Second Saturday Artwalk - March 2019

Saturday, March 9

A few times a year, the iconic Second Saturday Artwalk event in Old Town Bay St. Louis adopts a theme.  The “Souper Mudfest Second Saturday Artwalk" - one of the most popular events of the year in Bay St. Louis - will take place March 9, rain or shine.

​- Stories by Caroline St. Paul, photos by Caroline St. Paul and Ellis Anderson
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Enjoy gourmet soups from some of our fine area merchants and leave with a one-of-a-kind handcrafted bowl!

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​Over the past twenty-three 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. ​

This
​Second Saturday Artwalk 
​column is sponsored by

Bowls for March 9th's Souper Mudfest Second Saturday Artwalk will be sold on the green space at Main and Second Street beginning at 3:30pm. A wristband will be given to all who purchase the official bowls. 

Bowls have been handcrafted by more than a dozen local potters and sell for $20 each.  Bowl-buyers are provided with a list of local merchants where they’ll be able to sample gourmet soups throughout the evening - for free!  Just show your wristband and hold out your bowl.  

As usual, two Hot Spot businesses will be featured:  the Ulman Tea Room, 317 Ulman Avenue,  and Dan B's Restaurant and Bar, 109 South Beach Boulevard.  Read more about them below!
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Ulman Tea Room 
317 Ulman Avenue
Bay St. Louis
(228) 344-3128

The Ulman Tea Room is truly one of a kind. This hidden gem is a tea room and antique store combined. There are so many beautiful antiques here, but what is most special are the teas, homemade desserts, and high tea service. 

Antique Maison Ulman Tea Room opened in June 2014. Since then, the community has enjoyed many a tea party there. The Ulman Tea Room is owned by Sylvia and Ed Young, who own the antique shop located on Second Street as well. They were inspired to create another antique store, but even more inspired to create “the only tea room on the Gulf Coast.” 

​At this special spot, you can experience a true high tea, similar to those in England. Transport yourself “across the pond,” and make reservations for The High Tea Windsor, which includes a pot of tea, finger sandwiches, mini quiches, mini potato salads, mini artichoke delights, chocolate covered strawberries and cherries, mini ambrosia salads, and mini scones with lemon curd. 
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High tea reservations must be made 48 hours in advance. This scrumptious experience costs $20 per person. The beautiful main room accommodates 35 guests and the private party room accommodates 20. “We do have an outside eating area under the historical tree in the back deck that you can eat under in the springtime,” Missy Geisel explains. 

Sylvia and Missy strive to make sure that their guests have a lovely time in the tea room. There are even hats, pearls, and gloves available for use to complete the full high tea experience. 

Everything is homemade by Missy Geisel, Sylvia’s right hand woman. She does all of the cooking and cleaning for the tea room, and has made it her passion to create an experience for the guests through her tasty creations. She makes a new dessert each week, so that there is always something new for guests to devour.
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​A little known fact is that you can come in for just tea, scones and dessert without a reservation. Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-3pm, the tea room offers a casual tea, where you can choose from one of their many delicious options, including the ginger peach tea, for which they are especially well known. 

“You can come in and have high tea and then shop, too… not very many places you get to eat and shop,” Missy says. After you experience the Ulman Tea Room, you can take a look around the antique shop to discover one of the many treasures that they have to offer. The antique room is open Monday through Saturday from 10am-5pm and features “nautical decor, vintage jewelry, antique furniture” and much more. 

For this month’s second Saturday, Ulman Tea Room will be serving chicken and sausage gumbo as their offering for Souper Mudfest. There will also be a band performing, sponsored by The People’s Bank, Hancock Whitney Bank, and The First. ​

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​Dan B.'s Restaurant and Bar 
109 South Beach Boulevard
Bay St. Louis
(228) 231-1778
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Dan B. Murphy’s Restaurant and Bar is the perfect casual spot for delicious food, tasty drinks, and live music with an even better view. 

Daniel Murphy was inspired to re-open Dan B’s after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the original, which opened in 1981. “We bought it from my grandparents in 2005,” he explained. In October 2017, he resurrected a classic, bringing back all of Old Town’s favorite dishes, including his grandmother’s roast beef po’boy, which she created thirty years ago.

“We saw what it was like before the storm, and we just wanted to bring it back.” For Daniel, it was about bringing back and carrying on the “life-long family business.” 
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The atmosphere gives off a casual fishing camp vibe, “nothing fancy,”  with expansive dining rooms on the second and third levels. The ground-level hosts the main bar and stage area.
 
A variety of food is served at Dan B’s, most of which are Daniel Murphy’s own recipes. “Here, everything’s homemade.” Some of the most popular and best-selling items on the menu include the traditional roast beef po’boy, fish and shrimp tacos, gumbo, pizza, and more. They also have an extensive wine, beer, and signature cocktail menu. Daniel recommends the gumbo, which is popular in the winter, describing it as “to die for.” 

For Daniel, the most rewarding part of owning and operating Dan B. Murphy’s is the local clientele that keeps coming back. The view of the harbor and the water is not bad, either. “It’s a nice little quiet town, and it rocks in the spring and summer, of course.”
 
Every Friday and Saturday night, enjoy a live band to accompany your food and drinks. They strive to host local bands to play at the restaurant. For the Second Saturday Art Walk on the 9th, enjoy live music by the “All Nighters” sponsored by The People’s Bank, Hancock Whitney Bank, and The First.
 

 
Dan B. Murphy’s is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 11am - 8pm, Tuesdays from 11am - 2pm for lunch, Saturday from 7am for breakfast until 9pm, and Sunday from 7 am, also for breakfast, until 8 pm. On the weekends, enjoy bottomless mimosas with your brunch from 7am - noon. There are daily lunch specials as well as boiled crawfish every weekend. On Friday and Saturday, dine in and order one of their dinner specials of either pasta, steak, specialty quesadilla or pizza.
 
Daniel B. Murphy's is a great place to experience casual dining and great atmosphere in the heart of Old Town Bay St. Louis. Enjoy them as a “hot spot” all month!