Northfield, VT

Last night, after a well-attended Norwich University summer barbecue, several folks headed over to Northfield’s newest establishment—The Knotty Shamrock. It's on East Street, across from Common off Main Street in Northfield.

Hits the Mark

After weeks of speculation as to what the newly renovated downtown storefront would look like, it had its grand opening last week. Modeled after a traditional Irish pub, complete with ornate barbacking, and rich interior décor, the Knotty Shamrock also seems to be having a little fun with itself. Amid pub favorites such as Irish stew and pot pie was the Greek Salad…with Irish cucumbers. I love it!

Good Service, Too

The service was spectacular. Our waitress took several orders at once, remembered them, and was quick and professional. All of the tables were full, as were most of the seats at the long bar. Business was definitely booming in Northfield last night.

Sock Sale in Northfield, VT

Vermont is a different place than just about anywhere else in the country. It might be a different time too. Who knows, I love it. But a Cabot Hosiery Sock Sale on Hunters' Widows Weekend? Again, I love it!

Saturday marks the beginning of rifle hunting season for deer, and it's a big deal for a lot of families. That's not necessarily unique to Vermont. I grew up in Michigan, and it was always a question whether there would be enough kids in the schools on the first day of hunting season to count as a state sanctioned school day. I think the cutoff was 70% attendance.

But, Vermont is different. Cabot Hosiery has its annual Sock Sale in Northfield, VT. That's right. Socks. Made right in the United States. Right in Vermont. I've been to the Sock Sale, and it's just what you might expect. That was a joke. Please tell me you don't have any expectations of what a Sock Sale looks like.

They open up the factory, and people line up to get in. You can buy trash bag sized bags of mismatched socks (how many pairs there are is either an exercise in probability, or a fun sorting game). You can buy regular old paired socks. And they're very good quality. I know families that get a couple years of socks for everyone all on one day, plus there's usually enough for gifts for distanced relatives.

Yeah, I know. Socks. But if you're anywhere around Northfield this Saturday, stop by. The sale is the next two weekends (11/13-11/14 and 11/20-11/21) from 8:30 to 4:30. Cabot Hosiery is just off Route 12, north of the town of Northfield (toward Montpelier). You don't have to buy anything, but why wouldn't you?

These girls get major credit for being in the ENTIRE Northfield Labor Day Parade. Snacks helped, but the older cutie (Josephine) had a blast waving at all the people along the parade route. The younger cutie (Willoughby) is just learning to walk, and I was surprised that she was content riding at all.

Fred, Ann, Jane, and Alice joined me in what is probably Vermont's biggest Labor Day celebration. We even followed all of the rules, and we didn't throw candy. We did, however, hand out hundreds of pieces of candy--mostly to children, but not always.

It was great fun, seeing all the faces of people I know and work with in Northfield. Jason (a coworker of my wife's at Norwich University) even conceded that the town is, in fact, big enough for the both of us. Inside joke...

I like to tell my daughter that, "Daddy can do anything!" This weekend in Northfield, I'm putting that to the test. I'm hosting four open houses on the same day, at more or less the same time.

It turns out that I work in a very cooperative office. Fred, Charlie, and Tim are all going to help. I love that everyone pitches in.

I figure that people can get a good sampling of the Northfield, VT real estate market in a quick morning of touring.

Here's the agenda:

390 Dickinson Drive: 10:00-12:00

57 Warren Avenue: 12:00-2:00

309 South Main Street: 12:00-2:00

34 Route 12 South: 12:00-2:00

Really quickly, here are two things I love about Northfield, VT.

1. The playground at the Northfield Elementary School has the best playground views I've ever seen. Do yourself a favor if you haven't (and if you're moving to Northfield, and have kids, you're DEFINITELY going to want to do this), take the 80-something stairs to the upper playground. You'll see what I mean.

Many of you know that I used to teach 2nd grade at Northfield Elementary. That's how I know about the playground. I remember being up there are recess duty and wondering about what view my flatlander teacher friends had.

2. The pool/playground/skate park at the end of King Street. It's right in town, and it's easy to walk there, but you won't just accidentally walk past it. So, again, if you're moving to Northfield, VT, go there. I'm not sure when the pool actually opens. Also, the really long slide is wwwaaaayyyy less fun than it looks. Insider tip: Don't go on it.

More to come, but I can't be tied down to the constraints of a posting schedule. It's more of a free flow...

Oh, and Kyle--this post isn't about you either.