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Splendors of Versailles Exhibit in Jackson, Mississippi

Splendors of Versailles Exhibit in Jackson, Mississippi

Old Aug 4th, 1998, 08:20 AM
  #1  
Flora
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Splendors of Versailles Exhibit in Jackson, Mississippi

Has anyone visited the "Splendors of Versailles" or the "Alsace to America" exhibits in Jackson, Mississippi? Are there any B&B's in the area or possibly in Vicksburg? Any information will be appreciated.
 
Old Aug 4th, 1998, 02:14 PM
  #2  
Meg
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I live in Jackson and just saw the Versailles exhibit a few weeks ago. I was not as impressed with it as I was with the Palaces of St. Petersburg that we had last year, but it was good. I have not yet seen the Alsace exhibit. There is a very nice B&B in Jackson called the Millsaps Buie House (601/352-0221) which is downtown but not within walking distance to the Versailles exhibit. The Buie House was used for filming part of "The Chamber". There are several B&B's in Vicksburg, but I am not familiar with them. Natchez, which is an hour and a half or two hours away has a great selection of B&B's - Glen Auburn is my favorite (my husband and I got married there). If you need any other info or have trouble finding anything on the Vicksburg B&B's, please e-mail me.
 
Old Aug 5th, 1998, 04:38 PM
  #3  
Joseph Rio
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Bonjour, Y'all. My response is long yet candid. I hope you find my comments useful

My French partner and I visited Jackson to see the "Splendors of Versailles" exhibit. I soon stopped calling "Splinters of Versailles."

Although I have visited Versailles many times and was privy to the restoration of the Queen's bedroom in the mid-Eighties, I think this exhibit gives a good approximation. It is well organized and documented. The curators did a fine job in recreating the rooms.

I was able to appreciate some of the paintings and period furniture. In the real Versailles, there is little possibility of seeing the art work closely. More so because many paintings are hung very high on the walls and objects are not placed for viewing in the round.

Although I was the only person not using the recorded tour headphones, my partner said that the information was relevant. I was just happy to absorb as much visual stimulation as I could.

I understand that the parquet floors and silk wall decorations, which are replicas of those in the real Versailles, will go on sale after the exhibit. What a treat for those fans of simulacra! I wondered, though, what the city planned to do with the ostentatious marble replica of Bernini's very baroque equestrian statue of Louis XIV, which was commissioned for the exhibit. The city is very poor and it may be in bad taste if it were relocated to an outdoor site. And certainly an ironic reference to monarchist France.

We also visited the "Alsace to America" exhibit, which I fondly referred to as "Alsace to Alabama." It is a good introduction to Jewish life in the American South. While we were there, a gentleman recognized a family member's name on a ship's manifest. It was a rare and touching moment of living history.

We had four very different "food and bar" experiences in the city. All very enjoyable and local.

The first night, we had a very simple fried catfish meal with all the works (hushpuppies, cole slaw, pickled onions, collards, and fries) at the Cock of the Walk. It's on the man-made Barnett Lake. For $8.95, you can't go wrong.

The following night, we had a very good meal at The Parker House, in a strip mall just north of East County Line. I had the "duck Jezebel," a confit with a delicious cranberry and champagne sauce. My partner enjoyed the grilled blackfish with a simple lemon sauce. The restaurant is very upscale by local standards and almost all the men wore jackets, although none are required.

Drinks and "Hal and Mal" is a must after a day of touring. The parking lot sign reads "for patrons of the Hal and Mal, from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m." The place must really rock late night. But we only had one drink there.

On Sunday, we ate lunch at The Two Sister's Kitchen, on Congress Street near the capitol. We went there after visiting the Mynelle Garderns. We arrived at the same time as the church crowd. The meal was prix fixe, self-serve, and bountiful. It was a truly good, home-cooked meal (fried chicken or Salisbury steak--with all the fixins'). But if I had my choice, I would go back for seconds of the bread pudding with rum sauce instead of the blueberry cobbler, which I found unpalatable in its odd tart sweetness.

We made a day trip to Vicksburg, where we visited an ante-bellum mansion that doubles as a bed and breakfast. It is called, I think, The Grove House; its restaurant features a first rate chef. But mind you, forego the tour. The rote presentation is full of cryptic racism that is presented as humor. The Belle of the Bends is another ante-bellum mansion cum B&B on the same block.

On the main (not casino) strip in Vicksburg, beware the quaint restaurants. Bad service combined with hefty prices will make for an unsavory meal, even for light fare: a shrimp po' boy was nine bucks! That's four dollars more than here in Washington D.C.!

Since I am not a Civil War buff, we skipped the battlesite (there are plenty of those in Virginia). But we enjoyed a few hours wasting quarters on a slot machine at the Isle of Capri Casino, which was celebrating its fifth anniversary. It was Mississippi's first casino since the laws changed. Just remember, if you start off with 20 coins and win 50 stop there. The odds are you will lose the lot if you continue gambling!

I hope that you enjoy the city as much as I. Although I was troubled by the extreme poverty--as we rode through the town's poorest neighborhood on the first day, I broke into tears--the other pleasant experiences and warm welcome we received compensated. I do hope that Jackson does enjoy the renaissance it is so hard trying to attain.
 
Old Aug 7th, 1998, 05:42 AM
  #4  
Meg
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Joseph,

It is unfortunate that all you got to see of Jackson was the poor neighborhoods. From what you wrote, it appears that you spent most of your time in the downtown area - which of course, is where the exhibit is. As in most cities, the poorer neighborhoods are in the downtown area. We have some wonderful historic neighborhoods just north of the downtown area with gorgeous homes and tree lined streets. There are also quite a few affluent areas on the outskirts of town.

As for the big white statue, I don't know where the city plans to put it, but we are proud to have it. Jackson has worked hard to make our city more visitor friendly and to make improvements so that the poverty stigma of Mississippi is not what people remember after a trip here.

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip.
 
Old Mar 29th, 2001, 07:42 AM
  #5  
Beth
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Meg,
My husband and I have reservations at the LaQuinta on Angle St. in Jackson mid June. Can you tell me if it is in an OK part of town or if i should reconsider. Thanks
 
Old Mar 29th, 2001, 08:24 AM
  #6  
Meg
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Beth - I was surprised to see this post at the top. I moved from Jackson to New Orleans a few years ago. I'm not familiar with the La Quinta, and truthfully, I can't say that I even know where Angle Street is. If you can find out what it's near , maybe I can give you an idea of the neighborhood.
 
Old May 14th, 2001, 11:38 AM
  #7  
Meg
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Sorry it took me so long to remember I asked the question about the La Quinta on Angle St. appears to be south of Rt. 80, near where 55 and rt. 20 meet. Looks like it's close to the Smith-Robertson Museum? south west of the downtown area. Hope I'm reading the map correctly. Thanks
 

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