Browsing: Living

America’s largest block party is over after 10,712 classic cars infiltrated the Mississippi Gulf Coast for the 30th anniversary of Cruisin’ the Coast. 

For nearly 50 years, the La Font Inn was an institution on Highway 90 in Pascagoula where people were married, held wedding receptions, bridal parties, anniversary dinners and where prom kings and queens were crowned. It was the first job for many young men and women and was a venue where campaigns were put in motion and celebrated.

Ask around and almost everybody down here has one. A quilt somebody’s grandmother pieced together from old feed sacks. A skillet black as midnight that nobody is allowed to put in the dishwasher.

There is something special about a good Southern meal, especially when it brings people together. And thanks to one Mississippi nonprofit, a simple pot of red beans and rice is doing a whole lot more than putting supper on the table.

Volunteer fire departments across George County are waiting to learn how much money they will receive from September’s George County Firefighters Rodeo, an event that has helped departments buy equipment and connect with the communities they serve. 

Cruisin’ the Coast 2026 is making a three-day stop on the eastern side of the coast with visits to Pascagoula’s Beach Park and its Downtown District. 

During the first four days of this month, October 1-4, the state highway that runs from Maben to Newton is the place to be and the route to follow for one of Mississippi’s most enjoyable weekends – the semiannual Highway 15 Yard Sale (https://www.facebook.com/groups/660499104135056/).

Russet, bright orange, deep red, gold, brown, dark purple, and varying shades of green … those are the colors of…

A longtime Diamondhead tradition will continue Oct. 17 as the city takes over Fall Fest from the Diamondhead Property Owners Association.

September is a sweet month, especially for the kids in New Albany, Mississippi. In fact, Sugaree’s Bakery has worked for the past several years to make it the sweetest month of the year through its “One Smart Cookie” award program.

We have all seen them – bright red kettles, hanging from a tripod, with one or more folks steadily ringing a little bell, inviting you to drop in a coin or bill or two for a good cause. For those of us that have spent time ringing those bells, the experience is heartwarming. As in every year, the kettles will be out by Thanksgiving and this is a great opportunity for community groups and organizations to pitch in to make life better for people in need.

The South Mississippi Toy Fest will return on Saturday, bringing more than 100 vendor booths featuring toys, comics, video games and other collectibles to the Lake Terrace Convention Center. 

Can you believe it? As August drew to an end, I found myself feeling slightly fidgety. I could not figure out why. “Perhaps, I’m feeling nervous about classes,” I thought to myself. After all, this is my final year of graduate school, and this is the year to really buckle down and officially get my life together. And yes, that certainly played a role in the fidgety feeling, but oddly enough, only a background role. It suddenly became clear that I’ve been in Boston for nearly one year. This year flew by.

There is something about sharing a meal that has always brought people together. In McComb, that idea will take on a whole new meaning this fall when one long table stretches down Main Street for an evening centered around food, fellowship and community.

There is fall, and then there is fall in Mississippi.

Ours may arrive a little late. We may still be wearing shorts while the rest of the country is pulling out sweaters. And yes, there is always at least one October afternoon that feels suspiciously like July.

I’ll admit that serious birdwatching is new to me. After moving to an old farm place in Union County, the amazing array of beautiful birds we encountered just flew into our hearts, so to speak. It was a natural process, but before we knew it, we were feeding, watching, and documenting every new bird species we encountered out here on Buttercup Hill.