Brattleboro: Rain, Regret, and Really Weird Potatoes
okay, so like, i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. brattleboro, vermont. it’s… a thing. i landed here yesterday, and honestly, the first thing i checked was the weather: i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. 94% humidity, 1019 pressure - feels like -3.34, temp min -3.5. it’s clinging to everything. like a damp wool blanket.
I was supposed to be photographing the covered bridges, you know? the whole ‘new england charm’ thing. but the rain… it’s relentless. it’s not a gentle rain, it’s a determined rain. like it’s actively trying to wash away all traces of optimism. i ended up mostly wandering around, dodging puddles and trying not to slip on the cobblestones.
I stumbled into this place called ‘The Root Cellar’ - it’s a bar, i think? more like a dimly lit, slightly sticky cavern filled with locals nursing beers and arguing about something involving maple syrup. someone told me that the bartender, Silas, used to be a competitive cheese sculptor. seriously. a cheese sculptor.
Speaking of locals, there’s this guy, Bartholomew, who runs the antique shop across the street. he’s got this whole ‘eccentric collector’ vibe going on - wears a tweed jacket, perpetually smells of mothballs, and insists that his porcelain dolls are communicating with him. i overheard him telling someone that he’d found a Victorian mourning brooch with a tiny portrait of a badger. a badger!
I tried to find some decent coffee. seriously, the coffee here is… an experience. it’s strong, it’s dark, and it tastes vaguely of disappointment. i ended up at ‘Brew & Bloom’ - it’s cute, but the barista, Chloe, kept calling my latte ‘a beige blob.’ i’m not even kidding.
I also checked out TripAdvisor and Yelp - someone told me that the ‘Brattleboro Bagelry’ has the best bagels in the state, but the reviews are… mixed. mostly just people complaining about the wait times. i’m gonna risk it. gotta get my carb fix somehow. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g33848-Brattleboro_Vermont.html
And the potatoes. oh my god, the potatoes. i was at this farmer’s market - it was… intense. rows and rows of potatoes. different shapes, different sizes, different shades of brown. someone warned me that the local potato growers are fiercely competitive and will defend their spuds with their lives. i saw a heated debate about the optimal method for peeling a russet. it was a whole thing.
If you get bored, Keene, nh is just a short drive away. or maybe Lebanon? i don’t know, i’m losing track.
I’m staying at this weird little B&B called ‘The Sparrow’s Nest.’ it’s run by a woman named Agnes who collects vintage teacups and talks to her houseplants. she keeps telling me that the robin in the garden is trying to tell me something. i’m starting to think she’s right.
I need to find a decent signal. my data is dying. and i’m pretty sure i just saw a squirrel wearing a tiny hat. brattleboro, you’re officially messing with my head. https://www.yelp.com/directory/restaurants/brattleboro-vermont
Seriously, though, it’s… quiet. in a unsettling way. like the whole town is holding its breath.
I’m going to go find that bagel. wish me luck.