It is often said that by Halloween, most college students have acclimated to life on their respective campuses and are content. Yet, students can always benefit from a change of scenery.
If you are seeking a new place to study, if used bookstores appeal to you, or if you would like a cozy place to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate other than Starbucks, you are in luck. Located about 25 minutes from the College is the small town of Montague, home of the Montague Mill Complex.
Upon entering the town via Route 47 North from Hadley, you will see a road sign at the entrance of a small neighborhood that reads: "Caution: Thickly Settled Area" (although Manhattan is hardly what comes to mind).
The Book Mill is somewhat out of the way, as evident in its slogan, "Books You Don't Need at a Place You Can't Find." However, the Montague Mill is certainly worth the search (or at least a preliminary visit to MapQuest).
Situated on the banks of the Sawmill River, the stores and cafés of the complex overlook both the river's picturesque waterfalls and the verdant foliage of the surrounding trees. The 1842 gristmill's chief claim to fame is its bookstore, chock full of used and publishers' overstock books sold at half price. The book selection is eclectic, and there are titles on seemingly every subject, though mainly those with an academic bent. The store itself is full of nooks with couches for reading or studying in every corner and with expansive views of the river. Also of note is the fact that you can sell your old and used books to The Book Mill for store credit.
The adjoining café is the Lady Killigrew, which also offers study spaces, views and coziness but with drinks and snacks to boot. Among the café's unconventional fare are its famous and delicious cilantro chutney, grilled nutella sandwiches and locally brewed beers. The Lady Killigrew has its own distinct personality, largely due to its quirky, personable staff and laid-back atmosphere. In the upper level of the café, the walls are littered with Polaroids, presumably of café regulars. If you bring a friend or two, there are also board games on hand.
If you are seeking something more than a snack, head to the Night Kitchen, also in the Mill complex, for a wonderful Sunday brunch out on the riverside porch. Unfortunately, due to the shifting weather conditions, Sunday brunch has been discontinued until the weather warms up again (with any luck, this will happen while we're still in school). Dinner is available Wednesday through Sunday nights, with upscale fare such as grilled duck breast with port-soaked cherries and bourbon-glazed quail with cranberry-walnut stuffing. Therefore, this may be a better place to visit on Family Weekend when Valentine's selection fails to appeal. The restaurant is spacious and comfortable, with charm added by components of the former gristmill still in place. Starting on Nov. 2, the restaurant will host movie nights every Wednesday at 6 p.m., serving food that corresponds to the theme of the featured movie. Live jazz also plays every Sunday night on the deck.
The Montague Mill also contains Mill Music, a new and used music store where one can peruse for hours. A unique collection of gifts is available too. If you need a quick buck and have an old CD collecting dust in your room, you can bring it to Mill Music for cash or to trade.
The artistically inclined (or those in need of holiday gifts) may find something worth buying at Room With a Loom, where you can buy fine chenille scarves among many other contemporary works of craft.
Millworks Studio is home to Louise Minks, a local artist who creates and sells vividly colorful, one-of-a-kind acrylic screen prints. And if you like antiques, right next door is Rick Dodge Antiques, which sells many unique items from posters to chairs and bureaus. Even if antiques don't interest you in the least, it's at least a fascinating store to walk through, rather like hunting through your grandparents' attic.
Bibliophiles and haunters of coffee shops are sure to fall in love with the Montague Mill Complex, and if neither books nor coffee grab your attention, there's plenty more to enjoy. If you're growing tired of the same old scenery-of your roommate, for instance-head over to the Montague Mill for a comfy, New England-style escape that's just a short drive away.