Following the Carriage Christmas Parade on Saturday, Leilani and I headed off on an uncertain path for the afternoon, and ended up in Pittsboro. It's about 45 minutes or so from here, about half way between Chapel Hill and Sanford. Pittsboro is an interesting town, full of art and antique shops, a great whole foods cooperative, and several interesting little restaurants. We walked the main street for a little while, window shopping mostly, and ended up S&T's Soda Shoppe, a very neat eatery dressed up like an old fashioned, turn-of-the-20th Century, ice cream parlor. Owned and operated by the Oldham family, it started as a dream 20 years ago and has developed into a centerpiece for the down town area. The decor was largely reclaimed furniture and cabinetry from the old Mebane Drug Store, giving the place an antique feel. The floors were traditional small white tiles, simply decorated with green patterns, furthering the motif. Over the years, the Oldhams have added other antiques, and finished an upstairs space out in equal style. The food was simple fare, but not expensive. It was damp and chilly outside, but as people followed us in, it was obvious what the drawing card is - ice cream in all its glory. A couple of tables ordered mountainous sundaes that were delivered in fashion. I haven't seen ice cream dishes that magnificent since I was a kid. The photo below is a sample of one, being challenged by Bailey Jones. Ashley Miles of Pittsboro helped out. If you are passing through Pittsboro sometime, stop and look around for a change of pace. I don't know what's driving the art colony there, but you'll find a lot of talent on display. And don't forget S&T's Soda Shoppe if you are hankering for some ice cream.

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