I've lived in the Pioneer Valley for 13 years. During my time here, I've spent hundreds of Saturday afternoons wandering around Northampton. Therefore, I'm well versed in many of downtown Northampton's feature attractions—Pulaski Park, Thorne's Marketplace, the Iron Horse, Fitzwilly's and Faces, to name a few. But, as I realized while traipsing down Main Street on a sunny day last weekend, I hadn't ever taken the time to discover the not-so-well-known aspects of Northampton.
The thought kept plaguing me: what exquisite places was I possibly missing out on?
I decided to rectify the situation. Over the next few days, I stalked Northampton's downtown neighborhoods, knocking on mysterious doors and investigating every last alleyway and side street. The gems I found reminded me yet again what a paradise city Northampton truly is.
Located at 57 Center Street, Circa is a French-inspired bistro owned by chef Jeremy Whitcomb, formerly of Green Street Caf? and the Dirty Truth. In 2007 Whitcomb purchased the former Circa, choosing to keep the well-known name. After giving the restaurant a facelift which resulted in a brighter, more comfortable interior, Whitcomb added his own intricate recipes, which include Maine crab cakes with green goddess and chervil; potato gnocchi with lacinato kale, pine nuts and sage; Moroccan lamb top round with tabbouleh, apricots and harissa; and goat rising chevre ravioli with summer squash and basil.
Whitcomb's deft hand at mixing ingredients, which are predominantly seasonal ingredients grown in the Pioneer Valley, suggests an almost otherworldly intuition and the scrumptious result certainly belies his youthful age of 30.
Bequeathed by Annie Childs to the Childs Park Foundation on her death in 1950, Childs Park is a short walk up Route 9 (by Smith College) from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Kept in immaculate condition, the tree-lined 40-acre haven of tranquility boasts two natural ponds, an impressive garden house and vast expanses of green, trimmed lawn, perfect for picnicking, playing Frisbee or just simply relaxing.
One of the newest stores in town is undoubtedly one of the best. On a Whim Consignments, located at 6 Trumbull Road (take a left off King Street after Pam's Kickin Kuts) opened in April of this year and is located in a lofty two-story space. The consignment store is set up as a real house would be—kitchen items for sale are in the "kitchen," bedroom items are in the "bedroom"—with a horde of items, including paintings, jewelry, multimedia artwork, fuzzy lamps, clocks, porcelain tea sets and various kinds of furniture like beds, chairs, and tables, scattered about in just the right places. Little rooms off the side of the main showroom house an intriguing cache of clothing, oil paintings and trinkets, and the open-air style (not to mention the human-size open window) of the store keeps patrons cool enough for long enough to check out every nook and cranny.
Although you can't get a gallon of gas for less than $4, believe it or not, you can still get lunch for $4 and under. State Street Deli (on State Street) offers a plethora of whole sandwiches for $3.50, including bologna, egg salad, ham and pickle and liverwurst; half sandwiches, including the Turkey Smitty (turkey breast and homemade Boursin cheese) and the O'Hara (sliced chicken breast, pesto mayonnaise, onion, tomato, leaf lettuce and mozzarella cheese) for a paltry $2.75; and strollers (layered tortilla wraps) filled with ham and cheese, roast beef, hummus and more, for $3.75. If those prices aren't enough of a calling card, State Street is currently building a new outdoor dining area, expanding the deli and building new bike racks and a pedestrian walkway.
As I was ambling down Main Street past the courthouse lawn, I realized I had never once sat on its grass or benches and enjoyed a short respite in the middle of the day. After gazing at the artwork presently displayed on the lawn, sculptures of nude or scantily clad bronze figures by renowned artist Andrew DeVries, I claimed a spot on the cool grass. Sitting in the shade near the ornate stone fountain, I listened as the soothing noise of the burbling water did a fair job at masking the sounds of the nearby traffic.
Ultra Gal is not what it seems to be. At first glance, the Main Street store seems to be simply a one-level goldmine for teenagers—it's overflowing with kitschy wares of all kinds, including flashy jewelry, loud, patterned scarves, baby doll dresses and fluorescent green tutus. Further inspection, however, reveals three lower levels (seriously, three!) dubbed the Fantasy Closet, filled to the brim with all sorts of vintage steals, like prom dresses, lacy lingerie, old-school trench coats, silk shawls and so much more.
Next Halloween, forget Party World, stop by the Ultra Gal, grab a wig and a feather boa and head downstairs to assemble the vintage costume of your dreams.
When I walked into the Old Book Store, located in a subterranean brick space on Masonic Street, I instantly felt as if I were in the middle of a secret library at Harry Potter's Hogwarts. As I perused the store, antique literary nuggets, including historical fiction, encyclopedias, mystery novels and memoirs, caught my eye and I had to restrain myself from plopping down in a nearby chair for a few hours with a stack of books by my side.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary on Masonic Street, the Old Book Store is one of the most enjoyable and green (the basement location provides natural air conditioning) places to spend an hour or two exploring.
It was the pulsing hip-hop music wafting onto the sidewalk that caught my attention. As I drifted closer, I realized that it was coming from a store I had never noticed before. Unite, located on Main Street across from City Hall, is a footwear store specializing in sneakers—Reebok, Adidas, Converse, Vans, Keep, Puma and Asics—and skateboards. This store is the very definition of cutting edge. Bright retro high-top sneakers, T-shirts with in-your-face slogans like "The More You Ignore Us the Closer We Get," politically-themed posters and pop art pieces line the walls. Unite also hosts monthly art shows as well as occasional movie nights.
The first time I sat on the banks of Paradise Pond, I was nursing a broken heart. Sitting near the gazebo in the Japanese Garden, I listened to the incessant gurgling of the Mill River as it ran in and out of the pond. As nature's magnificence reminded me of life's impermanence, I found some peace. Since then, the pond has been a special place to me. Paradise Pond and the Mill River are a perfect place to capture a few meditative moments during the day, as well as a few fish—Mass Wildlife stocks the river with various indigenous fish species every year.
