Oxford Magazine - Sept/Oct 2020

FALL STYLE IN OXFORD • THE LANE KIFFIN ERA • ALLIGATOR SPORTS BAR’S CREOLE TWIST

a chat with the

AUTHOR

LISA HOWORTH DISCUSSES ‘SUMMERLINGS,’ NOW IN PAPERBACK SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 OxfordMag.com Volume Four | Issue Four $4.95

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OxfordMag.com 1

FEATURES

13

OXFORD’S MOSS HUNTER Artist Henry Clarke is taking an all-natural approach to his craft.

32

SMART SHOOTING Hunters’ Hollow aims to keep its customers safe and informed.

HOW-TO-GUIDE Q&A’s from Jones at Home Interiors, Stagg’s Interiors, Magnolia Lighting,Stout’s Carpet and Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.

2 September/October 2020

PHOTO BY THAD LEE

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19

25

PHOTO BY JOEY BRENT

schools & sports

in every issue

9 Brave new season: The Lane Kiffin era

4 Contributors

arts & culture

5 From the Editor 6 The Guide

43 Styles of the Fall in Oxford

home

48 Out & About

& style

55 Said and Done

19 Take a journey back into the early 20th Century on Windy Hill Farm

food

& drink

56 Marketplace

OM

25 Alligator Sports Bar puts a Creole twist on gameday faire 31 The Blind Pig: Recipe for the Melting Pot Rueben

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contributors EDITORIAL

Anna Guizerix Jake Thompson

CONTRIBUTORS Joey Brent Jude Burke-Lewis Davis Coen Jim Dees Thad Lee Hayden Wiggs

Davis Coen, Writer

Davis Coen is a freelance writer and newspaper reporter from Oxford by way of South Carolina. He’s had stories published in various local publications including Oxford Eagle, Oxford Citizen and Daily Journal. He also maintains a music career--with over a dozen tours of Europe and regular airplay on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

DESIGN

Connor Martin-Lively Jamie Dawkins Kate Sullivan Green

MARKETING

Delia Childers Amelia Miller

Jacob Palmer, Writer

Jacob Palmer is a freelance writer from Oxford by way of Grenada. He has written articles for local publications such as the Oxford Eagle and Panolian and is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi.

PUBLISHER

Rebecca Alexander

Jude Burke-Lewis, Writer

Jude is a recent transplant to Oxford, having moved here from London, UK, last year. She worked as a journalist back in her home country, including three years at an education newspaper, and is now a freelance writer.

Thad Lee, Photographer

Thad Lee is an award-winning filmmaker from Hattiesburg. He has earned English and Philosophy degrees from the University of Mississippi and an MFA in Screenwriting from the University of New Orleans. His film, All That You Love Will Be Carried Away is based on a short story by Stephen King. It is currently screening at festivals in America and Europe.

Oxford Magazine is published bimonthly by Oxford Newsmedia LLC. All material is this publication is protected by copyright. We are located at 4 Private Road 2050 Oxford, MS 38655. Our annual subscription rate is $40 per year in the United States and $60 a year in Canada, Mexico and other foreign countries. Our website is oxfordmag.com. We can be reached by telephone at 662-234-4331. Letters, story ideas and postal changes should be addressed to Oxford Magazine, 4 Private Road 2050, Oxford, MS 38655.

4 September/October 2020

from the publisher

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ON THE COVER

Was that the longest summer ever? Staying socially distanced, tracking increasing coronavirus numbers, wearing masks inside and outside in the heat and hanging on to each tidbit of news about Ole Miss football made this summer seem endless.

It was long summer as well for Oxford Magazine because we last came out with an issue June/July which stretched through August. We looked at our current publishing schedule and decided it was time to adjust so all editions are in same calendar year. No more Dec/Jan edition with both holiday and new year beginnings in the same magazine.

So welcome readers, to the Sept. Oct. 2020 edition of Oxford Magazine. This is our annual sporting issue. Temperatures cool, and the first fall leaves appear and we can all enjoy being outside more hours enjoying sports or watching sports.

We hope you enjoy the feature on Lane Kiffin, as the new head coach of Ole Miss begins his first season. We’re ready for football, and hopefully we can safely play come Sept. 2 We also feature Hunter’s Hollow and gun safety.

The garden feature is on Henry “The Moss Hunter” Clarke who searches for moss around Oxford and uses it in artistic growing displays in his yard.

We have two dining finds with recipes you can try to recreate at home that fit perfectly into fall, the Alligator Bar cocktail hurricane and The Blind Pig’s Rueben.

Finally, as we spend more time at home, we asked a group of home improvement experts to answer questions about what to do this fall for design, landscape, furnishing, maintenance and more.

Rebecca Alexander Publisher, Oxford Magazine

Lisa Howorth

Lisa Howorth, local Oxford author answers 5 questions about her book ‘Summerlings’ just released in paperback.

Photo by Joey Brent Design by Connor Martin-Lively

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THE GUIDE

THE QUEEN’S CARTOONISTS OCTOBER 6 7:30 PM GERTRUDE FORD AUDITORIUM The Queen’s Cartoonists play music from classic cartoons and contemporary animation. The performances are synchronized to video projections of the original films, and the band leads the audience through a world of virtuosic musicianship, multi-instrumental mayhem, and comedy.

Behind the project is a single question: is it possible to create jazz and classical music in the 21st century that appeals to everyone? Even people who normally wouldn’t go to concerts? The Queen’s Cartoonists present a concert for everybody – regardless of age, gender, or familiarity with the concert hall.

6 September/October 2020

THE GUIDE WHAT TO DO IN OXFORD SEPT 1 First Tuesday Music Series in Bryant Hall 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.

UM’s Bryant Hall SEPT 14 Ron Rash in Conversation with John Grisham About Ron’s new book “In The Valley” 5 p.m.

Virtual event hosted by Square Books

With fewer events on our September and October calendar, it is time to make time to get out into the Great Outdoors and enjoy nature. Here are our picks for great outdoor adventures in and around Oxford.

SEPT 26 Ole Miss Rebels vs. Florida Gators TBD Vaught Hemingway Stadium SEPT 26 Crossroads Book Group: The Only Black Girls in Town 3 p.m.

Virtual event hosted by Square Books OCT 9 Tab Benoit 6:30 Proud Larry’s OCT 10 Ole Miss Rebels vs. Alabama Crimson Tide TBD Vaught Hemingway Stadium OCT 14 Young Nudy Doors 7 p.m. Show: 8 p.m.

The Lyric Oxford OCT 20 The Revivalist 7 p.m.

The Lyric Oxford OCT 21 Young Gravy 8 p.m.

The Lyric Oxford NOV 27 The “Egg Bull” Riding Event 3 p.m.

Lafayette County Multipurpose Arena

Rooftop dining and bars in Oxford Autumn days are perfect to be a few stories up and peer down at the world going on below in Oxford. The Square continues to be the heartbeat for what is happening in Oxford. The Coop bar is one of our favorites which is in The Graduate Hotel. City Grocery and Bourre have nice balcony to enjoy cocktails and fine dining above the swirl of life going on around the Square. Roosters bar is the one flight up above Oxford Grill House, and has a nice view as well of the Square. The Chancellors House is also a great rooftop to enjoy outdoor drinks and weather.

Lamar Park Centrally located, this park was designed as an arboretum with winding trails and manicured garden features surrounding the lake. The trees are spread out, so it can be quite a sunny spot when days start to cool.

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THE GUIDE

The Grove

South Campus Rail Trail This is a perfect fall spot for hiking, biking, running or walking the dog and meeting your neighbors on the trail in Oxford. The South Campus Rail Trail (offers a shady trail with an overhead leaf canopy that will rapidly change colors as fall leaves appear.

Some of the trail is paved, but some is gravel. Biking trails are perfect for those for adventure with steep dirt hills to climb and plunging downhills across ravines.

Acres of trees nestled in front of the stadium and hallowed halls of learning is a quiet place all its own as we wait for the return of the most iconic tailgating venue in college football. Walking the sidewalk paths underneath giant oak trees and the gate of Champions is worth exploring.

Walk to Rowan Oak From the back of The University Museum you can walk the trail to Rowan Oak, Faulkner’s home. The trail provides the flora and fauna that was prevalent in Faulkner’s work and gives a feel of walking the same path that Faulkner die when he was alive. The fall leaves make the Rowan Oak trail especially inviting as they change which is another reason to go now.

Memories are Precious THE BLAKE AT OXFORD IS HELPING PRESERVE AND PROTECT THEM WITH CUTTING-EDGE TECHNIQUES.

Our “It’s Never Too Late” memory care program focuses on the resident’s social, spiritual, cognitive, physical and emotional well-being through the integration of technology.

We honor those fighting to find a cure during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month this November. We invite you to call (662) 638-0899 to learn how we can enrich the life of your loved one!

110 ed perry blvd. | oxford, ms 38655 | www.blakeatoxford.com 8 September/October 2020

&SPORTS

SCHOOLS

BRAVE NEW SEASON

The Lane Kiffin era off to unique start at Ole Miss

BY JAKE THOMPSON PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN OxfordMag.com 9

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The beginning of the Lane Kiffin era at Ole Miss feels like a lifetime ago compared to how the current state of things are as summer is slowly turning to fall.

The first weekend of December saw Kiffin become the 39th head coach of the Ole Miss football program, bringing an exuberance of enthusiasm to a fan base that was in dire need of a shock to their system.

Coming off an 4-8 season in 2019 that concluded with one of the more bizarre endings to an Egg Bowl in that game’s storied history, Matt Luke was relieved of his duties and the program begin looking for a new captain to steer the ship back to the where the program once was.

Not long ago the Rebels celebrating a Sugar Bowl championship in the locker room inside the

10 September/October 2020

Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, but a years-long NCAA investigation and the results of seasons since January of 2016 made that feel like ancient history.

Then the Lane Train relocated its station from Boca Raton, Fla. to Oxford this past winter and all seemed right again amongst the Rebel faithful.

When Kiffin landed at the Oxford-University airport with fans on the tarmac lined up within feet of the plane it was the closest Oxford would get to recreating the Beatles arriving in New York for the first time.

Kiffin even held a baby as he walked through the throngs of fans. Kiffinmania has arrived.

The next day, Kiffin was introduced to students and fans inside a packed Pavilion where he gave his first speech. It was a chance for Kiffin to lay out his

vision of where the football program was heading, with him bringing a 21st century approach.

“We’re starting today. This program will be built on old-school principles with a new-school mindset of how to do that,” Kiffin said. “We’re not going to do things a certain way because they’ve been done that way. We’re always evolving, whether it’s analytics, technology, recruiting, player development, sports science or game management at the highest level. We’re always learning and always evolving.”

The buzz stayed around the football program and in Oxford as the winter months rolled on towards Kiffin’s first spring at Ole Miss awaiting and the first chance for him to put his fingerprints on the playbook and fans to see a glimpse of what to expect in the fall during the annual Grove Bowl scrimmage in April.

None of that came to be.

In March, the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, gripped itself around the entire country and causing a pandemic that shut down the entire world.

Spring sports were just one of the things to not take place as cities, towns and states came to a halt with quarantine and social distancing becoming the buzzwords of 2020.

Kiffin’s first few months as Ole Miss’ head coach were nothing anyone expected as the momentum built up in December was slowly evaporating with each passing day.

“There’s a lot of (challenges), but this is magnified with the coronavirus to have no spring ball with your kids,” Kiffin said during an Ole Miss-produced video segment this summer. “It’s very difficult and challenging. But in general, it’s very challenging to build a roster and a staff. Staffs are so big nowadays.

It used to just be your coaches and a couple (grad assistants). Now, it’s up to 10 coaches, four GAs and we’ve got all kinds off off-the-field coaches.”

Kiffin’s first summer has been the most unique that any first-year coach has had to experience.

From revised summer workouts that started out as voluntary in June and slowly melded into some semblance of mandatory workouts in July to fall camp finally beginning in mid-August.

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Even the season has taken a completely different shape from what it once was when Kiffin was hired.

Going from a normal 12-game season with nonconference opponents scattered throughout to a condensed, yet at the same time expanded, 10game season against only Southeastern Conference opponents, beginning three weeks later than anticipated due to COVID-19.

Kiffin went from thinking his Ole Miss debut would be against Baylor and first-year head coach Dave Aranda on Labor Day weekend in Houston, Texas to hosting Florida and the return of Dan

12 September/October 2020

Mullen to Oxford on Sept. 26 to begin his first year.

Along with the new summer schedule, off-thefield Kiffin and his staff had to adjust to all the new regulations and protocols teams had to follow when it came to COVID-19 testing and keeping the players safe.

None of this was part of the plan in year one when Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter signed Kiffin to a four-year deal this past winter, but it has become the plan.

Now, it is just about Kiffin focusing on what he was brought to Ole Miss to do, which is win and win championships.

“We didn’t come here to be good. That’s not why we came here today,” Kiffin said during that December rally. “We came here to be great.”

A unique year such as 2020 may not be the best measuring stick of Kiffin’s success or a barometer of what to expect given the challenges he and all coaches and football programs are facing.

It is even yet to be seen if a 2020 season will still actually happen and won’t be officially known until a football is kicked on Sept. 26 inside VaughtHemingway Stadium.

The only thing that is certain is Lane Kiffin has made it to Ole Miss and is in it for the long haul.

&CULTURE

ARTS

OXFORD’S MOSS HUNTER Artist Henry Clarke is taking an all-natural approach to his craft.

STORY BY DAVIS COEN PHOTOS BY THAD LEE OxfordMag.com 13

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In 2018, a DVD titled “The Moss Hunter Pilot Episode” came into circulation, telling the story of Oxford resident Henry “The Moss Hunter” Clarke-in documentary style--and delivering it in a way that, with commercials included, would be suited well for a one-hour slot on any number of TV networks.

Henry Clarke’s work has a wide appeal--as does much of the world’s more unusual art. Folks of all ages come to visit and enjoy his outdoor moss gallery in the yard of his residence in East Oxford off Highway 334, where he lives with his wife Toni Coleman.

Guests who also share Clarke’s enthusiasm for moss often come seeking inspiration and hands-on experience.

Moss, considered ‘nature’s carpet,’ is known to grow in damp, shady environments, which are aplenty in and around Oxford, particularly in the denser wooded areas--among them, those around

14 September/October 2020

the South Campus Rail Trail. The tools of moss hunting are generally a shovel and a sack, or bucket.

Clarke, a ceramic tile glazer by trade who moved from New York City nine years ago, likes to use moss in a manner like paper mache, moistening it with a basic water spray can before applying it tactfully to a building foundation of some sort. The variety in his yard gallery has included everything from furniture covered in moss, animal likenesses, to a carved wood sculpture of a head leveled flat on a tree stump--with moss serving as facial hair, and topped with a luscious green frizzy hairdo, which Clarke promises will change tone along with the changing seasons.

The unconventional artist has also been prolific in employing moss in his work, similar to how the Japanese art form Bonsai uses small trees to mimic the shape and scale of full-size trees, creating

miniature landscapes. Henry sometimes adds bits of fern to act as tiny trees, and builds upon narrow slabs of wood found during his frequent local morning nature excursions.

He recalled how he once loaded his truck up with these wood pieces--just so that he could give them away to people, and draw some interest to his work. He was stunned when he discovered the impressive prices that moss art was fetching.

After the making of his video feature a couple of years ago, Henry’s craft has indeed evolved, along with its function in his life.

Since becoming a survivor of bladder cancer--also discussed in the video (which includes a scene with his doctor in Jackson addressing Henry’s amazing recovery), he has progressively been using moss hunting for the purpose of spiritual grounding.

“It’s more of a spiritual thing, or a healing thing now, than actual art for me,” Clarke said recently, about the evolution of his craft over the past couple years. “I turn people on to the moss and it’s almost like a spiritual awakening--that’s where I’m at right now,” he added. “I’m using the moss garden as a healing spot...a spiritual healing spot, because when you start identifying with nature your mind and body come to be relaxed, so I want to use it now as a tool to heal people--and that’s what

OCTOBER 10, 2020

Join us for Illuminate Hope, sponsored by Baptist Memorial Health Care, an evening to come together in your home on World Mental Health Day. Enjoy a curated experience to navigate this special evening dedicated to mental wellness and resilience that will culminate with a PAPER LANTERN RELEASE symbolizing HOPE for ourselves and our community.

Canopy Children’s Solutions cares about you and your family. Shine the Light on Mental Health, presented by Trustmark, provides resources, activities and experiences to usher resilience, hope and healing for all Mississippians.

OxfordMag.com 15

I’m doing.”

The Moss Hunter credits being outside and dealing with nature for his creative drive--which in turn could be credited for saving his life, along with the fine medical treatment he was able to receive.

“I get up in the morning, and I go out in the woods and totally meditate on what I see--and clear my mind and just watch the trees blow, and it really works,” he said with enthusiasm. “It lowers blood pressure, lowers anxiety, so you just cut everything off, your body calms down, and you can come out of the woods--or you come out of where your little garden is--and you’re in a different frame of mind... and that’s what you need.”

Clarke is currently running an Airbnb, which he refers to as, “Art Experience.” It allows people to come and stay at his house, with room and board provided, and learn how to deal with moss and about the different aspects of it, for what he calls a “nice price.”

As for the interactive lodging experience he offers, Clarke said, “I found out within myself, 16 September/October 2020

going through the whole process of getting the moss and turning it into something, that it was a healing tool--so now I’m teaching other people how to heal themselves.”

The Moss Hunter continues to entertain visitors looking to enjoy his own outdoor gallery, but is now assisting others with their yards--encouraging them to indulge in what he refers to as “green bathing,” not only out in the woods, but at their own homes.

Children with special needs have also been an inspiration to Clarke’s work, when they have visited his home to view the display. “I have people come by that have children that are autistic, and the reaction that they get from feeling it and touching it, I find very enjoyable,” he said. “They see it turned into something different, and they begin to analyze it in their minds.”

Although these days, squares of certain types of moss can fetch astounding prices, and some ecologists have expressed concerns about the effects of commercial moss gathering, Clarke

assures that his interests lie mainly in its ability to sustain balance within him, support his physical and mental health, provide a creative outlet, and form invaluable connections with others who share his love for positive thinking.

With regard to the ongoing appeal and draw to his personal moss refuge, Clarke claims people still come by all the time.

“Every day the moss grows, so it’s always changing--that’s what I like about it--it’s always moving forward. One week you go in there you’ve got more moss, because the more water you put on it, the more it grows.

So, it’s always just expanding.

It’s more than I ever expected in my life,” he said with a hearty laughter.

Further information is available by emailing TheMossHunter@gmail.com, or by calling 662-638-3226.

OxfordMag.com 17

READ THIS BOOK

Home-Grown Books

This issue’s book picks were hand-selected by Lyn Roberts, General Manager at Square Books for more than 20 years, and can usually be found behind the counter at Off Square Books – along with many of the titles below.

Recommendations from

Lyn Roberts

General Manager at Square Books Photo by Bruce Newman

World of Wonders

By Aimee Nezhukumatathil | $25.00 From beloved, award-winning poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil comes a debut work of nonfiction--a collection of essays about the natural world, and the way its inhabitants can teach, support, and inspire us.

The Deepest South of All

By Richard Grant | $26.00 Much as John Berendt did for Savannah in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and the hit podcast S-Town did for Woodstock, Alabama, so Richard Grant does for Natchez in The Deepest South of All. Part history and part travelogue, The Deepest South of All offers a gripping portrait of a complex American place, as it struggles to break free from the past and confront the legacy of slavery.

In the Valley

By Ron Rash | $26.95 In these ten stories, Rash spins a haunting allegory of the times we live in—rampant capitalism, the severing of ties to the natural world in the relentless hunt for profit, the destruction of body and soul with pills meant to mute our pain—and yet within this world he illuminates acts of extraordinary decency and heroism

A Knock at Midnight

By Brittany K. Barnett | $28.00 An urgent call to free those buried alive by America’s legal system, and an inspiring true story about unwavering belief in humanity—from a gifted young lawyer and important new voice in the movement to transform the system.

Tailgreat

By John Currence | $28.00 Bring home all the flavors and excitement of game day thanks to a lifetime of tailgating wisdom from James Beard Award winner and Top Chef Masters contestant John Currence.

18 September/October 2020

&STYLE

HOME

HISTORICAL RETREAT Take a journey back into the early 20th Century on Windy Hill Farm STORY BY JUDE BURKE-LEWIS PHOTOS BY THAD LEE OxfordMag.com 19

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To step foot into Windy Hill Farm is to step back in time. This painstakingly reconstructed log cabin, located on 215 acres of rolling fields and woodland in Lafayette County, dates from the early 20th century, when it was built as a family home in McCool, MS. Almost a hundred years later it was moved to its current location, where the grandson of the original owners, Dr. Bobby Kennedy, and his wife Beth have given it a second lease on life as an idyllic country retreat.

This slice of history and its surrounding land – both of which are now up for sale – are the perfect “peaceful place to come when you want to be by yourself,” according to Beth.

The cabin was built around 1900 for Ross Kennedy, a farmer, and his wife Ina Rhodes, by itinerant builders “that would travel and they would go into towns and they would ask if anyone 20 September/October 2020

needed a cabin built,” Beth explained.

These builders, “that had come from Carolina in the late 1800s”, constructed the cabin using handhewn poplar and oaks harvested from around McCool.

The original cabin was “just a storey and a half – that was common back then” with “one big room downstairs and a kids’ room upstairs” – and no kitchen, which meant they “cooked over an open fire,” Beth said.

Bobby’s father, Beauford Kennedy, was born in the cabin in 1904, as were two or three of his siblings. But the small home quickly became too cramped for the growing family, so they moved out to a larger property.

In 1988, when the last surviving member of his father’s kin died, Dr Kennedy was offered either money or the cabin as an inheritance.

Being a “lover of old architecture and antiques”

he chose the latter. It was taken apart and as much of it as could be saved – some of the wood had termite damage and was beyond repair – was transported back to Bull’s Gap, TN, where it was treated and stored until it could be put back together again.

That time came in the mid-1990s, after the Kennedys bought the land the cabin now sits on.

The pair headed over to view the property one Sunday after church, and were shown round by its

then-owner, Fred Carter, who was using it for cattle.

While Bobby insisted he didn’t want to buy anything at the time, for Beth it was love at first sight.

She “started having one of those wife things, I started crying, I was saying I really want that land” – and eventually Bobby agreed.

“Probably about a year later he told me, I’ve got a surprise for you. He said I’ve had dad’s cabin OxfordMag.com 21

“It’s just left the way it was made, and that’s the way I wanted it. There’s not many spots that people leave alone and let be.”

- Beth Kennedy taken apart and it’s ready to put back together and it’s going to be put back together on the land,” Beth said.

The two picked the spot for it – with its name chosen “because it is real windy up here in the fall and the winter”.

The reconstructed cabin has been extended from the original, with a kitchen and front and back porches added using matching logs. Gas heating, a generator for electricity and a septic system for plumbing bring it up to modern standards, while two wood-burning fireplaces add to the country charm.

It has been the couple’s getaway destination of choice over the years.

“We used it for Thanksgivings. We had a family wedding down by the oak tree two years ago. We were here on the Millennium – we had a nice bottle of champagne out on the patio and looked at the 22 September/October 2020

stars. We’ve come over and looked at meteor showers, because there’s no lights around you can get out in the middle of the field and watch the meteor showers.”

Apart from the cabin, the land has been left “as natural and untouched as we could”.

“It’s just left the way it was made, and that’s the way I wanted it. There’s not many spots that people leave alone and let be,” Beth said.

The land stretches for a mile from the road right up to the Pontotoc county line, and with rolling pasture, mixed timber and pine woodland, two small lakes and multiple trails it’s perfect for hunting.

“There’s turkey galore. We have huge flocks of turkey, and of course there’s rabbits. We have a lot of deer,” Beth said.

Beth’s sister Laura and their brother, both keen hunters, have been making good use of the land.

OxfordMag.com 23

The siblings spend a week to 10 days every year deer hunting, “and they are grubby and stinky when they are through, because they just like roughing it.”

“They get up here and drink bourbon, sit by the fire and look at the lightning bugs” – of which there are “zillions” as “there are no chemicals that have been used out here”.

Managing 215 acres of land does take a certain amount of effort – effort that Beth and Bobby are increasingly unable to manage. Bobby has Parkinson’s disease, while Beth was recently diagnosed with arthritis.

Instead, Beth’s two sisters are taking care of much of the work “out of the goodness of their hearts”.

24 September/October 2020

Laura, in particular, has taken on the role of land manager, with responsibilities including mowing the grass and planting food for the deer.

Selling a property filled with so much history and memory is going to be difficult for the Kennedys – so much so that Bobby “doesn’t want to come out here anymore. It makes him sad”.

“If you really want to know the truth, I don’t want to sell it – but it makes sense to,” Beth said.

The ideal buyer would be “somebody that would like to have horses or cattle” or who “just wants to be away from town, quiet and peaceful. Or it would be a great wedding place”.

“It’s a beautiful piece of property. You can do anything with it, just don’t ruin it!”

&DRINK

FOOD

THE PLACE TO BE Alligator Sports Bar and Bistreaux puts a Creole twist on gameday faire STORY BY HAYDEN WIGGS PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT OxfordMag.com 25

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With their newest venture, seasoned restaurant coowners Corby King, and Adam Matthews of King’s Steakhouse are bringing to Oxford the newest hub for great food and great times with Alligator Sports Bar and Bistreaux.

Situated in the newest of Oxford developer Blake Tartt’s projects in the Oxford Commons shopping center just off Sisk Avenue, Alligator Sports Bar occupies a prime location. It is clean, inviting, and ready to take on the gameday crowds. Its menu, jam-packed with traditional bar foods, features unique Cajun and Creole twists, as both Matthews and King, who met during King’s time at Rowdy Rebs, have experiences with seafood and Cajun cooking.

“I went to culinary school and am actually a French chef,” explained King, a Grenada, Mississippi native, via phone interview. “To me, there is nothing like Cajun and Creole. I’ve been trained by a couple of Cajun chefs, including Emeril

26 September/October 2020

Lagasse, who I worked under for almost five years.

Working with him is what gave me the passion and ambition to go the Cajun and Creole route.”

Matthews, an Ole Miss graduate, and a veteran bartender spent a great deal of time with seafood and Cajun cuisine while working in Destin, Memphis, and Colorado bars. For him, the restaurant’s name is a personal touch.

“The Alligator Lounge was a bar I worked at in Colorado back in the 1990s,” Matthews said. “‘Alligator’ was the perfect name for our sports bar, not only because of that experience but because of our signature dish.”

And their signature dish is precisely that — alligator. Served in a basket of bite-sized pieces that practically melt in your mouth, the bar’s fried alligator is undoubtedly one of the best items on the menu. The unique dish, once again stemming from the owners’ background in Cajun cooking, took a couple months to perfect but is now,

according to King, the “best gator [he’s] ever had.”

“And,” he added, “I’m not just saying that because it’s ours!

Gator is hard to find and, even if you do find it, it’s hard to cook — but we got it, and it’s perfect.”

The alligator and their other seafood menu items, including shrimp, crawfish, and oysters, are all from local providers, particularly Memphis’s Off the Dock, a fresh seafood provider that gets everything flown in, and their connections on the Mississippi gulf coast.

“Getting local seafood is very important to us,” said Matthews. “We like to know where everything’s coming from so we can give our customers the best seafood.”

Alligators’ diverse menu features a series of enticing appetizers, like their giant cheese sticks, overflowing with tasty mozzarella, fried crawfish tails; juicy fried pickles made to perfection; and the delicious gator wings, tossed in the sauce of your choice. Their gumbo and soups are all made from scratch with “a lot of love put into it.”

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Popular entree items include their po-boys, which is Matthews’ personal favorite. Each sandwich is overflowing with fresh meat and vegetables, and are always served with their homemade remoulade. Choices include chicken, shrimp, crawfish, and even catfish, which, though not on the menu, can be ordered by request.

Alligator Sports Bar offers a “signature po-boy of the day,” alternating their different dishes to see what customers like best.

“Like Kings, we want to stay customer-based,” King explained, “so, if customers like something, we’re going to get it for them. If it’s available to us, we’re going to do it for the people.”

Not everything on the menu is fried; there are grilled options and salads for those interested, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The bar, the restaurant’s eye-catching centerpiece, features an impressive array of liquors that make up Alligators’ signature drinks. One of the most unique, the Alligator Seven, features seven white liquors with an added melon Midori that gives it a green tint.

Another is the Hurricane, inspired by the famous Pat O’Brien’s Bar in New Orleans, featuring rum, fruit juice, and a cherry garnish. Their on-tap beers are primarily beers from Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Florida.

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“We like sticking to the South,” said Matthews.

As if the menu was not inviting enough, Alligator Sports Bar runs a new special every day to draw in customers, alternating between discounts on drinks and signature dishes. Still, the support they have received both from the public and the University is already overwhelming.

“We’ve had great support from the baseball, football, hockey, and volleyball teams,” said Matthews. “They come in frequently, so we already have a good connection with the University. We also have past players who are now in the pros that come in, so when you walk in, you’re likely to see an athlete. And that’s what we’re trying to do, is create a great sports-based environment.”

With nine televisions, two projectors, and a premier sound system, Alligators is sure to be the spot for the gameday season. Committed to showing “every game possible,” Alligators is determined to provide restaurant-goers a place to relax and enjoy good food and drinks while cheering on the Ole Miss Rebels. With a prime location such as theirs, fans will not have to fight the notorious Square crowds to get a good spot.

“We want to give someone an opportunity to go to a good bar outside of the Square,” said King, “and this spot just stood out to us.”

Matthews agreed: “We had the opportunity to open in multiple different locations, including the Square. But we love this location with all the hotels and everything going up in the new lots. It is a great area in a great town.”

But Alligators is not just for the sports season; the restaurant plans to rent out for private parties, sorority and fraternity functions, wedding receptions, and anniversaries.

“We really want this to be a place for everybody,”

Matthews said. “We get a lot of people that have graduated and are coming back, as well as current students and faculty, and that’s something we really like to see.”

Alligator Sports Bar and Bistreaux is located at 705 Sisk Avenue, Suite 101, and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, home delivery is available through Fetcht Delivery.com.

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FOOD & DRINK

The Hurricane RECIPE FROM ALLIGATOR BAR

INGREDIENTS: • • • • • • • • •

1 1/2 oz Light rum 1 1/2 oz Dark rum 1/4 cup Passion Fruit Juice 1 oz Orange Juice 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice 2 tsp Simple Syrup 1 tsp Grenadine ice Top with 151 Rum

HOW TO MAKE IT Use a tall glass filled with ice. Pour each ingredient over the ice. Stir to blend.

Garnish with a maraschino cherries and orange slice. Serve immediately and enjoy!

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FOOD & DRINK

The Melting Pot Rueben RECIPE FROM THE BLIND PIG

INGREDIENTS: • • • • •

Grilled BoarsHead top road pastrami and corned beef Gold Lable Swiss cheese German style sauerkraut Thousand island dressing Griddle-toasted marble rye bread

HOW TO MAKE IT Layer Thousand Island dressing on two pieces of the marble rye bread before assembling the meat, sauerkraut and cheese in that order. Butter the sides of the bread that will be toasted. Brown both sides of the sandwich until the cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

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32 September/October 2020

Smart

shooting Hunters’ Hollow aims to keep its customers safe and informed Story and photos by Davis Coen

The popular outdoor store Hunters’ Hollow is so nicely nestled under a hill right off Highway 61 West, that at first glance it’s hard to imagine it containing the rather generous-sized shooting and archery ranges that lie within its walls.

Lafayette County’s premier outdoors store, as it’s been called, not only advertises that they’re able to provide for hunting and fishing needs from their selection of firearms, ammunition, gun safes, apparel, footwear, tree stands, holsters, slings, choke tubes, bases/rings, magazines/ clips, gun cases, rods, reels, baits, but also provide for archery, with an inventory of bows, arrows and sights, and “everything you need to take the buck of a lifetime,” they assure.

But regardless of its spaciousness, of course like most businesses in 2020, the popular hunting and outdoor shop has made changes as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Also, just as important to personal safety is training and education for firearm owners on how to use their weapons. Since the location opened over six years ago, the range caters to such needs.

“A lot of people buy a gun and don’t properly train and learn how to use it,” says owner, vice president and Oxonian Luke Guest, whose shop has been serving to fulfill patrons’ hunting dreams since 1988. “We consider that a safety issue really, and if you’re going to use something for self-defense you need to know how to use it,” he continued, “so, the range has been a pretty big asset for the community--we feel like, because they can come here, in a comfortable and safe atmosphere, and properly learn how to load their weapon. They can function their weapon, they can shoot their weapon, they can get OxfordMag.com 33

A lot of people buy a gun and don’t properly train and learn how to use it.”

- Luke Guest better all the way around with it--as opposed to buying one and sticking it in the drawer...and hoping they can use it when they need it--or if they ever need it.”

All signs at the Hollow point to safety. Before committing to purchasing a firearm, the store offers a trial use called “Try Before You Buy” program, which appeals especially to new gun buyers who may not be familiar with the different calibers and styles. They get to shoot five rounds for ten bucks. This allows the buyer to test a gun before spending their money and then find out they don’t like it.

This program has also been with Hunters’ Hollow since the Hwy 6 location opened, after having moved from West Oxford Loop where it resided since 1991, in an effort to accommodate their growing clientele. In the few years prior to that, the business was named D & B Outfitters.

It is certainly without argument that easy access to handgun safety is critically essential to society, especially for first time gun owners, but access to 34 September/October 2020

hunting, fishing, and camping gear, could easily be deemed equally so.

In light of the undeniable benefit of their services, they take very reasonable precautions in striving to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. The gun range, which has ten fourfoot lanes--with the tenth lane five-feet wide, and handicapped accessible, currently has every other lane closed, so nobody has a person shooting right beside them. “It has kind of hurt us, because we’ve been using five of our ten lanes and it fills up much faster, but we’re trying to keep that social distancing the best we can--so people are comfortable when they’re in there, and they’re not packed in there tight,” said owner Guest.

Similar types of precautions are also being applied to Whisper Hollow, the near 35-yard indoor archery range, which is up a stairway one level, right when you come in the front door. The practice area for archers not only is capable of handling crossbows, but boasts a variety of targets.

The archery range is especially significant this

time of year, with hunting season coming up. October 1st being the typical State opener for archery.

“With the ‘Archery in Schools’ program, we’ve had some local teams from surrounding schools use this for practice-from time to time,” Mr. Guest acknowledged, of the upstairs shooting range, which also includes a comfortable lounge area.

“We have a certified archery instructor here that gives one-on-one lessons by appointment, so it’s been a pretty big deal for us to be able to offer not just the ability to sell a bow, but the ability to take that bow, sight it in, and learn how to use it,” Guest added.

Guest also encourages everyone to call ahead of time, with only limited spots available of late for both Whisper Hollow, and Thunder Hollow--the state-of-the-art gun range.

There is also a Mississippi Enhanced Carry Course offered, with varied durations, and five certified MS Enhanced Carry instructors on staff.

During these times of weighing what services are essential and not, Hunters’ Hollow makes a profound statement through its conduct for

outdoor stores and proper shooting instruction being an indispensable service. The facility is about as safe as anyone is likely to be in this day and age, for anywhere that doesn’t require a temperature taken upon entry--although they are rather insistent on mask-wearing at the door, which is further encouraging of their protocol with regard to safety awareness.

Hunters’ Hollow is currently open Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. and is closed on Sundays. Further information is available by calling 662-234-5945, or contacting through the website at HuntersHollow.com.

12159 Hwy 6 W, Batesville, MS 38606 2298 Hwy 15, Pontotoc, MS 38863 WADEINC.COM OxfordMag.com 35

HOME IMPROVEMENT how-to-guide

Calling Oxford home is a dream for many, and once here fixing up and making that home reflect the area’s southern charm and comfort is a priority. Homeowners are making decisions on paint color, lighting, flooring, and more as our homes are more important than ever as we spend more time working and playing within our own space.

With these things in mind, we asked Oxford

36 September/October 2020

home improvement experts to answer questions about home renovations and home improvement. They are able to help navigate the complex decisions that are made and help make sure our home improvement ideas can become reality. These local experts share great tips on current trends, how to update and not break the bank and how to tackle these projects.

Q&A WITH

Charles Jones Jones at Home

1005 JACKSON AVE E OXFORD, MS 662-232-8690 WWW.JONESHOMEOXFORD.COM/

1. What style or styles are trending in home furnishings?

It›s been neutral large pieces and adding in the color with pillows, art, and accessories for a couple of years. Here in Oxford, that trend does not seem to be going anywhere.

Among my younger customers, I have seen an in demand for mid-century furniture. It seems that the Mid-century look is trending on a larger scale nationally than it is here in the South.

always try to sell my customers on a stain resistant fabric, like Crypton. They aren’t any more expensive than a normal fabric and are much easier to clean. It’s also worth mentioning that the materials that go into a sofa are important. There are various different methods in constructing a sofa. We only sell sofas constructed of hardwood, plywood, and are glued and blocked. Many high end sofas are eight-way hand tied, which used to be the best sign of quality, however new construction methods have made that 2. What colors and textures are trending method somewhat obsolete and it is no longer the proof of high quality that it once was. in furnishings?

People are slowly shifting away from an allwhite color scheme and more towards 4. What is the best way to pair chairs with textured-neutrals. We sell a lot of upholstered a sofa My advice on pairing sofas and chairs pieces that have a heavy weave or a tone on together will vary based on the room. If it’s a tone pattern. As for casegoods, marble and casual den, you may want to go with stone are still very popular. I always tell people the best thing to do is to have a wide comfortable, upholstered chairs. If it’s a range of textures and materials in your house. more formal living room, you’re going to I try to work steel, stone, and wood into each want to mix in tailored chairs with exposed wood legs or a pair of chairs that are skirted. room, when I can.

It’s always a good idea, to consider adding 3. What tips can you provide for selecting something with a different texture, like bamboo, just to break up all the fabric. the perfect sofa for your space Picking a sofa is very much so a personal Personally, I’m not a fan of having all the arm preference. At the end of the day, what you shapes match. For example, I generally think is comfortable and attractive is what’s recommend that if you have a sofa with rolled most important. The best advice I have to arms, maybe consider chairs with track arms. offer is to begin by sitting on a variety of different sofas to try and understand what you want it to feel like. What one person thinks is comfortable may be considered uncomfortable by someone else. I know, at least with us, if you can tell us what you like or don’t like about a sofa, we will be able to steer you in the right direction of selecting the perfect sofa for your space. As for style, if you can show us pictures of the room, we will always be able to offer up a few suggestions. I

Something like a sofa is going to have to stay in the room that it was bought for. Smaller things can be moved around the house, but you will always have to work around the larger pieces that were purchased for a specific room.

6. What advice would you give on mixing both old and modern furniture?

I love a collected look, and I feel that everyone should have a mix of antiques and new furniture. I personally love to mix Asian or Middle Eastern antiques with new Midcentury modern furniture, which has come back into style. On the other hand, I personally wouldn›t consider mixing French antiques with something modern, so I think it really just comes down to finding something that works with what you›ve already got in the room. I›ve usually found that antique American pieces mix pretty well with more styles as opposed to something like Asian or Middle Eastern, but that may just be me.

7. When selecting a bed for a master bedroom, what are some things you should keep in mind?

From what I’ve seen, it seems to be moving away from the large, complete beds, and more in the direction of headboards with a bedskirt. The headboards take up less space, they’re easier to make up, they’re 5. What is the best place to start when usually less expensive, and they can more easily be used in a different room if you decide updating furnishings in a living room?

My general rule is to start with something to change the bed in the master. I move and like a sofa, sideboard, or rug, and work off of deliver a lot of the furniture I sell, so my best that. Consider what piece you are making the non style related advice is to make sure, if largest investment in and what you plan to you’re putting down a rug, that it is installed keep in that room the longest. Chairs, art, before your bed is delivered, since it is accessories, and lamps are easily essentially impossible, without taking the bed interchangeable and can be moved to apart and removing it from the room, to different rooms/spaces in the future. install a rug under a bed.

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Q&A WITH

Mary Stewart

Staggs Interior Design STAGGS INTERIORS 903 VARSITY DRIVE TUPELO, MS 38801

1. How do you recommend mixing décor trends?

Having a variety of décor styles always makes a space more interesting but be sure not to go overboard. For example, if a space is mainly traditional, I always like to throw in a few modern accessories to lighten everything up.

You’ll want to make sure you have a variety of scales to ensure a good balance though.

broken!

6.

What design style is making a 4. What makes a statement piece and comeback? What accessories would how should you incorporate it into your complement the style?

One thing we’re seeing more of is floral home?

A statement piece will be that one item patterns making a comeback. A great way that immediately draws your attention in a to incorporate this look without going particular space. In a dining space an overboard in your home would be through 2. How do you ensure that the flow oversized bowl with a beautiful flower adding throw pillows. Place a few on your arrangement or plant will immediately sofa or on a bed to add a little pattern, and from room to room is cohesive?

A general color scheme through fabrics captivate your attention while creating a if you want to switch things up later it’ll be an easy fix! and accessories is a great way to keep the sense of warmth in the space. flow cohesive. You might use a specific Most of us feel overwhelmed color in a bold way in one room but just a 5. Do you recommend using the “Rule 7. hint of it might be present in another. of Three” when accessorizing your accessorizing our own spaces. How do you suggest getting started?

Using varying shades of one color is home?

It’s great to start with one piece as your The rule of three is great when another way to maintain flow without inspiration.

You might start with a accessorizing bookshelves or coffee tables, feeling restricted by just one color. but when it comes to styling a dresser or a beautiful piece of art or a pair of pillows 3. What are the fundamentals of mixing mantle it is often better to use pairs for and then start layering from there. Have balance. Sometimes it’s best to just use fun with your accessories. Because they’re patterns and prints?

Mixing patterns and prints is a great your instincts though and see what you interchangeable you can always swap way to create more interest in a space. like the best. Some rules are made to be things around when you want a change!

38 September/October 2020

Q&A WITH

Pam Whitfield

Magnolia Lighting Owner 2206 JACKSON AVE WEST 662-236-0025 MAGNOLIALIGHTING.COM

1. What is trending in interior lighting for style, finishes and color?

Black and gold are the trend in interior lighting. Either finish is great alone or together. Black has made a major surge in popularity in the last year. Gold is also a very hot finish. Some golds are brushed metallic, others are painted finishes but all are beautiful and equally as popular.

2. Where should one start when updating lighting fixtures?

A great place to start when someone wants to update fixtures is the front door, coach lights. Front porch lights are some of the most important lights in the house.

They are the first thing guest see when approaching the house. A beautiful entry creates a welcoming atmosphere for any home. Otherwise the dining or breakfast is often where people want to start. The light they see the most is always a good place to start.

3. How can you pair lighting fixtures of different styles?

You can pair light fixtures of different

styles but most people stay in a similar style to make their house feel coherent. It is not uncommon for a customer to step out of the box in their master bed and bath and use something totally different from the rest of the house.

4. What is trending in dining room fixtures?

Linear chandeliers are a huge trend in dining rooms. I think this started with the farm tables and the farm house look but has carried over to every style. Open cages are also a great look in the dining room.

5. What tips would you offer in selecting the perfect lighting fixture for an entryway?

Knowing the ceiling height is so important. So many people want fixtures that are too big for their space. After establishing the right size, looking at the other fixtures that will be seen from the entry is important to create a flow from one room to the other.

6. What is the advantage of using LED lighting over other lighting?

LED is more energy efficient and lasts much longer than regular incandescent. It is the only option for most applications of residential lighting. Incandescent bulbs are still available in candle-base bulbs for chandeliers but everything else is LED.

7. What is the best way to achieve the perfect lighting in a living room?

It is always good to have recess lighting in a living room to make sure there is sufficient, even lighting in the living room space. This is very important if the customer wants to use a ceiling fan. Light kits for fans are somewhat limited in the light output so a large room can be hard to light from the fan. Even when a chandelier is used, it’s great to have recessed lighting to create a layer of light for function and ambience.

8. What is trending in outdoor lighting?

Black, Black and more black. Straight lines are popular even in the traditional styles. Gas lanterns are also very popular.

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Q&A WITH

Clay Martin

General Manager STOUT'S CARPET & FLOORING, INC. 2 PRIVATE RD 2050, OXFORD, MS 38655 (662) 234-5227 HTTPS://WWW.STOUTSFLOORING.COM/

1. How to you determine what size a rug should be used?

In order to determine what size rug you need, you first need to get the dimensions of the room where the rug will be. The typical rule of thumb is that you want to keep a minimum of at least an eight inch gap between the edge of your rug and the wall. You’ll also want to consider leaving enough walking space for higher traffic areas. If you’re having a custom rug made you should note any angles or oddly shaped areas and furniture.

If you’re considering a rug pad for underneath your rug you should get the rug’s overall dimensions and then remove one and a half inches from each side so that the rug falls down flat over the edge of the pad.

2. What is trending in flooring this year.

In terms of colors cool tones seem to be more popular right now regardless of floor covering type. These lighter colors tend to brighten up a room and help it to feel clean and open. Wood-look waterproof flooring options like luxury vinyl plank, laminate, and tile are very popular, especially in a wider plank. Tile has been trending towards larger format tiles for a while now. Using unique patterns and colors will allow you to make a statement in smaller spaces like powder rooms, laundry rooms, and backsplashes without going way over budget. Like many trends, flooring trends seem to start on the west 40 September/October 2020

coast so things that are now popular here have often been trending out west for several years.

3. What is the difference between berber, frieze and plush carpeting and what are the benefits of each?

Berbers have a tight-looped weave that gives it a couple of performance advantages: stains have a tough time penetrating, and it doesn’t show vacuum marks or footprints. The durability and unique style are why some people love berber carpets.

Frieze’s look distinguishes it from other carpets. It has a “knobby” and twisted appearance. It’s somewhat like a shorter, neater shag. It’s made with a tight twist construction that improves durability but isn’t necessarily great for higher traffic areas.

Plush carpets are ideal for formal rooms. They have a dense and elegant appearance. They are considered higherend carpets and are usually constructed well. One downside of this design is that it shows imperfections easily.

4. What kind of flooring is best for homes with indoor pets.

Vinyl Flooring is a popular flooring option for families with pets. Luxury vinyl tile are highly durable, long-lasting, and resistant to moisture, scratches and dents.

They are also easy to maintain and come in both wood looks and tile looks.

5. How do you determine what flooring will compliment current decor?

Deciding what flooring looks best with your current decor can be tough, but our team can help you with that. Bringing in paint swatches, fabric samples or cabinet doors are good ways to help decide what looks best with your decor. It’s often best to take home samples since your lighting and paint can influence decision.

6. How do you keep hard woods looking new?

You can start by dry mopping your wood floors, vacuuming (without the beater on) and using cleaning sprays when needed. We suggest using Bona Hardwood cleaning system. Never use Murphy’s oil or Mop and Glow as these cleaners can leave a film that can be hard to get off and dulls the floors. Keeping your wood floors dry is very important so be sure to clean up any spills right away if possible.

Prevent scratching by picking up furniture when moving it and placing felt pads under barstools and chairs can be helpful. Solid hardwoods can be refinished to freshen them up after years of abuse.

7. Which is longer lasting ceramic or porcelain tile?

Porcelain is harder, more dense, and tougher than ceramic tile. It is less porous than ceramic and has a very low water absorption rate which is why it is the preferred option in showers and outdoor spaces.

Q&A WITH

Sunny BillingsleyBaddour

Outside Builder Sales and Showroom Designer FERGUSON BATH, KITCHEN & LIGHTING GALLERY 8100 MACON STATION ROAD, SUITE 110 CORDOVA, TN 38018 | 901-759-3820 WWW.FERGUSONSHOWROOMS.COM

What is trending for outdoor kitchens this year?

Outdoor living spaces and kitchens have continued to grow over the past few years.

Being able to entertain outside is always desirable in the South, whether it’s for a small family get together or a large gathering for the opening day of college football.

What I’ve seen trending is the ability to have the outdoor space be an extension of your indoor living space through stacking, pocket or bi-folding glass doors. It helps remove the physical barrier between the spaces, bringing the open air feel into the entire home. I know men, especially, love having the ability to be outside and watch a game on the tv, grill burgers or steaks, and have a cold beverage without having to be in the house.

was such a fun project. They are an active, outgoing couple and love to entertain. One of Katelin’s biggest wishes was to be able to cook her famous gumbo and Cajunbased cuisine outside in this massive cast iron Dutch oven that’s been passed down in her family for generations. We were able to accomplish this by putting the Alfresco power burner to the side of the grill. It can accommodate massive stock pots for deep-frying, crawfish boils, etc.

We also wanted the area to be warm and cozy because it is an extension of their home. Their family spends a lot of time outside by the pool. They have very much enjoyed the space and will for years to come.

are one of my favorite products as well. As long as its new construction or a remodel, it’s fairly simple and not a huge expense.

The heaters can be wall or ceiling mounted with a control for easy access. It’s a perfect way to have a heated area during the winter months. Who wants to only enjoy their outdoor space for half the year?

What layout do you recommend?

The layout for an outdoor kitchen is the same as an indoor space. You want the “work triangle”. If your space is more limited to just a single wall of cabinetry and appliances, make sure you think about how you plan to use the area. First you prep, second you cook, third you plate.

Don’t overcrowd the area either. Make What amenities do you recommend in sure there is enough counter top space to prep, plate and serve. an outdoor kitchen?

Some of my favorite brands for outdoor appliances are Edgestar and Avallon What price range do you recommend?

How much space do you need?

Outdoor kitchens can be quite pricey, My top recommendations and best piece (these give you a lot of bang for your buck) but there are affordable ways to do it. You and Alfresco.

Alfresco is definitely a luxury of advice is to do your research and have can spend a few thousand dollars on brand, but the features and product someone help you plan the place according to your needs. One of the first questions I offering is incredible. They also offer free appliances plus the cabinetry and tops or ask clients when starting an outdoor design services. You can visit a Ferguson you can have a massive, elaborate space kitchen space is “what is your goal for the showroom to make selections. All you and spend tens of thousands of dollars. If space?”. Outdoor appliances vary greatly need are the general dimensions of the you have an existing cabinet space outside in price according to brand and features. It space and products you selected. Alfresco and want to add a small grill or under can be overwhelming when looking at has a team that will draw up an outdoor counter appliances, it’s a pretty easy fix and cost a minimal amount of money for reviews online. I always recommend kitchen to scale. material and labor. New construction I always recommend a built-in grill and finding a professional to help lay out the space and find the best products to meet refrigeration. Being able to cook and have outdoor kitchens with a built-in grill, beverages, cocktail mixers and even store refrigeration, sink and lighting generally your needs and budget. some food/condiments outside makes the will average around $10,000 for Can you give an example of an outdoor cooking process a breeze. It eliminates the everything. However, it is definitely an need to go in-and-out of the house for a investment in the equity of your home and kitchen you designed and the results?

Working with Lee and Katelin Walker cold drink or more marinade. Patio heaters can be well worth the expense.

OxfordMag.com 41

IN STYLE

Styles for the Fall in Oxford

By Jacob Palmer

rme Fall is a special time in Oxford. The weather begins to cool down and leaves start to change. The community begins enjoying the cooler weather by walking around the Square and hiking on the nature trails around town. The boys of fall begin their new seasons at the high school and college level, with fans cheering and soaking in the fall weather.

Students return to Oxford excited for a new school year. Our charming streets draw students, visitors, and fans alike outside to enjoy fall in Oxford. Men and women begin getting ready for hunting season to start and enjoy the outdoors’ peace. Introducing the fall styles for men and women to help you enjoy being out this fall for is Hinton and Hinton and Vincent Outfitters.

OxfordMag.com 43

IN STYLE

Hinton and Hinton 1. DURBARRY GALWAY COUNTRY BOOT Warm, waterproof and breathable the iconic Dubarry Galway Country boot meets the challenge of a day of hunting and crossing rough wet terrain while still being comfortable .

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2. MEN’S TOM BECKBE TENSAW JACKET The Tom Beckbe Tensaw Jacket is designed for those brisk fall mornings and nights when hunting or enjoying the outdoors.

3. ON CLOUD SHOES This shoe is made for adventure and can be worn all day and comes in earth tones.

4. WOMEN’S LOVELY BIRD MALIBU HAT Set the pace for style this fall wearing this specially made, one-of-a-kind hat.

3 5. WOMEN’S WAXED BARBOUR COAT IN SAGE The waxed Barbour coat is an all-season versatile medium weight coat that will keep you warm in the changing temperatures of the fall while still looking stylish.

6. FILSON DRYDEN CAMO BACKPACK The Filson Dryden Backpack is ideal for hiking and spending time outdoors, withstanding the bumps of everyday use and weather-resistant.

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IN STYLE

Vincent Outfitters

Vincent Outfitters is offering a 10% Student discount on purchases with a valid student I.D.

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4 1. BOUTIQUE BY CORKYS SWIFTON SNAKE SKIN BOOTIES The Snake Skin booties are stylish and can be styled with skinny jeans, sweaters, and graphic tees to make a statement this fall.

2. CARHARTT BUFFALO HAT The Carhartt Buffalo Hat helps wicks away sweat with the sweatband on the inside for comfort and comes in various colors to fit your style.

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3. CARHARTT LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT The Carhartt Long sleeve T-shirt helps keep you warm during those fall days and nights and allows you to stay outside longer and enjoy the fall weather.

4. BRUMATE HOPSULATOR SLIM Coming in a variety of colors, Brumate is the ultimate beverage holder keeping your drinks cold and looking stylish in your hand while enjoying the fall weather with friends or enjoying games this fall.

5. OXFORD TEE The Oxford Tee is the perfect lightweight shirt to enjoy the afternoon weather while hiking or being active around town.

6. ARIAT CIRCUIT PATRIOT WESTERN BOOT Make a statement in this classic western boot that is comfortable and tough. This boot is perfect for both hunting and enjoying the outdoors, and going out on the town.

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5

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Lisa Howorth Oxford Author

PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT

What drew you to use Washington DC where you grew up as the setting for this cold war era historical novel?

At some point, leading my adult life in Oxford, I realized that growing up in Washington was not like growing up anywhere else, and mine was a pretty fascinating childhood and neighborhood. I decided that I really wanted to document that time--1959-- and place, very important in American history, but also for other reasons.

My kids, growing up in Oxford, had a childhood that wasn’t so different from mine-pretty much running amok without phones and computers--but since I now have grands, their lives are so vastly different: gone are many of the great, simple games, the innocence, and the freedom. I wanted to show all that, and how much crazy trouble kids in the fifties had the freedom to get into, especially in my ‘hood.

Lisa Howorth was born in Washington, D.C., where her family has lived for four generations. She is a former librarian and the author of the novel Flying Shoes. She has written on art, travel, dogs, and music for the Oxford American and Garden & Gun, among other publications. Howorth lives in Oxford, Mississippi, where she and her husband, Richard, founded Square Books in 1979.

kids are confused about everything-neighborhood spy rumors, refugees, a suspicious plague that’s hit Washington, Russians, the Bomb, why a Jewish family and a Dutch Nazi sympathizer don’t get along, race, sex, and deep family dysfunction, and What are your favorite songs from your why a shocking tragedy occurs. John only reveals how the kids perceived all that, often “playlist” from the book?

Hmm...that’s a hard one, since I mostly mistakenly, and the dawning of their only chose my favorites! I guess I’d say one of confrontations with the truth. the rockabilly numbers, like Janis Martin’s cover of Roy Orbison’s “Ooby Dooby,” or Link How is releasing Summerlings in paperback Wray’s “Rumble,”--both were popular in different from a promotion standpoint D.C., which was kind of a rockabilly hub for than when you released it in hardback last musicians coming out of Virginia and North year before Covid-19?

It’s just pretty nuts now, and I’m sad for Carolina. But then I adore “Hey! Bo Diddley,” maybe because Bo was a Mississippian who authors whose new books are just now being came from Chicago to live for a while in D.C. released--publishers are doing their best, but Does anyone else remember the wild night he now, to a certain extent you’re on your own: played at Lafayette’s (now the Library) and desperate times require desperate self-hornWynton Marsalis and his band rushed in to tooting, I’ve been saying. But authors are catch his show after finishing their gig on doing virtual events, and other tactics to get their books out there. (Just yesterday I got You have so many references to 1959 campus? Man! two messages from authors wanting help popular music, movie releases now how did you research the pop culture references How different is it to tell a story about promoting their books). SUMMERLINGS cold war spies with the first person being came out last summer, so I guess I’m lucky in woven into your book Summerlings? that regard, but a lot of the big book fairs and Well, a lot of that stuff I just remember! But a child?

PR events I was scheduled to do this past Actually, the narrator is John, one of the I’m a former reference librarian from the days when research was done in books, so I gang of neighbor kids, telling the story as an winter and spring were cancelled by the loved reading around for info I could use, and adult looking back. But I tried to make him pandemic. I think Doubleday intended for to fact-check my memory. Of course, I did use good at telling it like it was, without revealing my paperback to do well as a good summer online sources, too. (I sent wiki $20 in too much adult reflection and understanding read this summer, but...So I’m very grateful gratitude!). For me, it’s so, so important to get of what was happening then, so as not to spoil to Oxford Magazine and others for any the pop culture right in creating a time--the the mystery and coming-of-age themes. The attention now.

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clothes, food, games, slang, cars, and especially for the fifties, the movies and music. But you need to not let things get gratuitous in the writing; you have to, as you say, weave them in as naturally as possible.

The author in 1959

OxfordMag.com 47

OUT & ABOUT

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4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT

City of Oxford Independence Day Fireworks were held at Oxford High School on July 3, 2020.

1. Dylan and Nolan Eubanks with Emma Aven 2. Ann and Jerry Locke 3.

Jim and Marge McCauley

4. Marilyn and Dick Frey 5. Jim and Marge McCauley, Marilyn and Dick Frey, Lauren and Larry Agster with Ronnie and Karen Johnson 6. Aa’Miyah Seals with Latoya, Danny Jr, Danny Sr and Dextinee Tillman 7. Jarred, Lincoln and Brittni Hancock 8. Zach and Jamie Adams 9. Michelle Ard, Cole Crestman, Mary Michael Swaanson and Clayton Ard 10. Savannah, Samantha, Justin, Sarah and Kaleb Towery

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11. Eryn Manucy, Elly Purdon, Cayden Owens and Shanitra Bowen 12. Ashton and Brooks Pearson

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Virtual visits and more!

Subscribe to 5th and University— our monthly email— to find out about virtual galleries and exhbitions as well as the latest news on re-opening to the public. Stay safe and thanks for the heart-warming support, Oxford! tracking.wordfly.com/join/ UniversityofMississippiMuseum/

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COMMUNITY MARKET

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Community Market is held each Tuesday afternoons 3-6 P.M. at the Old Armory Pavilion. This photo was taken in August 2020.

1. lex and Jennifer Sylvester 2. Blake Martin and Ashton Suehs 3. Emma Counce and Walker Fortenberry 4. Claire and Sally Rychlak 5. Joan and Eddie Luchenbach 6. Leslie Spence and Lisa Gathright 7. Johnny and Katie Arnold 8.

Cameron Bryant and Marissa Wyant

9. Anne Regan Watson and Forrest Smith 10. Jasoor, Rania, Malak and Batool Albadry 11. Caroline Bailey and Neely Griggs 12. Ebonee Carpenter and Nequel Burwell 13. Buffie Yarbrough and Judy Ward 14. Hope and Emily Akin 15. Catherine Robinson and Anna Grace Usery 16. Mike and Katie Sanderock 17. Anthony and Nancy Sanders 18. Alexandria White and Betsy Chapman 19. Peter and Rebecca Cleary 20. Caroline Bailey and her Flowers 21. Mason Wilkes and Mackenzie Christensen 50 September/October 2020

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DESTINATION OXFORD CAR SHOW

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Destination Oxford Cruise & Car Show took place August 8, 2020.

1. Amy Emmons, Justin Lovins, Andy Kenton, Linda and Tony “Doc” Provenza 2. Donna and Hermon Buck 3. Carroll and Keith Allen 4. Henry and James Huebner 5. Millie, Lenzie and Alex Crosby 6. Cassidy and Mark Shoemake 7. Anna Kathryn Colbert and Sarah McCullen 8. Jack Stribling, Pam Bruce and J Sartin 9. Keith and Carroll Allen.

10. Chris and Kristie McCammon, Kensley Walls and Kayle McCammon 11. Jeanette Wells and Esteban Bishop 12. Brady and Bennett Hill 13. Lacey Rikard, Kathryn Hathorne and Collin Hill 14. Walt Geminn and Ellie Beard 15. Hanna Teevan 16. Olivia and Brooklyn Harwell 17. Anthony Simpson and Walter Echols 18. Nicole, Evan and Clay Wilson

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MORE THAN A MEAL

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More Than A Meal drive through pickup for food was held each Tuesday in August.

1. Terra Montgomery and Sharon Thomas 2. Sarah McLellan packing books 3. Campbell and Susan Helveston 4. Christian and Phil Maynard 5. Candice McKenzie and Annette Price 6. Barbara Lee an Josie Neely 7. Bonnie Tyson and Sammy Wiley 8. Vassor Joiner 9. Chef Jeffrey Robinson

54 September/October 2020

Marketplace Oxford Magazine • 662.234.4331

Allen’s Flooring. Harwood Installing and sanding.

Ceramic tile, showers, back splashes, vinyl and carpet. www.allenscpd.com 662714-0098

Anthony’s Lawn Care 662380-0290 FULL SERVICE LAWN & TREE CARE •Flower Beds •Weed/Edging •Blowing •Light Tree Work •Gutter Cleaning •ETC. amp. hilliard@gmail.com COW FEED •Damaged Corn & Soybean •Cotton Gin Trash *High in Protein •5x5 Mixed Grass Hay *Fertilized,Net Wrap Semitruck delivery available only Please call: 731-676-0857 B & B Concrete. Est. 1949. 70 years experience.

Delivering quality ready-mix concrete since 1949. 662234-7088 Cambridge Station Apartments 662-2341801 801 Forntage Rd. Oxford, MS 38655 NOW LEASING FOR 2020 www. liveatcambridges tationapts.com Notice: Go to www. circleiauction.com and click on “Roman Road Ministries” page.

PEACHES Cherry Creek Orchard Opening MidMay Call:662-489-7783 Also Taking Pre-Orders: •Purple Hull Peas •Tomatoes •Blackberries •Watermelons Call:662-760-0672 or 662489-7783 Communicare Overdose Prevention/Education Grant Positions •Project Director - Master’s Preferred, Bachelor’s and Mental Health Experience Required •Outreach Coordinator/ Trainer - Bachelor’s Degree

or Experience in Mental Health/Training Submit Resumes: kclinton@ oxfordcommunicare.com

Alterations and More • Window Treatment • Small Upholstery • Cushion and Pillows and More Oxford, MS & Surrounding Areas Call for More Information.

(662)816-9804 DSL RENTALS 328 Hayat Loop,3BR/2BA, includes refrigerator, washer/dryer, microwave $1,500/month plus deposit required Oxford School District, zoned residential, fenced in yard Available 08/01/20 Call: 662296-8225 DOMINO’S OXFORD NOW HIRING DRIVERS AT BOTH LOCATIONS! REQUIREMENTS: •Insurance •Clean Driving Record •Nights & Weekends availability a must Apply in person or at: jobs.dominos. com Faulkner Flats Apartments 662-234-1801 2998 Old Taylor Road Oxford, MS 38655 NOW LEASING FOR 2020 www.liveatfaulknerflats. com H&L Underbrush, Yard Work & Much More. 662-473-4974 662-714-0132 HAWKINS HANDYMAN Lawn & Tree Removal.

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MARKETPLACE

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Attention Hunters!!! It’s time to do your Deer Fields Again! If you don’t have time or the way to plant them, I will, Bush Hog, Disc Up and Plant them for you.If not I will get them ready for you to plant. I have over 45 years of experience, you won’t be disappointed! • Call or Text: 662-816-6874 or 662-8163211 GIGANTIC FURNITURE AUCTION Stay Tuned For More Information Call Rudy 662-346-1965 •Auctioneer: KRISTIE KASIMAKIS MS LIC #1409 Follow Us On Auction Zip & Facebook ***ALL MAJOR CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED

LAFAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTIRCT NOW HIRING BUS DRIVERS AND SUBSTITUTE DRIVERS•CDL License/Background Check Required. Offering Insurance Benefits for Full Time Drivers.To Apply Complete online application at: www.gocommodores.org Questions contact:Lafayette County School Bus 662234-4552 Lafayette County School District 662-234-3271 Lexington Pointe Apartments 662-281-0402 2000 Lexington Pointe Dr, Oxford, MS 38655 NOW LEASING FOR 2020 www. liveatlexingtonpointeapts. com Pyces ITS Healthcare is seeking RNS, LPNs, and CNAs to provide healthcare services. Must be licensed in MS. Please send resumes: cynthia.house@pycesitshealthcare.com 662-2982019 Sardis Community Nursing Home Now hiring •CERTIFIED NURSING

ASSISTANTS (CNAs) Competitive Pay & Benefits Send Resume: cgassion@ asimgt.com Apply in person: 613 East Lee Street, Sardis Southern Healthcare Agency. LPN’s Needed Day Time Hours. Home Care Setting. $18 per hour.

Oxford, MS. Call 601-9330037 Or email resumes to: jscott@southernhealthcare. com

TRAILER WORLD Goosenecks, Equipment, Stock & Enclosed Trailers.

Mid-South’s Largest Selection. SOUTHLAND CO. Batesville, MS 662-563-9428 Office space for rent: Single office includes all utilities and use of common area. Also 2500 square feet available. 662-902-7135 or w.stevecox@gmail.com Tommy’s Refinishing & Repair LLC Professional antique restoration since 1974. 188 CR 215, Oxford.

662-816-7135 Estate purchasing/appraisal services.

4BR/3BA All Appliances $1200 deposit & $1200/ month College Hill Area Available August 5th Call 662-473-2114 Cozart’s Professional House Cleaning • Need a house cleaner? I’m ready when you are! 662-469-1193 References Available Patton’s Home Remodleing •Painting•Remodeling •Sun Decks•Additions •Room Additions•Plumbing •Electrical•Shingles •Metal Roofing •Mobile Home Repairs •Privacy & Chain Link Fences FREE ESTIMATES State Licensed & Insured 662-852-9720

A & A Care at Heart Please let us provide you with great service & companionship to your loved ones! Let us give your loved ones the best care at heart in the comfort of their own homes. Call (662)816-1589 LCSW or LPC: MississippiCare is accepting applications for a Full Time LCSW or LPC to work our clinics in Oxford and Pontotoc. Duties: Direct clinical services, clinical & admin processes & compliant documentation.

Qualifications: Masters degree in Social Work or PhD in Clinical Psychology preferred; Telehealth experience and Substance abuse treatment experience preferred. Other licensure may be considered. 2 year experience preferred. Apply at www.mississippicare.net.

EOE DFW Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church Enid, MS Seeking Pastor Requirements: •Minister experienced in Baptist church operations. •Reside locally. Est. 1865, recently remodeled, Mount Pleasant is a premiere church in the Sardis District Missionary Baptist Association. -13mi. from Batesville -“Modern Rural Church” on 5+ acres -active membership of ~125 Submit: -Letter of interest -Resume of Christian Credentials and Service (Statement of faith, ordination information) -3+ references Pastoral Search Committee Contactmpmbc@ gmail.com Bonita Johnson Hayes PO Box 1883 Batesville, MS 38606 662563-0812 662-809-6116”

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SAID AND DONE

KEEP YOUR SHIRT ON

T COUNTRIBUTING EDITOR JIM DEES is a writer and longtime host of Thacker Mountain Radio. He is the author of The Statue and the Fury - A Year of Art, Race, Music and Cocktails.

56 September/October 2020

his year-like-no-other rolls on into a fall-likeno other, promising more of the not same.

The new normal becomes old quickly.

Indeed, with the lead time of a print publication (it is early July as I write), who knows into what world this magazine will arrive two months hence.

As you read this, the question of Ole Miss football being played with fans in the stands is answered. My guess is games will commence but with fan restrictions.

After all, us couch commandos have proven we are zombie enough to sit and watch 30-year-old games on television – even when we know who won.

As my dear, departed dad would say when asked why he was watching South Dakota Tech versus East New Mexico Poly Institute: “They playin’ ain’t they?”

What about the Grove? There is so much blood and generational angst attached to one’s tailgate location, one’s “spot.” (Guilty). It is that hallowed patch of grass (or pavement) where decades of man and woman hours have gone into shooing flies off curdled potato salad, over-cooking hamburgers, hiding the booze from Uncle Brother and feigning interest in strangers - all in insane temperatures and 11 am kickoffs; faithfully supporting the Rebels through thin and thin – Who is going to tell that fan they have to move?

And of course, the biggest question: how much whiskey breath does it take to ignite a face mask into blue flames?

Meanwhile, all around us, good ole Mom Nature is rocking her business, staying on schedule.

Summer rains begat a lush landscape that brought the woods to our back door and at my shelter-inplace, a skink took up temporary residence in the house. I’m not the ugliest guy in the room when he’s around. Of course, the slimy Mr. Skink is Brad Pitt compared to the garden slug just outside the door.

There is a beauty hierarchy in the animal world, just like humans, but I digress.

The creature contretemps exploding in my backyard are small spuds compared to reports of murder hornets, flying snakes and meth gators (see Google). Still, in these pandemic days, the human world has become as precarious as the four-legged– the unknown is cackling around every corner.

I ponder such puzzles amid the sticky steam of an Oxford summer. For solace, it is my practice to enjoy a cold, bracing beverage with the air conditioning

popped up to high/cool and the television off. To add to the ambience, I’ve obtained favorable results by slipping on a silk Hawaiian shirt (instant comfort) and cranking boogaloo music at top volume; Latin grooves with heavy percussion and cha cha piano and horns. Good for the soul; a palate cleanser for the psyche.

To add insult to pandemic, one discovers the term “boogaloo” is being hijacked by wacko extremist groups who call themselves “Boogaloos” and use the name to promote violence. And, of course, their chosen uniform to ID themselves to fellow believers (mostly 20 somethings, still living with mom) as they parade around with automatic weapons, is… the Hawaiian shirt, that flapping, flowery symbol of breezes in paradise.

In the immortal words of the Dude Lebowski, “This aggression will not stand, man.”

First boogaloo music. If you’re experiencing pandemic panic, seek out boogaloo music. At YouTube, after typing in “boogaloo,” sadly, the first three or four listings are perfectly good songs (Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down”) now grouped under a series of hater Boogaloo playlists. A deeper scroll reveals the goods, the true world of boogaloo, spanning from the 1950s to present. Names like Ray Lugo and the Boogaloo Destroyers, Dave “Baby” Cortez and Johnny Zamont and His Latinos. Cha cha don’t hate.

And as for Hawaiian shirts, weekend duffers who spend five bucks on a Walmart print, only to stretch it out over a $30,000 beer gut, aren’t going to turn aloha and boogaloo into terrorism. Not on my watch, pal. Devoid of irony, allergic to nuance, these booga losers rally racial hatred around music and culture purveyed by people of color. Then it’s back to mom’s basement.

Do they have any idea about the decades-long process undertaken by native Hawaiians to develop the silk aloha shirt? The care and attention to fabric and color? How the garment was the forerunner to Casual Friday? (See The Art of the Aloha Shirt, Island Heritage Publishing).

I will give up my Hawaiian shirt when they pry my cold, cocktail-cooled fingers from its silky threads.

Likewise, I will proudly boogaloo all night long… or at least until ten when I have to take my meds and go to bed.

And the year of the not same rolls on.

OXFORD MAGAZINE

O xford M ag . com

S eptember /O ctober 2020