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28/02/2025
๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฐ
๐๐ฑ๐ก๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ
โข Elvis Presley's Graceland has unveiled a refreshed ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐น๐๐ถ๐: ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ exhibit, showcasing 15 newly-displayed jumpsuits making their debut after more than two years off display at Graceland while traveling the world as part of Direct from Graceland exhibition series.
This marks the first major update since the popular exhibit opened in 2022. To complement the new additions, the existing jumpsuits in the exhibit were also rotated to give visitors a fresh perspective.
Located within the ๐๐น๐๐ถ๐: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐๐บ, the exhibit features a 21-foot floor-to-ceiling display of Elvis' iconic stage costumes, offering visitors an unprecedented view of his legendary jumpsuits.
Some of the highlights include:
--- White & Black Brocade Collar Suits from Elvisโ first Las Vegas engagement at the International Hotel in 1969.
--- Rope Collar Suit featured on the cover of Elvisโ On Stage album.
--- Blue Brocade Suit worn in Las Vegas in February 1970.
Webbed Fringe Suit worn only once at the Forum in Los Angeles on Nov. 14, 1970.
In addition to jumpsuits, the exhibit also features Elvis' beautifully detailed capes, his numerous belts, two-piece suits, studded boots, jewelry, and more.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐น๐๐ถ๐: ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ is just one of the many new and refreshed exhibits happening at Graceland in 2025.
In January, Graceland opened the 90 for 90 Exhibit that features 90 curated stories told through items specially selected from the over 1.5 million artifacts housed at the Graceland Archives.
Throughout 2025, Graceland will also welcome the opening of:
--- ๐๐น๐๐ถ๐: ๐๐น๐ผ๐ต๐ฎ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ถ ๐๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ featuring captivating visuals, sounds, and artifacts from Elvis' iconic 1973 performance.
--- ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ in August, will recreate Elvis' 1974 Living Room transformation with its original red French Provencal decor and furniture.
--- ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐น exhibit, delving into the life of Elvis's manager, opens in August.
In addition, Graceland's newly renovated Elvis in Hollywood section at the ๐๐น๐๐ถ๐: ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐๐บ, which already offers photo op vignettes from Elvis' movie career โ including a New Orleans "King Creole" set, Jailhouse Rock prison setting, and western saloon, will introduce more movie set photo ops in 2025, including a beach, a carnival and a garage.
~ https://www.graceland.com
โข Through Mar. 15, "Am I An American or Am I Not?", an engaging traveling exhibit on display at Delta Blues Museum - Clarksdale, Mississippi. It "asks visitors to think about examples of unfair treatment from our countryโs past and present in order to protect the American promises of life, liberty, and justice for all."
The exhibitionโs title comes from Fred Korematsu, who famously challenged the mass imprisonment of over 125,000 Japanese Americans during WWII. When faced with criminal charges for not following the military orders to leave his home without due process, the U.S. born citizen remembered his Constitutional rights and asked, "Am I an American or am I not?"
~ https://www.deltabluesmuseum.org
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โข It's Party Gras at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Miss. Just steps away from the Krewe of Neptune and Gulf Coast Carnival Association parade route, Beau Rivage is the perfect spot to fuel up, enjoy festive offerings and gather with your krewe before heading to the parade.
In celebration of Mardi Gras, Beau Rivage will offer guests King Cakes, whole or by the slice, and King Cake flavored drinks at The Roasted Bean, a Mardi Gras Day pop-up menu at The Daiquiri Shop, fun Mardi Gras specialty items at Bellini Gifts and a Party Gras T-shirt giveaway.
The Daiquiri Shopโs special Mardi Gras pop-up menu returns on Fat Tuesday, Mar. 4, from 10 a.m. โ 6 p.m. Guests can enjoy Mardi Gras favorites such as Voodoo Rolls and Crawfish Tacos along with King Cake, Beau Rivageโs signature King Cake Cream Puff and the popular King Cake Daiquiri. Revelers can grab their favorite frozen concoctions to enjoy on the parade route, on the patio, or while trying their luck on the casino floor.
Also, The Buffet will offer a special holiday menu featuring herb-crusted prime rib, spicy shrimp boil, seafood gumbo, and bananas foster from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fat Tuesday for $42.99 for adults and $29.99 for children. Brunch will be served from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. for $32.99 for adults and $19.99 for children. Children four and under eat free.
On the casino floor, guests earning 300 MGM Rewards points starting March 2 to 6:50 pm on March 4 may print a gift voucher at any MGM Rewards promotional kiosk to redeem for a Beau Rivage Party Gras t-shirt. Vouchers are redeemable at the Events Desk in the slot tournament area between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. during the promotion dates. Limit one t-shirt per person.
~ https://beaurivage.mgmresorts.com
โข Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Fla., along the Gulf Coast, is bringing the festivities and flavors of the carnival with Mardi Gras-inspired cocktails, bites and lively programming to celebrate outside of the Big Easy.
~ https://www.sandestin.com
--- The resort hosts a Mardi Gras Parade every year and celebrates year-round at Fat Tuesday Daiquiri Bar, the famous New Orleans daiquiri and frozen drink bar that serves up specialties at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Enjoy frozen concoctions like 190 Octane, made with vodka, orange juice, and Fat Tuesday's orange punch.
~ https://www.sandestin.com/things-to-do/baytowne-wharf
--- Also located at Sandestin is Hotel Effie Sandestin, Autograph Collection and its signature restaurant Ovide, which will serve Mardi Gras-inspired cocktails between Fri., Feb. 28, and Sun., Mar. 2, including the Hurricane ($14), crafted with a blend of dark rum, light rum, passion fruit juice, orange juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and grenadine. The Sazerac ($14), features James E. Pepper Rye, absinthe and Peychaud's Bitters. Also served at Ovide, the King Cake Martini ($14) is a decadent and celebratory cocktail inspired by the flavors of traditional Mardi Gras king cakes. This drink features a smooth blend of vanilla vodka, RumChata, Fireball, Baileyโs, and a splash of cinnamon syrup.
Visitors and locals can also savor different Mardi Gras-inspired bites throughout the hotel at TLB, Ovide and Ara Rooftop, including Jambalaya ($17), which features chicken, shrimp, andouille, green chili and basmati rice; Shrimp Po'boy ($18), which features shredded lettuce, tomatoes, mustard pickles, Gulf shrimp, and a buttermilk herb sauce; and Beignets ($9), which come with a warm dark chocolate sauce.
~ https://www.sandestin.com/accommodations/hotel-effie
โข On Mar. 28, join thousands of visitors and Macon-ites at Atrium Health Amphitheater during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, Macon Georgia
International Cherry Blossom Festivaโl to attempt the ๐๐จ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฆโข title for the Largest Kazoo Ensemble.
The goal is to gather more participants than the current record at 5,190, set in London in 2011.
Admission is just $5, and children 6 and under get in free. The ticket includes access to special guests and performances
Gates open at 4 p.m., with the attempt at 6 p.m.; special performances to follow
~ https://visitmacon.org/kazoo
โข Celebrate the beauty of trees at Huntsville Botanical Garden's (Ala.) fourth annual Arbor Day Races on Apr. 26.
Held in honor of National Arbor Day, the event invites participants to race through the lush landscapes of Huntsville Botanical Garden, immersing themselves in the Gardenโs towering tree canopy. With two races to choose fromโa competitive 5K Race and a lively 3K Sapling Runโthis event is perfect for runners of all ages and experience levels.
--- 5K Race | 8:00 a.m.
A timed event with age group awards
No pets, strollers, or headphones/earbuds permitted
Registration: $30
--- 3K Sapling Run | 8:15 a.m.
Not timed, but includes prize drawings
Strollers welcome (no pets or headphones/earbuds)
Registration: $25 (ages 11+), $15 (ages 4-11)
Ages 3 and under participate free with a registered adult
Both races follow a scenic route on paved and gravel paths throughout the Garden, offering an unforgettable running experience surrounded by nature.
All registrants, with the exception of children under 3 years of age, will receive a commemorative short-sleeved t-shirt. Participants must register online by 5 p.m. on Apr. 23 at www.runreg.com/huntsville-botanical-gardens-arbor-day-5k .
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Hattiesburg (Miss.) Alliance for Public Art (HAPA) recently joined partners to cut the ribbon on the cityโs latest public art project and the city's 60th large-scale, permanent mural.
The piece, titled "๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ: ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐น๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด," commemorates the vital role the neighborhood played during the 1964 movement, when activists mobilized for voter registration and education.
The project originally began through a student-led initiative at Pearl River Community College, where members of national honor society Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) selected this meaningful public art installation as their 2023 Honors in Action project. This PTK initiative provides funding and research opportunities for undergraduate students, allowing them to contribute action-oriented service to address real-world challenges in communities across the country.
After studying the intersection of art, science, and play, the PRCC class chose to place a mural commemorating Freedom Summer 1964 in Hattiesburgโs Palmers Crossing neighborhood, near Earl Travillion Attendance Center.
Their work ensures this vital piece of history remains a conversational topic to local students, visitors, and community members through the art piece.
~ https://hburgart.com/hburgart/freedom-summer-honoring-history-and-hope-in-palmers-crossing
โข Reynolds Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Ga., has added two exciting new amenities to its offerings available at Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds: an aerial adventure course and a falconry experience.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ course features 24 unique challenges and elements, and allows guests to "choose their own adventure" from beginner, intermediate and advanced routes.
All platforms and ropes are attached to existing trees on the course, which covers 3.75 acres with 6,300 feet of cable. The course was designed by Bonsai Design, a leader in building aerial adventure courses throughout the country.
Access to the Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds and these new activities is available to Platinum Members of Reynolds Lake Oconee and resort guests staying in a cottage or at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee. Each group is accompanied by an experienced guide.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฟ๐ ๐๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ is under the direction of Linda Spence, a Master Falconer of birds of prey for over 15 years. Guided by Linda, Members and resort guests can interact with and experience the thrill of handling trained birds of prey, including an Aplomado Falcon, two Harris Hawks and an Eurasian Eagle Owl.
She explains the program as "take a hawk for a walk," with guests receiving an introduction to the ancient sport of falconry before taking to the trails along the lake at Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds.
During the walk, the birds look for prey and do what comes naturally as they hunt for food. Linda will also demonstrate the talents of these birds and their native instincts along the walk.
~ https://www.reynoldslakeoconee.com
