Why Don't You Stay

 

ave you ever noticed how a chihuahua will take on a great Dane, barking like crazy and straining at the end of its leash as if it were 10 times bigger than the little ball of fluff actually is?

Oxford is a little like that. It’s a small town, but it’s got a big city personality, and that means there’s a surprising amount of stuff to do on the weekends (and very little time to watch the grass grow).

You gotta eat

Food connoisseurs (and those of us who just like to eat) can find in Oxford just about any ethnic cuisine, gourmet flavor and downhome delicacy available in a larger city. Thai, Japanese, Lebanese, Italian, Chinese, traditional Southern, not-so-traditional Southern, Indian, authentic Mexican. You name it, we eat it!

Tarts, bagels, cinnamon rolls bigger than your head, breads and from-scratch granola are among the not-so-diet-conscious delicacies awaiting you at one local favorite, Bottletree Bakery. Locals kindly refer to a morning at Bottletree as “Carb-apalooza.”

Kenneth Brown, a senior theatre major from Columbus, Miss., said his favorite restaurant is Ajax Diner. His favorite dish is “barbecue pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, black-eyed peas and jalapeno cornbread. It’s a home-cooked meal—that’s why I love it.”

Shopping

Oxford is overflowing with local, independent businesses. You can grab an espresso to go, pick up locally grown produce or freshly baked bread, shop for unique gifts or choose a good book for a day in the Grove at one of many independent establishments. Don’t miss these local jewels:

Find truly vintage apparel, music and décor at Purple Haze. Have an organic coffee or snack and stay for an open mic night or come early for a Saturday morning yoga lesson.

Pick up a great afternoon read from Square Books—an independent bookstore The New Yorker magazine described as being as good as or better than any bookstore in New York City. You can find local Southern authors or national best-sellers in this eclectic reader’s paradise.

The yummiest gourmet cheeses and cooking essentials await you at Market Rhes—a real foodie wonderland.

You can find the freshest, locally grown fruits and vegetables at the Farmers Market.

High Point Coffee is Oxford’s locally owned and operated java central. Students spread out over every inch of this wireless, caffeinated haven to study, hang out or just get a good jolt before class.

Rebel Bookstore has all things Ole Miss when it comes to official UM gear.

Active Oxford

If you’re looking for a way to burn off a few of the delicious calories you consumed at one of Oxford’s restaurants, there are plenty of options. Students can take advantage of free membership at the Turner Center gym on campus or join one of many fitness clubs in town.

For the avid cyclist, Oxford has scenic bike trails throughout the heart of the city.

If you are into skateboarding or rollerblading, the Oxford Skate Park features a 7-9-foot bowl that is approximately 4,000 square feet and a street course that is about 6,000 square feet.

Rebel nights

“All I have to say is, ‘Look out, Carrie Underwood,” exclaimed Ole Miss Idol judge and graduate student Ryan Upshaw of Moss Point, Miss.

Crowds of students packed the Ole Miss Southern Breeze as freshman liberal arts major Neal Ann Parker of Cleveland, Miss., took the Ole Miss Idol title for her rowdy rendition of “Before He Cheats.” Ole Miss’ take on the Fox sensation “American Idol” puts students in the spotlight to showcase their talents for a $500 grand prize. The singing competition is just one aspect of Rebel Nights, an event put on by the Campus Programming office.

Massive quantities of free Papa John’s pizza and Full Throttle energy drinks were consumed as students enjoyed all of the free activities arranged for the evening: an oxygen bar, Think Fast trivia game show, massages, manicures, pedicures, and poker and bingo tournaments. Past Rebel Nights have ushered in top regional comedy and DJ acts, and even turned the entire Student Union into a casino night.

“I can’t believe all of this is free—it is crazy,” said Nickolaus Childress, a senior journalism major from New Orleans, La.

The arts

Oxford can easily be counted as the epicenter for arts and culture in Mississippi—and arguably in the South. Whether you are into the literary arts, music, theatre, dance, film or visual art, you will find myriad opportunities to stretch your artistic imagination.

Literature

Many renowned authors have called Oxford home at one time or another, including Willie Morris, Barry Hannah, William Faulkner, John Grisham, Larry Brown and Richard Ford. The Oxford Conference for the Book and the Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference at UM bring in literary scholars from around the globe.

Students and Oxonians alike can enjoy a Thursday afternoon book-reading at Thacker Mountain Radio, a live, unrehearsed broadcast that features author readings and musical performances. The free show is taped and broadcast every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Monthly book-signings at Square Books bring in best-selling authors.

Visual Art

Southside Gallery, S&J Art Gallery and Collectibles, Marimekko, the University Museum and Meek Hall Art Gallery (on campus) always have beautiful works of all kinds on display. The Double Decker Arts Festival also brings in artists from all over the region to display and sell their work at this free outdoor arts and music festival.

Music

For musicians and their faithful listeners, the Oxford-University music scene is home to a wide variety of musical genres: classical, international, blues, rock, heavy metal, bluegrass, country and indie-rock, among others. Music venues at the university, including the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, and in the city bring in the best local, regional and national acts: Wilco, Lucinda Williams, Iron and Wine, North Mississippi All Stars, Colour Revolt, Rocket 88, The Cooters, Widespread Panic, Blue Mountain, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Balance, just to name a few.

Modest Mouse, Gavin Degraw, Elvis Costello, and Counting Crows have recorded albums at Sweet Tea Recording Studio in Oxford. Dennis Herring, the owner of Sweet Tea, received a Grammy award for his work with blues great Buddy Guy.

Film

National and international cinematographers debut their work each year at the Oxford Film Festival. Categories include animation, documentary, music video and Mississippi films. The festival also offers classes to up-and-coming artists looking to make it in this competitive industry.

 

Tailgating

We challenge you to name another party where you’ll find candelabra side by side with plastic tablecloths; sushi and Gruyere one table over from barbecue and layered Mexican dip in a Tupperware dish; and guests in party dresses and stiletto heels hobnobbing with friends in T-shirts and flip-flops.

Even if you could find these eclectic elements stirred up in one place, we’d bet it wouldn’t equal the tailgating experience at Ole Miss, where pre-game revelry is an art—as well as a heckuva good time.

Ole Miss’ magnificent Grove welcomes thousands of Ole Miss football fans throughout the fall. They converge on the Grove’s 11 beautiful acres in the predawn hours to set up what becomes a sea of tents. Those who can’t fit into the Grove spill out onto the campus’s many other grassy areas.

The New York Times described Ole Miss tailgating like this: “The glory of the Grove is legend at all of Ole Miss’ rival schools in the Southeastern Conference and beyond. It is the mother and mistress of outdoor ritual mayhem. It is every kind of party you can describe, at once: … dinner party, tailgate picnic party, fraternity and sorority rush, family reunion, political handgrab, gala and networking party-hearty….”