I haven't given much thought to the town of Minden, Louisiana in the past. Sure, I've throttled through the town on my Harley, traveled Main Street on occasion, eaten at the Crawfish Hole 2 and shopped in the Walmart a time or two, but I haven't really spent any time absorbing the atmosphere of the town. But yesterday I did. I meandered Main Street during the annual Fasching festival, a precursor to Minden's holiday celebrations. As I strolled the historic district, I was greeted by the smell of bratwurst cooking on the grill and wafting in the air. I stopped to look at the German flavored menu for the day; Bratwurst, Curry Wurst, Sauerkraut, Schnitzel, and Pommes Frittes (French fries). I ordered a Schnitzel and delighted in each bite, reminiscent of my years in military service, stationed in Germany. Next I made a stop at the Biergarten and enjoyed a taste of both a light Pilsner and a dark beer. Further down the street children were enthralled by the magician spilling tricks from his hat, an expert balloon shaper, face painting, a petting zoo complete with a baby alpaca, and a home made ice skating rink. Vendors were squawking their wares, and the band played delightful Oktoberfest style music. The tiny town had transformed itself into a small German village.
Main Street in Minden has red bricks for the road surface, paved in 1917, and towering four story turn of the century buildings, complete with architecture mindful of its European ancestors. The first shop I stepped into was a quaint store with a variety of vintage and antique items, a theme that runs through Main Street of Minden. I marveled at the old crocheted table cloth, remembering a time when mother had one just like it covering our glass dining table. I enjoyed looking at each item, but the best thing about Cottage Antiques was its owner, Joanna. Joanna was a friendly character, sincere and interesting to talk to. She was a story teller and made me want to sit, have coffee, and chat. Alas, I had more adventures calling me; we exchanged cards and I said goodbye delighted with the book The Watermelon Man written by a local, W.O. Cook, that I had purchased in her shop. She promised it was a good read and oh so funny. "The important to budget travel is to plan in advance. When it comes to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved trips and/or going to see new locations we have never been before, the actuality of expense and budgeting is always in the back of our thoughts. Considering and expending our travel budget correctly is a main concern for most families. Lowering expending and costs, while still savoring your vacation to its fullest, is the key to confirmed achievement and fiscal obligation. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The thought behind saving money while journeying is simple: Even if your personal funds is highly small, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or departing the homestead! Also remembering that while traveling, no matter whether on a funds or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a big vacation or travel bill!..". I could hardly wait to curl up with the tales of by gone days.
The building that once housed the hardware store is now filled with trinkets and treasures from yesteryear. Second Hand Rose, (Milly Rose) an eccentric, bubbly character greets every person who walks through her doors. She shouts from her sales area be sure to ask me a price; everything up here is at least 30% off, 50% in the basement. Milly finds most of her treasures in Louisiana, but she finds some in Arkansas and shops in Mississippi, too. She has the only usable basement on Main Street and has been in the building for a little over 7 years.
It's a building that she has filled with everything from what you might call trash to what I would almost certainly call treasure. There were mounds of vintage and antique items piled everywhere. Small aisles led one to the stairs that went to the second and then third floors, all with more delightful items to peruse. There were vintage coca cola memorabilia. I saw a cabbage patch doll. Lace and furs and jewelry abounded. There were books and silver, copper and glass; dump trucks and bicycles and trunks full of treasure as I took each step. When you visit, Milly will most certainly want to stop you and tell you stories, and she is a delightful woman. She'll tell you about her illustrious, Hollywood visitors including, Jessica Simpson, who has been in at least four times, Martin Lawrence and Ice Cube, all who visited while making films in the area. She'll tell you that she is the premiere place for film makers to get set backdrops and props for films and she'll delight you with her anecdotes. Almost all of the props in the movie Longshots were purchased at Second Hand Rose. An hour, or even two might not be enough to fully appreciate the store, so be certain to set aside adequate time for a wonderful shopping experience.
Finally, I made my way to the 507 Grill, at 507 Main Street, of course, an open restaurant and bakery with a large screen television playing the college football game. The smell of fried shrimp, mingled with chocolate cake and a cold beer offered a unique combination of scents that tantilized my olfactory. It was a pleasing place to park, relax, unwind and enjoy a respite from all the shopping.
Today, I only visited a few of the many unique shops. Minden is filled with historical buildings and eccentric characters. The next time my ride plans take me through the small town, I'll be sure to stop and say hi to my new friends, and visit new places.
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Contact Mary at maric12@gmail.com and visit my website at Pinky's Motorcycle Passion
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