If you’ve ever wondered what it might feel like to spend the night somewhere between the golden glow of Old Hollywood and the laid-back, sun-drenched cool of modern California, allow me to introduce you to The Hoxton hotel in Downtown LA — a hotel that feels less like a place to crash and more like a glamorous friend’s impeccably designed pied-à-terre.
Jamie Smith grew up playing in clay at his aunt and uncle’s pottery shop in Merigold.
“My first sculpture piece was Moby Dick,” he said. “I took a big block of clay and hammered on it. I beat a tail into it. Then I put some little teeth in it. They dried it slowly for well over a month.”
Today, Jamie and his brother, Stephen, help run McCartys Pottery, a hidden Mississippi gem nestled in the foliage in this tiny town outside Cleveland.
When it comes to dining in the Jackson metro area, I have a handful of favorite spots — but Phillip’s on the Reservoir stands out for one breathtaking reason: the view.
There’s just something special about eating delicious, freshly prepared seafood while overlooking the still, reflective waters of the Ross Barnett Reservoir. Whether you’re enjoying lunch on a sunny afternoon or settling in for dinner just as the sky turns cotton-candy pink at sunset, the atmosphere here is always peaceful, always picturesque.
There’s something deeply comforting about dining in a place that feels like it belongs to another time — where the walls tell stories and the food tastes like it came straight out of Grandma’s kitchen. I’ve always been drawn to restaurants with a little character, charm, and history, and two of my favorites are Taylor Grocery and Gibbes Old Country Store in Learned, Mississippi.
If you’ve never been to Gibbes, it’s the kind of place that reminds you why people fall in love with the South. Think old hardwood floors, mismatched tables and chairs, antique signs on the walls, and the kind of genuine Southern hospitality that makes you feel like family the moment you walk in.
A new cookbook featuring Mississippi restaurants is now on the shelves. “Southern Living Off the Eaten Path: Second Helpings” is a travel guide/cookbook that takes you on a journey to eateries in 16 Southern states.
Written by former Southern Living travel editor Morgan Murphy, the 272-page book published by Oxmoor House and sold for $22.95 features 150 of Morgan’s favorite recipes.
Last week, I stumbled upon a one-of-a-kind Mississippi dining experience, and it inspired me to start something new: a video blog series called “Mississippi Style On the Road.” Whenever I’m out exploring the state and come across something special — whether it’s food, culture, or just good old-fashioned charm — I’ll try to capture it and share it with you. (Check out the first video above!)
Now, let me confess something. At least once a week, I find myself at Cracker Barrel. Like most Southerners, I’ve grown fond of the familiar old-country-store aesthetic, complete with rocking chairs, checkerboards, and shelves of candy sticks and vintage signs.
If you’re an “I Love Lucy” fan, the word “Babalu” might ring a bell. It was Ricky Ricardo’s signature song — an Afro-Caribbean tune that now lends its name to one of Fondren’s hottest new restaurants.
Babalu Tacos & Tapas, located inside the old Duling School at 622 Duling Ave., opened with a retro-urban vibe that fits right in with Fondren’s artsy energy. Walk inside and you’ll see vintage Lucy clips projected on the wall, a nostalgic touch dreamed up by co-owner Al Roberts after seeing something similar in another restaurant.
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