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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

When the Jackson Free Press published our first issue nine years ago this fall, the issue included a Best of Jackson ballot. We were shocked that the city didn’t have a readers’ choice contest for locals to nominate and vote for the best local personalities, businesses and organizations, so we didn’t waste any time making it happen. Since the first Best of Jackson issue hit the streets in January 2003, BOJ has become a community mainstay with awards gracing walls throughout the metro. Now we’re more high-tech–most votes are cast online these days–and the campaigning can get fast and furious. But we still have the same purpose: to honor the absolute best of Jackson. Congrats to the winners and finalists for a job well done in 2010.

Community
Urban Living
Food & Drink
Nightlife
Out Of Town

Previous Comments

You guys knew I only vote on one thing and one thing only – grub! I voted on a couple of other things, but food & drink – that’s my specialty. Some were spot on, but some I just had to stop and shake my head at and see what it was I missed? Hickory Pit BBQ over E&L – that’s like going with Larry Bird over Michael Jordan? Jermain Jackson over Michael Jackson? The Junior Varsity over the Varsity!? Sure Hickory Pit is in friendly surroundings – but you take a REAL foodie and we will give props where props are due, but that’s a face slap. I’m dissapointed because it seemed like ambiance won over what mattered and that’s the taste of the grub! SO all in all, people voted and I have to respect that fact. But when you see Burger and Blues beat out Cool Al and Stamps, which is all owned by the original family, it makes me wonder what in the world was your basis or grounds!? I’m going to stop gripping , just had to get that off my chest


Having trouble with the “Nightlife” link. Anyone else?


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Mississippi native Donna Ladd and partner Todd Stauffer founded the Jackson Free Press in 2002 in the capital city. The heavily awarded local newspaper did many investigations heralded across the state and nation and served as a paper of record due to its diversity, inclusion, in-depth reporting and deep connection to readers and dedication to narrative change in and about Mississippi. In 2022, the nonprofit Mississippi Free Press, founded by Ladd and JFP Associate Publisher Kimberly Griffin in 2020, purchased the journalism assets and archives of the Jackson Free Press. A Google grant through AAN Publishers enabled Newspack's integration of the JFP archives into the Mississippi Free Press website to become part of a more searchable archive of recent Mississippi history and essential journalism.