Happy New Year! Jackson, MS

Thinking of the New Year it is hard to belief the amount of superstition and tradition that revolve around this one day. One tradition that happens in almost every English speaking country on New Year's Eve at the stroke of midnight is singing Auld Lang Syne. Despite it's popularity it has aptly been described as the song everyone has heard but no one really knows the words to. Take a listen:

 Another tradition that happens at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve is the ever popular "New Year's Eve kiss." At the stroke of midnight couples embrace one another for a kiss to celebrate and set tone for the new year. Some hold the superstition that failing to kiss someone ensures a year of loneliness.

Dropping of the Times Square Ball is also a popular New Year's Eve tradition. Live feed of the ball being "dropped" on Times Square is seen by 1 billion people across the world, an estimated 100 million of them being from the United States. The ball, which is now in its sixth incarnation, is currently made by Waterford Crystal. The ball has been a New Year's Eve symbol since December 31, 1907. Since 2009, the ball remains year-round on the flagpole over One Times Square and is only lowered on New Year's Eve or removed for maintenance.

Another extremely popular New Year's tradition is making New Year's resolutions. This tradition dates back to the early Babylonians. One of the early Babylonians most popular resolutions was to return borrowed farm equipment. Today one of the most popular resolutions is losing weight. Recent research shows that 52% of those making resolutions were confident in their new goals; however, only 12% actually achieved their goals.

So, no matter what your tradition is for the New Year- we hope you have a happy and successful one!
Happy New Year!

Holidays, Jackson MS December Events

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Santa's helpers have been busy decking the halls of the Fairview Inn.

Jackson, Mississippi is a magical place during the holidays- from family traditions to events celebrating the season. This first weekend in December, help welcome the winter season by enjoying some of these family fun activities and events:

December 2-10: Christmas at the Governor's Mansion

Free guided tours offered Tuesday - Saturday from 9AM to 11:30AM, on the half hour. 

More information, click here. 

December 2-18: Annie

Enjoy this classic tale of little orphan Annie at New Stage Theatre. 

More information, click here.

December 2-3: Gingerbread Gift Market

Shop for arts and crafts at this holiday themed shopping event. 

More information, click here.

December 2-3: Belhaven Singing Christmas Tree

Belhaven tradition since 1933, performances are at 7:30 Friday and Saturday. Bring a blanket and lawn chair. More information, click here 

December 3-4: Ballet MS present the Nutcracker

Tickets start at $10. More information, click here. 

December 3: City of Jackson Christmas Parade

Annual Christmas parade and tree lighting after the parade.

More information, click here.

December 3: MS Children's Museum, First Birthday Bash

The museum is turning one! Fun activities for all. 

More information, click here.

December 3-4: Chimneyville Crafts Festival

Works by hundreds of juried craftsmen throughout the Southeast. Christmas shopping extravaganza. More information, click here.  

Get out and celebrate this holiday season!!

Happy Halloween! Jackson, MS

Happy Halloween!
We all know Halloween as trick-or-treating, costume contests, bobbing for apples, Halloween parties, and other fun activities.

Halloween activities and traditions around the world are a little different. For instance, in Scotland there is a tradition of telling one's future spouse by carving an apple in one long strip, then tossing the peel over one's shoulder. The peel is believed to then land in the shape of the first letter of the future spouse's name. Unmarried women were told that if they sat in a darkened room and gazed into a mirror on Halloween night, the face of their future husband would appear. However, if they were destined to die before marriage a skull would appear.

Another Halloween game/superstition was playing fortune teller. To play this game, symbols (dollar sign- wealth, clothespin- poverty, rice- wedding, umbrella- journey, four leaf clover- good luck) were cut out of paper and placed on a platter. A person would enter a dark room and was ordered to place his or her hand on a piece of ice, then lay it on a platter. His or her "fortune" would stick to the hand.

So, whatever your tradition, game, or superstition- Happy Halloween from the Fairview!!

Read more on Halloween

Fairview Inn Goes Spooky- Jackson, MS Halloween Party

The historic AAA Four-Diamond, Fairview Inn will be conjuring up some spooky spirits this Halloween. Take this haunted opportunity to get in touch with the other side by sleeping in one of the Fairview Inn’s original haunted rooms, dining for a Halloween themed Sunday brunch, or celebrating with a Halloween party. During your visit you may just be able to encounter Robert, the Inn’s permanent ghostly guest.

Starting on Sunday, October 30, 2011, the Fairview Inn will take on a new spooky look. “We will transform our guest rooms to take you to a totally different time and place,” says owner Peter Sharp. “We thought with such an old home, full of history, it would be the perfect setting for people to get in touch with the ‘other side’.” The Fairview Inn was built in 1908 and has seen many guests in its 103 year history. 

One guest that seems to linger is a Civil War Soldier named Robert. “We don’t like cleaning the Third Floor Suite,” says housekeeper Lillie Washington. “Immediately walking up the stairs, the hair on your arm stands up and you get an eerie feeling. I’ve even seen the mop bucket move by itself!” The Third Floor Suite is located in the Fairview Inn’s old attic space. Many guests staying in the original part of the home will often ask upon checkout about loud footsteps heard above them through the night. This, we can only attribute to our permanent attic guest Robert. For October 30 and 31, Robert has decided that he wants to give a discount on all rooms! Call 888-948-1908 and mention Robert's Special and we will ask him what discount you should receive- hope you catch him in good "spirits."

In the spirit of the season, the Inn will not only decorate guest rooms but will also host a Halloween themed Sunday brunch and Halloween party. The brunch, on Sunday, October 30, 2011, will include items from Igor’s inventive entrees to Dracula’s daring desserts. Those wanting to celebrate are invited to Fright Night on Monday, October 31, 2011, for a Halloween party. The party will begin at 6:30pm and will include supernatural sounds from DJ Scott Steele, tarot card readings by Ms. Downey, and enough food to even satisfy Frankenstein’s hearty appetite. The Fairview will be mixing up specialty drinks including “Brain Hemorrhage,” Dracula’s Blood,” “Cold-Blooded Killer,” and “The Hatchet,” to name a few. There will be a haunted house for the truly brave and a costume contest for those dressed in the “spirit” of the evening. Prizes include a relaxing couple’s massage for the best costume couple, an overnight stay at the Fairview for the most creative, and more.

                Celebrate the spirit of this fall season with a hauntingly fun time at the Fairview. You might be lucky enough to hear about how the Inn “met” Robert and you may come away with your own ghost story to tell.  To book a room, please call (888) 948-1908.

Chefs and the City 2011

Chefs and the City: A Taste of Hollywood is 
November 18th and 19th, 2011. 

Quick information about the event:

• Chefs and the City raises funds for the Simon Sharp Eagle Fund which benefits the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital and the Boy Scouts of America- Andrew Jackson Council. 
• Chef's Dinner Friday, November 18 featuring Gary Hawkins (Sophia's Restaurant), Craig Noone (Parlor Market), Eric Bach (Strawberry Cafe), Dan Blumenthal (Bravo!), Luis Bruno (Palette Cafe), Takahiro Higuchi (Sakura Bana). Tickets are $150.00 and must be purchased in advance (601-948-3429 ext. 314 to purchase tickets).
• Simon's Walk Saturday, November 19 will include a celebrity look-alike contest and more. Strollers, dogs, children, are all welcome! No registration fee required- we are encouraging that teams are built and each individual on the team sets a goal to raise $25 each (individuals who raise this will receive a t-shirt). Register teams or donate online: Simon's Walk/Donate Online
• Simon's Walk will be a 5k walk/run in the Belhaven neighborhood beginning at 9AM.

Who is Simon Sharp and why does this event raise money for these organizations?
Simon Sharp, beloved son of Peter and Tamar Sharp (proprietors of the Fairview Inn) and twin brother of Sophia, touched many lives during his 15 years. Check out this touching article to find out more about Simon's legacy : Simon's Story or watch this video:

"There are those whose radiance is visible on Earth though they have long been extinct. There are people whose brilliance continues to light the world though they are no longer among the living. Those lights are particularly bright when the night is dark. They light the way for humankind." -Hannah Szenesh, Hungary
So, register your team, become a virtual donor, or attend the fabulous dinner and help us meet our goal of $50,000 and help Simon's light and radiance live on! Walk, Eat, Donate

Welcoming Fall 2011- Jackson, MS Fall Activities

Autumnal Equinox

Today is the first official day of Fall! The autumnal equinox began this morning at 5:04am, signaling the start of Fall in the Northern Hemisphere. The Fall equinox marks the time at which the sun shines directly over the equator. Until the winter solstice in December, the sun will continue a southward migration towards the Tropic of Capricorn, bringing increasingly shorter daylight hours. By September 30, the sun will rise 26 minutes later and set 46 minutes earlier than it did at the beginning of the month. See images of the equinox here.

Favorite Fall Recipes

Sabrina's Apple Crisp
Filling:
7 peeled and sliced fresh green apples
1 1/2 sticks of butter
1 C brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
Optional:
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp clove
1 1/2 C walnuts
Dough:
2 1/2 C self rising flour
1 C brown sugar
1 C granulated sugar
2 1/2 - 3 C milk
Additional Items:
1 stick of butter
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Using a 9x12 glass dish, place 1 stick of butter in the disk and place in preheated oven. Take out when butter is melted.
Filling- Saute the peeled apples with the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. You can also add the optional ingredients at this time. Saute until the mixture turns a caramel color and the apples are tender.
Dough- Add flour, brown sugar and granulated sugar together in a bowl. Stir in the milk until the dough is the consistency of pancakes, light but not loose.
After the butter is melted in the glass dish, add the dough mixture. Then place apple mixture on top of that and all the liquid from the filling mixture on top of that.
Place in preheated oven for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove from oven and pull mixture away from the sides, the helps with an even baking. Place back in oven for final 15 minutes.

Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling
Ingredients:
1/4 C powdered sugar (to sprinkle)
3/4 C all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
3 large eggs
1 C granulated sugar
2/3C Pure Pumpkin
1 C chopped walnuts (optional)
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

1 C powdered sugar, sifted

6 T butter or margarine, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375. Grease 15x10 jelly roll pan, line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprinkle towel with powdered sugar.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.

Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.

Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

Fun Family Activities in Jackson

October 1-2 Hawkins Field Air Show-
A day of family fun- enjoy planes high in the sky. Free
More info
October 1 Spencers Theatre of Illusion-
Show filled with magic, illusions and mystery- people levitate, walk through walls, vanish and reappear. More info
October 5-16 Mississippi State Fair-
From chicken-on-a-stick and funnel cakes to rides galore, the Fair is a tradition for many families in Mississippi. More info
October 12-14 Pumpkin Adventure (Ag Museum)
Visit with Farmer Ed, take a hayride tour, enjoy refreshments, and take home a small pumpkin pie. $6. More info: 601-432-4500
October 25-November 6 Dracula (New Stage)
Classic Dracula Tale- just in time for Halloween!
More info

Check out more Jackson events, here.

Sweet Tea and Southern Sayings

Being in the Deep South we often say things or hear things that don't sound odd to us but when heard by someone else might sound very strange.

One example would be when we ask for tea- we either ask for sweet or unsweet. This is strange because unsweet (when you really think about it) means that the tea was sweet to begin with and then went through an unsweetening process that resulted in the tea no longer being sweet. This is something that doesn't sound odd until you start thinking about it!

A second commonly used phrase is "Oh! Bless your heart..." This is expression is commonly used when Southerners need an excuse for speaking ill of someone. Example- "She's as ugly as a mud fence, bless her heart." Even though the line was an insult it is made better by showing that you, in a way, feel sorry for the person.

These are a few others that are our favorites:
"You can't get blood from a turnip." Meaning you can't get something from someone who doesn't have it.
"She's as crazy as a Betsy Bug." Meaning just plain crazy.
"Madder than a wet hen." Meaning just plain mad.
"He's like a bull in a china shop." Meaning that he destroys everything he touches/makes lots of noise.
"We were just sittin' around chewin' the fat." Meaning talking about nothing really in particular- just chatting.
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch." Meaning a risky act of assuming the outcome.
"She was all over him like white on rice." Traditional Southern saying about something that cannot be separated or that traditionally go together.
"You can't see the forest for the trees." Meaning you can't see the big picture because you're looking at all the wrong things.

So, next time you find yourself sittin' around chewin' the fat and sippin' on some sweet tea (or unsweet) try to use a few of these sayings!
Check out more sayings here: Southern Sayings or More Southern Sayings