated unwanted substances and delivered a chocolate that was creamier and tastier. The machine was called a Longitudinal Agitator or Longitudinal Conche, but today it’s known as a Conche. Which is why visitors who adore cocoa visit The Conche restaurant to dine on chocolate-enhanced dishes by owner and executive chef Santosh Tiptur. But, that’s not all. The Conche also serves up decadent chocolate cocktails designed by Mixologist Samet Yuksekgonul. “We are a chocolate-themed restaurant,” Yuksekgonul explained. “We try to incorporate chocolate into all the dishes and drinks.” Naturally, it’s not just any chocolate. The 72-hour conching process transforms the chocolate into something velvety and delicious. And that makes all the difference in its taste, Yuksekgonul said. “If you taste the chocolate afterwards (the conching), it’s a different experience,” said Yuksekgonul. “The flavor combinations are incredible.” For instance, the restaurant’s short ribs are braised in red wine and chocolate, then served with sautéed crimini mushrooms, roasted garlic potato puree and greens. Scallops are crusted in cocoa nib and accompanied by tempura fried Brussel sprouts and white chocolate cauliflower puree with a pomegranate reduction and chocolate mole sauce. Naturally, Yuksekgonul has a couple of chocolate favorites on his cocktail menu. His Soot & Rye cocktail, a twist on the Manhattan, features locally produced Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye combined with sweet vermouth,
maple syrup and three bitters — Aztec Chocolate, Angostura and Bittermen’s Xocolatl Mole bitters. Yuksekgonul stirs the ingredients together and stains the concoction inside a smoked vessel. Diners at the restaurant receive the cocktail, vessel and all, and pull their smoking creation out of the vessel to sip and enjoy. “The smoke gives it a nice woodsy touch,” he explained. “To add some sweetness, we added chocolate bitters, and to balance it out, we add the mole bitters.” The following is Yuksekgonul’s “The Fetish,” a simple cocktail to make for the holidays and one that arrives with a set of chocolate wings you can easily claim belong to an angel. The Fetish 1.5 ounces 360 Double Chocolate Vodka 1 ounce strawberry syrup 1/2 ounce lemon juice Directions: Shake the above ingredients and strain into a martini glass. Top with strawberry foam and garnish with chocolate wings. Note: To make the chocolate wings, melt chocolate in a microwave or double broiler. Place a small amount of melted chocolate on to a marble counter or marble piece. Brush the chocolate into the shape of wings, then let harden.
Cheré Coen is a food and travel writer who loves a great cocktail. She writes the Viola Valentine Mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire.
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exploring events | DECEMBER
Christmas Parades: December 2 Hernando, MS Columbus, MS Pontotoc, MS Oxford, MS December 3 Aberdeen, MS Tupelo, MS December 5 Cleveland, MS December 6 Southaven, MS Greenwood, MS Iuka, MS Collierville, TN December 7 Olive Branch, MS Corinth, MS Holly Springs, MS December 9 Senatobia, MS December 14 Germantown, TN Memphis, TN Cedar Hill Farm Christmas Tree Farm Through December 23 Cedar Hill Farm Hernando, MS During the Christmas season, Cedar Hill Farm will be open for families to choose and cut their Christmas tree right from the farm. Take a hayride out to the back forty and pick out the perfect tree. Also, pre-cut Fraser Firs. There is no admission to the farm during Christmas! You just pay for your tree. Tree prices are $9.00/ft for Cypress and $10.00/ft for Blue Ice. Prices vary based on height for pre-cut shipped in Fraser Firs. For more information, visit gocedarhillfarm.com call 662-429-2540. Merry Christmas Tree Farm & Gift Shop Through December 24 Nesbit, MS Merry Christmas Tree Farm is the number one tree farm in the Mid-South, with a huge selection of Christmas trees in a variety of sizes. Take a free hayride into the tree farm during the holidays and choose and cut your favorite tree or it can be cut for you. Pre-cut trees and wreaths are also available. Open through December 24 or until inventory is depleted. For more information call 662-429-9462 or visit merrychristmastreefarm.com.
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WinterArts 2019 Through Christmas Eve 888 White Station Road Memphis, TN The South’s Premiere Holiday Artists’ Market presents its 11th annual showcase of exceptional & unique handcrafted works by our region’s finest artists. This year’s stellar collection of Holiday gift ideas crafted in glass, metal, wood, fiber, & clay; plus, jewelry, and more, will be staged at 888 White Station Road, Memphis TN 38117 (next door to Bed Bath & Beyond, in the site which recently housed Les Passes’ Stock Exchange). For more information visit winterartsmemphis.com or WinterArtsMemphis on Facebook. 19th Annual Southern Lights Through December 31 Central Park Southaven, MS Drive through the 116-acre park with 500,000 twinkling lights. Cars can tune to five FM radio stations playing Christmas music as they ride through the park. Don’t miss the Christmas Tree Farm synchronized to music by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Proceeds benefit local charities. Admission: cars $10, vans & hay rides $15, buses $25 and motorcycles $5. Weekdays dark- 9:00pm & weekends dark10:00pm; closed Christmas Day. For more information, visit southaven.org or call 662-280-2489. 50 Nights of Lights Through December 31 Cleveland, MS Over 100,000 lights will transform Cleveland, Mississippi into a winter wonderland this holiday season. Join us for lights, Santa, music, shopping, dining, and more. For more information visit 50nightsoflights.com or call 662-843-2712. Mississippi Museum of Art presents Nick Cave: FEAT. Through February 16 Mississippi Museum of Art Jackson, MS Exhibition of 17 works examining the artist’s socially engaged practice. The survey of Nick Cave’s (b. 1959) work includes sculpture, video, and installations providing visitors with a range of immersive interactions with color and sound that bring to light issues of our times. For more information visit msmuseumart.org or call 601-960-1515. Kudzu Playhouse presents “It’s a Wonderful Life” Dinner Theater December 5 -12 Sweet Peas Olive Branch, MS 7:00pm This fine dramatization not only celebrates the faith of the season, it also celebrates the American philosophy of life: hard work, fair play and the love and support of one’s family and community will be rewarded. Doors open at 6:30pm. For more information visit kudzuplayers.com or call 888-429-7871.
Panola Playhouse presents “A Christmas Carol The Musical” December 6 - 15 Panola Playhouse Sardis, MS Directed by Vic Henson. For more information and to purchase tickets visit panolaplayhouse.com or call 662-487-3975.
Christmas Cookie Palooza December 8 Cedar Oaks Mansion Oxford, MS 2:00pm - 4:00pm Join us for cookies, crafts and a visit from Santa. Hosted by the Cedar Oaks Guild. Free Admission. For more information call 662-801-4590 or visit cedaroaks.org.
30th Christmas Tour of Homes December 7 - 8 Holly Springs, MS Tour six historic Holly Springs homes, the Yellow Fever Martyrs Church Museum, and local historic churches, all decorated for the holiday season. Pre-sale tickets are $20; $15 for groups of 10 or more. Buy early, as tickets are sold for $25 the day of the event. Tickets, valid for both days of the event, can be purchased online at marshallcountymuseum.com, at the Marshall County History Museum, or by calling 662-252-3669.
DeSoto Family Theatre presents “A Christmas Story the Musical” December 13 - 22 Landers Center Southaven, MS In this holiday classic, Ralphie, a young boy growing up in the ‘40’s, dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun. He sets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift. For more information visit dftonline.org or call 662-470-2131.
Christmas in the Park December 7 Snowden House Southaven, MS 8:00am - noon A fun time for the entire family! This is a free event. There will be movies in the BankPlus Amphitheater and photos with Santa at the Snowden House. In addition there will be coffee, hot chocolate, milk, apple juice and donuts. This is an outdoor event so dress warm! For more information, call 662-890-7275 or visit southaven.org. Horn Lake Christmas in the Park December 7 Latimer Lake Park Horn Lake, MS 4:30pm - 7:30pm Join us for our 3rd Annual Bullfrogs and Mistle-toad Christmas in the Park event! Stroll through a festival of floats and watch Santa light the tree! For more information visit hornlakechamber.com or call 662-393-9897. Drew & Ellie Holcomb’s Neighborly Christmas December 7 Orpheum Theatre Memphis, TN 8:00pm For more information visit orpheum-memphis.com or call 901-525-3000 Hernando’s Annual Cookies with Santa December 8 Gale Community Center Hernando, MS 2:00pm - 5:00pm Cookies, cocoa, crafts, Christmas stories and Claus himself! Admission fee is $3 for ages 12 and over. Children under 12 are FREE! For more information, call 662-429-2688 or visit hernandorec.com.
Sip ‘n Cider December 13 Courthouse Square Hernando, MS 5:00pm - 8:00pm Each participating shop will be preparing and serving their own special blend of hot cider. Visit surrounding businesses to eat, shop, mix and mingle, register for door prizes and and vote on your favorite cider! For more information, call 662-429-9055 or visit hernandoms.org. Sesame Street LIVE! December 14 - 15 Landers Center Southaven, MS For more information visit landerscenter.com, call 662-470-2131 or visit Ticketmaster.com. Q107.5 presents Jingle Jam December 19 Landers Center Southaven, MS 7:30 Featuring Why Don’t We, AJ Mitchell, Public, and Reagan Strange. For more information visit landerscenter.com, call 662-470-2131 or visit Ticketmaster.com. Jurassic World LIVE! December 26 - 29 Landers Center Southaven, MS Come face-to-face with life-sized dinosaurs and get ready for an adventure you’ll never forget. For more information visit landerscenter.com, call 662-470-2131 or visit Ticketmaster.com. Tupelo’s New Year’s Eve Party December 31 Downtown Tupelo, MS 7:00pm - Midnight Music, ball drop, fireworks, fun kids events early in the evening, and food & drink. Plus, a new Toyota Corolla will be given away. DeSoto 83
reflections | THE DIGITAL GRINCH
The Digital Grinch Story and Photography by Tom Adkinson
There’s a new Grinch in town: the one that steals Christmas memories.
Digital photography almost killed one of my family’s Christmas traditions. My children and grandchildren risked losing key pieces of family lore, and I suspect they are not alone facing this threat from the dark side of digital photography. “Lordy, look at that picture of us from our first Christmas. We were children!” That was my exclamation when I pulled a hefty three-ring binder filled with plastic-covered pages from my nightstand. It was hiding under a stack of never-read magazines, and I inspected it only because I was preparing to paint the bedroom. The binder held a year-by-year collection of Christmas photos, just three or four per year, chronicling a marriage that started in 1972. My wife, Lois, looked like a high schooler, even though she had just turned 21. I was 21, too, with thick hair that I vaguely remember. I took the photo myself – not a selfie, but by setting a camera timer and running into place. We were in university housing in Knoxville, Tennessee, and our Christmas tree was barely better than Charlie Brown’s in the TV special. Two other photos confirmed we hadn’t spent our first Christmas alone. I somehow got time off from my newspaper job to drive to the family matriarch’s home in Kentucky. The photo around the dinner table is a classic: Cousin Mary and Sister Susan had their eyes closed. I suspect only one exposure was taken. The next Christmas was way out in Kansas with in-laws, and the one after that was in our first house in Birmingham, where I’d lucked into a magazine job. We apparently had no furniture, and the budget still bought only another Charlie Brown tree. 84 DeSoto
Decades-old memories flooded back with each page. Hairstyles changed, fashions came and went, and parents aged. Finally, a chunky baby appeared, a nine-pounder, a fact Lois still holds against me. Others followed, one even bigger. The album proved that Christmas can happen anywhere. We have photos from family homes in Alabama, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, Tennessee, and some from a cabin in a South Carolina state park rendezvous. Each page told another story, until the pages ran out – just about the time we stopped shooting photos on film. What happened? Using film guaranteed you obtained a tangible memory of the Christmas just concluded. You had to take the film to the drugstore and then wait days (later only hours) to get photos in hand, photos that would outlast the must-have toys and carefully selected neckties, and could easily be slid into an album. Oh, we didn’t quit taking Christmas photos. In fact, we probably take more than ever. However, digital photos provide instant gratification and then are relegated to purgatory on a memory card. With digital, it takes an intentional act to make prints, and good intentions go awry. A blend of emotions comes from turning the pages of an album, and that’s inspiration for my gift to my family this year. I resolve to go through my mind-numbing list of digital files, find images to print (some with people’s eyes closed) and bring that Christmas photo album up to date. Tom Adkinson, a member of the Society of American Travel Writers, usually celebrates Christmas in Nashville, Tennessee. His recent book is “100 Things To Do in Nashville Before You Die.”
Suprise the Claus family at thier workshop.
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