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. 
- stories by Denise Jacobs

Be sure to check out "Hot Spots" Bodega Sales and Rentals (111 Court Street) and California Drawstrings (216 Main Street).

On Second Saturday, June 9, California Drawstrings will give away a pair of sunglasses with every purchase. The Renegades, a five-piece variety band that plays classic and current dance, rock, contemporary, and country music, will perform from 4pm to 8pm.

Linda Keenan, owner of California Drawstrings, 216 Main Street, will tell you her boutique specializing in cotton, linen, and silk doesn’t have much to do with California. In fact, her company has been firmly rooted in the Gulf South since Keenan had her entrepreneur moment at the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans.

“I was working in real estate in North Carolina when I saw this fabulous line of linen clothing at a boat show,” said Keenan. “I knew I wanted to continue my real estate career and move to New Orleans, but I thought people visiting for the World’s Fair weren’t going to understand the heat and humidity. I thought I could earn some extra money by selling this cool clothing line in the French Market, and it just really took off.”

In the beginning, California Drawstrings focused on two or three lines of clothing, and now it stocks about 50 vendors.

"We are always looking for what’s new and different in the marketplace," Keenan explains. "We still carry old standbys like Flax and Matchpoint, but we have found other great boutique lines like Cut Loose, April Cornell, and Fridaze's wrinkle-resistant linen. We have the largest selection of linen and cotton on the Gulf Coast.  We’re a niche retailer. We’re not everything to everybody, but in the natural fiber clothing line, we have a huge selection, and various sizes."

Keenan quickly outgrew her French Market booth and moved into the French Quarter and Covington, La. Today her store on Royal Street in New Orleans is a well-known spot for men and women to pick up the best in resort wear—shirts, pants, shorts, dresses, skirts, outerwear and accessories. No matter how high temperatures rise, California Drawstrings has something for everyone to be comfortable and stylish. 
 
“One day Nancy Moynan of Lulu's called me saying the mayor of Bay St. Louis told her about my shop and they thought it would be a good fit for Bay St. Louis,” Keenan said. “I went to see her space at Maggie May’s and opened a Bay St. Louis branch in 2012.”

​ Just as Keenan faced the familiar problem of outgrowing the space a couple of years later, she heard of a business for sale on Main Street. She saw the building and immediately made an offer. 

"We have so much more space in our Bay St. Louis location - and lots of parking, too,” she said.

"We get a lot of repeat customers, and it is not unusual to sit down with customers and just chat late in the afternoon."

Besides being a picturesque beach town, what she loves about Bay St. Louis is the people. "The people I meet in the store are probably the most rewarding aspect of owning the shop,” she said. 

Bay St. Louis, she said, is a place she wants to spend the rest of her life. “I’ll never really retire, but the pace is so much easier here than in New Orleans.” And after a while, she said, you just appreciate not having to worry about things like parking.

“I feel like I have the greatest sales team and the greatest managers,” Keenan said. “They look after the stores as if they were their own. The greatest compliment you can give me is that you love my staff. They are truly like family to me, watching out for what’s best for all of us. I can’t be in three places at once."

Betty Krieger has been with Keenan since she opened the Bay St. Louis shop and when she retires in June 2018, Stephanie Cooper will take over as manager. 

"And to think I literally started with two tables and $1,500 at the French Market.” ​

As a Second Saturday Hot Spot, Bodega will serve up specials on coconut margaritas and other tropical drinks and a Cuban Special by Chef Rickey.  ​

Located in the heart of Old Town Bay St. Louis, the Bodega is a recently renovated multifaceted complex featuring everything you’ll need to get the best out of this lively and charming town.

Looking for a way to get around town during your stay? 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.  Bodega Adventure Rentals and Sales has just what you need.  

The idea for Bodega evolved over time. Visionary entrepreneur Kevin Jordan bought the building from the city when it went up for auction several years ago. “I didn’t have a clue what I was going to do with it,” he said. “I often put the cart before the horse when it comes to real-estate decisions.” 
​
The property was in excellent shape, having been renovated by the city after Hurricane Katrina, if not a little staid. Jordan and crew went to work using reclaimed Katrina lumber, stucco, and paints. The building’s first iteration was to house the offices of his Gulfview Properties before making the transformation to beach hangout. 
​

Jordan rented bicycles first and then golf carts, followed by kayaks and paddle boards. Then he built a bar, subdivided the first floor for a liquor store and converted the second floor to a loft for yoga. 

Jordan recently teamed up with chef extraordinaire Rickey Peters, who has developed an enormous Gulf Coast following in the past 20 years. Out back, a deep French Quarter style balcony is being added to the building and will offer a covered area for dining below.  Inside, the 1,000-square-foot bar and dining area is adjacent to the kitchen where Rickey serves up his specials.  

Bodega gets its name from the town of Bodega in Northern California, home of Hitchcock’s thriller film The Birds, and one of Jordan’s favorite places to visit when he is at his family’s vineyard in Napa Valley. El Bodega is one of Jordan’s favorite bars in Havana. Jordan explains that in and around New York City, the term is used to refer to a convenience/liquor store, and that seems to fit, as he hopes to eventually carry beach and convenience store items. 
​

More than anything, Jordan would like to see Bodega become a local destination. After all, “everyone wants to go where the locals go.”  Conveniently located half a block from the beach, the Parrot Head Bar and Grill is the perfect hangout to relax and unwind, and Jordan seems to be off to a very good start. 

Bodega Rentals & Sales is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Parrot Head is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until closing time and is closed on Monday and Tuesday. 

George Mills and the Invisibles performs at Bodega each Saturday from 6 p.m.  until.
​

Everyone is invited to join in the creative energy at Gallery 220 Main, home to over 25 local artists. June Second Saturday at the Gallery offers live music from Dave Holt and Friends, delicious food and good company. Find us at 220 Main St., Bay St. Louis, MS, just two blocks north of the beach. Call 228-466-6347 for additional information.

June in Bay St. Louis brings hot temperatures, sandy swimsuits and the taste of saltwater. It also brings together two of the Bay’s top artists, painters Barbara Brodtmann and Janet Densmore. The pair will be featured the entire month at Gallery 220 Main.

Barbara Brodtmann creates unique impressions of life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Her subjects range from horn blowing Jazz musicians to beach strutting Sandpipers, all the while capturing the unique colors and light with her favorite mediums of watercolor and acrylic. In addition to her paintings, Barbara has a long history of teaching art, to both children and adults and many have attended her popular Wine, Women and Watercolor sessions. 
 
Janet Densmore will be showing more of her acrylic altered landscapes and beach scenes that change color by means of transparent pigments and minerals. Some images shift from vibrant neorealism to linear abstraction as the viewer moves closer to the paintings. In her smaller paintings and sculptures, Janet pushes the classic genre of still life to hilarious extremes in works she likes to call “Food For Thought,” with titles like “Confronting GMO” and “Cutting Down On Fats.”

Also at Gallery 220 on Second Saturday

Gallery 220 Main, located in old Town Bay St. Louis and MAP (Music, Arts and Practicality) of Hancock Co. have been working together since last March, when the co-operative art gallery had its grand re-opening.

​ Artist Amy Kramer created an acrylic on canvas banner that has been featured in the front window of the gallery since the re-opening. Knowing the window would be reset for summer, Kramer and gallery artists decided to raffle the painting, with all funds going to the MAP summer camp program.

 The $5 raffle tickets will be available for purchase until the drawing, which will take place on Saturday, June 9 at 7 pm in the gallery showroom.

MAP states its mission is to, “provide an enriching environment at no cost for children in grades K-12 and to explore and learn Music, Arts, and Practicality (Life Skills) by establishing a multicultural Children's Theater and Children's Choir.”

This year’s production is, “Shrek, Jr. the Musical” and will be performed later in the summer. MAP is a 501c3 non-profit organization and operates with a volunteer staff. It offers a four to six-week summer camp experience for children who would not normally be able to attend camp due to finances.

MAP representatives and children, along with Gallery 220 artists invite you to join us for this special event. Please call, (228) 466-6347 for additional information or visit our Facebook page for current happenings.

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. 
​- - stories by Denise Jacobs, photos by Ellis Anderson and courtesy C&C Bistro

Be sure to check out "Hot Spots" C&C Bistro (111 Main Street) and The Arts, Hancock County (they'll be headquartered for the evening at the French Potager, 213 Main Street).

As a featured Hot Spot during the Old Town Merchants Association Second
Saturday celebration on Saturday, May 12, Cork & Cleaver will provide live music by Serabee, with bar specials between 4pm and 8pm.

Chef David Dickensauge, Jr., owner at C & C Bistro, which features upscale, casual, authentic Italian cuisine, is a happily busy man. The chef is assisted on the financial side by his business partner and father, David Dickensauge, Sr., and appreciatively so. 
 
“Dad is retired Air Force," Chef David notes, “with no clue about the day-to-day operational part of a farm-to-table restaurant. We both do what we're good at, and it works out perfectly."
 
As operational manager and chef, Dickensauge handles sourcing food, planning menus, preparing food, or managing the restaurant.

“We’re not warming things up here,” the Chef notes. “No big truck pulls up to make deliveries here. I’m busy with marketing, cooking, making sure the restaurant is running, the food is perfect, and the kitchen meticulous. I design everything here, and I run it.”  

And it shows. Lisa Monti, restaurant reviewer for the Shoofly Magazine, stated it perfectly in her February 2018 review of Cork & Cleaver—“Dickensauge has crafted weekly specials that might make you want to double down for lunch and then back for dinner in quick succession.”
 
While the menu changes eight times a year to reflect the availability of fresh foods from Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama, the fare is always true Italian, the pasta is always made in-house, and the pizza prepared in a special gas-fired brick oven.
 
Weekly specials are popular with the local crowd, a crowd that enjoys special Happy Hour deals from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., as well. Monday draws beef lovers for the $20 ribeye and/or sirloin filet, each served with black truffle ricotta salada and twice-baked potatoes.

Pasta fans enjoy the $10 Tuesday homemade signature pastas and/or a selection of artisan pizzas. Wine Down Wednesdays are becoming quite a big deal, in part because of the great selection of wines by the bottle at half price and because of the freshly shucked char-baked oysters that sell for $8 a dozen.

Thursday deserves a paragraph of its own. That’s when evening diners should prepare themselves for a four-course set dinner option for just $38 a person. The menu varies, but a recent Thursday, Chef David prepared a first course of roasted cauliflower with a goat cheese and feta spread, a second course of  seared scallop over scallion mashed potatoes with roasted red pepper sauce, a third course of coffee-crusted tenderloin (4 oz.) with grilled polenta and sautéed vegetables, and a fourth course of ricotta cheesecake in a Mason Jar with fresh blueberries and lavender.
 
On major holidays, Chef David offers six-course meals with a seventh-course lagniappe.
 
There’s really no excuse not to try C&C Italian Bistro at least once. The weekly specials make it easy, but don’t stop there. The menu itself guarantees one of the finest dining experiences on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. You'll be back. 

The Arts, Hancock County, a fast-growing, active organization that offers sponsorship and genuine support in the form of shows, classes, events, and other instructional ventures, boasts over 300 members—all of them either artists or lovers of art.

If not butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers, The Arts, Hancock governing board is comprised of business owners, a photographer, an architect, a teacher, potters, a writer, and professional volunteers. This diversity reflects the spirit and rapidly growing membership of a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting art in everyday life in Hancock County.
​
The vision spearheaded by Steve Barney, president of The Arts, Hancock County and founder of the STEAMpunk Pottery Project—an educational program for children—is to “reinvent the organization to support the entire spectrum of artists and capture the artistic buzz centered in Hancock County.”

The buzz goes beyond traditional forms of art to include all types of creative expression and performance. For example, the 2018 ArtsAlive! festival, the largest annual Arts, Hancock County undertaking, highlighted the burgeoning scene of artists, makers, and performers from across the region.

Happy festival-goers found an abundance of live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and artist showcases/marketplaces, from musical performances to poetry readings to belly dancers. At hands-on MakerSpace stations, fest- goers practiced the art of screen printing and drum-making, and volunteers of all ages engaged in public art projects such as the one at Ruth’s Garden on Court Street.

Other participatory art experiences included on-site painting of beach-bound trash cans and the creation of a public mural.

During Arts!Alive, some members of the Old Town Merchants Association hosted artists and artisans at storefront locations throughout Old Town where some artists demonstrated their work while others were simply on hand to talk about their creative process. 

Bay Life Gifts owner Janice Guido, a previous Old Town Merchants Association board member and current Arts, Hancock County board member, noted that Arts!Alive drew an upscale, art-wise, sophisticated clientele eager to buy. By all reports, local artists and the merchants who sponsored them fared well.

At the center of Arts, Hancock County is a 7,500-square-foot industrial building on the corner of Washington and Central, the Bay St. Louis Creative Arts Center (101 Central Ave.).

Since Barney purchased the dilapidated building in 2017, it has become a gathering space in an emerging art district. The building is the seat of monthly Arts, Hancock County membership meetings, the Raw Oyster Marching Club's oyster-painting central, the home of workshops from pottery to flower arranging, and even a space in which Mardi Gras floats are constructed.

The most active part of the Bay Creative Arts Center, however, is the 1,200-square-foot pottery studio, which partners with Lazy Magnolia Brewery and offers adult classes and after-school classes for children. 

Having moved to Old Town, an historic district extending from Beach Boulevard to St. Francis Street and Washington Street to Ulman Avenue, Arts, Hancock County is tapping into the creative economy in Hancock County, expanding into Waveland and the Kiln, and exploring partnerships between local businesses and artists.

As of this writing, Arts, Hancock County boasts overlapping exhibits at four business and civic entities—200 North Beach, Bay St. Louis City Hall, Waveland City Hall, and the Ground Zero Museum in Waveland.

“In the early days of the organization,” Barney notes, “the goal was to help artists re-establish themselves in the aftermath of Katrina. We are circling around, going back to our roots.”
​
To join Arts, Hancock County, visit https://hancockarts.org/join-us. Alternatively, talk to organizational VP Ann Dinwiddie Madden, co-founder of Smith & Lens Gallery (106 S. Second Street, Bay St. Louis), or Treasurer Alicein Schwabacher, owner and manager of  the Mockingbird Café (110 South Second Street, Bay St. Louis).

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. 

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 March one is always a favorite because of the Souper Mudfest celebration. What?  Don't worry, we've got all the details.  

Be sure to visit Hot Spot businesses ​Antique Maison Ulman and Tea Room, Garden, 317 Ulman Avenue and Green Canyon Outfitters, 108 South Beach Blvd.

- stories by Denise Jacobs, photos by Ellis Anderson and Denise Jacobs

 
In July 2014, Sylvia and Ed Young opened the Antique Maison Ulman and Tea Room on 317 Ulman Ave. The Ulman branch of Antique Maison (on Second Street) is managed by Missy Geisel and is an ideal place for private events like showers, graduation parties, and wedding receptions.

Once owners of a business on the 2000 block of Magazine Street, the Youngs relocated to Bay St. Louis in 1990. A year later, they opened a tuxedo, bridal, and costume shop on Second Street. After Hurricane Katrina wrecked its havoc on the Second Street building, Sylvia and Ed renovated and reopened it as an antique store—Antique Maison.

The Antique Maison Ulman and Tea Room came later, as did Sylvia’s latest vision—an outdoor garden. In the center of the garden stands the Heavenly Tea Garden Tree, an historical tree dedicated by Father Jim of St. Augustine Seminary located next to the store.

In addition to two tea rooms, one private with seating up to twenty, the expansive main dining room which holds thirty-five, and the garden and deck area, which adds seating for thirty-five, is the store itself. The Ulman branch of Antique Maison features three large display rooms housing antiques, nostalgia, and vintage in quality furniture, home décor, art, collectables, jewelry, china, and crystal.

If guests do not find what they are looking for, Sylvia will happily walk them into the Quonset hut dedicated to special sale items and overflow. Treasures abound!

Sylvia delights in operating the Ulman site. She explains that many of her customers are just passing through. Some are visiting. Some are lost. Some just got off the highway and found themselves at the store.

“I always play tour guide,” she says. “I take out the map and tell folks where things are, where to eat, and so forth.” Sylvia notes that her first-time customers often fall in love with Bay St Louis. Sometimes they mention buying a house, and she calls upon her 35 years in real estate to give them information.
​
The Antique Maison Ulman and Tea Room is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Tearoom offers a wide assortment of hot and cold teas, iced and hot coffees, soft drinks, and desserts. High Tea Windsor is offered, as well, by reservation only. Reservations are requested 48 hours in advance.
 
Whether you are a frequent visitor, a newbie to Bay St. Louis, or have lived here all your life, do stop by on Second Saturday, March 10, between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Sylvia and Missy will be serving soups from the High Tea menu to those with proof of Mudfest purchase along with samples from the High Tea menu. ​

For Brennan Marlowe, sole proprietor of Green Canyon Outfitters, 108 S. Beach Blvd., right above Cuz’s, the best part of owning a business in Bay St. Louis is the opportunity to give back to his home community.

Brennan, a Waveland native, elaborates: “When I was at St. Stanislaus just before the Katrina era, I would have to drive to Gulfport or Biloxi to get what I needed. So, when I opened Green Canyon Outfitters, I said I would have access to things I couldn’t get before. I didn’t go into the business thinking I would become a millionaire, but if you can keep it alive and rolling to give back, that’s the point.”

Green Canyon Outfitters specializes in high-end, affordable outdoor apparel and accessories. As might be expected, most of the business comes from locals, including St. Stanislaus students, between March and July.

Brennan is happy to report, though, that many repeat out-of-state customers make yearly trips to the store. “From the beginning,” he explains, “I wanted to make sure that the customer-service experience exceeded the customer’s expectations.”
​
Indeed, the online reviews of the store are all positive and range from “Great company with an amazing selection of products to choose from,” to “Pricing is great, and customer service was outstanding,” to “This is the go-to place for cool outdoorsy styles.” Brennan likes to say that the store focuses on Southern hospitality. “We’re friendly,” he says. 

As a buyer, Brennan chooses to focus on items that give back “somehow or some way.”

This includes the Parks Project and tentree clothing lines. For each Parks Project item purchased, a percentage of proceeds from the sale goes to one of over 30 conservancies across the United States to provide funding for national parks. For every item purchased at tentree, ten trees are planted. This is the sort of thing that excites Brennan, who explains the allure.

“Not only are you buying something; you’re buying some thing,” he says. Other, more mainstream products include Patagonia, Hard Tail, Royal Robbins, and a line of sunglasses to die for: Maui Jim, Olukai, Ray Ban, and Shwood. 

Brennan graduated from Ole Miss with a degree in exercise and physiology with an emphasis on pre-medical studies, but he had this idea for the store, and he just wanted to try it.

“A lot of people have ideas,” Brennan explains, “and I thought to myself, well, why not just do it? If it fails tomorrow, I will still be young enough to try something else.”  Admirable courage.
​
Stop by the Green Canyon Outfitters on Second Saturday, March 10, between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., for special Hot Spot sale items.  Stock up on your favorites. Feel good about yourself in the process. 

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. 

Be sure to visit Hot Spot businesses The Mockingbird Café, 110 South Second Street, and Strandz Salon, 203 North Second Street. 

- stories by Denise Jacobs, photos by Ellis Anderson and Denise Jacobs

The Mockingbird is so integrated into the fabric of the community, that it is sometimes hard to tell where it begins and where it ends. That’s especially true when the cafe collaborates with neighboring Smith & Lens to host art shows, the Mr. Atticus’s Night Market, and festivals such as last month’s Dolly Should look-alike contest. The Bird has evolved from a group of people gathered to rebuild the city after Katrina into a lively community hub.

More than just a coffee shop, “the Bird” has been dubbed the living room of the Bay. It is a place reminiscent of the house in which Alicein Wonderland Schwabacher, sole proprietor, grew up, a Bay St. Louis home overflowing with colorful out-of-town travelers who taught Schwabacher that she was a citizen of the world. 

While the Mockingbird is more than a coffee shop, it does serve a great cup of coffee. Beans are roasted at Coast Roast in Long Beach for a special Mockingbird blend. “We aren’t a cookie-cutter town, so we aren’t a cookie-cutter coffee shop,” says Schwabacher. “If we can source anything nearby, from coffee to art to live music, we do that. That’s important to us.”

Schwabacher credits her success to the people who have supported her and the business along the way, noting that, “Since we opened our doors, Laura Hurt and Whitney LaFrance have been key to the success of the Mockingbird.” 

Schwabacher says, “Our Mockingbird team gets it—we are all ambassadors of Bay St. Louis.” She adds that the Bird’s success is also due to her supportive partner Rebekah and her tireless work.

No time is a bad time to experience the Bird’s menu, and the weekend brunch is especially popular. Signature alcoholic drinks such as a trio of mimosas made with fresh seasonal juice, Lushy Lemonade, Irish coffees, and the Tequila Mockingbird are always available but are hits with the brunch crowd.

The idea behind the Mockingbird is that a community is stronger if everyone works together—from staff to city planning. That idea still holds. “We may not all want exactly the same thing,” Schwabacher says, “but we can always find common ground.” 
​
With that, she invites everyone to stop by on Second Saturday, February 10, between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. “All are welcome," she says. “We welcome any and all neighbors.” 

​• Delivery from the Mockingbird is available within Old Town on all orders $25 or more between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily. 

• The Mockingbird is now taking Mobile/Online orders! Check it out at https://squareup.com/store/mockingbird-cafe-llc. 

Strandz Salon
203 N Second St
Bay St Louis, MS 
 (228) 216-2460

On February 10, Second Saturday, Strandz will host an open house between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Stop by for a snack and introduce yourself. 

Not one to struggle with what she would do with her life, Brenda Curet Cuevas, sole proprietor of Strandz Salon, began her career as a hair stylist and business owner right out of high school in 1976. She never looked back. 

Cuevas says that owning a business was never that important, that it just happened. Nevertheless, she says that it takes business acumen and loyal customers to sustain a business through a hurricane the proportions of Katrina, a diagnosis of breast cancer, and single parenting. Cuevas has done just that. 

Strandz was originally housed on Highway 90 near Hancock Medical Center. At that time, Cuevas employed seven stylists. When Katrina hit in 2005, the building flooded. Rather than admit defeat, Cuevas moved her salon into her house.

​She continued there and operated a full-service salon for ten years before moving to her current location on the corner of deMontluzin and Second Street in the same building as The Ugly Pirate. 

“You have to have a town to have a business,” Cuevas says, “and this is my town. This town helped me maintain a business as a single parent. It helped me through my battle with breast cancer, and I am happy to say that I am a 13-year survivor. My customers support my business, and I appreciate every last one of them.”

Cuevas loves working in Old Town, taking walks around town, and meeting new people.

Strandz is a full-service salon featuring Joico and Matrix professional hair care and hair styling products. Cuevas offers haircuts, color, perms, blow dry, flat iron, and relaxers.

Prepare to flaunt both of your inner divas — Country AND Western! — during a themed Second Saturday Artwalk in Old Town Bay St. Louis on January 13.  “Dolly Should.  The monthly art event takes on a Nashville spin by celebrating Dolly Parton's birthday with an art show, hayride, square dancing and an astonishing costume contest! 
​
- stories by Denise Jacobs, photography by Ellis Anderson 

Here's a full schedule of "Dolly Should" activities in Old Town on January 13

• 10 am - 8pm - Michael Foster tin types at The French Potager, 213 Main St.
• 11 am - 6pm - Dolly Should eat at Starfish Cafe, 211 Main St.
• 12pm - 4pm - Hayrides at BayTique, 125 Main St.
• 12pm - Dolly themed Pop Up on the Patio, fine art show opens at Smith & Lens, 106 S. 2nd St.
• 4:00pm - Bay Ratz Marching Battery performs all over Old Town
• 4:00pm - 6:00pm - Pop Up Beauty Shop on the patio at Smith & Lens, 106 S. 2nd St.
• 5:00pm - 6:00pm - Square dance NOLA at the green space on Main at 2nd, 161 Main St.
• 5:00 - 7:00 - Dolly Look Alike contest registration, in costume, please, at Smith & Lens, 106 S. 2nd St.
• 6:00 - Hadley Hill LIVE at the Mockingbird Cafe and Dolly's Favorites on the dinner menu, 110 S. 2nd St.
• 7:30 - Look Alike Contest begins on the porch of the Mockingbird Cafe, mc'd by the amazing Reba Douglas and dj'd by superstar DJ Bella with celebrity judges (Melanie Spencer, Monique Champagne and DJ BELLA) 110 S. 2nd St.
• 8:30ish Clearbranch Cloggers for Christ take the stage at the Mockingbird during deliberations
• 9:00 - Dolly themed karaoke contest and after party at Gabbie's Bar, 119 Main Street 

Carroll House B&B
304 Carroll Ave. 
Bay St. Louis
​866.300.2704

Carroll House will be hosting an open house on Second Saturday, from 4pm - 6pm.  Refreshments will be served. 

​For Jane Kulpeksa (formerly Alford), owning a bed & breakfast was a long-held dream. When the big house on Carroll Avenue, an historic seaside home in the heart of Old Town, became available after Katrina, Jane, who lived around the corner on Toulme at the time, bought the house. She also bought a camper trailer, which she lived in while making renovations on the Carroll House. It was a bed & breakfast in the making.

About a year and a half later, the house was livable, and Jane moved in. However, she continued making renovations, including the addition of two bathrooms. Then, in 2011, Carroll House Bed & Breakfast opened its doors. Jane notes that the house was one of only a few accommodations open in Old Town at the time, so she developed a loyal customer base from the beginning.

The house is a short stroll to the center of Old Town and the beach. In addition to overnight or long-term stays, Carroll House is an elegant setting for an intimate wedding and/or baby and wedding showers. Be sure to check out the Carroll House online for a gallery of photos.

​Guests can enjoy an early morning cup of coffee on the private porch as the birds serenade them, or join other guests in the parlor for friendly conversation. Most often, guests gather to eat breakfast together, a traditional bed & breakfast element that Jane holds dear. Sometimes guests even congregate in the kitchen to chat as breakfast is prepared. It’s that kind of place.

​Jane cooks with the vegetables she grows in her garden, and she serves and sells lemon, satsuma, and kumquat marmalades made from the fruit trees grown around the house. “It’s a beautiful home with a comfortable atmosphere,” Kulpeksa explains, and “people tell us that they feel at home here.”

Originally from Louisiana, Jane has lived in Bay St. Louis for 21 years. She attributes the success of Carroll House to her capable, loyal, and trustworthy staff—a bit of a challenge to find in the early years but entrenched now—and to her involvement with the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce.

According to Jane, repeat customers turned friends have made her bed & breakfast a dream-come-true. In fact, Jane is gratified to report that many of her previous guests are now permanent residents of the Bay.

​“They come here and fall in love with the area,” she says. “I like to think we here at Carroll House had something to do with that.” 

Hancock County Historical Society
108 Cue Street
Bay St. Louis 
​228.467.4090

Bring one-page bio sketches (see below) with you to the Second Saturday Open House between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Your name will be entered in a drawing for a copy of Bay St. Louis: Celebrating The First 300 Years. In addition, your bio sketch will be featured in one of the monthly newsletters. 

For Charles Harry Gray, it was love at first sight.

The year was 1984. The event was the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge. Gray, now director of the Hancock County Historical Society, had driven in his Rolls Royce from New Orleans to the Bay to observe the annual sailing event. Within a week, he had purchased his first home in his new hometown.

Not long afterward, Gray attended a meeting of the Hancock County Historical Society, became a member, and was made vice president the very day he joined.  This was before the Lobrano House was bestowed to the Historical Society, a time when members held their meetings at local restaurants. 

Gray knew all about restaurants. He had operated Corinne Dunbar’s restaurant in the grand parlor of her home on St. Charles Avenue. At Corinne Dunbar’s, customers were treated as if they were dinner guests at a party in her home. I suspect that those who visit the Hancock County Historical Society experience a similar sense of welcome. 

The society is headquartered in the Kate Lobrano House, described on the Historical Society’s website, as “a delightful 1896 shotgun cottage that was donated to the society in 1988 by the grandchildren of Katherine Maynard Lobrano.”

The original house at 108 Cue Street is used as a turn-of-the-century museum while an addition to the rear of the house provides office and storage space. Depending on the day of week, guests will find either Gray or Eddie Coleman, newsletter editor and staff person, running the operation along with one of the society’s officers or a community volunteer.

Membership in the Hancock County Historical Society is 1,000 strong, and membership is nationwide. In fact, Gray marvels that a contingent of out-of-state members commit to months of volunteer service onsite while vacationing in the Bay area.

In the pre-Katrina years, visitors traveled to Hancock County regularly via tour bus, often to visit the 728 Bay St. Louis houses on the National Registry. The Hancock County Historical Society functions in many ways as a guest or travel center for those who want to know what to see and do while in the area.

At its heart, however, the Historical Society collects, preserves, and maintains a collection of documents, photographs, memorabilia, and artifacts designed to help future generations understand their heritage.

As a private institution with no state funding, the Hancock Historical Society relies entirely on charitable contributions and memberships and is only as strong as its community involvement. To that end, the Historical Society has a standing invitation to anyone who has lived in Hancock County to share their family histories.

​If you bring in photographs, volunteers will copy and file them in color-coded binders labeled Waveland, County, People, Tony Scafidi, Hurricanes, Cemeteries, Registered Trees, Bay St. Louis Houses, and so on. The photos will also be scanned and saved online. 

As any survivor of a natural disaster can tell you, few things are as important as preserving personal artifacts, memorabilia, and stories. With that in mind, the Hancock County Historical Society invites those whose loved ones have lived in Hancock County to complete a one-page bio sketch of a deceased loved one or family member with roots in Hancock County.

It would be appreciated if you would follow the suggested template. Label and attach a photograph, and include your contact information. All original photographs will be returned to you.
​
A word to the wise: Don’t let the “Story/Anecdote” section intimidate you. Your story might be a paragraph long and focus on a family holiday, a childhood memory, a rite of passage, a military experience, an encounter with nature, a sports triumph, a religious awakening, or a professional accolade. 

Suggested Bio Sketch format

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 December one offers a magical family experience, with lots of holiday lighting, decor and good cheer!

Be sure to visit Hot Spot businesses Gallery 220, 220 Main Street, and  Southern Accents Boutique, 125 Main Street!

Special Holiday Happenings for Second Saturday

Caroling through Old Town by Coast Chorale

Gallery 220 - A December Hot Spot:  work by 20 artists, refreshments and live music:  220 Main Street

Southern Accents - A December Hot Spot:  125 Main Street

The Mockingbird Café - Hadley Hill performs 6pm - 9pm: 110 S. Second Street

Smith & Lens Gallery Pop-up on the Patio - Gallery A Go-go with work by 20 artists! Amanda Bennett show in gallery: 106 S. Second Street

The Shops at Century Hall - hot chocolate bar w/cookies: 112 S. Second Street

Gallery Edge (inside Century Hall) - Special Off-the-Edge Holiday Shop: 112 S. Second Street

Starfish Café - Selfies with Santa, porch of the Starfish Café, 4pm - 6pm! Free, but accepting donations for Food Pantry: 211 Main Street

First Baptist Church - Christmas program of sirited music by the adult and children's choir, 6pm:  141 Main Street

Bay Books - Alex North signing his 2018 calendars: 131 Main Street

Bodgea Spirts & Liquor - Beaujolais wine tasting 5pm - 7pm: 111 Court Street

Bodega Parrot Head Bar - George Mills & the Invisibles, 7pm til...: 111 Court Street

Misfits Classic Car Club - Cruise-in at the Bay St. Louis Harbor, generally held in the afternoon.  ​

​Now an Old Town fixture, Gallery 220 was conceived on the heels of Katrina and born out of necessity to accommodate the many artists who lost their studios to the storm.

Within two months of Katrina’s arrival, Jenise McCardell created a space for Gallery 220 in the front of her Clay Creations building, and an artist’s cooperative was born. Eleven years later, the concept remains the same: member artists rent space and give time. 

The business model supports the artists--all 25 of them. As artists take turns working one day a week, visitors may stumble upon clay, wire, paint, or mosaic in process. McCardell credits this interaction between artist, craft, and customer as a real draw.  “Customers love to watch a work in progress,” she says. 

McCardell marvels that 25 artists get along so well. In fact, they help each other. When one artist is featured in a magazine or on a television show, he or she invariably promotes the other artists in the Gallery. That camaraderie is one of the aspects of running a business that Jenise finds rewarding. The repeat customers, however, are the most rewarding aspect.

“A lot of customers tell us they have a blank wall. They are interested in a piece of art, but they want it in a different size. Maybe they want it to fit behind their sofa,” McCardell says. “We try to accommodate.” 

Indeed. Shoppers will find a multitude of choices. 

Usually, one artist is featured a month. That artist gets the center aisle. As a Hot Spot, though, every artist will be a featured artist. Be sure to stop by and pass a good time.
​
​Gallery 220 is hard to miss; it's the building with the Coca Cola sign on the side and an eclectic sampling of local art lining the front windows.

​Jenny Shubert, Southern Accents owner, has an abiding love of the Deep South. She always wanted to run her own business. Southern Accents reflects the combination of her two passions: The Deep South and small business ownership. Southern Accents is perhaps the only Southern-themed store on Main Street. 

Shubert opened the Southern Accents about the time her children were in school full time. First housed on Second Street, the shop soon migrated to the old Masonic Temple in the first block of Main.

Jenny, a Pass Christian gal who now resides in the Kiln, says she loves the Bay area and couldn’t ask for a better place to work. She manages the store herself with occasional help from her daughters.

If you ask Jenny Shubert what she finds most rewarding about owning her own business, she will tell you, location, location, location. "I love this quiet, friendly community," she says. 

From the beginning, Jenny knew she wanted her store to reflect the Southern charm that has enveloped her from birth. No surprise there; a browse through the shop will put the most Northern visitor in mind of a sweet iced tea or a slice of pecan pie.

At Southern Accents, shoppers will find local pepper jelly, tees from the Anna Grace Southern Tee Company collection and Southern Accents' own special tee collection, boutique clothing (including plus sizes), hats from the Southern Dog Company, beachy jewelry, soy candles from Southern Accents, frames, and home décor with Southern charm.

As the sign says, "It’s a boutique and more." As such, Southern Accents is the perfect place for visitors to purchase a memento of their trip to the Gulf Coast . . .  and for locals to find that special something for that special someone, especially if that special someone happens to be you. 
​
Southern Accents is housed in the old Masonic Temple, a neo-classic Revival style building a half block off the beach in historic Old Town Bay St. Louis.

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.  It's the way we throw a family-friendly party here in the Bay and you're invited! 

Be sure to visit Hot Spot businesses Biz-zee Bee, 111 Main Street, and  Social Chair, 201 Main Street!

- stories by Denise Jacobs, photos by Denise Jacobs and Ellis Anderson 

Biz-zee Bee
111 Main Street
Bay St. Louis
228.467.1104

During the artwalk, from 4pm - 8pm,  Biz-zee Bee will be having live music and kid-friendly goodies. 

Biz-zee Bee has been a coastal favorite since relocating to Old Town from Hwy 90 in 2008.  The shop sells children's clothing and accessories - and embroiders.

“Biz-zee Bee is like two stores in one," owner Janelle Graham explains, gesturing toward three high-tech sewing machines behind the register. It’s where Janelle Hilliard, Janelle's aunt, operates the machines, adding custom embroidery and monogramming to items purchased at Biz-zee Bee and elsewhere. 

In addition to the best in seasonal children's clothing, smocked baby clothes, and nautical wear for the young crowd, Biz-zee Bee caters to local dance troupes, with shoes and clothes for ballet, jazz, and tap. And while it is a children's shop, two adult brands are also carried: Charles River raincoats and Comfort Colors BSL T-shirts. Gift-wrapping is free, too, making the shop easy for shower-shoppers.  

​After 12 years of serving the Bay area, Graham and Hilliard are most proud of their small-town personal level of customer service.

"It's what keeps people coming back," Graham says, adding that she has made a lot of friends through the years. "You really can't beat the Old Town shopping experience.” ​

For the latest in children's fall fashions, stop by Biz-zee Bee for Second Saturday hours and enjoy live music and kid-friendly goodies. Beat the rush on your special embroidery needs and holiday shopping. The embroidery drop-off deadline is December 15; don't miss it! 

Social Chair
201 Main Street
Bay St. Louis 
228.466.5853

During the artwalk, from 4pm - 8pm, Social Chair will be having live music, a pop-up park for kids, dip-mix samplings, and a gift w/purchase give-away.  

​At 201 Main Street, Social Chair is an Old Town fixture. Owned by Yuki Northington, who holds degrees in fine art and interior design, the store opened shortly after Hurricane Katrina demolished the town. Despite the devastation that surrounded her, she spotted a niche to be filled, and she filled it. 

Social Chair hums with positive energy year long, and those shopping for their homes will find furniture, tableware, and luxury bedding. Others will find trendy and sparkling jewelry to their liking. During the holiday season, the store sings with an eclectic variety of ornaments and seasonal decor. Yuki is especially excited to offer a new line of handmade Seagem oyster pottery out of Louisiana. 

​Get a jump on your holiday shopping at Social Chair, and stop by for live music, a pop-up park for kids, dix-mix samples, and a gift-with-purchase giveaway. At the end of the night on Second Saturday, some lucky person is going to walk away with a handmade Swarovski crystal creation, one of Social Chair's top-selling pieces. It might be you! 

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.  It's the way we throw a family-friendly party here in the Bay and you're invited! 

Make sure you visit Hot Spot businesses Heart of Old Town Vacation Rental, 109 N. Second Street and Sonny's Cypress Café, 300 S. Second Street!
- story by Denise Jacobs, photos by Ellis Anderson

Heart of Old Town Vacation Rental 
109 N. Second Street
Bay St Louis
228.493.6316

Be sure to stop by for a tour of The Heart of Old Town Vacation Rental on Second Saturday, October 14, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Rest a spell on the new balcony and BBQ area, and enjoy the band, songs, and jokes courtesy of Sylvia and Ed. Food and drinks will be provided courtesy of the Ulman Tea Room and Garden. 
​

The Heart of Old Town Vacation Rental, a spacious 1300-square-foot cottage, nestles against the side of Antique Maison  at 109 N. Second Street.
​
Ed and Sylvia Young bought the building as a fixer-upper in 1990 and moved it to its current location. Living in New Orleans at the time, the Youngs embarked on a journey that will resonate with many full-time Bay residents.

After purchasing the home and making weekend trips from New Orleans for two years, the couple moved permanently to Bay St Louis in 1992. The building was fully renovated in 1995 and opened for business.  The vacation rental has been offered since 2009. 
​
Sylvia, the property manager, makes sure that guests enjoy all the comforts of home in her two-bedroom, two-bath, seaside-themed vacation rental. Guests will find a washer and dryer, a full kitchen, and even a crib.

Aptly named, the vacation rental is truly in the heart of Old Town, and guests will find it easy to navigate on foot to the harbor, the beach, and the local shops.

More information about the vacation rental can be found on VRBO.com/25621.

Sonny's Cypress Café
300 S. Second Street
Bay St Louis
228.466.4877

​On Second Saturday, October 14, Sonny’s Cypress Café will provide a band on the patio from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Second Saturday crowd will enjoy appetizers from the main menu. Think hummus, stuffed grape leaves, spanakopita, and caprese. Think delicious! 

Sonny’s Cypress Café is a dream come true. Literally.

When it was simply the Cypress Café, Sonny Wright stopped by every time he visited family in the Bay. Sonny's dream was to one day own the café and revamp it with a strong Mediterranean influence. When opportunity presented itself, Sonny and his wife Denise snapped up the restaurant, located in the historic city hall building.

Recent updates include spacious seating space for more than 70, white-brick walls reminiscent of Greece, black woodwork, and cloth-covered tables. The café lends itself to an Italian and Greek vibe—fitting, as Sonny’s heritage is both. 

Expect a wide variety of mouth-watering choices for every meal. A favorite breakfast entrée is Eggs Shakshuka—eggs cooked in a spicy tomato sauce with sausage, onions, and peppers.

For lunch and dinner, offerings include traditional Mediterranean fare, along with pasta dishes that rotate daily—Pasta Alla Norma, fried eggplant tossed in tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese; Pasta Carbonara, linguine with Bianco cheese sauce, bacon, caramelized onions, and peppers; and Pasta Spinach, sautéed spinach and onions with freshly grated cheese. Gary Veglia, local restauranteur, one of the cafe's first patrons, recommends the moussaka.

Guests can always find vegan and vegetarian dishes and gluten-free pasta. Classic burgers and paninis are also available. Leave room for bread pudding, baklava, or cheesecake.

And don’t forget the wine! Natasha Actuaymi, manager, encourages patrons to bring their own beer and wine for a cork fee of $5.00.

Hours are Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. On Sundays, a special brunch menu is featured from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Parking is plentiful in front of the building and along the side of the building toward the old City Park.

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.  It's the way we throw a family-friendly party here in the Bay and you're invited! 
​
Make sure you visit our Hot Spot businesses, Bay Elements, 112 South Second Street (inside Century Hall) and Lulu's on Main/Maggie May's, 126 Main Street.  

Bay Elements
inside Century Hall
112 S. Second Street
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
504.810.7772

Inside the 100-year-old historic building, find an electrifying fusion of unique artifacts, repurposed findings, antiques, art, furniture, gifts and much more at Bay Elements.   The genius behind this amazing concept is Susan Peterson.  

​You can shop up and downstairs for furniture and accessories for the home, and seaside findings for young and old.  There is truly something for everybody, from small gifts to magnificently handcrafted furniture. Make sure to take notice of the impeccable craftsmanship of the building that summons the past-life.  

Peterson was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, but married a coastal boy and hasn’t looked back since.  She has been on the Coast for 35 years.  “My heart is here,”says Peterson “I love the people and friendly guests, and there is nothing better than being in Old Town Bay St. Louis.”

At 126 Main Street, Maggie May’s is located in another historic building, one that has been an Old Town art anchor for ore than two decades.  The building contains 5,300 square feet of art, jewelry, clothing, and home décor items.  The beautiful large gallery space is filled with five vendors throughout and showcases over thirty local and regional artists.  

The business features everything from beautiful paintings, sculpture, jewelry, hand-made crafts, unique clothing, shoes, home accessories and so much more.   Nested within is also a popular restaurant named Lulu’s, an amazing eatery.  

At Lulu’s they are cooking up innovative New Orleans influenced cuisine.  Crowd favorites are Moynan’s corn and crab bisque, her BBQ shrimp or “debris” roast beef po-boys, and Betty’s bread pudding, reputed to be the best on the coast.   People are drawn by the restaurant’s unique art gallery atmosphere, as well as the tasty breakfast and lunch.
 
“We’ve got an incredible group of businesses here, in a building that is showing great art,” says Moynan.  “You can feel the positive energy as soon as you walk in.  It’s the ultimate place to ‘shop local."

Stop by Tuesday thru Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. to check out of Lulu’s tasty cuisine.

Moynan, invites new customers and long-time fans in to, “Come and feel the love and passion that I have for food,” she says. “You’ll go home tasting the flavors of the Bay."

Celebrate the summer's end at the August Second Saturday, August 12th.  You'll find cool deals, fresh meals and lots of art and live music.  It's the way we throw a family-friendly party here in the Bay and you're invited! 

Make sure to visit Hot Spot businesses Antique Maison Ulman (317 Ulman Ave.) and The Shoe Boutique (inside Maggie May’s Art and Gift Gallery, 126 Main Street).

-  by Tracy Shields

Click here and scroll down to read archived Second Saturday columns  

​Antique Maison Ulman
317 Ulman Ave.
Bay St Louis
228-344-3128

Sylvia and Ed Young opened this branch of Antique Maison on historic Ulman Avenue, only a minute away from their Second Street location, in 2014. Not to be outdone, this Ulman store focuses on home, garden, patio décor, and shabby chic furnishings for your whole house. Visit booths from various dealers, and enjoy an open floor plan with three large showrooms and a Quonset hut with lots of wandering room and treasures to be found. Right now you will even find a large furniture sale. 

Discover a hidden treasure in the very back—Bay St Louis’s own English tearoom. Its vintage china and floral tablecloths set the scene for tea, made-from-scratch scones, and a decadent variety of desserts Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Choose from large dining room, deck/garden dining area, and a private dining area to host parties, bridal showers and all the special occasions that happen in your life. Antique Maison Ulman Tearoom offers 13 hot and cold teas, soft drinks, and iced or hot coffee. They also offer High Tea Windsor by appointments. 
​
Stop by this second Saturday for the dedication of the historical tree in their garden. “Heavenly Tea Garden” will be dedicated by a St. Augustine Seminary priest at 5 p.m. on August 12.    

The Shoe Boutique
inside Maggie May’s Art and Gift Gallery
126 Main Street            
Bay St Louis
228-467-7750

Someone said, “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.” The Shoe Boutique may not be the largest shop in Old Town, but it just may be the best place to find the perfect ladies’ shoes in Bay St. Louis. This shop is slipped away in the sunny front window at Maggie May’s Art and Gift Gallery at 126 Main. 

Owners Bill and Joyce Whitfield have been retailers on the Gulf Coast since 1984, when they bought a store in Gulfport. They have been selling shoes here in Bay St. Louis for over 15 years. At its current Old Town Bay St. Louis location since February 2015, the store displays a large variety of styles and sizes of women’s shoes. Brands include Lucky Brand, Aerosoles, Volatile, Yellow Box, and Van Eli.

The Shoe Boutique offers the individual and attentive service that shoppers love. Joyce stocks each shoe with style, comfort and affordability in mind. One can never take too much care with what they put on their feet, and at the Shoe Boutique, the shoes are selected to be as comfortable as they are stunning. Cinderella is proof that a good pair of shoes can change your life. 

Old Town celebrates the birth of one of North America's greatest artists, Frida Kahlo, with an extravaganza of color, music, dance and art during this month's Second Saturday Artwalk!

​July's Hot Spots:  Identity Vintage and Vinyl, 131 Main Street, and Gallery 220, 220 Main Street.  
- by Traci Shields 

Over the past twenty years, the monthly artwalk has become one of the most popular events in the region.  Old Town stays lively all day, with many merchants and restaurants offering specials. The pace picks up from 4pm – 8pm, when gallery openings and live music keep the streets humming with activity. ​

http://passmainstreet.com/businesses/All Afternoon :
 ~ Flower Crowns available at French Potager, 213 Main Street
 ~ Special menus at:

• Starfish Cafe, 211 Main Street

• Mockingbird Cafe, 110 S. Second Street

• Sycamore House, 210 Main Street
• Sonny's Cypress Cafe - 300 S. Second Street.
• Trapani's Eatery - 116 North Beach
• 200 North Beach - 200 N. Beach Blvd. 

 ~ Frida Punch at California Drawstrings, 216 Main Street, and special 25% discount on merchandise for all in costume.
 ~ Frida-themed door prize  at Hot Spot Identity Vintage, 131 Main Street (no purchase necessary to enter!), drawing at 7:30.  Taquitos and Punch served at Identity Vintage beginning at 5 til....
 ~ Roaming Luchadores available for photo ops
 ~ Community Mural at Social Chair, 201 Main Street
 ~ Frida inspired art and gifts all over town
 ~ Mexican Folkloric Dance from New Orleans Hispano America Dance Group (spontaneous start time)

Scheduled Events:
 
4:00pm - 2nd Saturday begins - listen for the sounds of the Bay's own Bay Ratz Marching Battery with the amazing Skinz & Bonez from New Orleans

4:30pm - registration opens for Frida Be You & Me Look Alike contest at Smith & Lens Gallery

4:30pm - Imagination Station at French Potager, 213 Main Street: make Papel Picado (Mexican cut out flags)

5:00pm - Loteria (Mexican Bingo) opens on courtyard next to Smith & Lens Gallery, 106 S. Second Street

5:00pm - Frida Food at Hot Spot Gallery 220, 220 Main Street

5:30pm - strolling mariachi begins at Hot Spot Identity Vintage, 131 Main Street, and will wander through old town

5:30pm - Pearl's Girls will begin their Salsa Dance demo at Shops at 126 Main Street.

5:30pm - super-cool airbrushed tattoos available from Paul's Tattoo Parlor at Bay-Tique, 125 Main Street

6:30pm - Blue Magnolia performs at The Mockingbird Cafe, 110 S. Second Street.

7:30pm - Frida Be You and Me Look Alike contest begins at Smith & Lens Gallery, ​106 S. Second Street

 Identity Vintage carries pristine, highly collectible vinyl albums, vintage décor, owner Suzi Walters’s own jewelry line, Avec Amour, and much more. When you walk through the door you take a step back in time and escape the stresses of the world. This store is a place where you hear the music playing, and you walk around reminiscing and feeling like a part of a retro world that so many of us miss.
 
Owner Suzi Walters has nearly 1000 albums for sale at Identity Vintage & Vinyl. If you are looking for a certain piece that isn’t in stock, she is happy to order it. Requests are generally in the shop within a week.
 
Walters adds new vinyl to her shop every Saturday morning. Each record is in remarkable condition, and all are professionally cleaned, re-sleeved and play tested. If you miss the joy of buying a record and taking it home to spin it on your turntable while absorbing every image on the cover, Identity Vintage & Vinyl is your store. 

Walters also showcases her jewelry line, Avec Amour. Each piece is individually designed and crafted using charms, crystals and religious medals. No two pieces will ever be completely alike, as they are each made with found treasures.
 
Walter enjoys making custom pieces for clients with either their own found items, or with trinkets from her collection. “I hope that my jewelry brings hope, peace and harmony to the new owners.” 
 
Walter is proud that everything found in Identity Vintage & Vinyl is "green," or comes from a fair trade business. “The items you find in my store speak to people, and when they speak to people they speak loudly."
 
“I am proud to be a small business in Bay St. Louis,” says Walters. “I cannot imagine being in a better place."

Identity Vintage & Vinyl is open Wednesday through Friday, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday 12:15-4:30 p.m.

Gallery 220 is one of the most energetic artist co-ops on the Gulf Coast.  This epicenter of creative energy is owned by Jenise McCardell and husband Mark Currier, who are artists themselves.  
 
Gallery 220 is located just a few blocks from the beach in one of the few examples of Art Deco architecture in Old Town Bay St. Louis. But while it is filled with amazing artwork by award-winning artists from the local area, Gallery 220 will not give you a stereotypical art gallery experience when you walk through the doors.
 
Twenty-three local artists belong to this cooperative gallery and split up the work schedule. These are artists who feel passionate about their work, and who share their knowledge and enthusiasm while staffing the gallery.
 
The gallery features paintings, drawings, sculptures, jewelry, t-shirts, pottery, photography and more. Some artists even bring their works-in-progress with them so that between helping customers they can draw, paint, or sketch.
 
Everyone feels welcomed and at ease at Gallery 220. It is the type of place where art and real life meet, and where customers stay long after their purchases to relish in the energy and good vibes.
 
This Second Saturday Gallery 220 will be serving “Frida” food, so stop by this town anchor and have a snack while you shop or talk to artists about their work.
 
Gallery 220 is open seven days a week, Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday Noon-5pm.

July's Featured Artists 

​Amy Kramer
 
Amy Kramer is a self-taught Bay artist known for her colorful and energetic underwater and floral abstracts presenting her love for water and the garden.
 
Since receiving her Bachelor’s degree from LSU, Kramer has taken numerous formal and informal lessons using a multitude of mediums, but is always drawn back to her acrylic blues and greens on large canvases.
 
You will find Amy working at Gallery 220 on Sunday. “I enjoy working at Gallery 220 and having the remarkable opportunity of conversing with magnificent people from all over the world,” she says.
 
“A few of my favorite things about living and working in Bay St. Louis are the gulf, oak trees, my friends, and of course, the wonderful people I've met.”

Nancy Lowentritt 
 
“I am a proud weekender of Bay St. Louis,” said Nancy Lowentritt. She has been part of the art scene here in Old Town Bay St Louis for the past eight years.
 
Lowentritt paints exclusively in acrylics, painting seascapes, crabs, boats, birds, houses, restaurants, and other sights of everyday life. She is always hoping to capture the culture of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A unique aspect of Lowentritt’s work is that she usually primes her canvases in red before starting a painting.
 
A lot of Lowentritt’s paintings are small, affordable pieces that locals and visitors alike can easily take home, although she paints large canvases as well.
 
“At Gallery 220, I have the opportunity to work on Sundays, meeting simply wonderful people from all over the world, some who come back year after year to add to their collections,” she says.  Lowentritt’s paintings and note cards can also be seen at Bay Life, her other favorite place to shop.

Step up to summer at the June Second Saturday, June 10th.  You'll find cool deals, fresh meals and lots of art and live music.  It's the way we throw a family-friendly party here in the Bay and you're invited! 

Make sure to visit Hot Spot businesses Bay Life Gifts and Gallery (111 Main Street) and Gulf View Properties (111 Court Street). Rory's Jazz Band will be performing at Bay Life 4pm - 7:30pm and  Bronwynn Brent will be performing at Gulf View Properties, 5pm - 8pm.  
- stories by Tracy Shields

111 Court Street
Bay St. Louis
228-304-0636

During the artwork, Rory's Jazz Band will be performing fro 4pm - 7:30pm, and light refreshments will be served.  

After being a part of corporate America for 28 years, Bay Life owner Janice Guido decided she wanted to be her own boss. Janice opened her doors in March of 2015 and has not looked back. 

“I enjoy being my own boss even if it does include sweeping the floors and unpacking heavy boxes,” Guido said. She loves being a part of Old Town Bay St. Louis, and it truly shows in her store. 

Bay Life is designed to inspire all who walk through its doors. Guido has her store set to exhibit the Southern coastal charm of our life in Bay St. Louis and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Its tag line,  "the shop for Bay coastal style," reflects Guido’s intention: “I want people to feel that they can find a little bit of everything for everyone when they enter my store. “ 

This shop features charming gifts for everyday life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for yourself or for anyone you care about. If you are a visitor, Bay Life is designed to make you smile at the memories of a great getaway where you purchased the perfect gift for yourself or for someone you love. 

Bay Life is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30–5pm and Sunday noon to 4 during the months of June through August. Come walk around this delightful store, where you will find everything from birthday or wedding gifts, to happy surprises for people dear to you. 

Guido has plenty of home and table décor, and she especially loves selling local artists’ works and Mississippi-made products. 

Bay Life has a little bit of everything for everyone, and you are sure to find what you’re looking for at Bay Life. 
​

111 Court Street
Bay St. Louis
​228-344-3004

During Second Saturday, Bronwynn Brent will be performing from 5pm - 8pm at the Court Street office.  

Kevin Jordan, owner of Gulfview Properties, LLC, knows that opting to rent a house instead of staying at a hotel when traveling adds a more intimate dimension to a vacation. 

Aside from the seclusion, there's your own stocked refrigerator if you crave a midnight snack. It's also a great way to get in with the locals — suddenly you're the new neighbor.

When you factor in the per-day cost as well as room for family members or friends sharing the tab, a week or two at a spacious beach house or cottage can cost far less than a hotel.

Gulfview Properties offers furnished beach houses and cottage vacation rentals on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, primarily here in Bay St. Louis. Each of their Bay St. Louis rentals is a quiet retreat to help you feel right at home, as well as close to all the wonderful attractions that Bay St. Louis has to offer.

All you have to do is slide the key in the lock, and it is home sweet home for your stay. “Bay St. Louis is the perfect town to live in or visit for a stay,” said Jordan. 

Jordan’s family owed the very first vacation home on 121 Seymour Street. Today there are more than 400 vacation homes on the Gulf Coast. 

“I love doing historical restoration, and I never want to sell after I finish with the job. Plus this keeps me out of trouble, for the most part,” said Jordan.

If you are planning your dream vacation to Bay St. Louis, contact Kevin Jordan at Gulfview Properties, 228-344-3004, or go to gulfviewproperties.net.
​

Live Music:  
~ Christian Serpas and Ghost Town at the Mockingbird Café (110 S. Second Street), 6pm - 9pm.  
~ Dave Mayley Band, Daiquiri Shak (112 Court Street), 5pm - 9pm.  

​Jamie Temple is no stranger to the hospitality business. As a young man in New Jersey, he helped out with his grandparents’ diner, which looked like an old rail car.
 
Today, he owns one of Bay St. Louis’s most charming breakfast and lunch spots, the Buttercup Cafe.
 
“We serve uncomplicated comfort food,” Temple said. 
 
Eggs, omelets, scrambles, sandwiches, salads, quiches, soups, burgers, pancakes and more are available all day.
 
“You can order a burger at 7 a.m. and a crawfish omelet moments from closing time,” Temple said.
 
Rumor has it, the Rueben sandwich rivals some in New York delis. Other favorites include shrimp & grits, the flame-broiled yellow fin tuna salad, Cuban sandwiches and wraps. The Buttercup also specializes in freshly baked pastries from in-house recipes. 
 
There are no fryers at The Buttercup. Even the hash browned potatoes are baked, then grilled.
 
“The potatoes are so good, we name ’em,” Temple said.
 
If al fresco dining is your thing, the Buttercup’s porch and patio are the perfect (pet friendly!) place to perch for a morning or midday bite. Inside, the walls are covered in vibrant Southern folk art.
 
“I get a kick when New Orleans artists come over and see their stuff on the walls,” Temple said. 
 
The Buttercup Cafe is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Temple says he enjoys his “breakfast club” regulars, but also loves seeing the Bay through the eyes of all the new tourists. 
 
The Buttercup doesn’t take reservations, but Temple always says it’s a nice place to take your mother to breakfast. Whether it’s a sleepy Tuesday morning or a busy Mother’s Day Sunday, Temple and his staff are waiting to welcome you with a hot cup of coffee, a cool drink and food for every taste.
 
“We get so many wonderful visitors in the restaurant — Bay St. Louis is like Mayberry with a beach.” 

​For Second Saturday, the Daiquiri Shak will host the Dave Mayley Band from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
 
Rhonda and Gus Finnely’s weekend getaways to the Bay have become a second life.
 
Rhonda and her husband, along with their son Caleb, have opened the Daiquiri Shak in Old Town on Court Street.
 
Recently retired from banking, Rhonda is enjoying her new lease on life behind the counter at the Daiquiri Shak, mixing and naming new flavors for the folks of Bay St. Louis. 
 
The nautical and beachy theme of the Daiquiri Shak is carried through to names of new daiquiris like Beach Bum, Mermaid Juice, Blue Hawaiian and Cajun Cadillac. Of course, standard favorites like margarita, hurricane, strawberry, pina colada, 190 octane, white Russian and more are available. 
 
The offerings have grown each month. The Shak now has ten machines, up from their original six, and one still dedicated to virgin daiquiris. The family has come up with 40 different flavor combinations, but the possibilities are endless as they will mix any flavor combination requested. 
 
Daiquiri Shak also offers seasonal favorites, like their signature Mardi Gras Mambo and King Cake daiquiri for carnival season and egg nog for the holidays. `
 
“The Mardi Gras Mambo was so popular that we are still carrying it,” Rhonda said.
 
This summer look for new flavors like Peach Bellini, and for Cinco de Mayo expect some new margarita flavors and specials to hit the menu. 
 
Thanks to Bay St. Louis’s new go-cup friendly laws, the daiquiris have been a big hit in Old Town, popular for the special events, Second Saturdays and perfect for sipping on the beach. 
 
“A lot of our customers love taking our drinks to the beach,” Rhonda said.
 
The shop also offers seating and televisions for those who want to sit and cool off. 

The most popular artwalk of the year features a sale of handcrafted pottery bowls and free soup served at participating Old Town merchants - complete details in our story.  Also, celebrate our two Hot Spot businesses:  200 North Beach and The Arts, Hancock County.  
- story by Grace Birch, photos by Ellis Anderson 

The February Artwalk sparkles with Carnival glamour as the town celebrates two Hot Spot businesses:  Cuz's Seafood Restaurant (108 S. Beach Blvd) and The French Potager (213 Main Street)! 
- by Grace Birch, photos by Grace Birch and Martha Whitney Butler

​There are a few unmistakable smells in this world. Two of them are chargrilled oysters ard boiled crawfish.
 
Chances are a walk along Beach Boulevard in Bay St Louis, and a whiff of these will pull you in to Cuz’s Old Town Oyster Bar & Grill. 
 
Cuz and Christy Barnes, who have operated Cuz’s since 2004, have recently moved their beloved boiled seafood restaurant to the center of the action along the Bay’s Beach Boulevard into the bottom floor of the French Settlement building. 
 
The Barnes’ have also handed the keys over to their daughter Ramie, who is often at the front of the restaurant with a smile or hopping from table to table making sure customers are enjoying themselves.
 
“We love crawfish, we love fresh seafood and we have things to offer on the beach that no one else has,” Ramie Barnes said. “The food at Cuz’s is something different.”
 
Cuz’s has long been a mecca for locals, but now tourists are walking through the doors in droves. On a recent visit, an out-of-town couple was bellied up to the bar ordering hot boiled crawfish for the second day in a row.
 
“We see a lot of locals and a lot of return visitors, especially during the crawfish season,” Barnes said. “It’s always good to see people return time and time again.”

​Cuz’s ingredients are sourced locally. Oysters from Pass Christian and crawfish, shrimp and crabs come in seasonally and daily.
 
“We’ve always been known for fresh fried and boiled seafood,” Barnes said. “Now we are also offering lots of grilled items, which we’ve never offered before.”

The chargrilled oysters are a new menu item, as well as seared tuna steaks, blackened redfish, trout étouffée and pastas.
 
“Our new smoked redfish and smoked tuna dip appetizers are very popular,” Barnes said. “We smoke the fish here are the restaurant.” 
 
Cuz’s daiquiri machines are whirring year round — margaritas and bushwhackers often are the staples, but the bar is trying out new seasonal drinks, as well.
 
“Our eggnog daiquiri was such a hit, we decided to try a frozen King Cake daiquiri, which has several different types rum and Bailey’s Irish Cream,” Barnes said. 
 
The purple drink comes in a hurricane glass rimmed with yellow, purple and green sugar and tastes just like a traditional King Cake.
 
Cuz’s also offers gourmet Pop Brother’s Popsicles for something sweet the whole family can enjoy.
 
Locals and tourists alike will enjoy Taco Tuesday, which features $3 shrimp or fish tacos and $3 margaritas.
 
Whether it’s a craving for boiled seafood, one of Cuz’s famous po-boys or you are looking to honor a healthy New Year’s resolution with something grilled, Cuz’s won’t disappoint. Just follow your nose down Beach Boulevard.

“My mom wants me to get married just so Martha Whitney can do the flowers at the wedding.” 
 
The first time I overheard this statement, I couldn’t believe my ears, but there’s a reason I’ve heard this several times now from several different potential brides. 
 
When you see the floral arrangements and antiques at The French Potager on Main Street, you can’t believe your eyes. 

Martha Whitney Butler grew up with a passion for flowers and antiques. French Potager was the name of her parents’ antiques business in Alabama, but Butler has made her Main Street business completely on her own. 
 
“My parents’ hobby has turned into my livelihood,” Butler said.

The floral inspiration comes by Butler’s mother as well – every Sunday for years, she’s arranged the flowers for her church’s Sunday services.
 
“She would have the florist come over to the house every Christmas and decorate the house,” Butler said. “She also has an incredible rose garden.”
 
Butler grew up going to Europe on antique buying trips with her mother, mostly to France. 
 
“My mom would drag me out at 6am in Paris to go to antique street markets,” Whitney said. “We would just bring a couple of outfits or old clothes that we would wear and throw away so we’d have plenty of room in our suitcases.”
 
Her childhood weekends were spent going to antique auctions where she would bid on things as a young child. Butler ran her first antique booth at 16 years old, which means she’s been an antique dealer half of her life. 

​“Like a true merchant, everywhere I go, I want to bring that back and share it with our community,” said Whitney. “I’m an ambassador that brings Bay St. Louis to the world and brings a bit of the world back to the Bay.”
 
Butler has nine vendors in her shop, with treasures from all over, which means new items are coming through the door every day. 
 
On her recent Mexican honeymoon, Butler brought back lots of items that evoked the spirit of Frida Kahlo. She has a few big trips to Europe on the horizon to Europe where she’ll be attending floral workshops and looking for finds to bring back to the Bay.
 
There are no coolers or freezers at The French Potager, which means all the blooms are out for all to admire and smell, and the flowers are fresh.
 
The French Potager does a “Blooms for Business” service where they deliver fresh flowers to local businesses every Thursday. She also makes unique arrangements, like roses tucked in beautiful gift boxes, for special occasions - like this month’s Valentine’s Day. 
 
Planning a romantic dinner in town? The French Potager can deliver flowers to the restaurant to make the table setting extra special.
 
“In addition to our antiques, accessories and home goods, we are a full-service florist,” Butler said. “The best part about being a florist is that we are a part of everything in people’s life — when they are born, when they get married, when they die - we are there. It’s a very fulfilling career.”

A lively and full-bodied Dolly Parton themed Artwalk in January celebrates the iconic queen of country music.  Hot Spots:  Alice Moseley Museum (128 Depot Way) and Bay Cottages (305 Main Street) are the featured businesses. 
 - by Grace Birch

In addition to the drag race, special events are happening all over Old Town: pie contests at various shops, flower crowns at French Potager, a community mural at Social Chair, a satellite hair salon in the courtyard of Smith & Lens, childrens art activities with butterfly paintings and more."We run the gambit from drag queens to cloggers for christ - all are welcome here!" said organizer Ann Madden of Smith and Lens art gallery.

Judges are Ann Tunnerman, aka "Mrs. Cocktail" of Tales of the Cocktail festival, Shelly Brown of Brown's Home Furnishing and drag queen Arthur Severio. DJ Bella will be spinning Dolly Hits. Participants of the Dolly contest should arrive early and register at Smith & Lens. 

Revers should also look for opportunities to donate to rebuilding efforts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, home of DollyWood that recently suffered devastating fires. "We’re all super sad about that," Maggio said. "We understand what that kind of loss is like and we are totally impressed and amazed at the efforts that Dolly has made to take care of her people. We will have a place for donations to support those efforts."

Last year there was a even Dolly sighting — “Listen, I know we love a half-truth about everything, but I swear there was a Dolly sighting in a blue pick up truck on Second and Main last year at Dolly Should,” Maggio said. Ms. Parton has been known the drop in on events held in her honor. Once, she entered a Dolly drag show competition unannounced - and she lost.

Dolly or not, the Bay is gearing up to see lots of sequin boots, bright red lips and big wigs.

Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum 
Upstairs in the Historic Train Depot
1928 Depot Way #2  
Bay St Louis
 228.467.9223

My paintings don't all look alike, but that's good. - Alice Moseley

In a community of artists and art-lovers, Alice Moseley is Bay St. Louis’ most celebrated creative minds. Proving it’s never too old to reinvent yourself, Moseley began painting in her 60s years old and moved to Bay St. Louis at 80 years old.

“I have found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and it’s Bay St. Louis. I am moving there,” Alice told her family. It was 1988 and she had attended the Bay's Beachfront Festival, invited by local gallery owner, Jerry Dixon.

Today visitors to the Bay can visit the Alice Mosley Folk Art and Antique Museum in the Historic Train Depot, just steps from her former home,  on Wednesday through Saturday.  There's no admission charge. 

“One of Miss Alice’s wishes that the museum will be open to any and everyone, despite their economic situation,” said art director Donna Oakley. “There will never be an admission charge to the museum.”

The museum features 50 original works by Alice Moseley. There’s also an American art glass collection with over 300 pieces. Tim Moseley, Alice’s son, who still lives in Bay St. Louis, has a Majolica collection on display. Visitors will also find a selection of American antiques.

“Our collection is always growing,” Oakley said. “Tim has just acquired another piece.” 

Oakley is a perfect tour guide and ambassador for the museum, having met Alice Moseley on several occasions.

“She was always quick with the one-liners and loved making people smile,” Oakely said. “Alice was a fantastic story teller both in person and through her artwork. For a small lady, she was a larger than life character.”

The museum, a “must-see” for visitors, is in the same building as the Hancock County Visitors Center in the historic Depot building.

“Everything you need to know about what do see and do in our area is here,” said Myrna Green, Hancock County Tourism Development Bureau Director. “You’ll find train artifacts, a Blues Museum, Mardi Gras Museum, Tourism Offices - the park and duck pond are right here. And of course, the Alice Mosley Museum. It’s the greatest starting point to any trip.”

Green was tickled by a recent comment card she read. “A gentlemen wrote ‘my wife drug me in here…’ and then went on to write about how the museum was most wonderful experience he’s had in Bay St. Louis.” Green said. “He now owns several prints after being taken with the story of Alice Moseley.”

The museum also has keepsakes and souvenirs. Prints of all sizes, DVDs, notecards and postcard mean visitors can bring a little piece of Alice Moseley prints home with them. 

“Sales of prints and donations are what keeps the museum going,” said Green.
​

Bay Cottages, LLC 
Ronnie & Sandy Robért
305 Main Street
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520

Ronnie and Sandy Robért, the owners of Bay Cottages Vacation Rentals at 305 and 305 ½ Main Street, had a dream to provide a place for visitors to “live like a local.” 

“We wanted visitors to enjoy the charm of our small town and friendly residents,” Sandy said. “At the end of their stay we wanted it to find it hard to leave.”  As residents of Bay St. Louis, Ronnie and Sandy know all that the city has to offer and also wanted to provide encouragement to their guests to want to live here.  

The couple has succeeded as many of their past guests now own homes in the area. It has also become a place for snowbirds to reside during the winter months in more pleasant weather. 

“We feel fortunate that many of our guests throughout the year are now repeat visitors to our area,” Sandy said.

Bay Cottages Vacation Rentals offer visitors a prime location. The Historic Registered 1920 stucco double is located just steps from the shopping and dining of Old Town’s Main Street.  The cottages are relaxing as their names imply: Southern Comfort or Latitude Adjustment.

Beautiful hardwood floors, beaded board walls and ceilings and comfortable furnishings tall provide an atmosphere that feels like home for your vacation choice for a few days, a week or more. The cottages also have a shared front porch or back deck.

“You can choose to sit out front and watch the world go by or take a walk to visit the variety of interesting shops, art galleries, restaurants, coffee shops and music venues within a few short blocks of our cottage,” Sandy said. 

The cottage is two blocks from the waterfront and harbor and less than one-half mile from the public beach and fishing pier combined with a walkway/bike path along the beach that goes for miles. Visitors are also within a few minutes’ drive of a world class golf course and casinos.

Both sides offer living rooms, two bedrooms, one and one-half baths, fully equipped eat in kitchens with laundry facilities and off street parking. Bay Cottages is a prime spot for families coming in for weddings, reunions or just to have fun at many of the great festivals throughout the year along the Gulf Coast. 

“This is a great place to meet the residents and merchants of Bay St. Louis,” Sandy said. “When you stay at Bay Cottages, it’s easy to see why they call Bay St Louis ‘A Place Apart!’”  

The property is managed by Manieri Real Estate and rates and photos can be found here:  Latitude Adjustment and ​Southern Comfort. 

The holiday Second Saturday Artwalk is the most magical of the year, with gallery openings and live music from 4–8 p.m.  Celebrate Hot Spots Serious Bread (131 Main Street) and Full Moon Clockworks (131 Railroad Avenue).
- stories by Grace Birch, photographs by Ellis Anderson

​Al “the Breadman” Jensen of Serious Bread in Bay St. Louis always had a palate for great bread. An East Coast boy who had traveled the world as an oceanographer, Jensen made sure to bring an empty suitcase when visiting family in California. 
 
He filled the empty suitcase with San Francisco sourdough bread. When the bread ran out, his sister-in-law Susan would send more sourdoughs. 
 
“One day my San Diego sister was tired of sending the San Francisco sourdough, so she sent a recipe and a note that said, ‘You need to start making your own bread,’” smiled Vivian Jensen, Al’s wife. 
 
So began a journey to learn about the lost art of bread making. Al enrolled in a class in King Arthur Flour, following it up with a more intensive training on sourdoughs. Workshops in Colorado and New York honed their skills for making bread starters and perfecting bagels. 
 
“I kept saying we need to name the bread,” Vivian said. “And it was easy because we used to put a morsel in people’s mouth and say, ‘You have to try this, it’s serious bread.’”
 
The first thing one notices about Serious Bread’s artisanal loaves is that the tastes and textures are different from store bought brands. 
 
“The health aspect is important to us,” Vivian said. “Most breads you find today are laden with sugar and lots of yeast to make it rise faster. The amount of sugar and salt in our bread is very low and it keeps for four to five days with no preservatives, especially the rye.”
 
Serious Bread's goods are made from scratch with lots of hand-kneading. Italian and French techniques — biga and poolish — start the bread. The Jensens also soak their grains so that the vitamins and minerals stay locked in. This takes 8-12 hours.
 
“There are no shortcuts to good bread,” Vivian said. “I recently read a study that soaking the grain is comparative to sprouting the grain — that increased iron absorption goes up over 1000 percent. You would have to eat more than 12 slices of regular bread to compare to the nutrients in one slice of our bread.”
 
No need to worry over smooshed bread when carting home a loaf. Serious Bread pops right back up when pressed down, another sign of the quality.
 
“Because of the time that we take with our bread it tastes better, lasts longer, much healthier,” Al said. “We are always experimenting with our bread. In fact, we had a class recently on how to make a sweet rye. It’s such a good tasting bread that my wife and I argued who was going to eat the last piece.”
 
Costumers will always find new breads on display at Serious Bread. Harvest Sourdough is another recent addition featuring cranberries, raisins and walnuts.
 
“A lot of breads taste great with butter and jam, but the Harvest tastes better with a sharp cheese,” Al said.
 
The Jensens find customers really appreciate information on how to care for their bread. Artisanal bread is a bit more than bread found at big chain stores, but if kept right will last much longer than anything produced commercially. 
 
“I tell them to slice it, freeze it in the bag, then pull out what you need in the morning,” said Vivian. “There’s something about the frozen slice going into the toaster that awakens the taste, and that’s what we want for our customers.”
 
Serious Bread also has serious sweet treats. Cookies, muffins, scones and more are some of the items people rave about.
 
Bakers Rosie and Kandace keep coming up with new things, like their new energy bars with 10 different grains, seeds, coconuts and dates.
 
On Second Saturday, December 10, Rosie and Kandace will show off a different skill: both are talented musicians. Rosie will play the flute and Kandace the clarinet after a set from Kay Sones’ family band, which will feature Christmas songs and old-time favorites starting in front of the bakery at 4 p.m.
 
After 10 years of finding their new passion, the Jensens are thriving and say they owe so much of Serious Bread's success to their talented, dedicated staff. They love serving customers who are serious about good bread! 

​Just steps from the railroad, a historic home keeps the rhythm of Bay St. Louis even when the tracks are silent.
 
Walking through the front door of Full Moon Clockworks, it’s clear Terry Downs has a passion for timepieces. Clocks of every shape, size and age adorn the walls and cover her workbench. 
 
“My love of clocks started when I was looking for a job,” Downs said. “It’s just as simple as that. I was 30 years old and a homemaker looking for a career. It was a turning point in my life.”
 
She stepped into Stan Good Clocks in Tampa Florida looking for work. Downs had a bit of experience refinishing furniture, but Good already had someone doing casing work.
 
He offered her an apprenticeship and from there a new career — master clockmaker — was born.
 
“I apprenticed for two years in the shop every day, and they could see my curiosity,” Downs said. “One of the clockmakers was retiring and Stan offered me a position.”
 
Downs was the only woman clockmaker in the shop and to this day she finds very few female colleagues in her field.
 
In the early 2000s, Downs relocated to New Orleans where her husband, Neil Gauthier, was. She knew she wanted to open a shop of her own, but didn’t feel like the big city was the right fit.
 
“We knew Ellis Anderson and she encouraged us to come visit the Bay more and more,” Downs said. “We saw the evolution of the Second Saturdays and really felt at home here.”
 
In a town full of antiques, Downs has no shortage of work. She makes house calls to work on grandfather clocks and takes appointments at her studio for clients to bring in their broken tickers.
 
Her favorite clocks? Down favors French timepieces. “I like the way the French build their clocks,” she said. “They are really quality pieces.” 
 
A unique clock, an oeil-de-boeuf, overlooks Downs’s workbench and literally doubles as an art piece. The French clock features a beautiful painting that would look at home in a major museum. 
 
Downs prefers to work on antique clocks, but sees all types of clocks in her line of work. She also only works on clocks, not wristwatches.
 
“Watches are different,” she explains. “The tools are different. With watches you buy a part to replace, and with clocks you are making the replacement parts.”
 
Modern technologies and mindsets seem to be taking the place of wristwatches and wall clocks. Downs has met millennial children who don’t know how to tell time with a clock face. 
 
“American clockmakers are dying off in droves,” she said. “I’m a young clockmaker and I’m 65.” 
 
Downs agrees there will always be a place for nostalgic things, but the industry is not sustainable.
 
“A young person could not support a family being a clockmaker, and I think that young people’s minds gravitate to something more technical,” she said.
 
In Bay St. Louis, Downs has certainly found a community that appreciates history and though Full Moon Clockworks she keeps the heartbeat of that history ticking along.

Fall weather makes it the perfect time to enjoy Second Saturday Artwalk's gallery openings and live music from 4–8 p.m.  Celebrate Hot Spots Bay Town Inn (208 North Beach Blvd.) and Manieri Real Estate (501 Main Street  #3).
- stories by Grace Birch, photographs by Ellis Anderson

In a tourist town, there’s a sweet spot in striking a balance between living locally and embracing the out-of-towners.  In Bay St. Louis, Main Street feels like Mayberry and soon visitors and shop owners are on a first name basis. 

Perhaps that’s what sets Bay St. Louis apart from most vacation-friendly spots along the Gulf Coast: vacationers feel like they’ve found a home away from home. 

On North Beach Road, the Bay Town Inn is a favorite of many frequent visitors. The hospitality of Nikki Moon, owner and hostess extraordinaire, is a hallmark of what makes Bay St. Louis so unique. 

Three years after re-opening the Bay Town Inn, Moon and her staff have turned hundreds of tourists into semi-locals and ambassadors of the Bay. 

Amy Davis, a District Manager at Factory Connection, found out in 2015 that her company was opening a branch in Waveband, Miss. Davis travels a lot for work and is used to staying in chain hotels, but decided to take a chance and book and room at a more quaint bed & breakfast.

“I asked everyone that I came across, ‘Where would be the best place for me to stay?’  Everyone said, ‘Bay Town Inn,’” Davis explained. “I was a little skeptical at first, because I usually travel alone and big hotels offer safety and amenities, but as soon as I talked to Nikki on the phone I knew I made the right choice.” ​

Upon arrival Davis said when she met Nikki for the first time she instantly felt like they had know each other forever. “The Inn is so comfortable, inviting, and very peaceful. I tell everyone that it is my ‘home away from home,’ and that is exactly what it feels like.” 

Since her first visit just over a year ago, Davis has stayed over 10 times and is always excited when she stays in a new room. “The turtle-themed room, and the seahorse are two of my favorites," Davis said, “You can tell that time was spent decorating each room.”

Liz and Bill Chilton from Yukon, Oklahoma, echo those sentiments. The couple has been visiting the Bay since 1993 and have enjoyed the Inn since Ann Tidwell owned the Inn. When Moon purchased the original Bay Town Inn in 2004, she and the Chiltons formed a wonderful new friendship.

“Nikki’s charm and hospitality makes everyone feel like family,” Liz said. “Her attention to detail is exceptional in all the rooms, from the local art on the walls to the robes in the closets. These things - along with her wonderful ‘welcome’ cookies to her fabulous breakfast -  make our stays perfect every time.” 

The couple has traveled all along the Gulf Coast from Padre Island, Texas to Panama City, Florida, but say in addition to all the special events like Crab-fest, Souper Mud Fest and Cruisin’ on the Coast, the quaintness of Bay St. Louis and comforts of the Bay Town Inn keep them coming back. 

Davis couldn’t agree more. “From the minute that I first arrived in Bay St. Louis, I have felt welcomed by everyone,” said Davis.
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“Bay St. Louis to me, is a family all living in one community. People all take the time to stop and say hello. You never meet a stranger here.”

The Manieris have been in business in Bay St. Louis, in one form or another, since the 1870s. Manieri’s Restaurant was one of the oldest businesses in Bay St. Louis.  

"Anyone who grew up in this area new and frequented Manieri’s Restaurant," said Leslie Pupura. "We all have fond memories of the “Aunts” Dutch & Vee with their crazy antics when serving the public - they were quite entertaining.  It has been an honor to carry on a family tradition serving the public."

Fast forward 100 years and meet Joey, Sessie, Vicki, Leslie and Rosario; a personable team of professionals at Manieri Real Estate, LLC. Their team has been meeting Bay St. Louis residents'  real estate needs for over 25 years.

As a native of this area, Joey Manieri truly enjoys meeting newcomers and sharing his love of this special place with them, which is why real estate is a perfect fit for the family. 

"Our roots are in the restaurant business, but at our core, we are hospitality through and through," said Manieri. 

From sales to vacation rentals and property management, Manieri Real Estate, LLC is a one-stop-shop for real estate needs in Bay St. Louis. 

"Our Main Street location is like Open House every day," Manieri said. "We never know who’s going to pop in just to say hello.  People enjoy the atmosphere we’ve created here as we strive to keep it light and easy." 

Many vacationers end up calling Bay St. Louis home, and the Manieris say the real estate market, especially in Old Town, has been heating up in the past couple of years. 

"In downtown Bay St. Louis, the real estate is so hot right now. We are seeing an uptick in the surrounding areas, but Old Town [the historic district]  is an 'it' area," explained Manieri.

The surrounding areas, like Waveland, are also seeing an uptick in real estate prices. Leslie has fond memories of that area from 20 years ago. 

"We moved here in 1996 from New Orleans and were down on the beach every day, like someone was going to steal the sand," Leslie said with a laugh. 

"We lost everything in Katrina, but it was a no-brainer to come back," she said. "We have no regrets and feel fortunate to live in a place where every day is just another day in paradise." 

Leslie compares managing over a dozen vacation rentals to owning a hotel with rooms spread across the Bay. 

The Manieri family has such a passion for the Bay that it makes the job of selling real estate really easy.

"We want people to shop local, live local," said Manieri. "We have local directories in each rental - where to and how to do things - so people can really get a taste of Bay St. Louis"
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Since it's also the final day of Cruisin' the Coast, things are hopping all day long!  End the day with Second Saturday Artwalk's gallery openings and live music from 4–8 p.m.  Celebrate Hot Spots Bay-Tique Boutique (125 Main Street) and Mockingbird Café (110 South Second Street).
- stories by Grace Birch, photographs by Ellis Anderson

Bay-Tique
125 Main Street
Bay St Louis 
228-344-3043

What started out as a little Bay St. Louis beach store with swimwear and novelty items has evolved into a go-to place for lady’s apparel.

Bay-Tique — owned by Jane Alford, who also runs the Carroll House Bed & Breakfast — is the perfect place for Alford to meet new people and explore creativity. 

“We enjoy a strong local following as well as semi-tourists,” Alford said. “We love seeing our repeat visitors who come here on a regular basis. They are here so much it feels like they are part of the fabric of the town.” 

Having moved from Second Street to Main Street means more walk-in foot traffic, as well. 

Bay-Tique is renowned for its original line of souvenir clothing and accessories. Alford's logos, featuring Bay St. Louis, Bay Rat and Go Coastal, are popular with visitors as well as locals. While the boutique is largely centered around women’s fashions, these tees and hats cater to men and children, as well. 

“As I started bringing in lady’s apparel, I didn’t want to lose our Bay St. Louis signature souvenir items,” Alford said. 

As Cruisin’ the Coast descends upon the Gulf Coast, Alford and other shop owners are gearing up for their biggest week of the year.  

“We all count on Cruisin’ and it looks like the weather is going to be perfect this year,” Alford said. “That first week in October we see people doing heavy souvenir shopping, their holiday shopping, people shopping for children and grandchildren. We are stocked up on our gift items.”

Bay-Tique is also stocked up for fall. Cooler weather shopping in a beach town can be tricky. Alford said she had to learn the hard way that heavy coats and thick sweaters don’t fly out the door. 

“We are keeping it light. It’s all about layering in cooler coastal weather,” Alford said. This season look for rich, bold colors like olive, burgundy and gold. Shorter boots have taken the place of tall boots that were popular last year.

“I try not to buy just based on trends,” Alford said. “You’ll find lots of classic finds at Bay-tique.”

Alford’s shop is like a little family with two key employees besides herself. “It took time to get people that I felt comfortable with and that I could count on,” Alford said. “We’ve got a nice little family of three. We cover for each other and count on each other. We are all in it together.” 

In fact, Alford just got back from an extended trip from Richmond, VA to visit with her new niece, Madison Victoria Pratt, or MVP as Alford says proudly. 

“When I came back from being back in town after being gone for three weeks, all my fall stuff was in,” Alford said. “We’ve really hit our stride. l Iooked around and thought, ‘We did good.’” 

Cruise on in to Bay-tique in October to check out their new fall fashions. 

Mockingbird Café
110 South Second Street
Bay St Louis
228-467-8383

For Second Saturday, the BSL Trio — voted the best classic rock band on the coast — will be playing from 6–9pm.  It's a free show and family-friendly!

Coffee shop culture tends to attract creative types. The Mockingbird Cafe takes it a step further: it’s an entire nest filled with creative forces in the kitchen and behind the counter. 
 
Art adorns the walls, the signage, the latte art, the food… it all has a flair, an air of happiness. The Mockingbird team is loving their work, loving their life. In fact, the line between life and work is a beautiful blur.

The staff is close-knit and supportive of each other. The family extends beyond the circle of workers to the customers across the counter. 

“We love seeing the same folks every morning,” said Aryana Ivey. “It’s like our regulars are showing up for work, too.” 

The Mockingbird celebrated their 10th anniversary last month. Owner Alicein Wonderland intended the Mockingbird to be a place of healing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The coffee shop was a place for folks to meet up and talk about what was going on around the Gulf Coast. 

Today, it remains an epicenter of Bay St. Louis. 

“The best way to get to know everyone and to know what’s going on is to work at the Mockingbird,” said Ivey.

The creative minds behind the Mockingbird have the heart for their beloved beach town, but also are well traveled and encouraged to explore life beyond the cozy house on Second Street. 

“Alicein is a great motivator, encouraging, always supporting all of us as artists,” said Ivey, who is planning an adventure to Morocco to further her henna art skills. “I started doing Henna four or five years ago, just started dabbling, and when Alicein decided to do the night market she pulled me out of my shell and told me to get going with the henna.”

Laura Hurt is one of several employees who has been working at the Mockingbird since it opened its doors. Hurt is well known for her coffee-slinging skills, but also the colorful headdresses and headbands she makes from flowers, feathers, sequins, beads, horns and more. 

“Before I started working at the Mockingbird, I had no idea I had any artistic talent at all,” Hurt said. “It all started with Mardi Gras. I saw lots of headdresses and thought to myself that I could do some. Martha Whitney of the French Potager was persistent that I sell them and from there Alicein fueled the fire.” 

At some point Hurt says it was clear that every one of the Mockingbird employees has an artistic talent, and Mr. Atticus’s Night Market was born.

“We at the Mockingbird have formed very meaningful relationships with not only the people we work with, but also the community we serve,” said Whitney LaFrance, who has also been working at the Mockingbird since it opened. “I think that kind of support is truly how we all have the means and the desire to branch out. The open hearts and helping hands that gather around the Mockingbird are an inspiring thing. It provides the kind of atmosphere that allows you to be yourself and share that with others.”

In a recent interview for the Mississippi Museum of Art, Wonderland said, “I love my town in that it’s allowed me to be who I am.” Clearly, the mantra at the Mockingbird is one that encourages discovering and embracing individuals, and celebrating artistic differences and talents. 

“No one here ever quits,” said Hurt. “It’s such a great environment that I’ve never even attempted to find another job. Everything I want, need and love is right here.”