07-02-2010, 05:58 PM
This afternoon a friend emailed me about my dinner plans this evening.
As it happens, despite a visiting sister and brother-in-law, I am free. Mr. Garrett and HRH Princess Shannon Alexandra, Mrs. Garrett, have made plans to attend the ball game tonight with our parents. I respectfully declined the invitation to join them. Sitting in a ballpark just isn't my cup of tea, I'm afraid.
And so I suggested to my friend that we drive up the river to the quaint Village of Lewiston: there are any number of charming outdoor cafes along Center Street (the main drag), and a couple of places overlooking the Niagara Gorge.
Lewiston has been called "enchanted" by many. Every other house and public building seems to have a ghost story. In fact each October there are very well-attended "ghost tours" of Lewiston led by experts in the fields of "paranormal" research.
According to the "ghosties", Lewiston is a hotbed of other-worldy activity because it has paranormally supercharged properties to it. It is located next to one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World (Niagara Falls), it sits upon an ancient escarpment, it has a rich Native American history, and it was a focal point of the War of 1812: Fort Niagara is about five minutes north, in neighboring Youngstown. For all these reasons and others, ghost hunters think the place is some sort of portal to another world.
In the Summer, however, Lewiston is mostly haunted with Western New Yorkers and Southern Ontarians descending upon the village for concerts, festivals, shows...and for dinner, of course. There are no bad choices, there. There used to be a McDonald's on Center Street. It was located on the first floor of an old manse called the Frontier House: a building reported to be one of the most haunted buildings in all of Lewiston. For that reason, it was always referred to as "The Haunted McDonald's" by visitors.
Residents of Lewiston, on the other hand, had another word for McDonald's: "goodbye". Lewistonians, proud of their community's antiquarian charm, never warmed to the idea of having a fast food chain in their midst. So they took a vote one day, and sent Roy Croc, Inc. packing for good. Now the Frontier House is called "The Haunted McDonald's That Used to Be There" by vistors. Despite having been the Frontier House for something like 180 years, I think it will forever be known as "The Haunted McDonald's".
Haunted, open, closed, or otherwise, however, in a place like Lewiston, there is absolutely no need for a McDonald's when so many other lovely choices abound. And if it's fast food you crave, there's the Silo: a much better alternative to McDonald's, in any case.
As the name implies, it was once a silo (although it looks more like a lighthouse; don't picture a typical farm silo). It is located on the Gorge and seating is on a wonderful "patio" that stretches around the upper level of the tower, providing magnificent views.
I think Paul and I may opt for Carmello's, however. It's an Italian place on Center that's to die for.
Enough about my dinner plans, though. What about you? Where do other Hanoverians (or visitors) go to dine in their own communities in the Summer?
As it happens, despite a visiting sister and brother-in-law, I am free. Mr. Garrett and HRH Princess Shannon Alexandra, Mrs. Garrett, have made plans to attend the ball game tonight with our parents. I respectfully declined the invitation to join them. Sitting in a ballpark just isn't my cup of tea, I'm afraid.
And so I suggested to my friend that we drive up the river to the quaint Village of Lewiston: there are any number of charming outdoor cafes along Center Street (the main drag), and a couple of places overlooking the Niagara Gorge.
Lewiston has been called "enchanted" by many. Every other house and public building seems to have a ghost story. In fact each October there are very well-attended "ghost tours" of Lewiston led by experts in the fields of "paranormal" research.
According to the "ghosties", Lewiston is a hotbed of other-worldy activity because it has paranormally supercharged properties to it. It is located next to one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World (Niagara Falls), it sits upon an ancient escarpment, it has a rich Native American history, and it was a focal point of the War of 1812: Fort Niagara is about five minutes north, in neighboring Youngstown. For all these reasons and others, ghost hunters think the place is some sort of portal to another world.
In the Summer, however, Lewiston is mostly haunted with Western New Yorkers and Southern Ontarians descending upon the village for concerts, festivals, shows...and for dinner, of course. There are no bad choices, there. There used to be a McDonald's on Center Street. It was located on the first floor of an old manse called the Frontier House: a building reported to be one of the most haunted buildings in all of Lewiston. For that reason, it was always referred to as "The Haunted McDonald's" by visitors.
Residents of Lewiston, on the other hand, had another word for McDonald's: "goodbye". Lewistonians, proud of their community's antiquarian charm, never warmed to the idea of having a fast food chain in their midst. So they took a vote one day, and sent Roy Croc, Inc. packing for good. Now the Frontier House is called "The Haunted McDonald's That Used to Be There" by vistors. Despite having been the Frontier House for something like 180 years, I think it will forever be known as "The Haunted McDonald's".
Haunted, open, closed, or otherwise, however, in a place like Lewiston, there is absolutely no need for a McDonald's when so many other lovely choices abound. And if it's fast food you crave, there's the Silo: a much better alternative to McDonald's, in any case.
As the name implies, it was once a silo (although it looks more like a lighthouse; don't picture a typical farm silo). It is located on the Gorge and seating is on a wonderful "patio" that stretches around the upper level of the tower, providing magnificent views.
I think Paul and I may opt for Carmello's, however. It's an Italian place on Center that's to die for.
Enough about my dinner plans, though. What about you? Where do other Hanoverians (or visitors) go to dine in their own communities in the Summer?