Downtown Live, a monthly event which brings live art and music to Downtown Texarkana, is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 10. Many downtown businesses, including Crystal Moon Metaphysical Boutique, The Stained Page, Prodigy Life, and Hart's on Broad​ will be open late for the event and offer special activities or sales. Artist Darlene Taylor will be on hand and there will be plenty of music with ​Nicci McCarty, Jay Kirgis, Railhead Ned, ​Special Reserve, and ​Luke Guthrie. There will be carriage rides along Broad Street throughout the evening. 

As part of May’s Downtown Live, Main Street Texarkana has organized an “Imagine the Possibilities” tour of available historic properties located downtown. One featured property is 214 West Third Street, once home to the original Patterson’s Camera Shop. This is a new mixed-use multi-story development,  transformed into three unique leasable spaces with residential units in upper floors and a roof terrace. When finished, these reactivated spaces will bring additional attention and activity to this edge of the Texarkana Arts & Historic District. Free facade design renderings were provided  by Main Street. 

“One of the many perks of investing in downtown is free design assistance from the state Main Street program,” says Main Street Texarkana director, Ina McDowell. “Renderings such as those done for our Imagine the Possibilities tour can be costly, but we can help for no charge.”

Downtown Live is a monthly event held every second Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and is a collaboration between downtown businesses, local artists, and Main Street Texarkana. For more information or to find out how to participate, call Main Street Texarkana at 903-278-6441, email [email protected], or visit www.mainstreettexarkana.org/downtown-live.html.

Main Street Texarkana, accredited through the National Main Street program, is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization which combines economic development with historic preservation. The Main Street Texarkana District encompasses historic downtown Texarkana, USA and is the only two-state program in the country. Main Street Texarkana is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities. 

Facade rendering courtesy architect Jamie Crawley, Main Street Texas