Tags
Graham Soda Shop, hidden treasures, Piedmont North Carolina, Shallow Ford Natural Area, Soda Shop
Looking for something wholesome to do this Friday night? The town of Graham, NC has become quite the place to be. More and more people are finding out that Graham is one of Piedmont North Carolina’s hidden treasures. Not so big as to have traffic hassles and not so small as to have nothing to offer, folks are happily finding themselves strolling around downtown on Friday evening and Saturdays and having such a very nice time that they are drawn to return and do it again with regularity. Families feel comfortable letting the kids romp a little. When was the last time you saw that? Folks are still friendly here and greet one another, even as perfect strangers. Try that around the big urban megalopolis and your likely to get glared at!
Like Nature and hiking? We’d like to recommend the ‘Hidden Trail’ at the Shallow Ford Natural Area ( a short drive…less than an hour) or, for variety we recommend Cedar Rock Park (here and here, and here).
What if you work up an appetite with all that recreation: why not head downtown to one of our favorite places? You can get great food and hangout for a while at the Graham Soda Shop and Grill. It’s an atmospheric place that is comfortable and fun. Pictures of local accomplishments line the walls, some going way back. Monday nights are karaoke (sometimes mc’d by Ras Jambone Stumproot hisownself). Most Fridays the Original Musicosophy band is featured, a real treat! Their crew likes to hangout at the Soda Shop and they are friendly and easy to talk to. The Grill is open later on Friday and Saturday nights and is becoming a destination for musical entertainment.
During the Spring, Summer and Fall the town sponsors Street Music and will close down a side-street or a parking lot for a variety of bands to play on municipal stages and the like. You can catch a great local act live at Colonial Stage in September this year.
The atmosphere in Graham is mellow and homesy; you don’t ever feel rushed. It is a great way to escape that up-tight urban claustrophobia that overtakes the driven in our overcrowded cities nowadays and to get back in touch with our down-home roots from a simpler time; very therapeutic. You might see one of us down there some evening. If you do be sure to throw up your hand and say hey!
Piedmont Focus 