This Town_Oct2019_YP

THE BEAT
GOES ON
KUDZU KINGS
MARK 25 YEARS
WRITING
HISTORY
CHANCELLOR’S
HOUSE GIVES
NEW LIFE TO
FAULKNER’S DESK
BLING BLING
SPARKLE CITY ADDS
GLITZ AND GLAM TO
GAME DAY
THE TOWN 1

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SkyGarden Unveiled
Wednesday,
October 16, 6:30pm
4th Floor Rooftop
Only at
The Chancellor's House
THE TOWN 1

2 THE TOWN
THE TOWN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 Letter from the Editor
5 Football | Jerrion Ealy
11 Square Parking guide
13 Game Day Parking & Shuttle Guide
15 September Entertainment Guide
17 Entertainment | Writing History
22 September Music Guide
23 Music | Kudzu Kings 25th Anniversary
29 Dining | The Cakery
34 Recipe | Landshark Cookie Tutorial
37 Cocktail | Bourbon in Oxford
41 Recipe | The Grove Standard Punch
43 Style | Sparkle City

STAFF
PUBLISHER
Rebecca Alexander
MANAGING EDITOR
Anna Guizerix
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Jake Thompson
Nathanael Gabler
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Rhes Low
Lauren Jones
Delia Childers
LAYOUT/DESIGN
Design2Pro
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Bruce Newman
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Joey Brent
THE TOWN is published
by Oxford Newsmedia LLC. All material in this
publication is protected by copyright.
We are located at 4 Private Road 2050
Oxford, MS 38655.
ON COVER:
WILLIAM FAULKNER STATUE
PHOTO BY BRUCE NEWMAN
I love October.
The weather is finally
cooling off, the leaves on the
Mississippi Hill Country
trees are changing and there
isn’t a better time to explore
the world around you. With
all that wandering, it’s still
good to partake in activities
that ground you to the place
you call home.
That’s what this issue of THE TOWN is about:
staying true to our home. Whether you’re an Oxford
transplant like me, or a native, there are so many
wonderful reasons to celebrate our community – and
have fun doing it.
Kicking off this issue is exclusive photos of William
Faulkner’s desk, which is being refurbished for
interactive display at the Chancellor’s House Cofield
Gallery. While acting as postmaster for the City,
Faulkner sat at the desk and typed many a letter. We’re
lucky enough to have that piece of history preserved
for future generations.
Speaking of things that have withstood the test
of time, check out page 24 for an exclusive with
members of Kudzu Kings, the Oxford original band
that just marked its 25th year onstage together.
We can’t mention October without football,
and what better (and sweeter) way to do that than
featuring the Cakery’s too-pretty-to-eat Rebelsthemed
sugar cookies? Plus, you can flip on over to
page 34 to learn how to recreate one of their designs
for your next football watch party!
Bourbon and Oxford in October go hand-in-hand,
so we decided to present you with a literary history of
the drink in our town, capped by a potent bourbon
punch that was curated by none other than Snackbar
Head Bartender Ivy McLellan.
Ole Miss game day finery is never complete without
a little glitz and glamor, but who says you have to
sacrifice comfort for style? Enter Oxford’s latest soonto-be
classic, Sparkle City designs. Based out of New
Orleans, Sparkle City is available exclusively at Betts
Bennett Designs in Sugar Magnolia.
Regardless of how you celebrate being uniquely
Oxford this October, do it with one thing in mind:
Preserving the past, while eagerly awaiting what’s to
come.
Anna Guizerix
THE TOWN 3

eat. drink. shop.
oxford
OXFORD-LAFAYETTE COUNTY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Shop Oxford is a program of the
Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce
www.oxfordms.com
FOLLOW US!
@ShopOxford
@OxfordMSChamber
4 THE TOWN

JERRION
EALY
OLE MISS’S FUTURE AND THE
REBELS’ PRESENT
THE TOWN 5

6 THE TOWN
BY NATHANAEL GABLER
PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN
Walking off the field at the Liberty
Bowl in August, Jerrion Ealy was
essentially an afterthought.
The Rebel offense had just put
together a 10-point day, one in which
they ran for 80 total yards at a clip of
2.4 yards per carry. Ealy touched the
ball just four times on offense.
They needed to change things, they
needed more variety and they needed a
spark. A little more Jerrion Ealy over the
past two weeks has helped light that fire.
Ealy had his breakout game against
Southeastern Louisiana, totaling 273
all-purpose yards and two scores,
including a 94-yard kickoff return
touchdown in the first quarter. His
273 all-purpose yards broke Dexter
McCluster’s Ole Miss freshman record
from 2006. Ealy looked explosive,
dynamic and most surprising, powerful
enough to run between the tackles.
“I’m just trying to run away from
people that are running towards me.
That’s all I do,” Ealy said. “I had no idea
I (broke the record). I was like, really?
Really? Me and Dexter, we’re from
the same county, actually. Dexter’s
from Leake County. I’m from Leake
County.”
A Mississippi kid himself, Ealy is
following in McCluster’s footprints.
McCluster is actually The Godfather
of one of Ealy’s cousins. McCluster
still holds the Ole Miss all-time record
for all-purpose yards with 324. Ealy
laughs when asked about that second
record, saying that’s not exactly in his
control.

Offensive coordinator Rich
Rodriguez said after the Memphis
game that he wanted to get a more
balanced snap count at running back.
The next game against Arkansas, Ealy
saw the field for 15 offensive snaps and
touched the ball seven times. Against
Southeastern Louisiana, he was on
the field for over 20 snaps, getting ten
offensive touches. With Cal in town,
he scored yet again. Every game, he’s
provided a little more.
“He’s a dynamic playmaker and I think
he will only continue to get better,” head
coach Matt Luke said. “I think Jerrion
ended up being the difference in the
game… we have some talented running
backs and they’re all a little bit different.
So, we’re going to try and get them as
many touches as we can.”
Really, the crazy part is that football
might not even be Ealy’s best sport.
He passed up the MLB to come to Ole
Miss, where he’ll be playing baseball as
well as football. Perfect Game recently
THE TOWN 7

eleased their rankings of the
best incoming freshmen in
college baseball for the 2019-20
season. Ealy was No. 1.
Growing up, Ealy said
he actually wanted to play
offensive line. He marvels at
the ability of those guys to be so
big, but also so athletic, he said.
It’s not the sexy spot on the
football field, but it’s actually
the one he wanted to play the
most. Therefore, he’s quick to
credit their dirty work that
often goes unnoticed.
When asked about his
ability to play center field at the
size of an offensive lineman,
he laughs. “I guess I’d just play
first base.”
With all this Ealy talk, it’s
important to remember that
this is still Scottie Phillips’
backfield on the football
8 THE TOWN

team. As good as Ealy has been in
his limited action, it was just that:
limited action. Ealy is certainly
seeing a little more action each week,
but he’s still being considerably
outpaced in snaps by Phillips.
But Ealy is okay with being the
second fiddle. He actually compares
plays where the two of them are on
the field together – something that’s
been really dynamic for the Rebels
the last two weeks – to crickets
scattering when you turn on the
lights. They can just go anywhere,
and you really don’t know what to
expect.
“That’s the fantastic part. It’s
probably my favorite part about
all of this,” Ealy said. “We
have four running backs
that can go out there and
play. There’s no drop-off
between any guy. It’s just
phenomenal.”
Ealy is the future, and fans
are probably going to continue
to see him more and
more. And that even will
continue onto the diamond.
Against Southeastern Louisiana,
Ealy was the dynamic
force that everyone expected
out of Jackson Prep. And his
ever-increasing role is one
of the more fun storylines
to follow for the 2019 Rebel
season and into the baseball
season to come. Ealy is earning
every touch, and loving
every second.
THE TOWN 9

10 THE TOWN

CITY OF OXFORD
DOWNTOWN PARKING DISTRICT
PARKING ON THE SQUARE CAN BE DIFFICULT,
ESPECIALLY DURING OLE MISS FOOTBALL
SEASON. REFER TO THE SQUARE PARKING
DISTRICT MAP AND THESE TIPS TO FIND THE BEST
PARKING SOLUTION FOR YOU.
THE TOWN 11

PREMIUM, CURBSIDE
PARKING:
THESE ARE CURBSIDE SPACES LOCATED ALONG
THE MAIN ROADS LEADING TO THE OXFORD
SQUARE DURING THE HOURS OF 10 A.M. TO
MIDNIGHT, MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAYS
– HOLIDAYS, SUNDAYS AND FOOTBALL GAME
DAYS EXCLUDED. FOOTBALL GAME DAYS ARE
RESTRICTED TO 3-HOUR LIMIT.
RATES:
$0.05 = 2 MINUTES OF PARKING
$0.10 = 4 MINUTES OF PARKING
$0.25 = 12 MINUTES OF PARKING
$1.25 = 1 HOUR OF PARKING
PRO TIP: USE THE PASSPORT PARKING APP TO
FEED YOUR METER NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE
ON THE SQUARE.
LONG-TERM PARKING LOTS:
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, THE CITY HAS SEVERAL,
OFF STREET SURFACE LOTS, WHICH HAVE NO TIME
LIMITS AND PROVIDE FREE LONG-TERM PARKING.
CONSULT THE SIGNS AROUND THE SQUARE OR
USE THE MAP TO LOCATE THESE LOTS.
TAXI & LIMO SERVICES
J&ASIDE FROM PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION,
THE CITY ALSO HAS SEVERAL TAXI AND
LIMO SERVICES AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE
TRANSPORTATION AROUND TOWN AND
EVEN TO THE MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
J&A TAXI .......................................................................... 662-715-9290
ANGEL TAXI .................................................................662-236-5557
REBEL TAXI ..................................................................662-832-7433
ROCK STAR TAXI ....................................................... 662-701-7019
OXFORD TAXI .............................................................. 662-701-7310
AUSTIN TAXI ............................................................... 662-832-9705
A-1 TAXI ............................................................................. 662-380-1581
HOME SAFE TAXI ...................................................662-832-0205
DIXIE TAXI ..................................................................... 662-550-0104
COLONEL TAXI ..........................................................662-832-7325
NEED A RIDE ...............................................................662-607-2631
OXFORD YELLOW TAXI .....................................662-701-7209
VARSITY TAXI ...............................................................662-832-2197
REBEL RICKSHAW ................................................662-816-9796
TAXI JACKSON ..........................................................662-268-9969
COUNTY TAXI .............................................................. 901-270-6138
RANDALL TAXI ..........................................................662-816-3448
ZOE’S TAXI ....................................................................662-202-4681
MAGNOLIA TAXI .....................................................662-400-5286
Q’S TAXI ..........................................................................662-897-0975
FLYING TUK ..................................................................662-205-6312
DANIELS TAXI AND SHUTTLE .......................662-816-9626
LIMO SERVICE:
VARSITY TAXI .............................................................. 662-832-2197
OXFORD LIMOUSINE SERVICE ..................662-259-0508
The Oxford Police Department Presents:
The 1th Annual Haunted House
OPD Training Building
715 Molly Barr Road
October 24th, 25th and 26th
6-9 pm
$5 Admission
Oxford Police Department
For general information: (662) 232-2400
@OxfordPolice
@OxfordMSPolice
12 THE TOWN

GAME DAY PARKING
PARKING ON OLE MISS GAME
DAYS CAN BE TRICKY, BUT THE
UNIVERSITY PROVIDES PLENTY
OF OPTIONS FOR FANS TO GET
TO THE GROVE AND THE GAME
SAFELY. SINCE LAST SEASON, ALL
GAME-DAY SHUTTLE SERVICES
HAVE BEEN COMPLIMENTARY.
THERE ARE THREE OFF-CAMPUS
PARKING LOTS AND SHUTTLE
PICKUP LOCATIONS: FNC PARK,
THE JACKSON AVENUE CENTER
AND SOUTH OXFORD CENTER,
FORMERLY THE SITE OF BAPTIST
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL-NORTH
MISSISSIPPI. SHUTTLES DROP
OFF AT PARIS-YATES CHAPEL ON
CAMPUS, A CENTRAL LOCATION
BETWEEN TAILGATING FESTIVITIES
AND VAUGHT-HEMINGWAY
STADIUM.
GAMEDAY SHUTTLE SERVICE
BEGINS AT LEAST FIVE HOURS
PRIOR TO KICKOFF AND ENDS
TWO HOURS FOLLOWING THE
CONCLUSION OF THE GAME. FANS
ARE ASKED TO BE COURTEOUS
TO OTHERS AROUND THEM.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM SMOKING
AND ABUSIVE OR PROFANE
LANGUAGE. ALCOHOL, WEAPONS
AND NON-SERVICE ANIMALS ARE
PROHIBITED. FANS ARE ASKED
TO PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL WITH
COOLERS, STROLLERS AND OTHER
LARGE ITEMS.
DOUBLE DECKER BUSSES WILL
ALSO BE OFFERING FREE SHUTTLE
RIDES TO AND FROM CAMPUS
AND THE SQUARE. THIS SHUTTLE
WILL RUN DURING THE GAME AND
FOR TWO HOURS AFTERWARD.
THE TOWN 13

GAME DAY PARKING:
ALL PARKING PASSES MUST BE REQUESTED FOR
$150 THROUGH THE OLE MISS TICKET OFFICE. THE
NUMBER OF PASSES EACH OLE MISS ATHLETICS
FOUNDATION MEMBER CAN PURCHASE WILL BE
BASED ON THEIR ANNUAL GIFT TO THE FOOTBALL
PRIORITY SEATING FUND AS FOLLOWS: $50-$4,999
= ONE PARKING PASS; $5,000-$9,999 = TWO PASSES;
$10,000 AND UP = THREE PASSES.
PASSES CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE OR OVER THE
PHONE BY CALLING 662-915-7159 AND SPEAKING
WITH AN OLE MISS ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE.
14 THE TOWN

EVENTS &
ENTERTAINMENT
LITERARY BIT OF
FAULKNER WEEKEND |
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
LOCAL HOTELS, RETAILERS,
AND THE YOKNAPATAWPHA
ARTS COUNCIL HAVE ALL
PARTNERED TO LAUNCH
“A LITERARY BIT OF…” A
WEEKEND OF EXPERIENCES,
OPPORTUNITIES TO
EXPLORE, AND CHANCES
TO WRITE AND SHARE.
THE GOAL TO CREATE A
COMMUNAL, CREATIVE
EXPERIENCE TO INSPIRE
LOVERS OF LITERATURE TO
ENJOY AND SHARE THEIR
PASSION.
THE TOWN 15

WHAT TO DO
IN OXFORD
OCTOBER 5
Oxford Maker’s Market
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Courthouse Lawn
Midtown Farmer’s Market
7 to 11 a.m.
Midtown Shopping Center
OCTOBER 13
“Intruder in the Dust” 70th
anniversary screening
Chancellor’s House
6:30 p.m.
OCTOBER 22
Art Crawl
6 to 8 p.m.
Various Locations
OCTOBER 26
The One Night
Stand at the Ole
Miss Motel Art Show
5 to 9 p.m. | Ole Miss Motel
The One Night Stand is one of
the most special and fun nights
in Oxford each year. Twelve
artists take over twelve motel
rooms, for one night only, transforming each room into
a gallery for the evening.
In its 13th year, the show will have a special paid preview
hour, for the first hour from 5 to 6 p.m., where attendees
will get a chance to buy art before anyone else. Food and
drinks will be included in this special preview hour price
of $20. The show will be free to the public from 6 to 9
p.m. Artists take credit cards and cash for art purchased.
16 THE TOWN

WRITING HISTORY
CHANCELLOR’S HOUSE GIVES NEW LIFE TO
FAULKNER’S DESK
BY DAVIS COEN
The Powerhouse Community
Arts Center in Oxford has had in its
possession a desk that is said to be
William Faulkner’s when he was the
postmaster in town.
After being stored by the
Yoknapatawpha Arts Council for
20 years, their board has lent it to
the Chancellor’s House for display
and interactive use for visitors of
the Chancellor’s House, the luxury
hotel located on the corner of
University Avenue and South Lamar
Boulevard.
Chancellor’s House manager Clifton
Odom proposed the idea to refurbish
THE TOWN 17

18 THE TOWN
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bowling. Shoe rental extra. Must present this original coupon at Guest
Services upon arrival. Redemption based on lane availability at Premier
Lanes Entertainment Center in Oxford, MS and all 4 guests must bowl at
the same time on the same lane.Offer valued at up to $20.00. No
substitutions, refunds or exchanges and any unused portion of offer is
void. Not valid with any other
discounts, coupons or offers. Limit
one coupon redemption per
family/person, per day. Exp:
10/27/19 Offer Code: OEFootball

the desk to YAC, and take it on loan so that it could
be on display.
“Powerhouse long-term leased us the desk for a
nominal fee,” Odom said.
The idea was also conceived, in collaboration with
Food and Beverage Manager and longtime Oxford
resident, Chip Moore, to put a typewriter – very
similar to the one that Faulkner used – on the desk
so that guests can have the experience of typing a
letter just as the Nobel Prize laureate writer once did.
On the matter of the desk’s authenticity, Odom
remarked, “I have been a detective –sleuthing, trying to
nail down the provenance of this desk… and I traced it
back to a local source one degree away from Faulkner.
I have no doubt (it’s legitimate) if this individual
donated it to The Powerhouse as Faulkner’s desk as the
postmaster.”
The desk is being displayed in conjunction
with the second phase of a photography exhibit of
the images of the legendary “Cofield Collection,”
photographed and archived by Oxford residents JR
(Colonel) Cofield and his son Jack.
Odom worked with Jack’s oldest son, John
Cofield, and UM Archives to show these images
THE TOWN 19

in a commercial space for the first
time. The collection, spanning from
1928 to 1989, displays fascinating
photographic images that provide
unique insight into “old Oxford” –
and also of William Faulkner.
According to YAC director Wayne
Andrews, the desk was a gift to the
arts council when the renovation
and opening of The Powerhouse took
place, and they used it as a reception
and information desk at art exhibits.
“The building is in such frequent
use for a variety of events that we
were concerned over wear on the
desk, and thought having it on
display at a hotel would be both an
interesting opportunity for people to
connect with the piece of furniture,
and provide an opportunity for the
those who enter a business on the
Square to connect with the Arts
Council,” Andrews said.
When local business entities work
together, it’s clearly beneficial to each
party involved.
“The Chancellor’s House offered
to provide funding to help preserve
and restore the desk as part of the
opportunity to display the piece,
which is a benefit to the arts council’s
efforts to keep the desk as an active
piece of the community,” Andrews
said.
20 THE TOWN

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Square Books Announces
the Opening of
RARE SQUARE BOOKS
Located on the historic Oxford Square
in the space above Square Books, Jr.
Now open Tuesday - Saturday, 11 am - 5 pm
or by appointment.
Featuring a variety of out-of-print,
first edition, signed,
collectible and quirky books,
priced to suit a range of budgets.
Contact us at 662-234-5921
or email: rare@squarebooks.com
22 THE TOWN

TOWN TUNES
OCTOBER 2
JD McPherson (and his
band)
9 p.m.
Proud Larry’s
OCTOBER 7
CupcakKe
8 p.m.
The Lyric Oxford
OCTOBER 8
Jenny Lewis
7 p.m.
The Lyric Oxford
TsuShiMaMiRe
9 p.m.
Proud Larry’s
OCTOBER 9
Hippie Sabotage
9 p.m.
The Lyric Oxford
OCTOBER 10
Julia Jacklin
8 p.m.
Proud Larry’s
OCTOBER 18
Maggie Rose
10 p.m.
Proud Larry’s
OCTOBER 23
SoDown
9 p.m.
Proud Larry’s
OCTOBER 26
Hippo Campus
9 p.m.
The Lyric Oxford
OCTOBER 31
Koe Wetzel
8 p.m.
The Lyric Oxford
THE TOWN 23

BACK TO THE
BEGINNING
KUDZU KINGS MARK THEIR 25TH
ANNIVERSARY IN STYLE
BY DAVIS COEN
One of the major highlights of the
early-Fall local music lineup is the
return of “Mississippi’s house band,”
The Kudzu Kings to the The Lyric in
downtown Oxford, on Friday, Oct.
ober 4.
The group will be celebrating their
25th anniversary at the historic theatre,
which is considered North Mississippi’s
foremost live music venue,
and has also recently undergone
some remarkable renovations.
The Oxford-based country rock
band – who has used the portmanteau
word “funktry” to describe their
music, has built momentum throughout
2019 toward their October event,
playing some premier venues in music
cities Nashville, Memphis, Atlanta
and New Orleans. Original drummer
24 THE TOWN

Chuck Sigler has rejoined the group
for recent shows, and has been involved
in several leading up to the
upcoming milestone celebration.
Another Kudzu Kings’ founding
member, guitarist and vocalist Tate
Moore (also owner of Off Square Pizza
in downtown Oxford) commented
on the anticipation and preparation
leading up to the show.
“We’ve been gearing up for this
25th anniversary, sticking our toes
in the water…kind of hitting all
the old haunts that we used to hit,”
Moore said. “We played Tipitina’s (in
New Orleans) in August, and Chuck
(Sigler) hadn’t played there with us
since 1997. It’s kind of neat to hit all
of these places again with the original
lineup.”
The band also celebrated their
20th anniversary at The Lyric theatre,
although a difference between that
and the upcoming show – for a band
THE TOWN 25

26 THE TOWN

“Everybody that
had ever played
with us came out
for the 20th
”
– Tate Moore
that has included a dozen or so in its
personnel throughout the years – is
that, according to Moore, “Everybody
that had ever played with us came out
for the 20th,” where the upcoming
intends to hearken back to the original
lineup.
Longtime Oxonian George
McConnell, guitarist and former
member of highly successful jam
band Widespread Panic during
the early 2000s (who has been
consistently playing with the Kudzu
Kings since the 20th anniversary
show), will also be on board for the
25th anniversary performance.
Affable Kudzu Kings keyboardist
– and also founding member –
Robert Chaffe, when asked of his
thoughts on the 25th anniversary
in comparison to the 20th, replied,
“We had such a big crowd on the
20th, it was heartwarming to see all
of the support we were getting – very
extravagant. I imagine the big theme
of it may be ‘Back to the Beginning’
with the original six members,
bringing it back to 1994… but also
with some new things in store.”
Chaffe commented on elements
of group’s endurance, “I think what
keeps us playing after 25 years is that
we all still get along, and that we’re all
still friends. It’s enjoying each other’s
company, and enjoying the act of
playing music with one another.”
THE TOWN 27

28 THE TOWN

SWEET
TREATS
THE TOWN 29

THE CAKERY’S GAME DAY
COOKIES TAKE OFF
PHOTOS AND STORY BY ANNA
GUIZERIX
When Kelli Russell opened The
Cakery in 2014, she had no idea cookies
would become such a big part of
her bakery.
Five years later, she’s selling approximately
80 dozen Ole Miss-themed
cookies every game day weekend.
The cookies come in a variety of
shapes, colors and sizes, but all are
inspired by the Rebels. Whether it’s
a round cookie with Colonel Reb, a
Landshark, a cutout of the state or a
grove squirrel, The Cakery’s designs
are always sure to impress at your tailgate
or watch party.
The cookies begin with a dense-yetchewy
sugar cookie, turned upside down.
30 THE TOWN

From there, lead cookie decorator Kaylee
Mitchell selects the colors for each design:
lots of red and blue, some white, brown and
lime green. Sprinkles are never in short supply,
either – The Cakery keeps a tall bookshelf
stocked with every color, shape and combination
the mind can think of – nor is Mitchell’s
signature edible silver chrome paint.
“We turn the cookies upside down to
decorate them, because the bottom is usually
smoother than the top,” Mitchell said.
“It makes for a smoother surface to work
on. The only one that’s a challenge is our
Mississippi-shaped cookies, because we
have to flip them while baking or they’ll
come out backwards.”
THE TOWN 31

32 THE TOWN
Once the cookies are cooled,
the Cakery selects the frosting
tips needed for each design.
There might be three or four for
one cookie, depending on the
intricacy of the design, Mitchell
said.
Unlike the uber-popular
cookie decorating videos on
Facebook, which use royal icing,
The Cakery uses exclusively buttercream
for its cookies. Don’t
think you can just buy a jar of
Duncan Hines and get the same
result, though – the Cakery’s
buttercream is unique.
“We use a dryer buttercream
than people can get at the store,”
Russell said. “We use different
shortening, and less water than
a typical buttercream. It makes it
easier to decorate with.”

So, how does the Cakery get that
smooth, even finish on their cookies?
The answer may surprise you: paper
towels. Mitchell recommends a
brand like Viva, which isn’t textured
and won’t result in little dots being
impressed into the frosting.
The cookies are often dipped in
sprinkles or topped with metallic
accents, each getting the same
painstaking attention to detail. It
doesn’t matter if a customer wants
two cookies, or two hundred – the
Cakery will go above and beyond.
In addition to football cookies, the
Cakery does other seasonal designs
and even custom designs.
“We love the weird requests,”
Russell said. “Anything that lets us be
really creative and try new things, we
love.”
The Cakery is located off
University Avenue in the Oxford East
Shopping Center. To learn more or
to order your own sweet treats, call
(662) 202-6466 or stop by.
THE TOWN 33

HOW TO:
LANDSHARK COOKIES
THE CAKERY’S LANDSHARK DESIGN LOOKS COMPLEX, BUT WITH A LITTLE
PRACTICE, EVEN THE MOST AMATEUR COOKIE ARTIST CAN GET THE HANG OF IT!
WHAT YOU NEED:
SUGAR COOKIES – THE DENSER THE
BETTER
COOKIE CUTTERS
EDIBLE METALLIC POWDER,
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
EVERCLEAR
PAINTBRUSH
GRAY BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
WHITE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
RED BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
BLACK BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
PASTRY BAGS AND ROUND
DECORATING TIPS
MAKE IT:
1
1) USING YOUR GRAY BUTTERCREAM,
FILL IN THE SHARK’S FINS.
2) USE A NON-
TEXTURED
PAPER TOWEL,
SUCH AS VIVA
BRAND, AND
PRESS DOWN
LIGHTLY TO
SMOOTH THE
FROSTING.
2
3
3) PIPE A CIRCLE
ONTO THE BODY
OF THE SHARK
USING GRAY
BUTTERCREAM.
SMOOTH WITH
PAPER TOWEL.
4
34 THE TOWN
4) FILL IN THE LANDSHARK’S DORSAL FIN
AND SMOOTH, SIMILAR TO THE WAY YOU
FILLED IN THE OTHER TWO FINS.

5
5) USING THE RED BUTTERCREAM,
PIPE A SEMICIRCLE ONTO THE
BODY OF THE SHARK TO CREATE
A MOUTH AND SMOOTH WITH
PAPER TOWEL.
6) USING WHITE
BUTTERCREAM,
PIPE TWO SMALL
CIRCLES ABOVE
THE SHARK’S
MOUTH TO
CREATE EYES.
SMOOTH WITH
PAPER TOWEL.
6
7) STILL USING THE WHITE BUTTERCREAM,
DRAW THE SHARK’S TEETH. THERE SHOULD
BE SIX TEETH ON TOP, AND 7 ON THE BOTTOM.
7 8
9
8) USING BLACK
BUTTERCREAM
AND A FINE-
POINT ROUNDED
DECORATING
TIP, PIPE TWO
SMALLER BLACK
CIRCLES ON
THE EYES AND
SMOOTH WITH
PAPER TOWEL.
9) ADD TWO MORE WHITE
CIRCLES TO ACCENT THE EYES.
10) COMBINE THE EDIBLE METALLIC SILVER
POWDER AND EVERCLEAR ACCORDING TO
PACKAGE INSTRUCTIONS. PAINT EDGES OF
SHARK TO ADD DIMENSION. AFTER PAINTING,
USE BLACK BUTTERCREAM AND A FINE-
POINT DECORATING TIP TO GIVE THE SHARK
GILLS.
ENJOY!
10
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36 THE TOWN

BOURBON
IN OXFORD
A LITERARY LOVE
AFFAIR
BY ANNA GUIZERIX
William Faulkner once said,
“Civilization begins with distillation,” and
we’d like to think he was referring to a
good bourbon.
Whether it’s funneled into a flask or
infused with herbs and spices, bourbon is
a binding force for the social climate in the
LOU Community. It’s a salve that soothes
the wounds of a less-than-stellar football
performance. It’s the potion that softens
even the most bitter of rivalries. It can be
dressed up or down, sipped straight or
transformed beyond recognition.
To celebrate our favorite spirit (and
pay tribute to this month’s cocktail recipe
curated by Snackbar head bartender Ivy
McLellan), we thought we’d present a
literary history of bourbon.
6AGE MARK TWAIN
CLAIMED TO HAVE
HAD HIS FIRST
TASTE OF THE
LIBATION
1
WEEKS
WILLIAM FAULKNER BOOKS RANKED
BY USE OF THE WORD “WHISKEY”:
THE UNVANQUISHED
AS I LAY DYING
THE SOUND AND THE FURY
INTRUDER IN THE DUST
1
3
3
8
11
13
16
25
31
THE HAMLET
SANCTUARY
REQUIEM FOR A NUN
THE REIVERS
LIGHT IN AUGUST
TEASPOON OF SUGAR WILLIAM FAULKNER CALLED FOR IN
HIS LESS-SUGARY MINT JULEP RECIPE
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20 9.5
YEARS RIP VAN WINKLE SLEPT
AFTER DRINKING FROM A KED
OF LIQUOR IN THE CATSKILLS
LEGENDARY LITERARY
BOURBON SPOTS IN OXFORD:
Rowan Oak: Stop by Faulkner’s home for a tour
and see if you can spot his favorite julep cup, still
on display.
Rowan Oak is open Tuesday through Saturday
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Tours are $5, cash only. If you can’t make it by for
a tour, take a stroll around the grounds, which are
open from dawn to dusk – and if you’re feeling really
adventurous, admire the fall foliage on a nature walk
through Bailey’s Woods.
St. Peter’s Cemetery: When Faulkner died in 1962,
he was laid to rest in Oxford’s Saint Peter’s Cemetery.
OUNCES
ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF LIQUOR
IN HUNTER S. THOMPSON’S
“IDEAL BREAKFAST”
38 THE TOWN

Since then, many a student, parent, visitor
and fan has taken a shot in front of his
grave, leaving the bottle as a tribute to the
Nobel Prize-winning wordsmith.
City Grocery: Stop by and have a drink
alongside Oxford’s modern masters at City
Grocery.
Whether you decide to sit inside at
the bar, or enjoy one of the best views in
Oxford from the balcony,
the inspiration is sure to
flow through you. A glance
at the bar top will reveal
small silver plaques, each
with a name and a drink
order engraved on them.
These are dedicated to
City’s regulars – see if you
can spot a familiar name or
two.
The Grove: Mentioning
the Grove might seem
like a freebie, but fear not.
Since wine and beer aren’t
allowed on the Ole Miss campus on game
days, but liquor is, bourbon reigns supreme
as the tailgating tonic of choice.
Ole Miss fans don’t do anything else
halfway, so why should they settle for halfdone,
watered-down mixed drinks? Keep
reading to learn about an easier-than-youthink,
make-ahead, crowd-pleasing punch
the folks at your tent will love.
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on the Square
Bring this ad in to get a
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$499 or more. stashhome.com
40 THE TOWN
137 Courthouse Square,
Oxford, MS 38655

THE GROVE
STANDARD
PUNCH
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BY IVY MCLELLAN, SNACKBAR
INGREDIENTS:
1 750ML BOTTLE OF ROSEMARY-INFUSED BOURBON (McLellan
recommends Mississippi-based Old Soul)
2 CUPS CINNAMON SAGE SYRUP, RECIPE BELOW
1 CUP GRAPEFRUIT JUICE (fresh squeezed)
1 CUP LEMON JUICE (fresh squeezed)
4 CUP SODA (McLellan prefers Topo Chico or Jarritos Sparkling Water)
Yields about 15 to 20 servings, DEPENDING ON GLASSWARE
MIX MASTER:
ROSEMARY BOURBON:
PLACE 3-5 SPRIGS OF ROSEMARY
INTO BOURBON BOTTLE. THREE IF
THE SPRIGS ARE LARGE, FIVE OR
MORE IF THEY ARE SMALL. LET SIT AT
LEAST OVERNIGHT. THE LONGER IT
INFUSES, THE MORE PRONOUNCED
THE ROSEMARY FLAVOR WILL
BECOME. ONCE INFUSED, STRAIN
THE ROSEMARY SOLIDS OFF TO
BUILD YOUR PUNCH. YOU CAN USE
EXCESS ROSEMARY FOR GARNISH, IF
DESIRED.
CINNAMON-SAGE SYRUP:
2 AND 1/4 CUPS WATER
2 AND 1/4 CUPS SUGAR
2 CINNAMON STICK
12 SAGE LEAVES AND STEMS
ROAST CINNAMON STICKS IN AN OVEN
FOR 7 MINUTES AT 400 DEGREES.
ONCE COOLED, BREAK UP INTO
SMALLER PIECES WITH A ROLLING
PIN. ROUGHLY CHOP SAGE AND SAGE
STEMS. PLACE WATER INTO A MEDIUM
SAUCE PAN AND BRING TO A SIMMER
ON MEDIUM TO HIGH HEAT.
SLOWLY STIR SUGAR INTO WATER
UNTIL DISSOLVED. REMOVE FROM
HEAT ONCE SUGAR IS DISSOLVED.
ADD CINNAMON AND SAGE TO THE
MIXTURE AND LET STEEP UNTIL
COOL. TRANSFER TO A SEPARATE
CONTAINER AND REFRIGERATE
WITH CINNAMON AND SAGE STILL IN
THE MIXTURE.
ALLOW THE ENTIRE BATCH TO SIT
OVERNIGHT AND STRAIN SOLIDS OFF
THE NEXT DAY FOR USE. ALLOWING
THE MIXTURE TO INCORPORATE
OVERNIGHT WILL PRODUCE A
BETTER FINAL PRODUCT. IT WILL
INFUSE WHILE COOLING BUT NEEDS
AT LEAST 2 TO 3 HOURS OF INFUSION
TIME TO PICK UP ENOUGH FLAVOR.
JUST LIKE WITH THE ROSEMARY, IF
YOU HAVE EXCESS SAGE YOU CAN
USE IT FOR GARNISH.
FINISHING TOUCHES
MIX ALL INGREDIENTS INTO PUNCH
BOWL. LADLE OVER ICE AND
GARNISH WITH A GRAPEFRUIT
SLICE OR LEMON WHEEL. THE
INGREDIENTS CAN BE BATCHED
INTO BOTTLES WITHOUT THE SODA
FOR TRANSPORT IF DESIRED. ONCE
YOU ARE READY TO SERVE, YOU
CAN JUST TOP WITH SODA TO MAKE
FOR AN ON-THE-GO PUNCH.
42 THE TOWN

IN STYLE
BLING BLING
SPARKLE CITY BRINGS GLITZ
AND GLAM TO THE GROVE
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Sparkle City started
making classic jersey
tees and sweaters for
fans of LSU and the New
Orleans Saints. When
Higginbotham saw the
products, she said she
thought they would make
the perfect addition to the
Grove.
“These designs are just
really different and unique,”
she said. “It’s not something
you see everywhere.”
Mississippi was the
natural next step for Sparkle
City, and Higginbotham
said Oxford just made the
most sense.
“Everything I would see
in Oxford would look so
similar, so I wanted to do
something different and
BY CHRISTINA STEUBE
A vendor at Sugar Magnolia
has teamed up with a New
Orleans clothing company to
bring a little more sparkle to
game day gear for Ole Miss
fans.
Denise Higginbotham is
the owner of Betts Bennett
Designs, a handcrafted
jewelry and unique gift
company that operates out of
Sugar Magnolia Antique Mall
in Oxford. In addition to her
own creations, Higginbotham
is now selling jersey tees and
jersey sweaters from Sparkle
City.
44 THE TOWN

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46 THE TOWN
offer a look that was a little more exclusive,” she said. “These jersey
tees and sweaters have a traditional throwback look, with a little
bit of an edge to them.”
The staple jersey tees are similar to those found in a high-end
boutique, and Betts Bennett Designs is the first in the state to carry
them. Sparkle City will eventually be expanding to offer sorority looks
and tees for other college teams, but with a store located in Oxford,
Ole Miss was just the right fit for the company’s Mississippi debut.
A transplant to Mississippi from Missouri, Higginbotham migrated
South and married an Ole Miss graduate. She also has a sophomore
son at Ole Miss.
“When we were dating for about a year, Steve asked me if I
would go in with him on season tickets,” she said. “I bought the
tickets, married the graduate and now we’re all in.”
Betts Bennett Designs at Sugar Magnolia is open Monday
through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Sundays after a
home football game.

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