Best of Jackson 2022: Urban Living
Goods and services make up the building blocks of commerce. The Best of Jackson’s Urban Living section functions as a guidebook to many of the metro’s spots to shop and other local staples.
Best of Jackson 2022: Nightlife
Whether unwinding entails having a stiff drink, dancing to the latest hits, engaging in some friendly competition, or even a combination thereof, the metro has enough locally owned businesses to provide.
Best of Jackson 2022: Community & Culture
The sheer number of nonprofit entities, locally owned businesses, annual festivities and other attractions that welcome Jackson Metro residents and visitors exemplifies the levels of support Jacksonians are willing to demonstrate for art, history, good causes and beyond.
Best of Jackson 2022: People
We at the Jackson Free Press celebrate the individuals who bring a little something extra with them week-in and week-out to make our beloved city shine.
Halloween Weekend 2021 Event Roundup
This list of options the Jackson Free Press has assembled should provide you with a myriad of choices to let you celebrate Halloween according to your interests. Please browse the events below to see what is right for you as we bring October to a close.
‘The Ripper Gene,’ a Serial Comic about Serial Killers in Mississippi
This year, music artist Jason Turner has tapped into his passion for visual art to collaborate with Michael “Ted” Burczynski, pen name Michael Ransom, to create a serialized comic of the latter’s debut novel, “The Ripper Gene.”
Mississippi Brewery Road Map
The Magnolia State harbors more than a dozen locally owned breweries that supply Mississippians and travelers alike with a variety of stouts, sours and everything in-between.
Jefferson’s Grill: Barbecue Advice from an Old-School Pitmaster
Jackson native Roche Jefferson entered the food industry around nine years ago, working as a manager for two years before opening his own restaurant and catering service, Jefferson’s Grill.
Shellheads: Fans Talk on the Heroes in a Half-Shell
Sergio Lugo II also serves as a host for Reality Breached, a podcast that developed into a network for additional locally produced podcasts.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Mississippi, Stop Stacking the Deck. Listen to Your Constituents.
Last fall, approximately 766,000 Mississippians voted to pass Initiative 65, which would have called for the Health Department to launch a medical-marijuana program in the Magnolia State by August 2021.
Dogmud Tavern: Gaming Bar Fosters Local Nerd Community
Since Ridgeland-based gaming bar Dogmud Tavern opened on April 1, 2021, patrons have come far and wide to immerse themselves in the experience, with some guests traveling hundreds of miles.
Drive-In Movies in the Park Series 2021
Returning for its fourth year, the city’s Drive-In Movies in the Park Series begins Friday, April 16, and Saturday, April 17, and will continue on a monthly basis.
EDITOR'S NOTE: My COVID-19 Story; Appreciate the Good, But Don’t Be Complacent
Well, it happened. Despite my continued caution, I ended up contracting COVID-19 the week before Christmas.
Gwen Wilks
When Gwen Wilks saw an advertisement for a position at the Mississippi Museum of Art that suggested she would "learn about herbs and fresh vegetables," she assumed the position would include working in the community garden.
Treat Yourself to Some Devilish Delights
In the Jackson area, rolling into October means that many of our favorite local shops are offering a number of tasty Halloweeny treats. Review the following list of a few options for you to browse to satisfy that sweet tooth.
Seth Power: Advocating for Mississippi and Celebrating Milestones in Life and Music
In the last year, Seth Power has released two albums, and multiple radio stations have played his single, “I Do.”
Race for the Cure Persists, Despite Delays
On Saturday, Oct. 3, scores of Jacksonians will don their favorite pink garments and hit the sidewalks to run in the 21st annual Susan G. Komen Metro Jackson Race for the Cure fundraising event.
Local Barista Pours Positivity into Every Cup
On Friday, Sept. 25, Leigha Ellis spoke with the Jackson Free Press to discuss her experience as a barista and what Cups offers this fall season.
Local Jackson Caterers: A List
Whether you are presently searching for a caterer for an upcoming occasion or you are just browsing to learn of the catering options local to the Jackson metro, know that you have a number of caterers who could potentially fulfill your food-supply needs.
Sister Susan Karina Dickey
Sister Susan Karina Dickey discovered her path after adopting the Catholic faith, which led her to eventually hold her current position as the vice president of Mission Integration at St. Dominic Hospital.
Museum Directory, Current Hours & COVID Precautions
Browse the following list to see which museums catch your interest and their respective opening statuses.
Jackson’s Batches of Green Patches
Venturing out and embracing nature may be just the mental reprieve we have been needing, and the capital city has options aplenty for residents and visitors alike to peruse.
A Castle of Characters, Enchanting Memories
In 2015, Taylor Bridges found herself wearing glittery blue heels and a crystal-blue gown with powder blue sleeves, a semitransparent cape and white gloves as she stepped through King's Daughters Hospital in her hometown of Yazoo City, Miss.
‘Intrinsic Motivation’ and Jackson Education Support
Educational support professional Jillian Smart, CEO of Jackson Education Support, founded the business in 2012 with the goal of using her passion for teaching to help both children and adults develop as independent learners.
Seasonal Goodies Galore, Local Farmers Market Lineup
Summers in Mississippi often mean sweltering heat, but we Jacksonians know that summer also serves as the peak of farmers market season.
Limited Time: MAC Rapid Response Grants
The Mississippi Arts Commission offers an expanded version of its Minigrants program, coined Rapid Response Grants, to quickly assist with the evolving needs of artists and art organizations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Certifiable Studios: A Photo Gallery
Certifiable Studios, a gaming and creative studio founded five years ago by Jesse Labbé and Rick Moore, has produced a number of board games that have been purchased from fans from across the globe.
Dice Rolls and Tokens and Cards, Oh My!
Whether your idea of a fun Saturday night entails braving an expedition through Antarctic tundra or gallivanting through a land of fantastical beasts to collect bounties with your adventuring party, Certifiable Studios, a board-game-centric art studio in Jackson, has you covered.
Home is Where the Robot Is: Kaz-Magic Studios
For Ridgeland resident Frederick Roseman, a freelance artist and local comic creator who uses the name Kaz-Magic Studios, the concept of family has been a driving force in both his personal life and in his artistic works.
Travis Ryder Unifies Local Nerd Community, Van's CCG
For Travis Ryder of Van's Comics, Cards & Games, building the local nerd community remains one of his foremost goals in running the store.
Empty Atlas Goes ‘Maximal’
“There will never be an end to all the blood and sweat I’ll lend to make it work,” sings former Jackson Free Press music editor Micah Smith, the leader of indie-rock band Empty Atlas.
Krista Shows, 'Prone to Wander'
While she now resides near Asheville, N.C., Krista Shows is a Mississippi girl at heart. The 31-year-old music artist who called Jackson her home from the time she was 5 years old to her graduation from Madison Central High School released a new album titled “Prone to Wander” on May 1.
Zac Harmon, Raised Under Jackson’s Limitless Sky
Zac Harmon may have left Jackson in his adult years to bolster his career as an award-winning guitarist, singer and songwriter who specializes in American blues, but he has always kept the lessons learned in his southern upbringing close to his heart.
William Hulbert Jr: JPS Trombonist Becomes a Lion
This year, Callaway High School junior and trombonist William Hulbert Jr. earned a place in the Mississippi Lions All-state Band roster--the first Jackson Public Schools student to do so in 14 years.
Earl Grey, Sweet
If you are a fellow tea lover who also has a bit of a sweet tooth at times, tea-infused cupcakes are easy to make, taste like your favorite blends and leave a pleasant after-taste that makes you feel like you just had a sip from a warm mug.
Easter Family Fun: Character Cornhole
I am sure many of you have children who have been home from school for too long and are getting antsy for something to do. Well, with a little creativity, you can turn some basic items into something fun for the family to do for a weekend afternoon.
Online Streaming Events
Some organizations and individuals have started hosting online events to help give people some fun and social reprieve even whilst taking refuge at home.
Filing for Unemployment Benefits
The Mississippi Department of Employee Security has modified its existing unemployment compensation rules, allowing Mississippi workers who are not able to work due to COVID-19 to be eligible to file for unemployment benefits.
Jonterius Lewis
One of the many people who have been putting overtime into their “essential businesses” since the COVID-19 crisis began, Jonterius Lewis helps ensure people get the supplies they need through his position as a supervisor and cashier with Shoppers Value in Clinton.
COVID-19 Brings Parade to Screeching Halt
Since COVID-19 made its way to the continental United States, the virus has forced organizations to cancel or postpone events that have been embedded into the lives of citizens.
Jordan Feliz
The foundation for Christian music artist Jordan Feliz' professional solo career began to culminate only five hours after he and his wife moved to Nashville in 2012.
Bea Gotthelf: Jacksonian Celebrates Her 100th Birthday
While reaching 100 years of age is a milestone that not everybody manages to achieve, today, Jackson native and long-time resident Bea Gotthelf celebrates her 100th birthday.
Home Is Where the Office Is
To allow Jacksonians the chance to give a shoutout to their workplace homes, we include the Best Place to Work category in our annual Best of Jackson issue.
Opera Mississippi’s New Incarnation
Since its founding in 1945 as the Jackson Opera Guild, the arts organization formerly known as the Mississippi Opera Association has gone through a number of changes.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Challenges of a Baby-Faced Editor
"Instead of burdening myself with unnecessary, self-imposed concerns that weigh me down, I have come to better realize that I should have more confidence in myself and more faith in others."
NatureFEST 2020
Spring is the season we often remember nature, and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science provides a celebration of nature each year through its annual event, NatureFEST.
Mississippi ToyCon 2020
Many hobbyists await the day that a convention for their favorite pastime comes to their state. Local toy collectors can now cheer as the first-ever Mississippi ToyCon takes place on Saturday, Feb. 22.
‘The Little Mermaid’
Each year, Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex, or Power APAC, produces a ballet for February featuring an all-student cast. This year, the dance department offers an adaptation of "The Little Mermaid."
‘Keeping the Blues Alive’ at Hal & Mal’s
Each year, The Blues Foundation, known as the International Blues Foundation, recognizes individuals, businesses, organizations, and festivals from across the globe that have invested years and effort into upholding the musical genre during its annual "Keeping the Blues Alive" Awards in Memphis.
Mac Mitchell: Playwright Takes Flight
College can often be the time when we discover more about ourselves in a way that helps guide us as we choose the trajectories of our lives. Mac Mitchell entered Belhaven University his freshman year as a creative writing major, but felt something was lacking.
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