Will Brooks
Graphic designer Will Brooks sits under the giant inflatable donut behind his desk in his North Midtown Arts Center studio, talking about the creative community he's found in the neighborhood.
Prep for the Long Haul
St. Paddy's Parade weekend is a marathon, not a sprint. As such, it's important to plan ahead and be prepared.
Growing Organic
Like his vegetables—mostly heirlooms but also creative hybrids of familiar things—Taylor Yowell's livelihood and life itself is one grown through cultivating a wide range of unusual experiences and bringing them back home to where he started.
Little Blue Stems
Beth Foose, an Episcopal priest at Grace Episcopal Church in Canton by day, decided to turn her hobby of gardening into a family-run business.
Mindfulness Through Art
The idea for the watercolor and mindfulness workshop, Mindful Watercolor Workshop, came about when Dr. Megan Clapton started her solo therapy practice, Mindful Therapy, in October 2015 and felt a desire to "be a resource for the community, in addition to offering individual counseling," she says.
Keeping Things Simple
When Sarah Gayden Hammond (then Harris), met Andy Hammond at Sneaky Fest at Sneaky Beans in Fondren in August 2011, she was wearing a Raggedy Ann and Andy shirt.
Blind Dates With Books
Little Free Libraries are just what the name says—free book exchanges. Folks build a little house, essentially, in their yard. If you have a book to share, you leave one; if you want a book to read, you take one.
A Tiki-tastic Good Time
Not too long ago, a friend shared an article with me that longed for the resurgence of the in-house cocktail party. Why, it asked, do we always seem to suggest meeting at a bar or restaurant, rather than inviting people over to our homes? I wondered, too.
Long Live Hal
Malcolm White decided that because he sees his annual parade as a gift to the city, it could also be a way to continue to honor the gift of his late brother Hal's life by renaming it in his memory.
A Common Identity
Our Jackson community is full of shared traditions that bind us together and create a shared common identity.
Fear and Reality in ‘Virginia Woolf’
While Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" was lauded as too controversial in its day (it didn't win a Pulitzer because of its profanity and sexual themes), people saw it as an insight into true American life.
Bubbles Make Everything Better
I see no reason to relegate Champagne to special occasions. Bubbles make everything better, I say, and can turn any time into an occasion.
Here’s to the Ballet
It's been five years since the Oscar gauntlet of Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan," but I've nonetheless remained a bit fascinated with the world of ballet and dancers.
The Art of Play
As an avid consumer of pop, fashion, and celebrity culture, I know full well about the cult of youth and the pursuit of it.
Supper Club With CAET
Two of my favorite things are wine and a patio. CAET Wine Bar in Fondren combines both, along with hospitality and good food, and all were on display on a fall evening at its latest installment of Supper Club, a monthly private dining event.
The Student Becomes the Artist
Martha Ferris first came to art as one who studies it rather than one who makes it.
A Place for Ideas
One of the things I often say is cool about Jackson is that it seems that if you have a creative idea, there's something about this place that makes it possible for ideas to take root, become a reality, find support and thrive.
Josh Ferguson
Josh Ferguson says his favorite part of bartending at Babalu Tacos & Tapas is meeting people.
The Hazards of Being a Thinking Woman at Bars
"Why should I apologize for being smart?" my friend asked me. This came on the heels of a couple of instances that I've come to collectively refer to as "Hazards of Being a Thinking Woman at Bars."
Community and Camaraderie
Now in its 11th year, Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights is styled as a music and arts festival, but it's also a celebration of community and camaraderie between neighbors and friends of Belhaven.
Your Own Oxygen Mask
Dear readers, you may recall that a while back, I took a restorative yoga class at Tara Yoga Studio. Turns out, it gave me an epiphany.
The Beauty of Blowouts
Good hair just makes you feel better, and a blowout can be a little indulgence that just makes you feel more confident, or a little sexier. And who doesn't like that?
Shaken, Not Stirred
I often find myself drinking seasonally. Generally, that means more red wine and full-bodied beverages in the winter and lighter wines in the summer. Spring and summer also make me think of gin.
Buy the Lady a Drink
I firmly believe manners are ultimately about being gracious and courteous and making others comfortable. They're not about being bossy or controlling or making others feel inferior.
It’s Complicated
My relationship with the kitchen is a somewhat complicated one. Growing up, I had a really close relationship with my grandfather, who was a bit of a gourmand. Thanks to him, my childhood included reading reams of cookbooks.
Kila Milner
For Kila Milner, 34, a career in the restaurant industry lets her combine work she loves with her passion for Jackson, a combination that she says is a win-win.
Don’t Be That Guy
I recently found myself in a situation that left me not only coming up with better responses after the fact but also made me reflect on its deeper implications of what sort of behavior I'm willing to tolerate or excuse.
Sitting at the Chef’s Table
Ordering the same thing at your favorite restaurant can get old fast. That's why I was excited to learn about a new offering at the Fairview Inn's 1908 Provisions: the Chef's Table.
Happy Energy
I'm not a very Zen person. I'm not good at doing nothing, or in general, just relaxing. I think it's somewhat genetic.
Resolution Not Necessary
As February comes to a close, I wonder how many people vowed to start the year with a new commitment—to health, to fitness, to self-improvement—and how they've fared so far. I wonder because I'm decidedly not one of them.
Livingston Reborn
For Ron Guerieri, one of the partners at Livingston Mercantile, everything old is new again. Seated at a table at The Gathering, the restaurant side of the property, he explains the venue's concept as a throwback in time that's also part of a "rebirth of Livingston."
The Best Jackson Has to Offer
Jackson has no shortage of cool people, places and things to do. The stiff competition during Best of Jackson makes that clear. The creativity, enthusiasm and hospitality of our city and her people continue to make it an inspired place to live.
New Ideas
There is no doubt that I love Jackson. But I also love to travel, both because there's so much out there to see in the world, and because having new experiences and getting new ideas is fun.
Old Friends and New
Holidays are often a time full of tradition and emotions—some warm and fuzzy, others stress-related. But for some, it's more about a lack of tradition.
Brunching in the Capital
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But what if it's the weekend, and you sleep in? What if you want permission to have an adult beverage before noon? In that case, you brunch.
Something in the Water
It's interesting to see how we deal with changes in our lives. For those who go that route, marriage and giving birth are arguably two of the biggest ones.
Art for Everyone
When I read in the St. Andrew's Cathedral newsletter about local artist William Goodman's four-week art and faith course on Wednesday evenings, I decided to give it a shot.
Revolutionizing Seafood
Though the word "revolution" ordinarily indicates an intention to dramatically change things, Seafood R'evolution actually seeks to preserve and honor Mississippi's seafood culture and heritage.
A Season to Beat
In the South, fall means football. We know that. This year in Mississippi, though, it's especially exciting, thanks to both the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University's teams having stellar seasons.
Great Expectations
Whether it's communicating about exclusivity or merely determining if he likes you, directness is highly underrated.
Eating, Drinking and Learning
Eating and drinking are generally a recipe for a good time. But they also present opportunities to learn or to think about things in a larger context. One recent weekend, I got two chances to do just that.
Autumnal Ventures
While exploring another city is always a good time, this fall brought a number of new places to try in Jackson, and I was feeling the need to play catch-up and try out the ones that had opened while I was away.
Wedding Gifts and Local Artists
My friend is originally from Jackson, and he and his now-husband collect art, so I decided that a piece by a Jackson artist might be just the ticket for something unique and special.
Whiskey Drinkin’
Although this column is referred to as "Girl About Town," I feel compelled to address something typically considered "manly" that seems to be all the rage these days: whiskey.
Down the Rabbit Hole
Back in 2011, after becoming friends with Eddie Outlaw, co-owner of the William Wallace Salon (2939 Old Canton Road, 601-982-8300), he invited me to join their crew to march in the Zippity Doo Dah Parade in Fondren.
Support Local Arts
Sometimes, when you've built something up for a while, it doesn't live up to what you expect. However, when it comes to Jackson's artist community, it always delivers the goods.
Sombra's Young Talent
Though a mere 25 years old, Chef John Michael Smith of Sombra Mexican Kitchen in Ridgeland is a seasoned veteran of restaurants.
A Lifelong Reader
As a little girl, I loved the library. My mother read to me from birth, and we frequented the Meridian Public Library so much that it almost felt like a second home.
The Power of Tiny Dancers
Being a grown-up, I do now have friends who have kids—and I find that they can be fun once they reach an age where they start to become little people.
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