Monday, February 9, 2009

SHACKIN' UP AT THE SHACK UP INN

So this weekend Kenny and I headed to Clarksdale, Mississippi (World Capital of the Blues) to spend the weekend with college friends at a place called the Shack Up Inns. This fine establishment is located in a field in the Delta and basically this place has moved several shotgun sharecropper shacks onto this land and you can rent them out for the weekend. The weather was amazing. 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. There were 21 of us that went so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Except for the occasional, seriously random person that would wander over to our camp fire to hang out with us.

LOTS OF PICTURES AHEAD! AND MOST LIKELY A LONG POST. WE HAD FUN!
Friday night everyone arrived at different times so we decided that everyone would just bring snacky food and we would just hang out at the shacks. The boys got a fire going and the girls sat around and talked. When my friends Megan and Patrick arrived they came bringing a Southern Mississippi beer called Southern Pecan that is quickly growing in popularity across the south. So needless to say everyone was pretty excited when we saw who was on the box but none other than Patrick and Megan themselves! For some reason Megan did not want to be photographed with her box!

And I just have to mention that I have found a drink that I totally obsessed with. Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. Mix it with water and a splash of lemon and you would think you were drinking a cold glass of sweet tea on a hot day. You cannot even taste the alcohol. Which could be a good thing or a bad thing.





On Saturday morning we woke up and took an informal tour of all the shacks. I say informal because we were all in our pajamas. The Shacks are so unique because they are extremely eclectically decorated. For instance the room that Kenny and I stayed in had a female mannequin in a tshirt and straw hat sitting cross legged mounted on our wall. But others had old pianos and and guitars and bars. I really liked the painting of the man playing the piano that was on one wall. Across the field from the Shacks was an old cotton gin that they had turned into a very unusual bar. This place really was so neat to stay at.

Saturday afternoon the girls all threw on some clothes and not a bit of makeup (so nice) to browse a couple shops in downtown Clarksdale. After a little shopping we all decided to go have a drink at Ground Zero Blues Club. Ground Zero is Morgan Freeman's bar. I was a little hungry so I ordered some fried grits. Yes, you read that right....fried grits. Dipped them in a little butter. They were good!

Saturday night we had reservations at a new restaurant in Clarksdale called Rust. It was a great choice. And the staff was very friendly and accommodating with our large group. Lots of good things on the menu. I had the shrimp and grits. (of course) And then there was lots of excitement when Eric decided to propose to Blair with all her friends present. That is Eric in the green sweater and Blair blowing out her birthday candles because her birthday was last week and we were having Strawberry cake to celebrate! Her ring is gorgeous and everyone was very excited for them.

After dinner we headed to Ground Zero, for a couple drinks. They had a good band playing and the place was pretty crowded. Sorry about the pics, my camera was doing weird things with the bars lighting. Once we left the bar we went back to the Shack Up Inn and everyone just hung around the campfire. At some point late late in the night we roasted some hot dogs that were awesome.

Kenny and I stayed up until four in the morning both Friday and Saturday night so we were exhausted on Sunday. When we got home early afternoon we slept until nightfall. Got up to watch Big Love and then went back to sleep. I am not running on all cylinders this morning but it was sooo worth it!

5 comments:

Megan said...

GREAT pics! I miss you already! Have a wonderful week! I'm go amazed that there are 2 (not 1 but 2) good pictures of us together. Unbelievable.

ashley said...

what an interesting place... lots like lots of fun!

Me in Memphis said...

Fun! I've always wondered how the original Ground Zero was.

Elizabeth said...

Don't you just LOVE that place? It's one of my favorite places ever - we've been twice! :)
And that sweet tea vodka is dangerous. It's too good!

Andrew and Rebekah said...

What a good post! You have all the critical informaion points! I think your picture with all the girls in front of the shack turned out cute, it looks more like a candid!