With the end of summer, it’s time to head back into the swing of things in Oxford. Oxford offers an abundance of events that could fit any inclination. Events like the Science Café, Vinyl Night and Thacker Mountain Radio are some of the few kicking off this semester.
The Science Café is a program that promotes conversation about science in a rather familial setting. This August, the topic of choice is how old plant remedies can bring new insight into the modern world of science and health.
“This is our fourth season and we hope this year’s talks will be as informative and inspiring as the talks we had in the past seasons,” Science Café Director Marco Cavaglià said. “We are very pleased to start the semester with a talk by the director of the National Center for Natural Products Research, Dr. Larry Walker, on ‘Plants as Medicines: New Insights on Old Remedies.’ Dr. Walker will explain how plant-derived products may be used for new therapeutics.”
Cups coffee shop and Oxford’s The End Of All Music will present a Vinyl Night event on the second Tuesday of every month. Cups will play their own records as well as any their guests might bring.
“It’s a very low key event,” said David Swider, co-owner of The End of All Music. “We wanted to mix it up a little instead of spinning records in a loud place like a bar. We also encourage people to bring their own records to play.”
Anyone who buys a drink or pastry on Vinyl Night can bring their receipt back the next day for 15 percent off their purchase.
Looking for something out-doorsy and exciting? Geocaching may be the perfect activity for the weekend. Geocaching is a type of treasure hunt led by GPS devices and a special application for your cell phone. Different places all over the world hide hidden geocaches; inside which can be special items or even just a list of who all has found it before you. Searchers are encouraged to take something and leave something, creating a fun little game that connects people while getting them out of their dorms and away from television and computer screens. To play, you’re tasked with using an online account, a GPS, and coordinates to find a geocache and sign it. This worldwide treasure hunt has 2,465,493 geocaches and six million geocachers. There are over 50 geocaches to be found in Oxford and Lafayette County.
Oxford City Market is open every Tuesday of the month from 3 – 6:30 p.m. on 2650 West Oxford Loop. The Oxford City Market is a local farmers’ market with a distinct core mission to expand the reach of local farms and local food to more households in our community. To succeed in fulfilling that mission, they require many volunteers too — both to help them run an inviting and well-organized marketplace on Tuesdays and to develop well-placed outreach and partnerships.
“We have a long list of things we’d like to achieve, but also celebrate the milestones we’ve achieved in two short years — none of which would be possible without the help of many Ole Miss and Delta State students who have generously given of their time,” Oxford City Market Director Katie Morrison said. So if you’re looking for volunteer hours, here’s a local event with a good cause in mind. Or, if you’re just looking for good vegetables, Oxford City Market is for you, too.
Music in the Hall aspires to be a “mix of ‘Austin City Limits’ meets ‘Tiny Desk Concerts’ meets ‘Daytrotter’ meets ‘La Blogotheque’ meets ‘Thacker Mountain Radio.’” They are a live music video series, with examples of this art form appearing on their website.
Another indoor event is Lamar Lounge Movie Night, a cinema night with drink and popcorn specials, all beginning at 9:30 p.m. at 1309 North Lamar. Lamar Lounge Movie Night’s August schedule will feature “Old School” on the 27.
One of the biggest events Oxford hosts each year is the Double Decker Arts Festival. Each year hundreds of artists flock to Oxford to set up booths in the Square for a full day of food, music, and fun. Vendors set up their own booths full of fresh and exciting foods. A recent change in requirements asked all food vendors to include some form of locally grown food in their menus, creating a diverse array of options. A stage is constructed and local and national bands come to play for the crowds as they mingle between the booths. Among activities are Best-Dressed-Pet-Contests, a 10k Double Decker Run and a double decker bus roving about giving tours and a high rise view of the festival.
Another Oxford local event that should be familiar to everyone is Thacker Mountain. It’s Oxford’s love ballad to all kinds of art. Thacker Mountain Radio Show’s goal is to create conversation in an atmosphere that engages and revives. Last year, show producer Kathryn McGaw’s said, “When our guest stars and audience connect, when everything hangs together. People leave changed in some way and that’s a beautiful thing to see happen.”
Thacker Mountain’s next live show will be on Thursday, Sept. 4. at 6 p.m. at Nutt Auditorium. Karen Abbott, author of “Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War,” will be featured, as will classical pianist Bruce Levingston and musician Silas Reed ‘N Da Books. A full list of Thacker Mountain performances can be found on their website.
Oxford has something for everyone, so take the time to get to know the town. There is something odd and interesting around every corner.
-Audrey Hall
