Jackson Free Press

Springtime means good eats and drinks in Jackson. If you’ve been hiding out from freak hailstorms by eating soup at home, now is the time to put down the ladle and get out into the city—all for a good cause. Three food and drink events are blasting into Jackson in a seven-day span, benefitting three community-minded organizations: the Alzheimer’s Association, the Jackson Zoo and Fondren Renaissance Foundation’s children’s art program.

Hot off the heels of Taste of Mississippi, the Fondren neighborhood is putting its own flavors on display, all in the name of raising money for arts programs for local kids. Taste of Fondren, which was postponed from the fall, is 6 to 9 p.m. April 18 on Duling Avenue. Local restaurants will be serving their signature dishes with cocktail and beer pairings.

The event raises money for arts education, including scholarship summer art camps at The Cedars and in-school art instruction at Boyd Elementary, among others. In that vein, student art from Boyd Elementary, the Education Center, St. Andrew's Elementary and St. Richard's Catholic School will be on display in a clothesline art show throughout the block.

Over the weekend, ticket holders can enjoy a show house tour in Woodland Hills at June and Harper Stone's historic former home, filled with work from Fondren galleries and interior designers. Friday and Saturday, the home is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, it is open from 1 to 4 p.m.

Tickets to both the tasting event and the open house are $50 in advance and $65 tickets at the door (limited availability only), and tickets for the open house alone are $10, all available at fondren.org.