GETAWAYS
Owego Small town charm on the Susquehanna River STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE A. SMYCZYNSKI Parkview Pub
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he village of Owego, New York, is a great place for a day trip, mother-daughter getaway, or girl’s excursion, with its quaint, walkable downtown shopping district filled with boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, and cafes. The village, located along the Susquehanna River just west of Binghamton, about three hours from Buffalo, was named “The Coolest Small Town in America,” by Budget Travel Magazine in 2009. Most of the shops and restaurants are located in restored nineteenth century buildings along Front and Lake Streets dubbed the Historic Owego Marketplace. the oldest functioning courthouse in and I were intrigued by all the shops; Originally called Ahwaga, “where the village widens,” by the Iroquois New York State. however, my husband and three sons Owego is a good stopping point if weren’t as eager, so we girls decided Nation, the village was founded in you are traveling to points southeast that we would have to return by 1800. As you cross the bridge over the of Buffalo. The first time I visited was ourselves another time to explore Susquehanna River to get to Owego, note the prominent building at the with my family on our way home without anyone hurrying us along. end of the bridge. That’s the Tioga from vacation when we decided to Jennifer and I took a day trip to County courthouse; built in 1872, it’s stop for lunch. My daughter, Jennifer, Owego three years ago, during her
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Spring has Sprung at Vinecroft! Buffalo Living Tour - Welcome to our Carnival
Saturday, April 13th, 9 am - 5 pm
For Independent Seniors
Maintenance Free Apartments and Patio Homes Make Our Neighborhood Your Neighborhood!
Magicians Rob & Carol 10:30-11:30 pm Singer Kathy Beck 1-2 pm Dick O’Dell - Dixie Jazz Band 2:30-3:30 pm Food will be served all day.
Open House
Friday, May 3rd, 1 pm-3 pm
Call For a Tour | 716.741.7741 | 5945 Vinecroft Drive | Clarence Center, NY 14032 | www.vinecroft.org 24
www.foreveryoungwny.com | April 2019
spring break from college. We started browsing on Front Street at the Goat Boy (175 Front Street), which carries all sorts of things we like, including Vera Bradley items, Polish pottery, jewelry, and gift items. Across the street, East of the Sun, West of the Moon (206 Front Street), specializes in handcrafted items, especially jewelry and pottery. They even have handcrafted kaleidoscopes. A few doors down, The Black Cat (214 Front Street), has artwork, as well as handcrafted items. The Left Bank (194 Front Street), features French shabby chic décor, along with a selection of jewelry, antiques, and laces, while Katie’s Kreations (188 Front Street) has a large selection of jewelry, including Wind & Fire jewelry, which is made in the USA from recycled brass. You could spend hours browsing through The Hand of Man (180 Front Street), as there are literally thousands of items to choose from, including Christmas ornaments, nutcrackers, nesting dolls, antique dolls, glassware, gourmet foods, candles, lotions, and much more. For lunch, we headed to the River Rose Café, located in the back of the Hand of Man. There is indoor seating, plus an outdoor deck that overlooks the Susquehanna River Bridge. We happened to be there on a sunny March day when temperatures were in the 70s, so we enjoyed our lunch on the deck. The menu consists of salads, sandwiches, and paninis, some named after people from Owego’s past. Another dining option is Carol’s Coffee & Art Bar (177 Front Street) which has homemade bagels, soups, salads, and sandwiches, as well as a variety of coffee beverages and baked goods, and displays the work of local artists. After lunch, we explored some of the shops along Lake Street, including the Riverow Bookshop at the corner of Front and Lake Streets, which has new and used books at discounted prices. If you like antiques, be sure to stop at the Early Owego Antique Center. This 21,000-square-foot antique center, located in the former