While I might not like this state’s governor, or some of the laws he as enacted, or has tried to enact, I still like things about my state, including things about my hometown. I went out earlier this year and photographed some places that I really adore. So, we’re going to make this a happy post and just look at some pictures.
In this post I want to focus on our post office. It was built in 1934 and the Art Deco architecture is so fantastic that it is one of only a few post offices from the same era that is included on the National Register of Historic Places and Landmarks. It is my absolute favourite building in the entire city.
Bucket lists are some-what fun. I like to look at them to see all the things that I’ve done, and then feel a bit of happy accomplishment. But they can also be disappointing when you stumble upon one and realize how much you have missed. This is not one of those lists. While I can not check off all the things on the 30 Things To Do in Natchez, Mississippi list, I can check off a fair amount.
01. Visit the home of the King: I’ve encountered a lot of people who don’t realize that Elvis Presley was born and raised in Mississippi. However, I think most, if not all Mississippians know this. I have yet to visit either his birth home or Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. I did go to Memphis as a teenager, and we drove by Graceland because I insisted, but we didn’t have the time or the touring fare to actually go in. I’ve also been to Tupelo. Once. It was for a high school theatre conference. We weren’t able to sightsee while there. So, at some point, I’ll have to go and visit both homes.
I do a lot of adventuring in my hometown & the immediate surrounding areas. Mainly the adventures are with The Sister, my older sibling and best friend. So, I wanted to do a blog post where it’s just random pictures from my random adventures. So, here we go!
Fabulous mid-century architecture that houses a local branch of AT&T.Long ago vacant building downtown with it’s beautiful two-toned greens.The interior of our historic Art Deco theatre to see the premiere of the indie film, SubSIPPI.A rusted panel truck & rural landscape outside of town.The time the Winchesters breezed through on a hunting trip.Momma & baby just taking a break.When I needed a bit of direction.The happiest fence in the world.The plate & pull.Kickin’ it old school Star Trek with this fab architecture.Pipe & brickwork.Meeting an owl at the farmers market.Finding fossilized coral on the walking track in the woods.The gorgeous colours at the Big & Tall.The stunning architectural details of our Art Deco post office.When two strangers, whom society thinks should hate each other, have a nice & soothing conversation about fish.The resplendence of autumn during the Thanksgiving holidays in the Wal-Mart parking lot.Mid-century modern architecture that was always slated to be businesses; all tucked in a little row.Stunning nature, that I had neglected to notice for my entire life, until I decided to turn my head to the right.Sculpture in dedication to the elephant and the goat that were best friends, once upon a time.The serene sunset at the local state park during mid-December.Knowing that there is a rose bush that flowers outside of the comic book shop.Late summer clouds that remind me of The West.The B-24 Liberator on a chilly & windy March day.Because I adore a prehistoric relic that is native to my stomping grounds.When something so out of place just feels so familiar.Because The Sister & I love being tourists in our own town.Loving that our train station was saved & revitalized… & wishing I had somewhere to go.When the tiniest feature in a public setting has the largest impact on me.When The Sister & I stumbled onto sacred nature that has now been wiped away by an apartment complex.When on a tiny, quaint hedgerowed drive that feels like it belongs on the outskirts of a an English village…and then there are fantastic clouds.Historic plaster & exposed bricks.When your aunt is a world renowned expert in Persian carpets… and then there’s one randomly on the floor of an art gallery. You get excited.When The Sister’s shadow reminds you of the sixties.Stumbling into the Himalaya’s.Watching the paint peel.Bronze statue of a bird that doesn’t reside in this state, but is everywhere.Remembering that while springs are unrulingly hot; they make up for it in glorious bursts of colour.That one time the Empire invaded.
This is a continuation of my food fare posts. I’ve already discussed New Orleans, Baltimore and Wilmington, Laurel, and Natchez, Mississippi. Go back and take a look if you like. In this post I’ll be discussing a few places along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Mississippi Gulf Coast
I’ll admit that I do not know that much about The Coast, as I once did. There have only been a few, random trips since Hurricane Katrina hit back in 2005. There is so much progress there that I feel overwhelmed and I don’t even know where to begin. So, this list is not to say that these few places are the only wonderful places to eat while down there. They are simply all that I know and they are very worth the effort of getting to and savoring something from there. So, we’ll start near New Orleans and work our way right towards Alabama.
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Bay St. Louis was founded in 1699 by the French. It has always been relatively small and quaint. There are two bridges spanning over bays, dissecting The Coast into three portions. Bay St. Louis on the other side of one of these bridges in the direction of New Orleans. This is where my parents first lived after they were married. In a tiny little apartment on St. George Street. We were forever visiting this town because of my parents past there, and we’d always drive down the little alley to stop in front of their old residence and hear their tales of yesteryear. Most of what was there before 2005, simply isn’t there anymore. But there are lots of new places.
Mockingbird Café
Mockingbird Café | 110 S. 2nd Street
This is an adorable little coffee place the resides just off the main road in Old Town. There’s charm in the rural, quaintness of what was someone’s former home, complete with local artists work displayed on the walls. This is a place my parents discovered on one of their previous jaunts to their former town, and they, in turn, introduced my sister and I to it.
Food at Mockingbird Café
The sandwiches and baked desserts are superb. The coffee excellent and the atmosphere relaxing. I have visited three of the newer coffee places along The Coast since 2005 and this is by far, more along my lines.
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the first destination you will see, if like me, you drive down US HWY 49. There are several places that are gone, that I can not blame the hurricane for. Places that commerce or casino’s took away long before that. Baricevs in Biloxi, Fisherman’s Wharf in Ocean Springs, or yes, even the chain restaurant out of Atlanta, Po Folks (which was basically a more rustic and much better version of Cracker Barrel). But there is one place from my childhood that is still kicking.
Lil’ Rays
Lil’ Rays | 500 Courthouse Road
The best one, as far as location and interior was the one in Waveland,which was the original one, but it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. There is one now located in Long Beach, but the one in Gulfport holds my heart. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s just about everything to me. The nautical maps, the fish tank, the glass-topped wooden tables. It just feels comforting.
Food at Lil’ Rays
Lil’ Rays is known for poboys and that’s pretty much what you should order on your first visit there. For all you non southerners yes, it’s basically a sub or a hoagie, but it really is so much more than that and different. And don’t call it anything but a poboy (poe boy) Any fried seafood poboy will do. My dad always preferred soft shell crab, my sister and I always preferred shrimp. You really can’t go wrong. All the seafood is fresh (I mean, it would be a crime if it weren’t with the boats so close, right?), the toppings are fresh, the traditional poboy bread delivered daily from New Orleans is fresh. Best po boys I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Sure you could add a beer to that poboy, but personally I’d add a bottled Barq’s root beer. The Coast is that soda’s birthplace after all, and in a bottle, it’s the perfect thing to drink with this meal.
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi, which is always and only pronounced buh-lux-ee, is the last city of the mainland before crossing a bridge into a different part of the Mississippi Gulf Coast that heads towards Alabama. My favourite part of Biloxi wasn’t really the food, it was the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center, which was basically an aquarium. Every single trip to the coast would have me begging to go there. They rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina, in a different spot, but now you need an appointment to go. Anyways…
Mary Mahoney’s
Mary Mahoney’s | 138 Rue Magnolia
I’ve added Mary Mahoney’s because of the history. Eat here. Enjoy the ambiance of the building, and definitely stroll through the area with all its historic charms. There’s not a lot of this old French atmosphere on The Coast. This is your chance to experience it.
Mary Mahoney’s courtyard wall
I have eaten here all of two times, both when I was older. My dad doesn’t go out for fancy things, so we never ate here in my childhood. I honestly don’t even remember the food. It wasn’t the most glorious thing I have ever tasted, but it was good. I’m thinking the food isn’t rubbish or they wouldn’t get so many good reviews. On our next foray to the coast, I do intend to eat here and actually remember what I’ve eaten. But you’ll forgive it if I tell you that the last time I was here was over ten years ago, yes?
Food at Mary Mahoney’sPascagoula, Mississippi
Compared to the main section of The Coast; Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach, and Pass Christian, there isn’t a whole lot by way of commercial growth on the far ends. Bay St. Louis, Waveland, and Diamond Head on one side and Ocean Springs, Gautier, and Pascagoula on the other. Ocean Springs actually is pretty bustling, but it is also over the bridge to the east.
Trips to the coast rarely ever involved going past Ocean Springs to the East or Bay St. Louis to the west. I’m not even sure if we would have been in Bay St. Louis as much as we were, had it not been for my parents wanting to revisit their past. Once on a family trip we drove to Pascagoula and ventured into The Singing River Mall, which has since closed down. The other time a friend and I decided to traipse along this uncharted, to us, territory and happened upon something pretty great.
Edd’s Drive-In
Edd’s Drive-In | 3834 Market Street
Yes, another dive. Another burger and shake stand. I can’t help it. I’ll blame my dad. I’ve been to a lot of these types of places (and certainly not because of my mother!), and they’re mostly mediocre at best. When I take notice then it’s pretty damn good if you’re in the mood for just a simple burger and milkshake that are really hitting the spot. They’ve opened a second one fairly recently, but I recommend the original from 1953.
Sadly my list on The Coast is very sparse. Any non-chain recommendations I should try next time I’m there? Definitely let me know!
My next entry, we’ll hit my hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. We’re the Hub City and home to USM, chances are you’ll find yourself here at some point, even if it’s just driving through to somewhere else. You’re bound to be hungry, this list will help.
Alien Tea Shoppe 