#5- Hometown Feature News, "Dine on the Line/Downtown Revival"

It's once again time for an event unique to the Texarkana area. The fifth annual Dine on the Line event is coming up and tickets are still available through the 27th of September. The purpose of this event is to bring the two halves of the city together as a whole in a community driven event to promote the revitalization of downtown Texarkana. Come out on October 4th and party in two states at once.

Main Street Texarkana Events- https://www.mainstreettexarkana.org/dine-on-the-line.html

Dine on the Line 2018

It has been a long running dream of many citizens of Texarkana to restore the downtown area to it's former glory, back to a time where it was a bustling social hub full of art and music. As of now only a few scattered restaurants and store fronts remain open and once grand murals chip away from the side of ancient buildings. Dine on the Line is attempting to draw in crowds with a seated farm to table meal right on the state line, a beer garden, a live performance by local band "Chasing Rita", and finally the unveiling of the new Dr. Pepper mural on the side of TLC Burgers and Fries. 

TLC Burgers and Fries

Be sure to buy tickets in advance, purchase will not be allowed at the gate. Members of the TK community are urged to come out and do their part by having a great time and adding steam behind the movement to make our city wonderful again. Future plans for the area include more loft housing, renovation of the Arts District, and eventually a refurbishing and re-purposing of the Hotel Grim (https://www.ci.texarkana.tx.us/479/Hotel-Grim-Redevelopment). As of now these large iconic buildings sit in ruin waiting for innovative partners to give them new life. Downtown Texarkana has become a place associated with crime and homelessness which is a far cry from it's heyday. If every building had been maintained and used like the Perot theater then downtown would still be a site to behold. It is a shining example of classic architecture and style reminiscent of the Gatsby-esque style that we've all learned to love. In addition to the Perot, Silvermoon Children's Theater has done a fantastic job of taking an older building and modernizing it for maximum comfort, aesthetic, and crowd draw (https://www.silvermoononbroad.com/). Another example of ingenuity in the downtown area is a recently opened restaurant housed in a converted rail car.

Perot Theater 

The Flying Crow Diner

 In recent years the push for revival of the old spirit of the city has gained traction. Activities like the Christmas parade and Rail Fest come to mind. These activities are the fuel behind the sense of community Texarkana is attempting to foster and rekindle. One thing to notice is the target groups for said events, the city does a fairly decent job of touching on various demographics. As more events are held and more people come out the city is reaching ever closer to finding the will to bring itself back into the spotlight and out of gutter.

Downtown Texarkana

State Line