Photo of Silver Slipper Casino - Mississippi in Waveland, Mississippi

The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com, LA - Jul 9, 2008Last time I was over there, I spent an afternoon looking for -- but never finding a trace of -- a friend's house in Waveland where my family used to go and ...

Because I am a transplant to New Orleans and not a native, my ties to the Mississippi Gulf Coast are less nostalgic and passionate than most of my friends around town.

There's nothing more American than using Independence day as a time to hang with friends and await getting a whiff of the charcoal from the grill and anticipating darkness to properly view fireworks. This July Fourth, many will light up the grill and get ready to see fireworks