walkabout: easton

 Today I registered for a walk in Stroudsburg at the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center. I had zero motivation to go. And it's odd because I had wanted to. They have a maple syrup operation and there was going to be a 90 minute presentation there. The event was from 11-3. With an hour drive each direction I would have been out for 6 hours. Six hours away from Pat. 

I wasn't going with anyone, or meeting anyone, and it was just too easy to say the hell with it. I've seen maple syrup made before so there was no attraction there. Although buying some fresh would have been nice. I think my lack of motivation was really in the reminder email: "we'll hike 2-3 miles on easy to moderately difficult trails.The two loop trails across the road from the EEC are clear of ice, although steep in some areas. Hiking poles are recommended." My knees don't like steep. I also wasn't fond of "difficult".

 

But I had already told Angel I was stopping for some books and to pick up my laptop. So I had to go to Easton. I sent her an email asking if she wanted to roam downtown or do the art trail. She said downtown. A few minutes later she sent a text. "First stop is Pie+Tart." Well that's counter productive. Plus I'm not really a pie person.

Pie+Tart is across from the State Theatre. It's tiny. In fact there is no seating or even a lobby. You stand outside in the cold,or the heat and you wait like you are in New York City. The "door"of the building is more of a Dutch door with a slide window on top. The menu is in the store window. 

I had a cheese and broccoli hand-pie. There was ricotta, mozz, Asiago, and so many more cheese in it. I think she listed six. The texture was fabulous and the dough melted in   your mouth. They have both sweet and savory. Apparently they also have breakfast pies but you need to get there early to get one. Angel said by 8:30 they are gone. I sense the pie makers are Australian. So no need to worry about Sweeny Todd back there making pies. (marketing genius is that show was across the street. Or even Waitress.)

But I digress because Pie+Tart was not our first stop. We went to Jersey for gas. It was $3.85. Here I've seen it as high as $4.28. Then we parked at 2nd and Northampton and started walking. The circle is ripped up, again. So we got to walk in the street. 

Before Pie+Tart there is a new mural.

Driving down I saw a new mural. When we finished eating our pies — outside on the sidewalk — we continued walk west, heading up towards Porter's Pub. We walked past a Colombian restaurant that was opening for the day. Angel had actually eaten there and said it's good. Thinking about Colombian food I actually went to far. Angel had to call me back.

That huge cat will get anybody's attention. 

 

We headed down the other side of Northampton and at the tattoo shop Angel saw this sign on the door. It's the best. 

 Continuing back toward downtown, we  moved into the street to go to the Farmer's Market. I was not shocked to see storage crops like apples, potatoes,carrots, turnips and beets. I was surprised to see greens.

When we returned to the square we stopped in Book & Puppet. Angel ran into an artist colleague—Nere Kapiteni—and remarked that if she had know she was working she would have brought a copy of the book she contributed to for her. I had one in the car so we walked back to the car, got the book, and returned to the store.

Then we headed up Third to Spring Garden and went to Angel's old apartment building. The Indian Restaurant is now a dog treat store—Bella's Bistro Pet Wellness & Dog Cafe. Finally we headed back to the car.

Lots of stopping. Lots of photos, but I got my fat ass out there and did something. Now to do it again tomorrow.

Miles/Steps:  My phone said 2.5 miles. That seems high, but I'll take it.
Weather:       mid-40s, sunny, breezy
PPE Found:    A lot.