Covington’s Bicentennial Celebration year is upon us, and the Covington Historic District is coming back to life in a big way. The city was given the designation of Cultural Arts District in 2008 as a result of the Louisiana Cultural Districts Program created by Act 298 of the 2007 Regular Session of the legislature. The initiative is intended to spark community revitalization based on cultural events and activity through tax incentives, and 2013 is proving to be progressive for the downtown area.
The Second Saturday Art Stroll is a continuous event featuring shows at the Art Association and participating galleries. Tripolo Gallery on Columbia Street, Henry Hood Gallery on Lockwood and Three Rivers Gallery on Boston St. are both regular participants in the monthly event.
Columbia Street is also alive with the sound of music, and two notable new venues are the Columbia Street Rock N Blues Cafe and Winos & Tacos. The Rock N Blues Cafe features a newly renovated interior and staging area, outside patio and traditional southern pub fare from the kitchen. Winos & Tacos is a Tequila, Taqueria and Wine Bar with hot New Orleans music acts like Glen David Andrews and Jazz Fest veterans Soul Project. Chris LeBlanc will be playing there this Thursday with an acoustic Valentine’s Day show.
The Columbia Street Tap Room and Seiler Bar are still staples of the downtown music and food scene, featuring entertainers like Bag O Donuts and The Chee Weez, and broadcasting local sporting events. The Green Room also has some new touches with a brand new staging area and the best original local music. You’ll find favorites Davey Crockett & the Wild Frontier, The Rotten Cores and southern rockers The Shiz, as well as some of the local talent at their Open Mic Wednesdays.
