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Hallowell In
The Media
Copyright Boston Herald Library Nov 10, 2002
Reprinted with permission of the Boston
Herald.
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
HALLOWELL, Maine - If you're heading up the Maine Turnpike for some skiing,
check out this hidden gem of a town that's right off the highway a few miles
south of Augusta.
A tiny cultural oasis awaits. The highlight of Hallowell is the mile-long
unassuming stretch of Water Street, a row of weathered brick buildings that
house a variety of antique shops, funky specialty stores and homey pubs.
You won't find a Starbucks or a Gap in Hallowell, and each store has its own
personality, whether it be the handcrafted whimsical home decorations at
Antics (89 Water St.), made by owner Tracie Carolin, or sheet music and
books at Corner Music & Clock Shop (2 Park St.).
The town's population, just around 2,500, makes it one of Maine's smallest
cities. But Mainards thirsting for some culture and down- home restaurant
food come here year-round. Even when winter settles in and things close in
the neighboring towns, there's always something going on in Hallowell.
"We say that Hallowell is the artsy, cultural center of central Maine," said
Justin Holmes, 29, a local and bartender at The Liberal Cup (115 Water
St.).
About 40 musicians live in town, and not many small New England towns can
boast being home to 25 bands. You can get a feel for the musical talent
during "Old Hallowell Day," an annual event held in July. But you also can
enjoy tunes other times of year at The Wharf Tavern (130-134 Water St.),
which has live music nightly, in addition to Sunday and Friday afternoons.
There's no cover charge.
The Liberal Cup also offers live music, as does Slates Restaurant & Bakery
(169 Water St.) and the Higher Grounds Coffeehouse and Tavern (119 Water
St.).
Most bars close at 1 a.m., so Hallowell is not exactly a sleepy little
town.
Any time of year, it's a nice, relaxing walk along the picturesque Water
Street, nestled along the Kennebec River, and collectors will have a heyday
in the shops. Coin collectors will want to stop by China Lake Coins,
Currency & Antiques (200 Water St.). Dukenfields Antiques (107 Water St.)
carries a full line of British toy soldiers as well as die-cast cars, planes
and trains.
If you like 18th, 19th and 20th century American and British glass and
ceramics and Japanese pottery and porcelain, stop by Josiah Smith Antiques
(181 Water St.).
If all that shopping leaves you famished, look back to the micro- brewed
beer at The Liberal Cup, a cozy pub with exposed beams, brick walls and a
long gleaming bar, as well as its own brewery. Taste a bittersweet Alewife
Ale or Tarbox cream stout. Even better, have the sampler paddle ($4)
featuring a taste of all of the pub's brews.
Accompany the beer with the drunken mussels, steamed in the pub's own brew,
of course, with herbs, tomatoes and garlic ($6.25). The pub also features
such traditional pub dishes as shepherd's pie.
Boynton's Market, 157 Water St., has a deli known for its famous homemade
mincemeat. Staff at Granite City Grinders (272 Water St.), a deli/sandwich
shop, prepare everything on-site, including the meat products. If you like
lobster stew, swing by Hattie's Chowder House, (103 Water St.).
Hallowell, settled in 1771, once served as a principal shipping port (the
Kennebec flows to the Atlantic). The town's most notable industries were
shipbuilding and granite. The state capitol building in Augusta was built of
Hallowell granite.
These days it's an up-and-coming tourist destination, but maintains a
bohemian, mellow atmosphere.
For more information, call the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce at
207-623-4559 or go to www.hallowell.org.
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