JEFF FOXWORTHY | 11 RISING SOUTHERNERS | RONDA RICH | TOM PETTY | TAILGATING
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ʼall
TRACE AD ADKINS
BADONKADONK
THE M AGA ZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE
MORGAN FREEMAN
BLUES CLUB WINNER
CSI: MIAMI EMILY PROCTER EXCLUSIVE CHAT WITH CAROLINA CALLEIGH
NATCHEZ PARKWAY WIN A FREE TRIP TRIP!! DETTAILS P DE PAGE AGE 15 15 ym1B3.indd 1
$ 3 . U.S. 9 5 U /S $5.95 $ 5 . 9CAN 5 C A N www.yall.com $3.95 SEPT./OCT./NOV. 2006
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A nap. A good book. A nice conversation. And over
500 GREAT DESTINATIONS. Getting there is half the fun. On Amtrak , you’ll find your time is yours again, to spend Ž
however you please. Enjoy the scenery, have a leisurely meal in the Dining Car or lean back in your seat with a good book. Sleeping Car accommodations may be available for an even more comfortable trip.
Call
1-800-USA-RAIL,
your travel agent or visit Amtrak.com.
Amtrak is a registered service mark of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. ym2-3.indd 3
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THE M AGA ZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE Volume 4 | Number 5
this-n-that 9
Where Y’all? Capturing hot Southern stars, from Dollywood to Hollywood.
10 CD Reviews Great Southern sounds. 42 Cranky Yankee
This ain’t New York City! Laurie Stieber shares her new life Down South.
COVER: COURESTY OF V ZAHN-CBS STUDIOS/LEFT: PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATCHEZ TRACE COMPACT.AKINS: PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAPITOL NASHVILLE RECORDS/FREEMAN:CHAD MILLS
43 On the Money
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NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY From Music City to the Mighty Mississippi, this American parkway is a true Southern spectacle.
Money man Dave Ramsey gets you prepared for a Total Money Makeover.
44 Max’d Out
With footballs a-flyin’, Max Howell’s got great tailgating tips.
45 Y’all of Fame
College Football was forever changed by the skills of Southern coach John Heisman.
66 Cajun Humor De Chicken Bucket 67 Lewis Grizzard
Legendary Southern columnist Lewis Grizzard may be gone, but his words will live forever in his column for Y’all Magazine.
68 Wine Down South
Doc Lawrence breaks out the good wines for Y’all.
69 Blue Collar
You Might Be A Redneck’s Jeff Foxworthy tells us about his comedic roots.
70 What Southern Women Know Ronda Rich’s dose of Dixie wisdom.
71 Star Gazing
Southern boy Joe LoCicero reports from Hollywood.
72 GRITS
“Ms. Grits” Deborah Ford has a great column for “y’all” to enjoy.
77 In Memoriam
Remembering Southerners who have passed to the Great Beyond.
78 Festive South
We’ve got the lineup of fall events to check out.
Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE
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39 Trace Adkins Country music star Trace Adkins revs up the airwaves with his Southern twang.
52 Charity Bowl Late Ole Miss football star Chucky Mullins’ memory lives on through a national charity to fight paralysis.
63 Dixie Destination
A weekend journey to the Florida capital city will make “y’all” feel right at home.
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46 11 Rising Stars From NFL star Viince Young, to MTV’s Cheyenne, we’ve got a cool list to learn.
55
Eddie Favre
Mayor Eddie Favre of Bay St. Louis, Miss., has a unique way to keep the focus on his town’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
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Luzianne
A Southern company has brewed great tasting tea for generations.
57 Emily Procter From weather forecaster in her native North Carolina to crime solver on CSI: Miami.
61
Carolina History
North or South, Carolina’s historic!
74Morgan Freeman Clarksdale has helped create a splendid, cool restaurant and club in the Mississippi Delta city of Clarksdale.
ATKINS: COURTESY OF TRACE/YOUNG:JONATHAN DANIE/GETTY/PROCTER:STEPHEN SHUGERMAN/GETTY/BOYS:JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY/MADIDI:CHADMILLS/YALL
features
inside
Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE
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yʼall
Thereʼs more than one Wal-Mart
®™
THE M AGA ZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE ™
President & Publisher Jon Rawl jon@yall.com Managing Editor Tabatha Hunter tabatha@yall.com
VP & Associate Publisher Keith Sisson
Urban sprawl is taking over the South. Cotton fields in Mississippi are being converted to casinos, old soybean fields in Georgia are now million-dollar condos, and that last tree up on the mountain in Gatlinburg is now home to a trendy lodge. Iʼm no Al Gore, but we ought to think a little bit more about saving our beloved South from the developerʼs chainsaw.
keith@yall.com
Art Director Carroll Moore carroll@yall.com
Sr. Account Executive Meredith Dabbs
meredith@yall.com
(662)236-1928
Photographer Chad Mills
Kentucky Bureau Colleen Cassity kentucky@yall.com
New Media Andy Young andy@yall.com
Louisiana Bureau Clay Reynolds louisiana@yall.com
Copy Editor Lauren M. Young Art Assistant Caleb Moore Interns Holly Hall Katie Floyd Illustrators Don Maters Contributing Writers Lewis Grizzard Deborah Ford Ronda Rich Paula Dabbs Tommy Joe Breaux Jeff Foxworthy Doc Lawrence Hadley Hickman Sarah Jo Gardner Sally Summerson Laurie Stieber Dave Ramsey Joe LoCicero Max Howell Amy Sullenberger Alabama Bureau Paula Sullivan Dabbs alabama@yall.com Arkansas Bureau Jason Nall arkansas@yall.com Florida Bureau Mark Cook florida@yall.com Georgia Bureau Laurie Stieber georgia@yall.com
Maryland Bureau Renee Wells maryland@yall.com Mississippi Bureau Ruffin Smith mississippi@yall.com Missouri Bureau Matthew Bandermann missouri@yall.com North Carolina Bureau Jason “Pig” Thompson northcarolina@yall.com Oklahoma Bureau Lee Cartwright oklahoma@yall.com South Carolina Bureau C.T. “Redd” Reynolds southcarolina@yall.com Tennessee Bureau Brian Ferguson tennessee@yall.com Texas Bureau Matthew Heermans texas@yall.com Virginia Bureau Sally Summerson virginia@yall.com
Publishing Consultant Samir Husni
Circulation
Curtis Circulation Company Phone (201) 634-7416
Y’ALL (ISSN 1557-2331), September/October/November 2006, Volume 4, Number 5. Published bimonthly by General Rawl Media, LLC. Editorial and advertising offices at 7 County Road 305, Oxford, MS 386559302. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1217, Oxford, MS 38655. Telephone: 662-236-1928. Basic subscription rate: 6 issues, U.S. $19.95; Canada $32.69. 12 issues, U.S. $34.95; Canada $45.80. Entire contents copyright 2006, General Rawl Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Products named in these pages are tradenames or trademarks of their respective companies. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect that of the publisher. For subscriptions, queries, and customer service, please visit www. yall.com Y’all Magazine Business phone: 662-236-1928. E-mail us at: mail@yall.com Subscriptions: Toll-Free 1-800-935-5185 Application to mail at Periodical Postage Rates is Pending at Oxford, Mississippi and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Y’all, c/o Magazine Processing Center, P.O. Box 0567, Selmer, TN 38375-9908. Printed in the USA.
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Part of the reason for the growth is folks above the Mason-Dixon Line think itʼs somehow more comfortable and affordable to set up shop down here. We Southerners have gotten kind of used to these snowbirds taking root amongst us, and we generally donʼt mind them unless they display a know-it-all demeanor. Thatʼs when we get to break out the “Y-word” on ʻem. But are you ready for an invasion from the South? And when I mean south Iʼm talking more southeast, as in South Florida. It seems a lot of the retirees that moved to the Sunshine State seeking pleasurable winters and affordable living can no longer live there. Itʼs just too expensive. And many are having a hard time finding affordable insurance. A recent call to the Tuscaloosa (Ala.) visitor information office touched on this Florida dilemma. “I want some info on Tuscaloosa because Iʼm thinking about moving to Troy, Ala.,” an elderly Floridian said. “Sir, why would you want to move to Troy?” the Tuscaloosa office asked. “Because I traveled through there once and they have a Wal-Mart Supercenter there,” the caller explained. “Sir, we have two Wal-Mart Supercenters in Tuscaloosa, and we even have a Super Target.” “Oh, I think I might move to your town now.” I guess parts of the country still think the South is full of five and dimes and dirt roads. Luckily, there are a few such places left. But most of Dixie has plenty of shopping, eating and recreation choices. Troy, Alabama even has a large Goodyʼs. Variety is the theme in this issue of Yʼall. Weʼve got two Traces – both the country music superstar whose last name is Adkins, and a spotlight on the Natchez Trace Parkway. CSI Miami star Emily Procter takes time off the set to chat with us, and sheʼs dug up a lot of evidence that sheʼs truly a Southern girl. Yʼall just shipped a case of Southern-grown tomatoes to Procterʼs California office because she confessed that a good homegrown tomato sandwich (with a touch of mayonnaise) is unheard of out west. Emily, we hope you feel at home when you get this taste of Dixie. Now make sure “Horatio” (aka David Caruso) doesnʼt get on to you for having crumbs in the lab. Southernly yours,
Jon Rawl
Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE
9/5/06 10:36:32 PM
where y’all? Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Jamie Foxx were just a few of the performers during the 3rd Annual “Fashion Rocks” concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The star-studded fashion and music spectacular kicked off Fashion Week, and proceeds from the show benefited the Elton John AIDS foundation. PHOTOS BY TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/GETTY
Y’all in Chicago! Clarksdale, Miss., blues musician James “Super Chickan” Johnson performs on the Mississippi stage at The Chicago Blues Festival this summer. Y’all Magazine distributed its Mississippi Music-themed issue at the event. Photo by Patrick Hicks
Tommy Longo, Mayor of Waveland, Miss., welcomes the crowd on the Wal-Mart stage with community leaders and Wal-Mart representatives at the Aug. 4 community festival celebrating the re-opening of the Supercenter. WalMart’s Regional General Manager Bob Erickson(L) and Store Manager Ray Cox (far right) present Tish Williams, executive director of the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, with $50,000 to provide seed money to start the chamber’s small business rebuilding program to help boost economic development and interest in Hancock County, along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
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Photo courtesy Edelman
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006 • Y’ALL
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cd reviews
Tom Petty
Highway Companion After 30 years and 15 records, Floridian Tom Petty has proven that he still has what it takes to make a cohesive, well-rounded album. Highway Companion shows Petty dealing with the success and pitfalls of his career, especially the haunting feeling of “time catching up with you.” While there are some dull moments, they don’t drag on at all and are immediately saved by the stronger tracks such as “The Golden Rose,” “Down South” and “Night Driver.” As the title of the album suggests, it’s the perfect soundtrack for your next road trip.
T-Bone Burnett
Twenty Twenty The Essential T-Bone Burnett T-Bone Burnett. The man behind the music-- or as Bill Flanagan states in the detailed liner notes: “He was the subterranean connector between current pop and the secret history.” While he garnered limited fame for his music in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Burnett is more widely known as a producer, giving his talents to Elvis Costello, Alison Krauss, Counting Crows and Sam Phillips. More recently he has been the brains behind the soundtracks of O Brother, Where Art Thou and Walk The Line. This is a two-disc collection of his own songs over the past few decades. A rare treat in the music industry, the liner notes feature introductions to each song by Burnett himself, explaining some of the mystery behind the songs. The Texan’s humble voice leads each song, and the album features many special guests-- a sampling of the many artistic forces that has propelled him into fame and recognition. 10
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Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE
9/14/06 9:56:13 AM
Jimbo Mathus & Knockdown South
Old Scool Hot Wings Jimbo Mathus, of Clarksdale, Miss., has a voice that sounds like it has traveled through many different genres and cities, and has finally returned home. Songs like “Voice of a Porkchop” truly capture the spirit of Mississippi music, steeped in the humidity of a summer way south of the Mason-Dixon Line. While most of the songs are traditionals or covers, Mathus shines on “No Monkey Business.” Instruments range from mandolins and banjos to a kazoo and a typewriter. If you enjoyed the soundtrack to O Brother, Where art Thou, then you will appreciate the lazy, rustic music that Jimbo Mathus creates.
Cat Power
Johnny Cash
The Black Keys
The Greatest
Children’s Album
Chulohoma: The Music of Junior Kimbrough
Georgia native Chan Marshall’s (aka Cat Power) newest album puts her in a Memphis recording studio with some of the legends of the Stax/soul recording era-- a combination that seemingly couldn’t go wrong. The problem is her voice--it’s just too good. Her rich, smoky voice is such an integral part of the songs that too much accompaniment subdues it, almost ruining the affect. Needless to say, the album as a whole was a great success-wavering string sections and horns add just the right touch at times. Highlights include title track “The Greatest,” “Where Is My Love,” “Lived In Bars” and “The Moon.”
Originally recorded in 1975, The Johnny Cash Children’s Album was just released for the first time on CD. One of the more noticeable gems in Columbia’s Family Artist Series, the album is 15 tracks of humorous, well-written songs that the whole family can enjoy, showcasing the lighter, more playful side of the Man In Black. “I Got A Boy And His Name Is John” features a duet between Cash and his wife June Carter Cash; liner notes feature a letter from son John Carter Cash. Four previously unreleased tracks are also featured on this re-release.
An ode to blues legend Junior Kimbrough, the latest Black Keys effort has them staying close to their roots and their idol. Kimbrough, one of the main developers of the North Mississippi hill country blues sound, has influenced artists all across the globe - especially Black Keys front man Dan Aurbach. Describing his first experience listening to Kimbrough’s music, Aurbach states that “There, alone in my room, I was transformed... my whole existence was flipped on its head and back around twice.” This is a simple, short album, recorded by the duo in their home studio in Akron, Ohio. It’s stripped down and bare, just like the music of Junior Kimbrough-- a man that forever changed the sound of blues music.
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Natc PRESENTS
Trace parkway Natchez Trace Parkway brings romance to the open road.
From Lewis and Clark to Huck Finn to Jack Kerouac to our national rite of passage, the “family vacation,” Americans’ love affair with the open road is enduring and passionate. And with its gorgeous vistas and rich, colorful history, the Natchez Trace Parkway may well be the most romantic route in the nation. It is certainly one of the most beautiful and interesting. From its starting point in Natchez, on the Mississippi River, through its graceful northeasterly stretch across Alabama to Nashville, the Trace offers 444 miles of unspoiled natural scenery. Forget ugly billboards—to drive, hike or bike the Natchez Trace Parkway is to immerse yourself in scenic splendor: think lush, sun-dappled trees arched over a gently curving roadway; think cypress knees emerging like aged totems from the darkly beautiful depths of a cypress swamp;
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think magnificent overlooks and rolling Indian burial mounds. And think plenty of chances along the way to explore communities, large and small, steeped in history yet vibrant with arts, culture and shopping opportunities.
A road carved from virgin wilderness.
Some have speculated the Trace dates back as far as 8,000 years. No one knows the exact timeline or the hoof prints of what animal—bison, boar or other exotic creatures—might have helped carve out that first path. We do know that by the 1540s the soft moccasins of the Native Americans met the gleaming boots of the conquistadors, and in the footsteps of those first explorers followed trappers, traders and missionaries. Officially, the early settlers called the road the Chickasaw Trace and the Path to the Choctaw Nation—unofficially, it was the “Devil’s backbone,” a name richly earned by thieves, impassable swamps, disease-carrying insects and the wrath of the native inhabitants.
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chez From 1785 until the arrival of the first steamboat in Natchez in 1811, “Kaintuck” boatmen made the Trace the most heavily traveled route in the Old Southwest. With no practical means of floating their barges upstream, the boatmen would sell both vessels and cargo in Natchez to brave the journey northward on foot, battling mosquitoes, as well as humans that put the bite on travelers. It was a rough and tumble time, immortalized in Eudora Weltyʼs The Robber Bridegroom, wherein the kidnapper of the title lives a dual existence of gentleman and daring highwayman. Andrew Jacksonʼs march up the Trace after the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 marked the end of the roadʼs early prominence. Although a number of Civil War battles occurred around the Trace, including battles at Shiloh, Tupelo and Vicksburg (commemorated at Shiloh National Park, Tupelo National Battlefield, Briceʼs Crossroads National Battlefield Site and the Vicksburg National Military
Park), the road fell into decline after 1820. A century would pass before Mississippi Congressman Thomas Jefferson Busby proposed the idea of a commemorative highway, and in 1938, an act of Congress created the Natchez Trace Parkway. With the aid of the Daughters of the American Revolution placing monuments and markers along the route, construction began under the auspices of the National Park Service, with labor provided by the Civilian Conservation Corps, one of Franklin Rooseveltʼs “alphabet” efforts to end the Great Depression. Sixty-seven years of careful construction followed, including the completion of the arch concrete bridge in Williamson County, Tenn., one of only two of its kind in the world. In 2005, the Traceʼs final segment in Mississippi opened, connecting the cities of Ridgeland and Clinton, and opening the Parkwayʼs southern terminus in Natchez. This year, the Visitorʼs Center in Tupelo, which also serves as
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Photos courtesy of Natchez Trace Compact.
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Natchez Trace parkway
the Parkway headquarters, completed an extensive renovation. Today, the Natchez Trace is one of the nationʼs longest National Parks, has been declared a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road, and it has been chosen as one of Americaʼs 10 best biking roads. For sheer variety of experience, the Natchez Trace is hard to match. It is a road of high contrast—from biking quiet roads and exploring ancient Indian villages to soaking up the bright lights and big city attractions of two state capitals. The Natchez Trace means evening symphonies of crickets and tree frogs as well as the world-famous music of Nashville. It means hiking and biking, museums and malls, arts and crafts, Indian and Civil War history and just plain loads of fun and exciting things to do and see. On its website, www.scenictrace.com, the Natchez Trace “Compact,” a cooperative effort of Parkway communities, breaks the journey into linked itineraries. Here are some of their suggestions:
Natchez to Clinton to Jackson: Start with real local color. On this 110-mile trek starting from historic Natchez (which itself offers a full day of must-see places), explore the historic Jefferson College, hike to the top of the eight-acre Emerald Mound, the second largest ceremonial mound in America, and stop in at the Mount Locust Inn, one of the oldest structures in the state. Just north is Port Gibson, a town Ulysses S. Grant declared “too beautiful to burn.” There youʼll want to see the haunting Ruins of Windsor, the remains of the largest antebellum mansion built in Mississippi. The towns of Clinton and Raymond offer plenty of historic and tourist attractions before the road leads to the Jackson/Ridgeland area, which offers galleries galore (both fine arts and crafts), all kinds of museums (art, science, agriculture and sports), more historical sites including the Old Capitol, nightlife, theatre and shopping, shopping, shopping.
Ridgeland to Tupelo: History buffs’ delight. This 170-mile stretch intersperses scenic spots like the Cypress Swamp and the Overlook on the Ross Barnett Reservoir with a wealth of historic
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sites like French Camp and Jeff Busby Campground. For the American Indian history enthusiast, there are the Bynum Mounds and the Chickasaw Village Site. And for the craft lover, there is the Mississippi Craft Center which features the art of artisans from across the state. A step off the Parkway takes you to the town of Kosciusko, named for a Revolutionary War hero, and to Tupelo, which draws thousands every year to the birthplace of the rock and roll hero, Elvis. Tupeloʼs other attractions include an automobile museum, a buffalo park, a Civil War battlefield park, and shopping at a regional mall.
Tupelo to Shoals: Come on in, the water’s fine! With the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and Tishomingo State Park on the itinerary, recreation is obviously a highlight of this 83-mile leg crossing into Alabama. But there’s also plenty of history at Dogwood Valley, the Freedom Hills Overlook and at the Pharr and Bear Creek Mounds. Stop in at Colbert Ferry, where George Colbert reportedly charged Andrew Jackson $75,000 to ferry his army across the river. (You’ll find the prices much more reasonable today!)
Shoals to Nashville: Bridge to the 21st century. The last leg, 112 miles long, takes you to the Sunken Trace, a Spanish moss-drenched portion of the original trail. Venture onwards to historic McGlamery Stand and the Meriwether Lewis Site; to picturesque Jackson Falls and Leiperʼs Fork; across the majestic Tennessee Valley Divide; and to the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge, leading finally to the bright lights and excitement of Nashville. Walt Whitman once wrote, “Afoot and lighthearted, I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me.” The Natchez Trace says something simpler. Come, it says, follow me. With all that lies ahead, it is a call that many find hard to resist.
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Natchez Trace parkway
natchez Port gibson andraymond A journey along the 444-mile historic Natchez Trace Parkway will likely either begin or end at the Traceʼs southernmost city of Natchez, Miss. Once used by Indians as a trade route, this road is now used as a scenic byway linking Natchez (in the south) to Nashville, Tenn. (in the north). Natchez, Port Gibson and Raymond, three Mississippi cities that share small town Southern charm – yet differ with their own unique qualities – make up the lower leg of the journey. Natchez is the oldest civilized settlement on the Mississippi River, with influences from early Spanish, English and French pioneers. It is here that those Old World cultures have combined to form a unique architecture and unique history. The welcoming town of Natchez has so much to offer, from carriage rides through the city streets to historic home tours. A new attraction in Natchez has been the gaming industry. With one casino docked on the Mississippi River and another on the way, the city has something for everyone. Natchez wasnʼt burned during the War Between the States. Locals will be quick to tell you that they didnʼt surrender; they just made friends with the North. The result is a large collection of beautiful antebellum homes- rarely found in the South. Natchez Pilgrimage Tours will take you through an assortment of residences and allow you to see the remarkable and elegant combination of architecture and home furnishings. Staying in Natchez has never been more
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fun. The city has long been known for its charming historical hotels. Two of the best are the Natchez Eola Hotel and Dunleith Plantation. The Eola is a classic grand hotel that was built in 1927 and renovated in 1998. Dunleith Historical Luxury Hotel and Restaurant, which is also a great wedding venue, makes you feel more like a guest of Rhett Butler than a regular hotel customer. Other lodging options include the Monmouth Plantation (built in 1818), which has
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Stanton Hall, Natchez
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circa 1927 The finest in the Historic District
Juleps Restaurant offers an authentic Southern breakfast and hearty lunch buffet, 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
131 European designed rooms Corporate, AAA, Government, Senior Citizen, AARP and Group Rates Available
Free Wireless Internet Meetings, receptions, banquets or parties. Let us plan your occasion.
CALL FOR SPECIAL RATES THROUGH JUNE
Peacock’s
BAR & GRILL
Peacocks Bar serves mint juleps or your favorite specialty in our great lounge area over looking our beautiful courtyard. Open Daily.
Cafe LaSalle serves a true Southern dinner in a comfortable atmosphere. Open at 5:00 p.m 110 North Pearl Street, Natchez, MS 39120 • 601-445-6000 • 1-866-445-3652 • www.natchezeola.com
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natchez Port gibson andraymond
Ruins of Windsor, Port Gibson
also been converted to an elegant and luxurious hotel. It was voted “One of the Top Ten Most Romantic Inns of the Year.” Natchez also has many bed and breakfast choices from which you can choose. Natchezʼ Deep South placement yields a wonderful mix of traditional Southern food, Creole favorites and Gulf Coast dishes. The hungry traveler can find anything from fine dining and local casual restaurants to roadside barbecue and tamale stands. Forty miles north of Natchez travelers will the approach the small city of Port Gibson. The true exquisiteness of this small town was asserted when Gen. Ulysses S. Grant declared it “too beautiful to burn” during the Civil War. Port Gibson is full of stately homes, churches and buildings. The well-known Ruins of Windsor is a famous attraction just outside of town. It was built in 1860 by Smith Coffee Daniell II, but caught fire in 1890. All that remains are the columns that once supported this elegant and historic home. The First Presbyterian Church is known for its gilded finger that rests high on the steeple, pointing to heaven. The church was built in 1859. The Temple of Gemiluth Chessed was built in 1891 and is known for being the oldest Jewish Synagogue in the state. The architectural style
of the temple is one-of-a-kind in Mississippi, making it a unique addition to Port Gibson. If you are spending an extended time in the town, drop by the Bernheimer House. Here you can enjoy a sit-down dinner with a glass of wine and enjoy a peaceful night of relaxing, or perhaps solve a crime in one of the popular murder mystery-themed dinners. Traveling further north along the Natchez Trace, youʼll encounter the small antebellum city of Raymond, full of historical sites from the Civil War. Raymond is a storybook of history. The Raymond Military Park features a self-guided walking trail and interpretive signage to educate visitors on the Battle of Raymond, where hundreds of Union and Confederate soldiers were killed or injured during Grantʼs march to Vicksburg on May 12, 1863. You can also tour the historical Hinds County Courthouse (built in 1859) and the Dupree House (built in 1878). Besides the many historic sites, if youʼre looking for some outdoor fun play a round of golf at Eagle Ridge Conference Centerʼs 18hole golf course. For those wanting a piece of living history, pick up a copy of the Hinds County Gazette, founded in 1844.
Natchez
by Sally Summerson
Trace parkway
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clinton
Clinton Visitors Center
Even though the official Natchez Trace Parkway Visitorʼs Center is in Tupelo, you simply must spend time at the historic and culturerich Clinton Visitor Center while traveling through the Capital/River Region of Mississippi. The visitor center is built to resemble an early farm house that would have typically been located along the Trace. The structure was designed by Belinda Stewart of Eupora, Miss., and is built using period materials and architecture details common to the early 1800ʼs. The exterior bricks are handmade and are the same kind of brick found at Mount Vernon and Monticello. The porch supports, stair railings and interior trim are carved from cypress that was reclaimed from a demolished Louisiana sugar mill. The visitor center has a museum room that highlights the history of the Natchez Trace through Clinton and offers changing displays throughout the year. In addition to the artifacts and photos on display, the visitor center serves as a hub for cultural activities. On the first Sunday of every month they host the “Mississippi Old Time Music Society” jam session. Itʼs totally free and open to the public, just bring your instrument and start singing or simply enjoy the many different performers and musical styles. Itʼs consignment retail shop showcases local artwork ranging from fine pottery and jewelry to paintings and Mississippi-made snacks and treats. A must-see attraction for the nature-lover is the Clinton Community Nature Center. The center preserves nearly 33 acres near downtown >
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clinton
Olde Towne
Clinton. Visitors can enjoy a more than two-mile walking trail underneath the umbrella of native trees. Names like Fern Gully, Grapevine Loop, and Butterfly Garden paint a mental picture of what this nature trail has to offer. The trail is complete with benches, an amphitheatre, and a primitive camping exhibit along the Trace. Visitors can actually walk the tracks once known as the Choctaw Trail and Chickasaw Trail. John James Audubon and Andrew Jackson followed these trails while making their journeys to New Orleans. Nature enthusiasts will also be interested in the tree identification guide that educates visitors on the many native trees at the nature center as well as identifies more than twenty fern species native to Mississippi. The attraction is open to the public free of charge. ClintonĘźs Olde Towne features unique shopping and nearby dining and lodging opportunities. It is from the beautiful brick streets lining this area where one of the local theatre companies derives its name, The Clinton Brick Street Players. Fans of live theatre will want to schedule their visits to Clinton around this groupĘźs performance schedule. Clinton is also the home of Mississippi College, the oldest institute of higher learning in Mississippi and one of AmericaĘźs oldest colleges. It was the first-co-educational college in the United States to grant degrees to women. Two female students received degrees in 1831.
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With 320 restaurants, there’s always a table waiting for you.
If you’re in the mood for fabulous cuisine or simply delicious home cooking, you’ll find it in Jackson. So while you’re in town, make plans to enjoy a nice meal with us. Call 800.354.7695 or hit visitjackson.com for your free restaurant guide.
601-960-1891 www.visitjackson.com
This project partially funded by the MS Development Authority/Tourism
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jackson
Train at the Jackson Zoo
Travelers on the Natchez Trace will find themselves in the heart of Mississippi when they take a slight detour off the historic parkway to visit Jackson. As the capital of the hospitality state, Jackson is a melting pot for all things “Mississippi.” Its heritage appeals to all the senses—you can see its historic architecture, feel the emotion in rich literary works, taste and smell soulful, Southern-style cooking, and hear blues and gospel music, while feeling it right down to your toes…and sometimes, all in the same place! Central Mississippiʼs climate makes it easy to take full advantage of the Jackson areaʼs multitude of cultural and arts activities, recreational offerings and other events. Be sure to visit the Jackson Zoo, which recently opened a multi-million-dollar Mississippi Wilderness Exhibit; visit the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, the stateʼs number one travel attraction, and tour the recently-opened Eudora Welty House Museum and Garden, a national historic landmark and one of the most intact literary houses in the nation. For the outdoor enthusiast, hike the trails of LeFleurʼs Bluff State Park, play a round of golf at one of many fine courses or enjoy a picnic lunch on the shores of the Ross Barnett
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Reservoir. Jackson has museums devoted to art, culture, sports and more, as well as professional opera, theater, symphony and ballet companies, so itʼs easy to catch a compelling exhibit or live performance. And with a variety of yearround events, thereʼs always something fun and festive going on, like the Dixie National Rodeo, Jubilee!Jam, the Farish Street Heritage Festival or Malʼs St. Paddyʼs Parade, featuring the world-famous Sweet Potato Queens, which is the fourth largest in the country. When it comes to food, well this is the South! For hundreds of years, central Mississippi tables have displayed a bounty of fresh and colorful foods. A semitropical climate and close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River ensure that almost every kind of food is available either because it grows here or because it can be easily shipped from other places. Healthy diets feature fruits and vegetables gathered or cultivated first by indigenous Mississippi tribes or introduced by European settlers. Seafood from the Gulf has always been plentiful and highly favored. Domestic meats and poultry, pecans, wild berries, catfish, and a variety of game have contributed to a distinctive cuisine that is at once Southern
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Old Capitol, Jackson
and American, with nuances contributed by countries whose flags once flew over Mississippi. The Greeks were among the first to significantly influence the Jackson restaurant industry. They moved into the southeast during the first half of the century and interpreted the cuisine of their homeland with the abundant Gulf seafood. Warm water shrimp (the best in the world), snapper, redfish, grouper, flounder, scallops, and oysters are found today in many restaurants operated by Jacksonʼs prominent Greek families. Seasonings are subtle, allowing the natural sweetness of the fish to dominate. A local favorite salad dressing named “Come Back” is served in many Jackson restaurants but was first invented by the Greeks. The implied invitation, “Yʼall come back now, you hear?” defines the very spirit of Jacksonʼs hospitality. Nowadays, a truly international variety of restaurants exists in the city. Each kitchen has adapted itself to the available flora and fauna, and to the discriminating palates of Jacksonians. If your tastes range from Northern Italian to Japanese to Mexican (not Tex-Mex, but Miss-Mex), you will surely be satisfied. Any authentic, local experience should
include an extra large helping of the real thing - Soul Food! African, Native American, and European ingredients combine to explode into an art form unequalled anywhere else in the world. Scouting around the city for popular soul food “temples” can be one of the most fun parts of your visit to Jackson. Simply forget your diet and enjoy! Donʼt forget the barbeque and Mississippiʼs famous, farm-raised catfish. Recipes for both exist in endless variety. Southern-style food is still served with love at Mamaʼs table and in Jacksonʼs charming cafes. Re-invented by chic, young chefs and rivaling other gourmet masterpieces in presentation and taste, the new southern fusion appears at fine dining establishments around the city. For those wishing to stay an extended period of time, Jackson has numerous fine hotels and bed-and breakfast establishments, including the lovely Old Capitol Inn in downtown Jackson and the renowned Fairview Inn, named Most Outstanding Inn in North America and the Caribbean in 2003, based upon the comments of their guests and inspectors for Conde Nast Johansens, the internationally acclaimed publisher of hotel guides.
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9/5/06 10:48:50 PM
ridgeland Ross Barnett Reservoir
“Rare birds” have visitors flocking to Ridgeland.
In the early 1800s, painter and naturalist John James Audubon braved the length of the Natchez Trace on foot to document the birds of America. Today, those wishing to experience an extraordinary collection of rare birds—make that collections, plural—need only make a single delightful stop in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Ridgeland’s rare birds do not fly, although their creations soar above the ordinary. That’s because like Audubon himself, these exceptional artists, these “rare birds,” are blessed with a singular genius, and they use that genius to create objects of unique beauty that can be enjoyed by everyone. Who are these rare birds? The more than 150 brilliant and talented Mississippi artisans who display their wares at the Mississippi Crafts Center on the Natchez Trace Parkway in Ridgeland. Operated by the Craftsman’s Guild of Mississippi, the Crafts Center is a veritable treasure house of handmade arts and crafts. Pottery and handmade paper, blown glass and Choctaw baskets, weaving and woodcarvings, “wedding ring” quilts and unique jewelry—
Southern Proper:
though the range of works is broad and varied, the idea behind each creation is the same: artisan as alchemist, transforming the concept of everyday items into lasting works of art. Many of the artists have a select (and selective) following, while others have gained national acclaim. Each has a unique story. Gail Pittman, for example, began her pottery as a hobby, giving away what she made to friends and family; today Gail Pittman pottery is sold all over the United States, with pieces on display at the White House. The growing arts and crafts community and its spirit of creativity add rich vitality to Ridgeland life, and the Crafts Centerʼs ongoing classes and demonstrations deepen the connection between artist and environment while offering a one-of-a-kind experience for residents and visitors alike. The Center is such a successful attraction, that a new 20,000 square-foot facility is currently being constructed to house the many wares. The new Center will service the entire state through cultural tourism and provide a venue for fine craft, exciting demonstrations and meeting space for hundreds. As exciting as Ridgelandʼs creative scene
Natchez
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ridgeland is, it isnʼt only the arts, however, that have people flocking to the city. They come, perhaps first of all, for the warm climate of hospitality. But they also come for what can only be termed power shopping, seeking not only the wares of the artisans and craftsmen, but also the finds of the largest antique mall in central Mississippi. Adding to the thrill of the hunt are Northpark Mall and a host of other exciting new retail and mixed-use developments rising up across the city. Ahead on the horizon are Renaissance at Colony Park, a 650,000-square-foot retail and office development, and HarborWalk, promising to combine residential and retail in a glamorous resort-style setting. Obviously, Ridgeland is a city “on the grow,” from a tiny community on the outskirts of the state capital just a few years ago to todayʼs thriving center of business and tourism. A look at the numbers tells the story. Number of restaurants: More than 100—from haute cuisine to home grown cooking. Number of hotels: Ten, offering every level of price and luxury. Number of guest rooms: Let just say that if you stayed in a different room every evening, it would be 1001 nights before youʼd have to start again. And if youʼre thirsty for outdoor fun, here are some numbers that should really put some wind in your sails: the 33,000 acres of deep blue water and the 105 miles of shoreline of the Ross Barnett Reservoir. The Reservoir is one of Ridgelandʼs many pleasantly surprising features; it seems almost incredible that right in the center Pottery from the Mississippi Crafts Center
Southern Farm Bureau Classic
of all the cityʼs bustling activity lies a serene, bluesky paradise for boating, sailing, water sports, camping, fishing and family picnics. And only a skipped rock (or Frisbeeʼs throw) away are all the other relaxing recreational opportunities of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Weekend regattas offer a great chance to sail away with your head in the clouds, but other regular events in Ridgeland may float your boat as well: Cyclists rate the Natchez Trace Century Ride as one of the best, while the Southern Farm Bureau Classic, featuring the top-ranked golfers on the PGA Tour, is a must for fans and players alike. KidFest!, Ridgelandʼs signature event, has been named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. KidFest! is a truly hands-on event—where else could your family pet a tiger, learn magic tricks and perform in a backyard circus? “Expect the best” is the slogan used by Ridgelandʼs tourism industry. Recent history and a host of attractions have shown that Ridgeland itself can expect one thing for certain: More companyʼs coming.
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9/5/06 11:00:42 PM
kosciusko
Attala County Courthouse
As you continue your journey along the Natchez Trace you will approach a small town called Kosciusko, 70 miles outside of Jackson, Miss. This quaint Mississippi town was voted one of Americaʼs 125 best small towns. Kosciusko was once an old Indian campsite, and itʼs one of the remaining settlements on the original Natchez Trace. Originally named Red Bud Springs, William Dodd named the city of Kosciusko after Polish Gen. Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who served in the Revolutionary War. Kosciusko is in Attalla County, where the Choctaw Indians signed the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek to renounce their land. This small Southern town is also proud to be the birthplace of Oprah Winfrey and civil rights pioneer James Meredith. This countryside town was also voted as one of the 60 prettiest painted places in America. Kosciusko has many churches, statues and buildings to keep sightseers busy while in town. One of the main attractions that keeps tourists entertained is the Ethnic Yard Art of L.V. Hull. This is a must see! Hull has painted ordinary things in everyday life, which are displayed at her 123 Allen Street home. Items like painted shoes are all over her yard, which is also full of many types of flowers. The town is full of beautiful historic homes throughout the city. Take a walking tour through Greek revival, Victorian and antebellum homes, all of which date back before the 1900s. The historic downtown area offers shopping and dining venues, but perhaps youʼll want to skip lunch and brush up on your family tree. Some people come >
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kosciusko Old Church in Kosciusko
to Kosciusko just to look at the Genealogy Room at the Attala County Public Library. This is the second largest place in Mississippi where people come to trace family history. Take a day and look at the historical side of Mississippi. The Attalla County Courthouse was built in 1897. The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Mississippi Landmark. Streets named after presidents, a Confederate monument built in 1911 and a Veterans Memorial surround the building. Kosciuskoʼs nickname, “Beehive of the Hills,” comes from the city being the county seat of Attala County and the hub of business and social activities in the center of the state. Kosciusko appears to be a “beehive” with “bees” always coming and going and always busy. This nickname is represented by beehives on the four corners of the courthouse property. Maple Terrace Inn is a charming bed and breakfast. Enjoy down-home hospitality while you drink tea on the porch of this beautiful, newly restored colonial revival inn. If you are a fan of Oprah you can see her old church and family cemetery. Buffalo Road, now named Oprah Winfrey Road, leads to a community center that she has helped finance. She has also donated funds to construct a 32,000 square foot Boys and Girls Club. Oprah returned to Kosciusko on Labor Day 2006 to dedicate the facility. by Sally Summerson
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9/5/06 11:02:31 PM
tupelo Tupelo Buffalo Park
On a January morning in 1935, three years before the Natchez Trace Parkway was authorized and many years before the Traceʼs headquarters relocated to Tupelo, in the eastern part of the city, a humble structure- a small wooden shotgun house that Vernon Presley built with his own hands- became the birthplace of the king—the king of rock and roll, that is. The rest, as the saying goes, is history, and itʼs partly this history, shaped by a population of can-do citizens, that has helped give the city of Tupelo a future as bright as the sun warming the rolling northeast Mississippi hills that cradle this unique and thriving community. Today, 30 years after Elvisʼ death, approximately 50,000 visitors annually come from all around the world to see the birthplace, now located in Elvis Presley Park, which also houses a museum, memorial chapel, gift shop and a bronze statue titled “Elvis at 13.” The Elvis driving tour includes local sites like the picturesque Tupelo Hardware Store, where musical history was made when Gladys Presley convinced her reluctant 12-year-old son to use his birthday money to buy a guitar instead of a
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shotgun. Standing on the same wide plank floors where Elvis stood to ponder his momentous choice, visitors may also feel the suspense facing their own decision: Where to next? Fortunately, when it comes to enjoying Tupelo, either-or decisions are generally avoided; visitors prefer instead to take their time and not miss any of the cityʼs terrific attractions. That includes the natural wonders of the scenic Parkway, says Linda Butler Johnson, Director of the Tupelo Visitorʼs and Convention Bureau. “Our international visitors in particular are enchanted with the beauty of the Natchez Trace,” she says. “They love to hike and bike, to really experience it.” Part of the experience is a seven-mile trail leading to a Chickasaw village site. The Old Trace’s rich American Indian history is also explored in-depth at the newly renovated Parkway visitor center, featuring interactive displays that, according to Parkway management analyst Jerry Pendleton, allow truly compelling and “really thorough storytelling on a whole range of topics.”
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Elvis Presley Birthplace
Besides its Native American history, Tupelo is also home to an American native thatʼs become a surprising and popular attraction. The creation of local businessman Dan Franklin, Tupeloʼs Buffalo Park and Zoo allows visitors to board “bison buses” to roam with the largest herd of buffalo east of the Mississippi River. “The tour guide is called ‘Wild Bill,’” Linda Butler Johnson says with a smile, “and he’s a trip all by himself.” A musical genius born in a shotgun house, a herd of buffalo roaming in the middle of the Deep South—Tupelo is predictable only in the passion its citizens feel for excellence. The passion of Frank Spain, another local businessman, drove him all over the nation, both literally and figuratively, in pursuit of his astounding collection of more than 100 classic cars. Working with the city, Spain created the 120,000-square-foot Tupelo Automobile Museum, a gem of a museum combining the prized car collection with a fascinating look at the history of automobiles. The Automobile Museum is a real “trip” not to be missed. Whole-hearted dedication like that of Franklin and Spain has been the driving force in transforming Tupelo from a small railroad town in the late 1880s into todayʼs regional hub, a city whose nighttime population of some 36,000 swells in the daytime to almost three times that size. People are drawn not only to visitor
attractions, but also to Tupeloʼs business and industry (Tupeloʼs Furniture Market is one of the largest in the nation); healthcare facilities (the largest non-metropolitan hospital in America); and to that most-American of past times, retail therapy. Tupeloʼs charming and eclectic “Antiques Trail” winds through downtown, while the bustling Barnes Crossing Mall, which also houses a World War II museum, offers premium brands and selection. With BancorpSouth Center, Tupelo has also become a premiere venue for sports and entertainment, and the Fairpark District, a 50acre commercial, entertainment and residential development, has downtown booming. Busy though they are, the people of Tupelo take the time each spring to celebrate with a whole series of arts and cultural festivals, including the beloved GumTree Festival, which draws nationally known artists and throngs of delighted visitors. And this year’s Elvis Presley Festival really “rocked” the town with a record crowd in excess of 10,000. In that long-ago winter of 1935, no one expected that a genius would emerge from the tiny house in the small Mississippi town. Today, however, Elvis is an icon, and thanks to the passion of Tupelo citizens, the world has been put on notice to expect great things from the town where he was born.
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9/5/06 11:03:43 PM
THe Alabama cities of
Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals and Florence
Scenic view of the Tennessee River
If newcomers to the Natchez Trace Parkway mistakenly overlook the North Alabama towns of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Lynyrd Skynyrd – the Southern rock band who famously salute the area in “Sweet Home Alabama” – might deem that a “sin.” Indeed, The Shoals, as they are collectively called, has more to offer than what first meets the eye. And when exploring the 444 miles of the scenic Natchez Trace, these towns are a refreshing hiatus on the way up to Nashville or down to Natchez. Whatever direction you choose to travel along the parkway, The Shoals are less than a 20-mile excursion, exiting between mile post 335 and 340. Combined with a rich and cultural history, good music, outdoor adventures, excellent food and eclectic people, The Shoals offer a plethora of tourist attractions for travelers. Each city offers a unique, unequaled experience. For the history buffs, take a tour of Helen Kellerʼs birthplace in Tuscumbia, known as Ivy Green. And if traveling in the summer months of June and July, be sure to catch “Miracle Worker Play” held at Ivy Green, or attend the annual Helen Keller Festival (held
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the last weekend in June). From there, drive about five miles north into Florence to visit the only structure in Alabama designed by the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright. Known as the Rosenbaum House and built in 1939, it was restored and turned into a museum after the original owners departed in 1999. While in Florence, donʼt miss one of the townʼs oldest structures—Popeʼs Tavern. Once a hospital to both Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War, it is now a museum housing artifacts and memorabilia from that era. The music scene in The Shoals is quite impressive, thanks in large part to W.C. Handyʼs influence. Born in Florence in 1873, Handy, known as the “Father of the Blues,” is honored in the popular Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia. Museum visitors can see and hear visual and audio exhibits of Percy Sledge, Nat King Cole, Hank Williams, Sam Phillips, Wilson Pickett, the group Alabama and many more. The museum is divided into six sections, each paying tribute to a different aspect of music, like, for example, rhythm and blues music, or the Muscle Shoals music section that highlights the history of music from the area. This is one spot that should
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THe Alabama cities of
Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals AND Florence Spring Park Train
not be missed. Followers of Handy might also want to see the largest collection of his personal papers and artifacts, which are on exhibit at the W.C. Handy Home & Museum. Obviously, music has played and continues to play a large part in Shoals history. Muscle Shoals in particular has served as a place for some of the most famous musical tracks ever recorded, thereby earning the title of “hit recording capital of the world in the 1960s and 1970s.” Music lovers should visit two recording studios in Muscle Shoals: FAME Recording Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Museum. Artists the likes of Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Little Richard, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and many others have recorded tracks in these studios. The Muscle Shoals Sound Museum is no longer a functioning studio, but now serves as a museum and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Thanks to a fairly mild climate and the Tennessee River, The Shoals offers plenty of outdoor activities. In Florence, fishing couldnʼt be better. The Tennessee River is divided by three dams which carves three lakes out of the river —Pickwick, Wilson and Wheeler-This area has been called “The Small Mouth Capital of the World,” because of the great fishing that can be found along the lakes all year round. Hiking and mountain biking around the area offer impressive views of the river and lakes, and one of the few mountain bike trails in North Alabama is located in Florence. For the golf lovers, the quality of courses in
The Shoals is fantastic. Whether playing the private or public courses, the cost is affordable and the greens are appealing. The Blackberry Trail Course and the Joe Wheeler State Park Golf Course are aces. And not far off the Natchez Trace are two well-known and highly acclaimed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trails. Private courses are also available nearby. Dining in The Shoals ranges from down-home Southern cookinʼ—Hollywood Inn in Florence being some of the best—to Italian eateries like Ricatoniʼs Italian Grill in downtown Florence, to fine dining at the Marriottʼs 360 Grille. For those nostalgic for a soda fountain milkshake or grilled cheese sandwich, donʼt pass up a visit to The Palace on Tuscumbiaʼs Main Street. Owner Harvey Robbins and his wife, who frequented the drugstore in the early ʻ50s, reopened the sentimental spot in 2000 and itʼs been a hit ever since. Whether staying for one day or one week, these Alabama cities will keep even the most restless of travelers entertained…. and for that matter, sleeping well. The Shoals offers numerous lodging options, from the luxurious Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa that overlooks the Tennessee River in Florence, to quaint bed and breakfast options like Florenceʼs Limestone House or the Veranda on Walnut. For a unique lodging establishment try the Coldwater Inn in Tuscumbia. Other hotel options in this area include Best Western, Holiday Inn, Days Inn and the Austin Manor Bed and Breakfast. by Hadley Hickman
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THe Tennessee cities of
Leiper’s fork, franklin and brentwood
Downtown Franklin
On the winding way to Nashville, Natchez Trace Parkway travelers will first reach Williamson County, home of the village of Leiperʼs Fork, the city of Brentwood and historic Franklin, Tenn. This area is rich in Civil War history and features Victorian and antebellum homes along with vibrant shopping and Main Street atmosphere. Antique shoppers will certainly want to drop in on Leiperʼs Fork. In this community visitors can browse through unique shops while enjoying small town atmosphere in this real life Mayberry. Country cooking is readily available at local restaurants, including Puckettʼs Grocery. Leiperʼs Fork (along with Brentwood and Franklin) has become home to many members of the Nashville music industry. Outdoor performances as well as a regular Writerʼs Night on Tuesday allow musicians to perform in a relaxing environment. Historic Downtown Franklin has over 200 years of history packed in a picturesque setting. Visitors can shop the vibrant downtown district that features historic buildings and assorted boutiques, restaurants and art galleries. Franklinʼs downtown district is also home to Landmark Booksellers, one of the top independent bookstores in the South.
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Civil War historians will want to visit The Carter House, which was the center of The Battle of Franklin (1864), one of the bloodiest battles of the war. A video presentation, museum and guided tour of the house and grounds are all offered at this location. Carnton Plantation, the setting for the New York Times best-selling novel Widow of the South, written by Williamson Countyʼs own Robert Hicks, is a must-see for everyone. Visitors can learn more about the places described in the book with a guided tour of the plantation and downtown Franklin. The property also includes the largest privately owned Confederate cemetery in the nation. You may also be interested in visiting McLemore House, which serves as the areaʼs black history museum. As Trace travelers inch closer to Nashville, stop by Brentwood and take in the beauty of Radnor Lake State Park, which is just between Brentwood and Nashville. With numerous green spaces, trails and water areas this park is perfect for birding, hiking and canoeing. Need a shopping spree? CoolSprings Galleria offers five department stores and 165 specialty shops in its newly renovated space conveniently located on Interstate 65.
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nashville
Lower Broadway
On the northern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway you will find the outskirts of Music City —Nashville, Tenn. From the historic Ryman Auditorium to the Grand Ole Opry to Music Row, Nashville is the heart of the country music industry. But country music isn’t all you’ll find in the Music City – rock, jazz, gospel, Americana, blues and pop abound in venues both large and small, and songwriters of all genres perform their original music in the round. While Nashville offers unmatched live entertainment options and is known throughout the world for its music there are many other attractions that further make Nashville one of America’s most treasured cities. As soon as you exit the parkway’s endpoint, a true Southern landmark awaits. The Loveless Cafe, located on Tennessee Highway 100, is known for its delicious biscuits, country ham and redeye gravy, fried chicken, barbecue and jams. Now that you’re full, you can head to the big city. In downtown Nashville, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the world’s largest music museum comprised of memorabilia and exhibits from country music’s past and present. Experience the museum through a self-guided celebrity audio tour as you peruse Sing Me
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Back Home is the museum’s permanent exhibition that chronologically takes you through the journey of country music. Through artifacts, costumes, photographs, original recordings, archival video and touch screen media, visitors will be entertained with and educated by the story of America’s music. Elvis and Ray Charles artifacts are among the exhibits that cross the country music genre. While downtown you can also take a tour of the Ryman Auditorium. When the Grand Ole Opry moved to the Ryman in 1943 it soon became known as “The Mother Church of Country Music.” In 1974, the Opry moved to its current home near the Gaylord Opryland Resort. After being vacant for 20 years, the Ryman was restored in 1994 and returned to its status as a national showplace. For the past three consecutive years, the Ryman has been nominated as Theatre of the Year for the Pollstar Concert Industry Awards and the venue won the prestigious award in 2003 and 2004. Downtown Nashville’s nightlife centers on the intersection of Broadway and Second Avenue. On Lower Broadway you will find the famous Honky Tonk Highway, including Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, where there’s never a cover charge and the music plays from 10:00
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Downtown Nashville City Lights
a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Around the corner take in the live music at the legendary Wildhorse Saloon or B.B. King Blues Club. Just outside of downtown in the upscale neighborhood of Green Hills, music lovers may want to check out the famous Bluebird Cafe, where songwriters, both new and established, perform their original works nightly. Two-stepping out of Nashville’s music attractions you find many historical sites like Belle Meade Plantation. Belle Meade was a former thoroughbred horse farm. Today daily tours are offered of the 1853 Greek Revival Mansion. Period costumed interpreters guide the tours. One of Nashville’s most unique attractions, the Parthenon, is located on West End Avenue near Vanderbilt University. The world’s only full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens houses Athena, the Western Hemisphere’s largest indoor statue as well as a collection of American art. Nashville was also home to America’s seventh president, Andrew Jackson. The Hermitage, Jackson’s family home, offers a look into Tennessee life in the early 1800s. Guided tours will lead you through the house and slave cabins. Seasonal tours also include a horse-drawn wagon ride. The largest venue to experience art in Nashville is the Frist Center for the Visual Arts,
whose mission is to bring the art of the world to Middle Tennessee. In addition to a schedule that brings new exhibitions every six to eight weeks the Frist offers ArtQuest, an interactive experience where patrons create their own art. This family-friendly attraction always offers free admission for visitors 18 and under. A few of the other family fun activities in Nashville include the Adventure Science Museum, the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere and the Lane Motor Museum. Water-lovers will enjoy a ride on The General Jackson Showboat. Evening cruises on the 300foot paddlewheel riverboat will show a side of Nashville only seen from the Cumberland River. And of course, live entertainment is provided on-board; after all, this is Music City. Nashville is one of the nation’s premiere cities and can entertain most everyone. One trip to Tennessee’s capital city will prove that more than music flows from this Natchez Trace Parkway terminus. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Editor’s Note: Y’all Magazine hopes you’ve enjoyed reading about all the attractions that are located up and down The Natchez Trace Parkway. Please see the front of the attached brochure for information on how you can win a Natchez Trace Adventure.
Natchez Trace parkway
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Trace Adkins: One Hot Southerner by Sarah Jo Gardner
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006 • Y’ALL
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f there is one thing that can be said for country music star Trace Adkins, it is that listeners do not have to think about what the singer is trying to say—he is simply giving us country music the way it is meant to be. You know, the way it was before the Dixie Chicks came in and tried to foul it up. His is the music about heartbreaks and making up, trucks and even that “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” It’s the music that can only be sung by a man who has lived the life Adkins has. Raised in Sarepta, La., a town that is barely a spot on the map, Adkins grew up knowing the value of a hard day’s work. He worked as a pipe fitter on an oilrig before heading to Nashville, Tenn., while playing guitar with a gospel music quartet. It is that quartet that country music is indebted to for bringing Adkins, 44, out of his shell and getting him ready for the spotlight. “If it hadn’t been for the quartet setup where it wasn’t just me out there by myself, I probably would have never done it because I just didn’t have that outgoing thing in my personality,” says Adkins. After singing with the group for four or five years Adkins found himself with the confidence to get into the spotlight, enjoy it and, perhaps most importantly, to chase his dream of singing for larger audiences and maybe end up singing with one of his heroes, Ronnie Milsap. When asked if he still sports a blue collar today, Adkins can only say hell yeah. “I approach the music business with the same kind of roughneck mentality that says it does not matter how good of a job I may have done yesterday, I have got to get up today and do it again. I have got to work just as hard today as I did yesterday and that’s the way the oil field is.” If his latest album Dangerous Man is any indication, Adkins is proving to be just like Kentucky bourbon and Jack Daniel’s whiskey—he just gets better with age. Such a small town also brought with it a sense of naiveté, says the deep-voiced baritone, who admits that once he got out into the world and to Music City, he went through a period of adjustment when he just kind of went nuts. Now, 10 years into his Capitol Nashville Records contract, the “Chrome” singer says, with a chuckle, “I am still not quite housebroken.” Adkins’ favorite things about being a singer are not having to work – and going out on stage and making someone’s day better. “You know every year that goes by that I don’t have to go fill out a job application is a successful year,” Adkins laughs. 40 40
“I approach the music business with the same kind of rough neck mentality.”
Y’ALL •• THE THE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE OF OF SOUTHERN SOUTHERN PEOPLE PEOPLE Y’ALL
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAPITOL NASHVILLE RECORDS
“Every Light In The House” remains a favorite of Adkins.
Hobbies for the 6-foot-6 singer include collecting Civil War memorabilia, watching football (he played at Louisiana Tech) and being with his family, which includes five daughters. Singing songs live like his big 2005 hit “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” is something that Adkins loves to do because of the emotion it brings out in listeners. “People lose their minds when we start that song. It is one of those songs that creates passion one-way or the other. People either love it or they hate it. So far, 80 percent of the people in our audiences seem to love it.” His early hit, “Every Light In The House,” remains a favorite of Adkins. “The song came out almost 10 years ago,” he says. “When we do that song in concert, people still react to it like it’s still a current hit. [Audiences] just love that song and I am happy that I was able to record a song that just seems to be timeless. It is always going to have a special place in my heart because it was really my first legitimate hit.” Adkins current radio smash is “Swing,” from his new CD. We can find him touring the country singing his music—that same one-of-a-kind music that has found universal appeal with everyone from construction workers to college students and from nurses to truck drivers. Perhaps the reason for Adkins’ appeal is that in spite of the fame and glory, he remains just a normal guy – one that can be seen as one of our neighbors and a true Son of Dixie. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006 • Y’ALL
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cranky yankee Inconvenient Truths
by Laurie Stieber
Laurie Stieber is an Atlanta-based entertainment attorney and freelance columnist. The New York City native can be reached at yankee@yall.com 42
When I first heard of Al Gore’s book and its companion documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, I had no idea the subject matter was global warming. I could have sworn that Al Gore’s inconvenient truth was losing the 2000 Presidential bid in his own home state - Tennessee. Obviously, I was monumentally wrong, and in more ways than one. Kindly allow me to humbly set the record straight: The spectacular success of Mr. Gore’s film debut, along with his new and improved public persona, are far from being his inconvenient truths. They are Hillary Clinton’s, to put it mildly. Unless the Senator has moved her carpet bags from the state of New York into the state of denial, she would be wise to keep up the mortgage payments on the house she already lives in. The White one she has had her eye on just might be otherwise occupied come November 2008 by a man who has morphed from “Gore the bore” to “Al the pal” right before her very livid eyes. While there is absolutely nothing funny about the global warming crisis, I am greatly amused by the concept of inconvenient truths as applied to our daily lives. Think of the concept, in this context, as being synonymous with “Murphy’s Law.” Naturally, the level of inconvenience is relative depending upon whose boat you’re in. For instance, average Joes generally fall into the same boat, whereas rocket-scientists like Paris Hilton and Athena Onassis fall into the same yacht. To some, the epitome of literary genius is Walt Whitman. To others, it’s Walt Disney. Sometimes, an inconvenient truth will pop up in a most unexpected place, such as a neighborhood, drive-thru Starbucks. It happened to me at one of mine. I pulled up to the screen, expecting nothing more than to order a simple cappuccino. It takes mere seconds to turn simple into complicated when the employee stationed at the intercom has multiple tongue piercings. The human sprinkler system taking my order said, in a barely audible voice, “Lellcome ta Tharbuckths.” Hmm … either my New York accent is obscuring her Southern twang, or it isn’t a twang at all. Rather, it is an alien dialect indigenous to the obscure region of tongue piercers.
I made the mistake of leaning in closer to the speaker and politely saying, “Pardon me, ma’am ... or sir? I didn’t understand you.” The sprinkler system at the other end turned up the volume. “Lell-come ta Tharbuckths!” Fingernails scraping a chalkboard would have been music to my ears compared to this Tower of Babel in surround sound. “Never mind,” I replied. ”I’ll park the car and come in.” Inconvenience is a small price to pay for being lazy. I was ashamed of myself. Sort of. The young man behind the counter at Starbucks had an earring-free tongue. That’s a relief. It was only when he handed me the cappuccino that I noticed the interesting tattoo on the inside of his wrist. It looked like a sundial with 12 Roman Numerals decorating the circumference. I asked him if it had any special significance. “The 12 numbers represent the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous,” he explained. “It’s beautiful,” I responded. “Did you design it?” “I don’t know,” he said. “I was drunk when I got it.” My inconvenient truth was having no control over who is
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Inconvenience is a small price to pay for being lazy.
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manning the intercom. I suppose the unknown origin of the tattoo was his. In case you haven’t noticed this next, more universal, inconvenient truth, I’ll point it out: Someone is providing Saddam Hussein with salon services in prison. Compare the photographs of when he was captured – long, disheveled gray hair and a tangled mess of a white beard – with how he looks now. Sassoon Saddam. Impeccably groomed, with jet-black hair and a perfectly trimmed beard. We are opening our eyes to the global warming crisis, but would the tiniest fraction of the documentary’s paying audience open their eyes to the prison pampering of a monster? I doubt it. And that is a tragically inconvenient truth. Shalom, y’all.
Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE
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on the money
FUN, FUN, FUN, fun!
by Dave Ramsey Dave Ramsey is a financial counselor, host of the popular syndicated radio show “The Dave Ramsey Show,” and author of the New York Times bestseller The Total Money Makeover. His columns appear regularly in Y’all.
FUN, FUN, FUN, fun! That is what getting a great buy on something of good quality that you really need is—just plain f-u-n. This article covers the most fun of these basic principles. After all that discipline, let’s go and get a “steal” of a deal! You must understand three essential things to hunt big game, and “big bargains”: you must learn to negotiate; you must learn where to find bargains; and you must have patience. First, you must learn to negotiate everything. Everything you buy is negotiable at some time, at some place, and you must find it. Negotiate with everyone. You must negotiate with everyone whether it’s getting retailers to match the price of their competition or by asking to see the discounted products that are not on display in the showroom. The days of impulse buying are over and the days of negotiation are in for the people who want to get control of their financial lives. When you begin the process of negotiating, you should stay calm and use some basic principles. 1. Always tell the truth. There is never enough money to be made or lost on a deal to warrant a lack of integrity. 2. Use the power of cash. There is something highly emotional about flashing cash when making a purchase. People will react to the surety of cash. 3. Understand and use “walk away power.” You must be prepared to walk away and not make the purchase. If the seller senses—and he can—that you are committed to that purchase, you will receive no discounts. Sometimes this is not a bluff, and you must simply walk away to buy another day. 4. Shut up. When faced with a purchase, we sense the inherent confrontation, get nervous, and talk too much. If you will simply shut up, people will talk themselves out of more than you will ever talk them into. You just need to make small comments and let the other person rattle. 5. “That is not good enough.” When you’re negotiating and you’re given a price, you should simply reply, “That is not good enough. What can you really do?” You see the price drop, sometimes lower than you would have offered. Instead of you
giving a lower offer, you should try using this approach—and see what happens. 6. Good guy—bad guy. Your wife or husband, who is not with you, should always seem mean to the other side. For example, “My wife would kill me if I took that price.” You should always use this (or a similar situation) to negotiate a price. 7. “If I…”—Give, but take. When you reach a point that you must give up something, you need to be sure you take something while you are doing that. You should say, “If I …give you $2,500 for that entertainment center, then you have to throw in the delivery (or something) and the sales tax at no extra charge. You must not just give. Instead, you should always make your giving contingent upon your receiving something else in return. Now that you understand how to negotiate, the second element you must learn is where to find bargains. Great buys are like buried treasure. You must hunt far and wide for that really good deal. Start searching for amazing bargains by going to public auctions or garage sales, reading the classified section in the newspaper, clipping coupons, going to outlet stores, and so on. There are bargains everywhere if you just take the time to look. Do not get the idea that only junk can be bought at a bargain. Remember, I only like “good stuff.” Train yourself to search out and then negotiate for these great buys. Once you have learned basic negotiation techniques and learned where to find great buys, you need to take the final and toughest step to being a big game “bargain hunter.” You must learn patience. Here is another financial rule that requires discipline. Many times if you have the negotiation skills and have looked in the right places, but have no patience, you will still miss the bargain. Learn to be patient when looking for bargains and you can save even more money than if you had not waited. These great buys are not on every corner, but if you work at negotiating, finding great bargains, and having patience, then you will change your cash outflow dramatically. The more great buys you get, the more f-u-n you will have, and the more confidence you will have in these principles.
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max’d out Tailgating in the South
by Max Howell
MAX’d OUT can be heard on many radio stations across the South and on www.maxhowell.com, HookedonDestin. com, and Kickoffzone.com, the show is streamed live daily M-F, 9-12 Noon CT
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When the late days of August pass and summer is about over, in many towns across the South noises from wild animals can be heard: screams of Gamecocks and War Eagles, Hog calls, Tiger growls, Wildcats, and even Elephants join in. It’s football season in the South. There are few things that people in the South take seriously. The War of Northern Aggression and battles fought on the football field qualify. We can’t do anything about the war, but the gridiron battles are another story. As fans we are here to support our teams, and that support begins with the Tailgating Party! By the time two-a-day practices are over, menus have been planned and all the gear is packed. Football Saturdays are a frenzy of food, fun and a celebration with good friends. Game days and tailgating...it is the way of life we have all enjoyed for years. Great times had and great memories made are not just about the game; friendship, families, love and passions are among the pleasures remembered. Yes, the games are the center of attention, but it’s the pregame and post-game events that we in the South take claim to. The American Tailgating Association says that on any given fall weekend, 20 million football fans set up camp for pregame revelry, sports, food and a party
that can be had right out of your car, truck or SUV. Author David Joachim has finished his latest effort, The Tailgaters Cookbook; and Southeats Taste and Tales of Championship Tailgating is a great cookbook too. Both been used for the references for this article. The following are suggestions made by the authors of our source material: 1. Wheels and space: A truck, SUV or even just your car will do. Tents, chairs, tables and coolers are the beginning. 2. A gas or charcoal grill for the burgers or steaks; a stovetop for chili or jambalaya. 3. Cold drinks of choice are a favorite for the early games; a hot variety of alcohol as the winter sets in. 4. Food, drink, friends, and lots of music should put you in the mood-the game day mood. It’s Football Saturday in the South... nothing can match it...The “Tailgating Diehards” will remain long after the games are over and usually some of the best memories are here. See you next time, when we get into the real games!
Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE
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yʼall
of fame
John Heisman (1869-1936)
John William Heisman was a legendary college football coach who created college football’s national following. Ultimately, the sport’s greatest individual achievement award would be named in his memory. Heisman was the head coach at Georgia Tech in Atlanta from 1904 to 1919. He led the Engineers to the first of its four national championships in 1917 and posted a career record of 102-29-7 in 16 seasons. Heisman’s career winning percentage of .779 remains the best in school history by a wide margin. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. The son of a German immigrant and a native of Ohio, Heisman was born on October 23, 1869. He attended Brown University in Rhode Island (1887-89) and the University of Pennsylvania (1890-91), playing football at both schools. After establishing himself as a coach at Oberlin College in Ohio in 1892 and 1894, Buchtel College (later the University of Akron) in Ohio in 1893, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (later Auburn University) in 1895-99, and Clemson College in South Carolina in 1900-1903. His 19-3-2 record is still the best in Clemson history on a percentage basis. Heisman was named Georgia Tech’s head coach for the 1904 season. He was the first paid coach in college football history, earning $2,250 and 30 percent of the gate receipts from home games. Georgia Tech won 2 games and lost 5 in the season before Heisman’s arrival, but got quick returns on its investment in him: the Yellow Jackets posted a record of 8-1-1 in 1904 in Heisman’s first season in Atlanta. Tech had a winning percentage of .500 or better in each of Heisman’s 16 seasons and went a combined 37-4-2 in his final five seasons. That stretch included a 33-game unbeaten streak.
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His innovations included the center snap and the Heisman or “jump” shift, the precursor to the T and I formations, which would become football standards in both the college and professional ranks. He also helped lead the campaign to legalize the forward pass, which would eventually change the game of football on all levels. Heisman was Georgia Tech’s coach for one of the most memorable games in college football history, a 222-0 win over Tennessee’s Cumberland University in 1916. No team has ever scored as many points in a game or won by such a wide margin in college football history. In addition to his duties as football coach, Heisman also served as Tech’s baseball and basketball coach. After coaching at Georgia Tech through the 1919 season, Heisman went on to serve as head coach at the University of Pennsylvania, Washington and Jefferson University in Pennsylvania, and Rice University in Texas. After retiring from coaching in 1926, he was named director of athletics at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City. The first Downtown Athletic Club Trophy (given to college football’s top player) was awarded in 1935. Heisman died on October 3, 1936, at the age of 66. Two months after his death, the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy was renamed the Heisman Trophy. Today, the Heisman Trophy remains college football’s preeminent individual award, given annually to the nation’s best college football player. Courtesy georgiaencylopedia.org
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g n i s i 11 R s r e n r e h t u So LUKE BENWARD KEVIN PLANK
JOHN HENSLEY OMARI HARDWICK LEAH HULAN VINCE YOUNG JAKE OWEN CHEYENNE KIMBALL GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE BRIAN MCCANN HINDER
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Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE
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9/7/06 12:17:46 AM
LUKE BENWARD There is something special about being a youngster. It is a time when the world is filled with possibilities, when a company by the name of Hershey’s is the greatest thing in the world, and it seems like all you could ever need is mama, daddy, a good bike and a great dog. Even as adults, watching talented child actors on the silver screen can trigger a rush of nostalgia that takes us back to the magic of our own youth. One such talented child actor is Luke Benward, making a splash at the tender age of 11. At the age of five, Benward, of Franklin, Tenn., was cast opposite Mel Gibson in a modern day classic, We Were Soldiers, an experience Benward says was a great honor. In 2005, Benward played the bicycle riding “Stevie Dewberry” in the heartwarming film Because of Winn-Dixie, and in August the unstoppable Benward starred in How to Eat Fried Worms, opposite Tom Cavanaugh and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. Even more amazing than Benwardʼs expanding resume is his ability to remain grounded as a typical 11–year-old boy – albeit one with an extraordinary career ahead of him. True to his age, Benward is into a little bit of everything, but especially loves video games (his current favorites are X-Box best-sellers Halo II and Star Wars Episode III-Revenge of the Sith). “I play tackle football. I love sports. I love video games. I do hip hop and break dancing and I love to sing. I sing all the time,” says Benward, who attends home school in Franklin, where he admits he is an A, B and sometimes-C student. Benward received his first taste of acting when his mother, Kenda, took him along with her to auditions. “I would go to the auditions and I would just sit there and if they wanted to look at me, they could. That is how I got started and then I got my first movie when I was five,” says Benward. “I was not even ready. My mom just picked me up from school and
they called me. I went and did my Pledge of Allegiance and my Citizenship Pledge and then I got the part.” Benwardʼs father Aaron, a member of the country music group Blue County, has also played a big role in his sonʼs career. He is one of the reasons why Benward loves singing so much, although he says he does not go out on stage and sing with his dad. “I do get to go to the concerts with them [Blue County]. There are bunks there and a TV but I do not get to sing. When he [father, Aaron] was a Christian artist, he used to call me up on stage and say that my son is going to sing ʻJesus Loves Me.ʼ I was like, I do not want to, and I would go sit back down.” Benward shares that one thing he would like to do is an adventure movie- something like The Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. He also tells us that he would like to work with Mel Gibson or Kimberly Williams-Paisley again. “She was a real joy to work with. Through the movies, those are the two actors I really remember,” he says. Still very much a normal everyday kid, Benward says he would like to be an actor, a singer or a football player when he grows up. In college he would like to play for the Texas Longhorns and as a pro he sees himself playing with the New England Patriots. Fortunately for moviegoers everywhere, talent like Benwardʼs is sure to guarantee him a long, successful career in Hollywood. by Tabatha Hunter
KEVIN PLANK UNDER ARMOUR FOUNDER When Kevin Plank was a walk-on fullback for the University of Maryland football team, he got his fill of sweaty T-shirts and jerseys. Those shirts led to a good idea for Plank. The Kensington, Md., native went on to design a skin tight shirt made out of synthetic material to soak up all of the sweat and stay dry. It was with the idea of staying dry in the hottest and most humid environments that Plank founded his company, Under Armour Apparel, in his grandmotherʼs house in Washington, D.C. Today Under Armour a universally recognized name in sporting goods and apparel. The company provides everything from T-shirts to socks, gloves to gym bags – with the 34-year-old Plank still at its helm. His company is now among the leaders of the $37-billion-a-year sports apparel business. by Tabatha Hunter OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006 • Y’ALL OCTOBER/
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HINDER There are 1,000 reasons to love the band Hinder, ranging from their raw lyrics and fearless dual lead guitars to the bandʼs hard core, not-so-cookie-cutter look. Perhaps the most important reason to love this band is its no holds barred, fearless approach to rock and roll—the way rock is supposed to be done and the way it all began when Elvis first gyrated his hips and puckered his upper lip. Consisting of Austin Winkler (vocals), Cody Hanson (drums), Mark King, Joe Garvey (guitars) and Mike Rodden (bass), Hinder began bringing the true meaning of rock back with their 2005 hit, “Get Stoned.” Since then they have kept listeners tuned it with their modern-day power ballad, “Lips of an Angel.” “We are hoping to be the band to get people into rock again,” says Cody Hanson, Hinderʼs drummer. And just where was Hinder able to find their inspiration to get listeners off the couch and on their feet? The giants of the ʻ70s and ʻ80s--Aerosmith, Bad Company and the Rolling Stones. The fivesome from Oklahoma City, Okla., believe in the product they bring to the music table, choosing not to sing about the darker side of life. Their songs, although a little edgy, are about love and loss, alcohol, regret and the past. In short, these are the songs sure to become an anthology of any rock loverʼs life.
“[Hinder] did not want to be just another faceless rock band playing depressing, ʻI hate my dadʼ music. We wanted to go out there and kick ass like they did in the ʻ80s,” says Hanson. That is exactly what Hinder is doing (as well as taking a few numbers along the way). Hinder is also living the life of rock stars. “That is what rock is supposed to be about—rebellion and having fun,” says Hanson. “We have been blessed with the opportunity to play music as a career so we might as well take advantage of it and have a good time.” by Tabatha Hunter
LEAH HULAN Beauty Queen to Bond Girl Extraordinaire Leah Hulan is one Southern gal on her way to the top—of the bail bonds world. She has a successful bond company called Grumpyʼs Bail Bonds, serving Williamson and Hickman counties in Tennessee. Bail bonding is not the career the 1992 Miss Tennessee had in mind. Not until she met and married Kevin Davis, who she describes as a big burly tattooed guy who is very robust and full of life. “I hopped on his Harley and two weeks later we got married,” recounts Hulan. The idea for their co-owned business came later as Kevin was ministering to kids at a local jail. Together, the couple decided to found Grumpyʼs Bail Bonds. Grumpyʼs is a one of a kind bonding business, because of the extra attention Hulan and her staff give.
“We take the time to talk to the people and to help give them a piece of wisdom for whatever the situation is besides getting them out of jail,” Hulan says. “It is amazing how they will actually hear you when they are broken and scared and humbled.” Hulan also proves to be a jack-of-alltrades. She has led a successful marketing campaign for Grumpyʼs—you cannot drive through Franklin, Tenn., without seeing her billboards. Hulan also has written a book entitled Pain Behind the Smile: My Battle with Bulimia, as well as serving her country as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. Hulan’s next challenge is raising her newborn daughter. Congrats to Leah and husband Kevin. by Tabatha Hunter
JAKE OWEN Jake Owen never imagined he would become a country singer; rather his dream had always been to play professional golf. The Vero Beach, Fla., native picked up golf at the age of 12 and soon had his eye on the professional circuit. He enrolled in school at Florida State and walked-on the golf team. The golfing career for Owen would not last long after a serious water skiing accident ended his hopes for a pro career. Owen spent much of his new free time learning to play his neighborʼs guitar. While at a local bar he heard somebody playing songs on-stage. The very next day, he asked the manager how he could sign up for the same gig. Within a few hours, Owen was 48
onstage singing making $75 a night, and drinking free beer. Not a bad start. He formed a band called Yee Haw Junction and started putting original songs in his set of country covers. Owen only had nine credit hours of college to complete his degree, but decided to pursue a career in Music City. One of his compositions, “Ghost,” was almost cut by Kenny Chesney; and that close call brought Owen’s music to the attention of RCA Records. Within two years of moving to Nashville, Owen signed to the label and released his first album, Startin’ With Me. His debut-hit single in the summer of 2006 was “Yee Haw.” by Brian Ferguson
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VINCE YOUNG There is a new era for the Tennessee Titans in the form of 6-feet-5, 233 pound quarterback Vince Young, the No. 3 overall draft pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Young, fresh off of winning the 2005 National Championship for the Texas Longhorns, is looking to lead the Titans to a better season than the organization has seen in the past several years. The 23-year-old Houston native is known for his speed and timing under relentless pressure. During Youngʼs time at UT, he accumulated over 3,036 yards of passing offense and a record of 30 wins and 2 losses over his three years as starter. During his college career, he became the first player to get 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. On July 27, 2006, Young agreed to a $58 million overall contract with $25.7 million in guaranteed money for five by Brian Ferguson years to play with the Titans.
GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE
KIMBALL: EVAN AGOSTINI/GETTY, HUCKABEE: CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY, YOUNG: JONATHAN DANIEL
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has his sights set on making 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue his next home address. And with good reason, this Southern politician was named one of the five best governors in America in 2005. He has created AR Kids First, a health program for Arkansasʼ children; and partnered with former President Bill Clinton on the Alliance for Healthcare. He also has penned a terrific book on the unhealthy eating habit of Southerners, Quit Digging Your Grave With A Knife And Fork. When Huckabee is not rallying for Arkansas he is running, playing bass guitar in his band, Capitol Offense, and spending time with his wife, Janet, and three kids, John Mark, David and Sarah. Be on the lookout for this 51-year-old Hope, Ark., native in 2008. We might just be calling him Mr. President, which would give Hope two presidents in less than a decade. by Tabatha Hunter
CHEYENNE KIMBALL The little town of Frisco, Texas, has something to brag about—in fact, they have something to sing about – because Friscoʼs the hometown of Cheyenne Kimball. Kimball, 16, has been declared a musical prodigy, and she has the pipes to back it up. Kimball wrote her first song at the tender age of 8. “I remember writing it and hoping it would get me out of trouble,” she recalls. “I havenʼt stopped writing songs or getting into trouble since.” By the age of 12, a diligent Kimball had written 200 songs. Today the budding singer is busier than ever. She has a new album out called The Day Has Come, a self-titled television show on MTV and a cross-country tour to promote the album. With a work ethic and talent like hers, Kimballʼs is a face we Southerners will definitely be seeing a lot more of. by Tabatha Hunter OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006 • Y’ALL
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JOHN HENSLEY
Of course, a plot as sizzling as the one belonging to Nip/Tuck has viewers wondering what the showʼs fourth season has in store, so when Yʼall had the opportunity to chat with a member of Nip/ Tuckʼs dynamic cast, we just had to ask. Unfortunately, Louisville, Ky., native John Hensley, who plays the angst filled teen “Matt McNamara,” could only tell us that the script for the season premiere arrived that day and was still tucked safe and sound in the FedEx packaging. Hensleyʼs excitement to be working on the popular TV sitcom was something the actor simply could not hide. “Nip/Tuck is the first thing that I have ever done that has been as well received as it has. It is nice to be a part of something that people who watch it seem to get something out of. That is a real rarity. So I just feel fortunate that I get to be a part of that,” says Hensley. As for the scripts, Hensley had this to say: “It is real crazy. It is real weird and I am not going to lie, I think this last season we got real crazy. There were many days when I was reading the scripts and going ʻOh my God.” Along with acting, Hensley is also passionate about his home state of Kentucky, calling it a well kept secret with its own culture and vibe. “And the Derby ainʼt bad either,” says Henley, who had the opportunity to win a little money on this yearʼs premiere horse race. At 29, Hensley is also a bit of a poker man. In fact, in 2005 he found himself playing on the World Poker Tour where he found out that he could stay in the game for a while longer with the pros if he just played it a little cool. “I was actually surprised. I found out that in a big tournament with a bunch of pros who make their living off of playing cards you can survive for a long time if you just hang back and let everybody knock each other off. But as soon as I started getting in the mix, I got taken out pretty quick,” says Henley. Hensleyʼs favorite card game is Texas Hold ʻEm. Hensley says it is a game you can learn in about 10 minutes - although it takes a long time to get really good at. But when asked if he is any good, Hensley keeps it simple and says, “Let me put it to you this way. The best game I had was the first game I ever played. It has been off and on and a little downhill from there.” If Hensley was not an actor, it is hard for him to say what he would be. After he left home at the age of 18, he found himself wrangling horses in Wyoming, but this self-proclaimed restless kid ultimately found acting to be in his blood. 50
“I have always been really drawn to stories, to story telling, which is something that kind of runs back in my family. Nobody in my family does this sort of thing [acting] for a living but they are a bunch of story tellers. Weʼre talkers. We can talk up a storm. Itʼs not uncommon to hear a lot of my family referring to it as telling lies,” says Hensley. It was not until his first audition at Fort Lewis College in Wyoming that Hensley knew beyond a doubt that he wanted to act. It was a college, Hensley says, that he enrolled in because he could get his feet wet in theatre without really making a commitment to it—but after the first audition, the commitment was made. “It was sort of my first audition. I hope I never forget it. I did not get the part, I did not know what I was doing and my hands were shaking but there was something about reading those words off the page that kind of lit something up,” Hensley recalls. The aspiring actor went on to enroll at NYU to study History and English, only to drop out after a conversation with a professor and the realization that he paid a whole lot of money for nothing but a book list, says Hensley. After that, everything just kind of clicked. When he needs to get away from everything, Hensley needs to look no farther than the garage where he keeps a motorcycle. “Motorcycles have been a bit of a saving grace in my life lately. They are kind of instant meditation. You get on them and it does not matter what you were doing a minute ago or what you gotta do an hour from now. All that matters is what is happening then and that is not a bad space to be in,” says Hensley. As far as any advice, the actor offers this, “Relax and stand up, own who you are and charge forward.” Not bad, not bad at all. Hensley can be seen once again lighting up the small screen this fall with the season premiere of Nip/Tuck and on the silver screen in Teeth and Fifty Pills. by Tabatha Hunter
MCCANN: AL BELLO/GETTY, HENSLEY: FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY
Nip/Tuck Boy For the past three seasons, the FX drama, Nip/Tuck, has astounded viewers with just how crazy things can get. Thus far the show has given viewers a look into marital discord, serial killers and plastic surgeons. And the series keeps growing sexier and hotter, thanks largely in part to each character’s growing complexity and a unique writing style.
Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE
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OMARI HARDWICK Sirens and whistles, gunfire and heartbeats—these have been the sounds of Georgia boy Omari Hardwick’s life while playing “Sack” on the TNT hit series, Saved.
The road to acting has been a long one for this 32-year-old Rising Southerner who has held all sorts of odd jobs. He was a free agent with the San Diego Chargers, a substitute teacher and coach, and a security guard before beginning to act full time. The craziest of his professional pursuits was that of a firefighter, recounts Hardwick. “The craziest job I pursued was when I was about 28. I started to pursue the career of a firefighter for back up. It was not my desire; it was something I fell back on and it made me pursue acting even harder because it was not what I wanted to do. I just felt like if I was not acting I would be a firefighter,” says Hardwick. Of course a little irony comes into play, Hardwick says, because in California firefighters must have paramedic certifications— and Hardwick’s role as a paramedic on television has led to national attention for the talented actor. His favorite thing about acting is that “it allows me to live out every fantasy and every thought that we have. To me it is sort of like therapy for free and you get paid for it,” says Harwick, who has wanted to be an actor since he was 19, growing up in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur. By all means, it seems that Hardwick has finally made it to the big game—he starred opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Gridiron Gang and Kevin Costner, who Hardwick calls a mentor, in The Guardian. But despite his recent success, Hardwick is still working hard and dreaming big. He hopes to
From Saved episode, “Who do you trust?” Photo by Michael Courtney, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
work with Robert Duvall on a project one day, as well as Sally Field, Charlize Theron and Daniel Day Lewis. “I think [working with] Robert Duvall would probably be the biggest accomplishment in life. Robert Duvall is my favorite and I think he is phenomenal,” says Hardwick. Hardwick knows that the acting business is about hard work and extreme determination, two traits the actor possesses. If Hardwick’s track record is any indication, we can all look forward to seeing him do bigger and better things in the future. by Tabatha Hunter
BRIAN MCCANN In the 2002 baseball draft, the Atlanta Braves found themselves a young 18-yearold catcher in Brian McCann. The Athens, Ga., native soon began playing for the Braves, a team he grew up watching from the time he knew how to hold a ball. One of McCannʼs most fond memories is watching the Braves in the 1991 World Series. McCann found himself steadily moving up the ranks through the minors until June 2005, when he made his first major league appearance. Throughout the 2005 season, McCann was used as the catcher for veteran John Smoltz; and hit a homerun in his first playoff at bat – a feat no other Brave has ever done. After the trade sending Johnny Estrada to the Arizona Diamondbacks, McCann became the starting catcher for the Braves for the 2006 season. Aside from already being one of the top hitting catchers in the game, pitchers’ have cited his knowledge, maturity and ability to call a game for reasons why McCann is a most valuable teammate. In his first full season as a catcher, McCann was voted to play in the 2006 AllStar game in Detroit. He also hit his first major league grand slam – followed by home runs in five consecutive games – in mid-July. by Brian Ferguson OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006 • Y’ALL
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A Bowl Game That Matters by Amy Sullenberger
TOP PHOTO: (L-R) Christopher Reeve Foundation Director of Special Events Kerin Caudill, Charity Bowl Executive Director Carol Carpenter, and Christopher Reeve Foundation President/CEO Kathy Lewis, and Vice President of Development Peter Wilderotter. ABOVE: Ole Miss alumnus David Prewitt at the Ole Miss Sigma Nu Charity Bowl
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S T U R D I V A N T
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M U S E U M
W A L K I N G H I S T O R I C
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C H U R C H
We turn visits into historic events. Oct. 13-14 Tale Tellin' Festival
Be spellbound as master storytellers recount tales of historical events, ghosts, legends, fables and folklore.
Oct. 14 Riverfront Market Day
Selma's historic riverfront comes alive with the wares of artisans and vendors. See handmade pottery, quilts, dolls and more. Enjoy live entertainment.
• V A U G H A N - S M I T H E R M A N
Nov. 4 Kenan's Mill Festival
Spend a day in the country at a historic 1860’s grist mill enjoying family entertainment, food and more.
Dec. 1-2 Alabama Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival
M A R T I N
L U T H E R
This fun-filled family festival salutes the outdoor sporting life and features exhibits, demonstrations, competitions and a venison chili cook-off!
Where History Meets Hospitality 1 800 45 SELMA • www.SelmaAlabama.com N A T I O N A L
V O T I N G
R I G H T S
M U S E U M
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O L D
D E P O T
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Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE
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Mayor Eddie Favre by Tabatha Hunter
AP/NICOLE L. YOUNG
Eddie “Short Pants” Favre is making a fashion statement all his own. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Bay St. Louis, Miss., mayor vowed to wear shorts every day until his town is once again restored to the quaint beauty its citizens enjoyed before the storm. Like many Gulf Coast residents, Mayor Favre lost everything he owned when Katrina struck Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. The mayor came out of the storm wearing nothing but short pants and flip flops, and as he looked around his town during the hours following Katrina, he knew something needed to be done. “The first time I met President Bush [shorts and flip flops were] what I had on. After that it pretty much became a symbol that our folks had a tremendous need here and as long as that need was here that I would continue to wear shorts,” says Favre. Favre adds that to him, when people begin to dress up and dress the part, a signal is sent that everything is okay, and Bay St. Louis and the Mississippi Gulf Coast are not okay. “Even though we have had a tremendous amount of help from
volunteers, the federal government and the state, there are still a lot of needs that need to be met so [the shorts campaign] became a commitment that until our people and our city are made whole again, I am going to wear short pants,” says Favre. As to the condition of his legs, the mayor says that he has been working non-stop to help get Bay St. Louis back on her feet. “I do not even have a golfer’s tan,” he says with a chuckle. “Maybe one day soon people will get tired of looking at these legs and make us whole again so I can put long pants back on.”
To paint a picture of the damage sustained by Hurricane Katrina, Favre first gives us the numbers. The community’s value before Hurricane Katrina was around $87 million. This year’s property value in Bay St. Louis is just $29 million—a figure that Favre says includes nothing but property, as most of the improvements and buildings were wiped out or damaged so badly that they are left with no value. Another problem the quaint community called “a place apart” is having to face is borrowing money to operate. It is a problem that the mayor says has no end in sight. “Everybody OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006 • Y’ALL
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has assured us that there has never been a governmental entity that has gone under because of a natural disaster, and they keep saying that they will not let us go under, but there is nothing other than loan funds available to keep us operating,” he says. “That is fine for the short term…but somewhere in the future those loans are going to have to be repaid.” When the hurricane ripped through the coast on Aug. 29, 2005, she left nothing untouched. The storm took with
it everything from cars to homes, trees to beaches and the roadways connecting the small coastal towns to each other. The one thing that Katrina did not take with her was the resolve of the people in Mississippi communities like Bay St. Louis, Waveland, Biloxi and Gulfport. It is the attitudes, the sheer will, and the heart and the soul of the coastal residents that will make the coast come back to life stronger and better than before. And it is people like Eddie “Short Pants” Favre that will help transform
The Bay St. Louis Bridge, connecting Waveland and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, was destroyed in the hardest hit area during Hurricane Katrina
Curtains
UP!
Purchase tickets at
www.msurileycenter.com
or call 601-696-2200
The MSU Riley Center provides a one-of-a-kind space to enjoy a variety of shows. Located in historic downtown Meridian, MS, the center features a fully restored Grand Opera House theatre providing an intimate setting to experience your favorite artists. This project partially funded by the MS Development Authority/Tourism.
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Bishop Thomas Rodi hugs city Mayor Eddie Favre
TOP: MARIANNE TODD/GETTY BOTTOM: JOE RAEDLE/GETTY
CeCe Winans: 09/23/06 Trinity Irish Dance: 09/29/06 Bo Diddley & Friends: 10/09/06 Seals & Seals: 10/14/06 A Midnight Cry: 10/20/06 Ricky Skaggs: 10/28/06 Romeo & Juliet: 10/30/06 Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: 11/04/06 Ailey II Dance Co.: 11/12/06 Sandi Patty: 11/29/06 & 11/30/06 The Four Freshmen: 12/14/06 John Amos’ Halley’s Comet: 01/12/07 L.A. Theatre Works: Private Lives: 01/21/07 Torme’ Sings Torme’: 01/25/07 Blood, Sweat & Tears: 02/03/07 Soweto Gospel Choir: 02/06/07 & 02/07/07 Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Joe Ely, Guy Clark: 02/16/07 & 02/17/07 Lost in Yonkers: 03/02/07 Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight!: 03/10/07 Leahy: 03/13/07 Wynton Marsalis: 03/20/07 The Cab Calloway Orchestra: 03/22/07 Willy Wonka: 03/30/07 Vicki Lawrence: 04/14/07 An Evening with Groucho: 04/17/07 Kathy Mattea: 04/28/07 Pinocchio: 05/05/07 The Temptations Review: 05/12/07
the coast back to its natural splendor and beauty. “We may have lost our houses, but we still have our home and that is Bay St. Louis. We may have lost everything else, but we still have each other and we will come back.” It is important to note that the city of Bay St. Louis has made progress since Hurricane Katrina, thanks mainly to volunteers and support from the federal and state governments. Although Bay St. Louis is a far cry from the town it was before the storm, Mayor Favre feels certain that they will make it there. Until that day comes, he will remain in his short pants.
Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE
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by Tabatha Hunter
Southern Charm H
undreds of things can be said about North Carolina’s Emily Procter. The 38-year-old is stunning, witty, and intelligent, and, along with the cast of CSI: Miami, she is taking over Monday night TV as we know it. When starting out as the weather girl for WNCTTV in Greenville, N.C., Procter did not realize that she wanted to act until she saw herself on the news feed one day and thought “…that seems like a pretty good thing.” From that point forward, Procter set her sights on becoming an actress. Since making the decision, Procter has landed roles in films like Jerry Maguire and Big Momma’s House 2. The blonde starlet has also found herself in the spotlight with roles on Friends, The West Wing and CSI: Miami, where she struck gold playing the tough crime scene investigator “Calleigh Duquesne.” The show is ranked as the number one television show in the world, and one of the many reasons for this success is that the actors are having fun. The show has so many stunts involved and so many kinds of scenarios. Procter says she never envisioned herself playing this type of role. But these are also her favorite things about the role—along with a little bit of cutting up behind the scenes. “I guess one of the biggest things that we [the cast of CSI: Miami] fight over is arm position because when you are a side arm you cannot really ucked away in the quiet, quaint town of wearing Clarksdale, Miss., is one of stand normal. You cannot just put your arms down the finest dining experiences to onwould. thisDavid side [Caruso], of the Masonhowbe youfound normally of course, Dixon Line. The restaurant, called Madidi, theThat brain has stolen hands onis hips. is justchild his andofnotwo one can haveand it,” laughs Procter.Bill “WeLuckett. are constantly Mississippians--actor Morgan else Freeman attorney fighting over the one arm up, one arm down, arms crossed. Now we are getting ready to do a scene with all of us so I guarantee it is going to be a giant game
by Tabatha Hunter
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of shotgun. Everyone is going to be walking from their trailer to the set with the arm position they called trying to get there the fastest.” “Calleigh Duqeusne” and the real life Emily Procter could not be any more different. Procter is the very picture of a Southern Belle with her mannerisms, accent and niceties, while her character, “Calleigh,” is quite the tough cookie. “‘Calleigh’ is tough and she is kind of mean. At one point I just took her accent away from her because I was like, I do not
“‘Calleigh’ is tough and she is kind of mean. At one point I just took her accent away from her because I was like, I do not think she is very Southern.” think she is very Southern,” says Procter. Procter, on the other hand, is Southern through and through, from her accent to her love of tomato sandwiches. But, like any true Southerner knows, the tomatoes have to be fresh and 58 58
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF CBS/ BY KEVIN ABOSCH©2005
homegrown, she says, because greenhouse tomatoes just are not the same. As far as being Southern born and bred, Procter declares, “The greatest thing about being a Southerner I think is being a Southerner. I do not know if I can say that but it is the way that I feel about it. I feel like in the South, you do not really know a stranger.” It is the warm and appealing nature of the Southern states that keeps Procter returning to her home in Raleigh, N.C., when she is not filming. Of course, the Southern-grown tomatoes do not hurt, either. “The South is something that is in you. No matter how far you go, you just do not feel like anywhere else is home,” says Procter. Procter pursues many hobbies when given the chance. She has been a runner and a cyclist for a long time. The actress also loves to play cards and, most recently, has discovered a love of putting jigsaw puzzles together. Her biggest puzzle so far was 1,200 pieces and she is doing a lot of 500-550 piece puzzles to time herself to get faster. It is a hobby that she admits she just loves - even if she does not know exactly why.
Her most surprising hobby is that she is the singer for an ‘80s cover band in her spare time. The band, called White Lightning, is something that gives Procter a chance to kick back and have a little fun with friends. The band had a brush with fame when Crosby, Stills and Nash asked Procter if White Lightning could warm up for them during a benefit show. Procter’s response? “We could, but we were not qualified because we are not a real band, we are a cover band.” While she loves music (two of her faves are Van Halen and Jay-Z), acting is where Procter’s heart is (well, that and her 13–year-old, 19 pound cat “Kevin,” who has a special place in his heart for belly rubs). “Really, the most amazing thing about my job is that I cannot believe they pay me to do what I do. Right now I am sitting in a chair having someone put makeup on me and then I am going to run down the beach with a bunch of my friends and carry a firearm,” marvels Procter. To see Procter in action, catch CSI: Miami Monday nights on CBS. See if she’s toting a firearm in one hand…and a tomato sandwich in the other.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006 2006 •• Y’ALL Y’ALL
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So you think you know a lot about
CAROLINA? by Yʼall Publisher Jon Rawl (of Lexington, S.C.)
Southerners may know about the Civil War, but do they know about the War Between the States? And no, it ainʼt the same war. Since 1663, thereʼs been an unofficial feud between North and South Carolina. When the British crown decided it was best to divide the colony of Carolina in 1710 because the wealthy planters of Charleston and the Lowcountry wanted to distance themselves from the folks in the north, the first salvo was fired. North and South – Carolina that is – have since fought over secession, barbecue (mustard vs. vinegar base), which state Andrew Jackson was born in, and which flagship college for each state gets to use the moniker “Carolina” - the Tar Heels or the Gamecocks. Despite the differences, the two Carolinas have been mostly amicable. The Southern and American connections for both have helped the two old colonies work together to produce such hits as NASCAR, dynamic Atlantic beach and Appalachian mountain resorts, and an economy that makes Charlotte (nestled right on the North-South border) a banking capital of the nation. The University of South Carolina Press has released two books that capture the accomplishments of both states: The Tar Heel State: A History of North Carolina, by Milton Ready; and South Carolina: A History, by Walter Edgar. From Waxhaws to tobacco, Guilford Courthouse to the Research Triangle, the North Carolina book is chock-full of Tar Heel tidbits. Likewise, Edgarʼs Sandlapper book has great info on the antebellum Lowcountry, John C. Calhoun, textile mills and BMWʼs multi-million dollar auto plant in Greer, S.C. Both books provide academics and historians at heart alike the chance to learn a wealth of info about the two states. Now, we still havenʼt resolved which Carolina has the best barbecue?
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ENCYCLOPEDIA Edited by Walter Edgar A Project of The Humanities Council SC “‘Monumental’ is much too small a word for this spectacular—and spectacularly well done—compendium of South Carolina people, places, and past history. This is a book to be treasured, a book to be enjoyed passage by passage, a book that will be on shelves in state and out for decades to come.”—John Jakes “This work is an invaluable resource for anyone seriously interested in the rich history and culture of our unique state.” —Jonathan Green
More than one million words 2,000 entries 600 contributors 400 b&w illustrations 40 color illustrations 80 maps 1,200 pages, hardcover, $75.00 Read sample entries at www.scencyclopedia.com
1.) Carolina is named after which British king? a. Henry VIII b. James II c. Charles I d. George III 2.) The word “Tar Heel” originated from? a. Early basketball team in Chapel Hill, N.C. b. A road paved in the Appalachian mountains c. North Caroliniansʼ desire to drink Cheerwine d. Bravery shown by Confederate troops from North Carolina 3.) Which of the following is NOT a nickname for the central part of South Carolina? a. Midlands b. Pine Land c. Sandhills d. Saxe Gotha 4.) Where was the original capital of North Carolina located? a. Raleigh b. New Bern c. Charlotte d. Lumberton 5.) Where was the original capital of South Carolina located? a. Charleston b. Columbia c. Beaufort d. Georgetown
Available at bookstores or from
800-768-2500 • www.sc.edu/uscpress 62
6.) South Carolinaʼs connection to the Palmetto tree originated from? a. British settlers planting them on the coast b. Fort Moultrieʼs palmetto log defenses, which repelled a British invasion in 1776 c. A salute to the first golf game played in America d. Trendy shirts and hats that carry the palmetto and crescent moon logo 7.) Basketball star Michael Jordan took flight in (was raised in) what North Carolina city? a. Charlotte b. Greenville c. Durham d. Wilmington 8.) What North Carolina-South Carolina border town is known for its petite fried shrimp? a. Gastonia, N.C. b. North Myrtle Beach, S.C. c. Calabash, N.C. d. Landrum, S.C. 9.) The late Sen. Strom Thurmond graduated from what South Carolina college? a. The University of South Carolina b. Newberry College c. Clemson College d. The Citadel 10.) What is the name of the theme park near Charlotte that straddles the North Carolina-South Carolina border? a. Paramountʼs Carowinds b. Opryland c. Six Flags d. Carolina Carnivale
Answers: 1.)c 2.)d 3.)b 4.)b 5.)a 6.)b 7.)d 8.)c 9.)c 10.)a
THE SOUTH CAROLINA
Carolina Challenge
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Dixie Destination: Tallahassee, Florida by Jonathan Craig
Now that the South has cooled off a bit, perhaps you find yourself craving a tryst with the same Southern heat that you happily bid adieu to not that long ago. Tallahassee, Fla., is a great weekend venture, and for most of the South it’s within an easy daytrip in the car. Not just a pit stop on the way to see Mickey Mouse, the city that bills itself as “Florida with a Southern Accent” is just that. Spanish moss, sweet tea and plenty of “y’alls” dot this Southern capital city. In the city of Tallahassee, good food and good times are easily found. Florida legislators fill the town up when they’re in session, and on lunch breaks they head to Andrew’s Capital Grill & Bar, a classic hangout that features yummy dishes named after famous legislators, including the “Gra-Ham” Burger, “Connie Mack” B-B-Q Burger and the “Governor’s Gobbler.” The Old Capitol Building is worth a visit. It was the Florida State House from 1845 until 1978, when a new modern skyscraper replaced it. Visitors get to go through the rooms where decades of statesmen crafted legislation that would
help Florida grow to become the fourth largest state in the United States. Keeping an Old South-theme is not hard in Tallahassee. Just down the hill from the Capitol is Goodwood Museum and Gardens, home of an elegant 1840s plantation home filled with period antiques. America’s largest concentration of original plantations – 300,000 acres, 71 plantations – exists between Tallahassee and Thomasville, Ga., just 28 miles away. On your way around the outskirts of Tallahassee, there are some definite mustsees and eats. Roads canopied by mossdraped oaks will lure you to Havana, Fla., home of Nicholson’s Farm House. This family-owned business serves up well-seasoned steaks, and the laid-back environment makes you feel like you’re in grandma’s kitchen. Looking for a little adventure? Head south of Tallahassee to Wakulla Springs, a state park that features wonderful
Southern fried chicken and fried green tomatoes in the Wakulla Springs Lodge, which offers a scenic view of the Wakulla River, one of few rivers in Florida that derives almost all of its flow from springs. Once you’ve downed some good Southern eats, Don Gavin is ready to take you on the ride of a lifetime. The colorful Gavin is one of eight park rangers that lead a glass-bottom boat tour. Visitors are treated to a leisurely, up-close encounter with Florida wildlife, including a mixture of rare birds, snakes and the ever-present alligator. “Everything out here is real. You don’t see no Mickey Mouse at Wakulla Springs,” Gavin laughs. On his tour, the Wakulla, Fla., native and 30-year park veteran has fun with the guests who travel here from all over the world. Gavin’s most famous saying: “That alligator over there is like Clint Eastwood. He’s up there on that bank thinkin’, ‘Y’all go ahead and jump in. Make my day!” OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006 • Y’ALL
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Don Gavin
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WHERE TO STAY: Park Plaza Hotel 415 North Monroe Street (Downtown) (850)224-6000 Nice, classic place to stay right in downtown. This is where Burt Reynolds crashes when he’s back in town. Hampton Inn & Suites 3388 Lonnbladh Road (I-10/Thomasville Rd.) (850)574-4900 Tallahassee’s newest hotel offers 91 guest rooms and 31 bridal suites. A National Lighthouse Award winner, putting it among the top of the 1,300 Hampton Inn brand properties. Convenient shopping and eating within walking distance. Wakulla Springs Lodge 550 Wakulla Park Drive (Wakulla Springs State Park) (850)224-5950 This 1930s resort features 27 unique guest rooms. Each room has a spacious marble bathroom and antique or period type furniture. Nature trails and swimming in the famous springs are right outside.
PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF WAKULLA SPRINGS
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Striped mullet, manatees, apple snails, purple moorhens, herons, anhinga, ospreys, Suwannee cooters, water moccasins, bald eagles, white-tailed deer and even the Florida panther can all be seen on Gavin’s tour. Back on dry land, a trip back into Tallahassee will take you past Barnacle Bill’s, a cool seafood joint that offers fresh fried shrimp, oysters and terrific sweet tea. For the young, or young at heart, the Challenger Learning Center and IMAX Theatre is a neat outing. Since Tallahassee is home to two of Florida’s largest colleges, Florida State University and Florida A&M University, there are plenty of bars and clubs to check out live music. Tallahassee is often described as “The Other Florida,” and an outing here will get the Southern traveler saturated with a unique dose of Dixie. Oh, and the rest of Florida’s fun, too.
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This project partially funded by the MS Development Authority/Tourism.
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cajun humor Took advantage of me!
by Tommy Joe Breaux
Humorist Tommy Joe Breaux has been delighting the South with his cajun stories for years. Breaux has numerous tapes, videos and books available at www. tommyjoebreaux.com. 66
One day, ole Cajean Thibedeaux went to the farm supply store an bought a bucket, a boat anchor, two chicken, an a duck. He then axed de store keeper, Amos Landry, “How in de world am I supposed to carry all dat stuff ?” Amos say, “Oh dat’s easy. Put de bucket on one arm, put de anchor in de bucket, put de duck under de same arm and de chickens under de odder arm.” Well, Cajean try dat an it work out fine. On de way home he run across one of the Breaux Bridge ole maids, MiMi Babineaux, who axed him if he knew where Kitty Thibedeaux live. Cajean say, “Yea, She live right next door to
me, she’s my cousin. You just follow me.” On de way, Cajean tole MiMi, “Let’s use de alley, dat’s a short cut.” MiMi say, “How do I know wan you gots me in dat allen yu ain’t gonna try to kiss and took advantage of me?” Cajean say, “Well MiMi, if case you ain’t notice, I gor a bucket wid an anchor in it on one arm, a duck under dat same arm, an two chicken under de odder arm, now how am I donna take advantage of you.” MiMi think an den say, “You could put de duck down, put de bucket over it, put de anchor on de bucket, an I’ll ole de chickens.”
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grizzard Put Some South in Yo’ Mouth
Student Athletes
by Lewis Grizzard
Lewis Grizzard (1946-1994) penned thousands of columns during his journalism career. Y’all Magazine is proud to showcase the late legend’s work in each issue. For more on Grizzard, log on to www.LewisGrizzard.com
The man has been around football all his life. He has coached it at every level. I asked him to speak frankly about the current rage involving making scholars out of collegiate athletes. I do not necessarily agree or disagree with his viewpoints. I thought anonymity would encourage his frankness: “You know what’s the silliest part of this whole thing? It’s all this talk about how many players such-and-such coach has to graduate. It’s not the coach’s job to lead his players around to class. Oh, he can make them run the stadium steps at six in the morning if they don’t go to class, but making certain his players graduate isn’t a coach’s job. A college coach has one job, and that is to win. If a coach doesn’t win, then he’ll get fired. Show me a coach who graduates all his players and goes 1-10 five straight years, and I’ll show you a coach who’s out of a job. They’ll can him no matter how many Phi Beta Kappas he’s got on his squad. You know this Georgia lawsuit, where the teacher is claiming she got fired because she wouldn’t give preferential treatment to athletes? Hey, most of those kids who got the special treatment were black. They were in a remedial program because that is a way to get minority students who aren’t otherwise qualified into college. The federal government says those kids deserve a chance, and that’s the way you give it to them. Sure, they got preferential treatment. Don’t give these kids a chance, don’t give them a second chance or maybe even a third,
“
and most of them will wind up back down in the country pumping gas. Let me tell you about all those test scores and high school grade-point averages. They don’t mean a thing. I had kids at [his last school] who made 400 on the SATs. You’d figure these kids wouldn’t make it anywhere. But they did. They did because they had good attitudes, and their attitudes got better when they got out of those terrible high schools and they began to grow up and see the importance of learning. I had a kid who made a 400 and guess where he is now? In medical school. Yeah, he’s black, and if he were coming along today, under the new NCAA standards, he wouldn’t get a chance at anything. There are too many variables to set a standard all high school athletes must meet before they can be signed to a scholarship. Not all high schools are the same. Not all kids come from the same backgrounds, the same environment. Those black coaches are right. Raise the standards, and college sports will be lily-white again, at least for a long time to come. I say let ‘em in school. Put ‘em in a remedial program. Teach ‘em high school courses again, and if it takes them 10 years to get a degree, then that’s better than getting no degree at all. If they don’t get a degree, maybe they will have at least learned how to fill out an application for a job. In a perfect world, a university is only for scholars. In the one we live in, which is imperfect, it ought to be for everybody, for whatever they can get from it.”
In a perfect world, a university is only for scholars. In the one we live in, which is imperfect, it ought to be for everybody, for whatever they can get from it.
”
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wine
down south The All-American Wine Celebration The World Comes To Frogtown
by Doc Lawrence
Frogtown is hallowed ground. Once a thriving Cherokee community deep in Georgia’s Blue Ridge mountains, today, like similar regions in North Carolina and Virginia, it is punctuated with lush vineyards and wineries-Dixie’s impressive answer to Napa-that are more American than European. Much of the burgeoning wine industry here is rooted in the production of wine from the native grape Cynthiana, a Cherokee word meaning “summer grape,” that was well-known to Thomas Jefferson who prophesized it would someday become the foundation for a New World wine industry. For over a century Cynthiana (widely known as Norton) lived up to Jefferson’s vision and was produced in many states including Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri, holding its own in international competitions with great wines of Europe. Prohibition wiped out America’s wine industry. After FDR’s repeal of this mindless social experiment, many Southern wineries, despite regressive and punitive laws, slowly reappeared. Today, Cynthiana/Norton is the official grape of Missouri and Virginia. To celebrate this genuinely American grape and wonderful wine, Doug and Sharon Paul, owners of heralded Three Sisters Winery in Frogtown are hosting the first annual All-American Wine Celebration in early October. The celebration begins with a Friday night big-city-style dinner dance, preceded by an important academic discussion at North Georgia University. “The history of Cynthiana and the Southern contributions to America’s wine industry,” Paul revealed, “are fascinating subjects that bring together history, biology and modern marketing and lifestyles. We’ve assembled a panel that includes big names like Texas winemaker Craig Parker, intended to broadcast the South’s overlooked contributions to the nation’s wine culture.” Almost everything Southern can be seen and enjoyed in our remarkable folk art. For the weekend celebration, Atlanta folk artist Olivia Thomason has assembled acclaimed folk art galleries showcasing
some of the nation’s finest Southern works from masters like Reverend Howard Finster, Prophet Royal Robertson, R.A. Miller, Missionary Mary Proctor, Lorenzo Scott, Jimmy Lee Suddeth, Eric Legge, the Florida Highwaymen, and Tennessee’s Danny the Bucketman, adding enormous color and energy to the bucolic location. Ms. Thomason will unveil her exciting painting titled “The World Comes to Frogtown,” featuring a grinning giant frog sitting on a stump in the vineyard enjoying a glass of Cynthiana. Saturday and Sunday will have crowds tasting Cynthiana, eating barbecue, and enjoying the dazzling folk art while being entertained by live bluegrass, jazz, blues and gospel performers. The All-American Wine Celebration is crafted primarily for enjoyment. “We have the purest air and the most beautiful scenery,” Paul observed, “and when you combine wine, education, food and live music with the best Southern folk art, fun is in the air.” Paul added that this will be an annual autumn event. This historic multi-state wine gala pays homage to a vision that began long ago at Monticello and honors Jefferson’s foresight. Cynthiana/Norton arguably is the only wine we can claim as our own, one that reflects the soil, water, air and character that, in part, define America. Cynthiana/Norton began as a Southern wine and retains a Southern accent. According to my count, this American original is made today in sixteen states. It is a fabulously delicious red wine I keep handy, ready to uncork when company is pulling in the driveway. It pairs perfectly with grilled lamb, chicken, steak and all barbecue, and giving a bottle of this garnet delight to a stranger is a proven way to make a new friend. It’s an easy drive from Atlanta to Frogtown. The scenery this time of year is spectacular. The journey is invigorating and rewarding. The history of the region is profound. Spiritually, this remains the sacred land of the great Cherokee nation. Cynthiana will always be theirs, and nothing salutes the ancient heritage better than enjoying a glass of this majestic wine in early October.
Doc Lawrence writes about wine and Southern cuisine from his homes in Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale. Doc is 2005 Chairman, Food and Beverage Section, Public Relations Society of America and welcomes comments: doc@yall.com. 68
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blue collar
Sins of the Father
by Jeff Foxwothy
Blue Collar comedian Jeff Foxworthy is the host of Foxworthy’s Big Night Out, which airs Fridays at 8:30/7:30 C on CMT. www.JeffFoxworthy.com
The only thing that matters 100 years from now is what kind of kids you left behind. And itʼs the little things that add up. With kids, itʼs the fact that you were there night after night after night after night, and morning after morning after morning. Itʼs consistency; itʼs like putting pennies in a jar. Just one of them doesnʼt make a big difference, but you do it every day for 15 years, and it does… and Iʼm lucky enough financially where you go, ʻDadgum, Iʼve gotta go do this to feed my family or pay for my house or whatever.ʼ I was lucky that they couldnʼt hold me over that barrel. My girls are 14 (Jordan) and 12 (Julianne). My wife (Gregg) had a Girls Night Out last night, so it was just the girls and I. And I was like, “Alright girls, what are we going to do? Yʼall want to go to a movie? You wanna just go hang out? We went and hung out at the pet store, made a quick run by the bookstore, then went to Red Lobster. The three of us had dinner and just enjoyed spending time together. Gregg does that night out about once every month or two. I love the fact that at 14 and 12, thatʼs what my girls want to do. They just want to go hang out with me somewhere. And especially at this age, you start cherishing it because you realize that ainʼt going to be the case much longer. But theyʼre both good girls. I think theyʼre good girls because Gregg and I have decided to live our life the way we do. Not long ago I was on a Fourth of July show performing for President Bush. I had done it a couple of times before, and when they called and asked if I would host it this year. (You donʼt get paid; itʼs just kind of an honor to do it.) This was my question, I said “Alright, if I come do it, can my girls meet the president?” They called back and said ʻyeah.” So I was like, “Okay, Iʼll do it.ʼ So we went and did it as a family.
“
I missed it last year. They called me and I couldnʼt do it because it was the same day as my oldest daughterʼs play. Iʼve had people laugh at me for that. You would miss going to the White House because itʼs your daughterʼs play? You know, 20 years from now, the White House wonʼt remember I wasnʼt there, but she will. I think Julianne might be following in her dadʼs footsteps, Iʼm afraid. You know, the sins of the father! My oldest one looks like my wife. My little one looks like me and she can do impersonations of the principal and the teachers. She can impersonate anybody. Sheʼs the one who when weʼre sitting around at the dinner table she makes everyone laugh. And thatʼs what I did when I was 11, and so that worries me to death. Because I was in the principalʼs office a few times; and heʼd ask, “Who do you think you are, a comedian?” When I was in the seventh grade I went to Washington, D.C., with the safety patrol. My mother had given me $20 for spending money for the week. And the first night there in the hotel gift shop I found a little item called a whoopee cushion, and I thought it was the greatest invention of all time. I spent every dime my mother had given me for the week on whoopee cushions. I had a suitcase full of them. I couldnʼt believe theyʼd sell ʻem. I thought, “Youʼre fools to sell these!” So the next night, Iʼm jumping on ʻem until two in the morning. Then I had a chaperone put me up against the wall going, “I will send you home tonight. Who do you think you are, a comedian?” I was telling that to President Bush the other night and I said 34 years later here I am standing on the stage of Ford Theater performing for the president. So yes, Mr. Stacey [Foxworthyʼs principal], yes, I do think I am a comedian!
(When I was 11) I was in the principal’s office a few times; and he’d ask, “Who do you think you are, a comedian?”
”
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what southern women
know
You Can Go Home Again (And if Youʼre Southern, You Definitely Will)
by Ronda Rich
Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should) and The Town That Came A-Courtin’.
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To most Southerners, without question, they are the two sweetest, albeit four-letter words, in our language. The mere mention of “Mama” or “home” will bring a smile to our lips and a warm tingle to our hearts. We are defined by those words and what they represent – the woman who raised us, and the place of that raising. “I go back to the South, physically and in my memories, to remind myself who I am, for the South keeps me going,” once said Willie Morris, a native of Yazoo City, Miss. I’m home now, the real home of my childhood, after a few years of chasing adventure in alien cities – and, yes, one was a non-Southern town and one, Washington, D.C., has been severely tainted from Northern influence. Every Southerner should move from home in her lifetime and live abroad in the midst of Yankee sympathies and non-Dixie hospitality. If you thought home was sweet before you left, you’ll be in a diabetic coma from the sugary sweetness when you return. I believe, sad to say, that you have to leave the South, even briefly, to really appreciate the magnitude of what we have in our blessed land. During a newspaper interview recently, the reporter asked, “Why do you live in the town where you grew up? You can live anywhere you want and write from there. Why stay in a small Georgia town?” Something about that question irritated my spine. “Are you saying that only writers who live in places like New York City can be successful?” He began to stammer and I, never one to let a critic get a full sentence in, rolled right over him. “I can live wherever I want, unlike when I was a child and my parents made that decision. I choose to live in the land of my raising because the connection I have to this land and my people make me the storyteller I am.” I can’t explain what it is about the land of our raising that imprisons us but Southerners are held in bondage to the our native soil, whether it is the bright orange dust of Alabama, the rich black dirt of the Mississippi Delta or even the dark red clay of Georgia. That ground wraps itself around our ankles like kudzu-covered shackles and holds us captive to that place called
“home.” Country singer Marty Stuart, a Philadelphia, Miss., native, once explained that when needing to center himself and find his true creativity, “I always go back to the dirt roads of Mississippi.” This I know: In the South, we do not possess the land. It is too strong and mighty of a force to be held by any deed holder. The land, instead, possesses us. Try, though we might, we cannot escape its hold. When I heeded the siren’s call to return to the land where I ran barefooted, picked blackberries on dewglistening summer mornings, read for endless hours under that beloved maple tree and splashed happily in the creek’s cold water, I thought of Bear Bryant. The famous coach once heeded a similar call to return to his alma mater, the University of Alabama, accepting the offer to run the school’s football program. Long before he rewrote college football history, while en route to becoming a Southern-proud legend, he summed up the reason for his decision. “Mama called,” the tough man said simply. And, as any Southerner knows, when Mama calls – either as woman or place – you answer. She rarely has to call twice. So now I find myself plunked back down amidst the kudzu, blackberry bushes and maples trees of my childhood. Most days I rock on my back porch, completely entertained by the simplicity of the memories that lie embedded in the hard Georgia clay or the quietness of a world far removed from Northern intrusion. Sometimes Mama, who lives down the hill and across the tiny river, will phone to say, “I just took a pan of hot biscuits out of the oven and fried up a pan of sausage. C’mon.” And because Mama has called – the woman and the place – I am happy, content that neither has to call me twice. Once is enough to bring me running. Truman Capote, the New Orleansborn, Alabama-raised writer, often said, “Every Southerner goes home sooner or later, even if in a pine box.” Thank goodness, I came home by car and didn’t wait for the pine box to bring me.
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star gazing PRACTICAL WHIMSY southern hospitality hollywood style
by Joe LoCicero
Georgia-bred and L.A.-based lifestyle expert Joe LoCicero has been bringing Southern hospitality to the Hollywood scene for the past dozen years as an author, TV writer, and entertaining guru. His current book is The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Clear Thinking (Penguin 2005), with his next release slated for January. For practical-yet-whimsical gifts and tips, visit PRACTICALWHIMSY.com.
Baby Showers for Grown-ups Why should kids have all the fun? With Heidi Klum, Brooke Shields, Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mariska Hargitay and Katie Holmes just the latest to prove how fashionable pregnancies can be, you can plan a shower that matches their verve and hipness. When some think about planning baby showers, many veer toward the cute and cuddly: teddy bear themes, a cake with plastic rattles, and baby naming games. But when a party really could be a couple’s last shebang for a while, I say welcome the baby in high style… but don’t sacrifice fun, class or a snappy attitude for adults to do it. Lately, we’ve gotten raves for taking a decidedly more grown-up route in planning baby showers. The recent success of such books as Daddy Needs a Drink by Robert Wilder (Delacourte 2006) and Three Martini Playdate by Christie Mellor (Chronicle 2004) has loosened a staid approach to raising kids. Though their titles might suggest otherwise, the tongue-in-cheek perspective in each book truly celebrates both impending and existing parenthood… albeit sometimes with a warped (but delightful) sense of humor. In that vein, we imbue some showers with a retro approach that embraces the food, favor, invites, décor, and atmosphere of a simpler time — the ‘50s — when there was never a doubt that parents ruled the roost. In this suggested party plan, you can try every element, or just a few of them. No matter your decision, you’ll find that focusing on the parents brings an atmosphere of cheery revelry that’ll make any about-to-arrive baby feel welcome… and any expectant Mom and Dad grateful for one last hurrah. Wow-y Invites Remember that the invitation your guests receive sets the tone for the whole party to come. Several online sites offer up an extensive array of invitations that imbue a ‘50’s look. But you can also look at the stationery section of Target, or peruse boxed sets at Papyrus card stores for “Atomic Age” patterns or similar designs of the era. The cards in many boxed sets are laser or inkjet compatible, so they can afford you a less expensive option. If you’re particularly crafty, consider making your own invitations out of scrapbook paper and doo-dads available at retailers such as Archiver’s. Whichever you decide, steer clear of graphics that you’d find on a nursery wall for this occasion, and gear the wording to suggest a cocktail party.
Kitschy Cocktails, Kicky Menu We all know or have access to a few good recipes that evoke the “tastes” of the ‘50s and ‘60s… and if you don’t, you can rely on a few good books for that, too. Vintage cookbooks (that you can probably find at your local library or at secondhand bookstores) such as the 1967 classic Betty Crocker Hostess Cookbook offer a nifty array of easy-to-make recipes, and even offer up ideas for cakes and centerpieces. For sources more up-to-date, check out Retro Happy Hour and Retro Beach Bash, both by Linda Everett (Collectors Press 2003). The recipes are all retro-tinged, but luckily the ingredients are very current and super easy-to-find. For the menu, do include a cocktail that’s easily adaptable for a non-alcoholic refreshment… so that the expectant mom can imbibe, too. Kooky Quiz Time For a focus on the expectant parents, ask questions relevant to them: where did they meet, get married, and honeymoon? In addition, gather up some questions about celeb babies — always a hot topic. For instance, what are the unique names of Gwyneth Paltrow’s kids (Apple and Moses), Julia Roberts’ twins (Hazel and Phinnaeus), TomKat’s daughter (Suri), Brangelina’s baby girl (Shiloh), and Patricia Arquette’s baby boy (Enzo)? For baby questions, go for some from the animal kingdom: what’s the name of a baby kangaroo (joey); baby spider (spiderlet); and baby beaver (kitten)? And see who can guess, “Who’s the superdad of the sea, because this species’ male gets pregnant?” (It’s the seahorse). Fab Favors Here’s a favor that’s both sweet and a little wicked. Find cookie cutters in the shape of martini glasses. Then, separately, place a scoop of sugar cookie mix in a cellophane bag that would bake up a dozen cookies. Tie the cookie cutter to the bag with grosgrain ribbon. To complete the package, include a recipe card that gives baking directions… and instructs the guests to whip up the cookies to celebrate when they get the phone call that the baby has arrived. For the sources: you can find the martini glass cookie cutters for $6.00/dozen at hbcornerstore.com. Cellophane bags are available at local craft stores, such as Michael’s. And for cookie mix, you can create your own, or you can find a fivepound packaged variety (such as Krusteaz) at Sam’s Club or Costco, that you can dole out into the individual sacks. So, when the little one does arrive, everyone gets to say “cheers” — the adults and the kids! OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006 • Y’ALL
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ms. ms. grits grits ʻTis the Season
by Deborah Ford
Deborah Ford is the founder of Grits® Inc. (Girls Raised in the South), a multi-million dollar merchandising company. Ford is the author of the best-selling GRITS, Guide To Life, and Puttin’ On The GRITS, a Southern Guide to Entertaining. Her newest, Grits Friends Are Forevah is now available. Contact “Ms. Grits” via email at msgrits@yall.com 72
All Southern girls know their real seasons… recruiting, spring training, practice, and football. If thereʼs one thing the South is known for, even proud of, itʼs our legendary conflicts on the football field—not to mention all those classic confrontations between fans in the stands. Itʼs been said many times before. But football is a religion in our neck of the woods. There is just something about the spectacle of Southern football on a Saturday that shines with the glory of the Lord. Southern football is more than a pastime; itʼs a way of life. From grilling out on Saturday afternoon to the bowl games at the end of college football season, competition is only a small part of the football package. In the South, believe it or not, there happens to be more important bowls than the finger bowl. To name a few, thereʼs the Cotton Bowl, Iron Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Chick-fil-A Bowl. For any game, we take our time to plan down to the smallest detail: scheduling, location, wardrobe, food, the invitation list, and even the decorations. For a true blue Southern girl, football scheduling
takes precedence over weddings, funerals, births, and most every other life event. In fact, no selfrespecting Southern girl would ever schedule her wedding during football season--unless itʼs an off week, of course. In some circles, itʼs even considered impolite to die within two weeks of an important game. Southern girls, of course, donʼt play much football themselves. Truth be told, some of us donʼt know a touchdown from a turnover. What we do know is that game day traditions like tailgating with friends and sorority sisters are important parts of Southern football. So are seasonal events like homecoming and the bowl game your team better make this year. Each game, each year, has its own unique personality. In fact, you could write a history of the South by quoting the weekly Tshirts that are printed to announce the winner immediately after the game. In the end, itʼs not all about winning. Southerners love to win, but we understand that itʼs even more important to play the game right. Thatʼs what we call Southern charm.
“
Southern girls, of course, donʼt play much football themselves. Truth be told, some of us donʼt know a touchdown from a turnover.
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Clear As A Bell by Tabatha Hunter
T
here is something magical about this time of year. It is the close of summer when the heat starts to subside, if only a little; school children begin packing book bags; and we can all take a moment to sit back, relax and reflect on another summer passed. Before you get ready for fall, though, be sure to take advantage of one of the South’s gorgeous summer days and make yourself a pitcher of sun tea using the South’s own Luzianne.
Luzianne is, after all, the tea that is specially blended for iced tea—not that hot tea stuff they like up North. So grab yourself a big, ice cold glass of Luzianne, find a rocking chair and let’s see if we can make summer last a little longer. Looking for something with a little kick? Try Luzianne’s New Orleans-styled mixes:
BOURBON STREET ICED TEA Preparation Time: Quick 2 cups boiling water 1 Cup orange juice concentrate 1.5 cups lemonade concentrate 2 quart size or 8 cup size Luzianne Tea Bags 1 Cup bourbon, (optional) 3 cups cold water. Steep tea bags in boiling water in pitcher for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Chill and serve over ice. Makes 2 quarts. And if you feel like doing a little celebratin’, try the Mardi Gras Madras:
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MARDI GRAS MADRAS 1 1/2 cups cranberry juice 3/4 Cup orange juice 1/4 cup sugar 2 quart size or 8 cup size Luzianne Tea bags 1 cup vodka (optional) 2 cups boiling water 6 cups cold water Steep tea bags in boiling water in pitcher. Remove and discard tea bags. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Chill and serve over ice. Makes 2 quarts. For more great tea recipes, check out www.luzianne.com…and “y’all come back now.
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Madidi’s &
GroundZero by Tabatha Hunter Tucked away in the quiet, quaint delta town of Clarksdale, Miss., is one of the finest dining experiences to be found on this side of the MasonDixon Line. The restaurant, called Madidi, is the brainchild of two Mississippians--actor Morgan Freeman and his attorney, Bill Luckett.
L
uckett and Freeman came up with the concept for Madidi when they “started meeting a lot and in order to find some place to eat we would find ourselves going to Cleveland, Greenwood and Oxford, Miss., or Memphis, Tenn.” says Freeman. “We are living in what has the potential to be one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Delta and we both realized that.” With a background in construction as well as the law, Luckett was able to put some sweat equity into his ventures with Freeman. He began working on Madidi by renovating an old building located
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at 164 Delta Avenue in historic downtown Clarksdale. Once the structure was completed, Freeman and Luckett had a little help from their wives, Myrna and Francine, respectively, with the decorating. Named for a national park in Bolivia, the restaurant offers as unique a dining experience as a trip to the great Bill Luckett and Morgan Freeman
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“When you’re done eating, make sure to swing by the dynamic duo’s blues club, Ground Zero. Located two blocks away from Madidi at Zero Blues Alley.”
“Roasted Breast of Duck,” Madidi is sure to have even the choosiest of palates coming back for more. Should you be out to eat like a star, you can try “Morgan’s Salad” (beef capriccio with mesclun greens and toasted almonds” or one of Freeman’s favorite dishes, the sea bass. As for Luckett, he has figured out how craft a meal comprised of all of the fine dishes offered at Madidi: “We have an entrée of barramundi, an entrée of sea bass and we have an entrée of seared tuna. I skip the sides and ask for a few scallions of the sea bass with the seared tuna. Maybe Morgan will start doing it now that he’s caught onto how to do it,” says Luckett, with a smile. When you’re done eating, make sure to swing by the dynamic duo’s blues club, Ground Zero. Located two blocks away from Madidi at Zero Blues Alley, the club’s goal is to feature only the best of the blues musicians found in the Mississippi Delta. Warning: Do not go to this club unless you are looking for a great time and the some of best live blues music to be found. Few things are guaranteed in life; but if you want a night of great food and one of a kind entertainment, Madidi and Ground Zero are the places to find it. Who knows, you may even catch a glimpse of the Oscar winner himself.
PHOTOS BY CHAD MILLS
park itself. Hardwood flooring, brick walls and an all-inclusive wine list allow Madidi to give diners a five-star restaurant experience without the five-star prices. The primary goal of these restaurateurs is not to earn highest accolades from journalists and critics, but rather, to give people from all walks of life a place to enjoy great company and unforgettable food. With items on the menu like “Tenderloin of Venison Flambé with Cranberry Compote” and
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in memoriam
ROBERT BROOKS
JOE ROSENTHAL
MICKEY SPILLANE
The chairman of Hooters of America, Inc., who made his fortune selling chicken wings served by scantily clad waitresses, was found dead at his home in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on July 16, 2006. He was 69. The South Carolina native was an alumnus of Clemson University, and became the chief of Naturally Fresh dressings, before his Hooters chairmanship.
Pulitzer prize winning photographer Joe Rosenthal, whose famous shapshot of Marines raising the U.S. flag over Iwo Jima in World War II, died August 20th. He was 94. The Washington, D.C., native left the AP as a photographer after the war, and worked in San Francisco for 35 years before retiring. His interest in photography began as hobby.
Mickey Spillane, the creator of Mike Hammer, the heroic but frequently sadistic private detective who blasted his way through some of the most violent novels of the 1940s and ‘50s, died at his home in Murrells Inlet, S.C., on July 17. He was 88. Spillane had homes in South Carolina and New York City.
MARGARET SANFORD
GRADY WALLACE
DICK HICKOX
Former South Carolina Gamecock basketball star Grady Wallace, the nation’s leading scorer in 1957, who led all Division I scorers that year with 906 points in 29 games—a 31.2 points-per-game average, died August 17 in Columbia, S.C. Wallace scored 54 points against Georgia that 1957 season.
The former North Carolina first lady, the late Governor Terry Sanford’s wife then and later when he was president of Duke University and a U.S. senator. Sanford died in Durham, N.C., on August 26. She was 88. Hickox was the University of Miami’s first basketball All-American and a member of the school’s athletic Hall of Fame. Hickox led his team to its highest national ranking during the 1959–60 season. He died of esophageal and colon cancer in Miami, Fla., on August 18. He was 68
JOHN HULETT
John Hulett was a civil rights pioneer who helped to found a group that became the Black Panther Party. Hulett also was the first black to hold the office of sheriff and probate judge in Lowndes County, Ala. He died in Mosses, Ala., on August 21. Hulett was 78.
WALTER SULLIVAN
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FAMILY/PUBLICISTS
Vanderbilt University professor emeritus Walter Sullivan was an authority on Southern literature. The author of criticism, novels, and short stories, Sullivan taught at Vanderbilt for 51 years. He died of cancer in Nashville, Tenn., on August 15. He was 82.
VICTORIA ADAMS
Adams was a civil rights activist who helped to open Freedom Schools that pushed for civil rights in Mississippi in 1964, and became a founding member of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Adams died at the age of 73 of cancer in Petersburg, Va., on August 12.
PAUL EELLS The Voice of the Arkansas Razorbacks, whose trademark call of “Touchdown, Arkansas!’’ endeared him to generations of Razorback fans, was killed in a head-on collision on I40, near Russellville, Ark., on July 31. Eells was sports director of Little Rock TV station KATV for nearly 30 years. Eells was 70.
MARY HARPER Mary Harper was one of the nation’s leading authorities on mental health and aging and the last living health-care team member associated with the U.S. government’s infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Harper was an outspoken advocate for patients’ rights. She died of cancer in Columbus, Ga., on July 27. She was 86.
JESSIE HEMPHILL Blues musician Jessie Hemphill, whose awardwinning career lasted decades and was heavily influenced by her upbringing in rural Mississippi, died from an ulcer in Memphis on July 22. Hemphill was 71. She lived in Memphis for 20 years and played the clubs on the city’s famous Beale Street before finding an international audience.
WIN ROCKEFELLER The Arkansas lieutenant governor and greatgrandson of John D. Rockefeller died in Little Rock on July 16, after two bone-marrow transplants failed to cure a myeloproliferative disorder that can lead to leukemia. He was 57. An unassuming billionaire who inherited his father’s philanthropic spirit, Rockefeller hoped to serve as Arkansas governor as his father had. He abandoned his gubernatorial run after being diagnosed in July 2005.
KEITH LECLAIR The second-winningest baseball coach in East Carolina Pirate history, LeClair coached the school to four straight NCAA tournaments before stepping down in 2002 when he started feeling the effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. He died in Greenville, N.C., on July 17, at the age of 40.
ROBERT HOFFMAN Robert Hoffman was a cofounder of National Lampoon magazine and later became a leading Dallas, Texas, business owner and philanthropist and a major collector of contemporary art. Hoffman died of leukemia in Dallas on August 20. He was 59.
JOHNNY JENKINS Johnny Jenkins was a guitarist who worked with Otis Redding in the early ’60s and influenced Jimi Hendrix through his acrobatic playing style. Jenkins died in Macon, Ga., on June 26, at the age of 67.
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festive south Oct. 6-8 The North Carolina Seafood Festival A three day festival that spans eight blocks and includes a boat show, fireworks, four stages of music and much more for the whole family in Morehead City, N.C. 252-7266273 www.ncseafoodfestival.org fun@ncseafoodfestival.org Oct. 6-15 Georgia National Fair This fair celebrates Georgia’s youth, agriculture and heritage with competitive and educational exhibits in a family environment in Perry, Ga. 478-987-3247 or 800-987-3247 (GA only) www.georgianationalfair.com mtreptow@gnfa.com October 7 Back Door Kitchen Tour Stroll streets in the historic district and be wowed by Kitchens from 1770 to present day. Also featuring food tastings by local restaurants and visit with kitchen design experts and homeowners in Wilmington, N.C. 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., Tickets: $15.00 910-341-0013 Oct. 7-14 Red River Revel Arts Festival A unique eight day celebration of the arts coordinated by 10,000 volunteers with food, performing and visual arts in Shreveport, La. 318-424-4000 www.redriverrevel.com rrr@redriverrevel.com Oct. 7-8 The Cotton Pickin’ Fair Three hundred of the best artisans, craftsmen, and antique specialists from across the US and Canada present this exceptional festival featuring music, arts, crafts and much more in Gay, Ga. 706-538-6814 www.cpfair.org info@cpfair.org Oct. 12-15 35th Annual National Shrimp Festival Fine arts exhibit, over 300 arts and crafts vendors and, of course, shrimp – fried, grilled, broiled or steamed–all down in Gulf Shores, Ala. 251-9686902 www.nationalshrimpfestival.com festival@gulftel.com Oct. 12-15 Suffolk Peanut Fest This family friendly festival offers educational exhibits, rides and games, endless varieties of food, cloggers, karaoke and the world’s only peanut butter sculpture contest in Suffolk, Va. 757-539-6751 www.suffolkfest.org info@suffolkfest.org Oct. 13-15 Foothills Fall Festival Downtown Maryville presents this three day event with some of the hottest musical acts in country, blues, rock and gospel, along with children’s entertainment, a juried arts and crafts showcase and much more in Maryville, Tenn. 865-273-3406 www.foothillsfallfestival.com jmgroff@ci.maryville.tn.us
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Oct. 13-14 Goats Music and More Festival An event honoring Marshall County’s famous native fainting goats includes children’s activities, arts and craft booths, food and music in Lewisburg, Tenn. 866-96GOATS www.goatsmusicandmore. com jecddirector@vccourthouse.net October 14, 2006 Bayou Lafourche Heritage Day Held on the ground of the beautiful E.D. White Historic Site Two miles north of Thibodaux on La. Hwy 1 on the Bayou. This one day festival features hands on demonstrations of Cajun crafts, wonderful Cajun food, music & games. FREE to the public, in Thibodaux, La. For more info call Nick Neylon @ 985-3991268
Oct. 28-29 Alabama Renaissance Faire Authentic costumes, arts and crafts, wandering minstrels, magicians and chamber singers await you as you step back in time in a faire that transforms downtown Florence, Ala., into a 600year-old European atmosphere. 256-768-3031 www.alarenfaire.org
Nov. 8-11 Cucalorus Film Festival Over 50 filmmakers from all over the continent travel to Cucalorus for the laidback, non-competitive festival. This year, the festival makes the move to historic Thalian Hall in Wilmington, N.C. 910-343-5995 www.cucalorus.org dan@cucalorus.org
Nov. 1-Dec. 31 Holiday Season in Old Salem Museum & Gardens This event takes people back to a quieter, more traditional holiday season and teaches how holidays have evolved since the 1700s with historic holiday decorating, music and more in Winston-Salem, N.C. 336-721-7300, www.oldsalem.org kreich@oldsalem.org
Nov. 9-19 Frank Brown International Songwriter’s Festival A cultural event dedicated to real architects of the music industry, celebrating the creativity, influence and power of music in Pensacola, Fla. 850-492-7664 www.fbisf.com reneda@fbisf.com
Nov. 1-Dec.15 (weekends only) Louisiana Renaissance Festival In this authentic Renaissance event, experience the romance of the 16th century through shows, music Oct. 19-29 and more in Hammond, La. 985-429-9992 Pensacola Interstate Fair Recently celebrating its 72nd anniversary, www.larf.org rick@la-renfest.com the fair is a Gulf Coast tradition featuring headliner musical groups, a midway and Nov. 2-5 7th Annual Pow Wow & Indian agricultural exhibits in Pensacola, Fla. Festival 850-944-4500 or 850-944-2000 A celebration of the history and heritage www.pensacolafair.com of Native Americans through education. info@pensacolafair.com Dance and drum competitions, basket weaving and hide tanning Oct. 21 demonstrations and much more in The Barbecue Festival Stone Mountain, Ga. 770-498-5690 A celebration of North Carolina’s www.rthunder.com best pork barbecue with arts and generalinfo@stonemountainpark.com crafts, antique car show, outstanding entertainment, and of course, barbecue Nov. 4-Jan. 1 in Lexington, N.C. Christmas at Biltmore Estate Call 336-956-1880 or log on See America’s largest home decorated in to www.barbecuefestival.com style for Christmas, including dozens of info@barbecuefestival.com Christmas trees, hundreds of wreaths and bows and more in Asheville, N.C. October 21 800-543-2961 www.biltmore.com The Great Delta Bear Affair Live musical entertainment, arts and crafts, Nov. 3-5 wildlife seminars, archeological tours, an Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival early morning bird walk, book signings, A festival hosting more than 200 fine children’s activities, fireworks and more art and craft exhibitors from around the celebrate President Theodore Roosevelt’s country; also features a children’s arts 1902 bear hunt in Sharkey County, Miss. festival in Pensacola, Fla. 850-432-9906 Held in Rolling Fork, Miss. www.ggaf.org ggaf@duncanmccall.com lowerdelta.org, megldp@bellsouth.net Oct. 14-15 MUMfest A festival showcasing the revitalized beauty of historic downtown New Bern features everything from outdoor concert events from well-known bands and musicians to a BMX bike show in New Bern, N.C. 252-638-5781 mumfest.com swissbear@swissbear.org
Oct. 25-28 Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic A celebration of the rivalry between two of the top college football teams in the country,in Jacksonville, Fla. 904-630-3690 www.flga.org events@coj.net
Nov. 3-11 National Peanut Festival Enjoy a large carnival, nationally recognized entertainment, circus animals, arts and crafts and more in this nine day, family-oriented event in Dothan, Ala. 334-793-4323 | nationalpeanutfestival. com, nationalpeanut@aol.com
Nov. 4-Dec. 30 Smokey Mountain Christmas Oct. 20-21 Festival Roast N’ Boast Dollywood offers a winter wonderland This competition draws approximately 20 of more than 3.5 million holiday lights, barbecue teams per year to Columbus, lavish holiday buffets and Christmas Miss., in a “Memphis in May”-sanctioned entertainment in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. barbecue contest. 800-DOLLYWOOD dollywood.com 662-328-5026 ddarby@cableone.net
Nov. 9-12 The Dickens Christmas Show Take a trip back in time to Victorian England during the Christmas holiday season in Myrtle Beach, S.C. 800-261-5991 dickenschristmasshow. com | dickensshow@sc.rr.com Nov. 10-11 Longhorn Championship Finals Rodeo and Western Trade Show The top 10 in six pro-rodeo contests compete in a sudden death competition. Added acts featuring a Lippizaner horse and more make this a fun family event in Murfreesboro, Tenn. 615-876-1016 or 800-357-6336 longhornrodeo.com info@longhornrodeo.com Nov. 11,12,17-19,24-26, Dec. 1-3,8-10,15-17,18-30 A Stone Mountain Christmas See a nightly “snowfall,” along with fascinating 1870s townsfolk, entertainers and skilled crafters in this Christmas event for the whole family in Stone Mountain, Ga. 770-498-5690, stonemountainpark. com generalinfo@stonemountainpark.com Nov. 17-Jan. 6 Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights An award-winning light extravaganza featuring more than 25 holiday scenes and nearly a million lights in Lookout Mountain, Ga. 706-820-2531 www.seerockcity.com Nov. 23-Dec. 31 Galaxy of Lights Take a 1.75 mile ride through this holiday lit, larger than life, animated exhibit with more than four million lights in Huntsville, Ala. 256-830-4447 www.hsvbg.org wmaster@hsvbg.org Nov. 25 Jacksonville Light Parade In a Thanksgiving weekend tradition for famiies in Jacksonville, Fla., more than 50 participants compete in the lighted boat contest with each boat judged on composition, originality and holiday spirit. See a fireworks show, on the St. Johns River. Fla. 904-630-3690 coj.net events@coj.net
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LIVE FROM
THE BIRTHPLACE
OF AMERICAN MUSIC.
Blues, country, rock ’n roll. It all started right here. And on any given night, it’s still going strong. From the coast to the Delta to the northern hills, singers and musicians make juke joints, clubs and concert halls rock. Fans come here from around the world to sit down front and see the real thing – live and a-live, as we say. Novice or connoisseur, you should, too. Call or check out VisitMississippi.org to get your free Mississippi Tour Guide. Then look for the neon, listen for the applause, and come on in for the show.
VisitMississippi.org 1-866-SEE MISS (733-6477)
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