Escaping to Splinter Creek — Where Nature Meets Design

Photos by Erin Austen Abbott

The beauty of Splinter Creek swept me away as soon as we entered the gates. Over 500 acres of rolling pine forest and lakes, tucked away just minutes from the bustling college town of Oxford and quaint retreat Plein Air, welcome imaginative homebuilding for ultimate lakefront living. We were fortunate to get a taste of it this month.

Splinter Creek is a privately-owned residential community located in Taylor Originally purchased as a timber investment by the founding family, the untouched beauty and character of property was later discovered and the family exchanged their initial plans for those that include exploring the forests and lakes of Splinter Creek and recharging with community neighbors.

FEELING RIGHT AT HOME

While we knew we’d be dining out during our weekend, the idea of “home” always translates to food and drink, in our case. We stocked the fridge of the stunning kitchen, pouring cocktails and pairing snacks at every turn.

Our menu? A crudîtes platter with hummus, prosciutto and melon with mozzarella, grilled radicchio, ribeyes, smashed potatoes, and grilled artichokes.

Jean Allsopp

THE SETTING

Designed by a handful of creative partners, including New York’s Lang Architecture and Texas’ Lake Flato, Splinter Creek aims to be a model of environmentally sensitive and sustainable living, encouraging residents to build lightly on the land.

Designed by Lang Architecture out of New York, NY, the East Cove Concept Home was created in the classic Southern dogtrot style, but with modern a modern sense of direction. Indoor and outdoor living blend together through large windows, patios, balconies and the very land the home sets on.

When designed, the concept home was built naturally and lightly onto the land (and lake’s) natural space. We felt one with the lake from every room and perspective!

In addition to the private features of the home, Splinter Creek offers shared community spaces and arguably "neighborhood” amenities, such as kayaks and boats, plentiful firewood, and fishing docks. We took full advantage!

EXPLORING NEARBY

After an early, serene morning waking up with the sun at Splinter Creek, we headed just 5 miles down the road to Taylor Square in Plein Air, home to precious homes, shops and a phenomenal restaurant — Grit — where we dined upon arrival Friday evening (ask for the Friday fried chicken special — you won’t be sorry). Coffees and biscuits at Lost Dog Coffee quickly caffeinated us before heading into Oxford.

A picture-perfect lunch at Saint Leo boasted burrata pizzas, an addictive chopped salad, bright cocktails and my favorite marinated olives ever. We worked off a bite or two of our meal with a stroll around the Square, including stops at Square Books for a cookbook (for me) and mystery novel (for Alex) and the adorable Cicada boutique for blouses. A walk through Oxford Oil Shed inspired our next gardening project — I left with a candle, though I wanted every single plant. Local beers on the Splinter Creek dock capped off our afternoon before grilling and cooking an al fresco feast back at East Cove.

WHAT I PACKED

Oak Hall’s range in apparel — from pajamas, hats and sandals to sundresses, formal gowns and denim, the selection was perfectly suited for an elevated yet leisurely lake weekend.

Loeffler Randall Caramel Puffy-Knot Sandal
Shoshanna Minetta Maxi Dress

Thank you to Splinter Creek for hosting our experience!

Your Guide to The Mississippi Delta

Two hours South of Memphis spans the cotton fields and small but mighty towns of the Delta, a region with a narrative so palpable and ever-present, from the landscape to the cuisine. Alex and I were invited to stay in Cleveland at the new Cotton House Hotel, and we coincidentally selected a date that also marked Greenville’s world-famous Delta Hot Tamale Festival. So, on an early Saturday morning, we dropped off Sawyer at Brown Dog Lodge and made our way down South with empty stomachs and full anticipation ahead.

Our road trip was met with new discoveries and definite highlights, which I’ve compiled for you to reserve for your next open weekend.

DELTA HOT TAMALE FESTIVAL (GREENVILLE)
The 2020 dates are already set—October 15-17, 2020—so plan accordingly! The Delta Hot Tamale Festival in Greenville celebrates local and regional legends in the tamale category in addition to a full artists’ market and music line-up. Our pro tip: Sign up in advance for the Taste of the Festival lunch on Saturday — your 45-minute tasting, for $25/person, serves you eight award-winning tamales with craft beer pairings in a seated space off the street! We had an epic experience tasting the variety from BBQ chicken to venison tamales!

MCCARTY’S POTTERY (MERIGOLD)
I was gifted my first piece of McCarty’s for our wedding and am still in awe of the production from its whimsical headquarters in Merigold, just 5 minutes away from Cleveland. McCarty’s’ pieces are each uniquely shaped and glazed — I’m especially fond of the signature Mississippi River mark in charcoal on each individual item. I left with a stack of mini bowls that sit proudly on our floating shelves.

COTTON HOUSE HOTEL (CLEVELAND)
Arriving at the Cotton House Hotel is indeed a grandiose homecoming. Its expansive facade and size are not to be missed, but the warmth within its walls utter contemporary Southern hospitality at every turn. You can sense the newness of the Marriott boutique brand from the community lobby to the private in-room finishes, all clean and crisp for hotel guests. The bed was incredibly comfortable, and the roomy bathroom with walk-in shower was an extra plus. Overall, we were incredibly pleased.

THE GRAMMY MUSEUM (CLEVELAND)
Visitors gain the Hollywood star treatment at Cleveland’s newest Grammy Museum. Its modern architecture alone impresses, and the interiors gleam with interactive music exhibits, an unbelievable wardrobe collection, and nostalgic snippets of acceptance speeches and performances from over the years. Don’t miss the intro video — all 24 minutes. Trust me.

DELTA MEAT MARKET (CLEVELAND)
Some see a “hotel restaurant” as an added convenience only for those who aren’t in the mood to venture out or explore a city; but in this case, Cleveland has done it right. Delta Meat Market, a quickly-recognized fixture of fine Southern cooking, was originally located across the street and strategically shifted to the hotel property. The result? A hyperlocal, refined, memorable restaurant experience in the comfort of our vacation destination. Cleveland-born, Charleston-trained chef/owner Cole Ellis is as kind as he is talented. From prime steaks to pomme frites and Delta grits, we were stuffed and oh so satisfied.

BAR FONTAINE (CLEVELAND)
The rooftop of The Cotton House is not to be missed. Bar Fontaine brings Southern charm to a contemporary crowd, reminding me of a big-city rooftop bar with buzzing cocktails and brimming with people. The menu is entirely different than the ground-floor Delta Meat Market, and we were amused by the variety of small plates, flatbreads, and a handful of additional creative dishes using seasonal ingredients. We devoured the fancy “fried fontina” cheese sticks.