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| Camden is bustling. |
I knew I was going to need a
rain jacket for an upcoming event, so I drove up to Camden. I have always liked Camden (and its surrounding areas), though during its busiest times it can have an arguably overwrought feel, more akin to New Canaan, CT; Edgartown, MA; or even (on the other coast) a smaller Palo Alto, CA; or Bellevue, WA, than other larger Maine towns.
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| The view of the harbor is always impressive. |
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| The library is the heart of the town... |
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| ...hosting meetings and festivals alike. |
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| The architecture is wonderful, and often starchy white. |
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| Camden is also the source of Pop! Tech, enabled by John "Trust me - I am so visionary I fired Steve Jobs from Apple" Sculley. |
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| Water is everywhere. |
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| Even the Government offices are beautiful. |
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| The green is perfect for lunch, with benches down to the water. It is also a great place to see dogs; Camden may compete with Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia for volume of strolling dogs. |
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| The Back of the Library |
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| Open Air Theater |
My destination was, of course,
The Admiral's Buttons (see 12 favorite places to shop).
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| I first shopped here in my early teens. |
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| The One and Only |
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| A Great Place for Viyella |
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| Henri Lloyd |
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| The owners, Woody and Carole Emanuel, are lovely and a wealth of information. |
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| I was in good company. And I bought the jacket. |
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| A Good Day |
24 comments:
Wonderful photos. Beautiful town. Wish I had a place like Admiral's Buttons in my town!
My favorite photos are the house and the hillside going down to the water. An old picture shows the Camden Band posing under a rustic band shelter, and including a double-bell euphonium. Great small town images. --Road to Parnassus
I agree. Wonderful photos and adorable town. You made me laugh about Palo Alto. I live right next to that town, and specifically chose not to live there because it feels just too dang precious:).
Thanks for the Camden tour! It is one of my favorite places, and The Admiral's Buttons a always a favorite stop.
Madeline
Aka Muffy
Looks like a charming little town; I'm particularly fond of that sort of architecture. And that shop looks really great!
I love your descriptions - "starchy white". Such a pristine, pretty place!! Love your new jacket by the way! XOXO
Shops like Admiral's Buttons are so hard to come by, but maybe that's why they're in such a beautiful place. I love the library too! Haven't been to Camden in years, but I'd love to go back soon.
Ahh, my neck of the woods (well, the island of Islesboro, in Penobscot Bay, has been my summer neck of the woods.) I've driven by this store so many times, and never stopped! Thanks for the tip.
My favorite picture was the back view of the library, with the little shop built into the stone wall. How quaint! Thank you again for sharing little pieces of NE heaven with us.
I am, as ever, in tremendous awe of the brick buildings and the large stone walls. It has a traditional/classic look and feel to it. Throw in the ocean and green grass and it's picture perfect.
I'm convinced I was born on the wrong side of the map. I'm enamored with the east coast and smaller towns.
By the way...what green polo are you wearing? Ralph, L.L. Bean, Lands End? I like that shade of green.
Thank you for the lovely photo tour.
Oh man, that place is breath-taking beautiful. Palo Alto (the good part) has nothing on this lovely town.
I adore these "Stroll Along with Muffy" posts.
What a great venue, and how comforting that there are still places like this around. The library and other architecture is great as well, especially the stone work. Nice jacket too!
Dear Ms. Aldrich,
I recently stumbled upon your blog after I was searching for a long, lost lady friend from my Exeter days. I must say, you are quite a vision. My family has long lived in the coastal New England region, and I am thrilled that you post such wonderful photographs of said area. You are a saint.
Have a blessed day, and good winds.
Cheers!
Bradford S. Wetherfield
You've brought back many fond memories of spending a half day in the Camden library--maybe not the typical tourist spot, but I loved sitting in the rowboat in the children's room reading Miss Rumphius to my children. Thanks.
I am often jealous of your ability to simply stroll into these delightful places without submitting to a horrible traffic-laden commute and midnbogglingly complex parking garages.
Where to start with the Camden stories? Your descriptions were right on target..but Camden retains that small town friendliness despite its upscale patina. The Admiral's Buttons may be my favorite store on the planet earth. Love the viyella for the fellows, but also love the elegant, wearable women's clothing and affordable jewelry. Woody and Carole Emanuel greet everyone who enters the store like an old friend, and eventually everyone becomes a friend. I cannot wait to come back to the Buttons and to Camden. SBL
As a Camden resident, a "stroller with dogs" and a devotee of The Admiral's Buttons, I enjoyed your post. In addition to the beauty of our lovely town, we also have some exceptional restaurants, a great museum (the Farnsworth) nearby and a fabulous quality of life. Thanks for your review!
The owners of The Admirals Buttons, Woody and Carole Emanuel are simply stellar people. It makes sense that you would find them there in such a cool town!
Enjoyed the photos!
I loved the tour of Camden. I haven't been there in a few years. I used to love sitting in the park with a good book and some lunch. They have a nice art festival in the fall too, if I remember correctly.
I've kayaked in and around Camden. It's especially fun on a warm summer evening when the boaters are popping corks and the crowds are all abuzz at the restaurans-pure joy.
Thanks again for the tour-love the jacket too!
p.s: Do you ever get to the Hamilton Marine Stores? I know of the one in Portland, a true gem for sailors like yourself and full of good things.
W.D.
Muffy,
The town of Camden is wonderful! What is the name of the scenic view on the way north out of townl that you can view the whole town it's spectacular!
Like the Henri Llyod fowl weather jacket! What do you think of the Gill brand from England also?
@Scott Alexander - It is all even nicer than it looks.
@Road to Parnassus - As so many already know, the movie Peyton Place was filmed on location in Camden in 1957. Here is a link about it on the Camden Public Library site.
@LPC - Palo Alto is its own kind of precious!
@Aka Muffy - How fun that you know it!
@Grace - There is so much of that lovely architecture. I didn't even scratch the surface.
@Preppy 101 - Thank you and I love starchy white!
@Anonymous - You are so right - they are rare. It speaks well for the shop that it has been there for so long.
@Anonymous - Isleboro is one of my favorite places. I spent a fair amount of time there as a child and was particularly fond of The Blue Heron Restaurant. And there are lots and lots of Pendletons!
@Christy - I love stone, hewn and not.
@Susan R - The shirt is a Ralph Lauren from several years back and the color is "Classic Kelly".
@lorrwill - I am glad you like them because there are a few more coming up! Maine is so beautiful in the fall that I can't resist.
@John - Thank you, John! I thought of you with the library pictures.
@Mr. Wetherfield - Most kind of you to say and I share your affection for the area.
@Kionon - This made me laugh. I periodically drive through New York to keep myself sharp!
@Town and Country Mom - Miss Rumphius is such a nice book. The author, Barbara Cooney, lived in Damariscotta, and would often come down, if called by one of the shops in town, to sign books for customers. She had wonderful long, white braids.
@sbl - This is a wonderful comment! Thank you!
@Ellen - You are right and there was so much that I did not include. I need at least another post, if not twenty!
@Anonymous - I just love how such nice people are so clearly valued. Thank you.
@Wasp Decor - I often get some lunch at the Camden Deli and eat it in the park. A recent alumnus from Bowdoin got married there this summer. A perfect spot. (I have been to the one in Rockland.)
@j.mosby - Are you referring to the Camden Hills State Park? My husband led some trips there.
I do not have any experience with Gill. Do you?
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