Booktopia 2012 in Oxford, Mississippi

That's a mint julep on Faulkner's lawn. Yes, THAT FAULKNER. Did you know he was once fired from the post office? FOR SO MANY REASONS, some of which being: he would close up shop early to play golf, go fishing, or have a round of poker in the back room. But my favorite: He would throw the mail away of the people he wasn't keen on. If he would have been around on that balmy Friday night in Oxford, the bourbon would have been on me.

The balcony of City Grocery in downtown Oxford. This place has superb Southern food, but the most exciting thing to me is that John Currence, a contributing editor of Garden & Gun is the chef. I really (uber)wanted to meet him on this trip, but I never mustered the courage to ask between ordering his fried chicken and paying the bill. Because what would I even say that wouldn't make me sound like a food/ G&G/ All Things Southern GROUPIE--and that's what I am right? :)

This is one of my favorite Southern authors, Susan Gregg Gilmore, walking up the path toward Rowan Oak. She admitted on this trip that she has to work as a bartender at a barbecue place in Chattanooga in addition to writing her books. Does that make me like her even more  and respect her as a writer? You bet it does. (Click to enlarge. That's her in the pink mini-skirt.)

We all brought a wrapped book for an exchange--I wonder what book Faulkner would have given. And I wonder what he would have wrapped it in.

Southern catering and pink hydrangeas...sigh.

Square Books, the second floor. I wish I could just live up there. Be an alive-ghost, haunting the book store and re-shelving mislaid volumes. Or I could just work there like a normal person. Either way.

Sunset on Faulkner's front porch. Do I need to say anything other than that?

Just down the block from our hotel was this little place where we could get a decent cup of coffee.

Downtown Oxford.

Big Bad Breakfast--an Oxford Landmark. Our last stop on our last day.

Aretha Frankenstein's in Chattanooga: Pancakes and Beer

Peach Custard Pie at the Hil

I recently spent the day at a workshop with stellar photographer Tom England at Serenbe Photography Center. Most of the workshops they have there are on held on the weekends, which just happens to coincide with the brunches at the Hil restaurant next door. Both of these were definitely worth the drive from my Woodstock!

Mary Mac's Tea Room In Atlanta

Did you know that macaroni and cheese can be listed under "vegetables?"

My first taste of Potlikker!

Mudbugs...

Fried Okra...Reminds me of my mama. :)

Fried Chicken, Mac 'n Cheese, Sweet Potato Souffle, Fried Green Tomatoes, Greens, and Sweet Tea.  For Starters.

Bread Pudding  with Wine Sauce

Mary Mac's Tea Room in Downtown Atlanta

Brunch with the Little Guy

A Good Dog and a River Boat...A Chattanooga Afternoon

Afternoon Delight: A couple of dogs and a shared PBR at Good Dog on the North Shore; From Left to Right: the Dutch Frites Dog (frites sauce, frites and onion) and the Pimento Cheese Dog (Housemade Pimento Cheese, Frites Sauce, and Fresh Tomato)

The Belle of Cincinnati, heading out of Chattanooga on the Tennessee River at sunset.

The Belle of Cincinnati, taken from the Delta Queen

Relaxing on the deck of the Delta Queen...if only those cabins could talk...

The Delta Queen River Boat on Fall Afternoon; The boat is now an anchored hotel.  I haven't been able to stay overnight yet, but I hope to soon.

The moonrise over the Tennessee River; Taken from a bridge on which I yelled, "Let me out of this car...I have to take this picture!"

The Terminal Brewhouse in Chattanooga

How did this...

...lead to THIS?

Well, huddle up, and I'll tell you the story. It began with asking our server Zack at the Terminal Brewhouse, "What do you do for fun around here?" ("Here," meaning Chattanooga.) He told us that he'd grown up around Signal Mountain, and about a twenty mile drive away would produce a hike to a "secret waterfall." He said he'd spent a lot of time there when he was a teenager and that nobody really went there anymore. I was all in. He drove us a very accurate map, complete with landmarks and squiggly lines, on a receipt (think: treasure map) that led my little PT Cruiser up hairpin turns, the like of which it's never seen.

When we got to the Falling Waters trail, it was a short five minute hike to a beautiful view of the gorge and a stream that was cascading over the side of the mountain. It was running a little slower than normal due to lack of rain, but I just felt grateful to someone for giving me privy information to their "secret hideaway." I can't wait to re-visit this spot in the fall after the leaves have had time to do their thing. Thanks, Zack, for the Belgian White Beer as well as the trail!

P.S. The Terminal Brewhouse's menu describes beer as "the wondrous nectar that makes the bad man stop and life worth living." Indeed.

The Globe--An Athens Landmark Pub

Whenever I'm Athens on a hot summer's day, you can count on my stopping by the Globe for a cool, sweating glass of something lovely. The dark wood paneling is a welcome respite away from the recoils of an unforgiving sun, and to sit at one of those thick pub tables with a Bass Ale or Guinness is nothing short of transporting. If you stop in hungry one day, I highly recommend trying their version of the traditional Fish and Chips. They serve them with a cayenne-laced tartar sauce on the side, and they fry the fish to such a startling perfection that would leave the mouths of British chefs agape. (Also, any place that bothers to hang a print of the bios of prominent Irish writers is just fine by me.)

P.S. Forgive the grainy iPhone photo...I left my "real" camera in the car with a dead battery. :)

The Town's Got Soul

I keep returning to this town every weekend, waiting for a house or a job to fall into my lap. Spicy Mayan Mochas are served up at the Jittery Joe's Roasting Company, Oatmeal Stouts at the Globe, and the best of Chicken Cubans and Fish Tacos are bestowed by Bruno at Cali 'n Tito's. I see a return is inevitable. I drive up the streets of Normaltown and Cobbham, just hoping for the sign: For Lease 706-...-....