Take 5: Great Deep South Bookstores

             There’s so many wonderful independent bookstores in the South we have to break it down by region. Here’s five of my favorites of the Deep South, with the award going to Mississippi, the state known for some of the finest American literary figures. Here’s my five but there were so many I left out!

            Square Books of Oxford, Miss., began in 1979 by Lisa and Richard Howorth, the latter a former president of the American Booksellers Association. Today, the three-in-one bookstore is a city landmark, offering booksignings by local and nationally known authors, programs, Camp Square Books for adults and the Thacker Mountain Radio. The 3,500-square-foot Square Books, Jr. is devoted to children’s selections; Off Square Books features lifestyle topics such as cooking and gardening; and the main store celebrates regional history and literature. This year, Square Books won Publisher Weekly’s Bookstore of the Year Award.

              In Jackson, there’s the oversized Lemuria Books, offering not only a fabulous selection, but a blog, first editions club and great book events. Some of the best names travel through Lemuria, but so do the little guys just starting off selling great titles as well. The staff is helpful, their email newsletters well done and professional, and did we mention the great selection? And there’s an awesome coffee shop and bistro downstairs so you can enjoy your purchase with a cup of Joe.

            Danny Plaisance runs Cottonwood Books in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, an unassuming place that’s stocked with great finds. In addition to 35,000 used and rare books are first editions, rare titles on Louisiana and the Civil War and new books by locals. Give yourself lots of time to peruse the aisles of this special place. And if you have a question or searching for a title, it's likely Danny can help.

            Mystery lovers have to sample Murder by the Book in Houston, one of the nation's oldest and largest mystery specialty bookstores. The store packs in more than 25,000 new and used books, first editions, collectibles, gift items, mystery magazines, and more, plus hosts numerous booksignings by mystery authors every year.
             Page and Palette family-owned bookstore is located in the heart of charming Fairhope, Alabama. The independent store run by the third generation features a great selection of Alabama and Gulf Coast writers and hosts regular book signings and events such as storytime, open mics and book discussions. There’s a coffee shop attached so it’s easy to enjoy a good book, a comfy chair and a hot cup of coffee. In addition, the shop offers a used book section.

Arkansas offers art of nature, food and well, art!

             I visited Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark., just before its opening. I didn’t get a peek inside the Moshe Safdie-designed buildings over a nature spring but I did explore the 3.5-mile hiking trails surrounding the magnificent buildings, the sculpture garden and the Skyspace which changes color throughout the day with different degrees of sunlight.

             Recently, I had the chance to revisit Crystal Bridges and this time I witnessed the numerous galleries of American art collected by Alice Walton, daughter of Sam Walton, the father of Wal-Mart. There are more than 1,000 works of art housed here with about 450 on the floor at any time. Artwork includes Asher B. Durand’s “Kindred Spirits,” “Rosie the Riveter” by Norman Rockwell (shown here) and Andy Warhol’s “Dolly Parton.”

            Equally important as the art within is the structure with its curved beams and gallery walls, windows that allow nature inside, seating areas with massive art book libraries and an interactive children’s room. The architecture, winding nature trails, intricate interior design is as much something to see and cherish as the wide collection of American art. 

      Crystal Bridges is opening “American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell” March 9 through May 27, a fitting tribute to a popular American artist who may have been overlooked through the years because of his commercial appeal. On April 10 the museum will offer the special event “Norman Rockwell and Edible Culture” from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Museum’s Great Hall. Culinary Director Case Dighero will offer sample selections of food and drinks from the museum’s restaurant, Eleven, focusing on the Rockwell exhibition and Rockwell’s perspective of edible culture in the United States. Food images throughout the Rockwell exhibition will be discussed, reflected upon and tasted.

Tickets are $30. 

             For more information on the amazing museum — truly a coup for Southern art enthusiasts — visit http://crystalbridges.org/.

           Kat Robinson is a food and travel writer in addition to promoting Arkansas through its department of tourism. We met at a recent travel convention in Little Rock and I learned she had just authored a cookbook-travel guidebook titled “Arkansas Pie: A Delicious Slice of the Natural State” (The History Press). Being a pie enthusiast, I just had to get my hands on one. 

Basin Park Huckleberry Pie

         What a fabulous idea for a book! Robinson takes readers on a culinary tour of the state, visiting diners, restaurants and bakeries to spotlight their trademark pies, everything from The Cliff House Inn’s Company Comin’ Pie to the fried pies of the Delta and the Ozarks. (I had a huckleberry fried pie at the Basin Park Hotel in Eureka Springs topped with huckleberry ice cream and it was so so good!) This book includes icebox pies, pecan pies like your mama’s, caramel apple pie, Toll House pie — you name it. 

             Now don’t you want to grab this book and eat your way up to Crystal Bridges? If you do, be sure and stop in Burge’s in Lewisville and sample their roasted turkey sandwich. Robinson recommended it to me for my drive from Little Rock to Lafayette and it was outstanding.

            Here’s a Robinson recipe for Arkansas Possum Pie, named so because it “plays possum,” or represents itself as something else. Robinson calls it a “pecan cream pie hybrid.”

Burge’s in Lewisville

Possum Pie

From “Arkansas Pie: A Delicious Slice of the Natural State”

1 1/2 sticks butter

 2 cups flour

1 cups crushed pecans, separated

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

12 ounces Cool Whip divided

1 box milk chocolate instant pudding

1 box chocolate fudge instant pudding

3 cups milk

            Directions: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut butter into flour to make crumbly pastry dough. Add a cup crushed pecans. Press into two 8- or 9-inch pie pans or 13- by 9-inch casserole. Bake 15 minutes or until flour starts to brown. Remove and cool. Cream together cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar. Add six ounces of Cool Whip and beat until fluffy. Spread over bottom of both pies. Blend together both pudding mixes with milk. Pour in on top of the cream cheese mixture and allow to set. Spread remaining Cool Whip over the top of both pies and sprinkle with pecans. Makes two pies.

Sunday in the Park with Elton

            On a recent visit to my hometown of New Orleans, I decided to visit City Park and view the new additions and upgrades since Hurricane Katrina gave it such a brutal beating. Also, since I found some old photos of my grandparents enjoying City Park at the beginning of the 20^th century, I wanted to find and photograph those old landmarks and compare.

            City Park and its 1,300 acres has indeed received a much-needed facelift and it appears improvements are continuing. There’s a gondola ride now, Storyland from my youth appears almost brand new and the Morning Call coffee shop, which offers beignets and chicory coffee, has opened in the old Casino building. I also took in the New Orleans Museum of Art, which is undergoing renovation but still offering great exhibits such as “Lifelike,” an exhibit of oversized, lifelike art pieces on view until Feb. 3, 2013. Since the weather is usually mild and sunny in December, I took in the expansive sculpture garden where I had fun shooting interesting views of the pieces and following a swan around who wasn’t scared of people.

            But as I was looking for the bridge that my grandmother climbed as a young woman, back in the days when she was courting my dapper grandfather who looked damn good in a fedora, I met Elton. He saw me shooting photos of the old stone bridge over the lagoon and called me over.

            “Did you see this tree?” he asked me, pointing to an old live oak leaning precariously to the left and covered in Spanish moss. “You need to take a photo of that.”

            He was right and I did just that. Then he asked me what I was doing on this lovely December day in City Park. After I explained that I was documenting places my grandparents visited, he mentioned that he was sort of doing the same. Since Katrina, he had been living in different places but decided it was time to return to his hometown of New Orleans. He recalled some of those places, including visiting California’s ancient grove of redwoods, which explained his admiration of the live oak. I remarked at how much I loved trees as well, and we decided to stroll the lagoon together, enjoying the massive oak trees and the beautiful day.

             I found my grandparents’ bridge, called the Angele Langeles Memorial Bridge built about 1902. I also spotted the stone lions outside the pavilion, where my grandmother, sister and cousin posed for a photo. The pavilion is used for special events.

            I could tell Elton was a bit anxious about his return to New Orleans. I could relate, being a boomeranger myself. Natives may leave the city but always seem to return. Blame it on the awesome food culture, Mardi Gras or the music, but it’s hard living anywhere else. There’s no place like New Orleans.

            However, it’s not always easy to come back after living elsewhere. The pace of Otherwhere America is sometimes faster and more sophisticated, the lifestyles more progressive and hip. You can argue either way on whether that’s a good thing or bad, but it’s always been a struggle for me to balance the great attributes of New Orleans with its faults, one of the reasons why I live in neighboring Lafayette. I can visit anytime I want, and when I do, like today, the city beams with a new light. It works for me.

            It was getting late so Elton and I parted ways. I took a photo of Elton by one of the lions, wondering if my grandchildren might one day come looking for the City Park landmarks Mawmaw (me) wrote about in her blog. I wonder, too, if Elton will stumble upon this blog in his new life. My hope is that City Park’s features, much like New Orleans natives such as Elton and me, will continue to survive in an ever-changing environment.

A touch of ice and snow

             Deep South residents feel pretty darn lucky this time of year. We’re not scraping ice off the windshield nor shoveling snow up to our knees. We may have to cover the plants once and a while when a hard freeze arrives and we usually complain about it so northerners can have a good laugh.

Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation

            But even with our mild winters and the ability to walk around barefoot in the middle of December (albeit with frosty toes) we could use a little winter wonderland. That’s why temporary ice skating rinks and the occasional snow mound appear, offering kids a chance to see how the other half live.

            In Houston, for instance, folks flock to Discovery Green for outdoor ice skating on Kinder Lake. Discovery Green is the city’s new central park, located downtown and offering a wide variety of fun. They freeze up the “lake” every year to offer ice skating from Nov. 17 to Jan. 27, 2013. Admission is $12 and includes skate rental and tax, but limited to 1 1/2 hour sessions. A portion of the tickets sale helps support the park’s year-round programming.

            The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation outside of Atlanta features all kinds of holiday packages for all ages, including ice skating at the AAA Five Diamond hotel. The 5,000-square-foot rink is open daily with two sessions until Feb. 24 in the lodge’s Pavilion. Skating is complimentary for resort guests; non-resort guests pay $30 for children 12 and under and $40 for adults, including skate rentals, if needed.

            The Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum turns a section of its popular attraction into Santa’s Christmas Village, and that includes holiday events, “the world’s largest snow globe” and an ice skating rink! Cost to skate is $10 and open Thursdays through Sundays during December.

Cory Bahr's Restaurant Cotton one of many fun things to do in Monroe, West Monroe

            UL-Lafayette takes on UL-Monroe on Saturday at Warhawk Field, and yes, I'm focusing on football for this blog because I'm a Ragin' Cajuns fan and UL-Monroe is smoking hot this season and the team to beat. So for those traveling to North Louisiana for the game on Saturday, Nov. 3 (and everyone else, of course), there are plenty of fun things to do in the twins cities of Monroe and West Monroe. Just don’t call one the other, locals don’t like it.

             For starters, Chef Cory Bahr has transformed a historic cotton warehouse in downtown Monroe, serving up lovely Southern rural cooking and “North Delta” fare at Restaurant Cotton. Bahr has been awarded “King” of Louisiana Seafood, was named a “Chef to Watch” by Louisiana Cookin’ magazine and became a champion on the Food Network’s “Chopped!” this year.

            Atlanta claims Coca-Cola but Joseph A. Biedenharn was the first bottler and he built his home in Monroe. Visitors can tour the elegant home and gardens built in 1914, plus view the neighboring Coke Museum with its pristine Coca-Cola delivery truck, rooms full of Coke memorabilia and free samples at the replica soda fountain. For lagniappe, be sure and check out the Biedenharn Bible Museum. Emy-Lou Biedenharn collected Bibles and many are on display, including a Gutenberg Bible, biblical artwork and an original 1611 King James Bible. The museum also offers visiting exhibits and Russian icons from the Daniel R. Bibb collection.

             Across the river in West Monroe is the Cotton Port Historic District, buildings housing antique stores, specialty shops and restaurants. Bargains can be found in this “antique row” and there will be a special Holiday Open House from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit http://www.antiquealleyshops.org/.

            Other attractions to visit include the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum of Louisiana, the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, the Masur Museum of Art and the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, among others.

            Events happening Saturday include the Forest L Woods Outdoors bass fishing end of the season championship at Forsythe Park, “The Butler Did It” murder mystery at the Strauss Theatre Center, downtown River Market Days and Chris Tomlin at the Monroe Civic Center.

              A charming book series to read is the “Green Series” by Judy Christie. The books revolve around Lois Barker, who leaves her life at a major newspaper in the Midwest when she inherits The Green News-Item in a small town in north Louisiana. Christie has had her own experience working for newspapers and is also the author of the “Hurry Less, Worry Less” series and “Goodbye Murphy’s Law.”

            For information on the area, visit the Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau at monroe-westmonroe.org.

A Lucky 13: Ghost Trails, Storytelling and Haunted Sites of Alabama

My ancestors arrived in America after the Revolution, landing in Georgia and making their way west as lands opened up after the Creek Wars. They settled in the South Alabama posts of Monroeville and St. Stephens, places that if you visit you will sense have lingering spirits of those tenacious Native Americans and early pioneers. Like most states across the South, Alabama has its share of ghosts and legends. The following is a list of 13 events compiled by the Alabama Tourism Department, which includes a tour of Old St. Stephens and the surrounding Black Belt region. If you see someone named Taylor lingering, tell him his descendants from Louisiana say “Hey.”

If you're looking for a good book of ghost stories, there are plenty. Jessica Penot relates tales in "Haunted North Alabama," while Elizabeth Parker describes the dead who walk Mobile in "Haunted Mobile: Apparitions of the Azalea City," both published by The History Press.

Athens

7th Annual “Historic Haunts Walk” — Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Held each Tuesday night in October, the walks begin at the Athens Visitors Center and includes tales of paranormal activity at 13 local structures. Hear about the college student who fell to her death and is said to still wander the halls at Athens University Founders Hall. Each walk is approximately 90 minutes. Contact Athens-Limestone County Tourism 256.232.5411 or Jeanette@visitathensal.com.

Beatrice

Ghost Stories at Rikard’s Mill— Oct. 12-13

Enjoy a pumpkin toss, pumpkin painting and relay race before gathering around a bonfire to listen to spine-chilling ghost stories at the historical Rikard’s Mill. The Haunted Swamp Trail will be open for those brave enough to wander its scary path from 6:30 – 10 p.m. each evening. Contact the Monroe County Heritage Museum at 251.575.7433 for more information.

Black Belt Ghost Trail– Self guided, year-round

Visit Alabama’s Black Belt Region to tour the popular ghost trail. The self-guided tour will take you to dozens of sites in three counties (Dallas, Perry, Wilcox) and includes restaurants, hotels, cemeteries and homes. A brochure provides a map and the haunted history of each stop on the tour. The trail also includes a site for visitors to view videos detailing the ghost stories. www.youtube.com/user/AlabamasGhostTrail. For brochures and more information: www.alabamasfrontporches.com 334.636.5506 or 334.636.0120.

Demopolis

Tombigbee Haints and Haunts— Oct. 26 & 27

Participants will hear ghost stories, the coffin maker’s tale and more on this tour to the darker side of Demopolis. Local story tellers will share folklore and facts about the Tombigbee River and early inhabitants of the area. 334.289.9644.

Florence

10th Annual Haunted History of the Shoals Ghost Walk— Oct. 19-31

Participants will stroll the downtown Florence historic district with a local tour guide and author Debra Johnston Glass to be entertained with stories steeped in legend, folklore and truth. Contact Debra Glass, 256.757.7506, www.discovertheshoals.com.

Huntsville

Ghost Walking Tour – Fridays/Saturdays in October

Visitors have three tours to choose from and they run simultaneous. Call 256.509.3940 or visit www.huntsvilleghostwalk.com for more information.

 Cemetery Stroll— Oct. 14

The annual Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll will take place on Sunday, Oct. 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. This event, which is free to the public, features over 70 locals dressed in period costume to tell the story of people buried at Maple Hill Cemetery. Call (256) 533-5723 for more information.

Mobile

Ghost Tours, Mon.-Fri., year-round

Reservations are required: 1.800.338.5597, www.baycityconventions.com.

Montgomery
Haunted Hearse Tours — Oct. 1-31. The tour visits Hank Williams’ grave in the Oakwood Cemetery Annex as well as by numerous other sites in Montgomery with “haunted” histories. Reservations, 334.514.4457. 

Selma

34th Annual Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival— Oct. 12-13

http://artsrevive.com/.

“Haunted History Tours” — Fri., Oct. 19 & Sat., Oct. 20

Friday’s event at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park features a rare moonlit, guided tour to the town’s most haunted locations. Paranormal investigators will also demonstrate the art of ghost hunting. 334.875.7241 or 1.800.45.SELMA. www.selmaalabama.com. Saturday features an investigation of spirits at Kenan’s Mill. Call 334.875.7241 or 1.800.45.SELMA. www.selmaalabama.com.

St. Stephens

Old St. Stephens Historical Park, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27

Take a tour of Old St. Stephens and the cemetery as you hear tales and ghost stories of the town that was Alabama’s first territorial capital. The town is now a historical park and archaeological site in Washington County. Call 251.247.2622.

Tuscumbia

History and Haunts Trolley Tour, Oct. 27. Contact Colbert County Tourism, 256-383-0783 or colberttourism@comcast.net

It's cherry picking time in Wisconsin

            I always thought cherries came in cute little glass jars, swimming in thick syrup so you can easily add them to ice cream and cocktails. 

             Then I visited Door County, Wisconsin, the largest cherry producing region in the state, and sampled tart red cherry juice at a tour at Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market in Fish Creek. The orchard is run by the family’s fourth generation and visitors can tour the orchards every season, including winter, sample their fruits and fruit products, and enjoy tastings from their winery and cider mill. 

            My favorite was the tart cherry juice, a surprisingly delicious drink that’s packed full of antioxidants. In fact, the owners showed me a chart comparing all fruits with cherries at No. 1. The next best fruit — blueberries — had been left far behind in the cherry’s dust.

            The 2012 cherry harvest season is now wrapping up, but the press release in my email this morning said fresh cherries are still available at local roadside markets and orchards. The harvest was lower than usual this year because of “unfavorable spring weather conditions,” but local cherry growers are predicting a harvest of more than 700,000 pounds of cherries, according to Terry Sorenson, president of the Wisconsin Cherry Growers, Inc. 

            Can you taste those cherry pies now?

            I recommend visiting soon to sample those scrumptious cherries — at Lautenach’s for instance, fresh cherries are available in season only. Or wait a month or two, sample that incredibly healthy cherry juice or cider while enjoying a hay ride through the orchards in autumn or visit during the Fall Harvest Festival Sept. 22, 2012. They offer sleigh rides too! Whenever you visit, you’re in for a treat. For information, visit http://www.orchardcountry.com/.
          For a good book, try "Cherries Galore" cookbook by Jean Hill and Jody Littler of Fruitful Enterprises. The mother-daughter team grew up in the orchard business in Sister Bay and their cookbook offers cherry recipes that go beyond dessert.