Favorite watering hole: Cane River Brewing Co. is a great place to share a beer with friends. 

Favorite historical site: The American Cemetery is located within the Natchitoches Historic District and was established around 1737. It’s still in use today. 

Favorite quote about Natchitoches: “If you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!”—Steel Magnolias 

Favorite city event: Without question, the best time to visit Natchitoches is between the Saturday before Thanksgiving and January 6. It is during this 
time that we celebrate the Natchitoches Christmas Festival.  

Favorite historical resident: Clementine Hunter was a self-taught African American folk artist from Cane River. She lived and worked on Melrose Plantation. Her paintings depicted plantation life in the early 20th century. 

Where to go after a win or a loss? Mama’s Oyster House located on Front Street is the place to go to either celebrate a victory or forget a defeat.

Favorite courthouse fact: When the courthouse was originally built, it did not have a courtroom or chambers because several of the lawyers on the building’s commission did not like the local judge. 

Favorite lunch spot: Maglieaux’s Riverfront Restaurant.  

Weekend getaway: Head south down Cane River; you can enjoy some of the finest old plantations still standing in Louisiana.  

Favorite building: The Roque House was built in 1803 by a freed slave and currently located on the riverbank in downtown.

Best meat pie: Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant has, hands down, the best meat pies in town.  

Best view: Anywhere on Front Street. 

Best late-nite eats: Mayeaux’s Steak & Seafood on Front Street. 

Favorite local shop: Opened in 1893, Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store on Front Street is the oldest general store still in operation in Louisiana.  

Favorite coffee shop: Front Street Market Place.

Favorite pizza joint: Peggy’s Homemade Pizza, located on University Parkway.

Weirdest city law: Years ago, my father convinced one of our local judges to declare most of the “No Parking” signs in town unconstitutionally vague. The signs prohibited parking “on this side.” His client thought that meant “this side of the sign,” not “this side of the street.” Apparently, my father did not have anything better to spend his time on than defending parking tickets.