By: Liz Swaine
As Phase One of Governor John Bel Edwards’ re-opening orders rolls on, more downtown businesses are welcoming customers back. This coming week, several of downtown’s most notable art showplaces will be reopening their doors including The Agora Borealis at 421 Lake Street, artspace at 708 Texas Street, ShreveTowne Studio 512 and Book Nook at 512 Crockett Street, and if constructed is completed, the new C & C Mercantile and Lighting Company at 1100 Texas Ave. These join the Norsworthy Gallery on 214 Texas which has already been open in a limited way over the past several weeks. All of these businesses are small, local and artistically inclined, featuring items you won’t find anywhere else and a unique shopping experience.
The Agora Borealis is an art marketplace, a veritable historic warehouse of one-of-a-kind items created by local artists, craftspersons and vendors. Body lotions and other products made on the site by Ben Whalen of Ben’s Body Basics are for sale there, as are locally crafted furnishings, jewelry, wall art, clothing, and home décor. When not dreaming up the latest unique ideas for her Louisiana Fashion Prize, Agora owner Katy Larsen hosts regular art happenings from artist exhibit openings to pop up art performances.
Norsworthy Gallery is Shreveport-Bossier’s only fine arts gallery and resident artist Christine White Bailey always has something remarkable hanging on the walls. Artspace, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s home to rampant imagination, was closed for COVID-19 right in the middle of a yearly art extravaganza called Critical Mass. When the space reopens, people will be able to walk through and see more than 100 works in a variety of styles and mediums, all by local talent.
When the Stay-at-Home order hit, Shreve Towne Studio 512 owner Tracey Prator had just opened her new Book Nook, a second story retreat atop her store at 512 Crockett. The Book Nook features a quiet place to read, write, talk about books or buy books from her collection. Downstairs, the Studio features permanent artists and vendors, a new clothing line, and a large display space that rotates exhibits on a regular basis.
C & C Mercantile joins the mix as construction concludes on their new space at 1100 Texas Avenue. The popular business, formerly at 2430 Line Avenue, needed room to grow and owners Derek Simmons and Lauren Ross Simmons loved the vibe of a high-ceilinged 100-year-old downtown building. Everything that makes their current business so popular will move to Texas Avenue, including permanent artist spaces, Lyons’ Pride Coffee, lighting rehab services and a number of planned events. Downtown is happy to welcome our artistic friends back, and we invite you to plan a shopping excursion to meet them all in person. Go to downtownshreveport.com/reopening to see what’s open and hours.
Let’s Do the Drive-In!
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 29-31, downtown is trying something different- a return to nostalgia in the form of Drive-in movies! Downtown’s New Normal Drive-In was conceived as a way to have some fun while staying safe. Cars will be ‘socially distanced’ 6-feet apart for six movies over the three nights. Children (and adults) will enjoy the slate of 6 pm movies; Wall-E, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and The Goonies. Each night during an intermission in the early movie, Shreveport Symphony Orchestra maestro Michael Butterman will conduct a ‘car horn’ symphony which promises to be both loud and fun!
9:30 pm movies include Beverly Hills Cop, Jaws and Caddyshack. Tickets are per movie, $25 per car. The big difference between this drive-in and the old ones is the technology. The giant LED screen will be brighter, sharper and more colorful than any old-fashioned projected screen and instead of a tinny-sounding exterior speaker, the movie audio will be transmitted through the car’s FM dial on a radio frequency, making use of your car’s far better sound system. Tickets are going fast, but are still available on Facebook at the New Normal Drive In event page, or by going directly to apexcommunicationsandevents.simpletix.com
Looking forward to seeing you downtown!
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.