Red Flags in Downtown Bars
While eating at the bar at a downtown restaurant or enjoying a beverage at the King Edward Hotel Bar on a weeknight, it's not at all unusual to strike up a conversation with someone who is quite obviously here from out of town.
Mother's Appreciation Day
Mommies and babies--they're everywhere I look these days. Magazines and the Internet track the growing baby bumps and pregnancy fashion of Mila Kunis, Scarlett Johansson, and Kerry Washington daily.
Straying at Home
When Mary Claire Primos, founder of Stray at Home Art and Music Festival, moved back home to Jackson after living in Nashville for seven years, she noticed that something was missing.
City Love
When she was a student at Mississippi College, Lindsey Brooks, now 30, attended a Blue and Gold social club party at Northpointe Barn and told a girlfriend, "I'm going to get married here." She forgot about that passing remark until 2014 when she wed Ryan Bell, 31—yes, at Northpointe Barn—and the friend reminded her.
Springtime Revival
Sometimes, among activities or places that come to feel routine, you find something new. Such was the case for me at the last Fondren After 5 and the weekend following it.
Singalong Soiree
The Unframed series at New Stage Theatre offers quirkier, more controversial or offbeat modern fare to balance the selections in the Main Stage season, such as the recent “Musical of Musicals.”
A Lighter Side of Char
Derek George knows that most Jacksonians think of Char Restaurant as a steakhouse. But George, the executive chef at Char, is out to make it a destination for seafood lovers as well.
A Few Good Men
Especially after a certain age, if one is single, family, friends and even strangers offer commentary on your independent status that leaves you feeling like you're some sort of freak of nature who should be studied.
Girl About Town’s St. Paddy’s Plan
A seasoned veteran of the Mal’s St. Paddy’s Parade day, Girl About Town Julie Skipper shares her tips for making the most of it.
Quick, Cultural Getaways
One year, a friend of mine made it her New Year's resolution to go out of town once a month, even just for a day, "even if it's just to Yazoo City."
What Was She Thinking?!?
Blame the "Real Housewives," blame social media, blame society for conditioning us to feel better about ourselves by putting others down ... or blame ourselves.
Establishing and Empowering
Finding mentors, supporters and, sometimes, even commiserators is important. It might be a more formalized approach, such as joining professional organizations and identifying a mentor with whom you meet regularly.
Coming Together
One of the things I love about Jackson is how often people who care about each other, and about this city, come together to support things bigger than themselves.
Of Beer and Building Community
The owners of Lucky Town Brewery explained how they want to be part of the regrowth of midtown at a community meeting at CS’s.
Morbid Curiosity
New Stage Theatre kicks off its 48th season with an intriguing story of mystery, magic and murder. But it's also a play full of dark humor and fun for the audience.
Art All Night
The Old Masters to Monet exhibit at the Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St., 601-960-1515) includes 50 paintings. As it concludes Sept. 8, the museum will end with a bang, staying open for the final 50 hours (more or less) of the exhibit during 50 Paintings in 50 Hours.
Sixth (Social) Sense
You may not know this, dear readers, but I have a sixth sense. I can sit down at a bar and almost immediately pick out someone who just moved to town or is visiting on business.
Downtown Family Secrets
When I moved downtown in December 2007, the first core group of residents joked that living in Tombigbee Lofts and Plaza Building was akin to a dorm for 30-year-olds—a dysfunctional family of sorts.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Art
Kirk West’s photos of musicians, including Bob Marley, the Bee Gees, and Muddy Waters and Bruce Springsteen, capture electric energy.
Magic Hair
Justin McPherson at William Wallace Salon works his magic on mere mortals’ hair, giving it new life.
Beyond Downtown
The Livingston Farmers Market might be the ticket to get downtowners out into the suburbs.
Preston DiFatta
Preston DiFatta seems wise beyond his 10 years in his ability to see unfairness and his desire to do something about it.
Beauty in Nature
Now in its 16th year, the Tougaloo Art Colony is a week-long indulgence in the visual arts. Tougaloo is proud to be the only Historically Black College or University offering such a residential program, which is open to educators, artists, students and art lovers of any walk of life who want to participate in creating visual art.
Old is New Again
From the rusted patio chairs and bathtubs to antique signs, windows and even old doorknobs, Old House Depot is a veritable treasure trove for someone like me.
Back to Our Roots
Sometimes, getting away makes you think even more fondly of home. A recent excursion to Nashville left me thinking about the progress I've seen in our city the past few years. It's interesting how sometimes by getting back to our roots, we can move forward.
All In This Together
One night last week, I found myself alone, hungry and in want of some social interaction. As I'm wont to do at such times, I headed to a friendly neighborhood restaurant with a bar at which I could sit and chat with the bartender or other patrons.
Ceremony and Celebration
Not many couples can say they had their first fight before they even went out on a date. But then again, most couples aren't lawyers on opposite sides of a case.
Free and Easy
I am not a good bargain shopper. I have friends who are. They thrill at the hunt of finding a deal. Those stores, you know the ones, that advertise department store brands at discounted prices? They love them.
Priority Woman
The need to take care of everybody else or to be perfect--or at least, to be what everyone expects you to be all the time--seems to be characteristically, though not exclusively, a female trait.
Old and New
"Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold." So goes the song we learn as children. In my adult life, I've found that it's not just true with people, but with places.
Make Way for the Ladies
Three decades ago, it was just folks in costumes inspired by Tennessee Williams novels and Queens in pickup trucks throwing produce at people during rush hour on a Friday.
My Neighborhood
I know there is more to the neighborhood in terms of people and places than my narrow experience. Recently, I had an opportunity to explore things that I had no idea existed, yet were right down the block from me.
Lifelong Learning
My friend Brooks and I have a bit of a running joke involving our alma mater, Millsaps College. I love Millsaps dearly and am grateful every day for the education it gave me. That education included making me and my friend--and no doubt countless other alumni—into lifelong learners. We tend to laugh about it: Will we ever figure out what we want to be when we grow up?
Giving Hearts
The creative spirit is a strong one; it comes from deep within. That's why so often art creates in the viewer an emotional reaction or impact.
Cannon-Boteler
One evening, Christina Cannon talked to her friend Kirby Boteler about the things important to her in a partner. "He has to enjoy good food, good wine and have a passport," she told him.
Stretching Limits
As we enter the new year, many of us contemplate goals (I don't really like the word "resolutions") to accomplish over the course of the next 365 days.
Nothing Like Live
One recent night, I found myself without any company or plans, and watched a movie at home, by myself. It was a very un-Girl-About-Town moment, I suppose. It also made me think about how different the experience of watching a movie from one's couch is from watching one in a theater full of fellow movie-goers.
‘Tis the Season
I hadn’t even eaten all of my ghost-shaped marshmallow Peeps from Halloween before a friend posted a picture on Facebook of her fully decorated Christmas tree.
Fit and Fabulous
Working out helps me feel more confident in my clothes. But my commitment to being fit is more about being healthy than fitting into a certain dress size.
Vivid Digits
Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you’ve probably noticed that fingernails garner a lot of attention these days.
Gray Days are Coming
This season, “50 Shades of Grey” isn’t just a terrible fan fic-turned-bestselling novel. It’s also a theme in nail salons all over.
Timeless Style
In fashion, social graces and pop culture, some trends come and go, while others remain tried and true—the classics.
My Mother’s Wisdom
Clothes and shoes are an investment, and to look your best, they need the proper care.
Seeking Refuge
It seemed eerie that on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast braced itself for the arrival of another hurricane.
Team Spirits
Although the temperature outside still feels like summer, this southern girl's mind is on two things: breaking out my fall wardrobe items and football season.