Where to Eat
1. Bartlett Pear Inn
After eight years of serving some of Easton’s most sublime dinners, Bartlett Pear Inn is now open only for breakfast and lunch (private parties for dinner). Go for flatbreads topped with ground lamb, bowls of grilled veggies over quinoa, and grilled cheese sandwiches pumped up with slices of beef short rib and brandied cherries. 28 S. Harrison St.; 410-770-3300.
2. Bas Rouge
With its gilded chandeliers and rich continental cuisine, Easton’s newest fine-dining destination feels more Old Europe than Old Eastern Shore. The prix fixe dinners roam from tuna tartare to braised pot-au-feu and run $85 to $100 per person. Pricey, yes, but cheaper than a flight to Charles de Gaulle. 19 Federal St.; 410-822-1637.
3. Hill’s Café and Juice Bar
Wander beyond the bottles of Milk of Magnesia and Bayer aspirin and you’ll discover this petite luncheonette at the back of historic Hill’s Drug Store. Grab a stool at the circa-1928 marble counter and order a malted milkshake with your chicken-salad sandwich. Local gossip comes free. 32 E. Dover St.; 410-822-9751.
4. Krave Courtyard
There’s no prettier setting for an al fresco lunch in Easton than on this cafe’s brick-lined patio. Sample the sandwiches on house-made bread or order a mug of soup and watch the world go by along Dover Street. 12 W. Dover St.; 410-980-5588.
Where to Shop
1. Bountiful Interiors
Washingtonians with second homes on the Eastern Shore hit Bountiful Interiors to furnish their houses in Tidewater style. Interior designers help customers navigate the 20,000-square-foot showroom to pick out the perfect glass-topped cocktail table, pheasant-print pillow, or outdoor chaise. 218 N. Washington St.; 410-819-8666.
2. Dragonfly Boutique
Miles, a Jack Russell terrier, might be first to greet you at this popular women’s clothing shop carrying a thoughtful selection of Sail to Sable resortwear, Trina Turk cocktail dresses, GiGi purses, Paige jeans, and shirts by Island Company and Fifteen Twenty. 21 Goldsborough St.; 410-763-9262.
3. Frugalicious
This consignment shop is the place for good deals on designer duds by Prada, Ferragamo, and Gucci, as well as bargains on lightly worn items from Talbots and J. Crew. Recent finds: a python-print Escada jacket ($148), a St. John knit top ($45), and a new $3,200 Chanel bag ($900). 5 N. Harrison St.; 410-822-3355.
4. Troika Gallery
Each year from April to December, Easton celebrates its arts scene on the first Friday night of every month with gallery walks, and artist-owned Troika has been hosting art lovers from the start. Stop by any day to check out the works by a mix of regional, national, and international artists. 9 S. Harrison St.; 410-770-9190.
What to Do
1. Academy Art Museum
Easton has been named one of America’s best small arts towns, and this museum is a big reason why. This spring, see marble and bronze sculpture by Shelley Robzen, print and collage creations by Steven Ford, and the touring exhibition “FABRICation,” a collection of works utilizing colorful fabrics by seven artists. 106 South St.; 410-822-2787.
2. Avalon Theatre
When the Avalon opened in 1922, it was billed as the “showplace of the Eastern Shore.” It still is. The beautifully restored Art Deco movie house is the place to see live music in the area. This month’s highlights include singer/songwriter Richard Shindell, bluegrass musicians the Lonely Heartstring Band, and the Count Basie Orchestra. 40 E. Dover St.; 410-822-7299.
3. Eastern Shore Food Tours
Bill and Kathy Bernard’s tours are a great way to get a taste of the local cuisine as well as local history. Tour-goers meet Easton’s chefs and food-related business owners while sampling the goods and learning from the Bernards about events that shaped the town. $59 per person; tours also offered in St. Michaels and Cambridge. 443-786-4471; eatingeaston.com.
4. Easton Cycle and Sport
The Eastern Shore is flat, which means bicycling is an excellent way to get around. This shop rents hybrids and road bikes and supplies Talbot County bike maps. It also rents kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, for those who’d like to splash about the Tred Avon River. Reservations recommended. 723 Goldsborough St.; 410-822-7433.
This article appears in the April 2017 issue of Washingtonian.
