MAY 2014
HOME &
GARDEN Annual combined Tupelo and Oxford issue
LOCAL PRINTMAKERS PLAY WITH PATTERN
Backyard Bird Watching
+
RECLAIMING A HOMESTEAD
Garden in a Glass
EASY OUTDOOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS
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INVITATION | May 2014
VISIT US ONLINE OR CALL US AT 662.234.2311 OR 800.797.2311 TO SCHEDULE A TEST DRIVE TODAY PARTS & SERVICE NOW OPEN SATURDAYS!
NEW DEALERSHIP LOCATION ON HWY 6 WEST • 100 NORTH THACKER LOOP, OXFORD, MS 38655 WWW. NOBODYBEATSACANNONDEAL.COM May 2014 | INVITATION
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LEGACY R EALT Y
#1 RE/MAX Team in Mississippi
Oxford, Mississippi
...The place you want to be!
Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924
$350,000 4 Bedroom/4.5 Bath
Markccleary@gmail.com
Blake Cannon (662) 380-7144
blake@oxfordvip.com
Phases 1, 2 & 3 SOLD OUT
•Large Private Courtyards •Granite Slab Throughout •Stainless Steel Appliance Package •Wet Bar & Fireplace
Brand new. A stroll to the square. Finishes include granite slab counters, wood floors, crown molding, stainless steel appliances and a metal roof. 3 or 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bathrooms. Come pick your lot and choose your finishes today!
Plan #211
•2 Car Attached Garage •Wood Floors •Walk to Ole Miss Campus •Walk-in Closets
Oxford’s Newest Family Development In Town! $275,000-$425,000 4 acre park, bike/walk path to the square, close knit community association & a community swimming pool coming!
Brand new construction! Come check out these private community lake lots. Features include granite counter tops in kitchen and bath, stainless steel appliances, hand scraped floors, fireplace, crown molding, walk-in closets, and two car garages. Three lots to choose from with multiple floor plans for you to customize. Experience the beauty and serenity of Tuscan Hills, just 5 minutes from downtown Oxford!
Steeplechase is back! $349,000 - $1.5million++ All lots at Least 1.5 acres. Come pick your lot & floor plan today or build a custom home. Strict architecture covenants and community lake.
#3 Library Court
1416 Van Buren
710 Quiet Valley Cove
70 Old Taylor
Northpointe
Grand Oaks
•Convenient location •Walking distance to square •Priced to sell!
• On Square • Viking Kitchen • Two Car Garage
•5 Bedrooms/ 4 Baths •On approx. 3 acres •tall ceilings/large windows
• 3 Bed 3.5 Bath • Custom Interior Finishes • Covered Back Porch
• 2650 sq ft/3 Bed 2.5 Bath • Bonus room and office • Swimming pool
• 6500 sq ft •1.5 acre double lot Grand Oaks • Movie theater
Price $325,500
$599,000
LEGACY R EALT Y
Price $455,000
$215,900
$339,900
Search the entire Oxford Market at www.MarkClearyOxford.com and www.OxfordVip.com 662.234.5621 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 • Each office independently owned and operated.
$935,000
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FLOORING & INTERIORS
2715 Hwy 145 South • Saltillo, MS • 869-3545
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“Quality That Will Floor You” 231-3355
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Living in Oxford is like being on vacation year round..
THE EDGAR BUILDING 428 N. LAMAR, STE 102 • OXFORD, MS
174 Eagle Pointe Loop $136,500 Check out this price! Call Meta
1103 Front Street
Let Sample & Poole make buying your new home a reality!
JULIE SAMPLE, BROKER • 662.234.0808
WWW.VACATIONOXFORD.COM
The Mark, Bldg 18, Unit 5
$346,600 $102,500 Reduced!!! Walk to all the games! Private Location! Blue Ribbon! Call Julie or Woody Call Julie or Woody
76 Tuscan Hills Drive $314,900 Better than New! Big Screened Porch! Call Julie or Meta
Julie Sample 601 906 2828
Woody Sample 601 955 1797
Meta Poole Ginn 662 202 2964 1617 Pierce Extended Great Location! $269,500 Call Meta
The Mark, Bldg 43, Unit 6 $104,900 Like New! Move-In Ready Call Julie or Woody
John Albriton 601 594 3774
Martha Brock 601 519 9940
Spring, a time for renewal, new life.... why not welcome the season in a new home! Oxford Condominiums
408 Andalusia
908 Highpointe
4Bed/3.5Bath Attention to all details! This charming home has everything you want with maintenance-free living.
4Bed/4Bath Great deal in Highpointe! This condo is in great condition and features 3 bedrooms with 3 baths.
401 Bickerstaff #10 3Bed/3Bath You will not get closer to the Ole Miss campus in such a well planned condominium!
stonebridge
3Bed/2Bath Such a well planned community of carefree living. Units are selling as quickly as they are built.
I PEND Cross Creek
One of Oxford’s best kept secrets! Very conveniently located and several great new plans to be built to your liking.
612 Centerpointe
4Bed/4.5Bath Beautiful Craftsman style home in popular Northpointe Subdivision. Inviting fireplace with exposed brick and open entertaining plan.
13 CR (Levee Road) 3Bed/1.5Bath Charming cottage located on a tree covered lot with a convenient location. Great investment property!
209 Cherrybark
4 Bed/ 2.5 Bath Great investment on one level in Oakshire subdivision. Very open plan!
NG
1101 Jackson Avenue West
Own a piece of Oxford’s history in this Oxford Square commercial building!
801 Brentwood Lane
So private in the great neighborhood of Woodland Hills! Southern styled exterior invites you to a wonderful floorplan inside!
Wellsgate
709 Quiet Valley Cove
21023 Will’s Trace
Grand newly constructed home on one of the best streets in Wellsgate!
18007 Country wood Cove Splendid home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Wellsgate! This home has a pool, beautiful kitchen! Everything you want!
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2202 Longspur Pointe 4Bed/3.5Bath
Grandiose southern estate home located in Wellsgate subdivision. This home has it all!
21008 Will’s Trace Being built by Montgomery Construction on popular Will’s Trace.
761 Nottingham Drive
Room for your family to spread out in this wonderful home. Fresh paint inside – ready to move in. Wonderful pool out back for summer enjoyment.
Picture perfect in Notting Hill! This home has a terrific plan, well cared for with many upgrades and backs up to the creek, offering privacy.
236 St. Andrews Circle
1605 Jackson Ave #4
You have waited for this address! Absolutely wonderful neighborhood!
4 Bed/3.5 Bath Just a minutes’ walk to the SQUARE!!
810 Brentwood Cove
Mature Crepe Myrtles line the entrance to this private estate home complete with a pool!
Jamey Leggitt 662-832-7620
Visit jameyleggitt.com jamey@kessingerrealestate.com
SUMMER OF FUN! Come Swim With Us! Oxford City Pool Opens May 24 • Swim Lessons •Family Nights •Adult Lap Swim Visit www.oxfordparkcommission.com for registration info, hours and rates!
Movies and Music in the Park PRESENTED BY:
This summer, OPC will set up our large inflatable movie screen in Avent Park to show a family-friendly movie with live musical entertainment before each show. Here’s the best part – IT’S FREE! June 13 - Frozen June 27 - Finding Nemo July 11 - Wreck-It Ralph July 25 - E.T. www.oxfordparkcommission.com and follow us on Facebook for more information. If you need special assistance related to disability, please contact the ADA Coordinator or visit the office at, 107 Courthouse Square, Oxford MS 38655. Call 662-232-2453 (voice) or 662-232-2300 (voice/TTY) or alhope@oxfordms.net.
310 South 15th Street • Oxford, MS • 662-232-2388 www.oxfordparkcommission.com May 2014 | INVITATION
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Brighton Village
3BR/3.5BA-1725 S.F. and 2BR/2.5BA-1325 S.F. PLANS STARTING IN THE $150’S. HARDWOOD/GRANITE THROUGHOUT/CUSTOM CABINETS/ STAINLESS APPLIANCES/POOL-CLOSE TO CAMPUS!
ROSEMONT
4BR/3.5BA PLANS ON THE GOLF COURSE STARTING IN THE $350’S. SOME OF THE AMENITIES INCLUDE HUGE KITCHENS/WET BAR/ INDOOR OUTDOOR FIREPLACE WITH A COVERED PATIO/ DECORATIVE BOX BEAMS/BRICK ACCENT WALL/PINE CEILING IN THE KITCHEN/HUGE MASTER BATH
The Gables
4BR/3.5BA 2400 S.F. PLANS STARTING IN THE LOW $200’S. CITY SCHOOLS/PAINTED BRICK/STONE/ 10FT CEILINGS& 8FT DOORS/GRANITE COUNTER TOPS/ STAINLESS APPLIANCES/WOOD FLOORS/COVERED PATIOS
Magnolia Grove
3BR/3.5BA STARTING IN THE $150’S. AFFORDABLE NEW CONSTRUCTION JUST MINUTES FROM CAMPUS! THESE HOMES FEATURE A MASTER BEDROOM DOWNSTAIRS WITH TWO BEDROOMS AND TWO BATHS UP. SOME OF THE AMENITIES INCLUDE STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES AND GRANITE COUNTER-TOPS! PERFECT FOR STUDENTS, INVESTORS, OR WEEKENDERS!
Provence Park
NEW 3BR/3.5BA PLANS STARTING IN THE HIGH $200’S! PROVENCE SHUTTLE SERVICE TO THE GROVE AND THE SQUARE! HARDWOOD/GRANITE/STAINLESS APPLIANCES/ 10FT CEILINGS/GARAGES
Matt McGraw
The Lakes
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LAKE FRONT HOMES STARTING IN THE LOW $200’S.BREATHTAKING VIEWS! CUSTOMIZE YOUR PLAN!
662-801-5170 matt@kessingerrealestate.com www.condosinoxford.com
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Exclusive Offering
• 580 acre Turn Key Recreational and Equestrian Property • 4000 sq. ft. custom Texas-style lodge complete with 6 bedroom/bathroom suites • Diverse deer, turkey, and quail habitat
• Numerous improvements, including a 6000 sq. ft. custom built barn • All within a 30 minute drive from Downtown Oxford
Call today for a private showing.
Southland
Real Estate Services LLC
Gerald Chatham, Jr., Broker 901-603-1319 May 2014 | INVITATION
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IN THIS ISSUE MAY 2014
MAY 2014
MAY 2014
HOME &
GARDEN Annual combined Tupelo and Oxford issue
LOCAL PRINTMAKERS PLAY WITH PATTERN
Backyard Bird Watching
+
RECLAIMING A HOMESTEAD
HOME &
Garden in a Glass
EASY OUTDOOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS
GARDEN Annual combined Oxford and Tupelo issue
COVER PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
COVER PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
FEATURES 40 Birds of a Feather
86 State of Adventure
200 Setting Her Pace
Follow these easy tips for attracting and spotting the five most common birds in north Mississippi backyards.
Road trip! From canoeing down the Mississippi River to splashing at a water park, these destinations are within an easy drive.
Artist Jennifer Pace’s newly renovated Water Valley boardinghouse brings her love of entertaining and pottery together under one roof.
50 Hollywood Material
125 Cultivating a Dream
207 Spring Mix
Tupelo’s Premier Prints creates fabric used to decorate spaces from Mississippi homes to television award-show parties.
University of Mississippi alumna Angela Gapinski creates miniature terrariums with small succulents and other unexpected finds.
Many varieties of lettuce and other leafy greens are in season during spring. Use these tips for planting, growing and preparing them.
58 Cozy Corner
134 Contemporary Classic
212 Homecoming
A former rental house on a prominent Oxford corner is renovated into a comfortable space for a retired couple to unwind.
Latricia and Judah Askew use items collected during their many worldly travels to decorate their Tupelo house.
Five generations removed, a century-old Tupelo house once again belongs to ancestors of its original owners.
68 Fit for a King
144 Brasserie du Square
218 Homegrown Gardening
Oxford resident Mike McGregor created handmade leather goods and custom jewelry for Elvis Presley in the 1960s and ’70s.
An elegant and unexpected French bistro is tucked away in the basement of a house just off the Oxford Square.
Duke Goza enjoys the do-it-yourself aspect of tending to his backyard.
74 Full House
196 Heavy Metal
Dianne and Mark Craig’s Tupelo home is designed as much for entertaining and parties as it is for their family.
J.R. Clark’s hand-forged bottle openers are as artistic as they are practical.
226 Cabin Fever A small, modern and environmentally friendly cabin is a quiet retreat for a busy Memphis musician and his family.
DEPARTMENTS 28 32 36 122 190 232
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Letter From the Publisher Oxford What’s Happening Tupelo What’s Happening Tupelo Out and About Oxford Out and About Q&A: Jenks Farmer
TUPELO EVENTS 95 96 98 100 102 104 106 108 110 112 114 118 120
Green Festival Color Vibe 5K Mustache Bash Business After Hours You Don’t Know My Story GumTree Gala NOleput Undefeated CrossFit Easter Egg Hunt Show Choir Fundraiser Children’s Fishing Rodeo Bugs for Le Bonheur Home and Garden Show
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Breast Surgery, Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, Reconstructive Procedures
Injectables
Botox, Juvederm, Dysport administered by Dr. Shell
Skin Care
Eminence Organics Image Skincare Jane Iredale Obagi SkinCeuticals
Medical Grade Facials & Peels
20% off one package now through May 2014
Sublative Rejuvenation Improves Skin Tone, Texture and Acne Scarring
Call 662-236-6465 today for a complimentary skincare or laser consultation. BOARD CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY
OXFORD EVENTS 154 156 158 160 162 165 168 170 173 176 178 180 182 184 186 188
Laser Hair Removal
glowing
Downtown Council Open House Women’s Council Legacy Awards Sparky Reardon Retirement Magnolia Montessori Auction Flower Power Garden Show Rebels’ Choice Awards Oxford’s Got Talent OUS Auction Miss-i-ssippin’ Grove Bowl Kappa Spaghetti Dinner NAACP Banquet Young Authors Fair Drinks With Morgan Freeman Leisure Lifestyles Spring Fever Low-Country Boil
SKIN
HYDRAFACIAL • Deep Cleanse & Exfoliate with Hydradermabrasion • Detoxify with Painless Extraction & Light Chemical Peel • Rejuvenate & Hydrate with Vortex Fusion
2716 West Oxford Loop, Suite 171, Oxford, MS 38655 www.ShellPlasticSurgery.com
662-236-6465 May 2014 | INVITATION
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LETTER FROM
M
the publisher
y husband planted six tomato plants in our backyard last spring to teach our 2-year-old daughter about how things can grow and produce vegetables. As the plants grew, he staked them, and, before too long, tiny green tomatoes appeared on the plants. As spring turned into a hot summer, our daughter and her daddy would check for new tomatoes each day. It was a joy to hear her say things like, “There’s a new baby tomato.” When the tomatoes began ripening, she’d pluck them off the plants and declare them delicious. Like those tomato plants that grew from seeds into maturity, our staff has been fostering ideas for this annual combined issue for more than a year. Many of the features began as tiny seeds in our minds, and, through a lot of thought and planning, they have grown into fully developed stories with beautiful photos. We are thrilled to present our home and garden issue to our Invitation Oxford and Invitation Tupelo readers. Though developing and selecting articles and photos to highlight was no easy task, we looked for a variety of homes and gardens to share. We hope you find them engaging. We met people like Duke Goza (page 218), whose longtime love of gardening and attention to detail makes his garden a place where he and others can enjoy the fruits of his labor. His backyard sanctuary blooms all year long and is a showplace for his many varieties of hostas. We also highlighted several area artists whose mediums range from ironwork to small terrariums. Each of these people is a talented artist with an interesting story and beautiful artwork to share.
PUBLISHER Rachel Malone West EDITOR Phil West DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Cindy Semmes MANAGING EDITOR Sonia Thompson ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR Emily Welly EDITORIAL DESIGN Emily R. Suber, Hallie M. Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson, Sheena Hagemann, Leigh Lowery, Lynn McElreath, Mary Moreton, Moni Simpson AD DESIGN Rebecca Bailey, Zach Fields, Paul Gandy CONTRIBUTORS Caitlin Adams, Lena Anderson, Leslie Brooks, Melanie Crownover, Caroline Beffa Franks, Mabus Photography, Megan Marascalco, Ann-Marie Wyatt OFFICE MANAGER Hollie Hilliard COPY EDITORS Linda Jansen, Kate Johnson DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney, Brian Hilliard
The home of Tupelo residents Mark and Dianne Craig (page 74) is sure to be one of your favorites. See how they built a house and decorated it with entertaining in mind. The open-concept floor plan makes gatherings of any size easy and comfortable. Finally, on page 207, learn about several varieties of lettuce that can be grown locally. We’ve included some easy salad recipes as well. If, like my daughter, you’re growing your own tomatoes, throw them in with any of these salads. Delicious.
ADVERTISING INFORMATION (662) 701-8070 ads@invitationoxford.com MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008 To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Oxford, send payment of $50 to: P.O. Box 776, Oxford, MS 38655 or visit invitationoxford.com to pay online. To request a photographer at your event, to obtain a copy of an event photo or to purchase an announcement, email Emily at emilysuber.invitationoxford@gmail.com.
RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
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PUBLISHER Rachel Malone West EDITOR Phil West DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Cindy Semmes MANAGING EDITOR Emily Welly ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR Sonia Thompson
Van Buren Village
EDITORIAL DESIGN Hallie M. Thomas, Emily R. Suber STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Lisa Roberts, Joe Worthem STAFF WRITER Melanie Crownover ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson, Sheena Hagemann, Leigh Lowery, Lynn McElreath, Mary Moreton, Moni Simpson
Royal Oaks
Steeplechase
775 Shady Oaks
346 Winner’s Circle
9002 Bristol Cove
404 Augusta Place
AD DESIGN Rebecca Bailey, Paul Gandy, Zach Fields CONTRIBUTORS Faith Riley Dawson, Chasity Dees, Arlene Beard Norton, Kristi Sizemore, Shea Summers OFFICE MANAGER Hollie Hilliard COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney
Wellsgate
Grand Oaks
ADVERTISING INFORMATION (662) 701-8070 ads@invitationtupelo.com MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008 To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Tupelo, send payment of $50 to: P.O. Box 3192, Tupelo, MS 38802 or visit invitationtupelo.com to pay online. To request a photographer at your event, to obtain an event photo or to purchase an announcement, email Hallie at hallielandonmarshall@gmail.com.
Notting Hill
Glenda Keenan, GRI
662-832-0729
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
765 Nottingham
glenda@kessingerrealestate.com
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Creating Beautiful
Smiles
PARK PLACE
D E N TA L Ken Goodwin DMD Christine Rayburn DMD Amy Scopel DMD Family dentistry • Implants Cosmetic dentistry • Conscious sedation Crown and veneers in a day with CEREC Open Monday - Friday 8-5 662-728-8171 403 North 3rd St. Booneville, MS 38829 www.parkplacedentist.com
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INVITATION | May 2014
Downtown Remodel
The Highlands
before
JW McCurdy 662.816.2700 Chad Russom 662.801.0446
Southpointe Subdivision
Tuscan Hills
Outdoor Kitchens
oxford what’s happening May 1-31
A sampling of important, fun and interesting events in our area. For more events, visit facebook.com/invitationoxford.
May 10 UM Graduation
May 5
SPECIAL EVENTS May 2 and 9
ART, BOOKS, MUSIC, FUNDRAISERS AND MORE May 3
May 16
Double Decker Bus Tour
Maker’s Market
St. John’s Catholic Church Drawdown
Hop on the double-decker bus for a historic tour of the University of Mississippi campus, the Square and other points of interest in Oxford with historian, Jack Mayfield. Tickets are $5 and tours last one hour. For more information, call Visit Oxford at 662-232-2477. 2 p.m., Visit Oxford office, 415 South Lamar Blvd.
A monthly craft fair featuring handmade goods. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., courthouse lawn
May 5
Event features a $10,000 drawdown. Benefits Interfaith Compassion Ministries, Love Packs, Save-A-Life Foundation, Doors of Hope and others. 7 p.m., Oxford Conference Center
Oxford Civic Chorus Presents Let’s Go to the Movies
May 17
May 10
A concert featuring music from Alice in Wonderland, Annie, Dirty Dancing, The Graduate, Skyfall and more. 7 p.m., Nutt Auditorium, oxfordcivicchorus.org
University of Mississippi Convocation Governor Phil Bryant speaks at the Ole Miss graduation ceremony. 9 a.m., the Grove (in case of inclement weather: Tad Smith Coliseum)
May 11 Mamma Mia! The national Broadway tour of Mamma Mia!, a tale of love, laughter, friendship and ABBA songs. 3 p.m., the Ford Center
May 20-22 Garden Expo The garden expo is in conjunction with the state Master Gardener conference and is open to the public. 1-4:30 p.m., Tues., May 20 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., Wed., May 21 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Thurs., May 22 Old Armory, University Ave.
May 6 10-Minute Play Contest Reading Theatre Oxford’s 10-minute play contest readings. 7 p.m., the Powerhouse
May 8 Chamber After Hours A monthly professional networking event hosted by the Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. 5-7 p.m., Mimosa Flowers and Gifts
May 8 Laff Co. Improv Comedy Show Laff Co., Oxford’s comedy group, performs improv. 9 p.m., the Powerhouse
May 15 Young Professionals of Oxford Third Thursday A networking event for young professionals held the third Thursday of the month at rotating locations. 6 p.m., the Rib Cage
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Tunes & Tails The Oxford-Ole Miss Rotary Club hosts the all-you-caneat crawfish boil to benefit More Than a Meal. The event also features $5 bottomless cups for alcoholic beverages. 3-7 p.m., the Powerhouse
May 21 An Evening With Michael Pollan Square Books and the Southern Foodways Alliance host Pollan, author of Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation. Event is ticketed and tickets are free with a purchase of Cooked from Square Books. 6:30 p.m., Nutt Auditorium
May 25 Oxford Art Crawl The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council hosts the art crawl, held the fourth Tuesday of each month. Venues are the Powerhouse, Southside Gallery, University Museum, Meek Hall, Cicada, Frame Up and Bouré. 6-8 p.m.
May 30-June 1 Yokshop Workshop A three-day writing workshop where writing is discussed and critiqued by published authors. Registration is $400. Visit yokshop.eventbrite.com or call 662-236-6429 to register.
Children’s Book Week May 12-18
CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES May 5
Clay, Wood, and Paper Mache A class designed to let children try making things that are not flat, such as sculpture and other creations that have shape, volume and texture. 4-5 p.m., ages 4-8; 5:15-6:15 p.m., ages 9-13 the Powerhouse, oxfordarts.com
May 12-18 Children’s Book Week Children’s Book Week is an annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. Square Books Jr. will host the following events. Sarah Frances Hardy with her new book, Paint Me, 10 a.m., May 10 Laurie Fisher with Where Do They Go on Game Day?, 10 a.m., May 14 Story time with Curious George, 10 a.m., May 17 Crayon story time party, 3 p.m., May 17
May 13 Mini Masters A drop-in workshop for toddlers and a parent or guardian. Artist Andi Bedsworth will instruct children on making superhero paper dolls and masks. 3:45- 4:30 p.m., the Powerhouse
May 26-30 Early Bird Art Camp An art camp for children ages 3-10. Students will be grouped in two classes: ages 3-6 in one and ages 7-10 in another. The Powerhouse, oxfordarts.com
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VOTE Carnelia Pettis-Fondren for Chancery Judge on November 4 1. Who is Carnelia Pettis-Fondren?
I am a lifelong resident of Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi. I grew up the seventh (7) of twelve (12) children in a loving two (2) parent home. I know and appreciate the success and struggles of life. I was honored to become a member of the Mississippi Bar in May 1993. I have years of experience in the practice of chancery law.
2. What district will you be serving?
The 18th Chancery District serves the citizens of Benton, Calhoun, Lafayette, Marshal and Tippah counties.
3. What are the responsibilities of a Chancery Judge? The Chancery Judge duties include matters of equity; disputes of family law (custody, child support, divorce and guardianship) land matters, and wills.
4. What leads you to seek this position?
My life’s goal is a legacy of love and compassion for those who need protection in our society. I commit to treat your family and children as I would treat my own. I know the importance of listening and empathizing. I commit to you my compassion, understanding and fairness. Your voice will always be heard regardless of your wealth and status.
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tupelo what’s happening May 1-June 15
PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHEA SUMMERS
A sampling of important, fun and interesting events in our area. For more events, visit facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
BENEFITS May 3
FESTIVALS, CELEBRATIONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS May 2-4
May 17
Blue Suede Cruise
New Beginnings Family Picnic
The largest classic car event in the state, featuring more than 700 cars and live entertainment, kicks off with a drive-in movie at 7 p.m. May 2 at BancorpSouth Arena. Free admission. Visit bluesc.com for a full schedule of events.
New Beginnings Celebrating Adoption Family Picnic. 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., Fairpark, newbeginningsadoptions.org
Lyrics for Le Bonheur
May 10-11
Lyrics for Le Bonheur singer/songwriter event features accomplished Nashville songwriters and local favorites. Benefits Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Tickets $75. 7 p.m., The Antler, 662-840-2389
GumTree Festival
Summer festival features rides, entertainment, games and food. 4-11 p.m. Thursday, noon-midnight Friday and Saturday, noon-11 p.m. Sunday; Tupelo Furniture Market
The 43rd-annual GumTree Festival celebrates the arts with art vendors, a juried art competition, live music, children’s activities and more. gumtreefestival.com
May 3-4
May 10-11
Skip Gleason Memorial Golf Tournament
White Buffalo Pow Wow
The third-annual tournament raises money to establish an endowed scholarship in Skip Gleason’s name at the University of Mississippi School of Law. Natchez Trace Golf Club, Saltillo, Miss. To register, call 662-869-2166.
The ninth-annual pow wow celebrates American Indian heritage and Tupelo’s connection to the sacred white buffalo. Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo, tupelobuffalopark.com
Kentucky Derby Party The 16th-annual Kentucky Derby Party benefiting Regional Rehab features a hat contest, live and silent auctions and more. Tickets $40. 3-9 p.m. Hosted by Tom Evans, 419 Robins St., Tupelo, 662-842-1891
May 3
May 15 Sounds of Sanctuary II Sanctuary Hospice House’s Sounds of Sanctuary II benefit concert features Svetlana Kaltchenko, violin; Nan Lawrence, flute; Martha Monroe, piano; and guest vocalist Lance Moore. Tickets, $10, are available at the door; in Tupelo at Room to Room, Reed’s and Sanctuary House; or in New Albany at Bankhead Florist. CDs will be sold at the concert. 7 p.m., Link Centre
May 17 St. Jude Runs Runners will raise money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital as they run relay-style from Tupelo to Memphis.
June 14 Street Fiesta Tupelo Community Theatre’s 11th-annual Street Fiesta fundraiser. 7:30-11:30 p.m., 201 North Broadway, tct.ms
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May 16, 22 and 24 High School Graduations BancorpSouth Arena hosts commencement ceremonies for Tupelo High School (May 16); Nettleton High School (May 22); and Saltillo, Shannon and Mooreville high schools (all May 24).
May 16-17 Tupelo Farmers Market A Feast for the Farmers fundraiser dinner at 7 p.m. May 16 benefits the local market. The following morning, the market opens for the season. Shop Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 6 a.m. until the vendors sell out, through Oct. 25. 415 South Spring St., tupelomainstreet.com
May 17 West Point Downtown Art Walk West Point/Clay County Arts Council’s Downtown Art Walk features artists exhibiting and selling their work, a silent “amazing art chair” auction, food from local restaurants and live music. 662-494-5678
May 28-June 1 Tupelo Summer Fest
June 5-8 Tupelo Elvis Festival This year’s festival promises to be one of the biggest yet. Don’t miss the tribute artist contest, Sunday gospel brunch, 5K race, pet parade and more. For a full schedule of events and locations, visit tupeloelvisfestival.com.
June 7 Prairie Walk at Chickasaw Village A park ranger will guide visitors through Mississippi’s Blackland Prairie at the Chickasaw Village Site, located at milepost 261.8 on the Natchez Trace Parkway. 9-10 a.m.
June 8-10 Historic Preservation Conference The Mississippi Heritage Trust hosts a historic preservation conference in Tupelo. Festivities include a tour of the Highland Circle neighborhood; conference speakers at the Lyric Theatre and Goodlett Manor; and the state Heritage Awards Luncheon. For a complete schedule of events or to register to attend, visit listenupms.com.
June 13-15 Battle Reenactment The 150th-anniversary reenactment of the Battles of Brice’s Crossroads and Tupelo-Harrisburg. The weekend includes children’s activities, living history demonstrations, period church services and more. The reenactment takes place at 1 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit finalstands.com.
PERFORMANCES May 1-3
Tupelo Community Theatre Tupelo Community Theatre presents 9 to 5. Sponsored by North Mississippi Medical Center. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Lyric Theatre; tctwebstage.com
May 3-4 Feathered Horse Spring Classic The sixth-annual Feathered Horse Spring Classic features Gypsy Vanner and Friesian horses. Free admission. Lee County Agri-Center, Verona, Miss., featheredhorseclassic.com
May 10 Bill Cosby Bill Cosby performs as part of his Far From Finished tour. Cosby was the first performer at the arena, which is now celebrating its 20th year in business. 8 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena, bcsarena.com
May 22-June 1 Big River Corinth Theatre-Arts presents a musical based on Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Tickets $12 for adults, $6 for students. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays; corinththeatrearts.com
June 7 Dulcimer Day The North Mississippi Dulcimer Association will share music and knowledge about this Appalachian Mountain instrument. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center at milepost 266 near Tupelo
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Birds of a
Feather
It doesn’t take an avid bird-watcher to appreciate these winged wonders while enjoying the outdoors. Spot these five common birds from the backyard. by Melanie Crownover
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY RYAN HAGERTY, COURTESY U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Mockingbirds
The mockingbird is Mississippi’s state bird. Luring these gray-and-white warblers ensures a song-filled experience. One mockingbird in the garden is equivalent to a whole avian choir. Although other species, such as the brown thrusher and the catbird, make games of
imitating other birds’ songs, the mockingbird is the master of mimicry. These hardy birds are resilient enough to adapt to country or city living and will eat almost anything you put out, from suet to seed, though their favorite treats are fresh insects. The mockingbird prefers to nest in dense
bushes and is typically not afraid of people. The male and female of this long-tailed species look almost identical. Tip: Native plants such as possumhaw holly are favored nesting grounds for this bird because the shrubbery also offers berries for food that lasts through the winter. May 2014 | INVITATION
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY FRANK RIPP, COURTESY NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JERRY ACTON, COURTESY NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
Cardinals
These winter holiday poster birds are actually at home in Mississippi for most of the year. While the bright red males are easy to spot, the females are more discreet, typically brown with hints of red. Both have distinctive reddish-orange bills. The males change their songs in the spring to attract mates, and it isn’t unusual to hear several males in one area having a sing-off to attract the attention of one female. These melodic love birds prefer feeders with perches to feed their families, and they flock to oily black sunflower seeds either in the shell or out. Tip: Provide clean, shallow birdbaths, and wash feeders at least once a week to keep them free of disease and excrement. Boost cleanings when traffic increases.
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Eastern Bluebirds
The signature bright blue bodies and orange-and-white breasts of the males of this breed make them easily recognizable. Eastern bluebirds love to live in birdhouses placed in areas not surrounded by trees, since they prefer an open approach to their nests. Entry holes should measure 1.5 inches in diameter to exclude the larger European starlings and English house sparrows that commonly displace them, and old nesting material should be cleaned from the houses at the end of each season. Tip: Don’t expect these feathered friends to partake in your feeders. Eastern bluebirds would rather hunt insects such as spiders and grubs than perch and peck seed. A scattering of mealworms from the pet store across the grass or on a flat feeder can draw more of them to your yard.
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY THOMAS BARNES, COURTESY U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Red-Bellied Woodpeckers
Some people may dislike this species for their destructive habit of pecking on gutters and eaves, but they are fun to spot. Despite common assumptions, the habit of knocking on things other than trees doesn’t stem from a lack of intelligence. The male of the breed, which is distinguished by a slight tint of red over a buff-yellow belly and a red cap, finds the most resonant object in the area to drum on to mark his territory. Red-bellied woodpeckers eat insects with their long beaks, but they also enjoy sunflower seeds or shelled peanuts. As tree clingers, woodpeckers can eat from any model of feeder since they can eat upside down or sideways. They love suet cakes, which amateur birders can easily hang from nearby trees or a deck to bring the birds in for a closer view. Tip: If you have dead trees in your yard that aren’t a threat to your home or people walking by, leave them. Woodpeckers use the hollowedout trunks as homes to rear their young.
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Summer Treat for Birds: Peanut Butter Pudding
High-calorie treats help provide extra energy for nesting adults and young chicks in the summer. All-season Peanut Butter Pudding attracts woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice and, occasionally, warblers. Mix one part peanut butter with five parts cornmeal, and stuff the mixture into holes drilled in a hanging log or into the crevices of a large pinecone. Other foods you can offer in both summer and winter include oatmeal, raisins, walnuts, peanuts and pecans. Fresh fruit, such as apples, grapes, bananas and oranges, is also an option, but watch for ants and yellow jackets, and only put out what can be eaten in a day or two.
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This tiny harbinger of warmth usually arrives to the area around mid-March and stays until September. Known for its petite size and the thrum of its blurrily fast wings, this particular variety of hummingbird features an emerald-green body with a belly that is white on the female and red on the male. These birds favor clear tube feeders filled with a mix of water and sugar at a 4:1 ratio. Although premixed varieties of hummingbird food are readily available at home and garden stores, the red food coloring in the concoction can be unhealthy for them. The hue does attract the bird, but try incorporating it into your yard with flowers and a feeder with a red perch or bottom. Check sugar water every few days in the summer and replace as needed to ensure it doesn’t ferment. The nectar also draws ants and bees, so clear any dead insects from the feeder when replenishing the food to keep the bodies from molding inside the nozzles. If you have several of these territorial birds frequenting your feeders, be sure to hang more than one to avoid fights. Remember in the fall that these minuscule birds have to double their body weight before migrating across the Gulf of Mexico to Central America. Ignore the myth that leaving out feeders delays the trip, and leave out food until October for the late-flying few coming from up north. Tip: Bee balm, coral honeysuckle, Indian pink and cardinal flower are all native plants that draw hummingbirds. Special thanks to veteran Tupelo birdwatcher Merle Temple, Kristin Lamberson of the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center and audubon.org.
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY BILL STRIPLING, COURTESY NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds
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Kenneth from Tupelo UM-Tupelo 2013 Bachelor’s of Criminal Justice Graduate
www.olemiss.edu/tupelo /umtupelo 48
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662-844-5622
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Hollywood
MATERIAL Family-owned Premier Prints produces fabric used to decorate spaces from Mississippi homes to television award-show parties. by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem
Fabric from north Mississippi-based Premier Prints has been used to decorate Hollywood award-show parties, including the 2014 HBO Golden Globes party, pictured above and right.
A
t the 2014 HBO Golden Globes party, beautiful people who usually grace America’s television sets mingled at tables set with crystal and draped in colorful fabric in honor of another season of the network’s many popular shows. It’s unlikely they realized they were dining on linens created by a family-run fabric company from the hills of north Mississippi. Every chair slipcover, tablecloth and napkin at the party was made of fabric designed
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and manufactured by Premier Prints, a business co-owned by brothers Zeke, Billy and Johnny Hodges of Tupelo. “We were at the right place at the right time on that. The people in charge came by our showroom at a show in Los Angeles. They saw how quickly we can get whatever they need ready for them, and now we’re regulars,” Zeke said. “We see all those actors and actresses sitting around tables in a room full of our fabric and just laugh.”
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY GABOR EKECS
Animal Care Center of Tupelo
Animal Care Center of Tupelo
Animal Care Center “your other family doctor” of Tupelo
Brothers Zeke, Johnny and Billy Hodges started Premier Prints in the 1990s. The business is known for its vibrant patterns and quick turnaround time on orders.
(662) 842-8707 5362 Cliff Gookin Blvd. Tupelo, MS 38801 www.animalcarecenteroftupelo.net
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HBO became a repeat customer, dressing up many of their celebrations for True Blood, The Newsroom and Game of Thrones with thousands of yards of Premier Prints’ materials. Soon after came a special order to bedeck the Golden Globe Awards. The brothers were doing big business with national retailers like Hobby Lobby and Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores long before Hollywood came calling. They moved to Tupelo from Memphis in 1960 for their father’s job in the cotton-batting business and grew up around the area’s booming furniture industry. As adults, they became salesmen in raw materials, from foam to fiber and fabric. The men were selling decking cloth used to line upholstered furniture for a local company when a fad for businesses to embroider logos on the cloth gave them an idea: Why not print the logo on the fabric instead? After a competitor bought out their employer, taking the tools and contacts for the new project, the brothers went from salesmen to upstart manufacturers in record time, signing their first contract with Tupelo furniture manufacturer Action Industries Inc. in 1991. The three have a knack for handling an order of any size and getting it to the customer quickly. “We’ve simplified the buying process. It
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Employee Maggie Phipps checks reams of fabric in Premier Prints’ Sherman, Miss., production plant. The business prints more than 150,000 yards of cotton fabric weekly, and the selection of patterns is updated frequently. The fabric is sold in the Tupelo retail store and online.
used to take six months to get 1,000 yards, and most of the old manufacturers wouldn’t have discussed doing a print of small yardage. They had so much bureaucracy. We just didn’t know any better,” Billy said. The entrepreneurs’ willingness to work overtime brought in major manufacturing clients such as Lane, Benchcraft and Simmons. When the fad that started their business idea passed and big furniture companies started disappearing, Premier Prints branched out into printed fabric for upholstery and décor. Now the brothers have a 65,000-squarefoot production plant employing 35 in Sherman, Miss., and a retail store in Tupelo full of
vibrant prints. Some of the designs originate with marketshow artists from all over the country; others come from the in-house team observing trends. With the factory putting out 150,000 yards of cotton material per week, the selection changes on a rolling basis. “I still have people at market shows in New York think I’m kidding when I say I can have them what they need on our time. They think it should be at least six weeks to get a shipment after they order,” Johnny said. “Service was everything to our dad, and that’s affected the way we do business.” Social media and the company’s online
retail site have pushed the brand across the globe as far as the Bahamas, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Media exposure from events such as the network premieres hasn’t hurt, either. But those high-visibility moments are just a small part of the business that drives the Hodgeses. “There’s no telling how many homes have our fabric on their bedding or draperies or throw pillows. And so many people ask me what country does our printing. I get to laugh and say, ‘Mississippi,’ and they say, ‘No,’ like they can’t believe it,” Zeke said. “Those are the things that make me proud. No one else does what we do here.” May 2014 | INVITATION
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COZY CORNER Mary Betsy and Bruce Bellande transformed a tired rental house on a busy Oxford corner into a comfortable bungalow. by Melanie Crownover
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photographed by Joe Worthem
BEFORE May 2014 | INVITATION
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Mary Betsy and Bruce Bellande have renovated their house on North 16th Street in Oxford not once, but twice. The first redesign took place in the 1980s. The couple, who lived next door at the time, purchased the house as an investment property. They quickly set about converting the single-family structure into a duplex with a one-bedroom, one-bath efficiency unit and a three-bedroom, twobath living space. Bruce and a contractor redid the foundation; removed a fireplace; and rewired, replumbed and reinforced the house. Just as the renters were moving in, the Bellandes were moving out of their house next door, first
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to Birmingham and then to Indiana for work. But when the couple started talking about retirement, Oxford and their old property on North 16th Street called. “Oxford has always been a part of us,” Mary Betsy said. “It’s where I’m from and where we met and had our children. We even planted those sugar maples in the yard next door. This was like coming back home for us.” Before they could come home, however, their house would have to be renovated from a duplex back into a single-family house. The wear and tear was apparent from years of renters. “Our neighbors have been great because we were the landlords who hadn’t fixed it up,” Bruce said.
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The Bellandes’ expansive front porch overlooks the St. Peter’s Cemetery. The front porch and the screened-in side porch are two of Bruce’s favorite places to unwind.
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From their Midwest abode, the Bellandes set out to change that. They hired architect Cory Alger to entirely rethink the design. “The vision was to take a prominent corner near a historic site and make the house fit in as an identifiable landmark in the neighborhood,” Alger said. “I think we did a pretty good job of it.” A construction crew gutted the rental down to the studs once the plans were in place. The demo made way for a revamped three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath 1930s Arts and Crafts-style bungalow. The finishing touches included red cedar shingles, a flagstone porch, limestone borders and a pastoral front yard. “Anyone who saw that old house comes around now and says this can’t be the same house,” Bruce said. “And for the most part they’re right.” Inside, a copper-penny backsplash in the kitchen and gas-log fireplace
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“People have stopped at the corner in their car to roll the window down and yell, ‘We love your house, man’ while I’m out there reading the paper.” – Bruce Bellande
The updated floor plan features an open-concept living room and dining room. Built-in bookcases display family photographs and University of Mississippi memorabilia.
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in the living room give the main living spaces a glow. That warmth is repeated in the original 1860s pine floors and cambria quartz-topped kitchen island. The couple make good use of their large Queen Anne dining room table when Bruce mans the grill and smoker on his spacious “cook-in” screened side porch. He also loves sitting on the front porch. It’s one of his favorite places in the house when the weather is warm. Passersby love it, too. “That’s where I’ve gotten some of our best compliments,” Bruce said. “I’m not kidding you. People have stopped at the corner in their car to roll the window down and yell, ‘We love your house, man’ while I’m out there reading the paper.” The light-flooded master bathroom features a soaking tub, a separate stone-floor shower and French doors that lead to a private sunporch fit
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with a wet bar and mini-fridge. Upstairs, the landing has a living area with plenty of seating and a big-screen TV. On either end of the sitting room are the two guest bedrooms. One features a four-poster bed and the other contains twin beds and a baby crib. The Bellandes like the guest rooms best when they are filled with family. There are frequent visits from their 2-year-old grandson, Austin, and their daughter and son, who return to Oxford from Arkansas and South Carolina often. “This was the kind of comfort I wanted here,” Mary Betsy said. “I didn’t want anything so delicate you can’t live in. I wanted comfort our grandkids can run around in without one fear. The kind that brings a family together.”
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Oxford Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates
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FIT FOR A Mike McGregor, a custom saddle and jewelry maker, once outfitted Elvis in leather, silver and turquoise. by Sonia Thompson photographed by Paul Gandy
B
ill McGregor flips through an old photo album, looking at pictures of Elvis. In that famous face, he finds reminders of someone less famous but more important to him: his dad. Mike McGregor was Elvis Presley’s friend, farm manager and jewelry designer, and 15 years after Mike died, his son sits in his office on Highway 7 South, just outside of Oxford, going through the things his father left behind. He puts down the scrapbook and pulls out a few small boxes stuffed with jewelry and empties them onto the desk. He turns over a large silverand-turquoise necklace and runs his fingers over the engraving on the back. “Made for Elvis Presley in 1973 by Mike McGregor.” For nine years, Mike worked for Elvis, first handling his horses and ranch, then as a Graceland caretaker and personal leatherworker and jewelry maker to The King. The McGregor family lived in a small trailer on the Graceland property. “My mother would say, ‘Did you tell those people your daddy worked for Elvis?’ And I’d say, ‘No.’ People just don’t believe you when you tell them that,” Bill said. Bill has other unbelievable stories, too, like learning to swim in the Graceland pool. But for him, it was just part of his childhood. “I can remember going out there to that pool in the summertime, and he’d be out there,” he said. “I played with his daughter all the time, Lisa. She’d be there. All of us kids played there at Graceland. You know, we ran in and out. The ladies in the kitchen cooked for us. They treated us like we were their kids.” He was just a boy following his dad, and since his dad treated Elvis like just another guy, so did Bill.
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Mike’s employment with Elvis began in the mid-1960s, when Mike moved from his home in north Mississippi to Memphis to learn how to become a saddle maker. “My daddy always wanted to do leatherwork ever since he was a little kid, like 10 years old,” Bill said. To chase that dream, Mike began making saddles out of a Western shop on Millbranch Road called Horse Services, where Elvis shopped – mainly because of its proximity to Graceland. Mike’s saddles were detailed, with lovely and intricate designs. Each one looked like a work of art, and Elvis admired the craftsmanship. The famous rock star and the Mississippi Delta farm boy had something in common, and their relationship developed from there. “He bought a couple saddles from my daddy,” Bill said. “But Elvis didn’t know anything about horses. He just bought some. Just said, I want some horses, so he bought some. Didn’t know anything about ’em. He asked Daddy to come out and show him how to saddle a horse, how to ride a horse. He and Elvis hit it off pretty well, and he just said, ‘Well, you want to come to work for me?’” From then on, Mike was Elvis’s right-hand man, equine boss of the Memphis Mafia. He worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. caring for the horses, cutting the grass and handling other maintenance on the property. “Here’s where my daddy was different from most of the other people who worked for him,” Bill said. “All the people around Elvis wanted something from him. And my daddy didn’t ask him for anything, and I think Elvis always liked that about him. He wasn’t like, ‘Oh, I sure would like to have a new car, or my wife sure would like to have a new ring.’ When he came around my daddy, he could just talk to him and not have
Bill McGregor with a leather saddle made by his father, Mike McGregor. Mike, an experienced leatherworker and horseman, also made statement jewelry for Elvis Presley. He crafted his pieces from silver and turquoise to create a unique organic and Western look. The TLC and TCB (taking care of business) necklaces were gifts from Elvis to Mike.
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A leather-and-turquoise belt (top left) and intricate leather saddle (bottom left) typify Mike McGregorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work. Top right, Mike instructs Elvis on how to ride in 1967. Bottom right, Mike and his wife, Barbara, an accomplished seamstress, made the leather vest for Elvis to wear on stage. Opposite page, a letter from Priscilla Presley to Mike.
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to hear all that. I didn’t realize that at the time, but as I got older, I did.” In the early 1970s, a friend of Mike’s asked him to attend a jewelrymaking class at the Memphis Art Academy with him. “My daddy didn’t even want to go, but he ended up really liking it,” Bill said. “He took several more classes.” By 1976, Mike’s jewelry business was picking up, and he decided it was time to part ways with Elvis and return to Mississippi. “My father was ready to get out on his own,” Bill said. He opened his own shop on Highway 7, called simply Mike McGregor Jewelry and Leather. His customers were drawn to his craftsmanship and natural aesthetic, but it was his time working for Elvis that helped him become successful. “To open a jewelry store out in the county in 1976?” Bill said. “I mean, there was nothing out here then. He had to have some connections to be able to make it.” Those connections helped him go on to make pieces for other famous entertainers, including Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Billy Ray Cyrus. But the world was changing, as were the styles of the famous country rockers, and slowly a man like Mike McGregor wasn’t in as much demand. Elvis died in 1977. Mike died in 1999. The shop closed, and Graceland became a museum. One of Mike McGregor’s saddles is there on display with the Cadillacs and rhinestone jumpsuits. An hour down the highway, Bill’s childhood memories of Elvis and his home remain, too. “I can remember specifically one day,” he said. “We were jumping in and out of that pool, you know, splashing water like kids do. Most people would have said, ‘Hey, y’all, get out of here. Can’t you see I’m trying to relax?’ But Elvis was always real tolerable of all of us. He was just a nice guy.”
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155 Keating Rd. Batesville, MS 38606 Phone: (662) 561-4017
Tri-Lakes Behavioral Health Center is a 57-bed acute, inpatient psychiatric facility that specializes in the stabilization of psychiatric emergencies for Adults (18-64) and Seniors (65 and up). Additionally, the center has emergency medical detoxification services for the patient in the early stages of chemical dependency treatment.
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FULL HOUSE Dianne and Mark Craig love to entertain, and they designed their home for their family as well as their guests. by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem May 2014 | INVITATION
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DIANNE CRAIG KNEW EXACTLY what she wanted when she and her husband, Mark, purchased a lot off Mt. Vernon Road in Tupelo more than a decade ago: a great family home that could accommodate their three children and host a crowd. “I’m the baby in a family of six, so I thrive on the chaos and connection of a full house,” Dianne said. “I knew we needed a place for us that could also be a comfortable spot to entertain casually or formally for large or small groups. We needed an open plan that could handle the traffic flow of any gathering.” Armed with home décor magazines and experience from building one home before, Dianne drew her ideal plan, and an architect translated it to blueprints. The result was a six-bedroom home with five full and two half baths that caters to more than just the family living there. The open-concept plan includes an extended family area downstairs for both everyday living and entertaining. It encompasses the kitchen, breakfast nook, family room and backyard. The openness of the shared space makes intimate everyday gatherings easy. There are family dinners on the back porch when it’s warm. The Craigs grill under the patio pergola with friends in the summer. The children have “Beignet Saturdays,” when Dianne makes fritters in their outdoor deep fryer while the couple’s two teenage boys lounge with friends poolside. The Craigs have hosted large-scale events, from wedding receptions and charitable fundraisers to graduation parties and church Easter egg hunts. Even their annual Christmas party averages a crowd of 300 people. For smaller gatherings like Mark’s recent 50th-birthday dinner, visitors retreat to the traditional formal dining room at the front of the
DINNER PARTY: The formal dining room, pictured on the previous page, is an elegant and intimate space that’s perfect for smaller family affairs.
FORMAL LIVING: Right, lots of seating is a must for the Craigs’ busy household, especially when they are hosting a crowd.
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MULTIUSE SPACE: The open area that joins the breakfast nook and family room makes entertaining easy, but it was also designed for everyday living.
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house; for larger or more casual affairs, guests enjoy the laid-back feeling of the family’s entertainment area. “For years my wife had wanted to build a home we could share, and I think one of the first things we did after we got settled was throw a fundraiser for the symphony here. It hasn’t calmed down since,” Mark said. “Being able to give back and share this space with our family and friends is part of what makes it such a nice place to be.”
AT YOUR SERVICE: Dianne Craig ensured the kitchen stayed connected to the rest of the family area with a peninsular counter. Appliances and work spaces are hidden with cabinetry to keep the kitchen tidy for last-minute gatherings, and a large Viking stove and oversized island make the room ideal for serving more guests.
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SHARED STUDY: Craftsman Cecil Jones handmade and placed the molding on the walls in Mark Craigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s study but died before he saw the project finished. Dianne said the room functions as the man cave or ladies escape area during parties, depending on who gets there first.
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Specializing in Corrective Haircolor 144 South Thomas Spanish Village Court Suite 101-6 Tupelo, MS 38801
662-680-4506
Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders Institute, PLLC Jayant Dey, M.D., M.B.B.S. • Nancy Hooks, C.N.P. 910 Mary Vance Drive • Tupelo, Mississippi 38801
Phone:
662.377.6275 Fax: 662.377.6299 May 2014 | INVITATION
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T H E G R E E N D O O R C O M PA N Y A 12,000 sq ft furniture showroom with one-of-a-kind CUSTOM BUILT PIECES and many upholstery choices.
Now featuring the Magnolia Collection Unique, hand crafted pieces created from repurposed wood from the Ole Miss campus and around Oxford.
Tues-Sat 10am-5pm
662-380-5074 1501 Molly Barr Road at N. Lamar intersection www.thegreendoorms.com
Your home for sweet treats!
662.563.9900 127 Lakewood Drive Batesville, MS 38606
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STATE • ADVENTURE by Melanie Crownover
Left to right, Geyser Falls Water Park near Philadelphia, Miss.; Tishomingo State Park in the northeast corner of the state; and Quapaw Canoe Company on the banks of the Mississippi River are three exciting in-state destinations for summertime experiences.
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PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED BY GEYSER FALLS WATER PARK, TISHOMINGO STATE PARK AND QUAPAW CANOE COMPANY
These outdoor destinations are within a day’s drive. This summer, take a dip at Geyser Falls, canoe down the Mississippi River or hike in a state park.
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PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED BY QUAPAW CANOE COMPANY
Guides with the Clarksdale, Miss.,-based Quapaw Canoe Company lead individual adventurers and groups of up to 40 on canoe trips down the Mississippi River. The company offers day trips and multinight camping excursions to paddlers with any level of experience and provides most of the equipment needed.
QUAPAW CANOE COMPANY
Discover the Mississippi outdoors on the open water with a canoe company that takes paddlers to the heart of the state’s mightiest waterway. “The history of great riverboats, the birth of the Cotton Kingdom and the Delta blues are flowing in that water still,” Quapaw Canoe Company owner John Ruskey said. “You put a hand in there and realize that current may have come all the way from Missouri or Pennsylvania when you cut off the cell phones and reconnect with nature.” Quapaw’s year-round trips along the lower river offer travelers a rare look into the
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unsullied side of the big waters, big beaches and big forests of the Mississippi. Most of the company’s excursions are overnight journeys of three or four days, but they also offer both single-day tours and monthlong trips. Just be sure to book early for the popular spring and fall seasons. Paddlers tell Ruskey how many will be in their crew and where they want to go, and he provides the boats, paddles, life vests and camping essentials such as tents and cast-iron cookware. He offers canoes of all sizes, which can accommodate one person or a group of 40. One adventure explores the “Muddy Waters Wilderness,” passing its namesake blues
legend’s cabin. Another popular trip covers the 100 miles of water between Quapaw headquarters and Greenville, Miss. There’s also a five-hour hiatus 18 miles downriver from Friars Point, Miss., to Quapaw Landing. “The great thing about our outings is that 10 people who’ve never paddled before can get on those powerful waters with a guide and safely have an adventure that’s an education on the largest river in North America,” Ruskey said. “Of all the visitors who come from around the world to see these muddy waters, not many get to get out in the middle of them.” To book an adventure with Quapaw, call 662-627-4070 or visit island63.com.
BIG DELTA
Welcome Home!
POWERSPORTS 155 Cracker Barrel Dr., Batesville, MS 38606
(662) 578-7000 www.bigdeltahonda.com
TIRED OF PAYING HIGH FEES AT YOUR DENTIST OFFICE? joe and sue, coworkers with the same cigna dppo plan, both need a porcelain crown. their plan will pay $391 for a crown whether the procedure is done by a cigna network dentist or not.
Joe decides to visit a CIGNA network dentist.**
Sue, however, visits an out-of-network dentist.**
Dentist’s full price without insurance: $950 Reduced fee when you enroll in the CIGNA DPPO plan (this is the amount Joe is responsible for an immediate $386!): $564
Dentist’s full price without insurance (this is the amount Sue is responsible for since she received care from out-of-network dentist: $950
Joe Pays ($564-$391)= $173
Sue pays (950-$391)= $559
The plan pays this fixed amount: $391
The plan pays this fixed amount: $391
sue spent $386 more than joe - for the identical procedure. ** why? Because joe visited a dentist in the cigna dental network.
Helping Your Family Feel Right at Home in Oxford! Polina Wheeler, Realtor® 1923 University Ave., Suite 100 Oxford, MS 38655 Contact: (662) 401-4632 Work: (662) 234-5621 polina@oxfordhomes.com
Give us a call, we’ll help you save time and money
662-612-0063
2311 Jackson Ave W #302 Oxford, MS (Behind Chick-fil-A)
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PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED BY GEYSER FALLS WATER PARK
Geyser Falls Water Park in Choctaw, Miss., is an oasis for summertime visitors seeking relief from the heat. The park’s pools, white sand beaches and waterslides are made for adults and children alike. Daily tickets and season passes are available online at geyserfalls.com.
GEYSER FALLS WATER PARK
Finding relief from the summer heat is as easy as a road trip to Choctaw, Miss. Geyser Falls Water Park is a 23-acre family-friendly oasis near the Pearl River Resort casino and hotel. The park boasts 13 waterslides, including a two-person backwards tube slide, three sixstory speed slides, four kinds of double-tube slides and a 300-foot drag-racing slide. Younger thrill-seekers can try out the mini-slides and
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sprinklers in Lil’ Squirts Hollow. Visitors looking to catch a wave can bodysurf the 2- to 4-foot breakers of Thunder Lake. For relaxation, Geyser Falls also offers patrons a tropical escape at Clearwater Key, where more than 300 palm trees are nestled in 8 acres of white sand beaches outfitted with cabanas. Beachgoers can take a dip in one of the pools or decompress in the Rainbow Springs Hot Pool. The nearby Beach Club has a heated pool, live entertain-
ment, a restaurant and a tiki bar. Mary Martha Crowe of Oxford has visited several times with her children. “It’s worth the drive to do something as a family that’s different than anything we have in Oxford,” she said. “It’s always good to have a road trip that makes the children sleep well at night.” To buy daily tickets or season passes to Geyser Falls, call 601-389-3100 or visit geyserfalls.com.
Medical Clinic
Hank Sherman, md Kimberly Van Every, cfnp
• Digital X-Ray on site • On Site Laboratory • DOT & Wellness Physicals
• Urgent & Chronic Care • Medicare, Medicaid, Chips, UHC, BCBS, & Many More!
A style for every point of view
SHUTTERS•WOOD BLINDS•DRAPERIES•AND MORE! 2013
Now accepting Ambetter insurance! 662.234.6464 Allcarems.com Hours: 8am - 5pm Located at 301 Jackson Ave in Oxford, MS past the Ole Miss Campus between Molly Barr Rd and the Bike trail bridge.
FREE In-Home Consultation FREE Installation
Oxford: 662-281-0586 • Tupelo: 662-823-6455 www.budgetblinds.com An Independently Owned and Operated Franchise
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PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED BY TISHOMINGO STATE PARK
Hiking, mountain climbing, photography and camping are just a few outdoor activities for visitors to Tishomingo State Park, a pristine northeast Mississippi nature retreat. The park is open year-round, but late spring, summer and fall are the busiest times. Reservations are recommended for campsites.
TISHOMINGO STATE PARK
This 1,530-acre nature retreat is worth the trek this summer. “If you want to see the Mississippi mountains, this is the place to be,” park manager Bill Brekeen said. “It’s a nature lover’s paradise and a photographer’s dream. I’ve walked almost every inch of this property since I came here almost 20 years ago, and I still see something new every time I go out.” The park, located 2 miles south of Tishomingo on Highway 25 in the Appalachian foothills, is known for more than just the
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variety of wildlife and 600 types of wildflowers that inhabit its pristine countryside. PaleoIndian artifacts dating back to 7000 B.C. were found on this land, and the Chickasaw tribe once called the site a home away from home. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps developed many of the man-made features, such as the popular swinging bridge and family cabins that keep around 120,000 visitors coming back annually. The state park has three separate disc-golf courses, permitted rock climbing and 13 miles of hiking trails.
“Our season gets busy after school lets out, but it really starts up with our 6.25-mile canoe trips down Bear Creek in April,” Brekeen said. “After that, there’s something going on here all the time until it starts to cool down again.” Bear Creek also serves as a resource for fishermen on the lookout for bass and catfish, as does Haynes Lake, also on the property. Reserve lodging up to 24 months ahead, or visit the park office to register for a spot at one of several primitive campgrounds or one of the 62 electricity-enabled campsites. For more information, call 662-438-6914.
g Buyin ? e a hom
Relocating? ing Consider New n? tio Construc
Home to Sell?
Let me help you find the pieces that fit your needs! BECKY TAYLOR Call (662) 544-2146
Cherie Matthews Real Estate
NOW OPEN
Accepting New Members including Non-Resident
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821 S Gloster St Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 842-7260
Mon - Sat 6 am – 8:30 pm Sun 7 am – 2 pm
Connie’s Chicken
Family owned & operated. In business for over 37 years & voted Tupelo’s Best Fried Chicken.
•Bedding •Custom Sewing •Drapery •Furniture •Headboards •Monogramming •Pillows •Pillow Forms •Tablecloths •Upholstery
Fine Fabrics for the Home
Oil and Pastel Portraiture Nancy Nickey Curran
www.nancyncurran.com 901.517.0456 94
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(662) 234-4466 1917 University Avenue Oxford, MS Gift Certificates available
photographed by Chasity Dees
tupelo events North Mississippi Green Festival View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
The fourth-annual North Mississippi Green Festival was held April 12 at Ballard Park. The festival, hosted by Girl Scouts Heart of the South and the Tupelo Department of Parks and Recreation, features live music, arts and crafts, eco-friendly activities and more.
Rhonda Hendrix and Roseanna Behrman
Kayleigh, Tiffany and Rhylee Holley
(back) Justin, McKenna and Jessi Gibson; (front) Peyton, Aurora, Jack and Weston Gibson
Aaliyah Cooper and Andrew Schnetzer
Haylie Smith and Amyia Burrow
Deanna, Daniel and Chris Kieffer
Jenny Holtman and Stella Morris
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tupelo events Color Vibe 5K View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Participants and volunteers in the April 5 Color Vibe 5K race and fun run were blasted with colored powder throughout the course at Fairpark. Color vibe races are held regularly around the country, and this was the first time the event was held in Tupelo.
Patrick Henry, Wayne and Heather Hutchison, Melissa Fulgham, Lindsay Henry, Sara Baldwin, Lindsey Johnson and Jered Ashmore
Jennifer Ham, Marlee Hill, Carmen Hill, Brittany Robison and Kenzie Pennington
Trey Hankins, Charlie White, Blake Hankins, Sloane Jumper, Madeline White, Amanda Angle and Laura Beth Walden
Margie James, Stacy Thomason, Lynn Burdick, Janet James, Sharon Moore, Hazel Gross, Kayla Thomason and Sarah Poyner
Shea Summers, Beth Colotta, Michelle Chappell and Zoe and Rob Bushway
Ashley Ozbirn, Teresa Pugh, Michaela Vice, Pam Holcombe and Kimbo Stidham
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
Rosalyn Campbell, Rachael Potts and Shari Lieb
Grace Morgan and Elia Wright
Lauren Davis, Kelsea Smith, Lane McClellan, Lesley Scott, Lorin Castell, Lauren Cherry and Brittany Scott
the cotton bolt
Drapery & Upholstery Fabrics • Reclaimed Wood Furniture • Custom Drapery Hardware • Trims & Tassels • Feather Pillow Inserts • Custom Upholstery Furniture • Vast Selection of Rugs Mimi, Ella, Matt and Ben Blanchard with Emilee Holder
WHOLESALE PRICES AND BELOW. EVERYDAY!
1727 McCullough Blvd. Tupelo, MS 662-841-2621 May 2014 | INVITATION
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photographed by Chasity Dees
tupelo events Mustache Bash View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
The third-annual Mustache Bash took place March 29 at GumTree Museum of Art. The event included live music, prizes for the best mustaches, a mustache art show and more. Proceeds benefited the museum and the Autism Center of Tupelo.
Jason and Amanda Hayden
Josh Martin and Jackson Roye
Jack Reed and Kit Stafford
Gordon Russ and Teresa Senter
Sue Ann Averett and Kim Cappleman
Carol and Michael Upton
Clay Cody, Amanda Davis and William Dexter
Sarah Dickey and David Lee
ERA 1932
WOMENS’S BOUTIQUE & CHILDREN’S APPAREL
PERSNICKETY 1008 COMMONWEALTH BLVD. TUPELO, MS
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1923 University Avenue Suite 100 Oxford, MS 38655 662-234-5621
Each office independently owned and operated
Legacy Realty
Mae White, Realtor
662-816-3431 (Cell) www.maewhite.net
Tracy Pickett, Realtor
662-816-5604 (Cell) www.tracypickett.com May 2014 | INVITATION
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photographed by Chasity Dees
tupelo events Business After Hours View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
The Community Development Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business After Hours event was held April 3 at Snelling Staffing Services. The quarterly networking events are free to CDF members and $5 for nonmembers. For more information, visit cdfms.org.
Tom Booth and Andi White
Clint Parish, Amanda Angle and Allie West
Rob Rice and David Rumbarger
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Rashni Barath, Rachel Reddick and Stacy Carroll
Kelsey Norrett and Patricia Doss
Chuck Alderman and Allen Pegues
Andy and Alisha Bryant with Joe Chrestman
Rhonda Chrestman and Carolyn Taylor
Grant Meyer and Taylor Kitchens
Toby Hedges and Russ Wilson
Prentiss Street Baldwyn, MS 662.365.9876
Prentiss Street Baldwyn, MS 662.365.8087
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photographed by Chasity Dees
tupelo events You Don’t Know My Story - The Stage Play View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
We R3 Theatrical Productions members performed You Don’t Know My Story - The Stage Play April 5 at the Tupelo High School Performing Arts Center. The theater organization educates audiences on societal issues such as drug and alcohol addiction.
Braedyn Noel with Joshua and Jordon Jasper
Curtis Pittman and Ken Washington
Jennifer Catchings and Keshia Washington
Jonathon Jasper, Brandon Frazier, Willie Ruth Hill and Dominick White
Niki Henry, Tealisha Williams and Gabrielle Granberry
Lakeisha Bowdry and Nanette Shoemaker
Jeneza and Aissia McDonald
Thomas and Catrice Swopshire
Marie Sharp and Modess Nesbit
Joseph Holden and Vickey Isom
PROGOLF TUPELO
662-844-9233 | 119 S Industrial Rd | Tupelo, MS 38801
We discount everything except service.
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Bill Collins, OWNER
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
tupelo events GumTree Gala View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
GumTree Museum of Art’s annual GumTree Gala fundraiser was held April 5 at the Tupelo Country Club. The theme was “Treasures of Italy,” and the event included dinner, live music by 2 Drink Minimum and live and silent auctions.
Mona and Dan Warlick
Nancy Diffee with Kristi and Carol Lake
Susan Sims and Sarah Young
Shane and Parker Spees with Roberts Dale and Charlotte Westbrook
Gabrielle Cooper, Donna Porter and Cathy Fitzpatrick
Kathy and Rick Beasley
George and Rosemary Rutledge
Jean and Bobby Laney with Betty and Butch Harris
Sadie Buchanan with Fred and Carol Pitts
George Booth with Terri and Mike Williams
Diamond Brokers TUPELO
Come see us for the perfect Mother’s Day and Graduation gift. 104
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Diamonds • Jewelry • Gifts 662.844.6955
106 S. Industrial Road, Tupelo, MS 38801 Hours: M-F 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
www.tupelodiamonds.com
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
tupelo events NOleput View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
A Tupelo tradition returned April 5 after a more than 15-year absence when NOleput took place at the Ice House. The New Orleansstyle festival featured live music by local performers and a crawfish boil.
Jonathan and Lindsay King
Star and Hannon Ray with Summer Ray Smith and Charlie Watson
Mike and Lisa Wamble with Lisa and Bill Abstein
Traci and Woody Watson
Kay Bain with Lauren Ann and Miranda McLaughlin
Sue and Thomas Gardner
Emily Hopkins and Scott Floyd
Kris Wells, Brenda Christian and Melanie Farquhar
Summer and Alex Knight
Jacob and Brook Hardin
www.BarkleyTravel.com
Land Between the Lakes (October 24-26, 2014)
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• Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area • The Home Place - enter a rural Tennessee farm much as it would have appeared in the mid-19th century. • Woodlands Nature Station - nature experiences in the indoor discovery center & the live wildlife Backyard exhibit • The Elk & Bison Prairie - Elk and Bison have been reintroduced and roam freely within a 700-acre enclosure • Dinner at Bill’s Restaurant in the Patti’s 1880 Settlement • The 3 Seasons Music Show at Badgett Playhouse. •”Civil War Letters” at Badgett Playhouse • Museum of the American Quilt – Paducah, KY • Lunch at C.C. Cohen Restaurant – Paducah, KY • The River Heritage Museum – Paducah, KY • Shopping at Patti’s 1880’s Settlement • Free time in Downtown Paducah, KY
141 West Bankhead St New Albany, MS 38652 Phone: 662-534-5203
New England Fall Foliage Tour (October 3-12, 2014)
• New York City • Broadway Play – Matinee • New Hampshire • Fall Foliage along the Kancamagus Highway • The Castle in the Clouds – Moultonborough NH • Long View County Store – Great New Hampshire products • Squam Lake Natural Science Center – Holderness NH • Boat Tours of Squam Lake • Two nights lodging at the Franconia Inn – Franconia NH • Maple Grove Maple Museum & Gift Shop in St. Johnsbury VT • The Shelburne Museum – Shelburne, VT • Roosevelt National Historic Sites • Springwood – Home of FDR & Presidential Library • Natural Bridge, VA - Creation Light Show • Chattanooga TN • 7 Breakfasts & 5 Dinners
Chasity Dees Photography
662-844-2477
431 North Gloster St. • Tupelo, MS • www.shearenvytupelo.com May 2014 | INVITATION
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photographed by Shea Summers
tupelo events Undefeated View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Academy Award-winning documentary film Undefeated, a movie about an inner-city Memphis, Tenn., high school football team striving to win its first playoff game, was shown April 10 at the Lyric Theatre by Tupelo Community Theatre and Rotary Club of Tupelo.
Mary and Robert Thompson
Nico Swanson, Jordan Gillion and D.J. Tyes
Libby Jones and Joe Fields
Stanley and Carolyn Downs with Paul and Sandra Poland and Theresa and David Sandefur
Dakota Rushing, Austin Pannell and Ty Goff
John Levi Pennington, Tay Rucker, Tristan Gilland, Max Crew and Hunter Berry
Merenda and Jesse Bandre
Roy Wells with Linda and Rob Rice
Allen Tackett and Dominic Sawicki
662.610.3705
Come see our new store in Fairpark! Custom family prints perfect for Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day 111 East Troy Street Suite B â&#x20AC;˘ Tupelo, MS 38804
Tuesday - Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-4 108
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In-Home Senior Care Services
Free in-home assessments (662) 841-8477 Personal Care services • Bathing, grooming and hygiene • Mobility assistance • Transferring and positioning • Toileting and incontinence • Feeding and special diet
Companionship services • Companionship • Incidental transportation services • Medication reminders • Meal preparation • Errand services • Grocery shopping • Grooming • Light housekeeping • 24-hour care • Respite care or relief for family
www.ComfortKeepers.com An international network of independently owned and operated offices © 2009 CK Franchising, Inc.
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
tupelo events CrossFit Tupelo Easter Egg Hunt View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
CrossFit Tupelo held a nighttime Easter egg hunt on April 11 at its Main Street location. In addition to hunting for glowing eggs, children played on large inflatable slides and families shared food potluck style.
Chad and Tripp Blankenship
Ashley Buse, Jill Ellis, Misty Hayes and Jill Daniel
Carlos Brown and Brad Robinson
Morgan Newberry, Heather Holt and Melissa Williams
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Kidron and Bill Young with J.R. Prince
Tripp Buse, Mason Daniel and Foley Buse
B.G., Claire and Ford Jenkins
Lucas, Jeremiah and Misty Lassley
Kellen & Jade
May Special
1 TIME TREATMENT FOR SKIN TIGHTENING, $99 To receive this special, the service must be purchased in the month of May, to be used within three months of booking.
Specializing in Laser Procedures for:
Hair Removal $39.00 - $149.00
Skin Tightening $149.00
Spider Vein Removal $75.00 - $149.00
Call Jade and inquire about our special party pricing!
Men & Women Welcome! 900 Earl Frye Blvd Suite A Amory, Mississippi 38821 Phone: (662) 256-9331 ext. 207 Fax: (662) 256-9335 Hours: Mon - Fri, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Look for us on Facebook
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
tupelo events THS Synergy Show Choir Fundraiser View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Tupelo High School’s Synergy show choir raised money to attend a national competition in Chicago in April by performing some of what they’ve been practicing. The all-female group’s trip to Chicago came after they won first place at a contest in Branson, Mo.
Emma Witty and Savannah Ziegler
Brandi Reynolds, Ajia Pannell, Michaela Bryan, Madison Tasma and Morgan King
Danielle Frerer and Leah Pannell
Linda Walker, Jackie Dixon and Isaiah Walker
Neely Brown, Macy Replogle, Rayvn Camp and Larkin Robbins
Sara Owen, Jessica Ware, Haley Cook and Shelbi Lofton
Hannah Wright, Reagan Ray, Molly Homan and Morgan Pannell
Alex Rickey, Austin Rickey, Patrick Langford and Colm McCool
Shania Ellease Jones, Malorie Payne, Steviana Thomas, Susannah Eidt and Karmen Tubbs
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photographed by Chasity Dees
tupelo events Children’s Fishing Rodeo View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Families came armed with fishing poles, bait and tackle for the Tupelo Department of Parks and Recreation’s annual Children’s Fishing Rodeo, held April 12 at Veterans Park. Children ages 3-15 participated until noon, and then the event opened to the public.
Jeremy and Chloee Becker
Ava and Audrey Schipke with Allie Carter
John and Weston Poole
Aimee Carter and Kristy Schipke
Allison Miller and Ana Moore
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Tami, Marley and Trent Hutcherson
Weston and Margaret Galloway
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photographed by Chasity Dees
tupelo events Bugs for Le Bonheur View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
The Blue Canoe hosted Bugs for Le Bonheur, a charity crawfish boil, on April 12 to benefit Le Bonheur Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. The event featured 600 pounds of crawfish and live music by Roxy Roca.
Howard and Meg Dudley
Corey and Drew Mauldin
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Bridget Tonos, Tammy Tackitt and Lisa Jo Taylor
Kelly Scott and Tina Phillips
Josh and Harley Christian
Kelsey and Michael Norrett
Troy Whitenton and Jeanine Little
The ART of looking great... Home to oxford, lafayette county and the south’s finest youth sports travel destination! • Lock It Up (USSSA Baseball) May 9-11, 2014
• Bad To The Bone (USSSA Baseball) May 23-25, 2014 • Great Balls of Fire (USSSA Baseball) May 30- June 1, 2014 • Hit The Road Jack (USSSA Baseball) June 13-15, 2014 • USSSA 9U State Championship June 19-22, 2014 • British Soccer Camp June 23-27, 2014 • Brazilian Soccer Camp July 21-25, 2014 • Hotty Toddy (USSSA Baseball) August 29-31, 2014 • USSSA Fall Level II State Championships September 19-21, 2014
sign up to be a part of our events at www.fncpark.com
Adam Quick Cell: 832-5051 adam@kessingerrealestate.com
325 Turnberry
2710 Southwind G
IN
ND
PE
3bed/2bath $139,500/MLS#131441
323 Blair Cove
3bed/2bath $121,000/MLS#129457
117 Yocona Ridge
3bed/2bath $134,000/MLS#130882 ADAM HAS SOLD MORE THAN 300 MARK UNITS
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3bed/2bath $159,900/MLS#130876
PHASE I AND II #505-$102,500 #2306-$ 96,000 #2606-$101,500 #3808-$104,500 #3503-$102,500 #3504-$102,500
BEST VALUE IN OXFORD
SOLD
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2 Pools/2 Tennis Courts, Walking Track, Fitness center, and Tanning Beds
New Construction
The Mark
Phase 3
starting at
$124,900
• 9 ft. ceilings • Crown Molding • Stainless steel appliances • Granite Slab countertops • Wet bar • Tile Flooring • Tile surround Showers • Custom cabinets • Brush nickel hardware • Designer Paints • Full appliance Package • Ceiling fans in den and bedrooms
Call Adam
Alice &
Company Salon Hair & Nails
Scan for beauty tips & salon specials
662.234.3896 1729 University Ave.
www.AliceandCompanySalon.com May 2014 | INVITATION
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
new albany events New Albany Home and Garden Show View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
The New Albany Home and Garden Show was held April 4-5. The event included educational talks and exhibits on topics such as birds and butterflies, gardening, beekeeping, managing weeds, composting, fairy gardening and more.
Steven and Kasha Williams
Joan Herrington with David and Ann Snyder and Katherine Griffin
Hunter Carwile, Vickey Gray and Beth Swords
Kathleen Agnew and Bengie Foley
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Chastity Bland with Melissa and Kylee Mink
Ed Pipkin and Janet Brewer
Eric Cunningham and Regina Patterson
Maria, Megan and Renee Johnston
Melissa Chipman and BJ Hagan
Anna Lauren and Lisa Parrish
SHOP •
and by Curtis & Terry
DINE •
VISIT
NEW ALBANY,
Mississippi
Curtis is available on Thursdays to help with your shade selection or help with a custom lamp made from your vessels.
Can be seen at Sugar Magnolia booth #7
662.234.6330
Catering Good Eats
Small and large events across North Mississippi Weddings • Rehearsal Dinners 662-534-3250 New Albany, MS May 2014 | INVITATION
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tupelo out and about TROVE SPRING OPEN HOUSE
VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL WALL GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
Valerie Whitwell, Melinda Trapp, Rebecca Lawrence and Chanda Cossitt
Buddy Palmer, Darrell Rankin, Mayor Jason Shelton, Rex Moody and Nettie Davis
2014 TUPELO ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW
Brianna and Meredith Barnes
Natalie Barnes and Kaitlyn Alfreds
Devon and Ashley Overstreet
STOP THE HURT KICKOFF FOR CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH
Shirley Lawrence, Susan Naron, Dena Waldo and Amelia Parkes
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Latoya Brooks, Shelia Nabors, Jimma Smith, Wade Williams, Jackie Smith, Dierdre Peggen, Shane Robbins and Amelia Parkes
STOP THE HURT KICKOFF
Jenny Ware and Acelyn Simpson
Tremaine Frison, Lynette Sandlin and Neil Naron
FARMHOUSE SPRING OPEN HOUSE
86 S. Thomas St. 662.620.1120
Emma
Traci Lewis, Bev Crossen, Gretchen Hughes, Emmie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Callaghan and Kim Gambrell-Crausby
Specializing In
3425 W. Main St. Opening May 2014
901 S. Gloster St. Opening Soon
J Salon
Hair & Nails
Emma J Salon 380-5056
Tim and Amy Riley with Neely Walker
2625 W Oxford Loop Suite C Oxford, MS May 2014 | INVITATION
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Each office independently owned and operated
Shea Turner, CNE, Realtor
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DAWKINS FAMILY DENTAL CLINIC, P.A. 440 North Lamar, Oxford, MS 38655 Tel: (662) 234-5725 DAWKINS FAMILY DENTAL CLINIC, P.A. See our ad in Names and Numbers. www.dawkinsfamilydental.com W. EDWIN DAWKINS, Jr., D.D.S.
Cultivating a Dream
University of Mississippi alumna Angela Gapinski has big plans for the small plants growing in her greenhouse. by Caitlin Adams photographed by Joe Worthem and Angela Gapinski
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Angela Gapinski with some of her Root 31 creations. She makes large and small terrariums as well as custom orders, such as bouquets, for weddings.
Each terrarium has its own personality, and no two are alike.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Angela Gapinski
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ngela Gapinski has plants in her DNA. Her grandfather, a potato farmer who left the World War II-ravaged Netherlands and immigrated to America, was a pioneer in the greenhouse industry and traipsed the globe for the sake of horticulture. Her father remains at the helm of a 20-acre greenhouse in Westfield, Ind., where Gapinski grew up. While her classmates were playing with dolls and Legos throughout childhood, Gapinski and her siblings were knee deep in dirt mounds and strawberry bushes. But when Gapinski moved south for college, she did so to escape her roots. Living with eight siblings and a jungle of plants made her yearn for freedom, and Oxford and the University of Mississippi seemed like a far enough distance to start fresh. “I just wanted to separate myself and do something on my own,” she said. She traded greenhouse life for dorm life. Little did Gapinski know, the heritage she was trying to escape didn’t stop at the state line. Her family may have been 500 miles north, but she found a home away from home in Oxford and at Ole Miss. She began working toward a bachelor’s degree in ceramics, and she felt most comfortable molding clay into pots and vases. “Even in art school, everything went back to plants,” she said. “Working with the earth made sense for me in a tangible, tactile way.” After graduation, Gapinski remained in Oxford for a few years before moving to Chicago with her fiancé, Paul Porter, a Mississippi native. Back in the Midwest, she made a living creating “dream worlds” as a windowMay 2014 | INVITATION
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Rows of succulents grow in the Gapinski family greenhouse in Westfield, Ind., where Angela and her father are in the plant business together.
display designer for Anthropologie and spent her evenings dabbling in urban gardening. After a few years, the couple had had enough of the bone-chilling winters and cramped living space. They packed their Subaru full of succulents, air plants and tropical flora and ditched city life for a 19th-century farmhouse in Como, Miss. Porter, a graphic designer, could work from anywhere, and Gapinski decided it was time to fuse her background in plants and ceramics. “It was a perfect opportunity to stop dreaming and start doing,” she said. With its humid days and abundance of sun, Mississippi was the backdrop she needed to nurture her vision, and their expansive living quarters were an added bonus. The haunt proved to be more than creaky floorboards and old plumbing, and Gapinski converted the sunporch into a makeshift greenhouse. She spent last fall trimming, propagating and watering more than 600 plants. It was on that very porch that Gapinski finally launched her own business, Root 31, a full-service flower and plant design studio named for the road she grew up on in Indiana. Using organic materials nurtured by her own hands, Gapinski worked with clients to create custom orders and arrangements. Gapinski got to work filling terrariums with plants, rocks,
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moss and anything she found on her daily forages around their land. She collaborated with clients to “let the green in” by way of compact glass containers. “I was making these little worlds that were always changing and adapting,” she said. “Each terrarium has its own personality, and no two are alike. That’s what I love about it.” Word of Gapinski’s improvised greenhouse spread throughout north Mississippi, and people came out of the woodwork to help. Strangers showed up on her porch with boxes of ornate vessels, clients began commissioning her to make terrariums for their coffee tables, and brides ordered succulent-filled bouquets. Within a few months of launching Root 31, Gapinski received an offer she couldn’t refuse – an opportunity to move the homegrown business north and open a storefront on her family’s land. Earlier this spring, she moved her life and budding business back home to work side by side with her father and siblings. “It is funny how life works,” she said. “In my early 20s I wanted to separate myself and be independent from my family, and now all we want is to use our strengths together to create something really unique and wonderful in the green market.” Now, Root 31 has come full circle.
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Gapinskiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Root 31creations sometimes feature toys or figurines that help make for whimsical plant worlds. She enjoys creating planters with personality and making each one unique.
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“I’m taking the seed that he started and running with it,” Gapinski said. Root 31 now occupies 8 acres of the Gapinski family land, and shelves are stocked with houseplants, vegetables, fresh-cut flowers and American-made gardening tools. Gapinski still creates terrariums, but her services have grown significantly. She teaches weekly gardening classes, is a beekeeper and runs an online shop. When she’s not teaching or planting, Gapinski hits the streets in her fleet of vintage trucks. The flatbeds are overflowing with homegrown fruits, vegetables and plants. It’s her take on the food truck trend and is her way of taking the green movement to the streets. Even though she’s back in the Midwest, Gapinski holds dear the place that allowed her to cultivate her dream. “I’m paying homage to the South from a farm in the Midwest,” she said. “Mississippi will always feel like home.” Visit facebook.com/root31shop for more information.
“I’m paying homage to the South from a farm in the Midwest. Mississippi will always feel like home.” – Angela Gapinski
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udah and Latricia Askew have lived all over the country and traveled around the world, and have now made their home in Tupelo. People passing by the unassuming two-story home on North Madison Street would never expect to find the adventurous décor that awaits inside. “We’ve always leaned toward the modern
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end of design, but this house is very traditional,” Latricia said. “As we’ve really moved in and embraced that, we’ve ended up with a lot of antiques with midcentury modern pieces mixed in. It all ends up working together somehow.” The pair decided to rely on decoration instead of renovation (previous owners had already upgraded amenities and expanded up-
stairs) to make the 1930s-era home their own. The Askews bought the house when they relocated from Judah’s hometown of Portland, Ore., two years ago. Latricia is a Mobile, Ala., native who lived in New York City before meeting Judah in Boston. The places they’ve lived, along with their penchant for world travel, provide their interiors inspiration. Framed black-and-white photos in the
Contemporary
CLASSIC A Tupelo couple mixes their sense of adventure with traditional details. by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem
entryway are one example. One shot is from London, another is from Paris, and two more are from Thailand. Such personal details help tie together the conventional structure of the home and the Askewsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; preference for the contemporary. In the kitchen, granite countertops and stainless-steel Viking appliances accent elaborate eggshell cabinetry. But the eye is drawn May 2014 | INVITATION
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Design meets function in the Askews’ kitchen, where stainless-steel Viking appliances and sleek granite countertops are paired with more traditional cabinetry. There’s plenty of room for family in this house, too, as evidenced by a fun and functional chalkboard that hangs on a wall in the dining area of the kitchen.
to two bold prints of a hotel from their last trip to Paris that hang above a galvanized-steel round table where they eat with their two small children. Color-block curtains and pewter walls in the formal dining room blend with a display of antique plates that includes one special dish that belonged to Latricia’s grandmother. Upstairs, Asian influences predominate in the master bedroom. An antique sideboardturned-dresser and mod settee from Portland mix with vintage Chinese silk screens on a wall lined in bamboo-like grass paper behind the tufted headboard. A neutral herringbone couch, vivid watercolors and a Moroccan wool rug decorate the living room, where Judah framed the original columned white marble fireplace and black jeweled sconces with molding reminiscent of architecture they have toured in France. The study has the feel of historic London, also inspired by their yearly trips to Europe. “It’s always had that old library feel to me, but
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“
It’s still a work in progress. A lot of our buys are a gamble because they’re either antiques or modern pieces found online, but we know that every time we venture out together we’ll probably bring a piece of that trip back with us to become part of home. That’s what makes it so fun and funky when it comes together. —Latricia Askew
”
The formal dining room is decorated with contemporary details including colorblock curtains, patterned chair covers and metallic wall covering, but an antique plate collection brings personality and family history into the space.
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1829 Jackson East ONLY 4 UNITS REMAINING
RONNIE LEGGITT CONSTRUCTION, LLC.
Come experience the feel of Old Oxford in a new way! A welcoming community of condominiums, nestled just off the downtown square in Oxford. Each unit is beautifully finished with antique heart pine floors, antique brick entries and hearths, as well as a great accent wall. Custom cabinets and solid granite counter-tops in the kitchen and baths add to the over all feel of these well appointed units. Each of the ten units offers a spacious open plan downstairs and three bedrooms and baths upstairs.
Kathy Leggitt, Realtor Cell: 662.801.8360 Kleggitt@oxfordhomes.com 1923 University Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655
Each office is independently owned and operated.
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Top, Asian influences and modern décor from Portland, Ore., are found in the master bedroom. Above, bright and sunny pillows decorate furniture on the screened-in porch. Right, the study has a more masculine feel, and many of its details were inspired by time spent in France and London.
I guess this is my man cave because I spend way too much time in here,” Judah said. Glass jars full of tobacco, antique pipes and a Scotch and bourbon collection decorate the surface of the rosewood secretary. A mounted antelope skull overlooks the leather Chesterfield couch and chairs. The finer details of the home map out the story of the Askews’ exploration of their world
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together and hint at adventures yet to come. “It’s still a work in progress,” Latricia said. “A lot of our buys are a gamble because they’re either antiques or modern pieces found online, but we know that every time we venture out together we’ll probably bring a piece of that trip back with us to become part of home. That’s what makes it so fun and funky when it comes together.”
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Training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris inspired Jay Hughes to build a classic French bistro in his Oxford home, where he loves to cook, entertain, spend time with his family and reconnect with his roots. by Lena Anderson photographed by Joe Worthem
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he scent of beef bourgui gnonne wafts from the tiny galley kitchen as Édith Piaf croons through the speakers. The flickering candles and dimmed chande liers cast shadows on the black-and-white tiled floors as an opened bottle of Burgundy breathes. Guests begin arriving at Le Brasserie du Square, hungry for their six-course French dinner prepared by classically trained chef Jay Hughes. Only they aren’t in France; they are in the basement of Hughes’s home. By day, Jay is a lawyer, alderman, contractor and entrepreneur, but at night, he’s happiest entertaining friends, hosting charity dinners and, most important, spending time with his wife, Cris, and daughter, Patricia, in his basement bistro. “This is base for us,” Jay said. “When our lives get too busy, this is where we go for quiet.” May 2014 | INVITATION
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The basement bistro features traditional French décor, from a red banquette with mirrors above it to the black-and-white tiled floor and marble-topped bar.
The space pays homage to his Cajun French upbringing just outside of Houma, La. He grew up on the same block as much of his extended family. His uncle Leroy Lapeyrouse was a shrimp boat cook who took the young Jay under his wing, showing him how to prepare authentic Cajun food. “I still use my Papa Lapeyrouse’s black cooking kettle for all my gumbos and red beans and rice,” Jay said. “There is some sort of magic in it. It is a far better pot than I am a cook.” Jay was 18 when he found himself in France for the first time, wearing fatigues and on temporary duty with the U.S. Army. When he walked into the shops and heard everyone speaking French, he thought of his family and felt a sense of home. So when his father died in 2007, Jay retreated to a place where he knew he would find comfort – cooking school in Paris. He was accepted to Le Cordon Bleu, which has an extensive application process. In addition to
The downstairs wine cellar is stocked for plenty of pairings with home-cooked French meals.
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including photographs of their food and a résumé, prospective students have to answer a series of essay questions, including “Why do you want to attend this school?” “All my dad ever really wanted was for his kids to be happy,” Jay answered on his application. “And I’ve always done everything I’ve wanted to do. I married a wonderful woman. I have a beautiful daughter. I’m happy. But I never got my degree from Le Cordon Bleu.” Jay was one of only 14 students accepted that term. He took three months off work, moved to Paris, rented an apartment, and spent the summer studying 12 hours a day, six days a week. He trained under the executive chef to Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon, whose teachings focused on mastering the tastes of beef bourguignonne, now one of Jay’s signature dishes. He returned home intent on opening his own Cajun French restaurant in Oxford. “I wanted people who wouldn’t normally eat this kind of food to experience it and see that it isn’t ‘uppity,’” Jay said. “That it’s within May 2014 | INVITATION
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Jay at work in his bistro kitchen. In addition to cooking for his family, he enjoys hosting charity dinners to benefit local causes such as the Clayton Stevens Fund.
“I don’t want to say we’ve never had a bad meal down here, but we’ve never had a bad experience. You have more special memories over food than you have just sitting around somewhere.”
662.538.5984 121 West Bankhead St. (Downtown New Albany)
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reach and quite wonderful.” But Cris proposed a different plan for her husband to utilize his newfound culinary skills and satisfy his desire to share his cooking. “We were building our new house, and she suggested turning the basement into a bistro,” Jay said. “It’s open when we want and closes when we go upstairs. We get to play restaurant without the stress of actually having a restaurant. She was exactly right.” It’s been a perfect compromise. Jay and Cris have made many memories in their “Little Restaurant on the Square.” Recently, Jay cooked dinner for Patricia and her friends for her birthday. They also occasionally hold charity dinners to benefit local organizations like the Clayton Stevens Fund (which supports Interfaith Compassion Ministries), and they host parties for close friends. The preparation for
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2021 UNIVERSITY AVENUE OXFORD, MS 38655 (662) 234-6680 • WWW.PJSCIGARS.COM
such events is a family affair and requires all hands on deck, but Jay and Cris delight in the details. Jay creates the menu and plans the wine pairings. A few days before the event, he makes his grocery list, shops and preps. Cris sets the tables, selects the centerpieces, chills the Champagne and gets the ambience just right. “I don’t want to say we’ve never had a bad meal down here,” Jay said. “But we’ve never had a bad experience. You have more special memories over food than you have just sitting around somewhere.” And while the hosting, entertaining and bustle of activity make for fun parties, Jay never forgets the true purpose of the space. “Family fostered the passion,” Jay said. “And now that they’re gone, cooking brings me back to that childhood place.”
Jay ran across a Comptoir de Famille plate at a flea market in Paris that read “La Brasserie du Square.” He searched online and ordered a whole set, which he described as a lucky find that was the perfect cherry on top for his bistro.
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oxford events Downtown Council Spring Open House View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
The Oxford Downtown Council held a spring open house and Easter egg hunt April 11-12 on the Square. The festivities also included a concert by the George McConnell Acoustic Duo, photos with the Easter Bunny and egg decoration stations.
Trusty and Angela Martin
Deb and Bryars Pittman with Angela and Bria Maloney
Brooklyn Coburn and Bill Houston with Ashley and Matt Coburn
Reagan Jeffcoat, Brayleigh Higdon and Augusta Hankins
Indaniya and S. Adams
Lawson and Heather Moffatt with Cole and Haley Murphy
Bryson, Lesley, Aiden and Ava Thweatt
Peter, Collins, Brandi and Conner Binder
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Amy, Russell and Jay Pieralisi
Margaret, Robert, Rob and Miller Neely
photographed by Leslie Brooks
Celia Grace and Victoria Derveloy
BEAUTIFUL HOME FOR SALE
Rivers and Lyndsey Babb
in the Northpointe subdivision of Oxford
317 CENTERPOINTE DRIVE•$339,900 •2,650 square feet•3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath•Bonus room and office •Hardwood floors•Vaulted ceilings•Stainless appliances •Swimming pool•Screened-in porch•Fenced-in back yard
Brooke, Jenell and Bennett Lanski
LAUREN CLEARY (205) 492-1943 662.234.5621 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 • Each office independently owned and operated.
LEGACY R EALT Y
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photographed by Leslie Brooks
oxford events Ole Miss Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Council Legacy Awards View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
The Ole Miss Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Council for Philanthropy held its fourth-annual Legacy Awards ceremony April 11 at the Inn at Ole Miss. Donna and Jim Barksdale received the award, which recognizes individuals who exemplify leadership, mentorship and philanthropy.
Olivia Manning, Robert Khayat and Nancy and Bill Yates with Dorothy Howorth
Evangeline Robinson and Golda Sharpe
Susan McCormick and Alice Clark
Julia Thornton, Ginger Clark, Jimmy Brown and Cindy Reed
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Jack and Beth Yates with Mary Sharp Raynor and Sarah and Phil Nelson
Ken Cyree and Jon Fisher
Ernie and Machelle Williams with Amanda Tailyour
Nora Capwell and Donna Glenn
Emily Richmond, Elise Alexander, Debra Whitley and Nikki Green
Serving Oxford, Lafayette and Ole Miss for over 25 years
Dr. Michael G Turner, Optometrist Specializing in:
Family Eye Care • Contact Lenses • Fashion Eyewear • Diabetes • Glaucoma Treatment of Ocular Disease • Macular Degeneration Cataract Treatment • and Follow-up.
1110 N. Lamar Blvd.Oxford MS • 662.234.0400
Where the best is affordable
Tupelo, MS. 308 South Spring Street 662.842.4061 www.kirkseybrothers.com May 2014 | INVITATION
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oxford events Sparky Reardon Retirement Gala View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
The University of Mississippi Foundation hosted a retirement gala for Dean of Students Sparky Reardon March 29 at the Mill at Plein Air. Reardon worked at Ole Miss for 37 years. The gala benefited the Sparky Reardon Endowment Scholarship for Student Affairs.
Sparky Reardon, Campbell McCool and Nick Clark
Otis and Susan Tims
Matthew Vincent with Robert and Sally Carson and Fred Vincent
Betty Gary and Shirley Crawford with Joe and Rose Marie Portera
Mike Peay with Ashley and Hu Meena and Jane and Nick Clark
Sean Tuohy and Chancellor Dan Jones
Katie, Brett and Anne Soldevila with Sparky Reardon and Derek and Val Soldevila
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Keith Richardson and Joelle Andy
Mayo and RenĂŠe Flynt
Marshall and Amy Ramsey with Sonya and Ross Bjork
Brandi Hephner and Dave LaBanc
Mary Ann and Don FrugĂŠ
photographed by Joe Worthem
Ken and Kay Oilschlager with Thomas and Brookes Elfart
Dickey and Beth Meena with Kimberly and Printz Bolin
Hillary and Jimmy Bynum with Sofia Hellberg JonsĂŠn
Betty Gary, Shirley Crawford, David Wells and Judy Trott
Jennybeth, Beth and Richard Hendrick
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photographed by Leslie Brooks
oxford events Magnolia Montessori: Spring Into Auction View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
Magnolia Montessori School held its Spring Into Auction fundraiser April 11 at the Powerhouse. The event included music and live and silent auctions. The school is relocating to Oxford from Taylor in May.
Adrienne Brown-David, Emily Blount and Courtney Kneupper
John Scott, Dan Lowery, Jason Leach and Lee Harris
Michelle McCloskey, Elizabeth Hiatt and Mary Catherine Guest
Kathryn York, Erin Kirkpatrick and Katherine Montague
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David Lonesome and Laurie Woods
Ivonne Liebenberg and Brooke Fly
Keri Dibrell and Angela Box
Lindsey and Phil Baquie with Courtney Berry
Jaby and Jennie Denton with Mike Dennis
Judy Ousley and Jane Dennis March and Mitch Hall
Bryn Mahan and Karyn Jankowski
“Where kids are welcome and parents can tag along!”
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* * * * * * A New Kids Shoe Store in Tupelo 662-350-3355
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We are y o ur full line musi c st ore carrying guitars, drums, amps, accessories and of f e ring lessons
662.234.0999 Since 2001
1605 Jackson Ave W. Oxford, MS 38655
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oxford events Flower Power Garden Show View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
Flower Power, the Oxford Garden Club flower show, was held April 10 at the Powerhouse. The garden club also promotes backyard habitats for birds and butterflies, city beautification, garden therapy for State Veterans Home residents and conservation awareness.
Joe Ann Allen and Fran Woodard
Freda Harper, Margaret McCool, Paula Martin, Barbara Huddleston, Jane Parks, Janice Foreman and Jean Collins
Rosie Cooper and Carol Carpenter
Elizabeth and Susan Smith
Johnie Hurdle, Geraldine Champion and Marie Sartor
Jenn Petermann and Cyd Dunlap
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Nina Patrick and Donna Gottshall
Cindy Allgood, Glenda Bailey, Stephanie Guckert, Sherry Sullivan and Sharon Hodge
Sandra McGee and Lynn Pittman
Sherry Sullivan and Sharon Hodge
Alice Virden and Peggy Nance
Tracey Buchanan, Judy Youngblood and Marge McCauley
Ruth Caldwell and Jane Baddour
photographed by Leslie Brooks
Barbara McIntosh and Larry Watts
Carol Strider and Beth Daniels
Perfect for Mother’s Day, Graduation, Anniversaries & Other Celebrations Big and Small NORTH LAMAR PLAZA • 1126 N. LAMAR BLVD. • OXFORD, MS
Amye Kelly, Bettye B. Funderburk and Julie Starr
(662) 234-2777 W W W . L A M M O N S F I N E J E W E L R Y. C O M May 2014 | INVITATION
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346-A West Oxford Street Pontotoc, MS 662-489-1074
T he Red Door Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
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Experts in custom color matching! Great paints at a great price! Locally owned and operated by lifetime resident of Oxford mixing paint for over 20 years!
662-513-4565 • 1116 N.Lamar right before Beacon Restaurant
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carry every size egg in stock, “egg”cessories, knowledgeable staff
www.clearchoicems.com 2320 A Sunset Dr Grenada, MS 38901
Hours:
Mon - Fri 8:30am to 5:30pm Sat 8:30am to 12:30pm
photographed by Leslie Brooks
oxford events Rebelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Awards
CONTINUED ON PAGE 166
View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
The fourth-annual Rebelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Awards was held March 31 at the Ford Center. The event, which included a red-carpet walk, kicked off Grove Bowl week and honors the athletic achievements of University of Mississippi student athletes.
Katie Jenkins and Carley Wilkerson
Angela and Gregory Stringer
Alonzo Banks and Khadijah Suleman
Morgan Domingue, Taylor Beeson, Lizzy Houska, MacKenzie Ortlepp and Ally Edwards
Cara Fisher, Kellie Goss, Seini Moimoi and Melanie Crow
Stevenson and Josie Nicholson
Mary Kate Domino and Mary Paige Griffin
Maria Toennessen, Kaitlia Voll, Stani Schiavone and Abby Newton
Ashley and Andrew Veach
Destiny Lundy and Taryn Hartfield
Austin Knight and Emily Reid
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photographed by Leslie Brooks
oxford events Rebels’ Choice Awards
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 165
View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
Brady Bramlett and Natalie Martinez
Haley Culley, Melina Preciado, Madi Osias and Emily Gaitan
Kviauna Jones and Dante Oliver
Will Gleeson and Mary Claire Hamner
Erin Patterson and Darryl Brown
Connor Hennessey and Lauren McMillin
DeMarcus Covington and Natasha Taylor
Knock it out of the Park with Farese Family Dental
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oxford events Oxfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Got Talent View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
The Oxford Park Commission, Yoknapatawpha Arts Council and University of Mississippi Panhellenic Council held a community talent show April 1 at the Powerhouse. The contest spotlighted the diverse talents of community members.
Grace Murphy and Mathis Owen
Tinsley Hastings, Eloise Tyner, Bess Nichols, Katie Claiborne and Amber Tacheny
Mary Kate Berger, Ann-Mitz Dooley, Mary-Charles Pence and Ellen Garrett
Victoria Frame, Wyeth Silber and Madi Cristina
Madelyn Mohr and Sara Wingate
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Morgan Pollard, Cheney Thomasson, Kelly Meksto and Lauren Boersma
Cassie Gills, Emily McClelland and Bailey Rue Rector
Stephen Wagner and Kayla Keefe
Miller Martindale and Molly Mastin
Peggy Leisten, Penny Nelson and Glenda Alderson
Molly Wesley and Ashley Hollingsworth
Maggie and Joe Edwards
photographed by Leslie Brooks
Rebecca Parker, Mary Madison Tyler and Bess Nichols
Breena and Renee Davis
Claire Conner, Anna Claire Kelly and Carlee Fava
Chiarella Esposito and Tony King
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photographed by Joe Worthem
oxford events Oxford University School Auction View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
Oxford University School held its 10th-annual auction, Wish Upon A Star, March 29 at the school. The event, benefiting OUS, featured music and live and silent auctions.
Ashley and Mike Roberts
Marcia Garrett, Jacque Hamilton, Kimberly Cox and Angela Butter
Sandra Knispel with Lain and Tatum Brown
Lydia and Rebecca Stewart with Kapil Adhikari
Kristina Carlson, Sonya Dye, Alison Alger, Elisabeth Alexander, Summer McPheron, Cortney Lovelace and Cicely Cox
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Judy and Gary Pickering with Jay and Melanie Steen
Jake Gibbs, Amanda Tailyour and Carolyn Pegram
Hannah, Mark and Cole Busby
Chip and Jennifer Bolton
Justin Moudy and Jordan Harris
Summertime at Studio Whimzy will Be Creative!
Kids Summer Art Camps: May - August Register early
WWW.STUDIOWHIMZY.COM
CVM Salon is a Davines concept salon specializing in hair cuts, color and perfect tress extensions. Mandy Miller, the technician and owner of CVM, has spent the last seven years in Orange County, California as a stylist. Mandy is excited to introduce Davines to Mississippi. Davines is a color and product line from Parma, Italy. CVM is the exclusive carrier of Davines in Mississippi.
807 College Hill Road • Oxford, MS
1105 Van Buren Avenue • Oxford, MS 38655 • (714) 944-9119
OPTOMETRIST CONTACT LENS • OPTICAL DISPENSARY
Feel Better. Live Longer.
Steve M. DePriest, O.D.
My name is Jane and I’m from Oxford, MS. My mother was acutely diabetic and suffered with heart disease. She died of colon cancer. I have struggled with obesity my entire married life. Thirty years and 5 children later, I found myself extremely big, very tired, and pre-diabetic with high cholesterol numbers. I was introduced to Optifast through a church member, Joel, and I knew the Lord was giving me a chance for a new life!
Before
After
Thanks to Dr. Massey, William, Dianne, Kristy, and the dietitians, I have now lost 72 lbs. in 25 weeks and am still losing. My sugar and cholesterol are both normal again. I am so grateful for this chance at a new beginning and I recommend UWMC to anyone who wants to lose weight, feel better, and improve their health!
Call Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation Jonathan H. Massey, M.D. 663.232.8005 or 1.888.232.8005
Check out our selection of name brand sunglasses for the Summer. 662.234.6033 611 Van Buren Ave.
Oxford, MS
PREMIUM FRAME LINES CARRIED:
317 Heritage Drive, Suite 1 • Oxford, Ms www.universitywmc.com May 2014 | INVITATION
171
• 1, 2, or 3 Bedroom Apartments • Pets Welcome • Sparkling Swimming Pool • Fitness Center • Tanning Bed • Washer and Dryer in every Unit • Covered Parking • Cable and Internet Included • Tennis Court
SOON TO COME Outdoor grilling area, fire pit, Bocce, Horseshoe, Shuffle Board and much more!! Come check us out today!
2000 Lexington Pointe Dr, Oxford, MS 38655 www.liveatlexingtonpointeapts.com 662-281-0402 lexingtonpointe@heritageproperties.com
10:00 am-6:00 pm Mon-Sat 662.281.8004 1737 University Ave. Oxford, MS
Give us a call so we can help find your
Dream Home! Tony Montgomery 662-801-2645 tony@kessingerrealestate.com Tina Montgomery 662-801-1784 tina@kessingerrealestate.com
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INVITATION | May 2014
photographed by Leslie Brooks
oxford events Miss-i-ssippinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
CONTINUED ON PAGE 174
View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
Miss-i-ssippinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a food and beer pairing, was held April 3 at the Powerhouse. The event benefited the University of Mississippi Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council programs.
Jeff Condino and Melody Skipper
Meredith Black, Micah McCarter, Abby Quinn and Iman Haidar
Alex Waller, Katie Mitchell and Ann Lauren Russell
Jennifer Magee and Abbie Sandifer
Brendan Sheerin and Lynsey Douglass
Donna Ruth Roberts, Jo Byrd and Becky Kelly
662.234.9090
www.southsideartgallery.com
150 Courthouse Square Oxford, MS
May 2014 | INVITATION
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photographed by Leslie Brooks
oxford events Miss-i-ssippin’
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 173
View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
Rob Mink and Rebecca Ruleman
Patricia and John Rodgers Brashier with Jack Perkins and Susan and David Allen
Kristen Pack, Adriana Liendo and Devin Savage
Chandler Carr and Margaret Wright
Monica Carden, Rachael Desaussure and Ashley Edwards
Scott Brazile and Beth Blaha
• Your choice of apartment style • Three nutritious meals per day served in our beautiful dining room
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INVITATION | May 2014
• Emergency Response system • Rehabilitation services • Social activities
Dr. Kathy Knight, Dr. Mary Roseman and Janie Cole
Robert and Sarah Rose Lomenick with Jeremy Glidewell
Voted Oxford’s Best Assisted living Community
Our Family is Committed to Yours.
Rodney Hall and Felicia Chin
Happy Davis and Alex Waller
Come Experience
Life
(662) 234-9600
100 Azalea Drive, Oxford, MS 38655
www.Emeritus.com
408 Washington Street, Booneville, MS 38829
662.728.4788 M-F 9-6 • Sat 9-2
• Free local delivery • Fresh cut flowers for all occasions • 5 exclusive pottery lines • Bridal registry • Ronaldo jewelry
Oxford’s Interior Design Firm Featuring
window treatments
1223 Jackson Ave E. • Oxford, MS • 662.236.3977 www.somethingsouthernonline.com
Open 7 Days a Week Sunday - Thursday, 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. May 2014 | INVITATION
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oxford events Grove Bowl View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
The University of Mississippi Regions Bank Grove Bowl was held April 5 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The festivities leading up to the scrimmage included the Rebelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Awards, the Chucky Mullins Courage Award ceremony and a concert featuring Nelly.
Angela Hammond, Sara Murray and Mike Sipes
Mike, Reed, Greg, Anna, Lauren and Corey Ussery
Adilynn, Debbie and Christa Sawyer
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INVITATION | May 2014
Mark, Ginger and Courtney Brown with Erin, Lisa and Knox Greer
Mike, Marie, and Kaitlyn Pounders with Hunter White
Rosamona, Jamie and Bax Posey with Kristen Phillips
Kaley and Zach Gray
photographed by Joe Worthem
Mary Kathryn, Matthew and Angie Spencer
Cortlin Craft and Lyndsi Nichols
Mychele Hughes and Billy Shannon May 2014 | INVITATION
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photographed by Leslie Brooks
oxford events Kappa Kappa Gamma Spaghetti Dinner View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority members at the University of Mississippi hosted a spaghetti dinner March 26 at the sorority house. The event, which featured music and a bounce house, raised money for children to attend Young Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian summer camp.
Emily McBride and Erica Weeks
Maggie Brooks, Haley Berry, Haley Hurst and Molly Johnston
Elizabeth Kruczek, Virginia Secrest, Katie Willyerd, Trey Yadon and Taylor Brown
Paige Brendle, Ann Morgan and Kee Graham
Robin Geurin, Charlotte Bradley, Justin Geurin and Olivia Bradley
Jane Bashaw, Hailey Lowery and Sarah Evatt
Mallory Simerville with Augustine and Nathalie Flake
Senior Portraits Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Portraits Families Weddings
Darrell Ivy
Certified Professional Photographer
662.538.8599 www.imageplace.com 105 W. Bankhead St. New Albany, MS 178
INVITATION | May 2014
Kristy Bridgers and Raina Hampton
Lea and Lucy Fyfe
Caroline and Huston Tullos
Currently Servicing: Coahoma, Desoto, Grenada, Lafayette, Panola, Quitman, Tate, and Tunica Counties
Certified companions and homemakers available in the comfort of your own home, assisted living residence, hospital or nursing home.
• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week • Our Professional Companions are Bonded, Insured, Trained, Supervised, & Screened • Supervisory staff to develop and ensure implementation of individualized plan of care • Personal Hygiene Assistance • Meal Preperation and Household Cleaning • Shopping Assistance • Medication Reminders
Introducing Downtown Abbe The area’s newest venue for your special occasion
Brittany Norman
Please call our Provider Relations Coordinator for a free consultation
Visit us on Facebook!
DEPENDABLE. CHRISTIAN. CARE. www.ProvAssistedLiving.com
317 Heritage Dr, Suite 7-A Oxford, MS 38655 (office) 662-234-0100 (24 Hour Line) 662-627-7717
Corner of Business 7 and East Long
Landscape Architecture
In downtown Abbeville
In the historical old Ruth & Jimmie’s building
www.downtownabbe.com
Commercial • Residential
Matthew copp, LANDSCAPE &r. IRRIGATION, POOLSPLA, & SPAS, ASLA
The Eagle’s Nest OUS Summer Camp
OUTDOOR KITCHENS & ROOMS, AND LIGHTING OVER 8 YEARS EXPERIENCE DESIGNING SERVING ALL NORTH MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITIES LANDSCAPE & IRRIGATION, POOLS & SPAS,
OUTDOOR KITCHENS ROOMS, AND LIGHTING Matthew r. &copp, PLA, ASLA
www.mrc-landarch.com www.mrc-landarch.com (662) 236-3377 236-3377 (662)
follow follow us us on: on:
June and July 2014 Children ages 3 to 10 Gardening/Spanish/Drama Water Wipeout/Music The Great Outdoors/Edible Creations Visit our website today, www.ouschool.org, to download a registration form or call OUS at 662-234-2200
200 OUS Drive Oxford, MS 38655 May 2014 | INVITATION
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oxford events NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
The NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet was held March 15 at the Lafayette Civic Center. Among those honored for their community and civil rights work were East St. Peter’s Missionary Baptist Church pastor Williams Woods Jr.; Abbeville native Arthur Herod; and Ethel Young-Minor, senior fellow of the University of Mississippi’s Lucky Day Residential College.
Margrite and Clerence Pinson
Elvage Murphy, Essie Hubbard, Mary Murphy and Richie Carothers
Terrence, Terrace and Susie Brown
ERIC THWEATT CONSTRUCTION
Start Building Your DREAM HOME Today!
662.202.5020 180
INVITATION | May 2014
Coolidge and Ruth Ball
Ebony Smith and Alexis Smith
Eartha and Coach Smith
photographed by Leslie Brooks
Mae Shelby and Kennedy Alexander
Sarah Robinson Jones and Catheryn Robinson
Charles Johnson, Kenneth McIntosh and Randolph Buford
1107 Jackson Ave. E., Oxford, MS www.treamicioxford.com (662) 232 1923
Lula Patton and Baretta Mosley
Richard Hope Jr. and Mary Johnson
(front) Ann-Marie Herod and the Rev. Arthur Herod; (back) Ann and James Herod with Rosie Robertson
Tues - Sun 11
am
- Until
Lunch specials, brunch & daily drink specials
May 2014 | INVITATION
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photographed by Leslie Brooks
oxford events Young Authors Fair View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
Drew Daywalt, author of the children’s book The Day the Crayons Quit, read to Oxford and Lafayette Elementary students March 27 at the Ford Center. The reading was part of the Young Authors Fair, hosted by the Oxford Conference for the Book.
Chandler Laws and Monie Henderson
Kamari Jones, Mary Dale Byars, Laila Williams, Jill Clark and Pharis Boone
Larkin Dowling, Mills Daugherty and Braylen Judson
Natalie and Brooke Barry with Zanylah Holmes
Emarion Buford, Angalia Jones, Charvon Bell and Susan Zachos
Carter Wilkes with Julie and Eliza Montgomery
1400 University Ave • Oxford, MS 38655 • 662.234.3232
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INVITATION | May 2014
Christian Clarke and Kate Gross
Samantha Ball, JaCorius Burt and Arjua Vijayasankar
Tim Nordstrom, Nancy Opalko and Meridith Suzanne Ryals, Sarah Frances Hardy and Wulff Connie Robinson
SENSE OF STABILITY LEADS TO A GREATER Just a short drive to $avin SENSE OF EXHILARATION. in Downtown Hami ® ® Just aashort drive to THE CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTERS. Just short drive to $avings $avings
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©2013 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Products are distributed in the USA by BRP USA, Inc. Always ride responsibly and safely and observe applicable laws. Remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. 610617
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can-am.brp.com
©2013 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ an BRP or its affiliates. Products are distributed in the USA by BRP USA, Inc. Always observe applicable laws. Remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. 6106 can-am.brp.com
©2013 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®,(BRP). ™ and thereserved. BRP®,logo trademarks of of ©2013 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. All rights ™ andare the BRP logo are trademarks BRP orUSA its affiliates. Products are distributed in the USA byride BRP USA, Inc. Always ride responsibly and and safely and BRP or its affiliates. Products are distributed in the by BRP USA, Inc. Always responsibly and safely observe applicable laws. Remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. 610617 observe applicable laws. Remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. 610617
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210 BEXAR AVENUE WEST HAMILTON, AL • 888.545.0345 Check out our smart phone app for iPhone, iPad, Android, & Blackberry. Search "motorsportssuperstore" in any app store to find us or scan this code!
can-am.brp.com ©2013 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Products are distributed in the USA by BRP USA, Inc. Always ride responsibly and safely and observe applicable laws. Remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. 610617
May 2014 | INVITATION
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oxford events An Evening of Cocktails With Morgan Freeman View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
Morgan Freeman was the guest of honor at an April 12 cocktail reception held to support North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, which provides free legal aid in civil matters to low-income individuals and senior citizens in north Mississippi. The event was held at the home of University of Mississippi Law School Dean Richard Gershon and his wife, Donna Levine.
Morgan Freeman, Dr. Linda Keena, Dean Richard Gershon and Donna Levine
Alexis Farmer, Ben Cole, Ruthie G. McEwen and Denise Fondren
Bob and Denise Owens
Marc Gracia, Miranda Jones, Ryan Pesich and Jamie Elsmore
Robert and Kelly Kersh
Morgan and Al Cutturini
184
INVITATION | May 2014
Sheriel F. Perkins and State Rep. Willie J. Perkins Sr.
Marion Dunn Tutor and Glennray Tutor
Tasha and Jordan Bankhead
Rance and Catherine Kilgore
Andrea Brown, Jamie Elsmore and Jessica Vinson
photographed by Joe Worthem
Faye Murphy and Ben Cole
The Creative Touch Day Spa & Salon Hair Services
Hair Removal
Extensions
Spray Tanning
Nails
Massage
Makeup
Facials & Microderms
Bridal
Brad and Allyson Best We Carry:
INDULGE IN ELEGANCE Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re committed to embracing our guests in a comfortable and professional atmosphere, inviting you to experience our full line of services and treatments that will rejuvenate your body from head to toe. Through continued education and training, our services will provide you with the latest trends and technology this industry has to offer. Indulge in Elegance and allow us to renew your mind, body, and spirit. Massage Therapists
Zach Stallings (LMT: 0869) Ally Lunn (LMT: 2114) Jimmy Jackson (LMT: 1716)
www.creativetouchtupelo.com Dean Richard Gershon and Lynne Evans
2613-A Tracewood Dr., Tupelo, MS 38801 â&#x20AC;˘ 662.844.3734 May 2014 | INVITATION
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oxford events Leisure Lifestyles Spring Fever Event View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
Leisure Lifestyles, the Oxford Park Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program to provide recreational outlets for citizens ages 40 and older, held a spring fever event March 20 at the Oxford Activity Center.
Mary Queyja, Fran Wagner, Marie Collums, Wanda Belvin, Margaret and Bill Arnold and Melanie and George Lynch
Geraldine Orsborn, Lynn Brown, Janice Smith, Sarah Burcham and Mary Martin
Nell Cox and Helen Phillips
Barbara and Gary Bolden
Barbara Rogers, Judy Reynolds, Brenda Byrne, T.J. Nevins and Bob Waters
186
INVITATION | May 2014
Dee Dee Weaver, Valerie Chavis and Sam Wells
George and Veda Trost, Susan Dempsey, Mary Queyja, Cora Booker and Judy Phillips
Maelean Harris, Mary Williams and Terry Vaughn
Margaret and Ben Ratliff with Arvel and Betty Miles
photographed by Leslie Brooks
Josephine Wells and Cecelia Webb
Ken and Coralee Ash
Suthern Oasis Spa would like to Congratulate all our local Graduates!! The month of
May Graduates receive 25% off
Joan Vick and Frances Morgan
all services 317 Heritage Drive, Oxford, MS 38655 662-234-0090 â&#x20AC;˘ www.sosoxford.com info@sosoxford.com www.facebook.com/suthernoasisspa May 2014 | INVITATION
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oxford events Low-Country Boil View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.
A Low-Country boil for the Mississippi and Alabama chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects was held March 14 at the Powerhouse. The event was part of the American Society of Landscape Architectsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; annual Twin States Conference, held in Oxford.
Gary Gullatte, Thomas Holcombe, Ben Wieseman, Bill Sweet and Ryan Collins
Chuck Kelly, Patrick Waylor, Jim Jackson and Mike Donnelly
John Harris and Josh Johnson
188
INVITATION | May 2014
Jerry Sloan and Kent Hawkins
Christian and Brooke Preus
Susan Haltom and Barton Wynn
Amy Mercier and Alicia Milstead
Trent and Juanita Rhodes
Sharon Deep Nelson and Jane Reed Ross
photographed by Leslie Brooks
Mike Erdoes and Lisa Reeves
Rhea Williams and Bennett Smithhart
Dr. Perry and Dr. Fowler have a periodontal practice with an emphasis on DENTAL IMPLANTS, the TREATMENT and MANAGEMENT OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE (GUM DISEASE) in a relaxed setting. Matthew Copp with Suzy and Chad Bostik
Mike Hourin, Andy Reynolds and Damian Augsberger
DR. PERRY, DR. FOWLER, AND THEIR STAFF ARE HAPPY TO SCHEDULE YOU FOR A PERIODONTAL EVALUATION AND/OR A NO COST IMPLANT CONSULT. May 2014 | INVITATION
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oxford out and about
CONTINUED ON PAGE 192
MY SOUTHERN WILD BOOK SIGNING
OXFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR BANQUET
Tom Lawler, Joe Mac Hudspeth Jr. and Lore Lawler
Chad Carwile, David Sabin and Alan Ivy
UM MUSEUM BLUES AT HOME OPENING RECEPTION
LIFESAVING LABRADORS BOOK SIGNING
Lauren Banquer, Michelle Perry, Marti Funke and Rebecca Phillips
Laura Davis, Jessy Phillips, Ali Craft and Kristen Lutts
MISSISSIPPI STATE SOCIETY DAR LUNCHEON
Lynn Pittman, Jane Winston, Mary Lou Mitchell, Phyllis Niedfeldt and Linda Thomas
Chakeidna Wade, Shan Williams and Chelsea Clark
Brian Rogers, Caul Coker, Bradley Howard, Nich Theisen, Ashley Fitts, Chelsea Camp, Ferrand Jenkin, Mike Sherman, Wyatt Scott and Steve Vassallo INVITATION | May 2014
Sarah Connelly and Katie Szabo
L.O.U. EXCEL BY 5 EXCELebration
UM BIG EVENT DAY OF SERVICE
190
Trenisha and Mario Weekley
Lainey Kemp and Claire Crews Leigh Richardson, Kendall Garraway and Brecken Ballard
FIRST NATIONAL BANK RELAY FOR LIFE COOKOUT ON THE SQUARE
Kathy Stoker, Amanda Hovey and Pam Murphree
Tina Chandler, Natalie Camp, Michael Ferris, Peyton Atchley and Matt McCraw
FNC INDOOR PRACTICE FACILITY OPENING
Nicole Boyd and Ginny Terry
Jo, Clay and Kasandra Brownlee with Krislee Chouccoli UM MUSEUM THE FIGURE OPENING RECEPTION
662-234-6330 Old Town Shopping Center 1919 University Ave., Oxford, MS
Tiffany Webb, Megan Craven and Mary Margaret Chaffe
Chand Harlow with Daphane and Jason Johnson May 2014 | INVITATION
191
oxford out and about
CONTINUED ON PAGE 194
LITTLE MISS POSITIVE ALL THE WAY BEAUTY REVIEW
McKenzie Jones, Tiara Prather, Amari Jefferson, Kya Prather, Tya Prather and Akiyah Buford
Shyleigha Smith, Imari Owens and Linda Nesbit
Shelia Louis, Zinnetra Jeffries, April Bufourd and Janice Brown
SOUNDS OF STAGE AND SCREEN WITH MARY HASKELL AND FRIENDS
Anne Marie DeLee and Briana O’Neal
BROWN DAIRY FARM EASTER EGG HUNT
Robert and Roane Grantham
Frank and Marsha Tindall
Sophia and Paula Brown
Jazmine Williams, Tuwanna Williams and Bobby Watson
Elaine, Jason and Carson Quebedeaux
Anna Haynes, Jennifer Peters, Amy Donaldson and Jill Todd
WALK MISSISSIPPI FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Jacob Harrill, Peggy Speck, Sally O’Brien, Shelly Bailey, Mathew Harrill, Lawton O’Brien, Joey Bailey and Daniel Harrill
PARTY IN THE PARK FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH
Pam, Brian and Cohen Starling
192
INVITATION | May 2014
Ananda Young and Shamiah Mathis
Charles E. Yow II with Charlie, Mary, Evelyn and Betsy Yow
Shamiah Mathis, D’Nyasha Jones, Xi’Keious Southern and Azariah Jones
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH EASTER EGG HUNT
Savannah Staggs, Luke Suber and Justin Bailey Staggs BRINGING NATURE HOME SEMINAR
Kristin Lamberson, Doug Tallamy and Madge Lindsay
Blair Parker, Marie Burgess, Andy Pouncey and Chelius Carter
Get a fresh new look for spring at The Parlor! A Full Service Salon • AirBrush Tanning Cut, Color, & Protect Your Hair David Catlin, Suzanne Langley, Michelle Reynolds and Robert Petty
662-513-0015 • 2305 W Jackson Ave, Suite 203 • Oxford, MS May 2014 | INVITATION
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oxford out and about
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 193
ALLEN HARRIS AND FRIENDS VARIETY SHOW
Tim and Robin Vaughn with Allen Harris and Ruth Vaughn
DAVID DORFMAN DANCE WORKSHOP
Lilly McElreath, Jena Brown, David Dorfman, Virgina Duke Goza, Don Frugé, Mary Sharp Rayner, Mary Ann Frugé, June Goza, Jim Rayner, Diane Davidson and Jeffie Liles Smith and Sallie Hardy
BARBECUE AND BIDS BENEFITING THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION
Tyler, Aaron, Lindsey and Miller Meisenheimer
Margaret and Kat King with Anne Asger, Tricia Sue Hodge and Molly Copelin and Margie McLeod Meisenheimer
Roey Kingery, Mariella Scott and Amanda Cartwright
OLE MISS CELEBRATION OF SERVICE AWARD PRESENTATION AND RECEPTION
Sophie, Lizzy and Forrest Leary with Pat Wamble and Pat Leary CEDAR RIDGE DOG THERAPY SEMINAR
Cindy Monk, Julie Davis, Candance Baird and Edye Conkerton
194
INVITATION | May 2014
Rev. Taylor Moore, Rev. Ann Whitaker, Rev. Penny Sisson and Dr. Ed Sisson
Carol Van Besien and Allyson Best
Melody Visor-Perry, Yamika Barnes, Ashley Visor and Joey Perry
ENTREPRENEURIAL ALLIANCE SHARK TANK
Glen Evans and Sawyer Lambert
Mark Yacovone, Joyce Freeland, Chip Wade, Clark Love and Campbell McCool
BRAMLETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ROUND-UP
Eliza and Megan Tomes
Mary Beth Moore, Elisabeth Turner and Courtney Gregory
Landscape Design, Installation, and Maintenance Angel, Brandon and Slay Smith
BEFORE
Alicia and William Bouldin with Mary Elena and Helen Hale
AFTER
662.533.8977 • www.matthewslandscapellc.com matthewslandscape@yahoo.com • Josh Matthews - Owner May 2014 | INVITATION
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HEAVY
METAL J.R. Clark’s hand-forged bottle openers are in high demand. by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem
A
nvils, tongs, hammers and homemade tools clutter every surface in J.R. Clark’s 500-square-foot backyard shed in Thorn, Miss. From the outside, it’s a nondescript storage building. Inside, Clark has transformed the space into a metal-forging shop where he spends weekends pounding away at hot metal to create his sought-after bottle openers. Clark sits at his worktable with his original prototype, a railroad tie turned bottle opener, resting in his callous hands. He turns the darkened steel in his fingers, glancing at some of his later work, which is spread on the metal worktable below. There are tiny axes, snakes, harpoons, a ram’s head. Each custom piece shows the evolution of Clark’s work as a selftaught blacksmith. “I’d always wanted to find a hobby that was both artsy and manly at the same time,” Clark said. “Lucky for me, I found one that mixed two things that I love together.” The artist rubs his finger along the steel indention of his maker’s mark, an amphora – an ancient jug that was the Egyptian hieroglyph for beer in 3200 B.C. Clark, a longtime craft beer aficionado, discovered smithing through a demonstration
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J.R. Clark heats a piece of steel over the fire in the open-air metal-forging shop in his backyard. Clark has made a name for himself with handcrafted bottle openers that he sells primarily to craft beer drinkers. His side job as a metalworker pairs nicely with his regular work as cellar man at Water Valley’s Yalobusha Brewery.
at Houston’s Mississippi Valley Flywheel Festival around 1998. After drilling the forgers about the basics of the craft and testing his skills in their fires, Clark was stoked. He found his grandfather’s old anvil, hammer and tongs, and got a forge from a farmer down the road. Clark’s first functional creations were barbecue tools and fire pokers, but they didn’t sell well. It was when he solved a common problem for craft beer fans that the iron got hot. “Most craft beer drinkers start out collecting the bottles they drink until they figure out they’re not going to have room for them, so they start collecting caps. The thing is, most bottle openers mess the tops up when you take them off. I just designed one that doesn’t bend them,” Clark said. He didn’t write down figures or take
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measurements to create the design – he just pictured what he wanted in his mind and used an anvil to gauge length and width as he went. Clark applied his simple rule for good forging to the project: Heat the metal and beat it until it looks like you want it to look. Demand outgrew supply when he posted photos of his work on an online thread he frequented for craft beer drinkers. Soon, instead of searching for railroad spikes to use as material, he was ordering 20-foot-long pieces of steel, and he was firing up both his 120-year-old cast-iron coal forge and his modern propane version regularly when not at his day job. “I could quit my job and make more money doing this full time any day, but I love what I do,” Clark said. He works weekdays as a cellar man at the recently opened Yalobusha
Brewery in Water Valley, Miss., and he heats up his forge on his weekends off. Clark charges $35 to $85 for his bottle openers and more for custom pieces. Each one requires somewhere between five minutes and four hours of labor, depending on complexity. The ram’s-head opener clocked in at 10 hours. The demand for his work is so steady by word of mouth and through his craft beer contacts alone – at the end of last year he was 200 work orders behind – that Clark refuses to start a website, even though several of his tech-savvy friends have offered to help him. The extra attention just isn’t necessary. “I just can’t keep up with the orders no matter what I do,” Clark said. “I think even if I was doing it full time I wouldn't be able to keep up.”
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Pace
Setting Her
by Lena Anderson photographed by Joe Worthem
My Blue Heaven, Jennifer Paceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newly renovated boardinghouse in Water Valley, Miss., brings her love of entertaining and pottery together under one roof.
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My Blue Heavenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen is one of the coziest spots in Paceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boardinghouse. The shelves are filled with her own handmade pottery and items she inherited from her mother, Phyllis, who loved to entertain.
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My Blue Heaven may have just opened its doors in October, but if its walls could talk, the tales would be old. Jennifer Pace, the owner of the boardinghouse on Main Street in Water Valley, Miss., made something new out of repurposed materials. The rustic birch walls were salvaged from a shoe store in downtown Nashville, Tenn. The turquoise door leading to the foyer was originally part of an elementary school in Jackson, Miss. And some of the hardwood floors are the original ones that existed 70 years ago when the building was the Primitive Baptist Church. “This was a good building with good bones, so we saved every little scrap we could,” Pace said. “If part of the floor had termite damage, we saved the half that didn’t and moved it to a smaller room.” Phyllis, Pace’s mother who loved to play hostess, was the inspiration behind opening the boardinghouse. The plan was that the two of them would run it together. But Phyllis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during the renovation process and died before the project was complete. “Mother loved to entertain people and would have loved to be a part of this,” Pace said. “But this is her furniture. Those are her glasses on the mantel. [In a way] she is here.” The house has four bedrooms, which Pace rents individually, with a shared kitchen and living area. On Sundays, Pace has an open house from 2 to 5 p.m., where she serves coffee and snacks and shares her other passion: pottery. Pace fell in love with pottery in 1989 as a graphic design student at the University of Mississippi. After her first pottery class, she was hooked and changed her Master of Fine Arts emphasis from graphic design to pottery. She has had a successful career for 23 years selling her work at floral, gift and antiques shops in Oxford, including the Mustard Seed. Two years ago, she began teaching art at Lafayette High School and is excited that the department just bought its first potter’s wheel so that ceramics can now be part of her curriculum. She has set up a little shop in the front room of My Blue Heaven, where she showcases her work for guests as well as those who drop May 2014 | INVITATION
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“Being a potter was in my blood, and I didn’t even know it.” – Jennifer Pace by for her Sunday open houses. One of the more popular items is her birdhouses, made from wood and clay. When she discovered birds were building their nests inside her kiln, she decided to offer them an alternate dwelling space. Now the birds live inside a safe place and not one that regularly catches on fire. Her favorite pieces to make, however, are the kinds used for entertaining – pitchers, cups, bowls and trays. She keeps the house stocked with her handmade coffee mugs for guests to use during their stay. Often, guests will purchase the cups to take home with them as a reminder of their visit. Those souvenirs go home with guests who
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live all over the country, and a few years ago, a funny thing happened. A woman in Nashville contacted Pace to request a custom piece to match one her daughter bought for her in San Francisco. The vase was glazed in Pace’s signature teal color and had “Pace” etched on the bottom. The woman assumed it was Pace’s work. “It looked a lot like mine, but it wasn’t,” Pace said. “We did a little digging and tracked it to an artist in Florence, Italy.” The Italian artist turned out to be Pace’s distant cousin. “Being a potter was in my blood, and I didn’t even know it,” Pace said.
Above, a variety of pottery pieces with Pace’s signature teal glaze. Right, Pace is in the process of relocating her pottery studio to My Blue Heaven. The space is still a work in progress, but her vision is to one day be able to create as well as entertain in the boardinghouse.
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Spring Mix Many varieties of lettuce and leafy greens are in season in the spring and early summer. Use these tips to grow these bountiful plants and create fresh salads from your own garden. Enjoy these recipes or make up your own.
“Spinach, arugula and lettuce are all great crops for the spring and fall garden in north Mississippi,” said Will Reed of Native Son Farms in Tupelo, Miss. “All of these crops will benefit from full sun in early spring and can tolerate some shade as the hot weather of late spring approaches. They are all suitable for growing in ground and in containers.” May 2014 | INVITATION
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Spinach
According to Reed, spinach is among the most cold-tolerant greens and can be planted in late winter and early spring. Baby spinach is ready to harvest in 25 to 30 days; full-size spinach is harvested in 40 to 45 days.
SPINACH SALAD WITH HOT BACON DRESSING Recipe submitted by Evie Carney of Ralph’s Doc and Evie Farms in Baldwyn, Miss. SALAD: 2 bunches baby spinach (or torn larger leaves) 8 slices of bacon, fried crisp and crumbled 1 roasted red pepper, diced 1 red onion, sliced thin 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries ½ cup toasted almonds 16 grilled shrimp or 2 grilled chicken breasts Toss first 6 ingredients together in large salad bowl; top with shrimp or chicken. DRESSING: 8 slices bacon 1½ cups white sugar 3 teaspoons cornstarch ½ teaspoon salt 1/4 cup water ½ cup white vinegar Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly browned. Drain, crumble and set aside. In a bowl, whisk together sugar, cornstarch and salt; slowly add water and vinegar, whisking constantly. In a medium skillet, add the bacon; pour vinegar mixture over it. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Makes 1½ cups.
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Lettuce
Lettuce can be grown as full-size heads or as a mixture of baby greens. “We grow mostly head lettuce and begin seeding transplants in our greenhouse Feb. 1,” Reed said. “We grow the transplants for 30 days and then set them in the field and harvest full-size heads 30 days later.” Head lettuce grows well at a spacing of 10 to 12 inches and, if it is direct-seeded in the field, is typically harvested 55 to 65 days later. Baby greens are sown densely in the field and harvested 30 to 35 days later.
RED LEAF LETTUCE SALAD Recipe submitted by Evie Carney 1/4 cup sliced almonds 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 head red leaf lettuce, torn 3 green onions, chopped 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and chopped 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 teaspoons white sugar Salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup vegetable oil Place almonds and 1 tablespoon sugar in a small skillet over medium-low heat, and stir until sugar melts and almonds brown, watching carefully to avoid burning. Remove from heat and allow to cool. In a large salad bowl, mix lettuce, green onions, strawberries, avocado, dried cranberries, blue cheese and cooked almonds. Whisk together vinegar, 2 teaspoons sugar, salt and pepper in a bowl, and stir in vegetable oil. Pour dressing over salad, and gently toss to combine. Makes 8 servings.
Arugula
After spinach, Reed said, arugula is the next most cold-tolerant, and it is also the most heattolerant. Baby arugula grows quickly and is ready to harvest 21 to 28 days after seeding. The flavor of arugula becomes more pungent as it gets larger and as the weather gets warmer. Arugula can be produced from early spring to the middle of June. Tip: Reed protects arugula plantings with a cheesecloth-like cover to keep flea beetles away from the plants.
ARUGULA SALAD Recipe submitted by Evie Carney 4 cups torn arugula leaves 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey 1/4 teaspoon salt Mix arugula, strawberries, red onion and cilantro in a salad bowl. Whisk apple cider vinegar, olive oil, maple syrup and salt in a small bowl; pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Makes 4 servings.
Kale
Kale is a hardy, versatile and nutrition-packed member of the cabbage family, and it grows in the spring and fall. In the spring, seeds can be sown as soon as the soil can be worked. In the fall, seeds should be planted about eight weeks before the first expected frost. Kale should be harvested by late spring, as warm weather can toughen the leaves, but the fall harvest lasts well into the winter as cold weather and light frosts can actually enhance the flavor of the greens.
•
662.489.4741 14 East Marion Street, Pontotoc, MS 38863
KALE CHIPS Recipe submitted by Sunny Young of Good Food for Oxford Schools 1 bunch kale 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon sea salt Preheat oven to 350°F. Either use parchment paper or grease a cookie sheet. Wash the kale and pat dry. Break leaves off stems into bite-sized pieces, and toss with oil and sea salt. Spread out on the cookie sheet. Bake until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes, but watch them and try different times until you get the ideal taste and texture. Kale chips are a tasty snack on their own or great to mix into your favorite leafy salad for extra crunch.
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That’s why founder of Pinkston Seablue, Jess Pinkston, enthusiastically describles the contributions of his pool-buildging grandson, Robert Rhyne Howard, as reflecting an “incredible work ethic.” Howard, who has worked for the 61 year old company since he was in high school, started full time with Pinkston-Seablue immediately after college in 2010. Pinkston and Howard’s combined abilities mean that Pinkston-Seablue customers can continue to expect the carefully considered design and expert craftmanship that makes Pinkston-Seablue one of the Premier pool-design companies in the South.
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1923 ary Connor Adcock was aware that a 100-year-old home on Lawhon Drive had once been in her family, but she hadn’t been inside until she decided to purchase the property in 2002. “My great-grandparents lived in a bigger house on Clayton that was torn down years ago, and this house behind it was where my grandparents lived until they sold it and the
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adjoining farm to the Lawhon family in 1935,” Mary Connor said. “I just remember driving by it as a child and being told it used to be in the family. Now my son is the fifth generation living there.” Her son, Shaw, 20, didn’t know about the family home until they moved in when he was in elementary school. “I never even knew it existed until that
point. It was a complete surprise when I found out my grandparents used to live there,” Shaw said. The property had been in the family since the late 1800s, when Mary Connor’s greatgrandfather, T.D. Long, completed construction on the simple, National-style home. It originally included four rooms with a center hall. The front porch was made with wood
A century-old Tupelo house returns to the ancestors of its original owners five generations later. by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem
2014 from Mississippi bodock trees. A circular drive led to the home, which was surrounded by big oak trees. It sat on 60 acres, and it was there that Mary Connor’s grandfather ran his dairy farm. Her father, Glenn McCullough, and his three siblings spent part of their childhood in the home. Knowing that, she had been watching the now 3-acre property from afar for years, even as it became a rental after Mrs. Lawhon
died. When it went up for sale in 2002, she made an offer right away. Before move-in day, the floors were leveled, the electrical and plumbing were reworked, and central heat and air were added. Mary Connor and Shaw moved in six weeks later. Renovations continued throughout the next decade. In 2004, they added a bathroom, a living room and a den. The house grew by
600 square feet in 2006 with the addition of a back porch and carport. Also in 2006, the home’s old carriage house was transformed into a guesthouse with two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. “The year I bought the house, my dad had his two living sisters come in from Arkansas and Alabama to visit as soon as we moved in because they all were so thrilled,” Mary Connor May 2014 | INVITATION
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Waldo Long (Mary Connor Adcock’s great-uncle), Margaret Long McCullough (Mary Connor’s grand mother) and Edna Long (Mary Connor’s great-aunt), circa 1906. Their father’s farm once operated on the site of the house that Mary Connor now occupies.
said. “I got to listen to them reminisce about the place more than I ever had and found out so much. I’m so glad he got to see the house back in the family before he passed away in 2012.” Family history was also uncovered throughout the renovations. Mary Connor discovered that what is now her bedroom window was once the site of Saturday night entertainment, when her grandmother would tune the radio beneath it to broadcasts of Joe Lewis boxing matches and make giant batches of homemade ice cream for the farmworkers. Shaw inadvertently dug up three antique toy marbles in the backyard that had belonged to his grandfather as a boy. “I don’t know that there’s much I would ever change about this place now,” Shaw said. “It’s been really cool to walk the same floors and play in the same yard my grandfather did. If I get to live in it with my own family later, that would be one more generation of our family making history together here. Being able to continue that legacy would be more than meaningful to me.”
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Above, Mary Connor (pictured top right) learned that the window in her master bedroom was once a gathering spot on Saturday nights, when her grandmother tuned the radio to boxing matches and served ice cream to farmworkers. Bottom right, a painting of Mary Connorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother was commissioned by her father around the time they were engaged in 1951.
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Homegrown by Lena Anderson
photographed by Joe Worthem
Gardening
Duke Goza makes his own irrigation systems, nutrient-rich soil and cisterns for his garden. His hard work and TLC result in many varieties of hostas, hydrangeas, lilies and more.
uke Goza is out in his yard, making the rounds. He inspects the camellias to make sure they survived the frost and tilts the potted lilies toward the sun. He sees if the magnolia tree needs trimming or if a delicate Japanese iris needs repotting. He checks the collected rainwater in his homemade cistern, waves hello to a neighbor, and stops to smell the gardenia bush. The secret to his blooming paradise is simple: Buy thriving plants and give them a nurturing place to grow. “I buy plants because I think they’re healthy,” Goza said. “I’ve nursed
enough of them in my time to know, you need to pick out the biggest, most robust ones you can find. And be aware of what you’re buying. If someone in Minnesota is trying to sell you a plant, it’s probably true that plant isn’t going to like the Mississippi humidity.” “A green thumb is a brown thumb,” he added. “It’s someone who can get on their hands and knees and get in the dirt. Things will not grow where they’re not comfortable just because you want them to.”
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This is so important to him that 14 years ago, when he moved from one house to another across the street, he uprooted, potted and replanted the majority of his plants and trees from his old yard to his new one. A looming 30-foot magnolia tree standing in his front yard literally started off as a seed planted by his sister. He jokes that his crepe myrtle is “older than dirt.” Although gardening is a hobby for Goza, an attorney, he takes all aspects of horticulture seriously. He keeps a spreadsheet of more than 150 different varieties of hostas and various plants he buys. He composts both pet and kitchen waste for fertilizer. He built his own irrigation system, greenhouse, potting shed and backyard fence. The winter was particularly harsh, but instead of staying inside, Goza braved the frigid temperatures to protect his garden. For the more vulnerable plants, he placed overturned garbage cans on them with a powered light bulb inside for warmth. Most survived, even with the record-breaking cold. He keeps a keen eye on things. When he noticed the roots of his hostas were mysteriously being damaged, he began planting them in wire baskets to prevent the moles from chewing them up. If a plant is beginning to show signs of struggle, he will dig it up and replant it in a pot to nurse it back to health. He is constantly making sure his beds have good, nutritious soil, free of weeds and anything that could compete with the plants. “I spend time with this,” Goza said. “It’s something I love. Everyday when I come home, I make a round in my garden. My wife asks, ‘What’s there that wasn’t there this morning?’ and my answer is always ‘I don’t know.’ But I always see something different. It’s always changing.”
Goza’s many varieties of hostas boast different colors and patterns. He nurtures them from seedlings and said he enjoys watching them thrive.
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Goza takes the do-it-yourself aspect of gardening seriously. Left, he built â&#x20AC;&#x153;standing soldierâ&#x20AC;? brick borders for many of his beds. Right, a homemade cistern catches rainwater. Above and far right, rows of watering cans and terra-cotta pots wait to be put to use.
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An environmentally friendly 1,000-square-foot modern cabin is the perfect escape for a Memphis musician to reconnect with nature. by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem
Joe Boone’s
view from his front porch on an Oxford county road is the picture of simplicity he wanted when he broke ground here a year and a half ago. The possibility of this place is what made Boone want to build the getaway. He attended graduate school at the University of Mississippi many years ago and now lives in Memphis, but something about the Mississippi landscape drew him back. “At home I can’t mess with the revered landscaping. I wanted a space to garden and walk and be,” Boone said. “It’s my opportunity to grow things and take a breath to relax.” Now rows of holly bushes shield the home at the corners of the 11-acre property. Apple, cherry and cypress trees frame the small manmade lake in the front yard. Bean plants climb the lattices in the flower beds surrounding the house. Tomatoes and herbs grow in the small raised-bed garden and will be ready to eat come summer. Boone’s modern cabin offers refuge from May 2014 | INVITATION
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“At home I can’t mess with the revered landscaping. I wanted a space to garden and walk and be. It’s my opportunity to
grow things and take a breath to relax.” – Joe Boone
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The living space is efficient and cozy. The oak paneled walls and ceiling give the cabin a rustic vibe.
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The chrome fixtures complement the industrial look of the cabin’s exterior.
“Life is simpler here. You don’t need 5,000 square feet to live.” – Joe Boone
his busy daily life as a musician and editor, and it was also important to him that the land remain a natural sanctuary. Architect Cory Alger materialized Boone’s ideas for an environmentally friendly hideaway. He designed a cantilevered roof to use passive solar energy that converts problematic southern sun exposure into more warmth in the winter and less in the summer. A dramatic glass wall in the living room lets natural light flood into the space to reduce daytime utility consumption. The raised flower beds by the front door provide sustainability and beauty. Function blends with form throughout. The bedroom windows are small to make the
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rooms dark for resting. Both bedrooms have small bathrooms with steam showers, and a separate space adjoining the two bathrooms contains a shared bathtub. The front of the house consists of the kitchen and living rooms in one open-concept living space. “There’s very little difference in the setup of a traditional versus a modern cabin, but they have a totally different look and feel. This one is strikingly different, even from the outside. I’ve had people call me from out of town who want copies of that plan because they drove by,” Alger said. The exterior of the 1,000-square-foot space has an industrial feel. Inside, it’s a look
Boone said is rustic without being “campy.” The interior design boasts chrome fixtures against a backdrop of oak walls and floors. The furnishings are sparse but specific. A pair of Costa Rican rocking chairs and a white canvas sectional sit in front of the fireplace. One of the very first items Boone moved into the house was his acoustic guitar. “Life is simpler here. You don’t need 5,000 square feet to live. I like the creative limitations of that smaller space, but it is small enough that you need to make sure you really love the people you bring along before you get here,” Boone said. “That’s why I mostly bring my family. It’s a special place to share.”
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Q&A Jenks Farmer
interviewed by Emily Welly
Augustus Jenkins “Jenks” Farmer has been gardening in the South for more than 30 years. He signs his new book, Deep-Rooted Wisdom: Skills and Stories from Generations of Gardeners, May 20 at Off Square Books in Oxford. The event is part of the state Master Gardeners conference, happening May 20-22.
Q: How can at-home gardeners develop gardens that are practical and beautiful? A: Look to old gardens in your area as a model. Remember, the South is famous for its gardens, and that was true long before we had fancy irrigation systems and other high-tech options. I’m not saying duplicate those old places, but start with their knowledge. For example, if you see a plant thriving in an old garden, say forsythia, look for new, maybe smaller, varieties that will work just as well but in an updated way. Q: How can at-home gardeners can infuse personality into their gardens? A: Get out there and do it yourself! Though I garden for other people, I do it at home, too. Q: What advice can you offer a beginner gardener in the South? A: Seek a practical mix of science, modern gardening and old-school wisdom. In Mississippi, you sure have that on what I consider one of the best gardening radio shows in the country, The Gestalt Gardener.
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Q: Do you think gardening is becoming a lost art? A: The idea that gardening is an art is controversial. But it certainly can be, and I consider some of my work art. To your question, yes, and the fact that it’s being lost is ironic, given that gardening has grown in popularity over
the past 20 years. The conundrum comes with the mass marketing of horticulture, which promotes instant gratification. Like most arts, gardening takes study, trial-anderror and personal vision. It’s rewarding, and it can be a lifetime endeavor that gives you a creative, physical and soulful fulfillment.