Jackson Free Press

I'm reading the first piece in The Clarion-Ledger's new "Changing Faces" installment, and I run into this humdinger of a sentence, stated as a fact by the journalist, thus the newspaper:

The city of Jackson is saddled with dilapidated homes, serious image problems and a virtually nonexistent downtown nightlife.

A "virtually nonexistent downtown nightlife"?!? What about Hal & Mal's? Mardi Gras? 930 Blues Cafe? WC Don's? The Joint? Santiago's? Martin's? Birdland? WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? We have venue owners who put everything they have into downtown nightlife, who sponsor events and benefits, who have been there through thick and thin. Downtown is the only place in the area with such a concentrated area of nightlife. How in God's green acre can they just dismiss our downtown like this, calling it "virtually non-existent"?

And, by the way, how can you be "saddled with" something that supposedly doesn't exist? The writing, not to mention the reasoning, is ahborrent here.

Confirmed yet again: The Clarion-Ledger is the worst daily newspaper in the country.

Previous Comments

ID

87512

Comment

OK, this series is going from bad to worse. The editorial borders on illiterate. Right now I'm in the second actual article I've read, "Progress, image collide." The writer starts out: Jackson has been idling between urban renewal and decay for more than a decade. But 15 years after the city began losing residents amid concerns about crime, schools and economic development, it now might be moving toward a rebirth. OK, the first sentence is just overwrought sensationalism. But let's factcheck the second sentenceóresidents starting fleeing Jackson in, er, 1990? Does this writer have any idea what happened in 1970? Apparently, someone she interviewed does. This comes later in the piece: Melton has said race doesn't matter to him. But Foster said acting as though race does not matter ignores the root of Jackson's problems. Race is the issue that led white parents to pull their children from Jackson schools and leave the city with blighted, empty buildings, he said. I have a feeling that Mr. Foster is fully aware that this flight did not start in 1990, as the writer implies in her lede. Sigh. Oh, and about the nightlife statement by Julie Goodman. I must say that I have never once seen Ms. Goodman out in downtown Jackson enjoying the nightlife, so perhaps she has no idea that it exists. BTW, let's not forget the regular jazz and art events hosted by the Mississippi Museum of Art downtown. And, all, please feel free to list others I have left out. Someone has to give our downtown businesses and visionaries credit; the Ledge sure as hell isn't going to do it. Jackson renaissance is DESPITE the Clarion-Ledger, and everyone knows it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-13T13:40:21-06:00

ID

87513

Comment

In fairness to The Clarion-Ledger, the following sentence (and only other sentence in the paragraph) is "But leaders are bracing for the activation of Farish Street and are emboldened by a green light from voters on a new convention center."

Author

Kendrick Johnson

Date

2005-11-13T16:58:05-06:00

ID

87514

Comment

Jackson Free Press: Clarion-Ledger Columnist's Nightlife "Virtually Nonexistent" :D I don't do much nightlife stuff per se, but I know it's always there if I want it. Someone needs to email Julie Goodman and get her on the LoungeList. I mean, never mind the article and the city's image--she OBVIOUSLY isn't having enough fun!

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-11-13T17:06:09-06:00

ID

87515

Comment

Yes, Kendrick, but that sentence does not take away from the horror, and stupidity, of the previous sentence. The point is that The Clarion-Ledger constantly bashes this city and doesn't give credit where it's due to the local people who have been working hard for a long time for the city's renaissance (until they show up looking for their advertising; it's like the waiter who is rude until he gives you the check and then gets all sweet and lovey). Downtown nightlife does not depend on something that will happen in the future. It's already strong and will get stronger. It's not all either-or bullsh!t: all or nothing. Or, worse still, the Ledge acts like something hasn't happened that they haven't noticed. And they don't notice, or choose to tell readers about, a whole lot of stuff. Bottom line here, though: It is absurd, and an insult to existing businesses, to say that downtown nightlife is "virtually non-existent" and that it all hinges on the future. Give us a break, Ledge. And can we have some articles that aren't filled with passive after passive? Everyone uses a passive now and then, but whole articles filled with them? Please act like we're literate out here even if you don't believe it, Ledge. We're tired of insulting journalism. As for Goodman, I'm not saying what she does and does not do at night, Tom. I don't know. But I do know that I do not remember ever seeing her out at downtown events. Thus, if you do not partake in downtown nightlife on a regular basis, it seems particularly cynical to make a statement that it is "virtually non-existent." How would you know?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-13T17:21:39-06:00

ID

87516

Comment

With all due respect, I don't understand how you can accuse The Clarion-Ledger of constantly bashing, not giving credit where credit is due, and being insulting. "The Clarion-Ledger is the worst daily newspaper in the country." Hyperboles aside, let's not bash The Clarion-Ledger. Let's give it credit where credit is due, and let's not insult The Clarion-Ledger. Besides, being realistic about the present and being optimistic about the future is not being negative.

Author

Kendrick Johnson

Date

2005-11-13T17:57:49-06:00

ID

87517

Comment

Kendrick, at risk of being too bold, it sounds to me like you have friends at the Clarion-Ledger. So do I. Really good friends. But if the Clarion-Ledger isn't the worst daily in the country, what is? Can anyone name a worse one? The C-L editorial board--the higher ups--are apparently committed to selling a negative image of Jackson so that people in the suburbs, who make up the majority of their most lucrative advertising market, will be able to relate to what they say. I don't think this is a nasty thing to say. It's just business, and it makes sense from a business point of view. But what can you say about a city paper that hates its own city? Starting with The Believer, there have been a rash of movies about Jewish Nazis or neo-Nazis--what does it mean to hate your own identity? What does it mean to be a self-hating _____, where _____ in this case is "Jacksonian"? Someone could do a good psychology dissertation on the C-L's corporate attitude towards Jackson, I think. But are there some truly wonderful people who work there? Yes. Is there some truly wonderful writing that appears, despite it all, in their paper? Yes. Usually from the same small group of people, but it's there. Does this mean that the C-L isn't the worst daily in the country? No, not really. I haven't read as many dailies as Donna has, so I can't really say anything definitive, but it certainly sounds like a plausible claim. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-11-13T18:09:22-06:00

ID

87518

Comment

Kendrick, you're new on the site so perhaps you haven't seen my past posts about why I believe it is VERY important to call The Clarion-Ledger out on what they do wrong in and for the community. In fact, part of our mission is to be an alternative to the mainstream media and to raise the level of media literacy in the city and the state. Part of doing that is being critical when needed, and saying why you're being critical. That is not being "insulting"; it is being critical of a very wealthy corporate media conglomerate that is not headquartered in Mississippi but has undue influence on what happens here. You will also note that I, and others here, are also positive about The Clarion-Ledger when they do good things and good journalism (which, unfortunately, is not nearly often enough). Many times, I have posted links to articles and cartoons with positive remarks and will continue to do so (unlike The Clarion-Ledger, which has told its writers that they cannot mention the Jackson Free Press when we conceive and present a huge event, such as the Chick Ball, the tsunami benefit and so on). So, yes, I will continue to be critical of a publication, an institution, that has the potential to do great harm in our community -- say, by giving superficial and incomplete coverage of political candidates, even those they already know have lied in court cases in cases the paper is also involved with -- oh, but they never tell you that part. You are welcome to not do that, but your suggestion that "we" only say positive things about The Clarion-Ledger is ludicrous. By the way, The Clarion-Ledger is NOT a person. It is one piece of a mega-conglomerate corporation. I wouldn't worry too much about hurting its feelings if I were you. It'll be fine. And if its writers and editors do not wish to be criticized, then perhaps they should consider doing better journalism. Otherwise, they will continue to hear from the thinking people of the community that they are trying use to fatten the coffers of the corporate owner. As for your last sentence, the problem is that The Clarion-Ledger is NOT being "realistic" about the present. Never has been as far as I can see. The Clarion-Ledger does what it think needs to be done to sell newspapers and advertising and keep the profit margin crazy-high for the Mothership back in Virginia. It is NOT realistic to say that downtown nightlight is "virtually non-existent." That is a patent lie, and the corporation should apologize to the people who own those businesses downtown. As for being the "worst daily newspaper in the country," I have qualified that somewhat in the past. There are some other bad newspapers, but to my knowledge, none with the same level of resources andd serving a readership this wide. Even other Gannett papers are better -- I'll never forget The Clarion-Ledger simply ignoring a big tort-reform study that the Gannett News Service did that would have busted holes in its "jackpot justice" meme. Overall, The Clarion-Ledger treats Mississippians like idiots and, here in Jackson, they treat the capital city like a punching bag in order to sell newspapers and ads past the city limits. At this point, I truly find it a despicable newspaper -- and that is based on very real reasons with plenty of very real evidence to support it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-13T19:00:38-06:00

ID

87519

Comment

I heard one Journalism Professor at MC once claim that the Clarion Liar was one of the worst papers in the country, and was taught as an example of what to avoid. The only thing great about the CL is Marshall Ramsey. When he leaves, that'll be the end of the paper.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2005-11-13T22:50:28-06:00

ID

87520

Comment

I'm from Starkville and I must say I am quite afraid to be in Jackson the handful of times I have been there. If Jackson does have a nightlife as you guys claim they seriously need to clean up their image and stop the bullshit image. You guys have to integrate. The whole "white flight" thing where the Madison people sit in their little brick homes and bad talk all blacks and poor whites has to come to an end. I'm actually from the Coast but a student up here at State. You guys have to become more like the Coast is(and was before the storm). You could go to the casino any hour of the day and get fucked up and nobody would care. If you want tourism from other areas you have to make visitor's guides better and make a vibrant entertainment area because people don't want to get lost in the wrong area and end up with 2 in their skull if you know what I mean.....

Author

westpark

Date

2005-11-13T23:27:34-06:00

ID

87521

Comment

westpark, I actually have absolutely no idea what you mean. Could you clarify?

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-11-13T23:37:00-06:00

ID

87522

Comment

So...building casinos where you can get ****ed up 24/7 is the answer to stopping "white flight", Madison elitism, Jackson's "bull---- image" (wtf??), and your own personal fear of Jackson? Oh, sorry. Casinos AND visitor's guides are the key. Do you have any idea what you're talking about? I sure don't.

Author

millhouse

Date

2005-11-13T23:43:46-06:00

ID

87523

Comment

westpark, maybe I was a little brutal. So to take this point by point: - First, the city does need to integrate. I completely agree. That's the only part of your post I agree with, but I completely agree. - This paper is called the Jackson Free Press, so it's probably safe to assume that most of its readership is not afraid to visit Jackson. That part of your post, people won't understand. - When I think of nightlife possibilities, I don't think of opportunities to "get f--ked up." You can do that in your parents' basement. - There is absolutely no safe way to get "f--ked up," and if you're out on the town getting plastered out of your mind, then you're much more likely to die from any of a thousand accidental means than you are to become one of the city's 35 to 45 annual homicides. (That means fewer than one per week, kids, and a majority of cases involve person A killing person B because of a drug issue or a longstanding grudge.) - If you're going to "get f--ked up," the safest way to do it is to invite a small group of your closest friends, make sure there are plenty of places for everybody to sleep, hide the keys so nobody drives off in an intoxicated huff, and then get wasted out of your minds. If (heterosexual) sex is a possible factor and you don't want Junior hanging around in nine months, be sure you've got some rubbers on hand, too. - It is INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS to get wasted midtown anywhere. I would feel much safer getting a sleeping bag and CAMPING OUT FOR A WEEK on any of the most active, violent drug corners in the city than I would getting completely plastered at the safest bar in town. Getting plastered in midtown anywhere is like handcuffing yourself spread-eagle to the sidewalk, and I respect the fact that people take that risk (just as I respect the fact that some people base jump), but people who choose to take that risk are really splitting hairs when they talk about the much lower statistical risk of getting murdered. Which is not to say that the two are mutually exclusive--most homicides actually involve alcohol or drugs in some way--but if I had to choose high crime or high blood-alcohol level, I'd choose high crime any day of the week. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-11-14T00:09:02-06:00

ID

87524

Comment

Perhaps in some strange haze they were thinking of downtown in terms of how it basically closes down dead among the rows of streets in the bulk of downtown, forgeting about the east of State St. venues that represent alot of middle Mississippi nightlife. Or perhaps they wanted to say "virtually nonexistent nightlife with the exception of a few clubs." It's no secret that downtown is kind of a ghost town at night. I think that's what they are meaning to say. Anyone walking the streets would be considered suspect by the police. A 4 a.m. resort status and the Farish prospects do seem a long way off and would drastically change nightlife in Jackson, not just downtown.

Author

herman

Date

2005-11-14T09:13:08-06:00

ID

87525

Comment

If Ms. Goodman was referring to the fact that few people live downtown or such, and that many people who work down there (like most Ledge employees) flee the city at night, then she should have said that instead of her insulting, nonsensical statement that nightlife downtown is "virtually non-existent." This isn't a junior high newspaper ... or, is it?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-14T15:44:10-06:00

ID

87526

Comment

BTW, to comment on earlier comments, I do not find the word "nightlife" synonymous with "getting wasted." For instance, the Jazz, Art & Friends event at the art museum is some of the best downtown nightlife going. And I don't remember seeing anyone "wasted" there. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-14T16:43:05-06:00

ID

87527

Comment

Good point! I've been invited to that thing more times than I can count, and I almost attended the one where Casey did her reading. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-11-14T18:19:09-06:00

ID

87528

Comment

That's become me and the friends "Official Girl Night Out". The Jazz thing at the museum. Which is THIS Thursday night, as it happens.

Author

Lori G

Date

2005-11-14T22:33:41-06:00

ID

87529

Comment

OK, I'll see somebody wasted there this week. Kidding. Yes, this is a great Thursday to meet fun, smart folk (I know I'm on the wrong thread, but hopefully our new over-30 intellectual is reading). First, come to Fondren Unwrapped at 5 or so and have a glass of wine at the JFP table in Fondren Corner and meet everybody. Then wander around Fondren. Then head to the art museum for the jazz and great conversation. What's happening afterward all? We do need another Lounge soon. There has just been so much going on that it's been hard to schedule.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-14T22:38:47-06:00

ID

87530

Comment

Hell, last time we were there we didn't get a chance to get wasted. ;) My best friend is the new PR person there...the caterer bailed on the food and me and two other girlfriends all pitched in and helped serve. Although, I will admit to the wonderful guy at the bar throwing a bottle of merlot in the kitchen door to keep us happy as we were setting up trays. Come on, tell me what good friends we are.....;) Suffice it to say, a good time was had by all.....and then I wrote the column you ran this week. Girl Night is usually "productive". So people, go to Jazz Night...if only to prove the CL WRONG!

Author

Lori G

Date

2005-11-14T22:51:01-06:00

ID

87531

Comment

I've already got Thursday nights booked, but I have got to make it to this thing one of these days. It sounded good already, and you folks make it sound even better. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-11-15T00:56:54-06:00

ID

87532

Comment

as a looooooover of jackson i must say, jackson's night life is still poor. there might be something going on every night but there is never something that caters to everybody. and even if something is going on, not everybody goes out therefore making my effort kind of boring. i've gone out just to go see a band numerous times at hal and mals, the joint, martins, george street, and w.c. dons, and it ends up the only people watching the band is me, my friends, and the band. there is a problem with the jackson night life, but it more lies in the people. There are a lot of boring people in our city and if anything is going to change with the nightlife, people to get up off their asses and do something. i'm very happy to hear about the subway lounge being reopened on farish street

Author

patrick

Date

2005-11-15T08:15:29-06:00

ID

87533

Comment

At this point there is only one course of action and I have no clue what it is. Honestly, the Ledgar isnt the worst, maybe second cause Planet and Jackson VIP arent daily but I see them everyday and they are terrible. Anywho, after backing Melton Jackson now has a perception problem. Isnt that statement what set them off on a tangent to remove Melton. No clue whatsoever.

Author

skipp

Date

2005-11-15T12:52:27-06:00

ID

87534

Comment

Johnson not Melton sorry

Author

skipp

Date

2005-11-15T12:53:15-06:00

ID

87535

Comment

Johnson not Melton sorry

Author

skipp

Date

2005-11-15T12:53:24-06:00

ID

87536

Comment

As a native Jacksonian under the age of 25, I have to say that while downtown nightlife in Jacksonian certainly isn't dead or nonexistent, it's not what it needs to be. In traveling around with some bands I work with, almost always into those urban centers we are talking about, I see a lot more activity than I do in Jackson. Cities like Columbia, SC or Grand Rapids, MI even Athens and Little Rock - cities of comprabable sizes - have done much more to make The big disparity I see here is that the activity you guys describe is largely catering towards people 30 years and older. What these other cities do so well is mobilize people 25 years and younger. They are the ones who are going to consistently nourish a community like that. In my experience, I see very little of that happening in Jackson. As much as I appreciate the people at Hal and Mal's, what they are doing is running a club for 30+ crowd and booking the corresponding talent. This isn't to knock them. God knows, we need all demographics represented for any kind of revitalization, we've just got to be broader in our focus. So, in a way, what I see as more dangerous than baby boomer flight outside the city (hey, at least they were in the city), is the children of the boomers who have no experience in the city, they grew up, went to school, went to church, went to eat - all in the suburbs. They/we are the ones who are going to veritably save it or kill it.

Author

Houch

Date

2005-11-15T14:52:02-06:00

ID

87537

Comment

I'm new to this site, but I've been following JFP since a couple of months before the recent Dem mayoral primary. While I appreciate your opinion of the C-Ls blanket statement about the virtual non-existent downtown night life and defense of the existing venues downtown, Ms. Ladd, I would argue the the C-L's statement, while a broad generalization, I believe accurately reflects the opinion of many Jacksonians, particularly among the young, working class demographic. I have heard this same sentiment expressed by more than a few of my close friends both in this town, and in my native town of Vicksburg. When I lived in Vicksburg, the only places in Jackson I went after dark were the movie theathers (all outside of Jackson), restaurants on E. County Line Road or Lakeland Drive, and a couple of the nightclubs in West Jackson. The only time I went downtown was for the occasional play or event at Thalia Mara. When I first moved here, I frequented Freelon's and 930 Blues. Other than that, my friends and I considered downtown Jackson DEAD AFTER DARK. While this is not entirely true, when you compare Jackson to places like New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas and Atlanta, you realize that a big part of what's missing in downtown Jackson are late night restaurants and bars, tourist attractions, and regular entertainment (concerts, plays, etc.) with national acts and entertainers. Granted, Jackson is much smaller than any of these places, and it is difficult to bring nationally recognized talent here due to the low-profit expectations. My wife and I regularly attended events held at Thalia Mara when acts like "Sweet Honey and the Rock" and Wynton Marsalis came town, but even that series has died down unfortunately. It may sound like a slap in the face to the local talent that regularly contributes to Jackson's social scene, but I believe this is what adds to the sentiment that there is no real nightlife in Jackson downtown. Maybe an aggressive campaign from the downtown business community to highlight the existing venues on statewide radio, tv and print media might help, and the addition of the Farish Street Ent. District will definitely be a big shot in the arm to the perception problem. What's more, the venues that are in downtown are fairly spread out from each other. You have to drive a few blocks to get from one night spot to another, whereas Beale Street and the N.O. French Quarter offer several night spots within a block or two of each other, and generally within walking distance (or by bus, which brings up a whole separate issue with JATRAN). And I would imagine most out of town tourists, unfamiliar with the gatherings of mainly locals at the Arts Museum or in Fondren, might get the same impression.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2005-11-15T14:55:13-06:00

ID

87538

Comment

While I appreciate your opinion of the C-Ls blanket statement about the virtual non-existent downtown night life and defense of the existing venues downtown, Ms. Ladd, I would argue the the C-L's statement, while a broad generalization, I believe accurately reflects the opinion of many Jacksonians, particularly among the young, working class demographic. ejeff, I don't disagree with you. The problem, though, is twofold. First, it's not a newspaper job to simply "reflect the opinion" of the majorityóalthough it has a long history of doing that, even back in Jim Crow times when, under the Hederman family leadership, it was a strident supporter of segregation and the Citizens Council. (Todd calls it "sticking a finger in the wind" to figure out the "safe" position to take.) Second, The Clarion-Ledger and any media outlets that people actually read help form opinion, and there is no doubt that this newspaper helps shape opinions of those very young people you're talking about -- even if all of them don't read it, and many don't. The paper influences TV, TV influences the memes being spread, and so on. Call it viral marketing. That's why we believe the newspaper's misconceptions are so important to challenge -- because they have the ability, in essence, to spread self-fulfilling prophecies and myths, like the ignortant idea that a city can't have a renaissance until all the crime is gone. (Simply one of the dumbest things I've ever read in a newspaper.) Now, all that said, I think this is teasting out very important comments from you, Houch, Patrick and so on about what Jackson nightlife offers to younger people, especially in your 20s. And one of you talked about how the responsibility lies with young people to get out and take advantage of the nightlife in order to build it up. All of this is true, and I urge you all to engage in some viral marketing of your own. There are several truths here: (a) Jackson nightlife is not "virtually non-existent." Idiot statement. (b) Too many people in Jackson think it's not good enough, so they don't go. (c) The venue owners need to try harder to diversify their offerings to younger people. Frankly, musical tastes change and the venues should keep up with that. (d) When they do try new things, every person who cares about the city should try to get out and support it and tell others to. That's what we desperately try to do at the Free Press, but we can't do it alone. (e) The infamous Mississippi and Jackson inferiority complexes need to be thrown out the window. The "scene" is as good as we all make it. And those of you -- and I'm speaking to the choir with some of you, I realize, like Houch -- need to do everything in your power to make these things happen. (f) Don't assume that because something hasn't worked in the past that it won't work now or in the future. I know for a fact that Jackson is a different city (and I don't mean anything to do with the mayor) than it was in 2002, and much new energy is stepping up for its turn. People are open to new ideas. (g) It's not about whining. Houch gets it right in his comment about Hal & Mal's, for instance. Give credit where it's due, but then make new suggestions. Be positive. Don't tear down to try to build up. (Listen up, Ledge and Melton.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-15T16:22:04-06:00

ID

87539

Comment

Houch, I'm not sure we can count towns like Athens--where there's a gigantor college parked right next to your downtown. We don't have the benefit of being relatively closed in, as ejeff1970 points out; there's a ton of stuff to do at several disparate locations. You can go see bands at Fenian's and Don's, but you can't walk between them. Farish Street is going to be awexxome. And, perhaps I'm one of those people that thinks having a good time = wasted; so, come on, Wet Willie's! The Clarion-Ledger . . . there's so much to complain about. The lack of in-depth political coverage is inexcusable. However, there are some outstanding exceptions: Eric Stringfellow's heartfelt profiles; Sid Salter's increasingly moderate and humane calls for reconciliation; Gary Pettus' wry humor; and Rick Cleveland's sports omniscience. And Marhsall Ramsey is one of the best political cartoonists today; it's just a matter of time before he wins a Pulitzer. I'm never scared of anybody, and when I saw him at Neshoba I was too nervous to go up and say hello.

Author

David McCarty

Date

2005-11-15T16:22:10-06:00

ID

87540

Comment

I also like ejeff's comments about venues being spread out. I will admit here that I have heard some business owners -- understandably, but wrongly, I believe -- complain about other similar venues opening up close to them. The truth is, that thriving cities have districts: shopping districts, nightlife districts, arts districts. And part of the point is that people need to be able to park and walk from spot to spot. That adds to the sense of security for one thing, but it also makes it feel cosmopolitan. And how in hell can small boutiques compete with a mall if there aren't a bunch of them in one spot. For instance, Fondren is becoming a GREAT holiday-shopping place because you can walk from spot to spot. As for nightlife, Farish Street does have the potential to open all this up. However, a caution: It's still going to take a focused effort on the part of everyone to make sure that the venues there don't merely become cheesy tourist traps. That is, get out there and support the good stuff -- and be willing to try new things. Now, while we're on this topic, I love the idea of us all putting our ideas together. Maybe we should have a gathering soon DOWNTOWN to talk about ideas on making the nightlife scene more cohesive and to appeal to younger people, and address your other concerns. Kind of like what the MAP Coalition does to help musicians, but this will be about helping the nightlife "scene." Also, some folks around here are about to re-boot The Collective effort. Please write [email][email protected][/email] if you'd like to be involved in that. She's leaving for grad school soon, but is helping make sure the network is set up for new blood to come in to do Collective v. 2. So let's all step up on this. When should we gather to discuss this?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-15T16:22:33-06:00

ID

87541

Comment

Downtown Jackson isn't dead, but it's barely going. As far as I'm concerned the only bars worth going to are Hal & Mals, Martins, and occasionally WC Dons or 930. We very, very rarely get good bands and when we do, nobody shows up unless it's Dirty Dozen or N. MS Allstars once a year. Just b/c the 35 and older crowd think Mardi Gras and the rest are an exception to a dead downtown, doesn't make it so. Mardi Gras is a cheese fest... but the foods good! "The Clarion-Ledger is the worst daily newspaper in the country." Fact?? Well according to you..."stated as a fact by the journalist, thus the newspaper. Ladd, so now whenever you or one of your writers print something I will take it as fact. Wait a second, I still have a brain, no I won't.

Author

Justinl

Date

2005-11-15T16:27:47-06:00

ID

87542

Comment

Hal & Mals, Martins, and occasionally WC Dons or 930. That doesn't sound "non-existent," now does it, Justin? ;-) We very, very rarely get good bands and when we do, nobody shows up unless it's Dirty Dozen or N. MS Allstars once a year. That's a bit of a general statement that sounds a bit fatalistic. It's not an attitude that's going to help the problem but maybe you don't care to? Just b/c the 35 and older crowd think Mardi Gras and the rest are an exception to a dead downtown, doesn't make it so. Mardi Gras is a cheese fest... but the foods good! Personally, I'm not a Mardi Gras fan. I've been there three times, I think. My favoriate time was watching a very drunk married prominent man-about-town dirty-dancing with another woman and then disappearing while his frantic wife searched for him. But that was more like watching reality TV, and was a novelty for me. ;-) That said, Mardi Gras is very popular among some people. They really get some good jazz going in that front room, and it's quite popular among young black professionals. How does that translate into "non-existent"? We're not being a tad egocentric with all this, are we? "The Clarion-Ledger is the worst daily newspaper in the country." Fact?? Well according to you..."stated as a fact by the journalist, thus the newspaper. Ladd, so now whenever you or one of your writers print something I will take it as fact. Wait a second, I still have a brain, no I won't. Well, of course, according to me. And on the blog, not in a news story in an ostensibly "objective" daily newspaper. You'd have to be an idiot not to understand that that is a statement of opinion, and I would certainy not argue that it wasn't. Can the Ledge say the same? It's a good example, though, for discussion. My statement is presented very differently from Ms. Goodman's statement of fact -- which, as other bloggers here are proving, may well be the kind of "facts" often "reported" by the corporate daily newspaper that feeds into the, er, "perception" that nightlife is "non-existent." Thus, people don't go. But, of course, that wouldn't be the Ledge's fault. Uh, uh. No way. They are just objective journalists reporting the facts of the news, right? See the problem?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-15T16:41:10-06:00

ID

87543

Comment

Also, Justin, you are doing what Tom pointed out above: You are being egocentric about what "nightlife" means. That is, you are defining it based on what you like, not what others like, which doesn't always include bars (jazz at the museum, etc.). Thus, there are only four venues downtown in a small capital city that you like. Therefore, nightlife is "barely going" and "virtually non-existent"? Of course nightlife isn't what any of us want it to be ultimately, and can be improved. All of us know that. But that's far from tearing down what is there, and the efforts that are made by many people who put every dime they have into it (including to provide music they lose money on). The Ledge is tearing down; the rest of us, though, have the opportunity to build up -- if we don't get caught in the trap of complaining rather than taking positive action. It really is a choice. If we want better nightlife, then let's make nightlife better. Like Rosa Parks said, "You can do that." But you don't do it by belly-aching about what is already there. You do it by augmenting, speaking up, volunteering, organizing, promoting, e-mailing your friends, organizing nights out -- no matter what your taste in music or entertainment. And, sure, you'll run into roadblocks. Houch, for instance, used to do all-ages events; I bet he could fill our ears with the problems he ran into. But if you listen to those problems with an ear toward solving them and learning from his experience, you can change things.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-15T16:47:22-06:00

ID

87544

Comment

patrick writes: there is a problem with the jackson night life, but it more lies in the people. There are a lot of boring people in our city and if anything is going to change with the nightlife, people to get up off their asses and do something. Not all of us are boring, Patrick; but different people like different things. The reason we have a nightlife to begin with is because people do what they want to do; if nobody likes the nightlife, then there's no reason to have it. Personally, I suspect that a lot of people like the nightlife but not enough people know about it. So the problem is not that boring(?) people like me don't like to go to bars and get drunk listening to loud music; the problem is that interesting(?) people who do like that sort of thing, and there are many of them, aren't going. I like it when people are happy. So if people go to bars to listen to live music, I'm thrilled to death. If people go to an evangelical charismatic church and wave their hands in the air singing hallelujah, I'm thrilled to death. If small groups of people with common interests gather informally and quietly and just have dinner or coffee together, I'm thrilled to death. If people sit at home and read, I'm thrilled to death. Nobody who doesn't enjoy something should feel like they have to attend just to support it. I've never been to Jubilee Jam. Why? Never wanted to go. Likewise, I'm pretty sure you've never been to a D.L. Dykes Foundation seminar. Why? Probably because you never wanted to go. There is no "better" or "worse" here; we all have ample opportunity to support Jackson by doing things we actually enjoy, and there's so much to do that we don't really have any reason to go out and do things that don't speak to us. What I don't like is the disease many Jacksonians have where they sit at home wishing they were doing something different, but--due mainly, I suspect, to social anxiety (which everybody has experienced, no matter what they tell you)--never get around to doing it. For folks who don't actually attend these events, "There's nothing to do in Jackson" sounds like an excuse to me. And to the lonely, I can only say: Take a few risks. I mean, jeez, people, if you're bored and lonely and unhappy and can't think of anything else to do, go volunteer. You'll meet wonderful human beings, you'll get to make people's lives better, and your loneliness will EVAPORATE. And if you treat other human beings with kindness and respect, you WILL be welcomed with love. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-11-15T16:52:27-06:00

ID

87545

Comment

Jackson nightlife thursday there is no need to tell the people on this site but tell everyone you know to revolt against the LEDGe and come out thursday.

Author

*SuperStar*

Date

2005-11-30T15:40:04-06:00

ID

87546

Comment

The National Review Online has picked up on The Clarion-Ledger's long-time nickname. Of course, "The Clarion-Omitter" is probably more accurate, but not as punny. The part I disagree with is NRO saying that the Ledge is a "Jackson, Miss." paper. It is not. It doesn't put Jackson in its name; it's declares itself to be statewide; and it shows contempt for the city in which its offices reside. If it didn't, it would actually show excitement when good news about the city comes out -- like the recent Morgan-Quitno dangerous rankings.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-12-07T16:52:48-06:00

ID

87547

Comment

They didn't use "Clarion Liberal?" I use that a lot. :D

Author

Ironghost

Date

2005-12-11T18:00:07-06:00