The Best Of Jackson 2008 [Urban Living]

Best Locally Owned Business, Best Local Alternative to Wal-Mart: McDade’s
(Maywood Mart, Woodland Hills, Belhaven, Westland Plaza, 601-366-5676)
by Donna Ladd

In the handful of years since Greg and Kathy McDade started their grocery-story expansion from their flagship store in North Jackson to neighborhoods deeper into the city, they have clearly become hard to beat as Jackson’s best locally owned business. It’s not hard to see why.

For one, they responded to the disturbing trend of corporate grocery stores fleeing urban areas by simply going the other direction, taking over stores exactly where they are needed by Jacksonians. And going to any McDade’s—whether for the week’s food haul or for a design-your-own six pack—is as personal an experience as you’d expect out of local grocers, a dying breed. You can actually talk to Mr. or Mrs. McDade (or just Greg or Kathy); you can ask them to order something; you can report rude help. Of course, that seldom happens because the locally owned spirit filters down from the power couple at the top, and that means a staff of people who care about each other and the customers. We’re thrilled to see the stores adding more organics, and this year, the McDade’s went back to the flagship Maywood Mart store and made it something “extra.” Check it out if you haven’t already.

Best Locally Owned Business
Second: Cups (Multiple locations, 601-362-7422) / Third: Mangia Bene (Owners of Bravo, Broad Street, Sal & Mookie’s, 3317 N. State St., 601-982-4443) / Good showing: Fondren Beverage Emporium (3030 N. State St., 601-321-0806), Body Benefits (731 Pear Orchard Rd., 601-991-9904)

Best Local Alternative to Wal-Mart
Second: Rainbow (2807 Old Canton Rd., 601-366-1602) / Third: N.U.T.S. (114 Millsaps Ave., 601-355-7458) Fondren Good Showing: Montgomery Hardware (2801 Old Canton Rd., 601-366-9455)


Best Boutique: Material Girls
182 Promenade Blvd., Flowood, 601-992-4533
by Bailee Grissom

If you love to shop, Material Girls gives you ample opportunity to fill your trunk with shopping bags. Opened in November 2004, the boutique offers hobo bags, jewelry, clothing, shoes and gifts that will satisfy your need to fill your closet. Top brand names grace the racks, and their Jessica Simpson shoes fly off the shelves along with their wide range of products ranging from Voom, Rampage and Spanx to Vava and Chinese Laundry. For all things fashionable, head to the store in the Dogwood Promenade, and pamper yourself with that new dress you always knew you needed.

The runner-up boutiques are amazing as well; no need to ever walk into a mall again!

Second: Lemongrass (1491 Canton Mart Square, 601-914-3181) / Third: Treehouse (3000 N. State St., 601-982-3433) / Good Showing: High Cotton (4500 I-55 N., 601-982-3280); Fetish (772 Lake Harbour Dr., #7, 601-987-9961); Wilai (2763 Old Canton Rd., 601-366-9955); Orange Peel (3026 N. State St., 601-364-9977)


Best Bookstore: Lemuria
202 Banner Hall, 601-366-7619
by Gary Sheppard

Lemuria is truly a one-of-a-kind bookstore experience. Sporting by far the best selection of books in the state, Lemuria is set up to accommodate the most enthusiastic book browsers, shoppers and collectors. For those of us who can get lost for hours in a stack of books, this store is a haven. Lemuria is home to one of the most knowledgeable staffs as well as one of Jackson’s most eccentric small business owners/bibliosages, John Evans. With this in mind, Lemuria is more than equipped to service anyone’s literary needs. It is also the only metro area bookstore that weekly brings honored literary traditions to its Literary Noise events: author signings and booze. Make Lemuria your next bookstore visit.

Second: Barnes & Noble (1057 County Line Rd., 601-991-3835) / Third: Border’s (100 Dogwood Blvd., Flowood, 601-919-0462) / Good Showing: Books-a-Million (4950 I-55 S., 601-366-3008); Choctaw Books (926 North St., 601-352-7281); Yellow Dog Books (100 Depot Dr., Madison, 601-605-8955); The Book Rack (1491 Canton Mart Rd, #7, 601-956-5086)


Best Cheap Thrill: Fondren Beverage Emporium
3030 N. State St., 601-321-0806
by Emily Braden
Photo by Rickey Wright

If by “cheap” you mean “product for the financially depleted,” and your “thrill” makes you “grin like a pig in sh*t,” get thee to Fondren Beverage Emporium, which takes me back to the days of going to the store with Papaw for candy. The Emporium has Zots (the most exciting candy your mouth will ever encounter), candy cigarettes, Hello Kitty Pez dispensers, bubble gum bologna, Fukola Cola and all those candies of days gone by, plus the candies your child needs to be the coolest kid at recess. Most importantly, the owner knows his root beer.

Then there are the toys that adults will love—a Fez from the Emporium and a toy pipe went home with Kimberly Griffin from JFP’s Dirty Santa this year.

Second: Orange Peel (3026 N. State St., 601-364-9977) / Third: Danny’s (995 S. West St., 601-592-7000) / Good Showing: The Dollar Tree (multiple locations)


Best Beauty Shop: Barnette’s Salon
4465 I-55 N., 4400 Old Canton Rd., 601-362-9550
by Michele Baker

After studying with pros in Chicago, New York and Miami, Barnette’s stylists return to deliver high-end hair cuts, color, perms, wedding updos, makeup and more. Special services include Japanese hair straightening and eyelash extensions (offered through Aqua the Day Spa).

If you prefer a more serene atmosphere, try Barnette’s Highland Bluff location at 4400 Old Canton Rd.; a third location should open in Madison sometime this summer.

Second: Ritz Salon (775 Lake Harbour Dr., Ridgeland, 601-856-4330) / Third: William Wallace (2939 Old Canton Rd., 601-982-8300) / Good showing: Lacey’s Salon (1935 Lakeland Dr., 601-906-2253); Gloss (1625 E. County Line Rd., 601-572-8919); Tangle Hair (3000 N. State St., 601-987-0123)


Best Cheap Workout: YMCA multiple locations, 601-948-4143
by Lea Thomas

The best part about working out at the “Y” is its famously unpretentious environment. It’s truly refreshing to not feel as though you have to be Barbie or Ken reincarnated to work out there. Plus it’s easy on your psyche and on the wallet. Youth and adult sports to pilates, and 5:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. classes, the “Y” has something for everyone in the family, and there’s no contract needed. Whether you’re the serious athlete or the thrice-per-week “work out because I have to” kind of person, the “Y” has something for you.

Second: Butterfly Yoga (3025 N. State St., 601-594-2313) / Third: Courthouse Racquet and Fitness (multiple locations) / Good Showing: Body Benefits (731 S. Pear Orchard Rd. #30, 601-991-9904); Parham Bridges (5055 Old Canton Rd.); Sex; Walking


Best Beauty Supply Store: Sally’s Beauty Supply
4429 N. State St., 601-362-1537
by Caroline Crawford

This is the South, and that means that beauty matters a lot more than it probably should. So do beauty products, and the places where we buy them.

Sally’s Beauty Supply is the place to go for DIY beauty. Every few weeks, I go in for my Ion jet black No.1 hair color and can’t help but indulge in some of their mini-sized makeup in tons of colors (they only cost about $1). There are always clearance items and great sale prices and gift-with-purchase sales. They carry everything to keep you gorgeous from head to toe no matter your age, color or style, and you don’t have to be a professional to buy the products.

Second: Armstrong McCall Beauty Supply (289 Commerce Park Dr., Ridgeland, 601-853-7775) / Third: Brock’s Beauty Salon (1220 E. Northside Dr., 601-366-9343); O’Susanna (1491 Canton Mart Rd., 601-956-4870)


Best Library: The Eudora Welty Library
300 N. State St., 601-968-5811
by Kelly Bryan Smith

The Eudora Welty Library is a haven for book lovers of all ages. Browse the stacks of books or the racks of magazines, and read your treasures in peace. Ride the glass elevator upstairs to look for books on tape or CD for your next car trip. And don’t miss the children’s section around the corner from the circulation desk. I may be 26, but my favorite part of the Eudora Welty Library is definitely the world of storybooks hidden in the back corner of the library.

Second: Flowood Library (103 Winners Circle, 601-919-1911) / Third: Willie Morris Library (4912 Old Canton Rd., 601-987-8181) / Good Showing: Madison Library (994 Madison Ave., 601-856-2749); Margaret Walker Alexander Library (2525 Robinson Rd., 601-354-8911); Medgar Evers Boulevard Library (4215 Medgar Evers Blvd., 601-982-2867)


Best Festival/Annual Event: Mal’s St Paddy’s Day Parade
by Todd Stauffer

Recently on the JFP Web site a reader posted a question, asking how conservative Jackson could really be. After all—he’d seen pictures of Mal’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade. The parade is no doubt the closest that Jackson gets every year to the cultured debauchery of Mardi Gras, and we have the vision and leadership of Malcolm White—along with Sweet Potato Queen Jill Conner Browne—to thank for this thing. Memphis has Elvis, the Delta has the Blues, and Jackson has Mal’s St. Paddy’s Parade. A shout-out is in order to Jubilee!JAM, however, which is back in a big way. The 21st year is looking even more promising than last year’s 20th-anniversary bash.

Second: Jubilee!JAM / Third: Mississippi State Fair / Good Showing: Mistletoe Marketplace, Wellsfest


Best Children’s Event: Ice Cream Safari at the Jackson Zoo
2918 W. Capitol St., 601-352-2580
by Ann Lowrey Forster

Ice cream, zoo animals, space jumps, Inky the Clown, face painting and local celebrities competing for their attention—what more could children want? These delights and more are what the Jackson Zoo offers the children of the metro area on one Saturday afternoon every July. In a category with stiff competition like Wellsfest and the State Fair, the votes have suggested that ice cream flavors like “Chinchilla Vanilla” and “Zebras and Cream” can beat out even cotton candy and the big yellow slide. I know we’ll be there with bells on at the 14th annual Safari next July—I just don’t know if my husband or my 4-year-old will love it more.

Second: Wellsfest (2019 Bailey Ave.,
601-353-0658) / Third: Mississippi State Fair (1207 Mississippi St., 601-961-4000)
Good Showing: Chuck E. Cheese (5465 I-55 N., 601-956-5252); Kids’ Best


Best Fitness Center: Courthouse Racquet and Fitness
multiple locations, 601-932-4800
by Tiffany Fitch

Although I’m convinced the best workout is chasing after children, the JFP readers have voted, and for the fifth year in a row, Courthouse has taken top honors as the best fitness center for “real” exercise.

Courthouse locations offer programs tailored to all ages. Flexible hours, tennis courts, pools, weights, classes and cardio equipment make Courthouse the perfect place to start on those New Year’s resolutions.

I’m even considering it myself.

Second: YMCA (multiple locations) / Third: The Club (100 Professional Dr., Brandon, 601-591-2582, 511 Lake Harbour Dr., Ridgeland, 601-605-0341) / Good Showing: Baptist Healthplex (717 Manship St., 601-968-1766); Fitness Lady (331 Sunnybrook Rd., Ridgeland, 601-856-0535, 5720 Hwy. 80 E., Pearl, 601-939-2122); Healthline at St. Dominic’s (970 Lakeland Dr., 601-200-4925)


Best Day Spa: Aqua the Day Spa
4465 I-55 N., 601-362-9550
by Lea Thomas

What do you want in a day spa? A menu decorated with limitless services? A relaxing environment that offers free beverages? A knowledgeable staff sensitive to customer needs? Yeah, that’s what everyone wants. This year’s Best Day Spa winner goes beyond. Avid spa-goer Brooke Ballard Meeks says, “Aqua provides the ultimate spa experience.” Among her favorite perks are the robe and slippers you’re given upon arrival, complimentary herbal teas and cucumber water, and the bathroom stocked full of Aveda natural products.

Second: Trio’s (4810 Lakeland Dr., Flowood, 601-608-8746 or 601-608-3223) / Third: Mona (501 Marshall St., Suite 603, 601-355-6860) / Good Showing: Spa Beca (357 Towne Center Blvd., #101, Ridgeland, 601-977-8401)


Best Hair Stylist: Lacey Norris of Lacey’s Salon
1935 Lakeland Dr., 601-906-2253
by Michele Baker
Photo by Darren Schwindaman

At the tender age of 23, Lacey Norris is the hot-pink-haired powerhouse who runs Lacey’s Salon: From giving $17 haircuts, to coloring, to sweeping up after a cut, Lacey is a one-woman show. Norris jokes that each client is her best friend, which allows her to give absolutely fabulous haircuts and colors. Repeat clients obviously agree; business at Lacey’s is in the pink.

Second: Morgan Cook (Gloss, 1625 E. County Line Rd., 601-572-8919) / Third: Griff Howard (Ritz Salon, 775 Lake Harbour Dr., Ridgeland, 601-856-4330) / Good showing: Pam Wallace (Cut Loose), Jessie Gallagher (Ritz Salon), Brian Bower (Tangle Hair, 3000 N. State St., 601-987-0123), Eddie Outlaw (William Wallace, 2939 Old Canton Rd., 601-982-8300)


Best Museum: The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
2148 Riverside Dr., 601-354-7303
by Kelly Bryan Smith

Pack your sense of wonder and head out to the Natural Science Museum, where you will find fish and turtle-filled aquariums, wildlife dioramas, alligators, the infamous two-headed snake, miles of winding nature trails and a kick-ass playground that will make you wish that you were 8 years old again. If you’re really lucky, you might see a scuba diver in with the gators or a snake engulfing a mouse at feeding time.

Second: Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St., 601-960-1515) / Third: Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum (1150 Lakeland Dr., 601-713-3365) Good Showing: Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum (1152 Lakeland Dr., 601-982-8264)


Best Thrift Shop: The Orange Peel
3026 N. State St., 601-364-9977
by Maggie Burks

I generally don’t get excited about many things—outwardly anyway—but when I received a gift certificate to Kristin Tubb’s Orange Peel for Christmas, I couldn’t keep my smile at bay. You never know what to expect when you walk through the doors of The Orange Peel. Last time I was there, the ladies were unloading items from a 91-year-old woman’s vintage wardrobe, filled with 1940's cocktail dresses and accessories. Keep in mind, however, that if you see something you like, get it! Going back to find your coveted item gone is always a bummer.

Second: N.U.T.S. (114 Millsaps Ave., 601-355-7458)
Third: Bargain Boutique (5070 Parkway Dr., 601-991-0500) / Good Showing: Salvation Army (110 Presto Lane, 601-982-4881)


Best Reason to Live in Jackson: Friendly People and Hospitality
by Todd Stauffer

I lived in the West for a while, where the people are supposed to be nice. My impression is that people were nice—and polite—but largely because nearly any conversation had the potential to end in, “Oh, yeah? Draw!” Not that Jackson is without its gunplay, mind you, but the Southern thang is the Southern thang—folks are nice here. Pull up a chair, set down some roots and see if they take hold. The second place vote-getter is a fun one—Fondren. Fondren is a wonderful example of what a little forward thinking can do in Jackson, not to mention how well it fits the third-place winner—location!

Second: Fondren / Third: Convenience; Location / Good Showing: Affordable cost-of-living; Food and Family


Best Place to Buy Art: Southern Breeze
4500 I-55 N., 601-982-4222
by Tiffany Fitch
Photo by Nate Glenn

Southern Breeze Gallery deserves top honors, showcasing southern art and artists with a focus on Mississippi, and one of the largest collections in the state. There is something for everyone with works in oil, acrylics, watercolor, inks, metal and ceramic. Take in the vivid colors of artists Debbie High and Jacqueline Ellens, the “Mississippi Marsh” of Grace Buchanan that makes me feel I could jump in, and Susan Ingram’s attention to details. It’s a perfect Saturday treat.

Second: The Ink Spot (205 W. Capitol St., 601-352-4700) / Third: Brown’s (630 Fondren Pl., 601-982-4844) / Good Showing: Nunnery’s (426 Meadowbrook Rd., 601-981-4426); ARTMix (Fondren)


Best Alternative to Wal-Mart: Target
6365 I-55 N, 601-956-1150
by Ann Lowrey Forster

When people talk about shopping at Wal-Mart, their reactions can be intense. Some people think it only slightly better than something from Dante’s Inferno. Others are grateful for the convenience, but I don’t know anyone who looks forward to their trips there.

Justified or not, one just feels a little less “Mart-ish” in Target. With its new bridal line and home items that will make anyone drool, Target looks more like a department store than a discount retailer.

Second: Walgreens (multiple locations); Freds (multiple locations) / Third: Kroger (multiple locations)


Best Tattoo/Piercing Parlor: Ink Spot Tattoo Shop and Art Gallery
205 W. Capitol St., 601-352-4700
by Bailee Grissom

The Ink Spot gives you a complete art experience. If you feel inspired while you mingle in the front of the parlor and see local artwork hanging on the walls, just slip to the back of the gallery where the owner, Jason Thomas, runs a tattoo shop. The Ink Spot’s tattoo artists make sure that each tattoo is unique by refusing to keep pre-drawn designs on hand for customers to choose. No matter if you want to display unique artwork from their walls or on your arms, Ink Spot guarantees an exceptional experience.

Second: Squench’s (3780 I-55 S., 601-372-2800) / Third: Eternal Body Art (3611 I-55 S., 601-346-5963) / Good Showing: Animal House (420 N. Bierdeman Rd., Pearl, 601-933-1120); Dark Dimensions (3370 Hwy. 80 W., 601-922-0114)


Best Liquor/Wine Store: Kats Wine Cellar
901 E. Fortification St., 601-354-9181
by Lindsey Maddox
Photo by Brian Johnson

When selecting a wine and liquor store, two qualities are of utmost importance: selection and staff. All of this year’s finalists offer a discerning selection and helpful, knowledgeable employees, but each has a different approach. Kats diverse offering, in its new building, is excellent for the internationally curious, boasting dozens of disparately priced varietals from Spain, Chile and South Africa. Briarwood Mart, though smaller, offers a thoughtfully chosen selection, and its employees have a keen comprehension of subtle differences. McDade’s has a balanced offering, surpassing the competition with their impressive selection of top-shelf liquor.

Second: Briarwood Mart Wine and Spirits (4949 Old Canton Rd., 601-956-5108) / Third: McDade’s (1220 E. Northside Dr., 601-366-5676) / Good Showing: Lakeland Wine & Spirits (1855 Lakeland Dr., 601-366-6644); Joe T’s (286 Hwy. 51, Ridgeland, 601-605-7602); Klein’s Fifth & Vine (775 Lake Harbour Dr., Ridgeland, 601-856-2712)


Best Massage Therapist: Hannah Bryan at The Pilates Studio
103 W. Washington St., Suite B, Ridgeland, 601-856-6777
by Michele Baker

Nationally certified massage therapist Hannah Bryan delivers therapeutic massage in the spa atmosphere of The Pilates Studio. This eight-year veteran of the massage world personalizes and customizes massage to fit each client, using her knowledge of MyoKinesthetic therapy to manage pain. For a truly pampering experience, try a Swedish relaxation massage with hot towels, aromatherapy and a cool mist finish.

Second: Erik MacKinnon (Alternative Therapies, 3915 N. State St., 601-540-4756) / Third: Lanae Harper (Aqua the Day Spa, 4465 I-55 N., 601-362-9550) / Good Showing: Olga Richardson (Massage by Olga, Highland Village, 4500 I-55 N., #254, 601-918-4087)


Best Running Route: Belhaven
by Lea Thomas

Drive to Fortification Street and park at the “English Village.” Then get out and take a stroll through the area. You’ll quickly see why Jackson voted Belhaven as the Best Running Route. From “Judge’s Hill” to admirably landscaped yards, Belhaven is an architectural feast for a runner’s eyes. There are plenty of sidewalks to keep you out of harm’s way, and having your pooch by your side will give you instant inclusion into to this historical area. Whether you’re running or walking, Belhaven is pleasantly hilly and provides a great cardiovascular challenge.

Second: Natchez Trace / Third: Ridgeland Multi-use Trail / Good Showing: Parham Bridges Park (5055 Old Canton Rd.)


Best Place for People-Watching: Northpark Mall
1200 E. County Line Rd., 601-957-3744
by Kelly Bryan Smith

Grab some Starbucks coffee and a bite of Godiva chocolate to fuel your stroll around Northpark Mall. From Williams-Sonoma to Abercrombie & Fitch, Northpark has something for almost everyone with a credit card, so you never know who you might see there. The last time I was there, I saw Santa. Fancy that! For more local flair, grab your mid-afternoon latte and ginger cookie at Cups in Fondren or make time each fall to hunt down the perfect fried pickle at the Mississippi State Fair.

Second: Cups (multiple locations) / Third: Mississippi State Fair (1207 Mississippi St., 601-961-4000) / Good showing: Fondren; Jackson Airport (100 International Dr., 601-939-5631)



Best Mechanic: Richie Perkins at Bullock’s Auto Repair
404 Gallilee St., 601-355-2052
by Tiffany Fitch
Photo by Nate Glenn

My wisdom of things car-related boils down to how many children I can cram inside of one vehicle, and whether the air conditioning is in working order. But I know honesty when I see it. Richie Perkins of Bullock’s Auto Repair, a business started by his father, where he has worked for almost 24 years, prides himself on honesty, integrity and good solid auto knowledge. Offering a vast array of services, Perkins is a man to trust.

Second: Eugene Minor (Fortification St.) / Third: Freeman’s Auto (847 S. State St., 601-948-3358)


Best Place for a First Kiss: The Reservoir
by Emily Braden
Photo by Melissa Webster

Well, we all know that the best first kisses have more to do with lip texture and intensity than location, so I suppose the reservoir would be a good place as any to introduce the first kiss. Since I live at the reservoir and all, I like to think that my front porch is, in fact, where the best first kisses take place. Let us all remember the 90/10 rule, being that he goes the 90 percent and you meet him with the difference. It’s very important to exfoliate the lips before every date, and I would advise that the tongue not be the star of the premiere. Be gentle, linger at the touch of the lips and hesitate just a bit at first touch. You always want to leave them wanting more.

Second: Fondren Beverage Emporium (3030 N. State St., 601-321-0806) / Third: Fenian’s (901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055) / Good Showing: Laurel Park (1841 Laurel St.)


Best Nature Walk: LeFleur’s Bluff & Mayes Lake
2140 Riverside Dr., 601-987-3923
by Todd Stauffer

There’s a good reason why people keep fighting for LeFleur’s Bluff when unfortunate plans to dam the Pearl and build lakes surface every few months. That park is a treasure—what other metropolitan areas have a state park smack dab in the middle of them?

If you’re not taking advantage of the trails behind the Natural Science Museum, the Mayes Lake area for hiking and picnicking (or canoeing and camping) or the boat ramp for access to the Pearl, then you’re missing something—nature, right here in the heart of town.

Of course, the Trace is an extraordinary resource, and Ridgeland has something to crow about in its trail system. Here’s hoping a greenway can one day connect Mayes Lake to Ridgeland trails to the Trace … let’s go biking, Mississippi.

Second: Natchez Trace (esp. Cypress Swamp) / Third: Clinton Nature Center (617 Dunton Rd., Clinton, 601-926-1104 Good Showing: Ridgeland Walking Multipurpose Trail


Best Place to take Out-of-Towners: Fondren (http://www.fondren.org), 601-981-9606
by Donna Ladd

It makes complete sense that Fondren’s historic neighborhood and hip shopping district would take this award. When visitors come to Jackson, the first thing you want to show them is that Jackson is a creative city with artists, and stylish boutiques, and a natural food co-op, and a marathon, and a local coffee house, and a place where you don’t have to drive to get from a martini joint to the post office, or vice versa. Fondren is simply a marvel.

The JFP offices are here; many of us live in the ’hood; we walk from work to the hair salon to Que Sera to Sal & Mookies to Rainbow to Treehouse, and on and on. The area has become a model for the rest of the city, and has new exciting development coming soon in the old Duling School. To boot, an amazing Fondren Renaissance director, Camp Best, was replaced by another amazing one, Charles Richardson, leaving the circle unbroken. The future of Fondren, the city’s first suburb way back, believe it or not, is very bright, and thus the city’s.

Second: C-o-c-k o’ the Walk (141 Madison Landing Cir., Ridgeland, 601-856-5500)
Third: Walker’s (3016 N. State St., 601-982-2633) / Good Showing: 930 Blues Cafe (930 S. Congress. St., 601-948-3344), Fondren Beverage Emporium (3030 N. State St., 601-321-0806), The Mayflower (123 W. Capitol St. 601-355-4122), the reservoir.


Best Window Shopping: Highland Village
4500 I-55 North, Jackson, 601-982-5861
by Ann Lowrey Forster

With almost 50 storefronts to choose from, Highland Village has long been a window shopper’s paradise in North Jackson.

There is something for everyone, and even if you do not buy, it is fun to ogle, which is what window shopping is all about.

Latham Thomas will make this woman jealous of men’s fashion, High Cotton always has the latest and greatest for us girls, and Olde Tyme Commissary will make the children squeal. Organizers will make you want to get, well, organized, and Crazy Cat Bakers lures you in with delicious smells.

But, it is not just the shops that make this a special spot. The fountains for wishful tots, Crazy Cat for a yummy sandwich, and Bravo! for a glass of wine, make Highland Village a great place to be, not just shop.

Second: Fondren / Third: Dogwood Festival (272 Dogwood Blvd., Flowood) / Good Showing: Coattails (111 W. Jackson St., Ridgeland, 601-853-1313); Maison Weiss (Highland Village, 4500 I-55 N., 601-981-4621)


Best Yoga Instructor: Jean Powers at Courthouse Racquet & Fitness
Multiple locations, 601-932-4800, 601-956-1300
by Brandi Herrera Pfrehm

Bend me, shape me, anyway you want me—as long as Jean Powers is there leading her group of yogis—It’s alright. Powers, who’s been teaching Hatha, Vinyasa Flow and Ashtanga at Courthouse for seven years, knows the healing properties that can result from giving in to the practice. After spending a year in bed with serious back problems, she began practicing yoga as a form of physical therapy, and has never looked back. And while she’ll never push students to shape themselves into a human pretzel, she will encourage each to express their personality through combined breath and movements so that every pose radiates a unique quality. Namaste.

Second: Scotta Brady at Butterfly Yoga (3025 N. State St., 601-594-2313) / Third: Tara Blumenthal at Butterfly Yoga (3025 N. State St., 601-594-2313) / Good Showing: Barbara Noble at Body Benefits (731 S. Pear Orchard Rd., #30, Ridgeland, 601-991-9904); Debi Lewis at Joyflow (739 Hwy. 51 N., 601-613-4317)


Best Playground: Laurel Street Park
1841 Laurel St.
by Ann Lowrey Forster

If you have been to Laurel Street Park since its recent renovation, you know that it is a fabulous place to play. Shaded by protective hardwoods, it has everything a kid could want. A sandbox, great slides, and things to climb on for days allow you to sit, sip a delightful cup of tea, and watch while the kiddos get their exercise. There is a gazebo with picnic tables, a hook-up for a hose, and even a grill for burgers. And if you really want to treat the kids, the Bakery at Basil’s is around the corner for a cupcake.

Second: LeFleur’s Bluff State Park (2140 Riverside Dr., 601-987-3923) / Third: Strawberry Patch Park (St. Augustine and Old Canton Rd., Madison, 601-956-1105) / Good Showing: Parham Bridges (5055 Old Canton Rd., 601-956-1105)


Best Place to Break Up: Fire
209 Commerce St., 601-592-1000
by Todd Stauffer

We’re not sure if Fire is a great place to break up because the bands play so loud that others won’t hear you fight—or if it’s because Fire is simply an endurance test for relationship, both as a meet-market and as a challenge to the senses. You tell us—you chose it, with the reservoir close behind. What better than a quiet, private setting with a lake in close proximity so you can throw your jewelry into it?

The Editor’s Choice is what a single voter said in the space provided: “On the street in front of City Hall because no one would notice the drama.” Amen, and pass the popcorn.

Second: Reservoir / Third: Fenian’s (901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055)
Good Showing: Cups (multiple locations)
Our choice: On the street in front of City Hall because no one would notice the drama.

 
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