Locals' locals, in Northampton
Sights and sites to see
Academy of Music Theatre
274 Main StNorthampton landmark and historical institution.
My alma mater. Beautiful campus, fantastic (free) art museum, a spectacular new library, gardens, pond, greenhouse, and loads of wonderful events!
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Smith College
My alma mater. Beautiful campus, fantastic (free) art museum, a spectacular new library, gardens, pond, greenhouse, and loads of wonderful events!
Fairs, horse shows, and concerts and events all happen here, about a 5 minute walk out into 'the country' from our house.
Three County Fair
54 Fair StFairs, horse shows, and concerts and events all happen here, about a 5 minute walk out into 'the country' from our house.
Books, a cafe, a restaurant, a waterfall, an outrageously beautiful drive. Truly Western Mass perfected.
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Die Montague Bookmill
440 Greenfield RdBooks, a cafe, a restaurant, a waterfall, an outrageously beautiful drive. Truly Western Mass perfected.
Closed for 2024, sadly. This old trolley bridge was converted into a cross-river garden. Stunning throughout the growing season!
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Bridge of Flowers
22 Water StClosed for 2024, sadly. This old trolley bridge was converted into a cross-river garden. Stunning throughout the growing season!
A peaceful spot, with an enormous temple and pretty ponds. Definitely a reflective place to appreciate.
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The New England Peace Pagoda
100 Cave Hill RdA peaceful spot, with an enormous temple and pretty ponds. Definitely a reflective place to appreciate.
Three Sisters Sanctuary
188 Cape StWacky place that must be seen to be believed.
Restaurants
Classic Northampton breakfast diner has gotten an update the last few years, and is better than ever.
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Jake's
17 King StClassic Northampton breakfast diner has gotten an update the last few years, and is better than ever.
Eat like a townie! This is the nearest eatery to our place.
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Joe's Spaghetti & Pizza
33 Market StEat like a townie! This is the nearest eatery to our place.
Wonderful food, beautiful setting, a little further afield in Sunderland. Ritzy but worthwhile.
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Blue Heron Restaurant
112 N Main StWonderful food, beautiful setting, a little further afield in Sunderland. Ritzy but worthwhile.
The successor to James Beard- recognized Coco, Calico is Jen.'s go-to fancy dinner out. Everything is BEYOND!
Calico
The successor to James Beard- recognized Coco, Calico is Jen.'s go-to fancy dinner out. Everything is BEYOND!
Flavor-packed, pretty reasonably-priced sandwiches, noodle and rice dishes, etc. Street food vibes. Pretty amazing. In Easthampton, about a 10 minute drive.
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Daily Operation
116 Cottage StFlavor-packed, pretty reasonably-priced sandwiches, noodle and rice dishes, etc. Street food vibes. Pretty amazing. In Easthampton, about a 10 minute drive.
Probably the nicest restaurant within walking distance. Handmade pastas and other Italian hearty dinners, and nice drinks too!
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Homestead.
7 Strong AveProbably the nicest restaurant within walking distance. Handmade pastas and other Italian hearty dinners, and nice drinks too!
One of Jen.'s top lunch spots, and a great place to take kids too. Veg and fish are their specialties, and a lovely space with good people-watching windows.
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Paul and Elizabeth's
150 Main StOne of Jen.'s top lunch spots, and a great place to take kids too. Veg and fish are their specialties, and a lovely space with good people-watching windows.
Another favorite for lunch or dinner. Standard Japanese fare, nice porches to sit on in good or bad weather.
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Osaka
7 Old S StAnother favorite for lunch or dinner. Standard Japanese fare, nice porches to sit on in good or bad weather.
Pita Pockets
193 Main StA great place for a quick but custom falafel or baba ganoush. Very tasty and fresh.
Tasty Mediterranean cafe. The menu will overwhelm you-- the mint tea and the loubia are Jen.'s faves.
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Amanouz Cafe
44 Main StTasty Mediterranean cafe. The menu will overwhelm you-- the mint tea and the loubia are Jen.'s faves.
Nobody's favorite, but tolerated by all. If you need to get multiple generations of the family together for a meal that is FINE, this is your place. Genuinely nice deck in summer!
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Northampton Brewery
11 Brewster CtNobody's favorite, but tolerated by all. If you need to get multiple generations of the family together for a meal that is FINE, this is your place. Genuinely nice deck in summer!
One of our favorites. Currently only open weekend evenings. Eat in a cabana on the beach!
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Ashfield Lakehouse
141 Buckland RdOne of our favorites. Currently only open weekend evenings. Eat in a cabana on the beach!
Drinks
Gigantic
78 Cottage StA favorite place for cocktails. Very hip, but people are still nice. In Easthampton.
An art store that has become a cocktail bar on the weekend. Super friendly, creative drinks. In Easthampton.
Valley Art Supplies
An art store that has become a cocktail bar on the weekend. Super friendly, creative drinks. In Easthampton.
Ryan's favorite of the breweries for the beer and the tasting room. In one of the old mill buildings in Easthampton.
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Abandoned Building Brewery
142 Pleasant StRyan's favorite of the breweries for the beer and the tasting room. In one of the old mill buildings in Easthampton.
If you want to go to Disneyland but have it be mostly built around beer and in Western Mass, Treehouse is it! A phenomenon. Also hosting lots of good shows these days.
Tree House Brewing Company - Deerfield
If you want to go to Disneyland but have it be mostly built around beer and in Western Mass, Treehouse is it! A phenomenon. Also hosting lots of good shows these days.
The best winery in the area-- some locally-grown and some imported grapes.
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Black Birch Vineyard
108 Straits RdThe best winery in the area-- some locally-grown and some imported grapes.
Good wine and a STUNNING view. On weekends they almost always have a food truck or pizza oven on site, and often host music as well.
Glendale Ridge Vineyard
155 Glendale RdGood wine and a STUNNING view. On weekends they almost always have a food truck or pizza oven on site, and often host music as well.
Cafes
A truly gorgeous retrofitting of a vintage train car from diner into cool cafe. The best outdoor seating in front and along the bike path in fair weather, and part of Summer on Strong in the summer. All the food and drink are fantastic.
Familiars Coffee & Tea
6 Strong AveA truly gorgeous retrofitting of a vintage train car from diner into cool cafe. The best outdoor seating in front and along the bike path in fair weather, and part of Summer on Strong in the summer. All the food and drink are fantastic.
It's... the closest place. No longer a favorite of ours, though plenty of people still enjoy it. Desserts are good, and the seating area is nice.
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The Roost
1 Market StIt's... the closest place. No longer a favorite of ours, though plenty of people still enjoy it. Desserts are good, and the seating area is nice.
Very very quirky little place. Their offerings are good, but the real draw is the place! Cool spot indoors and out.
Iconica Social Club
1 Amber LnVery very quirky little place. Their offerings are good, but the real draw is the place! Cool spot indoors and out.
Cafe Balagan
Jen.'s favorite coffee in town. Very hip international vibe, and yet quite friendly!
Ryan's favorite coffee in town. Opens the earliest of all the Northampton cafes!
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Northampton Coffee
269 Pleasant StRyan's favorite coffee in town. Opens the earliest of all the Northampton cafes!
A cafe, a restaurant? It's a sweet spot, right over the bridge in Hadley.
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Esselon Café and Coffee Roasting
99 Russell StA cafe, a restaurant? It's a sweet spot, right over the bridge in Hadley.
Transport
Northampton station
170 Pleasant StThe finest way to get around in the NE corridor!
Not quite as nice as the train, but better coverage of the state and region, and not bad at all!
Peter Pan Bus Terminal
1 Roundhouse PlazaNot quite as nice as the train, but better coverage of the state and region, and not bad at all!
Bakeries
James Beard award-winning bakery that emphasizes locally-grown and organic ingredients. They're not open all the time... and if you catch them open, they may or may not have what you came for. But YUM if you can get it!!
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Hungry Ghost Bread
62 State StJames Beard award-winning bakery that emphasizes locally-grown and organic ingredients. They're not open all the time... and if you catch them open, they may or may not have what you came for. But YUM if you can get it!!
Best baked goods in town. Ryan contends that their cardamon rolls ought to be to Northampton what beignets are to New Orleans!
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Woodstar Cafe
60 Masonic StBest baked goods in town. Ryan contends that their cardamon rolls ought to be to Northampton what beignets are to New Orleans!
A treasure. If you like quiche, this is the goopy goodest.
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Small Oven Bakery
36 Union StA treasure. If you like quiche, this is the goopy goodest.
Now owned by the Familiars people, the Pie Bar has been knocking it out of the park for years making awesome pies of all sorts and coffee in a cute little retro-y cafe in Florence, about a 10 minute drive from our place.
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Florence Pie Bar
17 A Main StNow owned by the Familiars people, the Pie Bar has been knocking it out of the park for years making awesome pies of all sorts and coffee in a cute little retro-y cafe in Florence, about a 10 minute drive from our place.
Shopping
Northampton's indoor mall, but in true Northampton fashion, filled with kooky little stores that are fun and unique. Worth spending some time in.
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Thornes Marketplace
150 Main StNorthampton's indoor mall, but in true Northampton fashion, filled with kooky little stores that are fun and unique. Worth spending some time in.
A few friends own this one. Quirky, vintage, and handmade stuff. Super fun to browse and buy!
ASSEMBLE made + curated
A few friends own this one. Quirky, vintage, and handmade stuff. Super fun to browse and buy!
Another vintage and oddball shop, this one often full of discoveries from the old mills in the area. A hoot!
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LOOT found + made
62 Avenue AAnother vintage and oddball shop, this one often full of discoveries from the old mills in the area. A hoot!