Visiting Richard Seelbach in Bygones Antiques is always an interesting occasion because tourists seem to be drawn there. The art he displays now outweighs the antiques, so conversations go in every direction. So…the tourists got me thinking!

What adventure could I find close at hand on a slightly chilly Saturday afternoon? I headed for Belle Grove Plantation and found its self-guided walking tour of the garden and out buildings is free and interesting to boot. The ice house, blacksmith shop and dairy are still intact, as is a line of trees planted long ago. I talked Valley history with a very nice man who was dog sitting his two shiztues while his wife toured the mansion. 

As I was leaving Middletown along Route 11 I saw an “Open” flag hanging from an old log cabin and pulled over on a whim. What I thought was an antique store turned out to be the Civil Cricket Cafe, a new restaurant at 7868 Main Street. Robert Mangus had just opened that day. We chatted Strasburg, as his friend Tony made an excellent Breve for me and Robert’s sister was busy in the kitchen preparing food which she brought to the counter so we could all share.

Civil Cricket Table

She created a grilled sandwich to perfection with black-forest ham, a layer of fresh basil, Bree and a hint of raspberry on a grain bread Panini. Perfection is not an overstatement. It was light, slightly crunchy, warm, delicious and deserved my return visit the other night when I was fortunate to meet the General Manager Howard Hoover.  These guys are fun to talk to, have a clean and interesting cafe and serve up crab cakes and other dinner items worth the trip. They are open late to catch folks coming out of the playhouse.

Later that evening I felt the need for a little nightlife so walked across the street to visit Irene at the Strasburg Theater. The Greek Salad and fresh, cooked to order hamburger entice me as much as the thought of music and friends. The cheesecake is to die for, and the place is comfortable even for someone traveling alone. Tourists from the Hotel Strasburg were there as were many locals. Hummmmmm this is making me hungry. I’ll let you know what else I find wandering around our neck of the woods. 

Marcy McCann is a writer who lives in the Shenandoah Valley.  Her book, “Chelsea’s Tree,” is available on My Whole Family.com

 This series was first carried on www.Shenandoah.com