[Greenteam]

On the map like all the other small towns in this great state but would appreciate some insight into the town if'n you have any.

Thanks

[MRVphotog]

By Vermont standards I would not call BF a small town more like a small city. In my younger stupid days we all referred to BF as Fellows B*lls.

Seriously tho, since we all come with diferent preferences and diferent backgrounds the best way for you to see BF is thru your eyes and ears. Come for a visit!

Here is the CD page for BF, lots of great info
http://www.city-data.com/city/Bellow...s-Vermont.html

[vter]

I don't know that part of the state well, but do know that Bellows Falls has kind of fallen down in the dumps a bit and is/has been undergoing a bit of a renassaince (i can't spell that word LOL). If you search this board I think there was a thread about BF a couple years ago that discussed this.
Growing up, we always called it Fellows B*lls too!

[sugarmaple]

Hi, actually BF is really beginning to turn around; there are some terrific older homes, many very stately ones that have been purchased, being rehabbed and are looking great...there are some new shops popping up; I think to some there is the 'memory' of what BF was but it's changin'. Some new restaurants and of course, there remains the BF diner...pretty neat place too.

[OhBeeHave]

I find Bellows Falls is experiencing something of a turnaround for the better. Rome wasn't built in a day, though, and it will take some time to get things where they need to be. New business is gradually coming in, buildings are being cleaned up. The old hotel has on the corner has been purchased, so it will be interesting to see what the new owner's vision is. Sadly, the building housing Oona's restaurant (which was gutted by a fire a few years back) is still a shell with boarded up windows. It pulls everything around it down a notch.

Throughout the town there are many great homes with some lovely architectural details and they are painted in such beautiful colors. IMHO, they have a very welcome and inviting feel to them.

I am not familiar with the schools.

We head into Bellows Falls to go to the movies at the Bellows Falls Opera House. They rehabbed it a couple of years ago and it is a treat to see movies there on the big screen. There's even a balcony! The tickets are reasonably priced - $4, popcorn, sodas and candy very fairly priced, too. There's always a decent turn out.

There is a neat little book store with a very pleasant owner, a farmers market on Friday nights during the season (tonight's the last one for the year) and a pretty decent hardware store. Sams Outdoor Stores have a shop in town which my husband and son love. I find their prices to be OK, not wonderful.

Miss Bellows Falls Diner's hours of operation have been a bit quirky; we went in a few years ago and there were new owners who were still learning the ropes of operating a diner. The food then was passable. It was more about the experience of eating in a genuine diner. Next door is Fat Franks which has some really great franks, hamburgers, turkey and veggie burgers. It's worth dropping in.

(I still wish Oona's hadn't burned down -- the dining was wonderful!)

Entering Bellows Falls from the north, Joy Wah has some good Chinese food (a picky NYer's opinion) and offers a discount if you take out -- it's their way of apologizing for not offering delivery. What a nice gesture. The interior is totally old school chinese restaurant -- I love it. There's a back room which is an addition cantilevered off of the building with amazing views of the CT river and NH.

The original Lisai's Market is located in BF, I frequent the one in Chester. I find it to have good deals on quality meat. There is a vast array of groceries as well.

The residents with whom I have interacted are a real mixed bag. There's everything from poverty to wealth. I feel safe wherever I walk, but keep my eyes open when I am by the river near the empty, dilapidated buildings. (That's just my cynical inner NYer surfacing.)

I like Bellows Falls. I would consider moving there if the right opportunity presented itself.

[brokenwallclock]

Used to live the town over from BF (thats what we called it.) Lots of drugs, pretty neat little downtown area. trashy high school, (not that mine was any better).

[brokenwallclock]

Oh and during the summer they had a group of teen girls who'd push their strollers around downtown. I heard to them referred to as "the pregnant parade"

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by brokenwallclock

Used to live the town over from BF (thats what we called it.) Lots of drugs, pretty neat little downtown area. trashy high school, (not that mine was any better).

Spoken like someone from a rival school.

[sugarmaple]

What a terrific 'tour' of BF you gave....I just heard of another store that has moved in, well, actually I guess a few months ago...has some prints, clothes, and a myriad of 'stuff'...wish I could remember the name of it...close to where the brightly painted florist store is/was? Since the Ellis Movie Theatre in Springfield burned (yup, home of the Simpson Premier)...the only two other options for movie places: Claremont and Rutland...BF is closer for me...thanks for reminding me about it...

[OhBeeHave]

I am trying to remember colorful florist and I think it was Flowers on the Square? They are no longer there. The store you are referring to is a gallery, Spheris.

There's Hula Cat which is across from the music store and it is chock full of cool old things and Hawaiian shirts, Coyote Moon? which is were Radio Shack was. I am blanking out, but there is some sort of new shop on the same block as the post office and music store. There's an artists' shop with all sorts of locally crafted and created pieces. It's in the building adjacent to the Opera House.

There a cute little coffee house (good stuff!) on Canal St, just off the square. I forgot to mention Bocellis (sp?) which is on Canal, directly opposite Bridge St.

The Opera house is certainly worth checking out for movies tickets are $4 and a 'triple up' (soda, big popcorn and box of candy) is $3.75. Water is free. There are 4 of us and we buy 2 triple ups and ask for 2 waters. We can all go out for $23.50! Dinner at Fat Franks before the show and a 'Saturday night on the town' for all of us is under $50. Tuesdays the tickets are $2.50!

Since the rehab they've added AC, which is a pleasure in the summer