Legends Nov/Dec 2011

mississippilegends.com 1

4 november. december 2011

Publisher �� Marianne Todd execuTive ediTor �� Jayne cannon creaTive direcTor ��shawn T� King coPy ediTor ��chris banks designer ��shawn T� King

adverTising salescat owen - 601-917-4435

cat@Mississippilegends�com

Ken Flynt, director - 601-479-3351Ken@Mississippilegends�com

editorial - 601-604-2963 editor@Mississippilegends�com

contributing writers: dr� bill scaggs, lhay browning Thriffiley, leigh anne Whittle and Jenny enderlin

contributing photographers: austin nelson, richie Wireman

Web calendar tech: James sharp (www�Mississippilegends�com) email calendar submissions to James@Mississippilegends�com

legends would like to give a special shout-out to our fine printer, cJK Print Pos-sibilities of cincinnati, ohio, and special thanks to Mark Wurm, Jamey cullup and

all the great pressmen at cJK for their outstanding excellence in service, consistent work quality and continued dedication to blue south Publishing�

copyright 2011� all rights reserved� no portion of this publication may be repro-duced or reprinted without express permission of the publisher� The opinions and

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About our cover Musician Patrick sansone of the bands Wilco and The autumn defense is currently on tour in europe� The grammy-winning musician talked to legends about his musical upbring-ing in Mississippi and why family is so greatly important to his career�

cover photo by austin nelson/courtesy Wilco

Contents november / deCember 2011

Music

4 The Resurgence of CabaretUSM’s Maryann Kyle takes her act from Mississippi to New York

10 Meridian’s Peppermint Pops Rings in the Season

16 The Bottling Company is Back(and Hattiesburg Couldn’t be Happier!)

24 On the Road with Patrick SansoneThe Wilco and The Autumn Defense artist talks about his Mississippi roots

Features

22 Book Review: Steel Wheels Rolling

32 Saving CotesworthHow a 160-Year-Old Home Became a Retreat for Lovers of Law and Art

45 The Creative Economy 101It’s Time for Mississippi to Get Up Off Our Assets

50 Cotton Ginnovations, the New House of Art And it all began with an old gin …

culinary arts

54 Jackson’s CharWhere rich and luscious foods meet a decided sophistication

60 Southbound to Heaven Hattiesburg’s little taste of Europe, Mississippi-style


Marianne Todd Publisher

— letter from the publisher —Dear Readers,

It’s hard to believe an entire year has passed us by already. As I put down my camera and prepare to wrap up the November/December issue, marking our one-year anniversary, the Grateful Dead’s words ring in my ears. It’s been a long, strange trip indeed. Six issues after we first pioneered this wonderful new animal called LEGENDS, we’re finding our footing on some very solid ground. The Creative Economy in Mississippi is taking root and sprouting. Communities are taking notice as we sweep in, collect their unique stories and weave them into the fabric of this creative book. Readers turn pages in amazement as they discover one fantastic Mississippi find after another – then make plans to hit the road to search out these incredible stories for themselves. This edition is largely focused on our Pine Belt area – Hattiesburg with its eclectic music professionals, eateries and venues; Jackson’s nightclub shows and restaurants; Meridian’s popular music scene. More

is yet to come. In January we’ll take readers to the Mississippi Opera, discover Curious George’s fascinating Mississippi connection, hit Gulf Coast waters for some scrumptious catch and we’ll say farewell to one of the most popular and fascinating couples of our generation, Gov. and Mrs. Haley Barbour, as they leave office in pursuit of grandparent bliss. The year ahead is laced with one exploration after another as we journey through our beloved state. We’ll continue to bring to you our larger-than-life photography and informative, captivating stories. As we head for your area, be sure and drop us a line. Let us know what life is like in your neck of the woods and who’s creating their own Mississippi LEGENDS story. We’re just an email away.

Until next time,

Marianne

24 54

32 4

Marianne gets serious about shooting.



— the resurgence of —

cabaretfeature

USM's Kyle launches spectacular Mississippi/New York show

Words and PhotograPhs by Marianne todd

The room is jam-packed and waiting silently for

the show to begin at Jackson’s Underground 119. Suddenly, a door next to a grand piano swings open and in glides Maryann Kyle. She steps into her performance area, then unexpectedly reaches into her bra and pulls out the fluffy cutlets that have thus far given an ample fullness to her bosom. In one swift motion, she throws them across the room. The audience explodes with laughter. Kyle perches on the set’s couch and begins her cabaret with “What a jerk. He doesn’t even bother to look up. He just stares at my resume and says, “Honey, you’re a little old to be playing the ingénue.’ Who’s he calling old?” The story of her latest failed audition unfolds. Within the first two minutes of her performance the ice is broken and the audience is bought, having become so engrossed with the show that they can hardly take their eyes off her to order a drink. “’Sondheim in the City’ is loosely based on my life,” says Kyle. “Actually, it’s my life in reverse. I wrote the dialogue, and I chose Stephen Sondheim’s music because his women have some age on them and have

life experiences. They’re usually going through the trauma of aging and trying to figure out their place in life.” The premise is that Kyle, who has just auditioned for the part of an ingénue (a youthful character), has been told she’s too old for the part. Between song and dialogue, Kyle reminisces about her life and the sacrifices she’s made to further her stage career. She tells of romance and lost loves and how she has worked to get parts by auditioning, and

auditioning, and auditioning – and auditioning. “So the ultimate question is, ‘Did I make the right choice in sacrificing a relationship and a family for a career?’” Kyle, a 45-year-old mother of two, opened ‘Sondheim in the City’ in Jackson in September, then took the show to the Laurie Beechman Theatre in New York for a performance on Oct. 1, which frequently hosts performances by well-knowns like Joan Rivers. The show was a huge hit in part because www.broadwayworld.com, a leading authority on NYC arts and entertainment, posted a full press release, she says, a rare occurence. “I’m a relative unknown in New York,” Kyle says. “I’ve done some teaching there, but I got to New


in new york, the resurgence of the cabaret is due to the economy. these are innovative shows that are an economical and appealing way of getting material out. it’s actually very hot.”“


York and started practicing with my pianist, Daniel Lincoln, and he went bonkers over my show. He called his friend at broadwayworld.com and they printed the whole release.” “They certainly don’t print every press release I send them,” says Lincoln. “There’s a lot going on in New York in the theater scene, and they certainly uphold high standards of who they will recommend.” Lincoln lives in New York, but says he met Kyle in Hattiesburg, where his father lives. “We got on like a house fire,” he says. “We knew we wanted to work together, so when she decided to bring ‘Sondheim in the City’ to New York, I was the first to get the call.” Lincoln says he was well pleased with audience response. “The reaction was phenomenal,” Lincoln says. “When the show was over the manager walked up to her and asked her when she was coming back – and that just does not happen. That’s the ultimate stamp of approval. In New York there’s one Sondheim show after another so to stand out from the crowd really requires something very extraordinary and special. Maryann is an incredibly versataile performer with a Hurculean range both vocally and as an actress.” The performance brings Kyle’s voice from classical to belting to Broadway and back to classical as she dances with a coat rack, sings to a photo of Sondheim and sprawls on the couch in one sleek move after another. “I have admired her singing for as long as I’ve known her,” says Kyle’s husband, Jay Dean. Dean occupies the director’s chair of orchestral activities at the University of Southern Mississippi, the Hattiesburg Concert Association, FestivalSouth and the Natchez Festival of Music and the artistic director’s chair of the Mississippi Opera. “She is one of those singers who has a very special quality to her voice, and while most of her singing is in the area of classical music and opera, she’s one of those few singers that has the ability to venture off into other styles of music. Not only is she a naturally excellent singer, she’s also a very smart and studied singer. She’s always experimenting outside of her comfort zone. ” The combination of experimentation and a faltering economy is what drives cabaret, Kyle says. “When cabaret first started, they were in smaller, comfortable venues, where people could try out new material. It was more economical,” Kyle says. “People could come in and enjoy food and drink and a quality show. In New York, the resurgence of the cabaret is due to the economy. These are innovative shows that are an economical and appealing way of getting material out. It’s actually very hot.” Cabaret began in Germany before World War II as a way for very famous singers to pack houses night after night and try out


upcoming mississippi performances:Nov. 19 – Manoni Performing Arts Center,

University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg 7:30 p.m. March 3 – The Temple Theater for the Performing Arts, Meridian, 7:30 p.m.

about maryann kyle

Associate professor of voice at the University of Southern Mississippi

Director of the Southern Opera and Music Theatre Company’s Outreach and Workshop Program

Creator of Command Performance Workshop, which focuses on the integration of the voice into the total actor

Vocal coach of belt, legit and classical vocal techniques

Teaches, coaches and performs opera, recitals, concerts and Broadway shows

Vocal coach for Twist, a new musical by composers Tena Clark and Gary Prim, and directed by Debbie Allen

Has peformed with Patti LaBelle, Donne Warwick, mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and bass-baritone William Warfield

Want to know more? www.MaryannKyle.com

their new shows on a more intimate level. “It was so popular that during World War II, there were cabarets formed in some of the concentration camps, and the music was written there. There’s a whole body of music that exists from it. It was a way for them to forget their troubles and sorrows.” The appeal of the cabaret is that actors are on the same level as the audience, Kyle says. “Here’s Joan Rivers sitting at the level of the audience,” she says. “There’s no appearance that the performance is in a different universe. My point is that this is me behind the theater wall in my own house. It appeals to an audience on a level of life, not on a level of stage.” Constance Cowart says she was enthralled from her Underground 119 front row seat. “It was beautifully choreographed, full of energy and excitement,” Cowart says. “She was vivacious and had a superb voice. She is also a great actress. How fortunate we were to hear a preview of her upcoming New York show.” Kyle has big plans for the coming year. After performing “Sondheim in the City” in Hattiesburg and Meridian, Kyle will take the show back to the Beechman, this time with the help of Marni Nixon, the Hollywood singing voice of Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood and other popular stars. “We rehearsed in Marni’s apartment, and she loves my voice and loves my show and wants to work with me,” Kyle says. The pair are planning a spring show for 2013. “Maryann Kyle is an inventive, creative and deeply moving performer,” Nixon says. “She is a colleague with whom I am looking forward to working with as a vocal coach, fine-tuning an already excellent all-around professional instrument.” In November 2012, Kyle will sing her first Tosca, an opera created by Giacomo Puccini, and one she says she is very much looking forward to performing. She’ll also perform two more Sondheim performances – in Hattiesburg in November, and in Meridian in March. “It used to be that my No. 1 agenda was that I wanted people to like me, to hire me, to use me,” Kyle says. “Now at 45, I’m just going to enjoy performing, and I don’t care who’s out there. Now, it’s about enjoying what I’m doing for a living. I’m still pinching myself and excited that I’m moving to another level, but I have a glorious teaching job that I can come home to. I’m doing a lot of really great things teaching-wise. I have great students. I have national traction. I sing in the musical theater world. It’s great to know that I can move people artistically – both as a performer and a teacher.” L

“Sondheim in the City” was written by Dr. Maryann Kyle, directed by

Mike Lopinto, choreographed by Brett Barnes and musically directed by Daniel Lincoln.



meridian symphony orchestra

rings in season with peppermint popsby Jenny enderlin

PhotograPhs by Marianne todd


Christmas comes but once a year and with it arrives the peppermint pops symphonic concert in meridian.

As part of “Merry Meridian” festivities, an annual Christmas shopping gala in historic downtown, the Meridian Symphony Orchestra will host its fourth family-centered Peppermint

Pops concert at the MSU Riley Center, and this year with a Celtic twist. Mithril, the Celtic ensemble known for its rendition of songs from “The Lord of the Rings” soundtrack, will add the MSO to its list of nationwide symphonic tours. This is the MSO's first time to host a featured artist for the Peppermint Pops concert, said Sharon Pratt, fundraising chair and past president of the Meridian Symphony Orchestra. The Irish theme continues with this concert's guest symphony conductor, Colman Pearce, who is originally from Ireland. He is “a conductor I had hoped to have for a long time," Pratt said. Pearce has conducted for the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mississippi

Symphony Orchestra. The event is a "fun way to introduce orchestra instruments to children because the music is light and not so heavily classical,” Pratt said “It reminds me of things my grandmother use to take me to." The performers themselves range in age from the all-adult Meridian Symphony Chorus to the Ciambiata Chorus, which consists of local youth from ages nine to 18. Conductor of Choruses Dr. Robert Hermetz said he is excited about the upcoming song selection that incorporates a medley of Irving Berlin's work. "We're also doing a group of sing-along pieces for everyone to sing in and those carols include ‘The Christmas Song,’ ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas,’ among others," he said. During this portion, observant concert goers may even catch a few glimpses of Santa. L

Want to go?Time: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 (Come early for the daytime Merry Meridian Boutique Market and the 5 p.m. Peppermint Party.

Stay for the concert social afterward to mingle with the performers.) LocaTion: MSU Riley Center, 2200 5th St., Meridian

TickeTs: $25-$30 for adults, $10 for children and students; tickets are available online at www.msurileycenter.com and through the box office: 601-696-2200 (Additional contributions can be made to Meridian Symphony Orchestra Association, P.O. Box 2171 Meridian, Miss. 39302)

OPPOSITE: The Meridian Symphony Orchestra will usher in the season with Peppermint Pops, a lightl classical concert that appeals to families. Joining them this year is Mithril, a Celtic ensemble known for its rendition of songs from “The Lord of the Rings” soundtrack.ABOVE: The planned concert, performed by musicians ages 9 to adult, is a good way to introduce children to symphonic music because the concert is light and not too heavily classical.

music feature


msu riley center’s2011-2012 Fall/Winter Series

Sat., Sept. 17, 2011 The Charlie Daniels Band 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 2, 2011 Little Big Town 6:00 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 8, 2011 Patty Griffin with Buddy Miller 7:30 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 20, 2011 Mary Chapin Carpenter 7:30 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 28, 2011 Point of Grace with Special Guest Jason Castro 7:30 p.m.

Thurs., Nov. 3, 2011 Macbeth 7:30 p.m.

Wed., Nov. 16, 2011 Miles Davis Tribute with Blue Note Records 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Nov. 20, 2011 Blind Boys of Alabama with Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins 6:00 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 10, 2011 Miracle on 34th Street 7:30 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 20, 2012 Junie B. Jones 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 28, 2012 The Pointer Sisters 7:30 p.m.

Fri., Feb. 10, 2012 Evidence, A Dance Company 7:30 p.m. (Ronald K. Brown choreographed songs by Stevie Wonder)

Thurs., Feb. 16, 2012 Garrison Keillor 7:30 p.m.

www.msurileycenter.com601-696-2200

2200 5th Street ∙ Meridian, Mississippi

Purchase your season tickets today! Pick three or more shows and receive a discount and early-seating

options starting August 17.

meridiansymphonyorchestra.com

TICKETS: (601) 696-2200 MSO: (601) 693-2224

at the MSU Riley Center

Saturday, December 3, 2011 7:30 p.m.

� Mithril Celtic Ensemble

Meridian Symphony Chorus � Cambiata Singers

featuring Guest Conductor Colman Pearce

Meet & Greet Social�

After the show, come visit with the artists and enjoy a cash bar! Mithril will be selling CDs, and donating 10% of profits to MSO education programs.

� �eltic �olida� �elebratio�

PEPPERMINTPO P S





By Jenny enderlinPhoTograPhs By Marianne Todd

The BoTTling Company

Hattiesburg night club hoppin’ with food, drink and music


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The Bottling Company has returned to the Hattiesburg scene. Of course, it never really went away.

Originally a Coca-Cola plant, the two-story brick building lay vacant from 1960 until 2004 when five local investors decided to turn it into a downtown landmark. Though it had a nasty run-in with

Hurricane Katrina, the BoCo, as it is sometimes called, was finally able to open in 2006. Manager Nick Chichester describes it as “a family-themed restaurant, sports bar and club all rolled into one.” For one year The Bottling Company experimented with The Shed franchise but ultimately opted for the ability to expand its menu and entertainment. “We were proud to have been with The Shed,” says Chichester, adding that neither the owners nor the staff have changed. The Bottling Company still specializes in barbecue but is broadening its selection of entrees to include a salad bar, fried food and the BoCo Burger. One new item makes Chichester

especially proud. “We have an incredible chicken Philly that’s been jumping off the shelves,” he says. Customers can also sip one of the restaurant’s signature drinks as they enjoy the live entertainment. A concoction of five different rums mixed with orange juice, Mississippi Swamp Water comes served in a 32-ounce Mason jar. Those looking for something a little more refined can sample the BoCo Southern Tea which consists of peach schnapps, Bacardi Limon and sweet tea. The restaurant can hold up to 850 people and hosts a variety of acts that include everything from comedians to Elvis impersonators to ‘80s cover bands. When larger acts such as Drive-By Truckers, Vasti Jackson and the North Mississippi Allstars perform, a good portion of the tables and chairs are moved and the venue takes on a club-like atmosphere. The Bottling Company is supportive of the arts community, Chichester says, so when Ellisville musician


T-Bone Pruitt’s house burned down, they hosted a 12-hour music fund-raiser concert to help him. “One of the things that I love about the Hattiesburg area is that everyone seems to be very passionate about live music,” says local guitarist Alcus Hudson, who plays there regularly with band mates Paul Hagalson and Tony James. “It’s like coming home,” he says. “It’s like going to see a friend you haven’t seen in a long time and sitting down and having a long conversation.” Contributing to the ambiance are the owners’ Mississippi-themed antiques that adorn the interior. A collection of guitars signed by the likes of Van Halen, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, U2 and Garth Brooks are displayed. A Volkswagen, or half of one, sits on the second floor and attracts a great deal of attention. When asked how they got it up there, Chichester laughs. “You just had to see it. It took a fork lift and four guys.” Like many older buildings in the South, The Bottling Company comes with its own ghost story. “I’m not somebody who believes in ghosts, but I’ve been working here since 2004 and there are things that have happened here you just can’t explain,” Chichester says.

OPPOSITE: Customers can still enjoy fall-off-the-bone barbecue at The Bottling Company. Added to the drink menu is Mississippi Swamp Water with five rums and orange juice. The drink comes in a 32-ounce Mason jar. ABOVE: From the moment customers walk through the door, they're treated to vintage Americana; The staircase leading to the second balony is lined with vintage license plates; Contributing to the ambiance are the owner's Mississippi antiques. This Volkswagen took a fork lift and four guys to hoist it in place.


WanT To go?hours:

11 a�m� to 9 p�m� sunday-Wednesday11 a�m� to midnight Friday and saturday

11 a�m� to 2 a�m� Thursday

location: 126 Mobile st�, hattiesburg (across from Sacks Outdoors)

contact: 601-336-6755; 601- 408-9038 for catering

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A less skeptical employee elaborates. Kelsey Reid tells of strange goings-on that seem to take place in the upstairs balcony only when a few people are present. She describes an office door that randomly opens and closes, mysterious footprints and a broomstick that once appeared to fly a good six feet toward the bar area. “I’m trying to get the investors to let us - the employees - do a lock-in one night, sort of like ‘Ghost Hunters.’” Perhaps what has struck her the most, though, was something that occurred more than a year ago during a business meeting. As Reid tells it, four people were seated downstairs to discuss transitioning to The Shed when bottle caps began cascading from the railing above. “I kind of thought it was a sign to keep The Bottling Company around,” she says.Whether or not there is a ghost may be the subject of much debate at The Bottling Company, but one things is certain: if that was the ghost speaking, it now has gotten its wish. L



book review

Like many Mississippians, Sally and I like to keep our four children supplied with

reminders of home. From the first time all four Sunday evening telephone calls went to numbers in Alabama, North Carolina, Florida and Texas, we've fed their need to be connected to this place with books, art and music. Gifting books has become a favored opportunity to "remark" on the occasions and milestones of their life paths. For example, Willie Morris' “My Mississippi,” Robert St. John and Wyatt Water's “A Southern Palate,” and Patti Carr Black's “Art in Mississippi” found a path to their bookshelves and coffee tables.

Thus the occasion which spurs this review is the 30th anniversary of the Meridian High School class of 1981. Our firstborn is a member of that class. His family's work schedule requires that he miss the class reunion. He's a mechanical engineer working in the aerospace/defense world. So we needed to find an appropriate reminder that Mississippi is home. And there it was, on our bookshelf!

J. Parker Lamb's personal journey of railroad photography, “Steel Wheels Rolling,” was published in 2001 by the Boston Mills Press. It fits the occasion, the recipient and our intention perfectly. It's a beautiful work. The graphics and the story are metaphorically powerful. And they are very close to home. How many coffee table books have a front cover photograph of a GM & O diesel moving through Marion, Miss.?

A bit about the photographer. His fascination with railroading and his Mississippi roots run deep. In 1938 when his father's business, Lamb's Garage, relocated from Boligee, Ala., to Meridian, young Parker quickly bonded with this "railroad town." A model train builder

as a youth, he picked up a circa-1930 Kodak and began taking photographs. Yes, photos of yards, rails, and trains. He's been at this since 1949. However, it's not his "day job."

J. Parker Lamb, Ph.D., served on the engineering faculty at the University of Texas in Austin from 1962 until 2001, retiring as Professor Emeritus of mechanical engineering. Following his undergraduate studies at Auburn, he earned a doctorate from the University of Illinois, completed his service as a U.S. Air Force officer and began a

distinguished career as an academic leader in aerospace and mechanical engineering. Among his special gifts as a scholastic leader was nurturing and supporting emerging engineering talent.

Lamb's first photographic credit was in Trains magazine in August 1954. One suspects this was a few years before his first fluid dynamic research work was published. Nevertheless both interests were nurtured by a father who took time to share with his son an interest in machines. And how do trains run? How do rail systems work?

“Steel Wheels Rolling” moves the reader from the age of steam to diesel. Each chapter includes personalized comment from the artist/author. And while the spotlight always is on photographs of trains and railroads, the story of Lamb's "personal journey" illuminates both the photos and the author's love for railroading. In many ways Meridian was the crossroads of the author's personal and professional journeys. The rail-fan engineer was nurtured at this crossroads some of us call home.

Next May, Indiana University Press is scheduled to release “Railroads of Meridian.” The author, you guessed it: J. Parker Lamb. Yes, you can

steel Wheels rollingauthor J. Parker laMb

publisher the boston Mills Press, ontario, Canada pages 176

review by Dr. William Scaggs


pre-order now!

And why did I choose to review of book about railroads by a mechanical engineer? Arts and science are not incompatiable. Take a look at his photography. Lamb is an artist with a camera. He is a wonderful example of the crossroads of cultural heritage, creative arts and high level technical competence. If you make the Mississippi Industrial Museum's Soule' Live Steam Festival on Nov. 4-5, take time to look for additional examples of heritage, arts and technical competence. They'll be there in abundance. L

Bill Scaggs, President-Emeritus, Meridian Community College

“While the spotlight always is on photographs of trains and railroads, the story of lamb’s ‘personal journey’ illuminates

both the photos and the author’s love for railroading.”


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W While fans are gathering at The Wang Theatre in Boston, Patrick Sansone is on the telephone backstage, reaching deeply into his Mississippi roots. The guitarist, pianist and vocalist for the bands Wilco and The Autumn Defense could allow his mind to concentrate on the show at hand – or wander to the three shows Wilco will play the next day – two in New York's Central Park and on the Late Show with David Letterman. Instead he pays honest and thoughtful homage to the root of his musical upbringing, Marguerite Sansone. “I consider her to be one of the most naturally musically gifted people I've ever known,” he said of his grandmother. His voice is soft and steady as if he is carefully placing each word behind the next. “I feel like I got a lot of my ear from her. She could hear a song and sit down at the piano and play it. She knew hundreds of songs. She had a lot of knowledge to pass on, and I was a little too young to appreciate a lot of what she was trying to teach me.” Sansone joined the acclaimed Wilco in 2004 while living in New York, “struggling and just trying to make it month to month being a working musician – sometimes doing it well, sometimes doing it not so well. New York is a hard place to be struggling. If you're broke in New York, you're really broke, and there were definitely times I was broke in New York.” At press time, Wilco was headed to the United Kingdom to tour its new release “The Whole Love,” in Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol and London. The band's Spain tour afterward in Madrid and Barcelona is sold out. Wilco heads stateside again in December, where concerts are already sold out in Austin, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit and Chicago. They swing back into Europe in February for sold-out concerts in Brussels and Oslo. Sansone, 42, had met Wilco founder John Stirratt in

1999 in New Orleans, and the pair started experimenting with and mixing music. “We kept running into each other at guitar shops and listening to the same records, so we started writing music,” he said. Through that collaboration, The Autumn Defense was born, along with the subsequent debut release of “The Green Hour.” The band's decidedly '60s style (reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel) brought further releases, the critically acclaimed “Circles” in 2003, followed by “Birds, Beasts & Flowers,” “The Autumn Defense” and “Once Around” in 2010. Somewhere between “Circles” and “Birds,” Sansone joined Stirratt in Wilco, a pop and alternative band reminiscent of 60s Beatles' music. “When we were touring “Circles,” John let me know there were some lineup changes in Wilco,” Sansone said. “I had watched it grow through John and I certainly knew they were a great band. I was a big fan of their last couple of records. I also knew a lot of things could be tricky in the band, and it wasn't always easy dynamics. I did have to think about it for a minute, but it didn't take me long to realize that it had great potential to be a really good situation, so I gave them an enthusiastic yes.” Sansone, who now makes his home in Chicago, and Stirratt, finished The Autumn Defense tour in 2004, then went for their first Wilco rehearsal together. “It's been a pretty steady growth, a pretty steady incline,” Sansone said. “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” had certainly made an impact. It was already a band that serious music fans took notice of and considered important.” Sansone, who is hesitant to label himself a multi-instrumentalist, although he is referred as such by fans, performs vocals, guitar and piano, “and anything related to those two instruments.” He and the members of The Autumn Defense and Wilco play rooms of 40 people to

Mississippi Musician tours the World, reminisces home


crowds of 30,000. “It's very wide-ranging. It's definitely a rush. But in some ways, playing for a smaller, more intimate crowd can feel more like a tight-wire walk,” he said. “When you're playing for 30,000 people the crowd becomes abstracted. When you're in a smaller setting, you can see people's faces. You know they're listening. Really listening. Sometimes that can be even more thrilling in a different way.” Sansone said he considers himself fortunate to be in the company of fellow Wilco musicians Stirratt, Jeff Tweedy (also a founding member), Nels Cline, Mikael Jorgensen and Glenn Kotche. “I feel a lot of gratitude about what I do. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do the thing I love to do in my everyday life,” he said. “It's a real blessing. Finding these five guys to make music with ... I'm in two great bands. That's lucky.” His career highlights are recording with Ryan Adams and Emmylou Harris. “Emmylou was sitting right next to me singing. That was a great moment,” he said. “That was one of the first times I found myself in a work situation with real greatness.” Recording with Mavis Staples in the band's Chicago loft, opening for The Rolling Stones and Neil Young, were also

notable moments. “We were out three weeks with Neil. He has a concert in California every year to raise money and a party the night before ... so we got invited to Neil's house to have dinner and get ready for the show. That was pretty exciting.” He pauses, then begins speaking of his two greatest heroes, his mother and father, Karen and Tony Sansone. “My mother is an amazing singer with really special talent,” he said. “When I was growing up she was performing all the time, and my dad, he was booking shows at the Temple Theater for the Lively Arts Festival. Every April he'd book a month-long series of concerts. He did that from the time I was born until the mid-‘80s. “He brought amazing acts to Mississippi – Gladys Knight, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, The Commodores, the Ohio Players – legendary people. I cannot imagine a better education for what I do than being around those shows.” Sansone said he watched year after year as the performers arrived, unpacked, made sound checks, then performed. He watched his father manage the theater, book the shows and sell tickets from the ticket booth, and he'd watch as the audience filled theater seats in anticipation. “Tony worked hard on that, and I saw how much passion


new York is a hard place to be struggling. if you’re broke in new York, you’re really broke, and there were definitely times I was broke in new York.”

“



he had for the business. That's when I fell in love with performing. That has everything to do with why I do what I do,” he said. In 2005, Tony Sansone booked his son's band at the Temple Theater. Instead of pulling strings, the elder Sansone went through Wilco's proper channels to schedule their performance. Although it had been years since Tony Sansone had booked a show, he created the tickets and began promotion. “I told him that's great, Tony, but you know you'll get people from all over the South, probably all over the country, and I asked him if he had a credit card system or a website set up,” Sansone said. “He said, 'No, we're going to do it just the way we always do it. If someone wants a ticket they can send me the money with a self-addressed, stamped envelope and I'll send them back their ticket.' I told him that wouldn't work, that people wouldn't do that, but in three days the show was sold out. That means the 1,400 people who bought tickets had all talked with Tony. Everyone knew him because he had picked out everyone's seat.” The performance was met by roaring applause, a standing ovation and an encore. “It was a magical night for me,” Sansone said. “In fact, one of the biggest moments of my life was playing on that stage. Marguerite sang on that stage when she was a teenager, and my mom sang on that stage when she was a kid. I get emotional just thinking about it. That theater is such a sacred place to me.”

After the performance Sansone called his father up on stage. “I told the audience that this was Tony's night as much as anybody's and the audience went crazy. Everyone knew who he was. Everyone in the family was kind of a performer in some way. My grandmother's sister, Christine, was an amazing piano player and into New Orleans boogie-woogie. I'd hear stories about her disappearing for a few weeks and then she'd be found, playing piano in some bar in New Orleans. And my cousin Dudley (Tardo), the long-haired hippie in the family, I sort of idolized. He was in a rock band called Stepchild, and I thought he was the coolest cat. I'd ask him what records I should listen to and he'd tell me Jimi Hendrix and Cream. We all just had that Southern attitude of being storytellers and entertainers.” Sansone will spend the next year traveling, promoting the band's new release and missing his family. “I'll be on and off the road for the next year, and at the same time producing other artists,” he said. “In between Wilco tours I always find myself in the studio working. There's always something to do.” L

did you knoW?Wilco is named for the military and commercial

aviation radio voice acronym for “Will Comply.” In its 17 years, the band has been nominated for five Grammy awards. Wilco won two Grammys in 2005,

including Best Alternative Music Album and Best Recording Package for “A Ghost is Born.”


• novemBer 4: sucarnochee revue, 7pm

novemBer 6: Fiddler on The roof, 2pm

novemBer 11 & 12: i Can’t Talk about it, 7:30pm

novemBer 23: Moscow Ballets great russian nutcracker, 7pm

• DecemBer 2: sucarnochee revue, 7pm

DecemBer 6: The Forgotten Carols, 7pm

DecemBer 17: Polar express, 2 & 4pm

DecemBer 17: Queen City Coin, Currency & Collectibles show, 9am-5pm

DecemBer 18: Queen City Coin, Currency & Collectibles show, 10am-5pm


g

— saving ——— Cotesworthby Jayne Cannon

PhotograPhs by Marianne todd

culture and heritage live on in carroll county,

160 years in the making

feature

Legendary Mississippi writer Eudora Welty often is credited with imbuing her writing with a “sense of place” – an almost indefinable feeling that makes a fictional location become real and familiar.

Even though it’s as real as can be, Sarah McCullough says that visiting Cotesworth gives her that “sense of place.” Cotesworth is the 160-year-old home of another legendary Mississippian, former U.S. Sen. James Zachariah George, who helped frame and pass the 1890 Mississippi Constitution. It has been a family home for more than a century, but is now in transition, turning from home place to culture and heritage center. But McCullough, manager of the state’s Cultural Heritage program, says that despite a solid five-year plan to move Cotesworth forward, when she walks into the six-sided J.Z. George Library, she’s transported back to the late 1800s. That “sense of place” allows her to see the senator busy at his desk, surrounded by law books, working on the state constitution that is still in place today. And that feeling, she says, is just one of the reasons that Cotesworth is such a special place. The story of Cotesworth starts with George, the Georgia boy who adopted Mississippi as his home in the mid-1800s. A self-trained lawyer at 20, as well as an astute businessman, George bought the plantation in Carroll County, naming it after a lawyer friend, Cotesworth Pinckney Smith. The house was built as a stagecoach inn, but it turned into a family home when George moved



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“ McCullough is exCited by the idea of using CotesWorth as a retreat for artists and Writers. she sees Cotesworth as one of many regional attractions. highway 82, just a few minutes away, has antebellum homes, rich architecture and lots of southern heritage and history. Cotesworth fits right into that.”


Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and his wife Deborah are surrounded by Cotesworth supporters at a dinner to raise funds for the historical landmark. Cotesworth was home to U.S. Sen. J.Z. George, who wrote the state constitution. It will serve as a cultural center for those seeking history, law, art and agriculture heritage.



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in with his wife and, eventually, nine children. A wing and freestanding office/library were added later. George died in 1897, and Cotesworth has stayed in the family since. At times, it served as a weekend house, but mostly it’s remained much the same as it was in the senator’s day – a family home, furnishings intact, and a working farm. The house, situated on top of a hill and surrounded by grassy fields, has never had air conditioning. Wide-paned windows that run floor to ceiling allow ample air flow, and the home's numerous porches create ventilation, even in the hottest part of August. The wide-planked heart pine floors, 12-foot ceilings and plastered walls loan authenticity to the furnishings – all of which are original to the home and still intact. Wallpapers from years past, antique rugs and vintage knickknacks complete the scene. In the library, law books at least a century old are carefully situated, along with shelves of magazines, one containing issues of The Saturday Evening Post – all stacked in an orderly fashion. A few years ago, George descendant Katharine Williams decided to look into Cotesworth’s future. She turned to a cousin, Gloria Kellum, then a vice-chancellor at the University of Mississippi. Williams, who was living at Cotesworth, knew that there was historical and cultural value to the property. She and Kellum talked to historians and archivists, but found that no federal or state funds were available to buy a private historic property. “We knew that our people, places and stories are very interesting to others,” Kellum said. “So we began to look at how we could share that heritage, what might be the right future for this house.” With no funds available, they began to look for a private buyer. First came a determination of market value for the house and library, done by a Sotheby’s associate in New Orleans. Next came a brochure on the property, designed to attract just the right buyer. That’s when fate, in the form of a Mississippi state senator, intervened. Lydia Chassaniol (R-Winona) chairs the state senate’s tourism committee. In 2010, Williams’ granddaughter worked in her office as a page, and the senator happened to see a brochure advertising the sale of Cotesworth. She grabbed the brochure and headed straight to Gov. Haley Barbour’s office. “I said, ‘I’ve got to talk to him,’” she recalled. “I thought, ‘We must buy this, or this history is going to just go away.’”

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No one disagreed with Chassaniol. Money was the issue, not George’s importance to Mississippi. A non-profit was formed for Cotesworth, the legislature passed a tourism bond to help pay for the on-grounds library (the rest will come mostly from private donations and foundations), and Cotesworth became an official Culture and Heritage Center in the summer of 2010. But that’s not where the Cotesworth story ends. McCullough calls the change from family home to cultural center “an opportunity to really encompass all our cultural heritage.” Because Cotesworth is an established farm, there’s much to be learned about the history of agriculture in Mississippi from its history, McCullough said.“So much of what we are in Mississippi stems from our agrarian roots,” she said. “Our music, our literature … think of the people working on the farms, making music. The stories that come from the farms. Our roots have made us what we are.” McCullough and Chassaniol are excited, too, by the chance to tie in the burgeoning national farm-to-table movement at Cotesworth. In George’s day, people ate what was grown a few feet from the back door. Because Cotesworth continued as a working farm (bounteous gardens were planted and Brangus cattle were raised there), the chance to provide lessons in farm-to-table can enhance the cultural heritage lessons.“Our children have no idea where their food comes from,” Chassaniol said. “They think hamburgers come from Wendy’s.” Legal scholars will visit Cotesworth, Kellum said. They’re working with the Mississippi Bar on ways to showcase Cotesworth’s

place in state legal history and the property can be used for small retreats and seminars. Chassaniol’s vision for Cotesworth includes field trips of schoolchildren who have left the history book in their locker and come to Carroll County to experience life on the farm, stroll the gardens and see where the state constitution was written. Kellum seconds the idea of the educational center for children. Like Chassaniol, she sees Cotesworth as a regular tourist stop and a tool to drive the local economy. It’s already starting – there have been teacher workshops at Cotesworth and quite a few visitors have stopped by see the fictional home of Celia Foote in “The Help.” Scenes from the movie were filmed on the Cotesworth grounds. McCullough is excited by the idea of using Cotesworth as a retreat for artists and writers. She sees Cotesworth as one of many regional attractions. Highway 82, just a few minutes away, has antebellum homes, rich architecture and lots of Southern heritage and history. Cotesworth fits right into that. “Once you set foot in it, you feel it,” McCullough said. “Part of the charm is that you know that it truly was a family home. Visitors definitely pick up on it. It’s a feeling more than anything else, but it’s what makes Cotesworth a special place. ” Not only is Cotesworth a well-maintained example of a mid-1800s farm and residence, it’s also the home of a prominent statesman. Kellum compares the potential of Cotesworth to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia.“In the South, there is nothing like Cotesworth.” L

James Zachariah GeorgeBorn: Oct. 20, 1826, Monroe County, Ga.

Died: Aug. 14, 1897 (age 70), Mississippi City, Miss.Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Carrollton, Miss.

Career Highlights1846: Joined Mississippi Rifles; served in Mexican-American War.

1847: Admitted to Mississippi Bar.1861-1865: Fought in Civil War, rising to rank of Colonel of Cavalry.

1879: Chosen Chief Justice of Mississippi Supreme Court.1890: Drafted Mississippi Constitution.

1881-1897: U.S. Senator from Mississippi.1931: Mississippi donates two bronze statues, of George and Jefferson Davis, as its contributions to the Statuary Hall

collection at U.S. Capitol in Washington. George’s statue is in the Capitol Visitor’s Center.

Finding CotesworthCotesworth Culture and Heritage Center is one mile north of North Carrollton on State Highway 17.

For more information, visit www.cotesworthcenter.org


In the 1800s, the food that came to the table was generally grown or raised on the farm. Hence the term, “farm fresh.” The J.Z. George family would have been no different. Each family would have had an orchard, a vegetable garden, a root cellar and a smoke house. Everything grown was either stored in the root cellar or canned and stored in the pantry for the winter months. Corn would have been dried and ground for cornmeal to make bread. Animals, likely pork, would have been slaughtered and ground and stuffed into casings for smoked sausage. Whole cuts would have been cured and smoked in the smokehouse for the family’s table. It was also a common practice to can cuts of pork. Every family would also have had a cow to provide milk and butter. Poultry was a big part of the family’s table too, providing both eggs and meat for the table. In the 1800s a family could have been very self-sufficient with acreage and livestock. All of the food served at the Cotesworth dinner on Oct. 1, which was prepared by Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, could have been produced there during the lifetime of J.Z. George. Only the wheat for the biscuits and cakes would have been bought at the general store in nearby Carrollton. The menu for the dinner was selected with the advice of Matt

Huffman, executive chef at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, which is another 1840s era residence. Huffman called the department of Archives and History to see if there were any menus on file. Most, he found, were written in French. He and Chassaniol decided to feature both poultry and pork, green beans with pecan dressing and a salad of spinach and mixed greens with bacon and hard cooked egg slices. Chassaniol created the recipe for the pork roulade using sausage and cornbread because both ingredients would have been available. The plate was completed with candied apple slices as a nod to the harvest season. The fig cake was made using fig preserves, which any farm wife would have made to save her figs for winter use. The kitchen at Cotesworth was originally a separate building and there would have been servants to cook and serve. Mrs. George likely would have served as the overseer of cooking and menu selection for her family. Chassaniol planned the event as a birthday dinner since October marked the 185th anniversary of J.Z. George’s birth. Everyday meals would have likely been based on peas and cornbread, and the evening meal would most likely have been created from leftovers from the noon meal. L

What Was dinner like in the mid-1800s?

ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant with Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, who championed saving Cotesworth as a cultural and heritage center. • Chassaniol chose foods that would have fit the mid-1800s scene at Cotesworth - pork stuffed with cornbread and sausage, chicken, green beans and candied apples.



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feature

the creative economy

101growing Mississippi’s economy, one dollar at a time

by lhay broWning thriffiley


Editor’s note: Even in the midst of recession, Mississippi’s creative, innovative and research-based businesses are making a positive change in our economy. The Creative Economy 101 is the first of a three-part series designed to inform readers of the new economic development movement that is sweeping through our beloved state and, hopefully, revolutionizing the way in which we see ourselves, live, work and play.

I n August, a Jackson summit unveiled Mississippi’s Creative Economy Study containing real information about the economic potential of creativity in our

communities. Gov. Haley Barbour spoke at the summit’s opening, encouraging residents to appreciate the far-reaching implications of our creative tradition, not only for its contribution to the arts and to American culture, but also for its impact on the state’s economy as a whole. “The time has come,” Barbour said, “for us to get up off our assets.” Arts evangelist and Mississippi Arts Commission Director Malcolm White also spoke, advising Mississippians to look within to find economic strategy in our passion – and then inspire others to do the same. We should listen to hear that still-small dollar sign inside our vehemently artistic hearts, and then, with extended hand, Mississippians should lift our voices and ask, “Will that be cash or credit?”

Creativity, as it turns out, can be a very serious business, but Creative Economy itself is not such a new idea. Just ask Richard Florida, who first gathered this information into a theory and published it in a 2002 book called, “The Rise of the Creative Class (And How It’s Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life).” While Florida’s creative economy theory was bursting onto the scene, the rest of us were apparently busy swinging in hammocks, spray-painting our names on overpasses, gardening, making pepper jelly, tie dyeing T-shirts and writing love poems. So when the idea initially came around nine years ago, we missed it. But Stuart Rosenfeld did not miss it. Rosenfeld of North Carolina-based Regional Technology Strategies, Inc., rooted up, gathered and compiled Mississippi’s revealing Creative Economy study with the MAC and the Mississippi Development Authority anxiously awaiting the results. The Creative Economy study sheds bright light on the idea

that Mississippi should rethink the ways we can capitalize on our abundant cultural heritage as well as our visual and performing arts, music, film, design, literary and culinary assets. “In an increasingly digitized and entrepreneurial economy,” he writes, “creativity is quickly becoming the key to competitive advantage in many of the fastest growing sectors of the economy.” Economic development practitioners have written off this theory for years without giving it proper consideration, in part because this subset of the economy is invisible by many current economic measurability standards. Creative economy is not much at all like attracting manufacturing, importing industry, ribbon cutting or making announcements that a new company will add $100 worth of jobs for $75 worth of tax abatements and land grants. All that makes creative economy look like a bake sale. Or does it? As the development community begins to feel the creative effects of business innovators like restaurateur/author Robert St. John and Viking Range Corp.’s Fred Carl, they are starting to perk up and pay attention. The undeniable reality is that virtually all experts (yes, even the ones in New York) agree that research, education and creative thinking will be the next “wave” of economic development; it can also be the cornerstone of this new way of developing and marketing the economy of Mississippi.

“The time has come for us to get up off our assets.” — gov. haley barbour

Mississippi musician B.B. King and Gov. Haley Barbour are both members of the Creative Economy pack.


The whole of the Creative Economy is the financial ebb and flow of people who create, innovate or research. The core of the Creative Economy is the traditional artists and the greater arts community, but throwing another craft fair or hosting another small town music festival will not revolutionize economic development in Mississippi. Creative Economy starts by identifying the most obvious members of the creative class, the super-creative core, that handful of talented artists who pay the bills by selling works of art or artistic services. The core also includes writers, musicians, inventors, dance teachers, restaurateurs, college professors, research analysts and football coaches. Yes, even football coaches. Viking Range Corp., Peavey Electronics and Lazy Magnolia Brewery are all in the creative club. The Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum and Mississippi Museum of Art are there, as well as The Renaissance at Highland Colony. Artists Wyatt Waters, Gail Pittman, Ben Watts and Amy Guist are in there, as are St. John and restaurateur/brewmaster John Neal. They are all examples of the Creative Economy at work. The “super creative core” is those people whose actions result in the buying and selling of music, works of art, or tickets to artistic performances, those who would call themselves artists on a census or tax return. The retail shop owner and sales clerk, however, are members of the secondary group “creative-cluster.” This group includes

“We can invest in new incentives that will assist 50 creative businesses to add one employee each, which can make as much or more economic impact as attracting one new business that promises 50 new jobs.”

“national newspapers rarely mention our assets in any of those ‘ranked

no. 50’ stories.”

Hartley Peavey, founder of Peavey Electronics Corporation, an international music and sound equipment supplier, is a leader of Mississippi’s Creative Economy pack by his

creation of a corporate and sub-industry self-sustaining creative economy.

any employed person who is in any way a contributor to or promoter of the creative economy, those who perform part-time creative work on the side, and those who work in the core support industry (such as the hotel, restaurant and tourism economy that surrounds a super-creative core industry or event). Florida’s book also includes creative jobs in non-creative industries (such as a graphic designer for a bank) and non-creative jobs in creative industries (such as an accountant for a touring dance company). Finally, he also includes those who perform work related to research, technology and any other development where the main activity is creating new ideas or items in which the final product amounts to considerably more than the sum of the assembled parts. Rosenfeld says Mississippi should focus on building a reputation as an appealing arts environment. Rather than attracting industries, we can attract innovators and artists using our lazy, uncomplicated lifestyle as a selling point. We can use the benefits of “location-less” Internet sales and marketing and business globalization to become competitive on an international level. As an arts exporter, we can market our state as an arts training ground. While America has hailed Mississippi’s literary celebrities, Grammy winners and celebrities, our “high art” suffers by comparison, because those industries are location-based,

and other locations attract our talent. Our indigenous art forms lacked wide recognition for many years, by us or anyone else. Even now, tourists come from Japan, Sweden or France to see “The Birthplace of America’s Music” only to discover that there is no blues music club open in Tutwiler on a Monday night. Why? Because we can’t afford it. The study notes that certain sectors of Mississippi’s traditional economy are already creative economies by definition, including Viking Range’s self-created cluster of manufacturing and tourism in Greenwood;


Peavey Electronics Corporation, a leading international music equipment supplier, and its sub-industries; or Mississippi Gulf Coast arts tourism, including music, food and other festivals in places like Bay St. Louis or Ocean Springs. Rosenfeld does not fail to mention that implementing a

successful creative economic strategy in the midst of a recession will not be easy to accomplish anytime in the near future. National newspapers rarely mention our assets in any of those “ranked No. 50” stories. Ironically, creativity could become our “secret weapon” for rising up in other ranks. Our creativity remains overlooked because it does not show up on most urban, financial or business comparison indices, but make no mistake: it is an asset of extreme worth. The ability to create will be vital to the implementation of an economic development strategy based in the major touchstones of the creative economy theory. Development of the creative class as a workforce, creative locations as potential clusters of activity and creative skills as an untapped natural resource are all within our reach. We can invest in new incentives that will assist 50 creative businesses to add one employee each, which can make as much or more economic impact as attracting one new business that promises 50 new jobs. Most of all, we can become more creative in our own lives. Maybe we can even have a bake sale. L

Lhay Browning Thriffiley is an economic development and arts professional who is currently

pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. When she is not writing for LEGENDS, she likes to shop local, attend exciting arts events, give herself experimental haircuts and read books that most creative types would find boring. She, her husband and their

son are all proud residents of Mississippi’s award winning Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood. Fred Carl Jr., founder of Viking Range Corp., is another leader among the state’s Creative Economy pack, having established a self-sustaining

creative economy within his industry.

“ironically, creativity could become our ‘secret weapon’ for rising up in

other ranks. our creativity remains overlooked because it does not show

up on most urban, financial or business comparison indices, but make no

mistake: it is an asset of extreme worth.”


How can I support tHe creatIve economy? • Look for your local creative economy and support it.

• Cheer on creativity in your community - buy handmade and shop local.

• Buy tomatoes, clothing, books, shoes, sandwiches and coffee from small business owners, not big box stores, and never buy online what you

can get from a local retailer�

• If you cannot buy an item from a local or independent source, consider making it.

• If you pick up dinner on the way home, pick it up from a small business owner instead of a national chain. If convenience is the deal breaker,

encourage the local restaurant to install a drive-through or offer curb service� it’s a win-win!

Inside Scoop: Every dollar spent within your local economy circulates, and your local government receives tax revenue every time it changes hands.

You may save at the register, but you pay the difference in loss of tax revenue and jobs, not to mention loss of local flavor, heritage, history and

character. Your community spends tax revenue on tourism, advertising and development, trying to attract business and spending back to the area.

• Stop giving your money a one-way ticket to nowhere. An easy rule of thumb is to find out which locally owned businesses you already

frequent, and who owns them; trade in places where you know the owner whenever possible�

• If you must buy manufactured items, buy products manufactured in-state or regionally.

• If you own, work for, or must frequent a corporate entity, find out if they participate in the community by giving corporate sponsorships to

fund creative events� They have access to extensive power to save local creative resources�

ask a chain grocery, for example, to buy seasonal vegetables from a local farmer’s market� if they refuse, ask them for farmer’s market

sponsorship� if they still refuse, ask them why�

Inside scoop: The national chain seems cheaper, but in the end, it is not. When you spend at a corporate chain, as much as 80 percent of that money

goes directly out of the area to pay for corporate inventory and management costs. Your local economy must replace or lure back that money in order

to keep the local economic balance.

For more information, visit www�mscreativeeconomy�com/study�php


the art of C O T TO N

GINNOVATIONS

art feature

by lhay broWning thriffileyPhotograPhs by Marianne todd

rustic sumrall gin houses homegrown artists



Joyce Hicks is a Sumrall native with big ideas. This owner/founder of Blooms, a Hattiesburg-based garden shop, is now moving into the business of helping artists and entrepreneurs in the West Hattiesburg/Sumrall area.

It starts with an old cotton gin, the symbol of the cultural heritage and industrial legacy of Sumrall. The gin is a large tin building at 14 Pine St., adjacent to the Long Leaf Trace and near the restored train depot. Its old cotton scales are still active. Now called “Cotton Ginnovations,” this rustic space serves as an incubator for homegrown artists as well as a gathering place and creative consortium. Reclaimed wood doors serve as tables for exhibitors, and an open-air market for farmers to serve and sell their fresh produce, jellies, jams and homemade goods is the plan. Cotton Ginnovations offers visitors a chance to see Mississippi artists and crafters in action as they share their homesteading and artisan skills with the community. Hicks has received interest from creators of pottery, woodwork, metalwork, glass blowing and stained glass. Crafters and artists demonstrate, sell wares and potentially offer classes to the community. Visitors are welcomed to homemade biscuits with cane syrup and coffee while they browse. Painting, basket-weaving, quilting, beekeeping, candle-making, cane syrup-making and other homesteading demonstrations occur on site, but there is no limit to the activities that could eventually take place. The gin’s proximity for bike-riders is also a plus. Hicks said she anticipates that bike access will shape the area in the future, possibly to include restaurants and lodging. “The call for handmade items is getting greater,” said Adam Allen Berry, a Hattiesburg potter, who sells his wares at the gin. “This is a very important outlet, and more places like this are needed. I think it will be received with a big response.” Hicks has a history of stocking Mississippi-made and handmade items at Blooms, located in downtown Hattiesburg’s Venue building. Her store is adjacent to the Depot Coffee Shop, across from the newly restored historic train depot. The artists she has supported in the past are taking note of this new opportunity. Many have made a commitment to be “in residence” in Sumrall for Saturdays toward the end of 2011. Hicks and her daughter, Adrienne Hicks Garranich, weave sentences together as they talk about the idea, punctuating the conversation with giggles or unexpected waves of emotion. As they describe how long it has taken the idea to take shape, and what a strange journey it has been, their excitement builds. Both are full of passion about this idea and its potential for economic impact as well as a cultural impact on the area. Hicks is unsure if Cotton Ginnovations will be an official for-

profit business or a non-profit organization, and for now, she says, it is “an experiment.” Artists keep their profit after due diligence and tax has been paid. Hicks remains open-minded about how the experiment will take shape. She anticipates that Hattiesburg’s west side growth toward Columbia will make the Saturday drive a convenient one for both communities. It could be event space some day, a unique and cavernous place to hold a party or a wedding with a rustic theme. “Sometimes you just know that you are doing what you are supposed to be doing,” says Garranich, about her mother. “It’s like all the signs just lined up and let her pass.” L

Want to go?The gin is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays in November and

December, except Christmas and New Year’s eves. Want to know more?

Artists and visitors can call 601-606-7200 or email [email protected] for additional information.


potter Adam Allen berry

owners Joyce Hicks and Adrienne Garranich


CHARby leigh anne Whittle | PhotograPhs by Marianne todd


rich flavors, remarkable service

the hallmarks of this sophisticated Jackson

restaurant

CHARChar RestaurantHighland Village – 4500 I-55 North, Suite 142Jackson • 601-956-9562www.charrestaurant.com

Price range: $14-$33Hours of Operation:11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. SundayCorporate Chef: Paul SchramkowskiChar Chef: Derek GeorgeSous-chef: Bryan Myrick

General manager Joel Grant greeted me with a French 75 cocktail and a comfortable table with crisp, white linen. And for the next hour, he spoiled my senses with

one delectable treat after another.

“We play jazzy music, warm Chicago style with a Mississippi twist,” Grant said as yet another dish was placed before me. “Our atmosphere is polished yet comfortable.”

I slowly sipped the crisp, citrus beverage and listened as he described it more eloquently than a Frenchman might. The drink is named after an artillery gun called the French 75, which, like the drink, was known for its kick. A French 75 is made from gin, champagne, lemon juice and sugar. The combination sounds simple, yet the ingredients are precise and, at Char, of the finest quality.

As I indulged myself I gazed around at the setting rich in warm, deep hues and aromas. Live music can be heard nightly in the cozy atmosphere of the bar. It’s not the loud style that can’t be talked above, but the easy-listening style of a classic piano or a jazz trio. Each Sunday a jazz brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with accompanying live music and a tantalizing menu. Imagine a cool, fall Sunday morning at Char: sampling cinnamon sugar-dusted doughnuts with vanilla mascarpone

WaNt to takE a CULiNary vaCatioN? HEaD to JaCkSoN’S CHar rEStaUraNt.

cuisine


and seasonal jam alongside freshly brewed hot coffee. Visualize deciding between Eggs Benedict choices: Classic, Crab or Steak. Maybe Custard-Fried Texas Toast -- French toast served with house sausage and spicy syrup – is the treat that beckons. Whatever is chosen, it’s going to be rich and delicious.

During my visit, I watched in awe as servers filled the setting in front of me. My vacation had begun. Just as it can be exciting to choose which attractions to visit, I didn’t know which dish to taste first. My fork stopped off in the Sin City BBQ Shrimp. Oh yeah, it was sinful all right! Four large shrimp served over grits with mushrooms and spicy Creole garlic butter sauce. It was an appetizer that satisfied my taste bud tour yet left room to journey on.

The Wedge could have been my favorite because the blue cheese is close to heaven. This salad is at least five inches high. It’s created from crisp iceberg lettuce cut in sandwich form and stuffed with bacon, egg, tomato and Maytag blue cheese. I had never heard of Maytag blue cheese so Grant quickly filled me in. Acclaimed by cheese experts and food editors as America’s finest blue cheese, Maytag blue cheese ranks among the world’s great

cheeses. In the 1930s, Fred Maytag II (yes, part of the appliance family) heard about a new process for making blue cheese that was developed by Iowa State University. It was a time-consuming method of making cheese by hand in small batches, using fresh sweet milk from Iowa dairy farms. Each batch of cheese was carefully monitored during the long months of aging, until the peak of flavor was reached. This process is still done to this day and it’s the only blue cheese they use at Char.

All steaks at Char are provided by Allen Brothers of Chicago, purveyors of fine quality meat since 1893. The company has a reputation for quality and integrity. Char’s mission, Grant said, is to “wow” guests with a steak that is unsurpassed. The Chi-Town Sirloin lives up to that statement: 14 oz. of prime sirloin, perfectly pepper-crusted and topped with maître d butter was placed before me. I now call it “Pure Bliss.” The cut was tender, juicy and perfectly seared. Steak sauce? Not a chance. The delicate Creole seasoning was sufficient to make this an outstanding menu item.

Char features many more entrées; a filet, rib-eye and New York strip are among the beef selections. Roasted Chicken – a

TOP ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Char’s goal is to “wow” customers; Barbecue spare ribs fall off the bone; The Wedge is five inches high, stuffed with bacon, egg and tomato and topped with Maytag blue cheeseBOTTOM ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Sin City BBQ Shrimp is served over grits and laced with mushrooms and spicy Creole garlic butter sauce; The Chi-Town Sirloin is pepper-crusted and topped with maitre d butter; Crab claws are delicately fried and seasoned


heavenly dish with mashed potatoes, baby onions and edible lemon peel, and Pan Seared Duck Breast – cooked delicately to perfection – are on the menu for those who prefer poultry. Seafood lovers can order Cornmeal Crusted Scallops, Pecan Encrusted Blackfish, salmon or ahi tuna. These main courses can be paired with broccolini, creamed spinach, asparagus-mushroom gratin, couscous or a loaded baked potato. The choices vary enough to delight any appetite.

I sampled the short ribs and sweet potatoes. The flavor was hearty and the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender. Burgers and fresh sandwiches are served with hand-cut fries. The Fried Oyster BLT caught my attention as a unique menu item.

The restaurant claims their pecan pie is “better than your mama’s.” It is! (Sorry, Mom.) I sampled a piece topped with French vanilla

ABOVE: Char Chef Derek George creates rich dishes from brunch foods to steaks and desserts

“The restaurant claims their pecan pie is ‘better than your mama’s�’”


1 prepared pie crust shell

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup pecan pieces

Pinch salt

Famous Homemade Pecan Pie1-1/4 cups sugar

1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

6 tablespoons butter

Place sugar, butter, and corn syrup in sauté skillet and cook on medium/high for three minutes. Set aside to cool. In stainless bowl, mix eggs, pecans, vanilla and salt and mix with wire whisk. When syrup mixture has cooled, mix with other ingredients and pour into prepared piecrust. Preheat oven to 375 degrees; bake for 50 minutes or until filling is set. Remove and cool before cutting.

ice cream. The pie was creamy, crunchy and delicious. I was served a portion that was plenty big enough to share if you dare. But I simply had to save room for the Pecan Caramel Butter Crunch. Grant told me it was “sugar decadence at its best.” The sweet concoction is topped with French vanilla ice cream and a cinnamon-braised Granny Smith apple sauce. Yum.

Char is located in a business and shopping district which makes it convenient for a superb lunch hour or an impressive business luncheon. Daily specials include a choice of meat and two sides with 13 comfort-food side items from which to choose.

For a real taste of Char, make a reservation for their kitchen table, a guest table situated in a cozy corner of the kitchen where guests can watch the food preparation firsthand. Whether you’re lunching, brunching or looking for a romantic dinner for two, take a right off Interstate 55 and head north to Highland Village. You’ll find a great getaway in a restaurant called Char. When you get there, cruise slowly through the menu so you don’t miss a single attraction. And be sure to tell them Leigh sent you.

Eat in Mississippi ~Leigh

Famous Homemade Pecan Pie

Pecan Caramel Butter Crunch with Ice Cream

It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. LEGENDS’ Leigh Anne Whittle, taste-testing


What’s shakin’ around the state?Biloxi Nov 11 - Styx - Hard Rock Casino - www.hardrockbiloxi.com - (228) 374-ROCK (7625) Nov 12 - Lee Greenwood - Beau Rivage - www.beaurivage.com - (228) 386-7444 Nov 18 - Reba - Mississippi Coast Coliseum - www.mscoastcoliseum.com - (228) 594-3707 Nov 25 - Leon Russell - Hard Rock Casino - www.hardrockbiloxi.com - (228) 374-ROCK (7625) Dec 9 - Martina McBride - Beau Rivage - www.beaurivage.com - (228) 386-7444

Columbus Dec 1-Mar 25 - Holiday Tour of Homes - Tennessee Williams Welcome Center - www.columbus-ms.info - (662) 328-0222

Desoto Co. Nov 17 - Luke Bryan - DeSoto Civic Center - www.desotociviccenter.com - (662) 470.2131 Dec 5 - Guns ‘n Roses - DeSoto Civic Center - www.desotociviccenter.com - (662) 470.2131

Gulfport Nov 12-13 - 26th Annual Scottish Games & Celtic Festival - Harrison County Fairgrounds - www.gulfcoast.org

Hattiesburg Nov19 - Cedric Burnside - Benny’s Boom Boom Room - www.bennysboomboomroom.com - (601) 544-7757

Indianola Nov 26 - Live Blues in Lucille’s! Features Casey Roberts - B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center - www.bbkingmuseum.org - (662) 887-9539

Jackson Nov 12 - Madama Butterfly - Thalia Mara Hall - www.msopera.org - (601) 960-2300 Nov 14-15 - My Fair Lady- Thalia Mara Hall - www.kesslerbroadway.com Nov 19 & Dec. 23 - The House Rockers - F. Jones Corner - www.fjonescorner.com - (601) 983-1148 Nov 28 - Cowboy Mouth - Fire Club - www.fireclubjackson.com - (601) 592-1000 Dec 4 - Sanctus Real - Mississippi Coliseum - www.sanctusreal.com

Oxford Nov 10, 17 - Thacker Mountain Radio - Off Square Books - www.thackermountain.com Nov 18 - The Temptations - Lyric Theatre - www.thelyricoxford.com - (662) 234-5333

Meridian Nov 16 - The Miles Davis Experience: 1949-1959 A Collaboration with Blue Note Records - MSU Riley Center - www.msurileycenter.com or (601) 696-2200 Dec 2 - The Sucarnochee Revue - The Temple Theatre - www.meridiantempletheater.com - (601) 693-5353 Dec 3 - The Meridian Symphony’s A Celtic Holiday Celebration - MSU Riley Center - www.msurileycenter.com - (601) 693-2224 Dec 10 - Miracle on 34th Street - MSU Riley Center - www.msurileycenter.com - (601) 696-2200

Philadelphia Nov 19 - Willie Nelson - Pearl River Resort - www.pearlriverresort.com - (800) 745-3000 Dec 10 - Kenny Rogers - Pearl River Resort - www.pearlriverresort.com - (800) 745-3000

Starkville Nov 10 - Carolina Chocolate Drops - Bettersworth Auditorium - www.lyceum.msstate.edu - (662) 325-2930

Tunica Nov 11 - Lee Greenwood - Gold Strike Casino Resor - www.goldstrikemississippi.com - (888) 747-7711 Nov 26 - Tracy Lawrence- Gold Strike Casino Resor - www.goldstrikemississippi.com - (888) 747-7711

Tupelo Nov 19 - REBA - All The Women I Am Tour - BancorpSouth Arena - www.bcsarena.com - (662) 841-6573 Dec 10 - Christmas with the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra - Link Centre Concert Hall - www.link-centre.org - (662) 842-8433 Dec 10 - Jake Leg Stompers - Blue Canoe - http://www.facebook.com/BlueCanoeTupelo?sk=wall (662) 269-2642


cuisine

Southbound——— to heaven———

When Chris Hackbarth headed south to Hattiesburg from San Francisco, he never thought the trip would be a permanent move. A model for GQ, J Crew and Redbook, Hackbarth’s extensive travels to Europe in exotic modeling locations were a far cry from the bagel shop he landed in the Hub City. “I came to visit my sister here, and I knew I could never buy a house in San Francisco, so I started looking here,” Hackbarth said. “The first place that came up was the bagel shop.” Inspired by the 1910 California Sandwich Shop that had been originally housed there, Hackbarth purchased the existing restaurant, rented the building and moved in. Instead of upgrading to a more contemporary feel, he slapped a fresh coat of paint on the walls, put up a sign with a new name – Southbound - and left all the vintage elements of the building intact, along with its lazy and comfortable atmosphere. But before he could finish moving in, Hackbarth was approached by a customer who wanted the budding restaurateur to cater a breakfast for 400 the next morning. Hackbarth took the order – then went to work with 500 pounds of flour to learn how to make a bagel. “It was groundbreaking training,” said the 32-year-old, who is now referred by customers as “Bagel Boy” and who still accepts international modeling assignments. “I thought it would be a perfect time to get broken in. I didn’t know how to make anything yet, but it worked out like everything else. I just figured it out.” The next day saw freezing temperatures and one headache after another. “But the cream cheese was really good,” Hackbarth said with a laugh. He had pulled off his first official catering gig. Seven years later, the bagel entrepreneur’s handmade breads have reached perfection. The bagels – in 14 varieties – are made fresh daily. They’re delicately crispy on the outside, warm and tender on the inside. Breads at Southbound – named for his migration from San Francisco and the southbound train tracks nearby – come in whole wheat, country white, rosemary, garlic, jalapeno, cheddar and focaccia. Bagels and breads are topped with housemade cream cheeses of bacon scallion, veggie, honey walnut and olive tapenade. Breakfast at Southbound includes Crunch Toast, French Provincial Omelette, Five-Cheese Omelette, Shrimp Alfredo Omelette and the best-selling bacon, egg and cheese on a jalapeno bagel. Bagels and lox – smoked salmon and cream cheese with capers, onions and tomato - is also a favorite. For lunch, customers like Mediterranean veggies with grilled eggplant, curried chicken

Words and PhotograPhs by Marianne todd


Mouthwatering bagels and breads the staple of this vintage

hattiesburg restaurant


salad, grilled chicken with cucumber sauce, Tuscan roast beef, tuna with poppy seed and baked ham sandwiches. Hackbarth said he has brought a taste of his travels through Europe to downtown Hattiesburg. “When I first opened up we got a lot of, ‘What is a bagel,?’” he said. “I was asked if it was a two-day old doughnut with the icing chopped off or if it was some kind of hamburger. I wanted to be different. When you come into the place, you know it’s not a typical Hattiesburg or Mississippi atmosphere, even though the place has been here for 100 years.” Hackbarth’s wife, Heidi, says the original griddle is still in use.

“People say that’s why the food is so good, because the griddle is so seasoned,” she said. In its heyday, the popular restaurant was a gathering place for political conversations and gambling, she said. The Hackbarths rent the spot from Pam Hamilton, the daughter of the original owner of the building. The restaurant contains the original water fountain, which still works, and memorabilia from the early days of Hattiesburg. The Hackbarth’s vintage salt-and-pepper shaker collection sits atop a glass case and an impressive array of vintage thermoses sit on shelves along the walls.

Chris Hackbarth purchased the restaurant seven years ago, put a fresh coat of paint on the walls and left all the building’s vintage elements intact. The restaurant serves fresh-made bagels and breads daily, along with gourmet omelettes and sandwiches.


LEFT: When he’s not making bagels in his downtown Hattiesburg restaurant, Chris Hackbarth is accepting international modeling assignments. BELOW: Guests to Southbound are welcomed into an easy-going atmosphere.


“It’s really cool. When we’re sitting outside older people will come by and they’ll say, ‘This is where I used to get hamburgers for 25 cents,’” Heidi said. “There’s a lot of history in this place.” Ryan Royals, who owns nearby Rec Room Recording, says he frequents Southbound up to five times a week. “No one else has fresh bagels,” said Royals, who said he swears by the ham, egg and Swiss cheese on a jalapeno bagel. “You can’t beat their sandwiches. I like the turkey-avocado on rosemary bread. It’s always fresh and delicious and never a day old.” Hackbarth said he’s pleased that Hattiesburg economic developers have worked so hard to create a bustling economy in downtown. “When I moved here it was just offices and banks,” he said. “Now along Front Street almost every building is occupied with apartments and storefronts and restaurants.” Economic development has been so successful that the Hackbarths recently remodeled and opened the building next door into The Skylight Lounge. There, they serve nightly tapas (Spanish for small plates of food) in a relaxed atmosphere with live music. Weekdays see mostly business professionals, but weekends bring out students from the nearby University of Southern Mississippi. “Families are a big part of downtown, too,” he said. “I’ve watched kids grow up and graduate from high school here. I never thought I’d be in one place long enough to build a relationship with the family down the street. The hours are tough but the relationships are good. Downtown is really just one big family.” L

Southbound caters receptions, parties and corporate events throughout the Pine Belt region of Mississippi.

For more information, visit them at 217 East Front St., Hattiesburg, or phone 601-583-8001.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.

Southbound re-opens at 4 p.m. each day until the crowd is gone.

PICTURed RIgHT, TOP TO BOTTOM: salt bagels are one of 14 varieties served.

Art mobiles hang throughout the restaurant among vintage knicknacks.

Gourmet omelettes are created daily with cream cheese and lobster, shrimp Alfredo, cheeses, avacado and more.

For reservations call1-877-782-9444or the hotel direct at601-353-KING jacksondowntown.hgi.comkingedwardhoteljackson.com

A Royal WELCOME.Hilton Garden InnJackson/Downtown HotelLuxury reigns supreme at our beautifully restored landmark hotel. The site of the former King Edward Hotel, we offer 186 luxurious rooms and suites, 7,000 square feet of meeting space, a Premier Ballroom for up to 300 guests and an elegant restaurant and bar. This stylish retreat offers amenities fit for royalty, with sumptuous king and queen Garden Sleep System beds, fitness center, indoor heated swimming pool and convenient business center. Let us roll out the red carpet for your arrival—whether for business travel, a weekend escape, a grand gathering, or a princess-inspired wedding! Our ideal location is within walking distance to all the most popular sites, including the State Capitol, the Governor’s Mansion, the Jackson Convention Complex and the Farish Street Historic District. Take our complimentary hotel shuttle to all the surrounding business and cultural attractions in Downtown Jackson.

3845_HGIJ_LegendsMiss.indd 1 5/31/11 12:25 PM


For reservations call1-877-782-9444or the hotel direct at601-353-KING jacksondowntown.hgi.comkingedwardhoteljackson.com

A Royal WELCOME.Hilton Garden InnJackson/Downtown HotelLuxury reigns supreme at our beautifully restored landmark hotel. The site of the former King Edward Hotel, we offer 186 luxurious rooms and suites, 7,000 square feet of meeting space, a Premier Ballroom for up to 300 guests and an elegant restaurant and bar. This stylish retreat offers amenities fit for royalty, with sumptuous king and queen Garden Sleep System beds, fitness center, indoor heated swimming pool and convenient business center. Let us roll out the red carpet for your arrival—whether for business travel, a weekend escape, a grand gathering, or a princess-inspired wedding! Our ideal location is within walking distance to all the most popular sites, including the State Capitol, the Governor’s Mansion, the Jackson Convention Complex and the Farish Street Historic District. Take our complimentary hotel shuttle to all the surrounding business and cultural attractions in Downtown Jackson.

3845_HGIJ_LegendsMiss.indd 1 5/31/11 12:25 PM


Documents

Legends Nov/Dec 2011