Clarksdale Community and the Shack Up Inn.
Wednesday June 6, 2007 was a fun and relaxing day. The day started with touring the downtown artsy area of Clarksdale, MS. We were able to have an authentic experience and go into some of the shops. Our first stop was at Hambone’s Art Gallery owned by a local artist that talked to us about his art history. Mr. Stan Suggs was a really interesting guy that said he never took any art classes but that art is truly his passion. I bought a print of Billie Holiday from his gallery for only $20.00! Also, we went into famous restuarants like the Delta Amusement Cafe where the decor, interestingly enough included a rather large Confederate Flag that said Rebel Pride. Someone I was with asked what one had to do to have a college flag posted and we told the owners that we were from Wake Forest. We also spent some quality time in a local barber shop/hair salon where we talked to local people from Clarksdale and definitely witnessed a strong sense of community. I don’t think that many other cities are like Clarksdale in that the locals say that more and more people are coming to the town and making it home. That was a great sign because historical Blues oriented cities need to be preserved. The only other thing that would have completely made my day was if Morgan Freeman had been in his blues club, Ground Zero. The food was excellent at Ground Zero’s and I definitely want to come back.
The day did not end with our adventures in Clarksdale, where music, people, and a strong sense of community dominate the city. Wednesday night, we stayed in the Shack Up Inn, my favorite lodging experience we’ve had in the entire trip. The Shack Up Inn is definitely a great blend of old fashioned and modern. The shacks are truly authentic and I really wish we could stay here more than one night. This experience was great and nothing is better than a screened in porch on a hot summer day in the Mississippi Delta! The idea for this place is definitely one that sells but also educated people. Because, the life of a sharecropper isn’ t a pop culture media image that often gets out. I would defintely like to come back here and hopefully visit the Riverside Inn as well.