Oiled Up and Shirtless
Like many Americans, for the past two weeks, I have tuned in to watch the world's top athletes compete in the Olympics.
Dress Better, Test Better
There comes a time when an issue of importance forces you to take a public stand.
Gatsby Endeavors
I've alluded before in this column to my general lack of athleticism. I like working out, but when it comes to team sports, I'm much better at being a cheerleader than a participant. Joining my team for Wednesday trivia night at Fatsumo Sushi (3100 N. State St., 769-216-3574) is about as competitive as I get on a regular basis.
Outside the Big Box
"To market, to market." So goes the nursery rhyme of our youth. But as a movement to shop local and support local growers through farmers markets continues to gain momentum and become a part of the community's collective ethos, I've been reminded of what going to market really means.
Your Stylist Knows
Those of you who are regular readers of this column may recall that some months ago, I acquired my Fantasy Hair—I got long hair thanks to extensions from Paul Prine at S'Moak Salon (622 Duling Ave., 601-982-5313).But as it turns out, that endeavor was only my first step down the path toward long, luscious and low-maintenance locks. And so, dear readers, I invite you to continue with me on my journey.
Lazy, Crazy, Hazy
I love summertime. Maybe it's because I'm ridiculously cold-natured, so it's the one time of the year I get to wear things not resembling a parka without freezing. But I think it's really that summer means sunshine, evenings spent sitting on patios with cold drinks, letting my hair air-dry and wearing two of my favorite fabrics—seersucker and linen.
The Defense Wears Black
"Do I have anything to wear?" I wondered. It's not an uncommon quandary I face, but this time, it wasn't in preparation for a night out or special event.
Stealing Ideas
It happens. Sometimes, a girl about town needs to get away. Also, sometimes she's dating a person who really, really wants to see Van Halen on tour. In my case, the two combined to result in a weekend road trip to St. Louis, Mo.
Michelle Obama Arms
At the first Downtown at Dusk of the season April 12, a friend introduced me to Teresa Love, the owner of Pilates for Life (2628 Courthouse Circle, Flowood, 601-936-9922).
Films and Fast Girls
I tend to adhere to the rule that if you're old enough to have experienced a trend the first time, you shouldn't wear it the second time around. Case in point: This season's colored denim trend sends me straight back memories of fifth grade and an awesome pair of salmon-colored Guess jeans that I loved.
Parades and Passion
Living in downtown Jackson is fantastic all year long but it is even more wonderful on what is one of the best weekends of the year. I speak, of course, of Mal's St. Paddy's Parade weekend. This year marked the parade's 30th anniversary, so I knew I'd be in for lots of nostalgia.
Running Of The Vixens
If you're roaming the streets of Fondren before the start of the Zippity Doo Dah Parade, be sure to watch out for the bulls. It may not be Pamplona, exactly, but the Magnolia Roller Vixens will bring some excitement and entertainment while clearing the way before the parade starts.
[Girl About Town] Springtime and Wine
I find that engaging in what I refer to as "Sunday Fundays" is a great way to wind down the weekend and get ready for a new week. Maybe it's the weather, but they tend to increase in frequency in the springtime. Luckily for me, a number of local restaurants host wine tastings on Sunday afternoons. Learning about and enjoying wine most certainly qualifies as a first-rate Sunday Funday activity.
St. Paddy's Walking Krewes 101
Members of the marching krewes take Mal's St. Paddy's Parade seriously: As one member of the Green Ladies puts it, "People plan pregnancies around this parade." So you know who's who, here's a little guide.
St. Paddy's Day Quiz
Before you head out to flash some green, ask these questions to test your green (knowledge that is).
[Girl About Town] Fantasy Hair
"I can't wait to meet your new hair!" That's been my favorite response to the newest addition to my life: a new length of tresses—real hair, just not my own. (Although, much as Tori Spelling says of her boobs, if I paid for it, it's mine, right?) That's right, dear readers; I got extensions.
[Girl About Town] Jackson at its Best
My love for Jackson is pretty unbridled all the time, but certain things send it into overdrive. Top among those are the quintessentially Jacksonian events—the times when a diverse group of people comes together to celebrate what makes this place great, and to eat, drink and dance.
[Girl About Town] Of Sushi and Marathons
I don't think of myself as a particularly athletic individual, but a few years ago, I started running—as in a fitness activity, not because someone was chasing me. It even got to the point where I ran the inaugural Mississippi Blues Marathon in 2008.
The Commons at Eudora Welty's Birthplace
David Rahaim's interest in southern literature led him to his position as manager of Congress Street Coffee at the Commons at Eudora Welty's Birthplace. In this role, he also oversees the Commons' use as a space for weddings and receptions.
Celebrate We Did
It's no secret that Jackson knows how to throw a party—after all, we're the city that throws the Mal's St. Paddy's Parade. New Year's Eve is no exception. In fact, New Year's Eve could be considered training for St. Paddy's, now that I think about it.
Drink a Cup of Kindness
This time of year is full of tradition and opportunities to celebrate. Some of my favorite annual holiday parties include my downtown friends, who have become like a family. I am constantly grateful for their love and friendship, but this year more than ever, spending time and celebrating with them has been important.
Crafts and Cupcakes
Lately it seems that the movement to "support local" is stronger than ever.From shops and restaurants, to local musicians and artists, to local farmers, the mantra is increasingly a part of our community's ethos. Along with this comes an elevation and celebration of craft and originality. We want things that have a story, whether it's a drink, a meal or a piece of art.
Proms and Pork
Some truisms are absolute. Among them: Ladies my age love an 1980s party, and guys love fire and meat. But when undertaken properly, these different undertakings can appeal to both sexes.
Everyone New Again
I'm a big fan of old things. Architectural salvage, vintage accessories, old books—I like the idea of things that have a history. Apparently, though, I'm getting to the age where I have a past myself.
[Skipper] Being the Best
Craig's spirit extended to each person he encountered.
Sequins and Livestock
It's really no secret that I love shiny things and a good show. My childhood included playing dress up, thanks to an extensive wardrobe of old dance-recital costumes and treasures from the Junior Auxiliary's thrift store. Then the general rule was the more sequins, the better.
Sailing Our Own Race
"There's a feeling in the air ..." So starts a favorite Better than Ezra song that reminds me of fall. Lately, that feeling has made me want to get outside and enjoy the great weather that this time of year brings. But beyond football fields, I found myself drawn to water this fall.
Booked Solid
It's been a few years since autumn meant back to school for me, but this year I've embarked on a semester as an adult learner. This adventure is courtesy of the Business Advantage Program at the Else School of Management at Millsaps College, in which 20 or so other professionals and I get 15 weeks of business classes two nights a week for three hours a night. It means that on the nights we don't have class, I have ... homework.
Pampering the Self
Sometimes it's nice to get away and indulge yourself. I tend to joke that living and working downtown, where I walk everywhere, makes driving to the suburbs feel like a trip to a whole other country. I decided to make an excursion of sorts out of the experience and do some pampering to get ready for fall.
Take a Bite
"Eat that apple." It's a new catchphrase, coined during what started out as an evening catching up with friends over wine at Parlor Market (115 W. Capitol St., 601-360-0090), but turned into adoption of a new life philosophy. The friends in question wish to remain nameless, so I'll refer to them as B, who is my Only Child Soul Sister, and Mom o' Mia (Mia is a fluffy white dog, not a child).
Liquid Themes
Maybe it's all those lit classes in college, but theme is important to me—whether it's in writing, in one's wardrobe for the season or for a party. The past few weeks offered plenty of opportunity for Jacksonians to submerse themselves in a theme-based activity for a night (or day), and I happily joined in.
Here's to the Season
'Tis the season—no, it's not Christmas in July. It's wedding season. I've strapped on my stilettos and made the rounds, toasting happy couples and collecting commemorative koozies.
Turning It Off
Independence. We celebrated ours as a country this month with fireworks, food and a welcome break from work. Did I have a great time watching the fireworks at the Jackson Chamber of Commerce's Red, White and Jackson from a downtown rooftop with friends? Absolutely. Was Horse Trailer at the Old House Depot's (639 Monroe St.) annual Fourth of July party a blast? Definitely. But as they played "It's Independence Day," I thought about it on a more personal level, too.
Dancin' Fools
"Just dance." Say what you will about her, but Lady Gaga knows what she's talking about. Sometimes dancing is exactly what you need to do after a long week, and this past weekend it was what some fellow downtowners and I had on our minds. We also knew just where to go in the neighborhood Friday night to get the job done.
On the Front Porch
When I asked my friend Arthur Jones how exactly he went about procuring the featured meat for a cookout at his house, he responded, "Sometimes, you just say, ‘Thank you for the goat.'"
Learning Early
Becoming a girl-about-town takes years of practice. Case in point: I vividly remember the pair of high heels that get credit for training me so that today, I can navigate anything in stilletos. They were purple snakeskin and lived in my neighbor's dress-up box filled with treasures from the Junior Auxillary's thrift shop. And they were fabulous. I teetered around in them at least three times a week from the ages of about 6 to 9.
Spring Renewal
Spring is a time of renewal. Flowers blooming, Easter, the birds and the bees doing their things—it all makes a girl want to shop for a new look and go dancing. At least that's what it makes this girl want to do. And so, this week I did.
The Bedazzler
Like many little girls, I acquired a deep love of sequins, costumes, and song and dance around the age of 3. This love never diminished as I grew older. Thus, while I'm an otherwise normally functioning adult, I don't think twice about wearing sequined shorts just because it's Friday night and coming up with theme-party ideas and costumes for any occasion (or none at all). In my head, my life is a musical that includes theme songs and choreography at pivotal moments—which brings me to my brush with Broadway and a bedazzled boot.
Hands-On Action
It's a rather poorly kept secret that one reason I'm out and about so much is that I don't cook and, well, a girl's gotta eat. While I am an avid fan of culinary arts, the extent of my fandom is appreciation. As a practitioner, I fail miserably. Case in point: I met a neighbor who needed to borrow some flour with a perplexed look and this response: "Why on earth would I have flour?"
Old School vs. The New Kids
When we're young, we learn important life lessons through play and fun: A big yellow bird on TV shows us friendship; the story of a rabbit and a turtle helps us understand the importance of persistence; a singing frog teaches us about compassion because, well, it's not easy being green. This week, I noticed that even as an adult, having fun can still teach us things.
Old Is Young Again
A friend recently tweeted that Metallica's "Black Album" is now considered classic rock and wondered if this means he's old. We all have those moments when something makes us pause and say, "I'm so not in my 20s (30s, 40s) anymore." Maybe it's seeing college kids, or not being able to recover from a big night quite as quickly. This week, I had one of those moments, but, ultimately, I was reminded that age is only a number.
Who's Who
The Mal's St. Paddy's Parade comes with 29 years of history and traditions old and new, so a cheat sheet is helpful. Here are a few of the key players and things to know as you plan.
Parade Recovery Tips
Many folks consider the Mal's St. Paddy's Parade the best day of the year in Jackson, and we all want to make the most of it. However, after all the revelry, the next day can leave you with regrets (or at least a headache). Here are 10 tips to help you recover from the fun.
Classic Style, Modern Sensibility
As the saying goes, "Everything old is new again," and that most certainly rings true of Jackson's renaissance. It's true of cool, old spaces and hotspots and neighborhoods across town, and it's also true in fashion. The best looks often involve old standards wearers have reinvented.
Creature Comforts
As I walked out of the office, a coworker said, "It's Monday, so you're going to Babalu, right?"
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My entire life is pretty much a "staycation." I live downtown, where there's always something happening nearby. I know a lot of really interesting people, and Jackson has a lot going on these days. I take full advantage of that. Add to that, I love clothes and use any excuse to dress up and go out. So I'm out and about a lot. That's what leads me here, typing.
Shopkeep: The Art of Flowers
I'll admit I'm a bit of a girly girl, which means I love flowers. When I attend a wedding, they're one of the things I most look forward to—even more than the dress. Flowers bring life and color and texture to an event, and they're a great way to express a couple's personality. So choosing the right person to design the flowers for a wedding is important.
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