Rainy winter Saturday with no plans? If it’s the first Saturday of the month why not head to Western Avenue Open Studios. About a half hour drive up Rt 3 (25 miles northwest of Boston) and you are in the Mill City considered the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution. Arriving about noon, we decided to give Four Sister’s Owl Diner at 244 Appleton a try.
I have always enjoyed an old fashioned diner especially if I can sit on a stool at the counter and watch my home fries sizzle on the flat top. We were not disappointed. Joe enjoyed the Hungry Owl and I devoured a Dutton omelette, filled with home made corned beef hash and a health dose of American cheese, wheat toast and hand-cut crisp tender home fries.
Just about a mile away you’ll find the Western Avenue Studios and Lofts (122 Western Avenue, Lowell) reportedly the largest artist community on the eastern seaboard. Open Studios take place on the first Saturday of the month from noon to 5pm. The Lofts consist of 50 live/work lofts giving visitors an opportunity to meet a variety of artists in their home studios (on this post holiday Saturday less than a handful of lofts were open).
The studio building houses 250 work only artist spaces on 5 floors. It’s a maze of artists of all types, there’s something for everyone from photography and paintings to woodworkers and knitters. The hallways serve as galleries that delight at every turn. We were especially enchanted with Bruce Wood’s creations (studio #427). The studio building is also home to Navigation Brewery Company where we stopped in for a pint of their double IPA and the Coffee Porter.
And lucky for me, one of Karen Chistian’s little bird followed us home!
WonderingWanderingAnne 