From cocktails with a view to the Blues, football to Faulkner, fall in love with this Southern city
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI–AUGUST 2019–The vibrant city of Oxford sits in the north Mississippi hills about an hour from Memphis, Tennessee, off Interstate 55. Filled with foodie favorites, leisure activities, literary icons and a thriving arts scene, Oxford’s taste for the good life is uniquely attractive to many personalities and beckons all to come.
Arts
Oxford is a haven for art lovers with a rich, charming history of locally infused options from musicians and writers to painters and sculptors. If you are in town August 24, check out the Missihippi Music and Arts Festival at Foxfire Ranch supporting music education throughout the state. You’ll find good eats, great music and excellent art. Also, September 19-20 is the Great Oxonian Exposition Art Show at the Powerhouse, a two-day, indoor show featuring works of art in metal, clay, wood and fiber as well as jewelry, sculpture, paintings and photography.
At your leisure
Bring your gal pals or significant other and hang out at your leisure sharing long talks over a glass of wine or hit the music scene. Spend your days shopping, touring, taking in a sports event (college football anyone?) or just meandering the walkable city. You might stumble upon a tour via the Double Decker bus or catch Michael Bolton at the Ford Center (September 17).
The Square is the city’s cultural and economic hub offering opportunities for shopping at the South’s oldest department store (Neilson’s) or modern, elegant boutiques. Stroll through fascinating independent bookstores and art galleries and treat yourself to some amazing culinary treats from down-home cooking to the loveliest of palette-pleasing entrees. Also, keep in mind if you want to experience Oxford nightlife, The Square is the epicenter.
Historically speaking
No matter if history is your thing or not, you’ll enjoy walking in the steps of Nobel Prize winner William Faulkner in addition to other renowned authors such as John Grisham, Barry Hannah and Willie Morris.
One of Oxford’s iconic attractions is Rowan Oak, the home of William Faulkner in 1930. Named for the legend of the Rowan tree which was believed by Celtic people to harbor magical inspirations of safety and protection, Faulkner wrote several masterpieces (“As I Lay Dying,” “Absalom, Absalom!,” “Light in August” and “A Fable”) while in this home where he lived until his 1962 death. Today, the University of Mississippi owns and maintains the house for memorial and educational purposes. Guided tours are available by appointment or take a self-guided tour. Rowan Oak is open to the public 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday; and, 1-4 p.m., Sunday, with a $5 admission charge.
A few blocks northeast of Oxford’s historic Square, the old Oxford Cemetery sprawls amidst the rolling hills of a quiet neighborhood. Saint Peter’s, the older section of the cemetery, is the final resting place for Faulkner and many other prominent Oxford citizens.
Oxford is literally bursting with history, museums and literary attractions. Find your favorites and build a path for your visit. Also, locate events in this Southern city to arrange for special visits. A little pre-planning makes for a smooth trip.
Culinary creations
A foodie destination doing the South proud, Oxford has achieved national acclaim for a superb dining scene. Plan on visiting one of James Beard award-winning Chef John Currence’s four restaurants like City Grocery, a landmark on the city’s dining landscape with exposed brick and white linen tablescapes. Open for lunch and dinner, City Grocery has fabulous desserts and a bar as well. Start the day strong with drool-worthy options at Currence’s Big Bad Breakfast (719 North Lamar Boulevard) where house-cured Tabasco and brown sugar bacon, crispy Southern fried chicken or the Anson Mills steel cut oatmeal has you coming back for more before you’re even finished. Another option, Bottletree Bakery (923 Van Buren Avenue), promises a bright start to every day with Raspberry Raisin Swirl bread and fresh-baked cinnamon rolls worth their weight in calories. For flavors outside the borders of traditional Southern cuisine, Canoodle by Oxford Canteen (1006 Van Buren Avenue) brings classic Vietnamese sandwiches and noodle bowls to downtown Oxford. Definitely one of the best places to raise a glass in Oxford, Saint Leo is the lifetime dream of owner Emily Blount. A North Carolina native, Ms. Blount longed to serve food the way her mother did–with generosity and attention to detail. After spending more than a decade in New York City, she found her place in Oxford never looking back. Her love of wood-fired Italian cooking led her to a 2017 James Beard Foundation “Best New Restaurant” semifinalist award (and the Saint Leo Bar program was nominated for a current James Beard award). Guests come to enjoy a scratch-made meal with locally sourced ingredients and, perhaps, a house cocktail with an intriguing name (like the bourbon-based Starting Pistol or Golden Rule with blanco tequila, yellow chartreuse, dry curacao and lemon). Also choose from beer, wine or a long list of spirits. And, if that’s not enough, the Saint Leo Lounge, just down the street, is now open offering yet another access to amazing food and drinks. End the night on a high note and soak up the blues at Oxford drinking and dining establishments, such as The Blind Pig, Proud Larry’s or Rooster’s Blues House. The Lyric Theatre, once a livery stable owned by William Faulkner’s family, now hosts national acts traveling through to Nashville and beyond.
Other Oxford favorite dining venues include Ajax Diner and local gas stations for famed chicken-on-a-stick, especially after Ole Miss games. Bring your appetite. . .and your stretchy pants.
Don’t Miss When in Oxford
Oxford Art Crawls are the fourth Tuesday of every month and the Double Decker Bus takes folks around town to each stop. The event is free and open to the public.
Thacker Mountain Radio broadcasts in front of a live audience at 6 p.m. on Thursdays at Off Square Books. (Note: Special Lyric dates are September 12, October 17 and November 21.) When that “I just need to get away” feeling hits, Southern hospitality answers the call with Oxford. If you’re the artsy type, the foodie type or the take-it-all-in type–WE ARE YOUR TYPE! For more information and help with planning your getaway, visit www.VisitOxfordMS.com.