During the Second Saturday Art Walk each month in Old Town Bay St. Louis, you'll find cool deals, fresh meals and lots of art and live music!
- Stories by Caitlin Bourgeois, photos by Ellis Anderson
Artists are resilient.
That is the aura that Gallery 220 radiates when you stand in front of the colorful, ornate building on Main Street. It’s a wonder how, during the most anxiety-riddled time of many people’s lives, the artists inside Gallery 220 continue forward with their work. They chat, create and offer a different normality to those who step inside to escape for a moment. Gallery 220 has been a stronghold of the Old Town Bay Saint Louis community since 2005, and many of the artists have been in the area for much longer than that. Showcasing that resilience in the midst of turmoil once again, Gallery 220 came back in a strong community sense after Hurricane Katrina by reviving the Second Saturday Art Walk. This gave the town a new sense of hope and community, something that was desperately needed at the time. Now, they’re still putting their best foot forward. Renowned watercolor artist, Herb Willey, is the featured artist of the month – and his pieces show a different view of Americana. Dutifully named “The Quarantine Series,” Herb’s pieces show not necessarily the effects of the quarantine itself, but the life that was able to be lived because of it. Herb was a commercial illustrator for companies such as Oreck for years. When he came to Gallery 220, owner Jenise McCardle did not give it a second thought. “He just showed up and wanted to show and I was like, ‘Yeah!’” said Jenise. Come by Gallery 220 for October’s Second Saturday to see Herb’s beautiful paintings and the rest of the exhibits inside this amazing shop. There is a new artist featured monthly, so it’s worth returning often to be amazed at the relentlessness of the artists this gallery houses. Mark Currier’s band, Jessie & Friends, will be playing live at Gallery 220. Enjoy the ambience from Cruisin’ the Coast all the way down Main Street. Be sure to snap a picture against the Coca-Cola mural! Tony Trapani’s maternal grandmother, Emma Carver, was a wonderful cook whose panéed veal and spaghetti gravy were always on Sunday rotation. Today Tony’s restaurant, Trapani’s Eatery, continues his grandmother’s traditions with tried-and-true Gulf Coast cuisine served in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Not surprisingly, with coastal decor and a bar named Blue Marlin, seafood plays a big role in Trapani’s kitchen. Starters include the popular crab cakes, rich filé gumbo and sesame ahi tuna. A longtime favorite is the fried green tomatoes topped with crabmeat and hollandaise. Charbroiled oysters is another signature starter that should not be missed. Among the intriguing entrees, Eggplant Delacroix is a standout - eggplant slices breaded with Progresso crumbs, just like Grandma Emma used, topped with sautéed Gulf shrimp, sweet onions, bell peppers and mushrooms, then finished with hollandaise and Parmesan cheese. The kitchen also offers great steaks, fish, ample sandwiches and homemade desserts. If you try just one, get the divine Dinwiddie Delight. I believe it’s been on the menu since Day One, so if you’re a regular, it’s likely you’ve already gone over this calorie cliff already. Sitting on the Blue Marlin balcony, overlooking the harbor, is a most pleasant way to cap off the monthly art walk. And when there’s live music on the balcony, well, a good thing gets even better. Comments are closed.
|
Categories
All
Archives
March 2025
|