Posts

Don’t Miss This Weekend in Laurel

/in , /by

Visiting Downtown Laurel soon? Let us do the planning.

The weekend you don’t want to miss is April 16th-18th, 2021. Not only are we celebrating Laurel Main Street’s Crawfest, but several other special events are taking place, as well.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Where to Stay

Laurel has some of the best accommodations you can find! We recommend staying at a local Airbnb. Why stay at a hotel when you could stay in our Historic District?

The Laurel Cottages | Airbnb

Our dear friends, Mallorie and Jim Rasberry, host one of the most gorgeous stays in town. Located in the heart of our Historic District, The Laurel Cottages make for a convenient and cozy home-base while you’re in town.

Chez Bird Dog | Airbnb

Who wouldn’t want to stay in a home that was featured on HGTV’s Home Town? Guess what: You can!

The Bell Family, owners of Bird Dog Café, have listed Elliot’s apartment from the show on Airbnb. Great stay? Check. Great coffee and food? Double check.

Visit Airbnb to check out all the incredible lodgings available in Laurel. We’re sure you’ll find the perfect stay for you.

What to Do

Yes, everything on this flyer is happening April 16th-18th! Screenshot it and refer to it all weekend long.

Your Personal Laurel Itinerary

Laurel is a hot-spot weekend destination, so it can be difficult for out-of-towners to keep track of everything to do. No worries! We’re here to help. (Let’s see how many events on this flyer we can fit in.)

Thursday

Assuming you make it here before supper time, we recommend you start with dinner at The Loft on Central Avenue. The Loft is an absolute staple of the Downtown Laurel community, and because it’s so well-loved, it can get very crowded on the weekends. If you want to stop by and eat, you might want to go before Friday-Saturday.

Photo by Wade Davis July 2020 | The Loft on Central Ave’s Patio

After filling up on steak bites and wine, head on down to 320FifthStreet for some drinks, bar snacks, and live entertainment for your late night escapades.

MCE Photography | 320FifthStreet

Next, rest your head in your cozy, local Airbnb to get your beauty rest for the craziness of the weekend ahead of you!

Friday

Our first stop is Bird Dog Café to fuel the day. They are our earliest opener at 6:30 AM. Grab a coffee and a breakfast taco, and we’re on our way!

If you’re an early riser, this would be a great time to take a stroll Downtown and through the Historic District before it gets crowded. Not to mention, before it heats up!

Local’s Tip: Most retail stores open at 10AM. Although, a few do open at 9.

Benefitting Laurel’s Domestic Abuse Family Center and hosted by The Pinehurst Rathskeller Gallery, En Plein Air will be happening all around town for 2 days! Artists of all ages from all over Mississippi will be set up just about everywhere painting their perspectives of our City Beautiful.

Make sure to stop by The Pinehurst Rathskeller Gallery Friday or Saturday to purchases pieces from the artists and to shop other resident works in the gallery. More on the Rathskeller here:

Our Feature
May be an image of food and text that says 'EN PLEIN HOSTED BY THE PINEHURST RATHSKELLER AIR LAU MISSISSIPPL'
En Plein Air | The Pinehurst Rathskeller

Next, let’s head on down to The Remnant! Their Spring Gleaning Sale is happening Friday and Saturday, 9AM-5PM. The main thing you need to know is how amazing their prices are. It’s not your average thrift-store! *This is a non-profit organization, benefiting Dwell: A Transitional Women’s Home.*

From The Bennie Bloomer’s Facebook

During this incredible sale, everyone’s favorite floral truck, The Bennie Bloomer, will be right outside! Grab yourself a bouquet of blooms, and keep on keepin’ on.

Head on back towards the Downtown area, and shop til’ you drop, but make sure you stop for lunch. And don’t scrimp on dessert. The bread pudding is divine.

Local’s Tip: Erin’s favorite dish at Café La Fleur is the Cuban sandwich.

Taken from Café La Fleur’s Facebook

After lunch, we know you’re going to want to walk off that delicious food. We suggest hitting some more shopping destinations, as well as “Junkin’ in the Streets” hosted by The Rusty Chandelier and The Laurel Leaf. It’ll be an incredible opportunity to shop unique street vendors on the 300 block of Central Avenue.

By now, it’s likely you’ll be ready for dinner. Tired? You need pasta. Mimmo’s is the place to carb-load (or eat healthy, but that’s on you) on house-made fresh bread and oil, pizza, and pasta. This place is authentic and delicious.

Taken From Mimmo’s Facebook

Saturday

First things first: go get a sticky bun. Sweet Somethings Bakery has amazing pastries. After, stop by Lee’s Coffee & Tea for a to-go coffee!

Taken From Sweet Somethings’ Facebook

Before Crawfest, you should bounce on over to New Look on Short 7th Avenue, and Peddler’s Junktion on Carroll Gartin Boulevard. *Both are walkable or drive-able.

New Look will have local artists at their Outdoor Vendors Day, and Peddler’s Junktion is having their annual Spring Cleaning Flea Market! Both stores have great indoor shopping, as well.

Now is the time…for Crawfest!

Photos from 2019’s Crawfest | Laurel Main Street

11AM-3PM, all you can eat crawfish and sides, beer, live music, and more! This is one of Laurel’s best events, and you can get tickets now from Laurel Main Street.

Crawfest Tickets

While you’re at Crawfest, make sure to give our Front Street businesses some love! Stop by Lott Furniture Co., The Bookstore in the Window, The Laurel Leaf, and The Pinehurst Rathskeller.

If you don’t want to eat at Crawfest, stop by Ribeye Sandwich Day at The Knight Butcher or The5000! Both will have live music during lunch.

If you can eat another bite, you should stop by Texas Pittmaster BBQ for dinner. Their food is to die for. You don’t want to miss it while you’re here!

Taken from Texas Pittmaster’s Facebook

Sunday

Before you leave, there’s just a few more things you must hit!

Lauren Rogers Museum of Art is free (donations highly encouraged), and full of beautiful art and architecture to view. It’s a great place to wind down after a long weekend before taking your trip back home.

Taken from Lauren Rogers Museum of Art’s Facebook

If you haven’t stopped by Laurel Mercantile Co. or Scotsman General Store yet, they are both open on Sunday! If you’re lucky, you might see Ben & Erin. Home Town often films in the woodshop.

From Facebook

Need a sweet treat for the road? Your very last stop should be Shug’s Cookie Dough & Candy Bar (if you haven’t already been there 10 times on this trip) for a milkshake, candy, or edible cookie dough. Maybe the sugar high will get you through the drive or flight.

Taken from Shug’s Facebook

We hope you enjoyed this itinerary for a weekend in Downtown Laurel, and we can’t wait to see you!

****Even though it may not seem possible, there are lots more businesses to visit that were not specifically mentioned. Go here to find out more and explore special activities and shop hours for the weekend. Just click the directory tab.

Sign up in the gold box for weekly updates and news on Laurel, Mississippi!

Famous People of Laurel Murals

Eating in Laurel on a Diet: Our Top Picks

/in /by

One of the best parts about traveling is the indulgence of local food. And trust me, Laurel has some fine food options. Sticking to a healthy lifestyle can be tricky while traveling– especially in South Mississippi.

But lucky for you, I’m here to give you all the tips and tricks to eating healthy (and low-carb) in Laurel.

Breakfast

The 5000 Food Truck and Lee’s Coffee and Tea are the places to be for breakfast. The Low Carb Breakfast Bowl from The 5000 is divine! This breakfast bowl is filled with eggs, veggies, and the most incredible carne Asada.

Lee’s Coffee and Tea has the best omelette around, and it’s served with a fresh fruit side.

Both of these options will get your metabolism going early and give you plenty of good protein and nutrients to start the day!

Lunch

After walking off your delicious breakfast, I would recommend stopping by Café La Fleur for one of their delicious salads. My personal favorites are the Chef Salad, Pineapple Chicken Salad, and the Blackened Salmon Spinach Salad.

These options are fresh and light, but equally as filling after a good breakfast.

One can’t come to Laurel and not experience PDI. Although most people stay away from bread while dieting, PDI has the best burgers in town and they are more than happy to make it bun-less for you! Trust me, you can’t go wrong with a #5 add jalapeños or the amazing Philly Cheesesteak (bun-less by request as well).

Dinner

When people hear Italian, they generally think it’s a no-go for someone dieting. Mimmo’s Ristorante Pizzeria is a totally different story.

Mimmo’s has a variety of specials ranging from Filet Mignon, Grilled Pork Chops, to Redfish. All of these dishes typically come with a side of angel hair pasta, but you can simply substitute for their sautéed spinach for a healthy side option.

Mimmo makes all his salad dressing daily, and his Caesar salad is at the top of my must-try list.

The Loft on Central Avenue offers a variety of steak, grilled chicken, pork chop, and salad options. If you are looking for a dinner spot to sit, relax, and enjoy a nice glass of red wine (low in carbs), this is the place.

John’s Filet of Ribeye is my personal favorite, with a side of broccoli and a fresh salad.

When visiting a new place, it can be overwhelming to find a healthy restaurant to dine at. Don’t fall off the diet wagon when visiting Laurel!

Support all of our incredible dining options right here in Downtown Laurel for a delicious and nutritious dining experience.

Sign up in the gold box for weekly email updates on our newest tips and tricks for visiting Downtown Laurel!