Click magazine March 2018

R.L. Boyce

2018 March

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February 2018

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Contents Out and About

Features

22 Staxtacular

18 Southern Escapes: Cleveland, MS

24 Page Robins Winter Gala

46 DeSoto's Best

26 Cirque Du CMOM 28 AWA Banquet 30 FCA Breakfast

57 See & Do: Easter Events 59 Drink: Kiwi Kiss 61 Animal of the Month: Virginia Opossum 62 Wedding

32 Wine For Wishes Cover image courtesy of Jess Williams

Up Front 12 Food

16 Art

Neighborly Brews

Frog Country

For ale aficionados, Mississippi Ale House offers a small-town craft beer bar in a rustic, homey setting

At just a 130-mile hop from Hernando, Leland, Mississippi’s birthplace of Kermit the Frog showcases the enduring artistic legacy of Jim Henson through photographs, memorabilia, and displays

14 Places Country Escape with City Amenities Oxford’s The Farmstead on Woodson Ridge offers luxury cottage rentals and a quiet haven for those seeking to escape the city

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36 Cover Story Hill Country Cool Tracing the musical journey of Como-based Bluesman, R.L. Boyce

DeSoto’s

Best

2017 Winners 47

50

People, Places, & Culture

Health & Wellness

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51

Business & Finances

Community

48

52

Auto

Food & Drink

49

54

Home

Shopping

A Letter From Our Editor

Mud & Music Down in the Delta, bluesmen are treated a little something like the Jedi of Star Wars fame. Now, I know this analogy sounds 10 types of nerdy, but stay with me here: these guys are masters of a seldom taught and highly revered art that many people aren’t even sure is around anymore. Quick with the hands and partial to mind tricks, the modern mythology of these men and women is unmistakably woven into the musical makeup of our region. So the next time you hear tall tales like the Faustian deal of Robert Johnson at the Clarsdale Crossroads or Mamie Smith’s 1923 coup that resulted in a new “Queen of the Blues,” remember this: It’s true. All of it. Well, mostly, anyways.

This month’s issue of Click offers an in-depth look at the living blues, with a splash of local travel for our readers in seek of a Spring Break respite. Our cover feature, “Hill Country Cool,” presents a very personal interview with seasoned bluesman and Grammy nominee, R.L. Boyce.

From front-porch sessions with Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars fame to coming up under his legendary fife-and-drum player uncle, Otha Turner, Boyce’s winding story is one of the living blues. See his feature spread on page 36.

Our March issue also packs a smattering of travel stories for those looking to explore beyond the backyard this spring. From the childhood home of Jim Hensonturned-Muppet shrine in Leland, Mississippi (page 16), to an exhaustive examination of the bustling town of Cleveland, Mississippi (page 18); we’ve got destinations for all ages accounted for.

In addition, we’ve got a new monthly feature in page 61’s “Wild South,” in which Click’s resident animal expert, Russ Thompson, gives his take on some of the local native fauna.

And finally, be sure to take a look at the winners of our Desoto’s Best Competition, as voted by the readers. All of the 200+ categories of this annual endeavor are present and accounted for starting on page 47.

So from all of us to all of you: Look alive and hit the road, spring will be here soon!

Read on,

Casey Hilder Editor@myclickmag.com

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March 2018

Write to us Editor @myclickmag.com Click Magazine P.O. Box 100 Hernando, MS 38632

CORRECTIONS: An unedited version of the Akers-Scott wedding featured on page _ of the February issue slipped through the cracks last month. We regret this error and have committed to rerunning this featured wedding in its entirety on page 62 Uncredited photos of Blue Suede Ballroom featured on page 57 of our January issue came courtesy of photographer Douglas Farris

Co-Presidents Jonathan Pittman & Angie Pittman Editor Casey Hilder editor@myclickmag.com Art Director Hannah Lovell Ad Design Nick Howard Copy Editor Taylor Smith Contributing Writers Tess Catlett Mary Eckersley Casey Hilder Sarah Vaughan Contributing Photographers Brian Anderson Frank Chin Casey Hilder Mike Lee Sales Director Lyla McAlexander lyla@dttclick.com Account Representatives Sheri Floyd sheri@dttclick.com Diana Linville diana@dttclick.com

We make every effort to correct factual mistakes and omissions in a timely and candid manner.

Information can be forwarded to Casey Hilder at address listed above.

Submit Your Event Interested in having your next party featured in Click?

Submit your event by going to myclickmag.com or email us at events@myclickmag.com. Š2016 P.H. Publishing. Click Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. Any advertisements published in Click Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser's services or products.

Click Magazine is published monthly by P.H. Publishing, LLC.

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February 2018

Click Contributors

Taylor Smith Taylor Smith is a Jill of all spades when it comes to journalism.

She’s been a reporter for multiple publications in the MidSouth, including The Daily Helmsman, The Leader and The Commercial Appeal.

She recently graduated with her bachelor’s in Spanish and Journalism from the University of Memphis and currently works as the content creator for City Gear Clothing.

Mike Lee Event photos in this issue were captured by Click photographer Mike Lee. Mike started in news in 1971 as a TV writer, photographer, and art director. For 20 years, his work appeared on national and international television broadcasts, and was published in print media worldwide.

Tess Catlett A Southaven native and recent graduate of University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, Catlett is a former intern for Click. An avid and tenacious writer, Catlett has been featured in various publications including Vox Mag a zine, The Columbia Missourian and The DeSoto Times-Tr ibu ne. W hen not writing, Catlett enjoys binge watching underrated TV dramas.

Andrea LeTard Andrea LeTard is the creator and author of Andrea's Cooktales, an heirloom cookbook to be released Spring 2018. She also offers services as a personal chef, small party caterer, and cooking instructor.

Andrea has been featured on Cooking Channel, Today Show, and Local Memphis Live. She was chosen as a Top 100 Contestant on MasterChef Season 6. Her recipes are what she calls next-generation southern fun and fundamentally southern with a modern twist. Follow Andrea on Facebook, Instagram (@andreas_ cooktales), and her video blog series at andreascooktales.com.

Sarah Vaughn Olive Branch native Sarah Vaughan has w ritten for more than a dozen publications in and around Mississippi. Sarah is a graduate of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media at Ole Miss and enjoys working as a freelance writer and graphic designer. When she’s not reading cozy English mysteries or trying out a new recipe, she’s probably repairing or rebuilding the most recent demolition of her two beagles, Amos and Annie, and tabby cat, Arlo.

Meet a few of our friends at Click

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People, Places, and Parties

Up Front

12 Food

14 Places

16 Arts

Neighborly Brews

Country Escape With City Aminities

Frog Country

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Neighborly Brews

For ale aficionados, Mississippi Ale House offers a small-town craft beer bar in a rustic, homey setting

Story by Andrea Letard Photos by Christina Holloway

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March 2018

A home away from home, complete with exceptional brews from across the state of Mississippi - that’s what co-owners Derric Curran and Alistair Clark had in mind when they developed the idea for Mississippi Ale House in Olive Branch. The historic decor contributes a rustic flair to the intimate, warm atmosphere. The expansive “backyard” style patio is ready for brew fans to enjoy the 19 beers on tap that change week-to-week. Next door to Sidestreet Burger, the Mississippi Ale House is exactly what they wanted in a beer bar.

Curran and Clark, buddies who met in the workplace when they were news photographers at Fox 13, kept their friendship going and added to it becoming business partners when they saw a need for more beer in DeSoto County. At first, they were hoping to open

a place for DeSoto County residents to purchase growlers, and the idea went from a growler station to a beer bar and is now both.

“Aside from a gas station, there wasn’t a place in DeSoto County to get growlers, and we wanted to make that happen,” Curran says. “Then we said, well, if we’re going to sell growlers, we may as well sell pints, too.”

When the idea was formed, it didn’t take them long to find a place for it.

Jonathan Mah, the owner and self-made chef of Sidestreet Burgers and also a good friend of Curran and Clark, proposed they buy the building next to his restaurant, and they didn’t hesitate.

“In three months, we formed the idea to gut the building, to redo the building, and three months later we opened up,” Curran says.

Everything from the beer to the decor was designed with locals in mind. Curran says their goal was for local residents to have a different experience than what they get at the traditional chain restaurant or bar.

“We were looking for a place that we would want to hang out and that we would be comfortable in, so we designed the place with that in mind,” he says. “It has a homey feel that’s comfortable, not too loud, and, of course, a good, unique selection of beers.”

This history of the building the bar is housed in gives it even more hometown, charming character. It’s been refurbished with 1830s barn wood they found and purchased, giving it a cozy, vintage feel.

“When we have live music in here, the people playing tell us it feels like playing in their living room. It’s just a very at-home experience of drinking beer but you’re away from home, spending time with

friends,” says Curran.

And possibly the most fun fact of all Elvis has been in the building. It was built in the 1940s and was originally a garage with a grease rack and pumps still out front when they purchased it. According to Curran, Vernon Presley was a regular customer. “When the Presleys would drive up from Tupelo to go to Memphis, they would stop here and get their car cleaned up, so when Elvis was a kid, he spent time in this building,” he says.

From the history of the place to the beers they carry, Curran and Clark have done their research. Before they opened, they did brew tours together of all the breweries in Mississippi to get a feel of each brewery and what they have to offer.

Now they work with them each week on distribution of new and seasonal beers.

“There are 12 breweries in Mississippi that distribute, and we try to carry all of them,” he says. “We change the menu every week, so we’re in constant contact with all the breweries to find out what new beers they have and what we can get seasonally. And we carry other beers too - not just from Mississippi - ones you can’t always find just anywhere. So if you like craft beer and you like trying different things, our menu changes constantly.”

They try to keep their event schedule as lively as their beer menus. Every Tuesday night is Trivia Night, Saturday nights they have live music from local bands, and in April, they’re hosting a beer festival on National Beer Day with multiple breweries in attendance. They’re very active on social media, so for more information on upcoming events and new beer arrivals, follow them on Facebook and Instagram (@mississippialehouse).

Sidestreet Burger Beer Pairings A visit to Mississippi Ale House isn’t complete without a little snack or full-blown delicious meal from their friends next door at Sidestreet Burgers. It sounds like a burger-only joint, but their menu is vast, and their chef, Jonathan, is always playing with and adding new, delectable items to the menu. Here’s a list of their most popular menu items, plus the perfect beer to pair with each.

Blackened Fish Taco Light, fruity brew with tropical undertones pairs well with an IPA, or a Sour Fat Panda (Korean-Style Sirloin Sandwich) This signature Sidestreet behemoth pairs nicely with a dark, robust brew - Porter or Stout Sriracha Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadilla Take the edge off this spicy serving with a Brown or Amber ale Mother Clucker (Spicy Chicken, Honey Mustard Sandwich) Sweet-meets-spicy dish is dreamy alongside a pale ale, IPA, or amber ale.

Bacon Jam Burger Big, beefy, and best alongside a lager, wheat, or saison

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A Country Escape with City Amenities

Oxford’s The Farmstead on Woodson Ridge offers luxury cottage rentals & a quiet haven for those seeking to escape the city.

Story by Sarah Vaughan Photos Courtesy of The Farmstead on Woodson Ridge

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Just a short drive from Memphis is a sanctuary of peace and solitude amidst the hustle and bustle of the college town of Oxford.

At The Farmstead on Woodson Ridge, a 138-acre haven situated on the outskirts of town, guests can relax and enjoy the sanctuary of lakeside cottages while just a 10-minute drive away from the amenities of The Square and The University of Mississippi. Picturesque pastures and seven lakes offer a tranquil setting for Ole Miss fans seeking rentals for game-day activities, wedding parties, and private events.

“We have developed a reputation as a sanctuary for those who want to disconnect from city life and relax and unwind,” says hospitality manager George Gates. “We have a common border with 410 acres of national forest and have a lot of people who like to walk on the trails and experience nature in its truest form. We’re 10 minutes from campus and downtown Oxford, but when you get here, you feel like you’re hours away from everything.”

Like most venues in and around Oxford, The Farmstead is fully booked during football seasons and big events like the Oxford Film Festival and Double Decker Arts festival, so it’s important to book early. Unlike other locations, however, The Farmstead offers all the features of a

luxury hotel in addition to delicious meals and relaxing spaces for hosting guests and enjoying time with family and friends.

“Anyone who has been to Oxford during a big event knows that everything is typically packed,” says Gates. “We offer a place for guests to visit and host without waiting an hour to be served or having to eat fast food because all of the nicest restaurants are packed. We want people to feel like this is home away from home.”

The Farmstead’s multiple cottages are designed with comfort and relaxation in mind. Located adjacent to the working farmland and waterfront views, they provide a warm and cozy ambiance, allowing guests to enjoy the calm, quiet joy of the country without sacrificing any of the conveniences. Each cottage has a private bathroom for every bedroom, high speed Internet, satellite television, private parking, washer and dryer, full kitchen, wet bar, fireplace, and a lakeside porch with a second fireplace and outdoor cooking area.

For those planning to attend Ole Miss football games or a night out on the town, transportation to and from The Grove on the Boogie Bus is also available. The bus seats more than a dozen people and provides a safe method of transportation to and from the cottages.

In addition to offering accommodations

and hosting a myriad of activities and events, The Farmstead on Woodson Ridge is home to two working farms: Covey Rise Farms and Farmstead Florals. Covey Rise Farms produces a wide variety of specialty and heirloom vegetables for restaurants. While headquartered in Husser, Louisiana, Covey Rise Farms is able to take advantage of local climates and growing seasons to fulfill their mission of producing the freshest farm to table ingredients.

Farmstead Florals grows fresh-cut flowers for the local and regional floral market. Its fields provide a stunning vista on the approach to the farmstead barn and the guest cottages, as well as providing seasonal fresh flowers to grace your cottage or room. From Ageratum to Zinnias, The Farmstead's Katherine Sharp provides beautiful arrangements for florists from Oxford to Memphis.

The or ig ina l work ing ba r ns have been renovated to make The Farmstead Barn a premier indoor/ outdoor event and activity space in the MidSouth. Overlooking the main lake on one side and The Farmstead’s agricultural operations on the other, The Farmstead Barn is also home to a cooking school that hosts classes in a state-of-the-art culinary teaching facility. With both indoor and outdoor par ticipation areas, g uests can experience various cooking methods, techniques, and styles. Oxford is home to the finest chefs and caterers in the region, many of whom offer classes or are available for private events at The Farmstead.

“Each cooking course is tailored to the preferences of the guests,” says Gates. “We’re able to bring in chefs from all over the region who’ve done courses on Italian cooking, Chinese cuisine, and even Middle Eastern food.

Oxford has such a great collection of chefs, and we have a relationship with more than 200 restaurants in the area who serve our heirloom vegetables, so no matter what type of cuisine a guest would like to include in their experience, we can find a chef to host a course for them.”

To learn more about renting one of their magnificent lakeside cottages, setting up a cooking class tailored around your group's tastes, building your own custom retreat, call 662.223.3272.

Frog Country

At just a 130-mile hop from Hernando, Leland, Mississippi’s Birthplace of Kermit the Frog showcasing the enduring artistic legacy of Jim Hensonthrough photographs, memorabilia, and displays

Story and Photos

by Julia Baker

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The small Delta town of Leland, Mississippi, is known for many things — its abundant agricultural produce, the local inhabitants’ penchant for putting up imaginative Christmas displays during the holidays, and the many blues artists who have hailed from this town: Johnny Winter and James “Son” Thomas, to name a few.

However, Leland might best beregarded as the “Birthplace of Kermit the Frog.”

It should come as no surprise that on these very same banks, right off Highway 82, there lies a quaint museum dedicated to Henson. The Jim Henson Museum: Birthplace of Kermit the Frog was established in 1991, just a year after Henson’s death, as a joint effort by the Leland Chamber of Commerce.

Henson, the creative mind behind The Muppets, Sesame Street, and a bevy of other whimsical TV programs, was born not too far from Leland in nearby Greenville, Mississippi.

Henson spent his formative years in Leland, devoting much time exploring the banks of Deer Creek, where he first garnered a deep appreciation for the natural surroundings of the Delta, which served as an inspiration for some well-known creations.

“This building was actually the Chamber of Commerce. When [Henson] died, they decided to put a little display honoring him in the corner,” says Stephanie Parks, a tour guide with Jim Henson Exhibits. “And then it grew, and eventually, the Chamber had to move out. So, we’re here now, and the Chamber is downtown.”

In the front of the museum are two large, striking glass displays. One display contains a

model, donated by Henson’s wife Jane, of Kermit the Frog playing banjo from the set of the Muppet Movie. The second display showcases a handful of prototypical puppets (frogs, an alligator, and a bird) that were hand-stitched by Henson and one of his daughters in 1989 for a children’s featurelength film about ecology, The Song of the Cloud Forest.

“This is one of our favorite displays,” Parks says. “It’s absolutely irreplaceable.”

The museum’s surrounding walls are lined with information and photographs that chronicle the story of Henson’s life from start to finish. One photo shows two different versions of Kermit the Frog: the familiar green frog we all know and love today and a grey lizardlike creature that was made in 1955 out of one of Henson’s mother’s coats and a halved ping pong ball.

A television set in the corner of one room broadcasts an eight-minute-long video depicting the evolution of Henson’s works over the course of four decades. In the opposite corner is a photo display of Henson’s life, from his childhood, to marriage, to the flowering of his career.

Another room contains a large assortment of artifacts and memorabilia amassed over the years, including vintage Kermit and Miss Piggy stuffed toys, Muppet Babies-themed McDonald’s Happy Meal boxes, and Sesame Street rugs.

“Everything on display in this room was donated by people who read about us and rode through here,” says Parks.

The four Sesame Street rugs on display - of Big Bird, the Cookie Monster, Oscar, and the Sesame Street logo - were woven at Greenville

Mills, once the largest carpeting company in the world, and were donated by King’s Daughter ’s Hospital in Greenv ille, Mississippi.

Visiting children are inv ited to play with a Sesame Street dollhouse in the memorabilia room or to pose for photographs with a big, stuffed Kermit in the display room.

There is no admission charge at the museum, but donations are accepted, and guests have the opportunity to purchase souvenir merchandise, like Kermit the Frog Beanie Babies or Sesame Street puppets, from the gift shop. The museum is also made available for birthday parties, weddings, and other such events at no cost to the community.

“There was a couple who had planned to meet on a blind date,” Parks says. “They wanted to meet at a neutral location [at this museum], but the woman wound up standing him up. They got married, anyway, and got married here.”

Since September of 2011, The City of Leland has hosted Leland Frog Fest, an annual festival honoring Kermit the Frog.

This festival also includes a chili cook-off, art vendors, puppet theatre performances, a 4-mile race and live music.

“The museum brings in a lot of tourists, and we’re happy to have them,” says, Kenny Thomas, the mayor of Leland. In the past year alone, the museum drew more than 3,000 visitors, with about 500 of them from

other countries. “The museum also makes a great pit stop for people who are traveling, because it sits right off the highway.”

From the various sources of information the museum offers, a profile of the artist emerges. Henson puppeteered while in college at the University of Maryland in the 1950s. While there, he met his wife Jane, and they developed a show for WRC-TV, called Sam and Friends, in which early versions of the Muppets were debuted, for local station WRC-TV. At a time when most puppets were usually made out of wood, Henson sought to create cloth puppets that had a wider range of motion for television.

After college, Henson and Jane devoted much time to making commercials, including one in which the Purina dog, Rowlf, debuted.

In time, Henson’s Muppets acquired a following, and they wound up being featured on nationally televised programs like The Ed Sullivan Show and The Steve Allen Show.

After the Hensons had five children, Jane made tending the family a priority, and Henson made the decision to hire Frank Oz, a talented puppeteer, and Jerry Juhl, as head writer, for a new company called “Muppets, Inc.” This fledgling enterprise would one day become known as the Jim Henson Company.

As the fame of his creations grew, Henson was tasked to put together a new cast of puppets for public service

announcements on educational television.

That was the impetus for a big yellow bird (Big Bird) and a big blue monster (the Cookie Monster) who taught children how to count and spell. These scenarios would evolve into a complete show, called Sesame Street, that first aired on PBS in 1969 and featured Morgan Freeman as one of the puppets’ sidekicks. The show led the way for children’s educational programming on television and continues to entertain and education children today.

At some point, Henson decided to try his hand at a program targeting a more adult audience. After some trial and error on Henson’s part, BBC eventually accepted a deal for a 10-minute feature in 1976.

Henson’s new show, called “The Muppets,” took off and became syndicated worldwide, and opened the doors for a whole new universe of additional characters that would soon become household names.

“Mostly anything that came out at that time that involved puppets, you knew Jim Henson likely had a part in it,” Parks says.

For all his fame, and that of his creations, Henson never forgot his hometown and his origins. In 1979, he sent the Mayor of Leland, Perrin H. Grissom, an autographed photograph of himself and various Muppets, with the photograph — now a central exhibit in the museum — bearing the legend: “Leland: Birthplace of Kermit the Frog.”

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Southern Escapes: Cleveland, Mississippi Exploring Mississippi’s all-in-one destination for shopping, music and a cultural history

Story by Casey Hilder Photos courtesy of Cleveland Chamber of Commerce

Just shy of two hours south of DeSoto County off U.S. 61, Cleveland, Mississippi, offers an array of attractions that make for a memorable daytrip getaway. Cleveland offers a variety of activities for visitors interested the region’s unique musical and cultural history, shopping and culinary tourism

"While there’s some wonderful towns in Mississippi that are known for one attraction or the other, Cleveland is a fantastically diverse place

" - Kelli Carr, Director of Tourism with the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce

A Delightful Downtown Cleveland’s Main Street packs a bevy of restaurants, boutiques and art galleries into its highly walkable downtown district.

Shopping in downtown Cleveland offers nearly too many options to count. For menswear, Abraham’s Men’s Shop is the place to go, with big names like Polo Ralph Lauren, True Religion, Patagonia and The North Face. Abraham’s even has an in-house tailor for those looking to achieve the perfect fit. Just a few doors down from Abraham’s, Punkin Patch children’s boutique stocks a collection cute ensembles for kids, infants and tweens. Women’s clothing stores in Downtown Cleveland range from the comfy-casual style presented by The Wishing Well Boutique to the slightly higher-end Gilbow’s Fashion Boutique to Ten Twenty Four, a relatively new boutique that stocks a variety of plus-size clothing.

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March 2018

Galleries, Museums, & Curiosities Art finds a home in Cleveland at Studio 230, a gallery space that was recently renovated by Delta State Art Professor Cetin Oguz. Just off South Court Street and filled to the brim with artists from around the Delta, this one is a sight to see for art aficionados.

“Cleveland has a huge art community,” says Carr. “You’ll see lots of sculptures and public art downtown. That’s always been an important part of life down here.”͟ Right down the road from Oguz’s place is the Delta Art Alliance Gallery, an artists’ collective that promotes and encourages a variety of artistic endeavors, from painting and drawing to dance.

The Martin and Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum is located right next door to Cleveland’s downtown visitor’s center, making it a perfect stop for early-bird tourists. The museum showcases a variety of railroad artifacts and seeks to inform guests about the industry’s significance to the city of Cleveland. Exhibits include a wide selection of model trains, as well as the largest O-gauge model train in the Southeast. Admission to the museum is free.

"Cleveland is a rail town," says Carr. The city was really built by that industry. If the rail hadn’t come through here, the town probably wouldn’t exist as it is today."

Musical Heritage The roots of the blues wind deep in the area surrounding Cleveland, as is evidenced by the 19 Blues Trail Markers that have sprung up over recent years in the surrounding Bolivar County.

However, the biggest, brightest and newest musical attraction in the Delta has to be Cleveland’s Grammy Museum. Since its founding in early 2016, Cleveland’s Grammy Museum has hosted several special programs that include exhibits on Michael Jackson, Katie Perry and John Coltrane.

And while sometimes the word ͞museum͟ beckons images of various artifacts locked behind glass cases, Cleveland’s Grammy Museum is anything but. The sprawling 27,000-square-foot facility boasts a wholly interactive experience for visitors, complete with wall-to-wall touch screens and numerous interactive

exhibits. From recording a hot new track alongside a digitized Keb’Mo’, to getting down on the museum’s light-up dance floors, to participating in live, self-guided instrument demos; Cleveland’s Grammy Museum offers something for fans of all genres. ͞ The Grammy Museum definitely has that goal of inspiring the next generation of American musicians,͟says. What better place to do that than here in the Delta, right where the blues were born? The Grammy Museum, which is housed on the grounds of Delta State University, will welcome a new exhibit on the Supremes this March in celebration of singer Mary Wilson, a member of the group who hails from nearby Greenville, Mississippi.

In addition, the Bologna Performing Arts Center at Delta State University hosts musical acts, dance performances, and even a few Broadway productions. ͞ As a resident, I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to drive about a minute to see people like Jason Isbell and the Avett Brothers.͟

Culinary Feats Travel writer and host of TV’s Parts Unknown, Anthony Bourdain, learned in his something in his 2015 escapade of chowing down across the Delta: Southerners really, really love to eat.

During his trip, Bourdain visited a soul food restaurant by the name of The Senator's Place, owned by the eponymous Senator Willie Simmons of Mississippi. The menu at The Senator's Place includes countless country-comfort-food staples like fried chicken, butter beans and baked catfish.

Slightly fancier fare can be found at Delta Meat Market, Cleveland’s own farm-totable butcher shop restaurant. Owner and Executive Chef, Cole Ellis, was recently nominated for a James Beard Award.

In addition to good eats, a group known as Keep Cleveland Boring hosts annual craft beer and live music festivals including Otherfest, an alt-country musical throwdown that features an eclectic local lineup. ͞ While we pull in an audience for high-end shopping and things like that, we also have a wonderful younger crowd who come for things like music, craft beer and the small-town charm of the whole place, says Carr.

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Shaina Ross

Around Town One Party at a Time

Out and About Chip Crager & Celia Chastine

22 Staxtacular

24 Page Robins Witer Gala

26 Circque du CMOM

28 AWA Banquet

30 FCA Breakfast

32 Wine for Wishes

Event Photos by Mike Lee myclickmag.com

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13th Annual

Staxtacular The Soulsville Foundation partnered with the Memphis Grizzlies to bring this year’s Staxtacular to life. Widely regarded as the Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, Staxtacular has raised over $1 million for the Stax Music Academy since its inception.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Mario Chambers and Paije Speights cohosted the fundraising event, which featured live performances by the Stax Music Academy and the Stax Music Academy Alumni Band.

January 27th, 2018 Photos by Mike Lee

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March 2018

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The Emerald City:

Page Robbins Winter Gala A staple in the Memphis community, Paige Robbins Adult Day Center provides personalized weekday care for adults with memory loss and their dedicated caregivers. To keep the cost of attendance low, the Center relies on fundraisers like the Winter Gala to help meet the difference. This year’s Gala invited guests to skip along the Yellow Brick Road and spend the evening in OZ. Between the generous live auction, time of giving, and more — there wasn’t a Tin Man in sight.

February 3rd, 2018

By Mike Lee

Whit Agee & Penny Choate

Joanne & Tom Martin, Deborah & Bernie Brooks

The Bullock Family 26

March 2018

Jason & Roseann Heckendorf

Cindy & Byron Phillips

Sallie & Ken Hall

Martin & Lisa Thompson

Suzanne & Tom Bergeron

Cirque Du CMOM 2018 What’s better than celebrating the Children’s Museum of Memphis? Celebrating with an over-the-top gala in a decadent new venue. After more than two years of work, the museum unveiled the Memphis Grand Carousel Pavilion and Ballroom showcasing the restored 1909 Dentzel Memphis Grand Carousel. The famed carousel ran all evening, allowing partygoers to hop on between dance floor shenanigans and show-stopping aerial acts.

February 3rd, 2018

By Frank Chin

Michelle Culver & Shelby Smith

Sam & Alex Shansky

Josh & Angela Cornell 28

March 2018

Brennan Villines

Don Rautine & Holly Whitfield

Susanna & Tudor Moldoveanu

Katherine Ray & Missy Perkins

Angie & Kaleb Brown

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38th Annual

AWA Banquet The Memphis chapter of the Association for Women Attorneys hosted its annual banquet on February 7. Ahead of its 2018 officer and chair induction, the chapter presented Claudia Haltom with the esteemed Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award.

As CEO of A Step Ahead Foundation, Haltom is devoted to educating young women about their options for long-acting reversible contraception and empowering them to take control of their futures.

The festivities continued with live music by David Pool and Jimmy Smith of the Risky Whiskey Boys.

February 7th, 2018 Photos by Mike Lee

Kevin McCormack & Ami Dave

Nikki Gibbs, Balenda Simpson, Claudia Haltom, Tanja Mitchell, & Sydney Ashby

Shante Oliver & Nattaly Perryman 30

March 2018

Julia Kavanagh & Ashley Morgan

Kim Brukardt & Lisa Gill

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Melissa Muhammad

Terre Fratesi & Loyce L. Ryan

FCA Breakfast This year’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) breakfast featured a keynote speech by Former NFL head coach Dan Reeves. Before serving as the head coach for the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, Reeves was as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys. Proceeds will aid FCA in its mission to educate student athletes, coaches, and leaders, and embolden them to use their platform to spread the teachings of Christ.

February 8th, 2018 Photos by Mike Lee

Billy Walgenbach & Jim Graves

Barry Hayes, Lee Caldwell, & George Ready

Countareau Dean, Jenorris Hibbler, Logan Barham 32

March 2018

Thomas & Davy Hunt

Maddie Michael & Anna Leigh Pourciaux

Randy & Donna BMobley

Lisa Finch & Stacy Tittle

Dan Reeves

8th Annual

Wine for Wishes On February 9, young professionals from across the MidSouth gathered at the Cadre for a charitable wine-tasting event. Benefitting Make-A-Wish, the fundraiser invited donors to try their luck in a wine pull and vie for eye-catching door prizes.

February 9th, 2018

By Mike Lee

Alana Hu & Luka Perkovic

Casandra Jackson & Russell Turner

Gene & Terri Baker 34

March 2018

Keith & Amanda Montgomery

Travis & Kalin Tinnin

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Hill Country Cool Tracing the musical journey of Como-based Bluesman R.L. Boyce The first time the up-tempo notes of hill country blues hit the ears of R.L. Boyce, the sound was coming from a mule-driven wagon headed down old Compress Road in Como, Mississippi, in the early '70s. The man behind the music was Mississippi Fred McDowell, a former farm worker known for his signature slide-driven strumming on songs like "Shake em On Down."

Strumming, filling the air with his signature sound on the way to a house party at nearby Honey Dew Corner.

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“He was the first bluesman I ever heard back then,” Boyce says. “Headed down old Compress Road. And I haven’t seen nobody yet who plays like him since then.”

Latching onto a catchy tune was nothing new for the then-teenage Boyce.

Coming up under his uncle and last of the region’s storied fife-and-drum blues players, Otha Turner, music was a part of life. Boyce earned his early musical chops playing a big bass drum alongside Uncle Otha as a youngster, but Fred McDowell’s particular brand of lively, guitar-driven, “hill country” stylings struck a chord.

“The house was full of music back then,” he says. “I was already doing a little pickin’ myself back then. But the blues, though, it jumped right in my soul.”

Boyce, now 62, has lived a lifetime in the hill country blues scene since those fateful encounters in his younger years, though he didn’t always make money doing so. His resumé includes time as a bulldozer and front-end loader operator, among other typical blue-collar farm jobs that have since transitioned into computer-driven, automated work for Como-area farmers in recent years. For Boyce, the blues provided a natural, simple escape from the day-today routine.

“Playing music was always easier, buddy,” he says. “I just do it because it’s fun.”

Hill Country Blues wasn’t something you could just tune into on the radio back in 1970s rural Mississippi. Sure, guys were making musical moves an hour north in Memphis, but the Hill Country Blues was contained to the hills of North Mississippi for several years. To get a taste of this particular brand of blues, Boyce recalls sneaking out to local house parties and listening intently, picking up and forming his own style to practice alongside friends and relatives.

“We used to sit on the porch together and it was blues, blues, blues,” he says.

“I eventually ran up on [R.L.] Burnside and got to playing with him and Junior Kimbrough. We all pitched in on the music together and soon I caught on and went head-on with it.”

Boyce says that the decision to play for a living came several years later after a jam session with the son of Memphis

record producer Jim Dickinson and North Mississippi Allstars frontman, Luther Dickinson.

“I was playing right on Otha’s porch right next to Luther,” he says. “And I said to myself ‘Maybe I can get out there and do this’ and ain’t never looked back.”

Boyce’s hill country blend was a few shades different from what was big in blues at the time. Boyce’s blues aren’t the mopey hymns of a lost soul mourning over his losses. His work is for the juke-joints and the house parties that became night clubs after 8 p.m.

“I played with Buddy Guy back in 1980,” he says. “I went to Chicago up to his club to open up with a couple of songs. Back then, I was playing with Otha and his daughter, Bernice. It was good times back then.”

Otha died on February 27, 2003, with his daughter, Bernice, passing just a day after. Four years later came the release of Boyce’s first solo album, Ain't the Man's Alright.

“A lot people think that’s my first album,” he says. “That’s just the first one they know about. I did about four or five CDs. We put out a few with Sean [Bad] Apple out of Nashville, Steve Tony, and [Big Boy] Martin Grant. Martin was my harmonica player back in the day and after he passed away, I said ‘let me try and do something on my own now.’”

Boyce credits independent label record producer David Katznelson for his return to the studio for his second album, last year’s Roll & Tumble.

“He came to me to do a little recording, told me to help myself,” he says. “So I jumped right in there and started recording. And whatever the good master above gave to me, I gave to the world.”

This time, Boyce had found a home on Waxploitation Records, sharing a label with Gnarls Barkley, Broken Bells, and Danger Mouse. Shortly after its release, Roll & Tumble was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album alongside the likes of Eric Bibb, Guy Davis and The Rolling Stones.

While the Rolling Stones would walk away with the Grammy for Blue & Lonesome, some might argue that between the clean riffs and crisp, mastered sound, there’s not a whole lot of “traditional” to

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be found in much of the album. In contrast, a British journalist once questioned if a party was going on in the background during the recording of Roll & Tumble.

Boyce responded that it sounded like a party because the album, and hill country blues in general, is a party.

“I’m gonna get ‘em next time,” he says. “I’ve got a lot of new songs that I’m going to play out this year. Just hold on, buddy.”

The Grammy nomination came as a surprise to Boyce, who wasn’t even aware of the honor until the Jackson, Mississippibased Clarion-Ledger newspaper contacted him for comment.

Today, the 62-year-old Boyce operates with a patience and easy-going nature that can only be cultivated in the South. Life in the hills of North Mississippi hasn’t changed much, though Boyce admits he hasn’t seen any mule wagons coming down Compress Road since at least the early ‘90s. He now plays alongside R.L. Burnside’s son, Cedric, and newly minted Southern blues artist, Lightnin’ Malcolm.

“Malcolm came all the way from L.A. just to come play with us down here in Como,” he says.

“Now that he’s got down here, he don’t want to go back.”

In addition to working on an upcoming 2018 album, Boyce has hopes of instilling interest in his unique style of blues in the younger generation, much like Fred McDowell influenced him all those years ago.

“I lost a lot of good friends that played,” he says. “People like Leo “Bud” Welch, Bilbo Walker, all my good friends done left. I’m gonna put it in my hands and carry it on out for ‘em. I got a lot to teach for some of the young’uns about what to do, how to do it, and when you do it, how long to stay there. ” He now counts his four grandchildren among his budding protégés.

“I’m gonna learn one of those how to do it soon,” he says.

The best place to hear Boyce play these days is right on his front porch, strumming his Oscar Schmidt guitar toward Honey Dew Corner and hoping to reel in anyone who might listen. You can also occasionally catch him at the odd annual get-together in Downtown Como or at the litany of Clarksdale’s modern-day juke joints: Red’s, Shack Up Inn, or Ground Zero. In addition, R.L. Boyce will appear at the 2018 Beale Street Music Festival for a Sunday, May 6 performance at the blues tent.

DeSoto's Best 2017 Winners The BEST time of the year is officially here!

Every year, we ask our readers what they love. And every year, they tell us about their favorite restaurants and watering holes, physicians and places of fellowship, where the shop and how they like to spend their free time.

The Best of Desoto results are a sampling of more than 200 categories that represent what matters most to our community; including who we choose to keep us healthy, happy, and maintain the institutions of our daily lives in motion.

This publication is nothing shy of a labor of love. We couldn’t pull this off without our devoted team of writers, sales staff, interns, contributors, volunteers, sponsors and participating advertisers who dedicated their time and energy to producing Desoto’s Best of 2017.

And most of all, we’d like to thank those out there who truly make this possible…. OUR READERS! — the DeSoto Times-Tribune &CLICK Magazine team

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Desoto's Best 2017

People Places & Culture radio station 1 K-Love 2 95.3 The Rebel 3 94.1 The Wolf

principal 1 Duane Case, Hernando High 2 Nick Toungett, Horn Lake Middle 3 Sissy Heyman, Center Hill Elem.

facebook page 1 Jody Woody, Nationwide Insurance 2 Desoto Technology Group 3 J. Cox Oorthodontics

desoto county attraction 1 Cedar Hill Farm 2 BankPlus Amphitheater 3 DeSoto County Museum

church leader 1 Patrick Conrad, Life Fellowship 2 Bill Beavers, Getwell Church 3 Bartholemew Orr, Brown Missionary

twitter account 1 Area 51 Ice Cream 2 Patriot Vision, Lewisburg High 3 Sunblast Mobile Tanning

dance school 1 Stars in Motion 2 Center Stage Dance 3 CK Dance Theater local band 1 North Mississippi All Stars 2 Twin Soul 3 Where’s Mona local musician 1 Rick Camp 2 Juno Avent 3 KC Johns theater company 1 Desoto Family Theatre 2 Hernando High Theater 3 Kudzu Playhouse actor | actress 1 KC Johns 2 Ashley McCormack 3 Steile Warren tattoo parlor 1 Pure Thirteen Tattoo Co. 2 Illusions 3 Sick Side Tattoos teacher 1 Candice Westcot, Southaven Middle 2 Tonya Briggs, Hernando Middle 3 Stacy Harrison, Pleasant Hill Elem. coach 1 Jana Perkins, Hernando High 2 Jayme Vinson, Hernando High 3 Allison Burchyett, Lewisburg High

community role model 1 Chip Johnson 2 Ashley Schachterle 3 Lori Brasfield mayor 1 Tom Ferguson, Hernando 2 Darren Musselwhite, Southaven 3 Scott Phillips, Olive Branch police chief 1 Scott Worsham, Hernando 2 Steve Pirtle, Southaven 3 Don Gammage, Olive Branch hotel 1 Hampton Inn, Hernando 2 Hilton Garden Inn 3 Holiday Inn Express bed & breakfast 1 Magnolia Grove 2 Sassafras Inn 3 Fountain Inn South

website 1 Desoto Technology Group 2 J. Cox Orthodontics 3 Hernando Dental Group photographer 1 Greg Cobb, Photogesture 2 Juno Event Photography 3 Katie Frassinelli kid’s birthday entertainment 1 Cedar Hill Farm 2 Lady Bugg Bakery Tea Party 3 Let’s Paint disc jockey 1 Derick 's Entertainment 2 Ray Baker 3 David Culver, Desoto County DJs golf course 1 The Hills at Hernando Country Club 2 Wedgewood Golf Club 3 Cherokee Valley Golf Course

farmers market 1 Hernando Farmers Market 2 Olive Branch Farmers Market

wedding & event venue 1 1 Memphis Street 2 Cedar Hill Farm 3 Spitfire Acres

charity event 1 Mudbug Bash 2 Crystal Ball 3 Mississippi Miss Amazing Pageant

taxidermy 1 Casey McLearen 2 Final Approach Taxidermy 3 Brantley Taxidermy

local festival 1 A’Fair 2 Watertower Festival 3 Springfest

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Desoto's Best 2017

Business & Financial Services finance company 1 Fairway Mortgage 2 Guaranty Bank 3 Community Bank mortgage company 1 Fairway Mortgage 2 Guaranty Bank 3 Walker Lending financial planning 1 Ryan M. Barnes Edward Jones Investments 2 Sarah Sutton 3 Walker Sudduth architect 1 Doug Thornton 2 Susan Stout 3 Stephen Skinner bank 1 BancorpSouth 2 Bank Plus 3 Community Bank

banker 1 Jennifer Ward, Community Bank 2 Derek Biglane, BancorpSouth 3 Kristy Hopper, Guaranty Bank accounting firm 1 Williams, Pitts, & Beard 2 Griffith CPA Firm 3 Harrell & Sons Tax Service cpa 1 Tawni Griffith Rayman 2 Holly Seymour 3 Jerry Pitts credit card processor 1 Community Bank 2 Heartland Processing 3 Transactions First

company | corporation 1 Fairway Mortgage 2 Journey to New Beginnings 3 Guaranty Bank attorney 1 Brennan Horan 2 Kelly Smith 3 Malenda Meachum insurance agent 1 Jason Banks. Farm Bureau 2 Jody Woody, Nationwide 3 Charles Gordon, Cooke Insurance web design 1 Horizon Managed Services 2 Angelfish 3 Desoto Technology Group

new business 1 Crossfit Hammered Steel 2 Side Alley 3 Aiden & Ollie

computer repair 1 Computer Repair

by Terry Watson 2 Desoto Technology Group 3 Horizon Managed Group dry cleaner 1 A-OK Cleaners 2 Blue Ribbon Cleaners & Laundry 3 Value Cleaners printer 1 Signs & Stuff 2 Horizon Managed Services 3 Signs First security company 1 Final Touch Security 2 Live Safe Now 3 Mid-South Security & Fire, LLC mobile phone 1 AT&T 2 Verizon 3 C-SPire

Auto auto dealer 1 Jimmy Gray Chevrolet 2 Homer Skelton Hyundai (tie) 2 Country Ford (tie) auto dealer (internet sales) 1 Jimmy Gray Chevrolet 2 Country Ford 3 All Star Chevrolet autoshop 1 Southaven Car Care 2 A-Quality Transmission 3 Bryant Tire tire shop 1 Ideal Tire 2 Bryant Tire 3 Gateway Tire 48

March 2018

oil change 1 Bryant Tire 2 Gateway Tires 3 Craigen’s Garage

transmission shop 1 A-Quality Transmission 2 Bryant Tire 3 Craigen’s Garage

auto dealer (used) 1 Jimmy Gray Chevrolet 2 DeSoto Auto Sales 3 All Star Chevrolet

towing 1 Bryant Tire 2 Craigen’s Garage 3 Choice Towing

brake shop 1 Bryant Tire 2 Craigen’s Garage 3 Gateway Tire

motorcycle dealer 1 DeSoto Honda 2 Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson 3 Golf Cars of Hernando

muffler shop 1 Delta Muffler 2 Craigen’s Garage 3 Bryant Tire

farm equipment 1 Hernando Equipment Company 2 Wade Equipment (John Deere) 3 Stateline Turf & Tractor car wash 1 Car Wash USA 2 Boomerang Car Wash 3 JLT Mobile Detailing collision center 1 DeSoto Collision Center 2 Benchmark Collision Center 3 Millennium Paint & Body Works

Desoto's Best 2017

Home tree service 1 Johnson’s Tree Service 2 Mid-South Tree Service 3 Taverna Tree Service

real estate agency 2 Agner & Associates 3 Crye-Leik 1 ReMax

cleaning service 1 Fish Window Cleaning 2 AMH Janitorial Services 3 Heavenly Sunshine

hardware 1 Southaven Supply 2 Complete Home Center 2 Thrifty Building Supply

carpet installation 1 Hernando Floor Covering 2 Floor Depot 3 Carpet Spectrum

appliances 1 Southaven Appliances 2 Appliance Liquidators

heating & air 1 Mitch Wright Plumbing 2 Southern Heat & Air 3 Howell Heating & Air storage company 1 Tri-County Mini Storage 2 Magnolia Mini Storage 3 Hamilton Self Storage moving company 1 Two Men and a Truck 2 Mighty Movers home builder 1 Gustafson Properties, LLC 2 Jim Kimberlin 3 Stoneybrook Homes, LLC home inspector 1 Tracey Wheeler 2 Derek Groves 3 Scooter Holiday electrician 1 Scotty Lambert 2 Jody Vinson 3 J.D. DuPuis house painter 1 Alfonso Cruz 2 Joey Goodman 3 J&D Painting & Carpentry real estate agent 1 The Holden Team, Agna & Associates 2 Team Couch-Burch Realty 3 Taylor Phillips, Austin Realty

contractor 1 Bedrock Construction 2 Ray Denison 3 J&D Painting handyman 1 Robert LeBlanc 2 Ray Denison 3 Jimbo Muse plumber 1 Daniel McDowell 2 Mitch Wright landscape 1 Quality Landscape 2 McConnell Curb Appeal 3 Frankie's Lawn & Landscape lawn service 1 Desoto Turf 2 Green King 3 Frankie’s Lawn & Landscape pool service 1 C Squared Pool Service 2 Splash Pools 3 Butler Pools & Spa flooring & carpet 1 Hernando Floor Covering 2 Tim Hogan’s Carpet & Floors 3 The Floor Depot

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Desoto's Best 2017

Health & Wellness nurse practitioner 1 Jerry McLarty 2 Jennifer Warren 3 Beverly Weaver

pediatrician 1 Dr. Harry Phillips 2 Dr. Manoj Narayanan 3 Dr. Michael Lacy

general practitioner 1 Dr. Robert Skinner 2 Dr. Walt Carnahan 3 Dr. Julie Carpenter

pediatric dentist 1 Dr. Jason Coleman 2 Dr Clyde Musgrave 3 Dr. Steve Fuson

family healthcare 1 Family Medical Clinic of North MS 2 DeSoto Primary Care 3 Olive Branch Family Medical

urologist 1 Dr. Mark Greenberger 2 Dr. Robert Hollobaugh 3 Dr. Ravi Chauhan

cardiologist 1 Dr. Dharmesh Patel 2 Dr. Darrell Sneed 3 Dr. Arie Szatkowski nephrologist 1 Dr. Jacinto Hernandez 2 Dr. Patrick Kulubya 3 Dr. Robert Canada obstetrics & gynecology 1 Dr. Elaine Thompson 2 Dr. Charles Ryan 3 Dr. Fazel Manejwala gastroenterologist 1 Dr. Eric Ormseth 2 Dr. Chris Griffith 3 Dr. William Hardin ophthalmologist 1 Dr. Chris Brown 2 Dr. Rolando Toyos orthopedist 1 Dr. Robert Pickering 2 Dr. Claiborne Christian 3 Dr. James Varner orthodontist 1 Go Orthodontics 2 Dr. Jessica Cox 3 Dr, Richard Williams 50

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ent-otolaryngology 1 Dr. Jeff Cunningham 2 Dr. Greene Colvin 3 Dr. Louis Chanin oncologist 1 Dr. Sonia Benn 2 Dr. Jason Chandler 3 Dr. Benton Wheeler optometrist 1 Dr. Raymond Shackelford 2 Dr. Michael O’Brien 3 Dr. David Parker dentist 1 Dr. Jason Parolli 2 Dr. Amy Wadsworth 3 Dr. Rhett Simmons chiropractor 1 Dr. Clay Morton 2 Dr. Brian Henry 3 Dr. Brittany Kasprack podiatrist 1 Dr. Robert Appling 2 Dr. Brian Schwer 3 Dr. Michael Lyons pharmacy 1 Funderburk’s Pharmacy 2 Louie’s Family Pharmacy 3 Mike’s Pharmacy

physcial therapy 1 Napoli Physical Therapy 2 Campbell Clinic 3 Advanced Physical Therapy diagnostic imaging 1 DeSoto Imaging Specialists 2 Methodist Diagnostic Center 3 Baptist Desoto Diagnostic Center hearing specialist 1 Bonnie Sisk, Hearing Solutions 2 Stacey Sanders, Desoto Eye & Ear 3 Jennifer Crider, Desoto ENT tanning salon 1 Pucci Petique 2 High Definition Salon & Spa 3 Super Tans spray tan 1 Sunblast Mobile Tanning 2 Jamazin Mobile Tans 3 High Definition Salon & Spa spa 1 Gould’s Day Spa & Salon 2 High Definition Salon & Spa 3 Belle Ross Salon & Spa gym 1 DeSoto Athletic Club 2 Jaylo Fitness 3 HQ Fitness place to sweat 1 Desoto Athletic Club 2 Jaylo Fitness 3 Crossfit Hammered Steel

personal trainer 1 Johnny Loper 2 Maddi Lambert 3 Chris Miller martial arts 1 Hernando Taekwondo 2 Blann’s Martial Arts 3 King Krav Maga Southaven zumba 1 Paige Anderson 2 Jaylo Fitness 3 Loletta, HQ Fitness yoga 1 Jill Morris 2 Dwi Pada, Jaylo Fitness 3 Lucy Gordon spin 1 Callie Steward 2 Jaylo Fitness 3 Cindy Johnson hair salon 1 High Definition Salon & Spa 2 Di Donna Colour Studio 3 Gingko Salon hair stylist 1 Ricca Ward, The Hair Shoppe 2 Angela Rayborn 3 Angela McCaleb, Rococo Hair Studio manicure | pedicure 1 iNails 2 High Definition Salon & Spa 3 Envy Nails

Desoto's Best 2017

Community community daycare 1 Faith Preschool 2 Kaco’s Kids Childcare 3 Kids R Kids of Mississippi

senior care 1 Wesley Meadows 2 Lifepointe Village 3 Desoto Healthcare

Elementary School 1 Hernando 2 Lewisburg 3 Center Hill

retirement community 1 Wesley Meadows 2 Lifepointe Village 3 Hermitage Gardens

middle school 1 Hernando 2 Desoto Central 3 Lewisburg high school 1 Northpoint Christian School 2 Hernando 3 Desoto Central place to worship 1 Life Fellowship 2 Getwell Church 3 First Presbyterian Hernando non-profit 1 Palmer Home for Children 2 Healing Hearts, Child Advocacy 3 Desoto Animal Rescue charity 1 Palmer Home for Children 2 Healing Hearts Child Advocacy 3 House of Grace library 1 First Regional Library, Hernando 2 BJ Chain Library, Olive Branch 3 MR Davis Library, Southaven

apartment complex 1 The Hamilton at Turman Farms 2 The Magnolias 3 Civic Center Apartments funeral home 1 Brantley-Phillips Funeral Home 2 Hernando Funeral Home 3 Coleman Funeral Home pet kennels 1 Hernando Kennels 2 Sidlehill Farms 3 Elmore Road Veterinary Clinic veterinarian 1 Brent Pattberg 2 John Allen Ferguson 3 Brandi Ellis pet grooming 1 Dog Groomers of Hernando 2 Elmore Road Veterinary Clinic 3 Groomingdale’s

Desoto's Best 2017

Food & Drink bar 1 Windy City Grille 2 Dan McGuinness 3 Huey’s bartender 1 Jenniffer Tindall, AC’s Steakhouse 2 Sarah Ross 3 Kasey Reed, Huey’s patio 1 Maria’s Cantina 2 Mi Pueblo 3 AC’s Steakhouse live music 1 Catfish Blues 2 Dan McGuinness 3 Huey’s cheap date 1 Velvet Cream-The Dip 2 Area 51 Ice Cream 3 Lost Pizza Co. sports bar 1 Windy City Grille 2 Dan McGuinness 3 Huey’s martini 1 The Grillehouse 2 Mesquite Chop House 3 Dan McGuinness

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wine selection (restaurant) 1 AC’s Steakhouse 2 The Grillehouse 3 Mesquite Chop House

frozen treats 1 Velvet Cream-The Dip 2 Area 51 Ice Cream 3 Bridgetown Market Ice Cream Parlor

wine selection (store) 1 Cork & Barrel 2 Grapevine Liquor & Wine 3 D’vine Wine & Spirits

kid-friendly restaurant 1 Mi Pueblo 2 Lost Pizza Co. 3 Ladybugg Bakery & Cafe

beer selection (restaurant) 1 Dan McGuinness 2 AC’s Steakhouse 3 Mississippi Ale House beer selection (store) 1 Craft Beer Station 2 Mississippi Ale House 3 Downtown Beer & Tobacco restaurant 1 AC’s Steakhouse 2 The Grillehouse 3 Catfish Blues new restaurant 1 Mike’s Family Restaurant 2 The Grillehouse 3 Catfish Blues

margarita 1 Maria’s Cantina 2 La Siesta 3 Mi Pueblo

chef 1 Heather Ries, Ladybugg Bakery 2 Albert Morgan, AC’s Steakhouse 3 Jonathan Mah, Sidestreet Burgers

bloody mary 1 AC’s Steakhouse 2 Dan McGuinness 3 The Grillehouse

deli 1 Buon Cibo 2 Lenny’s Sub Shop 3 McAlister’s

liquor store 1 Cork & Barrel 2 Grapevine Liquor & Wine 3 Hernando Wine & Spirit

meat & three 1 Dale’s Restaurant 2 Junior’s 3 Sweet Pea’s Table

March 2018

cheapest 1 Velvet Cream-The Dip 2 Ladybugg Bakery & Cafe 3 Sidestreet Burger coffee shop 1 Big Muddy’s 2 Ladybugg Bakery & Cafe 3 Coffee Central taco 1 Taco Felix 2 Mi Pueblo 3 La Siesta

waiter | waitress 1 Chelsea Bugg, Ladybugg Bakery 2 Allie Bierman, Windy City pizza Grille 1 Buon Cibo 3 Hannah Hatten, Huey’s 2 Lost Pizza Co. 3 Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza host | hostess 1 Amy Covey, Lady Bugg dessert Bakery 1 Ladybugg Bakery & Cafe 2 Angela, AC’s Steakhouse 2 City Hall Cheesecake 3 Kaylie Lathem, 3 AC’s Steakhouse Ladybugg Bakery cupcake breakfast 1 Ladybugg Bakery & Cafe 1 Taco Felix 2 Lee Lee’s Sweet Shop 2 Ladybugg Bakery & Cafe & Bakery 3 The Neighborhood Grill 3 The Cake Lady Bakery lunch 1 AC’s Steakhouse 2 Ladybugg Bakery & Cafe 3 Sidestreet Burgers

wedding cake 1 Ladybugg Bakery & Cafe 2 The Cake Lady Bakery 3 Old Towne Bakery

dinner 1 AC’s Steakhouse 2 The Grillehouse 3 Windy City Grille

smoothies 1 Velvet Cream-The Dip 2 Smoothie King 3 Tropical Smoothie

brunch 1 AC’s Steakhouse 2 The Grillehouse

bakery 1 Ladybugg Bakery & Cafe 2 The Cake Lady Bakery 3 Old Towne Bakery

buffet 1 Junior’s 2 Grand Buffet 3 Mr. Chen’s Kitchen

catering 1 Scotty’s Smokehouse 2 Ladybugg Bakery & Cafe 3 First Choice Catering

burger 1 AC’s Steakhouse 2 Buon Cibo 3 Sidestreet Burgers

fried chicken 1 Gus’s Fried Chicken 2 Junior’s 3 Dale’s Restaurant

catfish 1 Catfish Country 2 Catfish Blues 3 Windy City Grille

chicken salad 1 Chicken Salad Chick 2 Ladybugg Bakery & Cafe 3 Side Alley Cafe

sushi 1 Urban Japanese Fusion 2 Yellowfin Sushi 3 Red Fish japanese 1 Urban Japanese Fusion 2 Yellowfin Sushi 3 Red Fish chinese 1 Mr. Chen’s Kitchen 2 Grand Buffet 3 Shanghai House italian 1 Avellino’s 2 Lonnie Tant’s Italia Pizza Cafe 3 Brick Oven Pizza Co. mexican 1 La Siesta 2 Mi Pueblo 3 Rancho Grande seafood 1 The Grillehouse 2 AC’s Steakhouse 3 Catfish Blues

steak 1 The Grillehouse 2 AC’s Steakhouse 3 Mesquite Chop House wings 1 Mr. P’s Buffalo Wings Plus 2 Wings World 3 Chicken Coop ribs 1 Scotty’s Smokehouse 2 Memphis BBQ Company 3 Corky’s pulled pork 1 Scotty’s Smokehouse 2 Memphis BBQ Company 3 Coleman’s BBQ BBQ 1 Scotty’s Smokehouse 2 Memphis BBQ Company 3 Coleman’s BBQ

Desoto's Best 2017

Shopping children's apparel 1 Aiden + Ollie 2 Lindy Lou’s Boutique 3 Jack Anna Beanstalk

fine jewelry 1 Robert Irwin Jewelers 2 Custom Jewelry 3 Master Jewelers

art 1 DeSoto Arts Council 2 The Wooden Door 3 Ultimate Gifts

lamps 1 Magnolia Lighting 2 The Wooden Door 3 Commerce Street Market

women's apparel 1 Pink Coconut 2 The Sparrow 3 SOCO Apparel

home decor 1 The Wooden Door 2 House to Home 3 Commerce Street Market

handbag 1 Paisley Pineapple 2 SOCO Apparel 3 The Wooden Door

formal wear 1 Lola B Boutique 2 Hernando Flower Shop 3 The Frock Boutique

candles 1 Ultimate Gifts 2 Hernando Flower Shop 3 The Wooden Door

antiques 1 Commerce Street Market 2 Rick’s Vintage Shop & Antique Market 3 Abandoned Treasures

florist 1 Hernando Flower Shop 2 Olive Branch Florist 3 Pugh’s Flowers

home accessories 1 The Wooden Door 2 Side Alley Gifts & Cafe

shoes 1 SOCO Apparel 2 Pink Zinnia 3 Janie Rose Boutique

holiday decor 1 House to Home 2 The Wooden Door 3 Commerce Street Market

bridal registry 1 Hernando Flower Shop 2 The Wooden Door 3 Ultimate Gifts

monogramming 1 Hernando Flower Shop 2 Monograms by Kim 3 Pat’s Monogramming

boots 1 Cowboy Corner 2 Frontier Western 3 SOCO Apparel

cosmetics 1 Darlene’s Permanent Makeup 2 Michael Ann Dillinger 3 Marie Scutter

trophy | plaque 1 Hernando Flower Shop 2 Tri-State Trophy 3 Sports of All Sorts

party supply rental 1 DeSoto Bounce 2 Let’s Paint 3 Faith Based Inflatables

costume jewelry 1 Paisley Pineapple 2 Pink Zinnia 3 Ultimate Gifts

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gift shop 1 Ultimate Gifts 2 Hernando Flower Shop 3 Commerce Street Market

tableware 1 The Wooden Door 2 Commerce Street Market 3 The Square Cupboard

Staff Picks CATEGORIES WE FORGOT • Park • Alderman • Vacation spot outside of DeSoto County

HOORAY! I-269 Opened in December! We’ve only been waiting since 1998!!

WEIRDEST STORY Big cats in Mississippi?

Allegedly, they're out there!

See & Do

Easter Events

Photo by Autumn Mott

Spring is in the air, and so is everyone’s favorite chocolate-carrying character. The Easter Bunny will be hopping across the Mid-South at the end of March to help celebrate Christ’s resurrection and inspire fellowship within the community.

Saturdays & Sundays

Saturday, March 31

March 24 to 31, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Breakfas with the Easter Bunny Cedar Hill Farm, Hernando

11 a.m., Easter Egg Hunt Snowden Grove Park, Southaven

Saturdays & Sundays March 24 to 31 a.m. to Noon, Brunch with the Easter Bunny Ceder Hill Farm, Hernano

March 24 to 31

Saturday, March 31 11 a.m., Easter at City Hall Old Towne, Olive Branch

Sunday, April 1 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Easter Brunch Bonne Terre Country Inn, Nesbit

Call for times, Easter Egg Hunt Cedar Hill Farm, Hernando

Saturdays & Sundays March 24 to 31, 1 to 2 p.m. or 5 to 6 p.m., Catfish Dinner with the Easter Bunny Cedar Hill Farm, Hernando

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Starla Murphy Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS #484935 60 E Commerce St | Hernando, MS 38632 Office: (662) 449-2110 | Cell: (901) 489-1547 Starla.Murphy@bxs.com At BancorpSouth, we’ve been helping people buy and renovate their dream homes for almost 140 years. We offer a variety of mortgage types, and our mortgage lenders will ensure the process is painless. Plus, we feature an easy-to-use website with an online mortgage calculator and online applications, so we know you’ll be comfortable. When you want to turn a house into a home, you need someone you can trust like Starla.

Mortgages are subject to approval. This is not a commitment to lend or rate guarantee. Rates subject to change without notice. © 2018 BancorpSouth

BancorpSouth.com/Mortgage

Billy Frazier, DVM Jeremy Keen, DVM Ryan Kennedy, DVM Medicine • Dentistry Laser Surgery Digital Radiography Boarding • Grooming

662.342.4899

8330 Highway 51 North • Southaven Mon. - Fri. 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m. - 12 p.m. desotoanimalclinic.net

Drink

Kiwi Kiss This sassy green cocktail is a sweet-tart blend of kiwi, fresh mint, lime juice, and light rum, with a resulting flavor that's nothing short of delightful Recipe & photo courtesy of Serena Wolf

Ingredients

Instructions - Yields 4 Cocktails

4 kiwis 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves juice of 1 lime 1 cup light rum 1 teaspoon honey or agave club soda

1.

Garnish (optional)   kiwi or lime rounds

2.

3.

Slice the kiwis in half crosswise. Scoop the flesh from each half into a blender.

Add the mint leaves, lime juice, rum, and honey or agave. Blend until well combined. (There will be visible kiwi seeds, and that's okay!) Taste, and feel free to add a little more honey or agave if necessary.

Divide the kiwi mixture amongst four glasses filled with ice. Top each cocktail with club soda. (I recommend 2-3 ounces per cocktail.) Garnish with a kiwi or lime round if you like.

Notes For a non-alcoholic cocktail, try replacing the rum with non-alcoholic ginger beer for a spicy kick, or coconut water for a more tropical vibe. myclickmag.com

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March 2018

Wild South

The Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana

By Russ Thompson

The great county-continent of Australia has its share of marsupials (mammals that carry their young in a pouch) such as the graceful kangaroo, the cuddly koala and the adorable wombat. Here in North America, we have but one: the adaptable opossum.

Now, this animal won’t take home any awards for the cutest, smartest or most crafty, but there are reasons to admire this common mammal.

When tails were handed out, it might first appear that this animal was shortchanged. Its tail is long, round and naked somewhat like a rat’s. However, the opossum has a prehensile tail, which means it can support its entire body weight like a monkey. It can even use it to carry nesting materials. Take that kangaroos and wallabies. Then there’s the matter of teeth. This animal has fifty teeth; that’s more than any other mammal in the entire United States!

Its body ranges from about twenty-four inches in length and is covered with coarse white hairs and black under hairs, which give it a grayish coloration.

They remind me a lot of an imaginary animal I once created in elementary art class with string for whiskers and gray pipe cleaners for fur. Like my childhood creation, this animal won’t win any awards for its looks, but we have to get past appearances.

Opossums are omnivores, meaning they eat kind of like your uncle at Thanksgiving. They’ll devour just about anything you put in front of them. For opossums, this includes fruits and berries, bird eggs, small vertebrates, invertebrates and carrion (dead stuff).

Another one of this ignoble animal’s

favorite pastimes is dumpster diving.

All of these eating habits may not gain it much respect, but not having to rely on one type of food makes this animal quite the survivor. For example, take away all of the bamboo and all of the pandas are goners. Not so the resourceful opossum who can find just about anything to eat wherever it’s found, which is almost everywhere in North America.

Speaking of habitats, it’s not too particular about that either. Although its preferred haunt is woodland with permanent water sources, it can be found in the city as well as rural areas. These animals are loners and wanderers, rarely staying in any one place for more than a few days at a time.

It lives a life not unlike many musicians you might know-it is active at night preferring to sleep the day away, hidden in brush or hollow logs.

Ever yone has heard the heard the term, ‘playing possum’ which means pretending to be asleep. It was something my grandfather did when he didn’t want to hear about the household chores he had left to do. When an animal threatens the opossum and escape isn’t an option, it simply slips into a catatonic state, playing dead so to speak. Would it be nobler to stand and fight? Maybe, but what would you do if you were an opossum faced with a bobcat or a fox?

So the next time you consider the opossum remember: looks aren’t everything. Despite being an oddlooking, nocturnal scavenger, this misunderstood marsupial is quite the survivor.

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March 2018

September 30, 2017

Mindy Christine Scott & Samuel Eugene “S.J.” Aker, Jr. Coldwater, Mississippi

BAKERY: THE CAKE LADY BAKERY CATERING: CEDAR RIDGE EVENTS DRESS: THE BAREFOOT BRIDE FLORIST: CEDAR RIDGE EVENTS MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT: DJ CHRIS LOTT PHOTOGRAPHY: MID-SOUTH HOUSE OF WEDDINGS VENUE: CEDAR RIDGE EVENTS WEDDING PLANNER: BECKY NANCE AND DEBBIE SMITH AT CEDAR RIDGE EVENTS HAIR STYLIST: WHITNEY FOWLER FLORAL CROWN: KACIE COOPER FLORAL DESIGNS

Mindy Scott and the late S.J. Aker were united in marriage on September 30, 2017. The bride is the daughter of Kenny and Lou Scott, who reside in Horn Lake, Mississippi. The groom is the son of Sam and Jennifer Aker, who reside in Senatobia, Mississippi.

Although Mindy and S.J. ran in similar circles, the two didn’t officially meet until Springfest 2012 in Southaven.

Their paths finally crossed at a mutual friend’s barbecue tent, and the sparks flew.

The ceremony was held on September 30, 2017, at Cedar Ridge in Coldwater.

Bro. Scott Bryant officiated.

The bride wore a lace couture gown with a plunging neckline and a romantic silhouette. The decadent gown also served as something new. She wore her grandmother’s broach for something old and something blue, and she borrowed earrings from her sister, Jamie.

A rustic reception followed out in the

gardens. After a hearty Italian entrée, the guests were invited to take a bite of the duo’s rich wedding cakes. Each cake took a unique visual spin, with tiers dedicated to chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. The bride’s cake resembled the bark of a tree with the newlyweds’ initials “engraved” inside a heart.

The groom’s cake was shaped like a Mississippi State University-themed duck call.

The newlyweds went on to honeymoon at Sandals South Coast Resort in Jamaica before returning home to Horn Lake. The pair settled into married life, cherishing their time together and planning for the future.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck on November 23, 2017. Although Mindy and S.J. were only married for seven weeks, Mindy says that their love felt like a lifetime. “S.J. was my soul mate, and I wish I could have had more time with him.” myclickmag.com

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