Photography By Vince Lupo
The Right Bayside Touch
The Finishing Touch is High Street’s spot for stylish home accessories and local accents created by area artisans. For Bay-inspired summer tables, take home Jean Higgins’ hand-thrown blue-and-cream-colored pitchers, platters, and bowls that sport her signature heron motif. Indoors, you’ll want to find a spot for Jonathan King’s bronze crab and turtle figurines, candleholders, paperweights, and hooks. A handful of reasonably priced maritime and historical prints and frames in many styles and colors ensure you won’t leave here empty-handed. 311 High St. 410-778-5292 or http://www.finishingtouchshop.com.
Timeless Treasures
Just across the street is the relatively new Chestertown Antique Mall, with more than forty dealers selling antiques and vintage collectibles, artfully displayed in glass cases and mini-stalls. Hidden among the folk art sculpture, quilts, antique farm tools, and nineteenth-century furniture, I found rare blue-and-white Clews Staffordshire platters and vintage Chanel jewelry. On-site dealers know their stuff and happily share the wealth. Browsing is encouraged, but good luck if you can get out without taking something home—two papier mâché folk art ravens found their way into my bag. 200 High St. 410-778-9006 or http://www.chestertownantiquemall.com.
Magic Carpets
You’ll feel as though you stepped into the tales of Aladdin peering into the window of David Ferguson Oriental Rugs. You won’t find a finer selection of antique Orientals anywhere in the area—carpets from Persia, Turkey, and the Caucasus decorate every inch of wall space. Check out the cushy velvet or embroidered bolster pillows with tasseled ends in the style of traditional Uzbekistani girls’ hats, and colorful Oriental rug pillows. There’s also a beautiful selection of Turkish reproduction quartz Iznik tiles and hand-painted Iznik-style ceramic bowls and chargers. 241 High St. 410-810-0603 or http://www.fergusonrugs.com
Chestertown Eats
Lunch takes on a European feel at tiny La Ruota, which serves up the best of two worlds; chef Sal Evola features Italian specialties (the Sicilian dishes his mama taught him, like Caponata Siciliana anti-pasto and Pennette San Vitese, are the best) part of the week, with a Mexican menu the rest. (A new sister restaurant, El Poblano, is opening soon in an expanded space.) Evola, a former professional crooner, is known to entertain diners on Friday evenings if you want to stick around after shopping. 323 High St. 410-778-9989.
Artisan Corner
Six Eastern Shore women artists decided to open up The Artists’ Gallery to showcase their own paintings; this gallery space surrounds a store with an array of work by local craftspeople (with their studio in back). Unique regional woods show up in the hand-carved bowls made by local character Bob Frey; Joan Reed’s earthy, glazed, hand-thrown crab-shaped bowls and fish platters will serve local fare in style. Whimsical, hand-painted high chairs and stools, decorated with aquatic life and fairy tale scenes, were charming; handmade cards, hand-knit scarves, and contemporary jewelry complete the fun mix of merchandise. 239 High St. 410-778-2425.
How Much Is that Otter in the Window?
An accessorized otter sculpture has been the Kerns Collection’s quirky front-window mascot for ten years, perched amidst the tasteful fashion, home décor, and jewelry that characterize this stylish spot. From local artisan Nancy LaMotte’s sea glass jewelry to brightly colored Thai silk blouses by Bangkok-based designer Marissa Baratelli, there are many unique pieces here: Most are upstaged by the hand-sewn, patchwork embroidered handbags by J.L. Lane—each a work of art (and I appreciated the fact that they support a women’s collective as well). I have never come across such votives as the delicate porcelains by renowned French company Bernardaud, etched with city and nature themes—perfect for that hostess or wedding gift. 210 High St. 410-778-4044.
Art on High
Anchoring the river end of High Street is the Carla Massoni Gallery, one of the premiere galleries in the region; it’s been exhibiting national and international artists for more than a decade. The gallery’s loft-like contemporary space provides the perfect venue for the paintings, sculpture, photography, and prints of its regular stable of mid-career artists (no new talent or million-dollar works here). The current exhibits (new shows are mounted every four to six weeks) include seascape photos by Michael Kahn and regional oils by Marcy Dunn Ramsey, April 7-May 6, and Marc Castelli’s paintings of Chesapeake watermen, May 19-June 30. 213 High St. 410-778-7330 or http://www.massoniart.com.
