Atmosphere:
Chatham is a largely conservative town, infamously known in the area for its lack of diversity and excessive wealth. However, it is a very safe town. The downtown area is only one main street, comprised mostly of Asian restaurants and banks. If you were to ask a Chatham teenager what they disliked the most about Chatham, it would be that there is "nothing to do". While there are occasional public concerts and activities, they are mostly aimed at young children. For a very bitter (and very accurate) depiction of Chatham, check out this Urban Dictionary definition of Chatham (3rd one down):
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chatham
Dining:
For such a small town, Chatham offers some unique dining experiences. Chatham food is mostly hit and miss, with very few options. My top picks would be Mitsuba, a restaurant on the main street that has quality Japanese cuisine and while some of the dishes can get on the pricey side, this is probably your best bet for a reasonable meal.
For good old fashioned pizza, Arminio's Italian Corner is well priced and is the a local hangout spot for a lot of "Chathamites", by which I mean middle schoolers.
The best diner in Chatham by far is Angie's Luncheonette. This Greek diner is very bare, and while the food is average it is much better in comparison to the other options on the main street.
http://mitsubachatham.com/
Shopping:
There is no shopping to speak of in Chatham. If you happen to be in Chatham and need clothes, your best bet is to go to either The Short Hills Mall or The Livingston Mall, both a short drive away. The only shop I know of in Chatham is Bliss, although the clothes there are mostly worn by 13 year old girls.
Entertainment:
Entertainment in Chatham is very limited, with most concerts and activities happening in the summer and aimed at children. There is a small movie theater that I really love, called the Roberts Chatham Theater. This theater plays mostly foreign or independent movies, and is very small. If you go (and I strongly suggest you do), be prepared to be seated with a large crowd of senior citizens.
http://www.robertstheatres.com/
Overall:
Chances are of you are in Chatham you are visiting relatives or friends. There is little reason to go out of your way to be here, and I would hardly consider is a "tourist destination". Overall I would rate this town a 2/10, because it is truly dreadful, I mean really one of the most boring places you could possibly imagine. And I've been to Texarkana, Louisiana.
Image credit: http://www.adamslimo.com/images/chatham.gif
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