Vicksburg.......

[Mississippienne]

My friend's younger brother plays on the soccer team at Warren Central High School. The YMCA also runs a soccer program for kids. My friend's little sister also plays on her high school's softball team. All kinds of other sports are offered at the high schools.

Vicksburg is also visually gorgeous. Beautiful, stately old antebellum homes, little bridges, majestic hills, and an adorable but sadly quiet downtown. I think if more people actually came to V'burg they'd fall in love and more folks would move in. I'm currently staying with my friend here, and everytime I visit I find myself charmed by V'burg.

Unfortunately, it's not a very 'happening' city and finding things to do can be a challenge. Which isn't to say people don't stay busy. There's pilates classes downtown (in a building directly across the street from Highway 61 coffee shop). Speaking of Highway 61, it's my favorite hangout -- they have live music a couple nights a week, and a really cool art gallery upstairs with pieces by local artists. The YMCA is out on Oakridge Rd, and offers water aerobics, weight training, etc. You can tour the Old Courthouse and other historic mansions. My friend is really into crafty stuff and goes to two knitting circles -- one's at the Senior Center and the other's held at Highway 61 coffee shop. She loves Lael's and Evelyn's (out in Bovina) for restaurants. I haven't been to Lael's, but Evelyn's is fantastic, delicious authentic soul food that any Southerner will love. As far as I know, there are no bars or nightclubs (quite different from Gulfport-Biloxi, where they're plentiful!) and church seems to be everyone's favorite hobby. A woman I took a ballet class with, Chiquila Pearson, teaches African dance at the Jackson Street Community Center and let me tell you, she's incredible! Well worth checking out.