[jAnjop10]

I have heard things are changing my brother still lives there very active in the legion. My best childhood memories are from there. I attended the polish picnic in 2008. It has changed but still in the same location. My cousins and aunts and uncles lived there. My father was originally from there.

[looking4home]

Sherylcatmom, what's a contra dance?

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by looking4home

Sherylcatmom, what's a contra dance?

Ooohhh!!! English & Irish line dancing, usually with excellent live music. When I lived in SW NH, there were so many good dances around that I often went three nights a week. Great exercise, fun for all ages, good clean fun.

The Dance Gypsy

Contra Dance / Contradance in New England -- at this link is a photo of the Peterborough, NH, contra which was my fave.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_dance

[pie in ear]

Some thoughts on Bellows Falls...
Bellows Falls has, without a doubt, more stunning large victorian homes than any other town of it's size. Too bad most of them are not cared for. It was once a beautiful town but now is a bit tired.
I do think it is on the rise again. I've always liked the town. It is the ONLY town in Vermont i've been in where there is an unmistakable sense of neighborhood. Kids everywhere...people strolling on every street. Most other Vermont towns are too cute and postcardy with maple syrup shops.
Bellows Falls is not a touristy town. That is an asset IMO.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by arel

Petroglyphs?

Bellows Falls--Indian Petroglyphs
Here's a description and pictures in the above link. They are ancient Indian rock carvings down by the river.

FWIW: I was in BF yesterday and once again, I didn't get to go

[BickleTravis]

Carlton Fisk is from there, so it has that going for it.

[arel]

I saw Bellows Falls for the first time today. I was on the way home from somewhere else, and I took the opportunity to stop by.

It was late on a Sunday afternoon, and just about every place was closed. I walked around downtown. I saw the canal and the storefronts. There were a lot of artsy stores. I had a good turkey burger at Fat Frank's. I had planned to visit the Miss Bellows Falls Diner, which I had heard of, but it was closed. Fat Franks was next door, and, to my surprise, it was open.

I didn't see many people, but the people I did see seemed mostly in their teens or twenties. The people I spoke to were friendly.

The architecture was Interesting. BF is known for its Victorian homes, but I was downtown and didn't see many. But the downtown architecture was interesting.

I believe the canal is the oldest canal in the U.S. Or at least one of the oldest. It was completed in 1802. Apparently, several canals are claiimed to be the oldest in the country, but the BF canal is the oldest that is in still in industrial use. It is no longer used for transportation. It is now used to generate hydroelectric power.

Its water moves very quickly. I was also told that the canal is very deep.

There is lots of information on the canal online. Just google it if you are interested.

I saw a mural painted on the side of a building, but it was not the one with the catption about Bellows Falls being a nice placed to hang your hat.

I wanted to see the Indian petroglyphs, but I decided to wait until next time.

Compared to Brattleboro, BF is smaller and seemed grittier. But downtown has a similar artsy feel.

[OhBeeHave]

Hi Arel,

Fat Franks also has awesome veggie burgers, which is my standing order. The young girl behind the counter knows her regulars and is a very pleasant person to speak with. Even the owner, who looks a bit gruff, is a sweet man.

I have no idea what's happening with the Miss BF Diner. It's always closed of late. The last time I was in there, the new owners had no idea as to how to run a diner efficiently.

Friday evenings are a good time to visit as the Farmers Market is in full swing across the canal at the Waypoint Station.

Victorian homes are dotted along Green, Route 5 and the side streets which dot back and forth. They are a different breed than the painted ladies of Sea Cliff, but beautiful nonetheless.

The hang your hat mural is on Rockingham St, just south of where Canal intersects. T Bird mini mart is across the road. China Garden is adjacent to the mural.

It is grittier than Bratt, but it is slowly coming around. Something really needs to be done about the burned out building across from Sams which once house Oona's Restaurant. It's been several years; I would have though by now something would have started to take shape.

[arel]

I had read of Oona's Restaurant and I knew it had burned down. I read about it on this Forum. Also, I think a salesperson in Sam's told me about it when I asked about places to eat. She said it had burned down, but that it had had awesome food. I asked her about the Miss BF Diner and she directed me there. But it was closed. So I ate at Fat Franks.

I saw the burned building, but it didn't really register that this was the building that had housed Oona's restaurant.

I may try the veggie burgers at Fat Franks. I haven't had many veggie burgers that I have liked, but I may give this place a try. But I'm really a turkey burger fan. It's hard to find a turkey burger in Brattleboro. I had one as a special at the Chelsea Royal Diner but I found it too salty. What I generally do is buy ground turkey and make my own. The easiest way to do it is on my George Foreman Grill. I put Hoisin sauce on it before I grill it. Yum.

I plan to be in Saxtons River again this Sunday, and I may visit Bellows Falls on the way home. Maybe I'll look at the petroglyphs. I'm wondering if the water level is low enough, though, after all the rain we've had.

Saxtons River is tiny! I read it only has about 500 people. I went to a canning workshop there, at Christ Church, and I had a tasty pannini at the general store right across the street. Very convenient. After the workshop, I started to drive around to explore the place, but discovered there was little to explore.

So I left. Near the Interstate, I saw the sign for Bellows Falls, and I decided to take the opportunity to visit.

BF has its Gallery Walk this Friday, and I may go. Gallery Walk in Brattleboro is so much fun that I'd like to do it twice in a month instead of just once. It might also give an opportunity to see Bellows Falls in another way.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by arel

I had read of Oona's Restaurant and I knew it had burned down. I read about it on this Forum. Also, I think a salesperson in Sam's told me about it when I asked about places to eat. She said it had burned down, but that it had had awesome food.

I only ate at Oona's twice. Both times were delicious. Bet that was a real loss for the community.

Originally Posted by arel

Saxtons River is tiny! I read it only has about 500 people.

I was surprised to find good Mexican food in Saxton's River. I guess the Golden Egg serve's breakfast and it turns into Huevo D'oro for lunch and dinner. Don't know if it's still there. Golden Egg in Saxton's River VT - New England - Chowhound