This is a love letter to Northampton.
Northampton, I love you just about every day, but I especially loved you on Saturday, October 11th. I started my day walking from my home near downtown to Pulaski Park for the “Community Service Meet Up With Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra,” where I was greeted with hot coffee, donuts, and handed a black trash bag and some bright red work gloves.
Then, about 30 of us volunteers broke into bunches of two and three and fanned out across the park and picked up trash for over an hour. There were occasional pit stops as some of us circled back to the card table holding the donuts. But mainly we worked hard filling our trash bags while Mayor Sciarra greeted people and picked up trash. We had a great time, and when we left, Pulaski Park looked pristine and welcoming.
After the Community Service Meet Up in the park, I walked further into town passing several tents on the sidewalk selling all kinds of Halloween and witchy stuff. Plus many people around the tents were dressed as witches, and there seemed to be a cauldron of some brew boiling. It was festive and fun, and I could not help but smile at each elaborately dressed witch as I poked around the witchy goods for sale.
Further down Main Street, I passed a sign in the window at Tart Bakery that read, “CNN Travel says: ‘Tart Baking Co. makes Almond Croissants that rank among the best in the country.’” I thought: you go Tart Bakery! And you go Northampton!
Walking further down Main Street, I found a stage built in front of Thorne’s Marketplace with two young musicians performing a terrific set of indie folk music. A crowd gathered, a few people danced, big applause, and a tip jar!
As I walked, I enjoyed seeing signs of how that brilliant October Saturday afternoon was riding on the cusp of summer to fall, and people’s attire reflected that. Folks of all ages were downtown wearing tank-tops and T-shirts, while others wore parkas and wooly hats. I loved seeing a neon bright pink parka, shorts, long skirts, winter coats, cowboy boots, big earrings, and lots of terrific clunky jewelry.
Passing Tunic Coffee, I stopped to enjoy the autumn-themed artwork painted on the window. With others, I admired the images of pumpkins and other representations of fall.
Down at the A.P.E. Gallery, I was inspired by the colorful, beautiful, indescribable artwork in the window — provocative vessels, tubes, horns, and paintings. Stunning and memorizing. A woman next to me staring at the artwork through the window said quietly to no one, “I love it.” I then said aloud, “I love it too.”
I also enjoyed seeing people eating outside at Bueno y Sano, Gombo, Amanouz and other downtown eateries. It felt like our city was holding a street fair but it was just an ordinary Saturday in October.
Passing Strada, I went inside to visit the black loafers with heels I have been thinking about buying. The sales clerk looked at me with a grin and said, “You’re back. I think this is the fourth time!” We chatted about how I had to stop visiting the shoes and actually buy them. “They are really already yours,” he said with a smile. I bought the shoes.
I ducked into Sweeties for a treat and found the place all a-twitter because a high school senior had chosen Sweeties for the setting to have her senior picture taken. So much joy!
I finally make it to Fitzwilly’s and went inside to burrow into one of their cozy booths near the back for my lunch date with my son. Fitzwilly’s was packed and buzzing with activity — loud, alive, boisterous, wonderful energy. It was a pleasure to be there and feel part of the scene. Great food and a terrific lunch with my beloved son, now the father of two kids of his own.
Walking home after lunch, passing Zephyr Rugs (with the most beautiful blue and red Persian rug hanging out front), I thought about how much I love Northampton.
Having lived here since 1980, this city is precious to me. Northampton is where I met my husband, where we were married, where our son was born, and where he went through public school.
Northampton is the place where my husband and I bought a home almost 40 years ago, the place where my younger sister and her wife live. Decades ago, I called my sister and told her, “I have moved to a fabulous little city. Come visit me, you may want to move here.” And she did. This is the city my parents retired to when they left New Jersey, and this place is home to the church where I was ordained a Christian pastor.
This is the Valley where I have had many different jobs, served on countless boards of directors, and taught at three of the Five Colleges.
This is the Valley where my son, his wife, and baby girl chose to move to when they left Austin, Texas, after so many years in that city. The place that welcomed them home and surrounded them with love.
Northampton is progressive, beautiful, diverse, and vibrant. I am proud of our mayor and our teachers, grateful to our shopkeepers, health care providers, elected officials, and city workers. I love our schools and deeply appreciate our local hospital. I am thankful for those who work in fast food places and auto body shops on King Street and those who work in dentist offices on Elm Street.
I honk and wave at those who vigil for peace in front of the courthouse and appreciate those who plow our city streets.
Back home on Saturday at dinnertime, I ended my day by calling Nourish Café fifteen minutes before they were to close. “Jackie, is that you?” I said when a woman answered the phone. “Yes, Andrea,” she said. “Need your Acai Bowl?” “Yes,” I said. “I need my Acai Bowl, will I make it before you close?” “We’ll wait for you,” Jackie said, “Come on down.”
I love Northampton. I feel lucky and blessed to call this city my home.
The Rev. Andrea Ayvazian, Ministerial Team, Alden Baptist Church, Springfield, is also founder and director of the Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership.