You Are Invited...

In follow up to SGEndorses: Bailey's Maryland Avenue, Pamela Watson has invited the readers of SOUTHERN GENT to her trunk show with Star Monograms on Thursday, July 9 from 7:00 - 10:00 PM. Hope to see y'all there!

Southern Delights: MoonPies

It's a Southern Thing!

The MoonPie, invented in 1917, hails from my high school hometown of Chattanooga, TN. Now available in six flavors (chocolate, vanilla, banana, strawberry, orange and lemon) and in three sizes - single or double decker or mini-MoonPie - nationwide.

The story goes that the Mountain City Flour Mill began making confections so the excess flour wouldn't go to waste. Upon a salesman returned from a trip to West Virginia where he saw coalminers making rudimentary s'mores by melting marshmallows on graham crackers, the MoonPie was born. The Mountain City Flour Mill added a second cracker on top and coated the whole creation in chocolate. The snack became so popular that by the 1950's it was the only product produced by Chattanooga Bakery.

While I don't personally remember the slogan "It's a Southern Thing," at some point MoonPies and RC colas were known as a popular "dixie duo" and today are sold together.

Do y'all recollect having this combo?

Well, it's never too late to try it either - visit www.moonpie.com or the new MoonPie General Store on 48 North Market Street in Charleston, SC for your own "dixie duo."

Image Credits: www.MoonPie.com

Arlington: The Rap

Courtesy of GoRemy

Favorite part: "Why do all these dudes be wearing brown flip flops?"

Thanks for sending along Susie!

SGEndorses: Bailey's Maryland Avenue

About two years ago, one of the best dressed women I know decided to share her style with the rest of us and opened Bailey's Maryland Avenue in Annapolis, Maryland.

Pamela C. Watson of Charlotte, North Carolina, came to Washington, DC to pursue a degree in international affairs. Post graduation she did a brief stint lobbying for soy beans, before she ditched the 9-to-5 to work for a start up boutique/accessories manufacturer then as store manager for a venerable Palm Beach brand.

After a summer spent in Annapolis as a boat intern, she fell in love with the "Sailing Capital of the World's" east coast sensibility and relaxed water front community deciding to set up shop in historic downtown a block from the capitol building.

Bailey's is aggressively chic attire at its best. Clothing and accessories that are well-made, classically inspired and ideal both in Town and in the Country.

Pamela carries a mix of classics and fresh new labels including: J. McLaughlin, Calypso, Skirtin' Around, Elizabeth McKay, Boy Meets Girl, Taylor, Lia Kes, Prairie New York, KEP Designs, Meg Carter Designs, Just Madras, Tolani, Fornash Designs, James Jeans, Plenty Frock by Tracy Reece, Julie Haus, CK Bradley & Liquid.

Because SOUTHERN GENT has both a loyal male and female readership, Pamela has graciously offered y'all 10% off your purchase. Just enter "So Gent" under "special instructions" on her website.

Bailey's Maryland Avenue
62 Maryland Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21401
410.260.8845
www.shopbaileys.com

Image Credits: Bailey's

Greetings from Florida!

I was in Florida last week for mostly business and a little pleasure. The week started at an industry convention for one of our biggest clients as the magical Disney property Coronado Springs.

While these conventions don't leave much time for enjoying the city you're in, we did have one event at Epcot (which I learned stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) where my co-worker and I had time to hit Spaceship Earth. A slow-moving ride through the history of the future, it appears like the dioramas of animatronic people probably haven't changed much since first built in 1982. That being said, Disney Imagineers have added a new interactive portion with a touchscreen monitor in your "car".

Turns out the picture taken at the beginning would be incorporated with the questions we answered at the end of the ride to create this brief film for your enjoyment:

Extra! Extra! Crawfish in The District

I started this post some time before April 30th and how it fell off the radar I have no idea.

Regardless, Acadiana promises they're fresh from the Gulf and boiled just as we like them. So with the sun shining, summer work schedules in affect and the need to be outside stronger than ever, what better time to head downtown to peel tails, suck heads and sip a cold brew!

Before we head down to Gallery Place, let's learn how to peel a mudbug (not sure what I like more about this video - the size of the crawfish or the narrator's accent):

Courtesy of Mudslides Slim

WHO: Washington's Southern folk missing mud bugs

WHAT: Choice of crawfish ($13 lb.) or shrimp ($17 lb.) plus potatoes and corn-on-the-cob. Add a bucket of 4 ice-cold Abita Lites for $12.

WHERE: On the patio of Acadiana (901 New York Avenue, NW)

WHEN: Thursdays & Fridays from 4:00 - 6:30 PM

Image Credit: Photobucket

Polo Match

Over on LATENIGHTSHOTS.com (the invite-only social networking site on which the new CW show Blonde Charity Mafia is based), there has been a forum string debating the merits of all the different polo brands. Now, I know our friend Giuseppe would argue they're called "tennis" shirts, not "polo" shirts, but for today's sake let's stick with polo.

The majority of the companies' websites all proclaim different merits of their shirts, but what they all have in common is a pursuit to create their version of the perfect polo shirt.

I've tried on just about all profiled below and always come back to the original - the Classic Fit Polo by Ralph Lauren. Who do you choose?

THE OLD GUARD: the standard for which all are measured
Polo Ralph Lauren
Lacoste
Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece

MIDSHIPMEN: tried and true with regional followings
Perlis, New Orleans, LA
Ben Silver, Charleston, SC
Lilly Pulitzer, Palm Beach, FL

NEOPHYTES: their impression of an American classic
Dakota Martin
Green Lobster
Jimmy and Sook
Southern Proper's Proper Polo
Southern Tide's Skip Jack
Salmon Cove
Vineyard Vines

Image Credits: Companies' respective websites

O. S. A. R.

While in Annapolis over the weekend, I noticed a t-shirt I haven't seen in long while. The article of clothing was a worn, burgundy t-shirt screen printed in all white with the M.R. Ducks logo (similar to the one at left).

If you haven't seen M.R. Ducks before, its a bar and restaurant in Ocean City, Maryland that's perfect for day drinking right on the water and with stores in Maryland and South Carolina (as shown below).

According to the company's website, two duck hunters were in a duck blind when this conversation ensued:

M. R. Ducks
M. R. Not
O. S. A. R
C. M. Wangs
L. I. B.
M. R. Ducks

What the hunters were saying in their eastern-shore accents was this:

Hunter 1: Them are ducks.
Hunter 2: Them are not.
Hunter 1: Oh, yes they are.
Hunter 1: See them wings?
Hunter 2: Well, I'll be.
Hunter 2: Them are ducks.

In my minds eye, I imagine this conversation was had between the gent in the M.R. Ducks blue t-shirt and the gent in the black M.R. Ducks tank top and "jorts" in the picture below:

Dickie: L. I. B.

Image Credits: www.mrducks.com