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Sad news out of the Big Easy. Upperline, the New Orleans restaurant owned by the inimitable JoAnn Clevenger, has shuttered its doors for good. Clevenger and her family, who first closed the cherished Uptown spot at beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, have decided not to reopen after nearly 40 years in business. The charismatic 82-year-old spoke with The New Orleans Advocate about the difficult decision to remain closed earlier this month....

The classic nursery song rhymes, “First comes love; then comes marriage; then comes baby in a baby carriage!” But Southerners know that before there’s ever a baby in the carriage, there’s a baby shower celebrating new parents and their anticipated arrival. Baby showers are an opportunity for family, friends, and coworkers to offer gifts that will help the parents-to-be as they prepare to bring their new baby home, as well as a chance to offer encouragement and well wishes....

In the South, we take certain dishes very seriously. Fried green tomatoes, for example? Churn out soggy slices, and you’re forever marked. While other dishes, we take a little for granted. The perfect fluffy-flaky ratio of our homemade buttermilk biscuits? Those above the Mason-Dixon might never know it, and what a shame. However, there’s one classic delicacy that somehow skates the line: chicken salad. It might not ever be first on our list of the best Southern dishes, and perhaps not even top five; but every Southerner has quite the stubborn opinion on how it should be made....

Put a “Ring of Fire” on your calendar for February 26, Arkansas residents! As the Associated Press reported, the Arkansas House of Representatives gave final approval to a bill that would designate February 26 as “Johnny Cash Day” each year, with an impressive (but not surprising!) vote of 92-O. The bill will next proceed to Governor Asa Hutchinson, who will sign it, according to his office. The state Senate previously approved the bill earlier this month....

Sour cream is often a favorite topper for chili, soups, or burritos. It makes casseroles creamy and rich. It adds tang to mashed potatoes. But sometimes you discover you have a whole container and it’s going to reach its expiration date before you can use it up. You may be tempted to freeze it so that it doesn’t go to waste, but is freezing sour cream a good idea? We have the answers....

Carrie Underwood is a lot of things. Devoted wife. Doting mother to Jacob and Isaiah. Country superstar. Fitness enthusiast. Entrepreneur. Does “septuagenarian” belong on this list of descriptors? We don’t think so. But her four-year-old son, Isaiah, begs to differ. Yesterday, the singer took to Instagram to share a glimpse into her older son’s brain (Underwood and husband Mike Fisher welcomed their second son, Jacob, last year)—and we sure are laughing....

News flash: Valentine’s Day is this Friday. Whether you find yourself on a BFF getaway for Galentine’s Day, celebrating with a family member, or on a romantic date with a partner, love is on the mind for many as Saint Valentine’s Day approaches. And if you’re anything like us, you may be wondering what people across the South are typing into Ye Olde Google Machine in the love department. To that point, CenturyLinkQuote —an authorized reseller of CenturyLink products—has set out to discover the most-Googled relationship questions for the second year in a row....

On-screen, we’re always cheering on Chrissy Metz, who does a masterful job playing Kate Pearson on the hit NBC show, This Is Us. Now, our ears our rooting for her, too, as we’ve learned the actor has signed with country music big-timers, Universal Music Group Nashville. Much like her character, Kate, Metz is also a singer. In case you missed her stunning performance, Metz showed off her vocal prowess at the Academy of Country Music Awards last spring with an arresting rendition of “I’m Standing With You,” from Breakthrough, the 2019 movie from 20th Century Fox, that she starred in as Joyce Smith....

Life on the lam continues to agree with flamingo No. 492, aka Pink Floyd. The famous African flamingo has been a fugitive for an impressive 17 years—since it and another flamingo took advantage of strong storm winds and busted out of Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, on June 27, 2005. No. 492 has done quite a bit of traveling since its jailbreak. Over the years it has been seen in Texas several times, as well as in Louisiana and Wisconsin....

Yes, a poke cake is a cake that is poked full of holes, on purpose and with purpose. The baker pierces the top of the freshly baked cake and then pours over something sweet, syrupy or creamy, and often colorful, to run down into those holes, settle, and soak. The intent is to infuse lots of flavor, and perhaps a little whimsy, into the cake. When the cake is cut, the rivulets of filling look like stalactites inside a cave in the Big Rock Candy Mountain....

Finding the right words to say can be challenging even in everyday conversations. Being consistently articulate and prepared for a chat can seem like an insurmountable mountain to climb, but there are a few tips and tricks everyone can use to become the most eloquent person in the room. Coaches, reading specialists, and speaking experts provide some basic etiquette for conservation that can help you in any situation—whether you are with family, friends, co-workers, or complete strangers....

Recipes that call for frosting, cake decorating, or stuffing (like these Strawberry Cheesecake Bites) require the use of a pastry bag, but in reality, this is merely a suggestion. This is because a plastic freezer bag, a box of which you most likely already have at home, can be used in the exact same way. And if you’re not someone who regularly bakes or makes fancy wedding-like cakes with intricate designs that rely on the various piping tip shapes, all of which can intimidate even the more seasoned home baker, you really don’t need to go out and buy this specialty baking tool....

For ten years, Sarah and Jeff Shepherd walked by the historic mansion, Montfort Hall, on their daily walk through the Boylan Heights neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina. The two shared a love of historic buildings and Monfort Hall was one of the few remaining pre-civil war homes in the city. Sadly, the building had seen better days. It was obvious it had been long neglected. Still, they couldn’t get it out of their mind....

Never thought I’d say it, y’all, but tie-dye is back! In recent online window shopping, I’ve spotted tie-dyed crew socks, tie-dyed leggings, and of all things, tie-dyed cashmere sweaters. While I generally favor tried-and-true staples over the flavor of the month, I’m not totally immune to a trend. After spotting the umpteenth tie-dyed sweatshirt on my Instagram feed (a hand-embroidered one, no less!), I decided that it was time to board the Technicolor bandwagon....

Plan a proper date night. It’s the Southern way. And even in the midst of these unsettling times of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s still important to find ways to enjoy a special night with your significant other. To that end, fast-casual chain Zaxby’s—which is headquartered in Athens, Georgia—recently pulled out all the stops at one Knoxville outpost to fête the launch of their latest menu addition, Zax Pack for Two....

It’s hard to keep track of all of the companies—from small businesses to mega corporations—that are offering up acts of kindness in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, beloved North Carolina-based biz, Krispy Kreme, has stepped up to support healthcare workers on the front lines of this crisis. “To share joy among the millions in the medical community, and to show our gratitude for all they are doing, beginning Monday, March 30–National Doctors’ Day–and on every subsequent Monday through National Nurses Week (May 6-12), Krispy Kreme will provide all healthcare workers free dozens of our iconic Original Glazed® Doughnuts,” a press release read....

Before coronavirus, many of us were eagerly anticipating upcoming travel plans, whether a quick road trip to a nearby lake or an extended vacation in Europe. Now, we’re all spending a lot more time at home than we’re used to amidst social distancing efforts to keep our loved ones and communities safe. But just because travel plans have been thrown out the window doesn’t mean we can’t bring a dose of travel inside our abodes....

Too often, spaghetti is associated with crazed weeknight meals. Sure, your basic spaghetti and meat sauce can go from pot to plate in under 30 minutes, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have a more sophisticated side. A simple change in technique or ingredients can make all the difference. As a self-proclaimed spaghetti enthusiast, I should know. I have firmly claimed spaghetti as my favorite food since learning to twirl my noodles with a kiddie fork....

Cake or pie? It’s a delicious debate that’s consumed many. And while your taste buds may be the official tie-breaker, we can determine which dessert is better for your wallet. Here’s a breakdown of the costs that go into cakes and pies. If you’re challenging yourself and baking a recipe from scratch, expect to pick up lots of ingredients. To make a simple apple pie, you’ll need flour, sugar, apples, butter, cinnamon and more....

Hurricane Ida has been downgraded to a tropical storm, but much of the damage has already been done. Buildings, including what some refer to as the birthplace of jazz, were decimated by the powerful and dangerous winds, hundreds of thousands of people in New Orleans are without power, thousands more have been evacuated, and the threat of flooding remains. While the danger for the region is not completely over, the resilient Gulf Coast is starting to make its first steps towards assessing the damage and beginning the long process of rebuilding....