Quietly tucked away down by the river, the short block or two that is downtown Northport, Ala., is home to some of Tuscaloosa’s true gems. This little strip of shops and restaurants on Main Street offer some of the best local food, art and handmade gifts around. Spending an afternoon (or whole day) in the quaint district should be a must on the Tuscaloosa to-do list for any Alabama collegiette.
Places to Eat
City Café: Think Waffle House meets your (Southern) grandma’s kitchen. With every biscuit combination you can imagine, French toast, omelets and breakfast sandwiches, City Café is a popular choice for breakfast. They open at 4 a.m. every morning, so their legendary breakfast may just be the light at the end of the tunnel of your next all-nighter. They also serve lunch, with daily meat options and a choice of 1, 2, 3 or 4 side vegetable items. (Don’t worry, they also think mac and cheese counts as a vegetable.)
Fifth and Main: Though your drink comes in a stemmed glass and there are tablecloths on every single table, there’s nothing stuffy about this restaurant. With antique pictures adorning the walls and jazz playing the background, the atmosphere alone will convince you to stay and eat lightlyfried green tomatoes all day. Beginning November 1, 2012, Fifth and Main will add dinner to their list of options; previously they were only open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Their menu of southern varieties varies daily but is reliably delicious, including a Mississippi Mud Pie that is a must-try.
Mary’s: Hidden behind the rows of shops opposite of Fifth and Main are Mary’s Cakes and Pastries, a pastry shop, and Mary’s Cupboard, a consignment bakeware store. In the bakeware section, you can find an array of bakeware along with hand-made potholders and soaps and Mary’s own Favorite Recipes Cookbook. A 2012 finalist of al.com’s “Best Little Cupcake in Alabama” contest, the pastries at Mary’s Cakes and Pastries are absolutely award-worthy. Mary’s makes custom cakes and pastries in addition to a daily selection of cakes, cookies and pastries to cure any spontaneous sweet tooth.
Places to shop:
Potager: The Potager sells home goods, including furnishings, gardening supplies, décor and even a variety of bath products. The French milled soaps that are always in stock can keep you feeling pampered even after the roughest days on campus. The Potager also keeps an impressive collection of antique maps, architectural prints, art, photos and postcards, most of them French. The owners make two trips a year to France to collect items to sell in their Northport shop, so all the antiques are truly unique.
Rhubarb’s: Any Vera Bradley item you could ever need can be found here, alongside shelves of beautiful and unique jewelry and gifts. When you feel that Christmas spirit starting to come on, be sure to go to Rhubarb’s. A large portion of the store is already decorated in tasteful Christmas décor. Rhubarb’s is the perfect place when you need that perfect gift for your best friend, sister or mom.
Places to get artsy:
Kentuck Gallery Shop: The ultimate location for crafty hand-made items and gifts, Kentuck truly is a Tuscaloosa landmark. Kentuck, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts, has hosted the annual Kentuck Arts Festival for the past 41 years. In their gallery shop, you’ll find an array of traditional and contemporary items, all handmade by regional artists.
Renaissance Art Gallery: This gallery represents many southern artists and also features everything from traditional to contemporary and everything in between. Go just to see the impressive works of art lining the walls or to shop their unique handmade jewelry collection. They have all kinds of funky earrings, elaborate necklaces and some lust-worthy antique rings. Whether you go to get a gift or just get inspired, Renaissance is worth checking out for it’s local artistic culture.
Want to learn more? Click on over to their websites:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Cafe/77354956442
www.fifthandmain.biz
www.maryscakesandpastries.com
www.thepotagerofnorthport.com
www.facebook.com/rhubarbs
http://www.kentuck.org/galleryshop.html
http://www.renaissanceartgallery.com/
Image sources:
http://townmapsusa.com/d/Map-of-Northport-Alabama-AL/northport_al
http://visitsouth.com/articles/article/fifth-main-northport-al/
http://www.thepotagerofnorthport.com/
http://www.renaissanceartgallery.com/