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Welcome to the charm of Old Bay St. Louis
By SHELLEY N.C. HOLL
Contributing writer
A mid-summer visit to Bay St. Louis is a time-honored tradition among New Orleanians. But in recent years many travelers miss the old part of town, never turning off U.S. 90?s commercial strip before crossing the wide bridge that leads to Pass Christian.
Back among the tangled, moss-hung live oaks are sturdy old wooden houses with raised footings and wide overhanging porches. A new crop of arty businesses is also springing up along Main Street. But a big part of what is new business in Bay St. Louis is old business to New Orleanians.
Take Jenise McCardell?s Ctey Creations. After lu years making and selling ceramic house plaques at Riverwalk, McCardell pulled dp stakes. Her shop is still in Riverwalk and carries her designs, but it is under new ownership. McCardell moved, renovating a raised cottage into an airy garden-wrapped house and studio on Main Street in Old Bay St. Louis.
Then there?s the case of Quarter Moon, a New Orleanian craft shop in the French Quarter. Owner Ellis Shallbetter is setting up a second shop at 146 Main St. Like McCardell and most of the other newcomers to that beach-side village, she shouldered a renovation project. But hers had a dscidedly creative twist. When it came time to paint the exterior, Shallbetter was undecided as to the color, so she painted four swatches on the front of her shop/ house, numbered them and invited pass-ers-by to vote. To her surprise, 51 people put ballots in her box and the house ended up a shade of tangerine. Of course, it?s not just New Orleanians who are opening shops in Bay St. Louis. Vicki Lever of Paper Moon first moved to the coast at Long Beach, Miss. 10 years ago. She came from inland Mississippi, rented a duplex and discovered the hurricane spotter pilot who lived upstairs.
?When we first married, nothing changed. We kept our living arrangements and didn?t even bother to tell anyone,? Lever said. Eventually the couple resettled in Bay St. Louis, renovating an old house with a store for Lever?s handmade paper collage art and vintage clothing in front. I had fun at Lever?s, trying on hats and smart 1940?s jackets and playing with her big, spotted dog. I also gravitated to her
See L'ATTITUDE, next page
Photos by Shelley N.C. Holl
Clay Creations? Jenise McCardell and her daughter in the front garden of her renovated
Take 1-10 East to the exit by the Mississippi Welcome Center. The sign says "Beaches Scenic Route.? This road changes from Highway 607 to U.S. 90. At the intersection immediately after the large Casino Magic sign, turn right on Main Street. A large Coca Cola sign on the right signals the beginning of Bay St.
Louis'Old Town.
Clay Creations is at 215 Main St., Bay St. Louis, Miss., 39520; call 601-466-6347.
Paper Moon is at 220 Main St., Bay St. Louis, Miss., 39520; call 601-467-8318.
The Blue Dish is at 112 N. 2nd St., Bay St. Louis, Miss., 39520; call 601-467-1989; hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays (lunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.). Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
M. Schon Antiques is at 110 S. 2nd St., Bay St. Louis, Miss. 39520; 601-467-9890.
Serenity is at 126 Main St., Bay St. Louis, Miss., 39520; 601-467-3061. Quarter Moon is opening Sept. 21 at 146 Main St., Bay St. Louis, Miss., 39520.
Bay Town Inn is at 208 North Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis, Miss., 39520; 1-800-467-8466.
house and studio in Bay St. Louis, Miss.
Ellis Shallbetter of Quarter Moon asked passers-by in Bay St. Louis to vote on a color for her new home and shop. When she opened the public ballot box, she found 51