VOL. 4, ISSUE 5 NOVEMBER 2013
ENSE ECLECTIC INTELLECT FOR THE SOUL
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7 Mamma Mia, Y’all!
18 The Sweet Side of Christmas
21 DUCK JUBILEE 24 VIP STYLE
department
CONTENTS
6
THEY SPEAK Contributors
7
SPOTLIGHT Daphne Goes Italian to Support Its Schools
9
BEING THERE: Must-sees and have-to-dos throughout the South
SENSE GOES MULTI-MEDIA
18
IN THE LOOP
13
THE SENSE OF IT ALL
15
MARKETPLACE Art’s Alive in Bay St. Louis
18
CUISINE Sugar and Spice and Everything Sweet
24
DESIGN The Recommended List
37
ARTS Mobile Ballet presents ‘Stars of American Ballet’
41
OUTDOORS LIFE Delta Blues
44
LITERATI Nimbus
COUSIN LEROY SPEAKS
7
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5 / NOVEMBER 2013 ON THE COVER:
PHOTO COURTESY OF DUCK DYNASTY
Issues-oriented Sense magazine gives voice to diver se political opinions but does not endor se the opinions or reflect the views e x p r e s s e d h e r e i n . Yo u a r e w e l c o m e t o s u b m i t y o u r O p - E d p i e c e v i a e m a i l t o e d i t o r @ t h e s e n s e o f i t a l l . c o m .
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features 24
21
Duck Jubilee TEXT BY GUY BUSBY
32
Fairhope Gets Good Ol’ Freda TEXT BY JAMIE MCFADEN
21 32
views
AND NEWS
34
THE WHY OF WRITING
35
BETWEEN THE LINES
42
Q&A
Tara Conklin talks about her transition from the corporate world to full-time fiction writer
Recommended Reading from Page & Palette
Best-selling author Tom Franklin and award-winning poet Beth Ann Fennelly talk about their historical novel set against the backdrop of the Mississippi Flood of 1927
SENSE MAGAZINE | 5
ENSE
ECLECTIC INTELLECT FOR THE SOUL
PUBLISHER Jamie Seelye Leatherbury VIEWS AND NEWS EDITOR
Stephanie Emrich
ART DIRECTOR Jennifer Birge VIEWS AND NEWS GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Brett Foster
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Eusebia Fink Robin Fitzhugh Thomas Harrison Skeet Lores Jamie McFaden Lindsay Mott Kara Smith CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jennifer Birge Matt Gates Stephanie Gillis ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Olivia Grace Fryfogle ADVERTISE WITH US
sales@thesenseofitall.com
EMAIL US editor@thesenseofitall.com art@thesenseofitall.com events@thesenseofitall.com SENSE OFFICES 251 South Greeno Road Fairhope, Alabama 36532 Tel (251) 604-8827 Fax (251) 990-6603
Sense is published and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License by Eco-Urban Media, a division of Eco-Urbaneering Corporation. Creative Commons defines the spectrum of possibilities between full copyright and the public domain. For more information go to http://www.creativecommons.org and http://creativecommons. org/about/licenses/ and http://www.theSenseofitAll.com. All content of Sense is copyrighted. However, Sense also works under Creative Commons licensing guidelines for works published in Sense by contributing writers, artists and photographers. All rights to works submitted to and published by Sense will revert in their entirety to the respective contributing authors, artists and photographers 120 days after publication. At Sense, we believe this policy promotes journalistic independence and fosters mutual goodwill between the publisher and the contributing writers, artists and photographers..
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SENSE MAGAZINE | 7
| THEY SPEAK
C O N T R I BU TO R S MATT GATES is a local professional photographer talented beyond his years. His creative vision, ability to “paint” with light, and pleasant demeanor have made him a favorite of both commercial and non-commercial clients. His work can be found on Lysol® Air Filters packaging, investment firm walls, cherished wedding albums and more. See more of his work at www.mattgatesphoto.com.
JENNIFER BIRGE recently moved back to her native Fairhope, Ala., after studying photography in Huntsville, Ala. She is an avid artist who enjoys crafting, painting, accessorizing. She currently employs her talents as a freelance graphic designer and photographer at Sweet Darling Photography.
GUY BUSBY has traveled by glider, hot-air balloon, sailboat, steam locomotive, Mardi-Gras float and other forms of planes, trains, boats and automobiles for more than 20 years to cover life on the Gulf Coast. He has been an award-winning reporter and columnist for the Mobile Press-Register and other publications. He received his bachelor’s degree in communication arts from the University of South Alabama. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Silverhill, Ala.
RENEE BUSBY is an award winning Journalist and writer who spent 34 years at the Press-Register. She served as president of the Mobile Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Press Club of Mobile She was the first woman to cover sports for the Press-Register and the first woman in Alabama to witness an execution at Holman Prison in Atmore. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Alabama.
EUSEBIA LOGUE FINK has lived in Fairhope for seven years. She is a graduate of Spring Hill College, a retired commercial real estate executive, a reader, writer, potter, avid cook, and enthusiastic grandmother of seven. She has always written for magazines, newspapers, or just for pleasure. She is a member of a writers’ circle and two book clubs.
ROBIN FITZHUGH, A Mobile native, has called the Eastern Shore home for more than 14 years and enjoys writing about both sides of the bay, their communities and the people who make them special. As a former director of the Eastern Shore Art Center, she has a particular interest in local art and artists and their contributions to the quality of life in this special place.
STEPHANIE GILLIS has always had a love of photography. After moving to Mobile in 2007, she began to pursue her dreams of becoming a professional photographer and enrolled in classes for Photography Certificate program, where she refined her skills as a portrait and fine art photographer. When she is not out taking pictures, She spends time with her husband, three children and their black lab.
THOMAS BERNARD HARRISON is a career journalist with previous stops in Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida and Alaska. He is a former editor of Sense Magazine and for 15 years was arts editor and columnist for the Press-Register in Mobile. He loves art, architecture, literature, music — and cats.
JAMIE MCFADEN is a magna cum laude graduate of UAB, and a freelance writer based in Mobile, Alabama. She is a self-proclaimed Pure Barre "bunhead" and poetry enthusiast who digs counterculture, wine of both cheap and expensive varieties, Alabama football, and reading novels penned by brilliant (and often tortured) women. She can't braid or snap her fingers and has difficulty walking in high heels.
LINDSAY MOTT is a writer from Mobile and a Spring Hill College graduate. She scours the South for new (and old) restaurants, coffee shops, music joints, local bands, festivals, and anything else that makes the area unique. A lover of Alabama football, Disney, coffee, and books, she plans to write about them all in one way or another.
WANT TO BECOME A SENSE CONTRIBUTOR? Sense is always looking for new talent. If you are interested in becoming part of the Sense team, e-mail us at editor@thesenseofitall.com.
8 | NOVEMBER 2013
| SPOTLIGHT
MAMMA MIA! DAPHNE GOES ITALIAN FOR EDUCATION Education Foundation Sponsors Night of Food, Fun and a Florentine Lantern Parade TEXT BY EUSEBIA LOGUE FINK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHANIE GILLIS
W
hen Daphne’s education foundation presents their 2013 Mamma Mia Cook-off on Saturday, November 9, on the grounds at Daphne’s City Hall, the evening sky will shimmer with the Eastern Shore’s first-ever observance of Rificolona, the traditional Florentine paper lantern parade celebrating a bountiful harvest. “We’re going to light up this year’s cook-off with our own celebration of Festa della Rificolona as part of our tribute to Daphne’s rich Italian heritage,” says Denise D’Oliveira, Executive Director of SEEDS – Supporting Educational Enrichment in Daphne’s Schools. SEEDS has raised more than $300,000 over the past nine years for Daphne’s five public schools and Christ the King Catholic School. “These funds have been used by our teachers and principals to undertake classroom and school-wide initiatives that would not have been possible without SEEDS’ support,” says D’Oliveira. “This includes everything from extensive technology purchases to summer reading and writing camps to our most recent investment – the introduction of foreign language instruction for students in grades K-6.” Rificolona dates back to the sixteenth century, when farmers around Florence left home before daylight to travel to town to sell their harvest bounty, carrying beautiful lanterns to light their way. Their tradition has inspired the theme of SEEDS’ ninth annual celebration of Daphne’s Italian roots, with the festive and colorful lantern parade taking place just before the awards ceremony honoring the cook-off’s winning teams and its sponsors and benefactors. Mamma Mia guests of all ages and from any community are encouraged to get into the spirit of the celebration by making and bringing their own paper lanterns and joining in the procession that will wind through the City Hall grounds around 8:30, just prior to the awards ceremony. The cook-off itself is the centerpiece of the celebration. “Variety has been a hallmark of Mamma Mia,” explains D’Oliveira. “Teams compete for Primo Premio in one of two divisions – the Corporate division and the Schools/Non profits/Families division – and in one of four categories. The four categories are Carne (meat), Senza Carne (meatless), Pollo (chicken), and Frutti di Mare (seafood). Our celebrity judges include local food writers and media personalities who rave about the expertise of our chefs and about the creativity of their displays and costumes.” Participants in the cook-off are encouraged to set the stage for their culinary offering with themed displays and costumes. In keeping with this year’s Rificolona celebration, expect to see lots and lots of colorful lanterns and harvest bounty at the two dozen or more tables of competitors. Stanette Miller of Miller’s Grand Events returns for the third year as a title sponsor and event chair of the Mamma Mia Cook-off. Miller first became involved with the annual event when her company was asked to provide tables, chairs, tents and other equipment. “Through this process, I met several of the SEEDS board members and came to appreciate the work they were doing to enhance the quality of education in our schools. Since I have two children in the SENSE MAGAZINE | 9
| SPOTLIGHT
Daphne public schools, I had a vested interest in their work.” Miller was asked to join the SEEDS board, and in her current role as chairman, she is responsible for overseeing all areas of event logistics. “The City of Daphne is incredibly supportive,” says Miller. “They provide the venue for us – the beautiful area in front of City Hall, and the City Hall building itself – and the public works department works closely with us. Since one of our goals for this event is to build community, it’s really gratifying to see everyone come together in support of our schools,” she adds. Cook-off ticket holders will have the opportunity to sample the delectable offerings at every food booth. In addition, they will be able to participate in an expanded silent auction and raffle featuring a wide array of treasures, including a newly cast, smaller replica of the Daphne statue that graces the City Hall fountain. Local artist and sculptor Fran Neumann has donated the limited edition piece to benefit SEEDS’ newest partner for 2013, the Daphne Art Center, formerly Bay Rivers Art Guild. Attendees can also satisfy a sweet tooth with the beautiful desserts that have become a Mamma Mia tradition. The authentic Italian treats are provided each year by Stefano and Vitina Feo and Vitina’s mother Maria
“We’re going to light up this year’s cook-off with our own celebration of Festa della Rificolona as part of our tribute to Daphne’s rich Italian heritage,” says Denise D’Oliveira, Executive Director of SEEDS.
Causi, all of Gulf Shores. “This family’s generosity and love of all things Italian are two of our organization’s greatest assets,” D’Oliveira states. Desserts, fine Italian wine, beer and soft beverages are sold a la carte. In addition, football lovers are always welcome at the Mamma Mia Cook-off with big-screen televisions provided to broadcast the top SEC match ups. Multi-talented state representative Randy Davis will return as master of ceremonies and conductor of the ever-popular Jubilee Orchestra that will play for guests’ enjoyment throughout the evening. Tickets for Mamma Mia, a family friendly event, are available online at www.seedsindaphne.org, at any Daphne school, or at any number of Olde Towne Daphne businesses. Advance tickets are $30 (including students in grades 7-12) and $15 for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Tickets at the gate are $35. This year, any student in grade K-12 who brings a handmade paper lantern to the event will be admitted free of charge as long as the student is accompanied by a paying adult (one student per paid adult). In addition to Miller’s Grand Events, Grand Sponsors for the 2013 Mamma Mia Cook-off include Dr. Glenn Glass of Glass Orthodontics, Specialty Fuels Bunkering, Wind Creek Casino and the City of Daphne. “We could not do this without the generosity of these folks and our other sponsors,” D’Oliveira says, “But perhaps our biggest heroes are the dozens of volunteers who work for months to bring each year’s theme to life. Our 2013 Rificolona parade – led by artists, Italianate devotees and school supporters of all ages – promises to provide the kinds of memories that make the Mamma Mia Cook-off a perennial fall favorite on the Eastern Shore.”
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| I N T H E LOOP
TOP
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NOVEMBER EVENTS
Frank Brown International Songwriter’s Festival NOVEMBER 7-17 | FLORIDA
PHOTO BY CATT SIRTEN
Join us for an unforgettable musical journey where the white sand beaches meet the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. During this festival, Grammy Award winning songwriters and the up and coming stars of tomorrow come into the spotlight to perform original songs in multiple locations in beautiful Perdido Key and Pensacola, Florida and Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama.Venues of all kinds welcome over 200 songwriters that come from around the country and around the world. Whether you are looking for a “listening room” experience, a pleasant dinner and music venue, a family friendly musical adventure or a gritty roadhouse, FBISF has a place for you. Most venues are free to attend, a few charge a modest fee at the door.
2
Mobile Ballet: ‘Stars of American Ballet’
NOVEMBER 2 | MOBILE CIVIC CENTER THEATER
Mobile Ballet opens its 2013-2014 season at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2 with a one-night-only event, ‘Stars of American Ballet’ featuring principal dancers and soloists of New York City Ballet. Program includes Jerome Robbins’ classic ‘Fancy Free’ with a score by Leonard Bernstein, and excerpts from George Balanchine’s ‘Rubies,’ ‘Who Cares?’ and ‘Stars and Stripes.’ Led by Daniel Ulbricht, guest artists include Tiler Peck, Teresa Reichlen, Amar Ramasar and Robert Fairchild. Mobile Ballet will present an excerpt from Winthrop Corey’s ‘Snow White.’ Adult single tickets are $24.50 to $49.50. Information and tickets, (251) 342-2241 or www.mobileballet.org.
3 Mobile Chamber Music / Guitarist NOVEMBER 3 | MOBILE, AL
Mak Grgic
Born in 1987 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Mak Grgic follows in a distinguished line of some of today’s finest young guitarists emerging from the Croatian school of guitar. He recently took first prize at the Guitar Competition Luigi Mozzani in Italy and the Pacific Guitar Festival and Competition 2011 in California, and has been honored with highest prizes at international competitions such as the Andres Segovia International Competition for young guitarists in Velbert, Germany. He will be in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Laidlaw Recital Hall. Ticket information, call (251) 476-8794 or email music@mobilechambermusic.org. Go to www.mobilechambermusic.org.
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Joe Jefferson Players: ‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’ NOVEMBER 8-24 | MOBILE, AL
Sorority star Elle Woods doesn’t take no for an answer, so when her boyfriend dumps her for someone else, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law.Along the way, she proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style. Music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, book by Heather Hach and design and direction by Jeffrey Williamson. Musical direction by Alana Farmer. Performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays at 11 South Carlen Street, Midtown Mobile. Tickets: $20 general admission, $15 for seniors, active-duty military; $10 students with I.D. Information or tickets, call (251) 471-1534 or go to www.joejeffersonplayers.com.
5 Fairhope’s Lighting of the Trees NOVEMBER 21 | FAIRHOPE, AL
The City of Fairhope will kick off the holiday season with their annual Fairhope Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 21. Festivities begin at 5:30 and the lights come on at 6 p.m. sharp! The Tree Lighting Ceremony will be emceed by WABF Radio personality Lori Dubose. Entertainment includes the Fairhope High School’s Band and Fairhope Middle School Band . Mrs. Claus will be passing out candy canes and letting children write a wish list to Santa for her to take back to the North Pole. For additional information on Fairhope’s Tree Lighting Celebration call 929-1466.
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Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival NOVEMBER 1-3 / PENSACOLA, FL
The three-day, juried art show draws more than 200 of the nation’s best painters, potters, sculptors, jewelers, graphic artists, craftsmen and other artists to Seville Square in downtown Pensacola. Admission is free. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday. The event features live musicians in Fountain Park with sounds ranging from Zydeco, bluegrass, jazz and blues to classical. Local dance schools and groups perform daily. The Children’s
Arts Festival is next door in Bartram Park, featuring numerous hands-on artistic opportunities. The Children’s Festival is open Friday for children with special needs from selected schools and is open to everyone from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
7 Mobile Symphony Orchestra: ‘Beethoven & Blue Jeans’ NOVEMBER 9-10 | MOBILE, AL
Dress in your favorite jeans to celebrate Mobile Symphony’s traditional ‘Beethoven & Blue Jeans’ concert. MSO Music Director Scott Speck will lead the orchestra in a concert featuring former composer-in-residence Mason Bates. Harmonious depictions of the sea include Beethoven’s famous ‘Leonore’ Overture, Bates’ ‘Liquid Interface,’ Respighi’s ‘Fountains of Rome’ and Debussy’s ‘La Mer.’ Performances at 8 p.m. Nov. 9 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Saenger Theatre, downtown Mobile, Alabama. Individual tickets are $20 to $65 and can be purchased online at www.mobilesymphony.org, by phone at (251) 432-2010, or at the symphony box office, 257 Dauphin Street, downtown Mobile.
8 Alabama Shakespeare Festival / ‘A Christmas Carol’ NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 24 | MONTGOMERY, AL
The holiday classic by Charles Dickens was adapted by Geoffrey Sherman for the Festival Stage. Now an ASF tradition, this production features Dickens himself who, with sleight of hand and sense of humor, brings his magical story to life. When miserly Ebenezer Scrooge receives an unwanted visit from Marley, the ghost of his former business partner, an overnight journey of epic proportions begins.With a gorgeous set, period costumes, beautifully sung carols and a spectacular new ending, you and your family will be left enthralled. Information and tickets, call (334) 271-5353 or toll-free (800) 841-4273. Ticket prices vary according to play, date and availability of seating. Go to www.asf.net.
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University of Mobile Performing Arts Series NOVEMBER 22-23 | MOBILE, AL
University of Mobile Performing Arts Series features something for everyone, from jazz and classical concerts to opera. Returning for its 11th season is the university’s popular ‘Christmas Spectacular,’ a high-energy musical extravaganza that starts the Christmas season on a festive note. Performances begin at 6:45 p.m. each night. Admission is $5. Featuring more than 200 singers and an orchestra of 100, ‘Christmas Spectacular’ is a wonderful celebration of the season that has become a “must-see” for Mobile area audiences. Information, call (251) 442-2383 or go to www.umobile.edu.
10 6th Annual New Orleans Fringe Festival NOVEMBER 20-24 | NEW ORLEANS, LA
This year’s edition of the Fringe features an incredible 77 shows from all over the United States and abroad performing at 30 venues throughout the city, primarily in Marigny and Bywater. The Festival features shows that were identified through a peer review process as high quality, original, ‘fringe-y’ theater. Fringe-Managed Venue shows are presented in six performance venues at offbeat theaters and unusual spaces: Shadowbox Theatre, Mardi Gras Zone Warehouse, Den of Muses, Marigny Opera House, Backyard Ballroom, and the Old Firehouse. Tickets are $8 with the one-time purchase of a festival button ($3), a six-show pass ($40), and an all-access pass ($99). Tickets are available at www.nofringe.org and Mardi Gras Zone before the festival. During the festival, buy tickets with cash or credit card at the Free-For-All Tent in Architect’s Alley in the Marigny or at Mardi Gras Zone. Tickets also will be available at all Fringe venues. Submit events to events@thesenseofitall.com SENSE MAGAZINE | 11
| IN THE LOOP
BOOK IT 1
Bay Jubilee Author Tour featuring Duck Dynasty NOVEMBER 15 | 5 PM | OAK HOLLOW FARM
Page & Palette presents the first annual Bay of the Holy Spirit Jubilee featuring Phil, Kay, Si and Korie Robertson from the popular TV series Duck Dynasty on A&E! This faith-based, family event will feature live music and inspirational speakers, including NY Times best-selling author Andy Andrews, who will host an on-stage interview and discussion with the DD family. For ticket information visit www.bayoftheholyspiritjubilee.com.
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Read It & Eat with Tara Conklin
NOVEMBER 18 | 12 PM | EASTERN SHORE ART CENTER
Join us for lunch as we host author Tara Conklin to discuss her debut historical novel The House Girl. Moving between antebellum Virginia and modern-day New York, this searing, suspenseful and heartbreaking tale of art and history, love and secrets, explores what it means to repair a wrong and asks whether truth is sometimes more important than justice. This author event is free and open to the public. Bring a “brown bag” lunch or call the store to reserve lunch from Andree’s for $10.
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Joshilyn Jackson
NOVEMBER 20 | 5:30 PM | FAIRHOPE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Join us for a book signing and author discussion with NY Times best-selling author Joshilyn Jackson and her latest novel Someone Else’s Love Story. Someone Else’s Love Story is Jackson’s funny, charming, and poignant novel about science and miracles, secrets and truths, faith and forgiveness; about a virgin birth, a sacrifice, and a resurrection; about falling in love, and learning that things aren’t always as they seem –– or what we hope they will be. It’s a novel about discovering what we want and ultimately finding what we need.
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John Besh
NOVEMBER 21 | 11AM - 1PM | PAGE & PALETTE
Join us as we host a book signing with award-winning chef John Besh! In his latest cookbook, Chef Besh shares the lessons he learned from his mentors through 140 accessible recipes and cooking lessons. Featuring lush photography, inspiring personal stories, and a rich expanse of culinary knowledge, Cooking from the Heart is the next best thing to having an apprenticeship with Chef Besh!
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Tom Franklin & Beth Ann Fennelly
NOVEMBER 26 | 6 PM | PAGE & PALETTE
Set against the backdrop of the historic flooding of the Mississippi River, The Tilted World is an extraordinary tale of murder and moonshine, sandbagging and saboteurs, and a man and a woman who find unexpected love, from Tom Franklin, the acclaimed author of the NY Times bestseller Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, and award-winning poet Beth Ann Fennelly. Join us as we host this duo for a book signing and author discussion. Local author Sonny Brewer will give the introduction.
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HERE’S WHERE TO FIND US...
Alabama Coastal Foundation Ascent Audiology Belleshain Bellingrath Gardens Bissell & Blaise Fine Jewelry Bouch’s Premium Cigars
MOBILE Apricot Lane Ashland Gallery Ashland Pub Atchison Imports Atlanta Bread Company Azakea City Physicians for Women Ballin’s Limited Renaissance Battle House Hotel Bay Area Physicians for Women Bebo’s Springhill Market Bicycle Shop Bliss Salon & Day Spa Blue Rents Bradley’s Café 615 Callaghan’s Irish Social Club Camille’s Grill Candlewood Suites Carpe Diem Coffee & Tea Company Carter & Co Cathedral Square Art Gallery Chat A Way Café Center for Living Arts Center for Dermatology Claude Moore Jeweler Claudios Cold Snap @ Old Shell Road Cold Snap @ USA Crockmier’s Debra’s Downtown Mobile Alliance Dragonfly Boutique Estetica Coiffure Explorium Science Center Five Gold Monkeys Fort Conde Inn Fort Conde Welcome Center Fuego Coastal Mexican Eatery Gigi’s Cupcakes G Harvell Men’s Clothier Goldstein’s Hampton Inn Downtown Hemline
Center for Living Arts Downtown Mobile Alliance Kangal Gallery Leatherbury Real Estate Mercedes of Mobile Mercy Medical
Mobile Symphony Orchestra Mobile Ballet Parson’s Boat Works Project Mouvement in Art Sadies Southern Edge Dance Center
Southern Veranda The Bean & Bistro The Colony at the Grand Tmac’s Hair Studio USA Mitchell Cancer Institute Wrap It Up
Hertha’s High Cotton Consignment Holiday, Inc Iberia Bank Legacy Bar & Grill LLB&B Realty Martha Rutledge Catering Maghee’s Grill On the Hill McCoy Outdoor Company Mercedes Benz Mobile Mobile Arts Council, Inc. Mobile Bay Bears Mobile Infirmary Office Tower Mobile Museum of Art Mobile Regional Airport Red Or White Satori Coffee House Serda’s @ Royal Street Shoe Fly Something New Bridal Springhill Family Pharmacy Spoke ‘N Trail The Bull The Gallery The Ivy Cottage The Union Steak House Thompson Engineering Tmac’s Hair Studio Twists Cupcakes @ Legacy USA Mitchell Cancer Institute Wintzell’s Airport Wintzell’s Downtown Zoe’s Kitchen Zundel’s Jewelry
Hampton Inn Hilton Garden Inn Homewood Suites of Daphne Infirmary West Lake Forest Shell Market by the Bay Malbis Shell Moe’s Barbeque Publix Rosie’s Grill The UPS Store Thomas Hospital Thomas Medical Plaza
FAIRHOPE/POINT CLEAR
DAPHNE Baldwin Bone & Joint Baumhower’s Wings Comfort Inn Daphne Library East Shore Café Glamour Nails Guido’s
SPANISH FORT Boltz Pain & Wellness Center Bayside Chiropractic Don Pablo’s Eastern Shore Toyota Malbis Parkway Pediatric Dentistry McMurphy Orthodontics Magestic Nails Mellow Mushroom Private Gallery @ Spanish Fort Twist @ ESC Wintzell’s SOUTH BALDWIN COUNTY Beach Club Bimini Bob’s Cobalt Cosmo’s Restaurant and Bar Jesse’s Kaiser Realty Lulu’s Meyer Realty M II the Wharf Prickett Real Estate The Hangout Turquoise Tin Top Restaurant Villaggio Grille
Agave Mexican Battles Wharf Market Bayside Orthopedics Bean & Bistro Boxwood Bouche’s Cigars Brown & McCool Gynecology Coffee Loft Cold Snap Dragonfly Restaurant Eastbay Clothiers Eastern Shore Art Center Eastern Shore Heart Center Estate Jewelers Fairhope Inn Fairhope Library Fairhope Physical Therapy Gigi & Jays Hair Designs by Ann Rabin Hampton Flooring & Design Hampton Inn Happy Olive Iberia Bank Locals Lyon’s Share Gallery Market by the Bay Mary Ann’s Deli Master Joe’s Mr. Gene’s Beans Page & Palette Panini Pete’s Papa’s Pizza Private Gallery Publix Red or White Sadie’s of Fairhope Sandra’s Place Shanghai Cottage Southern Edge Dance Center Marriott’s Grand Hotel
Sense is distributed to over 100 locations throughout Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Because we are in the business of promoting the economy and design in Gulf Coast communities, we distribute through our advertisers and local businesses. We feel that this brings the opportunity to exchange ideas, encourage conversation, and support the local economy. It will also move us forward by furthering thought for our future and how we wish to design it, resulting in participation by each of us in weaving the fabric that is our Sense of Community. SENSE MAGAZINE | 13
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| THE SENSE OF IT ALL
TH E
BOX.
C O U S I N
L E ROY
S P E A K S :
O U T S I DE
AGING AND CHANGE
T H I N K
CL I MB I N S I D E T HE B OX .
Age seems to slowly slip up on us. We rush through life not realizing sometimes that we will not always be able to enjoy it the way we always have. We take for granted such things as family, friends, and jobs. In todays’ world it seems that for certain, jobs cannot be taken for granted. We know this now. Long gone are the days when you hold a job for 20, 30, years or more. The United States has slowly given up, apparently or not so apparently through politics, any competitive edge we might have once had in industrial jobs. The service sector is still alive but demand is more than capacity and wages are often low because there is so much competition. Professional jobs are no guarantee either. Somehow we have been caught napping and oblivious to decisions that were political in nature that long ago put us on this path. Somehow we chased the rabbit down the hole in a feverish attempt to keep up, not outsmart. Br’er Rabbit is somewhere in the thorns and thicket laughing at how he has won the day, perhaps not realizing that things are not the same. The long thought has not won the day and our country and small to medium size businesses that have not adapted to the politics of the day are suffering. In that suffering are loss of jobs and job transitions. The young are willing to do it for less money and the older that have the learned experience and practical wisdom are tossed aside to find something new. Their knowledge is lost to all save only one or two if those one or two pay attention and realize that there is an edge to be gained from wisdom. It is not all about math and net profit. It is about humanity retaining control and balance. Change comes in many forms and with our aging, so also comes, the aging of our parents. If we are lucky enough. In these few generations , much change has become them. Whether they are 30, 40, or 80 something, much change has come. Not all of it has been good. For those of us perhaps in our 50’s and 60’s not only are we dealing with perhaps young adult children who may be struggling but we are now dealing with parents who are struggling. Good health does not last for near long enough. And what of us, you may ask? We are still adapting to change and have no time to be concerned as we struggle to achieve some semblance of balance whereby we can take care of our children and our parents as our parents took care of us. It is with understanding and concern that we make these choices. It is with learned experience, shared, that I understand that a trusted and much more talented colleague must bid adieu and return home, which calls him to take care of his mother and find a new writing career. It is a duty which honors us all, to be highly commended and understood for the sacrifice it is, in service to those that served us, because we care enough that they were worthy for such esteem. The next time you want or see change, you may want to take long thought as to what the result will get you and if it is not what you want then you vote against it. Do not be so rushed that you let it get by you until it is too late. And with that I bid a fond farewell to Mr. Thomas B. Harrison. I wish him the best of luck and prosperity, that he find the balance of both personal and career.
Yours in Community,
cousinleroy@thesenseofitall.com
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16 | NOVEMBER 2013
| MARKETPLACE
BAY ST. LOUIS IS BACK Bay St. Louis was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina, but the artistic spirit has sustained the town and it’s well on its way back BY LINDSAY MOTT
J
ust eight years ago, Bay St. Louis was on the brink of losing everything that was important to the artsy community on the beach. Hurricane Katrina moved through and left very little except destruction. Almost everything on the beach was lost and the buildings that were left in the rest of the town were damaged and trashed. But, with the loyalty of the residents and the artistic spirit driving them on, Bay St. Louis is well on its way back as a Gulf Coast destination. Even with so much lost and many people gone, those involved with the Second Saturday art walk that began in 1993 knew they wanted (and needed) to get that going again as soon as possible. Katrina hit in August and they held the next Second Saturday in September. But, this time it was a small group standing on the street with a car radio and some beer. “It was symbolic. It was to say that we aren’t going anywhere,” said Vicki Niolet, longtime Bay St. Louis resident and one of the art walk originators. “The fact that we recognized that it was Second Saturday gave us a little bit of hope.” Niolet opened Paper Moon, a vintage clothes, antiques and art shop, in 1994. Her location now, Century Hall, had to be restored after the storm and opened just in time to celebrate the building’s 100th birthday in 2009. Century Hall is a co-op of 13 different shops, including Paper Moon, and blends old and a new with a mix of antiques and contemporary art. The co-op businesses vary from handmade furniture, clothing, jewelry and other items for gifts and home décor in all styles. Current Bay St. Louis shop owner Jenise McCardell was also integral in getting the Second Saturdays started again. Her shop was able to be fixed up in a short time and re-opened Oct. 8 of that year with a collection of people’s work for sale. According to Niolet, McCardell’s Gallery 220 was the first one back in business. McCardell said it was important to open up quickly and have a Second Saturday again because that’s what the area was known for and it was an outlet for them. “People needed somewhere to vent,” McCardell said. “It blossomed our feelings because we were exhausted.” The event helped them so much she said that they actually held it every Saturday until January when they returned to their regular schedule. Gallery 220 continues to be a part of the art walk events with more than 20 artists represented, including McCardell’s own ceramic work, Clay Creations. Her work focuses on iconic locations across the Gulf Coast. The art in the rest of the shop is a combination of photography, metal work, other ceramics, traditional painting and more. Another key component of the Katrina restoration was the re-opening of the 200 North Beach Restaurant on the sixth anniversary of Katrina. Niolet said this was the first to re-open on the beach and that this was a milestone to show that the “beach was officially coming back.” The building is originally from 1903 and had to be completely restored after the storm. The “Echo Building” is known for its early 20th century architecture and is home to fresh seafood, steaks and favorite local dishes with local flavor and specialty drinks at the “Hurricane Hunter Bar.” In 2007, Bay St. Louis celebrated the re-opening of the Highway 90 bridge, which gives them quick access to Pass Christian and the rest of the coast. The Leo W. Seal Junior Memorial Bridge, which was named for the longtime chairman and CEO of Hancock Bank, was the first major infrastructure rebuilt, according to Lee Seal, Bay St. Louis native, coordinator of Bay Bridge Festival and son of the bridge’s namesake. The bridge was a visual way to say that the town was on its way back, so they decided to have a party to celebrate. The event took off, and now Bay Bridge Fest is an annual event. It has grown from an average of 5,000 to 8,000 people in a one-day event to a two-day event that boasted 29,000 attendees last year. The event brings in big-time New Orleans artists, along with art, food and vendors to give it more of a festival feel. It is now held on North Beach Boulevard, a road that Seal says wasn’t there just two years ago. Seal hopes the festival is a way to show that the town is well on its way to being back where it was. “We have enough bars and restaurants to be a destination again,” he said. “We’ve got enough for people to come enjoy Bay St. Louis that we didn’t have just 2 years ago.”
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| MARKETPLACE
“It was symbolic. It was to say that we aren’t going anywhere,” said Vicki Niolet, longtime Bay St. Louis resident and one of the art walk originators. “The fact that we recognized that it was Second Saturday gave us a little bit of hope.” Over the past few years, Niolet said a lot of old businesses have come back, new businesses have opened and the town has grown. She said the city map has more than 60 businesses on it, up from 30 or so after the storm, and the Second Saturdays are very popular again - almost back up to where they were before the storm. Other numbers also indicate that the area is on its way back. Tish H. Williams, executive director of the Hancock Chamber of Commerce, said that things are not quite back to the pre-Katrina levels but numbers are increasing. The sales tax for Bay St. Louis in 2013 is up 14.9 percent from 2012 and up 21.1 percent from 2010, according to Walt Denton, director of communications with the Gulf Coast Business Council. Williams attributed this growth to a number of things including growing population and the completion of many of their Katrina projects. The last project is the harbor in Bay St. Louis set to be finished May 2014. Bay Town Inn has also recently opened on the beach front with more units for overnight staying. Williams said the recent re-opening of Buccaneer State Park in Waveland is also important to the entire area as it was bringing in 500,000 visitors a year before Katrina. Other positive numbers include visits to the Hancock County Tourism Visitors’ Center located in the train depot in Bay St. Louis. In fiscal year 2012, the center had just over 7,000 visits and this number increased to just over 20,000 for fiscal year 2013, according to Myrna Green, Manager of the Tourism Bureau. “It’s definitely up,” she said. “That tells me we’re back.” Green said that the bureau is funded by the local hotel occupancy tax and that this number was up 18.4 percent in 2013 from 2012. Bay St. Louis town is different from the rest of the Gulf Coast with a comfortable feel and historic buildings that make it seem like you’re in another era. It attracts artists and those who appreciate art. And, those who live and work in the town just want to see it return to how things were before Hurricane Katrina. “We don’t need to make it better because we already had a great thing,” Niolet said.
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BAY BRIDGE FEST The 2013 Bay Bridge Fest was the first to be held in the fall months in an attempt to catch some cooler temperatures, according to Seal. The festival has been held in May before that. The local chamber of commerce was responsible for the event for many years, but Seal took over year-round production in 2013. Two years before, they decided to focus on big New Orleans’ artists, such as The Revivalists, Dumpstaphunk, and the Honey Island Swamp Band. They have seen great response from crowds, growing to 29,000 visitors over two days in 2012. In 2013, they began charging $6 to get in. The festival also hosts some late-night shows in the depot area that begin will after the festival ends each day and last late into the night. The late October date also allows for a haunted house. Food, art, and other vendors get in on the action for a total festival experience. Find out about next year’s event at www.baybridgefest.org/.
Photo by Ellis An
der son
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| CUISINE
THREE GEORGES
HOLIDAY DELIGHTS Sweetening for Special Occasions TEXT BY ROBIN FITZHUGH PHOTOGRAPHY BY SWEET DARLING PHOTOGRAPHY
A
s the holidays approach and the entertaining schedule fills up, everyone looks forward to indulging in the bounty of southern tables. And nothing says southern more than the rich desserts that are part of every gathering, from petit fours to 5 layer coconut cakes and syrupy pecan pies. To make entertaining easier, the Bay area is blessed with bake shops old and new who can provide last minute carry-outs as well as custom orders for the most discriminating host. Perhaps the best known confectionery in the area is Three Georges, a Mobile tradition since its founding in 1917. Three Greek immigrants, all named George, came together to start a combination soda fountain, sandwich shop and bakery on the site of the current Saenger Theater. Current owners Scott and Siobhan Gonzales bought the business in 1992 and, in combination with their second purchase of the H. M. Thames Nuthouse in 1996, have built a far-reaching retail and mail order operation. Scott Gonzales says “My wife and I have always been interested in restoration and we had bought and renovated several historic homes in Mobile, so rebuilding a local landmark business seemed like a natural for us.” With Three Georges on Dauphin Street at Joachim returned to its original candy shop décor and The Nuthouse on McGregor at Airport Boulevard serving West Mobile, Gonzales has seen a dramatic increase in local and mail order business in recent years. The holiday season, according to the owners, accounts for nearly 65% of their annual sales, with traditional recipes like Aunt Leila’s Fruitcake, Heavenly Hash and divinity being their top sellers. Almost as old as Three Georges, The Pastry Shop on Dauphin Street just west of Florida Street has been in business since 1937 when the original owners fled Austria in the days leading up to World War II. First located on St. Francis Street near Bienville Square and the old Cawthon Hotel, the downtown bakery quickly
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became known for their European pastries, and housewives were known to save ration points during the war to have Linzer tortes and other delicacies as part of their holiday meals. Fellow Austrian Hans Schindler later purchased the business which he moved west to Ann Street in midtown, but business interests elsewhere lead him to sell his business to Wiley Burnett Sr. in 1964. Wiley Burnett Jr. and his family took over in 1984 and moved to their current location shortly after that. Many of the original recipes are still in use, with their signature raspberry tarts and 19 other types of pastries baked fresh every day. The Pastry Shop is also known for specialty wedding cakes which are always unique and tailored to the bride’s specifications but underneath have the real butter, fine milled flour and farm fresh eggs necessary for a delicious tasting treat as well. When asked about the impact of the holiday season on his business, Burnett says “Christmas is not as big as it used to be. We make Stollen bread and a Yule log filled with chocolate mousse and they are both popular, but our customers are loyal to us year round.” Andree’s in Fairhope is a multi-function business, known as much for their wine shop and fresh daily lunches as they are for their baked goods, but owner Jim Ketchum says their house specialty White Wine Cake continues to make Andree’s famous. “The Christmas season is huge for us,” Ketchum says, noting that they do one third of their annual sales in a two month period. “We will bake 400-500 White Wine Cakes in two months for sale here and to send off as gifts.” Ketchum and his wife, both former employees of major corporations in the Detroit area, made the decision to purchase Andree’s from Ketchum’s sister-in-law in 1994 in order to make Fairhope home for their growing family. Open six days a week and Sunday afternoons from Thanksgiving to Christmas, Andree’s bakery is
THE PASTRY SHOP
ANDREE’S
SOMETHING SWEET
“Our holiday season starts with Halloween and goes through…to Mothers Day.” — Gayle Hohman
also known for its delicious lemon squares, petit fours and cookies that are all made in-house. “We do a lot of shipping during the holidays,” Ketchum says, and because they only use real butter and high quality ingredients “the items arrive tasting fresh-baked.” Something Sweet on Main Street in Old Town Daphne was the brainchild of co-owners Gayle Hohman and Joan Scott five years ago. Scott, a registered dietician, and Hohman, a former real estate developer in California, met through their husbands after settling on the Eastern Shore. They put together a business plan hoping to capitalize on the popularity of cupcakes that was sweeping the country, but Hohman says “We picked a tough time to start a business, especially with the impact of the oil spill on the local economy.” Twelve hour work days, four to five days a week, paid off for this hard-working pair who just celebrated their fifth anniversary in business together. When asked about the impact of the holiday season on their business volume, Hohman says “Our holiday season starts with Halloween and goes through Valentines and Mardi Gras to Easter and Mother’s Day. Our only slow down is in the summer.” The owners also recognize that their location, just minutes from four schools in Daphne, and the quality of their ingredients used in the pastries that are baked fresh daily, have had much to do with the success of their small business. Cupcakes in varieties that change with the seasons are the core of Something Sweet’s menu, but the partners also have built a reputation for their freshly baked Mardi Gras King Cakes that they ship all over the U.S. Scott has employed her background in dietetics to develop one-of-akind recipes and takes particular pride in her “popcorn cakes” that combine popcorn, M&Ms, candy corn and nuts that can be molded into oversized cupcake shapes for special birthday events. Southerners love to eat and to share good food with friends and family. These local bakeries can provide specialized orders to meet customer’s needs that are created from fresh, locally sourced ingredients and that are the perfect finish to any holiday event. Summing up the motivation of all these local entrepreneurs, Wiley Burnett says “We strive to do the best we possibly can for all our customers.”
A BRIEF HISTORY OF DESSERTS From the French word “desservir” which loosely translates as “clear the table”, desserts are the third and often most popular course of modern day dining. Ancient civilizations used dried fruits, honeycombs and nuts to conclude most meals, but with the greater availability of sugar in the Middle Ages a sweet course grew in popularity. Marco Polo is credited with introducing ice cream to Europe after his travels to China and cupcakes were first served in the mid-18th century. The Industrial Revolution made mass produced desserts available for the first time and frozen dessert items were in American markets beginning in the 1920s. Since the American Dietetic Association says the average American consumes 130 pounds of sugar each year, it is evident that the demand for something sweet has only increased in recent years. The Learning Channel’s list of most popular desserts across America includes cheesecake, jello, carrot cake, apple pie, ice cream, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake and fudge. Online source Mr. Food lists the most sought-after Southern desserts as Hummingbird Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Coconut Cake, Banana Pudding, Sweet Potato Pie, Pecan Pie, Lemon Chess Pie, Peach Pie and Pralines. Whatever your preference, nourishingthesoul.com sums up the appeal of sweets this way: Dessert represents a sense of bliss, a moment of totally relishing that which makes us feel good. Chocolate, anyone?
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| FEATURE
THE FIRST ANNUAL BAY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT JUBILEE
Featuring the
family TEXT BY GUY BUSBY SENSE MAGAZINE | 23
| FEATURE
T
he Bay of the Holy Spirit Jubilee, a family-oriented celebration, will host one of television’s most widely loved families when Duck Dynasty’s Robertsons grace the city of Fairhope. It was a year ago when Karin Wilson, owner of Page & Palette Book Store in Fairhope, Alabama, began planning her idea for an annual family event designed to celebrate family core values. When she confirmed the Robertsons’ presence for the affair, she knew the combination would be a hit. Wilson consulted with her inner circle of friends and family to put a name to her vision. Her brother-in-law, Mike Lyons, voiced his suggestion of tying in Mobile Bay’s original name, “Bay of the Holy Spirit,” which was dubbed upon Spanish discovery in the early 1500s. “So I did a little research and right away I came across a particular map of Mobile Bay and immediately saw this funny coincidence. Now, don’t get me wrong; I’m not the type of person who sees spiritual things like the image of Jesus on a piece of grilled cheese. But I did see the uncanny resemblance between Si’s beard and the map of Mobile Bay.” For those who live here, Jubilee means only one thing: the magical occurrence on the Eastern Shore - the only place in the entire world where it takes place. Those early mornings when the waters are ‘just right’, the sea life just swims right up to the shore and begs to be scooped up. Friends call friends before the sun has even broken across the horizon, yelling ‘Jubilee!,’ and everybody knows to grab their buckets and nets and head to the bay. While it has biblical ties and also means ‘festival’, the Jubilee is the phenomena that makes locals happy to be living on the Eastern Shore. And so the name Bay of the Holy Spirit Jubilee was christened; all credit due to Si’s beard, Duck Dynasty will forever be remembered as the star of the festival’s inaugural year.” The highlight of the first Jubilee, scheduled to take place on Friday, November 15 at Oak Hollow Farm, will take effect the moment when the Robertson family sets foot on the stage. Si, accompanied by Phil, Kay, and Korie - three other family members that also star on the hit A & E series Duck Dynasty - will be interviewed on stage by best-selling author Andy Andrews. In case you weren’t aware, the Robertson family developed their duck call company, Duck Commanders, into a highly successful business. Their reality show follows the lives of their extended family, relatable to people from all ages and walks of life. Wilson said, “The appearance by Duck Dynasty stars at the Jubilee fits the spirit of the celebration. The Jubilee is about family. On the show, they care very much about family, about each other, and it’s a show that’s enjoyed by families together. Even if parents haven’t Karin Wilson watched it, they probably know about it because Owner of Page & Palette their kids have.” Mike Odair, co-executive producer of Duck Dynasty, tells us that success has not changed the Robertsons, despite their phenomenal popularity, because they maintained the attitudes and values common in small southern communities. Odair is also a USA alumni with family ties on the Eastern Shore. “They’re great people and will fit right in down there.” he said. “They haven’t let all that fame go to their heads and always treat the crew and everyone with respect. They’re the same people they ever were.” 24 | NOVEMBER 2013
The Robertsons will tour the country promoting Duck Commander Family: How Faith Family and Ducks Built a Dynasty, one of six books they have written. Wilson adds that this will be one of two appearances in which the entire group will speak to an audience as well as the grand finale of their author tour. While the show is set around the homes of the Robertsons and their business in West Monroe, Louisiana, recent rating numbers point to Alabama as the show’s largest fan base. The Duck Dynasty stars aren’t the only celebrities scheduled to take part in the Jubilee event. Author Jill Conner Browne, well-known for her Sweet Potato Queens series, will be featured, as well. “I was thrilled when they asked me,” Conner said in a phone interview. “It’s going to be a very positive event and I’m grateful for the opportunity to take part. Page & Palette has been wonderful for me and I’m glad to have been given the chance to keep coming back.” When asked what she would discuss, Browne laughed. “Oh, I’ll share the secrets of the universe.” Other entertainment will include young vocal artist, Summerlyn Powers as well as other local musicians, inspirational speakers and family activities. When the Robertson crew hits the stage at 5:00 p.m., best-selling author Andy Andrews will be the perfect host for their onstage interview. “It is an honor to share the stage with such an amazing family that has powerfully impacted the American people in such a positive way,” Andrews said. “My two boys barely blink at the things I do,” he continues. “I’ve spoken for presidents of the United States. I’ve had a hand in Super Bowl winning NFL teams and BCS National Championships. I’ve even addressed the U.S. Congress. But my boys are 11 and 13 and now daddy will be hanging on stage with the Robertson family from West Monroe. Ha! I am officially a big deal in my own house.” Andrews will also talk about his latest book, The Noticer Returns - a sequel to his New York Times best-seller, The Noticer, set in Fairhope. Call it coincidence or divine appointment, but Wilson believes Andrews to be an appropriate contributor, as he, in his latest book, happened to write about the early name of Mobile Bay and the phenomenon of the jubilee, in which masses of fish and other marine life mysteriously congregate along the shoreline. “Tales and records of jubilees have been passed along for generations as a colorful part of the Eastern Shore’s history that predates the region’s European settlement. First identified and mapped by Spanish explorers, this natural harbor, known for its unusual bounty, was originally called... The Bay of the Holy Spirit. It is still an apt name for a body of water that regularly produces miracles.” Another creative Jubilee function is a beard contest. In the “Bay Jubilee Fund-razor in Novem-Beard,” contestants will be judged based on two categories: “Best Existing Beard” and “Fastest Beard Growth.” Sponsored by WKRG and Page and Palette’s The Good Life Foundation, the competition will raise money for USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital. Page and Palette will award a $500 cash prize to winners in each of the two categories. A third $500 cash prize will also be given to the contestant who raises the most money during the contest. Tickets were still available as of Sense deadline time. Prices for admission start at $35 and include a copy of one of several books written by Robertson family members, a value of about $25, Wilson said. More information on contest and Jubilee can be found on the website, www.bayoftheholyspiritjubilee.com. “It’s going to be a great time,” Wilson said. “We want everyone in attendance to leave Happy, Happy, Happy!”
BAY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT JUBILEE EVENT
Who: Si, Phil, Kay and Korie Robertson from the popular Duck Dynasty series on A&E, Andy Andrews, Jill Conner Browne among others What: First Annual Bay of the Holy Spirit Jubilee (Bay Jubilee) When: Friday, November 15th Where: Oak Hollow Farm Why: To Celebrate Faith & Family Values How Much: Tickets are $35 and include a book (valued around $25), Duck Family Package $100 (2 adults and 3 kids under 17 yrs old, 2 books)
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| DESIGN
Monique Lhuillier evening gown, $4800, at Gus Mayer, Birmingham Alabama, Ring from Estate Jewelers. 26 | NOVEMBER 2013
the
RECOMMENDED
LIST
FALL’S DELUXE DESIGNS
Photography by Matt Gates Styled by Stephani Cockrell
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| DESIGN
Stained Glass Print Mini-Dress, $1,195. Funnel neck leather jacket, $4,475, Floral Print Leggings, $685, all by Alexander Mcqueen, at Gus Mayer, Birmingham Alabama.
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Make up by Olivia Grace Fryfogle | Hair by Oxana Meade, The Sanctuary Salon | Location, Boxwood Home and Garden
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| DESIGN
White Poplin Blouse, $895, Black Wrap, $1725, Leather Pants, $2040, All by Brunello Cucinelli. Black Embellished Fringe Dress, $795, By Haute Hippie, at Gus Mayer, Birmingham Alabama. Bracelet and ring from Estate Jewelers. 30 | NOVEMBER 2013
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| DESIGN
Black strapless cocktail dress, $1,585, by Christian Siriano, at Gus Mayer, Birmingham Alabama. Necklace and bracelet from Estate Jewelers. 32 | NOVEMBER 2013
| FEATURE
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| FEATURE
“There’s a really special history lesson here, and Freda is a special resource to tell it since she was there every step of the way being a friend and a fan. We’re all very fortunate she shared,” said Mary Riser.
FREDA COMES TO FAIRHOPE The Little Film That Could Finds Its Way to Fairhope Film Festival TEXT BY JAMIE MCFADEN
34 | NOVEMBER 2013
M
usic, family, loyalty, integrity — these are just a few of the aspects that come to mind when one thinks of Fairhope, Alabama. As a picturesque coastal town with a rich history in art and music, is it any wonder that motion pictures have made their way onto the flower-dotted streets of Fairhope? With its debut approaching in November, the Fairhope Film Festival will include an award-winning documentary film that echoes the special charm that Fairhope itself possesses. Good Ol’ Freda is the story of Freda Kelly, the longtime secretary and friend of The Beatles, as she remembers the years spanning the band’s rise to celebrity. It is a film that celebrates music and friendship as described by one amazing woman who until very recently was simply a sweet secretary with a treasure of Beatles knowledge. Kathy McCabe, Good Ol’ Freda producer and parttime Gulf Shores resident, came in contact with Freda Kelly by way of a written friendship. In 1964, as a sixteen-year-old in Baltimore and a serious Beatles fan, McCabe wrote a letter to The Beatles Official Fan Club requesting a pen pal from Liverpool. Coincidentally, Freda Kelly was the president of this group and happened upon McCabe’s letter. That letter led McCabe to a pen pal whose sister also happened to work for The Beatles Official Fan Club. A 50-year family friendship ensued across an ocean and through phone calls, visits, and handwritten letters, with chance encounters between McCabe and Kelly eventually coming to fruition. Then, fate really stepped in for the two women when Freda Kelly approached McCabe at a wedding a few years back. “Five or six years ago, we were at a family wedding and after a few glasses of wine, Freda told me a few of her stories. She was fiercely private, so this was a first, and it was just amazing,” said McCabe. Because of her role as secretary for The Beatles, Freda had been pursued relentlessly for details about the fab four. Still, no amount of monetary reward or promised fame would coax Kelly to share her knowledge until she was absolutely ready and found the perfect outlet. “Freda was playing with the idea of talking about some of her stories on a more public basis when my director friend, Ryan White, became available. Her be all, end all inspiration for doing this film with us was her three-year-old grandson, Niall. She didn’t want him to think that she was just some
little old granny. She had done some really cool things throughout her life, and she was ready to share them. We were just fortunate to have a connection that allowed her to trust us to handle the story the way she would want it done.” Rather than using a major film company, the longtime connection between the two women allowed for Freda’s story to really unfold. The film has now won three Audience Awards at various film festivals around the country. Clearly, Good Ol’ Freda resonates with crowds. “We’ve been playing this film in front of crowds of Beatles fans, and it’s been such a moving experience. Grown men are sitting there in the audience weeping. The movie is about Freda and the integrity with which she has conducted her life despite incredible circumstances. Here she is now at 68 years old and she’s still a working secretary and still a Beatles fan, and the audiences just fall in love with her,” said McCabe. The documentary includes footage from 40 hours of filming Freda Kelly as she recalled her experiences with The Beatles. McCabe also notes that Kelly would not divulge any information that she could not confirm, thereby proving herself a trustworthy guide for this new take on The Beatles. A further testament to Freda Kelly’s impressive character, four full-length songs were licensed by The Beatles for the film — an unprecedented move for an independent film. Mary Riser, Fairhope Film Festival founder and director of selection committee, pushed for Good Ol’ Freda to come to the Fairhope Film Festival after attending a screening in Boston back in April. “It’s a history of rock and roll. It is a film for anyone who thinks they know about The Beatles and a great opportunity for those who don’t know about them to learn. Freda was like one of The Beatles since she was with them for so long. There’s a really special history lesson here, and Freda is a special resource to tell it since she was there every step of the way being a friend and a fan. We’re all very fortunate she shared,” said Riser of the film. The documentary is referred to as “the little film that could” by those closest to it. McCabe says that the most challenging aspect of the filmmaking process was simply convincing Freda Kelly that the world would want to hear what she referred to as her “little tales.” McCabe notes, “She
thought it was just going to be this little DVD for Niall, and it is mind-blowing how it has had this huge impact on audiences all over. She had no idea how interesting she truly is because she is so modest, but that’s just Freda. There is now Freda-mania to go along with Beatle-mania because she is an amazing person.” A fresh look at one of the world’s most well-known bands, Good Ol’ Freda brings John, Paul, George, and Ringo to life as Freda Kelly recalls them — regular guys who were trying to adjust to being catapulted to fame. “This presents The Beatles from a totally different angle than other films. Her goal and our goal for the movie was to humanize The Beatles,” said McCabe. With a wealth of never-before-seen photos from Freda Kelly’s collection and a beautiful story about friendship and fandom embedded in her narratives about The Beatles, Freda is sure to have Fairhope audiences falling in love. The film is currently available on iTunes and Video OnDemand. For more information about Good Ol’ Freda, visit goodolfreda.com or email info@goodolfreda.com. For screening times and ticket information about the Fairhope Film Festival, visit fairhopefilmfestival.org. SENSE MAGAZINE | 35
| VIEWS AND NEWS
THE WHY OF WRITING BY TARA CONKLIN
M HAVE LUNCH WITH TARA CONKLIN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18 12 PM EASTERN SHORE ART CENTER This event is free and open to the public. Bring your lunch or call the bookstore to reserve lunch from Andree’s Wine, Cheese & Things for $10.
LUNCHEON
36 | OCTOBER 2013
oments of clarity happen all too infrequently in life, but when they do, they change everything. My moment of clarity came at about 8 a.m. on a Monday while I was getting ready for work. The year was 2009 and I was living in London with my English husband and our two young children, ages 2 ½ and one. At the time, I was a full-time corporate lawyer in the London office of a large U.S. firm. My husband had recently left his job to stay at home with our kids, a decision we had both embraced, making me the sole breadwinner of our family. Over the past three years, I had been working on what I called “my writing project.” Even saying the word “novel” aloud seemed too risky, too ambitious. Since grade school, I had always kept myself entertained by writing stories or poems or plays about whatever it was that interested me. There were plenty of unicorns and forest animals in my earliest work, as I recall, which then swiftly segued into G-rated love stories involving bookish, glasses-wearing teenage girls and the hunky, sensitive boys who love them. All of this, I told myself often and with emphasis, was not fodder for a career. Writing was a diversion, a fun hobby. Some people collected 1980s memorabilia, others painted or played tennis; I wrote. As I launched into a peripatetic and not particularly satisfying professional career, first in nonprofits and then law, I had this vague, soft-focus view of my future self in retirement: obligation-free days and me at my computer, writing. On that morning in London, my husband was chasing the kids around; at least one (though probably both) was naked. I believe bananas featured in the mix that morning and maybe a diaper (clean) was being thrown in the general direction of a child’s bottom. I was wearing my lawyer clothes, holding my lawyer bag, and I yawned because I’d been up very late the night before working on my writing project. I had completed the stories of Josephine Bell, Caleb Harper and Dorothea Rounds — three characters whose lives intersect in 1852 Virginia — but they didn’t feel finished to me. Something was missing. It was a tickle, this idea that another character was out there, just waiting for me to find her (I felt sure it was a her). Without this missing piece, the story would never be complete. And that’s when it hit: my moment of clarity. I realized that if I didn’t try to finish my writing project, I would always regret it. I read a quote once from a famous writer (whose name I unfortunately have forgotten): “I didn’t write until I couldn’t not write any longer.” And that, for me, was what happened. That morning, the scale tilted, the switch flipped. Something within me – or rather, the someone who had been inhabiting my daydreams and
late nights for the past three years – sat up and started shouting. What could I do but listen? The moment came, and then it passed. I kissed my husband and kids goodbye and I went to work. On the surface, I’m sure that I looked the same. I probably wrote some emails that day, maybe attended some meetings or a client lunch. To my colleagues and clients, I was the same Tara Conklin they had seen the Friday before, and the week before that, and the year before that. But, for me, everything had changed. The thing about moments of clarity is that they don’t always arrive at the most opportune times nor do they always tell you what you want to hear – or, in my case, what your boss and your bank account want to hear. There were countless reasons why leaving my job to write full time qualified as an irresponsible, stupid, lunatic thing to do: mortgage, job stability, the economy, which had just begun its serious nosedive. My husband and I discussed our options, we talked to our families, we crunched the numbers and compiled a list of cities where we would like to live and raise our children. Seattle – where my younger sister had lived for many years – was firmly at the top. My husband contacted some distant connections about job prospects and we searched online for a temporary rental. Should we do it? We were both ready for a grand adventure, a lifestyle change, a jump into the unknown. And so we jumped. That was four years ago. We now live in Seattle and our two diaper-avoiding children have grown into a second grader and a kindergartener with a one-year-old little brother. In Seattle, I found the space, time and community to dedicate myself to my writing project, which I began calling by its true name: a novel. I also found my missing character – that tickle that wouldn’t let me rest. Her name is Lina Sparrow, and her story became the piece that allowed me to complete my first novel, The House Girl, published in hardcover in February 2013 and forthcoming in paperback this November. The journey has not always been easy, and I expect we will encounter more bumps along the way. But I remember distinctly that moment of clarity, the realization that I had to try. And I couldn’t be happier that I did.
B E T W E E N
T H E
L I N E S
REVIEWS OF BOOKS AVAILABLE AT PAGE & PALETTE BOOKSTORE
THE DEATH OF SANTINI BY PAT CONROY
In this powerful and intimate memoir, the beloved best-selling author of The Prince of Tides and his father, the inspiration for The Great Santini, find some common ground at long last. Pat Conroy’s father, Donald Patrick Conroy, was a towering figure in his son’s life. The Marine Corps fighter pilot was often brutal, cruel, and violent. As the oldest of seven children who were dragged from military base to military base across the South, Pat bore witness to the toll his father’s behavior took on his siblings, and especially on his mother, Peg. She was Pat’s lifeline to a better world - that of books and culture. But eventually, despite repeated confrontations with his father, Pat managed to claw his way toward a life he could have only imagined as a child. Pat’s great success as a writer has always been intimately linked with the exploration of his family history. While the publication of The Great Santini brought Pat much acclaim, the rift it caused with his father brought even more attention. But as Pat tenderly chronicles here, even the oldest of wounds can heal. In the final years of Don Conroy’s life, he and his son reached a rapprochement of sorts. Quite unexpectedly, the Santini who had freely doled out physical abuse to his wife and children refocused his ire on those who had turned on Pat over the years. He defended his son’s honor. The Death of Santini is at
once a heart-wrenching account of personal and family struggle and a poignant lesson in how the ties of blood can both strangle and offer succor. It is an act of reckoning, an exorcism of demons, but one whose ultimate conclusion is that love can soften even the meanest of men, lending significance to one of the most-often quoted lines from Pat’s best-selling novel The Prince of Tides: “In families there are no crimes beyond forgiveness.” Page and Palette will host an author event with Pat Conroy at The Venue in downtown Fairhope on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. Visit www. pageandpalette.com for ticket information. ($28.95, Random House, On Sale Now)
rich narrative tells their intertwined stories — from broken homes to Medals of Honor (all three would receive it); barnstorming to the greatest raid of WWII; frontpage triumph to anguished tragedy; and near-death to ultimate survival — as all took to the sky, time and again, to become exemplars of the spirit of the “greatest generation.” ($30.00, Random House, Pub Date 11/5/13)
Group will host an author luncheon with Fannie Flagg at 12 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center in Mobile. Visit www. pageandpalette.com for ticket information, including VIP seating. ($27.00, Random House, Pub Date 11/5/13)
VANISHED BY WIL S. HYLTON
THE ROYAL RANGER BY JOHN FLANAGAN
THE ALL-GIRL FILLING STATION’S LAST REUNION BY FANNIE FLAGG
THE AVIATORS BY WINSTON GROOM
The Aviators: Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and the Epic Age of Flight is the fascinating story of extraordinary heroes who defined aviation during the great age of flight. These cleverly interwoven tales of their heart-stopping adventures take us from the feats of WWI through the heroism of WWII and beyond, including daring military raids and survivalat-sea, and will appeal to fans of Unbroken, The Greatest Generation, and Flyboys. With the world in peril in WWII, each man set aside great success and comfort to return to the skies for his most daring mission yet. Groom’s
at 2 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the Fairhope Elementary School Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public. ($18.99, Penguin, Pub Date 11/5/13)
An irresistible new comic mystery by the best-selling author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven, and I Still Dream About You. Spanning decades, generations, and America in the 1940s and today, The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion is a fun-loving mystery about an Alabama woman today, and five women who in 1943 worked in a Phillips 66 gas station, during the WWII years. Like Fannie Flagg’s classic Fried Green Tomatoes, this is a riveting, fun story of two families, set in present day America and during WWII, filled to the brim with Flagg’s trademark funny voice and storytelling magic. Page and Palette and Alabama Media
The story that brings the Ranger’s Apprentice arc fullcircle. Will, now a grown man, has lost his beloved wife Alyss, and the once mischievous and spirited young man has grown grim and humorless. The Rangers still exist but are desperate for leadership and new energy. That new energy arrives in a most unexpected way: Maddie, the daughter of Horace and Evanlyn — a headstrong girl always getting in trouble and with no interest in her royal status. When Halt, Will’s onetime mentor, suggests that Will take Maddie under his grumpy wing, Will balks at first. Yet there is something about this troublesome and brave girl that re-awakens the Ranger in Will. Finally, the Ranger’s Apprentice has an apprentice of his own. Back by popular demand, the Ranger’s Apprentice series makes one final, satisfying bow that will satisfy fans both young and old. John Flanagan will talk about his new book
On Sept. 1, 1944, a massive American bomber carrying 11 men vanished over the tiny Pacific archipelago of Palau, leaving behind a trail of mysteries. For more than 60 years, the U.S. government, the children of the missing airmen, and a maverick team of scientists and scuba divers searched the archipelago for clues with cutting-edge technology and unyielding determination. They crawled through thickets of mangrove and slogged into groves of poison trees, flew over the islands in private planes shooting infrared photography, trolled the water with magnetometers and side-scan sonar, and launched grid searches on the seafloor, but the trail seemed to lead nowhere. Now, in a spellbinding narrative, Wil S. Hylton weaves together the true tale of the missing men, their final days, the loved ones left wondering, and the broad sweep of world events that converged upon their last mission. ($27.95, Penguin, Pub Date 11/5/13)
SENSE MAGAZINE | 37
38 | NOVEMBER 2013
| ARTS
MOBILE BALLET SEES ‘STARS’ The 2013-2014 season opens with a spectacular one-night-only event, ‘Stars of American Ballet’ TEXT BY THOMAS B. HARRISON
O
ver two-plus decades, Mobile Ballet has seen its share of marquee moments and dazzling guest artists. Each performance reinforces what balletomanes already know: Ballet is a kind of magic, a grand illusion in which flesh-and-blood dancers are transformed, through years of arduous training and the art of choreography, into otherworldly creatures who defy gravity to create scenes from the imagination. That imagination is wonderfully realized at Mobile Ballet, where artistic director Winthrop Corey will lead his young dancers through a season that includes the timeless Nutcracker and the classic Coppelia. To open the season, Corey invited a few special guests who are accustomed to performing major works on a large stage. The 2013-2014 season opens with Stars of American Ballet, a one-night-only event featuring principal dancers and soloists of New York City Ballet. Led by artistic director Daniel Ulbricht, the New York ensemble will perform the Pas de Deux from Tarantella, Rubies from the full-length ballet Jewels, The Man I Love from Who Cares? And the Pas de Deux from Stars and Stripes. That is quite a George Balanchine sampler. The New York dancers will close with Jerome Robbins’ joyful Fancy Free. Mobile Ballet will open the program with the Ballroom Scene from Snow White, one of the most visually impressive scenes from the company repertoire. SENSE MAGAZINE | 39
| ARTS
Corey is more than a bit eager to get the season under way. For one thing, the appearance of Stars of American Ballet in Mobile was two years in the making. “Daniel Ulbricht been sanctioned as the one producer of repertoire from New York City Ballet going out on tour,” he says. “(NYCB Ballet Master) Peter Martins has one group of 24 dancers doing Balanchine’s work, because the main company is so big that it’s costly take them all out,” Corey says. “But he anointed Daniel as the one person allowed to put together a repertoire show for the road. We’ve been talking more than two years to work out the logistics.” None of this would have happened without the loyalty, friendship and perseverance of Winthrop Corey, according to Ulbricht. Speaking by long distance from New York, he says Corey has been “extraordinarily gracious” throughout the difficult process of finding dates compatible with the company’s busy schedule. Ulbricht says that Stars of American Ballet has a mission to stage high-caliber artistic works in areas where ballet patrons do not have regular and immediate access to major dance companies. “This way we give them a chance to support the arts and experience that,” he says. Ulbricht has performed and taught classes in Mobile during seasons past and he appreciates the city’s knowledgeable, enthusiastic audiences. He thinks they will be impressed with this program, which includes the effervescent Fancy Free. Robbins’ work inspired the movie musical On the Town starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, who portrayed sailors on leave in New York. Featuring music by Leonard Bernstein, Fancy Free is “a real slice of American life,” Ulbricht says, and still has a freshness and vitality for contemporary audiences. He describes Fancy Free as a “user-friendly ballet” that appeals to ballet aficionados as well as those who merely appreciate the joy of dancing. There is a timelessness about the piece that challenges dancers to make it believable and authentic, much like live theater. Mobile audiences have seen Who Cares before, years ago, but the remainder of the program is all new and “the best of the best,” Corey says. The New York dancers include Tyler Angle, who many Gulf Coast ballet patrons will recall as Katie Morgan’s partner in Sleeping Beauty from two seasons ago. “I am very excited to see them,” Corey says. “They are the cream of the crop and it’s an amazing program. He invited my company to perform, so the Ballroom Scene from Snow White will open the program. We’re quite thrilled about that. It’s an honor that he would ask us to do that.” The Ballroom Scene will showcase 12 of Corey’s dancers plus Ballet Mistress Noel Hanley and her partner, Ryan Carroll, who will dance the Pas de Deux. Hanley, who also will dance Arabian in Nutcracker, is in her third year with Mobile Ballet. She appeared in Mobile Ballet’s Swan Lake as one of Cygnets, and last year in Snow White. Next spring she will dance the role of Swanhilde in Corey’s staging of Coppelia. The Brandon, Miss., native spent two years with Alabama Ballet, then got married and relocated to Mobile. The Ballroom Scene will be a highlight for her. “It’s a beautiful piece, especially when you walk out on stage and you have all these mirrors, all the gold and the lights,” she says. “You feel very royal. Our costumes are beautiful, and the Russian-style pearl tiaras. The movement of the piece is very slow and graceful and goes with the music, especially the Pas de Deux. It just flows so well, and is so appealing to the eye.” The Pas de Deux “is not hard, just tricky with a partner,” Hanley says. “It’s important to be on balance with a partner (because) you are on one foot and your partner has to feel where you are with your weight. And you have to look nice and not look as though you’re struggling. A big part of a partnership is to get a sense of how they move and make it appear seamless. With it being slow, it takes a lot control, especially with your upper body. If you are struggling up top, it isn’t going to appear effortless.” Sets for the Ballroom Scene are in hand, thanks to Ron Barrett and his
team. Barrett’s design is based on photos that Corey took of the Palais Garnier, one of several venues for the Paris Opera, which opened in 1875. “The theater is magnificent with gold chandeliers,” Corey says, “and that was my vision. I wanted to create something like that for Ballroom. Daniel has the set from Fancy Free, and those sets have been delivered. The rest will be in black (backdrop) to show off the dancers. “This is going to be a terrific night of dance,” Corey says, “the kind of thing audiences usually only get to see in New York.” The company has received “fabulous feedback” from its repertoire galas, which have featured such mega-talents as Joffrey Ballet and Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance. “It’s tricky to do because it takes a while to pull these things off,” he says, “and they’re also very expensive. But we usually get very good houses and we are lucky that we get sponsorship from Wind Creek Casino to put this on. To get repertoire and eight quality dancers, it takes a lot of money.” These are perilous times for nonprofit performing arts companies, and while full-length classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Cinderella and Coppelia usually do well, there are no sure things. Except for The Nutcracker, of course, which provides a financial buffer for the rest of the season. Think of it as art disguised as entertainment, or vice versa. Onstage and at the box office, The Nutcracker is magical. The seasonal classic also provides excellent experience for a young corps de ballet. This season, Mobile Ballet is very young indeed. Corey lost five senior dancers to graduation and has taken in 14 new dancers, which is more than usual. “We had a good turnout, the talent was there, and they are all young people I will be molding,” he says. “It’s a whole crop of new talent that I can re-choreograph, or reposition or juggle and put people in new places. It
Gene Schiavone 40 | NOVEMBER 2013
always brings a fresh look to put dancers in new places.” Except for a few new faces, Corey’s Nutcracker will not change appreciably. “A few costumes here and there, but the choreography and story line are essentially the same,” he says. Mobile Ballet will present three performances of The Nutcracker: two on Saturday, plus the Sunday matinee; and the requisite midweek performances for Mobile-Baldwin schools. There is little mystery about the appeal of The Nutcracker, which annually draws millions of people of all ages to theaters from Maine to Southern California, and worldwide. Corey always reminds his dancers who they are dancing for. “Dancers have to believe in the story,” he says. “It’s a fanciful story about a dream a young girl has. It’s fantasy, a wonderful journey. I tell them they have to produce magic for the little girl out in the audience.” Each season he tells his Sugar Plum: “When you come onstage, don’t make a sound. The Sugar Plum Fairy is light as air. Remember that you are dancing for every little girl sitting out there in the audience. I just feel the company has a responsibility . . . for the children who come to see this magical ballet.” Expect to hear plenty of buzz about the 2014-2015 season, which will open with Corey’s original production of Dracula. The ballet, one of Corey’s best and most popular, appears to have an eternal life of its own — albeit a charmed and happy life, unlike its title character. Corey last staged the piece in Mobile five years ago, although the Prince of Darkness has logged some frequent-flier miles to be performed by other companies. In addition to Nutcracker, next season also brings the return of Cinderella. “I have to gauge these (productions) according to the age of my company,” Corey says. “I’m doing Coppelia because of the age of my dancers. Before too long, I want to get back to Streetcar and work on that. I have some new ideas, and it’s never very far from my mind.” Ballet fans who missed Corey’s original production of A Streetcar Named Desire in 2002 regularly ask for DVDs of the piece. Corey produced the ballet in conjunction with the Mobile Tricentennial and it remains one of his favorite works. “I really want to get to work — first of all, finding the nine to 12 men that it requires,” he says. “I am real interested in getting back to it.”
Festival Ballet Providence
New York City Ballet SENSE MAGAZINE | 41
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Parsons Boat Works LLC Marshall Parsons (251) 680-2008
42 | NOVEMBER 2013
| OUTDOORS LIFE
Anybody that has hunted ducks in the Mobile Delta very long has probably got a few stories to tell about the mud, the tide, the wind, and the weather.
Photo by Kathy Hicks
DELTA BLUES — DUCK HUNTERS HAVE THEIR SHARE BY SKEET LORES
A
nybody that has hunted ducks in the Mobile Delta very long has probably got a few stories to tell about the mud, the tide, the wind, and the weather. It seems like they conspire to make it difficult for us poor duck hunters (Yeah, I can hear the sympathy!). The mud in the delta above the causeway is unbelievably deep—if you try to stand in it, there is no bottom it is like quicksand — only thicker! If you are trying to pole a boat through it, you better have two poles, because one won’t move the boat. And don’t ever drop your push pole! My nephew did that — over 20 years ago! He has never gone duck hunting again! After my nephew lost his push pole, they broke their paddle trying to pry the boat forward — then they were really up the creek! The had to get out of the boat and get in the mud and water in January without waders — push the boat a few inches then try and drag themselves forward without dragging the boat backwards! The water was falling faster than they could catch it! It took them 4 hours to get out of the Delta. And when they got out, their legs were purple! All the good duck hunting spots are pretty close to bare mud at low tide. And the tide is always falling in the morning during duck season — forever — (I know, I checked the tide charts for the next 50 years)! And even if you are lucky enough to get a weak low tide or a even a neap tide, so that you have some good water, the wind can always come along and blow all of the water out of the bay and leave you stranded. For beginners, the learning curve for hunting Delta ducks can be long and painful — especially if they do not have an Old Timer to teach them — Mother Nature can be a – well, not nice! Having an Old Timer to teach you where and how to hunt the Delta can be very valuable. Having anyone with some experience can save you a lot of pain and hard work. I was not that fortunate. We learned the hard way to find a water gauge — something you can watch to see how much the water has dropped and let you know when you need to start packing up to get out. Wait too late and it can take you hours to go a few hundred yards. You’ll be telling yourself, “I don’t think that last duck was worth it!” Delta blues come in many forms — not enough water to get to your favorite spot, somebody beat you to your favorite spot, somebody shoots nearby just when a bunch of duck were headed to your blind, but nothing beats a blue bird day when ducks don’t fly or just aren’t there. Cold and windy days are the duck hunter’s favorite! Warm sunny days mean the ducks are headed north. Hurricanes are even worse than warm spells, they can mess up the food source that the reason ducks come to the Delta and result in years of duck hunting blues. Fortunately, the submerged grasses, the primary food for ducks, have recovered a lot since hurricanes Ivan and Katrina. Now all we need is for the ducks to discover that! The really good days of Delta duck hunting were the days of the old duck hunting camps. Those old camps that were built on stilts right on top of the good spots — like in Chuckfee, Little Bay John, and Gravine Island. There were also lots of old floating houseboats tied up along the banks of the creeks and rivers all over the delta. The US Army Corps of Engineers now owns and controls the Mobile Delta lands and has removed most of those old camps and houseboats. The Corps lets the state of Alabama use the lands as one of their wildlife management areas for hunting. Permanent duck blinds are not allowed in the Delta, but temporary blinds can be built with reeds and marsh grass and they usually start popping up in late summer or early fall. All of these blinds will have a stake or plaque with the name of the builder, but since this is public land, nobody can claim that spot as theirs for the season. It is an unstated rule that these blinds “belong” to the builder for the first day of the season — and that applies to both the early season and the main season. After that it belongs to the one that gets there first. This has caused a bout of the blues for many a duck hunter over the years after they make their plans and work to get to their favorite blind only to see a light flash at them as they approach — Bummer — we got beat! Now where are we gonna go? These blinds made of reeds just stuck in the mud to create a wall around a duck hunters boat will break down over the year, but often leave a ring of reed stems that become a favorite spot for many a bass fisherman during the summer. My brother says he has hooked many a bass that dragged him through those old blinds! Despite all these blues, duck hunting in the Delta can be a very enjoyable, especially if you appreciate the beauty of the Delta and all of the nature that surrounds you. Sunrise on the Delta can be awesome! To a duck hunter it is especially beautiful when there are lots of ducks! SENSE MAGAZINE | 43
| VIEWS AND NEWS
The Tilted World with
Tom Franklin & Beth Ann Fennelly Set against the backdrop of the historic flooding of the Mississippi River, The Tilted World is an extraordinary tale of murder and moonshine, sandbagging and saboteurs, and a man and a woman who find unexpected love, from Tom Franklin, the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, and award-winning poet Beth Ann Fennelly. Franklin and Fennelly have merged their talents to tell the stories of Dixie Clay Holliver, the best bootlegger in the county, and Ted Ingersoll, one half of the team of government agents on a secret assignment in 1927. With the Mississippi swollen to dangerous flood levels, the water crashing at the high levee walls and the rain unceasing, Ham Johnson and Ted Ingersoll, WWI vets and U.S. Government prohibition agents, have been diverted from their normal duties and sent to tiny Hobnob, Miss., where the river bends precariously. Two previous agents have disappeared on this assignment. A case of stolen dynamite is reportedly on its way to Hobnob. If a saboteur can blow the Hobnob levee, the town will flood, yet all the towns and cities from Jackson to New Orleans will be spared. Their mission, to find the dynamite and save the town, gets more complicated when the agents discover, in the aftermath of a crime, an abandoned baby. Enter Dixie Clay Holliver, the best bootlegger in the county. Her house, Sugar Hill, is several miles from Hobnob, in deep piney country, near the creek by her still. Her husband Jesse — charismatic, philandering, sometimes violent — distributes her whiskey. He is a man-about-town in local speakeasies, and someone she’s beginning to realize is a stranger. Dixie Clay has resigned herself to a life of solitude, making her perfect whiskey and mourning her own baby, who died two years before. The river continues to rise, and she continues to work. And then a stranger named Ingersoll brings her a baby. That’s when her troubles — and her joys — begin. And Ingersoll’s.
Q. A married couple — both successful writers with very different visions and distinct voices — decides to write a novel together. It sounds like a recipe for divorce, disaster, or both. Yet here you are, you’re still best friends, and the book is wonderful. How did the collaboration come about? Tom Franklin explains: When my cousin heard we were writing a book together, he said, “High stakes poker, Tom.” But it wasn’t. Instead, it turned out to be one of the best writing experiences of our lives. What happened was we had written a collaborative short story, and after it was published, our agent, Nat Sobel, saw the story in a magazine and called me. “You should expand this story for your next novel,” he told me. “And you two should write it together.” Beth Ann took some convincing. As a poet, she had always joked that fiction was a “lower art,” but after enough wheedling she decided to try it. It was fun to write together, fun to inhabit that world with her. We were almost sad when the book was finished. Now I have to see if I can convince her to write another.
44 | NOVEMBER 2013
Q. The Tilted World is set against the dynamic backdrop of The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Why do you think it’s such a lost part of our history? How did you find it? Beth Ann Fennelly explains: I think because so many of the people affected were poor Southerners — many of them black sharecroppers — the scale of the tragedy wasn’t registered by those who write history. But folks still talk about it here, and after Katrina, it was on a lot of people’s minds. There is also an amazing nonfiction book about the flood called Rising Tide, by John M. Barry.
THE TILTED WORLD Book Signing & Author Discussion Tuesday, November 26, 6 PM
Q. Tell us about your process for conducting research for The Tilted World? Beth Ann Fennelly explains: When Tommy and I first started talking about writing The Tilted World together and discussing how we would split up the work, I suggested that I would do the research, because it fires my imagination (I always feel like I don’t need to write books about zombies or aliens; real people have done anything and everything imaginable). Tommy made no bid to do the research; he was a C student, as he’s quick to tell you. So while he came with me when we visited the Flood Museum in Greenville, Miss., and when we inspected the levee where the breach actually occurred, the paper research was all mine to do. I read old newspapers and reports. The research was so fun, in fact, that even after I had learned the answers to the questions I’d been seeking, I kept researching, kept listening to stories, looking at more photos. And eventually I had to admit that there was a word for what I was doing, and the word isn’t a pretty one: procrastinating. Research is fun. Writing is hard.
Q. Explain how motherhood plays an important role in The Tilted World? Beth Ann Fennelly explains: The protagonist, Dixie Clay, has lost her own child to fever a few years back and hasn’t been able to conceive again — and into this desperate life comes an orphan for her to love. Mothers, I think, are hungry to see motherhood portrayed accurately in books. I know I am. And I wanted our novel’s baby to seem a real baby, the mother a real mother. Because we were writing the novel over many months, at one point when our son Nolan was 7 months old, we decided to “freeze” and wrote much of 7-month-old Willy, to avoid anachronisms in the on-the-page-baby’s development (once I tossed aside an otherwise good novel after I read a scene in which an infant grimaces at a bad smell. Infants don’t grimace). Another thing that was important to me was that the baby not seem convenient arm candy, always sleeping or otherwise out of the scene. The best and most maddening thing about babies is that they are never out of the scene; every scene, it seems, is centered around them.
at Page & Palette Introduction by Local Author Sonny Brewer
TOM FRANKLIN is the award-winning and New York Times best-selling author of Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, which was nominated for nine awards and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association’s Gold Dagger Award. His previous works include the Edgar-winning story, Poachers, from the collection under the same title, as well as Hell at the Breech, and Smonk. Winner of a 2001 Guggenheim Fellowship, he teaches in the University of Mississippi’s MFA program. BETH ANN FENNELLY has won grants from the NEA, United States Artists, and a Fulbright to Brazil. Her honors include the Kenyon Review Prize and three inclusions in The Best American Poetry. Fennelly has published three volumes of poetry, along with her nonfiction book, Great with Child. She directs the University of Mississippi’s MFA program, where she was named the 2011 Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Tom and Beth Ann are married, and live in Oxford, Mississippi with their three children.
SENSE MAGAZINE | 45
| LITERATI
NIMBUS BY KARA SMITH
The timing made me slip Expiration then, refrigeration sure My eyelashes curled against the glass, Eye feathers Surely you would feel density You walked, dropping your tie to rid The choking loneliness Lengthening the barrier that maintains the oneness of your soul Yours alone, never to be shared Two spoons would be too many I chased after your words, caught them in a jar Only to have them take flight again They didn’t have to stay They were bound only by the moment What a pity for your words to expire before they were used.
LITERATI SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: Sense invites you to submit edgy, eclectic pieces. We welcome short fiction, essays, humor, and poetry submissions. Rights to the material submitted remain those of its author, who is protected under Creative Commons licenses. We reserve the right to choose all materials that appear in the publication. For more detailed submission information, email editor@thesenseofitall.com. 46 | NOVEMBER 2013
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Art’s Alive in Bay St. Louis
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‘Stars’ fall on Mobile Ballet
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Delta Blues