• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

When it’s not hunting season, Easton is the busy seat of Talbot County government, a “weekday” town, as opposed to the weekend town of St. Michaels. Courthouse-related activity and shoppers keep the streets busy all day, but most businesses are locked up tight by 5 pm. Unlike most Colonial towns that have built progressively newer and bigger courthouses, the original 1712 courthouse is still in use, albeit expanded over the years (tel. 410-770-8001). The historic downtown is full of antiques shops, boutiques, art galleries, coffee shops and interesting restaurants.

Attractions

Academy Art Museum hosts changing exhibits of national and regional artists in an 1820s schoolhouse, merged with another 19th-century building. There are five galleries, art and dance studios, and a library. The museum is open Monday-Saturday, 10 am-4 pm; Wed­nesday until 9 pm. (106 South Street, tel. 410-822-2787, www.art-academy.org)

Historical Society of Talbot County has three historic houses, a museum, antiques shop and award-winning Federal-style gardens. Pick up a self-guided walking tour brochure of town here. Admission is free. Open Tuesday-Friday, 11 am-3 pm; Saturday, 10 am-4 pm. (25 S. Washington Street, tel. 410-822-0773, www.hstc.org)

When it was built in 1921, the art deco Historic Avalon Theatre brought the latest in silent films and live vaudeville shows to Easton. Today, restored to its former glory, the marquee bills performing arts, community events and educational programs (40 E. Dover Street, tel. 410-822-0345, www.avalontheatre.com). Each year the theater hosts The Eastern Shore Chamber Music Festival for two weeks in June (tel. 410-819-0380, www.bluecrab.org/escmf).

Local historians claim the Third Haven Friends Meetinghouse (1682) is the oldest religious building still in use in the country, and the earliest dated building in the state. There’s a small museum and gardens you can walk through. (405 S. Washington Street, tel. 410-822-0293)

Dining

See also The Tidewater Inn and The Inn at Easton, under Lodging, below.

Eagle Spirits Restaurant and Flagstix Bar & Grill in the Easton Club serve entrées from sandwiches to seafood entrees in the elegant dining room, at the bar, or on the patio (28449 Clubhouse Drive, tel. 410-820-4100, www.eastonclub.com). Restaurant Columbia in a 1795 historic home, serves dinner with white linens, crystal and candlelight. Original artwork and fresh flowers complete the ambience. (28 South Washington Street, tel. 410-770-5172)

At General Tanuki’s, cuisine from Pacific Rim countries is the specialty of the house, with Thai, Hawaiian, Filipino, Japanese, Vietnamese, and even some Californian samplings (25 Goldsborough Street, tel. 410-819-0707). Out of the Fire Café & Wine Bar serve California and Mediterranean cuisine (22 Goldsborough Street, tel. 410-770-4777, http://outofthefire.com).

Breakfast and lunch at Hill’s Soda Fountain in Hill’s Pharmacy cost under $5. Sit on a twirly stool at the marble counter or one of the café tables, and order a malt and a burger, just like they’ve been serving for 75 years (30 East Dover Street, tel. 410-822-2666). Coffee East is a combination coffee shop, bakery, ice cream fountain, café, and wine and brew bar. It actually occupies two buildings in the historic district. High ceilings, large windows and wooden floors create an airy, hip and comfortable atmosphere for chatting over a cup or glass of your favorite beverage (5 Goldsborough Street, tel. 410-819-6711). Old Mill Market & Deli serves homemade soups and sandwiches (1021 N. Washington Street, tel. 410-822-9613), Mason’s sells gourmet food items and has a café (22 S. Harrison Street, tel. 410-822-3204), and Olde Towne Creamery dishes up ice cream, smoothies, sundaes and Italian ice (9B Goldsborough Street, tel. 410-820-5223).

The Hunters Tavern Restaurant is renowned for its classic regional American menu, serving lunch and dinner daily, and an exceptional Sunday brunch. (101 E. Dover Street, tel. 410-822-1300