Actually, no. Downtown Jackson is one of the safest areas of the city with some of the lowest crime rates. Of course, activity makes any area safer, so the more people who go downtown to enjoy nightlife, and then move into all those spiffy condos and apartments opening up in historic buildings there, will make it even safer. Also, crime in Jackson has dropped steadily for years, and over the last couple years, hit its lowest level in 24 years. (Crime in 2004 was 21 percent down over the year before.) So don't fret the crime hype; get yourself a Club if you want, pay attention to your surroundings, don't leave valuables in your car—that's life in the big city.
There's absolutely nowhere for those under 21 to hear live music.
Not. Watch the Jackson Free Press online Live Music and Events Calendar for listings of all-ages shows around the metropolitan area. Recent shows have been at The Joint, 206 Capitol St., 601-944-0123; W. C. Don's, 216 S. State St., 601-969-6962, and Headliners, 6107 Ridgewood Rd., 601-957-6110.
This is the Bible belt, and I know sex toys are illegal in Mississippi. Can I not find accoutrements here to spice up my love life?
Sure: Romantic Adventures, 120 E. Highway 80, 601-932-2811, just might be the place. By all accounts, it's a tidy place with a variety of offerings.
I'll never find indie or hard-to-find CDs in Jackson.
Oh yes you will: Be-Bop Record Shop, winner of Jackson's Best Music Store in the JFP's 2005 Best of poll, is ready and waiting to serve you. Whether you want pop or soul, folk or classical, hip-hop or blues, movie soundtracks or local artist, any Be-Bop has it. You can head north to Maywood Mart, I-55 at Northside Dr., 601-981-5000, or west to the Metro Center, where there's a Be-Bop on the outer road around the mall, 601-969-3181.
Don't you have to go to New York to see good musicals and plays?
Nope, Jackson has plenty to offer you in the way of the theater. In fact, W. Kessler Ltd.'s Best of Broadway brings "Chicago" to Thalia Mara Hall, 255 E. Pascagoula St., Oct. 25-26. 601-981-1847. In Jackson for over 30 years, the New Stage Theatre, 1100 Carlisle St., Jackson, 601-948-3564, is one play into its season. Fondren Theatre Workshop presents all sorts of theatrical fare, including Off Kilter's "Spontaneous: The Improv Athletic Games" Oct. 21-22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Artery/House of Brews Coffee House, 3220 N. State St., 601-982-2217. Clinton's Brickstreet Players put on their shows at the old Clinton Junior High School, 601-925-9285. Over in Brandon, you can catch a show put on by the Black Rose Theatre at 103 Black St., 601-825-1293. Also in Rankin County, you'll find the Primrose Path Theatre whose shows are at the Richland Community Center, behind the Wal-Mart on Highway 49 South. Up in Madison County, there's the Center Players who also put on their productions at a school—the Old Madison Station Elementary at 2109 Main St., 601-605-0417. And let's not forget about the metropolitan area's colleges and universities. Their drama departments or clubs regularly stage musicals, dramas, you name it.
Jackson is not a college town.
Is, too. We have more than 30,000 college students—more than many cities our size. It's a diverse and eclectic student body with a variety of musical tastes. Seize any opportunity to get to know students from different schools throughout the area.
There is no city walking culture in Jackson.
Well, this is more true than we want it to be—but it's changing, especially in areas like Fondren where you can walk from home (of you're lucky enough to live there) to shops, restaurants, dry cleaners, coffee shops, a natural-food co-op, galleries, a yoga studio, a post office and several salons.
There's no access to the Pearl River.
If you've got a canoe or kayak, head up to the Spillway early in the day and put in at the boat ramp—hours later you can pull yourself out at the Lakeland Drive bridge or on down at the boat ramp in LeFleur's Bluff State Park. If your boat has a motor, you can put in at the State Park (enter off Lakeland next to the ballfields across the street from Smith-Wills stadium and pay $2 at the gate) and motor up the river, if desired.
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