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What Can You Do?
When your daughter, best friend or co-worker becomes a victim of abuse, you have the opportunity to make a difference.
Twain: A Man for Our Times
Samuel Langhorne Clemens—Mark Twain—was born in 1835 and died in 1910. By all accounts, Twain should be consigned to the history books, not the subject of one of the longest-running one-man plays in history. What is it that makes Twain such an icon of Americana, his wit and wisdom as relevant today as it was throughout his lifetime?
Radical Health: The JFP Interview With Dr. Joseph White
Photos by Ronni Mott
It can be challenging to write an upbeat article on health and wellness in Mississippi. We've all seen the barrel-bottoming numbers. Good news about the subject is difficult, though not impossible, to find. According to the United Health Foundation's rankings for 2006, for example, Mississippi moved to No. 49 on the overall health scale, up from No. 50 in 2005. That's a small blip on the radar, but every little bit counts, right?
Mississippi: The Good and the Bad
Any paper addressing health in Mississippi would be remiss to not give the most recent statistics on how we're doing. Two recently published studies, one from the non-profit United Health Foundation and the other from the American Heart Association, provided the following stats and our ranks in comparison to all other states for 2006:
Palin: A Woman's Woman?
The lights were low in Hal & Mal's Red Room the night of the vice-presidential debate on Oct. 2. Excited chatter filled the room, along with a big screen set up at the far end.
2010: Urban Living
<b>Best Locally Owned Business</b>
Jeff Good and his business partner, Dan Blumenthal, know the secret to success in the restaurant business, and it's not rocket science: Provide top-notch service and delicious quality food every day. Jacksonians know that they can count on the three Mangia Bene restaurantsBRAVO!, Broad St. Baking Company and Sal & Mookie'sto be consistently good, which is why you will find these businesses nominated over and over each year in the Best of Jackson polls.
2007 JFP Voter's Guide: What You Need to Know To Vote FAQ
And Thus, Earn Respect & Make A Difference In The Damn World
Whether you're a first-time voter or you've voted in every election since 1940, you might have a question about voting in the primaries. With a little help from the League of Women Voters of Mississippi Web site, we've put together info to help.
Best of Jackson 2010: Food & Drink
<b>Best Restaurant and Best Place to Impress a Date:</b>
If this were a question on the SAT, it might read: "Andre Previn is to the orchestra pit as Derek Emerson is to the (a) kitchen, (b) dining room, (c) menu, (d) all of the above." The answer would, of course, be "d." In order to be the best restaurant in Jackson, you must get it all right. You can't just rely on your food to make up for service and atmosphere.
Weekend Events: Is it Spring, Yet?
Start the weekend after work today with a trip to the Arts Center of Mississippi Arts Center (201 E. Pascagoula St.) and take in "Lena Horne: Her Influences, Her Life & Her Legacy" before it comes down next week. If museums aren't your thing, check out an indie movie at the Russell C. Davis Planetarium (201 E. Pascagoula St.) in the same complex, or take in a performance by Grammy-winner Pinetop Perkins at Underground 119 a few blocks away on President Street. Not sure where to start your weekend plans? Head straight to the JFP Best Bets page for ideas.
TGIF: The Weekend's Here!
It's shaping up to be a great weekend, weather wise. After work is the perfect time to start taking advantage of the outdoors with the Community Bike Crawl, starting at 6 p.m. in Rainbow Whole Foods Co-operative Grocery (2807 Old Canton Road) parking lot. The ride goes through downtown and ends at Sal & Mookie's on Taylor Street in Fondren. Call 601-454-1286 for more info. If you're more of an indoor person, you have lots of options, too. At 7 p.m., head to Jazz Night Live at circa. Urban Artisan Living (2771 Old Canton Road) Admission is $12. Call 601-362-8484. At 9 p.m., stop in at Dreamz JXN for "The Game Changer" for music by DJ Phingaprint and DJ Jonasty, and an appearance by actor Hosea Chanchez from "The Game." Call 601-624-4088 or 601-824-1077 for VIP information. What's the best place to begin looking for things to do in Jackson? The JFP Best Bets page, of course.
It's the Weekend
Despite Mercury being in retrograde (with its attendant communication, transportation and technical hijinks), you'll find plenty to do in and around Jacktown this weekend. If you're lucky enough to have the day off, head to Jackson State (1400 John R. Lynch St.) for the free Creative Arts Festival that begins at 1 p.m. The festival continues tomorrow, with featured luminaries like Sonia Sanchez and Amiri Baraka. Call 601-979-3935 for information. If you can't make the festival, Sanchez and Baraka read their poems and sign books at Afrika Book Cafe (404 Mitchell Ave.) at 6 p.m. Email [e-mail missing] for info. If you're in the mood for drama, we've been hearing good things about the New Stage Theatre production of "A Soldier's Play." Call 601-948-3531, or visit newstagetheatre.com for times and ticket information. Where's the best place to start when you're looking for things to do and places to go? The JFP Best Bets page, of course.
Dancing, Books and Brunch
Tonight, go put on your dancing shoes and head to Fondren Corner (2906 N. State St.) for Salsa Mississippi's Latin Rooftop Dance Party at 8 p.m., $10. The weather looks to be perfect for an evening of dancing under the stars. If sitting and listening to music is more your style, make your way to Hal & Mal's (200 Commerce St.) for the Jason Turner Band's album-release party. For more music options, check out the JFP Music Listings.
Does Jackson Need Another Rape-Crisis Center?
As the Jackson Free Press has done since 2004, on July 28, we will host our eighth annual Chick Ball to benefit the Center for Violence Prevention in Pearl.
Living in the Shadow of AIDS
Photos by Ronni Mott
The two-story wood house, white with red trim, sits squarely on a corner lot in Jackson. The grass on the lawn is January brown, the same as in the other yards in the quiet city neighborhood. A locked, cast-iron security door bars the front door, which is topped with a domed, candy-cane striped awning.
‘These Are Not Fair Trials': The JFP Talks With John Grisham
Since publication of "The Innocent Man" in 2006, author John Grisham has become a strong advocate for the Innocence Project, lending his name and voice to help establish the organization's Mississippi office in Oxford. "The Innocent Man" was Grisham's first—and very likely his only—foray into the world of non-fiction. A man who has always had strong opinions about the legal system, he is even more adamant today about why it's broken and how to fix it. I spoke with him via telephone in mid-November 2007, and below is the full text of that interview.
Winter Arts Preview: Event Listings
<b>Stage & Screen
The concrete, steel and glass building seems unfinished, with the rawness of unformed clay. The gravel drive and rust-colored patina on the sign lettering adds to the feeling that this is a work in progress, left to weather naturally in the elements. Tucked into an oddly shaped lot between the reservoir and the woods surrounding the Natchez Trace in Ridgeland, the Mississippi Craft Center is a monument to the architect's vision and that of the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi.
The Myth Of Separation
Photos by Ronni Mott
Young Abraham left his father Azar's house after losing all hope of teaching him about God.
The Road Trip Issue: Sidebar Stories
<b><em>Traveling with Munchkins</b></em>
You know it's coming, and you know that once it starts, it may never end. It's the dreaded, "Are we there yet?" whine coming from the back seat. There are things you can do to keep your precious darlings occupied on a car trip. All it takes is some strategic planning and packing. Here are a few tips from about.com and the AOL travel Web site:
The Case For Innocence
It was Ron Williamson's obituary in the Dec. 9, 2004, issue of The New York Times that caught attorney and author John Grisham's eye.
It Won't Happen to Me
Why George Bell III stopped bludgeoning Heather Spencer on that June night is anyone's guess. Perhaps his hammer slipped out of his hand as Spencer's blood made it slick. Perhaps he came to his senses. Perhaps Spencer was able to escape.