Enjoying Small-Town New England at the Walpole Arts and Music Festival, Walpole, MA, Oct. 4


Article and photo (of Blackburn Hall) by Eric H., at VisitingNewEngland.com

If you're looking for a friendly, small-town New England seasonal fall event next weekend, we highly recommend the Walpole Arts and Musical Festival to be held on Sat., Oct. 4, from 10-4 p.m., at Blackburn Hall on Stone St. in downtown Walpole, MA.

One of those New England events that flies under the radar but is, nevertheless, a joyful way to spend a day, the Festival will include local painters, sculptors, musicians, puppeteers, jewelers, thespians, blacksmiths, poets, culinary aficionados, writers, and illustrators. It's a laid-back scene, located at a historic New England building with large grounds and a local crowd where everyone seems to know each other. Last year, we enjoyed some of the local folk and country music (some amazingly talented entertainers) and the highly creative local artists that work their craft for the love of what they do, and not for the fame. It's part of that modest New England spirit that makes this event an understated, but special way to spend the day in a pleasant, southwest suburban town. There will even be food vendors serving pizza, baked goods and a warm cup of coffee (and much more!)

For an added benefit, Jane and Paul's Farm (508-528-0812), at 33 Fruit St., in Norfolk, MA, is just a 10 minute drive from Blackburn Hall and features some nice apple picking and a farm stand with fresh produce. What a great way to spend a fall day without getting stuck in massive fall foliage traffic jams!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Good Eeeevening!: A Perspective on New Hampshire Meteorologist Al Kaprielian

Article by Eric H., at VisitingNewEngland.com Somewhere in the 1980s, my esteemed Arlington High School journalism teacher Len Tammaro tipped me off about a New Hampshire television weatherman that he called "Crazy Al Kaprielian." That night, I couldn't believe what I saw: this nerdy-looking guy with a high-pitched voice flailing his arms all over the weather map, contorting his face in every direction, and squealing, "Good Eeeevening!" and "HIGH PRESSURE!" (his future trademark phrases)." All that boundless energy and the myriad antics left the viewer laughing, yet enervated at the same time. In this world of slick, Ken and Barbie television meteorologists, Al Kaprielian has been the antidote to the standard, unctuous television personality. Twenty-five years later, Al is still going strong on MyTV New England with his unique style --perhaps validation that he really loves his job. No doubt, Al has always been an unconventional, unique-looking a
Read more

Visiting My Grandmother Had That Antiques in Wrentham, Mass.

Image
My Grandmother Had That...Antiques  in Wrentham, Mass., is one of those "hidden gem" antique stores that is jam-packed with antiques, collectibles and other items from the past. Located in a charming, two-story old red barn at 446 South St. (Route 1A), My Grandmother Had That...Antiques certainly lives up to its name. You'll find furniture, lamps, desks, chairs, plant holders, fine China sets and just about everything your grandma had, and also didn't have -- like a web address, Facebook fan page or any hint on the Internet that this place exists! Unless you're a Wrentham native, one familiar with the antiques industry, have driven by the red barn on South St., or somebody that just reads maps of Wrentham all day, My Grandmother Had That...Antiques is as hard to find as the rarest antique. You won't even find the name, "My Grandmother Had That," on the building, just a sign that states "Antiques." The My Grandmother Had That name is on
Read more

Remembering the Smiling Blue Whale Neon Sign at Yoken's Restaurant

Image
Article by Eric H. Sometimes, we affectionately remember restaurants that weren't all that great. Not that Yoken's "Thar She Blows" restaurant in Danvers, MA, was bad, but if it were in business today, we'd regard it as a New England tourist trap with too much fried food and dining rooms that looked like any other restaurant dining room. It was basically Howard Johnson's with a sea captain's hat. Yoken's was hugely popular at its Danvers and Portsmouth, NH, locations for its affordable and decent seafood dishes, friendly service and family-friendly environment. Perhaps it was most popular, however, for its attention-getting smiling blue whale neon sign. Yokens' perfectly tapped into a pathetic, universally acknowledged human weakness: who doesn't love a smiling, blue whale? Perhaps Yoken's greatest appeal was its innocence. You just don't see signs like the smiling blue whale in our society anymore. Today, we see signs with fancy fon
Read more