Oh, Valley, we’ve loved you for such a long time now; we just wanted to count the ways. In celebration of the Valley Advocate’s relaunch we’re holding a love-in, right here, in these pages, right now. But we don’t have a rosy, puppy love going on with you, Valley. Oh, no. We love it all, from the bottom of your un-dredged ponds to the tops of the hot air balloons that sail overhead. We love you like Shakespeare loved his mistress whose “eyes are nothing like the sun,” or like how James Baldwin loved America more than any other country in this world, and, for this reason he “insisted on the right to criticize her perpetually.” We love you like John Legend loves Chrissy Teigen, we “love your curves and all your edges. All your perfect imperfections.” So, let’s feel the love with this expansion of the Advocate’s regular “5 Things We Love About …” feature. Here’s a whole bunch of 5 Things We Love about the Valley.
Politics
Power to the people. Whether it’s a Town Meeting that carries on for weeks, or the quick removal of a politician who isn’t getting the job done, Valley residents like action in their government — and demand it. We’re thinking, in particular, about the swift work of East Longmeadow residents this spring when two selectboard members tried to hire a town administrator and police chief despite objections from residents and municipal officials. It took residents less than a month to oust the offending board members, reinstate the former board chairman, and nix the hires.
Town Meetings. And about those Town Meetings: sure they can be tiring when they unfold over weeks, four hours at a time — looking at you, Amherst — but the level of democracy those events show is what an ideal American government is all about; people coming together to debate, persuade, and vote.
Liberals. The Valley is home to a quality concentration of liberal-minded politically active people. Some folks blame this pervasive attitude on naivety, but they’re wrong. Recognizing that everyone is worthy of respect and that all of our fortunes are linked is practical thinking.
Weighing in. Whether its taking a vote to condemn North Carolina’s transgender discrimination, or to stay out of the Iraq War, we love that area governing boards take the time to debate and weigh in on national issues. Sure, they’re non-binding referendums, but it beats staying silent.
Forums galore. The word “forum” is light on inspiration, but we’re glad we get a chance to use it so much anyway. The Valley is teeming with forums on everything from how charter schools could impact a local school district, to the pros and cons of medical weed, to whether children should sleep in later before school starts, to who should fill Rep. Ellen Story’s seat when she retires. What we’re saying is, you can always count on people in the Valley to care about their communities enough to show up for an informational lecture, Q&A, or full-on debate.
People on Social Media
Tom Pappalardo. Northampton-based comic artist, illustrator, writer, and jokester. Creator of the strips Whiskey! Tango! Foxtrot! and The Optimist. @tompappalardo
Yana Tallon-Hicks. Sex columnist and pleasure-positive educator. Author of the Advocate’s weekly column The V Spot. @the_valleyvspot
Matt Burkhartt. Staff photojournalist at The Recorder, covering Western Mass life in quirky, powerful images. @MattBurkhartt
Is the A Back in Calvin? Keeping a close eye on the Calvin Theatre marquee’s missing vowel. Previous projects include tracking the C, which also went missing. @TheCisBackInCalvin
Larry Kelley. One of Amherst’s most agitated citizens is always on the prowl, in-person and online, for local scoops, neighborhood news, and the next vat of ointment to fly into. Picture Howard Stern moving to the country, getting a journalism degree, and starting a blog called “Only in the Republic of Amherst,” and you’re already halfway inside Kelley’s head. @amherstac
BONUS: The Valley Advocate, of course! @ValleyAdvocate
Springfield
Fireworks. The Spirit of Springfield has been organizing massive July 4 fireworks displays for more than 25 years, drawing tens of thousands of people out of their homes to watch the night sky light up with 152 waves of bright, colorful explosions. Bet you didn’t know it takes seven pyrotechnicians four days to set up the annual fireworks display and the largest mortar fired is six-inches around, did ya?
Mmmmm … The city is loaded with hidden-gem restaurants, little places in strip malls, homes, side streets, or jammed between a row of shops. Their doors may be common, but the food is a shot of flavor that will shake the ho-hum from any palate. The variety of cuisine available in Springfield boasts more excellent small restaurants than we could list, so here’s a sample of our favorites: Eat, Saray II, Moctezuma’s Tradition and Flavor, Chef Wayne’s Big Mamou, Typical Sicilian Restaurant, A Touch of Garlic, El Salvador Restaurant, Rufus’ Full Flavor Diner, Puerto Rican Bakery and Restaurant, Peppas, Primo’s Pizza, Boriquen & Quisqueya, Vinh Chau, Queenie’s Island Cuisine and Grill, Palate, El Caribeno, and De Todo Uno Poco.
Cool buildings. Springfield’s collection of historic architecture has turned many of the city’s streets and blocks into all-weather museums. Many of the ornate, Victorian- and Greek Revival-inspired, brick and stone buildings were constructed between the mid and late 1800s. Best viewing is downtown, where most of these towering beauties are located.
Dragon boats. Taking advantage of the city’s location along the Connecticut River, Springfield has an annual Dragon Boat Festival. Hosted by the Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club, this family-friendly event features, food, music, vendors, kids activities and, of course, dragon boat races. Dragon boating is a 2,000-year-old sport that puts up to 20 paddlers side by side in a 40 foot long boat that looks like a dragon. This year, teams will race each other on June 25 from the newly renovated North Riverfront Park. Definitely stop by at noon and see the Hong Ting Duong Lion Dancers perform.
Indian Orchard mill buildings. These buildings are being renovated into maker and artist spaces much like how Eastworks in Easthampton, Open Square in Holyoke, and the Arts and Industry Building in Florence have turned cavernous empty edifices into lively workspaces. Located along the Chicopee River, there are more than 50 artists with studios at the mills.
Foods We Crave
Any pizza at Magpie. Hope & Olive has upped the dining game in Greenfield, but the food at its sister restaurant, Magpie Woodfired Pizza, is just as delicious and crave-worthy.
The margaritas at La Veracruzana. The Amherst location, mind you — makes the best margaritas in the Five-College area. That’s right, we said it. The only reason we weren’t certain we should include them on this list is because we’re afraid the well-kept secret will get out and we’ll have to start waiting in line for them.
Chilean Sweets’ alfajores. A rich mound of dulce de leche pressed between two butter cookies and dipped in chocolate. The cookies are baked in Easthampton and cost about $2.50 each — worth it — and can be purchased at retailers in Northampton, Sunderland, Williamsburg, and Easthampton.
Falafel pocket from Pita Pockets. For a reasonable $7, Northampton Pita Pockets owner George Ejja will personally make you “the best falafel pocket ever.” He makes this promise to every customer in line during his busy lunch rushes. We keep waiting — but hoping not to — to prove him wrong, thinking that maybe this is the time he’ll make us something slightly subpar, the falafel perhaps less crispy and savory, maybe the creamy, tangy tzatziki sauce compliments it a little less perfectly. George has kept his promise.
Panucho at Three Stones. Three Stones Mexican Maya Cocina on Canal Street in Brattleboro looks like a busted trailer on the side of the road, so at first, it seems strange to see a line of people standing outside waiting to get in. Take our advice: Get in line. The authentic Mayan food is outstanding and inside the restaurant is clean, comfortable, and well-decorated with Mexican art. A panucho is a fresh, homemade tortilla stuffed with refried beans, pan fried, and then piled high with spicy tomatoes, fresh herbs, stewed chicken, rice and beans —heaven.
Northampton
Panhandlers. What? Yes. Northampton wouldn’t be Northampton without the woman selling knits for $1 outside of Go Berry, or Spider, or the military vet on crutches, or the guy with the guitar and bandana. Poverty isn’t a crime and Northampton knows it.
Vibrance. As an artistic and academic community, Northampton has a lot going on in the way of culture. The art galleries, music scene, and theater venues all contribute, but the street culture is what makes the place interesting. People here aren’t afraid to express themselves. Expect to see the unexpected in Northampton.
Conversations. We admit it. We’re habitual eavesdroppers. Working for the Advocate, we spend much of our day in Northampton and are constantly walking through conversations that make us want to know more. Recently overheard: “I tried to give it back to him, but some people don’t want their ex’s vibrator, I guess.”
First Churches. Whether it’s hosting a protest on the front lawn, giving Bread not Bombs a place to hand out sandwiches, or opening up the church for a fundraiser, First Churches on Main Street in Northampton is a community institution. It’s also a great place to sit on the steps and people watch.
Front Yards
This dragon in Goshen. How cool is this creature? It’s a Franklin County icon. It’s an outdoor fireplace for chilly nights. It’s the centerpiece of environmental artist Richard Richardson’s quirky roadside property along Route 112, home of the Good Time Stove Company and the Three Sisters Sanctuary, which offers some magical and spiritually calming real estate that passers-by are welcome to stroll through.
Bike fence. There’s so much going on in the front yard of this North Farms Road home in Florence, let’s break it down piece by piece. First up: There is a metal man with a typewriter for a head and a burst of snarled wires for hair sitting on a bench reading a scrap metal book; then there’s the fence made of bicycle wheels decorated with a bleached bovine skull; a tall salvage-metal crane chills in some tall grass; and a robot throwing its head.
Mini Fenway. One West Springfield-er (baseball pun fail) has recreated Fenway Park in his backyard, complete with a scoreboard and a Citgo logo over the left field wall. It’s marked with a sign that reads “Boston Marathon Memorial Park” and a neighbor tells us the resident built it so his son could feel like he was playing in the big-league stadium. Very cool.
Hampden giraffe. Quirky and fun without being too over the top, this front yard giraffe in Hampden makes us smile every time we drive by.
The TARDIS. We’re not sure whether this Montague resident built this police box as a deceptively spacious tool shed or purely to delight passing nerds. Check it out on your way past the town common, if it hasn’t jumped already.
Activisim
Campus movements. Students up and down the Valley get that progress comes not only from passion and principle, but from collaborating and communicating.
Allies. Not every community in America has a firm sense of what being a good ally can symbolize and help facilitate. Problematic dynamics exist here in the Valley, too, of course, but we’re getting there, and we have the opportunity to model healthy ally culture for anyone who’s watching.
Labor. Corruption, inequitable taxation, stagnant wages, and the dissolution of American labor unions has turned the modern workforce upside-down, but organizing and education groups like Arise for Social Justice, Verite, and Western Mass Jobs with Justice are striving to set it right.
Immigration. The population of Western Mass does have its broad heterogeneous swaths, but everyone is everywhere, to some degree. Local services work to provide practical support for the newly arrived — the Ascentria Refugee and Immigrant Services office in Westfield is just one example — and we’re proud that so many towns and cities provide a strong sense of neighborhood, friendly outreach, and a robust calendar of community events. That’s what truly helps make a place into a home.
Generations: When you attend a vigil, a rally, a community forum, or a gathering in your own backyard, invite your kids, and commit to engaging with them on hard topics. You don’t need to think of yourself as an Activist with a capital “A” to further the Valley’s reputation for a place that breeds compassionate critical thinkers.
