Hattiesburg Today

The Newsroom

2011-01-24T10:53:00.006-06:00

These are just some of the smart, hard-working journalists I knew at the Hattiesburg American. I made this video at the end of 2008.

Segway through PRCC

2011-01-24T09:00:00.003-06:00

Walking around the PRCC campus a couple of years ago, a campus police officer on a Segway pleasantly surprised me. I thought by now we might be seeing more folks on Segways or similar devices.

Update: See Polk's speech at GLAAD Awards

2009-03-31T16:28:00.003-05:00

See Patrik-Ian Polk's acceptance speech at the GLAAD Awards. Rainbow Collection captured the moment on its Web site. Scroll about halfway down the page.

Polk's film, "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom," won for Best Film, limited release at the March 28 event in New York.

Sign of the times

2009-03-29T11:14:00.007-05:00

Saturday's HUBFest filled downtown Hattiesburg with cover-band music, crafts for sale and tents of food vendors. After a threat of bad weather passed, it turned out to be a sunny day with a cool breeze.

Local artists reported good sales for paintings, sculpture, jewelry and pottery. Local musicians played on several stages and an occasional loose balloon escaped overhead. Babies in strollers reached out to motion at dogs in tutus. Dogs in stollers almost outnumbered the babies.

Vinyl banners told us where to get fried alligator, crawfish and funnel cakes.

One sign caught our eye. New Yokel Market at the corner of Buschman and Main was closed Saturday. This was the posted explanation.

"We say NO to the ADPFest." The Area Development Partnership puts on HUBFest each year. The New Yokel owners couldn't be reached for comment immediately.

If you weren't able to attend HUBFest, watch this video and virtually walk through one block.

Update: 'Noah's Arc' wins GLAAD award

2009-03-28T23:13:00.006-05:00

Writer-producer-director Patrik-Ian Polk sent out this Twitter message Saturday night: "OMG we just won!"

His movie, "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom," tied with "Shelter" to win Outstanding Film Limited Release from the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York.

Polk is a Hattiesburg native. As reported here last month, he was nominated for three NAACP Image Awards this year.

Weekend events fill city

2009-03-27T09:24:00.006-05:00

HUBFest in downtown Hattiesburg is Saturday and includes art, music, families and friends. Also, the annual Zoo Blues bash gets underway with some great music. Crawfish dinners will be available at both events and a trolley can take you from HUBFest to Zoo Blues.

Update: Jazz-backed poetry on Hardy Street

First anniversary celebrations at Café Boheme Thursday included a poetry reading backed by jazz. The performance happened after the monthly Arts Café conversation, an open public discussion on art topics.

In this video, Paul McCall, one of the owners of the café, was pleased with the gathering.

The fun continues Friday and Saturday with dancing, more jazz and great food.

Happy 125th birtrhday, Hattiesburg

2009-03-11T18:48:00.002-05:00

Hundreds of folks came to the Hattiesburg depot Wednesday evening for the city's 125th birthday party. The city of Hattiesburg, the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association and the Area Development Partnership sponsored the party. Cake and punch was served in the crowded Grand Hall.

Finger-snapping time at Café Boheme

2009-03-09T10:17:00.006-05:00

Café Boheme will celebrate its first anniversary at the end of March with a week of poetry readings, jazz music and plant swappings.

The owners - including Dominique McCall shown here placing orchids on tables - have created an arty hangout for the Kamper-Avenues neighborhood. They've added greenspace in the back and are extending hours to accomodate more customers.

The Hardy Street coffee-shop offers a good model for any business that wants to be part of its neighborhood and enjoy the support of locals.

See Sunday's story in the Hattiesburg American.

Arts Council plans hat-making workshop

2009-03-05T14:34:00.004-06:00

The Hattiesburg Arts Council will host a hat-making workshop March 24 at the Hattiesburg Cultural Center, said Patty Hall, director. For details, watch this video.

Free ad: Garage sale

2009-03-03T07:38:00.003-06:00

Here's a chance for you to save some money and visit with neighbors.

Check out this garage sale at 1907 Ridgeway that starts around 8 a.m. and continues to 3 p.m. this Saturday, March 7. The hostess has cleaned out closets and an attic and found women's and men's clothes, a generator, furniture, arts and crafts, household goods, kitchenware and decorations.

(If you are looking for more ways to save money, we suggest you check out www.survivingtimes.com, a tour guide through the recession.)

Pop surrealism created in Hub City

2009-03-02T10:44:00.004-06:00

Hattiesburg artist Martina Sciolino is creating a buzz in the South Mississippi art scene with her large pop surrealistic paintings of vintage toys.

The University of Southern Mississippi English professor is forging a new career as an artist with the big-eyed icons.

"This is where my ambition meets my interests and ability," she said.

Read the whole story in South Mississippi Scene.

Pastry Garden loves being downtown

2009-03-02T10:33:00.003-06:00

Now open for one year in its downtown location, the Pastry Garden at Gordon's Creek has become part of the community.

Chef Jim Hinton said he prefers being downtown to being in a cookie-cutter strip mall in Oak Grove.

Read the whole story in South Mississippi Scene .

Homegrown: Patrik-Ian Polk up for 3 NAACP Image Awards

2009-02-09T01:36:00.001-06:00

Hattiesburg's own Patrik-Ian Polk is nominated for three NAACP Image Awards for his feature film, "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom."

Polk is up for Outstanding Independent Film, Outstanding Directing in a Film and Outstanding Writing in a Film.

"I was floored by the Image Award nominations," he said.

The awards show is Feb. 12 in Los Angeles.

UPDATE: For a longer interview, read this article.

- Valerie Wells
(Photo by Duane Cramer)

Pinching pennies

2008-07-20T16:45:00.000-05:00

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I spent $40 at Petal Discount Grocery Saturday and got enough food to feed my family of four for the week or longer. My two sons are in college and eat quite a lot, so let's just say I'm proud of my penny pinching.

Of course I couldn't stop there. I went over to E&B and stocked up on meats and even got some luxuries – smoked almonds, Jones Lemon Drop sodas and camembert. Yep, discount camembert.

I've mapped my favorite salvage stores along with some deals I found this week. More and more people seem to be crowding the aisles at E&B and Petal Discount Grocery. I was a little surprised to see the price of beans is up to 39 cents now at the Petal shop. I remember not too long ago it was 10 cents a can. I think I still have some of those dime cans in the pantry.

Some shoppers may prefer other salvage stores. I personally have not found a good deal at Hudson's since 1981, but that's me. I know others swear by the place. It probably depends on what you usually buy.

I remember making a trip to Campbell's Commodities near Purvis years ago where I found some incredible 10-cents-a-can deals, but I don't know if the place is still there or what it's like now. In Oak Grove there used to be a couple of supposed salvage stores, but the prices were more similar to what you would pay at a "regular" grocery store.

These places sometimes pop up and disappear before I even know about them. Is there a good place I'm missing? Of course, if it's really good you may want to keep it a secret.

I love Kamper Park. Sue me.

2008-07-02T09:22:00.000-05:00

I love public parks. They are a cross section of the community.

Where are your favorite places? My job often requires that I find average joes and talk to them about different issues. I shy away from private property because owners are often mean. That's fine - I shoo people off my property, too. I respect the concept and gladly comply with laws and decent behavior.

I'm not sure where in Lamar County I could stop someone on the street. It's not exactly a pedestrian friendly place. I know I don't venture into gated communities, so that's out. I mean the gate is there to keep people out and I must assume they mean me.

Frustrating to live in a doughnut hole.

Anyone want to meet at Shipley's?

Pothole bingo

2008-06-18T18:34:00.000-05:00

Where are the worst potholes in town? Contribute to this map and mark the worst ones. Click on the "Contribute to this map" phrase in the upper righthand corner of the map. Add the address and give us a lively description of what makes this pothole worse than all the others!

Got West Nile?

2008-06-15T19:57:00.000-05:00

Have you had West Nile virus? Has someone in your family or in your neighborhood had it? Mark the map below either by where you live or where you think you got bitten by a mosquito carrying the disease. Please add your comments and tell us when you were diagnosed.

Morning, Sunshine!

2008-05-17T20:15:00.000-05:00

Where do you go for morning coffee? Many times, I opt for McDonald's or sweet-talk the husband into making a pot.

I dream of finding the perfect coffee shop to sit and write but I can't settle on a good choice. Any suggestions?

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Help locate the stinkiness

2008-04-27T15:54:00.000-05:00

Where is that God-awful stench coming from?

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