Tori’s Travels: Big Things Happening in a Small Town

Written By Tori Ward, CVB PR/Marketing Assistant

Hello all! It’s been a few weeks since I shared about my travels in Ruston, La., so I have lots to catch you up on! In the past few weeks, I’ve discovered  amazing shops, had fun nights out on the town, took a road trip out of state and got to experience an incredibly unique event here in Ruston.

Acorn Creek Antiques

Shopping: I stumbled upon Alexander’s Acorn Creek Antiques Shop, which is located right off I-20, earlier this month and was shocked when I walked into the store. Seriously, my mouth fell open a little. This place is HUGE and has an incredible selection of antique goodies. They have everything from books to furniture to dishes and knick-knacks galore. I spent close to two hours just browsing and seeing everything they had to offer, and I found some great little antique accents for my apartment. If you’re an antique lover or just like looking at pretty things, then definitely stop by this unique shop!

Eating/Drinking. As some of you have probably discovered, I love going out to eat and I love a good bargain.  So when delicious food meets great prices, I’m in a state of total bliss. I found myself in this state when I heard that Portico Bar and Grill has a Girls Night Out special on Thursdays that includes select appetizers and drinks for only $5. Yes, you read that right, FIVE DOLLARS. We sat on their adorable patio, shared a few of their tasty appetizers and tried the red wine sangria (yumminess in a glass). For great atmosphere, delicious food, refreshing drinks and killer prices, you can’t beat Portico’s Girls Night Out. I actually went back the next night because I loved this place that much!

Enjoying sangria at Portico's Girls Night Out

Shrimp Massey Appetizer at Portico

Traveling. On Labor Day Weekend I traveled to San Antonio, Tx. to visit some of my family. You might be wondering, why is she talking about San Antonio when she’s supposed to be discussing her travels in Ruston? Well, oddly enough, there was something in San Antonio that reminded me of Ruston and why I’ve fallen in love with this little piece of Louisiana heaven. I’m not a huge fan of the San Antonio traffic, but I adore driving through the hills in and around the city. Louisiana is a pretty flat state, but Ruston and Lincoln Parish are somewhat of an exception. I love just driving in Ruston down near the peach orchard and winding around through the trees and over the hills. It’s a sight that I never once saw in Shreveport or Baton Rouge, and it makes me love Ruston that much more.

One maker prints t-shirts on site at RMF

Discovering. There’s no doubt that there are BIG things happening in this small town. The first annual Ruston Makers Fair was hosted this past weekend in downtown, and it was an event like nothing I’ve experienced before. There were more than 50 vendors from North Louisiana who all came together to celebrate the arts in Ruston. I was so impressed by the talent hidden in this town and the turnout and support of the community. The makers and artists had a huge variety of products ranging from custom calligraphy work to handmade jewelry to all-natural bath products. There was even live music, a food truck, face painting and a pottery wheel demonstration. This event definitely fulfilled its purpose to bring the community together to celebrate the arts in a new, unique way. I’m already excited for the next Ruston Makers Fair!

That wraps up my travels of the last few weeks. There’s A TON of stuff happening in Ruston in the upcoming months, so be sure to check our calendar of events frequently! Keep following along with my travels, and I’ll see y’all around town!

Tori Ward is a proud Louisiana native, born and raised in Shreveport, La. She is an LSU alumna and has a passion for all things PR. Tori is an avid movie watcher, coffee fanatic and lover of the outdoors. She is currently attending Louisiana Tech to pursue a master’s degree in business administration.