Kent and Cynthia Miller whose yard is on the tour;

event creators Becky Potts and Felder Rushing

1st Fondren Bottletree & Garden Tour

.....Tickets are now on sale for Fondren's first Bottletree and Garden Tour set for Sunday, October 9.

.....Get a glimpse into the backyards of 17 Fondren neighbors with a $5 ticket.  Proceeds go toward refurbishing the landscaping strips along North State Street. A package of 5 tickets can be purchased for $20.

.....Tickets can be purchased on line at www.fondrengardentour.com or purchased the day of the tour at The Cedars, 4145 Old Canton Road.

.....The Cedars is also a stop on the tour, featuring the Magnolia Lounge and a pop up art show, "A Garden Awakening" by Brown's Fine Art & Framing.

.....The tour of gardens will be from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. The Cedars will be open from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

JACKSON WATER CRISIS

In search of a permanent solution

.....The immediate water crisis is over. The only fear greater than the next loss of water pressure is a loss of confidence that our leaders will come together to find a permanent solution.

.....Last week the FRF and Fondren BID Boards noted in a letter to state leadership that a permeant solution is past due.

.....Our neighbor to the south, Millsaps College, stated in an open letter: Prospective and even current students and their parents are now asking questions about the infrastructure of the city and the college’s ability to provide a safe and healthy learning environment. 

.....Fondren resident and restauranteur Jeff Good summed up the response of our important restaurant community: We simply want our operating environment to stabilize. We want water. We want safety. We want quality of life. With these three things, our art form, played out in dining rooms and service counters across the city, can flourish. We can serve great meals, we can give great experiences, and we can pay great wages. Simply put, we can make it, if we just have a functional working environment.

.....To date, we are not aware of a publicly acknowledged strategy for working together on the permanent solution that is sorely needed - for safety, for stability, for confidence that our leaders will act on our behalf.

.....Millsaps President Robert Pearigen laid out a few suggestions for getting to a permanent solution: The Hinds County legislative delegation recently requested a special session to address the water issue, and we join in this call. The state of Mississippi must step in and provide additional funding, equipment and human resources to bring about change. The city of Jackson must be willing to continue to work with the state and accept assistance. The federal government, too, must address the issues facing the capital city and provide financial assistance as quickly as possible. Elected officials at every level must set aside any differences and work cooperatively to make Jackson a safe place to live, work and learn. 

.....Fondren residents have a role to play in a permanent solution to our water crisis. Contact your elected officials and let them know we need a permanent solution.

.....CLICK HERE for contact information of our elected officials.

"It isn’t the absence of problems that creates a wonderful place to live; it’s how we choose to solve them together."

By Cathy Boone, FRF Board

.....Over Labor Day weekend, I hosted friends from California who loved strolling the streets of Fondren. They devoured barbeque from Pig & Pint, sweets from Campbell’s, and coffee (and merch!) from The Bean. Their visit reminded me how rare it is to find the combination of quality and convenient restaurants we have in Fondren. As someone who’s lived in Atlanta, Austin and Palo Alto, California, I can honestly say we have something special here.

.....While the water crisis has dominated headlines lately, I felt comfortable bringing my guests to these restaurants who’ve demonstrated how creative they can be in delivering delicious (and safe!) food.

.....As a member of the Fondren Renaissance Foundation Board, I’ve seen how they’ve built resilient systems to address boiled water notices over time and remain totally focused on creating an outstanding customer experience – no matter what! During Covid, these businesses had to quickly pivot to serve customers in an entirely different way and I think the same is true for working around water issues.

.....When I moved back home to Jackson last year, after decades living elsewhere, I was pleasantly surprised by how Fondren has blossomed – tons of restaurants, coffee bars, and shopping nestled so close by. It’s a neighborhood where people from all over gather to listen to live music and enjoy our (sometimes sweltering, sometimes wet) Mississippi weather. I love it even more that I run into old friends and meet new ones in yoga class at Studio Om or in the (always short) line at the Corner Market. It’s a wonderful small town feeling with big city variety.

.....But restaurants need customers (and lots) of them to survive. There’s work to be done to improve the City’s infrastructure overall, but we all need to invest in keeping these places open for business if we want to have a thriving and vibrant Fondren area! Eat early and often at your favorite haunt so these businesses can continue to bring life to our community.

.....As my friends returned to California, they were preparing to face potential power outages as the heat wave there strains their power grid - proving once again that it isn’t the absence of problems that creates a wonderful place to live; it’s how we choose to solve them together.

Symphony at Sunset returns

to The Cedars on October 13

.....This year's Symphony at Sunset is scheduled for Thursday, October 13 on the grounds of The Cedars.

.....This special event is presented by BankPlus.

.....General admittance parking opens at 5:30 p.m. The free performance by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra begins at 7 p.m. (bring your chairs and blankets) 

.....Concessions open at 6 p.m. and will include pizza by Poppy's Pies and a wine and beer bar.

.....The Red Chairs will perform at 5:30 p.m. Face-painting also at 5:30 p.m............

Help us Honor a Fondren veteran

.....This year's Fondren Fondren UnWrapped parade will fall on Veteran's Day, November 11, and we would like to honor our Fondren veterans during the parade, either as part of the parade or in a special reviewing area.

.....Please help us identify Fondren veterans. A veteran is anyone who has served a minimum of 24 months of active duty or anyone who has become disabled during any period of active duty service.

Honor a Fondren Veteran

Brown's Fine Art hosts Pop Up show at The Cedars

Welcome: The Salon At Fondren!

.....For an entrepreneur who enjoys music and design while dabbling in real estate, opening a business in Fondren was a natural step for Judson Wright.  All of his interests converge at Fondren's newest business, The Salon At Fondren in Fondren Village. Partnering with Maddy Krulik from Canada, the salon caters to men and women with an emphasis on diversity.

A great time to support Fondren ...

Thursday, October 6

At Barrelhouse: Edley Jones and Barry Cockrell, lifelong friends who grew up in Vicksburg comprise the Diddy Wah Daddies.  For anyone who has seen the ‘Blues Brothers,” you will appreciate the idea of “getting the band back together,” as Edley and Barry first played in a band in junior high school. Diddy Wah Daddies is a joyous, and overdue, reunion.  However, their only mission is to have a good time! Several genres of music will be interpreted for the performance, along with several original songs written by Edley

At Fondren Guitars: Time to Move (above) from 6 - 7:30 pm. and Lady Gun (below) from 7:30 p.m. until. Food truck, craft beers and Fondren Guitars' 16th Birthday!

Fondren Live t-shirts for sale

.....Fondren Live t-shirts are available ($15) at FITique , a Fitness Boutique, 605 Duling (11 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Keeping Fondren Fabulous!

..... FRF accepts contributions of all sizes! Help us Keep Fondren Fabulous with a tax deductible contribution today!

.....Thank you to these individuals for supporting Fondren.



Kenneth Boyles, Phelps Dunbar LLP