Will the Next Josh Hailey Stand Up?I remember the first time I saw Josh Hailey. I was covering the City of Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce banquet for the Madison County Journal in 2009. At this suburban hobnob where conformity is king, Hailey was clad in a …
Alabama, Apes and Adam PerryI recently had a chance to sit down with Adam Perry, account and distribution manager for the Jackson Free Press, to talk about his first novel, "Boxing Gorillas." The story is a well-paced and fun read that deftly blends elements …
A Mostly Nice List of Mostly Offbeat Holiday Films"Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas" (1977)—Jim Henson had the Christmas season covered with "The Muppet Christmas Carol," but this little tale is perhaps the most overlooked gem in Henson's treasure trove. The tale of an otter mother and son and …
APAC's Impact: Shining BrightAs a boy in a school uniform gets off the bus on tree-lined Riverside Drive early one fall morning, faculty and staff inside the Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex School prepare for a busy day. The boy carries a …
Scrooge Hits the StageThe ghosts of Christmas past, present and future will visit New Stage Theatre during the annual production of the heartwarming Charles Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol."
Hometown HeroesLike a proud parent showing off a scrapbook of your child's accolades, "Mississippians" (Nautilus Printing, 2010, $45) is a collection of photographs and vignettes of notable individuals from the state of Mississippi.
Rush to Judgment: Trying Kids As AdultsTyler Wayne Edmonds took his last seventh-grade exam at Fifth Street Junior High School in West Point on a Thursday and was confident he had done well. So far, 2003 had turned out to be a pretty good year for …
Muddy DreamsMost people who grew up in Mississippi probably recall making mud pies as a child. For the creative pie, you dug up wet, red Mississippi clay and squished it though your fingers, patting and patting, to make that perfect shape. …
In Search of PlaceWhen Jamie Weems was touring Europe last year, unexpected detours became some of the most memorable experiences from his trip. Those moments inspired him and his band, Strange Pilgrims, to produce a body of music.
Homeland SoulEach instrument's note, with its distinct tone, stacks one on top of another and builds a sound so bountiful and lush, they swaddle the listener's ear. The horns blast, starting and stopping at the exact same moment, as if a …
A Mostly Nice List of Offbeat Holiday FilmsThe holidays are upon us. Thanksgiving is past, and Christmas is coming up faster than a speeding sleigh. When you need a moment away from the maddening traffic and endless lines, try popping one of these movies in your DVD …
Spiritual ExplorationCheck out these titles to learn how different people worship (or don't) and how to co-exist harmoniously with your newfound knowledge. All books available at Lemuria Books (Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55, Suite 202, 601-366-7619)
Beyond HairI need more black friends. That was the first thing I thought as I walked into the Regency Hotel Saturday evening, Nov. 13, for the third annual Mississippi Hair Battle. Among the approximately 1,000 people who attended the event, about …
Country's QueenTammy Wynette once said, "I believe you have to live your songs," but too often the life of this country-music superstar takes a backseat to her hit, "Stand By Your Man."
Break-Neck SpeedIn 1972 I went on a Girl Scout camping trip to Washington, D.C. One of the chaperoning mothers brought along her son, Terry. We kidded with each other that I was girl "Terri" and he was boy "Terry."
As a boy in a school uniform gets off the bus on tree-lined Riverside Drive early one fall morning, faculty and staff inside the Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex School prepare for a busy day. The boy carries a …