OXFORD:
LETTER from the PUBLISHER
It’s that time of year we begin to think about warmer weather, spring break plans and what to do with family or friends during the summer. So, we got a jump start on the ideas, and we’ve found some gems near and far to tell you about this month.
On page 28, Camille Lebel shares stories and photos from her trip to Santorini, an island in Greece. It truly looks like a bucketlist destination.
To make a dream trip like that come true for you, you’ll want to check out the
advice from Erin Austen Abbott. As a travel writer and photographer, we appreciate the guidance she offers our readers in a Q&A starting on page 40.
Of course, there are also plenty of things to discover in our own state, including the fascinating exhibit of quilts currently on display at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson. Read more about it on page 34.
This being our first magazine of the year, we are also introducing a couple of new things. Our In Season column will feature a
local farmer along with an original recipe. See this month’s on page 22. And, turn to the last page of the magazine for an interactive contest that will get you exploring your own surroundings to discover a hidden gem. Thanks for reading! RACHEL M. WEST,
PUBLISHER
Rachel West
EDITORIAL
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FEBRUARY 2025
Thacker Mountain Radio
FEBRUARY 6
The season premiere of Thacker Mountain Radio marks the start of its 27th year on the air. Guests include Southern poet Maria Zoccola, blues singer Edna Nicole and country songwriter Amber Rae Dunn. Free admission. 6 p.m., the Powerhouse. thackermountain.com
BritBeat
FEBRUARY 8
The immersive Beatles tribute experience comes to Oxford. Tickets from $25. 7:30 p.m., the Ford Center. fordcenter.org
The Simon & Garfunkel Story
FEBRUARY 11
Projection photos, original film footage and a live band tell Simon & Garfunkel’s story through their music and images. Tickets from $25. 7:30 p.m., the Ford Center. fordcenter.org
MEN
Auburn | Feb. 1
Kentucky | Feb. 4
Mississippi State | Feb. 15
WOMEN
Oklahoma | Feb. 6
Kentucky | Feb. 10
Missouri | Feb. 23
South Carolina | Feb. 27
Tickets @ olemisssports.com
Ten-Minute Play Festival
FEBRUARY 14-15
Theatre Oxford’s annual festival takes place. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the Powerhouse. theatreoxford.org
Ole Miss Baseball
FEBRUARY 18
Ole Miss Baseball’s home opener takes place against Arkansas State. 4 p.m., Oxford-University Stadium at Swayze Field. olemisssports.com
Empty Bowls
FEBRUARY 20
The Pantry’s Empty Bowls fundraiser luncheon features soups from two dozen restaurants and hand-crafted bowls made by local potters. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Oxford Conference Center. facebook.com/thepantryoxford
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 1
Oxford High School stages the high school edition of a play based on J.K. Rowling’s novel. 7:30 p.m., Ava H. Bonds Auditorium. oxfordhs.booktix.com
Oxford Film Festival
FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 2
See more than 100 independent films from around the world at the 22nd Oxford Film Festival. Tickets and schedule available online. Malco Oxford Commons Cinema. ox-film.com
“Mine Eyes Have Seen”
NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 20
Documentary and editorial portrait photographer Tim Ivy exhibits his work. Gumtree Museum of Art, Tupelo. gumtreemuseum.com
Northeast ChampionshipMississippi Rodeo
FEBRUARY 1
See bareback, saddle bronc, bull riders and more at the Northeast Mississippi Championship Rodeo. Tickets from $17. 7:30 p.m., Cadence Bank Arena, Tupelo. cb-arena.com
Parker McCollum Concert
FEBRUARY 13
Texas-based country singer-songwriter Parker McCollum brings his “What Kinda Man” tour to Tupelo. Tickets from $28. 7:30 p.m., Cadence Bank Arena, Tupelo. cb-arena.com
PRCA Rodeo
FEBRUARY 21-22
The rodeo comes to Corinth. Friday also features musical guest Aaron Tippin, and Saturday Pecos and The Rooftops perform. Tickets, from $16, and schedule available online. Crossroads Arena, Corinth. crossroadsarena.com
Spirit of the Wild
FEBRUARY 22
This NMSO performance features Titus Underwood, principal oboe of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra; NMSO principal oboe Austin Smith; and Tupelo’s own Zell
Long delivering the powerful words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in “New Morning for the World” by Joseph Schwantner. Tickets $35. 7:30 p.m., Harrisburg Baptist Church, Tupelo. nmsymphony.com
Winter Jam
FEBRUARY 23
Contemporary Christian music artists including Skillet, Anne Wilson, KB, Colton Dixon, Newsong and Micah Tyler. $15 at the door. 7 p.m., Cadence Bank Arena, Tupelo. cb-arena.com
Gumtree Members’ Art Show
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 7
Gumtree Museum of Art presents its first members’ show. A reception (free and open to the public) takes place Feb. 28 from 5 to 8 p.m., with awards given at 6 p.m. Gumtree Museum of Art, Tupelo. gumtreemuseum.com
SHOUTOUTS
Teen Blues Prodigy Participates in International Blues Challenge
A year ago, John Clayton White, a 13-year-old blues musician, was selected by the Mississippi Delta Blues Society to participate in the 2024 International Blues Challenge on Beale Street in Memphis.
Sadly, a winter storm kept the disappointed White from taking part. However, the invitation was extended to the 2025 event.
When White participated in the IBC Jan. 7 through 11, he was the youngest performer to ever compete in the adult band challenge. His band, John Clayton White & The 662 Band, had won the regional qualifying competition for the IBC at Club Ebony in Indianola.
The band advanced to the quarter finals at the IBC, with 200 bands competing. White also represented the Mississippi Delta Blues Society in the Youth Showcase as a
solo performer.
“He will likely be invited to play in the youth showcase again, but he will have to win his regional competition to compete at IBC,” said his proud manager mom, Allison White.
“At this year’s regionals he beat the band that beat him last year. Last year, when he was 12, he came in second place at the IBC regional Indianola.”
The mission of IBC is to find blues bands and solo-duo blues performers hoping for a welcome push onto the international blues stages.
White, who turns 14 in March, found his experience to be a positive one.
“IBC was a great opportunity for me to make connections,” he said. “It was an overall great experience. I’m glad I did it.”
Northeast Mississippi Youth Compete in ‘Singing with the King’
One day after the Jan. 8 birthday of Tupelo’s native son, Elvis Presley, a gathering of young singers celebrated his lasting legacy as they dreamed of their own musical futures.
This year’s “Singing with the King,” was hosted by the Tupelo Elvis Fan Club and sponsored by Vitality South, Active DataComm and Hardy Reed. It is a special project of the CREATE Foundation.
The event helps young people not only learn more about the legacy of Elvis but also realize their own potential to follow their musical dreams, said Rubye Del Hardin, who with Ashley Elkins, co-chairs the event.
Singers in Lee and contiguous counties send audition tapes, and those selected fall into either the junior division for grades 6-8 or the senior division for grades 9-12. Contestants participate in two categories: They sing one song of their own choosing, and they must also choose a song Elvis
recorded and perform it in their own style.
Judges choose winners in each division and category; and a fan favorite is also chosen by the audience.
Junior division finalists were Dawson Horn, New Albany Middle School; Mary Liddy Wyatt, Tupelo Middle School; Olivia Chambers, Cornerstone Cottage School.
Finalists in the senior division were Thomas Roper, Tupelo High School; Skylar Wigginton, Saltillo High School; Aurora Fowler, Mooreville High School; and Leighann Briggs, East Union Attendance Center.
Winners for Song of Choice in the junior division were Mary Liddy Wyatt, first place, and Olivia Chambers, runner-up. In the senior division, Thomas Roper won first
place, and Aurora Fowler was runner-up.
Elvis Tribute finalists in the junior division were Mary Liddy Wyatt, first place, and Dawson Horn, runner-up. In the senior division, Thomas Roper was first place and Aurora Fowler, runner-up.
Junior division Fan Favorite winner was Dawson Horn and senior division, Aurora Fowler.
SHOUTOUTS
Oxford Film Festival
The 22nd annual Oxford Film Festival is slated for Feb. 27 to March 2 at the Malco Oxford Commons Cinema.
As in previous years, film lovers will have the opportunity to view more than 100 films from all over the world.
Each year filmmakers are asked to submit their work in such categories as Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Short, Best Narrative Short, Best Mississippi Feature and Best Mississippi Short.
In addition to watching films, the fourday festival will include panel discussions with filmmakers and other events.
Founded in 2003 by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, the festival’s mission has been to consistently offer festivalgoers a chance to view independent films that exemplify the art of storytelling.
The Oxford Film Festival became an independent nonprofit organization committed to continue celebrating the art of independent cinema in 2008.
A weekend pass for the Oxford Film Festival is $120; a VIP pass is $250.
For a complete schedule of events, visit ox-film.com.
IN SEASON: EGGS
FALKNER FARMS OFFERS ITS FARM-FRESH EGGS IN SEVERAL NORTH MISSISSIPPI LOCATIONS.
Eggs have become a hot (and sometimes even controversial) commodity in recent years.
In an effort to promote local farmers, we visited Oxford’s Falkner Farms to learn about their sought-after pasture-raised eggs.
According to Reed Falkner, the farm’s regenerative practices lead to healthier chickens and thus higher quality eggs.
Chickens and cattle roam the pastures at the farm, which provides eggs and beef to
north Mississippians via local farmers markets, stores and restaurants. Read more about the farm on page 24.
Eggs may be a simple ingredient, but they deserve credit for their health benefits and versatility, with countless recipes calling for them as a key or featured ingredient.
For example, the Dutch Baby (at right) is a sweet, one-pan twist on pancakes that’s perfect for a weekend brunch or even a fun weeknight dinner.
RECIPE BY SARAH GODWIN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
CLASSIC DUTCH BABY
3 eggs
¾ cup whole milk
¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
Zest of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons salted butter
Fresh fruit
Powdered sugar
Maple syrup
Preheat oven to 425°F. In a blender, process eggs until fluffy and pale, about 1 minute. Add milk, flour, vanilla, sugar, salt and lemon zest, and process until combined, about 30 seconds. Let batter rest for about 15 minutes.
After resting, add butter to a nonstick or cast-iron skillet, and put in preheated oven to melt, about 2 minutes. Watch carefully so butter doesn’t burn. Remove skillet from oven, and use a brush to spread butter up sides of skillet. Add batter to hot skillet, tilting and swirling to coat edges. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F, and bake until golden and browned on the edges, about 10 to 15 minutes. Top with fruit, powdered sugar and/or maple syrup, and serve.
Continued on page 24
FROM THE FARMER: FALKNER FARMS
This month’s In Season features farmfresh eggs from Falkner Farms. Reed Falkner shares more about this Oxford family farm:
Q: Tell us about your farm.
A: Falkner Farms is home to grass-fed cattle and pasture-raised chickens. We are a family-owned and -operated farm located in Oxford. Our regenerative practices allow for our cattle and chickens to constantly rotate throughout our farm. Our goal is to continue to provide our community and customers with quality beef and eggs.
Q: What makes farm-fresh eggs special?
A: In my opinion, the difference in our eggs compared to store eggs is how the chickens are raised. Pasture raised means something to us, and it should to the consumer as well. Our chickens are raised outside and rotated on our pastures, yearround. Multiple moves each week to fresh
pasture and ample room to roam around allows for these hens to forage on grasses, grubs and insects. We aim to provide conditions that optimize the health of the chickens. The quality of the egg produced is just a result of the care they are given.
Purchase Falkner Farms eggs at the Midtown Farmers Market (open Saturday mornings), Oxford Community Market (open Tuesday afternoons); at Chicory Market and Larson’s Cash Saver; or by stopping by the farm, 76 Highway 328. Additionally, local restaurants including GRIT, Kingswood and Tarasque have been committed to using Falkner Farms eggs for many years.
FIND THE FARMER:
falknerfarms.com
Instagram @falknerfarms falknerfarmsms@gmail.com
A GreEK Adventure
TWO TRAVEL-LOVING FRIENDS SPEND A RELAXING, RESTORATIVE AND RESTFUL TIME ON THE GREEK ISLAND OF SANTORINI.
WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS
PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED BY CAMILLE LEBEL
“trying to select one island in greece seemed like trying to select only one chocolate from the box as a child. but we finally decided on santorini.”
- Camille Lebel
In September 2023, dear friends Camille Lebel and Kris Curtiss set off on an international adventure to discover a new place.
Lebel (a native of Tupelo) and Curtiss, who both live in Memphis, realized early in 2023 they shared a passion for travel, and Greece was a destination on each of their bucket lists. They signed on to take a trip to Greece that summer with a group of women, but just days before the trip, Lebel and Curtiss were diagnosed with COVID and could not go.
So, they decided to plan their own Grecian adventure.
Lebel had taken a Greek cruise with her husband Charlie a decade ago, and the cruise ship stopped at a different island daily, so she’d had an opportunity to see a general overview of the country and
carefully considered to which island she’d like to return.
“Trying to select one island in Greece seemed like trying to select only one chocolate from the box as a child,” Lebel said. “But we finally decided on Santorini.”
Santorini is a small island in the southern Aegean Sea. It’s known for its rare natural beauty, the views of the underwater caldera (crater) and the extraordinary volcanic beaches made of black, red and white lava pebbles. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century B.C. Santorini’s two primary towns, Fira and Oia, are recognized by their white-washed houses with blue roofs built among the cliffs.
Preparing for the trip mainly involved the two friends making plans to miss work: Curtiss is a therapist; Lebel, an educator. And with nine children between them, the
“Except for getting our tickets and reserving a hotel, we planned nothing. No real schedule, just very relaxing and spontaneous.”
- Camille Lebel
women had to see everything would be taken care of during their absence. Otherwise, they opted to see what Greece had in store for them rather than follow any itinerary.
“When the kids are along on trips, I am the planner,” Lebel said. “If we go to Disney World, I know what we will be doing every moment, from 6 a.m. on.”
This trip was different, she said. “Except for getting our tickets and reserving a hotel, we planned nothing. No real schedule, just very relaxing and spontaneous.”
The two found plenty to do — from strolling through shops; visiting nearby towns like Oia, Fira, Kamari, Perissa and Megalochori; treating themselves to massages and hydrotherapy at Acroterra Rosa spa; visiting beaches; and taking a catamaran cruise that included swimming in volcanic-warmed waters, a dance party, cliff views and delicious food.
“I cannot overstate the magnificence of the food in Greece,” Lebel said. “Even now, it’s what we talk about the most; it’s what we miss the most. There was no such thing as a bad meal. Even the gas station food was delicious, fresh and usually healthy.”
Only one meal in their eight days in Santorini was planned — when the two were invited by a couple they’d met on the catamaran cruise to join them at a beautiful restaurant on a dock over the water.
“The freshest and most delicious seafood,” Lebel said. “The rest of the time, when we were hungry, we were always about 10 feet away from some adorable cafe on the beach that served a menu of traditional Greek foods like chicken and other meats grilled on a skewer (souvlaki), Baklava, stuffed grape leaves (dolmades), feta cheese soaked in honey, and always cheeses and olives.”
Their favorite meal of the day was breakfast. At their hotel, Elements of Caldera Suites, breakfast was served each morning on the porch area of their suite.
“Breakfast included an incredible number of options. The same guy would show up each morning with this giant wooden tray loaded with every imaginable breakfast item,” Lebel said. “The first morning, we tried to be polite and dainty,
“IT'S LIKE ALL THESE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGES AND FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES COLLECTIVELY DECIDED THIS IS A MOMENT RESTORING OUR SOULS AND NO ONE IS GOING TO TALK. IT'S MAGICAL."
- Camille Lebel
only choosing a couple of offerings. The next day, we chose a few more. By our last day, we had everything on the menu.”
Often joining the two for breakfast were a few of the Santorini cats, something for which the island is famous. The island is home to a large population of stray cats of all colors and sizes.
Lebel and Curtiss would likely agree the final night of their trip was one of their favorites. Along with others, the two visited the Akrotiri Lighthouse, which rests atop one of the many cliffs.
“You get this 360-degree view of the water, all the boats coming in at the end of the day,” Lebel said. “It’s restorative and peaceful. And there are a lot of people there, but it’s so quiet. It’s like all these people of different ages and from so many different places collectively decided this is a moment restoring our souls and no one is going to talk. It’s magical.”
Of Salt and Spirit
Of Salt and Spirit
THE MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM OF ART DISPLAYS RICH TEXTILE TREASURES CREATED BY THE SOUTH’S BLACK QUILTERS THROUGH APRIL 13.
WRITTEN
BY
LESLIE CRISS | PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED
BY MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM OF ART
For more than a century, the Mississippi Museum of Art has protected, archived and showcased treasures created by not only Mississippians but also artists from across the United States and countless other countries.
These artistic treasures include paintings, photography, sculpture, fabric art and much more. The downtown Jackson museum is the state’s largest art museum.
Since mid-November, the Mississippi Museum of Art has proudly displayed more than 50 quilts, both handmade and stitched by machine. Part of the its permanent collection, the quilts were created from the 1960s to 2010 by Black artists — quilters — from the Southern states of North and South
Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
The museum’s collection is a large one. In 2022, the collection grew after receiving a gift from the Kohler Foundation of 131 quilts from the personal collection of folklorist and photographer Roland Freeman. Some of Freeman’s collection are featured in “Of Salt and Spirit.” Freeman, once a White House photographer and director of the Mississippi Folklife Project, photographed Black quilters and groups of quilters. His work may be seen in his book, “Something to Keep You Warm: The Roland Freeman Collection of Black American Quilts from the Mississippi Heartland.”
The fabric artists whose quilts appear in
Geraldine Nash (born 1952), Blue Log Cabin, 2007. Cotton; hand quilted. 901/2 x 641/2 inches. Collection of Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson. Museum purchase, with funds from the Searcy Fund.
quilts in oxford:
Closer to home, the University of Mississippi Museum is also featuring quilts in “American Quilts: Stories of Endurance and Innovation,” on exhibit through Aug. 30. Visit the museum at University Avenue & South 5th Street in Oxford, open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.4 p.m. Saturday.
“Of Salt and Spirit” include Annie Dennis, Gwendolyn Magee, Annie Mae Morgan, Geraldine Nash, Hystercine Rankin, Emma Russell, Elizabeth T. Scott, Joyce J. Scott and Mabel Williams. The exhibit, which will remain on display through April 13, will then tour the nation.
Annie Dennis and Emma Russell are among the Mississippi quilters. The sisters,
from Woodville, were fifth-generation quilters who grew up quilting. Dennis died in 1997; Russell in 2004.
Hystercine Rankin of Jefferson County learned to quilt when she was 12, taught by her grandmother. Rankin made quilts for her seven children, but did not think of herself as an artist. But in 1981, Mississippi Cultural Crossroads in Port Gibson asked Rankin
to participate as a folk artist in the Artist Residency in the Schools program. Through this work, Rankin and her quilts became sought after by many. The money she made from her quilts helped her to put all seven of her children through college at Alcorn State University. In 1988, Rankin became master quilter for Mississippi Cultural Crossroads. She died in 2010.
Emma Russell (1908–2004), Star Quilt, 1978. Cotton blend; hand pieced, appliqued, hand quilted. 81 x 77 inches. Collection of Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson. Gift of the Kohler Foundation Inc.
Hystercine Rankin (1929–2010), Parchman Prison, 1992. Cotton; machine pieced, hand quilted. 833/4 x 951/4 inches. Collection of Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson. Museum purchase, with funds from the Searcy Fund.
Hystercine Rankin (1929–2010), Memory Quilt, ca. 1994. Fabric; appliqued, hand embroidered, hand quilted. 88 x 82 inches. Collection of Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson. Museum purchase, with funds from the Searcy Fund.
If You Go:
Mississippi Museum of Art, 380 South Lamar Street Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and 1 until 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Mondays.
For additional information, call 601-960-1515.
Geraldine Nash grew up on a farm outside of Port Gibson. She learned to quilt as a child from her mother, but her passion later moved to sewing. However, in 1988 Nash went to work for Mississippi Cultural Crossroads helping with childcare. While there, Nash expanded her quilting knowledge at the hands of Hystercine Rankin. The two later started Crossroads Quilters to
help teach others the art of quilting. Nash continues to work at Mississippi Cultural Crossroads as a program assistant.
Dr. Sharbreon Plummer is a researcher, writer and curator of the Mississippi Museum of Art exhibit. Her research focuses on textile traditions, artistic production and folkways connected to Black life, specifically in the South.
“The quilts on display in ‘Of Salt and Spirit’ represent both the artistry and a deep cultural narrative conveyed by the makers over decades,” Plummer said. “They are a testament to resilience, creativity and community.
“We invite everyone to engage with these powerful stories and appreciate the intricate work of these talented artists.”
Mabel Williams (dates unknown), Improvisational Strip Quilt, 1968. Cotton, polyester, wool, twill; hand pieced, hand quilted (appliqued and embroidered backing). 85 x 65 inches. Collection of Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson. Gift of the Kohler Foundation Inc.
Mary Mayfair Matthews (1938–2011), Folk Scenes Quilt, 1992. Rayon, cotton polyester blend, lace, lame, buttons; hand pieced, appliqued. 861/4 x 74 inches. Collection of Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson. Gift of the Kohler Foundation Inc.
Geraldine Nash (born 1952), Strings in Diamond Quilt, 2000. Cotton; machine pieced, hand embroidered, hand quilted. 271/4 x 28 inches. Collection of Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson. Gift of the Kohler Foundation Inc.
DESTINATION: Vacation
A LOCAL TRAVEL AUTHOR OFFERS ADVICE ON PLACES TO VISIT AND WHAT TO SEE AND DO, FROM MISSISSIPPI TO INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS.
INTERVIEWED BY EMILY WELLY | PHOTOGRAPHED BY ERIN AUSTEN ABBOTT
Lake Michigan
Through her photography and writing, Erin Austen Abbott of Water Valley has turned her passion for travel into a career. Much of her work centers on traveling with family and exploring the nature, art, culture and food that make places unique. This month, she took time to offer advice to Invitation Magazines’ readers about where and how to plan travel this year.
Q: Based on your personal travel experience and expertise as a travel author, can you name a few practical destinations north Mississippi families should try to make a point of visiting in 2025?
A: We should all visit the Emmett Till Interpretive Center in the Delta. We must educate ourselves and our children about the injustice in our own state. It’s the only way to heal and unite. You could also visit the Grammy Museum in the area to celebrate the great music from Mississippi. For foodie families, the JXN Food and Wine Festival is a great way to experience many different areas of the state in two days. (It takes place March 14-15). While in Jackson, you don’t want to miss the Mississippi Museum of Art. It’s an incredible collection celebrating the arts in our state and beyond. (Read about its current quilting exhibit on page 34).
Continued on page 42
Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson
Continued from page 41
Q: How about a few places to put on dream vacation bucket lists?
A: My mind wanders quickly when I think of dream vacations, and I go into planning mode just at the thought. Some people have vision boards, and I have travel boards. I start looking at Pinterest and adding things to Google Maps for the one-day trip I hope to take with my husband and son. I have been dreaming a lot about visiting Japan recently. I’m not as drawn to the idea of the cities, but rather the quiet countryside towns. I want to experience the hot springs and a rainy-day train ride. I want to take cooking classes there and just slow down. I also would love to visit New Zealand. Again, I want to find the quiet and hike the beautiful terrain. I’ve been to much of Europe but never
to the Scandinavian region. I’d love to explore the museums and take in all the design. Lastly, I’d love to visit Nova Scotia. Canada is one of the most remarkable countries I’ve visited, yet I haven’t been to the country’s northeast yet.
Q: Aside from locations, what makes a dream vacation for you?
A: My idea of a dream vacation is visiting lots of art museums, being somewhere walkable with amazing food. I could take a cooking class or have some experience, like visiting an oyster farm. It’s not rushed, and we can take it all in. We also find a bunch of cute local shops. There’s also a lot of surrounding nature to take hikes and just be outside. And it’s not too hot or cold, so we could visit in the spring or fall.
Continued on page 45
Walter Anderson Museum, Ocean Springs
Brooks Museum, Memphis
View from the Staten Island Ferry
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
“I’M NOT AS DRAWN TO THE IDEA OF THE CITIES, BUT RATHER THE QUIET COUNTRYSIDE TOWNS. I WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE HOT SPRINGS AND A RAINY-DAY TRAIN RIDE. I WANT TO TAKE COOKING CLASSES THERE AND JUST SLOW DOWN.”
- Erin Austen Abbott
Fariner Bakery, Ashland, Nebraska
“I PRIORITIZE WHAT TO EXPERIENCE BASED ON WHAT WE CAN’T SEE OR DO AT HOME. FOR EXAMPLE, IN MAINE, WE WILL FOCUS ON FRESH SEAFOOD; IN NEW YORK, I WILL FOCUS ON SEEING AS MUCH ART AS POSSIBLE. I LIKE TO TAKE IN WHAT’S UNIQUE TO THAT AREA FIRST.”
- Erin Austen Abbott
Continued from page 42
Q: Can you offer some advice on creating an itinerary when traveling to a new place? How do you prioritize what to experience?
A: Yes, I’m a big planner, so I have a nice list of places I’d love to visit in a new place. I start on Pinterest to find things in a place that interest my family and me. Then, I create a special Google Map just for that trip to see all the selections in one place. After that, I base what we can fit into a day on places grouped by location. That way, we can move our way through a place without doing a lot of backtracking, making the most of our time. I can also remember where we went this way. I prioritize what to experience based on what we can’t see or do at home. For example, in Maine, we will focus on fresh seafood; in New York, I will focus on seeing as much art as possible. I like to take in what’s unique to that area first.
Q: What are some easy and organic ways for families to capture memories while traveling?
Continued on page 46
Catskill Chocolate Co., New York
Memphis streetcars
Continued from page 45
A: Well, photos, for sure. I’ve given my son a disposable camera on trips since he was about 2. He has worked his way up to my old digital camera that he now packs for trips. I also love to have my son journal when we travel, giving him prompts to write about and asking him to recognize the senses to write about. I want him to recall the sounds, smells, etc. I also collect all sorts of ephemera when we travel. I love gathering matchbooks and menus of special places. These are things that can also be used in travel journals.
Q: You published “Small Town Living” in 2024. Can you share anything about your upcoming projects with us?
A: I’m working on my next book, “Small Town Water Living,” which will be out in 2026. It’s a look at small towns near rivers, lakes, oceans and islands. I’m nearly done with it, and my son and I will set out to take all the images for it this spring.
An art gallery in Marfa, Texas
Shelby Farms, Memphis
A Jewish deli in Portland, Maine
Point Reyes National Park, California
MORE THAN A MEAL
More Than a Meal hosted A Night of Fundraising & Festivities Dec. 5 at The Old Henry to raise money for MTAM family Christmas gifts.
1. Anna Kathryn Dwyer and Alexis Lee
2. Roane Grantham, Eleanor Davis, Tracy Morgan and Ginger Brown
3. Sally Claire Stockett and Tate Martin
4. Sarah Siebert and Mary Beth Austin
5. Erin Prince and Bella Beattie
PHOTOS BY JIWON LEE
CHAMBER CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Christmas Party at the Inn at Ole Miss on Dec. 12.
1. Alyssa and Mark Benedict
2. Amy and Allison Roberts
3. Damien and Carleigh Harbin
4. Madison and Kaci Farr with Corey and Rhonda Allen
5. Kelly Bell, Kate Milling, Amanda Victory and Anna Kathryn Sharp
6. Nikki Biernacki and Grant Daniels
7. Maddy Hill and Brittany Partin 8. J.J. Jones and Rosie Vassallo
Stephen and Melinda Valliant
Teresa Hubburd and Terry Baker
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH CLAYTON
TAD PAD THROWBACK GAME
On Nov. 12, the Ole Miss men’s basketball team played at the Tad Pad Coliseum for its second annual throwback game, securing an exciting 78-65 victory over the University of South Alabama.
1. Alex Thomas, Jack Turner III, John Preston Turner and Jack Turner Sr.
2. Chris, Stephen, Jimmy and Jim Steward
3. Tiki Miata, Hamin Ahn and Seojeong Park
4. Eddie De St. Aubin, Patrick Cagle, Luke Taylor, Matthew McGuire, Spencer Singley and William Berglind
5. Sue Brown and Candy Mize
6. Serena Pegues with Sophia and Terrence Thomas
PHOTOS BY SANDIP RAI AND JIWON LEE
HOLIDAY ART MARKET
The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council hosted a Holiday Art Market Dec. 6 and 7 in the gallery of the Powerhouse. Various artists from the area had the opportunity to sell their holiday artwork in their booths.
1. Gavin Lane and Rene Pulliam
2. Meaghin Burke, Melissa Cinelli and Carrie Long
3. Nathaniel Stack, Charles Crocker and Mila Davis
4. Melanie Kraft
5. Tiffany Owens
6. Emily Rennie and Erin McDonald
7. William Goodman and Laura Cathryn Taylor
8. Tricia Barrios, Heather Crockett and Nancy Opalko
9. Tong Meng and Kona Rash
10. Drew’s Custom Crafts
11. Rachael Humphrie
12. Holiday Market performance
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH CLAYTON
CHRISTMAS GALLERIA
The inaugural Oxford Christmas Galleria was held Dec. 4 at Isom Place. The event, which featured unique shopping with local and regional artists, and helped to kick off the holiday season in Oxford.
PHOTOS BY JIWON LEE
1. Amanda Bennett and Carmen Mattox
Anna Wink and Shelby Toole
Brooke Roberts, Kathryn Slaughter and Madeline Mueller
SIPP FOR A CAUSE
Sipp for a Cause took place Jan. 9 at The Sipp on South Lamar. The event was a fundraiser to benefit Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
1. Clayton Figgert, Kristen Long, Samantha and Burke Stockett
2. Haley Murphy, Sally Kate Walker and Darcy Ross
3. Trey Eubanks, Claire Kiamie, Megan Rushing, Michelle Rogers and A.J. Kiamie
4. Tracy and Greg Cowen
5. Leigh and Dan Lowery
6. Matt and Kati Pittman
7. Jadie Smith, Chanda Cossitt, Jennifer Groover and Carol Etheridge
8. Doug and Terri Sanford
9. George and Cindy Lucas with Leigh-Carole and Brian Mullins
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH CLAYTON
OUT & ABOUT
1. John Cofield, Deborah Freeland, David Tatum and Melody Be Watson
2. Wesley Claire Lafont, Claire Tosh and Margaret Scott
3. Shanika Ward, Dana Moore, Stephanie Carter and Barbara Howard
4. Buddy and Judy Seely
5. Amanda Haley
6. Jenna Brisco, Morgan Pourciaux, Emma Clifford, Hannah Reynolds, Brinn Vaughn and Paige Stovall
7. Jennifer Ashmore, Kennedy McKee and Cheryl Ashmore
8. Shelby McEwen
9. Sangita Paney, Utsab and Utsana Acharya, Devansh Gautam, Monika Karki and Raul Gautam
Dirty Santa Sipps at The Sipp
HIDDEN GEM
WITH A SERENE EXPRESSION AND GENTLE TOUCH, THIS SPECIAL STATUE BRINGS COMFORT TO VISITORS.
New this year! Every month, the last page of the magazine will feature an eye-catching image by Invitation Magazines’ talented senior editorial photographer Joe Worthem. Here’s the challenge: We want you to tell us where the subject of the photo is located and what it’s all about. To enter the contest, follow us @invitationoxford
on Instagram and look for the monthly Hidden Gem Challenge. Participants will be eligible to win a gift card from an Invitation Magazines advertiser.
The sculpture pictured above was installed in an Oxford location in 2009. Next month’s magazine will reveal more details about this special statue. In the meantime, can you find it?
CONTEST RULES
- Each month, look for the Hidden Gem image to be posted on Instagram @invitationoxford.
- Follow the prompts to enter the contest.
- One winner will be chosen at random from the participants and awarded with a gift certificate from one of our fabulous advertisers.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
