Mud & Magnolias August 2016

October. 2016 November 2013 August

&Magnolias

Mud

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Contents

&Magnolias

Mud

pg. 15

pg. 31

pg. 38

pg. 71

Features Editor’s Letter pg.12 Fast Food pg. 15 Whether you are hosting a gameday party or tailgating at your school of choice, incorporate these food & drink bars.

Home How-to pg. 27 The trusted man cave has given men a safe haven to watch their favorite sports team.

Making the Old New Again • pg. 31

Back in his childhood home, Rick Caldwell and his wife Linda have made it their own.

Fayetteville, Arkansas • pg. 38

Ole Miss fans will travel to this city in the fall and it has more to offer than a football game.

The Graduate • pg. 71

Built with attention to preservation and history, this new hot spot is a must-see.

Also check out:

Special Q&A • pg. 22 M&M Events • pg. 57 Gameday Fashion • pg. 63

Hit the Road pg. 35 While most tamales come from the Delta, one can find what they need in most of the region.

Fact Sheet pg. 43 A reader favorite, football players from Ole Miss and Mississippi State reveal a more personal side.

In The Know pg. 69 Richard Grant has put into words the embodiment of Mississippi and specifically the Delta.

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Editor’s Letter

I celebrated my birthday in July and something I’ve tried to do the past few years is take time to reflect on the previous year and what I want to be in the following year of my life. Some people do this when the new year rolls in and honestly, I do it at both points. I promise I’m not as zen as I sound. But I believe the practice has served me well in learning from mistakes, growing professionally and personally, as well as checking items off my bucket list. So every year when Mud & Magnolias celebrates another year of publishing, we do the same thing. We reflect on the previous year and point out areas we want to grow and improve. This year, all sorts of ideas and changes were born in this brainstorming session. Perhaps the biggest change since our beginning is publishing on a monthly basis. We really felt like this was needed in taking the magazine to the next level.

And then we decided to rehaul the website into an interactive, user-friendly hub with a goal to build community and continue our storytelling mission even further. As part of these changes, we are merging brands, so Mud & Magnolias will now have a bridal edition as well as editions focused on health and fitness, food and travel. In conjunction with select issues, we will organize events to bring the magazine to life. I could continue to tell you about the plans for this magazine, but for lack of space, you’ll have to trust me when I say it’s only going to get better. As for this issue, my favorites are the q&a of a former Delta State University cheerleader who is pretty much #lifegoals for me (pg.22) and the feature on author Richard Grant and his book Dispatches from Pluto (pg.69). Y’all, the first thing on your reading list should be Mud & Magnolias. The second should be this book. I’ve never been able to fully explain my heart for Mississippi to people who don’t know and love it like I do. Now, this book can do it for me and I’m grateful. Finally, I’d be remiss to close this letter without a big “Thank You!” to all of our readers and advertisers. We couldn’t do any of this without you and for your support, the staff and I can only promise to keep improving, keep digging up cool stories in this area and keep giving you what you want.

If you have any thoughts about this issue, please email me at editor@mudandmag.com.

The Cover Toast has long stood the test of time, but it is often the boring option. Not anymore with the variety of topping options seen on our cover. Visit our website for a complete guide to making toast the right way.

PB Toast Ingredients:

bread of your choice (we used rye) banana, sliced honey peanut butter chia seeds

Directions:

Spread a layer of peanut butter on the bread and drizzle with honey. Then add the banana slices and top with chia seeds.

Photo by Lauren Wood facebook.com/mudandmagnolias 12

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@mudandmagnolias

Mud & Magnolias

@mudandmagnolias

HBD, M&M Mud

Happy 5th Birthday

&Magnolias

1242 S Green St. Tupelo, MS 38804 662.842.2611

Editor-in-Chief Ellie Turner

We are in our 5th year of publishing and in honor of our birthday, we have some really cool gifts in store for you. Let’s take a look:

Going Monthly Starting in September, we will go from publishing every other month to publishing on a monthly basis. We are overwhelmed with the support of Mud & Mag through the years and it only seems natural with our growth that we continue to deliver the quality content you’ve grown to love on a more frequent basis.

New Website

Creative Director Ignacio Murillo

Associate Editors Amy Speck Shannon Johnson Missha Rogers Leslie Criss Lauren Wood Carmen Cristo

Editorial Intern Garland Patterson

Featured Sales Consultants Leigh Knox Bill Spencer June Phillips Kristen Capps Angie Quarles Christen Hartley Darla Webb

Contributing Editors Jocelyn Murphy Lena Mitchell

Contributing Photographers Ann-Marie Wyatt Jocelyn Murphy Christian Horan

subscriptions@mudandmag.com advertising@mudandmag.com info@mudandmag.com mudandmag.com

Our new website will continue to have the long-form features you see in the print publications, but in addition, it will have more DIY projects, recipes, event information, a wedding segment and the list goes on. We are even making a space for you, our readers, to tell your story in personal narrative form.

This magazine is a bimonthly publication of Journal, Inc.

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Tailgating Food & Drink Bars Photos by Lauren Wood

Biscuits, gravies and jams, recipes on page 21 mudandmag.com

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Sugar and chocolate cookies and toppings, recipes on page 21 mudandmag.com 16 l

Bloody Mary and garnishes, recipes on page 21

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Waffles and toppings, recipes on page 21 mudandmag.com

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Lemonade and garnishes, recipes on page 21 20

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Tailgating Food & Drink Bar Recipes LEMONADE Ingredients: 3 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 1/2 cups sugar 1 lemon, thinly sliced 10 cups cold water ice Directions: Combine lemon juice, water and sugar in a pitcher or dispenser. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add lemon slices and ice. Stir and serve immediately or store in refrigerator.

Garnishes: raspberries, lemon slices and blueberries.

BLOODY MARY Ingredients: 46 ounce can vegetable juice 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice 1/4 cup worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon horseradish 2 dashes of hot sauce (add more to taste) 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 cups vodka of choice Directions: Combine ingredients and stir. Serve over ice.

Toppings: pickled okra, shrimp, cheese cubes of choice and candied bacon.

Extra recipe: CANDIED BACON Ingredients: bacon slices brown sugar maple syrup

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bacon slices on cookie sheet. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cover with maple syrup. Bake for 20 minutes or until crisp.

SUGAR COOKIES Ingredients: 1 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 teaspoon almond extract 2 tablespoons milk 3 cups flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt Directions: In a large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine egg, vanilla and almond extract in a bowl. Add milk and beat again. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir until a dough takes form.

Chill dough for about 30 minutes.

Roll dough about 1/4 inch thick onto a floured surface. Cut your cookies using a cookie cutter or glass and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until slightly golden. Frost cooled cookies with icing of choice.

Toppings: sprinkles, strawberries and blueberries.

BISCUITS Ingredients: 4 cups self-rising flour 2/3 cups shortening 1 1/4 cups buttermilk 2 tablespoons butter, melted Directions: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Blend

together shortening and flour. Mix in buttermilk, stirring for about a minute.

Roll onto a floured surface, knead lightly and cut with a biscuit cutter or glass. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until risen and slightly golden. Brush with melted butter.

Toppings: chocolate gravy, white gravy and tomato gravy.

Extra recipe: TOMATO GRAVY Ingredients: two ripe tomatoes, diced 1-2 tablespoons bacon grease 2 tablespoons flour 2 tablespoons milk Directions: Add diced tomatoes to warm bacon grease over low-medium heat. Add flour and stir to make a paste. Add milk and stir to desired consistency.

Add salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste.

WAFFLES Ingredients: Non-stick spray for waffle iron 4 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons sugar 4 teaspoons baking powder 3 1/4 cups milk 4 eggs 1 stick butter 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Directions: Coat waffle iron with non-stick spray.

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.

In another bowl, mix together milk and eggs. Add butter and vanilla to wet ingredients. Slowly stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

Cook using waffle iron as normal.

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Q & A

JANEIL STUTTS What was your experience like at Delta State University?

I would still be there if they hadn’t made me graduate. All these years, I’ve loved it. I still love it.

Me and my twin sister were both cheerleaders all four years.

Tell me about a favorite memory from your time in school.

I graduated in 1955, and we had the first and only undefeated and untied football team that year.

When is the last time you went back?

I used to go back every year for homecoming, but I haven’t been in a couple years. Now, we have a group that goes to Lake Tiak-O’Khata every year. When we get together, it’s like we were never apart. It’s the same group we were with at Delta State. We are all still in touch. I’m determined to go back to Delta State one more time. Last time I went for homecoming, I put my uniform back on and did a cheer. I didn’t think I’d ever have this uniform on again.

How have things changed since you left?

Well, I don’t know anything about the Okra. When I was there, it was just the Statesman. There are a lot of older people who don’t like the Okra, but now they say “Respect the Statesman, Fear the Okra” and that’s alright with me.

The new president, Dr. LaForge, is also a Delta State graduate and has that same love of Delta State that we have, so he’s perfect for the job. I would like to see it grow a little, but I don’t want it to get too big.

What did you study at Delta State?

Cheerleading [laughing]. There weren’t a lot of majors for women at Delta State, and I didn’t really care for home economics. There was a group of us that went into education, and I found my niche there.

I could relate to the kids… I got my master’s degree from Ole Miss. I taught in Natchez my first year.

Do you have a favorite Delta State tradition?

To me, the love of Delta State, the camaraderie and friendships is what stands out. The alma mater says “Oh Delta State we cling to the memory/ Of happy days we’ve spent/ Of standards high and of friendships dear” and it really is the way we all felt. There aren’t many of us still living my age, but I still feel that way about Delta State.

Tailgating is a little different at Delta State, too, and they call it pig pickin’. Now, everyone on campus wears green on Fridays and calls it a “sea of green.” I think that’s great. M Photos by Lauren Wood 22

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TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI When you can’t make it to the game, it’s nice to have a personal destination to escape reality and cheer on your favorite team.

MEET THE OWNER: KEVAN KIRKPATRICK When did you start collecting the items that can be seen displayed on the walls of your den?

By no means do I consider myself to be a sports memorabilia collector. It’s just things I have acquired over the years. All the signed baseballs you see, unless they were a gift, I’ve gotten them all by happenstance. I don’t get online and look and order things. The majority of the stuff I have is really not of any value to anyone but me.

Does that mean that most of these items have an interesting backstory?

Everything has a story, a meaning to me. We’ve lived here 8 years now, and before we moved here, I didn’t have a place to display it, so everything was in crates. That autograph of Johnny Bench up there is my very first autograph from when I was 10 or 11 years old. I still have my first tickets from a baseball game I went to with my Dad and brother.

There’s a picture hanging over there of the boys riding on the team bus with Jackie Sherrill.

The year after it was taken, we got him to sign it for them. It’s probably my favorite thing in the room.

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Do you have any other favorite pieces?

My first job out of school was at a hotel in Tuscaloosa. When the sports teams came to play Alabama, that’s where they stayed. LSU came through, and that’s when Shaquille O’Neal played for them. He came in and signed a newspaper article that I have framed.

I also have things that no one would ever know are of any value. There are beads hanging from my Saints helmet. Deuce McAllister threw those from the float at the Super Bowl parade. I stuffed those in my jacket pocket because I thought it was cool.

How did you first become interested in sports?

My grandfather died when I was really young, and my grandmother remarried. My stepgrandfather played minor league baseball, and he’s the one who first taught me how to throw a baseball and how to talk baseball.

Tell me about your cowbells.

Two of those are Spencer’s, my son who is going to Mississippi State this year. One of them is Harris’s, my other son, who went to Ole Miss.

Maybe one day, he will come back and get that cowbell. He grew up a bulldog. One I got when I

graduated from Mississippi State, but I have had to retire it to the shelf, and get a new one.

I see a lot of other teams represented here, too. Are these all the teams you cheer for or do you just pick things up along the way?

I’ve always been a big Cubs fan. We went to Wrigley this year for a game. In the ‘70s, I was a fan of the Cincinnati Reds. I grew up near Ocean Springs, Mississippi, so I have always been a Saints fan as well. The two pennant flags hanging up are from my room when I was a baby. If you look close on the Packers flag, you can see where I traced the letters with crayon. I’ve just carried all these things around with me. I actually built the frames that they now hang in.

Do you host people here often?

Sometimes. It was really a space for me and the boys. We would sit up here a lot together. When Harris went to college, it was me and Spencer.

Now, he’s leaving for college soon, so it’s gotten a bit more lonely up here.

So, watching sports is a family hobby?

This is what I tell people all the time: sports is a pleasant diversion for me. M

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MAKING THE OLD NEW AGAIN The four years since Rick and Linda Caldwell returned to live in his childhood home in Baldwyn have been a journey.

By Lena Mitchell

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T

he journey for Linda Caldwell, a retired teacher, and her husband, a Tupelo banker, has led to the interior transformation of their Frank Lloyd Wright-style home.

Linda Caldwell said the changes blend the furnishings left to the couple by Rick’s late mother and her own design preferences.

“I couldn’t have done it without the help of the people at Staggs,” she said. “Kelly Holcomb and Pat Kilpatrick helped with every aspect of bringing it all together.”

The late Dr. Gene and Mrs. Eugenia Caldwell, Rick’s parents, had the home built in the early 1950s and worked with one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s proteges, Linda Caldwell said.

When Rick and Linda Caldwell married in 1980, it was in front of the floor-toceiling windows in the home’s living room.

“I couldn’t have asked for better in-laws,” she said. “We were so lucky to be left this house.”

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Eugenia Caldwell lived in the house until her passing in 2008, and along with the house, she left her extensive collection of Asian-influenced furnishings.

Linda Caldwell’s design goal was to blend the elder Mrs. Caldwell’s style with her own contemporary and antique pieces.

The home’s footprint encompasses 2,500 square feet and features the simple, clean lines that are a signature of homes designed with the renowned architect’s influence.

The main floor is constructed in a linear design that lies left and right of two front entry doors.

Both Asian influences and antiques are displayed from the home’s front entrance that leads to the signature Wright-style open floor plan.

In the living room, no draperies frame the three tall windows, welcoming the natural light and giving a panoramic view of the 10 acres of park-like property with its man-made lake.

“We’re in the city of Baldwyn, but it’s like being in the country,” Linda Caldwell said.

“Our lake has carp, catfish, bream, a variety of fish, and we’re always seeing herons, ducks, deer and all kinds of animals.”

Walls in the living room soar to a ceiling constructed of shiplap boards. The room’s accent wall displays both a sculptural piece and a painting by famed Mississippi artist George Wardlaw, whom Dr. Caldwell sponsored in his early career.

The accent wall also supports the living room side of a pass-through raised fireplace, whose other side opens into the dining room.

The entire living area brings the outdoors in. Waist-to-ceiling windows surround the dining room, opening the room up to another view of the downhill path to the lake and a gazebo constructed in the 1970s.

Family gatherings take place around the same rectangular Danish modern dining table the elder Mrs. Caldwell used, though the kitchen has been completely remodeled.

“Rick is a fabulous cook and he wanted

a gas top range and Jenn-Air appliances, so I said, ‘Honey, whatever you want,’” Linda Caldwell said.

The ceiling-high and under-counter cherry wood cabinets, along with an island, provide plenty of storage. One feature Linda Caldwell loves is a drawer-style microwave, so she doesn’t have to rise on tiptoe to see inside an over-the-range style.

Cork rather than hardwood has been used on floors throughout the home, a material that is considered easy on backs and knees.

From behind the kitchen island, the flow is through a butler’s pantry that leads right back to the front hallway.

“It’s a design I saw in Southern Living magazine, and Barry Pierce and Anita Dillard of Pierce Cabinets did a great job creating just what I wanted,” she said.

The open pantry design includes a

custom display cabinet that houses Linda Caldwell’s crystal and china collections, as well as a felt-lined drawer for her silverware.

Continuing down the front hall, and on the opposite side of the formal living room is the den, where more high windows allow light to permeate the room.

“Rick wanted to keep some things like his mother and daddy had it, and I wanted it to feel a lot like his childhood home,” Linda Caldwell said.

The hallway is situated along the house’s front wall, and leads to the three bedrooms and baths. The windows throughout the house that are a highlight of the home’s design are mostly unadorned, so that the views outside those windows become a focal point.

From the outside, many of the house’s unique features are not visible, enclosed by the house’s linear brick front walls.

A small courtyard and garden with bubbling fountain are the setting for a table and chairs for a quiet cup of morning coffee.

Across a two-vehicle carport from the courtyard is a hidden patio with more tables, chairs, and a good vantage point above the hillside garden that leads down to the lake.

“It was unexpected that we’d decide to move from Tupelo to Baldwyn at this stage of our lives, but Baldwyn is such a nice town, it’s really come alive,” Linda Caldwell said. “It’s been a nice transition and I can’t say enough nice things about Baldwyn.” M

Out With the Old

Linda and Rick Caldwell took his childhood home and made it their own. Photos by Lauren Wood

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Hit The Road

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It is no secret the Mississippi Delta is the tamale capital of the American South. The Mesoamerican delicacy has been a Magnolia State staple since at least 1936, when bluesman Robert Johnson recorded “They’re Red Hot,” referencing the spicy tamales served in the Delta’s restaurants and kitchens. The story of the tamale’s arrival is debatable. Some claim the MexicanAmerican War, while some believe they were brought to Mississippi by Mexican migrant workers in the early 20th century. Either way, you might be surprised to find that the tamales, in their many varieties, have made their way across the state and into places you might not expect, like pizza chains and donut shops. // By Carmen Cristo Dilworth’s Tamales Located at 702 Wick St. in Corinth, Dilworth’s has been serving tamales to the community since 1962. Like many Mississippi tamale vendors, Dilworth’s is take-out only with an iconic drive-thru window. Their signature thin tamales have made cross-country trips wrapped in aluminum foil. Patrons can order them mild or hot.

D-Shy’s Tamales D-Shy’s is a food stand located in Fred’s parking lot at the corner of Harper and Shiloh roads in Corinth. While just miles away from their competitor, Dilworth’s, the tamales bear little resemblance. D-Shy’s are larger, wetter and wrapped in parchment paper. If you want them hot, be sure to call ahead. Like Dilworth’s, D-Shy’s tamales come in two variations: mild and hot.

Lost Pizza Co. While it seems strange for a pizza place in Tupelo (1203 N. Gloster St.) to offer tamales on its menu, it’s important 36

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to note Lost Pizza Co. was first opened in the Mississippi Delta, where tamales reign. They don’t outshine the pizza, but they certainly hold their own. Rumor has it they are transported to each franchise location from Cleveland, Mississippi, and then cooked on-site. They’re served with crackers and hot sauce, true to their roots.

Speedy Gonzales Located at 1725 N. Gloster St. in Tupelo is a seemingly nondescript gas station. Slow down and you’ll see signs hanging above the gas pumps advertising “the best tamales in town” and a menu listing on the exterior of the building, complete with photos. Speedy Gonzales is a full-service taqueria with a few specialty items for purchase as well. On the menu, you’ll find quesadillas, gorditas, sopes, and of course, tamales. There are tables for dining-in, but most patrons carry out.

Scarlet’s Donuts Scarlet’s Donuts recently replaced Shipley Do-Nuts in Tupelo when owners

David and Scarlet Wilson decided to leave the franchise her father first opened in Greenville in 1959. One of the reasons they renamed the joint was to keep offering tamales, which would be against the new corporate guidelines. Like Lost Pizza Co., Scarlet’s sources their tamales from the Delta. The first of the Scarlet’s locations opened at 1714 N. Gloster, directly across the street from Speedy Gonzales.

Taqueria Ferrus One might expect to find tamales at a place like Taqueria Ferrus. Located in the Choice Pawn parking lot at 1141 W. Main St. in Tupelo, the stand has garnered quite a following for its authentic, freshly prepared Mexican cuisine. The tamales are no exception. They can be ordered two ways: rojos puerco (red pork) and verdes pollo (green chicken). Don’t forget to pair them with one of the three homemade salsas. M Photos by Lauren Wood

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F ayetteville

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Fayetteville, Arkansas has been getting a lot of attention in the past few years, landing on list after list of best and most affordable cities to live . It’s not just the residents who can appreciate everything the northwest corner of the natural state has to offer, though. If you can get past a little friendly SEC competition while you’re in town, the folks of hog country are more than happy to show visitors a good time.

M

ake no mistake, the action in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium is the biggest thing in town on Saturdays during the fall. But it doesn’t shut down the city. Before you get to tailgating and pregaming, stop by Fayetteville’s awardwinning farmers’ market on the historic

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By Jocelyn Murphy downtown square to see why it’s been voted one of the nation’s favorite large farmers’ markets.

If you don’t care to spend your Saturday sitting in a stadium, Fayetteville’s shopping and outdoor activities can keep you busy instead.

Block Avenue makes up one side of the downtown square and has some of

the best locally owned businesses for Fayetteville shopping. Check out The Mustache (15 S. Block Ave.) or Riffraff (19 S. Block Ave.) — started by U of A alum — for some unique threads or gifts for friends back home (or to keep for yourself). Other local favorites include vintage clothing store Cheap Thrills (120 S. East Ave.) and Fayettechill (205 W.

Razorback Regional Greenway

University of Arkansas

Dickson St.), another successful UA alum business.

When the sun’s out, so are Fayettevillians. Between the Ozark Mountains and the Buffalo River, Northwest Arkansas has plenty to do outdoors. But even if you’re looking to stay in town, the Razorback Regional Greenway and Lake Fayetteville will have you covered on getting out and enjoying nature. The 36 miles of the Greenway stretch from south Fayetteville all the way to Bella Vista, making all the cities in between pedestrian- and biker-friendly.

Early to mid-October is the peak time to see the beauty of the changing leaves so even if your drive into town is the only glimpse you get of the Ozark Mountains,

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

you’re in for a treat.

If you’re like me and more concerned about where to find the best eats and drinks in a new town, keep it on Block Avenue where you’ll find two Fayetteville institutions: Hugo’s and Maxine’s Taproom — but we’ll come back to Maxine’s. Right now, it’s still too early.

Since 1977, Hugo’s has occupied the basement of 25 N. Block Ave. with its eclectic wall décor, red neon lights and award-winning burgers. You can’t go wrong choosing any of their burgers or the Derek’s Special. Get a local beer and a basket of homemade french fries to share, and you’ll be in heaven. If you’re looking for something lighter than a burger, Arsaga’s at the Depot (548 W.

Dickson St.) has some amazing savory crepes. They have sweet ones too, but trust me, you want to go savory. With a side of potatoes. Always the potatoes.

Just across the street is a restaurant I’ve heard described more than once as “the most ‘Fayetteville’ place there is.”

Hammontree’s Grilled Cheese (326 N. West Ave.) serves what it says: grilled cheese sandwiches. You won’t find a plain American cheese on white bread here, though. (Unless you choose the buildyour-own option.) These 15 sandwiches are gourmet — boasting combinations of gouda, havarti, asiago and more with creative and mouth-watering toppings.

When you’re ready to wash all that food down, visit one of the craft

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Maxine’s

Fayetteville Farmers’ Market

Hammontree’s

breweries in town. Or if you can’t decide on one, pick up a Fayetteville Ale Trail Passport (at any participating brewery or at the Visitors Center on the square) and try them all! Four of the six official breweries are in Fayetteville, with four other participating breweries farther north in Rogers and Bentonville. Any purchase gets you a stamp in your passport from that brewery. A full passport will win you a prize from the Visitors Center.

For the cocktail lover, Maxine’s (107 N. Block Ave.) holds a place in the history of Fayetteville night life even longer than Hugo’s. It was started in 1950 by the feisty Maxine Miller, whose photos and personal barstool still adorn the walls of the classic bar. Their craft cocktails made with house-made juices and quality

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liquors are some of the best in town. Find a Fayetteville native who remembers the original owner - it’s likely they had their very first drink there.

Dickson Street, which runs right up through the center of the UA campus, is your place for nightlife. Bar after bar and late night food options, including food trucks, make it the place to be the night after a game - or really any night.

And if you get to town early, or decide to forego the football game, you can be sure there is always live music playing at George’s Majestic Lounge (519 W. Dickson St.). The bar and music venue has been around since the ‘30s and hosts local, regional, and national acts on its two stages.

Another attraction bringing national visitors to Northwest Arkansas is the

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The museum is actually half an hour’s drive north to Bentonville, but it is a true Arkansas treasure. Five centuries of American art — including works by Andy Warhol and Norman Rockwell and a Frank Lloyd Wright house — comprise the collection that is free to the public.

Built to compliment the beauty of the nature surrounding it, the building itself is as much a work of art as the pieces it holds.

However you choose to spend your stay in Arkansas, know there’s certainly enough to satisfy your curiosity, your stomach, and your sense of adventure. M Photos by Jocelyn Murphy

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Q&A | GET TO KNOW

A.J. JEFFERSON

POSITION: DEFENSIVE LINE • CLASS: SENIOR • HOMETOWN: SUMMIT, MISSISSIPPI

What’s your pregame song?

Codeine Crazy by Future.

What’s your favorite gameday tradition?

The Dawg Walk What’s your favorite comfort food?

Spaghetti, but no meatballs, I don’t like meatballs.

What are you currently watching on Netflix?

Orange is the New Black What’s your favorite thing about the South?

The Southern hospitality What is your earliest memory of football?

Getting in a game during 8th grade, not knowing the play, but my team scored a touchdown, but it was called back because I was holding.

What is your favorite football memory at Mississippi State?

Beating Auburn here in 2014 to become #1 in the nation.

How do you handle pregame jitters?

Listening to music What do you do to relax after the game?

Going out to eat with family or just hanging out with my teammates What’s the last book you read?

A textbook for class Favorite thing about Starkville?

Mississippi State University, duh.

If your first sport love wasn’t football, what other game would you play?

Soccer, it was fun when I played in high school, I played goalie. When some little guy would dribble into the box I’d run up to them and

they’d be scared so I’d get the ball. That was really fun.

Who is your biggest fan?

My mother, Melinda Jefferson.

What’s one thing about the football program that attracted you to State?

The team and the people here, everyone is close, this is a family. The players really are a family.

We’re all so close.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?

The Union, you can see everyone in there, from the little freshmen to all the upperclassmen, everyone goes to the Union.

Favorite college course?

I’d have to say Driver’s Education.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve ever had to overcome? mudandmag.com

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Q&A | GET TO KNOW

E VA N E N G R A M

POSITION: TIGHT END • CLASS: SENIOR • HOMETOWN: POWDER SPRINGS, GEORGIA.

What’s your pregame song?

Started From the Bottom by Drake What’s your favorite gameday tradition?

The last song I listen to getting off the bus is Started From the Bottom. I do that every game.

What’s your favorite comfort food?

Sweet potato yams What are you currently watching on Netflix?

Limitless What’s your favorite thing about the South?

Food What’s your earliest memory of football?

I started playing football at four. I had to play

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center because my hands were the biggest and I was able to hike the ball.

What is your favorite football memory at Ole Miss?

Beating Alabama at home and everybody rushing the field How do you handle pregame jitters?

I listen to Drake What do you do to relax after the game?

I sit back and watch SportsCenter, watch highlights, and relax with the family What is the last book you read?

My devotional book Favorite thing about Oxford?

The people and the feel around town.

If your first sport love wasn’t football, what other game would you play?

Basketball Who is your biggest fan?

My mom What’s one thing about the football program that attracted you to Ole Miss?

The family atmosphere What’s your favorite spot on campus?

The Grove Favorite college course?

Sociology and psychology Biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

My injury freshman year and coming back from that

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Q&A | GET TO KNOW

FRED ROSS

POSITION: WIDE RECEIVER • CLASS: SENIOR • HOMETOWN: TYLER, TEXAS

What’s your pregame song?

Dreams and Nightmares by Meek Mill What’s your favorite gameday tradition?

The Dawg Walk What’s your favorite comfort food?

Pork chops What are you currently watching on Netflix?

Anything What’s your favorite thing about the South?

The food How do you handle pregame jitters?

Listen to slow music, R&B

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What is your earliest memory of football?

Playing Pop warner and my mom telling me if you play scared you’re going to get hurt What is your favorite football memory at Mississippi State?

Beating Auburn at home and becoming the number one team in the nation!!

What do you do to relax after the game?

Usually eat a lot of food What’s the last book you read?

The Magic Treehouse collection Favorite thing about Starkville?

Definitely the fans If your first sport love wasn’t football, what other game would you play?

Basketball

Who is your biggest fan?

My mom What’s one thing about the football program that attracted you to State?

The brotherhood, we treat each other like family What’s your favorite spot on campus?

Moe’s Favorite college course?

Organization communications What is the biggest challenge you’ve ever had to overcome?

Coming back from an injury

Q&A | GET TO KNOW

D.J. JONES

POSITION: DEFENSIVE LINE • CLASS: SENIOR • HOMETOWN: GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

What’s your pregame song?

Hometown Glory by Adele What’s your favorite gameday tradition?

Listening to Adele What’s your favorite comfort food?

Chicken What are you currently watching on Netflix?

Limitless. Go check it out!

What’s your favorite thing about the South?

South Carolina. It’s where I’m from.

What’s your earliest memory of football?

Playing against Todd Gurley in little league

What is your favorite football memory at Ole Miss?

Winning the Sugar Bowl

Who is your biggest fan?

My father.

How do you handle pregame jitters?

Jump around.

What’s one thing about the football program that attracted you to Ole Miss?

The tradition.

What do you do to relax after the game?

Sleep.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?

The Turner Center to play basketball

What is the last book you read?

I couldn’t tell you, I’m not a big reader

Favorite college course?

Recreational Administration.

Favorite thing about Oxford?

The food.

Biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

Having to go to junior college out of high school.

If your first sport love wasn’t football, what other game would you play?

I’d probably be in the WWE.

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Q&A | GET TO KNOW

BRANDON HOLLOWAY

POSITION: RUNNING BACK • CLASS: SENIOR • HOMETOWN: TAMPA, FLORIDA

What’s your pregame song?

New Level ASAP Ferg What’s your favorite gameday tradition?

Walking to the goal posts and saying a prayer What’s your favorite comfort food?

Fettuccini Alfredo What are you currently watching on Netflix?

Prison Break What’s your favorite thing about the South?

The southern hospitality What is your earliest memory of football?

First touchdown on a reverse for 80 yards

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What is your favorite football memory at Mississippi State?

My first kick return for a touchdown and celebrating with my team How do you handle pregame jitters?

Pray and listen to music What do you do to relax after the game?

Hangout with my roommates and teammates What’s the last book you read?

Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy Favorite thing about Starkville?

Fans and support If your first sport love wasn’t football, what other game would you play?

Track and Field

Who is your biggest fan?

My three nieces What’s one thing about the football program that attracted you to State?

The effort and hard work What’s your favorite spot on campus?

The Drill Field Favorite college course?

Lifespan theory What is the biggest challenge you’ve ever had to overcome?

Staying positive when people told me I couldn’t play

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Q&A | GET TO KNOW

MARQUIS HAYNES

POSITION: DEFENSIVE END • CLASS: JUNIOR • HOMETOWN: JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

What’s your favorite gameday tradition?

Shaking hands with my teammate Victor Evans

How do you handle pregame jitters?

I talk to my teammate Victor Evans and we get ready for the game

What’s your favorite comfort food?

Chicken

What do you do to relax after the game?

I hang out with my boys

What are you currently watching on Netflix?

Scary movies, the scarier the better!

Favorite thing about Oxford?

The food

What’s your favorite thing about the South?

The beach since I’m from Florida What is your earliest memory of football?

My first tackle What is your favorite football memory at Ole Miss?

My first sack 50

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If your first sport love wasn’t football, what other game would you play?

I would definitely be playing basketball Who is your biggest fan?

My family What’s one thing about the football program that attracted you to Ole Miss?

The brotherhood. There is a family bond here and I really felt like I could trust in the coaches.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?

The Grove Favorite college course?

Writing What is the biggest challenge you’ve ever had to overcome?

College Algebra

Q&A | GET TO KNOW

WESTIN GRAVES

POSITION: PUNTER • CLASS: JUNIOR • HOMETOWN: FLOWOOD, MISSISSIPPI

What’s your pregame song?

Whatever is hot at the time What’s your favorite gameday tradition?

The Dawg Walk What’s your favorite comfort food?

Ice Cream, cookies … I’ll take anything that is sweet What are you currently watching on Netflix?

I don’t really watch much Netflix, but I’m a big documentary guy. Anything political.

What’s your favorite thing about the South?

Sweet tea, hunting, fishing and football What is your earliest memory of football?

Probably when I was like 10. I had always loved football and my dad bought me a helmet. That was really cool.

What is your favorite football memory at Mississippi State?

When we beat Auburn and became #1 in the nation

How do you handle pregame jitters?

I pray about everything and I ask God for comfort.

What do you do to relax after the game?

I just go sit on the couch and just stare at the ceiling for like an hour. I’m tired so I relax. Being a kicker, you’re just so uptight during the game so I just like to relax, and sit down after standing up for four hours.

What’s one thing about the football program that attracted you to State?

I’ve always been a Mississippi State fan, my family came here and everything, so when it came down to it, State was my only thought.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?

The Junction, with the Stadium right there, it’s just a cool area, a lot of memories from gamedays when I was younger

What’s the last book you read?

I don’t read much, and I’m trying to finish this one, but Gifted Hands by Dr. Ben Carson

Favorite college course?

Construction Materials, that was a fun one. It’s all tangible, real world stuff. It was really fun.

Favorite thing about Starkville?

It’s a small town and you can get anywhere quick

What is the biggest challenge you’ve ever had to overcome?

Trying out here in 2013, and just trying to make a name for myself. Then trying to come back and fill Evan Sobiesk’s shoes after he left.

If your first sport love wasn’t football, what other game would you play?

Soccer, I grew up playing soccer, played it until I graduated high school, so I love it.

Who is your biggest fan?

My mom, and my whole family, but my mom is just up there.

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Q&A | GET TO KNOW

JORDAN SIMS

POSITION: OFFENSIVE LINE • CLASS: SOPHOMORE • HOMETOWN: HOMEWOOD, ALABAMA

What’s your pregame song?

Perfect Imperfection by Kevin Gates What’s your favorite gameday tradition?

The Walk of Champions What’s your favorite comfort food?

Lasagna What are you currently watching on Netflix?

Prison Break What’s your favorite thing about the South?

Football and the tradition behind it What’s your earliest memory of football?

In seventh grade, coach tried me out at running back

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What is your favorite football memory at Ole Miss?

Beating Alabama in 2014

Favorite thing about Oxford?

How nice the people are

How do you handle pregame jitters?

Listen to music, stay quiet, stay to myself.

If your first sport love wasn’t football, what other game would you play?

Basketball

What do you do to relax after the game?

Go home, get in the bed, and get on the PlayStation.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?

The Manning Center. It’s the home away from home.

Who is your biggest fan?

My mom What’s one thing about the football program that attracted you to Ole Miss?

The coaches treat us like family What is the last book you read?

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Favorite college course?

Spanish Biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

Going from not playing during my redshirt year to starting last year.

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BUY OR RENT TO OWN! $ NO CREDIT CHECK! ACKERMAN Frankie’s Pawnshop 9206 MS Highway 15 Ackerman, MS 39735 (662) 285-6006

BELMONT Southside Auto Sales Inc 350 Hwy 366 Belmont, MS 38827 (662) 454-9789 Fax 454-3757

AMORY Walton’s Greenhouse BRUCE 1234 Hwy 278 E Snelling Service Amory, MS 38821 Station (662) 231-7616 129 Hwy 32 East BATESVILLE Bruce, MS 38915 (662) 983-4492 Waltons Building Sales COLUMBUS 452 Hwy 51 N A1 Buildings Batesville, MS 4714 Hwy 45 N 38606 Columbus, MS 39705 662-712-6377 (662) 295-3561 Fax: 798-0187

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CORINTH Corinth Building Sales 1100 Hwy. 72 West Corinth, MS 38834 (662) 286-0066

NEW ALBANY Walton's Greenhouse 690 West Bankhead Street New Albany, Ms. 38652 (662) 534-5525

FULTON Walton’s Greenhouse OKOLONA 202 James Street Becker’s Portable Fulton, MS 38843 Buildings (662) 862-3399 483 CR 149 LOUISVILLE Okolona, MS 38860 (662) 447-3779 Nabers Companies 22791 HWY 14 E Louisville, MS 39339 OXFORD Garden Gin (662) 773-5080 492 Hwy 6 W Fax: 773-5408 Oxford, MS 38655 (662) 701-8156

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PONTOTOC Rogers Furniture 7540 Veterans Highway W Pontotoc, MS 38863 (662) 489-1176

TUPELO Walton’s Greenhouse 3725 Cliff Gookin Blvd Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 840-8880

RIPLEY Mike’s Sales & Pawn 10050 Hwy 15 S Ripley, MS 38663 (662) 832-1001

WEST POINT Jantz Enterprises 1148 HWY 45 Alternate S West Point, MS 39773 (662) 492-4199

SALTILLO Pace Auto Sales 1448 Hwy 45 N Saltillo, MS 38866 (662) 869-5235 (662) 401-1314

SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION 824 NORTH GLOSTER • TUPELO, MS

662-842-1602 FREE

DELIVERY AND SETUP!

R eaders ’ C hoice

The Daily Journal hosted its 3rd Annual Readers’ Choice awards at the BancorpSouth Arena recognizing businesses readers voted the best.

Photos by Lauren Wood

Crave, best desserts

Meredith Martin, best realtor & Tommy Morgan Realtors, best real estate agency

Bishop’s BBQ, best BBQ

Main Street Family Dentistry, best dentist

Jody’s, best florist

Tupelo Middle School, best public junior high

Local Mobile, best food truck

Saltillo Eye Clinic, best eye care specialist

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D own O n M ain

The concert series kicked off in Tupelo’s Fairpark with Daphne and the Mystery Machines and Town Mountain.

Photos by Lauren Wood

Amanda Patton, Ann Gibson, Miles Patton, Amanda Gibson, Tyler Hendrix and Stennis Harrison.

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Colleen Thorndike, Amber and Charlie Buckley

Brandon and Emilee Kennedy, Callie and Joe Cain

Melissa Edwards, Maria and Miguel Luna

Jerry Tackitt, Ramsie Parker, Jordan Atherton, Meghan Appino and Josh Williams.

Doug and Joy Deason, Suzanne Crow

Justin and Ali Parden, Catherine, Benjamin, Charlotte and Lindsey Hinton.

Mirella, Ana, Ana Sophia and Sammy Gallardo

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Get weight-loss results you can count on with our medically supervised programs utilizing the latest appetite control solutions and fat metabolizing injections.

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Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year Days

There are approximately 120 antique and classic cars dating from 1886 to current

times on display plus special exhibits throughout the year.

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* Pigeon Forge TN * Roosevelt-Campobello * Anne & Gilbert Musical International Park in PEI * 8 Dinners including 1 lobster dinner in Maine, Alexander * Admissions & Sightseeing Keith pub Dinner in Halifax, * Atlantic Fisheries museum * Alexander Bell Museum celtic music entertainment in Cape Breton * Anne of Green Gables * 2 Picnic lunches Home * Avonlea Village PEI (Cape Breton & Campobello) * Cape Breton National Park * Maine Lobstering cruise in * Prince Edward Island Kennebunkport * Port Fees National Park * Bay of Fundy National Park * Guides

SMOKY MOUNTAIN FALL GETAWAY (October 16 - 19, 2016) 4 Days Price Per Person: Single $850, Double $650, Triple $585, Quad $550 TOUR INCLUDES: * Hayride & Dinner at Meyers Farm – Bulls Gaps TN * Overnight at the General Morgan Inn – Greenville TN * Breakfast at the General Morgan Inn * Admission to The Biltmore Estate – Asheville NC * Lunch at the Dear Park Inn at the Biltmore Estate

* Admission to the Titanic Museum – Pigeon Forge * Dinner at the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant or Grill * Dinner Show at the Majestic Theater * 2 Night Lodging in Pigeon Forge TN * 2 Breakfasts in Pigeon Forge, TN * Shopping at the Tanger Outlet Mall

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141 WEST BANKHEAD ST • NEW ALBANY • WWW.BARKLEYTRAVEL.COM mudandmag.com

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Shop Baldwyn

Bridal Journal Summer Sampling Local vendors in one location.

Free admission when you preregister.

Sunday, August 14, 2016 2-5 p.m.

Blue August in Baldwyn, MS (20 minutes north of Tupelo)

(FREE) preregister at

bridaljournal.ms door prizes // samples // coupons // easy planning

662.365.8087

294 Prentiss Street • Baldwyn, MS Mon.-Fri. 10 am - 6:30 pm Sat. 10 am - 4 pm Women’s Apparel • Jewelry

662.365.9876

290 W. Prentiss Street • Baldwyn, MS Mon.-Fri. 8:30 am - 6 pm Sat. 10 am - 4 pm Tanning • Ronaldo Jewelry • Accessories

©2016-JPC

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Shop Baldwyn

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GAMEDAY NOW IN! LOCATED INSIDE OF

3265 McCullough Blvd. Tupelo 662.840.5555 | BelleAmeSalonAndSpa.com

?3265 McCullough BLVD | Tupelo | 840-5555 www.BelleAmeSalonAndSpa.com WOMENS

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Mall at Barnes Crossing Tupelo, MS 662.840.4653 mudandmag.com

2220 S Harper Road Corinth, MS 662.286.5011

143 Vann Drive Jackson, TN 731.660.3030

2695 MCCULLOUGH BLVD. • TUPELO CALL (662) 407-0490

Must-Have Accessories

Reed’s: Rock, Paper, Scissors handbag, Vineyard Vines club belt, fabric and jewel necklace by Seed’s Jewelry and Cole Haan mens shoes in Gunnison, prices upon request // Ebony & Ivory: gemstone necklace $21.95 and Lillybee rainboots $83.95 // Therapy: Love, Poppy necklace and camel wedges, price upon request // MLM: Martin Dingman shoes, prices upon request

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M& M Oxford Shop

PACKAGE STORE

WIDE SELECTION OF FINE WINES & SPIRITS • CONVENIENT LOCATION • MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED www.starwineandspirits.com 308 JACKSON AVE. • 234-3331 Alumna Owned VOTED OXFORD’S FAVORITE WINE AND SPIRITS STORE

Oxford, Oxford, MS MS 265 265 North North Lamar, Lamar, Suite Suite 00 T: T: 662.236.9707 662.236.9707

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662-234-9907

Therapy in Oxford: Gentle Fawn dress $119

Gameday Garb

Photos by Taylor Square Photography at Park Heights in Tupelo, Mississippi

MLM in Tupelo: Peter Millar cotton twill khaki shorts, Scott Barber cotton sport shirt and Martin Dingman belt, prices upon request // Opposite page: Ebony & Ivory in Tupelo: Wishlist ruffled top $34.95 and Cello jeans $37.95

Reed’s: Karlie dress and BED/STU sandals in tan rustic, prices upon request // Vineyard Vines slim tucker shirt and Vineyard Vines slim fit breaker pants, prices upon request 68

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mudandmag.com HISTORIC DOWNTOWN TUPELO 842-6453 | MALL AT BARNES CROSSING 842-5287 | WWW.REEDSMS.COM

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We Can Bring The Party To You! We do all the work, you have all the fun!

Zip line Rock wall Tons of inflatables

18 hole black light golf Laser tag Huge arcade with great prizes

Book Your Rental at:

northmspartyrentals.com

Summer Hours: Mon. - Wed. 10am - 8pm

Fri. & Sat. 10am - 10:30pm

Thursday 10am - 9pm

Sunday 1pm - 6:30pm

Check out our facebook page packages mudandmag.com 70 l for birthday

Inflatables Concession Equipment Four story playground Toddler area

THE GRADUATE

Nestled among Oxford’s lively square and stately historic homes, The Graduate has become a cornerstone of the town’s personality. Since opening its doors at the corner of North Lamar Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue in September 2015, Oxford’s first boutique hotel has brought whimsy and collegiate charm to one of the Southeast’s most hospitable college towns.

By Garland Patterson mudandmag.com

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he Graduate brand seeks to establish its presence in the most dynamic of college towns, looking for locations rich in history and culture with strong community ties — Athens, Georgia, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Tempe, Arizona, to name a few. Seeking to improve on original buildings as opposed to building from the ground up, the Graduate in Oxford stands on the original site of the historic Holiday Inn. General Manager Mike Hoover attributes the decision to open the flagship hotel in Oxford to the historic spirit of the Square, as well as a need for a hotel to create an emotional

tie to the community. Its innate appreciation for not only the city of Oxford, but the state of Mississippi can be seen throughout the hotel’s aesthetic and its friendly and attentive staff.

Oxford’s refined elegance and rich history is prominently present in the hotel’s design. Guests are welcomed by pink wire-brushed, oak-stained floors, sweeping views of the Square, and ample seating that invites patrons to curl up with a good book and a strong cup of coffee.

“When developing Graduate Oxford, our goal was to pay tribute to all of the qualities that make Oxford

unique, such as our deep literary traditions, collegiate youthfulness and sense of community,” said Hoover.

Tables host checkerboards and vintage copies of The Ole Miss, the university yearbook, while black and white photographs of beauty queens and famed alumni hang on printed walls.

True to the Graduate brand, the lobby and guest rooms are uniquely tailored to the town’s heritage, featuring hand-picked accents found at local flea markets and antique stores. The lobby also plays host to the work of local artists like Charlie Buckley, whose abstract interpretation of a game day in the Grove hangs mudandmag.com

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in a prominent position. If guests are lucky, they may even be able to find their tent in Buckley’s work.

Memorable décor seeps into the guest rooms, named for university greats like quarterback Charlie Conerly and writer Willie Morris. Rich navy walls are accented by red and blue gingham and silhouette prints of Olivia and Archie Manning.

Hoover attributes Oxford’s warm embrace of the hotel to amenities like The Graduate’s two restaurants, often calling it the “living room” of the community. The same attention to detail present in the rooms can be seen in Cabin 82 and The Coop.

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Inspired by the Neshoba County Fair, Cabin 82 serves comfort classics like chicken biscuits and burgers alongside an expansive coffee and breakfast menu. The Coop, on the other hand, blends seamlessly into Oxford’s nightlife, offering delta tamales and specialty cocktails like the Porch Swing made with local Cathead Vodka.

Step onto the terrace and patrons are greeted with one of the best downtown views in Oxford, which has become popular among tourists and locals alike.

A distinct air of nostalgia floats through the halls here, whether it be the excited chatter of old roommates

catching up over cocktails or a family setting out for the Grove in their best red and blue. Expectations are higher than ever as the Oxford community and its many visitors look forward to the fall. Most notably, fall ushers in a highly anticipated football season.

“We are so excited to host our guests for the upcoming football season,” said Hoover. “ We have already sold out for most of the home games as we have many return guests that truly enjoy our amenities, location and access to our rooftop bar, the Coop.” M Photos by Christian Horan

DOSSETT BIG 4

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628 S. Gloster St. | Tupelo | 662-842-4162 | dossettbig4.com

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Botox Juvederm microdermabrasion Skin Care Chemical Peels Latisse Breast Augmentation Breast Reduction Abdominoplasty Liposuction Facelift Financing Available With Care Credit www.tupelocosmeticsurgery.com

499 S. Gloster St. • Midtown Pointe • Suite D-4 Tupelo, MS 38801 • (662) 377-6630

Legacy Construction Mark Simpson 662-871-9424 www.legacyconstructionms.com

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PRIMARY EYE CARE JOE C. KEA, O.D.

3437 Tupelo Commons • Tupelo, MS • 842-2000 (Behind Buffalo Wild Wings)

Appointments Preferred • Walk-Ins Welcome

MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM

D ispatches from

P luto

Author and journalist Richard Grant has spent his life traveling the world and made a living writing about it. “For the sake of convenience,” he says he is from London, England, but Grant was actually born in Malaysia and lived in Kuwait before moving to London with his family at the age of 8. After college, he set out for Mexico and the American West, selling magazine stories to fund his travels.

T

ucson, Arizona, became his home base while he wrote about wars, culture and literature. In 2005, he published “American Nomads,” chronicling his experiences on the road with the likes of truck drivers, RV travelers, Indian impersonators and bull riders.

He followed it with “God’s Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre” in 2008 and “Crazy River” in 2011, an account of his attempt at exploring the Malagarasi River in Tanzania, which the locals call “the river of bad spirits.”

In his most recent book “Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta,” Grant finds something more surprising than the drug smugglers and man-eating crocodiles of his past adventures — he finds some sense of home.

Grant dives headfirst into life in the American South, leaving his apartment

By Carmen Cristo in Manhattan for an old plantation home in the rural Delta community of Pluto, Mississippi, and brings his girlfriend Mariah and sun-starved dog Savannah along for the ride.

His move to “the most southern place on Earth” was not his first Mississippi experience. In the early 1990s, Grant had visited Oxford to write about Fat Possum Records.

“I kept coming back once or twice a year, because I really liked it there,” he said. “I really liked the friends I’d made; I really liked the feel of things. So, it’s kind of been in the back of my mind that maybe Mississippi would be a good place for me.”

It was on invitation from his friend and fellow storyteller Martha Foose that he visited the Delta and the Foose’s family farm on Pluto.

“We had a lovely picnic, and she basically persuaded me to buy her father’s house, which was three miles down the way from

her house,” he said. “I kind of fell in love with the house.”

He returned to New York City to convince his then-girlfriend Mariah, an Arizona native.

“I had to say to her, ‘Look, I think we should move from 8th Avenue and 20th Street in Manhattan to the edge of Pluto, Mississippi, where it’s 30 miles to the nearest grocery store, with a bunch of people we don’t know in a place that we don’t know at all,” Grant said. “New York really wasn’t treating us well. We drove down together, and Mariah also fell in love with the house and some of the neighbors, the Thompson family. We sort of decided to do it on a whim. Part of it was to leave New York, and part of it was to plunge into something new and unexpected.”

The Delta transplants were surprised from the beginning by the hospitality of their neighbors, the Thompsons, who they now consider family, even though mudandmag.com

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Richard and Mariah Grant

Cadi Thompson and her father, Louie Thompson

the Grants have since moved to Jackson, Mississippi.

“We have a 1-year-old daughter, and we had her birthday party last Saturday in Pluto, and as far as I’m concerned, she’s their granddaughter,” he said. “And, I was expecting a life of kind of rural isolation, but it was a very, very social experience, and getting adopted by this family was a really big part of it.”

Grant found other small surprises in his new day-to-day: pink hunting gear for breast cancer awareness, 3 and 4-year-olds toting firearms and the baffling complexity of race relations.

“We thought it was a very simple, cutand-dry thing, whereas in the Mississippi Delta, it is anything but simple and cut-and-dry,” Grant said. “It’s got many layers and nuances and contradictions and complexities. Making sense of that was probably the hardest thing to understand, the way that love can intersect with prejudice in surprising ways.”

As an outsider, he felt comforted that even many Mississippi natives seemed puzzled by the racial tensions. In a state seen by the rest of the nation as backwards 78

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and narrow-minded, a well-traveled Englishman believes there are lessons to be learned and mysteries left to be explained in the Magnolia state.

“I think it’s broadened my mind a lot, and I’m less apt to judge people than I was before I got here. I think it’s opened up my heart a little, too,” Grant said. “It’s hard to explain. I was a little bit colder before than I am now.”

Even with his often-brutal honesty and admitted confusion over many of the culture’s principles, Grant’s “Dispatches from Pluto” has seen incredible community response, especially in Mississippi, where it held steady at #1 Best Seller for several consecutive months.

“People have told me that I have held up a mirror to them. I think they appreciate that I didn’t take any cheap shots, and I think people appreciate the fact that the book is as honest as I could make it and as clear-eyed as I could make it,” he said.

“I think that was the difference with this book. My other books were about journeys, so you’re reliant on first impressions a lot, but if you’re actually making a life for your family in a place, it forces you to think

about it in a different way, in a deeper way.”

As for the state’s future, Grant remains optimistic.

“It’s kind of a fluid, evolving situation that’s slowly improving I think. Sometimes, you come into these moments where a room full of black and white strangers come together, and there’s alcohol and music and you can just kind of feel the tension lift away at some point in the evening, and you get a little glimpse of how great it could be if that burden was shed,” he said.

Grant, his wife Mariah, daughter Isobel and dog Savannah now reside in Jackson, where Mariah works at the Millsaps College library. They still travel back to Pluto on many weekends to visit their Delta family.

As for his writing, Grant has recently appeared in the Smithsonian, New York Times and Garden and Gun. A new book is in the works, and he said it will indeed be about Mississippi.

To see what our staff members had to say about “Dispatches in Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta,” head over to the blog and mudandmag.com. M Photos submitted.

Aberdeen Antiques

137 E. Commerce St. | Aberdeen | (662) 369-1663 Wednesday - Saturday 10 am - 4:30 pm

SEE WHAT WE CAN DO

FOR YOUR FALL PICNIC, COOKOUT AND TAILGATING DECORATIONS!

2845 SOUTHLAND DR • TUPELO • 662-269-3265

WWW.PREMIERPRINTSINC.COM • MONDAY - FRIDAY: 10-5 mudandmag.com • SATURDAY: 11-4

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M&M

Dining Guide RUSH HOUR

SENIOR SATURDAYS

20% OFF

20% OFF

M - F 4 pm - 6 pm

Your TAILGATEers Headquart

5 lbs.

1 OFF

$ 00

GET 1 LB. FREE EXPIRES 9/30/16

per lb.

ANY Fish Selection EXPIRES 9/30/16

620 N. Gloster St. • Tupelo • (662) 844-FISH (3474) oceanfreshfishtupelo.com

$5 OFF l

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2$20 for

• 2 Soups • 2 Hibachi Chicken with Veggies • 2 Fried Rice

Dine-In Only. Not Valid with any other offers. Coupon must be presented. Expires 9/30/16

5 OFF 30

$ 00

Purchase of

$

00

or more

Dine-In Only. Coupon is valid for a purchase of $30 or more before tax and gratuity. Excludes Alcoholic Beverage, Early Bird Special, or any other special. Not Valid with any other offers.

Coupon must be presented. Expires 9/30/16

1044 COMMONWEALTH BLVD • TUPELO

(662) 620-8157

NEAR BEST BUY ON NORTH GLOSTER STREET

A $25 PURCHASE Expires 9/30/16

8788 Hwy 363 Mantachie, MS (662) 282-7515 Open Thurs-Sat 4:30 - 9:00 pm

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1155 South Gloster Street Tupelo, MS • 662.840.1919 Mon. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Hibachi Grill, Sushi Bar, Full Bar & To-Go Orders With a Family Friendly Atmosphere

If it swims in the water.. we’ll take your order!

Buy of ANY Shrimp

FREE

dessert with purchase of a daily combination plate

EXPIRES 9/30/16. LIMIT 1 PER VISIT.

1305 S. Adams St. • Fulton, MS • 862-4000

FREE

kids meal w/ purchase of a daily combination plate

EXPIRES 9/30/16. LIMIT 1 PER VISIT.

daily combination plate w/ purchase of a daily combination plate

EXPIRES 9/30/16. LIMIT 1 PER VISIT.

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55 & Older

Food Section Every Wednesday!

Don’t miss the tips, features and recipes!

M&M

Dining Guide NOW SERVING LASAGNA EVERYDAY!

Chicken Alfredo

Lasagna

Family Restaurant Hwy 145 N. • Booneville 662-728-1460 Mon.-Thurs 11-9 • Fri 11-10 Now Open on Saturdays 4-9:30

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Pizza

709 South 4th St. • Baldwyn, MS

365-7059

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• Large Specialty Pizza • 8” Cheese Stick • 2 Liter Coke

• 20 Wings (bone-in or bone-out) • Large Cheese Stick • 2 Liter Coke

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Hometown Pizza

1159 N Frontage, Baldwyn

(662) 365-2822

exp. 9/30/16

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Hometown Pizza

1159 N Frontage, Baldwyn

(662) 365-2822

exp. 9/30/16

for more recipes visit mudandmag.com. mudandmag.com

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F lying T uk Oxford’s newest party-ride is here.

Flying Tuk is one text message away, waiting to take you where you need to go. The open air, eco-friendly Tuk Tuks offer room for six and are the perfect fit for a safe ride home. Flying Tuk is free to ride, so you only pay the driver’s tip!

Tuk Tuks can also be privately rented for game weekends, bachelorette parties or nights out on the Square. The team at Flying Tuk hopes to start a “tuking revolution” and provide funky and free rides in other cities in the future.

For more info, visit flyingtuk.com.

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Change your sleep.

Change your life.

600 OFF

$ The Tempur-Pedic Grand Bed offers the ultimate in pampering with a quilted top blend of silk & cashmere

ADJUSTABLE BASE WITH PURCHASE OF MATTRESS SET. See store for more details.

Visit our showroom today, and see the largest in-house Tempur-Pedic selection in North Mississippi

Name Brand Mattresses to fit any budget

1205 Hwy. 72 East • Corinth, MS

662.286.2220

143 N. Coley Road • Tupelo,MS

662-620-7378 mudandmag.com

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“Buy your Furniture from a Furniture Store, but Buy your Mattress from the Mattress Gallery.”

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