Easton is a Shore Surprise
By Amy Russell | May 2011
Clear your weekend calendar, and head to this quaint town to kick back and chill out.
For many Marylanders, Easton is more often a throughway than a destination. However, just 40 miles east of Annapolis, nestled a few blocks from route 50, the 301-year-old historic district of Easton is a well-kept secret and with the warmer weather, it’s buzzing with activity, offering outdoor markets, fishing, boating, dining, hiking and art shows.
In town, a brick courthouse with greenery and rod-iron gates sits on one side of the street, an older, charming string of restaurants and shops on the other. Chalk boards lining the sidewalk reveal the day’s lunch specials.
You’ll find plenty of charming B&Bs, enough shops to fill a day, great food and waterside views.
The look is similar to the setting of It’s A Wonderful Life, and a drive past Martini’s, a popular dinner spot, makes tourists do a double take. What’s apparent is: Easton is full of culture.
The Town
Home to fewer than 15,000 in Talbot County, Easton was born in 1710 as the site for a new courthouse for sea merchants and farmers. Since the first bridge linked the two shores in 1952, the town has blossomed.
“It’s a very walkable town with a lot of history” says Studio B owner Betty Hoang, who retired to Easton from Washington D.C. to open a working art studio. “There are so many independent merchants, it’s a very unique, friendly community.”
In the historic area, Goldsborough Street, North Washington, Dover and Harrison intersect to draw a half-mile square perimeter that encompasses the bulk of the area’s entertainment. Throughout, Easton offers ample street parking designated with signs that include three free hours.
A Tiny Metropolis of Art
Beyond its quaint features, Easton is vibrant. Art thrives; it’s the soul of the town. Nearly a dozen galleries with local artwork call Easton home. First Weekend Easton LIVE!, a special event hosted by Easton’s Main Street Easton program, kicks this month off with a Gallery Walk on Friday night, when the art galleries stay open until 9 p.m. with exhibits, demonstrations and refreshments.
“As a painter, I know there’s beauty in everything,” says Grafton Galleries owner and landscape painter David Grafton, who moved from Pennsylvania to Chestertown to Easton, where he and his gallery have been for nine years. “But to list a top place, this would be it. The geography is great with the coast and the town… The three oldest galleries, Troika, South Street and ours have been big in promoting the arts here. The theatre is great, the Academy Art Museum is national… a lot of good things are happening here culturally, and everyone is sort of
oriented in that direction, which is a good thing.”
Performing arts make up another side of the town’s culture. Avalon Theatre, built in 1921, is center stage in the heart of downtown Easton. Renovated in 1934, it was first a movie theatre, but closed its doors in 1985. According to the theater, former mayor George Murphy eventually called for a $1.36 million makeover. In 1989, Avalon was restored as a performing arts center and today it hosts an impressive range of comedians and musicians to symphonies.
Easton Eats
The restaurant scene rivals metropolitan areas with many offering alfresco dining and dishes with locally sourced ingredients. For a special night out, locals recommend Scossa, fine Italian dining in a chic setting with charming street side tables. For a more casual bite, try the Italian fare at Osteria Alfredo’s and pizza at Rusticana’s. Another gem, Out of the Fire, serves up a well-rounded menu of intriguing dishes, many cooked in a stone hearth. For those craving well-prepared Pacific rim fare, there’s In Japan and General Tanuki’s.
On Harrison Street, Mason’s has been family owned since 1966. Located in a remodeled Victorian house, it’s a popular lunch spot. Also open for dinner, it sells fine chocolates and gifts and has a European coffee bar: a combination that suits the Easton vibe. Ask to dine in its courtyard.
“There are a lot of great restaurants for the size of this town, not a lot of chains but more owner/operators,” says Mathew Mason. “With that, and Avalon theatre drawing people in, it’s really a foodie, art area… It’s a really good energy.”
Just around the corner the Washington Street Pub and Raw Bar serves up locally bought oysters.
“Having moved here from DC, I was extremely please to learn the variety of excellent restaurants in Easton,” adds Hoang, who travels globally for inspiration for her oil paintings. “There are so many wonderful places to eat here… and a lot to do for such a small town.”
Waterside, Easton is not without fresh seafood. Gay’s Seafood Market on Easton Point is the oldest locally owned market in the city. The Saturday morning farmers’ market features local produce, meat, herbs, and baked goods. The indoor Amish country farmers’ market, open year-round on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, is also a great place to find fresh produce.
Cheese lovers will want to taste the artisanal selections from Chapel’s Country Creamery, a Grade A dairy farm. The 116-acre family farm also produces all-natural yogurts using local maple syrup, honey and vanilla bean. Groups of ten or more can go on guided tour of the creamery, meet the dairy cows and sample the products. It’s $5 per person. Its chesses are also found at the Easton Farmers Market and various restaurants. chapelscountrycreamery.com 
Bed, Breakfast and Advice
Easton is home to several bed and breakfasts, including the Bishop’s House, Easton’s Promise and the John S. McDaniel House, which range in price from $99-$200 a night. The Tidewater Inn, centrally located to the historic district with similarly affordable prices, offers a historic setting with modern amenities. This year, The Inn at 202 Dover was named one of the top 10 romantic inns in America by American Historic Inns.
The historic district of Easton is on the quieter side during the week, with many galleries and shops closed through Thursday, but the weekends on the Eastern Shore town are lively.
|
