DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
1
2016
2696 West Oxford Loop $285,000
from the
•Parkway Centre • Joined Together w/Oxford Galleria II • Building Pad W/ Potential for 4690 square feet
Happy Holidays #1 Re/Max Team in MS in 2014 & 2015
LEGACY R EALT Y
Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924
Markccleary@gmail.com
Blake Cannon (662) 380-7144 blake@oxfordvip.com
Alison Alger (662) 832-1697
Shelbi’s Place NEW Homes Starting at
$143,900
Act Fast and Choose Your Finishes! 3 Bedroom /2 Bath 4 Floor Plans to Choose From!
alisonmalger@gmail.com
Starting in the mid $300,000’s
Lee Pittman (662) 645-3695
Contact Mark Cleary (713) 303-8924
lee.pittman1@gmail.com
Experience the beauty and serenity of Tuscan Hills - with 2 stocked lakes - just 5 minutes from Downtown!
Starting in the mid $200,000’s
Measuring in at just under 1 mile from campus, 800 Park includes luxury features like gas fireplaces, 10 foot ceilings and heart pine floors. Professionally designed, each of the 4 floor plans are one level and have private screened in porches overlooking Pat Lamar Park and Davidson Creek. There is also a pet park that will be exclusive to the 800 Park owners. The 800 Park development has plans to include some specialty retail shops, as well.
The Hamlet
A charming Old-English style development located in the heart of the medical community and just minutes from Oxford’s downtown square !
Starting in the mid-$300,000’s
707 Deerfield
Oxford Square #96
•3 BR/2 Bath
•2 Bed 2 Bath
• Newly Renovated
•Gated Community
• Select Appliances
•Great Location
$150,000
Features include: Wet Bar Private Courtyards Gas Range 10’ Ceilings Garages available
Complimentary interior design service to help customize finishes on new builds.
$118,000
1023 Scarlet
315 Bramlett Blvd
1212 Westbrook
•Semi-Circle Drive
•2 Bed 2 Bath w/ Study
•4 Bed 2 Bath
•Large Fenced in Backyard
•Screened in Porch
•Beautifully Landscaped Backyard
•Huge Covered Back porch
•Outside Balcony and 2 Car Garage
•Spacious Open Kitchen w/ Formal Dining Room
$240,000
LEGACY R EALT Y
$499,000
•Above ground Pool & Shop w/ Electricity
$268,000
129 Sivley • Walk to the Square! • 3900sf , 5 BR/4 Bath • Wrought Iron Courtyard w/Gate
$1,395,000 • Wolf Subzero Show Home • Marvin Doors/ Windows Show Home
Search the entire Oxford Market at www.MarkClearyOxford.com and www.OxfordVip.com •662.234.5621 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 Each office independently owned and operated. All information deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and subject to change without notice.
12 Units Pending! Reserve yours today!
Coming Fall 2017
Harrison Square Oxford’s Premier Luxury Condominium Located in the Heart of Downtown Oxford. Just Steps from the Square! • Roof top terrace • 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms • Gated Community • Gourmet Kitchen • Private Balcony • Gas Stove Top Oven • Washer/Dryer • Wet Bar
• Wine Cooler and Ice Maker • Gas Fireplace • Engineered Hardwood Floors • Elevator • Reserved Parking Per Unit • 10’ Ceilings • 8’ Solid Core Doors
Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924
Markccleary@gmail.com
7005 Bluff Lane
1039 Hwy 6 W • Gated Property on 6.5 Acres • Oxford School District
• 4 Bed 4 Bath • 3 Covered Porches
• Pool House & 2BR/2Bath Guest House • Access to Goose Creek Tennis Club
$649,000
$699,000
621 Park Drive • 4 Bed 3 Bath •Totally Custom •Heated Master Bath Floors
$779,000
33 CR 143
402 Elizabeth Court
• 5 Bed 3 Bath
• Finished Bonus Room
• 3 BR / 2.5 Bath • Large Open Living Area • Media Room
w/ a Closet
• 10 Min. from Ole Miss • 3 Car Garage
$300,000
$599,900
1300 Beanland
7003 Macdui
3839 Majestic Oaks
512 Easel Street
101 Tam O’Shanter
• Located in the Heart of downtown Oxford
• Custom-Built Home
• 5 Bed 4 1/2 Bath
• 3 Bed 2 Bath
• 4 BR/ 3 Bath
• Completely Updated
• Oxford City Schools
• Front & Back Porch
• Large Screened in Porch
• Top of the Line Finishes
• Main-Level Master
•1.7 Acres Overlooking Golf Course •Brand New Theater Room w/ HD Screen
• Open & Inviting Living & Kitchen Area
• Located in the Old Country Club
• Access to the 80 Acre Private Lake
$699,000
$525,000
$899,000
Old Taylor Place Unit O6
107 Garden Terrace
416 Andalusia
• 2 Bed 2 Bath
•4 Bed/2.5 Bath
• 3 Bed 3.5 Bath
• Ideal Location on Old Taylor Rd.
•Large Fenced in Back Yard
• 4 Bed 3 Bath
• End Unit Condo in Oxford Station • Heart of Pine Floors • Large Open Patio
• On Site Amenities
•Main Level Master
2611 Little Street
$154,000
$185,000
$269,000
• City Schools • Two - Way Fireplace
$399,999
$505,000
4435 Sardis Lake Dr.
126 Oxford Creek Dr
• Beautiful Lake View • 107 Acres, Large Lake
• 3 Bed 2.5 Bath
$450,000
• Community Pool
• Brand New Construction • Brick Feature Wall in Dining Room
$310,000
$399,000
LEGACY R EALT Y
Search the entire Oxford Market at www.MarkClearyOxford.com and www.OxfordVip.com •662.234.5621 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 Each office independently owned and operated. All information deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and subject to change without notice.
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017
48
ON THE COVER Dr. Glenn Hunt’s Marie Antoinette teainfused and peppermint macarons make a delicious holiday treat. photographed by Joe Worthem
DEPARTMENTS 12
Letter From the Publisher
16
What’s Happening
20
Community Corner
22
In Season: Pork
26
Meet the Artist: Erin Abbott
27
Meet the Artist: Bryan Nigh
106
Out and About
112
I Am Oxford: Erika Sisk
8 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
FEATURES
EVENTS
48 Oh What Fun
30
Cole Swindell’s Down Home Tour
If colder temperatures force the kids indoors this winter break, keep them occupied and happy with these fun activities.
32
UM Museum’s Let’s Move!
34
Tutwiler Quilters Exhibition
36
Zeta Phi Beta’s The Royal Family
38
Conference on the Front Porch
40
Ping-Pong Tournament
42
One Night Stand Art Show
44
Ageless Aviation 2,000th Flight
86
LHS Pink Out Football Game
88
Gordon/Abbeville Reunion
Photographer Erin Austen Abbott captures the heart and soul of New Orleans.
90
Three Blind Wines
92
OHS Homecoming Parade
78 More Than Metal
94
Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour
The simple yet elegant pieces in the Niett Metals jewelry line were inspired by the designer’s artistic background.
96
Delta Waterfowl Banquet
98
EDF Golf Classic
100
William Eggleston Reception
102
Our Team, Our Town
60 Filled With Joy An Oxford physician’s homemade French macarons bring joy to family and friends.
65 Home for the Holidays A local military family of five make the most of their time together.
69 No Place Like NOLA
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69
112 December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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THE PUBLISHER
F
or my family and me, Christmas is the season to give back to our community. Thankfully, there are constant reminders this time of year that encourage and inspire us to give to others – from volunteers who ring bells in the cold to raise money for The Salvation Army to organizations that compile Christmas wish lists for children in need. In this holiday issue, you’ll find stories about people who have helped others in big and small ways. On page 65, you’ll meet the Vollors, a family with three children under the age of 6. Matt has been deployed overseas with the U.S. military several times since the birth of their oldest child. When he’s not spending time serving our country, he is enrolled in the University of Mississippi School of Accountancy. Managing school, work, military service and parenting is a balancing act for the Vollors, but they wouldn’t have it any other way. Our cover story features a local physician who also happens to be an incredible baker. Last summer over lunch, my good friend Beth Hunt told me about her father-in-law’s delicious and beautiful macarons. “I think I could eat 1,000 of them,” Beth told me with a huge smile on her face. That was the beginning of this month’s cover photo and the story on page 60 about how Dr. Glenn Hunt began making
12 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
macarons. It’s a sweet story and a labor of love – a way for Dr. Hunt to bring happiness to his family and friends. The holidays are a time for giving. So this month, when you see a volunteer from The Salvation Army ringing a bell, spare him or her a dime. If you meet a member of our military, take two seconds to say thank you. Surprise a
neighbor with a batch of cookies (you could even give homemade macarons a try). It only takes a small gesture to make this holiday season a little brighter for someone else. Merry Christmas,
RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER
INVITATION Oxford publishers
Phil and Rachel West
editorial
EDITOR IN CHIEF Lena Anderson CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Emily Welly EVENTS EDITOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Laurie Triplette Meaghin Burke Toni Overby Ginny McCarley EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Katherine Henson COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson
advertising
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Stacey Raper Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Becca Bailey Zach Fields Holly Vollor
art
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Hallie Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Erin Austen Abbott Joey Brent Jessica Richardson CONTRIBUTING ARTIST Bryan Nigh
production
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Emily Suber
office
BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard COMPTROLLER Julie Clark DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008 ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com
To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Oxford or to buy an announcement, visit invitationoxford.com. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com. Invitation Oxford respects the many diverse individuals and organizations who make up north Mississippi and strives to be an inclusive representation of all members of our community.
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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DECEMBER–JANUARY
12/1
New Albany’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Kick off the holiday season with New Albany Main Street’s Christmas Tree Lighting event in historic downtown New Albany. 6 p.m., Cooper Park Downtown shops will have extended hours on Thursdays throughout the month.
12/1-4
The Mousetrap Theatre Oxford presents the murder mystery play by Agatha Christie. 7:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m., Sunday. The Powerhouse theatreoxford.ticketleap.com
12/8 Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Holiday Ornament Auction As the council’s largest fundraiser, the auction features one-of-a-kind ornaments made by local artists, food from area chefs and music. 7-9 p.m., the Powerhouse, oxfordarts.com
12/3
Santa’s Workshop Family Day
12/1-16
Gingerbread Village The Gingerbread Village is free and open to the public, with a suggested donation of canned goods that will be given to local food banks. Open daily. Group visits may be scheduled on weekdays, 8:30 a.m.- noon. To schedule a group visit, call 662-915-2787 or email kmeacham @olemiss.edu. The Ford Center fordcenter.org/gingerbread
12/3
Miracle on 34th Street A musical adaptation of the classic holiday tale by Valentine Davies, made famous by the 1947 Academy Award-winning film. Tickets $34-46. 3 p.m., The Ford Center fordcenter.org
16 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
The free event, hosted by the University Museum, will feature seasonal art projects inspired by the museum’s current collections. 10 a.m.-noon, University Museum museum.olemiss.edu
12/5
Oxford Christmas Parade The Oxford Lions Club hosts the City of Oxford annual Christmas Parade. The parade leaves from the Mid-Town Shopping Center, traveling south on North Lamar to the Square, continuing west to University Avenue and ending at the Ford Center. It will feature marching bands and festive floats. 6:30 p.m. Call Drew Windham at 662-8163739 for more information.
Ole Miss Men’s Basketball at the Pavilion 1/11 vs. Georgia, 6 p.m. 1/17 vs. Tennessee, 8 p.m. 1/25 vs. Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m. 1/31 vs. Mississippi State, 6 p.m.
Ole Miss Women’s Basketball at the Pavilion 1/1 vs. Arkansas, 4 p.m. 1/12 vs. Tennessee, 6 p.m. 1/22 vs. Alabama, 2 p.m. 1/29 vs. Georgia, 2 p.m.
1/26-28
Fiber Arts Festival The sixth annual event features an exhibit of fiber-related works, which over the past five years has ranged from historic quilts, handmade crafts and contemporary works. For more information, call 662-380-1940. The Powerhouse, oxfordarts.com
THE SALVATION ARMY written by Katherine Henson
The Salvation Army raises money and helps community members in need. In addition to raising money through sales of donated clothes, household items and miscellaneous products at its local thrift store, the organization holds annual fundraiser events. Last year, Oxford’s Salvation Army raised more than $69,000 to assist Lafayette County families. The organization’s biggest annual fundraiser, Kettle Season, takes place during the holidays. Volunteers ring bells at the entrances of Wal-Mart and Kroger to encourage shoppers to drop money in The Salvation Army’s signature bright-red kettles. Last year, $40,000 was donated during Kettle Season, and this year the organization hopes to raise $45,000. “Kettle season is a great way to get the town involved. Schools, businesses, firefighters, police officers [and others] come to volunteer to help raise money for their community,” said Lisa Coleman, local Salvation Army director. It’s also sparked some friendly competition over the years. Local groups such as cheerleading squads and Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops have created teams to raise the most money for The Salvation Army. Previous bell ringers have also gotten creative, showing up in various costumes, such as Santa and his elves. “We are willing to do anything to get the people out there involved in helping the community,” Coleman said. “Donating your time is just as important as donating money.” Bell ringers can volunteer for one-hour shifts, Monday through Saturday. Kettle Season began on Nov. 25 and ends on Dec. 24. For more information, search “Salvation Army Oxford, Mississippi,” on Facebook or call 662-236-2260.
20 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
PORK
written by Laurie Triplette photographed by Joe Worthem
H
oliday hams are big business. Sales of fresh, cured, cured-and-smoked and ready-to-eat hams soar every December, especially in the South, where pork is king. Deep in the heart of Chickasaw County, Oxford resident Johnny Kirk is pursuing a vision to bring Mississippians better pork at his farm, Third Plate Pastures. His goal: Produce hams that rival the best in the world. Kirk’s passion arose from years as a chef unable to obtain meats that met his high standards. The University of Mississippi graduate had honed his cooking skills at the French Culinary Institute and Johnson and Wales University, worked in a number of fine-dining kitchens and taught at L’Ecole Culinaire in Memphis, refining his culinary tastes at Stella, his popular, now-closed Memphis restaurant. Those efforts garnered him a 2005 James Beard Foundation nomination as a rising star in American cuisine. “I want to produce hams that taste better than jamón Ibérico from southern Spain,” said the Greenville native, a certified chef and culinary consultant. “Iberian pigs are happy pigs. They live totally off the land, and you can taste it in the meat.” To accomplish his goal, Kirk is stewarding a 200-acre property along County Road 118 between Davis Lake, the Owl Creek Mounds and the Natchez Trace, just outside Okolona. When he established the farm in 2014, he named it Third Plate Pastures after Dan Barber’s The Third Plate, the seminal book on the future of food. More than 60 percent of the property is covered with 100-year-old white, red and pin oaks interspersed among a pecan grove and black walnut trees. Muscadines and persimmons also dot the landscape. Kirk says the land provides the perfect all-natural feeding menu and schedule for the pigs. The acorns and nuts ripen at different times, from September through March. The fruit comes in from July through November, and the grass is available all summer. Kirk began populating the farm in 2015
with the offspring of three heritage breeds – two Berkshire sows, a breed dating back to Cromwellian England; one Tamworth sow, an Anglo-Irish breed known as the “bacon pig”; and one Red Wattle boar, a 20th-century crossbred east Texas pig. All three are known for their foraging proclivity, hardiness, adaptability and rapid growth rate. Their meat is flavorful, well marbled and tender. Kirk collaborates with a Mississippi USDA-approved meat packer, and Third Plate has processed four pigs to date, priced at about $4 per pound. They weighed between 190 and
22 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
260 pounds, which is the average processing weight for commercially bred pigs. The results met with resounding customer approval, and the chef-turned-livestock entrepreneur is excited to continue the process of perfecting his product and hopes to get his pigs up to 350-365 pounds. He’s already added yard chickens and Dorper sheep to his Third Plate menagerie and will continue to promote healthier eating among Mississippians. “We have to steer people back to knowing where their food comes from and how much better naturally raised, local food tastes,” he said.
Chef Johnny Kirk owns and operates Third Plate Pastures, a small farm located just outside Okolona in Chickasaw County. Kirk raises heritage pigs and Dorper sheep, which naturally feed off the 200 acres of land and its black walnuts, acorns, pecans, muscadines and persimmons. For more information, find Third Plate Pastures on Facebook.
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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Johnny Kirk’s Holiday Meal for Four Panko-Crusted Pork Tenderloin
1 cup panko breadcrumbs 1 Tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, plus more for garnish 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 Tablespoon fresh cracked black pepper 2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed Salt and cracked black pepper to taste 1½ teaspoons peanut oil, plus more for pan-frying 1 Tablespoon cold unsalted butter ½ cup Dijon mustard, plus 2 Tablespoons as needed Heat oven to 250°F. Use a whisk to combine first 5 ingredients in a large shallow dish. Set aside. Pat the pork dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and cracked black pepper. Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 1½ teaspoons peanut oil and butter, swirling pan to coat bottom evenly. Add pork. (Tip: Lay meat down gently, starting with end closest to you, placing it pointing outward to prevent hot oil spatter.) Allow the pork to stick upon hitting the heated pan. Once seared, from 30 to 90 seconds, it will release from the pan bottom. Flip and repeat. After browning on all sides, place pork on a wire rack over a drip pan to cool about 15 minutes at room temperature. Wipe but do not wash the sauté pan. Using a pastry brush, coat pork on all sides with Dijon mustard. Roll coated meat in herbed panko, gently pressing down to coat evenly and completely cover the mustard. In sauté pan, add enough peanut oil to cover one-third up sides of pork. Heat oil over medium-high to 350˚F. Add pork to oil, gently laying it down to avoid shaking off panko. Sear coated pork again on all sides until panko coating is browned, and place onto wire rack positioned over drip pan. Bake about 25-35 minutes on middle oven rack at 250˚F until thermometer inserted into center of meat registers 155˚F. Allow pork to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
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Sweet Tomato Demi-Glace Homemade demiglace requires a day for rendering stock concentrate from pounds of veal bones, but it can also be purchased ready-made. Try DemiGlace Gold by More Than Gourmet, available online. Or substitute 2 Tablespoons roasted beef base dissolved in 3½ ounces red wine. 2 teaspoons white granulated sugar 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 (28-ounce) can DeLallo San Marzano whole tomatoes, drained 4 ounces demiglace Salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste 1 Tablespoon cold unsalted butter 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme Sprinkle sugar in an even layer to coat bottom of a heavy medium saucepan. Heat on low, without stirring, until sugar melts and turns amber colored, gently swirling pan so that sugar does not burn (start over if sugar burns). Stir vinegar into melted sugar, and cook until reduced by 90 percent. Mash in tomatoes, squeezing them over the pan to break them up. Simmer 20-30 minutes on medium-low, stirring occasionally until mixture thickens, with little liquid remaining. Whisk in demiglace, and stir to incorporate. Bring mixture back to a simmer, adding salt and pepper to taste. Turn off heat, and whisk in cold butter until fully incorporated. Force mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into top of a double boiler. Stir in fresh thyme. Keep warm in double boiler over medium-low heat until ready to plate.
Roasted-Garlic Mashed Potatoes 1 small bulb garlic 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt and white pepper to taste 2 pounds russet potatoes 2 ounces whole milk, to taste 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter Heat oven to 350°F. Slice top end off of garlic bulb. Sprinkle with olive oil, salt and white pepper. Wrap in foil, and bake 45
minutes. Remove from oven, and cool. Once cooled, hold bulb by the root end, and squeeze out the roasted garlic. Mash with a fork. Peel potatoes, and boil in salted water until tender. Warm milk in a small saucepan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes (remove as
soon as bubbles start to form at edges, and do not boil). Drain potatoes, and combine while hot with mashed garlic, salt and white pepper in a mixing bowl. Whip at medium speed until smooth. Add warm milk to desired consistency. Stir in cold butter, and serve. December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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ERIN AUSTEN ABBOTT
Erin Austen Abbott is a freelance writer, photographer and author of How to Make It (Chronicle Books, 2017). Abbott has held gallery shows of her work in Tampa, Boston, Seattle, Los Angeles, Memphis, Oxford, Water Valley, Berlin, Milan and Basel. She also founded the travel blog Field Trip and is a regular contributor to Design Sponge. She currently lives in Water Valley and runs her store, Amelia, on the Oxford Square. Turn to page 69 for photographs of Abbott’s trip with her family to New Orleans in which she highlights a different side of The Big Easy.
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BRYAN NIGH
Bryan Nigh is an animator, illustrator and creator of the animated short series Brad, the Jerk Dog. After earning a bachelor’s degree in 2-D animation from Columbia College Chicago, he worked in the entertainment industry for 10 years in Los Angeles and Atlanta. As an associate producer with Bento Box Animation Studios, he contributed to several series such as Allen Gregory, Brickleberry and The Awesomes. He recently relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, with his soon-to-be wife and their two dogs. For this issue, he illustrated Oh What Fun (on page 48), which he plans to use as a resource to remain sane during his first Midwest winter in more than a decade.
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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28 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
COLE SWINDELL CONCERT Award-winning country music singer and songwriter Cole Swindell performed Nov. 4 at the Lyric. The show was part of his Down Home Tour. photographed by Jessica Richardson
Davis Bell and Jake Lastinger
Summer Newman, Michelle Hughes and Lisa Hall
DeeAnn Linton and Meg Cordell
Ben Fleming and Brett Huber
Megan Schweizer and Kerri McGehee
Hunter Jordan, Austin Aeschliman and Lyndsey Calhoun
April McLarty and Audrey Thornton
Alexis Fleming and Amanda Clement
30 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
Reid Pennington and Mary-Lynn Murray
Lanee McCord and Dustin Kannada
namesMallie namesJonames Naglenames and Edwin namesDawkins names names
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
LET’S MOVE! MUSEUM FAMILY DAY The University Museum held a family activity day Oct. 15. More than 200 participated in the family-friendly event held on the Bailey Woods Trail leading to Rowan Oak. photographed by Joey Brent
Julia Ashley and Steven Mockler
Emily McCauley and Emily Hargrove
Ann Louise, Elizabeth, Lee and Mary Elizabeth Miers
Susan and Sullivan Martin
32 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
Rowen, Emily, Rylen and Jeff Huffman
Amanda, John Cooper and Jay Golz
Alex Ritchie and Kristie Willett with Cody and Jason Ritchie
Lindsey Clark and Melissa Miller
Byron, Jamie and William Carr
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
TUTWILER QUILTERS EXHIBITION The 12th annual Tutwiler Quilters exhibition and sale was held Oct. 15 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. The women’s group from the Mississippi Delta was established in 1989. photographed by Joey Brent
Olga and Natasa Novicevic
Janet Cherry and Britt Thompson
Tom McNeely and Kathy Kvam
Julia, Stewart and Jody Burnett
34 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
Jo Ann O’Quin and Claire Alexander
Elizabeth Paine and Aileen Ajootian
Betty Osten, Lucinda Berryhill and Gloria Kellum
Betty and Mike Bridge
Michael and Brenda Prager
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
THE ROYAL FAMILY PERFORMANCE A production of The Royal Family was performed Nov. 7 at the Ford Center. Zeta Phi Beta sorority hosted the performance as part of their 40th anniversary celebration weekend. photographed by Joey Brent
Kayla Hamilton, Mary Johnson and Asia Luster
Pauline Childs and Veronica Agnew-Granger
Jeremy and Candies Cook
Jelisa McGee and Martina Brewer-Mister
Marty and Susan Fino
Stewart Guernsey and Jasmine Williams
Marcia and Donald Cole
Gary Jefferson and Arther Ramsey
Jeremy Scruggs and Whitney Dozier
Aleciean Mathis and Kathy Shoalmire
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Cecilia Davis, Kathleen Smith, Gladys Fisher and Delores Lagrone
Tracie Harris and Kimberly Dandridge
Jamie, Honesty and Lakyjah Shaw
Loretta Porter with Stella and Bessie Frierson, Louise Johnson and Minnie Jones
Erica Avent, Shimikqua Ellis and Michelle Jones
Lequanta and Marcus Newson
Jeannelle Crawford, Earnesteen Foster and Lola McKinney
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
THE CONFERENCE ON THE FRONT PORCH The Mill at Plein Air in Taylor held a conference Oct. 20-21 centered around the history and significance of the front porch. The event included panel discussions, lectures, food and entertainment. photographed by Joey Brent
Michael Dolan and Scott Cook
Suzanne Stern and Patricia Ogren
Ray and Janet Jackson
Lucius Lamar and Kerry Hamilton
38 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
Lowry Harper, Campbell McCool and Risa Darby
Karen Bailey and Kat Kirkpatrick
Linda Ross and Josh Aldy with Carol Taff
Jim and Sudie Manning
Leah Kemp and John Tee
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
PING-PONG TOURNAMENT A Ping-Pong tournament to raise funds for the Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi Cancer Center’s mammogram assistance program was held Oct. 23 at the Oxford Activity Center. photographed by Jessica Richardson
Dustin Crum and Beth Bunch
Anthony Bonner, Samuel Woodall and Gabriel Romero
Lilla Mitchell and Sondra Brown
Brion, Chase, Kelly and Brooks Whitten
Samuel Woodall and Cory Williams
Neil Norman and Carter Young
Jerry Rogers and John Cole Tramel
Sheila McKinney and Candi Wood
Doug Sullivan-Gonzales and Andrew Kamischke
Hope Gardner and Kylie Thompson
Daniel Lenard and Joey Gardner
Allison and Kyle Koestler
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December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
ONE NIGHT STAND MOTEL ART SHOW Area artists transformed rooms at the Ole Miss Motel into miniature art galleries on Oct. 15 for the 11th annual One Night Stand Motel Art Show. Guests also enjoyed food provided by Saint Leo. photographed by Jessica Richardson
Rachel Hudson and Ian Whalen
Beverly Brown and Adrienne Brown-David
Katie Morrison, Taariq David and Cody Morrison
Breyanne and Mike Hoover
Barbara Donovan and Kathryn Hunter
Lauren and Mike Prater
Joli Nichols and Kelley Hunsberger
Courtney McAlexander and Kevin Lewellyn
Sherrie Jenkins and Ali Maghoo
42 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
J.C. and Joy Clark
Johnathan Kent Adams and Blake Summers
Rob and Kate Forster
Jimmy Williams, Michael Fostasek and Brad McDonald
Cassie Scruggs and Frances Berry
Justin Hopkins with Baylee and Ann Adams
Jennifer Mathus with Emily and Joie Blount
Amy Marceaux with Olivia, Melissa and Mike Cinelli
Michael and Debbie Woolridge
Mika Matin, Sophia Lauer, Daniel Chaney and Evan Boutte
2016 Best in Mississippi Awards Single Family New Construction
Let our Family build your Family’s home! SCOTT CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, LLC www.scsoxford.com 662-832-3782 • Oxford, MS
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
AGELESS AVIATION FLIGHT The Ageless Aviation Dream Foundation honored local military veterans with a ride in a Boeing Stearman biplane on Oct. 27 at the Oxford Airport. Oxford resident and war veteran Lloyd Smith, age 93, took the organization’s 2,000th flight. photographed by Joey Brent
Darryl Fisher, Angus Emerson and Betsy Sartor
Pam Swain and Rick Mize
Gene Hays, Frank Warren, Harold Harvey, Chester Starks, Larry Cobb, Keith Gillespie, Chuck Fowler and Ray Wilburn
Lloyd Smith and David Freeze
Courtney and Lenna Jones with Jerry Bratton, Len Benoit and Rowe Jones
Adam, Fish, Beth and Caleb Robinson
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Eddie Aune and Sandra Enfinger
Carrie Umfress, Gennie Hutson and Andrea Lindsey
Martha Smith and Shirley Scott
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When the weather outside is frightful, keep children entertained with these fun indoor activities. written by Toni Overby illust rated by Bryan Nigh
Oxford may be nestled in the South, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe from winter weather. If colder temperatures keep the kids indoors this winter break, here are a few ways to keep them occupied and happy.
\Play Pretend
All it takes is a little imagination and a few props to transform the rooms of your house into the best show on earth. Grab some stuffed animals and create a carnival. Kids can dress up like ringmasters and direct the stuffed animals
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to perform. Find some carnival music to play on a smartphone, hang a string of Christmas lights like tiny spotlights, and make some popcorn for the big show. Or create a zoo for those animals instead. Make each animal its own habitat by using pillows as rocks and blankets as water, and cut leaves and trees out of construction paper. Older children can research sites such as animal factguide.com or kidsnationalgeographic.com and then lead their families and friends on tours through the zoo, teaching them all the
fun facts they’ve learned about the animals. If animals, even pretend ones, aren’t your child’s thing, there are countless other ways to create imaginary settings in your home. Set up a school, hospital or restaurant, and have your children play the parts. For a restaurant, teach them how to make a classic dish like spaghetti. If you’re not up for the mess, create a cafe and make deli sandwiches and chips. Or create your own Top Chef and hold a “quick fire challenge,” giving the cooks lists of ingredients and asking them to come up with their own unique dishes.
the build up
To keep kids from climbing the walls, keep their hands busy. Buy some supplies, and have them make dioramas (models representing scenes with three-dimensional figures, either in miniature or as large-scale museum exhibits). Did you take a family trip last summer? They can replicate their favorite places like the White House, the Grand Canyon or Disney World. Go to wikihow.com/make-a-diorama for ideas and how-to instructions. They could also build birdcages from
craft sticks, or try constructing a classic house of cards. Lean two cards together to create an inverted “v” and see how many cards from the deck you can stack without toppling the tower. Legos not only offer quiet entertainment but also teach creativity, critical thinking and motor development skills. They typically come with set instructions, but children can also think outside the box and create their own designs. “I love Legos because they are awesome and cool, and afterwards I can make new things out of them,” Alex Mayo, 7, said. December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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a star is born
With the success of shows like The Voice and America’s Got Talent, many children have witnessed the thrill of performing and want an audience of their own, even if it consists only of friends and family. Hold a singing contest, but instead of judging on singing ability, get creative. Kids can judge who remembered the most lyrics of the song, who made it through an entire performance without laughing or
who put on the best show. Have kids dress up like the stars and really get into character. Then push some furniture back and hold a dance contest. Play some upbeat music and watch children move and groove. Hold a contest for the best performance or silliest moves. Go to YouTube for dance instructions, and see which little one can do the best Whip/Nae Nae or Mashed Potato. If your family has a favorite book, acting
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it out is a great way to bring the story to life. Dress up like the characters from Charlotte’s Web; Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; or Where the Wild Things Are, and have the children perform the story. Or modify the classics, such as Cinderella, Three Little Pigs and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to a more present time. Snow White can call the Seven Dwarfs on her iPhone, or Cinderella can use Swiffer Dusters to clean the house.
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there’s an app for that
To take the performances up a notch, grab your phone. It holds countless ways to keep your children entertained. Have them write, direct and film their own videos. Using the camera app (typically already installed on a smartphone) or a downloaded app like iMovie, children can shoot short or documentary-style
videos, such as cooking shows, how-to videos or re-creations of their favorite movies. Set up a scavenger hunt by text messaging clues, using riddles and photos as a guide. Children can text one another pictures of toys or other objects as they search for the hidden treasure somewhere inside the home. Create a modeling shoot with apps like
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Snapchat, which allows kids to layer different filters on pictures. It can instantly turn a child into a princess with a puppy face or an old man with a fedora and mustache. Other editing apps like CamWow feature fun backgrounds to change the color and style of a picture. Or set up your own runway and do a fashion show, snapping pictures like the paparazzi.
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get crafty
“Arts and crafts can help children develop important cognitive and fine motor skills as well as a sense of accomplishment,” said Claire Crews, Bramlett Elementary School prekindergarten teacher. “It is important to keep children actively engaged over the holidays.” Buy a package of plain white T-shirts, fabric dye and rubber bands to make tie-dyed shirts. By placing the rubber bands in different
formations on the clothing, you can create various designs and shapes. “Let the children help in the decisionmaking process, which will make them be more engaged in the activity,” Crews said. Create a winter wonderland: Dump cotton balls into a bin, and let little ones shovel them out with a plastic shovel. Fold up coffee filters and cut out shapes to create snowflakes; attach thread and hang them from the ceiling.
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With just a few ingredients, you can also make your own play dough. Just follow these simple steps from familyeducation.com: Combine 1 cup water, 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil, ½ cup salt, 1 Tablespoon cream of tartar and 10 drops of liquid food coloring in a saucepan. Heat until warm. Remove from heat, and add 1 cup flour. Stir, and then knead until smooth. Store dough in an airtight container.
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kick it old school
Kids today may prefer a PlayStation, but a lot of fun can be had with old-fashioned board games. Try the classics like Twister, Monopoly and Clue, or sit around the dining room table and piece together a large jigsaw puzzle. This is a great time to talk to your kids about your favorite childhood memories.
Young children enjoy dressing up, and a tea party is the perfect opportunity for the occasion. Pull out some old dresses, high heels, ties and suspenders, and hold a tea party using small plates and cups. You can even invite stuffed animals to the party. The food and tea can be imaginary, or bake your own scones to serve. The perfect place for a tea party is in a
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fort. Pull the furniture away from the wall, and drape sheets along the back, and use pushpins to hold in place on the wall. Pile couch cushions, pillows and blankets inside. (Be sure the furniture is steady and won’t fall over.) Get creative and set a maze of forts throughout the house. Then cozy up inside, and enjoy the adventure.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US! (662) 234-3878 • WWW.CMREHOMES.COM
CARRIE FULLER (901) 487-1299 JEAN DAULTON (662) 816-0348
WIL MATTHEWS (662) 832-1266 LARRY MCCAY (662) 816-1667
SARAH HAMILTON (662) 801-3640 MIDGE MCCAY (662) 607-1650
ERIC CARLTON (662) 832-1616
CARLYLE THOMAS (662) 934-3515
BETSY PATTON (662) 801-4502
CHERIE MATTHEWS (662) 816-0499
RHONDA RODGERS BECKY TAYLOR (662) 419-0948 (662) 544-2146
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A local physician’s homemade French macarons bring joy to family and friends.
written by Ginny McCarley photographed by Joe Worthem
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Dr. Hunt enjoys coming up with new and creative flavors for his macarons. Pictured above: Marie Antoinette tea-infused (green), peppermint (dark pink) and rosewater with raspberry (light pink) have become a few of his holiday favorites. The physician has served his homemade French delicacies to friends and family at several special events.
Dr. Glenn Hunt’s homemade macarons may look like they were created by a trained French pastry maker, but it was just two years ago, for his granddaughter’s first birthday party, that the OB-GYN doctor and novice baker made his premier batch. Glenn’s daughter-in-law, Beth, was in the hospital for her daughter’s big day, so the family decided to bring the French-themed party to her room. Knowing his affinity for baking, Beth and Glenn’s son, Will, asked if Glenn would try his hand at macarons for the party. The dessert – which consists of cream or ganache sandwiched between two meringue-
based cookies made from almond flour, egg whites and powdered sugar – is delicate and can be difficult to make. But Glenn was up for the challenge. “Surprisingly, they turned out pretty well,” he said, noting his macarons were far better than the store-bought backups the couple ordered in case the tricky pastries went awry. Glenn’s granddaughter, Annabelle, who just turned 3, still loves the delicacy. She calls them her “pink cookie.” The flavor she likes best is still the combination Glenn devised for her first birthday – a special, light-pink rosewater-raspberry macaron.
“She’ll eat two or three of them at a time. She’ll just stuff them in her mouth,” Glenn said, laughing. His other grandchildren, William and Addison, love the treats as well. Glenn has made countless variations on the original recipe, which he found in Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery Cookbook. His favorite is Key lime pie, but he has made many others, including chocolate, lavender and birthday cake. Annabelle’s birthday isn’t the only event Glenn celebrates with macarons. He has made them for family parties, two wedding events and other special occasions. He even made an December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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“I enjoy making them. It’s almost like a working meditation for me. It’s very relaxing.” -Dr. Glenn Hunt espresso macaron with dark chocolate ganache in honor of the family’s beloved Jack Russell terrier, Cooper. Glenn has made macarons for Beth Doty, a close family friend, on a number of occasions. He baked batches for her daughter’s birthday, a Christmas gift and a bridesmaids’ luncheon. “The macarons are beautiful, they’re gorgeous and they taste great. The whole package is just wonderful,” said Doty. “He continues to experiment with flavors and colors, and I haven’t tried a single one that I didn’t like. They’re all delicious and so pretty, too.” Glenn, who has been practicing medicine in Oxford for more than three decades, often brings treats to office functions. “I enjoy making them,” he said. “It’s almost like a working meditation for me. It’s very relaxing. I just enjoy doing it, and I like being creative and thinking of different combinations and flavors for friends and family." Though they take almost four and a half hours from start to finish, Glenn makes a batch every several weeks. For Christmas, he plans to make a variety of specialty macarons, including red strawberry and raspberry, matcha green tea, and white vanilla with gold leaf. The macarons have become a collaborative family project as well. Beth, who runs the calligraphy business Beth Hunt Calligraphy, decorates the macarons for special events. “I’ll use edible-ink markers or paints to write something or draw on the macarons,” she said. “It really takes a light touch because the shells are so delicate.” Beth, who taught English in Paris for a year after graduating from the University of Mississippi, notes that Glenn’s macarons are just as delicious as the treats she had in France. “They’re just as good, if not better,” she said. “He is so creative with his recipes. He is able to just come up with these combinations, and they’re amazing.” December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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A local military family of five make the most of their time together. written by Toni Overby
A chance meeting at a wedding in June 2007 led Vicksburg natives Matt and Holly Vollor to a wedding of their own. Matt, who was actively serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq at the time, had taken leave to attend his brother’s wedding. The bride happened to be Holly’s best friend. The two served as groomsman and bridesmaid but didn’t actually speak to one another at the wedding. “We were both shy. I kept trying to catch his eye but it didn’t work,” said Holly, laughing. Matt returned to Iraq after the wedding, while his brother took on the role of matchmaker back home in Oxford. Holly and Matt eventually exchanged Facebook messages and continued to for about nine months, until the end of Matt’s deployment. Not long after Matt returned to the States, he and Holly went on their first double date in Oxford, where Holly was attending the University of Mississippi. And almost two years after they first met, the couple became engaged and then married in August 2009. The newlyweds moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where Matt was stationed. Unlike many other military families, they were fortunate enough to stay in one place and live there for almost five years. “We saw lots of friends come and go,” Matt said. “It’s tough on families. In a way, the first time I went to Iraq for 15 months, before I married Holly, was easier because I was single.” Holly agreed. “Now I can’t imagine Matt being gone that long. Fifteen months to a child? That’s forever,” she said. The couple’s daughter, 6-year-old Kate, was born in 2010, right before Matt left for a three-
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JESSE AWALT
month period of training, during which Holly was not allowed to communicate with him. “He was able to make one phone call, and I missed it,” she said. In 2012, shortly after Holly gave birth to their middle son, Luke, now 4 years old, Matt left for the Middle East again. Matt is grateful for the supervisors he had in Fort Bragg who cared about his time spent with family. “Twice, I was able to push back training and deployment and be home for the birth of my children,” he said. After his seven-month deployment in the Middle East, the couple relocated from Fort Bragg to Oxford, and Holly gave birth to their third child, Gabe. Matt transitioned to the Army National Guard, which he said helps pay for school and supplements the family income. Holly works as a freelance graphic design artist, and Matt holds a political science degree
from Springhill College in Mobile, Alabama, and plans to graduate from the University of Mississippi with a degree in accounting. “My time spent doing administrative work in the Army made me realize I’m good with numbers,” Matt said. He has been deployed just once since the couple moved to town, a six-month period he spent in Africa that Holly said was easier only because she knew what to expect. “The best thing you can do when your spouse is gone for a long period of time, no matter what he does for a living, is to keep a tight schedule. My kids now know when Dad is gone, that this is what we do,” she said. Holly is thankful to have the older children in school full time, which makes the days more predictable when Matt is gone to train for weeks or months at a time. “The weekends are still crazy, though,”
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Holly said. “Gabe is almost 2, and I never know what to do to keep three children under 6 busy.” Advanced technology has made Matt’s time away easier, and the family takes advantage of apps like FaceTime. “He’ll call, and the kids will grab the phone from me, running all over the condo to show Matt this or that,” she said. “They will even take it upstairs and leave the call going while they play with their toys. They love for him to see what they are doing.” Matt stresses the importance of support from family and the community when a member of the military returns home. “One of the hardest things is readjusting to civilian life,” he said. “It is as much the veteran’s job to get back out there in the world and not stay closed up, as it is all of our jobs to help make sure they are doing all right.”
SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER Not everyone is fortunate enough to be with friends and family for the holidays. Organizations such as Support Our Troops and Operation Gratitude will ship donated care packages containing toiletry items, baked goods and reading materials to military men and women who are stationed far from home. Oxford also has one of the state’s six veterans homes. The Mississippi State Veterans Home of Oxford, located on Veterans Drive off of South Lamar, is open to visitors yearround and especially welcomes them during the holidays. Activities director Regina Tutor plans enriching activities for the men and women residing at the home, such as games, church services, exercise classes and movie nights. Volunteers are always appreciated. “At the veterans home, Christmastime is a busy time for residents and staff,” Tutor said. “We always have a day set aside where we have Santa Claus come visit with our residents and hand out Christmas presents while staff and volunteers sing Christmas carols. Each resident receives a Christmas present that is personalized to him or her. That afternoon there’s a Christmas party for our residents with live entertainment. On Christmas Day we serve residents and their families a Christmas lunch.” Those interested in helping can also call the Mississippi branch of the United Services Organizations (USO), located in Gulfport, for different ways to help troops during the holidays, including service drives, donation pickups and home visitations.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CARE PACKAGES supportourtroops.org operationgratitude.com MS STATE VETERANS HOME 120 Veterans Drive; rtutor@vab.ms.gov; 662-236-1218 MISSISSIPPI BRANCH OF THE USO 228-248-0533; usogulfcoast@uso.org; gulfcoast.uso.org
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with camera in hand, photographer Erin Austen Abbott captures the heart and soul of New Orleans. written and photographed by Erin Austen Abbott
we try to get down to new orleans at least a couple times a year. While some families go to the beach, we go to NOLA. My husband, Sean Kirkpatrick, and I love that there is so much to do there with children. We spend most of our visits uptown, wandering Magazine Street or playing at City Park. We love to hop on the St. Charles streetcar and ride it to the end and then back down again. It never gets old, for us or our son (Tom Otis, age 4). We go to the French Quarter to visit the aquarium or the insectarium and of course to get some beignets at CafĂŠ Du Monde. We try to visit the Ogden Museum on each trip. We love everything, from the architecture to the food to the art and design scene. The antiquated buildings, which are so charming, are also part of the lure.
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“there’s an energy [at the pontchartrain hotel] that transports you to a different era ... Like Tennessee williams might just be sitting next to you at the bar.” -Erin Austen Abbott
the pontchartrain is so classic, so old new orleans. There’s an energy about it that transports you to a different era. You feel like you are in the 1940s and Tennessee Williams might just be sitting next to you at the bar. You step out of the front door and you’re right on St. Charles Avenue, with the streetcars ready to carry you through the city and take you to your next adventure. Located in the Garden District and named after Louis XIV court’s Count de Pontchartrain, the hotel recently reopened after a $10 million renovation. It has four restaurants, including chef John Besh and chef Chris Lusk’s upscale Caribbean Room (pictured bottom right). December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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EAch neighborhood in new orleans has its own po’boy shop and that’s the one the locals go to. Our favorite is Parasol’s. It sits on a corner in the Irish Channel, and we make a beeline there every visit for our first meal once we get to town. After driving for five hours [from Water Valley], we order the Firecracker Shrimp, which is spicy and served on perfect, crusty po’boy bread. We’ll eat outside and watch people go about their day, feeling for a moment like a local in the city. Then we’ll head uptown for a sno-cone from Plum Street Snowball. New Orleans is almost as serious about its sno-cones as it is about its po’boys, and each neighborhood has its favorite. We think Plum Street is the best.
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“[our son] has embraced the city as much as my husband and i have. new orleans has a reputation of being a party city but beyond that is a culture that everyone can enjoy.� -Erin Austen Abbott
tom otis loves the city as much as we do. He gets excited when he spots a neat house or hears the streetcar rambling by. He loves the sound of a person playing jazz on the sidewalk or the smells drifting out from any one of the many restaurants. He enjoys running around the playground in Audubon Park and visiting the latest art exhibit at the NOMA (New Orleans Museum of Art, pictured top left). He has embraced the city as much as my husband and I have. New Orleans has a reputation of being a party city, and that element definitely exists, but beyond that is a culture that everyone can enjoy.
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BATESVILLE, MISSISSIPPI
All I want for Christmas is...
TheCandle&Gift Shoppe
662.578.0290 • 377 Hwy 51 • Batesville, MS 38606
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The simple yet elegant pieces in the Niett Metals jewelry line were inspired by the designer’s artistic background.
written by Toni Overby
photographed by John Love and Cady Herring
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The design aesthetic of Niett Metals jewelry is simple, but the story behind each piece is complex. Founder and designer Nicole Rottler of Taylor puts careful and deliberate thought into each detail. Rottler, who graduated with a studio art degree from the University of Mississippi in 2014, draws inspiration from the artists she has studied. Almost every bracelet, necklace or pair of earrings is named for and based on a work created by a female artist.
“I have a piece based on a painting by Carmen Herrera, who is currently on display at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York,” she said. “She was not recognized in the art industry until she was over the age of 90. My pieces are a way to honor women like her who were living in a period of time when they were unable to gain recognition.” Rottler’s own oil paintings hang on the walls of her art studio, where she creates new pieces for the Niett Metals collection. With
the help of her fiancé, Chand Harlow, she converted a large but dark storage closet into a sun-filled studio in the couple’s century-old home in Taylor. Harlow also had a hand in helping Rottler make the jump to starting her own business.
Nicole Rottler (pictured opposite page) is the founder and designer of Niett Metals. Several pieces in the line, including the Sterling Silver Herreras earrings (pictured above), are named after famous female artists. December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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Rottler created the Arc necklace (pictured above with the Stölzl necklace) by combining pieces of polished silver and genuine leather. The O’Keeffe bracelet (pictured opposite page) offers a pop of color with authentic German silk.
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She said had it not been for him pushing her to achieve her dreams, she might not have attempted to start Niett at the age of 24. “I was painting for profit, but I really wanted painting to be more creative than forced,” she said. “Chand and I were talking one day, and he said, ‘What would you be doing right now if you could do whatever you wanted?’ Jewelry immediately came to mind. He really pushed me to go ahead and follow my dreams, to not wait until I felt I was ‘ready.’ It was definitely a good decision.” She created her own company and launched Niett in July. The name is a play on the letters of Rottler’s first and last names. “I knew I was getting married soon and wouldn’t have my last name forever. I like the double T in Rottler and wanted to find a way to hold onto it,” she said, laughing. In addition to art history, Rottler pores over pictures in fashion magazines and pays attention to what her friends are wearing for influence. If she spots a line, color or angle that inspires her, she creates a piece of jewelry to reflect it. “Friends will send me pictures of their outfits and ask me what jewelry would look right. I can picture in my head the perfect piece for the outfit and at times have made them custom [pieces] for the occasion,” she said. Rottler also credits her family for her artistic success. Her mother encouraged her to “be whoever she wanted to be,” and Rottler says her minimalist jewelry designs are inspired by the jewelry her mother passed down to her. “I always used to go through them as a child. I have noticed lately that some of the stones I am now drawn to are stones I saw in those pieces of jewelry,” she said. Rottler, who grew up in Dallas, draws inspiration from memories made with her father as well.
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Rottler creates her jewelry, including the Indira necklace (top) and the Silver Arc necklace and Anning bracelet (above) in her art studio in Taylor. The Niett Metals winter line is available at niettmetals.com and locally at Cicada for Her.
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“When I was a child, he bought a couple of cabins in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, around White Sands National Desert. It was like a postcard: peachy sand, blue skies and purple mountains,” she said. “Farther up, it became a forest of green pines. Some of the most beautiful pieces of turquoise jewelry were crafted from the Indian reservations situated along those mountains.” Niett’s winter collection includes handcrafted necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings detailed with intricate geometric designs. Several pieces are a combination of materials, such as sterling silver with silk and raw brass with genuine leather. The line is available on Niett’s website and locally at Cicada for Her. Owner Ann-Marie Varnell has been pleased with the popularity of Niett jewelry with her customers and is happy to support a local business: “I actually discovered Niett Metals on Instagram and was immediately impressed with the uniqueness of Nicole’s designs,” she said. “In this industry, it is rare that you come across something that is different from the masses, and that’s what I strive to bring into Cicada. The fact that she is an Ole Miss graduate living in Taylor made it even more of a perfect fit for us. “Now that I have gotten to know Nicole professionally and personally, she is one of the hardest-working designers I have met,” she adds. “She is very driven to succeed and has a great balance of artistic talent and business acumen. She also brings an uber-cool factor to Cicada.” Rottler plans to continue expanding her line and hopes to bring it to storefronts in bigger cities like Dallas, Nashville and, ultimately, New York. Visit niettmetals.com for the full collection and ordering information.
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL PINK OUT GAME The LHS Commodores beat the Senatobia Warriors 17-14 on Oct. 21. The pink-themed football game was sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha, C Spire and the American Cancer Society. photographed by Joey Brent
Marisa and Campbell Atkinson
Amanda Flemmings and Nathan Cook
Anna Claire Anglin, Gabriel Dunn and Haley Russell
Emily Tingle with Tracy, W.J., Katlyn and Jim Hennaford
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Catherine Pettis, Brooke Hughes, Tanya Rankin and Cate Hughes
Rachel Reed, Anja Diercks and Abby Arrington
Zach Watts, Will Gillentine, Hayden Hopper and Michael Merchant
Madison and Jennifer Sharp
Keelie Stamson and Nick Cohen
Mark your calendar for upcoming events at the Power House!
The Holiday Art Market
December 2nd
1 pm-10 pm: Market Open Opening Reception from 5 to 6 pm!
December 3rd
9 am-10 pm: Market Open
The Mousetrap The Holiday Party and Ornament Auction by Agatha Christie December 1st-3rd at 7:30 pm December 4th at 2 pm
December 8th, from 7-9 pm Free to members, join today!
December 4th
12 pm-5 pm: Market Open
The Oxford Fiber Arts Festival January 26th-28th
For more information visit www.oxfordarts.com or call 662.236.6429 413 S. 14th St. Oxford, MS 38655
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
GORDON & ABBEVILLE SCHOOLS REUNION A reunion was held Oct. 21-22 at the Gordon Community and Cultural Center. Previous students of Gordon and Abbeville schools gathered for food and fellowship. photographed by Joey Brent
Theodore Isom and B.W. Kelly
Alisha Nicks and Evarlean Rumph
Theron and Mary McJunkins
Vera Kelly, George Nicks Sr. and Minnie Jackson
Alice Malone, Alacia Jenkins and Dale T. Gordon
Wovoka and Ama Sobukwe
Ruby Kelley, Bernice Herod, Noveller Marion, Frankie Logan and Carolyn Buford
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Gloria Young and Donnell Barr
Darlene and Jerry Malone
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
THREE BLIND WINES Three Blind Wines was held Oct. 18 at the Powerhouse. Guests enjoyed tasting and voting on selected wines, with proceeds benefiting YAC and the Moak Scholarship Fund. photographed by Joey Brent
Susan Westbrook and DeeDee Rafnson
Betsy Webster and Caitlin Hopper
Glenda Landrum, Kate Victor, Beth Blaha, Connie Brasseth, Shea Turner and Forrest Jenkins
Jo Ann O’Quin and Donna Toole
Rhonda and John Peters
Stacy Lamberson and Delia Childers
Drew Windham and Camila Selvati
Bailey Ward and Nicole List
Glenda Landrum and Connie Brasseth
Karen Stockton and Cyd Dunlap
Crystal Elliott and Kasandra Brownlee
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names Angela names King names and Laurel namesPeek names
Celia and Hall Wilson
names names Stacy names Thomasnames and Jody names Holland names names
Melva and Mort Mortimer
Leisa McElreath, Georgia Griffin and Wayne Andrews
Bryan Taylor and Emily Sanders
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING PARADE Oxford High School celebrated homecoming the week of Oct. 11 with a Wizard of Oz-themed parade and football game against New Hope High School. The Chargers beat the Trojans 31-13. photographed by Joey Brent
Keke White and Wesley Warrington
Brittany Love and Jylan Neilson
Harley Thomas and Chrystian Scruggs
Ansley Byars and Scott Brown
Monya Baskin, Samya Clayton, Lacy Leileq and Ann Marie Blackmon
Anna Porter Hall, Jackson Dear and Emme Riley
Carina Easson, Ann Leigh Robbins, Bhakti Patel, Michaela Spillers and Yazie Goulet
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Miller Elliott, McKenzie Tyler and Brynnen Yoste
Alex and Delia Childers
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LUKE BRYAN’S FARM TOUR Country singer and CMA winner Luke Bryan performed a concert at F.T. Farms in Batesville on Oct. 12. The eighth annual fall Farm Tour included eight shows in rural communities. photographed by Joey Brent
Mallory and Lex Murphey
Misty Magee, Angel Myhan and Brittney Montgomery
Lela and Jimmie Stennett
Beth Bennett, Kortni Clemons, Candee Garrett and Jan Stanford
94 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
Jill Stribling and Rick Thurlow
Braley Trabeau, Ryan Harrison and Brianne Rheams
Heather Stasa, Natalie Hodges and Misty Houston
Traci Locke and Courtney Boyette
Linda and Chris Simmons
Emma Kate and Beth Bennett with Ally Withrow
Alli and Catherine Black
Mark and Daisha Larson with Margaret Nix and Bryan Doty
Rachel Towles and Kaitlyn Tidwell
Deborah and Arielle Moss
Ashley Hotz and Lucy Heaton
Grace Aldridge and Hope Mason
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DELTA WATERFOWL BANQUET The Oxford/Lafayette County Delta Waterfowl Chapter held a banquet Oct. 13 at the Jefferson. The event included a catered dinner by Taylor Grocery, raffle and silent auction. photographed by Joey Brent
Casey Shackleford and Taylor Waddle
David Barkett and Ed Meisenheimer
Nanci Dahl and Breanna Faust
Brad Camp and Will Grisanti
Sherrie Padgett and Chelsea Harris with Max and Hudson
Dede and Chuck Cage
John Crowmeans, Jake Muse, Billy Monfort and Scotty Dunnam
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Marty Roberts and Tom Green
Brandon Thomas and Hannah Griffin
1923 University Ave •Oxford, MS 38655 662.234.5621 Each office independently owned and operated.
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OXFORD-LAFAYETTE EDF GOLF CLASSIC The ninth annual EDF Golf Classic, presented by The Range at TGC Outdoors, was held Oct. 14 at the Country Club of Oxford. Due to inclement weather, play was postponed to Nov. 7. photographed by Joey Brent
Hannah Mayo and Jennifer Woodard
Pat Tatum and Matt Parham
Chad and Logan Surber
Matt Bateman and Jeremy Burchfield
Randy Leister and Quentin Brewer
98 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
Brandon Hudspeth, Gant Boone and David Guyton
Peter Patterson and Mike Roberts
Tony Pumphrey, Preston Lee and Bob Cornelius
Meggie Carter and Rhonda Weaver
Lisa Coleman and Michele McCay
Josh Gregory and Rosie Vassallo
Tyler and Amy Bennett
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WILLIAM EGGLESTON OPENING RECEPTION A reception was held Sept. 13 for photographer William Eggleston at the UM Museum. The Beautiful Mysterious: The Extraordinary Gaze of William Eggleston was curated by novelist Megan Abbott. photographed by Jessica Richardson
Charlie Mars and Patrick Addison
David Swider and Wallace Lester
Catherine Smith and Margaret-Love Denman
Ralph Eubanks and Virginia Rundle
Hunter Johnson, Sara Wilkerson and Jaime Johnson
Jay Watson, Jennifer Mizenko, Karen Raber and Doug McPherson
100 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
Sarah and Emma Wilson
Joe Scott and Olivia Whittington
Lisa Howorth and Donna Gottshall
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OUR TEAM, OUR TOWN The fifth annual Our Team, Our Town fundraiser was held Nov. 12 at the Powerhouse, with proceeds benefiting the Family Crisis Center of North Mississippi. The event was sponsored by Young Professionals of Oxford. photographed by Joey Brent
Brandon Hudspeth, Nikki Verlangieri and Kristina Phillips
Chris and Sarah Kathryn Sanchez with Courtney Carruth
Kevin, Lea Anne and Charlie Griffin
Council Young, Erin Briscoe and Catherine Berry
Will and Paige Hamilton
John Cofer and Katie Ryals
Andrew and Claire Burkes
Nicholas and Angela Brown
McKenzie and Cory Williamson
Justin Wilson and Brittany Gilleylen
Breanna Begin and Jacob Jordan
Cade Clinton and Susan Ivey
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Check out the
INVITATION Oxford
Fridays are tasty at INVITATIONOXFORD.COM! Visit our food blog for delicious recipes contributed by food blogger Kimme Hargrove each week. 104 INVITATION OXFORD | December 2016 / January 2017
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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED ON PAGE 108
JIM DEES BOOK SIGNING OXFORD COMMONS CHECK PRESENTATION TO LOVE PACKS
Jim Dees and Micah Quinn
Bill Turner and Camie Bianco
GARDEN BED DONATION AT THE SCOTT CENTER
Michelle Robinson and Jamie Shaw
Eleanor Green and Kathy Howington
INVITATION OXFORD 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Invitation Magazines staff
David Blackburn, Brooklyn Meidl and Tyler Meisenheimer
THE CONVERSATION TOUR
Sarah Sgro and Desiree Bailey
Corinthian and Cornelius Hughes
WEST HALL OPEN HOUSE
Sally Kate Walker and Don Waller with Beth and Bob Rosson
COMIC AND TOY SHOW
Nick Husbands and William Thompson
Jessica Richardson, Dillon Smith and Austin Yates
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Miranda and Matt McGloflin
Evan and Stacy Ricks
Catering
Good Eats
Come experience hometown hospitality for lunch & dinner or Give us a call & we’ll deliver it to your next special occasion! • Weddings • Tailgating, Parties or Intimate Gatherings • Corporate events 662-534-3250 • 119 Main Street W. New Albany, MS
December 2016 / January 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD
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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED ON PAGE 110
BRIDGING THE GAP
Milena Sebuktekin, Loden Snell and Gray Crosthwait
Walker and Bethy Jones
LEISURE LIFESTYLES’ SIMPLY THE BEST
Lois Brown and Toni Coleman
10 MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
Leigh Journey and Conny Parham
JJ’S WOOD SHED RIBBON CUTTING
Erika Alaman and Alexus Richardson
John Melton and Barry Doughty
WALK FOR DIABETES
JJ’s Wood Shed Ribbon Cutting
Penny Hodge, Kelsey McClain, Debbie Johnson, Sheila Mitchell and Trevor McClain
BETTY SIMS AT PROVISION OXFORD NORTHERN DISTRICT BENCH AND BAR CLE SEMINAR
Betty Sims, Maggie Leech and Olivia Dear
Elizabeth Ervin, Sunny Echols and Michael Howell
Glen Davidson and Tom Lee
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PHI MU SELF-DEFENSE CLASS
Dave Sanders and Roy Percy
Megan McLeod and Abby Carey
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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 108
THE WIZARDING WALK
PACKING PARTY FOR OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Eli and Colton Ross
Dashiel and Nona Tew
WOODLAWN DAVIS NATURE CENTER RIBBON CUTTING
Kristin Lamberson and Andy Reynolds
Cael and Neil Wilson with Luke Felker
FIRST RESPONDERS APPRECIATION LUNCHEON AT THE GRADUATE
Jamie Phillips, Zack Colvett, Crawford Williamson and Parnell Boyd
ARTIST RECEPTION FOR MARTHA FERRIS
Stacey and Blake Teller with Martha Headley
Beth and Sara McCullen with Alice Blackmon and Ashley Sandel
THE WEDDING SINGER
Wendell Goss and Austin Davis
Larry Agostinelli, Becky Nance and Pam Starling
GIRL SCOUTS WOMEN OF DISTINCTION LUNCHEON
Jennifer Eastland, Vicki Sneed, Kyle Still, Jenny Jones, Molly Meisenheimer and Katie Naron
REGENTS SCHOOL FALL FESTIVAL
Kirstie Manning and Shannon Curtis
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Grace, Fielding, Robert and Courtney Gordon
Emerson Bell and Price Graeber
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ERIKA SISK
interviewed by Meaghin Burke photographed by Joe Worthem
Basketball star and Oxford native Erika Sisk, who led the OHS Chargers to an undefeated season and a state championship in 2012, is now focused on a winning season her senior year with the Ole Miss Rebels.
Q: After playing for Murray State for a year, what made you return to Oxford? A: I wanted to be closer to my friends and family because there is nothing like their support. Being from Oxford and getting the chance to come back and play for Ole Miss is an opportunity that I was blessed with. I love playing for my hometown each and every night.
Q: Coach Matt Insell has described you as a leader. How do you help lead the team? A: It’s all communication, showing leadership by going hard on every drill. I go out first on every drill. I lead by example. Q: What do you like best about your teammates? A: They are just a good group. We all get along and just enjoy playing together and for each other. We work well together on the court but also enjoy having fun off the court, too. Q: Did you attend Ole Miss games as a kid? A: Growing up, I went to a lot of games and watched Armintie Price Herrington. She was my idol. And now, a lot of kids say they look up to me, so that’s a good feeling. That’s why I try to lead on the court.
Q: What is your favorite moment from your basketball career so far? A: Hitting the last shot at the Tad Pad last season. We were playing Vanderbilt and we were down, and I hit a bucket with barely any time left on the clock. It was the last bucket ever scored at the Tad Pad, and being from Oxford and watching so many games there in my lifetime, that was just a very special moment. And then we won the game, which made it even better.
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