Shoofly Magazine book columnist Carole McKellar checks out  spellbinding new works by contemporary authors based on myths spun thousands of years ago. 

​I first turned to Edith Hamilton’s “Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes,” published in 1942. Hamilton’s retelling of stories from Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology is still used as an introductory text in high school and college. The sheer number of gods and goddesses outlined by Hamilton is overwhelming, but many names are embedded in our language: Zeus, Neptune, Aphrodite, and Atlas.
 
Greek mythology has provided inspiration to poets and artists from ancient times to the present day. Dating to the 8th century BC, Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey” are the oldest Greek writings available. Plato is probably the most famous Greek writer. His dialogues include the “Republic” and “Symposium.”

​Sophocles wrote 123 plays including “Oedipus the King” and “Antigone.” Only seven of Sophocles’ plays survived intact. The list of ancient Greek writers includes Aristophenes, Euripides, and Herodotus. 
 
Roman writers were heavily influenced by Greek literature. “Metamorphoses” by the Roman poet Ovid contains much of what we know about Greco-Roman mythology. Ovid’s writings influenced the works of Milton, Shakespeare, and Chaucer. Virgil, author of “The Aeneid,” is probably the most famous Roman poet.

Consideration of mythology is timely because of the recent popularity of books and movies about mythic heroes. Movies range from “Hercules,” a Disney animated film, to “The Hunger Games” trilogy from best-selling books by Suzanne Collins. “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” was based on the first novel in a Young Adult series by Rick Riordan. 
 
My personal favorite is the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” by Ethan and Joel Coen. This satire is based on Homer’s poem “The Odyssey.”. The film is set in Depression era Mississippi and tells of three convicts who undertake an epic journey to retrieve a treasure. The central character is Ulysses, the Latin variant of the name Odysseus, the hero of the epic poem.
 
In addition to the Young Adult books, the list of books inspired by mythology is long and diverse. “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman weaves ancient myths into modern culture and was made into a television series. Margaret Atwood, famous Canadian author of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” wrote “The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope & Odysseus.”

​Madeline Miller, a Latin and Greek scholar, wrote “The Song of Achilles,” a novel about the Trojan War, and the newly published “Circe” about the goddess of magic and sorcery. Nashville writer Ann Patchett wrote about “Circe”: “An epic spanning thousands of years that’s also a keep-you-up-all-night page turner.” It’s currently on my nightstand, and I can’t wait to read it.

Mythical references abound in our culture. We’re all familiar with Nike footwear, named for the Greek goddess of victory, and the Apollo Theater, which gets its name from the Greek god of music.

​Mardi Gras is filled with mythic names. Nereids, Muses, Hermes, Iris, Comus, Endymion are only a few named for Greek and Roman gods. Perhaps no Mardi Gras krewe is more aptly named than Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry.
 
Other well known allusions to Greek and Roman mythology include:

• Midas touch - King Midas wished every thing he touched would turn to gold which included the food he ate. This tale is a warning about the damaging power of greed.
• Pandora’s box - Pandora was created by Zeus as revenge on mankind. Her curiosity led her to open a forbidden box which unleashed plagues and other evils.
• Herculean size or task - Hercules was the strongest man on earth. His confidence that he could never be defeated was well-founded.
• Achilles’ heel - At birth, Achilles’ mother dipped him into the River Styx to make him invulnerable. She held him by his heel which left that part open to danger. His heel was struck by an arrow leading to his death.
• Sisyphean task - Sisyphus, punished by Zeus, had to eternally push a rock up a mountain.
• “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.” - The Greeks presented a giant horse statue to the Trojans as a peace offering. Inside the horse was Odysseus’ army which destroyed Troy and won the war. A “Trojan Horse” has come to mean any trick leading to a target unknowingly inviting an enemy into their domain.

 
It is a Herculean task to reduce Greek and Roman mythology to a few paragraphs, but even a cursory look points out its value to Western civilization.

These three fun itineraries for idyllic days in "The Bay" are tailored for fitness buffs, families with children and BFFs who want to explore Old Town's shops.  You won't go hungry either, with our local eatery suggestions. Feel free to mix and match at will - you really can't go wrong.
- itineraries and photos by Ellis Anderson

Start the morning with breakfast at Lulu’s on Main (126 Main Street, inside Maggie May’s).  Fuel up with one of her specialties like fried chicken beignets or a BLT with a scrumptious bacon remoulade sauce.  

Pick up your copy of the historic walking/biking tour at Lulu’s or click here for the digital version. The Old Town Biking/Walking Tour winds 1 1/4 miles through the town’s lovely historic district, and the guide recounts colorful snippets of the past. 

The tour winds up near the Starfish Café (211 Main Street) with its garden-to-table menu – literally.  Many of the creative and delicious dishes are made with ingredients harvested from the front garden.  The menu changes seasonally – but look for local favorites, like grass-fed beef burgers, fish tacos with mango slaw and veggie spring rolls.

After lunch, check out Green Canyon Outfitters (108 S. Beach Blvd).  Perched in the top floor of the French Settlement building, it's the only retail shop on the beach and a must-see for new residents who lead an active lifestyle.  Green Canyon proves one can find big-city brands on the coast.  More pluses?  One of the best views of the harbor and beachfront scene - and it's dog-friendly.

Rev up again by biking or walking the serene beach path ​(start at the Washington Street pier).  This five-mile paved trail runs between the peaceful beach and an old-fashioned two-lane coast road that hasn’t changed much in the last 50 years. Along the way, keep an eye out for skimmers, osprey, pelicans, and even bald eagles. 

Don't have a bike?  You can rent them at Bodega (just off Beach Boulevard at 111 Court Street).  Feeling more adventurous?  You can also ply the local waters with kayaks and paddle boards, also available for rent there.  If you want to explore the Jourdan River Blueway, a few miles north of the Bay, click here for the map. 

Afterward, you won’t have to dress up to enjoy dinner at Trapani’s Eatery (116 N. Beach).  It’s one of Jimmy Buffet’s favorite watering holes on the Gulf Coast.  Reward yourself with the fried green tomatoes with crabmeat or feast on the low-calorie raw Tuna Poke.

The family-friendly Buttercup Café (112 N. Second Street) is located in the heart of Old Town and offers dining both inside and out. The younger set will crave the fluffy pancakes that smell like birthday cake when they’re served.  Adults will want to sample local favorites like the crawfish étoufée omelets.

Then pile into the car and head out to INFINITY Science Center in the western part of the county.  The museum exhibits and a free bus tour of the adjacent (and restricted access) Stennis Space Center complex give a glimpse into the science behind space travel.  Interactive exhibits like the Carnivorous Plants Conservatory and seasonal tram rides through the surrounding wetlands give lessons in natural habitats.

During summer months, drive to your next stop, Buccaneer State Park (1150 South Beach Boulevard, Waveland).  The extraordinary wave pool and water park are open seven days a week all summer (closes after Labor Day).  The Sea Dog Galley offers hamburger/hot dog basics.

During the rest of the year, grab lunch at the INFINITY Café and set out for the Louisiana/Mississippi border for a swamp tour.  Cajun Encounters is only  15 minute drive from the science center.  They offer two-hour boat tours - even off season – with three early afternoon tour times (see the schedule at www.cajunencounters.com).  Expect to see all types of wildlife in the majestic Honey Island Swamp.  Get your cameras ready during warm weather, the alligators will be basking. The tours last about two hours and everyone will be sad when it’s over.

Finish your day back in Bay St. Louis at Cuz’s Oyster Bar and Grill (108 S. Beach Blvd.).  it has both patio and indoor seating.  The younger set can devour fried shrimp and catfish while the adults will dig into specialties like raw and grilled oysters and boiled seasonal seafood.

Breakfast at the Mockingbird Café (110 S. Second Street) gives any day a special start.  They offer some of the best biscuits in the south (homemade jams available!), specialty coffee drinks and if you’re feeling especially celebratory, order up a strawberry-lemonade mimosa or Bloody Mary to go with the pulled pork and grits or chicken with waffles.

The commercial district of Old Town BSL isn’t large at all, but it’s evolved as two sections, clustered around the first and second blocks of Main Street.  Each “block” has its own distinct personality.  The Mockingbird is a touchstone for the “Second Block.”  It’s right next door to the vast Century Hall (112 S. Second Street), a renovated historic gem that contains more than a dozen shops.  

​Check out Bay Life Gifts for beachy décor and gifts and Gallery Edge for contemporary art.  Also on Second Street you’ll find Smith & Lens Gallery (106 S. Second Street), Magnolia Antiques (200 Main St) and Social Chair (131 Main Street) and Antique Maison (111 N Second).   A bit off the beaten track (only a few blocks), is Antique Maison Ulman (317 Ulman Ave.).  This enormous building is stuffed with finds and treasures.  You can rest your feet in their tearoom and garden - you may need to! 

On the actual second block of Main Street, the three “must visits” are the anchors.  French Potager (213 Main Street) is known for florals and exciting finds. Gallery 220 (220 Main) is one of the oldest artists co-ops in the state, while next door is California Drawstrings (216 Main Street), a boutique specializing in chic, artsy natural fiber clothing.

It’s a quick half block stroll past churches and the historic courthouse to get to the “First Block” area. The focus is on lifestyle and fashion here.  The enormous building at 126 Main serves as home to several shops, brimming with art, stylish boutiques and home décor.  Check out bijoubel Boutique and Joan Vaas (next door) for high-end clothing and jewelry without the sticker shock. 

End the day at a restaurant that’s been featured in national publications like “Vogue.”  The motto at Sycamore House Restaurant (210 Main St.) is “come casual, we supply the elegance.”  The menu offers classic coast fare with inventive twists.  Local favorites include the “flautas of the day,” the tenderloin and the fish of the day.  Save room for divine homemade ice creams (the salted caramel will make you swoon) or one of the best crème brulees in South. 

What happens when a very spoiled Chihuahua must cede the number one position in the family to a new baby? Writer, new mom, and old soul, Grace Wilson, tells the story of Presley meeting Pearl. 
- story and photos by Grace Birch

And that evening, after I sobered up a bit, we rode to Prairieville and met the tiniest, fluffiest, sweetest puppy that ever existed and we named him Presley Birch.

So before Pearl, there was Presley. Looking back on the past decade of my Instagrams, a predicable timeline quickly emerges:

• Cats
• Cute boys with guitars
• Public art
• Vacations
• Cocktails, Food, Cocktails
• Parades, Parades, Parades
• Engagement ring
• Dog
• Baby

​
A tale as old as time.

(Or as old as social media, anyways.)

It all begs the question, when did I have time to walk around and take pictures of murals? Also, have I fed the cats today?

When I was 22, a co-worker had a baby and was lamenting how different they were from pets. “You can’t just open the door to let him go outside and play. You have to pick him up then place him outside. Same when he cries to come in...”

As I watched Presley piddle in the flowerbed one morning, I briefly fantasized about putting my future child in the patch of dirt next to him instead of changing diapers. 

Turns out, it doesn’t quite work like that. 

Keeping a dog alive for a year does give you an unfounded confidence that somehow this qualifies you to try your new skills on a tiny human. 

I was terrified when I found out I was pregnant. You spend your whole adult life paralyzed at the thought of a positive pregnancy test... and then you see one and your eyeballs almost pop out of your head. The brief panic of “what do I do?!” gives way to the realization that your partner is hugging you and he’s really excited and so are you and everything is going to be fine.

In fact, everything is perfect. 

But wait! How is this thing going to get out of my body?!

You spend nine months wondering and worrying. But as a very wise woman once told me, “All babies must come out.”

At one point, I asked my doctor if Presley (one of the tiniest, fluffiest, sweetest dogs he’d ever meet, I assured him) could perhaps be allowed in the hospital with me. Just to sit beside the birthing pool for encouragement....?

“That could be a tough one,” he said stone-faced.

Which was not a hard no, I pointed out to anyone who would listen.

I was telling this to potential maternity ward visitors, hoping someone would mercifully sneak Presley in, but it turns out people don’t really listen to mothers. They are really just hanging out to get a sniff of a new baby.

So we had a new baby. A human baby. And I wondered and worried how she would get on with our fur baby.

I read somewhere you should take something of the baby’s... a blanket, a toy, not like a toe or anything... and you let the dog sniff it before they officially meet. 

We rolled up to the Palm House and I flew so quickly through the back door that Presley was still running down the center hall to meet me. I’m not sure who’s tail was wagging faster, mine or his. 

There we were on the floor together rolling around when I heard my husband clear his throat with a baby blanket in hand. Presley wasn’t quite sure why we were offering him a blanket in the heat of June.

Pearl was perched on the dining table in her car seat. Daddy slowly lowered it down and just like everyone else who met Pearl, Presley gave her a sniff and instantly wanted to be her best friend. I melted into the background and became chopped liver. 

Luckily, Presley loves chopped liver. ​

The next few days and weeks were a blur of fur and feedings. The whole family would literally dog-pile in the bed and we wasted summer days away napping and snacking.

The dog had never been happier. 

Presley also had a new form of transportation: a baby carriage. 

It turns out that people don’t really take you too seriously when you’re strolling around a small animal and a baby in a carriage.

Once I was simply trying to get to the French Quarter Post Office before it closed, and I simply couldn’t. People were frozen in their tracks in front of me pointing, staring, cooing, Instagramming... one woman at least tried to give me a dollar to take a picture. I explained we weren’t a performance art piece - just a little basket of adorables trying to run an errand. Nothing to see here.

Turns out, they are quite the sight.

Presley and Pearl have survived two Easters together now. The cats are just “ca-cas” still, but Presley is a little person with his own name in her small world.

My fears of sibling rivalry diminish daily. There’s less and less tail-pulling and more and more food sharing. We can’t wait to witness years more of adventures.

I’d love to hear your fur baby (and real baby) stories. Bonus points if you send me puppy and baby pics. Spam me at gracelovesthebay@gmail.com.

In a world where going "paperless" is the new trend, artist and ephemera collector Vicki Niolet takes at look at a few of the things we'll be missing. 
- story and photos by Vicki Niolet 

The term “ephemera” comes from the Greek meaning things that are used or enjoyed only a short time. A collector of ephemera usually seeks printed material other than books, such as brochures, newspapers and magazines.

​Handwritten letters, postcards, and manuscripts, basically any loose paper with messages or images, may also be valuable. (Unfortunately this reasoning may empower hoarders who can’t throw anything away.)

 
Most folks randomly accumulate bits of their past in scrapbooks full of ticket stubs, photographs, class report cards, and love letters for sentimental reasons. Some appreciate the artistry and detail of greeting cards with rich colors and elaborate cut outs, such as “cobweb valentines.” Others spend lifetimes tracking down baseball cards, historical documents, or famous autographs resulting in valuable collections that are anything but temporary. 

​Advertising pieces are one of the most popular categories of ephemera. Long before Hollywood came up with the idea of “product placement” leaving a trail of Reese’s Pieces in “ET,” tempting messages were fed to us unconsciously in fine print on matchbook covers, needle cases, calendars, and other touchable items handled during the course of a day.

An early example of product exposure is the funeral home advertising on the back of paper fans. It straddles the line of insensitivity and genius, while hitting all the situational marks, strategically located on items that were tangible, visible, and very necessary.

​Fluttering “Last Supper” fans kept delicate ladies from swooning, while subliminally reinforcing the commercial elephant in the parlor.  And most importantly, they solved a problem in an uncomfortable situation. No one likes to grieve in the heat. 

Pin ups of movie stars boosted wartime morale of soldiers who were encouraged to join the war effort through inspiring recruitment posters. Movie placards and stage playbills have always attracted the attention of the public as well as collectors.

Entertainment ephemera include iconic concert posters (Woodstock, Monterrey Pop, N.O. Jazz Fest) and letterpress prints made famous by “Hatch Show Print” of Nashville.

​ While these remain highly pursued by collectors, there’s a new breed of collectible creators who capitalize on our need for tangible keepsakes in a technically oriented society. 

In 2015 two young entrepreneurs landed a deal on “Shark Tank” for their company, ZinePak. The original idea started as a merchandizing strategy for brick and mortar stores to compete with downloaded music. They gave customers an incentive to purchase CDs with photos, booklets, and souvenirs, enhancing the original idea of album liner notes.

​In addition, they design elaborate tickets, programs, trading cards, and mixed media packages for concerts to create a tangible experience lasting beyond the performance. With clients ranging from Dolly Parton to Justin Bieber, the marketing maneuver provides physical proof of super fan status and a new category of 21st century ephemera. 

With that in mind, consider the graphic trends of today and you’ll notice a retro vibe.  Modern websites employ nostalgic images with classic design flourishes and borders from early paper advertising.

​This movement embraces the emotional value of vintage. Circus tent images, art-deco symbols, and printers’ dingbats (the graphic kind, not Edith Bunker) have dominated new print and digital media. Fonts reminiscent of headlines from The Daily Planet echo another era, like facing mirrors, old and new images infinitely reflecting each other.

In general, a disposable feature tends to devalue most items, but in the case of amassing ephemera it is the defining characteristic that sparks a collector’s interest. Although transitory and more fragile than pottery shards or arrowheads, paper paraphernalia also record the history of everyday life. 

​ In the future, flea markets and antique malls full of paper may become archeological digs revealing secrets of the 20th century. 

​If the trend toward “paperless” continues, eventually anything in our current lives involving paper will become collectible. Imagine your grocery receipt, unearthed in 2099 being scrutinized to discover the secrets of a lost civilization.  Be careful what you purchase. You may be defining our primitive society. 

Check out the works of Bay St. Louis artist Vicki Niolet on her website,www.vickiniolet.com 

One of the loveliest city parks in the country is within a stone's throw of the Mississippi coast, boasting groves of live oaks, live animals and live music. 
- story by Lisa Monti, photos by Lisa Monti and courtesy Audubon Nature Institute

During the Second Saturday Artwalk each month in Old Town Bay St. Louis, you'll find cool deals, fresh meals and lots of art and live music!  The good times roll year around with this family-friendly event celebrating life and art in the Bay. 

To celebrate its Hot Spot status, during the Second Saturday Artwalk on April 14, the bakery will extend its hours to 8:00 p.m.

If you stop by between 4 and 8pm, you will be treated to samples of the Coast Roast coffee so beloved by locals - along with goodies brought to you via the creative imaginations of Al and Vivian Jensen, and their bakers and baker’s helpers.  You will be glad you did. Seriously! 

If you blink while passing, you could miss the place, but you will be sorry if you do.
Nestled behind Bay Books, at 131 Main Street, Serious Bread Bakery (131 Main St., Suite D) is a beloved attraction for locals and visitors. All are welcome.
 
“We like our city and, most of all, we enjoy our customers,” say Al and Vivian Jensen, proprietors.

Al Jensen is a retired oceanographer who traveled around the world during his career, sampling breads in every country he visited.  Frustrated by the lack of artisan breads on the Gulf Coast, this staff-of-life connoisseur later decided to solve the problem by becoming a baker himself. Jensen pursued his new vocation “seriously.” 
​
After several workshops with a world-renowned baker in Vermont, the Jensens began selling their loaves in regional farmers’ markets and, for four and a half years, provided the Mockingbird Café with sandwich bread.

 Finding that their offerings were snapped up by a public hungry for more, the couple opened Serious Bread and never looked back. They still sell their goods at Long Beach and Ocean Springs farmers’ markets and have expanded into other enterprises of late.

In its latest phase of wholesale marketing, Serious Bread has teamed with the Kiln’s Lazy Magnolia Brewery. The Brewery’s menu creations—from chicken and vegetarian pizzas to cheese-dip bowls — rely on brat buns, bread bowls, crostini, Bavarian style soft pretzels, and flatbread provided by Serious Bread.

“Our world is about change, and so is our bakery,” notes Al.

Some things, however, like a reliance on King Arthur Flour and other wholesome ingredients, remain the same.
​
A key technique isn’t about to change either: the bakery continues to soak grains for eight to ten hours to dissipate phytic acid and make minerals and nutrients more available. This time-honored way of baking bread results in healthy, easily-digestible, and delicious loaves. 

Serious Bread, a Jensen family affair, has daughter Renee serving as manager, buyer, and scheduler. In addition, the Jensens are “phasing in” new bakers who add new goodies.

Jose “Pablo” Paz, trained with an “old-time” French baker, and comes from a long line of bakers. In addition to the artisan bread he bakes daily assisted by apprentice Phillip DelValle, Pablo rustles up cinnamon rolls, shoe soles, turnovers, and seasonal King Cakes—the latter so spectacular they were featured on WGNO TV News with a Twist during Mardi Gras.

The Jensens understand the importance of staff. Rose Gooding has been part of the “work family” for five years.  She is the creator of the all-natural energy bars which are a favorite of athletic types who swear the healthy snack sustains them during long runs and bike rides.

Sara Hahn assists Rose in the creation of scones, muffins, cookies, the occasional cake, and an assortment of luncheon items like tabbouleh, hummus, chicken salad, and other mouth-watering foods. 
​
In the spirit of progress and change, Al adds, “We are giving serious thought to offering a mini flatbread and soup meal.” The lucky Mudfest patrons that sampled the Jensen’s 100-year-old family recipe, lentil- and goat-sausage soup, will approve.
Serious Bread is open Tuesday through Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
 

The Porch's owner, JoAnn Saucier, invites you to grab your BFF and head over on Second Saturday, April 14, for drinks, snacks, and live music. While there, take advantage of many shops under one roof in Century Hall and ample on-site parking.

​Sit a spell. Feel happy and good. 

The porch—wraparound or screened in—we love it and can’t seem to imagine living without. Some of us live for and on our porches, especially in the summer months.
 
JoAnn Saucier created The Porch at the Bay, one of the Century Hall shops at 112 S. Second Street, Bay St. Louis, to reflect the “easy feel” of the front porch. “When people walk in,” she says, “I want them to feel happy and good.”
 
Shoppers will find an eclectic mix of farmhouse-meets-industrial. Lovely chalk-painted pieces, both large and small, fill The Porch. Saucier rehabs the “worst-looking stuff” she can find, meticulously restoring and repainting it from one of the many luscious chalk paints she keeps on hand in the shop.
​
“In fact,” she notes, “I would like to offer classes on chalk painting soon.” 

An array of handy kitchen items with a farmhouse look rounds out the merchandise. Think “uncommon goods for creative ideas,” like grain-sack material that Saucier describes as “perfect for turning into table runners or covering a chair seat,” adding, “the possibilities are endless!”
 
Beautifully woven baskets adorn the walls and, below, them, fabulous planters that look like baskets but are made from cement. Saucier confides laughingly that she might just have a “basket addiction.”

The Porch, which opened in 2017, is a relative newcomer to the Bay. Before moving to Bay St. Louis, Saucier ran The Porch on Magazine Street in New Orleans. With a background in art, Saucier first opened a booth on Magazine Street with a fellow student at New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. 
​
Over the years, Bay Life Gifts owner Janice Guido, friend and neighbor (before Guido relocated to the Bay), encouraged Saucier to move to Bay St. Louis. With husband in tow, Saucier began visiting the Bay increasingly often and, as she tells it, “The more we came here, the less we wanted to go back.” In 2014, the couple began making plans to move to the Bay in earnest. 

​In 2017, Saucier opened The Porch in Century Hall. A year later, Guido moved Bay Life Gifts from Main Street to Century Hall, and the two are neighbors once again. The Porch is downstairs on the left, and Bay Life Gifts is downstairs on the right. It’s a double delight!
 
Saucier loves being in the Bay—"The people, the atmosphere, the slower pace . . . it all just makes me happy.” And she has found her perch in Century Hall.
 
Saucier says she loves bouncing ideas off “fun and energetic” shopkeepers like Guido and Susan Peterson, Bay Elements proprietor and manager of Century Hall. “Other shopkeepers always have great ideas,” she says.
 
The future holds all kinds of possibilities. Saucier looks forward to adding a few more food products to flesh out the jellies and spices she already carries, and, perhaps most importantly, Saucier is looking forward to returning to her artwork and displaying it in the shop. 
 
Saucier’s most recent development takes the form of an online series entitled “Meet Me on the Porch Monday.” The series of inspirational porches can be found only on Facebook at @ThePorchattheBay. 
 
The Porch is open 10 to 5 Tuesday through Saturday, 11 to 3 on Sundays, and is closed for business on Mondays. 

A well-known local restauranteur branches out into barbeque and finds that just weeks after opening, many menu items have built a solid fan base. 
- story by Lisa Monti, photos by Lisa Monti & courtesy Smokin' Jo's 

Smokin’ Jo’s
115 South Beach Blvd. 
Bay St. Louis
228.344.3190
Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

​Just a couple of weeks after Smokin’ Jo’s BBQ opened for business on Beach Boulevard, menu favorites are starting to emerge and some new items are being added by customer request.

“The pulled pork definitely is the most popular meat item but the Bay Fries have already become famous. They’re flying out the window,” said owner Jolynne Trapani.
 
Since the barbecue restaurant opened March 13, customers have been heading for the order window at the shack in front of Buoy’s Bar for barbecue and sides. They’ve also been calling in orders for pickup and delivery since Smokin’ Jo’s is one of a few places in town that deliver.

​The menu and the delivery service are part of what sets the place apart and the response has been favorable.

“It’s going well,” said Trapani, who co-owns Trapani’s Eatery just down Beach Boulevard. “It seems to me that everybody is excited that barbecue is back.”

​And if conditions are just right, the restaurant’s large smoker sends the scent of barbecue in the air. “Some people have said, “We can smell the smoker from my house,” Trapani said.
 
Back to those favorites. The waffle fries, unique to beachfront restaurant menus, are topped with fresh bacon bits, green onion, cheddar cheese and pulled pork drizzled with secret white sauce and BBQ sauce. Dorm-bound Stanislaus borders are among Bay Fries biggest fans, Trapani said.

Brisket Bay Queso, another popular locally named starter, combines chopped brisket with queso, crisply tortilla chips with a dusting of spices.
 
Brisket is a special treat to smoked meat fans and at Smokin’ Jo’s it is served in slices on the Train Bridge sandwich (delicious, especially the burnt ends), on meat plates sliced with two sides, by the half or full pound and as an accent to BBQ nachos, another rising star on the menu.

You can also have it on Grace’s Barbecue Soft Tacos, which I did, along with one tortilla filled with that tasty pulled pork. The tacos are topped with mango pineapple slaw for sweetness and a spicy blend of sriracha, fresh jalapeño slices and just bit of BBQ sauce. There’s a lot going on in this serving and it’s all good.

​If you want to eat at Smokin’ Jo’s you have options on where to sit to enjoy your  food. Outside there are tables with umbrellas for shade, you can share a spot at a picnic table or eat inside Buoy’s. Wherever you land, the servers will deliver your order to you, along with Smokin’ Jo’s spicy vinegar and sweet and spicy sauces. (Plus napkins for sauced up fingers and faces.)
 
Next time, I’m going for the sausage, which comes on a stick as a starter, as a Salt Water Slaw Dog on a bun (two per order) and on a meat plate.
 
“The sausage is amazing, very flavorful, not all that fatty and with a crisp casing,” Trapani said. It comes from a Mississippi family owned producer with a long reputation. On weekends, you can try alligator sausage, but order early. It sells out quickly.

​Smokin’ Jo’s recently added fried dill pickles to the starter lineup after customers asked for them. “We do it with crinkled Kosher dills served with our white secret sauce. The Koshers are crispier and more flavorful,” Trapani said.
 
Great news for ham fans. Smokin’ Jo’s will be smoking 10-pound spiral hams for every holiday, starting with Easter this year. If you missed the special order, you can get smoky slices for a short time in old fashioned ham sandwich with melted cheese served on bread toasted on the griddle.
 
Smokin’ Jo’s also does catering. Look for a ribbon cutting Saturday, April 28 at 4 p.m. 

As author Rheta Grimsley Johnson's time with an old friend comes to a close, she looks back on the years they've spent together. 
- by Rheta Grimsley Johnson

Many children get stylish monikers so that any given year a kindergarten class has six Jennifers or 12 Matthews. It’s as if a committee somewhere takes a vote.

I always try to envision yelling a dog’s prospective name loud and long into a populated world without sounding foolish.  I try to keep it simple.

Boo was the perfect name for a perfect piebald, brown and white, mixed-breed. I’ll admit. I first wanted him just to release some of the pressure cooker steam that powered my young yellow Lab, Mabel. I wanted another energetic puppy to run her ragged. 

Boo did that and more. He was devoted and diligent, even after he caught a slow-moving pickup truck that broke his leg. It was set but never mended properly. That didn’t slow him much, not for a decade and a half anyhow.
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Boo was born to play toady. He didn’t seem to mind leftover collars and leashes and bowls. He took whatever bed that was left, possibly remembering the hard ground from his year in the joint. As long as he got enough food, he was uncomplaining, even happy.

Boozoo has outlasted the elegant Mabel and several other faithful dogs. What’s more, I have lived with the little man longer than I’ve ever lived with anyone, including my parents. I have been divorced and widowed and, let’s just say, will never be in a church basement celebrating 50 years of marital bliss. Boo probably is as close as I’ll come to a lengthy and successful coexistence.

Life without him is hard to imagine.

But on a recent Sunday I had to start. Imagining. Life without Boozoo. Friends took turns digging a grave for him across the branch in the hollow in North Mississippi where I spend much of my life.

Boozoo had fallen, reinjuring that old break in his front leg. He’d essentially been a three-legged dog for all these years, but now he was down to his two back ones, those stiff and straight from arthritis. Any attempt to walk sent him crashing on his head, or sometimes his side. When that happened, he thrashed about frantically like a beached fish and yelped.

The plan was to take him to his veterinarian on Monday, soon as she opened, let her inject a little mercy and bring his tired carcass home. Plans are for fools.
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The doctor couldn’t see us till 2 p.m. I was glad for the extra time. I spent most of that day lifting Boo to wherever he needed to be, and then watching him sleep a fitful sleep. Because he’s always been about the feed bowl, I gave him extra and special rations.

Once as a reporter I covered the execution of a man at Parchman Prison. His sadly plebian request for a last meal was Sloppy Joes.

I gave Boo Vienna sausages. I knew from experience – countless fishing expeditions as a child – what a guilty pleasure those could be.

I left a little early for the vet’s office to drive a way we never go. My thought was that by using a different route Boo wouldn’t suspect our destination.

I went inside and told Boo’s doctor what was happening and asked if she’d bring her needle to the car. She pressed me to allow an examination.

I rather reluctantly brought Boo to her table, resenting the trauma that he always feels when boosted onto the slick exam table. Not a good last memory, I thought. Better to have ended with Vienna sausages.

“It’s not broken,” she said. “We could try an anti-inflammatory and if it’s going to help it will help quickly.”

That is how Boo and I soon were on our way back to the hollow, adjusting to a new routine. The shot made a dramatic difference. The pain seemed to go away. He still stumbles but less frequently.

Boo for the first time is the center of attention. The other dogs sense he’s been promoted.

And I am walking that fine line, doing a little stumbling myself. It is hard to decide when to let go. On the one hand, it’s easy to do all you can for an old, old friend who has never made many demands before. But I don’t want to make Boozoo – veteran of The Joint – suffer needlessly.

For now, at his doctor’s suggestion, we soldier on. “It won’t be for long,” she said.

Boo has been through all the states between Mississippi and Colorado. He has visited in Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Tennessee. He’s been in the back of a half dozen vehicles and on the cover of a book. He’s growled at one person, nipped one person, fought occasionally over food, but mostly been a sweet-tempered, long-suffering, patient-to-a-fault companion.

The pile of dirt across the branch is a constant reminder of Boozoo’s ultimate destination. Pulling back from it, if only for a few days, feels right.

The official name of this rollicking group is the Komic Kurt Kinski  Karnival Krewe & Karrying On Klub.  Founding member and Bay historian Pat Murphy reveals the club's origins 46 years ago and hints at its future.
- by Pat Murphy, photos courtesy of the Kinski Krewe and Ellis Anderson 

​On the drive home from Gulfport that night the topic of staying close in the future resurfaced and talk of some type of social club began to swirl. Before arriving back in Bay St. Louis it had already been decided to christen the loosely conceived social organization with the name Kinski.
 
The idea centered around bringing old friends together at least once or twice per year for social events. While this group was never in need of an excuse to party, they felt that this organization would be a way to make sure it happened. The party, quite simply, had to go on.
 
Over the next several months there were additional meetings held to come up with some operational rules for this loose-knit organization. These meetings were held mostly around parents’ dining room tables and included a few more  friends interested in being involved as things progressed. 

Eventually the original group was christened the "grandfathers" of Kinski. This group of "grandfathers" included Pat Murphy, Wayne Fillingame, Ronnie Genin, Michael P. Larroux, Michael Reeves, Lee J. Hayden, David Adams, Steve Benvenutti, Jimmy Wagner, Mac Hadden, John Heath and Rory MacDowell.
 
Shortly before the end of 1971, the opportunity arose to ride on a Mardi Gras float in the Pass Christian parade. David Adams' father, Howard already belonged to a group that was participating in this parade every year. Howard offered to sell the Kinski group a dilapidated old float that was laying around behind the florist's greenhouses. For the modest purchase price of $25 Kinski bought the old float from Howard and the Kinski krewe was rolling just like that.

​Well, not quite, because with Pat Murphy's father pulling the float in a pickup, the tongue of the float broke off in the middle of the 1972 parade and the ride had to be completed in the back of the pickup truck. However, a marvelous time was had by all and a decision was made that this parade was to be the annual event that the Krewe would be centered around.

 
The following year Kinski held its first "Mardi Gras ball" on the Saturday night before the parade at John Heath's parents’ home (without their knowledge while they were out of town). After about two years the ball was moved to the Friday night before the Pass parade.

The thinking was that this would give the members a full day and night to recuperate from the ball before riding in the Sunday parade. In a somewhat loose coronation ceremony, Pat Murphy was crowned King Klaus I. The reason for his choice will forever remain a secret within the confines of the Kinski organization and its archives.
 
Each year a new King would be crowned when the court was announced. The King would be decided upon by the King Selection Committee made up of the previous three kings, whose duties also included naming a Queen, Dukes and Maids for the court.

​After the King's ride in the current year's parade, he would serve as Kaptain of the Krewe, overseeing the business of the organization until the following year. Prospective new members were only brought up for vote before the organization after they had been accepted and approved in a closed meeting of “grandfathers."

In 1979 Kinski began to have live entertainment for their Mardi Gras Ball. Through the years some stellar entertainment played for the Kinski Balls. Marcia Ball played three or four times as well as Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, Lil' Queenie & The Percolators, A Train, Zachary Richard and John Mooney & Bluesiana to name  but a few.

​The Kinski balls were created as spoofs on the formal New Orleans Mardi Gras ball's pomp and circumstance. The King’s crown has always been dilapidated old porcelain chamber pot while his scepter was a glittered plumber's helper. Irreverence has always been the Kinski Krewe's central theme.
 
When the organization was founded, no one thought that it would expand beyond a tight-knit circle of close friends. Through the years the circle eventually expanded to include friends of friends, younger brothers, cousins, etc. Members have come and gone. Some of the grandfathers have become inactive and no longer participate in the functions or business of the organization. 

Through the years Kinski held other events in addition to the ones at Mardi Gras. Some, like The Basket of Cheer Raffles and The Spring Barbecue, were fundraisers for the group while Cat Island and Wolf River camping trips, crawfish boils and bonfires were simply social gatherings for members and guests
 
For a number of years the Kinski float was kept in a "den" that the group constructed on property owned by Howard Adams next to his greenhouses in Pass Christian. Later the float was moved to property belonging to the Battalora family's Pass Wholesale Supply.

Both of these dens were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina and the float sustained substantial damage but was repaired and continued to roll. Eventually in 2010 the organization rode in the Pass parade for the final time and the float was brought to Waveland and a warehouse on property owned by the Markel family. Several years later in 2014, the group began to ride only in the Waveland St. Patrick's Day parade.
 
Through the years, especially when members were a bit younger, there were some particularly spirited parade rides, especially in the Pass Mardi Gras Parade. The details of these spirited rides shall also remain within the confines of the Kinski Krewe archives. What went on back there stays back there!

Any of the original friends present at those dining room table planning sessions would tell you that it was never envisioned that the organization would continue as long as it has. Never in anyone's wildest dreams was it thought that this club would still be in existence 46 years later!

With the passage of time membership and annual participation has waned. Some of even the youngest in the group are now grandparents and many members, frankly, have other priorities today.
 
There has been much speculation that the 2018 Waveland St. Patrick's Day Parade will have been be Kinski's Last Ride. If you attended this year's parade you saw lots of cabbage, carrots and corn being thrown from the Kinski float as well as the usual spirited irreverence toward everything!

​After the parade the Krewe threw a "Kinski's Last Ride" Part One celebration in the Longfellow Civic Center at the top of the Bay St. Louis parking garage. "The Garagemahal" as it is affectionately known to many, was a fitting location for the krewe party. Only a limited number of tickets were sold and the affair was a sellout. The Kinski Krewe's first king as well as twenty-first king, Pat Murphy and his band, 'Sippiana Soul played to a packed room full of dancing, partying people. 

​Many who had enjoyed Kinski's Mardi Gras balls and functions through the years were in attendance on the chance that the event would be sending The Komik Kurt Kinski Karnival Krewe & Karrying On Klub riding off into the sunset. Whether the event was or was not the krewe's last ride remains to be seen but regardless, what a ride it has been! Readers may want to stay tuned for possible Last Rides Part etc., etc.

While the popular Bay Town Inn hasn't changed much in the past five years, Old Town itself has grown, giving the Inn's loyal fan-base more to enjoy during their stays. 
- story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson 

​Moon has put her background in tourism to good use at her inn and in the community, where she works to bring visitors to the Bay. “My job is to get them here and out so they can spend money at the shops and restaurants. Then they can go home, tell everybody how fabulous it was and maybe they buy a second home or move here permanently.”
 
It’s easy to see why Bay Town Inn keeps guests returning. With its welcoming, coastal setting overlooking the beach in Old Town, the inn manages to appeal to both business and leisure travelers. Mississippi First Lady Deborah Bryant is among the returning guests.

The inn’s guest suites have a living and kitchen area, full bath and bedroom with a king bed, many with views of the courtyard and pool. The poolside accessible room has two double beds, an over-sized bathroom and kitchen area.

The second floor Lighthouse Room on the second floor is over 700 square feet with a queen bed, sofa-sleeper, full bath, kitchen area and a private deck.
 
Weekend guests have a full breakfast delivered to their suite. During the week a lighter meal is waiting for guests in their room. Fresh flowers, waffle weave robes and free wi-fi are among the amenities.
 
Guests on social media travel sites can’t say enough about Bay Town Inn, which consistently received the highest reviews. The comments tend to be superlative: A gem, first class, excellent location, fabulous food. “We hated to leave but made plans to meet again next Summer at The Bay Town Inn- but for a longer stay!”

 Serving as such an accommodating host and promoting the area is more than a full time job, but Moon doesn’t consider it work. “It is fun. I love what I do.”
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Moon has established strong relationships with agencies and companies at Stennis Space Center agencies as well as industries at Port Bienville and Stennis Airport.
 
“We get a lot of business from that and those guests love it here. They’ve been working all day and can park their cars here, change clothes and then walk down the block for something to drink and a bite to eat without having to get in the car again.”
 
Weekend guests are primarily couples from New Orleans, the North Shore, Baton Rouge and Hattiesburg. The Millennial travelers also come to the inn because they like the roomy accommodations and all of the town’s entertainment options. “They love the Bay,” Moon says.

Bay Town Inn also is a favorite of wedding parties and sometimes book the whole inn. Occasionally companies will have work retreats there and mix in fishing trips and other outings for their employees.

“We also have lots of mother daughter weekends, sisters weekends, people who like to go fishing and play rounds at our great golf courses. It’s a nice variety.”
 
Moon shares her hospitality experience by serving on the boards of the Hancock Chamber and the tri-county Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention  Bureau to help promote Bay St. Louis as part of the entire Gulf Coast region.

​“It’s a way to give back to my community,” she says. "Everybody has to step up and do their part. When you live in a small town, it takes every one of us.”

Waveland Alderman Jeremy Burke reports on the Studio Waveland inaugural art show, the Crawfish Cookoff and the new state law about golf carts. 

The participating artists include:
Stephen Paul Day,  Sybille Peretti , Mary Jane Parker, Gary Oaks, Michael Guidry, Shmuela Padnos,  Karen Edmunds, Frances Swigart, Hiroshi Yamano, Patti Meagher, Jolene Barkley, Charles Bendzans,  Bonnie Bendzans, Erica Larkin Gaudet, and Mitchell Gaudet.

This art exhibit at Studio Waveland will be the first of many collaborative openings showcasing exciting work of group and solo exhibitions of local, regional, national and international artists.

Studio Waveland hopes to promote the arts and culture of Waveland & Hancock County by participating in gallery openings every 2nd Saturday evenings of each month. Studio Waveland has a list of exciting events planned as well. Please connect with Studio Waveland through Facebook & Instagram and subscribe to www.studiowaveland.com to stay informed of future events & openings.

The gallery opening is open to all. Please spread the word.

To read more about the Gaudet's and their coming to Waveland last December, click here.

Samples of work from the show

C&R’s Bar and Grill’s 11th Annual Crawfish Cook-Off will be held on Saturday, April 7th from 10:00–4:30 on Coleman Avenue.

Team entry is $150, and C&R provides teams with sacks of crawfish. Prizes of $500 and $250 will be awarded to the champion and runner-up teams, respectively. Trophies will be given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams, as well as to the People’s Choice, Most Unique Edible Lagniappe items, Crowd Favorite and Best Booth.

Teams entries are limited for this event, so call 228-493-9922 today to secure your spot,

Admission is just $25 for adults and $10 for kids (9–12), and under-8s are free. The C&R crawfish cook-off will benefit Hope Haven of Hancock County. ​

Golf carts may soon be legal on some streets in Waveland.  

Waveland with the support of Hancock County’s delegation with Philip Moran was able to get MS Senate Bill 2940 passed through the Senate and House during the 2018 Mississippi Legislative Session.  The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and with very little opposition in the House. All the bill is waiting on is the signature of Gov. Phil Bryant.

Waveland is committed to ensuring safety of all parties that drive on our roads. An operator of a golf cart must be a licensed driver and golf carts will be restricted from some Waveland roads.  

A state monitoring program tests the waters of the Mississippi coast and issues advisories if needed.  What are they testing for and where?  We have the info and the links to make it easy to check before you swim. 
- story by Lisa Monti

​Doug Upton, chief of MDEQ’s field service division that does all monitoring across state, said the water samples are collected at least once a week by staffers at MDEQ’s regional office in Biloxi. The samples are analyzed at a private lab in Ocean Springs and results are typically reported in 24 hours.
 
What they’re looking for is Enterococci bacteria, which Upton calls “an indicator organism” that signals pollution caused by stormwater runoff, wildlife, boating waste or sewer overflows. High winds and heavy rainfall can also increase bacteria levels in our coastal waters. That’s why the Beach Task Force recommends not swimming during or within 24 hours of significant rainfall.

​When Enterococci bacteria levels exceed federal water quality standards in two consecutive samplings, MDEQ will issue an advisory using warning signs at the beach location itself and through the news media and social media. The goal is to let people know that if they come in contact with the contaminated water, there is a higher risk of infections of the ear, eye, skin and respiratory system. Gastrointestinal illness and even meningitis and hepatitis could occur through water contact.
 
You can still enjoy the sand beach section but, MDEQ says, you swim at your own risk.
 
The advisory is lifted after two daily samples show acceptable levels.
 
Very seldom does MDEQ issue beach closures, Upton said. “We do from time to time have sewage releases into the Sound from infrastructure failures. Then we will immediately issue an advisory and out of an abundance of caution, we make the advisory area probably bigger than it should be and assess the impact and monitor it daily until the threat is no longer there.”

Warmer weather also brings concerns about Vibrio or “flesh eating” bacteria, which multiply as water temperatures rise, the same time more people are swimming and boating. Upton said MDEQ doesn’t monitor for Vibrio bacteria because those bacteria exist naturally in brackish waters and they are not linked to pollution.
 
Upton said MDEQ puts great emphasis on its beach monitoring public notification system and website which contains current and historic data going back to 2000 for its sampling locations. The public can sign up to receive email notifications, automatic text messages and Twitter blasts about the beach advisories.
 
“The whole emphasis for beach monitoring is to make sure beachgoers know the condition of the water they will be swimming in,” he said.
 
To receive beach advisories, send an email to rwilbur@mdeq.ms.gov, text "MDEQbeach" to 95577, or follow MDEQ on Twitter: @MDEQ.

Meet Art Clementin, Honorary Survivor for the 2018 Relay for Life event in Hancock County.  He's rolling up his sleeves to help out with the event, which raises money that will help others with cancer.  Find out how you can join Art on April 21st.
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- story by LB Kovac, photos by Ana Balka, Lionel Haynes, Jr. and courtesy Relay for Life

This year, Relay For Life has a new location in Hancock County - the Crab Fest grounds behind the Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church, 228 S. Beach Boulevard, Bay St. Louis. On Saturday, April 21st, action gears up at 11am and goes until 9pm.  

Members of participating community teams will take shifts walking or jogging in this fun "marathon" event that raises money for the American Cancer Society. Teams will also sell snacks, drinks and register folks for prizes.  

Click here to register for the event! Don't have a team?  Join one, they'll be delighted to have you! 

 Clementin underwent a new surgery and successfully eradicate his cancer. A year later, Clementin was declared cancer free.
 
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, an average of 14,000 people in our state are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. Colorectal and breast cancers are the most common diagnoses, but prostate and mouth cancer diagnoses are on the rise.
 
The costs of cancer treatment, coupled with the increasing number of diagnoses, mean that cancer is also close to eclipsing heart disease as the number one killer in Mississippi. In 2016, 20% of deaths in the state were caused by cancer, according to the Health Department. 

But there is hope.

Clementin puts his faith in the research that is carried on by organizations such as the American Cancer Society. "I was assisted [in my own recovery] because of research done years ago," he says. "I'm a recipient of lots of people's research and hard work in the medical field."
 
Clementin's role as Honorary Survivor comes with quite a bit of responsibility. It's not wearing a sash and waving at crowds - Clementin must help bridge the gap between cancer survivors and the public, whose donations can greatly affect the outcomes of their diagnoses. 

Relay for Life is an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Communities put on their own celebrations - relays, yes, but also games, dinners, and survivor celebrations. Money raised during the event, from sales and donations, funds cancer research and treatment. 
 
"That's why I want to encourage as many people as possible to attend," says Clementin. "We need to get the public involved and fight this horrible disease." With more donations, the research necessary to fight the spread of cancer can proceed.
 
Bernadette Cullen, along with her co-chair Nonnie Richardson, are the organizers of this year's Harrison and Hancock Counties Relay for Life. The event is slated to take place April 21 at the Our Lady of the Gulf Crabfest grounds.
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​Cullen, herself involved with the local Relay for Life event for more than a decade, promises fun at this year's event: games, kids’ craft, popular bands, and good food. "It's a party with a purpose," she says.
 
Cullen points out that Relay for Life is different from other cancer fundraisers because it doesn't just support one type of cancer. "All types - breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia - you name it, we support it. The money goes to help research for all types." 
 
She adds, "Most of the money stays locally. It goes to all kinds of things that your neighbors need, like medicine, doctor visits, rides, etc."
 
Without the focus on a particular cancer, Relay for Life attendees and organizers are free to focus on the survivors themselves. People like Clementin, who have successfully treated their cancer, as well as people who are still actively battling their cancers. 

​And Clementin, in turn, can support one of the organizations that made his own battle that much more speedy. He says, "Doctors are able to do a lot of things they weren't able to do even ten years ago. Whether it's a dollar or a hundred thousand dollars, donations are important to research and saving lives."