Sunday funday photo

Image via: Frannie loves Marie.

Channeling my inner Marilyn as I get ready for a girls beach vacay!  Stay tuned…

To dream…

Lately, I’ve been thinking and dreaming of all things French.  The architecture, gardens, art, food, clothes, wine, bread, cheese, on and on goes this list.  In my ideal world, on any given day, I’d hitch a shuttle ride to ATL and hop on the first jet heading for the land of champagne and macaroons.  Sadly, today is not that day…luckily I have something to ease my yearning.

My mother gave me this book a few years ago and I love it more every time I read it.  Here’s a little blurb about the book if you aren’t familiar.

“In MY FRENCH LIFE I share my insider’s view of life in France. In 1999, with my husband and three children, a lifetime dream became a reality when we bought a farmhouse  in Saint Rémy de Provence. I spent three years lovingly restoring the farmhouse, bringing the abandoned fruit orchards back to life and planting an olive grove of more than two thousand trees. This story is my personal tale of taking risks, facing challenges and falling in love with all things French. The photographs taken by my supremely talented friend Carla Coulson are both lavish and exquisite in every way.” –Vicki Archer

As a preservationist, I am so inspired by (and quite possibly jealous of) Archer’s story.   Either way- My French Life is a gorgeous book and a great read.

Sunday funday photo

The house of Americana…Natchez MS

Pin it to win it!

Win a BIG Green Egg from CR Home Designs and The Southern C!  Check out the ways to enter and get to pinning!

Need some ideas…check out my Entertaining with Southern Style Board.  Happy pinning y’all!

Sunday funday photo

Plain View School on Hwy 51 north heading towards Homer, Georgia.

Under the Hill Saloon

The first time I heard about the legendary Saloon in Natchez I knew I had to see it.  Who wouldn’t want to go to one of the oldest bars in a Mississippi River steamboat town?  Luckily, my friend Claire is from Natchez and an excellent tour guide.

Natchez Under the Hill 1931 courtesy of Lanny Raper

Early settlers from the north would float goods down the Mississippi River to be sold in Natchez or New Orleans.  Better prices were often offered in New Orleans, however, Natchez was the beginning of the Natchez Trace, which most all settlers would travel to go home.  Therefore many boats loaded with goods were sold in Natchez rather than continuing to New Orleans.

Natchez was a resort of sorts for these river men, and Natchez Under the Hill was their playground.  Under the Hill was essentially another town all together- it existed primarily to serve the river men coming into town to sell goods and or relax before continuing on to New Orleans or return north.  When they arrived, they knew their journey was almost over, and they often indulged in one “last fling” before entering the wilderness of the River.  Drinking, gambling, and women were readily available to indulge them.  Natchez Under the Hill area had a “rough and tumble” time during the flatboat days with thousands of people passing through each year, and the numbers increased with the arrival of steamboats.

naughty natchez

The building that now houses the Saloon has experienced a great deal of history.  The exact date of construction is unknown due to a courthouse fire, but it was most likely built in the late 1700s or early 1800s.  Historic research shows the Saloon has been used as a brothel, warehouse, general store, and bar.

The majority of Under the Hill establishments are long gone…the Saloon remains.  It has that old school, hole in the wall, dive bar quality that I love.  Lots of wood, dim lighting, loud music, and a haze of cigarette smoke (could do without the smoke but doubt that will change)…when you walk in you get all sorts of stares from the natives (a good handful look rode hard and put up wet).  If you’ve ever been to St. Simons Island, GA and gone to Murphy’s Tavern…picture that except right on the river.

Today, the Saloon is a favorite watering hole of just about everyone of age in town.  According to my friend, its the cool hangout for the late 20s and early 30s crowd these days, so naturally we hung out there all weekend.  Most resort towns claim to have a big party scene, my hometown included, but going out in Natchez is no joke…the bars don’t close…at all.  The age old motto work hard, play harder could not be more true in Natchez.  Mojo Mud a band from Oxford, Mississippi provided a fun soundtrack both nights, playing everything from classic rock to Widespread Panic.

After making our way through the front room, we ventured to the back rooms.  The foosball room is first with a foosball table of course, then behind it is the dart room, and then to the right is the jungle room (my favorite).  The Saloon is full of Natchez memorabilia too making each room like a little gallery, full of old photos of days gone by.

The most popular or infamous stories about the Saloon surround the current owner, JD or John David.  He is quite a character.  Just reaching over the bar, JD is the face of the Saloon each night with one other bartender, sporting a bright green bowler hat… I couldn’t help but think of him as a mischievous leprechaun trying to get everyone drunk.

JD at the Saloon photo courtesy Todd Lambert

Before we got to the Saloon, everyone we were with kept saying, I wonder if JD will do “House of the Rising Sun?”  I replied, “He does karaoke?” Everyone just smiled and kind of laughed. Obviously I wasn’t in on the joke, so they filled me in.  They explained that every now and then, the Saloon owner JD, gets on the bar to sing this Doors classic.  What starts as a “normal” karaoke performance, quickly turns into a bizarre strip down sing-a-long.  He is the only one stripping (the female bartender assists him) but the crowd eats it up.  On Saturday night, he decided to do his thing….it was very interesting.  The entire bar was squeezed into the front room taking photos and videos of the occasion, JD stood on a stool by the band and performed his theme song, and his assistant bartender helped take his shirt off.  I’m sure if you looked up JD Natchez Saloon on youtube you could find at least a few videos but here you’ll have to settle for a photo.

It was the perfect ending to my weekend of excess in Natchez.  The next day after a big pancake breakfast, courtesy of Claire’s mom and sister, I began my long journey back to Georgia on the Natchez Trace.

Natchez Trace

Related articles

• National Park Guide: Mississippi’s Natchez Trace Parkway (travel.usatoday.com)
• Natchez Under the Hill Saloon

Sunday funday photo

little bit of Paris in south Georgia

The Paris Market, Savannah GA

Goin’ to the chapel

As some of you may know, I’m goin’ to the chapel with my long time honey this December.  The clock is ticking to get the necessary things done…save the dates, invitations, wedding website, registries, the list goes on and on.  On a recent visit home, my mother in her infinite wisdom decided that we must get moving on our wedding
registry.  Having been chained to my computer for the past month (finishing my thesis), shopping for kitchen essentials and home accessories for our future abode was the last thing on my mind, but my sister Madeline reminded me; “It’s just shopping Emily, this should come easy to you.”  She was right!

After my first registry spree in my hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia, I realized that we had only gone to independent, locally owned stores.  I realize the ease of registering online and availability with big chain stores draws a lot of brides this way, and
I’m sure I will be utilizing one or two of these retailers.  However, there is something to be said of registering with local shops too.  I had so much fun talking with shop owners about registry trends, popular items, and their favorites.  It was a more personal experience; having the shop owners and staff sharing their thoughts and stories about particular items and ideas…after all a lot of them have been brides, husbands, MOB’s, maid/matron’s of honor.

Shopping locally is something I try and do as often as I can, and I thought there might be other brides out there that want to do the same.  I know I’m a little Golden Isles heavy, but I have to give it up for my hometown…we know how to shop 🙂  So here’s a list of some of my Southern favorites for wedding registries and gifts!

The Golden Isles, Georgia

courtesy of Market on Newcastle

Market on Newcastle: Brunswick, GA
Great shop located in historic downtown Brunswick, Georgia with fabulous antiques and a variety of gifts!

Cunningham Jewelers: Brunswick, GA  Over fifty years of bridal registry experience.

Viola’s Market

Viola’s Market: St. Simons Island, GA   Locally owned and operated shop in Redfern Village.  Viola’s specializes in antiques, home and garden accents, tableware, cookbooks, and more.

Petite Maison:St. Simons Island, GA
Home decor, gifts, and antiques.  Locally owned and operated in Redfern Village since 2009.  Great selection of everday china and pottery!

Sea Island Home and Kitchen

Sea Island Home and Kitchen: St. Simons Island, GA
This ultra cool and modern shop is relatively new to SSI and located in the Shops at Sea Island.  Part gourmet cafe part retail store…Sea Island Kitchen and Home has one of a kind antiques, furniture, and contemporary kitchen ware for the modern bride.

Athens, Georgia

Heery’s Too
Located in the heart of historic downtown Athens, Heery’s Too carries an exceptional variety of home decor, and gifts including: Juliska, Vietri,  Pine Cone Hill, Rebecca Wood, Fire and Flavor and many more!

Atlanta, Georgia

Huff Harrington Home

Huff Harrington
Incredible furniture, art, antiques.  They also have a fabulous selection of tabletop accessories and linens.

Charles Willis  Charles Willis has been an Atlanta tradition since 1948. Locally owned and located in the heart of Buckhead,  They have over 400 china patterns on display, locally made pottery, hand-cut crystal, excellent stationary selection, and other home accessories.

Boxwoods

Boxwoods   Boxwoods has an eclectic mix of merchandise including vintage and antique pieces hand-selected from Europe and throughout the U.S., current and modern home accessories, affordable furniture and lighting, fine gifts, and an award winning plant department.

Birmingham, Alabama

Bromberg’s Downtown Birmingham location, circa 1946.

Brombergs  

Brombergs has been an institution in Birmingham since 1836.  This family owned and operated store offers exquisite diamonds, fine jewelry and gifts.  As far as registries go, Brombergs has everything a bride would want for her table–they have the largest selection of formal china, crystal stemware, and sterling silver flatware in the
Southeast. They also feature the latest casual china, casual glassware, and stainless flatware, french table linens, and handmade artisan pottery.

Table Matters  Table Matters is a one of a kind gift shop nestled in the heart of Mountain Brook Village in Birmingham, Alabama.  They specialize in pottery from all over the world and unique table linens.

Jackson, Mississsippi

The Everyday Gourmet   About The Everyday Gourmet:  “We believe that it is our genuine neighborhood hospitality that sets us apart from the big market chains. When you walk into our store or browse online, we want you to feel at home. We have one of the largest bridal registries in the South, and we pamper our brides and hope to make filling their kitchens with the things they need.”

Charleston, South Carolina  

Vieuxtemps   Formerly Brittain’s of Charleston, a downtown establishment for over 29 years, Vieuxtemps’ plans to continue the tradition of offering the largest selection of china, crystal and silver in the Lowcountry.