I Did It For The Beard

A few weeks ago I was scanning one of those publisher's catalogs that gift shops and museums get. You know the kind, one peddling the wares of this company or that. As I was checking out the various entries, I came across one book in particular that caught my eye: "Bad Ass Civil War Beards" by Anna Hider and Julia Hider.

I stopped.

I laughed.

You see, I run a historic house in Macon, Georgia that happens to be an homage to life during the Confederacy. The home was built in 1853 and belonged to a plantation owner and probate judge, Judge Asa Holt. The home is a planter's townhouse and absolutely the quintessential antebellum home.

One of the goals I have set for myself is to really increase their  bottom line. I noticed the home/non profit did not have a true signature fundraiser. Then it hit me - why not do something that will celebrate beards. They are all the rage these days with younger, hipster type guys. Not to mention, most of the volunteers of the house are Civil War reenactors and a majority of the men have burly beards.


Okay.. now that I had the idea of celebrating the beard - but what else? It hit me - A Gentlemen's night. But what else do guys enjoy down here? Well.. hello! Bourbon... and BACON.

Boom - Now I have a fantastic fundraiser called Beards, Bourbon, and Bacon: A Gentlemen's night at the Cannonball House.

Let me tell you - it is coming together so nicely! There is a fantastic barbershop in town called, "The Gentry."

photo found on the Gentry's website

The gentleman you see in the picture is going to lead a discussion on the proper growth of a beard, how to maintain and care for your beard, and what face shapes work best with different styles.

Then... I figured, if you are going to celebrate the beard - we should have a BEARD contest. Softest/longest/bushiest/most unique stash, etc.

Plus - we will have a local historian and author, Wayne Dobson, share the history of the styles of beards. Apparently the 1850s - 1860s were considered the "Golden Age" of beards. 

As far as bacon goes, the house is super lucky to have the United Daughters of the Confederacy involved with the home. The ladies of the UDC plan to create a large variety of bacon inspired dishes!

Finally, how do we do the bourbon? Oh boy - this is a good one! Ryan Smith is a mixologist at Dovetail restaurant in Macon. Ryan is known for his extensive knowledge about bourbons/whiskey.

Photo credit: From Ryan's Facebook - Jessica Whitley

Ryan plans to share about four different bourbon options: high grade to mid grade. He is also working on making some bacon-infused bourbon in a barrel that he plans to sell.

We will have the tasting back in the old kitchen that is basically lit with soft lighting and candles. It will be incredibly authentic.

To top it all off - CIGAR GROTTO in the beautiful garden - complete with reenactors singing songs.

The event is going to be Saturday, April 11 from 7 - 9pm. Tickets will be $20 a person.

I am sooo excited and hope that we are able to secure some good sponsors and have a great turnout!

Any of my friends or readers that have ever considered visiting a southern town - this may be the perfect trip for you. No beard required and yes, ladies are welcome!

Sassy Southerners

The older I get, the more I appreciate being from the South. As a kid, I would head northward to my grandparent's home in Indiana. Most of my cousins were born and raised around those parts, none south of the Mason Dixon line. I still remember riding around in someones car, and my cousins kept asking me to "Say something in Southern," as if I was from a foreign country and spoke a different language.

I probably did seem different.
I got to the point I was ashamed to be from here.

As a teenager, I was involved in theater and ballet and a wide variety of other activities. Most of the kids I met were well traveled and sometimes even from another state... a state much further north. It seemed to me that the more "cultured" kids were from "somewhere" else, so at a young and very impressionable age, I began to think that being from the South was a bad thing.

But all that has changed.

The more I traveled and the more I learned and was exposed to so many different types of people, the more I realized that we have something very special down here. From our homes to our hospitality, or from our charm to our sass, we have everything from classic columns and magnolias to shot gun houses and good soul food.

Class and charm is serious business down here- cotillions still take place. Our blues and bbq are second to none, and if you have never been in here in Spring, then you are really missing out.

I decided to pick my favorite books, movies, tv shows that depict the South that I recognize. We each have a different story, but this one.. this one is mine.



Steel Magnolias happens to be one of my absolute favorite movies of all time. These women remind me of the women I grew up with. The strong Southern woman. My mom's cousins (she was an only child) and my great-aunts could cook, clean and out sass the next one.

Fried Green Tomatoes was actually shot in middle Georgia! (Juliette and Macon.)



Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood



Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil (True Story set in Savannah)

MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD & EVIL: Movie Trailer. Watch more top selected videos about: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Clint Eastwood

And of course...

The Help was another amazing movie..



Best TV Show shot in the South?



And one of MY favorites.. one i can completely relate to:






And of course.. The Secret Life of Bees


Looking for a GREAT book?

Read anything by Anne Rivers Siddons, William Faulkner, Flannery O'Conner and Tennessee Williams.

I am sure I left out a ton of stories.. what are some of your favorite Southern stories??

If you have not taken the time to watch one or read one, please do and tell me what you think. :-)