AUGUST 2018
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FAIRWAY
426 Perkins Extd, Memphis
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August 2018
(901) 590-3268
HAPPY HOUR MONDAY - FRIDAY 5-7PM OLIVE BRANCH
5218 GOODMAN ROAD
GERMANTOWN
2015 EXETER ROAD
BEST SUSHI
BEST JAPANESE
DESOTO’S BEST
DESOTO’S BEST
2017
2017
www.urbanjapanesefusion.com
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BEHIND THE COVER Paletas Made Perfect What better way to escape the summer heat than a lavish "Churro Fiesta" sundae? We here at Click love small businesses, and the familyowned frozen treat shop known as Frutanas is no exception. The Molina family's little store in Downtown Olive Branch offers a staggering variety of more than 40 different kinds of paletas. Read their story on page 18.
FEATURE BY CASEY HILDER
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WHAT'S INSIDE 12 Curb Appeal 18 Paletas Made Perfect 24 The Sound of Kindness 28 Riverside Retreat
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32 Recipe of the Month 34 A Mississippi Muralist 39 Beer From Here 64 Animal of the Month
OUT & ABOUT 42 Desoto County July 4th Celebrations 46 Desoto County International Festival 48 Mississippi Ale House Ale-iversary
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50 Feast on the Farm Gala 52 Live at the Garden: Train 54 Party on the Patio 56 Southern Thunder Car & Bike Show 58 Big Wig Ball myclickmag.com
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From the Editor
Summer (H)Eat As we enter the hottest month of the year, I find myself longing for a nice warm bowl of chili. “But wait,” you say. “Everybody knows chili is a winter food.” I know, I know. But I’m the kind of guy who could eat chili every single day for lunch and never get tired of it. Luckily for you, dear reader, not everyone has similar tastes. Like it or not, certain foods just go with the season. There’s a reason all the ice cream goes on sale when it’s 30 degrees out, after all. And speaking of ice cream, there’s never been a better time in 2018 to go out and get yourself a few scoops. I recommend the place featured on this month’s cover, Frutanas in Olive Branch. With an absolutely staggering amount of interesting flavors all crafted in-house, this family-owned store can definitely put the cool back in your summer. See their story on page 18. And if you’re looking for something that’s still summery but a little more savory, look no further than the five vendors featured in this month’s food truck roundup. From sushi to brisket and the allAmerican (and all-Southern) barbecue slathered hotdog, these food trucks showcase a variety of tantalizing eats. Read all about it in our feature “Curb Appeal” on page 12. In addition, this month’s “At Home” section features a stunning Dow ntow n Memphis condominium where every room is a room with a view. See Click’s interior designer Depp Britt work his magic on page 28. So from all of us to all of you: Enjoy the sun, and don’t sweat the beach body. Fall will be here before you know it.
Read on,
Casey Hilder Editor Editor@myclickmag.com
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Write to us Editor @myclickmag.com Click Magazine P.O. Box 100 Hernando, MS 38632
Co-Presidents Jonathan Pittman & Angie Pittman Editor Casey Hilder editor@myclickmag.com Art Director Courtney Spencer Copy Editor Taylor Smith Writers Amanda Bernard Tess Catlett Casey Hilder Feature Contributors Depp Britt Andrea Letard Photographers Frank Chin Casey Hilder Mike Lee Sales Director Lyla McAlexander lyla@dttclick.com Account Representatives Sheri Floyd sheri@dttclick.com Melanie DuPree melanie@dttclick.com
We make every effort to correct factual mistakes and omissions in a timely and candid manner. Information can be forwarded to Casey Hilder at address listed above.
Submit Your Event Interested in having your next party featured in Click? Submit your event by going to myclickmag.com or email us at events@myclickmag.com. Š2018 P.H. Publishing. Click Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. Any advertisements published in Click Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser's services or products. Click Magazine is published monthly by P.H. Publishing, LLC.
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Click Contributors
Amanda Bernard
Taylor Smith
Depp Britt
Tess Catlett
Amanda Bernard combines her love of storytelling with her passion for the community through her writing. Writing her blog www.memphismandysue. com provides her a creative outlet in addition to her full time job in finance. When she’s not working or out on the town Bernard is busy turning her new Southaven house into a home along with her husband Shaun and their dogs Haley and Sweetie.
Depp Britt is an IDS associate with Howse and the designer behind many of the homes featured in Click magazine. With an eye for detail and an emphasis on the unique, Britt brings approaches each home like an extension of his own. For more info on Britt's work, contact him at 901.937.9241 or via email at depp.britt@thehowse.com.
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Taylor Smith really should change her name to “Word.” She’s been a reporter for multiple publications in the Mid-South, including The Daily Helmsman, The Leader and The Commercial Appeal, and she journals every day. When she’s not moonlighting as a copy editor, she’s working full-time as a project coordinator for City Gear, an urban streetwear retailer, or watching another episode of Forensic Files with her fiance, Jason.
A Southaven native and recent graduate of University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, Catlett is a former intern for Click. An avid and tenacious writer, Catlett has been featured in various publications including Vox Magazine, The Columbia Missourian and The DeSoto Times-Tribune. When not writing, Catlett enjoys binge watching underrated TV dramas.
EXPERIENCED, COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND
Mike Lee
Event photos in this issue were captured by Click photographer Mike Lee. Mike started in news in 1971 as a TV writer, photographer, and art director. For 20 years, his work appeared on national and international television broadcasts, and was published in print media worldwide.
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DANO NAPOLI MPT, OCS, CERT. DN
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Curb Appeal Ring in a food truck revolution with five must-try Mid-South meals on wheels
FEATURE & PHOTOS BY CASEY HILDER
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LOOK AT THAT BUTT BBQ Don’t let the silly name fool you -- Justin and Leslie Cook are serious about swine. “I bought him a smoker for Christmas two years ago and it kind of took off from there,” Leslie says. “We got our start just selling butts to friends on Facebook. Two months later, we upgraded to a commercial smoker and soon after we had an opportunity to purchase this food truck.” The Olive Branch couple, whose last name is no coincidence, met while attending the Culinary Institute of Virginia. While the pair was trained in classic French cuisine, Justin and Leslie prefer to provide their own brand of smoked pork in the steamy confines of their no-frills dining experience. “You’ve got to love the work to do it,” Justin says. “I’ve never been so broke and happy in my life.” Together, they man a small, yet efficient food truck with a simple five-item menu dedicated to barbecue lovers. “We smoke everything at home ahead of time and then grill it up here in the truck,” Justin says. Popular menu items include The Animal, a towering serving of pulled pork, coleslaw, barbecue sauce, pimento cheese and topped off with a fried egg. Another Look at That Butt staple is the Monster Sausage, a tortilla wrapped around a smoked sausage and covered in barbecue sauce, spicy aioli and chimichurri sauce, with most of the sauces made from scratch. In addition, the Cooks offer pulled pork nachos and tacos, as well as Keto options for many of their signature dishes. Look at that Butt BBQ can be found at Mississippi Ale House on most weekends.
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LYNDA JORDAN’S BRAIN FREEZE SHAVED ICE For those craving a something a little cooler, Lynda Jordan’s Brain Freeze might be up your alley. With a semi-permanent location at 3907 East Goodman Road in Southaven, Jordan’s colorful cart and accompanying tropical-themed table set is an oasis. Chatty and welcoming, Jordan’s ever-enthusiastic demeanor is a perfect fit for the inherent cheeriness of a shaved ice stand. “I’m blessed to have this spot,” says Jordan. “I’m a talker and I’m a people person.” A retired school teacher’s assistant, Jordan and a friend purchased an ice shaver one summer and eventually secured a series of locations across Desoto County to park and sell her sweet, cool concoctions. “We get out concentrate in Hawaii, but the rest is a secret,” Jordan says. With more than 40 different f lavors and nearly endless combinations, the menu at Lynda Jordan’s Brain Freeze packs a little something for everyone, including local favorites like strawberry cheesecake, creamy coconut, Tigers’ Blood, and more. “I always recommend the Key Lime Pie,” Jordan says. “You can actually taste the graham cracker crust in it.” Jordan offers the option to add a scoop of homemade ice cream to the middle of any menu item, in addition to topping options that include homemade cream and a “sour spray.” Jordan says the big seller this summer has been her take on butterbeer, a dreamy rendition of the Harry Potter treat that includes Bavarian cream, Mexican vanilla and a hint of butterscotch.
Lynda Jordan’s Brain Freeze Shaved Ice is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from April to October.
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SUSHI JIMMI Sushi might be the last thing one expects to order from a truck, but the look of surprised and satisfied customers is nothing new for Jimmy Sinh, who has served a variety of East meets West-coast food creations since 2014. With a menu that pulls from a lifetime of culinary experiences, Sushi Jimmi gives fusion a whole new meaning. “I grew up in an Asian-Hispanic neighborhood, so there’s a lot of Mexican influence in there,” Sinh says. “You can see it in most of my dishes.” California-born Sinh offers a selection of unique fusion dishes of his own creation, including crawfish nachos and Japanese tacos with panko chicken and spicy chili sauce. Another Sushi Jimmi standout is the sushi burrito, which resembles the traditional Japanese dish rolled up to resemble a Mexican burrito and stuffed with a variety of different ingredients to suit customer taste. Some of these sushi burritos include the Little Mexico, a roll loaded with panko chicken, pico de gallo, and spicy mayo; as well as the Red Dragon, a supersized, hand-held spicy tuna roll with avocado, cucumber and sriracha sauce. Sinh also offers a wide selection of custom-built sushi rolls with names like the “Batman” roll, with shrimp tempura, crawfish, crab and cream cheese topped with crunchy strips, spicy mayo and eel sauce, and the “Spiderman” roll, with soft-shell crab, cucumber and crawfish topped off with seared tuna and sweet chili sauce. In addition, Sinh offers a variety of fried dishes including jalapeño poppers, kimchi fries, deep fried sushi, and all manner of fried rice. The Sushi Jimmi Food can be found at Truck Fridays at the Memphis Food Truck Park and occasionally at Court Square Park. In addition to a roaming food truck, Sinh operates a brick-and-mortar location of the same name in Midtown Memphis.
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HAYDEN'S GRILL As a pair of high school sweethearts running a burger joint, Reggie and Kristen Miller are doing Americana the right way. The couple’s food truck venture, Hayden's Grill, offers Americanstyle classics like hamburgers, melts, pulled pork sandwiches and grilled hotdogs in addition to a bevy of sides. Among their most popular signature dishes is the Memphis Dog, a Nathan’s all-beef hotdog slathered in barbecue sauce, cheese and topped with slaw. Hayden’s Grill was founded in memory and named after the Millers’ late son, who passed in 2010. After their loss, Kristen quit her job in corporate America and Reggie attended L'École Culinaire, marking a new chapter of their life. Three years later, the pair purchased a truck with intentions of hitting the road and bringing their famous melts to the masses. “He had this idea, shopped around for a truck and within a week, we hit the streets,” Kristen says. While they’re all served on Texas Toast with lots of butter, the variety of different melts offered by Hayden’s Grill steals the show. The Applewood Smoked Chicken Melt, a local favorite, is made from a smoked and shredded drunk chicken roast, and topped with lettuce and onions and a specially made sauce. The Memphis Melt packs loads of shredded barbecue pork beneath a bed of cheese and BBQ sauce. The Millers even offer extraordinary takes on ordinary homecooked meals like BLT and grilled cheese sandwiches. In addition to melts, hand-pattied burgers, barbecue nachos and cheese fries are among the Millers’ most popular dishes. “We patty all the beef by hand, none of that pre-frozen stuff,” Reggie says. “I really believe that makes a big difference Hayden’s Grill will be in attendance at the upcoming Horn Lake Food Truck Festival on August 25, and can sometimes be spotted catering events at Snowden Grove Amphitheater in Southaven.
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SMASHED EATS Brisket is a dish that takes patience, caring, and consistency to pull off. That’s the modus operandi of the husband-and-wife duo of Precious Wilkerson and Julian Boyd, owners of Smashed Eats. “I always wanted to open a food truck,” Wilkerson says. “We started out with a trailer and just recently made the switch to a truck.” Precious, who hails from Clarksdale, Mississippi, formed the deceptively simple eight-item menu from her own recipes and slapped a name on the truck that she felt reflected to food. “I thought, since it’s basically all grill food, we’d be doing a lot of smashing it on the grill,” Wilkerson says. “And also because I sometimes like to cook with beer and other kinds of alcohol. For example, I made some Fireball chipotle wings just the other day.” Smashed Eats boasts a mix of Southern favorites and Tex-Mex style renditions, including the much lauded 201 Hoplar Burger, which is topped with caramelized onions, spicy mayo, and beer cheese made with Meddlesome Brewing Company’s popular (and hopular) booze. But it’s the brisket melt that steals the show here. This local favorite is delicately smoked by Wilkerson and topped with gouda, spicy mustard, onions, and tossed between two slabs of Texas Toast. Brisket is also incorporated in Smashed Eats’ creamy gouda mac, a uniquely cheesy dish topped with smoked meat. Another popular item on the menu is the Chicken Panini, which comes topped with homemade avocado chipotle aioli. Smashed Eats also offers a small variety of vegan options, including their “Plantchos,” a mash-up of guacamole, lettuce, seasoned black beans, pico, vegan queso and plant vegan patties. Moreover, the deceptively simple Blazing Buffalo Cauliflower is sure to please a few palates. In addition to appearing at the Horn Lake Food Truck Festival on August 25, Smashed Eats can be found Friday afternoons at the Meddlesome Brewery in Cordova. myclickmag.com
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Paletas Made Perfect Frutanas in Olive Branch serves up one-of-a-kind fruity flavors and authentic Mexican desserts FEATURE & PHOTOS BY CASEY HILDER ADDITIONAL PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANIELA MOLINA
With a swirling mix of traditional and unconventional inventory of frozen flavors including classics like butterscotch and bold concoctions like lime-infused margarita, the family-owned Frutanas has a paleta for every palate.
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“We started six years ago working festivals for the local Hispanic radio stations that took place at Tiger Lane and the old fair grounds,” says Daniela Molina, daughter of store owner Alfonso Molina. “A lot of good friends knew that we were good with desserts and different kinds of sweets and it was taking off. That’s when we decided we wanted to start a family business to make it more accessible.” Frutanas’ Downtown Olive Branch location has been open for three years, building an active and loyal following in the community and across social media. The Molinas’ focus on building an authentic Mexican ice cream eatery experience has led to some wholly unique takes on old favorites. “A lot of people know real Mexican food, but not too many know about real Mexican desserts,” Daniela says. “We like to make sure all of our product is ours from start to finish.” In a few years’ time, Frutanas eclectic roster of ice cream flavors has grown from a simple six to an expansive collection of more than 20 ice cream and 40 paleta flavors. “We started with the basics since we wanted a universal product, but now we have a very wide variety of paletas, all of which are made with the freshest fruits and ingredients we can find,” she says. “Vanilla, coffee, butter pecan, strawberry, chocolate. Of course we still serve the classics, but we also like to offer some special flavors like tequila or cheese to fit our more adventurous customers.” With moderate success in the early going, the Molina family decided to branch out into more outlandish flavors of ice cream like Mexican cake, a popular element of the “Churro Fiesta,” a festive dish comprised of three scoops of ice cream decked out with a pair of sugary, cinnamon-coated sticks of fried dough. Fellow coworkers and family members Alfonso, Patricia, Alfonso Junior and Viridiana often team up to create exciting new dishes with existing ingredients. “We try to bounce ideas off each other,” she says. “That’s how we came up with the churro fiesta. We were thinking of a good way to blend them together. We’re all about getting creative while keeping up with customer expectations.” Thanks to a detailed blackboard menu for the uninitiated and a range of flavors from the usual to the highly unusual, ordering at Frutanas isn’t an intimidating experience. Daniela says the family hopes to open up a few new taste 20
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buds in Olive Branch and showcase the Frutanas team’s unique take on what’s come to be known as “summer on a stick.” “We’re from Mexico City, so we wanted to bring the culture and flavors to Mississippi by keeping our all our flavors very traditional,” Daniela says. “We always have something tasty for any customer, whether they are feeling adventurous to try something new or stick to their favorites.” Few offerings on the menu are quite as surprising as the Mangonada, a yellow and red spicy-sweet mix of mango and chamoy, an extract found in many Mexican candies, topped off with a tamarind-coated straw for a dreamy blend of sweet and sour tastes. “Chamoy has a really interesting sweet-and-sour kind of flavor,” Daniela says. “It pairs very well with citrusy fruits, so you see it a lot in our fruit cups. I’m a mango fanatic myself, so I really love it in our Mangonadas.” In addition to Frutanas’ popular fruit cocktails and paletas, the Molina family also serves traditional Mexican foods like street corn and chicharrón preparado, a shaved cabbage, avocado and pork rind dish topped with sour cream and crumbled cheese. “We do a lot of different ‘loco’ dishes on our menu: piña loca, nachos locos,” Daniela says. “We get a little crazy with it and make it unique by adding things like corn, Mexican peanuts, jalapeños, different kinds of cheeses and pickled pork rinds.” Frutanas also prepares fruit arrangements and bouquets by order, with the most popular being the Crazy Watermelon, a giant watermelon stuffed with a variety of fruit and Mexican candies. The family also occasionally teams up with the crew at the nearby Mississippi Ale House for paleta and beer pairings that showcase some of their more creative treats. “We’re always thinking of different ways to reach out to our customers,” Daniela says. “We love exposing people to new sweets.” Frutanas is open Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, find them online at facebook.com/ frutanasOliveBranch.
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Billy Frazier, DVM / Jeremy Keen, DVM / Ryan Kennedy, DVM
MEDICINE DENTISTRY LASER SURGERY DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY BOARDING GROOMING
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The Sound of Kindness Film composer and Memphis Symphony Orchestra cellist Jonathan Kirkscey talks the music behind Mr. Rogers in Won’t You Be My Neighbor FEATURE & PHOTOS BY CASEY HILDER
Capturing the gentle, avuncular nature of children’s TV host Fred Rogers in a tune is no easy feat, but that’s exactly what Memphis native Jonathan Kirkscey did through his contribution to the film Won’t You Be My Neighbor, a documentary helmed by director Morgan Neville, which premiered this past January at the Sundance Film Festival. The feature-length documentary, now appearing in select theaters nationwide, was scored and composed by Kirkscey right out of his Midtown home. This month, Kirkscey sat down with Click Magazine to discuss his creative process and the sometimes whimsical, often relatable and historically groundbreaking work of Mr. Rogers.
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Click Magazine: How did you get into working on movie soundtracks? Jonathan Kirkscey: Years ago, I was working at a Barnes & Noble and my assistant manager at the time was Craig Brewer. He was working on his debut film, The Poor & The Hungry, at the time. He had this script, and it involved a violinist. I play cello, which he figured was close enough to provide the soundtrack. I didn’t exactly compose for the film, but I got an opportunity to work on some great classical pieces. Much later, I composed an original piece for the DVD release of the movie. CM: When did you start to considering yourself a composer? JK: My first actual scoring gig was Mike McCarthy’s Cigarette Girl. I wasn’t really a composer before that. Me and Mike were friends and I’d always show up for screenings of his films around town. We eventually formed a band together. His original idea was to perform a first show, followed by a breakup show, then a reunion. So the whole life of the band was those three shows. CM: What is your favorite instrument? JK: Cello is my primary instrument. I’ve been playing since I was six years old. I started early with Suzuki method and private lessons. My parents always wanted me to pick up some kind of instrument growing up. I studied it at Southern Methodist University and later in grad school at the University of Memphis.
CM: In addition to cello, you play bass, keyboard and sing. How easy is it to put down one instrument and pick up another? JK: I’m best at cello, but I love the fun new challenge associated with playing something different. CM: How do you change up your approach when you compose a soundtrack for something like Cigarette Girl, a near-future sci-fi flick, versus the PBS-friendly Won’t You Be My Neighbor? JK: Even though the films are really different, my approach doesn’t change. As a composer, my job is to inform the emotional content of the film, whether it’s a documentary or theatrical feature. CM: How do you begin scoring a film? JK: The first step is always talking to the director. I always think of my job as helping to achieve that vision, so we end up having lots of conversations about that. I’m usually given a rough edit of the film with what’s called a temp music track, which is a selection of music that’s close to what they want placed throughout the film. It’s a big help getting an idea of what the director is going for, but you have to be careful not to fall too much in love with those temp tracks. CM: You compose mostly out your home studio. What’s that like? JK: I think the acoustics in here are very nice. It’s interesting how people really attach themselves to recording studios
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for the certain sound they offer. Take Royal Studios, for example: that building has an odd shape. It used to be a movie theater. It’s a weird, funky place that doesn’t sound like any other. Same with Sun Studio. It’s a very uniquely shaped room. Same with my house. I’ve lived here nine years and I’d say just about all of my work has been done out of here. It’s got a unique sound and that’s kind of nice for a film composer to have. And when you’re working on some of these low-budget projects, you’ve got to remember that every minute in the studio costs money. CM: How long have you been with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra? JK: It’s been almost 20 years since I first auditioned. The symphony usually has some kind of performance going on every week, but I’m with them part-time, which gives me a good amount of time to focus on my own work. One of my favorite memories of my time there was working alongside Yo-Yo Ma, who played the Dvořák Cello Concerto with us. He’s a big influence and that was a really great moment. Coincidentally, his son is one of the executive producers on Won’t You Be My Neighbor? CM: How did you get involved with Won’t You Be My Neighbor? JK: I first worked with Morgan Neville a few years ago on a film called Best of Enemies, which was co-directed by Memphis author, Robert Gordon. We worked together on a few different things together, including Netflix’s Abstract: The Art of Design. All these prior projects eventually led to Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
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CM: What was your mindset when you started work on this film? JK: I grew up watching Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and I was a big fan. I have a great deal of respect, admiration and love for Fred Rogers, so I was absolutely thrilled to be offered the chance. A lot of the other stuff I’ve done tends to have a darker tone, and this film is a little bit different in that regard. Not to say that it doesn’t explore some unpleasant emotions or feelings, because it does, but it was definitely different. I got started by studying the songs written by Fred Rogers and the scored music for the original show, which is fantastic in its own right. I just kind of started to figure out the harmonic language he used on the show, while still doing things my own way. CM: Did you learn anything surprising about Mr. Rogers during your time working on the documentary? JK: Definitely. The show had been on for a while before I started watching it as a kid, and one thing that really surprised me was how fearless he was when tackling difficult subjects for children. Even things like the assassination of Robert Kennedy and the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger were addressed on his show. In Won’t You Be My Neighbor, there’s a scene from the old show where one of the puppets asks a human character “What does assassination mean?” He never shied away from difficult subjects. PBS also brought him back to TV to do some segments shortly after 9/11.
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Riverside Retreat Local art and classy arrangements define this upscale Memphismeets-Miami condo space FEATURE & PHOTOS BY CASEY HILDER
With a strategically stunning location on the eighth floor of The Artesian in Downtown Memphis, every room in the condominium home of Raymond Vallier is a room with a view. This month, interior designer Depp Britt takes his educated eye to a blank canvas like none he’s tackled before: a hot property featuring a sprawling four-bedroom, 3.5-bath contemporary-style residence situated roughly 100 feet above the city, with a captivating river view and a wide-open floor plan begging for upscale décor. “Everything here is high-end,” says Britt. “From the art to the furniture, this place is really one-of-a-kind.”
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Living Room The Vallier sitting area is all about versatility. The room shares an open floor plan with the kitchen area, with an expansive sectional sofa serving as a centerpiece. A quartet of cowhide seats offers the perfect nook for breakfast or impromptu meetings. “This room is all about business meets pleasure,” Britt says. “It’s the perfect space for relaxing or hosting a meeting.” A patio space with a beautiful river view also adds a touch of light and dimension to the room. “I put this little area together and thought ‘What a great place to have a nice glass of wine and watch the river,’” Britt says. “At the heart of it, this place is designed for entertaining.” Master Bedroom The master bedroom grants the homeowner a secluded space from the rest of the condo while maintaining a minimalist, modern-art focused design. This bedroom is also a place of pairings, with matching ornate gold lamps and a pair of paintings showcase a more subdued color scheme compared to the vibrant color scheme of artwork found in other areas of the house. A secondary balcony offers a more private view of the city and surrounding area. myclickmag.com
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Guest Room 1 Purple Fendi pillows placed on a lush Queen-size canopy bed give this guest bedroom a regal feel, while the handknotted wool rug placed diagonally underneath brings guests into the room and adds a bit of pull to the furniture arrangement. “The placement of the rug gives an illusion of warmth and adds a little bit of architectural value because everything isn’t all boxed-in and square,” Britt says. Guest Room 2 A simple, French-style design permeates this secondary guest bedroom centered around a Queen-sized bed with a padded headboard. The second guest contrasts the first with its slightly smaller size and decidedly minimalist arrangement. “We decided to branch out with a different color value here,” says Britt. “It’s very simple and very chic. We had a small area to work with and no matter what, the bed was going to block a window. We got around that issue by placing it diagonally.” An enticing eastern view of the city offered by this bedroom allows guests to see all the way to the iBank building, an East Memphis landmark. 30
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Top Left “This dining room is over the top in all the best ways,” Britt says. “For a condo, the space in the dining room and kitchen is amazingly large.” A lavish mirrored armoire adds some extra storage space to this room without getting in the way or drawing attention away from the dining table centerpiece and accompanying local artwork. Bottom Left The walls of Vallier’s condo are lovingly decked out with local artwork from the likes of David D. Lynch and Edward E. Wade, with an emphasis on the historic faces, places and movements that put the Bluff City on the map. Colorful modern art portraits depicting B.B. King and the Civil Rights movement add depth to the residence and showcase the owner’s eclectic tastes. “We brought in a lot of different pieces and sculpture work for this one and it shows,” Britt says. “The overall layout of this place is very colorneutral, we wanted all the color here to come in the form of Memphis art.”
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH BY CHEF KENNY YANG OF URBAN JAPANESE FUSION CUISINE, OLIVE BRANCH
KANI NARUTO Fresh crab and avocado cucumber rolls with sweet vinegar sauce
THE GOODS FOR THE ROLLS 1 English cucumber 5-7 crab sticks (fresh or imitation) 1 slice of avocado FOR SWEET VINEGAR SAUCE 1
cup sushi vinegar (rice vinegar)
1
tbs mirin (rice wine)
1/2
tbs lemon juice (fresh squeezed)
3/4
tbs orange juice (fresh squeezed)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
METHOD SWEET VINEGAR SAUCE
Whisk all ingredients until sugar dissolves, then chill. PREPARING THE INGREDIENTS
Peel the cucumber skin and discard. Core the cucumber much like an apple, peeling around the stalk three times. Take the peeled cucumber and lay it lengthwise. Lay out 5-7 crabsticks flat and horizontally across one end of the laid out peeled cucumber. Half and pit avocado. Cut it lengthwise into quarters. Scoop out one slice in one motion. MAKING THE ROLL
Place slice of avocado on top of the crab meat. Tightly roll cucumber with filling and place on side. Cut into slices and drizzle with sweet vinegar sauce.
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A Mississippi Muralist Cristen Barnard brings public art to unexpected places across the South FEATURE BY CASEY HILDER
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Cristen Barnard has always held a simple philosophy when it comes to art: the bigger, the better. “I started when I was 4 years old, selling drawing scrawled on butcher block paper in the corner of my parents’ grocery store,” she says. “I guess you could say I’ve always been in the art business.” Barnard, a native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, is the mind behind several publicly sanctioned murals that have sprung up in places ranging from Batesville, Mississippi, to Ferriday, Louisiana, and even Clarksdale’s far-off sister city of Notodden, Norway. Her most recent work on the side of The Ink Pad in Downtown Senatobia depicts the five-star city’s namesake by reflecting five core values of the area: Industry, Citizenship, Agriculture, Recreation, and Education. “Part of my job was to interpret the city’s vision artistically,” she says. “The end result really speaks of Senatobia; it’s a mix of old and new. There’s a respect for the history of the city while we push forward. There’s really no place like it. Senatobia means ‘White Sycamore’ and, unlike other cities, there’s no other Senatobia in the world.” Barnard works closely alongside city leaders to finalize the look and layout of her work with months of planning going into each large-scale endeavor. Each large-scale project begins with a letter of intent and pencil design of an idea submitted by a local city chamber. While each city has a different process, the design for the Senatobia mural called for approval from the Senatobia Main Street Commission, as well as the city’s historic preservation committee. “I’m listed on the Mississippi Artist Roster as a muralist and poster designer,” Barnard says. “So when you have cities around here that want a creative project done, they try to pull someone from that artist roster. Mainly because that shows a person has myclickmag.com
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the experience and has jumped through the hoops. I kind of consider that the Good Housekeeping seal of approval.” The end result is a sprawling depiction of community activity, including elements from the Northwest Community College curriculum, the storied musical histories of Jessie Mae Hemphill and O.B. McClinton, the spiritual and social efforts of the Baddour Center, and more. Barnard’s style is defined by a heaping helping of color with a rhythm and earthiness that can only come from Southern art. And while small towns like Leland, Mississippi, aren’t exactly on the map for public art, Barnard hopes to change that. “I don’t think seeing murals around these towns is that unusual here nowadays,” she says. “People everywhere make art and, in my experience, people appreciate the work.” Capturing the culture of the region in paint was always a goal of Barnard’s, one driven by a deep appreciation of the Mississippi Blues. “I’ve been doing posters and murals for 20-25 years and probably the one that stands out the most is a piece I painted when lived in Tutwiler, Mississippi, where W.C. Handy first heard a slide guitar,” she says. “That was the incorporation of the blues. The music was being played before, but it wasn’t until W.C. Handy, a very educated man in his own right, took it and put it on paper, that it became widespread. I consider that the launching point for worldwide blues. This was the first mural I’d done on a big scale since college and it kind of blew up.” Much of Barnard’s love for the blues came from her sundrenched youth in Clarksdale, a city that many hail as the birthplace of the blues. 36
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“Growing up in Clarksdale, my parents’ store was right on Highway 61, just north of the city,” she says. “This was back when our blues museum was based out of the library just down the road on 62. They had a director at the time who really saw the importance of preserving and saving this stuff, and that’s where I picked up a lot. I remember seeing people come through the city all the time looking for that little bitty tiny branch of a library in that little community. And, of course, Clarksdale always had people who were outside singing and playing on front porches.” Barnard has also designed posters for nearly every major blues gathering in the area, including Clarksdale’s Annual Juke Joint Festival, Sunflower Festival, and the King Biscuit Festival in Helena, Arkansas. One of Barnard’s most storied works includes a mural depicting the 25-year history of the Notodden Blues Festival. The piece, a 136-foot long, 70-foot tall hanging mural, is now on display at the Blues & Books Museum in Norway. “I started by painting and photographing a smaller version before sending the raw images to Oslo,” Barnard says. “They printed it so large that it wraps around and you can walk around inside.” The international appeal of the blues and Southern art isn’t lost on Barnard, whose work gives a broader audience a window into small-town life. “Everyone I know internationally always says the same thing about our area: things move slower,” she says. “And they tend to be surprised by the hospitality. It goes past just the music and the art, there’s writers, actors, and more. Mississippi has produced some great crops when it comes to creative work. “
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MISSISSIPPI ALE HOUSE
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BEER FROM HERE WITH DERRIC CURRAN AND ALISTAIR CLARK Owners and Operators of The Mississippi Ale House
CROWD CONTROL Popsicles. Popsicles take us back. Back to our childhood. Childhood summers full of frozen treats and carefree days to play and to just be a kid. So, what better to put with a popsicle than the adult version of the perfect summer treat. BEER! We know, we know… It sounds weird but with the right pairing these two special treats go hand in hand. Frutanas in Olive Branch makes their popsicles from scratch using only the freshest fruit. The flavor pops and melts in your mouth. The pineapple popsicle soaked in the sticky sweet hoppiness of Crowd Control is a perfect pair. Don’t stop with this one pairing, you can use many popsicle flavors with different craft beers to bring new memories to your summer. Simply dip and enjoy. BREW FACTS Brewery: Southern Prohibition Style: IPA ABV: 8% IBU: 60 Food Pairing: Popsicles Appearance: Light with a slight haze Aroma: Piney and sweet Where to find this pairing: Mississippi Ale House, Frutanas
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OUT & ABOUT
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Karley Jenkins, Joseph Brockington myclickmag.com & Brocklynn Jenkins 41
DeSoto County July 4th Celebrations Horn Lake kicked off Independence Day with a firework display hosted at Latimer Lakes Park. The festival featured bounce houses for the kids, live music, and games until the sun went down. The festivities continued on July 4 with other celebrations across the county. The City of Hernando turned out to the Civic Center Ball Fields for a spectacular fireworks show. The City of Southaven celebrated at BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove. Attendees were invited to pack a picnic and relax on the lawn. And the City of Olive Branch hosted its 19th annual Celebrate Your Independence festival and firework display.
Jasmine Grananos & Annslee Benson
Glenda Scott, Hernando Mayor Tom Ferguson & Tony Scott
Wesley Benedict, Brooke, Allie & Blakeleigh Myrick, Mabry Benedict 42
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Landon & Dustin Gentry
Ally Simmons & Tevin Mathew
Kim Wright & Skylynn Duncan
Faith Price, Brooklyn, Courtney, Maddox & Matt Roeske
Bryan & Kevin Ramos
Scott Myers & Suzanne Stephens
Mayor Darren Musselwhite
Preston Jones & Ashley Person
Gabby Dickerson & Whitney Hershman
Casen & Lisa Freeman myclickmag.com
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Madison Jones & Mason Ware
Haley Popham, Patrick & Peyton Warren
Hernando Alderman Andrew Miller & Sherita Morgan
Josh Cotter & Kyna Fox with 'Shark Bait'
Olive Branch Chief of Police Don Gammage
Chuck & Pam Fennell, Sadie Ogleby 44
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Blane Gamble & Chole Mathis
Misty Roberts, Gavin & Randall Scruggs
Lanie Ewing & Emma Allen
Britany & Madalyn Stewart
PRECIOUS PAWS
Kayla Riley with 'Pancake' myclickmag.com
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DeSoto County International Festival The Hope Center brought together a diverse crowd celebrating the heritage of individuals living in Desoto County and around the MidSouth for the first ever Desoto County International Festival. Food, performances, and crafts from various cultures were available to delight the crowd and everyone joined in to learn new dances and share fellowship with laughter.
JUNE 24 PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA HOLLOWAY
Ewea Pettis
Lydia Muhammed
Jayashree Kumar & Mark Brown
Cindy and Nate Steve, Betty Allen 46
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Ishani Patel & Samantha Stack
Lakena Hong-Bowie & Sophea Chhun
Kaycee Douglas & Valerie Lavilla
Stormie Strong, Kirstyn Shegogg & Anne-Marie Jenkins
Queen Titile Keskessa & Kabneh Hailemariam myclickmag.com
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Missississppi Ale House Ale-iversary The first “ale-iversary� celebration of Mississippi Ale House was an allday affair as craft beer enthusiasts ran relays, listened to live music, and of course sampled plenty of beer. A dunk tank and bounce house provided fun for all ages with the crowd in good spirits into the evening.
JULY 7 PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA HOLLOWAY
Zack Birchfield, Chris Brunner, Alex Arnold & Doug Shaffer
Amanda Skelton, Brandon and Cecilia Stacks, Sara Thompson (Goldie Drunks and the Three Beers)
April Adair, Christy Brewer, Veronica Jones, Natasha Mayton 48
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Jennifer & Mikey McCrory
Alicia Abrego & Maclaudia Bennett
Thank You Aaron and Danielle Molasky, Cathy Lindsey
Mary & Chef Jonathan Mah
DESOTO FAMILY DENTAL
Melanie Neff, Miranda Bowling, Elisa Kennedy & Christina Geiger
Kevin Byrd & Sean Hilsdon myclickmag.com
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Feast on the Farm Gala The inside of the Agricenter was turned into a beautiful picnic ground with cheerful sunflower accents and twinkling lights overhead the farm tables for the Feast on the Farm Gala. Restaurants from around the Mid-South provided farm to table bites as supports perused the silent auction in their county chic attire raising over $100,000 for Agricenter International’s agricultural education programs.
JUNE 24 PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA HOLLOWAY
John Colmer & Jeff Halfacre
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Meredith Marbury & Megan Spence
Flirt Rosalyn Twillie & Chris Narayanan
Lisa McGuinnis & Carrie Ruff
Kemmon & Molly Hampton
WILDBIRDS
Steven Spalding & Bruce Kirksey myclickmag.com
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Live at the Garden: Train The Live at the Garden series continued with the smooth rock sound of the multi Grammy and Billboard award band Train. The lawn was crowded with friends new and old mingling and picnicing, swaying to the music as the temperatures cooled into the night.
JUNE 29 PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA HOLLOWAY
Tom and Melanie Shoffner, Amy & Russell McIntosh
Joe Howard, Amber Walker, Rachel Vernon, Shona Gordon
Alicia and Tom Magusiak & Sonia and Rick Brown 52
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Hailey Zuvers, Jenna Mehmed, Arniecia Hinds & Kendall Kinler
Tabitha Stiel & Lynn Duck
Barbara Bruden & Tegan Gillenwater
Greg & Angela Jeter
Samantha Smith, Makayla & Brandie Wommack
Justin Sharpe & Amber Sellars myclickmag.com
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Party on the Patio The rain couldn’t stop a good time as the Desosto Arts Council hosted their first Party on the Patio in July, a re-design of the popular first Friday Art Walk. DAC board members provided delicious bites for the crowd and DAC members sipped complimentary beverages while listening to Mason Givens and Luke Mitchell on the guitars on the back porch. Inside the DAC building guests mingled and enjoyed works from local artists on display.
JULY 6 PHOTOS BY AMANDA BERNARD
James McDaniel Ellen Jernigan & Linda McDaniel
Lisa Ales , Carole Durdin & William Hill 54
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Vickey & Mike McLendon
Mike McLendon & Andrea Daves
HERNANDO FARMERS MARKET Adrienne Moore & Sherry Fernandez
Pat Turman
FIRST SECURITY BANK
Mason Givens myclickmag.com
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Southern Thunder Car & Bike Show Southern Thunder brought motor enthusiasts around the Mid-South together to share their love of bikes, trucks and cars swapping stories and tips. Live music set a festive tone and there was more than meets the eye under the hood of some of the vehicles in attendance as their owners proudly showed off polished chrome and after-market additions.
JULY 7 PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
Shara & Cody King
Heather Degraw & Tim Tutor
Lajasmin Jackson & Kevin Dudley
Paul Lundy, Charles & Andrea Taylor 56
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Frankie Bermudez & Billy Jarrett
Holly & Brit Hall
Quinell Shumpert & Angie Floyd myclickmag.com
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Big Wig Ball The Annsedale Mansion was the hottest spot in town as Le Bonheur supporters wigged-out for the occasion raising over $40,000 for the hospital. Guests were treated to tastes from local restaurants and sipped cocktails all night long while experiencing three different party vibes under one roof. Upstairs Charvey Mac delighted the crowd with his soulful guitar sound, downstairs “Almost Elton John� Jerred Price sang melodies and played the piano and a tent on the patio served as a dance party with DJ Justin Jaggers keeping the crowd boogieing all night long.
JUNE 23 PHOTOS BY FRANK CHIN
Sonia Williams & Antwan Harris
Dawn & Brian Rabe
Josh Uthe & Eddie Nelius
Morgan & Keith Melancon 58
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Rod Vazquez & Jennifer Goodlove
S E RV I N G D E S O T O C O U N T Y F O R O V E R 3 0 Y E A R S
WINDSTONE Keri Chapman
4824 Goodman Road • Olive Branch • 662.874.5917 Jennifer Roberts & Jeff Smith
LET LET ENVY NAILS LLC
PAMPER YOU
LLC
PIC RAN IN 2016
PAMPER YOU!
7075 MALCO BLVD SUITE 110 SOUTHAVEN 662-470-6910
DESOTO MALCO CENTER BEHIND TGI FRIDAY NEXT TO BASKIN-ROBBINS
Tammy Croak-Wilson & Debby Lamontagne
HOURS: 10 AM - 6 PM MON - S SAT CLOSED SUNDAY WALK-INS WELCOME
Caitlyn Street & Paris Gilbert myclickmag.com
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Dr. Pradeep Adatrow is a Director of Surgical Dentistry at University of Tennessee. He also maintains private practices in Southaven and Hernando, MS. The name of his practice is Advanced Dental Implant and TMJ Center.
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ANIMAL OF THE MONTH
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April 2018 August 2018
THE SERVICE DOG BY RUSS THOMPSON
When you think of “man’s best friend,” the first thing that may pop into your head is an affectionate, playful, energetic pal that you can take for a walk. Or it may be a friend that is responsible all your missing socks, a source of terror for your cat or a slobbery, counter-surfing trash eater. However, dogs have so much more to offer when they become trained to be service dogs. Most people probably think of a dog leading a sight-impaired person down the street when they think of service dogs, but they can serve many more purposes. They can pull wheelchairs, alert a deaf person or assist with someone having a seizure. They can even remind people that it’s time to take their medication or calm someone who is dealing with anxiety or other conditions. Dogs can also be trained to help people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, narcolepsy, and migraines. If you need one of these amazing animals, there are some questions to consider, like how do you get an animal trained or acquire one that is already trained and where can you take your animal? One can already imagine the looks some people might give you when you bring a service dog into a restaurant. According to the Americans Disability Act, businesses, non-profits that serve the public, and government buildings (federal and state) cannot deny people with service dogs entry to areas that allow access for the general public. The ADA also requires that the owner maintain control of the dog. In most cases, it
must be kept on a leash or a harness or be controllable through vocal or hand signals. Business owners are only allowed to ask what tasks the dog is trained for and if the animal is required for a disability. There is no restriction in terms of which breed of dog can be trained, according to the USA Service Dog Registration website. So even your loveable mutt can do so much more than fetch your slippers. They can learn to help you or someone you love with a disability or therapy. There are a variety of dog training companies in the MidSouth, but only a few places in Tennessee and Mississippi actually offer service dog training or the dogs themselves. All Breed Dog Training in Memphis provides training and certification to either train your dog or provide one that suits your needs. Ain’t Misbehavin’ K9 Training, run by Cliff Cunningham in Memphis, also trains service dogs, therapy dogs, mobility assistance, and psychiatric service dogs. Retrieving Independence based out of Brentwood, Tennessee, provides psychiatric dog training. Hub City Service Dogs based out of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, provides service dogs for people with medical disorders or physical disabilities. So the next time, you’re in a restaurant and a person gets in line behind you, led by their furry best friend, know that the animal is serving its owner in some valuable way, improving their quality of life, proving that they are woman and man’s best friend indeed.
Russ Thompson was a science teacher for 14 years and has been a freelance writer since 2014 focusing mainly on science and nature writing as well as fiction. His science and teaching background has compelled him to take an interest in researching and writing about the natural world.
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This is a place you can call home.
4375 US-51 - Horn Lake - 662.393.9545 hamiltonatturmanfarms.com