Friends, do ya’ll remember as kids getting tickled at something and not being able to stop laughing? It didn’t matter what was going on around you, you were laughing and couldn’t stop! And it usually was contagious to any other kid nearby!
I remember this happening lots of times, even in church! But there is one time it happened that I will never forget! We were going to Memphis for something, and Emory, John Barry, Jeff, and I were riding in the back of the pickup.
Now don’t freak out, this was pretty common back then. Kids rode in the back! I didn’t say it was safe, just that we did it! Dad had one of those old camper covers and we were under it, sitting in lawn chairs, looking backward! Now you can add up all the things wrong with that picture!
Well, we stopped for gas, and had the back window up, and apparently the old boy who pumped the gas didn’t know how to duck his head — but he was fixing to learn!
He came running around the corner and — WHAM! — he ran straight into the corner of that window!
It shook the whole pickup!
Of course, he screamed out some cuss words while holding his head; he even put his old grease rag on it to stop the bleeding! But he was a tough one; he went ahead and started the gas pump, and then he started to go doctor up!
Here is where we got so tore up laughing…
When he started back around the pickup, John Barry hollered out, “Duck! Duck!” to which he responded with some more unkind words!
We just fell out laughing at this poor guy, holding a grease rag on his head, and cussing like a sailor!
And we knew he was going to come back directly to turn of the pump! So after we quit laughing long enough to get a breath, John Barry said, “When he comes back, let’s all scream DUCK at the same time!”
We waited till he came back, turned off the pump, and started back around the back, and then we all screamed DUCK! at the top of our lungs, and you ain’t going to believe what happened next!
Yep, he ran into that window again!!
Now, we just couldn’t help it — we fell down laughing!
He continued to spray cuss words into the air and we continued to laugh!
He was still cussing up a storm while we drove off!
Good morning Tupelo! Today is Saturday, December 7, 2019. It is the 341st day of the year. There are only 24 days left. Winter officially starts in 12 days, Hanukkah begins in 15 days, and Christmas is just 18 days from today.
Today’s Rundown is sponsored by Kyle Barker at Comcast Business!
Comcast Business offers backup internet if there is an outage so you are always up and running! For new service, contact your local account executive Kyle Barker at (662) 372-0567.
FOOD TRUCKS
Tupelo’s Food Trucks can be found today at the following locations:
There’s so much going on today in Tupelo! Let’s dive in.
The Link Centre‘s 2019 Holiday Market is today, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Hosted at the Link Centre Reception Hall, this is a free event, fun for the whole family! A platform for community entrepreneurs to present their wares, The Holiday Market welcomes YOU to come and enjoy great finds and support your local artists and artisans at the same time. If you want a cool holiday photo, come check out their traditionally non-traditional Santa photo op.
The Link Centre will also be hosting a Womanless Beauty Pageant, as a fundraiser for Guardian Angel Elderly Outreach Ministry, who provides residents at Assisted Living Facilities with Christmas baskets full of items of wants and needs that bring so much joy to them, and also for participants! Please come out and join us for an evening of laughter and help us raise funds to provide for as many facilities that we can reach! This event will be help from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will include formal wear, a talent competition, and a swimsuit competition.
The Tupelo Ballet will be performing the holiday classic The Nutcracker at the Tupelo High School Performing Arts Center. There will be a 2:00 p.m. Matinee show as well as an evening show at 7:30 p.m.. This ballet includes a 200-member cast, featuring Clara’s beautiful dream with live music by the North Mississippi Orchestra. Go to Tupeloballet.com and click the gold ticket to order your tickets.
Cooking as a First Language is hosting a German Christmas Market Cooking Class! This is a family-friendly event, and will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.. With the help of our German friend, Margarete Garner (Simply Sweet by Margarete Bakery), Hannah Maharrey will lead kids ages 7-11 in making traditional German Christmas Market Foods. Note: There will be a recipe involving nuts. So for the kids who have nut allergies, stay tuned for the next class!
You can find Photos with Santa at the Mall at Barnes Crossing in the Belk Wing today from 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.. They close to take a break from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m..
If you have little ones, you will love StoryTime with Barnes & Noble at the Barnes & Noble at Barnes Crossing! They have it every Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and then again at 3:00 p.m.
At the Bancorpsouth Arena, Disney On Ice: Celebrate Memories will have showings at 11:00 a.m. and at 3:00 p.m.. Your favorite Disney stories come to life! Sail along with Moana on her high-seas adventure and dance with Woody, Buzz, and all the Toy Story friends. Feel inspired when love wins in Frozen, and when dreams come true for the Disney Princesses. Share the excitement and make new memories the whole family will treasure forever! *Note: Costumes not permitted for guests 14 years & older.
Grace Oasis Church is hosting Sewing Lessons for Teens and Adults at 5:30 p.m. on December 5th through the 11th. The instructor for this event will be Vanya Kovacheva, who has been a Fashion and Costume designer for 20 years. There is Limited Seating for this event each day, so please register by emailing your name to graceoasistupelo@gmail.com.
A special program of dulcimer music will be provided by the North Mississippi Dulcimer Association from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Parkway Visitor Center located at milepost 266 near Tupelo, Mississippi. The North Mississippi Dulcimer Association teaches dulcimer history, tradition, craftsmanship, and music by sharing its knowledge and talents. The National Park Service and the North Mississippi Dulcimer Association invite everyone to listen to the soft sweet sounds of the dulcimer and learn about its extensive history.
Extreme Athletics and All Shook Up have partnered to bring you Flips and Flapjacks with Santa! This event will be held at Extreme Athletics from 9:00 a.m. to noon. They invite you to join them for Breakfast with Santa, photos, writing letters, and some tumbling. There will be an obstacle course for the young athletes as well. Grab a ticket early for only $10 or it will be $15 at the door.
Shoe Country Warehouse in Tupelo will have Photos with Santa from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Local Events Outside of Tupelo
Outside of Tupelo, there are some other events you might like to check out:
In Fulton, check out the Trees & Treats Tour. Take a tour of Christmas Trees decorated in the theme of each participant in Fulton. Take your picture with the themed trees and make sure to get your treat too! Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Also in Fulton, the Itawamba County Pratt Memorial Library invites you to their Special Saturday STEM-in-Action Christmas Celebration! Starting at 11:00 a.m., they will have Children’s Musician Jacob Johnson to deliver a blend of Christmas music and Musical Science Fun. At approximately noon, Old Saint Nick himself will arrive to hear the kiddies’ Christmas lists and to pose for pictures. They will also read Christmas stories, do some fun crafts, and have some Christmas snacks.
The Claude Gentry Theatre in Baldwyn presents: Southern Fried Chickie Christmas at 7:00 p.m. The Southern Fried Chickie herself, Christy McBrayer, is back with a NEW one-woman play, this time sporting a distinctive holiday flair. Ho ho ho! The Saltillo native will perform all her favorite characters using props, costumes and the ever-present help of her band, “The Redneck Greek Chorus,” featuring Chance Moore, Trey Stanford and Kathy Gusmus-Brown. Christy’s December production at The Claude Gentry Theatre is the World Premier of her new work and is the sequel, so to speak, to her play “Southern Fried Chickie” which made its Mississippi premiere in Baldwyn last year. The show is sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank, and contains mild adult humor.
Also in Baldwyn, stop by Pop and JoJo’s Attic, Etc. from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for free pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus! (You must bring your own camera or phone.) Kids can write Christmas cards to the Troops, enjoy cookies and hot cocoa, and write letters to Santa.
The Community Event Foundation in Guntown will be hosting Breakfast with Santa from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Santa will be there for pictures and to meet all the kids. Please bring your own camera. This event is open to all kids up to 15 years old. Any donations will be accepted.
In Mantachie, you are invited to Christmas with the Grinch! Hosted by 3SIX3 Restaurant, this event will start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 11:00 a.m.. Christmas with the Grinch will include Cookie Decorating or Ornament painting, with breakfast included! Parents are welcome to take photos of the children with the Grinch by the fireplace. The cost for this event is $25 per child.
Also in Mantachie, the Itawamba County Development Council invites you to A Mantachie Christmas from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Come enjoy a parade at 2:00 p.m., followed by appearances by Santa, Hot Chocolate and Coffee at the Town Hall, a Scavenger Hunt Shopping Punch Card Event, and Lighting of the Tree with Christmas Carols at Town Hall 6:00 p.m. Punch cards are to be turned in at that time with the drawing following the lighting. Businesses are also participating in a Best Decorated Storefront competition. The public will vote at the lighting for the winner!
Also in Mantachie, For the Love of Paws will be hosting an adoption event at 1:00 p.m.. The Paws Team will have lots of puppies up for adoption. Applications and Vet Reference will be required. Deposits will be taken on each pup, and you may pick your pup up after it has been completely vetted! All vetting is included in the adoption fee. Vetting includes all age appropriate shots, wormer, nexgard, spay/neuter, microchip, rabies (if pup is of age), and a Health Certificate from the vet! They accept cash or credit card for all items. All proceeds will go towards the continued care of unwanted litters of pups, strays, abused and abandoned animals of North MS. They will also have Hot Cocoa for sale $1.00. They are also doing Christmas mini photo sessions with your new dog for $5! Tractor rides are also available to ride through their land to see the rescues for $2.00 per person. They will have Long Sleeve shirts for preorder for $22.00, decals for $5.00, Christmas bandanas for your new pet, MAKE YOUR OWN Paw Christmas ornament with your new baby for $8.00, and lots of home baked goodies for you and your pet.
In Amory, Walton’s Greenhouse invites you to their Christmas Swag Make & Take event, with three event times at 10:00 a.m., noon, and 2:00 p.m.. They will help you create your own unique door swag with fresh cut greenery, berries, and bows to decorate your door. This is a prepay event with limited availability. The cost of this event is $35 for one swag.
In Booneville, EPW Wrestling will have Headlocks for Toys at 8:00 p.m. benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital Free admission if you bring a $5 toy; otherwise $8 per person. Toy offer is per person.
— Christmas Parades —
There are a TON of Christmas parades happening today! Cities and times are as follows:
The Tupelo DAV will have Southbound, starting at 8:00 p.m.
The Shade Tree will have a Jack & Jill 8-ball pool tournament. There’s a $10 entry fee per person. The best 2 of 3, with double elimination, and Shark Hunt rules. Calcutta starts at 3:00 p.m. The Shade Tree will ALSO have live music with Hannah and Karly, starting at 8:00 p.m.
Tonight in Columbus, check out Karaoke with Valentine at Sey’s, R Way Karaoke at Louie’s, Skip McLaughlin at Johnny Kelly’s Lounge, DJ Will at Muddy Waters, and Cheeze Burger at American Legion.
If we missed listing an event you know of, let us know!
Want us to know about something coming up? Just tag our Facebook page, or you can even mark us co-host on an event you are having on your Facebook event listing. You can also send us a message on our Facebook page, or shoot us an email at submit@ourtupelo.com and we will help you share it.
Be sure to check out our extended calendar of events as well, for upcoming happenings in the area!
Have a great day and get out there and enjoy Our Tupelo!
* We update all listings periodically as new information becomes available.
TUPELO – There were plenty of laughs to be had around lunchtime Thursday at Cafe 212, a popular eating establishment downtown, when a tourist was overheard asking what day Casserole Friday is on.
The tourist, who wishes to remain anonymous, is insistent that he’s not an idiot.
“I can’t believe I said that. I knew as it was coming out of my mouth that it was a mistake. Someone in line told me I should come back for Casserole Friday, and I asked when that is. There’s no coming back from a slip-up like that. I was humiliated.”
Witnesses say that the man was so appalled that he ran out without ordering.
“I was the one who told him about Casserole Friday,” says Tony Tannehill, a regular at the restaurant. “I just assumed he knew that Casserole Friday was on a Friday. It’s in the name.”
Casserole Friday is a celebrated day in Tupelo, always on a Friday, when Mama’s Chicken Casserole is the lunch special at Cafe 212.
It occurs weekly. On Friday.
“We just got so tickled. And you know how it is when someone can’t stop laughing. It makes other people laugh,” says Amanda Hayden.
Amanda and her husband Jason own Cafe 212 . Mama’s Chicken Casserole is her mother’s recipe.
“He couldn’t have asked at a worse time for him,” says Jason Hayden. “It was noon, and we were slammed like we always are at that time. Half of downtown was there. A lot of people heard him say it. The laughter was thunderous.”
“We didn’t mean to embarrass him,” Amanda insists. “He left us a bad Yelp review, but I’m not concerned. I was shocked though. He can navigate Yelp but doesn’t know how a calendar works?”
Local sources say the man was seen the following Sunday pulling into Chik-fil-A.
Good morning, Tupelo! Today is Friday, December 6, 2019. It is the 340th day of the year. There are only 25 days left. Winter officially starts in 15 days, Hanukkah begins in 16 days, and Christmas is just 19 days from today.
Today’s Rundown is sponsored by Kyle Barker @ Comcast Business! Did you know: Comcast was founded in Tupelo in 1963. For new service, contact your local account executive Kyle Barker at (662) 372-0567.
HAPPENING TODAY
— Story Time at Reed’s at 10:30am
— Photos with Santa at the Mall at Barnes Crossing (in the Belk Wing) 12:30pm-6:00pm, with a break 3:00pm-3:30pm
— Disney On Ice presents Celebrate Memories at the Bancorpsouth Arena
— Pack the Pickup Event 5:30 am to 5:30 pm at Fairpark in Downtown Tupelo: We want to build a happy, healthy community so please avoid junk food or expired food. And if you can’t make it out, you can donate direct to the Tupelo Lee Hunger Coalition by texting PICKUP to 40403! Come out Friday, December 6th and help us Pack the Pickup – partnered with Food Giant and Dossett Big Four.
— Egg Bowl Trophy Tour: Come by Metro Ford and take your picture with the Egg Bowl trophy and Bully at Metro Ford Friday from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
— The Dance Studio in Tupelo invites you to their Tacky Christmas party! Beginner and Intermediate Rumba class at 7:00 pm and the party starts at 8:00 pm. Show off your Tackiest Christmas attire and shake a leg! Don’t know how to dance? Come anyway and bring a friend. The more, the merrier! No RSVP needed.
— Grace Oasis Church is hosting Sewing Lessons for Teens and Adults at 5:30pm
—Fulton Trees & Treats Tour, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm: Take a tour of Christmas Trees decorated in the theme of each participant in Fulton. Take your picture with the themed trees and make sure to get your treat too!
— The Claude Gentry Theatre in Baldwyn presents: Southern Fried Chickie Christmas, at 7pm
– Taquería Ferrus is on West Main beside Computer Universe – Jo’s Cafe will be at Longtown Medical Plaza, 11:00 am – 1:30’ish – Gypsy Roadside Mobile will be at Fairpark 11-2pm – Local Mobile will be at Fairpark 11-1:30pm – Mobile Chef will be at Fairpark 11-1:30pm
.
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
— Steele’s Dive will have Bonfire Orchestra at 9pm — Blue Canoe will have Blue Mother Tupelo — The Shade Tree Lounge will have Big Daddy Karaoke at 8pm — Old Venice Pizza Co. will have Spunk Monkees Lite at 8 pm — The Thirsty Devil will have FIDK at 8pm — Nautical Whimsey will have DÆPÆ (Acoustic) at 6:30pm
— Romie’s Grocery will have either Gypsy or Tim Sheffield at 8pm (found listings for both)
—— Legends Sports Grille in Fulton will have Thornton at 7pm
——In Pontotoc, Lep’s BBQ will have Twenty2Seven at 7:30pm . As always, if we missed listing an event you know of, let us know in the comments below!
Want us to know about something coming up? Just tag us, or you can even mark us co-host on an event you are having, we will help you share it. Be sure to check out our extended calendar of events at https://ourtupelo.com/events!
SCHLATER – Mississippi’s top utility and water services agency plans to find ways to help residents on the outskirts of this Delta town of more than 300 people get access to running water.
Brandon Presley, Mississippi Public Service Commissioner for the Northern District, reached out to a Mississippi Today reporter for information on how to contact six families who are without running water and to see how the agency can help, said a spokesperson. The Public Service Commission is the state’s governmental agency that oversees electric, gas, water and sewer utilities.
Officials said they heard of the residents’ situation after reading Mississippi Today’s coverage of the six families – living in the countryside of Schlater – who have been without running water for months as a result of broken water pumps. The Delta News, a Greenville-based television station, broke the news of the plight of Minerva Clemon, a Schlater resident who spoke out about how she and the other families were coping.
Following the report by the Delta News, people from Mississippi, Alabama and other states donated water to the families.
“I’m grateful people have been donating water to us,” Clemon said in a phone call with Mississippi Today on Monday. “We’re happy to have as many people who wants to help.”
When the well pump broke in July, Clemon said she spent over $1,000 in unsuccessful attempts to get water flowing again. In addition, she spent more than $300 on cases of water in order to cook, drink and bathe in clean water. Eventually, she reached out to Anjuan Brown, Leflore County supervisor, who represents her area.
Once he was notified of the issue, Brown said he immediately took action, making calls to federal, state, and local officials, to work on a long-term solution. As a temporary fix, the county donated a water tank for the residents. County officials said they don’t have any additional funds in their budget, so they plan to seek grants to cover the costs of either replacing the wells or building a water line to connect to the city of Greenwood, said Brown.
Cost estimates are not yet available.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
While millions of Americans will be kicked off food assistance under the Trump Administration’s new restrictions, Mississippians stand to see their benefits increase.
Folks in Mississippi won’t be forced off the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new work requirement, set to take effect in April, because the state already imposed the restriction on recipients in 2016.
Instead, researchers estimate another lesser known provision will increase Mississippi’s food assistance allocation by $32 million or 4.9 percent, the most of any state.
When a person applies for benefits, their eligibility and the amount they receive each month is determined by several factors. If the person has utility bills, they receive a standard deduction, determined by the state, that reduces their countable income and increases their benefit amount. The new federal rule standardizes the calculation of this deduction, called a utility allowance. Under that formula, Mississippi’s monthly allowance will increase from $274 in 2017 to $338, according to Urban Institute senior fellow Laura Wheaton.
This will not affect every household, such as those who do not receive an allowance because their utility is included with rent.
“Too many Mississippians lose utilities due to inability to pay,” said MDHS Executive Director Christopher Freeze. “This increase in benefits will not only allow us to come to the aid of those who need assistance but also allow us to broaden other programs such as workforce development that give Mississippians the opportunity to increase their quality of life.”
In other states, the rule adjusted utility allowances downward, leading to reduced benefits. Nationally, the Urban Institute estimated 22,000 households would lose eligibility and 71,000 would begin participating in the program — either because they became eligible or are encouraged to sign up because of the increase — as a result of the rule.
In states that stand to see increases, including Alabama and Arizona, 2.5 million households will receive an average of $14 more each month, according to the Urban Institute report.
The other rules changes — tightened work requirements and other eligibility tweaks — are expected to result in 3.7 million fewer people receiving the assistance nationwide, including 26,200 in neighboring Louisiana.
The federal government currently requires people between the ages of 18 and 49 to work at least 20 hours a week or participate in workforce training in order to keep receiving food stamps. But it granted waivers to states with areas of high unemployment.
Among the states with the highest unemployment, Mississippi qualifies for the waiver but chose not to renew it in 2016. The state also passed a law, the Act to Restore Hope Opportunity and Prosperity for Everyone (HOPE), in 2017 promising not to “seek, apply for, accept or renew” any work requirement waiver for the food assistance program in the future, except in the event of a natural disaster.
The new federal rules would restrict these waivers nationwide, imposing the work requirement on areas with unemployment under 7 percent. In October, 16 counties in Mississippi had an unemployment rate of over 7 percent, according to Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released a statement saying the new policies “restore the original intent” of the food assistance program, “which is to be a second chance and not a way of life.”
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
All the best stories happen at The Chicken Store at 4 a.m.
Let me start from the beginning. There’s an all night gas station just down the road. It has a name, but everyone around here just calls it The Chicken Store. It is the only thing open for miles and miles AND MILES after 10 p.m.
I don’t sleep, so I visit The Chicken Store pretty often in the wee hours of the night. Sometimes for coffee. Sometimes for a snack. Sometimes just to get out of my own head, in hopes that I might get to sleep eventually.
One morning, somewhere between 3 and 4 a.m., I was at The Chicken Store grabbing an iced coffee. As I was in line to cash out, I glanced around, as one does, to check out other patrons. The lady behind me looked back with an electric smile. I mean a million watts, this lady’s smile. Her smile could have lit up the whole Delta seaboard.
The guy cashing me out says, “Good morning,” over the top of my head (I’m fun-sized) to her.
Lady: YASS IT IS, LORDT.
::Me giggling::
Lady continues: I got me a new bra, and LORD HAVE MERCY, all is right with the world!
::Me giggling louder::
Lady goes on: I tell you, it feels so good! Everything’s where it’s supposed to be. Straps feel good. Back feels good. Nothing hanging out nowhere. No hunching all over. LORD, I love a new bra.
(At this point, I am full on laughing out loud and egging her on.)
Me: PREACH THIS MORNING!
(All other customers and employees are men. Just to help set the scene.)
(I feel I should also point out that while she’s going over all the ways she loves her bra, she’s also running her hands all around her sides and boobs.)
Me: I love a good new bra, too. I just hate they’re so expensive!
Lady: I KNOW! I gave $60 for this one, and I hate it, but I love it. I. LOVE. IT.
Me: I have no idea why boob holders are so damn expensive.
Lady: GIRL I KNOW. I love me some “buy one, get one” sales. That’s the only time I can afford a new one. I BOUGHT FOUR O’ THESE THANGS.
Me: I woulda too! Well, I gotta get back to the house. You have yourself a good morning!
Lady: YOU TOO, GIRL!
I leave, laughing all the way out the door, and see all the men hidden among the aisles behind us. Some are smiling, some are frowning, one has his head straight down at the floor with his shoulders hunched and shaking. I don’t know if he was laughing or crying, but he was clearly feeling some type of way.
I swear, I chuckled about that encounter all the way home. She may have been acting a mess, but I thank her from the bottom of my heart for the best laugh to start the day that I’d had in months.
Good morning, Tupelo! Today is Thursday, December 5, 2019. It is the 339th day of the year. There are only 26 days left. Winter officially starts in 16 days, Hanukkah begins in 17 days, and Christmas is just 20 days from today.
Today’s Rundown is sponsored by Kyle Barker @ Comcast Business!
Did you know: Comcast offers services for internet, phone, tv, cloud access, office 365, web security, security cameras, back-up internet and so much more available!
For new service, contact your local account executive Kyle Barker at (662) 372-0567.
HAPPENING TODAY
— Photos with Santa at the Mall at Barnes Crossing (in the Belk Wing) 12:30pm-6:00pm, with a break 3:00pm-3:30pm.
— Disney On Ice presents Celebrate Memories at the Bancorpsouth Arena.
— The Deadbolt Mystery Society will be at Queen’s Reward Meadery Mystery Night 6-9pm. Mystery boxes will be available ($10), Jo’s Cafe food truck will be here, and all the mead you will need to solve your mystery in record time!
— Arc of Northeast Mississippi presents Bowling to Achieve at Event Zona at 6pm. A fun filled night of Family bowling, this is a totally inclusive event with adaptive equipment available to aid persons with a disability, and bumpers for the kiddos! $5.00 is all you need for a game of bowling, shoes, and pizza.
— Sensory Friendly Night at Christmas In Cotton Plant with an early opening at 5:30 P.M.
— Grace Oasis Church is hosting Sewing Lessons for Teens and Adults at 5:30 P.M.
— Fulton Trees & Treats Tour, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm: Take a tour of Christmas Trees decorated in the theme of each participant in Fulton. Take your picture with the themed trees and make sure to get your treat too!
—The Claude Gentry Theatre in Baldwyn presents: Southern Fried Chickie Christmas, at 7pm,
— Christmas Parades —
Nettleton – 7:00 p.m. Verona – 6:00 p.m.
FOOD TRUCKS
– Taquería Ferrus is on West Main beside Computer Universe, – Gypsy Roadside Mobile will be set up at Ballard Park 11:30-2pm, – Jo’s Cafe will be at Midtown Pointe at 11:00,
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
— Steele’s Dive will have Tatum Shappley Live at the Dive at 7pm,
— Blue Canoe will have Comedy Night w/John Hickok & Patrick Devine hosted by Zach Bragg,
— Old Venice Pizza Co. Karaoke by DJ Dayton with Chad Haughton and Michael Breedlove @ 7 pm,
— Woody’s will have DJ-E Karaoke, starting at 8pm,
— The Thirsty Devil will have Vintage Pistol,
— Romie’s Grocery will have MoJo Unplugged,
— Legends Sports Grille in Fulton will have Sean Austin,
Want us to know about something coming up? Just tag us, or you can even mark us co-host on an event you are having, we will help you share it.
Description: A platform for community entrepreneurs to present their wares to you — The Holiday Market welcomes YOU to come and enjoy great finds and support your local artists and artisans at the same time.
Want a cool(er) holiday photo with the family? Come check out the traditionally non-traditional Santa photo op.
About the Link Centre: In 2001, a group of local citizens formed a nonprofit organization called the Harrisburg Cultural and Social Services Center and then joined forces with The Salvation Army and Girl Scouts of Northeast Mississippi to purchase the former Harrisburg Baptist Church on Main Street in Tupelo.
Link Centre, the organization they created, has grown over the years and offers a home base for numerous nonprofit arts and education organizations. Called one of Mississippi’s most creative collaborative efforts, Link Centre serves as a community resource for scores of regional organizations who hold concerts, screenings, workshops, seminars, lectures, dinners, and other events in one of Link’s three performance venues or versatile meeting spaces.
Link Centre’s 21-Member Board of Directors comprises three classes of volunteers who serve three-year terms. Funding is a mix of grants, tenant and non-tenant rental, and fundraising.
At Link, people are actively working together, sharing resources, building bridges, and creating community in ways designed to bind us together rather than pull us apart.
All forms of art find a place at Link Centre: symphonic music to improv comedy; classical ballet to contemporary dance; storytelling to filmmaking; spoken word to song writing; children’s art, music, and drama lessons to senior projects; blues legends to Elvis tribute artists.
All roads lead to Link; all are welcome.
As home to the Tupelo Arts Council as well as several of its member organizations, Link Centre functions as a resource center for local cultural events and coordinates the annual Art Rocks Tupelo city-wide arts festival.
The organization is always reaching out to further their collaborative efforts as they seek to be community problem solvers and advocates for the power of the arts.
Together with their partners, Link Centre provides services to the sixteen-county region of Northeast Mississippi. Tupelo, with more than 36,000 residents, is a hub for healthcare, manufacturing, retail, legal services, nonprofits, and arts entertainment for the surrounding area.
Link Centre strives to offer high-quality programming that appeals to all cultural, socio-economic, and demographic strata of this increasingly diverse community, and we are proud of our success at attracting representatives from so many constituencies to our events.
Address: 4187 West Main Street, Tupelo, Mississippi
Full service restaurant, bar, catering service, lunch and dinner with Sunday buffet, plus a dozen televisions, as well as live music on most all nights. Steele’s is hometown owned and operated, with home cooking, steaks, shrimp, fried catfish, oysters, appetizers, live music, friendly faces, and catering, we’re your hometown place for an upscale mom and pop experience!
Steele’s Dive, on the outskirts of West Tupelo, has been serving up good food, good music, and good times where friends and families gather since 2013. They have an awesome updated menu, and a Sunday cafeteria-style lunch buffet to satisfy most any appetite.
Don’t let the crowd of cars in the parking lot out front fool you. When you walk in, you’re met with friendly faces, and two separate dining areas including bar seating.
They also provide live entertainment most nights from local bands on the patio out back. Folks, I had never been to their patio area before, and when I saw it, I was awestruck!
It’s a huge rustic (and covered) dining area. It appears to be almost twice the size of the restaurant — with a stage up front AND a second bar in the back with a huge overhead video projector. It was packed with folks watching the game on one end, and the night’s music being performed by The Bonfire Orchestra on the other.
Since my daughter and I hadn’t been since the new menu was introduced, I polled my readers to find out what their favorite foods from Steele’s were.
The responses ranged from fried crawfish tails, to bacon-wrapped hickory smoked chicken, to the white chocolate bread pudding, but the overwhelming response was the Cowboy Ribeye!
What we ate:
3 wheelin’ Appetizer ($8.00) Caesar Salad ($9.00) COWBOY RIBEYE ($26.00) Sweet Potato Fries ($2.00 extra side) Almost Famous White Chocolate Bread Puddin’ ($4.00). Apple dumplings ($4.00) add scoop of vanilla bean ice cream ($1.00 extra)
To start off, we went with the 3 wheelin’ chips and dips appetizer. We got creamy queso, fresh guacamole, salsa, and house-made corn chips. This definitely knocked the top off our hunger while waiting on our main course!
My daughter went with the Caesar Salad with Romain lettuce, creamy Caesar dressing, croutons, and Parmesan cheese. Although she enjoyed her salad as is, you can also add chicken for $2 extra, or sliced ribeye $3 extra.
For my main course, I requested the COWBOY RIBEYE cooked medium. It’s a bone-in 22 ounce Chicago-style hand-carved choice ribeye. It’s aged to perfection for 21-30 days, and it was one of the best steaks I’ve ever had!
It was extremely tender, with subtle spices and flavor! It’s served with choice of bread and two sides. And for the amount I received, I had enough left for a steak and potato lunch the next day!
While there, we visited with a friend Tina, and her family. Tina is a professional photographer at Tupelotina Photography, and also couldn’t resist taking a couple photos of the masterpiece Steele’s Dive created for me. See y’all…. I’m not the only one in town who enjoys taking foodie photos! LOL!
For my two sides, I had the cooked veggies and baked sweet potato. Also, a basket of hand cut sweet potato fries that my daughter and I shared.
For dessert, we started with Steele’s Almost Famous White Chocolate Bread Puddin’. This is a decadent bread pudding drizzled with a creamy white chocolate sauce. Although it doesn’t have much of a defined shape for photography, it’s deep, rich, flavor begged for a cup of black coffee to cleanse my palate between each bite, so as to enjoy its overwhelming deliciousness like each bite was the first.
To wrap up our night of music, fun, and famous food, we also sampled the Apple Dumplings with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. This is one of my favorite deserts that my mom makes on special occasions.
Anytime you want to enjoy that “only on special occasions treat”, all you gotta do is head to Steele’s Dive!
