After an initial dampening of spirits, a favorite Bay St. Louis  holiday happening gets another chance on Saturday, December 15th! 
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

So on Sunday, when organizers tossed out the idea of a reprise on the 15th, the response of participating merchants and restaurants was an overwhelming “yes.” 

Old Town Merchants Association president, Yuki Northington explains the unusual repeat of the event. 

“The Second Saturday Artwalk's been happening for nearly thirty years,” says Northington.  “And the December one is always a family favorite.  People come to shop local, eat out in the restaurants, take in the decorations and visit with neighbors.  It’s an experience that you can’t get in a big box store or a mall.”

​“So many people were disappointed the bad weather crushed it this year.  And our shop and restaurant owners – who depend on the December event to help get them through the winter months – were upset too.  
 
“So, we thought, why not do it again?” 
 
December 15th seemed tailor-made for the event.  The only other community event scheduled is the Live Nativity at the historic depot grounds, which starts at 7pm.  The play was produced last year by the Bay St. Louis Little Theatre and the Music, Arts & Practicality (MAP) children’s program and drew a large crowd.  
 
Northington says the second Second Saturday nests perfectly with the depot performance.
 
“People will be able to shop around Old Town in the afternoon, enjoy an early dinner and end the day at the depot grounds,” she says.  “Doesn’t get more hometown holiday than that!”
 
The merchants group is also working to schedule carolers for the evening of the SECOND Second Saturday (The Shoofly Magazine will post more details as they become available). 

Antique Maison  
December Hot Spot! 
111 North Second Street
Bay St. Louis, MS
228-466-4848

Bay-Tique
125 Main Street
Bay St. Louis, MS
228-344-3043

Bay Books (open until 6pm)
131 Main Street #2
Bay St. Louis
228-463-2688
 
bijoubel Boutique
126 Main Street
Bay St. Louis
601-463-2494
 
Bizzee Bee
111B Main Street
Bay St. Louis               
228-467-1104
 
California Drawstrings
216 Main Street
Bay St. Louis, MS
228-463-2124

Century Hall
Eight shops under one historic roof 
112 S 2nd St
BSL
504-810-7772
 
Gallery 220 
220 Main Street
Bay St. Louis, MS
228-466-5347
 
Green Canyon Outfitters
108 S. Beach Blvd G
Bay St. Louis, MS  39520
228-344-3108
 
Joan Vaas - Off Broadway
 124 Main Street
Bay St. Louis, MS
601-463-2494
 
Magnolia Antiques 
200 Main Street
Bay St. Louis, MS
228-467-8170
 
Serious Bread Bakery
131 Main Street
Suite D                      
Bay St. Louis          
228-547-5075

Smith & Lens Gallery
December Hot Spot!
106 S. Second Street
Bay St. Louis
(228) 254-6006
 
Social Chair 
201 Main Street
Bay St. Louis
228-466-585
 
The French Potager
213 Main Street
Bay St. Louis, MS
228-364-3091

Wild Gypsy 
131 Main Street 
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 
​228-596-7330
 
Twin Light Creations
136 Main St
229-469-0011
 
 

Plastic trash barrels have been transformed by student and local artists, thanks to a new program that's being officially unveiled in Bay St. Louis, Wednesday, November 7th.  
- story by Lisa Monti

The litter containers - whose only adornment are the BSL initials - are being turned into showcases for art reflecting the Gulf Coast, according to Don Siebenkittel, the city’s code enforcement officer who is coordinating the mayor’s art project.

“All the barrels are being painted by local artists from youth organizations and local schools,” he said. “Most of the schools have art programs which are awesome, and these litter barrels are going to look fabulous.”
 ​

Some barrels will bear inspirational messages or school spirit shout-outs, but most will follow the Gulf Coast theme with original renditions of crabs, fish, boats or other coastal characteristics and inhabitants. None will be used to advertise businesses, though.

Adult artists in the community have also volunteered to take on the painting of a barrel. 

Siebenkittel said he’s enjoying getting out and working with the artists, along with his duties as the city’s code enforcement official, a job he's held less than a year.  But it's been an enormously busy one:  more than 800 properties have been cleaned up under Siebenkittel's watch.

So far about 30 litter barrels have been painted and will be placed along Beach Boulevard and Main Street. “Our goal is to have 100 of them by the end of the school year,” Siebenkittel said.
 
The public will get a look at the first collection of painted barrels when they are unveiled Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. at City Hall. They will be placed around town starting the following week.
 
Siebenkittel hinted that the project might be expanded to making rain drums or other environmentally friendly assets for the city.

​“There are so many different environmental and educational ways to use the barrels,” he said.

One new commercial building and an addition to one of the oldest buildings on the coast have been approved by the BSL Historic Preservation Commission, with construction slated to begin soon. 
- story by Lisa Monti

Plans submitted to the Bay St. Louis Historic Preservation Commission for their Oct. 8th meeting show the proposed development at 128 Main Street with space for a restaurant and six boutique-sized spaces for lease.  The HPC approved the plans for the new building design.  

The project goes next before the Planning and Zoning Commission and then the city council for approval. 

 “We hope to start in 60 days and be ready for spring,” Fisher said.
​
​

Fisher is also awaiting a building permit to extend the rear of the building on his property at 146 Main at Gex Street, across from the Courthouse. When the work is done, Fisher will divide the building in half and make the space available for vacation rental and/or retail.  

The historic cottage, built in the 1840s, was home to "The Light," a small local newspaper in the mid-1900s run by Jeannette Carmichael.  Carmichael owned a pet monkey that became a community celebrity.  Residents eventually dubbed the cottage "The Monkey House."  Later the building served as law offices. 
​

In the mid-90s, Shoofly Magazine publisher Ellis Anderson purchased the building and renovated.  Anderson, a silver-smith who opened her first studio and gallery in the New Orleans French Quarter in 1984, opened the second location of Quarter Moon Gallery in the Main Street cottage.  The gallery was twice named one of Southern Living Magazine's Favorite Shops in the South. Anderson operated the gallery from 1996 until 2005, when she sold the building. 
​

A mid-60s addition in the rear of the Creole cottage was torn down post-Katrina.  While the building was gutted, stabilized and raised off the ground, it has been vacant since the hurricane. 

​The new addition that was approved by the BSL Historic Preservation Commission in September adds another eight-feet to the rear of the building. 

Fisher said the 146 Main Street property is getting a good bit of attention from the curious public.  The developer thinks he’s gotten more calls about the building than he’s ever gotten about any of his projects.  

​“We’ll be ready to go as soon as we have the permit in hand,” he said.

Editor's Note:  Former owner of 146 Main Street, Ellis Anderson, is working on a story about the "Monkey House."  She's looking for copies of "The Light" and stories about Mrs. Carmichael.  If you can help, please contact her at publisher@bslshoofly.com

This second annual music festival on November 9 & 10 at the Hancock County Fairgrounds kicks it up a notch this year with a stellar line-up of some of the region's favorite performers. 
- story by Ellis Anderson 

A historic Bay St. Louis barbershop has a new life ahead as home to a popular salon.
- story by Lisa Monti, photo by Michael Rosato

C&C's Italian Grill, one of Bay St. Louis's most popular eateries, becomes C&C Farm to Table on September 3rd.  Check out the new menu and find out why Chef David Dickensauge is giving the restaurant a delicious - and sustainable - makeover. 
- story by Ellis Anderson

​What remains is the award-winning chef’s dedication to fine food created from locally sourced ingredients.  The new concept meshes seamlessly from another of the chef’s businesses slated to open a few blocks away in mid-September – the Ugly Carrot, an artisan juice bar and local produce market. 
 
According to Dickensauge, all the food served in C&C Farm to Table will be produced within 100 miles of the restaurant.  “Since we’re doing it with the Ugly Carrot, it made sense to change over the restaurant now too.” 
 
“No large food purveyor will be delivering to this restaurant,” said the chef.  “The food we serve will be all produced by local farmers.  And all our seafood will be local too - not brought in from who-knows-where.  Every dish will be made from scratch.  We’ll be the only restaurant in South Mississippi to be 100% farm to table.”
 
While Dickensauge enjoyed the Italian theme of the original C&C’s, he said he felt confined by the menu. The new menu will change often, depending on what’s in season.  The basic theme is Southern, but expect to see the chef’s regional spin on Asian, Moroccan, Greek and Mediterranean dishes as well.  

​On the opening menu, diners who love to sample many flavors will have 18 fascinating small plates to choose from, like Lamb Empanadas, Smoked Crawfish Boudin Balls and Duck Confit Beignets.  Heirloom Tomato salad and Organic Mixed Greens are just two of the salad offerings, available with toppers that range from poached shrimp to grilled duck. 
 
Sandwiches include a Pork Belly Reuben, Soft Shell Crab BLT and a locally-raised Wagyu burger (Wagyu is a type of cattle prized for its rich tasting beef).  The “Big Plates” selections shine with Cous-cuos Crusted Local Lambchops, Cold Smoked Prime Rib and Cast Iron Crusted Local Catch. 
 
Locals will be happy to learn the restaurant’s tradition of daily specials will be carried on.  

​Monday:  Southern Style Steak Night specials
 
Tuesday:  A Taco Tuesday where all tortillas are made in house by hand.  Look for lamb, pork belly and smoked duck burritos.
 
Wednesday:  Half price Small Plates, bottles of wine and cocktails.
 
Thursday:  $25 three-course specials.
 
Friday:  Steak night - $28 steak with locally-sourced twice-baked potatoes and vegetables.
 
Saturday: A different special each week.
 
Sunday:  Single menu brunch and dinner available all day.  
 
Happy Hour – Monday thru Friday, 3-6pm (at the bar only):  Half price drinks and $5 for Wagyu burgers, flatbreads and small plates.
 
New Hours: 
Monday:  4pm – 9pm
Tues. – Thursday:  11am – 2pm & 4pm -9pm
Friday & Saturday:  11am – 10pm
Sunday:  11am – 9pm

For the inaugural Farm to Table opening on Labor Day evening, diners will have choices of  steak and pork chop specials.
 
“We’re really just returning to the original Cork & Cleaver concept,” says Dickensauge, referring to his original local in Gulfport.  “It’s all about the ingredients and cooking food the way it should be cooked.”  

Nikki Moon's story of creating a successful B&B despite unimaginable obstacles is featured in a segment on PBS's popular "Start Up" series - and it's now available to stream.  
- story by Ellis Anderson 

Now that the episode has been made available on the Internet, it's gained a whole new audience.  Moon says "the phone has been ringing off the hook" with people calling to congratulate her. 

In the interview, Moon discussed her first career in sales.  When asked by host Bredow what she sold, her response:  "A very strange commodity; I sold New Orleans."  The former tourism director of sales explained that she worked for the city's tourism division from 1979 until 2013.  

Moon left the job the first time in 2003 when she purchased a historic bed-and-breakfast on the beachfront in Bay St. Louis.  Two years later, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the inn and nearly took her life.   The interview follows her through the trials and tragedy that followed, which led to her eventually rebuilding a new Bay Town Inn on the site of the former one. 

Moon has obviously not forgotten her original career.  In the interview, she touted Bay St. Louis as being a charming arts community by the water with great restaurants and boutique shopping.  She also lauded the town's walkability and safety. 

The Bay's Historic District earned high marks too - the inn is located within the district  and the city's Historic Commission had oversight of the new inn's design. "It [the Historic District] is a great thing, because it keeps everything with the right look." 

When Bredow asked Moon to name the hardest thing about working for herself, she said it's the fact there's nobody to blame when she makes a mistake.  The best? The rewarding feelings she has making travelers' experience in Bay St. Louis a positive one.

Moon's final advice to those contemplating starting their own businesses?

​"Just do it!" she said.  

A legendary blues hall changes hands in Bay St. Louis, but the new owners will carry on the previous owners' dream of creating a community hub.  
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson 

When former owners Jesse and Kerrie Loya bought 100 Men Hall (303 Union Street) in 2006, they saved the derelict building from certain post-Katrina demolition.  The couple added on a spacious living area and moved in with their family.  
 
Continuing the rehab, the Loyas reopened the hall as a music and event venue in 2010.  The building had come full circle.  In the mid-1900s, 100 Men Hall had been a rocking stop for blues performers like BB King, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry and James Brown.  Under the Loyas’ stewardship, the hall has hosted everything from weddings to Cajun dance parties in the past eight years.  ​

The building’s fascinating history was a major part of the allure for Rachel Dangermond, who is a writer, consultant and experienced community facilitator.  After visiting Bay St. Louis several times for solo writing retreats, the New Orleans native began considering relocation to the coast.  The Bay seemed an idyllic place for her nine-year-old son to grow up.  
 
And the peaceful setting would provide the perfect backdrop for the writers’ workshop side of her career that she planned to expand.  She’d been facilitating the memoir-writing workshops in her home for years, yet wanted to offer them more frequently and in a more formal setting. 

A coast friend who knew about Dangermond’s plans sent her information on 100 Men Hall when it came up for sale.  The writer filed it away until, after a trying day, she pulled up the link to the hall’s for-sale page.  She called immediately for a showing.

“We walked in and said ‘This is it!  This is where I can have workshops, facilitate, have pop-ups for artists,’” said the writer recalling her first viewing.  “The rest was just details.  From the moment I made that decision, people have come out of the woodwork to help make this possible.”  
 
The hall’s listing agent, Holly Lemoine-Ramond, noted that the sale itself was seamless.  “We had lots of interest, but this was meant to be.  When we all met for the first time, there was an instant connection.  While Kerry and Jesse knew they couldn’t choose who bought their place, it was wonderful to have a purchaser carrying on with the same basic concept.”
 
Real estate agent Matt Stieffel has been friends with Dangermond for two years and represented her in the sale. 
 
“I’m very excited for Rachel and her exciting new chapter resurrecting 100 Men Hall,” Stieffel said.  “Bay St. Louis is lucky to have her as a resident and proprietor for such an iconic piece of our history.” ​

Even though Dangermond and her son are still unpacking, she says she’ll be ready to host a workshop forMississippi Heritage Trust (MHT), August 8 – 10.  MHT’s director, Lolly Rash, had originally contacted the Loyas about hosting the event.  Dangermond decided to dive right in after discussing the transition with Rash.  
 
Ironically, the workshop focuses on financing and tax credits for historic buildings that are used for businesses.  “I’m going to participate too because I need to know these things,” said Dangermond.  
 ​

Although her business partner, son Tin, may be watching cartoons instead of attending the historic workshop, he’s still excited about learning the ropes of running an event venue at 100 Men Hall. 
 
“We’re going to split the money,” Tin said, during the Shoofly Magazine photo session.  
 
“He’s the hundred-and-first man,” said Dangermond, laughing.  “If nothing else [comes out of this venture], he’s going to learn the skills of running a business.” 
 
Between unpacking boxes and getting Tin ready to start school, the writer is still finding a bit of time to appreciate her new community.  She mentioned several helpful neighbors and new friends helping to smooth the big transition. 
 
“I’m so thrilled to be in Bay St. Louis,” she said. “The first day I spent in the hall, I took a long walk on the beach.  It felt like trumpets were blowing.” ​

Click below for more information and to register for the free Mississippi Heritage Trust workshop at 100 Men Hall, August 8 -10, 2018.  Space is limited, so reserve now! 

A trio of savvy entrepreneurs has created a new popsicle craze on the coast:  with fresh flavors and creative recipes, there's little wonder
- story by Lisa Monti

A year ago they finally found the Bay St. Louis storefront they’d been looking for when a space became available at 111 Main Street. The new store replaced a spot inside nearby Cuz’s seafood restaurant. The newest location - the fourth - is is now open alongside a gourmet candy maker in Grayton Beach, Fla. 
 
Pop Brothers products also are sold at other outlets including Lazy Magnolia, Margaritaville, Hard Rock and Scarlet Pearl casinos and Gulf Islands Water Park and at catered events and festivals from carts like the one that got it all started.
 
Shannon said the team is thrilled with the Bay St. Louis store. “It took us over a year to find a spot but we’re so happy to be here,” she said. 
 
And customers, including a good number of tourists, are happy that Pops Brothers is here too.

“We have visitors from everywhere you can imagine. It’s really amazing how many people end up in our store from all over the place,” Shannon said.
​
The shop has communal bench seating and big windows so customers can watch the flow of traffic on Main Street while they enjoy their selection.
 
On Second Saturday in June, when the monthly art walk and Frida Fest converged, the Main Street store sold a whooping 400 popsicles, the most daily sales yet for the location. 
 
Pop Brothers makes 50 varieties, all created by Octavia, an experienced chef with big-name credentials from his restaurant days in Chicago. He comes up with the flavors, using his creative culinary skills to combine fresh fruits and herbs and spices.
 
About half the menu flavors are available all year; the rest depends on what fruit is available and that’s dictated by seasons and weather. “We’re at the mercy of Mother Nature,” Shannon said.

All the ingredients come from within a 2.5-hour radius except for the exotic fruits which come in to New Orleans from South America, Cuba and other points. “My husband is an expert in sourcing and buying and creating flavors,” Shannon said. He’s known in-house as the Pop Master.
 
So what are customers craving this steamy summer? “The top three are Oreo cheesecake, berries and cream, the mango and strawberry lemonade and the Barq’s Root Beer float. It’s fantastic. It even tastes bubbly,” Shannon said. 
 
To keep up with demand, Pop Brothers makes 2,000 to 3,000 a day by hand. “That’s the key to why they taste so good,” Shannon said. “Once it’s automated you loose something."
 
The pops come in three categories: fruit, cream and indulgent. For the really indulgent, you can get yours dipped in dark chocolate, white chocolate or both.
 
Pop Brothers also has created two Pooch Pops that are extremely popular with spoiled dogs and their owners. “We sell tons of them,” Shannon said. One is made with chicken broth, fresh green beans and other good stuff for breath and coat. The other is made with peanut butter, cheese and bacon. My dog lapped his up.

Pop Brothers
111 Main Street
Bay St. Louis
(228) 304-0024
​website

Hours
Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday   11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

One of the world's top travel companies, names Bay St. Louis as one of America's 25 Favorite Beach Towns.
- photos by Ellis Anderson 

“This is a phenomenal opportunity to showcase everything that Bay St. Louis has to offer, which will in turn benefit the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast as a destination,” said Segarra. ​​

Nikki Moon, owner of Bay Town Inn on Beach Boulevard in Bay St. Louis, also serves on the Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast board.  

"For Fodor’s to list Bay St. Louis amongst so many incredible beach destinations across the US is a real honor," said Moon.  "I am thrilled to see this wonderful, resilient Mississippi Gulf Coast town garner such widespread attention.

​She continued.  "As a community, Bay St. Louis strives to create the perfect coastal atmosphere for visitors and locals alike, and it looks like our efforts are paying off, as we gain momentum in terms of media exposure, accolades and visitation."  

Local businesses receiving shout-outs in the article are the Starfish Café, Bay-tique, The French Potager and Gallery 220. The Mardi Gras Museum in the historic depot was also spotlighted. 

Here's what Fodor's had to say about Bay St. Louis:  

Katrina hit this Gulf town hard in 2005, but it’s come back strong. Old Town, overlooking the marina, bay, and white-sand beach, thrives with buzzy restaurants (Starfish Café) and artsy shops (Bay-Tique, The French Potager, and Gallery 220, representing local artists).

​Instead of cars, many people get around town by golf cart, on foot, by bike, or even by kayak. Whatever your mode, keep an eye out for the town’s “Angels in the Bay,” created by chainsaw-wood sculptor Dayle Lewis from live oaks that died in Katrina’s wake.

The free Bay St. Louis Mardi Gras Museum features beautiful Mardi Gras costumes, and provides information on the history of Mardi Gras on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

See the other towns on the Fodor's Travel website. 

Bay St. Louis is named number four of thirty "Most Beautiful" towns in America in a list curated by Expedia, a leading international travel website.  
​- story and photographs by Ellis Anderson 

You’ve heard being by the water is good for the soul and Bay St. Louis is the perfect place to test it. Surrounded by the bay and marshlands, this pretty little coastal town is a sailor’s delight. 

Stroll to the marina and listen for the sound of sailboats creaking against the dock, or build sandcastle masterpieces on the shore at the end of Main Street. 

You’ll find beauty in touring the quirky Gallery 220 Main art gallery, searching for Dayle Lewis’ angel trees, and watching the neighbors gather for a chat on the porches of shotgun cottages.

Expedia travel writer Chloe Mulliner told the Shoofly Magazine that the Bay's Historic District set against a serene natural landscape was the combination that won her over. 

“Sitting along Mississippi's Gulf Coast, Bay St. Louis is the kind of place you find yourself daydreaming about," she said. "Whether you're kayaking along the bay at sunset, exploring the local flora along Possum Walk Trail, or admiring the historical architecture of Old Town, there is beauty everywhere you turn. 

"It's no wonder Bay St. Louis graces our most beautiful cities list!”
​
Other cities that made the list are St. Augustine, Florida, Tyler, Texas, Fairhope, Alabama and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. 

The story of a historic elementary school's transformation into a home is told in an episode of "You Live In What?" premiering Friday, May 25th on the Great American Country channel (GAC).  

A former schoolhouse built over 100 years ago in Bay St. Louis will be featured in “You Live In What?”  a popular HGTV series.  The new episode premiers on Friday, May 25, at 8pm CST on HGTV’s affiliate channel, Great American Country Network (GAC). 
 
The Webb Schoolhouse was built in 1913 as a school for first through fourth graders.  In 2002, it was purchased and restored, and now serves as the home of Larry and Ellis Anderson Jaubert.  The building is deemed one of the most architecturally significant buildings in the state and has the highest historic designation offered by Mississippi – Landmark status. 
 
Local realtor Holly Lemoine-Raymond acts as an informal scout for “You Live in What” and other HGTV productions.  In the past two years, she’s pitched several historic buildings in Bay St. Louis to producers at Beyond Media, the company that has produced five seasons of the show for HGTV's GAC Network.  
 ​

 Here's the upcoming viewing schedule for the episode that includes Bay St. Louis's Webb Schoolhouse

The team has apparently fallen hard for Bay St. Louis.  The Webb School is the fourth historic Bay St. Louis building to be featured in the series.
 
The production team filmed the episode in January 2018.  Beyond Media producer, Brantley Ferrell and his team spent most of the day filming at Webb School for what eventually would be boiled down to a four-minute segment. 
 
Ferrell called the Bay St. Louis experience “outstanding,” and cited the team’s main reasons for returning frequently:  “the beautiful Southern coastal setting, friendly and eclectic people and incredible food.”

“Ellis Anderson's benevolent hospitality made our entire crew feel like family.  And [Webb School] carries with it such a fascinating story and preservation of the past…  we were blessed to have been able to make it part of ‘You Live in What,” says Ferrell.
 
Ferrell credits Lemoine-Raymond with introducing the team to Bay St. Louis and acting as their personal tour guide when they’re in town filming. 
 
The realtor says she believed from the beginning that the transformation of Webb School into a home would be a great story.
 
“I can’t wait to see this beautiful, historic building featured in the show,” says Lemoine-Raymond.  “It’s another opportunity for our little community to be featured on a global stage!” 
 
Meanwhile, Ferrell and his crew are hoping for another opportunity next season to return to the Bay’s historic district. 

“Make no mistake,” he says.  “Bay St. Louis is at the top of our travel list.” ​

Award-winning chef David Dickensauge of C&C's Italian Bistro will open the Ugly Carrot this summer - an artisan juice bar with fresh local produce and meals to go. 
- story by Lisa Monti, photos courtesy David Dickensauge

​Working with the chef in the new juice bar will be Jeff Jordan, who just stepped down as head football coach at St. Stanislaus. Jordan, who played football at LSU, has experience in strength and conditioning and can help customers with creating healthy eating plans and healthy, tasty juices.
​

Dickensauge will use his connections with about 15 farmers who sell to C&C Italian Bistro, his sustainable restaurant at 111 Main St., to stock The Ugly Carrot. 

Shoppers at the Ugly Carrot will be able to buy eggs, cheese, butter and milk along with fresh produce including tomatoes, lettuce, squash from local farms in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, along with prepared foods. Customers also can preorder items for pick up.
 
“We’ll have vegan and vegetarian to-go salads and sandwiches made in the restaurant,” he said. Everything will be all plant based, with no meat in sight.
 
Among the sources will be the highly regarded Covey Rise Farms in Louisiana and renowned The Chef’s Garden. “I’m a big activist for sustainable, local products,” Dickensauge said. “I have to know where my produce is coming from.”
 
Dickensauge calls The Ugly Carrot “a cool concept” that’s a perfect fit for Old Town Bay St. Louis. “It’s not just a juice bar. It’s the missing niche here.”

Expect a comfortable atmosphere, premium wines and gourmet cheeses when Central Station Bistro opens soon.  Owner Janice Hall gives us a sneak peak. 
- by Lisa Monti, from Lisa Monti's Notebook

​Located a few blocks from Old Town, the Bistro is the Halls’ retirement project. Jim retired from the industrial demolition and development industry; Janice is a fine arts photographer and interior designer. They moved to the Bay from Palm Springs, Calif., three years ago and were looking for something to do.

“We kept seeing this derelict building for sale and looking in the windows,” Janice said.

What they saw was a wreck: no walls, no plumbing, nothing but termite-eaten studs. “We’re either a couple of visionaries or lunatics, but we said let’s buy it and figure it out.”

The bedraggled property’s redeeming quality was its setting, which captivated the couple. “It’s a beautiful lot with oak trees and next door to a pastoral looking church in a converted barn,” she said.

They were guided to the wine bar idea by local friends who complained that there wasn’t a bar for grown ups where they could get a nice glass of wine without loud music and the usual beach bar menu.

The wine bar idea got a boost from the fact that Janice is a longtime member of the Brotherhood of Knights of the Vine, an esteemed wine society, and has loads of experience creating events around wine.

So the Halls hired a contractor and architects and the three-bedroom cottage slowly began to be transformed. The former living room will be the main gathering area. The front bedroom with a fireplace and flatscreen TV is another spot for guests.

The front patio with rocking chairs and fire pit is almost done. Janice calls the interior character “slick and cool with really good vibes. It feels like in Sonoma.” Muscadine vines will be planted soon to add another winery touch.

The Halls are working on the wine list and menu, which will feature cheeses from St. James Cheese Co. in New Orleans and other vendors. Wine will be moderately priced and sold by the glass and by flights. Some beers will also be sold.

Janice said the bistro will have a club atmosphere with something for everybody. “You can come in and site in comfortable leather furniture or at pub tables for a cheese board and a nice glass wine.”

Central Station Bistro will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to closing (TBD).

Stay tuned for the opening date announcement. Follow Central Station Bistro on Facebook.
​
Central Station Bistro
205 Central Ave.
Bay St. Louis
(228) 342-5832

Read more by Lisa Monti, freelance writer and Shoofly Magazine editor - on her popular blog, Lisa Monti's Notebook.   Subscriptions are free! 

In early May, Hancock County residents will be able to get a "Clean Car Fast," when a new business opens in Waveland. 
- story by Lisa Monti, from Lisa Monti's Notebook 

Schmidt and Brian Hill started Pitstop in 2005, putting their retail experience to work in the car wash business. The goal was to have “the best equipment and customer friendly technology, along with quality soaps and waxes, attentive employees, clean, wide-open, well-lit facilities, fair prices and no gimmicks.”

Getting your car washed couldn’t be easier, says Schmidt. Choose from four cleaning packages (basic, good, better and best) and pay at one of two automated stations with a credit/debit card or insert cash. Drive your car onto the conveyor and sit back. The conveyor brings the car through the tunnel as a series of all soft-cloth mitters and wraps move back and forth to clean the exterior.  “Our slogan is ‘A Clean Car Fast’. We want to get you in and out in less than five minutes,” he said.

Prices start at $6 and go up to $15. The tunnel can handle up to 100 cars an hour. “We’re based on volume so we wash a lot of cars to keep prices low,” Schmidt said.

He said the cleaning process is environmentally efficient compared to washing your car  in your driveway where the water may end up the Bay or Sound. The multimillion dollar facility’s conveyor system is specially engineered and angled to collect sediment in three underground tanks. The water is recycled and is filtered before it is discharged into the sanitary sewer system. Pitstop is even “certified green” by an international association of car washes, Schmidt said.

Pitstop will be open seven days a week except Christmas and Thanksgiving from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will be staffed by three full-time employees and a few part-time workers.
​
Pitstop Carwash, 445 Highway 90, Waveland. No phone yet; check the website (www.acleancarfast.com) and Facebook page.

The co-owner of the ever-popular Trapani's Eatery branches out into barbeque on the beachfront when Smokin' Jo's opens up in Bay St. Louis. 
- by Lisa Monti

​How does this sound for starters: Brisket Bay Queso (chopped brisket and queso atop homemade tortilla chips) and Bay Fries (waffle fries sprinkled with cheddar bacon pieces, pulled pork with secret sauce.)

The soft tacos can be filled with your choice of two meats (brisket, chicken or pork) topped with pineapple mango salsa with a splash of Sriracha and barbecue sauce. 

Sides include mac and cheese, fried okra plus the standards: barbecue beans, potato salad, cole slaw and waffle fries. 

Sandwiches are topped with homemade slaw, sliced Kosher pickle and onion. Pick from pulled pork, pulled chicken, brisket and a combination of two meats. There’s also a smoked sausage on a bun if that’s what speaks to you. 

​Meat plates - featuring pulled pork, a chicken quarter, sliced brisket, ribs or sausage - come with sliced Kosher pickles, sliced onions and two sides.

Ribs are sold by the rack, half rack or single rib. Pork, sausage, brisket and pulled chicken is available by the pound or half pound servings.

The kid’s menu has a chicken or pulled pork quesadilla and grilled cheese, each with one side.

The catering menu orders include meats, sides and box lunches to feed 20 people or more and whole Key lime pies. Sauce is sold by the quart. Delivery to the nearby marina will be available on opening day and to the downtown area by May 1. In true Bay St. Louis style, deliveries will be made by golf cart. 

By the way, the pig mascot out front was named JoJo by the restaurant’s Facebook followers and is dressed for every holiday. It’s also prominent on the logo. “Everyone enjoys taking photos with her,” Trapani said. It’s all part of Smokin’ Jo’s philosophy. “It’s a fun concept with great food.”

A ribbon cutting will be held Saturday, April 21 at 4pm. 

The kitchen at Bodega's at 111 Court Street opens Thursday (March 15): Popular chef Rickey Peters and visionary entrepreneur Kevin Jordan have teamed up for the new Bay St. Louis venture.  Check out the new menu! 
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

Gumbo Ya-ya, Shrimp Remoulade, the Cochon de Lait, Meatloaf and Chicken/Boudin sandwiches are just a few of the crowd-pleasers that have made a comeback.  Banana Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce makes a reappearance as a grand finale.
 
New on the menu are dollar tacos, cheeseburger sliders, French pizza bread and shrimp salad rolls.  Soon to come, according to Jordan, are daily specials and some entrée plates.

Peters, who began his chef's career working with Paul Prudhomme, has more than two decades of experience pleasing local diners.  His first restaurant was a namesake – Rickey’s in Waveland.  The popular eatery attracted foodies from the entire region and won the hearts of locals.   After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the business, it reincarnated for several years on Highway 90 in Bay St. Louis. 
 
When entrepreneur Kevin Jordan invited Rickey to open up at a renovated barber shop across from the depot in 2015, Rickey’s Off the Tracks instantly became one of the town’s liveliest lunch spots. 
 
Jordan had plans to offer an outdoor kitchen and evening dining at the depot location, yet a hitch in logistics put an end to the restaurant.  It turned out that his initial measurements were slightly off – the restaurant was 20 feet too close to a school building to obtain a liquor license. 
 

​“It’s hard to have a dinner spot here on the coast without being able to serve adult beverages,” said Jordan, noting that Bodega’s Court Street location doesn’t have that issue. 
 
The outdoor BBQ and eating area that never materialized in the Depot district is already taking shape at Bodega.  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 will be serving up his specials.  
 
The Court Street building, former headquarters for both the city and the Hancock Chamber, also is home to a liquor store, a rental business and a yoga studio upstairs. 
 

​Jordan notes that Bodega rents about any mode of transportation needed in Bay St. Louis, including golf carts, bicycles, kayaks and paddleboards.  Since it’s only a stone’s throw from the harbor, that’s especially convenient for visiting boaters.
 
The liquor store features a large assortment of wines (Jordan, who also owns a small vineyard in California, oversees the selection) and liquors.  They’re able to sell both retail and wholesale, so can provide alcohol for downtown bars and restaurants as well.  Jordan says that the store also keeps a wish-list.
 
“If we don’t have what they want, we’ll order it,” he said.

​The Loft Yoga studio offers classes that range from beginner level to advanced.  Classes may be purchased individually, as well as in packs of five or ten.
 
George Mills performs at Bodega each Saturday from 7pm – 10pm (on Second Saturdays, he starts at 6pm).  As the weather warms, Friday night performances will be added as well.
 
Look for the soft opening of Bodega’s kitchen in ten days to two weeks.  The chef is counting the hours.
 
“I’m ready to start today,” Rickey said.

Bay St. Louis's new Code Enforcement officer, Don Siebenkittel, is already having a major impact: in the past six weeks, he's closed 20 cases and had two houses removed - all at no cost to the city. 
- story and photograph by Lisa Monti

The heavy workload doesn’t faze Siebenkittel, and it’s not all that fills his packed schedule on and off the job. He continues to be chairman of Keep Waveland Beautiful. He also works part time as a corporal with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department and part time at Waveland Police. A lifelong outdoorsman, Siebenkittel trains field trial fox dogs, is involved in coastal cleanup efforts and is an avid gardener and hunter.
 
He brings an extensive background to the code enforcement job. He worked in law enforcement starting in 1992 with the Pearl River County and Hancock sheriff’s departments. More recently he also worked with the Waveland Fire and Police departments and in that city’s litter control and code enforcement. For 12 years he operated a flooring business in Hancock County.
 
Siebenkittel was born in Louisiana but considers Picayune his hometown. He and his wife, Kathyleen, live in Waveland. He loves the outdoors, especially deer hunting, and enjoys taking photos of nature and of the wildlife like foxes that he finds in the city.
 
Siebenkittel sees his code enforcement role as sort of a referee working to resolve issues with property owners on behalf of the city. “I like working with people,” he said. And if a property is not in compliance, he works toward a resolution.

​His connections with other counties and cities also come into play on the job. “I try to work with other cities and want to keep a good working relationship with them,” he said.

An Old Town anchor relocates into the historic Century Hall building on Second Street.  Find out when and why!
- by Lisa Monti, Lisa Monti's Notebook

“The interior warmth of the hall’s architecture will offer beautiful niches for my products and artists,” she said.

Also, she said, “There’s plenty of onsite parking available for our customers.”

Guido has a family tie to the two-story hall, which was built in 1909 for the Woodmen of the World. “My grandmother Albena was a Woodmen of the World member and attended their meetings all over the Coast,” she said.


To read more about Janice Guido and Bay Life in the Shoofly Magazine's Oct. 2016 issue, click here!

Lisa Monti publishes many BSL meeting agendas and local business stories on her blog, Lisa Monti's Notebook.  It's easy to subscribe!  

Below:  Shoofly archived images from Bay Life - look for lots of new merchandise after the reopening!