JJ Grey at City Winery

By Jessica Mischner | September 2, 2010 | NYC

 
On August 11, Florida native JJ Grey played a solo acoustic show at City Winery. It was an intimate, storytellers–style performance, in which Grey previewed some tunes from his upcoming album, Georgia Warhorse (Alligator Records), like the bluesy jam "Slow, Hot and Sweaty" (in the clip above), as well as old favorites like "Lochloosa" and "Brighter Days." In between songs, Grey, who had just flown in from Jacksonville that morning, reflected on the resilience of the human spirit—a theme he's been inspired by lately—and sipped from a commemorative bottle of JJ Grey Cabernet Sauvignon (concert-goers could buy the special edition wine, part of the winery's Artists Selections Series, after the show).

Georgia Warhorse officially dropped on August 24, and Grey and Mofro will launch their 26-city album release tour on September 3 at the Roxy in Lexington, Kentucky (check out www.mofro.net/ for tour dates and locations).

A New Southern Blog About NYC

By Jessica Mischner | August 31, 2010 | NYC

Jessica Mischner in NYC for the G&G April/May issue launch party at Billy Reid.
 
Earlier this year Garden & Gun ran a cover story I wrote about the “Southern Invasion of NYC” (April/May), a look at the explosion of Southern chefs, musicians, designers, and entrepreneurs in the Big Apple. The response was overwhelmingly positive, so we’re going to continue the coverage on my new blog, “Southern in the City.” I’ll be doing twice-weekly updates on all things Dixie in NYC, from Brooklyn’s best fried-chicken joints to hidden bluegrass bars to the rising influence of Southern designers.

Southern culture isn’t just present in New York City. It’s thriving like never before. The best new bars, shops, and restaurants all seem to have Southern roots. A majority of the tastemakers and trendsetters are Southern, too. Everywhere you go, someone’s pickling something or preserving something or handcrafting something or distilling something. Even the city’s social life has taken on a twang. This summer alone was filled with Southern happenings and events, many of which I had the pleasure of attending (our Southern community may be expanding, but we’re still a pretty tight knit circle). The Big Apple BBQ Block Party united barbecue lovers of all states and stripes, with everyone from Charleston’s Jimmy Hagood to Louisville’s Julian Van Winkle joining in. Bespoke suitmaker Alton Lane celebrated its launch with a Southerner-studded party at the Yale Club (which offers reciprocity to University of Virginia alums), and Mississippians converged on Central Park for their annual Mississippi in the Park picnic. At the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Governor’s Island, even those of us in the cheap seats got an up-close-and-personal glimpse of Prince Harry when he fell off his horse (much to his extreme embarrassment). And that’s not including all the crawfish boils, state society happy hours, and other get-togethers that dominate social life up here in Gotham—especially now that football season has arrived.

Mischner and Hagood at the Big Apple BBQ Block Party

In the weeks and months ahead, I’ll cover the people, places, and experiences that bring Southern culture to life in the Big Apple. I’ve got a front row seat to the excitement unfolding, and now, thanks to Garden & Gun, you do, too. Welcome to the party and welcome to my blog.

The Charm of Old-School Lighting

By Haskell Harris | August 27, 2010 | Design

I've always admired the charm of gas lanterns. There is something mesmerizing about lighting that hints at history and contains a moving flame inside its glass and metal shell. And they sure beat the typical finds at the big box chain stores, that's for sure.

And  two of the best sources for gas lanterns are Southern.

I discovered Eloise Pickard's work by way of Georgia architect Jim Strickland and his team at Historical Concepts (stay tuned for an exciting piece on a farm they designed in the next issue). Historical Concepts is known for creating new construction that looks a hundred years old, thanks to the use of charming vernacular details. And those details include lighting.  Since the early nineties, Historical Concepts has worked with Eloise Pickard, an artisan who refurbishes simple American gaslights—which date to a period between 1870 and 1916—for many of their projects. Though hers are electrified, I love the way that they add instant patina to the architecture in question.

I also love the hand-crafted copper lighting from Bevelo in New Orleans. (And no, it's not just because they advertise on this Web site.) Legendary Louisiana architect A. Hays Town discovered the lighting shop decades ago and the company is now a mainstay for architects and designers.  I'm a fan of their clean-lined Williamsburg light below. 

For now, gorgeous gas lighting is a bit out of my range, so I've started collecting lanterns of every shape and size and putting white pilaster candles inside. Atlanta interior designer Suzanne Kasler created fabulous petite carriage lanterns for her new collection for Ballard that I have my eye on (photo below). Bringing pieces that are normally reserved for the outdoors inside and lighting them during a dinner party is an easy way to add that flickering ambience for next to nothing.  

Does anybody else love gaslights and lanterns as much as I do?