The Love Issue
With Valentine's Day on Sunday, the Jackson Free Press gives you everything you need to make your day, from great food to cool gifts and a good measure of sage advice.
Love is Hell (But Ain't It Grand)
"I just want to find my soulmate.
A Guy's Guide to V-Day
Well guys, it's that time of year that we all dread. (No, not your mother's birthday. Don't worry; you didn't forget it. I hope). It's Valentine's Day. DUN DUN DUN.
A Fine Southern Romance
As a young girl, Mississippi author Melanie Atkins grew up listening to the tall tales that embody the oral tradition of the Deep South. Writing was her passion, and she scribbled stories about her feline pets. Now she is a multi-format author blending suspense and romance into popular works.
Two Nights with King Edward
Prior to 2009, the most interesting thing I'd ever heard about The King Edward Hotel was as follows: "One time, I threw a toilet off of the roof." A friend of mine had chuckled this statement while bellied up to the bar at Hal & Mal's, as we discussed some apparent construction going on at the Jackson landmark. It seemed everyone had some story about playing around in the bones of the old man... tales of the clandestine feats of bored youth, possibly illegal activities, and the lifestyles of the destitute. And through the laughs about stumbling upon homeless enclaves or dead animals, there was always an underlying sadness. Held aloft miraculously by the condemnable structure underneath, the rusty letterforms of the name ironically proclaimed a regal past. I imagined standing on top of the building, as would one of those letters, surveying the ragged edifices of Capital and Farish below. It seemed, to me, a kingdom of blight. Here stands Edward, master of all he surveyed.
Advice for Gents on Valentine's Day
Trust me, guys, you need to learn a new dish. Lucky for you, I have just the answer. This recipe has everything you need to sweep your lady off her feet. It has drama, excitement, fancy French words and, most of all, deliciousness. This Valentine's Day, you will be making Steak Au Poivre (pronounced: Oh-pwah) with Lobster Whipped Potatoes and Sauteed Asparagus (pronounced: Dee-lish-ush) followed by a Fresh Strawberry Cocktail.
Valentine's Shopping Guide
For all your lovey-dovey needs, be sure and check out this week's JFP flip book for a complete listing of where to find all that smells like chocolate in Jackson.
Memory Boxes
Each year, I try to make a homemade valentine for at least one person I care about. This is also the time of year I'm short on cash, and getting crafty is a great way to save money.
Creating The Music for Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is a day for partners to share their love for one another. Some people prepare romantic evenings at home by candlelight or plan a night on the town with dinner at a favorite restaurant. Others write love letters and poems, or craft handmade gifts and cards.
Doing Valentine's the Green Way
The old standby of flowers and candy can get old. Guys, as impossible as it sounds, even women can get sick of chocolate. And whether your beloved is trying to reduce her carbon footprint or you are looking for something different this Valentine's Day, going green can keep it interesting.
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Too often, the break-up song subgenre is not diverse enough. There are several types of break-up songs, generally falling under one of two tents.
Not This, Not That
In her newest book, Karen Armstrong expands on a premise I first came upon in her 2001 book, "The Battle for God," in which she wrote that religious fundamentalism is a thoroughly modern invention, unheard of prior to the late 19th century.
Reveling in the Details
How do you measure the heft of a novel? I don't mean its weight in your hand, but its importance, its influence. If you're an inveterate reader, as in firmly established by long persistence, you realize you take in every word, you know the novel's characters, you assimilate what happens to them, using your own life to interpret.
Charter Schools Bill Passes Senate
In a 29 to 14 vote yesterday, the Mississippi Senate passed a bill allowing for the creation of new charter schools in the state starting in 2011, reports GulfLive.com. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Michael Watson, R-Pascagoula. The bill is on its way to the House Education Committee.
Tara Richardson
It may seem unlikely to see smiles on the faces of patients when walking into a doctor's, dentist's or therapist's exam room.
Cold Weather Shelters
The following shelters will be open during the Cold Weather, beginning tonight:
If you or someone you know needs a warm place to go in the midst of this nasty winter blast we're having, the city of Jackson has several options available. Verbatim:
ABC News: GOP, Party of No?
Interesting that ABC seems to be taking the gloves off in this one. Maybe the snow is finally getting to the national media up there in D.C. I think it's good that this obstructionism in Washington is getting some light. Maybe now we can get some stuff done -- yes, in a bi-partisan way -- in D.C. (I, for one, want to hear more about these tax credits for employees!)
Local Studio Brings Art to Life
ArtWorks Studio in Brandon is offering creative new classes and workshops this year. Each class offers a distinct and diverse objective for all ages. Lori Rene', 31, the owner and the only instructor of Artworks, says her passion is to inspire others toward their own individual creativity. The studio offers a myriad of classes, including pottery, painting, craft workshops and more.
Walter Young
There was a point in time when Walter Young, 26, wanted his music to be typical of "the band in the bar" style rather than improvised. After experimenting with his band in 2005, Young, a Jackson native, now appreciates and helps to promote improvisational art in the city.
[Balko] Trial By Ordeal
A couple of centuries after the age of King Arthur, much of Europe began to engage in similarly ridiculous rituals to determine guilt in cases that lacked eyewitnesses or physical evidence. These rituals, called ordeals, were usually conducted in a church by high-ranking clergy