Columbia Street Block Party
Classic car lovers will appreciate the Columbia Street Block Party and Car Show, held on the final Friday of each month from March through October in Covington, Louisiana.
Covington, long considered a picturesque getaway on the Northshore, is also rounding out its offerings with enticing, award-winning restaurants; fine-art experiences; and charming communal concerts. The results is a calendar full of fun for any traveler, local or otherwise, inspired to take a weekend away.
EAT
For an upscale dining experience inspired by the rich local ingredients available from Louisiana farms and waterways, check out Oxlot 9, named after the parking lots reserved for oxen that appear in Covington’s original plans. This spot in the Southern Hotel features a changing daily menu of fare as fresh as it is tempting.
If the series end of Downton Abbey has left you so bereft that you’ve started tearily watching mid-career Maggie Smith movies, salve the hurt by heading to the English Tea Room & Eatery. This very British restaurant offers full breakfast and lunch menus, including a Coronation Chicken Salad based on a recipe served at the 1953 coronation of the present queen. And of course, there are various options for teas—not just the drink but the light afternoon meal. In fact, you will enjoy one of the largest selections of loose leaf tea in the U.S. here.
New pizzeria Meribo offers scrumptious wood-fired pizzas, from the traditional margherita (mozzarella, basil, extra virgin olive oil and red sauce) to the avant garde Brussels Sprout (Benton's bacon, farm egg, cracked pepper, and white sauce). But if pizza is too casual, try the fresh salads, high-end entrees, or rich pasta dishes.
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Th Southern Hotel
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Del Porto Ristorante
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OxLot 9
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Savoye Originals Gallery
SHOP
Downtown Covington boasts a variety of art galleries, home decor, and specialty shops. Picturesque Lee Lane is home to the French Mix, an interiors showroom, while just down the street is History Antiques & Interiors where you'll find period antiques with a story. If you are looking for funky local art and home décor with a Louisiana flair, check out Savoye Originals Gallery. Shoeffle', a locally owned shoe and accessories retailer, has shoes to match the dress; while moms and moms-to-be can find unique maternity and children's clothes at Olive Patch.
PLAY
Covington is host to the Three Rivers Art Festival, an annual juried art festival that features over two hundred artists and attracts more than sixty thousand people each November. The art itself, featuring the works of artists from across the region and the country, is draw enough, but since it’s a festival, there’s also live music, ample food, and a children’s discovery tent for budding artists to explore.
Plus, the city hosts two separate concert series: Rockin’ the Rails, taking place every Thursday evening in October at the Covington Trailhead of the Tammany Trace, and Sunset at the Landing, held every third Friday of the month between March and October on the bank of the Bogue Falaya River at the foot of Columbia Street downtown. Classic car lovers will appreciate the Columbia Street Block Party and Car Show, held on the final Friday of each month from March through October. For outdoor recreation, you can also rent bikes from Brooks' Bike Shop, located downtown right on the Tammany Trace, a paved bike path that spans St. Tammany Parish from downtown Covington to Slidell. Brooks has kayaks, too, if a leisurely paddle down the Bogue Falaya River is more your style.
STAY
The city even sleeps in style: You’ll be glad of the classic Southern hospitality joined with modern amenities Covington has to offer. The recently renovated Southern Hotel is one option for a luxurious stay. Or you can opt for a cozy respite at a number of other bed and breakfasts in the area, including the Blue Willow or Camellia House.
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