—Dolly Freed, author of the 1970s back-to-the-land classic Possum Living. The book has been re-released this month with an update from the Texas resident. Read our Q&A with Freed.

The crew at Bitty & Beau’s new Savannah location. (Photo courtesy of Bitty & Beau’s Coffee)

After having two children, Bitty and Beau, with Down syndrome, Amy and Ben Wright began to wonder what career options would be available to their kids as adults. Noticing that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often struggled to find opportunities, the Wilmington, North Carolina, couple came up with an innovative idea—they would open a coffee shop staffed by employees with IDD, not only offering them purposeful work and professional experience, but changing public misconceptions in the process. They established the first Bitty & Beau’s Coffee in Wilmington in 2016, followed by a second in Charleston, South Carolina. Now the couple have just opened the doors to their newest location, a Bitty & Beau’s in Savannah, Georgia. “We’ve always loved Savannah…and we like being in a place where we can reach lots of people with our mission,” Amy tells the Savannah Morning News. “We love the customers who walk in and have never heard of us before because we really feel like we make an impact with the way they see people with disabilities.” The company now employs some eighty people with IDD, and the Wrights aren’t done yet. Amy says they plan to announce their next city soon.

A New Orleans fan's message in Atlanta. (Courtesy of Matt Bowers)

Last Sunday, the only Southern NFL team with a shot at making the Super Bowl lost in a most excruciating way. In the closing moments of the NFC Championship Game between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams, game officials failed to call pass interference on a play that would have all but sealed a Saints victory and berth in the Super Bowl. Saints fans were apoplectic. Some bars in New Orleans say that instead of showing this year’s Super Bowl on February 3, they’ll show the 2010 game, which the Saints won, reports The Advocate. Another fan filed a lawsuit against the league. But one longtime New Orleans resident, Matt Bowers, came up with a very public way to express his displeasure, buying spots on several billboards in Atlanta, where the Super Bowl will be held, with messages that include “SAINTS GOT ROBBED” and “NFL BLEAUX IT.” As Bowers told Nola.com, “I’m going to try to put a spotlight on this. And if it makes me feel better, great. If it doesn’t, great. But I’m going to absolutely torture [the NFL] for the next few weeks.”

It’s been more than half a century since Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode to Billie Joe” became a number-one hit, knocking the Beatles out of the top spot in August of 1967, and to this day, listeners still wonder what sent Billie Joe over the Tallahatchie Bridge—and admire the song’s mysterious singer. Now, a new tribute tackles the Mississippi native’s underrated second album, The Delta Sweete, released in 1968. New York rockers Mercury Rev organized the homage, providing the instrumentals for singers including Margo Price and Norah Jones to each make one of Gentry’s songs their own. Garden & Gun is honored to premiere the album’s final track, a fantastic and haunting version of “Ode to Billie Joe” by Lucinda Williams. Though the song didn’t appear on the original release of The Delta Sweete, the band felt it needed to be included. “Like a homing beacon, the gravity of ‘Ode to Billie Joe’ centered our approach into the Gentry constellation,” says Mercury Rev’s Jonathan Donahue.

Learn more and listen to the song here.

We recently asked, “What’s your favorite Southern bar and why?” Here are some of your responses:

Manuel’s Tavern is a go-to in Atlanta for politicos, reporters, and locals, serving what are arguably the best Buffalo chicken wings and black bean nachos. Great crowd and lots of memories. —Danny

Napoleon House, New Orleans. Entering on a dark and rainy night is a transformative experience. —James M.

The Lost Square, the newly opened rooftop bar at the Alida hotel, Savannah. The design feels like a ship, and you literally feel as if you are headed down the river. —Allison

Freight House, Paducah, Kentucky. Chef Sara Bradley has more than 300 bourbons to pair with her Top Chef entrees. —Mark H.

Hole in the Wall, Natchez, Mississippi. True to its name, it is a hole in the wall on the banks of the Mississippi River. Great atmosphere, cold beer, darts, and Southern hospitality. —Kelley P.

Temptation Restaurant, Boca Grande, Florida. Truly a throwback to the old Florida bar attached to an amazing restaurant with fresh seafood. —Tom W.

Husk, Nashville. Great bartenders and a great bourbon selection! —Susan V.

Trappeze Pub, Athens, Georgia. 1. Because it’s Athens...and if you sit there long enough you may see a good many of the Athens mix on any given night, which makes for quite a show. 2. Incredible beers not only from Georgia but from around the world. 3. If you're hungry, then you’ve got some of the best food around like the pork ribeye. But let’s get back to Number 1. —Bryan F.

Old Daufuskie Crab Company, Daufuskie Island, South Carolina. Locally known as “the beer joint,” as there is only one on our little island. On the water, good food, good music, and generous pours. —Roger

Suttree’s High Gravity Tavern, Knoxville. The main attraction for beer lovers is the quality of the 32 beers on tap. Every time I visit, a new beer is available to experience for the first time. The variety of ramen bowls are worth a taste as well. —Garry F.

Sunset Pointe, Fairhope, Alabama. It’s off the main road, waterfront dining, incredible chef, outstanding fresh seafood. And (here’s where the favorite part comes in) a toast each evening at sunset, “…to good food, friends and the view.” Spectacular! —Otto V.

With shows in some of Memphis’ most iconic clubs, the International Blues Challenge offers more than 200 budding acts their big break. The five-day event concludes with a grand finale at the Orpheum Theatre.

One of the largest events of its kind in the country, the Denton Black Film Festival in Denton, Texas, presents screenings of more than sixty films (both new and classic) by African-American filmmakers. Spoken-word performances and live music are also on the lineup.

Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla invades downtown Tampa for the Gasparilla Pirate Fest. Now in its 102nd year, the annual romp includes concerts, a parade, and plenty of shenanigans. 

Old decoys, oyster cans, fishing lures, and more will be up for grabs at the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum’s Vintage Hunting and Fishing Collectibles Show in Maryland.

The West Virginia Winter Music Festival brings more than fifty bands to venues in downtown Lewisburg to celebrate the heritage of traditional mountain music.