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Northampton is a city in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts with a picturesque and vibrant downtown, consisting of numerous small art galleries, restaurants and craft shops sprinkled among the usual downtown mix. It is home to Smith College.

View of main street

[edit] Understanding

Northampton is most famous for being home to Smith College, an all-women's college. Long-time residents nickname Northampton "Hamp", while newer residents and tourists call it "Noho". Another nickname for Northampton is "Paradise City", after Opera singer Jenny Lind remarked Northampton is "The paradise of America."

Northampton celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2004. The Town of Northampton - actually the town of Nonotuck originally - was granted its Charter in 1654; the City of Northampton was incorporated in 1884.

A recent profile of the city appeared in Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Kidder's book Home Town (2000), which chronicles a number of the complex dramas behind the ordinary lives of some of its residents.

Politics are an important part of the Northampton scene. It is for a good reason that it was named "Most liberal medium-size city in the country". [1].

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

From the EAST: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) to exit 4, and get on Route 91 North. Take exit 18 and turn left.

From the SOUTH: Take Interstate 91 North to exit 18. Turn left at the light.

From the WEST: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike east to exit 4. At exit 4, get on Interstate 91 North, to exit 18. Turn left off the exit.

You can also take Route 9 east, or Route 2 east to I-91 South, exit 20.

From the NORTH: Take Interstate 91 South, exit 20.

[edit] By bus

Peter Pan Bus Lines, [2] has frequent service from Boston and New York to Northampton. All Busses run through Springfield first.

Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, or PVTA, [3], provides local bus service throughout the Pioneer Valley.

[edit] By train

Amtrak trains run up and down the Eastern Seaboard to Springfield. You can take a bus or cab from the train station to Northampton (20-25 minutes).

[edit] By plane

Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut is 37 minutes from Northampton with easy access onto I-91 north.

[edit] Get around

Northampton is a very bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly city. You can also take a PVTA bus around town and to other cities and towns in the Pioneer Valley.

• Zipcars[[4] are available for rent by the hour.
• Northampton Bicycle, 319 Pleasant Street, Phone: +1 413 586-3810, [5]. Bike rentals by the hour or longer.

[edit][add listing] See

• galleryTK, 114 Main Street, 2nd floor, above Ultragal, [6]. W,Th, Su 2PM-9PM, F-Sa 2PM-10PM. Not-for-profit gallery, started by Hampshire College students, specializing in contemporary art and new media.
• Peanut Gallery, actually located in the Eastworks [7] building in Easthampton, 10 minutes outside of Northampton. Peanut Gallery [8] also specializes in contemporary art, exhibiting the work of unknown and established, local and far away (Tokyo, Belgium) artists side by side. Peanut Gallery is also connected to a store called Peanut [9]. The gallery and store also overlap, featuring one-of-a-kind fashions made by artists and artistic printed matter.
• Smith College Museum of Art, Tryon Hall, Main St., Phone: +1 413 585-2760, [10]. Tu-Sa 10-4PM, Su 12PM-4PM. Second Fridays 10AM-8PM (4PM-8PM free admission).
• East Heaven Hot Tubs & Paradise Spa, 33 West St., Phone: 414 586-6843, [11].
• Michaelson's Gallery, Main Street, This gallery has a lovely permanent collection which includes a Dr. Seuss exhibit (great for kids and adults) with many original sketches and paintings.

[edit] Events

• First Night, Northampton celebrates the New Year with events all over downtown.
• Four Sundays In February, escape the winter gloom with four events of fun.
• Smith College Spring Bulb Show, a reminder that spring is just around the corner.
• Pride March, a celebration of Northampton's large lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community.
• Paradise City Arts Festival, every May and October, a nationaly renown arts and crafts event.
• Northampton Sidewalk Sales
• Three County Fair, One of the country's longest-running county fairs, a tradition that marks the end of summer.
• Northampton Independent Film Festival
• New Century Theater In the summertime, New Century Theater [12] comes to Smith College and puts on a season of plays. Excellent performances! They also have children's theater [13].

[edit][add listing] Do

• The Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center Street, +1 413 584-0610. Has musical acts nightly, usually focusing on lesser-known artists. It is also has a restaurant with a full menu and full bar.

• The Calvin Theater, 19 King Street, +1 413 584-1444. Features bigger name artists.

• Pearl Street, 10 Pearl Street, +1 413 584-7771. Features more youth-oriented acts.

• Broad Brook Conservancy/Fitzgerald Lake, northwest of downtown Northampton, [14]. 591 acre conservation area owned by the City of Northampton and co-managed by the Northampton Conservation Commission and Broad Brook Coalition.

• Northampton Bike Trail, 2.7 mile long linear park from Stoddard St/back of the Stop and Shop on King Street to Look Park/Bridge Rd/JFK school, [15].

• Norwottuck Rail Trail, more than 10 mile long linear park from Woodmont Street off of North Street in Northampton to Belchertown via Hadley and Amherst, [16].

• Pleasant St. Theater, Pleasant St off Main Street. This is a very small, independent theater with two screens. It shows independent films and foreign films.

• Look Park, Off Route 9, This park has a zoo, mini golf, tennis, picnic areas, playgrounds, a waterpark for small children, and a duck pond with paddle boats. It is also home to the Pines Theater, Noho's outdoor theater and concert hall.

• Scottie'sOn Route 9. Driving range, also serves burgers, fries, ice cream, etc. Has clam bakes weekly.

• Village Day Spa On Main St. in Florence. Adorable little salon and spa, relaxing getaway for a massage.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Thornes Marketplace 150 Main Street, +1 413 584-5582, [17]. An old department store that was converted into several unique boutique stores and restaurants.

• The Hempest 177 Main St. The largest selection of natural fiber clothing and accessories in the country. Ask about the endless benefits of hemp and you'll be blown away.

• Faces, 175 Main Street, +1 413 584-4081. This store has clothes and apartment or dorm housewares, but is most noted for its large bizarre toy section and huge selection of cards you would never find at Hallmark.

• Webs Yarn Store, 75 Service Center Road, +1 800 367-9327, [18]. One of the largest and most remarkable yarn stores in the country, noted for its size and its diversity of offerings for spinning, weaving, knitting, and crocheting.

• Sweetie's, Main St. Noho's favorite candy shop. All sorts of candies and chocolates, pay by weight.

• Synergy, Main St. Great shoe shop!

• The Mountain Goat, Main St. Great for outdoorsy apparel and shoes.

• Raven, Right off Main St, best used bookshop in town!

• Unite Footwear Main St, cutting edge of fashion and trends.

• Flowers A La Carte In Thornes Marketplace, Main Street, great place for fresh flowers.

• Turn It Up Pleasant St off Main St, great selection of used CDs. Also some VHS and DVDs. You can listen before you buy.

• Harlow Leather Main St, upscale travel store. Luggage, leather goods (wallets) bags and purses. Also a good place to buy travel items like money belts and toiletry cases.

[edit][add listing] Eat

This little town is full of restaurants, you can pretty much find anything you crave.

• Amanouz Cafe, 44 Main Street, +1 413 585-9128. Moroccan place, very tasty and inexpensive.
• Bela, 68 Masonic Street, +1 413 586-8011. Vegetarian restaurant, wholesome and delicious. Try the Harvest Burger!.
• Eastside Grill, 19 Strong Ave. +1 413 586-3347. This is where the locals go when they want to impress someone.
• Haymarket, 185 Main Street, +1 413 586-9969 . Many vegetarian and vegan options, plus delicious smoothies: try 9-1-1.
• Herrell's, 150 Main Street, Phone: +1 413 586-4837. Mo-Th, Su noon-10:30PM, Fr-Sa noon until midnight. Worth a special trip for the great ice cream. The servers will mix in ingredients called "smoosh-ins". Hot fudge sundaes and heavenly milkshakes available.
• India House 45 State Street, +1 413 586-6344. If you like Indian food, this is your place.
• Jake's, Breakfast-Brunch. Your typical diner (with diner coffee) but everything else is delicious. Try banana pancakes or waffles with strawberries and whipped cream.
• La Veracruzana, 31 Main Street, +1 413 586-7181. Authentic Mexican food.
• Mimmo's, 71 Pleasant Street, +1 413 584-1711. Largest pizza in the world (or at least the Pioneer Valley...or Noho).
• Paul & Elizabeth's, 150 Main Street, +1 413 584-4832.
• Pizarria Paradiso, 12 Crafts Av., +1 413 586-1468. A pizza place run by the same people who own Spoletos, so you can expect not just your standard pepperoni, but also carmalized onions with white sauce or calimari pizza.
• Spoletos, 50 Main Street, +1 413 586-6313. A fairly expensive restaurant but worth the prices. You won't be disappointed.
• Sylvester's, 11 Pleasant Street, +1 413 586-1418. Named after, and located in the house of, Sylvester Graham, inventor of the Graham cracker. Very popular place, especially for breakfast. The house and surroundings are beautiful, but the food can be a little hit or miss.
• Teapot Restaurant, 116 Main Street, +1 413 585-0500, [19]. Offers a mix of Chinese and Japanese cuisine, but serves surprisingly good sushi nonetheless.
• Osaka, 7 Old St. South, +1 413 587-9548. Regularly voted the best sushi restaurant and the best japanese restaurant in the Pioneer Valley, Osaka has great service, innovative sushi ideas, and, best of all, GIANT boats to eat your sushi off.
• Bueno y Sano, Main St, A mix of El Salvadorian, Mexican, and healthy foods. Known for big burritos, great vegetarian options, and the barbecue chicken burrito.
• Delivery Express, [20] has menus for several Northampton restaurants on their website, including many of those listed above. As their name implies, they deliver orders from these restaurants.
• Viva Fresh Pasta, Main Street, This small but cozy Italian place has excellent fresh homemade pastas and other traditional Italian favorites with a Valley twist. Try the sweet potato ravioli!
• Side Street Cafe This cafe is technically in Florence, a section of Northampton. Has great sandwiches, veggie-friendly, and soups. Great quality food and atmosphere.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Northampton Brewery, 11 Brewster Court, +1 413 584-9903. The Pioneer Valley's first brewpub, serving food this is as good as the beer is.
• Northampton Coffee and Tea, 269 Pleasant Street, +1 413 587-8987. Lovely, quiet, unpretentious, the best coffee in the Valley (fresh every hour), yummy treats. Free NYT on the tables each morning.
• The Dirty Truth, 29 Main St., Phone: +1 413 585-5999, [21]. Bar featuring 40 quality beers on tap.
• Toasted Owl Tavern, 21 Main St., Phone: +1 413 585-5088, [22].
• Woodstar Cafe, 60 Masonic Street, Phone: +1 413 585-9777. A popular place to get good coffee and great baked goods while enjoying free WiFi.
• Diva's Nightclub, 492 Pleasant Street, +1 413 586-8161, [23]. A GBLT nightclub with various theme-driven nights:
  • Tuesday: The Haven [24] (Goth, Industrial, Darkwave), Ages: 18+. The longest-running Goth/Industrial night in the area. (Goth/Alternative dress)
  • Wednesday: FM, 18+. The night starts out with Karaoke; and around 11PM, DJ Otis spins dance. There are drag shows on alternate weeks.
  • Thursday: 1980Something, 18+. 80's night - mostly new wave with some synthpop and goth/alternative thrown in. (80's/Goth/Alternative dress encouraged)
  • Friday: Sexyback, 18+. Hip-Hop night.
  • Saturday: Escape, 21+. "Be yourself"
• Tunnel Bar Located across from Pearl St Nightclub, underneath The Depot Restaurant. Swanky, in a tunnel. Leather armchairs and expensive, but tasty, martinis.
• Packard's Only bar that allows 18+, but only on the first floor. Serves food. Second and third floors have pool and foosball.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Autumn Inn, 259 Elm Street, +1 413 584-7660, [25]

• Best Western Valley Inn & Suites, 117 Conz Street, +1 413 586-1500, Toll-free: +1 800 941-3066, Fax: +1 413 586-6549, [26].

• Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, Exit 18 off I-91, +1 413 586-1211 [27].

• Hotel Northampton, 36 King Street. Phone: +1 413 584-3100, [28]. In the center of town: by far, the nicest place to stay. The staff is always friendly and accommodating. The building itself is historic.

[edit] Bed and breakfast

• Sugar Maple Trailside Inn, 62 Chestnut Street, Phone: +1 413 585-8559, Fax: +1 413 585-8559, [29].
• The Knoll Bed & Breakfast, 230 N. Main Street, Phone: +1 413 584-8164, [30].

[edit] Get out