All Shook Up!

There may be something more Mississippi than tapping your toes to the
musical stylings of an Elvis tribute artist in Jackson's Old Capitol Museum, but I doubt it. 

I love Mississippi's Old Capitol Museum. It's a gorgeous building, right in the heart of downtown Jackson. It's been beautifully restored and maintained (It underwent a stunning renovation in the years after Hurricane Katrina damaged it.), and the exhibits inside are interesting and well-done. 

Bringing the 60s back! I found a dress with the EPIC
winged sleeves for $25 at Ross, then cut it off and
hemmed it at the bottom to make it a mini!

And it's even better when you're shooting the breeze with an awesome Elvis impersonator inside of it. 

This week, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, which maintains the museum, hosted a super-fun 60s night. The program included an open bar, yummy munchies, a fun photo booth, and a really fantastic Elvis impersonator! 

They encouraged guests to arrive in 60s attire, and you KNOW that is my jam. I posted a call on Facebook, and Shawn, Caron and Carol said they were in. With that, we found some outfits (I put mine together from a discount store dress and a pair of $4 earrings on Poshmark.), winged our eyeliner, teased our hair (Y'all. Bouffants are harder to pull off than I thought!), and headed out! 

This event was so much fun! They had set up a 60s "living room" in the rotunda where you could snap pics, complete with period furniture and games like Parcheesi, Twister, and a Magic 8-Ball. A nearby photo booth offered accessories and mod jackets (not that we needed them) to complete the look. We chatted, took photos, sipped wine and nibbled appetizers for a bit before moving into the second floor gallery for the performance. (When I seated Caron and Shawn on one of the low, mid-century modern sofas for a pic, Caron noticed the ashtray on the end table and said aloud, "I need a cigarette for this photo!" Out of nowhere, a man materialized behind her and said, "Did I hear you say you needed a cigarette?" and proffered one. I swear, he would have happily lit it for her as well!)

This is Caron, enjoying her cigarette that materialized out of
nowhere for the photo, while Shawn investigates the
period-appropriate TV Guide.

The Elvis tribute artist they brought in is named Al Joslin. He hails from Texas, and he was fantastic! Since this was a 60s-themed night, we got the 1968 comeback Elvis in a black leather suit. He sang so many of my favorites - Trouble, Houndog, Love Me Tender, Heartbreak Hotel, Jailhouse Rock. Plus, he did some lesser-known songs and a couple of gospel songs. And he was really good! He sounded so much like Elvis. For a minute, he did some a cappella singing, and he sounded just as good without the band (keys, two guitars, and a drummer) as he did with them. 

This guy also knew how to work a crowd. We sat right in front, and he and the band made a big fuss over us! He'd come by and sing right to you or hold your hand. He sat down in the seat next to some audience members to sing to them, and in general, he really moved around the room so that everyone felt special. Afterwards, he even stayed for photos. We had the best time! 

Upon leaving the venue, our little group hit Estelle Wine Bar (just a hop and a skip from the museum) for another cocktail. (I love their spiced pear martini and Catalina Spring.) So fun!