Children’s Museum Hosting ‘Storyland’
We’ve got a story for you – and so does the Mississippi Children’s Museum! MCM’s first traveling exhibit, Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites™, opens tomorrow. Families can watch books come alive as they discover Storyland’s engaging environments. The exhibit features famous characters and iconic scenes taken right out of the pages of seven celebrated children’s books: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Snowy Day, Abuela, Tuesday, and Where’s Spot? Storyland encourages families to discover that it is never too early to develop a love of reading through the realistic environments pulled from each of the seven books.
Alicen Blanchard, MCM Director of Education says, “Storyland is truly early literacy in action. Whether sneaking under Mr. McGregor’s picket fence, building a snowman, playing on a giant coconut tree, or mixing up an enormous batch of cookies, children and parents will delight in seeing their favorite characters and settings come to life at MCM this summer.” Storyland’s grand opening will be tomorrow beginning at 10:00 a.m. MCM Members will have the opportunity to view the exhibit from 8am until 10am.
MCM’s mission to provide unique and exciting educational experiences is accomplished through hands-on and engaging exhibits and programs focusing on literacy, the arts, science, health and nutrition. Storyland will provide museum guests with an early-literacy focused educational experience unlike any other. The traveling exhibit is free with paid admission to the museum.
The Mississippi Children’s Museum is located at LeFleur’s Bluff Park, just across the way from St. Dominic’s Hospital in Fondren.
Fondren Is My Playground
“Hey, I saw you and about 15 people in reflective vests running up Old Canton hill last night. Looks like fun! Can I join?”
I get questions lately from some of my Fondren neighbors. We have been quite active and it seems that people are noticing. You see, I train people to live a healthier life and as part of that training, I am out and active with my clients in my neighborhood. Sure, we get some double takes, but that tells me that people are paying attention, and as they pass through, they will remember something is different about Fondren – something that they may not have yet in their own ‘hood.
Fondren is different for sure, and that is a great thing because I am, too. Oftentimes, I tell people that Fondren is my playground. By that, I mean it is somewhere that I can be a kid. It is somewhere where everyone knows me, but I also feel like I can disappear into the background and be myself without being judged for being a little different. In Fondren, I can drop down on the steps of a local church and do some inclined push-ups and then get back up and keep on running up Duling Avenue and then back down State Street. In Fondren, I can run with my dog through the streets as fast as I can and see my neighbors laughing instead of staring. In Fondren, I can run a 5k promoted by Rod’s Racers or join one of the community bike rides put on by Jackson Bike Advocates. And it is in Fondren that if I ever want to participate or watch some skateboarding, I can do so at one of Swell-O-Phonic’s Skate Jams. Read Full Article
Broad Street’s Wolf Wins Noone Scholarship
Connor Wolf, a graduating senior at Madison St. Joe and worker in Broad Street’s kitchen, recently won the Craig Noone “Rock It Out” Memorial Scholarship created by the Mississippi Restaurant and Hospitality Industry and member chefs in memory of Noone. Wolf will receive $5,000 towards his tuition next year for The Culinary Arts Institute at MUW. Broad Street says they are so proud to have Wolf on their team and can’t wait to see how he excels at MUW.
Wolf met requirements that included enrolling in a culinary arts program at an accredited university or culinary school, having a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and writing a 750 word essay, entitled “How I Plan to Better My Community in My Role as a Chef.”
Source: Broad Street Baking Company, Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association
Boyd Students Get Gift of Art From FRF
Creative minds on the loose! That’s the way artist Roz Roy describes students at Boyd Elementary this week as they experience art in their schools courtesy of supporter Fondren Renaissance Foundation (FRF). 150 4th grade students are learning the art of collage paper making from Roy and watercolor technique from Natalie Ray, all part of a program to bring art into public schools. This is the third year FRF has sponsored the Boyd lessons and Foundation Executive Director Jim Wilkirson said the organization is fortunate to have these two artists leading. “We’re showing them what we do as artists,” Ray said, “and letting them be inspired to create their own work.”
The lessons are also a way to identify young artistic stand outs and foster their talents. A former Boyd student herself, Ray told us she will be teaching a camp this summer at The Cedars where a hand selected group will create pieces for a fall art show. The camp, in mid July, will be kept to a small size to give individualized attention to each student. “We’re very excited,” Ray told us. “We’re going to have some great campers.” Art from last year’s camps still hangs in the student art room at The Cedars. Read Full Article
UMMC: New Cancer, Biomed Science Building
Construction of a new research building, which will include space for start-up biotechnology companies, could start in January 2013 at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Fondren. UMC leaders plan to spend $35 million initially on the eight-story shell of the Cancer and Biomedical Science Research Center and plan to finish the ground, first and second-floor interiors of the 220,000 square-foot building. That work should take about 18 months. Contractors would complete additional floors as funds become available. “We have very limited amounts of research space right now,” said Dr. John Hall, UMMC associate vice chancellor for research. “This building will give us space to implement at least part of our strategic plans for research growth. It will help us recruit scientists, expand our research centers and institutes, and develop the Biotechnology Research Park at UMMC.” The new facility will sit just northwest of the Arthur C. Guyton Research Center, across University Drive and in the current Parking Lot 3A. Read Full Article
Blind Boys, 73 Years Strong, Coming to Fondren
The Blind Boys of Alabama will be LIVE Sunday night in Fondren
Much in the world has changed since the original version of the Blind Boys of Alabama first raised their voices together in 1939. Today, more than 70 years later, founding member Jimmy Carter can look back on a career far beyond what he and his colleagues could imagine at that time. Yet throughout this long adventure, they kept one secret to themselves. “All my life, I’ve loved country music,” confesses Carter. “I was raised up around it. Back in the 1940s, I remember listening to Hank Williams and so many others. Their voices were great. The writers were great. And every song had a meaning. I still have loads of country music in my home and I play it all the time. As a matter fact, I’ve got it on XM radio as we speak.”
Though the group has recorded and performed with a few country artists, along with others as diverse as Ben Harper, Tom Petty, Peter Gabriel and Prince, they never crossed the line and committed to doing a project inspired by the country genre until now, with the release of Take The High Road on Saguaro Road Records. This landmark recording draws from modern and traditional country to enrich the group’s gospel-rooted sound with fresh and illuminating insight. Arden Barnett says “this Sunday night could be on of the greatest concert experiences of the year.” Read Full Article
Evans Brings Musical Passion to Spirits Biz
“Find something you’d do for free, then find someone to pay you to do it.” If you’ve never heard that before, it’s about seeking out your passions and doing what you love. One Jackson native has found it, and it all revolves around his love for music. Austin Evans says Cathead Vodka, a company he began three years ago with Richard Patrick, is about a love of Mississippi Blues and the heritage that surrounds it. “We were both in college studying business management at the University of Alabama,” Evans says, “and both worked in the restaurant business.” He says in chasing a dollar, it always worked its way back to live music. “We tried several businesses that revolved around the music scene, but asked ourselves why we weren’t doing what we already knew.” Evans says it all adds up to a lifestyle vocation. “We’re working,” he says, “but we’re not.”
Evans returned to Jackson three years ago and finalized his business plan in father John Evans’ Lemuria Books Dot Com space before locating his distillery in Gluckstadt and his home and home office in Fondren. Mississippi was an obvious choice, he tells us, since there was no distillery here. “And”, he says, “there are a lot of industry related draws.” Read Full Article
Done Deal! Pix/Capri As Early As Summer 2013
It’s official: Fondren’s Pix/Capri Theater will re-open as a multi-screen cinema as early as summer 2013. Principal partner Jason Watkins, along with Marcy and Aaron Vick, David Pharr and Dorsey Carson have signed the deal with big plans for the historic space. “Our idea,” Watkins says, “is to restore, redevelop, and relaunch it as a movie theater with a dine-in concept.” Similar concepts have been carried through with much success in other cities where moviegoers can enjoy full menu food service while seeing a first run feature. The $5 to $10 million plan has never been for a single screen complex. “Historically, that hasn’t worked in Jackson,” Watkins reminds us. He plans to add on to the existing structure without disturbing the significant nature of the building. And, the Pix/Capri main theater will have some stage aspect to it to serve a multipurpose, hopefully for performing arts groups.
Also in the plans? An underground parking structure will be located behind the theater with a green space on top. “That green space has always been a part of the mix,” he says. It’s expensive, he tells us, to build parking underground, but it wouldn’t require lots of digging. He also says that land is too valuable for a surface lot. “We will vision that with our architects and see what it looks like. It’s such a natural and obvious thing to do.”
Another aspect Watkins and his group are exploring is a residential development. With about 100 condo and apartment units, this portion would be built across the back section of the property. Adding this could bring the total cost to around $30 million. He also mentions that there are no plans to lose existing homes on Mitchell or Oxford.
Realistically, he says, dirt won’t likely turn until 2013, but that’s not stopping the building from being put to good use in the meantime. Good Samaritan Center’s N.U.T.S. announced plans last month to move a retail thrift shop location into the front lobby on a temporary basis. And on the day we stopped by, crews were inside the theater cleaning up. “This isn’t something we look at five years down the road,” Watkins explains, “and say ‘when will this happen?’ It’s happening right now.” Read Full Article
Citizens Unite for Bicycle Month
Bike Walk Mississippi is gearing up for a big week. Bicycle events will be held throughout the state of Mississippi in conjunction with National Bicycle Month. The entire month is dedicated to remembering those who have been killed or injured on Mississippi roads and to raise awareness of the need for a more bicycle friendly Mississippi.
Wednesday, May 16, Bike Walk Mississippi is hosting its 2nd annual “Wear Yellow Day”, and is asking people statewide to wear yellow or other high visibility clothing items to help raise awareness for increased safety on Mississippi roads. Bike Walk Mississippi Executive Director Melody Moody told Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s Ezra Wall last week “it’s a chance to be united as a community, and I don’t mean that as a bicycling community. This is a statewide community that says ‘this is important to us and something we care about.’ “ Bike Walk asks you to make a commitment to pay attention to the roads, to give at MINIMUM 3 feet when passing a runner, walker, or bicyclist and to stop distracted driving or driving under the influence. Bike Walk Mississippi invites people of all ages, whether or not they regularly run, walk or bike, to stand together in solidarity to bring awareness to what all Mississippians can do to make Mississippi a healthier and safer state. Read Full Article
Plug In: Social Aims to Gather Fondren
Sturdivant
With a young, eclectic and socially connected neighborhood like Fondren, is it possible to feel “out of the loop?” One Fondrenite thinks so and that’s why he’s taking initiative to bring the young – and young at heart – closer together. Micajah Sturdivant says an event next Thursday night at 5pm at Brent’s aims to bridge the gap for people who may not feel plugged in. Next Thursday night’s “Neighborhood Social” will be a chance for people to gather, get acquainted and find out about all of the things Fondren has to offer. “No one should be intimidated by going to Brent’s,” the Fondren Renaissance (FRF) board member reasons, “and this is a chance for us to be informed. It’s important to make sure we all know what’s happening.” The brainchild of Sturdivant and Brent’s owner Brad Reeves, the duo didn’t want to create a new organization but to make existing organizations work for those who are here. Part of the evening will consist of collecting info and contacts to put them into systems that are already in place. “The easiest way to do that is to get people together to meet and find out about each other’s interests.” FRF executive director Jim Wilkirson says those interests may line up very closely in a neighborhood where people seem to have a lot in common. “We have a lot of music and art events,” he says, “but what about things like volunteering? There are many areas we can plug you in to.” Read Full Article