Easton in a Day

If you’re looking for a place where you can shop a historic farmers’ market and easily amble to restaurants, galleries, antique stores, breweries, bookstores and cafés, drive up 611 North to Easton for the day. Situated at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers, it was a hotspot for the Founding Fathers; the city’s Center Square was one of three places where the Declaration of Independence was first read, on July 8, 1776. These days, Easton draws people with its charming architecture, proximity to nature and food, food, food.

With dozens of small farms within driving distance, the farmers’ market is central to Easton’s culinary consciousness; it’s not uncommon to see chefs picking up produce there. In 20 years, the Easton culinary scene grew from one brewery (Weyerbacher) and a few restaurants to three breweries and dozens of restaurants: you can find Indian, French, Italian, Japanese, Middle Eastern and African fare within the city’s scant 5-square-mile footprint. Eastonians are proud and happy to show you around—plus, we’re always hungry.

(top) Easton Farmers’ Market; (bottom) Quadrant Book Mart and Coffee Shop 

9AM
EASTON FARMERS’ MARKET
If it’s Saturday, start your day at the Easton Farmers’ Market the country’s oldest continuously operating open-air farmers market, dating to 1752. You can have coffee there or an early morning kombucha. Nab some fresh greens from one of its several produce vendors (many are organic), and hang out at Scott Park by the nexus of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers as a freight train chugs by and live music plays.

• QUICK TIP: If you’re not here on a Saturday during market hours, hit Easton Farmers’ Market’s sister spot, Easton Public Market.

10AM
BRUNCH AT QUADRANT BOOK MART AND COFFEE SHOP
Stop into the Quadrant Book Mart and Coffee Shop and browse the stacks of used books in two rambling stories while you wait for your breakfast, which never disappoints. Chef Arvids Danielsons and his mom, Jo Moranville, use whatever’s fresh and local. The conversation is typically wide ranging, the atmosphere reminiscent of old-school Greenwich Village haunts.

NOON
LUNCH AT DADDY’S PLACE
When you’re ready for lunch, head up Northampton Street to Daddy’s Place—a Lebanese spot full of homemade pita, hummus, tabbouleh, kebabs, fattoush and a wall of refrigerators chockablock with beers by the can. It’s casual and comfortable, with both indoor and outdoor seating. You can’t miss the pastry case full of Middle Eastern specialties, so save room for baklava.

Green Vida

2PM
SHOP AND EXPLORE
Easton is home to Crayola crayons, so you won’t be able to walk past the Crayola Experience without going in (if you’ve got kids). Otherwise, my favorite spots include the metaphysical wonderland The Loving Piece and all the antique stores (especially Easton Emporium, V. Murray’s Mercantile and Salvage Goods). Walk the Karl Stirner Arts Trail, a 1.6-mile paved trail along the Bushkill Creek named for Easton’s beloved sculptor and champion of the arts.

4PM
UNWIND AT GREEN VIDA
It’s that time of day: you’re not ready for dinner, but your feet are tired from all that walking. Enter one of Green Vida’s locations— one inside the public market, the other up the hill in nearby Forks township— for rejuvenating cold-pressed organic juices and responsibly sourced coffee and tea. You’ll be naturally energized by the two pounds of fruits and veggies contained in every bottle of juice.

Two Rivers Brewing Company

6PM
DINNER AT TWO RIVERS BREWING COMPANY
You’ll never want for culinary variety in Easton, but my favorite spot for dinner, hands down, is Two Rivers Brewing Company. The beers are award-winning and quirkily named in honor of local heroes, both living and dead. It’s where I always take someone who’s brand new to Easton. The eclectic menu has options for all kinds of diners, including locally famous burgers and chili. You’ll also find duck fat frites, short rib poutine, vegetable potstickers and a vegan bean burger.

9PM
DESSERT AT KHANISA’S
This charming family-run dessert specialist will make you rethink everything you thought was possible about pudding. Pudding cups are studded with add-ins such as brownies, graham crackers, marshmallows and fresh fruit. The Southern classic with banana is a signature choice, but my favorite is the peach cobbler, which combines vanilla pudding with wafer cookies, baked peaches and a brown sugar crumble. If you fall in love with the place, take home a pack of Khanisa’s instant pudding mix.

YOUR DAY AT A GLANCE
 

Easton Farmers’ Market
128 Larry Holmes Dr. on the
riverfront at Scott Park
610.330.9942
EastonFarmersMarket.com

Quadrant Book Mart and Coffee Shop
20 N. Third St.
610.252.1188

Daddy’s Place
650 Northampton St.
610.438.4442
DaddysPlaceEaston.com

Crayola Experience
30 Centre Sq.
610.515.8000
CrayolaExperience.com

Karl Stirner Arts Trail
524 Bushkill Dr.
610.250.6612
KarlStirnerArtsTrail.org

Green Vida Co.
1800 Sullivan Trail, Suite 330
610.438.4112

Two Rivers Brewing Company
542 Northampton St.
610.829.1131
TwoRiversBrewing.com

Khanisa’s
118 Northampton St.
484.895.8002
Khanisas.com