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Amber Helsel

Stories by Amber

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Freshman 15, Meet Healthy Food

If you're worried about the Freshman 15, don't be. Some of this year's Best of Jackson winners can help you out with eating healthy.

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It Started With a Mustache

The idea for the film "Bare Knuckle" came from actor Joshua Powell's mustache.

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In High (Summer) Spirits

In June, a group of people—some strangers, some not—gathered together at BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar for drinks and fellowship. For this summer tasting, Assistant Manager and Bar Master Chris Robertson wanted to feature something a little lighter, resulting in the Spirits of Summer tasting on Saturday, June 18.

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Fourth of July Eats and Festivities

For the Fourth of July, Broad Street will have July 4-themed sugar cookies on a first-come-first-serve basis, though they can be special ordered as well. Customers must pick orders up by Sunday. Broad Street will be closed on July 4.

Shop Local, Help Whole Community

With our hyper-local focus here at the Jackson Free Press (we're a locally owned business, too), we've emphasized the importance of shopping local since our very first issue.

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Walking from Memphis: James Meredith's Bloody 'March Against Fear' 50 Years Later

Sunday, June 26, 2016, marks 50 years since the March Against Fear concluded in Jackson. To commemorate the milestone, Pamela Junior and Cynthia Goodloe Palmer have organized a special series of events for Thursday, June 23, Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26.

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A New Beer Experience

On June 28, Saltine Oyster Bar is hosting its fourth guest-chef dinner since the restaurant's opening.

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In Tough Times, Be Grateful

A few things have made me realize that it's important to give thanks every day—not just one day of the year.

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Finding Her Calling

It's late in the afternoon, and Lashanda Brumfield is off work from her job as a recreational therapist at Brentwood Behavioral Healthcare. But instead of going home, Brumfield instead goes to her bridal store, Sassy Classy Curvy Bridal Outlet, in Pearl.

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Kelsey Kitch

Mississippi may be getting a bad rap right now, but that doesn't stop people like Kelsey Kitch from doing everything they can to promote the state.

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Actively Giving Back

In our summer issue of BOOM Jackson magazine (June, July and August 2016), we pulled together a listing of local 5Ks and races this summer that give back to the community. Here's a few for this summer.

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New Nutrition Labels: What You Need to Know

If you haven't heard yet, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is redesigning and modernizing nutrition labels. Most food manufacturers are required to use the new label by July 2018. Here's what you need to know.

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Get Outside

Many Mississippians may go outside quite often, but as a country, easy access to nature doesn't mean that we're actually experiencing the great outdoors as much as we should. And it's vital to get out there.

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Art in the Flesh

Art in Flesh is the brainchild of artist Robeka Steam. The Boynton Beach, Fla., native says she started doing special-effects makeup after graduating from the Tom Savini's special-effects makeup program at the Douglas Education Center in Pennsylvania in 2004.

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Women Misrepresented in Media, Business

Recently, I watched the documentary "Miss Representation" by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The 2011 film focuses on the misrepresentation of women in mainstream society and the pressures we face because of it. It framed the struggle of women in a way I've never seen or thought about before.

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Chuck Odom

In a small building behind the Holy Trinity-St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church in Jackson, Chuck Odom and John Tselepes stuffed raw lamb loins with a special seasoning and garlic, and rubbed them down with olive oil, lemon juice and more secret spices and ingredients.

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Snacking Downtown

If people are at a show at downtown venues such as Big Sleepy's or headed to the King Edward Hotel, they may notice Downtown Snack Shop's blue neon sign glowing among the street lights.

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Monique Davis

Growing up in Washington, D.C., Monique Davis grew to love art early on. Her mother regularly took her to local art museums since admission was free.

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The Chicken, the Egg, the Street Food

This week, Chef Nick Wallace will serve up his "Chicken and the Egg" pop-up menu, featuring eggs and chicken from Mississippi, for the Mississippi Museum of Art's Museum After Hours event, "Pop Goes the Culture."

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Farm, Creator, Table

Small Town Mississippi gives Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum visitors a taste of what life would have been like in the 1920s.

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Living Food

Liquid Light Cafe is Jackson's first raw-food restaurant, nestled in a space beside the Regions Plaza courtyard on Capitol Street.

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Rashanna Newsome

As the sous chef at The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen in Belhaven, Rashanna Newsome is a female in a male-dominated profession—a fact that has never stifled her passion for the culinary arts.

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Ann Saunders

The three front galleries of the Arts Center of Mississippi are covered in creations from Jackson-based artist Ann Saunders.

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Wade Patterson

Growing up, Wade Patterson wanted to be a novelist. But after reading the book "Moviemakers' Master Class" by Laurent Tirard ($16, Faber & Faber, 2002) during high school, he decided he wanted to be a filmmaker.

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Jim Dollarhide

On Thursday, March 16, Jim Dollarhide's home near Lake Cavalier in Madison went up in flames, and on Wednesday, March 23, Madison County Coroner Alex Breeland confirmed that they found the filmmaker's body in the wreckage.

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Working on a Different Canvas

While not altogether unfamiliar, Chuck Taylors are a unique medium to work with for many artists, despite being made from canvas. For Martha Ferris, the sneakers' material actually presented an interesting challenge.

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Disappointed in Rankin County

It seems odd that in a state like ours, instead of passing laws that help us get off the bottom of good lists and from the top of bad lists, some legislators create bills like this one, which are about power and control.

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Chrissy Walter's Funkadelic Family

Meet Chrissy Walter, Godfather of Funk George Clinton's daughter (and publicist).

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Small City, Big Ideas

It's easy to go to a city like Memphis and think to yourself how little a place like Jackson has ... and how little it can feel.

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Where to Delight Your Love on Valentine's Day

On Saturday, Feb. 13, The Detectives Comedy Dinner Theatre will perform comedy "Couples Retreat" at Kismet's. Seating is at 6:30 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m.

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Gail Savage

Upon walking into The Bridal Path in Banner Hall, customers will notice the multitude of dresses, with all manner of tulle and silk and lace and English netting and other fabrics greeting brides, mothers of the bride, flower girls and bridesmaids.

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J.B. Lawrence

The city's tight-knit music community brought Clinton native and photographer J.B. Lawrence back to Jackson about a year and a half ago.

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King Cakes in Jackson

Twelve days after Christmas, Mardi Gras season began, which means it's now king cake season. Here's where you can get the treat locally.

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A Geeky Road to Good Health

Every time you turn around, it seems like more fitness gadgets have appeared. They can all help you along your healthy journey. Here's a few to check out.

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Worth More Than a Number on a Scale

When I stepped on the scale last Saturday morning, I saw a number that I never wanted to see.

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Jimmy D. Giles

Jimmy D. Giles kicked off Mississippi's federal campaign races by challenging fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper for the 3rd Congressional District.

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Run the Blues

The ninth annual Mississippi Blues Marathon is Saturday, Jan. 9. The event showcases the city of Jackson and Mississippi's blues history.

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Experience Mississippi Music

The Iron Horse Grill's "Mississippi Music Experience" museum features life-size representations of Mississippi's music legends, in every genre from blues to rock 'n' roll.

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Why I Stay in Mississippi

While it may seem like Mississippi is backwards in many areas, I believe it excels in creative spirit.

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Distilling Innovation

On a day in the middle of November, a lot of commotion is happening in a warehouse space off South Farish Street behind the Jackson Convention Complex and Mississippi Museum of Art.

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Melanie Vail Fuller

When she first started practicing yoga in 2004, Melanie Vail Fuller says she didn't see herself becoming a yoga instructor.

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The Beginning Stäge

When Tom Ramsey chose not to renew the lease for his downtown restaurant, La Finestra, in October, he decided to take his next step in the culinary world.

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Patti Cake, Patti Cake

The banner for Patti Igoe-Bett's business, MsPattiCakes, features a Charles H. Spurgeon quote: "There is hardship in everything, except eating pancakes."

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Don’t Act Normal

I'd rather be "not normal" than stick with the status quo. I'd rather judge people based on the quality of their character, not by the way they look.

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A Jill of All Trades

Lauren Miltner calls herself a "jack of all trades, master of none."

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How to Be a Death Eater

What better day of the year to play the villain than Halloween? Here's a how-to on a Death Eater mask plus some costume tips.

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Pop-Ups for Dinner

These days, many restaurants are hosting pop-up events or special dinners. Here's a run-down of ones happening during the month of October.

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Fair Food to Make at Home

If you want homemade elephant ears, try this.

Better Than Fair Food (Really)

Each year, the Mississippi State Fair brings many different foods, but also long lines. If you don't want to fight the crowds, but still want fair foods or something better, try these restaurants.

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Marie Hull’s Artistic Mastery

Walking through the Mississippi Museum of Art's latest exhibit, "Bright Fields: The Mastery of Marie Hull," is like taking a trip through time.