Click magazine-September 2013

People | Parties | Places

September 2013

100+ THINGS TO PUT ON YOUR SHOPPING LIST THIS FALL

RENAISSANCE

MAN

JOHN RUSKEY AND THE MIGHTY QUAPAWS

Fall

NATIVE SONS LUCERO CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF SOULFUL SINGING

PLUS:

TAILGATING ESSENTIALS

FASHION

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WHERE YOU CAN

• DECORATIVE ACCENTS • CEILING MEDALLIONS • OUTDOOR LIGHTING • DESIGNER PILLOWS

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“There’s no question Baptist is an enormous asset to our community’s growth. I’m very proud that Southaven is certified as one of the few retirement communities in our state. Close, quality health care is an enormous part of that designation. As our Baby Boomer population ages, health care needs are top of mind. The fact that Baptist is the only hospital in the state with a

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unit dedicated solely to the betterment of the elderly is a huge plus for our retirement

designation. But Baptist’s commitment is more

than that. Every year we entertain a large number of companies looking to relocate to Southaven.

The top three factors they consider are health care, education, and strong work force availability. Companies who are looking to relocate always ask about health care. To have a hospital with the comprehensive amenities like Baptist DeSoto is vital for the growth of our future.”

Ginger Adams Executive Director, Southaven Chamber

desoto.baptistonline.org

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 3

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CLICK

09.13 FEATURES

84

Photo by Rupert Yen

84 Fall Fashion Forecast 94 The Extras A definitive shopping guide featuring must-have looks from the MidSouth’s best sources.

Even more standout pieces from our fall fashion shoot including top trends, comfy knits, cool jewelry, shoes and more!

76 John Ruskey

Clarksdale’s own Huck Finn shares the Mighty Mississippi with the world.

108 Rebel... Rebel...

Evolving culture of southern roads and ridesd.

09.13 OUT & ABOUT 45 2013 SPIRIT OF SRVS 48 NORTH MS HILL COUNTRY BLUES PICNIC FESTIVAL 50 LE BONHEUR FATHER/DAUGHTER EVENT 50 RELAY FOR LIFE 51 “BARK AFTER DARK” BIKE RIDE & GLOW BASH 52 SHOOTING FOR INDEPENDENCE

53 BIKE DAY PRESENTED BY AMBUCS 53 SQUARE CUPBOARD BIRTHDAY BASH 55 ST. JUDE TRIKE-A-THON 56 JAMES BOND CASINO NIGHT GALA 58 16TH ANNUAL SPORTS BALL GALA 60 RIVER OAKS “SUMMERTIME IN FRANCE” WINE DINNER

On the cover: Elizabeth Burke wears a leather jacket from Pink Zinnia, black turtleneck and sunglasses from Center Stage Fashions, and a lace skirt and bracelet from Lola B. Boutique. Photograph by Rupert Yen. Make-up by Dominique Chaney. Hair by Jennifer Daniels and Nichole Ridings of Gould’s Day Spa & Salon Peabody and Larry Delancey of Hi Gorgeous Inc. myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 5

SEPTEMBER 2013 • VOLUME 7 NO. 9

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

17 PEOPLE

39

Melissa Dixon

Fashion entrepreneur Melissa Dixon is proving fashion is lovelier the second time around.

22 FOOD

Amen for the Mah Men

Enterprising restaurateurs Galvin and Jonathan Mah put their creative culinary talents to work.

26 MUSIC

Native Sons

Lucero celebrates 15 years of soulful singing

30 CULTURE

36

Uncommon Threads

Self-taught bead weaver Fran Stockham shares the traditional art of native artisans.

34 BOOKS

The Storied South

Renowned folklorist and scholar William Ferris’ new book features 26 interviews with the South’s greatest artists.

36 DRINKS

Packing a Punch

A summertime bourbon concoction provides a simple tailgate cocktail

39 STYLE

The Best! Tailgating Essentials

Tailgate products for the pre-game party and beyond.

62 CAUSES

Tour de Kroc

This state-of-the-art Salvation Army Community Center provides affordable recreation and hours of entertainment.

68 AT HOME 96

22

84

Of Hoof and Home

After a day in the pasture, the Feathers family cozies up in this eclectic ranch and rodeo homestead.

96 LIVE WELL 116

Healthy Smile, Healthy Body

The mouth’s condition and the body’s overall health.

118 ON THE MONEY

Housing is Back

IN EVERY ISSUE Editor’s Letter 6 Calendar 10 See & DO 112

6 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

Photo by Rupert Yen

Is now the right time for you to buy?

Tastefully Yours for 25 Years...

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HALLIE MCKAY

CLICK | editor’s letter

Fall Is Here!

We don’t want to think about cooler temps any more than you do, but once September rolls around, it’s hard not to be excited about all the new clothes popping up in shop windows. The start of a new season means it’s time to revamp your wardrobe and our advertisers have more than enough to get you started. Check our “Fall Fashion Forecast” on page 84 of this month’s issue.

Of course, we can’t talk about style without mentioning those behind-the-scenes individuals who contributed to this month’s issue. Photographer Rupert Yen is responsible for the beautiful photos you see on page 84. Styled by Michael Lopez and prepped by make-up artist Dominique Chaney, models Kaitlyn Stoddard, Elizabeth Burke and Lacey Brown were a fun group to shoot for our fall fashion series. Photographer Lisa Chapman and staff member Jamie Sowell styled and created the adorable photographs you see on page 103 “Kids’ Fashion.”

Of course, fashion isn’t for everyone. Another way to get pumped for fall is by attending some of the fun events happening this month. On September 21, The Blues Ball returns for the 20th year with talented performers, hundreds of auction items and cuisine from a number of Memphis’ best restaurants. Proceeds from the Blues Ball go to the Memphis Charitable Foundation, which supports a number of local organizations and nonprofits.

Other great events this month include “Fresh Tracks at the Stax” (September 5 at Stax Museum); Zoo Rendezvous (September 7 at the Memphis Zoo); and Catfish and Khakis (September 14 at Snowden Grove House). For a complete listing of all the fun happenings going on this month, visit Click’s event calendar at myclickmag.com.

Our September issue, the largest to date, is one we are particularly proud of. We hope you’ll be inspired by all the great stories we packed into the issue this month. Don’t forget to visit us online and sign up for the Click newsletter for more exclusive content!

Keep Reading,

Editor in Chief

Write To Us: Email editor@myclickmag.com or send us a letter and at Click Magazine P.O. Box 100, Hernando, MS 38632.

8 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

CLICK People | Parties | Places Publisher Jonathan Pittman Associate Publisher Angie Pittman Editor in Chief Hallie Mckay Art Director Detric Stanciel Managing Editor Casey Hilder COPY + FEATURES Copy Chief Tonya Thompson Events Maggie Vinzant events@myclickmag.com Home & Garden Cara Sievers Cara.Sievers@myclickmag.com Contributing Writers: Tess Catlett, Samantha Esgro, Doug Gillion, Samuel Prager, Jennifer Rorie, L. Taylor Smith, Tonya Thompson Interns: Jennifer Rorie ART & PHOTOGRAPHY Graphic Designer Nick Howard Contributing Photographers: Robin Carnell, Lisa Chapman, Casey Hilder, Jimmy Hill, Kristena Saxton, Detric Stanciel, Tonya Thompson, Maggie Vinzant, Rupert Yen ADVERTISING Sales Director Lyla McAlexander lylamc@phpublishingllc.com Jamie Sowell jamie@phpublishingllc.com Melanie Dupree mdupree@desototimestribune.com Jeannette Myers jmyers@phpublishingllc.com Melody Shaw melody@phpublishingllc.com

HOW TO REACH US 2445 Hwy 51 South | Hernando, MS 38632 website: myclickmag.com Customer Service/subscriptions: P: 662.429.6397 | F: 662.429.5229 ©2013 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 con­ stitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products.

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS Call 662.429.6397 or subscribe online at myclickmag.com. Annual subscription rate: $32.95. Click Magazine is published 12 times a year.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Click Magazine, 2445 Hwy. 51 South, Hernando, MS 38632. We make every effort to correct factual mistakes and omissions in a timely and candid manner. Information can be forwarded to Hallie McKay; Click Magazine, 2445 Hwy. 51 South, Hernando, MS 38632 or by email to editor@myclickmag.com.

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT Interested in having your next party featured in Click Magazine?

Submit your event by going to myclickmag.com or email us at events@Myclickmag.com. myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 9

contributors S EPTEMBER 201 3

Samuel

Prager

Born and bred in Memphis, Tennessee, Samuel Prager is a freelance arts and entertainment writer. He has covered the inaugural induction of the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, and has interviewed and photographed a variety of Southern musicians including Otis Redding III, Muck Sticky and ZZ Top. When not writing, Prager enjoys performing under the alterego stage name Alias ManCub, dining at CKs Coffee Shop and listening to 91.7 the Jazz Lover. Read his story “Heartbreaks, Hangovers and Southern Hospitality” on page 22 of this month’s issue.

Dominique

Rupert

Yen

Our cover feature, “Fall Fashion Forecast” (p. 84), was shot by Memphis-based photographer Rupert Yen. With an extensive career spanning over 30 years, Yen, founder and head photographer of Yen Studios, specializes in advertising, portrait, wedding, and fashion photography. Rupert and his wife Debbie have been married for 29 years and they have two beautiful daughters. When not looking for the next great shot, he enjoys playing tennis and traveling the world, taking pictures as he goes.

Tess

Tonya

Thompson

A Southern-born writer, Thompson has spent most of her life between Nashville and the Mississippi Delta. Now, a contributing editor for Click magazine, Thompson writes frequently on life in the South.

“The South has such character and a long history of adventurers, poets and storytellers,” says Thompson. “I’ve traveled elsewhere but have always found my muse here.” Originally from Clarksville, Tennessee, Thompson is also the owner of The Tenth Muse—a local ghostwriting and editing service (tenthmusememphis. com). In her spare time, she enjoys vintage motorcycling and traveling with her husband and children. Her feature “Rebel...Rebel..” appears on page 108 of this month’s issue.

10 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

Chaney

Memphis-born makeup artist Dominique Chaney, is responsible for the beautiful faces you see on page 84 “Fall Fashion Forecast” of this month’s issue. Chaney is the founder and head make-up artist of Mystique Makeup, a brand whose mission is about transformation, freedom of expression and embracing the true nature of individuality.

Chaney works alongside to create a desired aesthetic specializing in beauty and fashion editorials, runway, avant-garde projects, social gatherings and special events. When not dabbling in makeup, Chaney enjoys being an ordinary girl with extraordinary creativity. “Whether it’s makeup for a photoshoot or just out with the girls, don’t cover your beauty, cultivate it!” says Chaney.

Catlett

A Southaven native who attends school at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, Catlett wrapped up her summer internship at Click with two features in this month’s issue. Check out page 15 “Shop Girl” to read her interview with enterprising fashionista Melissa Dixon of Sugar Plum Consignments. On page 26 “Rare Threads,” Catlett stops by The Banks House Gallery and Gardens to see local bead weaver Fran Stockham. In addition to writing on a variety of topics (she particularly enjoys civil rights issues), she also has a passion for local coffee shops and music venues.

Shana Raley

Lusk

A lifelong reader and writer, Shana RaleyLusk is a freelance writer and book reviewer with a focus on Southern literature. A native of East Tennessee, Lusk has a varied background in fine arts, interior design, creative writing and literature. She holds an English degree with a concentration in literature from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and her work has appeared in a number of publications including At Home Tennessee magazine, The Knoxville News Sentinel and various others. This month, Lusk reviews The Storied South: Voices of Writers and Artists by renowned folklorist and Southern studies scholar William Ferris (page 28).

Hernando Family Medical Clinic 2670 Mcingvale Rd, Suite H & I Hernando, MS 38632 662-429-4988, phone 662-429-4966, fax

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myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 11

calendar

SOCIAL AGENDA

SEPTEMBER 2013 EVENTS Your monthly resource for what’s happening around town

5

TH

6 7

“Fresh Tracks @ The S tax”

6-9 p.m.

Enjoy music from local artists, old and new, at the Stax Museum during Fresh Tracks @ the Stax. On the first Thursday of every month, new artists are showcased during this event. Show your support of local music by listening and providing feedback to the performers. Admission is free.

TH Art on Tap 6-9 p.m.

Live music, food and beer—what could be better? The Dixon Gallery will have multiple beers on the scene, as well as fare from places like Bar Louie and Frost Bake Shop. Tickets are $30 in advance for Dixon members and $40 for non-members. For more information about Young at Art, contact Sarah Lorenz at 901.312.1241.

TH Zoo Rendezvous

7-10:30 p.m.

What better way to support the Memphis Zoo than with a little rendezvous? More than 80 restaurants and bars will be present for this occasion, as well as four live bands.

Tickets are $200 for Zoo members. Call 901.333.6757 or visit memphiszoo.org for more information.

12 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

12 13

Submit Your Event:

lickmag.com events@myc

TH Miranda Lambert Locked &

ReLoaded Tour with Dierks Bentley 7 p.m.

Miranda Lambert has come a long way since being named runner-up on Nashville Star in 2003. Now, she’s no less than in first place in the country music world. Lambert recently released her fourth album, Four the Record, and things steadily move full-steam ahead for this up-and-coming icon. This southern songstress will join artists Dierks Bentley, Brett Elderedge and the Cadillac Three at the Snowden Grove Amphitheater in Southaven.

TH Diamonds & Denim

7:30 p.m.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Memphis Botanic Garden and this diamond jubilee promises plenty of fun. 240 Loop will provide the music for this occasion and refreshments will also be available. There will also be a diamond giveaway. Tickets are $60. Visit memphisbotanicgarden.com/ diamondsanddemin for more information.

14

TH Cooper-Young Festival

9 a.m.- 7 p.m.

The beautiful and burgeoning Cooper-Young community will host its annual festival, sponsored by the Cooper-Young Business Association.

More than 400 artisans from around the world are anticipated to be present at this event, making it a spectacular occasion. Three music stages will provide additional entertainment for the day, as well as plenty of festival food on deck.

21

ST

Catfish and Khakis 7:30 p.m.

The Junior Auxiliary of DeSoto County invites you to their 13th Annual Catfish & Khakis event at the Snowden Grove House in Southaven. This event serves as a fundraiser for the Junior Auxiliary. Along with catfish, there will be drinks and an auction, complete with a special wine auction segment. Contact Natalie Bright at 901.487.0603 or visit jadesoto.org for more information.

16

TH Baddour Fashion Show

10 a.m.

The Baddour Center, a center for adults with intellectual disabilities, will host its 34th annual Baddour Fashion Show and Auction at the Hilton Hotel in Memphis. This event serves as a fundraiser for the Baddour Center. Visit baddour.org for more information.

calendar

22

Bet Against Breast Cancer 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Animal Friends will host their annual Dog Day in the Pool at Marilla Pool.

Join us for a day of fun in the sun and a tail wagging good time. All dogs must be on a leash and supervised at all times.

ND Best Memphis Burger Fest

10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Since this contest began in 2012, this competition gathers a panel of burger buffs to seek out the best in the city. Based solely on appearance and presentation, the burgers are judged in categories such as Best Memphis Burger, Best “Anything But” Burger and Best Extreme Burger. Along with the cooks and competition, volunteers are also welcome and can sign up by visiting bestmemphisburgerfest.com/volunteers.

Taste of the Town 5-9 p.m.

The Hilton Memphis sets the scene for the 13th Annual Taste of the Town. More than 40 vendors from the Germantown and greaterMemphis area will provide their special selections for sampling. This event includes a wine pull, as well as silent and live auctions. Tickets are $70 in advance and $80 at the door. All live auction proceeds will benefit Make-AWish Mid-South. Contact Myra Sellers at 901.755.1200 or myra@germantownchamber. com to purchase tickets.

20-29 Mid-South Fair Landers Center Southaven

21

ST 2013 Blues Ball

What is a party in Memphis without some Blues?

Contrary to the name, all kinds of Memphis music, from rock to gospel, will be present at this year’s Blues Ball. This event will be held right in the heart of Downtown Memphis at the Gibson Guitar Factory. Proceeds benefit local charities such as St. Jude and The Baddour Center. For more information, visit memphoscharitable.org/bluesball.

36th Annual Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival

The Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival began in 1977 and is now the largest blues festival in the Delta, as well as the oldest in the United States.

Located right in Greenville, Mississippi, this legendary shindig is always held on the third Saturday of September, the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival features blues artists from near and far.

Visit Deltablues.org for the most current information and lineup.

27

TH South Main Trolley Tour 6 p.m.

The final Friday of every month this summer means the Art Trolley Tour and Grill out Social will be in full effect. This event is located outdoors next to Bluff City Coffee. Enjoy burgers, hotdogs, beer and wine while touring the beautiful South Main Historic District in Memphis.

Tickets for members of South Main Memphis are free, guests $10. Visit southmainmemphis.net/ membership for more information.

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 13

calendar

ART, MUSIC, DRAMA AND MORE….

Photo by Jeremy Daniel

NOW PLAYING.....

9.14 Kevin James Live

Sep. 19-25 Flashdance: The Musical at The Orpheum

7 Pointe/En Vogue Ballet Memphis, 7 p.m.

The marriage of all things dance to the world of fashion, design and beauty. Specially curated by our wardrobe supervisor Bruce Bui and our favorite fashionister, dancer Kendall G. Britt Jr., this one-of-a-kind event and the brilliant beginning to yet another wondrous season. Tickets $35 in advance, $40 at the door.

15 Made in Dixon Dixon Gallery & Gardens Made in Dixon returns to the Mallory and Wurtzburger Galleries to showcase all of the art created by participants in the Dixon’s 14 educational programs in the past year. With a multitude a media by artists of all ages, Made in Dixon joyfully illustrates the Dixon’s commitment to our community through education in the visual arts. Museum admission $ 7 adults. Call 901.761.5250 or visit Dixon.org for further information.

through sept. 15 Red Circuit Playhouse, Thurs. through Sun. 8 - 10 p.m.

In this 2010 Tony Award-winning drama set in the late 1950s, abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko is commissioned to create a series of murals for New York’s luxurious Four Seasons restaurant. The project ignites an emotional inferno as he struggles with his success and the legacy he wants to leave behind. He works feverishly under the watchful eye of his bright, young assistant, Ken. But when Ken gains the confidence to challenge his teacher on some of his misguided ideals, Rothko faces the agonizing possibility that his crowning achievement could also become his undoing. Tickets call 901.726.4656 or visit playhouseonthesquare.org

Les Miserables Playhouse on the Square, Thurs. through Sun. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

In a nation in the grip of revolution, convict Jean Valjean is on the run. Hunted relentlessly by the policeman Javert for breaking his parole, he must leave his past behind and keep his vow to raise the young orphaned Cosette. But with revolution in the air and Javert closing in, Jean Valjean has no choice but to fight for his life and sacrifice everything to protect the people he loves. Tickets $22-$40. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org or call the box office at 901.726.4656 to purchase tickets.

Steel Magnolias Landers Theatre, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In the world of Truvy’s local-homegrown beauty salon, six very different women come together to share their secrets, fears and love for one another while engaging the audience in hysterical and neighborly gossip. From weddings to divorces, babies to funerals, new beginnings to happy-endings, they share each moment in their lives with grace, determination, and perfectly coiffed hair. Tickets $10 youth and seniors; $16 adults. Call 662.470.2131 or visit dftonline.org.

The Orpheum, 8 p.m.

Kevin James, producer, co-writer, and star of the hit comedies Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009), Zookeeper (2011) and Here Comes The Boom (2012), will perform one night only on Saturday, September 14th at the Orpheum Theatre as part of his national stand-up comedy tour, Kevin James Live. Tickets $39-$55. Call 901.525.3000 or visit orpheum-memphis. com.

9.20 Live at the Garden: Foreigner 8:30 p.m.

Straight from the tops of the Classic Rock Chart and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Foreigner will be soothing souls at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

Show support and answer Foreigner’s #1 worldwide hit, “I Want to Know What Love Is.” For more information, visit memphisbotanicgarden.com/ liveatthegarden.

9.12 Charlie Wilson Landers Center, 8 p.m.

As lead singer for the Gap Band, Charlie Wilson sang on four number one R&B hits: “Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me),” “Early in the Morning,” “Outstanding,” and “Addicted to Your Love” -- as well as the classics “You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” “Yearning for Your Love,” “Party Train,” and “Big Fun.” Tickets $125, concert at 8 p.m.

9.7

9.13

Levitt Shell, 7:30 p.m.

Minglewood Hall

Rock for Love 7

Grammy winning Memphis jazz/ soul/gospel sax man Kirk Whalum headlines the culmination concert of this year’s edition of the annual Rock for Love festival, a fundraiser for the Church Health Center. Also on the bill: The John Kilzer Band, The Patrick Dodd Trio, and Mark Edgar Stuart with Kait Lawson.

30 Days of Opera The Opera Memphis 30 Days singers will join with local artists for a concert of favorites from opera, musical theatre, gospel, and rock. Every day until mid-October, Opera Memphis will be presenting free performances throughout the city. For more information visit operamemphis.org

27 Crimes of the Heart Kudzu Playhouse At the core of this tragic comedy are the three MaGrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny, who reunite after Babe shoots her abusive husband at Old Granddaddy’s home in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Past resentments bubble to the surface as they are forced to deal with multifarious relatives and past relationships while coping with the latest incident that has disrupted their lives.Tickets $12, Students and seniors $7. For more information, visit kudzuplayers.com or call 662.429.4170.

Sep. 19 Star & Micey at Minglewood Hall 14 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

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UP FRONT A RT S , C U LT U R E A N D P E R S O NA L I T I E S

people

Melissa Dixon For a small-town girl with big-city dreams, Melissa Dixon was able to combine the best of both worlds in a high-end fashion enterprise.

Story By TESS CATLETT

Current

Photos by Casey Hilder myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 17

up front

A

A fashionista from modest means, Melissa Dixon knew the value of a vintage item tucked away on a rack of worn clothing long before Macklemore’s song “Thrift Shop” made popping tags trendy. No longer strapped for cash, Dixon has made her mark in business by opening up a consignment store, combining the very best elements of secondhand shopping.

Born and raised in Bolivar, Tennessee, Dixon grew up as the middle child in a singleparent family. This often meant wearing hand-me-downs from her older sister, and when she did get to go clothes shopping, she was more likely to be found at the local bargain store than at the mall. “Things were a little tight to say the least,” she says. “We didn’t get a lot of new clothes, and when we did, they definitely weren’t the cream of the crop.” At the time, Dixon’s mother was working during the day and going to school at night to become a nurse. After she finished school, her work hours increased, keeping her away from home.

Before long, Dixon was off to the University of Tennessee at Martin to study communications and start a career in public relations. As much as she loved styling clothes, she never considered fashion to be an available career choice. “Ever since I was little, I wanted a job where I wouldn’t have to worry about how I’m going to pay the rent. I didn’t want to have to pinch pennies for my family.” After college, Dixon moved to the Big Apple to work as a low-level assistant for the Food Network. “I was at the bottom of the 18 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

totem pole,” she says. “I still couldn’t afford new clothes.” Though she only stayed in New York for a year, she was introduced to a whole new world of affordable fashion. After discovering H&M’s cute and inexpensive offerings, Dixon all but lived at the store.

“Ever since I was little, I wanted a job where I wouldn’t have to worry about how I’m going to pay the rent. I didn’t want to have to pinch pennies for my family.”

Dixon’s second life-changing discovery — thrift stores — came when she moved to Memphis. “Martin was so small that most people wouldn’t want you to know that they thrifted. It’s accepted in Memphis; the perception is a lot more open.” Enthralled by the possibilities, Dixon found herself thrifting several days a week and would scour estate sales for designer items every Saturday.

Well aware of the stereotyped dirt and

grime associated with secondhand shopping, Dixon began to develop her idea for a store that brought in big-name items, as well as more common clothing brands, to sell for a fraction of the original cost. Items would have to be in good condition and would be cleaned before being put out on the floor. The store would look like any other but would cater to the bargain-hunting fashionistas of the area. “I want to get people exited!” she says. “It’s fun finding treasures that have been carefully selected for you.” Though options such as Plato’s Closet were available, she felt as though there wasn’t a strong enough consignment presence catering to women of all ages and sizes.

By January 2010, Dixon was well on the road to obsession. She began filling one room in her apartment with items she thought would make great additions to her future store. “I was buying clothes from stores going out of business,” she says. “I would hit every one up and get a deal on racks, hangers, sliders—anything that you would need to open up a retail store.”

Stepping into hoarder territory, she accumulated so much stuff that she had to relocate her items to a storage unit. “I didn’t want my boyfriend to see all of my stuff and think I was crazy, so I took out a storage space.”

Operating under the age-old ideal that if you build it, they’ll come, Dixon continued to get things ready. “I had this overwhelming push from God,” she says. “I would wake up and think about it, I would go to bed thinking about it, and I had notes written down everywhere.” Thanks to a family friend, Dixon was able to take a sixweek crash course in the Fall on how to write a business plan—a far cry from her novel attempt to do so with the help of a ‘how-to’ book. Now, with a professional business plan to back up her consignment dreams, Dixon thought she would be able to get a small business loan from the bank and be on her way.

She couldn’t have been more wrong. After being denied by more than one bank, Dixon was reluctant to accept a personal loan from a close family friend. “They believed in what I was doing and said there would be no harm, no foul if it flopped,” she says. “I said no for about a month because I didn’t want to mix friends

up front

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However, when financial negotiations with the location’s real estate agent didn’t go as planned, Dixon thought she had missed her chance. Then, out of the blue, one week before Black Friday in 2010, Dixon’s agent called to tell her that they accepted the deal and would grant her a one-year lease.

In order to have a big kick-off, Dixon knew she had to get the store up and running before the shopping holiday. “I thought, ‘if

we’re gonna make it happen, we have to be open by then.’” And they were. Sugar Plum Consignments opened to a record crowd and has continued to grow its clientele and positive rapport.

CLICK: When did you first realize you wanted a career in fashion?

Melissa Dixon: There’s a picture of me from when I was three or four where I fell asleep on a porch swing looking at a fashion magazine. It was still in my hand while I slept! I don’t know if it started there or what.

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up front C: What is your personal style like?

MD: I started out more conservative, but since the store has opened, I try out more creative pieces. I still love a good cardigan, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve had a lot of fun trying out the funky stuff that comes in.

C: Have you come across any items that you wanted to keep?

MD: I shop here all the time! It’s actually one of the main places that I shop. I buy items just like anyone else—I don’t price them lower because I want them or anything like that. You really can’t argue with something that’s $8.50! I would say that about 90% of my wardrobe is from here, since this is where I spend most of my time.

C: When you’re not at Sugar Plum, what do you enjoy doing?

MD: I love to relax and watch TV. One of my favorite reality shows is Resale Royalty on the Style Network. It’s great to watch shows like that because is really shows the behind-the-scenes work that goes into working in retail with secondhand items.

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myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 21

up front

The Sidestreet Burger — Jonathan’s signature sandwich.

The fat panda, a tantalizing heap of Korean beef, cilantro and Sriracha mayo.

Jonathan and Galvin Mah stand at the forefront of Sidestreet Burgers.

food

Amen for The Mah Men Father-and-son duo Galvin and Jonathan Mah cook up a-mah-zing food in the heart of Olive Branch’s Old Towne

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Story By L. TAYLOR SMITH | Photos By CASEY HILDER

While enterprising restaurateur Jonathan Mah’s food is born from tried-and-true family recipes, his newly established Olive Branch eatery is anything but conventional – except for the ovens, that is. The moment the doors swing open at Sidestreet Burgers, the mouthwatering aroma of roasting garlic potato wedges and supremely seasoned burger patties baking hits visitors square on the nose. The man behind the counter, Jonathan Mah, is following the not-so-secret recipe for success his father Galvin perfected – an allservice eatery run by one person. The concept of a one-man operation wasn’t invented by Galvin Mah, but he certainly got a handle on it when the 2008 recession forced him to cut down his staff. “I had to create my own job.

It’s less secure, it’s more gratifying. Basically, I tell everybody we’re Jedi knights — we have to know everything. Cook, grocery shop, balance the books, we have to do it all.”

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Galvin grew up between the aisles of his parents’ grocery stores in the Delta and, as an adult, his entrepreneurial endeavors, which he calls his “projects,” usually focused on food. He’s up to about 23 projects, including his own restaurant, Evans Country Café, his son’s restaurant and his nephew Mike Warren’s upcoming vegetarian buffet. “As a family, our whole thing is food,” says the elder Mah, whose lilting Southern twang belies his Mississippi Delta roots. So when Galvin was running a steakhouse, Jonathan was manning the grill at 12. Although he holds a degree in hotel and restaurant management, Jonathan has never been to a culinary school.

He learned to cook through his experiences at Château Élan Winery and Resort in Georgia, Chili’s and O’Charley’s. “We also watch a lot of Food Network,” Jonathan says.

Just before opening his own place, Jonathan was the sous chef at Alchemy in Memphis, where he created one of his staple desserts,

“I had to create my own job. It’s less secure, it’s more gratifying. Basically, I tell everybody we’re Jedi knights — we have to know everything. Cook, grocery shop, balance the books, we have to do it all.”

up front the Irish Car Bomb Bread Pudding with whiskey praline sauce (save this one for after dinner). He says his dad told him that if he was going to work so hard for so many hours, he might as well work for himself. The opportunity to establish his own restaurant opened when a cozy hut off of Old Highway 78 came up for rent.

“I’d been after him for 10 years,” Galvin says. “I was excited he was going to get out on his own. When he did it, he took like duck to water.”

With his dad backing him, Jonathan wasn’t too worried about the risks that accompany owning his own place. “I had the confidence that he was going to help me get this started. He was here the first three days I opened,” Jonathan says.

Taking a leaf from his father’s cookbook, Jonathan also made the decision to keep his staff small. From behind the counter, he takes orders, works the register and serves up his perfectly seasoned burgers

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with a smile, including his specials like the Fat Panda, which is Korean-style, marinated sirloin piled high between French bread buns with Sriracha mayonnaise and crisp cilantro to bring it all together.

Even vegetarians can get in on Mah’s creative culinary efforts. His spinach burgers are as mean as they come, especially when paired with his Orzo pasta salad with garlic and sundried tomatoes. To keep the food flying out of the kitchen, both Mah men have an extra hand come in the mornings to assist with the prep work. “My thing has always been efficiency. You have to make the process simple,” Galvin says.

But to shave off more time and money, every dish they serve up is baked, even Jonathan’s burgers. At Galvin’s Southern buffet, tried-and-true convention ovens

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myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 23

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are stacked to save counter space. A neat pile of unopened, brand new ovens are ready to go in case one of them stops working, according to Galvin. Everything from the cornbread to the black-eyed peas to the meatloaf is made in the ovens.

“If we can’t bake it, we just won’t make it,” Galvin says.

Before the sweet scent of country cooking took over, Evans’ Café used to be the ballroom of a local dance company, but you’d never know it if you didn’t ask. Walking in feels more like a family reunion, complete with picnic tables and a spread that would make any grandmother proud. The walls are papered floor-toceiling with crayon drawings. Each table has a stack of white paper that serves as both a placemat and canvas for picky children or idle adults. “Every kid that draws something, I tell them you tape it anywhere in the restaurant but on me,” Galvin says.

In blue jeans, a baseball cap and a T-shirt, the elder Mah often appears more like a patron than the owner. “In many ways, I made this place comfortable for me,” Galvin says. “A lot of people look for decor, but you can’t eat the chandelier if the food isn’t good. They won’t say it’s the greatest restaurant ever but the food is.”

SideStreet Burgers may not be as big as Evans Country Café, but Jonathan, in his chef’s jacket and baseball cap, makes the most of the space he has. Instead of crayon drawings, hand-painted murals of Memphis motifs like the Grizzlies logo, the Pyramid and the trolley bring a little bit of Bluff City spirit to downtown Olive Branch. Unlike the hand-painted signs hanging in the café, smart, simple signage designed by Jonathan’s younger brother gives chow-downers something

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to ponder while they’re adding toppings or waiting for their meal. One sign tells diners to add them on Facebook with the compelling argument that they’re “cooler than the awkward relative who hasn’t figured out caps lock.”

“I blow Facebook up,” Jonathan says, adding that the main way he gets business is through happy customers and word-ofmouth from locals. “That’s what keeps you going, to really wow your customers.

I’ll have customers come in for lunch and then they’ll come back in for dinner and they’ll bring a friend.”

To cultivate his cult following, Jonathan focuses on the basics. He keeps the burger topping bar stocked with lettuce, tomatoes and onions he gets fresh from the local farmer’s market. His menu is trimmed and tight, but keeps the bare essentials. His tiny kitchen also doubles as his R&D workspace. Everything on

the menu earned its spot after being put through its paces. Because he’s his only cook, every burger, pizza or special has to be easy to assemble. “I know what tastes good and what doesn’t. If I feel it’s not going to work, I’ll think it through and see how I can execute it. It’s got to be a simple process.”

Jonathan hopes to expand his business one day, but he’s not making any plans to leave the counter at SideStreet unattended. “I will be here because people expect me to be here,” he says. And while his son keeps cranking out the good eats and pulling people into downtown Olive Branch, Galvin will be keeping his eye out for his next project. Maybe an Asian buffet, he says. But no matter where he is, he’ll keep his blue jeans and baseball cap, thank you very much. “We can’t be what every customer wants. We can only be how we are.”

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MethodistHealth.org/OliveBranch

4250 Bethel Road Olive Branch, MS myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 25

up front Released by Daptone Records in January 2013, the new album is the follow up to the 2008 acclaimed gospel compilation, “Como Now: The Voices of Panola County,” Mississippi. $10, daptonerecords.com

music

Heartbreaks, Hangovers and Southern Hospitality Genre-defying native sons Lucero celebrate 15 years of soulful singing with the release of Women & Work.

Long before Memphis-born sensation Lucero was conceived and years before the band would even dream of setting off on their strenuous, almost-constant 15-year touring spree, there was only a group of scruffy teenagers with aspirations of continuing their city’s proud tradition of rock ‘n’ roll.

“I had never really played in a band before and I wanted to start one, but I didn’t really know how to play guitar too well. I had been bugging a few people about starting a band for a while, then I ran into Ben Nichols, who had been in a band called ‘Red 40,’” says Brian Venable, one of Lucero’s founding members and lead guitarist. “I kind of conned him into a starting a band, when we met up to jam he showed up with a whole lot of songs and I had like one guitar part.”

After that chance meeting with Nichols, the two set off on a blistering journey that would last for many years to come, eventually joining up with Venable’s childhood friend and future bassist John C. Stubblefield as well as drummer Roy Berry. By 1998, the band had formed a steady four-piece lineup which to this day remains the core of the group. It was then that Lucero was born. “I found the name in a Spanish-English dictionary, it said ‘bright star,’ and I thought to myself ‘That sounds good,’” recalls the barrel-chested Venable, who wears his southern heritage on his sleeve in the form of a myriad of tattoos that echo the band’s whiskey-soaked lyrics.

From that point on the four-piece would start gigging in and

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around Memphis, playing any venue or backyard that would let them set up. “In the early days we played lower-ranking shows, every club that was open for 10 minutes, then shutting down the next day, and playing in whoever’s backyard we could,” says Venable. “We’d go to a party, they’d pull out an extension cord and we would set up right there in their backyard, and we would get shocked every time one of us would touch the microphone.”

The burgeoning band found solidarity in Memphis’s music scene, a breeding ground for musicians with the same ambitions that the newly hatched Lucero had. The group pushed forward, trying to find their own sound. “At the time there were tons of local bands in Memphis, there was a great music scene. There wasn’t any pressure, we could and did create our own style of music to some degree,” says Venable. “In Memphis, we were allowed to incubate, so to speak. We would practice about once a week and we did what we thought sounded right. There wasn’t anyone telling us, ‘That’s not how you do it.’ We were able to grow a form of our own, and at our own pace.”

In 2001, the band found their sound and released their debut studio album, the eponymous ‘Lucero,’ with another full-length release the following year titled ‘Tennessee.’ “When we recorded the first two records, I was working at a record store, Ben was driving back and forth from Little Rock and we all had jobs, it wasn’t the full-pounding band that it is today,” says Brian. “When we listen

Photo courtesy of Bart Dahl

L

Story by SAMUEL PRAGER

up front to some of our older records, I immediately cringe because I feel we could record those albums so much better now.”

In the 11 years to follow Tennessee’s 2002 release the band has released six other full-length albums, along with their recent EP, ‘Texas & Tennessee,’ which was released this past April. “A lot of bands these days don’t stay together for 15 years, they break up quicker than that. You can’t make the same record over and over again, and after that long you get kind of tired, you want to experiment with your music; keep it fresh,” says Venable.

Though staying true to their southern-rooted style and heartfelt lyrics, the band’s sound has evolved from the simple-natured rawness that was the essence of their earlier recordings into their own beautifully-composed signature dissonance that defines the band through songs like “My Best Girl,” an ode to lead singer Ben Nichols’ faithful six-string partner and “Go Easy,” a drifting tune for a rainy Sunday backed by an uplifting gospel choir. “After 15 years as a group, or even as an individual person or musician, a band would hopefully grow creatively. I think when you’re starting out and growing up you wish you were from anywhere other than where you are, wherever it is for whoever it is; kids just go through a certain rebellious stage,” says Stubblefield, the band’s bassist. “Being from Memphis you kind of rebel against the whole Elvis and Blues scene, since it’s practically been shoved down your throat your whole life, but at a certain point, we came to embrace our region and where we were from, a lot of people don’t do that.”

This melodious rebellious streak continued in fall of 2009 when the band released their first album to feature a horn section, 1372 Overton Park, which was distributed through Universal Music Group. “You start out at a certain level of playing, and it’s been 15 years since we started. What were you listening to 15 years ago, what were you writing? Over time you get better at what you do. However, the horns and keys

opened up our music’s possibilities, we thought, ‘Maybe it’d be cool if we did this or that -- and now we can,” says Venable. “The horns and keys give us a bigger sonic palette to do what we wanted, a lot of bands will bring pianos and horns on the record and just tour as a four-piece, but we take the whole band out and tour, which a lot bands don’t do anymore.”

As the band has grown musically and popularity-wise, they have also added several members and instruments to their original lineup, including pianist Rick Steff, pedal steel player Todd Beene and a handful of horn players. All of which have expanded their sound and versatility leaps and bounds beyond a small band of backyard strummers. “Over time we grew, one of the first times we went to Little Rock we played little pavilion outside, now we’re playing The Riverfront Amphitheater,” Stubblefield says.

The band continues writing songs and releasing albums that mirror their life experiences, from lovers, liquor, friendships and the good and bad that accompanies the in-betweens. “Our songs, for the most part, are about chasing girls, catching girls, hanging out and having a good time, or not hanging out and having a real bad time; it’s just about parts of life, good old fashioned love songs,” says Venable. “I think we’re doing what we’re supposed to, we go out and we play music that people will want to have a good time to and sing along with; the ‘nights to remember’ kind of thing.”

Due to Lucero’s distinct sound, the band has been deemed a number of different genres, ranging from altcountry to heartland rock, country-punk to soul. However, the band feels there is only one category they truly belong in. “We don’t try to cite our genre anymore, we just want to be a rock ‘n’ roll band,” says Venable. “You want to be up there with the Tom Pettys, the ZZ Tops.

We’re not an alt-country band, we’re not southern rock — we’re just a rock ‘n’ roll band.”

Over the past 15 years, the band has made a reputation for themselves for spending more hours on the road than they do at home, sometimes being on the road for more than 200 days out of the year.

“At this point we’re a band of brothers and we definitely have our ups and downs, fights and this and that, but it always works out, at this point it’s just what we do,” says Stubblefield. Though it may be hard to imagine being in a van with the same three people for the better part of the past two decades, the band seems to find ways to deal with one another’s differences. “We don’t see each other that much when we’re home, we all go through our problems, just like a family, when we have arguments they might last a little while, but when you live in this box together for 200 days out of the year, you learn to get over things pretty quick,” says Venable.

And while the idea of playing the same catalog of songs for years might seem ex-

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 27

Photos by Casey Hilder

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Brian Venable

John C. Stubblefield

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hausting, the members of Lucero find ways to make every night a memory of its own while still incorporating a sense of familiarity that accompanies the lyrics Nichols belts out nightly. “Generally, we don’t even write out a setlist. We’ll pull out tunes ourselves and take requests from the crowd, so that is definitely something that keeps playing shows fresh for us,” says Stubblefield.

“Sometimes we will revisit a song that we haven’t played in a year, and suddenly we’re playing it in front of 500 people, it keeps us on our toes and having fun for sure.”

The band has made a name for themselves across the country, gaining notoriety through various outlets like Craig Brewer’s $5 Cover on MTV. Along with some notable media appearances and excellent reception among reviewers, the band has carved their own niche and formed

an audience of adults and teens from all across the country. “Crowds are a growing and evolving thing,” says Stubblefield, who pauses to knock on wood before continuing. “However, there have always been and still are punk rock kids hanging out with the normal kids, metal kids standing next to all different versions of skater kids, and all of these different groups of folks that you wouldn’t typically see at a show together just hanging out and having a good time. At Lucero shows there all kinds of people getting along and being brought together through the power of music.”

When Venable and Stubblefield are not on tour they still reside behind the bluffs in Memphis, still paying homage to the city that made them the band they are. “I don’t think the band would exist except for the fact that we’re from Memphis, due to the influences we were formed by.

Even if somehow the band met in some other city in an alternate reality, I assure you we wouldn’t be the same band, nor would be playing as well as we are now. Memphis is right in the middle of the country, we were allowed to branch out, easily tour and grow like a proverbial pebble in a pond. I guarantee if we were from the West Coast or the East Coast we would of moved after a couple of years,” says Stubblefield. “People come to Memphis from all over the world, some just to pay homage to Elvis, but anywhere you go Memphis is kind of a Mecca to rock ‘n’ roll and blues. Everything that comes from here is a part of this lineage, and to honor and spread that lineage by getting out and about around the country is like being an ambassador of sorts for Memphis music, and I take that very seriously.”

When it comes to the legacy of Lucero, Stubblefield recalls a story he had heard about the Memphis legend behind Sun Studio’s golden years, Sam Phillips. “Back in the day, Sam Phillips once said something about Rock ‘n’ roll that I hope people will think about us, back then people would ask him ‘What is this music? Black people are listening to it, white people is listening to it, rich folks, poor folks, everybody is listening to Elvis Presley and the music coming from Sun Studios,’ and he said, ‘It’s just good music for good people,’ before Rock ‘n’ Roll was coined that’s what they called it. Good music for good people,” says Stubblefield. “Fifty years from now, or anytime between, I hope that’s how our music and us are perceived, good music for good people.”

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myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 29

up front Arts

Uncommon

THREADS Self-taught bead weaver Fran Stockham brings ancient décor to life by crafting wearable art Story by TESS CATLETT

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Marked by several horizontal rows, the pattern is laying on the table. The beads have been chosen; shades of blue, green and purple dotting the work area. A spool of thin, but strong, thread is at the ready, waiting beside the beading needle. It’s a familiar setting with any number of possibilities, but for one local artist, it often results in a piece of art done by way of the Peyote stich.

Also known as the Gourd stitch, the Peyote stitch is an offloom weaving technique found in many cultures, specifically in historic and contemporary Native American beadwork. “The Peyote and Comanche (Brick) stitches are ‘mother stitches’ that were developed early on,” says Fran Stockham. “It’s my favorite because of the way that it works; the way that the beads fit into the technique, the way that you string the beads into the design.” Working with certain beads creates certain “looks,” and enhances the work through color and finish. While the type of bead used depends on the project, Stockham particulary enjoys working with Delica beads, a type of glass bead made in Japan.

“Delica beads give the look of tile, it’s almost ceramic looking.“ Stockham says she gathers most of her inspiration from the colors and finishes of the beads that she selects for a project.

“I love working with a variety of color combinations and experimenting with finishes, for example, a copper color with a matte metallic finish provides a versatile starting point for many different projects. “I love the intricacies of bead weaving,” Stockham says. “I am always on the lookout for the latest color, finish, design or latest innovations.” Stockham has practiced bead weaving for more than 20 years, and has mastered at least 15 stitches. “I have mastered most of the popular stitches and techniques. I am always working to proficiently master the rest, along with keeping my bead weaving skills fine-tuned,” Stockham says. “This is where teaching comes into play.”

Stockham is a participating artist at the DeSoto Arts Council Gallery and Gift Shop, meaning that she is able to show her work,

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teach classes and sell her works in the gift shop. Stockham taught her first class in April, teaching students a variety of techniques to create earrings and an “It’s the Great Gatsby” amulet bag. She will be offering a class on her own bead weaving techniques again in the Fall. “I found that I have a knack for teaching,” Stockham says. “It has been my pleasure to introduce and to share my knowledge of the art.”

As for Stockham, she is selftaught. While living in Las Vegas, Stockham joined the Silver Meadows Chapter of the

Embroiderers’ Guild of America.

“One of our members had just taken a bead weaving class using the Brick stitch to create an amulet bag,” Stockham says.

“She did her best to help teach each and every one of us, but in the end there were just a few of us who completed the project.”

Stockham found her niche in the art of bead weaving, leading her to seek out more techniques and hone her skill. “I purchased every trade magazine and every bead weaving book that I could find. I scoured the Internet and was a frequent visitor to the local libraries to find anything pertaining to bead weaving.”

Born and raised in Honolulu, Stockham settled on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi in 2005 because of the warmer climate and the same laid-back lifestyle she was accustomed to in Hawaii. Shortly before Stockham and her husband, Paul, were to move, however, Hurricane Katrina hit the coast. “We knew that it would take years before the Gulf Coast would recover from the devastation,” Stockham says.

up front “So our journey took us to northern Mississippi and we settled in Hernando in December of 2005.” Since coming to the area, Stockham has become an active member of the DeSoto Arts Council where her recent work “Rouge/Noir,” a red and black bracelet worked in Square stitch with slight wirework, was displayed in the “Free for All” exhibit. “Rouge et Noir,” another recent piece made in a similar fashion, is also on display in the gift shop for a class she is teaching this September. “When you view them the designs are similar; one has a wider surface with a black border and the other has a narrow surface without the black border,” Stockham says. “It is the play of colors that differentiates the two!”

“I have never exhibited my pieces until I joined the DeSoto Arts Council. I just started putting some of my pieces up for sale. I have always concentrated on teaching and sharing the art of bead weaving.” Stockham says that she has left entering contests and submitting art to her students over the years. “Some of my students have gone on to teach in their own right and have created magnificent works of art. Some have published their designs and received ribbons and awards,” Stockham says. “I am so proud of their accomplishments, and that is the best accolade that a teacher can hope for!”

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 31

"Are You Ready?"

Upstairs Closet 136 Norfleet Drive Senatobia, MS 38668662.562.4294

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up front books

Legends and Lore Writers and artists who have defined the South

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Review by SHANA RALEY-LUSK

The South is known and loved for so many things, not the least of which is its rich and thickly woven tapestry of storytelling. This legacy is one that is passed down from generation to generation in our beloved region, keeping the identity and soul of the South alive and undiluted. In The Storied South: Voices of Writers and Artists, renowned folklorist William Ferris explores the writers, artists and scholars who have defined the art of the great Southern story over the course of the last century.

Growing up Southern means that storytelling is an inherent part of life.

We live and learn and move forward by looking to the past as a constant guide and reference. Here, we are bound together by the stories and memories we share. These tales exist as persistent (if not relentless) reminders of the unique history that we, as Southerners, exclusively share. This is the dynamic that Ferris so expertly assesses through this compilation.

“The South is a land of talkers whose stories are as old as the region itself,” Ferris begins. “We tell sto-ries at home, on the street, in settings familiar to ev-ery southerner. Our stories transport the listener, like a leaf turning on water, into another world,” he continues. But this book seeks to go beyond the topic of the tradition of storytelling. It is the Southern way of translating our stories into fiction, history and song that Ferris attempts to uncover. Storytelling is at the root of Southern art but the end result is much more complex than the story itself.

34 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

Surprisingly, not every individual featured in the pages of the book is from the South. “[These interviews] feature a broad range of people--southerners and non-southerners, men and women, black and white,” Ferris writes. “Together, they share a common interest in, a passion for, and an obsession with the American South that define how they write, compose, photograph and paint.”

The famed and widely adored Eudora Welty is the first writer featured in the book. Ferris recounts his many visits with Welty over the years and speaks of the friendship that he developed with her. “Our visits in her memohome were always memo rable, intimate moments as we sat in her living room and spoke about friends and disideas,” he recalls. Welty dis cusses her life, childhood and writing in the interview. re“As for writing, I do not re member making a conscious decision to write,” she says.

“I was a big reader and I thought in terms of the imagination and words. It was natural, I think, to want to write.”

The Storied South also features interviews with many of America’s most promi prominent literary figures includ including Robert Penn Warren, Alex Haley and Margaret phoWalker. Musicians, pho tographers, painters and secscholars are also included in successive sec tions of the book. These are the stories of the storytellers themselves, told in their own voices and assembled with the skill of an expert.

Intimate and moving, the book is a collection of one-on-one interviews with twenty-six of the nation’s most brilliant think-

up front ers and writers. Ferris conducted these interviews himself over the last forty years of his career. “This book tracks my intellectual and artistic growth through friendships with the individuals featured on these pages,” he writes. “I owe so much to them, and I hope that this work fully expresses my gratitude and respect.” Ferris is widely considered to be a leading expert on the Southern experience and is also a Professor of History and senior associate director of the Center for the Study of the American South at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Storied South features 45 of Ferris’s remarkable photographic portraits of the speakers and includes both a CD and DVD of original audio and films of the interviews. It is truly a compilation of the great Southern storytellers, both in word and image. It is undoubtedly a volume that should be included in the personal library of every Southerner or lover of the Southern storytelling tradition. When the final page of The Storied South is turned, readers will truly feel like they have been sitting on the front porch listening to the voices and stories of these legendary Southern icons.

William Ferris, author of The Storied South: Voices of Writers and Artists by William Ferris.

Photo by Marcie Cohen Ferris.

*

ION MENT FOR AD THIS ECIAL A SP OTION! PROM details at location myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 35

up front drinks

Packing a PUNCH A simple tailgating treat ushers in the close of summer in the form of this delicious tropical bourbon punch.

Story by CASEY HILDER

36 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

T

up front

Tailgating season is in full swing and that slight chill in the air means diehard devotees and casual fans alike will soon fill stadium lots to the brim. In addition to burgers, wings and other tailgater trappings, the Mississippi mainstay of bourbon punch is sure to rear its delectable head during the festivities. This stiff punch provides the perfect refresher for game day grillers and outdoor entertainers alike.

“Beat the heat...Come Float With Us!” “Thank You TaTe, Panola, Tunica & DeSoTo counTieS For Your SuPPorT!”

Ingredients (serves 20): 6 cups ruby-red grapefruit or cranberry juice 2 cups pineapple juice 4 cups bourbon 8-10 dashes of lemon bitters 2 cup seltzer water

Preparation: Whisk juice and bourbon together in a large punchbowl or pitcher.

Add several dashes of lemon bitters to taste. (optional) Add fruit mixture to bowl to garnish (oranges, cherries, lemons, etc.)

Add seltzer water and stir.

Serve chilled in 8-10 oz party cups with plenty of ice cubes (the bigger, the better).

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C A Y N D O B B E AT O N THIS SPREAD.

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Spice up your next tailgate with Zaxby’s Party Platterz . ®

™

Zaxby’s Party Platterz are party-sized portions of all your Zaxby’s favorites, making them great for any gathering.

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style

Grey “Hail State” cap $25, Blue Olive Shop

Maroon & White “Go Dawgs” Tumbler $16, Hernando Flower Shop

Maroon Stadium Stompers, $29, Blue Olive Shop

the Best!

Tailgating Essentials: Our picks for the best items for your pre-game party myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 39

style

1

2

3 5

4

6

7

1. “Hail State” ice bucket $34, Paisley Pineapple

2. MSU light up player $49, Jeremiah’s Journey

40 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

3. Pot holders $8 Miller Station

4. MSU grill spatula $27, Ultimate Gifts

5. “MSU” stadium platter, $45, Square Cupboard

6. Mississippi State vest $105, Blue Olive Shop

7. “Go Dawgs” burlap pillow $15, Miller Station

style

8

9 10

11 14

12

13 8. Red & blue football platter $54, Paisley Pineapple

9. Blue & White chevron platter $39, Blue Olive Shop

10. Ole Miss

pullover $62, Blue Olive Shop

11. Hotty Toddy cooler bag $25, Blue Olive Shop

12. Copper

door hanger $110, Square Cupboard

13. Seersucker Croakies $26 each, Ultimate Gifts

14. “Ole Miss”

hand towel $15, Miller Station

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 41

style 15

17

16 15. Blue “M” platter $40, Hernando Flower Shop

16. Blue croakies $26, Ultimate Gifts

17. Blue & white chevron towel $22, Ultimate Gifts

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style Shop

The Issue Blue Olive Shop

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Paisley Pineapple

6515 Goodman Rd. #2 Olive Branch, 662.895.2111

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Ultimate Gifts

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myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 43

Taking it from the streets to the rooftops celebrating

years 20

of pure groove 'n goodness!

Saturday, September 21 2013

Celebrate from the tip of your top to the depth of your soul!

Call 901-527-5683 to reserve a table!

44 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

Fireworks - Lights - Auction Award Winning Cuisine Knock Out Libations Musicians Unparalleled

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OUT&ABOUT A RO U N D T OW N O N E PA RT Y AT A T I M E

All Things Social

Russ and Cindy Mire (Co- chairman)

T

2013 Spirit of SRVS

he eighth annual Spirit of SRVS was held on July 27 at Memphis’ Hilton Hotel. Benefitting the Shelby Residential and Vocational Services, the event raised more than $145,000 to support the numerous programs and services offered by SRVS, a Memphis-based organization that works through residential and clinical care to aid those with disabilities. 800 attendees feasted on delicious food from several of Memphis’ best restaurants paired with elegant wine samples. Local artist David Lynch featured a commemorative painting, which was printed on posters and notecards available for purchase, in honor of the event.

Photos by ROBBIN CARNELL

Commerative Pa

inting by David

Lynch

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 45

parties

Corinne Hight and Mikay Martin

Wine pull volunteers

Dionne Nerren, Arron Quertermous and Tyson Brindley of Bhan Thai (food)

Guest host Joe Birch

Peggy Sears,Donna McAdams, Dianne Henderson and Cathy Crownover

SPIRIT OF S Purchase pics at

g.com myclickma

Sarah Mader and Ve

ra Mallet

Maxine Ernest, Tawanda Pirtle of jack Pirtles Chicken and may Lewis

Janice Wright 46 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

parties Will and Kim O’Bar

Leslie Hachtel and Denise Gore

SRVS Tyler Hampton executive director of SRVS

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 47

parties

Chris Posey, April Posey, Eliza Lauderdale and Cade Parsons

North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic

T

he nonprofit event, the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, held its eighth annual music fest this year to celebrate the unique style and musical culture of North Mississippi. Founded in 2006 by musician Kenny Brown, the festival is a tribute to honor the legacies of departed North Mississippi blues legends. This year, on June 28-29, hundreds of people gathered in Waterford, Mississippi to hear the sounds of more than 20 great acts like Bobby Rush, Jimbo Mathus and The North Mississippi Allstars.

Attendees were greeted by art and food vendors and were able to purchase raffle tickets for prizes, like a signed guitar from Alvin Youngblood Hart. The proceeds from the event benefitted the family of late Mississippi musician T-Model Ford. Photos by MAGGIE VINZANT

Houston Madison Weatherford, Conrad Adams, Drew Barnett Yarbrough, Laura Kyle, Ross Nichols, and

48 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

Ben and Mandy Mullen

parties style

Your money is only a play away LaKisha and Mario Buffington

with our 24/7 ATMs & goDough mobile banking We Are One. Julie Kuckuk, Archie and Kristie Storey

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Liz Reyna, Ann Blaas, and Matt Reyna

Ella, Carlton, and Sabrina Gough myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 49

parties Zoe Klair King and Brantley Martin

Della Hussey and Snow White (Makel Hutchins)

David Householder helps his daughter Annalisa Householder

Father/Daughter Gumtree Ball

B

Macy Strawn Back row: Tanner Bevill, Kelsy Minga and Bevill, Della Hussey, Meg Ann Blake n, Marti ley Brant row: Front Martin and Annslee Basham

inna Michael Dupree, Ela pree Du na De Ferrell and

E

Relay for Life

very year, the American Cancer Society sponsors walks all across the country, and on May 10, more than 290 participants began their walk at Snowden Grove Park for the Desoto County Relay for Life. Relay for Life is a nationally recognized fundraiser in which contributors walk to not only raise money for cancer research, but also to celebrate cancer survivors and remember those lost to the disease. Desoto County residents who participated in the event raised nearly $60,000 for cancer re-

ancorpSouth Arena was home to the 11th Annual Father/ Daughter Gumtree Ball on June 22. The Ties and Tiaras themed ball was a special evening for dads and their daughters complete with live and silent auctions, which included Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift concert tickets; dancing; food provided by Bishop’s BBQ; and professional portraits, offered by J & B Childress Portrait Art of Memphis. This year’s event had a record attendance, with 850 guests present. Nearly $50,000 in proceeds went directly to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

Rachel and Iyonia Boyce

Dano, Baylor and Brandy Napoli Jamie Young, Heather Clinkenbeard and Michaela Wilson

Jasmine Glenn, Destinee Holton, Tearney Booker

search and awareness. Photos by ROBERT LONG

50 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

Deborah Speer, Brooke Wilson, Jody Merrill and Kristen Cook

parties Creature Comforts of Memphis Susan,Mary and DooDad

Ivan and Erik Lizzy and Paula Lambert

Bike the Planet Amy, Louise, Mel, Al and Phil

Hawaian Shaved Ice

Colton and Spencer

“Bark After Dark” Bike Ride and Glow Bash

T

he Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County

Dr Zarr and Funk Monsters

hosted its “Bark After Dark” Bike Ride and Glow Bash on July 12 at Shelby Farms in Memphis. The

event raised approximately $15,000 to support the Humane Society’s mission of providing food, shelter and medical care for neglected and injured animals. Nearly 300 riders were encouraged to adorn themselves with all kinds of glowing gear as they rode through the park. As the ride ended back at the Humane Society, guests were treated to a glowing gala complete with beer from Yazoo Brewing Company in Nashville, pizza from several local restaurants and the live musical styling of Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster. Photos by ROBBIN CARNELL

Tom, Susan an

d Sherrie

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 51

parties Cindy Neal and Hattie

Brent & Emily Wightman and Memphis

Bobby Tomer and Mack

David Bacham and Fred Poindexter Kristy Armstrong, Jim Bryant, Mike Bryant and Brett Gower

Charles & Belinda Dwyer, Jimmie Lee Neal and Emillie Dwyer

Andy White, ToddBrown, ColeTrim, Capt. Steve Jackson and Chaplain Dennis Doughty

son

dam Jamer

merson, A

Ja e, Meredith Wesley Tic k ic er ll Fred and Randa

Shooting for Independence S

hooting for Independence, a fundraiser presented by Retrieving Freedom, Inc. and sponsored by Caesars Entertainment Group, was held Saturday, June 22 at Willows Sporting Clays in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi. 15 teams participated in the fundraiser, which raised approximately $8,000 to support Retrieving Freedom, Inc.’s mission of providing trained service dogs for wounded veterans and children with

autism. Photos by KRISTENA SAXTON

52 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

parties

The Pediatric Amtrykes Bike Day Event Anthony Whitehead and Maegan Elliott

Chrystal, Zachary , Lakyn, LeRoy, an d Joriah Goldman an d Barbra Moore

Adam Olson and Ryan Mooneyham

Crystal Harmon and Amy Hayes

Square Cupboard Birthday Bash

T

he Pediatric Amtrykes of North Mississippi is a local chapter of AMBUCS, a nonprofit organization that works to “create mobility and independence for people with disabilities.” On June 15, children and their families were invited to the Pediatric Amtrykes of North Mississippi’s very first Bike Day at Snowden Grove Park. The event was designed to provide children who are unable to ride a traditional bicycle the opportunity to meet with a therapist and learn about AMBUCS and their Amtryke Therapeutic Tricycle Program, which helps to provide those children with a bicycle of their own. The event helped raise $8,600 so that the bikes may be offered at no cost to the families.

Photos by APRIL FORD BEASLEY

Karla and Kenneth Stockton

O

n July 26, The Square Cupboard in Hernando hosted their fifth birthday party.

Customers, friends, and employees gathered together to celebrate the store’s success and to enjoy some delicious hors d’oeuvres provid-

Doris Smith, Linda Whitley, Jamie Sm ith and Kacey Smith

ed by Buon Cibo. Photos by MAGGIE VINZANT

Jeannette Myers, Jamie Smith, Lyla McAlexander and Jamie Sowell

Sam Lauderdale and Paula Lauderdale

ClairePegram (Cake baker)

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 53

54 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

parties

St. Jude

Trike-A-Thon

Ava Adam

O

Aubrey

n June 28, Kaco’s Kids Childcare in Hernando participated in St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s

Trike-A-Thon event. The event, designed as a fundraiser for the research hospital as well as a teaching tool on rider safety for children and parents, was hosted by Kaco’s Kids on behalf of one of their students, Carly Wright, a patient at St. Jude. Family and friends managed to raise $1,600 at the event, with all proceeds going directly to the hospital.

Caylee and Lola

Photos by KRISTENA SAXTON

Claire

S T E P I N TO FA L L

“Savvy Style!”

2 5 2 1 C a f fey S t . | H e r n a n d o, M i s s i s s i p p i 3 8 6 3 2 | 6 6 2 . 2 9 8 . 3 4 9 3 |

Like us on Facebook and follow us on

S u m t h i n S av v y B o u t i q u e

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myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 55

Jerry Sales, Susan and Jayson Fernandez Brenda Orozco & Jessica Raggett

20th Anniversary

James Bond Casino Night

O

n July 19, the Horn Lake Chamber of Commerce hosted its 20th Anniversary James Bond Casino Night, where over $2,500 was raised to help benefit the Horn Lake City Chamber. More than 120 people attended the gala, provided by Hicks Convention. Entertainment included live music from The Rhapsody Trio, light gaming and various shaken (not stirred) libations for guests to enjoy.

Outstanding Chamber members were recognized and 100 local businesses donated prizes for the event, while Butterflies Florist provided beautiful flowers for the guests.

Allen Latimer, Barbara Phillips,

Angie Huffman and Sib Swatzyn

a

Photos by CASEY HILDER

Cassie Smith and Charlie Shearon

Deana Fontenot and Treva Lloyd

56 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

Christa Montella and Tom Coons

Hunter Strohm and Stephanie Morrison

Dana Young Alvarez and Brenda Orozco

Larry Ryan and Varina Hopper

parties

Jayson and Catherine Scott Chelsea and Charlie Roberts

ering Now off y r tu Sa da ! ents tm in o p p a

Leon Martin, P. Carson Culver and Varina Hopper

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parties Richard, Susan, Jamilyn and MaryCate

Amos and Cassandra Rose, Claudia and Jamie

n

William and Ia

Shataya, Yevette, Reshmee and Lethelea

Ernie and Kim

16th Annual

Sports Ball T

his year’s annual Sports Ball benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis was held on July 20 at Minglewood Hall. The event drew hundreds of partygoers dressed in suits

and dresses, and most paired with tennis shoes, a Sports Ball tradition.

Attendees were treated to casino games like roulette and blackjack, as well as an impressive auction with prizes that ran the gamut from expensive wines, Stax memorabilia and front row Grizzlies tickets, to an up close NASCAR experience and a week-long vacation in a California vineyard. The night also included drinks, dinner and dancing, all in the name of raising funds for the programs of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis. Photos by ROBBIN CARNELL Fran and Brittany

58 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

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parties

“Summertime

in France”

Colleen Depete and Jose Gutierrez

wine dinner at River Oaks

R

iver Oaks restaurant in East Memphis hosted a night of fine wine and elegant dining prepared by Master Chef José Gutierrez on August 14. In addition to a number of French wines personally selected by Chef Gutierrez, guests were treated to a number of delectable delicacies including Wild mushroom, ham and Gruyère crêpes and Beef filet with Béarnaise Pomme Pont Neuf. Photos by CASEY HILDER

Richard and Lisa Duerr, Geor

ge and Robin Chandler

Celeste Futris and Mike Baker

Charles Warner and Marne Anderson

Kim Buhr, Kim Parrish and Jill Truitt

60 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

Devin Culpepper and Colleen Depete

Rene Koopman

Gene and Virginia Mathis

Hal and Jean Le wis

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 61

causes

causes

Tour de Kroc

The Salvation Army’s recently established Kroc Center in Memphis provides a recreational respite during the sweltering summer season.

J

Joan Kroc’s vision was in healing people. So much so that those on the receiving end of her humanitarian efforts have come to refer to the late widow of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc as “Angel.” This philanthropic drive was never more apparent than when she donated $1.5 billion to the Salvation Army in 2002 to build Kroc Centers all around the world, including a facility in Memphis that opened its doors this past February.

Joan’s donation has since been revered as the largest one-time gift from an individual to an organization on record. With just a few caveats regarding how the money should be spent, she instated specific requirements on how the centers were to be set up, chief among those being that the community centers be placed in the heart of each city. The Bluff City’s new Kroc Center is located at 800 East Parkway South. Nestled at the focal point of the Bluff City, the center is impossible to miss.

Kroc Centers are sprawling community hubs that offer parks and recreational services, as well as worship services. They are able to raise matching funds and be self-supporting so as not to distract from the critical areas of focus for the Salvation Army, which 62 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

Story By SAMANTHA ESGRO includes a myriad of disaster relief efforts.

“She saw the comfort brought by that kind of care and trusted the Army to do it,” says Ellen Westbrook, public relations manager for the Memphis Kroc Center. The Kroc Center is only one of the four centers of Salvation Army operations in Memphis.

Kroc-goers are, upon entry, greeted with an open lobby featuring tile floors, high ceilings and expansive windows that expose a courtyard featuring a stone fountain, lush shrub-

“Each of the Kroc Centers includes something unique to that city.” bery and tables arranged in a fashion that can only be described as “zen.” This courtyard was donated by the Wilson family, who is revered across Memphis due to their School of Hospitality and Restaurant Management, as well as their ownership of Holiday Inn. Continuing on the tour de Kroc Center, the next stop is the theater. This theater was donated by local philanthropist Nancy Crosby’s son and daughter-in-law, who decided to do

so because of Crosby’s talent for singing.

Crosby was a member of the Kroc Center’s advisory board and passed away during the construction of the community building. “When things would get stressful in meetings, she would just sing!” says Westbrook of Nancy’s legend. “That’s the reason they particularly wanted to name the performing arts center in her honor.”

Just outside the theater, a long hallway of classrooms extends throughout the facility. There are numerous classes taught in each room, including continuing education for seniors, book clubs, corporate meetings and an art studio. The art studio is dedicated to Steve Nelson, a retired city planner who helped with the Kroc Center’s planning and permitting, and now paints in his retirement. This visual arts program includes not only Nelson’s interest of painting but also drawing and assembling pottery.

At the end of the hallway of classrooms is the Kroc Café. The cafe is run by Chef Quan Anderson, who has a degree in culinary arts and Christian education. The kitchen is set up to be a teachable environment and provides cooking classes

causes for all ages and interests. There are classes for parents and their children, including instruction in healthy cooking and quick cooking. “My work as a minister and culinary background collaborated with the center as to what God already had pre-ordained,” Chef Anderson says. Before working at the Kroc Center, Anderson worked at a number of extravagant hotels like the Peabody and hotels in New York, but he recently finished a biblical cook book for children. “I took everything from the Bible and put recipes to it,” he says.

Westbrook points to the pool area and laughs. “It’s more of a water park,” says Westbrook. Each area of the pool is usu-

ally occupied by toddlers clad in floaties, splashing about the shallow area; children running free around the slap pads and spray tower; adults making their laps in lanes; and lifeguards actively on duty. The only thing necessary before joining the Assisi Foundation-donated fun is to sign up for a swimming activity offered by the Kroc Center and taking note of the general safety rules on its website. “Calling it a ‘pool’ is a bit of an understatement,” muses Westbrook.

Next was the fitness center, the home of more than 70 fitness classes and two free hours of child care for every member.

The gym equipment is all smartphone activated, meaning the days of awkwardly myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 63

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standing around foreign equipment are over. “Each of the Kroc Centers includes something unique to that city and only Memphis has the AutoZone Challenge Center,” Westbrook says. This center is built specifically for interactive training.

With an obstacle course that includes ladders and quick-step challenges, as well as foam pits and hoops to jump through and over, this center definitely presents many challenges for people of all ages to enjoy.

The next stop is the sports center, which features an NBA-sized basketball court that can be rented as a section or a whole; an indoor turf for soccer or lacrosse; and along the right-hand wall, a garage band setup designed to showcase

the unmistakable musical talents of Bluff City denizens and offer nights of various stylings.

Lastly is the 1st Tennessee Lobby, a space immediately outside the courts and garage band area that can be reserved for camps or meetings. “This is an award area as well, to recognize not only the winners but if they were a good sport, they get their picture across the screen, as well,” Westbrook says, as a camp of children stomps through chanting, “march, march, march.”

Memphis is only one of the many cities with a Kroc Center. They are located in more than 120 countries across the world and have a noted presence in locales like Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco.

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Family Medical Clinic of North Mississippi is proud to announce the addition of:

Dr. Brian Bagwell

Board Certified in Family Medicine Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Dr. Bagwell, a native of Pearl, MS, is an experienced and award-winning physician who has been practicing in northeast Mississippi for the past several years.

Robert Skinner, D.O. Brian Bagwell, D.O. Julie Carpenter, M.D. Jerry McLarty, F.N.P. Tracey Mays, F.N.P. Beverly Weaver, F.N.P. Casey Nester, F.N.P. Nicole Payne, F.N.P.

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66 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

He is accepting new Medicare patients and participates in most commercial insurance plans.

For an appointment with Dr. Bagwell or any of the medical providers at Family Medical Clinic, please call 662-890-5555.

www.fmcnms.com

3451 Goodman Road East | Suite 115 Southaven, MS 38672 | 662-890-5555

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 67

at home

of

Hoof and Home After a day in the pasture, the Feathers family cozies up in this eclectic ranch and rodeo homestead.

Story By CARA SIEVERS

68 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

at home

T

Homeowner and interior designer Lynn Feathers

ucked neatly between Collierville, Tennessee and Olive Branch, Mississippi, this North Mississippi compound is comprised of eight acres; a horse barn; a covered tractor and trailer garage; a work and tool room; and a beautiful, inviting home with more than 3,500 square feet of living space. Equestrian enthusiasts Lynn and Ralph Feathers built the home in 2006 with Lynn drawing up her own plans, managing most of the construction, and then designing the home inside and out. "I have had several offers to buy my plans, but I really like that no one else has these plans," explains Lynn Feathers. "We like to entertain and I put the biggest square footage into the entertainment core of the house."

Feathers, who has been an interior designer for decades and went into business for herself in 1991, owns her own decor shop called Designer Fabrics, Gifts & Accessories, which recently moved from Collierville to Olive Branch. Through shopping for her store, decorating for clients, and visiting antiques dealers and auctions all over the country, Feathers has amassed an eclectic array of fabrics, fixtures and conversation pieces for her home.

And there's no denying the heavy-handed horse theme in the home's dĂŠcor. "We are horse people, owning three at this time, one being our family pet, Hammer, who is 33 years old. I have ridden horses my whole life and owned them since I was eight, so needless to say, I'm a bit horse-crazy and horseracing-crazy." She and her husband also produce two very large barrel races in Jackson, Mississippi every year, drawing more than 700 contestants each show. Their show, The All American Youth Barrel Race, is the secondlargest youth show in the country, second only to the Youth World Championships.

Guests who use the "friends' entry" of the home are greeted with the horse theme immediately.

A quote stenciled on the foyer wall leading into the main living area reads, "The Wind of Heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears!" In the main living space, one will find the Feathers' collection of horseracing paintings, plates and prints, the majority of which are from a famous horseracing artist, Fred Stone, and feature famous horses such as Secretariat, Man-o-War, Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. Over the fireplace hangs a special painting of a rodeo clown by Collierville artist Honey Shaw. The painting, which was given to the couple as a wedding gift, is of Ralph Feathers, who worked as a rodeo clown all over the Southeast.

And in the corner of the living room stands one of the home's most special pieces—an antique

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 69

carousel horse from the Houston Astro World Carousel. This hand-painted wooden horse came complete with some of copper fittings that tied into the mechanism that lifted the horses up and down. "I actually lucked up on it from a client of mine who had purchased it for her home sight unseen, and then decided that it was too big for her space," explains Feathers.

"Lucky for me, my room was big enough and my ceilings high enough, and it is a perfect addition to the room. I call her ‘Happy’ because just two months before I acquired it, I had a beautiful gray barrel horse named, ‘Happy Blue Magnolia,’ who died of West Nile Disease. The carousel horse holds a very special memory for me."

All horsing around aside, the home's living room is a study in the use of vivacious colors, prints and finishes that work together to create a unique and cohesive gathering place that is warm and welcoming. From the crisp green on the walls; to the cedar beams; to the heart of pine plank floors; to the collage of plaid, floral and brocade fabrics, this room's expert assemblage of materials is what gives it a cozy, country homestead aura.

Adding to the farmhouse feel are the expansive French doors surrounding the den. Six sets of eight-panel double French doors open onto the porches, which are 12 feet deep all around.

The additional outdoor living space, combined with the open floor plan of the home, greatly augments and enhances the den. "I love that I can stand at my cook-top in my kitchen, and with all the doors and windows, I have a 180-degree view of our yard and pasture," says Feathers.

The French country kitchen combines classic maple and distressed black lacquer cabinetry, a light granite countertop, oil-rubbed bronze fixtures and a cavernous farmhouse sink. The lighting in the kitchen is a real standout, featuring two gorgeous iron pendant lights from Deshields Lighting in Collierville. Off the kitchen is a breakfast area that seats eight and it doubles as a dining room for this casual, laidback family.

After a meal, Feathers often can be found in her piano room with her player baby grand atop a striking zebra rug. She took piano lessons as a child and is trying to learn again, but mostly, this room serves as a kitschy little parlor for relaxing. The piano room's centerpiece is an 1860s Italian sideboard that Feathers bought at an antique auction. She cut the top of the buffet and installed a copper sink to convert the piece into a beverage center. "I think the feeling of this home is casual, interesting and welcoming, but most importantly, filled with representation of the things we love and that have molded us into who we are," says Feathers. "And, best of all, it's livable. We can come in from the barn, put our feet up on the stone top of the cocktail table, and enjoy our view of the horses."

70 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

at home

1

6

5

2 1. In the foyer, a hand-painted screen by Sheryl Hibbs of Collierville compliments the homeowner’s favorite quote stenciled on the wall. 2. The home’s deep country porches invite visitors to relax.

3. A Remington Bronze and assorted decanters accent the piano room’s 1860s Italian sideboard.

4. No house is a farmhouse without a classic farmhouse sink.

5. Mixed-finish cabinetry and unique pendant lamps add to the eclectic décor. 6. The quaint and cozy dining area looks out onto the pasture.

3

4 myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 71

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74 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

The lovely life of

JOHN RUSKEY Clarksdale’s own Huck Finn shares the Mississippi with the world Story By DOUG GILLON | Photos By CASEY HILDER

76 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

feature

H

It’s February 1983 in the middle of the Mississippi River and John Ruskey is about to die over a game of chess.

is opponent is his best friend, Sean Howe, and yet despite being on a homemade raft in the middle of the largest, most powerful and, perhaps, most dangerous river in North America, the duo are not presently concerned with navigation. They have passed through the treacherous bridge supports outside Memphis with no problem. The river is currently a mile wide. No reason to watch the water. “A mile wide-river!” Ruskey remembers.

“How are you going to hit anything in a mile-wide river?

But we did.”

Ruskey and Howe had forgotten about a 350-foot tower right in the middle of that mile-wide river. Distracted by the game, they ran right into it. The raft disintegrated. Ruskey was thrown to one side of the tower, Howe to the other.

The two drifted several hundred yards in the freezing water with no raft, no plan and no chance. “Eventually we pulled together some pieces and recovered some items,” Ruskey remembers. “We hung on for dear life and were lucky enough to float down to an island.”

There they landed, exhausted, dripping and hypothermic. They were stuck on a muddy island with no food or water, and night fast approaching. It was Ruskey’s first time in Mississippi. “Lord knows how we survived that night. It was a horrible night.

We both probably should have died. You can get crazy when you’re hypothermic — removing clothes and other things.” In the cold and in the dark, Ruskey made a deal. “I said to the river,” he says, “get me through this night and I will dedicate my life to the river. It was kind of a marriage proposal of sorts.”

It was an accepted one that brought the Coast Guard the next morning. Ruskey got another day and the river got the Quapaw Canoe Company. It’s what Ruskey calls a “mission-based” business. That mission being to showcase the Mighty Mississippi in all its glory. There, from their twobuilding headquarters in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi, Ruskey and his Quapaws, Mark “River” Peoples and Chris “Wolfie” Scaudinger, shine a spotlight on North America’s most famous winding waterway.

The Quapaws Ruskey is skinny, of average-height, and carries a shaggy

salt-and-pepper mane matched with a two-inch beard. He’s soft-spoken but not shy, and there’s a lot of Lebowski in his mannerisms. “Wolfie” is taller, his long hair and beard a bright red. “River” is short and stocky; clean-shaven with twists.

Their origins are as varied as their appearances. Wolfie came to Quapaw from Boston College, and before that, New Orleans. River came from St. Louis after a New Yorkbased NFL stint. The headquarters is a bohemian mix of, well, everything. Wolfie and River live in what used to be a bar called ‘The River’s Edge,’ above what was Ruskey’s first Clarksdale apartment. The River’s Edge used to keep Ruskey awake at night, and sent water and sewage running into his apartment. Now it houses his employees.

Not a ton of effort has been made to remove what remains of the club. Wolfie sleeps on the old bandstand, where he has dragged a mattress into a king-size tent. Around the tent are white paintings of jovial stick figures, modern cave art surrounding Wolfie’s sanctuary. The bar is still intact with its background mirror and liquor shelves, and light fixtures have been adorned with driftwood.

Next to the River’s Edge is the main building. Outside sits a massive log. It was brought there by the Levee Board as material for the next hollowed-out Quapaw canoe.

It will be there for a while.

The last hollowed-out canoe took three years to build. Inside there is a showroom, an apartment and two workshops. One is musty and open; the other is small and immaculate. It is in these workshops that the Quapaws build their voyager canoes with a modern meld of craftsmanship and technology, of wood and Kevlar that takes the better part of a year to complete.

And then there’s the basement, where all the elements of Ruskey hang out. Shelves of books crisscross the middle of a room lined with guitars, driftwood and canoeing gear.

And they circle a small office with a neat stack of release forms and other business items that are certainly out-ofplace within the other controlled chaos.

Here, they lead canoe tours 200 days out of the year, in addition to workshops for ecological education; camps for local kids; and their latest project, the River Gator, an interactive guide to the lower Mississippi. A popular 1800s book, the Navigator, written by Czech immigrant Zadok Cramer, inspired River Gator. It was the first full guide to the lower myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 77

feature Mississippi, made to educate folks utilizing this new steamboat technology that was all the rage back then. River Gator is an interactive update in the same spirit but for paddling adventurers. And this is the base from which Ruskey, Wolfie and River live in a world surrounded by flowing water. Bring up the movies and you won’t hear about Iron Man 3 or Man of Steel. No, it’s Mud, about a former criminal living on the river — that’s what they’ll drive to Memphis to see. The books all have a purpose; kayaking, canoeing, wilderness guides, and of course, Huckleberry Finn is required reading.

From Colorado to Clarksdale The Twain emphasis is Ruskey’s fascination and possibly obsession. Huck and Jim’s story inspired Ruskey and Howe to get on that raft in the first place. Ruskey was an 18-year-old kid from Colorado finishing his degree in Connecticut at a prestigious

78 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

college prep school. But he wasn’t too interested in college. Instead, he and Howe packed some tools and hitchhiked to Minnesota, to the mouth of the Mississippi. “It wasn’t just about Twain,” Ruskey says, “I always liked water and maps. That big, blue curvy line spoke to me. But Sean and I did want to live like Jim and Huck for a while.”

And so they did. Two kids with some tools and a high school education found a spot on a sand bar behind a local bar. There, they spent two weeks gathering scrap from dumpsters and construction sites, eventually assembling a 12’x24’ raft that would be their transportation, safety and home for the next five months.

That’s how long it took to crash in Memphis. The act of building the raft doesn’t strike Ruskey as that unique. He cites a recent tour where some children, uninterested in lunch, stayed by the bank of island 62 (creatively named by Cramer) to collect driftwood. While the adults ate, the chil-

dren gathered more wood and eventually fashioned a makeshift raft. “They didn’t have any training or anything,” River says of the kids. “And the thing floated pretty good.”

“Rafting’s just in our blood,” Ruskie replies. After the wreck, Ruskey “just kind of floated around North America” for a few years. He hitchhiked, played street music, climbed every mountain he could find and swam in every river. Eventually, he landed at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and left a few years later with a degree in Philosophy and Math.

Then, in 1992, he came to Clarksdale — not for the river though, at least not yet.

“I came specifically to Clarksdale to learn to play the Blues,” he says. He apprenticed with a Blues musician named Mr. Johnny and volunteered at the Delta Blues Museum. Within a year, he was the named curator of the museum and became a staple player in town, appearing with sev-

feature eral bands, including one led by Mississippi Junebug. But eventually the river called. In 1998, Ruskey left the museum and started Quapaw. The river had given him more than just one day and he needed to repay that kindness.

Beautiful and Full of Life Ruskey calls Quapaw a “mission-based business” and that mission is “to share the beauty of the river.” That’s a tall order for the lower portion. In the two biggest cities in that section, Memphis and New Orleans, the common knowledge is plain. Stay out of that disgusting death trap.

Massive catfish, terrifying Garr, weird currents, boils and eddies, chiggers, snakes, poisonous everything, sewage and sludge, massive towboats and whatever else will make you sick, make you drown, make you die. “We don’t ignore the trash or the towboats or the danger,” Ruskey says. “It’s the most deadly river in North America by some statistics but those same statistics show that a lot of those deaths are from steamboat accidents or motorboat accidents involving alcohol.”

But it’s still kind of gross right? “We don’t ignore the trash or the towboats or the mud.

It’s some of the gooiest, awfulest mud in

America,” Ruskey says. “But it’s not ugly, it’s not a ditch and it’s not a trashed-out waterway. It’s beautiful and full of life.” Ruskey cites how he and his team often find mussel shells, a bottom-feeder indicative of a healthy water system, and he puts blame on city planning for some of the nastiness perception.

“In Memphis, you’ve got two sewage treatment plants—one above the city and one below President’s island,” he says. “And the one above the city brings that smell into two of the most visited Mississippi River Parks in the country at Mud Island and Riverside drive. So you have millions of people walking away thinking that’s what the Mississippi smells like.” And that’s a shame because, to Ruskey, the river doesn’t smell like that, it doesn’t feel like that, it doesn’t kill like that.

“It’s kind of like climbing the big mountain,” he says, “and when you go on a big climb you wouldn’t climb without some previous climbing experience and the right equipment. If you don’t know how to climb and tie knots, then you’d be a fool. It’s the same thing for someone to think they can get on the Mississippi in an inner tube with some beers. You do and you’re not coming out.”

Experience, preparation, the right vessel and the right equipment — those are Ruskey’s pillars of river safety, and it’s what he and his Quapaws provide to people on their tours. Because looking scared from the Memphis bank just doesn’t

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 79

feature

“I try not to do too much talking unless someone asks me a question. I try to let the river do the talking. That way people can let the river speak to them in their own way.”

80 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

feature work for Ruskey.

“The best way to let someone experience what’s out there is in a kayak or a canoe and with a paddle in their hand,” Ruskey says. “I try not to do too much talking unless someone asks me a question. I try to let the river do the talking.

That way people can let the river speak to them in their own way. All we do is just get the people to the right spots.”

The right spots are places like Quapaw landing, where Ruskey usually starts his trips and for which the company is named. They are places like the levee break on island 63, where a visible waterline streaks across the willow trees, explaining the knee-deep mud that served as a Mississippi river bottom not long before. They are places like the blue hole just south of island 63, were the water jumped the levee and crashed down on the other side, leaving a kind of green mini pond.

The right spot is on the other side of an eddy, up a small inlet where dropping willow seeds look like snow in July. The right spot is a submerged willow canopy where Herons glide in and out. The right spot is especially island 64, a hulking mass of sand, mud and trees that looks as though another living person has never seen it. The banks are long and sand sinks to the calves. Further up the island, the ground is firmer, the shade darker and it is Ruskey’s favorite place to camp.

This is Ruskie’s home away from home, his most special place that he has the privilege of sharing with dozens of people every year. “When you show them that, when you let them see it, they have their own experience. Ninety-five percent of the people we take out return back to shore glowing with enthusiasm from this intimate outdoor experience.”

The experience is more intimate than they know. In 1999, the extra days granted to his raft mate, chess nemesis, cosurvivor and best friend, Sean Howe, ran out. Ruskey made a special trip to island 64, and brought with him a driftwood plaque that read, “UTRAM BIBIS? ANDAM UN ANDAM?” It means, “Of which do you drink? Water or wave?”

He spread Howe’s ashes in off the bank, keeping him forever with the water, which, if you’re looking, is also where you’ll find Ruskey.

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 81

82 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

15th Annual

Spirit of SRVS

Thank you to our sponsors, donors and volunteers for a successful event and your support of people with disabilities.

Presenting Sponsors Hilton Memphis West TN Crown Distributing, Co. Diamond Sponsors First Tennessee Foundation Platinum Sponsors American Snuff BlueCross BlueShield of TN Guardian Healthcare Providers, Inc. Gold Sponsors Dobbs Management Services Entira Express Scripts Playhouse on the Square State Systems, Inc. Wanda and John Barzizza Silver Sponsors

Anthony, Jeany & Miller Dionne, Armstrong Relocation, Christy and Jason Yarbro, Elsie and Gaylon Booker, Gaylord Entertainment Foundation, Helen Gilbert, Kim and Byrne Whitehead, Kirby and Glenn Floyd, Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance, Marty Regan, Mike Harless, Nancy and Greg Grinder, Patty and Mickey Brigance, Pharm Care, Inc., Rick Campbell, Sarah and Dr. Frank Ognibene, Sue and Ed Clark, Wells Fargo Advisors, Inc.

Bronze Sponsors

Cummins Business Services, Fleet One, Fred’s, General Truck Sales & Service, Harvey Middleton, Jeffrie and Allen Bruton, Mark Parker–UBS Wealth Management, Master Design, Paramount Uniform, Paulsen Printing, Reynolds, Bone & Griesbeck, Trustmark Bank myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 83

Fall

FASHION F O R E C A S T A definitive shopping guide featuring must-have looks from the MidSouth’s Best sources.

Models: Elizabeth Burke, Lacey Cortez, Kaitlyn Stoddard Photography: Rupert Yen Make-up: Dominique Chaney of Mystique Make-Up Stylists: Michael Lopez, Hallie McKay Hair: Jennifer Daniels and Nichole Ridings of Gould’s Day Spa & Salon Peabody and Larry Delancey of Hi Gorgeous Inc. Special thanks to Dean Deyo and the Memphis Music Foundation as well as Tom Archer of Archer Construction and John Jones, architect for allowing us to use their facilities to shoot our fall fashion spread.

84 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

style

style

Blouse and leather shorts Janie Rose Boutique, boots On A Whim

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 85

style

Coat Center Stage Fashions, top and wedge boots Janie Rose Boutique, jeans Sugar Plum Consignments

86 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

style

style

Necklace On A Whim, Sweater More Therapy, leather pants Lola B. Boutique, black wedges Lori James

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 87

style

88 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

F O R E C A S T

Dress Pink Zinnia, clutch The Bunker, Necklace Chocolat at La Maison

FASHION

style

style

style

TOP LEFT: Leopard print dress, necklace Past & Presents Collective Boutique; BOTTOM RIGHT: Sweater The Bunker, dress Ivory Closet, clutch Janie Rose Boutique, necklace Lola B. Boutique

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 89

feature style

style

Tunic and necklace Chocolat at La Maison, pants Lola B. Boutique, booties Sugar Plum Consignments 90 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

Sweatshirt and sneaker wedges Janie Rose Boutique, shorts Pink Zinnia

style

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 91

92 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

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myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 93

style

the EXTRAS Even more standout pieces from our fall fashion shoot including top trends, comfy knits, cool jewelry, shoes and more!

Dress Lori James

Necklace Center Stage Silver tote Keepsakes by Melony

Ankle boots Center Stage 94 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

rocker

style Legging with leather strip On A Whim

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Fall’s moto-inspired jackets are sleek and chic paired with skinny jeans, pumps, a rocker tee or worn over a summery dress. Studded details also give off a cool-girl vibe fall shoes, bags and more.

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Cross tee The Bunker

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Bag Keepsakes by Melony

Jeans Sugar Plum Consignments Boots Sugar Plum Consignments

Blouse On A Whim

Cuff Paisley Pineapple myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 95

style

chunky

KNITS Cozy pullovers are fall’s most versatile piece of clothing. Dress it up or dress it down- they work with pretty much anything.

Black sweater with blue polka dots Upstairs Closet

Sweater with bronze studs On A Whim

Navy, tan and red sweater with gold threads Keepsakes

by Melony Grey sweater with blue stars Paisley Pineapple

Grey and red sweater Center Stage Fashions

Striped Sweater Upstairs Closet

96 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

Sequin Sweater Upstairs Closet

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PLAID Tartan dresses, jackets and separates with this timeless pattern are on-trend for fall.

Tie-front blouse Lori James

Jeans Sugar Plum Consignments

Rain boots Chocolat a La Maison myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 97

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KIDS’ FASHION COOL CLOTHES FOR BUSY BOYS AND GIRLS

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Madison dress and vest Jack Anna Beanstalk, boots Stella Ivy Boutique Grayson sweater, shirt, and pants Jack Anna Beanstalk, leopard flats Little Feet, headband The Bunker Mary Britton sweater dress and vest Jack Anna Beanstalk, boots Keepsakes by Melony

Photography by LISA CHAPMAN and DETRIC STANCIEL | Styled by JAMIE SOWELL Models MADISON SOWELL, GRAYSON BOLAND, MARY BRITTON FAULKNER, BRIDGERS FAULKNER, ANNA HOLLIS FAULKNER, ANNA THOMAS PATE, ELLA JACOBS myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 101

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Anna Thomas Paisly dress Special Daze, green hair bow Special Daze, boots Little Feet Anna Hollis Paisly top and ruffle pants Special Daze, multicolor hairbow Special Daze, silver bird shoes Little Feet

Ella sweater dress, red leggings and black flat shoes Cotton Tails

Bridgers tractor shirt and brown corduroy pants Jack Anna Beanstalk, tan shoes Little Feet

Madison Scarf Sumthin Savvy, Top Stella Ivy Boutique, boots Janie Rose Boutique 102 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

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Hats Jack Anna Beanstalk Anna Thomas Jelly the Pug Dress Special Daze Anna Hollis Jelly the Pug outfit Special Daze, yellow hairbow Special Daze Ella Jelly the Pug dress Special Daze, white leggings Little Feet

Anna Hollis sweater dress with bows Cotton Tails, pink hat with bow Cotton Tails

myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 103

feature Bridgers green button up shirt Special Daze, khaki pants, blue long sleeve tshirt, hat Jack Anna Beanstalk, shoes Little Feet

Madison cream long sleeve shirt and pants Jack Anna Beanstalk, headband The Bunker, necklace Keepsakes by Melony, boots Stella Ivy Boutique Mary Britton shirt, sweater, and pants Jack Anna Beanstalk, leopard flats Little Feet, headband The Bunker

Ella stripped shirt, corduroy pants, blue headband Little Feet Mary Britton cheveron dress, polka dot leggings, blue hair bow, boots Little Feet

104 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

feature Bridgers blue button front coat, khaki pants, hat Jack Anna Beanstalk, shoes Little Feet

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On a Whim

9067 Poplar Ave. Ste. 101 Germantown, 901.751.0091

Paisley Pineapple

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6515 Goodman Rd. #2 Olive Branch, 662.895.2111

Cotton Tails

Past & Presents Collective Boutique

397 Perkins Extended, Memphis, TN 38117 901.685.8417, cotton-tails.com

The Ivory Closet

103 Harbor Town Square Memphis, 901.527.9538

Jack Anna Beanstalk

2556 Hwy. 51 S., Hernando, MS 6515 Goodman Rd., Ste. 5, Olive Branch, MS 662.298.3673, jackannabeanstalk.com

Janie Rose Boutique

5627 Getwell Rd. Ste. A10, Southaven 662.510.5577, janieroseboutique.com

Keepsakes by Melony

2070 Clifton Rd, Hernando 662.429.7029

Little Feet

5847 Getwell Rd., Ste. A8, Southaven, MS 662.510.5015

Lola B. Boutique

5847 Getwell A9, Southaven 662.253.8081, lolabb.com

307 W. Poplar Ave., Collierville 901.853.6454 pastandpresentsonline.com

The Pink Zinnia

134 W. Commerce St. Hernando, 662.449.5533

Special Daze

134 Norfleet Dr., Senatobia, MS 662.562.6987

Stella Ivy Boutique

3845 Goodman Rd. E. Southaven, stellaivyboutique.com

Sugar Plum Consignments

6100 Primacy Parkway, Memphis 901.763.7799, sugarplumconsign.com

Sumthin Savvy

2521 Caffey St., Hernando 662.298.3493 sumthinsavvyboutique.com

Upstairs Closet

136 Norfleet Dr. Senatobia, 662.562.4294

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REBEL…

REBEL….

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EVOLVING CULTURE OF SOUTHERN ROADS AND RIDES Story By TONYA THOMPSON

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After the helmets come off, Rita Pfeifer, a local nurse practitioner and former Air Force flight nurse, is all smiles. The ride between Memphis and Sardis took longer than expected on the back roads, but this cyclist-turned-motorcyclist stretches her legs in front of TriBecca Allie Café, chatting excitedly about the unseasonably cool day and the tempting smell of pizza coming out of the small restaurant. “I just bought this bike last November,” she says. “It took me months to build my [riding] skills and confidence enough just to get out of my neighborhood. Now I want a bigger bike — I want to do some touring.”

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motorcycle

Rita, like most new motorcyclists, has encountered driving challenges that are never considered while piloting a car. On two wheels, there are no seat belts or protective layers of metal to protect you from the inevitable dangers on the road. Raw instinct is the only life preserver, so you have to learn to trust it (again); all while in the middle of the action — smelling it, tasting it — not just driving past it. It’s a lot to take in at once. “Learning to ride a motorcycle at my age is a huge mental challenge because I don’t have the fearlessness of a 20 year old,” she says, while easily passing for 20 years younger than the birthdate on

her driver’s license. While Pfeifer agrees that the willingness to take risks is one of the contributing factors to her own fountain of youth, she admits that it’s something to approach cautiously.

“I know the risks in riding and it involves much more skill and precision than I ever imagined.”

Pfeifer is one of a growing number of MidSoutherners, women included, who have fallen in love with motorcycling the area. It’s a love that draws motorcyclists from every walk of life to ride across the MidSouth, on bikes ranging from a fully-restored 1919 Harley Davidson to a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 that can go 0-100 myclickmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2013 109

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Photo by Jimmy Hill

mph in 4.8 seconds. So what’s behind the motorcycling craze and who are the people riding? What you don’t know might surprise you.

The face of motorcycling is changing.

The stereotypical motorcycle rider is disappearing, as an increasing number of people from all occupations and life stories gravitate toward two wheels. And it’s easy to get hooked. Once you ride a motorcycle, all other vehicles feel like cages, prompting the term “cagers” among motorcyclists for anyone not on a bike. However, ask any rider why they do it — what got them into motorcycling in the first place — and you’re likely to get one of four answers.

For some, it’s about the thrill. In a day-to-day grind consisting of locked doors, cautionary steps and safety belts, it’s no wonder people seek ways to balance the scales a little, to take some risks.

For some, it’s about community. Simply passing another motorcyclist on the roads prompts a friendly salute, and camaraderie is a powerful feeling when you ride with a large group in thunderous solidarity for a cause. For some, it’s about challenge. Pfeifer explains it like this: “[Motorcycling] is an ongoing challenge to get it right and it’s an unmatchable confidence builder when you do.

For some, it’s about curiosity. MacKenzieStonis, a local vintage motorcycle enthusiast, adds motorcycling to a long list of other activities that make life a little less boring. “I tried small metal sculpture once out of curiosity,” she says. “I’ve also tried a personal trainer, Italian lessons, glass fusing, and rapping. Curiosity is one of my best motivators. Motorcycles hit that button for me.”

The motorcycles on the roads are changing, too.

Due to a widening interest that’s moving beyond the stereotypical “biker” image of decades ago, even the bikes are changing, although you’re still more likely to pass a Harley-Davidson machine than any other motorcycle in the area. With a focus on heritage and loyalty, the Harley-Davidson brand and the MidSouth have 110 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

shared values, and Harley-Davidson-sponsored events still draw the biggest crowds throughout the region.

Lisa Rossmeyer-Wade, owner of Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson in Southaven, sees crowds of over one thousand motorcyclists — mostly on Harley-Davidsons — join annual rides benefitting Wounded Warriors and Operation First Response. In addition, according to Rossmeyer-Wade, “In the past 12 months, our dealership has trained approximately 140 women to ride through the Rider’s Edge New Rider Course.”

But Harley-Davidson doesn’t completely rule the local roads, particularly in Memphis, where you’re more likely to see a sportbike pass by than a Harley cruiser. Chris Rotenberry, co-owner of Bellevue Suzuki Kawasaki in Memphis, organizes a group ride down to ‘Bikes on Beale’ each month during the summer, seeing a blend of brands and motorcyclists participate in those events.

“About 70 percent are on sportbikes and the rest are on Harleys,” he says, noting that as a dealer, he has seen a lot of motorcycling trends come and go. “Light kits and ‘blacking out’ the chrome on the bike,” says Rotenberry, are this year’s top crazes. With more women riding than ever before, there is also increased interest in bikes that are lighter, lower to the ground and easier to handle for smaller, petite frames.

Old is “in” Again If you know the expression “ton up,” then you’re probably one of the growing number of people interested in vintage bike culture, and in particular, the sleek, lightweight café racer—a bike that was originally stripped down and rebuilt for one purpose and one purpose alone: speed. The MidSouth is no exception to this craze, and you’re likely to see one of these bikes throughout the area, particularly in October during the annual Run to the Sun benefitting Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and hosted by the Memphis Mummies, a local vintage motorcycle club.

While the international café racer craze focuses on early-mod-

feature el British and Italian machines, Southern nostalgia weighs in down here, with reconstructed 1970s-model Hondas and Kawasakis — the bikes that were likely sitting around during the boyhood/girlhood years of many MidSouth residents. As replicas of bikes customized for speed and agility by racers and adrenaline junkies in the 1950s, café racers reflect an era of rebellion that had rock-n-roll and the black-leather-clad rebel as its exclamation point. It makes this particular bike style as ‘Memphis’ as barbecue and Elvis Presley.

Still, there’s more to the area’s homage to vintage motorcycling than café racers.

David Lloyd, newsletter editor for the TN/ MS/AR Antique Motorcycle Club Tennessee Chapter, known as the Confederate Chapter AMCA, is taking vintage to an entirely different level with the restoration of his 1919 Harley Davidson J model project.

Lloyd plans to ride the nearly 100-year-old motorcycle in the 2014 Cannonball Motorcycle Run — a ride spanning 4,000 miles in 16 days and going from Florida to Washington. “I found this bike in Hot Springs Arkansas,” says Lloyd, an Olive Branch resident.

“It originally belonged to a family for nearly 60 years. The man passed away at the age

of 97 and the family held on to the bike for a few more years. They did sell the motorcycle and I purchased it after that. I have been restoring it for nearly 3 years. This is not a piece of machinery that you run down to the NAPA parts store to pick up some replacement parts. You have to machine many parts yourself.”

Lloyd also organizes the Century Race

“I know the risks in riding and it involves much more skill and precision than I ever imagined.” at Barber Vintage Fest every year, featuring 100-year-old-plus motorcycles that still have it in them to tackle the challenge of the race track. Featured on the Velocity channel’s, What’s in the Barn, this race is part of a larger gathering of vintage bikes and racers that draws crowds of close to

60,000 every year, and is a spectacle that every vintage moto-enthusiast shouldn’t miss.

The MidSouth has a bad reputation for motorcycle safety but local motorcyclists are working to change that.

One hard fact that is undeniable is that motorcycling can be a dangerous activity anywhere, particularly in the MidSouth. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s crash statistics, Mississippi ranked #23 (out of 50) in having the most motorcycle-related deaths in the country, with Louisiana coming in at #1 and Tennessee at #15. Many of these deaths are related to accidents caused by other vehicles and a large number involve at least one driver who was under the influence at the time of the accident.

To combat statistics like these, the Motorcycle Awareness Campaign’s North Mississippi Chapter holds annual events along Goodman Road to promote awareness of motorcycling safety — both for the drivers of other vehicles and the motorcyclists, themselves. With bright yellow signs requesting that all drivers “watch for motor-

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cycles,” the group hopes to call attention to the importance of driving without distractions, particularly without texting and talking on the phone.

Other local motorcyclists such as Gayle Minard, a trauma surgeon and Professor of Surgery at University of Tennessee Health Science Center, have seen how a little prevention can go a long way in saving a life.

“Way back when we [had] moto people from Memphis International [come into the trauma unit], they would come in wearing [full gear] and not have all that much wrong,” says Minard. “A lot of motorcyclists in accidents are irresponsible [about riding safely], although obviously not all. I see people drunk on motorcycles all the time, not wearing the proper gear, going 200 mph on the freeway, etc.”

Minard is also playing an active role in encouraging a political push toward motorcycling safety and awareness. When learning that Tennessee was attempting to repeal the helmet law through House Bill HB0044, Minard offered expert testimony at the House Transportation Committee in Nashville in support of keeping the law.

Some MidSoutherners have a serious need for speed (and air).

While some MidSouth motorcycle enthusiasts limit their travels to area roads 112 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

and speed limits, there is a small group that looks forward to competitive racing at places like Millington Motorsports Park and Barber Motorsports Park, a world-class racing track located near Birmingham, Alabama. Minard started riding there before ever hitting local roads on her newly purchased Kawasaki Ninja 250. “Many trauma surgeons are adrenaline junkies,” she says.

“A friend talked me into going to a moto track weekend at Barber and started teaching me on the pit bike. I was hooked.”

After racing Motocross and becoming the MidSouth MX champion at the age of 10, Horn Lake resident Jamie Thompson raced competitively in the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) Pro Road race series and earned titles with Western EasternRoadracing Association (WERA) and American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA). “When racing a bike you become a part of it,” says Thompson. “Man and machine working together, pushing it to the edge and beyond. It is an amazing experience that few people get to experience.”

Larry Reiter, a Memphis resident and winner of the AHRMA 250cc Classic MX Novice Class Championship on his vintage Rickman Montesa, puts it like this: “The only place I can ride my bike fast without getting arrested or being hit by a car is on the motocross track.”

On the more extreme end of the sport, Dean Dotson, from Drummonds, Tennessee, is a 25-year-old motocross freestyler who performs around the world at Arenacross, monster truck shows, fairs and extreme sports shows. His summer visits to Memphis consist of high-flying adventures off ramps, and at many points, over concrete with nothing to protect him from a fall. As the first place overall winner in the expert class of the FMXeast Challenge Series, Dotson has been doing dangerous things on two wheels (of some sort) since a teenager. “When I was growing up, my friends and I were always jumping our bicycles and it was super awesome fun, now everything is on a bigger scale,” says Dotson, who will be heading to Guyana, South America for a FMX show at the beginning of September.

The MidSouth has some hidden gems for riding.

Kudzu-lined roads that twist through fields might not be the most direct path from point A to point B for other vehicles, but on a motorcycle, they create the perfect path for riding.

Without the congestion of traffic, rider and machine can breathe a little, with only the sound of the wind and the tires meeting pavement for company. In North Mississippi, East Ar-

feature kansas and West Tennessee, these roads are abundant, providing area riders the opportunity to take scenic and historical journeys on their bikes, while stopping at markers denoting music history and southern lore that might not be seen from the highways.

Among these roads is the Mississippi River Trail, which extends from the Mighty River’s headwaters in Itasca, Minnesota, to the Gulf of Mexico, offering area cyclists and motorcyclists a tree-canopied, meandering ride along the river’s path. Shelby Forest, Arkabutla Lake, Holly Springs National Forest and Natchez Trace Parkway are other favored roads for motorcycling, and when traveling them on any warm weekend, you’re likely to pass as many motorcycles as cars.

The MidSouth’s motorcycling craze has a long history, with local legends like Elvis Presley in its ranks. Although there is more to the craze than meets the eye, as an increasing number of new riders take to the roads, you might just become one of the thousands of two-wheeled pilots this time next year. If you do, keep in mind the words of the late journalist and writer, Hunter S. Thompson, who was also enthralled with the motorcycle’s iconic appeal: “Drive fast on empty streets with nothing in mind except falling in love and not getting arrested.”

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Miller Station

662.934.8730

119 Ward Street Senatobia, MS 38668 Hours: 10-6 | Tuesday-Saturday

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health health Live Well

Healthy Smile: Healthy Body How the mouth’s condition may mirror the body’s overall health.

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We all know that brushing and flossing our teeth daily can lead to a healthy mouth, but did you know that it can also aid in total body health, as well? While most of the bacteria found in the mouth are harmless, poor oral hygiene can lead to bacterial infections such as tooth decay, gingivitis or periodontal disease, which is a more severe form of gum disease. Oral infections like gingivitis and periodontal disease are marked by bleeding, inflammation and redness of the gum tissue. Studies have found that these more harmful oral bacteria have been linked to heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases and complications in joint replacements.

Just as the food we consume affects our body and our health, the bacteria present in our mouths can also have an affect on one’s overall health, and dental infections can lead to problems elsewhere in the body.

Research has shown that the bacteria present in dental plaque have been found in the arteries of patients suffering cardiovascular disease. Therefore, patients with chronic periodontal infection are at an even greater risk for developing heart disease and stroke. Respiratory diseases such as aspiration pneumonia can occur when oral bacteria mixes with the saliva, which is then inhaled into the lungs, causing respiratory infection. Chronically ill patients and patients in intensive care units or nursing homes are at a higher risk for developing this type of pneumonia.

Evidence has proven that the bacteria in the mouth can directly target other areas of the body. Patients with heart problems such as artificial heart valve replacement, certain types of congenital heart disease, or patients that have had recent joint replacements are required to pre-medicate with antibiotics before some dental 116 SEPTEMBER 2013 | myclickmag.com

treatments such as a dental cleaning. The oral bacteria that are present can enter the blood stream during certain dental procedures and can then spread infection to a diseased heart, a heart with valve damage or a newly constructed joint replacement. The antibiotic premedication taken prior to dental treatment prevents the oral bacteria from spreading throughout the body and causing infection.

It is important to remember that good oral hygiene is the key to a healthy mouth and total overall health. It is recommended that patients brush their teeth a minimum of twice daily and floss their teeth at least once daily. In addition to proper oral home care, patients should see their dentist and dental hygienist for routine dental exams, x-rays and oral cancer screening at least once every six months to help prevent oral infections. In order to accommodate each patient and their specific needs, some cases require individualized treatment plans to ensure proper dental care is given to maintain good oral health. You can make your oral health a priority by keeping scheduled dental visits and by practicing excellent oral hygiene at home. So the next time you pick up your toothbrush and floss, you can feel good knowing that a healthy smile is the pathway to a healthy body.

Evidence has proven that the bacteria in the mouth can directly target other areas of the body.

______________________________________________________________ Article contributed by Dr. Robert Seymour, DDS and Emily Blair Brown of DeSoto Family Dental Care. For more information, contact DeSoto Family Dental Care located at 460 Byhalia Road in Hernando by calling 662.429.5239 or visit the website at desotofamilydentalcare.com.

Find out how during: Fall Visit Day 2013 Tuesday, September 24 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. or 4-6 p.m.

Two TiMefraMes for YoUr ConvenienCe DeSoto Center Lobby

UM-DeSoto aDviSorS will be on hanD to DiScUSS: • admissions requirements • scholarship and financial aid information • student services • how your community college courses transfer into a UM degree-completion program Like us on Facebook!

facebook.com/umdesoto

For more information, please visit www.olemiss.edu/desoto • Call: 662-342-4765 5197 W.E. Ross Parkway, Southaven, MS 38671 (I-55 to Church Rd. Exit)

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finance On the Money

Housing is Back!

Low interest rates and high affordability give new attractiveness to owning a home.

Is now the right time to buy for you?

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If you’ve been thinking of buying a new home, you’ve probably been paying a great deal of attention to news on interest rates, home prices and the overall direction of both. The question you may be asking yourself is this: is now, 2013, a good time to buy a new home? While the ultimate decision is obviously yours, there are definitely a lot of things working in your favor this year.

Is buying a new home in 2013 a good idea?

No matter what the national economic and housing market trends indicate, it only makes sense to buy a house if it fits your current place in life and your future goals. For example, if you have a stable career and a job that pays enough to cover your living expenses (with some left over for emergencies/retirement); and in addition, you plan on being in the same place for 3-5 years or expect you could rent the house if you were to move away, then you are probably in a good position to consider buying a house in 2013.

On the other hand, if you can’t imagine giving up your mobility, if you can’t count on having a steady income, or if you have substantial credit card debt or student loan debt (or are struggling to pay your bills each month), then it might not make sense for you to buy a home at this time.

Where are interest rates headed in 2013?

So let’s say you’ve decided that now is a good time for you to buy a house.

The next question is whether it’s the right time financially. A big part of the answer has to do with interest rates. Lower interest rates are always better, obviously, because they save you money — even an interest rate that is 1 percent lower could save you $50,000 or more over the course of a 30year mortgage. And if you can lock in a low rate with a fixed-rate mortgage, that’s even better.

So the question is: are interest rates low right now? Many experts say yes. Rates are currently at about 4.5 percent, which is slightly higher than recent lows, but still some of the lowest we’ve seen in the last three decades. So clearly, based on interest rates alone, this is a great time to buy a home and a solid opportunity to lock in low interest rates.

Will interest rates rise or fall in the future? That’s hard to say. Predicting the rise and fall of interest rates is oftentimes like gazing into a crystal ball. One day, it will tell you one thing; the next day, something else. Some experts have been predicting inflation and rising interest rates for the last few years and it hasn’t happened yet. These kinds of predictions are no-

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toriously difficult to get right. However, it’s probably not a bad idea to assume that home loan interest rates will increase at some point in the future. That still doesn’t leave us with a complete picture though, because we haven’t looked at housing prices yet.

What about home pricing in 2013?

If you’ve been paying attention to the news for the past five years, you’re well aware of the housing market crash that began in 2008. But have housing prices rebounded from the crash of 2008 or are they still low? It depends on which city and neighborhood you’re talking about, of course.

Every city, state and municipality is different. But the fact is that prices are still much lower than they were at the peak of the housing bubble. Will prices drop in the future?

They could. Will home prices rise in the future? It depends on what your timeframe is for the future, but they probably will.

The important thing is to pay attention to housing price trends in your market. A lot of the information you see, hear and read is based on national data and that data might not reflect the true nature of home prices in your market. Life contains many surprises, and if we learned one thing during the housing market bubble and crash, it’s that predicting the rise and fall of interest rates and the rise and fall of home prices is impossible.

So what’s the bottom line on mortgage interest rates and home pricing in the future?

Where are interest rates and home prices going up from here? Interest rates and pricing will be going up but we just don’t know when. So your bottom line should be — if you’re thinking of buying a new home, regardless of where rates and pricing go from here, you’ll be getting in at the bottom of both.

Brian Walters is a Vice President of Iberia Bank Mortgage Company. For more information on refinancing your existing home loan contact Iberia Bank located at 1240 Goodman Road in Southaven or call 662.349.5544.

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SEE&DO ONE THING NOT TO MISS THIS MONTH

Mingle

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Blues Ball 2013 Celebrating its 20th anniversary on September 21, the Blues Ball endeavors beyond your typical fundraiser to bring to its guests a truly unique and spectacular evening. Taking place at the Gibson Guitar Factory, with offerings from some of Memphis’ most prized chefs and silent auctions items, which in the past have included tickets to the Grammys and performances from the musicians that started it all, the Blues Ball is an event not to be missed. Guests can purchase tickets, beginning at $200, through the Blues Ball hotline at 901.527.5683.

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laurelwood

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