The year was 1984, and a young student from a remote region in the heart of Africa walked out of a small Jesuit mission in what is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Makim Mputubwele was leaving a torn country to study applied linguistics in the sprawling, peaceful landscapes of Indiana.
Read MoreThere is nothing quite like southern suburbia. It’s filled with people who just want to sit you down and offer you a proper sweet tea, cars nearly big enough to fly to space, and monograms embellishing almost everything you own. Like most of you readers, I was born and raised in Jackson, Tennessee. I grew up with two loving and supportive parents, a beautiful nanny whom I would come to know as family, a hilarious sister two years younger than me, and a huge black lab named Winston. (He was named this after the prime minister Winston Churchill, of course.)
Read MoreFellow Jackson citizens: Do you need anything? How about legal counsel? Perhaps varicose veins reductions? Are you a painter who needs dance classes? What about some good old-fashioned matchmaking? Then you need Dolly! Fortunately for us, Hello, Dolly! has come to the stage at The Ned, and she has brought all her business cards with her. Dolly Levi, played by Julie Glosson, is an expert at everything. In her own words, she’s a professional meddler.
Read MoreEarlier this year, downtown Jackson got quite a face-lift with the addition of the Jackson Walk area. One of the first businesses to open in that new retail space was Beyond Vogue, a blend of hip and classic trends from fashionable cities such as L.A. and New York City. Beyond Vogue carries a curated selection of sleek accessories, select modern home decor, and an assortment of contemporary women’s clothing.
Read MoreThe Jackson Theatre Guild initiates the 2016-2017 season with the musical Guys and Dolls, now playing at The Ned. Set in colorful New York, the conflict between the police and the illegal gambling ring of craps is at an all time high. Nathan Detroit, played by Billy Worboys, is famous for setting up secret meeting places to shoot craps. But with the police on high alert, he must come up with $1,000 cash in order to secure a location.
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