UL-Lafayette
takes on UL-Monroe on Saturday at Warhawk Field, and yes, I'm focusing on football for this blog because I'm a Ragin' Cajuns fan and UL-Monroe is smoking hot this season and the team to beat. So for those traveling to
North Louisiana for the game on Saturday, Nov. 3 (and everyone else, of course), there are plenty of fun things to do in the twins
cities of Monroe and West Monroe. Just don’t call one the other, locals don’t
like it.
For
starters, Chef Cory Bahr has transformed a historic cotton warehouse in
downtown Monroe, serving up lovely Southern rural cooking and “North Delta”
fare at Restaurant Cotton. Bahr has been awarded “King” of Louisiana Seafood, was named a “Chef to
Watch” by Louisiana Cookin’ magazine and became a champion on the Food
Network’s “Chopped!” this year.
Atlanta
claims Coca-Cola but Joseph A. Biedenharn was the first bottler and he built
his home in Monroe. Visitors can tour the elegant home and gardens built in
1914, plus view the neighboring Coke Museum with its pristine Coca-Cola
delivery truck, rooms full of Coke memorabilia and free samples at the replica
soda fountain. For
lagniappe, be sure and check out the Biedenharn Bible Museum. Emy-Lou
Biedenharn collected Bibles and many are on display, including a Gutenberg
Bible, biblical artwork and an original 1611 King James Bible. The museum also
offers visiting exhibits and Russian icons from the Daniel R. Bibb collection.
Across
the river in West Monroe is the Cotton Port Historic District, buildings
housing antique stores, specialty shops and restaurants. Bargains can be found
in this “antique row” and there will be a special Holiday Open House from 1
p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit http://www.antiquealleyshops.org/.
Other
attractions to visit include the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum of
Louisiana, the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, the Northeast
Louisiana Children’s Museum, the Masur Museum of Art and the Louisiana Purchase
Gardens and Zoo, among others.
Events
happening Saturday include the Forest L Woods Outdoors bass fishing end of the
season championship at Forsythe Park, “The Butler Did It” murder mystery at the
Strauss Theatre Center, downtown River Market Days and Chris Tomlin at the
Monroe Civic Center.
A
charming book series to read is the “Green Series” by Judy Christie. The books
revolve around Lois Barker, who leaves her life at a major newspaper in the
Midwest when she inherits The Green News-Item in a small town in north
Louisiana. Christie has had her own experience working for newspapers and is
also the author of the “Hurry Less, Worry Less” series and “Goodbye Murphy’s
Law.”
For
information on the area, visit the Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitors
Bureau at monroe-westmonroe.org.
