Jackson Free Press

New to Jackson? I am, too. The key to making friends around here is simple: Just jump in! Quickly, you'll start meeting people and seeing where the key players within each scene hang.

There's something to do on any given night in the Jackson area. It just takes a little creative planning. Even on weeknights, good vibes are abundant. Newcomers can plan their week around these events. Here are some of my favorites.

Mondays

won't bring you down when you have karaoke to look forward to. Grab a friend with good taste in music and head to Fenian's Pub (901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055). After a few drinks, everyone has perfect pitch. 21+

Tuesday

is a great night to put on your thinking cap. The Pub Quiz at Hal & Mal's (200 S. Commerce St. 601-948-0888) is tough. Recently the JFP entered two separate teams into the gauntlet of pop culture, literature, music and movies. After several grueling rounds, one of our teams actually won the stiff competition. If you live for random factoids and think you can handle some brain-busting quiz questions, put together a posse of five of your smartest pals (teams with more than six members receive a one-point deduction each round for every additional person). First-place prize could cover the drink tab and food for your crew. You can play if you're under 21, but you can't drink, of course.

Wednesday

In case you couldn't win trivia, give your pockets a break with 50 Cent Wednesdays at the M Bar (6340 Ridgewood Court Drive, 601-398-0999). Wings are $.50 each, and there are $1 drink specials all night. What better way to watch the game or kick back and talk with locals? 21+

Thursday

nights are all at Kemistry Bar & Hookah Lounge (3716 Interstate 55 N., 601-713-1500). Each week they host Tropical Night with $3 margarita and beer specials, salsa class, and a reggae and dancehall party. 21+

Those should help mix things up until Friday and the weekend. Special events are always popping up. Keep on eye on midtown, especially for super-creative events. The best way to stay up to date is the JFP's Jacktown App, which has updates on listings and specials. Download it free in the iTunes store. Also follow jfpevents.com and jfp.ms/musiclistings.

Best of Jackson 2014: Nightlife

Best Place for First Date

Babalu Taco and Tapas (622 Duling Ave., 601-366-5757) Second: Julep Restaurant and Bar (4500 Interstate 55 N., Suite 105, 601-362-1411) / Third: BRAVO! Italian Restaurant and Bar (4500 Interstate 55 N., Suite 244, 601-982-8111) / Finalists: The Apothecary at Brent's Drugs (655 Duling Ave., 769-257-3517); Parlor Market (115 W. Capitol St., 601-360-0090); Walker's Drive-In (3016 N. State St., 601-982-2633)

Best Beer Selection

The Bulldog (6111 Ridgewood Road, 601-978-3502) Second: Fondren Public (2765 Old Canton Road, 769-216-2589) / Third: Sal & Mookie's New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint (565 Taylor St., 601-368-1919) / Finalists: Capitol Grill (5050 Interstate 55 N., Suite F, 601-899-8845); Martin's Restaurant and Bar (214 S. State St., 601-354-9712); McDade's Market (Multiple Locations, mcdadesmarkets.com)

Best Place to Shoot Pool:

The Green Room (444 Bounds St., 601-713-344) Second: Cherokee Inn (1410 Old Square Road, 601-362-6388) / Third: Last Call Sports Grill (1428 Old Square Road, 601-713-2700) Finalists: Reed Pierce's (6791 Siwell Road, Byram, 601-376-0777); Sam's Lounge (5035 Interstate 55 N., 601-983-2526)

Best Place to Watch the Game:

Burgers & Blues (1060 E. County Line Road., Suite 22, Ridgeland, 601-899-0038, / Second: The Bulldog (6111 Ridgewood Road, 601-978-3502) / Third: Metropolitan Bar Sports Grill (M-Bar) (6340 Ridgewood Court Drive, 601-398-0999) / Finalists: Capitol Grill (5050 Interstate 55 N., Suite F, 601-899-8845); Fondren Public (2765 Old Canton Road, 769-216-2589); Last Call Sports Grill (1428 Old Square Road, 601-713-2700)

Best Bar; Best College Student Hangout; Best New Bar: Fondren Public

2765 Old Canton Road, 769-216-2589

Best Bar

Second: Hal & Mal's (200 S. Commerce St., 601-948-0888) / Third:  M-Bar Sports Grill (6340 Ridgewood Court Drive, 601-398-0999) Finalists: The Apothecary at Brent's Drugs (655 Duling Ave., 769-257-3517); The Bulldog (6111 Ridgewood Road, 601-978-3502); Fenian's Pub (901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055)

Best College Student Hangout

Second: Cups: An Espresso Cafe (Multiple Locations, cupsespressocafe.com) / Third: The Bulldog (6111 Ridgewood Road, 601-978-3502) / Finalists: Club Magoo's (824 S. State St., 601-487-8710); Fenian's Pub (901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055); Sneaky Beans (2914 N. State St., 601-487-6349)

Best New Bar

Second: Apothecary at Brent's Drugs (655 Duling Ave., 769-257-3517) / Third: Metropolitan Bar Sports Grill (M-Bar) (6340 Ridgewood Court Drive, 601-398-0999) / Finalist: Capitol Grill (5050 Interstate 55 N., Suite F, 601-899-8845)

Best LGBT Hangout; Best Open-Mic Night: Fenian's Pub

901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055

Best LGBT Hangout

Second: Bottoms Up (3911 Northview Drive, 601-981-2188) / Third: Club Metro Reloaded (4670 Highway 80 W., 347-685-9745) / Finalist: JC's (425 N. Mart Plaza, 601-362-3108)

Best Open-Mic Night

Second: Last Call Sports Grill (1428 Old Square Road, 601-713-2700) / Third: Ole Tavern on George Street (416 George St., 601-960-2700) / Finalists: Martin's Restaurant and Bar (214 S. State St., 601-354-9712); Soul Wired Cafe (111 Millsaps Ave., 601-863-6378)

Best Dive Bar; Best Jukebox; Best Place to Drink Cheap: Cherokee Inn

1410 Old Square Road, 601-362-6388, cherokeedriveinn.com

Best Dive Bar

Second: Fenian's Pub (901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055) / Third: Ole Tavern on George Street (416 George St., 601-960-2700) / Finalists: Martin's Restaurant and Bar (214 S. State St., 601-354-9712); Pop's Saloon (2636 S. Gallatin St., 601-961-4747); Sam's Lounge 
(5035 Interstate 55 N., 601-983-2526)

Best Place to Drink Cheap

Second: Fenian's Pub (901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055) / Third: Martin's Restaurant and Bar (214 S. State St., 601-354-9712) Finalists: Fondren Public (2765 Old Canton Road, 769-216-2589); Sam's Lounge (5035 Interstate 55 N., 601-983-2526)

Best Live Music Venue: Hal & Mal's

200 S. Commerce St., 601-948-0888, halandmals.com

Second: Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave., 601-292-7121) / Third: Underground 119 (119 S. President St., 601-352-2322) / Finalists: Burgers & Blues (1060 E. County Line Road, Suite 22, Ridgeland, 601-899-0038); Club Magoo's (824 S. State St., 601-487-8710); The Penguin Restaurant and Bar (1100 John R. Lynch St., Suite 6A, 769-251-5222)

Best Place to Dance: Underground 119

119 S. President St., 601-352-2322, underground119.com

Best Place to Shoot Pool: The Green Room

444 Bounds St., 601-713-3444

Second: Cherokee Inn (1410 Old Square Road, 601-362-6388) / Third: Last Call Sports Grill (1428 Old Square Road, 601-713-2700) Finalists: Reed Pierce's (6791 Siwell Road, Byram, 601-376-0777); Sam's Lounge (5035 Interstate 55 N., 601-983-2526)

Best Place to Watch the Game: Burgers & Blues

1060 E. County Line Road, Suite 22, Ridgeland, 601-899-0038, burgersblues.com

Second: The Bulldog (6111 Ridgewood Road, 601-978-3502) / Third: Metropolitan Bar Sports Grill (M-Bar) (6340 Ridgewood Court Drive, 601-398-0999) / Finalists: Capitol Grill (5050 Interstate 55 N., Suite F, 601-899-8845); Fondren Public (2765 Old Canton Road, 769-216-2589); Last Call Sports Grill (1428 Old Square Road, 601-713-2700)