eub | things to do in Western Mass

This is for Ralph and Lori, but if anyone else is trying to figure out what to do in WMass...

walk around Northampton and see what catches your eye.
see who's playing at the Iron Horse.
browse Beyond Words (new) and the Raven (used) in N'ton. lots of worthwhile bookstores, really.
also browse the flyers on the Amherst bus stops.
if the weather's nice, go up to the Mt. Holyoke summit house (as in the hill rather than the college).
for a walk (maybe a mile?) rather than a drive, Bare Mountain at the Notch.
ice cream: Bart's in Amherst, Herrell's in Northampton -- compare/contrast.
SF and mysteries and games: Space-Crime Continuum in N'ton.
sushi (and Chinese, but it's good sushi): Taipei and Tokyo in N'ton.
preferred Chinese: Amherst Chinese (see if they still have pea shoots).
pies and cider and donuts: Atkins Farms near Amh.
music: For the Record in Amh.
knitting: Webb's in N'ton.
Emily Dickinson's house is in Amh.
read the Advocate and see what's going on.
read the UMass paper and see if there are any demonstrations you want to demonstrate at.
the "h" in "Amherst" is silent.
it's a liberal-minded earthy-crunchy alternative-lifestyle area -- some of which I mock, but I miss it in Pittsburgh.

(more detail available.)

(actually, UMass graduation is the 26th, so Amherst will be swamped that weekend. at all costs do not take Rt 9 from Amherst to Northampton and I-91, as I believe the Coolidge Bridge is still being worked on -- take 116 instead of 91. hey, rent bikes and take the Amherst-Northampton bike path.)