OCTOBER 2018
Burger
BONDS The juicy story behind the Mah family’s edible empire
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Northwest Mississippi Fellowship of Christian Athletes wishes to thank the following title, corporate and hole sponsors, door prize donors and individuals who made the 12th Annual State Qualifying Golf Scramble a success:
Title Sponsors Entergy Landers Automotive Group Waste Pro Corporate Sponsors BancorpSouth BankPlus Cougar Chemical Hernando Smiles TDL Contractors Team Sponsors American National-Gil Earhart ATMOS BancorpSouth Baptist Memorial Hospital DeSoto Castle & Cook Mortgage City of Horn Lake Corey Baker/HUMC Men’s Club DeSoto TimesTribune/CLICK Easley Contractors Eldridge Services (2) Farm Bureau Insurance (2) First Presbyterian Greenwood First Tennessee Bank Flinn Broadcasting Henry Schein Dental Kelly Dabbs Commercial/ State Farm-Ryan England Landers Center Longview Point Baptist Longview Point Connect Class Melvin Voyles Neel-Schaffer Northcentral Electric Olive Branch Family YMCA Patterson Dental Piano’s Flowers & Gifts Sam Ware Sou Southern Bancorp SouthGroup Insurance (2) Steepleton Tire Company Trey Morgan Vic Merritt Waste Pro (2) Williams & Hamman Wi Williams.Pitts.Beard Windstone Dental (2) Drink Cart Sponsors Dr. Michael Lyons First Commercial Bank (2) Napoli Physical Therapy Southern Bancorp 2
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Goody Bag Donors BancorpSouth Baptist DeSoto Car Wash USA Christian Bros. Automotive Edward Jones – Frank Fairley Edwin Watts Golf Shop Madison Signs Millenium Paint & Body SONIC Tanger Outlets United Real Estate Windstone Dental Hole Sponsors A Friend of the FCA Big Muddy Powersports Cecil Sowell Citizens National Bank DeSoto County Supervisors DeSoto Health Care Dr. Clyde Musgrave Dr. Jessica Cox Dr. L. Gregory Evans Edward Jones – Frank Fairley Eldridge Services Farley Land Surveying Farm Bureau Insurance First Tennessee Bank Gastro One-Dr. Geza Remak Harbison & Vracar J. Cox Orthodontics J & D Uniforms John Allen Ferguson John and Amanda Engstrom John and Terri Tilmon Judge Celeste Wilson Keller Williams Senator Kevin Blackwell Landers Center Lee and Laura Pierce Mario Alfonso, DDS Mid-Sou Mid-South Screen Printing Millenium Paint & Body Neel-Schaffer Inc. Northeast MS Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Northwest Mississippi Otolaryngology Olive Branch Dental Care Oliver Drug Store OralArts Dental Laboratories Parker Tractor & Implement Co., Inc. Ready Law Office Remak Family Holdings Renasant Bank Sheriff Bill Rasco
Smith Phillips Southaven Supply Spencer Lee’s Transmissions Sports of All Sorts State Farm – Barry Bouchillon State Farm – Romaro Miller Be Bigelow Steve and Betty Super Drugs The UPS Stores WADE, Inc. Door Prize Donors AAM (16) Academy Sports & Outdoors Agri-P Agri-Pro American National (6) Athletic House AutoZone Liberty Bowl (14) Broken Egg Café (2) Brother Juniper’s Buon Cibo Bu Butterflies Florist (2) Candlewood Suites Car Wash USA (2) Center Stage Charlie’s Donuts (10) Cherokee Valley Golf Club Christian Brothers Automo Automotive Colemans BBQ Community Donuts Corky’s Ribs & BBQ Cowboy Corner Dale’s Restaurant Domino’s Pizza (3) Eldridge Services Entergy (2) Firestone – Southaven Four Seasons Garden Center Gateway Tire – Hernando (4) Gateway Tire -Horn Lake Gateway Tire – Olive Br. (6) Ti – US 51 (2) Gateway Tire Hazel’s Family Restaurant (2) Hernando Equipment (2) Hernando Flower Shop Holiday Inn Southaven Junior’s Lady Bugg Bakery Chris Lifeway Christian Stores (10) Mass Mutual McAlister’s (4) Memphis Hustle (5) Memphis Redbirds Memphis Tigers Football Mister B’s NA NAPA – Hernando (12) Nebco Art & Frame (2)
Nike (5) Northwest MS FCA (10) Old Style BBQ (2) Pinnacle (2) Quality Landscape Signs & Stuff Sou Southaven Supply Strike King (15) Super Tans TaylorMade (4) Texas Roadhouse (5) The Burger Shop (4) The Cupboard (2) The Wooden Door Tom’s BBQ (4) Town Square Barber Shop WADE, Inc. (19) Breakfast Sponsor Milton Nichols Lunch Sponsor G & W Diesel/EVS Volunteers Olivia Craig Shirley Dean Joey Martinez Christi McCafferty David Nugent O’Ha Rachel O’Halloran Kathy O’Neal Barbara Phillips Holly Shives Alan Sims Terri Sparkman Gid Stuckey Sunny Stuckey
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BEHIND THE COVER OCTOBER 2018
Burger Bonds This month’s cover feature is all about the entrepreneurial spirit and creative cooking techniques of Jonathan and TJ Mah, owners of two of Desoto County’s most lauded hamburger joints. Sidestreet Burgers owner Jonathan Mah brings the experience of a seasoned chef and restaurant manager to the table, while his Uncle TJ, owner of Hernando’s Burger Shop, offers a Cajun-infused take on several American classics. Read all about their story on page 18.
Burger
BONDS The juicy story behind the Mah family’s edible empire
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FEATURE & PHOTOS BY CASEY HILDER
26 WHAT'S INSIDE 12 Frightful Fiction 18 Burger Bonds 26 The Beauty Bus 32 Metal Chic 34 Reach, Rescue, Redeem 38 Recipe of the Month
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40 Cocktail of the Month 42 Portraits of the Past 47 Beer from Here 62 Animal of the Month
OUT & ABOUT 50 Dreamgivers Gala 52 Repticon 54 Live at the Garden: Big & Rich 56 GatHER 58 Tanger Outlets Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival
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59 The Blues in Black & White Reception 60 Art on the Rocks 61 Hernando Chamber Quarterly Luncheon
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From the Editor
Fall in Line Despite my own personal love of a good pool or cookout, summer might be my least favorite season. The last few months have been the hottest, sweatiest, sticking-to-theseatest summer in recent memory. Like an easily overheating car engine or that old desktop computer you keep in the back o ffi-ce, I find that I run best when things are cool. This month marks the true return of my second-favorite season. Sure, summer may have o fficially ended on September 22, but something apparently nobody told that to the 89° heat index that rung in the crunchiest of seasons. This seasonal shift has opened up a whole world of new possibilities, such as: (1) Standing outside for more than half an hour. (2) Walking barefoot on the sidewalk without the sole-scorching pain. (3) Deer season. (4) Duck season. (5) Chili season. You get the picture. And while there’s much ado over autumn, I’m even more exited to bring our readers a slice of Halloween content in the form of an exclusive interview with Jeff Duke, author behind Ghostly Tales of Mississippi. Jeff was able to share a few snippets from his latest offering of 14 chilling ghost stories that sprang from the darker regions of the Magnolia State. From Tupelo’s haunted multiplex to spooky happenings at the historic Vicksburg National Battlefield to bewitching activity just outside Yazoo City, this collection of occult phenomena is a killer late-night read. Check out a preview of Duke’s latest book on page 12. This month’s cover feature is all about the family aff air behind some of the best burgers in Desoto County. Jonathan Mah and his uncle TJ have really pioneered something special in their respective burger joints of Sidestreet Burgers in Olive Branch and Hernando’s Burger Shop. See their story, “Burger Bonds,” on page 18. In addition, we’ve got an interview with a young Desoto-based entrepreneur, Ashley Wyman. Wyman is the woman behind The Chic Vagabond Boutique, a new local boutique on wheels with a wide selection of casual and dress clothing. See her story in “The Beauty Bus” on page 26. Finally, writer Eugene Pidgeon’s causes feature on page 34 shines a light on one of Desoto County’s most unsung organizations: R3: The Movement. Led by local author and activist, Tina Tatum, R3 tackles the growing issue of sex trafficking with a faith-based approach toward helping victims reclaim their lives. So from all of us to all of you: enjoy this one. I hope you have as much fun reading through as we did putting it together. 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 Casey Hilder Sarah Vaughan Feature Contributors Justin Fox Burks Amy Lawrence Photographers Frank Chin Casey Hilder Mike Lee Doug Farris 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
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Amanda Bernard
Taylor Smith
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.
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.
Depp Britt
Mike Lee
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.
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.
EXPERIENCED, COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND
Amy Lawrence & Justin Fox Burks Husband-and-wife team Justin Fox Burks and Amy Lawrence are the authors of the cookbook The Chubby Vegetarian: 100 Inspired Recipes for the Modern Table (Susan Schadt Press, 2016) and The Southern Vegetarian: 100 Down-Home Recipes for the Modern Table (Thomas Nelson, 2013). Amy and Justin recently celebrated ten years of writing and photographing dishes for their Chubby Vegetarian blog, and they often share their new ideas and inspirations on Instagram (@chubbyveg). Learn more at thechubbyvegetarian.com.
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HAPPY HOUR MONDAY - FRIDAY 5-7PM OLIVE BRANCH
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Frightful ficTIOn Jeff Duke, the author behind Ghostly Tales of Mississippi, explores the spooky side of the Magnolia State in his newest collection of short stories INTERVIEW BY CASEY HILDER ILLUSTRATIONS BY COURTNEY SPENCER
For Tupelo-born author Jeff Duke, “Fear” is more than just a four-letter word. “I’ve always been interested in anything horror: the supernatural, ghosts, all that stuff. I was definitely that weird kid in high school,” he says. Duke, the author behind the newly released Ghostly Tales of Mississippi, pulled together more than a dozen frightening tales from across the Magnolia State for a bone-chilling book. “I already knew about a lot of the subjects in the book well before I got started. One of the first books I ever read was Kathryn Tucker Windham’s 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey and that definitely had a big early influence on me. So when I was approached by the guys from Adventure Publications, who publish a lot of spooky stories about different states across the country, it was a natural fit.“ Duke’s selection of short stories, centered around 14 of Mississippi’s most haunted locations, is available now through Amazon.com, Walmart, Target, and Barnes & Noble.
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CINEMARK THEATER AT THE BARNES CROSSING MALL – Tupelo, Mississippi
“When people talk about ghosts in my hometown of Tupelo, there’s two places that always come up: General’s Grave, which supposedly houses the bodies of a confederate general, and The Lyric Theater, a movie theater in the city. But a lot of people pass over the Cinemark Theater, which I’ve always heard rumors of it being haunted ever since it was built in 1992. From a writing perspective, the idea of a haunted multiplex really intrigued me. I spoke to a few people in my hometown who reported weird stuff there, seeing figures out of the corner of their eye, that sort of thing. Supposedly it’s haunted by a young girl who no one can identify in the concessions area.”
WITCH DANCE
– Houston, Mississippi “My grandmother used to tell stories about this one and it would scare me to death, so that’s kind of what I based my story in the book off of. There’s two Witch Dances in Mississippi. The first one is in Natchez Trace. Supposedly, when witches would gather for their rites back in the day, they would leave these dead patches of grass in patterns on the ground. Andrew Jackson noted these in his journal when he traveled through the area. But there’s also another one near Okolona, Mississippi, which is supposedly the real witch dance. The story goes that a famous highwayman in the 1700s, Big Harp, was known as a vicious outlaw serial killer that haunted the Natchez Trace, murdering people. Supposedly, Big Harp came across the area of Witch Dance and kind of shrugged off all the stories he’d heard, stomping and dancing all over the dead grassy area, taunting the witches to come get him. Shortly after that, he was rounded up and killed by a posse and his head was placed on a pike outside of Natchez, Mississippi. Now, that part is all fact. But supposedly, one of the witches took his head back and ground the skull to make a potion to cure her son’s illness. That son was supposedly buried in Ashbury Cemetary. I talked to a few locals who say he comes out from time to time to make his rounds, but they try to keep the stories to a minimum to keep the ghost hunters away.”
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VICKSBURG NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD – Vicksburg, Mississippi
“I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of the haunted Civil War battlefield. There’s tons of ‘em, and every single one is supposedly haunted. Vicksburg National Battlefield was where the siege was. It was a static battle line, and a lot of people died. The Civil War itself is a huge catalyst for ghost stories, due in part to all the heavily documented death and anguish. Today, some say you can still smell the gunpowder on a clear summer day.”
THE WITCH OF YAZOO – Yazoo City, Mississippi
“That’s a real famous one. Supposedly, a witch lived on the banks of the Yazoo River, occasionally luring in people to kill them. Apparently the town eventually had enough of her, and they brought together a mob to bring her down. She drowned in quicksand while trying to get away, vowing to return and destroy the town in 20 years. Sure enough, 20 years later in 1904, a huge fire leveled most of the town. Willie Morris wrote pretty extensively about that one in Good Ole Boy. After that, they placed chains around her grave. The chains were stolen not too long ago, which, as you can imagine, made quite a few of the locals nervous.”
LONGWOOD HOUSE – Natchez, Mississippi
“This is probably my favorite haunted location in all of Mississippi. Longwood House is an unfinished plantation home. The Civil War broke out during construction, and they were never able to finish it. In the book, the kid in this story is me. That story was based on an actual incident that happened in about 6th or 7th grade at a Civil War battlefield. I saw a woman in a yellow hoop skirt, casually walking by when no one else was around. So there’s this house that was frozen in time, with reports of the ghosts of these residents walking around there frozen in time as well. It’s so weird to see this gorgeous house from outside and come inside to see this skeleton of a building. All things considered, it’s a beautiful house. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the TV series True Blood, but it’s where the king of the Mississippi vampires lived.”
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BURGER BONDS
The juicy story behind the Mah family’s edible empire STORY & PHOTOS BY CASEY HILDER
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October 2018
Jonathan and TJ Mah
These days, Jonathan Mah and his Uncle TJ are rivals in more than just golf. Jonathan’s Sidestreet Burgers, located on the edge of Downtown Olive Branch’s Pigeon Roost Plaza, and TJ’s Burger Shop, a Hernando hidden gem found just off I-55, are both hailed as some of the best places to grab a fast-casual style hamburger in DeSoto County according to review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor. Since their respective restaurant openings in 2012 and 2015, the pair has established a friendly culinary competition of sorts while forming their own signature dishes. “It’s always been in our family to work retail: grocery stores, snack bars, gas stations, and the occasional little hamburger shop you might find inside one of those places,” TJ says. TJ Mah, who hails from the small Delta town of Hollandale, Mississippi, originally moved to the DeSoto County area to work as a pit boss at the casinos in neighboring Tunica. “I trained more than 3,000 dealers in that line of work, but, right around 2000, it was time to go,” he says. “The family still had a few restaurants in the Delta, like my brother’s place, Evans Café. I saw the opportunity to jump back in the restaurant business and I much prefer that to working somewhere corporate.” Both TJ and his nephew draw inspiration from restaurateur Galvin Mah, TJ’s brother and Jonathan’s father, who owned and operated a number of local eateries including Evans Café in Olive Branch and Bus Stop BBQ in Byhalia. In stark contrast to his uncle TJ’s downhome culinary education, Jonathan studied restaurant management at the
University of Tennessee and interned at Georgia’s Chateau Elan Winery & Resort, becoming comprehensively trained in nearly every position imaginable. Jonathan also spent several years training under as service, kitchen, and general manager for Chili’s. “Anyone who comes from a casual dining background is able to handle volume,” he says. “At Sidestreet, I try to bring them both together by meshing the efficiencies of casual dining with the inspired cooking of fine dining.” The idea of a restaurant in Olive Branch hadn’t crossed Jonathan’s mind until Galvin offered him a two-room space next to what is now Mississippi Ale House. “My dad came to me with the idea of a burger place in Olive Branch, and that kind of place was something I’ve wanted to do for a real long time,” Jonathan says. “He was originally going to make it a barbecue place, but he told me he’d give it to me if I was interested.” Once he accepted, Jonathan mulled the idea of competing with larger chains that had sprung up locally and opening expenses, chief among which being the large Vent-A-Hood air systems required for indoor grilling. “A Vent-A-Hood really is the most expensive thing that you could put in a restaurant, including maintenance and cleaning,” Jonathan says. Thus, the Mah family tradition (and one of the rare commonalities between Jonathan and TJ’s respective burger joints) was born: all burgers are cooked in convection ovens instead of grilled. “It was the route that we had to go to get this thing off the ground,” Jonathan says. “But it also cooks a real unique
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burger. There’s no flipping it, no smashing it. It’s super juicy and well-cooked all around. The idea was that if we could put together this kind of burger that was cheaper and better than your average chain restaurant or casual dining establishment, then we have a fighting chance.” What originally began as a cost-cutting measure for the family soon became known as the single connecting factor that made their burgers so unique. Ever the innovator, Jonathan’s constantly rotating menu at Sidestreet Burgers consists of local favorites like the “Mother Clucker” chicken sandwich and several variations on the quintessential side dish of potato wedges. Fish tacos and smoked bratwurst make special seasonal appearances, while existing menu items are frequently updated and tweaked to suit the evolving local palate. “As far as the style of cuisine, I like to fold in a lot of Asian and Mexican influence into what I make,” says Jonathan. “I also like to incorporate a little bit of Greek from time to time.” The hottest item at Sidestreet Burgers is unquestionably the Fat Panda, a hunk of Korean-style marinated sirloin on French bread with Sriracha mayo and cilantro. “The big idea here is coming up with something different that isn’t too far off the norm,” Jonathan says. “But if you do choose to go outside the norm, it’s all about how you market it and present it. If it looks good and it sounds good, it is good.” After Jonathan’s Sidestreet Burgers was founded in 2012, 20
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TJ’s Hernando-based Burger Shop opened its doors in mid2015. “Even though the building only about 520 square feet— much smaller than Jon’s—I felt like I could make it my own,” he says. “The only thing that Jon asked was that I don’t use his particular mix of seasonings. I told him ‘Don’t worry, buddy. I won’t copy anything you’ve got going on.’” From the buns to the seasoning to the hand-made patties, TJ’s burgers are as different from Jonathan’s as possible while still remaining two sides of the same coin. “We’re all about the Cajun style here, with a little bit of Southern cooking flair,” TJ says. “When I was a college student at the University of Southern Mississippi, we’d always head over to New Orleans for the weekend to try out different dishes and seasonings. Eventually, I started bringing stuff back with me and picked up the cooking style for myself.” TJ’s NOLA-bred Cajun influence bleeds through in the form of liberally applied Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning and homemade blends that include a mix of paprika and hot spices. The Burger Shop’s star attraction is the Sriracha Bacon Slaw Burger, a towering ½ pound slab of Angus beef topped with pepper jack, sweet pickle and a heaping helping of the dish’s namesake—TJ’s homemade Sriracha coleslaw, best described as “creamy with a kick.” “It’s a little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, and a whole lot Cajun seasoning,” TJ says. “At the time, Jon had his own
style of Cajun seasoning and I said to myself ‘I think I can make it just a little better,’ and I did. People like that little added spice in their burger, nobody likes a plain salt-and-pepper patty.” Another signature Burger Shop sandwich, the Dirty Rancher, is a hearty local favorite comprised of a standard burger topped off with Western omelet. In addition, TJ cooks his own pinto bean and beer chili from scratch and offers it as a topping for any dish. “It’s perfect now,” says Jonathan. “It’s two families, two different cities, two full menus. We use the same cooking technique, but we’re both doing something very different with it. We don’t compete so much since our biggest competition will always be on the golf course. We like to play at Wedgewood or pretty much anywhere in Southaven.” Jonathan is currently poised to open a brand new venture, Olive Branch Pizza Co., this fall. This new Italianinf luenced pop-up pizza joint will be located inside the Mississippi Ale House. myclickmag.com
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the
BEAUTY BUS
The Chic Vagabond Mobile Boutique drives toward a comfy, classy brick-andmortar alternative INTERVIEW & PHOTOS BY CASEY HILDER
At just 24 years old, Desoto County entrepreneur Ashley Wyman might just be the proprietor of the prettiest thing on four wheels. Her business, The Chic Vagabond, is a 34-feet long by 10-foot wide converted recreational vehicle packed with a staggering array of dresses, tops, shoes and jewelry. This month, Wyman sat down to talk with Click about her personal style and the challenges associated with running a business that’s 100 percent mobile.
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Click Magazine: How did you get started? Ashley Wyman: I always wanted to have my own store, but I also love to travel as well, so I kind of combined the two. I love going to events, concerts, festivals and meeting new people in general, so this was a great opportunity for me to do all of the above. I opened my online business in November of 2017 and purchased the RV in February of 2018. We spent a few months gutting and renovating the place before opening officially in August of 2018. CM: What did this place look like before you turned it into a boutique? AW: It was a disaster. We did all the renovations at home, and that involved deconstructing what was once a kitchen, bathroom and shower. Now, we have a space that includes a utility closet and fitting room. CM: How would you describe your personal style? AW: I love to dress up and do it as much as I can, but I also love to be comfortable. Doing both at the same time is very important to me and that shows in the clothing we stock. I like outfits where you’re able to look cute, but also don’t have to worry about breaking an ankle. It’s the sort of thing that you don’t feel like you have to take off immediately once you get back home. CM: How did you choose what goes on the rack? AW: I wanted to appeal to many different styles, age groups, sizes and backgrounds. I was very picky choosing brands and ended up buying a few for myself to make sure that they were good quality and up to par with what I wanted to put out there. Once I was able to settle on a few that I liked, I just started shopping to fill out the RV.
CM: How did you come up with the name of your mobile boutique? AW: Coming up with the name probably took me longer than anything since I had to find the perfect one. “Vagabond” means traveler or wanderer, and “chic” was kind of a guideline for our style here. I wanted lots of white, clean, elegant but classy décor and clothes. CM: Do you incorporate a lot of Chic Vagabond clothing into your own personal wardrobe? AW: Very much so in basically everything I wear. We try to stay versatile, so I have plenty to choose from with a good mix of outfits for meetings, running errands or just lounging around. CM: What is your most-worn item? AW: As far as dressing up and going out, I love the maxi dresses we stock. They’re great for dinners, concerts, parties, and just about anything else you could get into. CM: Your business is easy to pick out of a crowd with all the teal. Is that your favorite color? AW: Yes! It reminds me of the beach and makes me think of hanging out by the shore with chairs and umbrellas. The color just makes you think happy. CM: What is the toughest part of your job? AW: I’m a perfectionist and very picky when it comes to what we stock. I want to make sure we have great quality items, so I take the shopping for inventory very seriously. It’s definitely the most fun part, too, but it can be a challenge.
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CM: What’s coming up in terms of seasonal wear? AW: As we move out our lovely floral seasonal wear, I’ll be bringing in a lot of sweaters, sweater-dresses, cardigans and boots. CM: How do you store your excess inventory? AW: While I do have storage at my home, I try to keep as much merchandise as possible on the RV. So the underline of the RV is pretty much packed withw inventory. I fit in as much as I can and let it roll along with me wherever I go. CM: Do you sell any locally made jewelry? AW: I have a friend back home, Victoria Burnett, who puts together handmade jewelry that I carry. She makes necklaces, earrings and bracelets. CM: What kind of shoes do you stock? AW: A lot of the heels we have are for formal things, dressing up and going out. With the exception of a few styles that we include specifically to be well rounded for things like wearing blue jeans and going to work. CM: Where will you be this fall? AW: I kind of pop around everywhere, that’s what’s so cool about being so mobile. I’m a member of the Southaven Chamber of Commerce and kind of pop around between there and Olive Branch during the week. I’ll be at the Hernando Farmers Market in late September and a few places around Bolivar and Somerville, Tennessee, in early October. I’ll also be in Bartlett for their upcoming holiday market, and back in Olive Branch as well. We usually post our locations on our Facebook page: facebook.com/thechicvagabond. Everything I carry is also sold online at thechicvagabond.com.
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
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4824 Goodman Road • Olive Branch • 662.874.5917
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DANO NAPOLI MPT, OCS, CERT. DN
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METAL CHIC Ringing in the season with an Autumn-infused home makeover STORY & PHOTOS BY CASEY HILDER
When interior designer Depp Britt took up the task of giving a fresh face to a family’s second home for Airbnb rentals, he presented a curiously specific theme: Italian artwork meets industrial architecture. With a 2,480 square foot downtown condominium as a canvas, Britt took to work reimagining a formerly dull family space with all the welcoming amenities associated with a weekend rental. The results were nothing less than stunning. “It now carries the vibe of Bohemian chic, it’s industrial, it’s very now,” he says. “We brought in some harvest colors and other things to celebrate the season. Little organic touches as simple as a few ears of corn or pumpkins arranged on the counter can reflect the season and let guests know that this place evolved with time.” This month, Britt takes his educated eye to a trio of rooms in the Smith home, adding both minor touches in the form of furniture rearrangement and major touches by way of total reinvisioning of several spaces. “We looked at a lot of the places in the area, but this one had plenty of space to draw us in,” says homeowner Janet Smith. 32
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Before
Living Room “Gray” would be the most appropriate word to describe the Smith living room before Britt stepped onto the scene, revamping the dull colors and furniture arrangement in favor of cool, comfy, Italian-influenced style. “This space is now reserved for drinking wine with friends on a cool afternoon,” Britt says. A pair of tables built upon the skeletons of old bicycles and box carts with reclaimed wood now act as centerpieces for both the living room and dining room, adding a much-needed natural element to the once-cold steel decor. A set of chairs by Harp and Finial add an iconic and instantly recognizable air of relaxation to the dining room, while a more centralized furniture layout in the living room offers both more room for lounging and less overall clutter.
Before
Bedroom This former unfocused home office space has been converted to a guest room with a theme that pays simple tribute to the blues. Diagonal placement of the carpet beneath the queen-size bed gives the illusion of depth, while the vibrant red accent color conjures thoughts of Mardi Gras and other Southern celebrations.
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October 2018
REACH, RESCUE, REDEEM
Alan and Tina Tatum tackle human trafficking with their faith-based initiative R3: the Movement BY EUGENE PIDGEON Human trafficking, for most, is a faraway fear. There’s a stereotype that only those who live risky lives and put themselves in dangerous situations can be susceptible to being trafficked. But Tina and Alan Tatum, founders and co-directors of R3 The Movement, are well-aware that human trafficking makes no distinction between gender, ethnicity, age, or class. According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking is “modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act,” which can include working in legitimate and illegitimate businesses. R3 (which stands for Reach, Rescue, Redeem) The Movement is based in Hernando, Mississippi, partly because, despite the surface-level serenity, the centralized location makes it an easy route to transport trafficked people. “We are in the perfect location, the tri-state area. Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas. The merging of I-240 and I-55 interchange,” Tina says. “I see the trucks, the physical trafficking that is constantly taking place here. This is the perfect place. Indeed, we are at the crossroads.” According to Tatum, the sex trade and human trafficking industry generates almost 10 billion dollars in annual revenue in the United States. “Human trafficking has now surpassed the illegal trading of arms as the second largest criminal enterprise in the world,” Tatum says. “In the United States alone, more than 100,000 underage girls are sold for sex each year.” The Tatums started R3 The Movement in 2015 after a time of prayer and fasting. “Because of the pain and suffering in this country, particularly here in the state of Mississippi, we believe we have been directed by God to help flip the switch,” Tina says. “We want myclickmag.com
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Shane Edlin, Sara Moore, Patrisha Bridges, Tina Tatum, Kyle Needham, Sherry Hopper
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to link schools, churches, civic organizations together to work in unison with R3 the Movement, to help in exposing the influences of human trafficking and to build a bulwark defense. And it begins with the three R’s with God presiding over all of it at the core.” Their approach to tackling human trafficking starts with reaching those who are affected through awareness and prevention training and finding those who are currently trapped. “There are several red flags to keep an eye out for that may indicate someone is being trafficked,” Tina says. “In children, these can be things like bruises, avoiding eye contact or switching schools frequently. However, there’s also a lot of overlap between these kinds of things and other traumatic issues like domestic violence that it can be tough to connect the dots.” Part of their prevention efforts include alerting parents and guardians of young children and teens that one main way predators seek out unwitting prey happens entirely online. “The very gift you have lovingly bestowed without protection becomes now a loaded gun. It becomes a phone manifesting as a weapon,” Tatum says. The Tatums, along with their team of volunteers, canvas social media platforms to identify possible sources and victims of human trafficking. They also work to rescue those who are trying to escape a life of being trafficked by working with local law enforcement and other local agencies. “So many people think that human trafficking looks like something you would see in a third world country,” Tatum says. “However, we recently dealt with a young woman in Horn Lake being trafficked in what
we call ‘survival sex,’ which was done for provision, a place to stay and to feed her drug addiction. We were able to help her through a mentoring program and now she’s come out of her probationary period and is working a steady job in the community.” But R3 The Movement doesn’t stop their involvement once someone is rescued; they continue to work with survivors to provide them counseling, medical attention and legal assistance through networking with local partners that include churches like SouthPoint and Citygate, nonprofits like House of Grace and A Way Out. What their network can’t provide, R3 The Movement supplies through donations from their website or through fundraising events hosted by volunteers. One such program done in conjunction with Bellevue Baptist Church, Backpacks to Freedom, puts together backpacks filled with hygienic products, blankets, snacks, as well as a Bible to ensure that survivors are supported physically, emotionally and spiritually. While R3 The Movement grows, the Tatums admit that there is still a lot that they don’t know about the work that they are doing to combat this public crisis. “It has to be a joint effort for R3 to work,” Tina says. “My husband and I are not trying to take on this by ourselves. We simply want to show our community how there is always something you can do to help effect change and to bring forth a reformation, no matter how daunting the challenges. This is our mission. This is our strength. And it all comes from listening for and adhering to the voice of God.” For more information about R3: The Movement, visit them at r3themovement.org.
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH BY AMY LAWRENCE & JUSTIN FOX BURKS
BUTTERNUT SQUASH ROTINI MAC AND CHEESE - Makes 6 servings -
THE GOODS
METHOD
5-6 cups cubed butternut squash (peeled, seeded)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Boil squash and garlic cloves for 5 to 7 minutes or until very tender. Retrieve the squash and garlic from the boiling water using a spyder and place into the work bowl of your food processor. Now, in the same water, cook the rotini according to package instructions. Drain water from the pasta and set aside.
6 garlic cloves 2
1⁄2 cups rotini pasta
2 cups shredded cheese (Gouda, white cheddar, goat) 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 cup whole milk
Kosher salt and cracked black pepper (to taste) Scant 1⁄8 teaspoon nutmeg
1⁄2 teaspoon sherry vinegar 5 sprigs thyme (stems discarded) 1 cup bread crumbs 2-3 tablespoons black truffle oil
In a medium pan over medium heat, melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Cook until flour starts to smell nutty and fragrant and begins to lightly brown. Add the milk, continue to whisk, turn the heat up to medium high, and allow mixture to boil. You will notice the mixture has thickened. Stir in the cheese and remove from heat. Add the cheese mixture to the work bowl (the one with the squash) of the food processor along with the salt, pepper, nutmeg and sherry vinegar. Blend until completely smooth. Pour mixture into the pot with the cooked pasta, add the thyme, and mix until well incorporated. Pour into an 8 x 12 casserole dish. It will look like too much sauce for the amount of pasta, but it's not! Cover with bread crumbs and drizzle with black truffle oil. Bake for 25 minutes and serve hot out of the oven.
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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH
APEROL GRAPEFRUIT MARGARITA Fresh, herbal and delightfully strong best describe this seasonless wonder RECIPE & PHOTOS COURTESY OF SERENA WOLF
THE GOODS (Yield: 1 cocktail)
METHOD
2 ounces tequila blanco
Add the tequila, Aperol, grapefruit juice, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well.
1 ounce Aperol 2 ounces freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice 2 ounces club soda
Grapefruit or orange rounds for garnish (optional)
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Strain into a glass filled with ice and top with club soda. Garnish with grapefruit or orange rounds if you're feeling fancy. NOTE: This is also great with vodka!
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PORTRAITS of the PAST Southern painter Ernie Patton captures a lifetime of memories through iconic artwork STORY & PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
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Born in Hardy, Arkansas, in 1940, Ernie Patton knew as a child that he was destined to be an artist. Patton inherited his artistic talent from his father, who attended the Chicago art institute, and over his 50 years of experience, he has painted the portraits of some of the 20th centuries most famous world leaders, politicians, movie stars, sports figures, musicians and many others. However, Patton got his opportunity to study art through his talents on the field. At 17 years old, Patton won a football scholarship to Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, which led to a second scholarship to Columbia Military Academy, paid for by Vanderbilt University. Unfortunately, the scholarship wasn't honored, so Patton applied for and received a scholarship to Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis. Football was just the stepping stone to his future career as an artist, and after graduating in ’65, Patton began working in Memphis. He was just barely making a living, completely unaware that things were about to change in a very big way. “I was 'discovered' by a man who worked for the Coca Cola company,” Patton says. “He liked my work, offered me a job and I ended up doing interior display designs for seven Coca Cola-owned companies. The job took me from $300 a week to $3,000 a week.” Now making a substantial salary for a young artist, Patton opened a gallery on Union Avenue in Memphis. “But Memphis wasn't ready back then for a high-end art gallery,” he says. “I went through all of my money keeping the gallery
open.” Patton's work, however, was noticed and commissions poured-in. Over the years that followed, he painted the portraits of Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali (who was best man at Patton's wedding), Mother Teresa, Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, Jerry Lee Lewis, and former president Bill Clinton. Additional commissions came in, including a large outdoor mural for Hardy, Arkansas and similar assignments for murals in Memphis. When the casinos were burgeoning in Tunica, Mississippi, the then-new Southern Belle casino commissioned Patton for paintings on the walls of the second floor. Though the casino is no longer, Patton’s paintings remain. Patton’s artistic ability doesn’t just include his own work. Recently, St. Patrick's Cathedral in Memphis asked for Patton's help restoring three murals over the sanctuary had become dull over the years. “The bishop called and asked if I would repair them, and I said I would,” Patton says “I told him I would do it for $10,000, but he was reluctant. I knew, though, that Fred Smith's wife (Smith founded FedEx) was a member of the church and that she knew my work, so I called her. She called the church and said, 'pay him' and I got the money.” At 72 years old, he climbed the 30 foot scaffolding several times each day to restore the murals in the same way the great Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling in Rome. In addition to beautifying the Mid-South through murals
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St. Patrick's Cathedral, Memphis
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October 2018
and restoration, Patton has also been talking the time to review his past works. “Back in the '70s, a friend of mine said that Elvis wanted to see me, so he and I went to Graceland. Elvis told me he wanted a portrait of this then-girlfriend, Ginger, and I asked if he wanted me to paint one of him too. He said yes, so I went back to my studio to begin the work,” Patton says. “Two weeks went by and, while I was painting Elvis, someone said that he had just died. I thought they were joking, but that night I saw the newscast on TV. With the painting three-fourths finished, I put it away. Then about a year ago, I found it, pulled it out and did a little touch-up. But a friend suggested that I leave it and call the painting, 'The Unfinished Elvis.' Today it's on display at the Marshall Steakhouse in Holly Springs, Mississippi.” Now at 77, Patton admits that though he’s made a living from his work, money isn’t everything. “I never think of anything like the money or anything else for that matter, because the only thing great about my life is that I married my wife, who understands what being an artist is all about.” Ernie Patton agrees that he has somehow been at unique and pivotal points in life that intersected the lives of some very important and very famous people. And he gives credit to it being because of his talent as an artist. But he's not done and has no intention of retiring or even slowing down. He cannot. “As an artist, it's something that you're born with—a part of you—that defines you as a person,” he said. Today, he and his wife, Mary Madeline Hollahan Patton, who is also an artist, live in Collierville, Tennessee, where they maintain a home that's more art gallery than house. Each room is filled with frames, paintings, canvases, cans of paint, brushes and hundreds of art magazines and art prints. What about the future? “Nothing big to speak of,” he mused, “just 15 commissions that I'm currently working on,” a work that keeps him occupied seven days a week.
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October 2018
BEER FROM HERE WITH DERRIC CURRAN AND ALISTAIR CLARK Owners and Operators of The Mississippi Ale House
INTO THE MYSTIC Pizza and beer. We should really stop there with this description but we won’t. First of all, the pizza. The spinach artichoke on a cauliflower crust is the perfect vehicle to get this handmade creaminess with fresh spinach to your mouth. Cauliflower crust!? Yes, it’s thin and crispy like a baked cracker, you will never know it’s healthy! The Hibiscus and honey flavors of Into The Mystic cuts right though the creaminess of the spinach artichoke pizza.
BREW FACTS Brewery: Showboat Brewing Style: Witbier ABV: 5.7% IBU: 28 Food Pairing: Spinach Artichoke Pizza Appearance: Pink. Yes, pink. Aroma: Floral Where to find this pairing: Mississippi Ale House, OB Pizza Co.
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October 2018
Captain Tom & Elaena Ross
OUT & ABOUT
Kailey Jordan (Miss Memphis) & Kacey Baker (Miss Tipton)
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Dreamgivers Gala The Dreamgivers Gala is the largest fundraiser for Forever Young Senior Veterans offering Honor, Healing and Hope to WWII, Korea and Vietnam veterans. Guests enjoyed music by Memphis Knights Big Band while wining, dining and dancing. Proceeds from this year’s event will send local D-Day veterans to France next year to honor the 75th anniversary of the invasion.
AUGUST 25 PHOTOS BY DOUG FARRIS
Luanne Cox & Peggy Killett
Sharon & Travis Johnson
Paris Hardee, Daniel & Sarah Hight, Heather Hight
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October 2018
Alfred & Betty Rome
Bo Bahret & Randy Farris
October is Naaonal thodonac Health Month! AAO recommends all children see an Orthodontist by age 7
Call us today to schedule an appointment at either of our locations! Jed&&Valorie Valorie Wheatley Jed Wheatley
JESSICA H. COX DDS, MSD Orthodontics for Children & Adults Flex Accounts Welcome
jcoxortho.com
Jep Williamson & Pat Simmons
HERNANDO: (662)429-8022 • 1150 Monteith Ave. Suite 100 OLIVE BRANCH: (662)893-8024 • 5965 Goodman Rd. Suite 102
FIRST SECURITY BANK
Destin Solomon & Mark Estermax
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Repticon Geckos and dragons and pythons—oh my! Reptile enthusiasts from around the Mid-South gathered for two days of vendors, education and a chance to make a new reptile friend. The expo allowed families to find a new member of their home beyond what they could find in conventional pet stores as well as the opportunity to learn more about exotic creatures.
SEPTEMBER 1 PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
Megan Grantham & 'Joey'
Bryce Williams & Heather Billingsley
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October 2018
Anne Krekelberg
Angela Ferraro & 'Harlo'
EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE
Emma Wilkinson
PERIODONTICS | TMJ | DENTAL IMPLANTS LASER | SEDATION DENTISTRY SOUTHAVEN - HERNANDO - (662) 655-4868
Janelle Gibson & Kim Farquhar
Nyeem & Nyla Bush
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Live at the Garden: Big & Rich The Live at the Garden season finale went big with Big & Rich and Cowboy Troy. The crowd was up dancing and singing along from “Comin’ to Your City” to “Ride a Horse, Save a Cowboy”
SEPTEMBER 7 PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA HOLLOWAY
Lindsay White, Johnna Sigler & Nikki Hennessy
Jerry Bartling, Janice & Charles Alton
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October 2018
Stacey Stevens & Summer Wood
Sandy Uran, Pat & Connie Ashcraft, John Uran
Vicki Sydboten & Christian Johnson
Michael & Cheryl McKenzie
Chris Taylor, Jessica & Anna Ringer
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GatHER Author, evangelist, and advocate Tina Tatum is taking her ministry to the next level with GatHER. Held at Hernando Performing Arts Center on August 25, the conference brought women of faith from across the Tri-State area together to grow and connect. Proceeds from the event will benefit House of Grace, a shelter serving local women and children affected by domestic violence.
AUGUST 25 PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
Jeanne Booth & Dianne Fowler
Celeste Wilson & Tina Tatum
Hanna Hall & Jessica Stevens
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Emily Smith
Sarah Gomez
THOMAS INSURANCE AGENCY WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME
Terri Igleheart
KELLI BAKER & PERRY SMITH TO OUR STAFF!
Stop by and let them assist you with any of your insurance needs.
AUTO - HOME - BUSINESS - LIFE - MOBILE HOMES - BONDS - WORKERS’ COMPENSATION 1240 Goodman Rd. Suite 3 | 662.349.0028
Ashton Anderson
Ashley Byrd
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Tanger Outlets Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival Beer lovers from around the Mid-South came out to enjoy cold brews and a variety of delicious eats for the Food Truck and Craft Beer festival held at Tanger outlets. Tents provided seating community style allowing participants to make new friends while escaping the summer heat.
SEPTEMBER 1 PHOTOS BY AMANDA BERNARD
Brett Puechl & Mili Avarez
Tracy & Roderick Herron
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October 2018
Justin & Brittney Boyd with Tank, Zeus & Chloe
Christian Hain & Madeline Davis
The Blues in Black & White Reception Desoto Arts Council celebrated The Blues in Black & White with another great party on the patio. The exhibit features photos from William Ferris’s book Give My Poor Heart Ease covering Blues artists in Mississippi throughout the 1960s and '70s. The party featured both Gospel and Blues music performances bringing the emotion and spirit of the exhibit to life.
SEPTEMBER 7 PHOTOS BY CASEY HILDER
Sarah & Duan Dunlap
Katherine & Robert Spears, Patty Carreras, Signy Givens
Sandra & Andrew Miller
Janet & Rick DeStefanis
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Art on the Rocks The Dixon Gallery and Gardens were lit up for a night of food, fun, music, cocktails and of course art for the inaugural Art on the Rocks. A reimagining of the Art on Tap event saw the signature Young at Art event expand beyond beer tastings and offered signature botanical cocktails infused with herbs right from The Dixon’s own garden. The party sprawled between the courtyard and gardens allowing party goers to marvel at pristine flower beds and the rare opportunity to experience the gardens at night.
SEPTEMBER 7 PHOTOS BY AMANDA BERNARD
Brandon & Lauren Dess
Amber Griffin & Abby Johnson
Dan Kautine, Nathan Stamper, Holly Whitfield, Susie Clark, Maxton Delbrook
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October 2018
Ashley Evans, Brett Lewis, Holly Enlow
Therese Farner & Ryan Anderson
Hernando Chamber Quarterly Luncheon Hernando business leaders gathered at the popular One Memphis Street venue for the quarterly luncheon. After networking and fellowship Steve Iwanski of Greenwood, Mississippi presented the business topic “Main Street, Amazon and new Localism�.
SEPTEMBER 18 PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
Gina Zee & Anne Goss
Michelle Ford & Mary Davis
Laurie Webb
David Thomas & Lance Smith
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ANIMAL OF THE MONTH
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THE BROWN BAT Friend, Not Foe BY RUSS THOMPSON
When you think about bats, you might think of a bloodthirsty creature that feeds on the blood of the living or a frightening looking animal associated with witches and Halloween. Well, if you believe that, you might be reading too many Ann Rice novels or may just be confusing the vampire bat (not found in the Mid-South) with the common types of bats found in our area. If you can appreciate an animal that helps control the insect population and has a valuable role to play in the health of the environment, you might find a newfound appreciation for animals such as the Big Brown Bat. Big Brown bats are one of the most common in North America, from southern Canada throughout the United States and into northwestern South America. Their bodies are usually varying shades of brown with bellies that are slightly lighter in color. They have blackish faces, ears and wing membranes. They are one of the largest bats in the Mid-South with a wingspan can be up to fourteen inches long and torsos up to five inches in length. Despite their large wingspan, they are surprisingly light at about one ounce. They are well adapted to man-made environments. In fact, you could say that brown bats were into squatting before it was cool. During the warmer months, they often roost in barns, bridges, open garages, stucco porches, and even attics. You can also find them roosting in tree cavities or under loose bark. Only during the winter do they move to underground environments such as mines or caves for hibernation. As soon as the sun goes down, you will see them emerge from their roosting sites to feed. They fly a fairly
straight course at a height of 6-10 meters, making them easy to spot. Like your Uncle that has his favorite fishing spot, they often return to the same location to feed on insects. You only need worry about these feeding frenzies if you are a mosquito, ant, wasp beetle, housefly, mayfly and many other insects. Don’t like mosquitos, wasps, or ants? Then you should think of bats as a valuable ally. They were also utilizing sonar long before us humans figured it out. Employing echolocation, they send out sounds using their vocal chords that are at too high a frequency for humans to hear. The sounds bounce off objects in the air and return to the bat’s ears, so they can tell how far away the object is, how large it is and even whether its something they want to eat or avoid. Contrary to what many believe, bats are not blind and can actually see about as well as you and me. Brown bats follow their own trends when it comes to mating. Although most animals mate in spring, brown bats mate in the fall or winter. Fertilization takes place in spring and by June. Bats found in the eastern United States usually bear twins. In the west, they usually only have one offspring. Newborn bats aren’t fully grown until they are about two and a half months old and can’t fly until they are three or four weeks old. So if you ever see a swarm of brown bats making their way out to their nightly feeding grounds, you shouldn’t run inside for fear that they will feed on your blood—you should be thankful that this important animal that’s helping to control the insect population.
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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OCTOBER 10 | 8:30AM - 2:30PM Northcentral EPA
4600 Northcentral Way - Olive Branch
Stop by and visit local businesses and see how they can benefit you and your employees personally and professionally. Over 50 vendors! Plus door prizes and sample foods from some of the areas favorite restaurants.
FREE ADMISSION
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4375 US-51 - Horn Lake - 662.393.9545 hamiltonatturmanfarms.com