SOCIALLY SPEAKING
Welcome to Edenton Social Light
I’ve been enamored with Edenton from the first time I spoke with Cindy Twiddy and she offered an overview of town’s shining jewels and hidden gems.
Leaving 27 years of coastal California behind, we found Cindy to be right, which brought my husband and me to Edenton three years ago.
We found ‘the south’s prettiest small town’ to be more than anticipated. While proud of its 250 year history and historic buildings standing firm on the banks of its sweeping, waterfront. It’s the town’s people that weave its foundational fabric.
On our first morning in town before making the decision to move, we walked into the Edenton Coffee Shop at 7:30. My husband approached the early morning group of regulars and jokingly asked “would you happen to be the group running the town?”
“No sir” was the reply, “They don’t arrive until 8:00 a.m. but feel free to join us”. That friendliness is a town trademark. The interaction helped us make the decision to forward our mail.
Residents still take the time to greet others, chat and catch up on neighborly news. I was amazed at the amount of sidewalk greetings when walking through town as I was creating this first edition of Edenton Social Light.
Numerous efforts are underway to promote Edenton’s history and natural beauty as a visitor destination. It’s the perfect time to launch a periodical highlighting the events, activities and organizations within the community supporting the town’s notoriety.
Destination Downtown Edenton Director Ches Chesson, Edenton’s Director of Tourism Development Erienne Mizell were both extremely supportive, insightful and helpful in helping me with this first issue.
In this issue the light shines on the 250 Year Edenton Tea Party celebration and the historic women of its past and future. A variety of events are being held beginning October 25. It’s the perfect time to experience the Edenton’s friendliness. Our pages emphasize “where locals go to visit and visitors go to feel local.” That’s our identifying trademark. Quarterly printed publications are available throughout Edenton and updated online regularly at edentonsociallight.com. Please join us.
Karen
KAREN FOLEY
SOCIALLY SPEAKING
Table Setting Season is Upon Us
With the holiday season days ahead many of us will bring out seldom used table clothes along with passed down family china and lay a holiday table for relatives and guests to enjoy. Those fortunate enough to purchase a Candlelight tour ticket will have the opportunity to see tables set in elegant fashion.
Edenton could well be home to some of the nation’s first table settings.
“Table-setting became a Western craze in the late 1700s, when the aristocracy used the practice as a self-expression form and to display wealth. Themed table scapes have since then provided an "escape from daily life to a fantasy world", according to Wikipedia.
Walking Broad St. I always admire the windows of the shops and how often they change. Recently A Still Life, Edenton’s eclectic-high-style store redesigned their massive Broad St. window. The beautiful table setting caught my eye and brought back memories and appears on today’s Home page.
Having owned restaurants in Minneapolis, Carmel and San Francisco I learned the importance of place settings early on. Each of our restaurants had different styles and the dinnerware, silverware and napkin fold actually became a signature in each of those eateries.
In one of our restaurants, Chez Foley, antique bread and butter plates accompanied other stylish dinnerware in the place setting. Whenever the dishwasher dropped one of my antique plates my husband knew we would soon be antiquing.
Since becoming the dishwasher at home, my husband recently dropped one of my favorite plates which brought me to Broad Street Bazar where I found charming, vintage glass plates, now part of my holiday tabletop collection. Those not aware of the selections in Byrum’s Gift Shop may be surprised at the assortment of tabletop accessory pieces, you may want to include on your holiday wish list.
For those culinarians with a tight schedule, a trip to North No. 4 boutique may be the answer. The unique store offers an assortment of ready-prepared foods, a variety of sauces, aromatic savory salts and pesto’s, along with olive oil crackers, and other Bella Cucina products.
Edenton is rapidly preparing for the upcoming festivities for the Holiday Season. Residents are stringing the new trend of holiday lights throughout town. Yes, the holidays are upon us. Bring out the china, salt the vegetables and shop locally, enjoying all Edenton has to offer.
Believe me, if little Johny drops a plate, not to worry…
Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Karen Foley
KAREN FOLEY
SOCIALLY SPEAKING
Thank you for the kind words
When I came up with the idea to publish a small guide for the 250 celebration my original idea for a four page newsletter grew. There was more ‘good news’ than I expected.
I can’t express how thankful I am to everyone who has stopped me on the street or in a store and offered kind words about the printed issue of The Edenton Social Light.
As we can tell from the amount of cars downtown and the people enjoying the town’s retailers that Thanksgiving will once again bring many Edenton families together. It’s the beginning of the Holiday Season. Speaking from experience, the Christmas Season in Edenton ranks high among those in other charming renowned communities.
Edenton’s Community calendar is full. Make sure to take a look and download ours, it has a list of events that will warm your heart and bring good cheer to your soul.
If you on a tour of town over the weekend, stop by Surf, Wind and Fire and see if you can catch the large fish on the retailers wall. On Sunday, December 1, Surf, Wind and Fire is hosting another Downtown Sunday event. Stop by, listen to tunes, enjoy some food from the variety of trucks and catch a fish for two.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Karen Foley
KAREN FOLEY
Destination Downtown Edenton goes Main Street
Executive Director Ches Chesson offers Main Street View
Destination Downtown Edenton, now doing business as Main Street Edenton, is an award winning program dedicated to preserving and enhancing the charm, vitality, and economic health of historic downtown Edenton. We work to support existing businesses, recruit new investment, and foster a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere for both residents and visitors.
Our programs and initiatives focus on four pillars: Economic Vitality, Design, Organization, and Promotion. Through Economic Vitality, we support the growth of local businesses by offering resources such as data analytics and business development services, organizing networking opportunities, and advocating for the needs of our entrepreneurs. We also actively work to recruit new businesses and investments that complement our downtown’s unique character, creating job opportunities and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Our team collaborates with property owners and local government to maintain the beauty and historic integrity of our downtown through Design initiatives. We actively advocate and review downtown policies and offer a Façade Grant program to ensure our historic downtown maintains it’s charm. Organization focuses on bringing together volunteers, community leaders, and partners to foster a unified vision for Edenton’s future. We work in lock step with the local Tourism Authority, Chamber of Commerce, Historical Commission and Edenton Chowan Partnership to ensure we have aligned vision for Edenton’s future. Finally, through our Promotions work, we host events like Boogie on Broad and the Sounds of Summer Concert series, showcasing Edenton as a lively hub of activity and culture.
Main Street Edenton is proud to serve as a bridge between Edenton’s storied past and its bright future, where businesses thrive, visitors feel welcomed, and the community gathers. Join us in our mission to make downtown Edenton a place that’s vibrant, inclusive, and unmistakably unique.
Ches Chesson is the Executive Director Main Street Edenton.
Ches Chesson
SOCIALLY SPEAKING, 12/12/24
Candlelights dance the flicker
The holiday season took little time in getting here. Last week signified it is upon us.
The annual 43 year Candlelight Tour this weekend will bring locals and visitors to Edenton to view a dozen or so historic homes decked out in Christmas cheer.
As we begin our holiday shopping, let’s look to our downtown merchants who work tirelessly to fill their stores with items on your shopping list. Shopping locally benefits the entire community. It builds relationships within town and helps support the local economy. Spending our dollars at shops and restaurants helps keep Edenton healthy. You may be surprised at the interesting items you will find. The friendly service can’t be beat by big box retailers or online shopping. In most cases, you will be greeted by the local shop owner who has invested in Edenton with their heart, soul and money to make Edenton the special place we all call home. Reciprocating with your patronage is your gift to them.
I received an email last week from a reader who enjoyed her shopping experience downtown. I thought it would be terrific to share.
"Found the paper at the Diner on Broad and LOVE it! Good writing, good content, good editing and enjoyable reading. A week ago I decided to start the horrendous task of shopping for our large family(37)and starting my annual mantra, I hate the mall, I hate shopping. I took a walk downtown hoping I might find something to jumpstart my shopping list and I’m so excited to tell you this. I bought every single gift, from babies on up, on Broad Street in Edenton. In every store I had personal service; the clerks, totally familiar with their stock and inventory, are happy to have me in their store and care that I’m there. Some even offered to gift wrap my purchases. Most offered to carry my bags to the car, which happened to be parked in front of the store, or within the block. (Totally unnecessary, but what a lovely offering.) what a lovely shopping day that was, and did I mention, gifts weren’t made in China? Turns out, I really don’t hate shopping! I love our town. Shop local! Thanks for the nice publication. Merry Christmas."
Her kind words ring out to all the merchants making this holiday season so special.
Take a shopping break and catch a fish in front of the mural on King St. It will make a great holiday fish story.
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year. We have much to be thankful for in our special community.
Karen Foley
KAREN FOLEY