Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with mississippi

Heading down to the other LA...

sixcolors — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:28:35 -0800

Tell me about Shreveport, Louisiana. Things to see. Places to eat. Quickest and safest way to get there. A cousin of mine is having a wedding this weekend. I've been to Shreveport several times, but I was quite young, so I don't remember a lot.

No need to answer every question, answer what you know or wish to share, but here are some things I'm curious about:

1. We're on a budget and will only be there for Friday and Saturday, so doing things is out of the question. But, I wonder if there are any good places for sight-seeing? And, of course, we must eat. Where are some good AND cheap places to eat?

2. NICE AND CHEAP (around $80 a night) HOTELS, THAT IS NOT LOCATED IN BAD AREAS.

3. We're driving from O'Fallon, IL, which is across the river from St. Louis, MO. We know that highway 55 goes almost due south, until you get to Memphis, TN, then it veers southeast into Mississippi. Where should we go from Memphis? To Little Rock, through the rest of AR into LA? Or, into Mississippi, next take 61 south, and then 20 west all the way to Shreveport? The former looks quicker. But going by the maps, and my memory of previous trips, there's a LOT of winding hilly back roads from Little Rock to Shreveport. My mother is NOT a fan of those kind of highways. Are highways 71/549 and 167 as dangerous as they look?

4. There aren't any major floods going down there, is it?

5. Any thing else we should know about Shreveport, LA.

Identify my American oil painting

stereo — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:50:06 -0800

This (early 19th century, mississippi river?) oil on canvas painting (large size, 612 Kb) has been in my family for generations. Who painted it, when, where? The painting was was dirty and had two holes in it when my father took it from a corner in my french great-grand-parents' attic during the early 1980s. He had it restored and framed, and it has been hanging in the living room since.

We tried to date it with the number of stars on the flag of the United States, but the flag always had more stars and more stripes, and used a grid design for the stars many times. The paddle steamers look older than this one from the 1850s. Could I learn anything about the painting from the bonnets of the women on the other steamboat, the way the porters work, the clothing of the people on the shore and the structure that looks like two double-decker buses at the side of the boat?

Would the high lighthouse on the cliff at the back place this by the ocean? I always thought it looked like a painting of the Mississippi.

The painting is unsigned, and there are only cobwebs at the back of the canvas.

Roadtrip from Chicago to Houston: How and what?

melodykramer — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:51:06 -0800

Chicago to Houston in one week, two lovely gals, one Camry: We're taking a road trip the week before July 4, starting in Chicago and ending in Houston. Any route tips? Things to see? Do? Quirky free attractions to see along the way? I'm in Chicago and she's from Houston but hasn't explored much. We're taking a week to drop her car back off starting in Chicago where we both are...we have 3-4 days to get down to Houston from Chicago and see what there is to see along the way. I'd rather not take big highways...but I've never ever ever been to the South or the Southeast, and would like to soak up as much as possible in the little time we have.

Things we like: hot springs, quirky roadside attractions, photography moments, rivers, THE BIGGEST ____, monuments, not spending a lot of money.

She's come up with 6 distinct itineraries that go in radically different directions, some involving Oklahoma and others involving Kentucky. I'm not sure what the best way is to get between here (Chi) and there and was wondering what kind of suggestions you have in mind.

Memphis & Mississippi songs

cainiarb — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:22:13 -0800

I'm trying to put together a playlist of songs with the words Memphis or Mississippi in them. Here are the ones I have so far. Can you help me add to my list. The ones in the titles are easy. I tend to forget the ones where the words are embedded in the lyrics rather than the title.

Can't Stop The Mississippi - Charley Pride
Dixie Chicken - Little Feat
Dixie On My Mind - The Charlie Daniels Band
Don't Mention Memphis - Tim McGraw
Down In Mississippi (Up To No Good) - Sugarland
Honky Tonk Women - The Rolling Stones
Lonesome Boy From Dixie - The Charlie Daniels Band
Memphis - Lonnie Mack
Mississippi - The Charlie Daniels Band
Mississippi Girl - Faith Hill
Mississippi Queen - Mountain
Muddy Mississipi - The Charlie Daniels Band
My Head's In Mississippi - ZZ Top
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band
Night Train To Memphis - Dolly Parton
Ol' Man River - Paul Robeson
Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner
Queen Of Memphis - Confederate Railroad
The South's Gonna Do It Again - The Charlie Daniels Band
Tryin' To Live My Life Without You - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

Life in Jackson after Eudora & Katrina

Toekneesan — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:17:32 -0800

I've been considering a position in Jackson, Mississippi. The job would be fantastic and a real step-up. The folks there seem eager to have me. The problem is Mississippi. My parents and sister now live there, but pretty far south (Picayune). I live in PA and before this mostly in the Midwest. Will I fit in? I've lived in Madison Wisconsin, Chicago Illinois, and rural Pennsylvania. My family has been in Southern Mississippi and Louisiana for over ten years so I know that part of the state. I would not be comfortable there. But as for Jackson, I've never been. Is there enough culture, diversity, tolerance that I could acclimate? I really would be a good fit for the job, it's how the life-style would effect the rest of my hours that I'm concerned about.

Anything you can tell me about Jackson and the immediate area would be greatly appreciated.

Setting down in the Land of the Delta Blues?

MasonDixon — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:59:37 -0800

Moving to Memphis: It seems a bit crime-y, am I going to die? Give me the low-down on real life in Memphis. Based on previous AskMes It seems that Midtown or Cooper-Young is the place to live if you must live in the city. What about the 'Burbs? Cordova, Germantown, Olive Branch or Covington?

Moving for a job with my SO And two dogs, we enjoy the urban life here in Boston and while we know it will be different there do we keep any of the urban feel (and is the crime risk worth it?) by living in Midtown? Or should we house shop outside the city limits?

If you live in Memphis what do you love/hate about it?

Can the British just sail right up the Mississippi?

Flunkie — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:52:35 -0800

Can the British just sail right up the Mississippi? The 1783 Treaty of Paris, in which Great Britain officially recognized the United States of America, says, in part:

The navigation of the river Mississippi, from its source to the ocean, shall forever remain free and open to the subjects of Great Britain and the citizens of the United States.

Is this still true? Can a Brit with a boat just sail up and down the Mississippi to his heart's content, without a passport or visa?

I've poked around a bit to see if I could find any subsequent treaty that nullified this article, but wasn't able to. It doesn't seem to be referred to in the Treaty of Ghent (which ended the War of 1812), the Treaty of 1818 (which made various boundary adjustments and such), or the Oregon Treaty (more boundary adjustments and such), and now I'm all out of treaties that popped into my head.

What should we not miss in a 3 day drive from New Orleans to Atlanta?

jur777 — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:15:15 -0800

What should we not miss in a 3 day drive from New Orleans to Atlanta? Looking for interesting cultural, historical, musical or culinary experiences. Would prefer the non-touristy stops. We know the places to hit in New Orleans and Atlanta - how about the places in between? The small towns off the beaten path... the weird... the cooky... the naturally beautiful...

Heading down South for the Holidays.

moooshy — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:16:07 -0800

My best friend is stationed in Biloxi, MS with Americorps and I'm planning on going down there for a Southern roadtrip over the Christmas holidays. What should we see within 4-6 hours of Biloxi? [mi] We're Northern born and bred, having most recently lived in Philadelphia and Chicago, and so we were thinking of doing a giant circle through the South over the course of a week. Drive 2-3 hours, see stuff, spend the night, continue onwards.

I'd be interested in your favorite places to eat/things to see in MS, LA, TN, and AL. We're also concerned that everything might just completely shut down between Christmas and New Years. Is this something to worry about? Will it be safe for the two of us (22 and 23 female) to travel alone in a car in more rural areas, or should we stick to the major cities? Any places to definitely avoid?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Winter holiday festivals in Alabama, Mississippi and Alabama - Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and others especially...

mdiskin — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 05:47:55 -0800

Help me find family-friendly winter holiday festivals and celebrations in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to be held this year (2007-2008)-- especially non-Christian celebrations like those celebrating Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or just winter itself. Or specific cultural celebrations that would offer something beyond the usual Xmas/Santa stuff. It's especially hard for me to get good descriptions since many holiday sites and city calendars aren't yet updated for the coming winter's festivals. I'd like specific towns/destinations to point others to (this is for a magazine article).

Ideas on what to see/do/eat in between New Orleans and Memphis?

Rewind — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 12:06:28 -0800

Any Mississippians/Louisianans care to tout the virtues and/or notable places and events of their homeland (or at least point me in the direction of a some good fried pickles?) My girlfriend and I will be taking a (sort of) road trip from New Orleans to Memphis in mid-July and are looking for good places along the way to pull over and enjoy the local culture/cuisine.

We've made this trip once before and took Rte. 55 through Jackson the whole way. Because we were somewhat pressed for time, and hadn't really researched any points of interest prior to going, we ended up eating at a Shoney's for dinner and simply turning off the Interstate at random places to see what we could discover (which ended up being Sardis Lake & Dam, innumerable cotton fields, various 7-Elevens, and a quaint, yet pretty town called Duck Hill.)

We're looking to be a little more proactive this time around and I figured we'd follow the Mississippi River up as outlined here, and the aforementioned Route 55 on the return trip. Anyone know the difference in drive times between the two routes? Any must-see's/eats from people that are familiar with the area? I've gotten a few ideas from this previous thread which has been helpful, and was hoping some of you might have some ideas more specific to the two routes I mentioned. We'll have around a full day each for the drive up and return. I realize I haven't exactly been specific with regards to our areas of interest, but quite honestly, we're not all that picky other than to say we're looking for things with a local flare, and are not at all opposed to kitsch.

Lastly, and of utmost importance, is where to get good fried pickles? My girlfriend, a native Southerner, insists that I, a northern boy, must try this "delicacy." Quite frankly, just the thought of them makes my mouth water.

Looking for Christmas/holiday family fun in the Southeast...

mdiskin — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 08:44:21 -0800

Southern Christmas/winter holiday traditions for families with kids -- point me to some good things to see, places to go, eat, etc in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama especially (GA, Arkansas, TN also welcome).... Bonus points for Thanksgiving fun, and if you have a few items to appeal to people of other faiths/nationalities, that would be fantastic.

Can you identify this strange plant?

Mr. Gunn — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 10:42:32 -0800

Can you identify this strange plant? We live in South Mississippi, and my father has never seen a plant like this in 50 years. It's growing in an area that used to be forest, but became a field after Katrina, and it's on the edge of the field in a fairly sunny spot. The flower kinda looks like clover, but clover has lobed leaves, not grassy shoots like this plant, so we don't think it's clover.

More pics here and here.

Help me plan a great Atlanta - Arkansas roadtrip with my grandparents...

mdiskin — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:36:02 -0800

Road trip! Atlanta to Arkansas in early April. My grandparents will be visiting from California and my husband and I are taking my them on what will most likely be their last trip back to the homes of their youth in Wesson, Arkansas (near El Dorado). With an 800-mile trip one way, we'll spend over a week on the trip, and will probably have to stop overnight somewhere on the way -- Jackson? Natchez? any suggestions for where to sleep or must-see stops on the way? Important notes: Pappaw is 89, Mammaw is 76. He plays golf several times a week and they're both pretty healthy, but I'm assuming will need to rest up or stretch their legs every couple of hours. Our toddler will be 17 months old and although she's pretty mellow I know we'll need to get out and chase her around a bit to tire her out. Usually if we're in the south we hit up the nearest town courthouse square, which are a dime a dozen down here.

Given my grandfather's age, I think this will be his last trip "home," so we'd like to make it as fun and restful as possible. So overnight stays can be on the nicer end of the scale.

They love to travel, and used to take road trips all the time all over the U.S., but can't see to drive very well these days, so we'll do all the driving. I LOVE my grandparents and they have always been incredibly fun to visit. Mammaw's favorite saying is "It's 5 o-clock somewhere" (as she raises a drink).

What is the largest rare book dealer in Mississippi?

Jaybo — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 23:58:45 -0800

Rare Book Dealers in Mississippi? (Help a student librarian!) I'm in my first semester of library school and for one of our assignments, we have to answer a hypothetical reference question. I've chosen "What antiquarian bookseller in Mississippi has the largest stock?"

I'm finding information about rare booksellers in both print (ie. Sheppard’s Book Dealers in North America - 15th Edition) and online sources (ie. relevant section of Mississippi Yellow Pages online) but can't find that definitive answer that says "This is the one with the largest stock."

I'm not asking anyone to answer the question for me but would love any guidance as to what I may be missing (or even if there is a source that will give a definitive answer. I doubt it's a trick question but it could be.)

I don't think that using AskMF is against the assignment guidelines anyhow. They say we can use online sources and even though they probably think most of the class will use Google and maybe a subscription database or two, I doubt they expect us to use more community-based tools like AskMF (even though, I suspect reference librarians use tools like this with increasing frequency just as they're as likely to ask colleagues and other non-print sources some of the time.)

Thanks in advance!

What should we name our cat?

Rock Steady — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 04:54:27 -0800

NameMyCatFilter: So we are fostering a kitten that was rescued from a house in Mississippi destroyed by Katrina -- a situation that will likely become permanent, and now we are thinking about a name for the little guy. Constraints inside. We'd like it to reference his background in some way, so something that suggests either the hurricane or Mississippi would be good (Storm and Biloxi have been suggested). Also, our other cats both have Irish-sounding names, so something that has an Irish feel would be an extra bonus. He's a tremendously cute, long-haired, orange polydactyl (extra toes) male who has a bit of a Maine Coon Cat look to him. Thanks!