If you haven’t taken a trip to Angelica’s Main Street yet, shortlist it right now. If you have, you know you want to go back for another visit; I am willing to bet that you haven’t experienced everything the village has to offer.
West Main itself is a quaint little street with lots of small-town charm. You can stroll up and down the sidewalk peering into the local shops and restaurants and perhaps pop into one of the many antique stores for a look around. From old clothing and furniture to interesting books and knick knacks, I can assure you that you will find what you’re looking for.
If you are in the mood for some desserts, stop at the Angelica Sweet Shop. Want to check out some local hand-crafted pottery? Then the Three Clay Sisters is for you. For more local art, visit The Main Center gallery.
New in town is the Angelica Ink Letterpress, where you can purchase hand-pressed cards and stationery. Another new addition is The Village Closet, which sells new and recycled women’s clothing and accessories, among other various wares.
To break up your day of shopping and browsing, walk to the roundabout where there is a gazebo and a small park surrounded by a more residential area and numerous steepled churches. You will most likely see local children laughing and frolicking on the swingset or the teeter totter in the playground.
And now we come to my personal favourite in the village, the Black-Eyed Susan Acoustic Cafe. I would recommend having a meal there on a Friday or Saturday when the restaurant features live music during evening dining hours.
I have always enjoyed the food I’ve ordered at the Black-Eyed Susan, and the music is definitely worth the trip in and of itself. It is nice to hear from local musicians outside of Houghton College every once in a while.
Tonight Pat Kane, an Irish and American performer and songwriter, will be featured. If blues is more your style, plan to attend Dallas Lucore’s gig this Saturday. Check out the Black-Eyed Susan’s website to find out more about these and future shows.
In addition to quality music, the restaurant features local artwork; the watercolors of Cuba native Lisa Robinson are currently on display. For a day exploring charming village shops and an evening listening to some great acoustic music over dinner, there is no better destination than the nearby Angelica, NY.
