The Burg in the Bay

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​breaking news in the Shoofly Magazine

Hattiesburg residents with a connection to Bay St. Louis join forces for a unique tailgate party.
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- Story and photo by Lisa Monti
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Organizers from left are Linda Watson, Carroll Moudy and Ka Russum.

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If you think New Orleanians are the only ones who make a beeline for the Bay on weekends, you must have missed the traffic streaming southward from Hattiesburg to Hancock County.
 
Many Hattiesburg residents own second homes here, some for a couple of generations. Others left the Hub City and careers behind to retire here. Carroll Moudy and Ka Russum are among the second-homeowners, and Linda Watson is in the retiree group.

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​The three friends decided to create an event to celebrate the Hattiesburg-Bay connection and started planning last fall in an Old town restaurant. They based their idea on the Mississippi Picnic in Central Park, which was held for years as a Big Apple celebration of all things Mississippi.

​​They put together a plan and on the afternoon of April 27, the grounds of the historic depot will be the setting for “The Burg in da Bay.”

​It will be an informal party for “people who appreciate the Bay and its atmosphere and personality and peacefulness,” says Carroll, who owns real estate offices in Hattiesburg and Petal. She says she finds a sense of peacefulness “when my car heads south. It’s like an entirely different world.”
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​Carroll is an unabashed fan of the city which she first visited on a date with her future husband, Ricky, a builder. “My heart is in Bay St. Louis,” she says. “It’s just so laid back, for one. And it’s got the beach, Old Town, the character. It’s got a special air to it and there’s no place like it on the Coast.”
 
Ka, a retired nurse, and husband Larry, a hospital administrator, started visiting the Bay together with some close friends who had a camp before Hurricane Camille. They bought their own camp in 2004 and now come down every weekend and love making new memories with their grown sons, their families and friends.

​“We just love the proximity to New Orleans and the town itself and the friendly people,” Ka says.
 

The organizers are keeping this first event simple, like tailgating - but without the game. People are encouraged to bring their own food, drinks, tables and chairs and spend a few hours enjoying each other’s company. Kids can enjoy playing lawn games on the depots grounds.
 
They are getting the word out about “The Burg in da Bay” through emails, social media and word of mouth. They’ve made contact with about 100 people and are hoping for a good turnout plus good weather. If the interest is strong enough, the event will grow accordingly.
 
For more information, go toThe Burg in da Bay Facebook page.
 
The Burg in Da Bay
April 27, 2019  
2-6pm
Historic Depot grounds
Bay St. Louis