The Top 10 Reasons why Downtown is COOL!

10. CoHab

Budding entrepreneurs now have a space to call their own. Gone are the days of hogging a table at the local java joint or working from a lonely home office nook trying to justify life in a ratty houserobe and tie dye socks. CoHab rents spaces by the day, week or month…but as important as the professional surrounding is the opportunity to network and expand horizons. If success breeds success, CoHab is the place to be.

9. Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas Street

In the 1990s, the DDA and DSDC helped save 617 Texas from the wrecking ball. Now, the building is the jewel of the block, a public gathering place with great food, great movies and a great vibe. Many of the movies here are available nowhere else, and even if they are, it’s always more fun to see them in an intimate setting with plush seats and a glass of wine. *Bonus-no one talks or texts during movies!

8. Zombie Invasion!

In 2011, nearly 500 zombies invaded the streets of downtown on World Zombie Day. They stumbled, lost body parts and shuffle danced to a band made up of zombie cross-dressers. Weird is not the word to describe. In addition to having fun, they raised awareness and donations for the Northwest Louisiana Food Bank. Luckily, not one food donation was an expired jar of brains.

7. Shreve Memorial Library

Where else can you go and spend the day reading newspapers and magazines from around the world, surfing the Internet, pulling up historical documents and listening to interesting speakers…for free? Shreve Memorial has made the computer-age transition by continuing to be relevant and provide the services that people want and need…and all without pop-up ads and seven dollar cups of coffee.

6. Do Uneeda Biscuit?

Downtown Shreveport has over 60 painted historical advertisements on the sides of buildings, harkening back to an age of commerce pre-billboard. The ads are a fascinating glimpse into our past and they do pop up in the strangest places. In the 800 block of Texas, notice that a Wrigley’s Gum ad was painted on an inside wall. Any guesses as to why?

5. McNeill Street Pumping Station (Waterworks Museum) – 142 North Common

The Waterworks Museum has been part of downtown since the 1860s, but few people know it exists or that it is open to the public (for FREE) and that it is quite possibly one of the coolest, neatest, most interesting places you will ever go. When you go, but sure to glom onto one of the volunteers who eats, breathes and dreams waterworks to show you the secret nooks and crannies of the place that helped create and define our downtown.

4. Elvis’ Partner in Music- James Burton

In 2001 when James Burton was welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, his induction speech was given by Keith Richards… yes that Keith Richards… a longtime Burton FAN. Best known for his years with Elvis, Burton is a bona fide musical legend, jamming with the likes of Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Emmylou Harris and multiple others. When not on tour in places like Dubai or Germany you can spot Burton walking around downtown in his comfy sweatsuit. The always approachable guitar hero and wife Louise have set up their James Burton Foundation across from the Municipal Auditorium, the place where he and Elvis once played. Rock on.

3. MSPS Music Festival

In October, the McNeill Street Pumping Station was home to a curated sounds festival, put on by Minicine’s David Nelson and friends. Though not the first local sounds festival, it was arguably the best and featured artists from across Europe and North America who came together to offer something otherworldly and truly unique. Lines strung from smokestacks, whispers, and ambient noises of all types became sound installations that were strange, bizarre and completely compelling.

2. Unwind Downtown Pub and Culture Crawl

The third Thursday of every month, hundreds of people gather at artspace-710 Texas- to participate in a downtown event that combines pubs, clubs and culture. Unwind showcases downtown’s entertainment options and provides an opportunity to gather with friends, listen to live music, win a door prize and transition into the weekend with style.

1. You Fill in the Blank

The TACA Maker’s Fair, the resurgence of interest in historic Texas Avenue, the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, the ghost in Municipal Auditorium…all helped contribute to the cool vibe downtown. What do YOU think should be Number One?  Email us at dda@downtownshreveport.com and tell us what you think!