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THE FLORA-BAMA - Orange Beach, Alabama & Perdido Key, Florida

“Sitting here at the Flora-Bama Bout to open up a big old can of good times, unwind Fall in and out of love in the same night Can’t say I got a whole lot of cares I’m in the redneck riviera It’s getting crazy, getting hammered Sitting right here at the Flora-Bama At the Flora-Bama”

- Lyrics from Flora-Bama by Kenny Chesney

***

In New Orleans, with many Gulf Coast and Florida transplants, you’ll likely hear about a drunken trip to the Flora-Bama at some point. The bar is located right on the state line of Alabama and Florida and flaunts beautiful white beaches nestled the narrow key.

It has a few claims to fame: The Mullet Toss (the mullet is a fish tossed on the beach across the state line), The Bushwacker (a frozen drink said to “give you the best time you won’t remember”), and hundreds of bras hanging from the ceiling of the honky tonk.

What makes it special is the comradery. The bar is a maze of rooms to accommodate multiple bands, a huge attached deck and a huge section of beach on the Gulf. People move freely between all the areas and chat everybody up. Lots of knowing nods and sharing drinks.

This year, I have made two trips to the Flora-Bama. The first was on New Years Day. People eager to start the year off right, started day drinking and were ready to plunge in the ocean at noon. Most were in costume and all had fun on their communal chilly dip.

On Memorial Day, they held a less kid friendly event and had their annual bikini contest. Women came out and strutted their stuff doing splits and push-ups or just carried a drink to compete for glory and lots of bar credit.

***

Tammy Mercure is a State Guide to Tennessee and co-editor of THE AMERICAN GUIDE. A photographer living in New Orleans, Louisiana she enjoys photographing just about any event that includes loud noises and fast moving things. She was recently named one of the “100 under 100: The New Superstars of Southern Art” by Oxford American magazine. Follow her on Tumblr or on her website, TammyMercure.com.

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“There’s no place like the South” Tammy Mecure | Cavaliers for ‪#‎PHOTOGRAPHY‬ Magazine issue 12

Mandeville, LA. June 14, 2015.

near Hammond, LA. June 12, 2015.

Pontchatoula, LA. June 12, 2015.

Kentwood, LA. June 12, 2015.

Pontchatoula, LA. June 12, 2015.

Kentwood, LA. June 12, 2015.

americanguide

RAYNE FROG FESTIVAL - Rayne, LA

Rayne is the center of the Louisiana frog industry. The Louisiana Frog Company Plant is said to be the largest shipper of edible frogs in the world. In 1937 some 500,000 frogs were shipped. On warm days as many as 10,000 frogs are brought in; the largest ever received weighed three pounds. The company also ships baby turtles and alligators. A canned product called “Frog a la Sauce Piquante” is sold. -Louisiana: A Guide to The State (WPA, 1941)

***

Over in Cajun country sits the small town of Rayne. Driving through town, you’ll see many murals depicting frogs in all their glory. One weekend a year, usually in November and now in May, Rayne pulls out all the stops for their annual Rayne Frog Festival.

In the 1880’s Donat Pucheu, a Frenchman now in Louisiana, started selling produce and then ducks and frog legs to New Orleans. The frog leg exporting endured, passing through many hands. At its peak their legs were shipped all over the country and even to France. The industry declined in the 1970’s. To keep up the Frog Capital of the World title, in 1973 they threw their first Frog Festival.

The festival joins a hearty group of festivals in the area that celebrate local industry. Each festival is attended by most of the girls, teenagers, and women in the festival circuit. At the 2015 Rayne Frog Festival, there were girls in Gumbo, Shrimp and Petroleum, and Tabasco crowns. The girls and women are not judged on beauty, but knowledge of their towns and commitment to community.

The reigning Frog Derby Queen, 17 year old Cailey, was so emotional after her 16 month term she had the emcee read her farewell speech. She wrote about the good friends she made as she traveled most every weekend to another parish to represent her town. She blew kisses and waved to her best friends from the year while light tears rolled down her cheeks.

Then the fun starts. There were frogs dressed to the nines, lots of kissing of frogs, and plenty of jumping. In person, the frogs were very personable. Their colors are vivid and are fairly complex with their strong long legs and beautiful highly detailed eardrums.

The 2015 parade was the longest in Rayne history and there were lots of smiles. The night ended with carnival rides and snacking on frog legs.

***

Tammy Mercure is a State Guide to Tennessee and co-editor of THE AMERICAN GUIDE. A photographer living in New Orleans, Louisiana she enjoys photographing just about any event that includes loud noises and fast moving things. She was recently named one of the “100 under 100: The New Superstars of Southern Art” by Oxford American magazine. Follow her on Tumblr or on her website, TammyMercure.com.

Please go DL and enjoy Issue One of American Chordata. I am honored to be in the first issue with such awesome people.

Marerro, LA. June 3, 2015.

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