Tonight is one of those really amazing nights where the forces of nature combine to give us an outstanding night. Okay, maybe a little heavy here, but follow along here. In Deep River at the town landing (just head down Kirtland Street or River Street) Ryan Hartt and the Blue Hearts, AND The Eric Ducoff  Band will be putting on one of the best shows of the summer. Little hint here, Eric’s band is basically the same as Ryan Hartt’s, just less Ryan. And considering the fact that these guys have won the Connecticut Blues challenge and represented the state 3 times, well that just attests to how good this show is going to be.

Now if that isn’t enough, our good friend Tiger Marion of The Shiny Lapel Trio is going to be bringing his BAB (big ass BBQ) and peddling his wares. Now many of you may know Tiger for his vocals and guitar work with the Trio, but what you may not know is that Tiger is from Kansas. So, they do a pretty eman BBQ out there, but what they are best known for is the sauce. So, between the BBQ and a KC style sauce, well show up hungry.

Now, if you are in a band, or you think that your town has the best concert series let me know. Matter of fact, I will pick the best concert or town and send the person who submitted it to me to dinner at the Bee and Thistle. How’s that for a finders fee?

So first up, and this should surprise nobody, is my hometown of Guilford. One of the oldest towns in the state, Guilford abounds with all things historic, but we also take great pride in the fact that time does not stand still. Guilford boasts many great historic sites, fine restaurants, and unique boutiques and shops.

As Guilford has evolved, so has the architecture. It’s residences  and buildings represent virtually all forms of architecture throughout American history. As you drive through the downtown area, this is quite apparent. Guilford in fact is home to The Henry Whitfield Museum. The Whitfield House in the oldest house in the state of Connecticut, and the oldest stone house in New England. It is  one of the oldest remaining structures in the country, and a National Historic Landmark. The grounds are immaculate, and they host many historical events throughout the year. The town also has The Dudley Farm in North Guilford. In addition to showing rural Connecticut farm life, this farm is host to many cultural events, and a weekly farmers market. We also have The Griswold House, Medad Stone Tavern, Hyland House, and many other sites so typical of New England, all hosting events throughout the year.

The great thing about Guilford, is we take extreme pride in our open spaces, and go to great lengths to preserve it for future generations. Because of this, we have many opportunities for those who love the outdoors. If hiking is your thing,enjoy the peaceful serenity on the trails at Westwoods,The Timberlands, and at this time of year hiking the Bluff Head preserve is a must. The Guilford Land Trust maintains many of these locations. It’s corps of volunteers do an amazing job of acquiring properties and preserving them, so that generations to come can enjoy Guildford’s natural beauty. And they are all volunteers.  From the overlooks, you will be able to see the beautiful foliage for miles, and even Faulkner’s Island, and beyond to Long Island. Bring your camera, as it is truly a stunning sight.

Fishing is also a great option. What many people don’t know is that Lake Quonipaug is one of the state’s few trophy trout lakes. In order to labeled as such, the lake must be known to have fish of a record size, and for many years the state record rainbow trout came from this lake. I know of people who regularly catch trout in the 3plus pound range. If saltwater is your thing, get on down to the marina and fish the East River, where it flows into the sound. breathe in the fresh air, and if you get hungry, enjoy both The Stone House Restaurant for full service dining, and The Little Stone House for more informal dining.

As you head back into town, and shopping is what you want to do, then the Guilford Green is where you need to just park, and roam about. Shops such as Ella, Where She Shops, Flutterby’s, Page’s Hardware, and The Village Chocolatier await you. You can walk around the green or you can do what I did a few weeks ago and go over to Costumes And Characters and look for your Halloween get up, and take a tour of Guilford on a segway from Shoreline Segway tours. Trust me on this, it is an absolute blast. By now,you are getting a little on the hungry side, and the green is host to two more of Guilfords best. Quattro’s Italian Restaurant just off the green on Water Street, and Whitfield’s, which is right by the green itself. If you just are in the mood for some libation, then head back to Water street and stop in at Shep’s Tavern, or Augur’s Irish Pub. Good chance you will find me in either place,especially on a Tuesday or Wednesday night.

Finally, I can not let you leave our amazing town, without mentioning that you need to head west on Route One, no matter where you live, and stop in at Red Rooster Baking, and pick up some of the best damn cookies in the state . At 3.5 ounces per cookie, it is more than enough to keep you quite content on your ride home, but why limit yourself? Pickup a dozen. You will be glad you did.

So thanks for letting me tell you about my hometown, and hope to see you out and about in Guilford. If you should see me, make sure you stop me and say hi, as I love meeting all of the readers.

For more information on Guilford, visit the Chamber of Commerce website

So, leading off, Guilford gets medieval. No, not Ving Rhaymes medieval from ” Pulp Fiction” (one of my all time favorites), but Robin Hood medieval. The Connecticut Renaissance Faire comes to the Guilford Fair grounds for the next two weekends. In addition to shows such as “The Story of Robin Hood”, “Join the Merry Men”, and ” Ye Olde Medicine Show and Flea Circus”, you will find jewelry vendors, leather and woodworkers and so much more. How much do you want to bet that you will be able to get all your favorite fair food,especially one of those big ol’ smoked turkey drumsticks. for more info, here’s the link.

www.ctfaire.com

Next, let’s focus on some music.

Connecticut’s Eight to the Bar celebrates 35 years of swing, classic r&b, girlie harmonies, wicked guitar, violent choreography, screaming saxophone and about 4 million gigs. As part of their year-long celebration, they will be holding their 35^th anniversary/reunion gig on Friday, May 14 at Toad’s Place  300 York St., New Haven. The original 1975 lineup will play, as well as the current lineup. In addition, 2 other bands that started back at the same time, the Helium Brothers and Washboard Slim & the Blue Lights will also take the stage; even Toad’s Placeis celebrating 35 years in the business! Showtimes: 7:30: Washboard Slim & the Blue Lights; 8:30: The Helium Brothers; 10:00: Eight to the Bar original lineup of 1975; 11:30: the current Eight to the Bar lineup. Let’s party like it’s 1975!

Next up is Branded. Branded pumps out high energy country that totally rocks. Based out of southeastern Connecticut, the venture across the Connecticut River to bring their signature style to Middlesex county for the first time in 2 years. I have seen these guys numerous times, and I am always thoroughly exhausted every time I see them. You just can’t sit down. And this Thursday night, they will be rocking the Back Porch in Old Saybrook, and then again at Legends in Gales Ferry.

A little of loving it local here. Bishops Orchards. It’s not just your typical farm market. Since 1871, the Bishop Family has been serving Guilford and the surrounding towns with the freshest in season produce. Unlike many family businesses, the bishops have made all the right moves to ensure that the Bishop family will run this market for years to come. They do everything from pick-your-own, an in store bakery, family friendly events and the latest, a farm winery, featuring some very unique wines made with their own fruits. So if you are looking for something to do, or just passing through, get off of I-95, and see what fresh really is. Here is another thought. Instead of sitting in the big traffic jam, plan on getting off the highway, and pick yourself up a nice picnic lunch. Send me an email, and I will send you some very cool spots to sit back and enjoy the area. I will bet that this is more fun than sitting in traffic.

Speaking of loving it local. Check out Edibles Advocate Alliance and Sharedharvest.net. This wonderful website and alliance run by Emily Brooks is a website that helps local consumers find locally produced food from sources other than farmers market. The website also includes blogs, recipes, and has a network that allows you to buy/sell or barter. A very unique option. Another goal that they have is to help get fresh produce to the various charitable organizations that can use it. A truly wonderful venture, and a monumental undertaking. Great job Emily!

So that’s like 5 things. If you want more, well here is the link to my events page, where I have over a thousand events over the next few months. And here is the scary part. I have not even scratched the surface yet.

This past Easter weekend I was at Killington, yes skiing! It was a bright sunny day and as Spring had arrived so had Spring skiing. On that Saturday it was 75 degrees, yes the snow was just like mashed potatoes but I was skiing and it was good, so good. The following day was much cooler (65 degrees) but it was still outstanding. As I packed up my skis at the end of the day, I lamented the end of ski season. Yes, it will be a long eight months before I can pack up again for parts north and enjoy this crazy sport which I love so much. Then, right on cue, the thought of warm weather and all that it brings came to mind.

As we all know, there are so many things to do over the next few months, trips to the beach, cookouts with friends and family, pool parties, lounging in the yard, soaking up the Sun and just being outside. That also means summer jazz concerts! It seems no matter where you are in Connecticut a concert will not be too far away for a picnic basket filled with your favorite goodies, a little nosh, a few beverages, you may also bring blanket, a few chairs, , and a few friends or maybe just one. That is a recipe for a great time! So what concerts should we attend? Well here are two.

Now of course there is the Litchfield Jazz Festival, the undisputed centerpiece of the Litchfield Performing Arts, which usually runs for three days in Kent, CT. Litchfield Performing Arts celebrates twenty-nine seasons this year. Over many years the festival has had many jazz giants James Moody, Dave Brubeck, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter just to name a few. As always they will have a very nice line up of talent which, more than likely will include local talent and may feature performances by students. Well, after all it is held at the Kent School. Now if you are heading off in that direction you simply have to stop into this little gem called Belgique Pâtisserie & Chocolatier, they have some of the best treats you ever want to sink your teeth into. Not to mention, hello, chocolate!

There is also the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival right at the Essex Steam Train and that also runs for three days. This festival started in 1992 and their stated mission is “to bring for a full weekend, the best of Greater New England’s traditional jazz, swing and blues to Connecticut”. Not only do they host a great festival but proceeds from the festival benefit The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp founded by Paul Newman, a camp for children with cancer or serious blood diseases. If you are going and you haven’t packed you basket, fear not because Olive Oyl’s has got you covered. Right there in Essex they feature a great selection of salads, sandwiches, box lunches everything you need to fill you up while you feast on great music!

I know, skiing waits later this year but it’s warm weather season out there people! Cast off those winter clothes, put that rock salt in the way back of the garage, it’s time to get out and get your groove on!

As always, if you know of a place or function serving good food or fun let us know!

Litchfield Jazz Festival http://www.litchfieldjazzfest.com

Belgique Pâtisserie & Chocolatier 1 Bridge St., Kent, CT 860-927-3681

Hot Steamed Jazz Festival http://www.hotsteamedjazz.com/index.shtml

Olive Oyl’s 77 Main Street Essex, Ct. 06426 860-767-4909 http://www.oliveoylscarryout.com/contact.htm

So finally the day comes when we were ready to set sail, even though all of the necessary repairs had not been made on account of Vladamir’s  rude and generally abrasive behavior towards the locals. With a broken water maker, and a confused electric panel we set off for our first destination, Norfolk Island, located off the west coast of New Zealand and the east coast of Australia in the Tasman Sea.

As soon as we leave sight of land, everything falls apart. The crew have not been assigned set watches, so we have no idea when we can sleep, or when we are expected to be on watch. After a few days of this we do whatever we want. There is no order, and at sea, order is absolute. Without order, everyone’s safety is jeopardized. Vladimir slowly transforms into more of a dragon than he already is and starts to become unglued. He doesn’t bathe, shave, sleep, or change his clothes for the entire two week passage, and takes to wearing his girlfriend’s scrubs.

Klaus has decided that exercise classes are a must for keeping our sea legs sturdy and muscles fit. He wakes the crew at 6am for calisthenics on deck. It’s really not as bad as it sounds. It’s nice to see the greenish, blue water of the South Pacific at that hour.

Bob and Dee have taken to catching dinner for us by fishing over the side. One day an albatross gets caught in the invisible line. It is too horrific to watch. I cry and cry as the albatross struggles to get free but in the end has become so mangled that he chokes on the line and dies. Nobody seems disturbed by this except me. It is similar to when Vladimir told me to throw the epoxy resin he had been using overboard. I refused, citing how bad it was for the environment and that I would have no part in it. Vlad laughs at me in a belittling way, insisting that the epoxy would not pollute the ocean nor have an impact on the creatures that lived in it, and how ridiculously stupid I was behaving to think it could. Again, I was the only one disturbed by Vlad’s act of throwing the hazardous waste over the side himself, as I would not.

One morning I am awakened quite early by Kurt and Daphne. They tell me to hurry up on deck and so I do. There, playing in our bow wave is a pod of white sided dolphin illuminated by the glow of phosphorescent that is surrounding them, and to my left is Norfolk Island. A strange and quieting feeling came over me as we approached that island. Here we were a shipboard community with our only reality and our entire world comprised of being aboard this 127 foot space.

So to come upon an island in the middle of the vast South Pacific Ocean with nothing else visible, was really mind blowing. There was nothing else around for miles and miles except this tiny, isolated island and the people on it. Just a little dot in the middle of nowhere with life happening all over it.

We lower the anchor just off the island as there is no harbor. Getting ashore can be really tricky as you have to time the tide just right to take you in, or you risk running aground and smashing your dingy into the rocks. The objective was to land at the jetty where a large crane with a hook on the end of it, extends a mechanical arm outward to pull the boat up and out the water. This is how the Norfolk Islanders unload cargo from ships that stop in route to and from New Zealand and Australia. In the event that bad weather makes it inconceivable for them to motor out to where the ship is anchored, they are forced to wait until the following month for another supply ship to stop.

While we are anchored off the island, things really come to a head. The crew had been promised time off because we had been working already for 6 weeks straight. Naturally, we all wanted to go ashore. After a much heated discussion, Vladimir informed me that he never intended to honor the agreement that we had made regarding my work hours prior to my coming to New Zealand. We had agreed that I would work 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, but since my arrival that had never been the case. In fact, I was working ten hours a day, 7 days a week. Part of the reason for the 8 hour work days was so that I could spend two hours shooting footage to create a promotional videotape that would entice paying passenger to sign up for different legs of the voyage.

As matter of principal I decide to get off the boat. Anyway, Vladimir was truly a miserable sod and I wasn’t having much fun. Being the despicable person that he was, Vladimir would not let me back onboard to say goodbye to my shipmates or pack and collect my own baggage. My baggage was packed by Klaus and delivered to me on shore, minus a few items that had mysteriously gone missing like my very expense malaria pills, and SCUBA equipment.

So there I was. Sitting on the jetty with more gear than I could possibly carry, not having a clue as to what I was going to do, but feeling well confident that anything must be better than what I had just experienced. All I knew was this: Going home was not an option! I had just quit my job, sold everything I owned, and I had only been gone just over a month. I wanted an adventure! I had two thousand dollars in my pocket. I thought I would take a hiatus and see this beautiful little island, and then fly to Australia and find another boat. Little did I know that I would never make it to Australia.

THIS MONTH’S TRAVEL TIP:

This month’s travel tip is about money. In the olden days one could carry travelers checks and if they were American Express travelers checks, you could pop into an American Express office, cash them, and take advantage of the other travel services that they offered to members in foreign countries.

But nowadays we have the ultra convenient ATM machine which has practically rendered travelers checks obsolete and eliminated the need for paying banks their conversion fees for changing your dollars into the local currency. The other advantage is that ATM’s are always open, unlike banks, especially those overseas that often close midday for siesta.

If you have a Liberty Bank near you, I highly recommend opening an account with them just so you can use their ATM card while traveling. Liberty Bank will reimburse you all the foreign ATM transaction fees, and all the conversion fees the foreign banks charge just for the pleasure of using their ATM to convert dollars to Euros for example.

If you are using a credit card while traveling, be aware that they charge between 3-5% in conversion fees every time you use the card, so whatever you are purchasing will actually cost you 3-5% more. It doesn’t seem quite right to me.

That’s all for now. Until next time, safe travels. Enjoy the journey.

Caryn B. Davis

Next Month: Norfolk Island, car rental

Caryn B. Davis is a commercial, editorial, architectural, marine and portrait photographer, and a published writer, with a studio in Chester, CT. Her images and articles have appeared in over 60 leading national and international publications. She is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers and teaches photography to adults and children. As an avid world traveler, Caryn enthusiastically and artistically photographs people, places and things at home and abroad. For more information log onto www.cbdphotography.com and www.thedesiretojourney.com.

One of my favorite trips to do with either my kids, or out of town visitors, is a boat trip around the Thimble Islands. According to the Branford Chamber of Commerce website, “Just off-shore are “The Thimbles,” a chain of islands called “the beautiful sea rocks” by the Mattabec Indians. Twenty-three of the 365 islands are inhabited, and they range in size from less than a half acre to 12 acres. About 85 homes, mostly from the Victorian era, occupy these unique islands.

The islands are named after a fruit, the thimbleberry, a relative of the black raspberry family. Many of the islands have nicknames; Wheeler Island, the closest one to shore, is known locally as Ghost Island.

There are a few different captains that run tours out of the Stony Creek town dock, (exit 57 off of I 95), most of the cruises are 45 minutes long (just long enough, but not too long if you have little ones). Occasionally from the boat, you can see seals sunning themselves on rocks, usually in early May, and you are treated to a local’s perspective on the history of the Islands with a narrative tour. Many of the captains can also arrange for a private charter or sunset cruise.

When I took my tour, I was told that about 100 families inhabit 23 of the islands, but only in the summer months. Only six islands have electric power, Davis Island being one of them, the others utilize generators or batteries.

Almost all of the islands are privately owned. The largest island, the 17-acre Horse Island, is owned by Yale University and is used by the Peabody Museum for ecology purposes. Outer Island is used for the same purpose by Southern Connecticut State University; Frisbee Island has been designated as a bird sanctuary.

Cruises usually start in May, depending on the weather and the whims of the captains.

After your cruise, head to land and tour Stony Creek and surrounding Branford. The town contains hidden treasures, with quaint shops and restaurants to visit. If you are from out of town, you can arrange lodging through the Linden Point House . Close by there are several fantastic restaurants to choose from. One of my favorites for a Romantic, yet affordable dinner is Le Petit Café, located on the historic Branford Green. They offer a Prix fixe menu, which will knock your socks, or taste buds off, try the Duck Cassoulet it is out of this universe!

Spring is finally here! With the 72 degree weather today – not too hot, not too cold – it was the perfect day to hike Sleeping Giant Mountain in Hamden, CT. As a Quinnipiac University alum, I am familiar with this landmark mountain which overlooks the main QU campus. Even before my studies at Quinnipiac, I enjoyed walks up the mountain’s “easy” trail with my younger siblings, or family picnics on one of the many park benches at the foot of the mountain. We’re all very fortunate to reside so close to a mountain that offers many different opportunities for outdoor relaxation, exercise, and a chance to spend quality time with family and friends.

Sleeping Giant Mountain is formally “Sleeping Giant State Park,” which was named for the two mile mountaintop that resembles a rather large man resting on his back. Driving North on I-91 to Hamden, and using your imagination, you can see three large mountain “bumps” that make out the Giant’s head, belly, and feet. There are over fifteen different trails and connectors that lead to the top of the mountain, ranging from an “easy” footpath, to more challenging paths involving rock climbs. One of the more popular trails, a 1.5 mile scenic trail, leads to a stone observation tower. The trails and park are maintained by the Sleeping Giant Park Association (SGPA), formed in 1924 as an all-volunteer organization. In addition to maintenance, the SGPA hosts guided hikes and works to protect and enlarge the park.

I was happy to see so many people taking advantage of the gorgeous weather we had this first Spring day at Sleeping Giant. From daring rock climbers, to parents pushing baby carriages, to groups of QU students, everyone seemed to be enjoying the day. If you haven’t yet, I recommend a picnic in the park, or a walk, hike, or climb up this mountain to see the amazing views of the Long Island Sound and New Haven County.

And after all that exercise…reward yourself with an ice cream cone from Wentworth’s Homemade Ice Cream!

Today we are going to talk about burgers! Yes, burgers, with or without cheese, broiled, grilled, stuffed however you like them. Why burgers? Recently, I played a gig in Tribeca, (lower Manhattan) NY. The Hors D’oeuvres served that evening included little mini burgers that were so tasty me and the boys in the band put on our best starving artist faces to keep the waiters bringing a fresh supply. Now you may be wondering why that is of any significance, I’ll tell you. The gig was in a very nice loft condo in, of all places, the old meat packing district! Since just about everyone loves a good burger I thought this could be interesting!

Okay before we bite into this endeavor it might be important to note that according to Theodora Fitzgibbon in her book The Food of the Western World – An Encyclopedia of food from North American and Europe: The Hamburg steak (chopped and seasoned meat some say is the predecessor of the modern day hamburger) originated on the German Hamburg-America line boats, which brought emigrants to America in the 1850s. There was at that time a famous Hamburg beef steak which was salted and sometimes slightly smoked, and therefore ideal for keeping on a long sea voyage. As it was hard, it was minced and sometimes stretched with soaked breadcrumbs and chopped onions. It was popular with the passengers, who continued to make Hamburg steaks with fresh meat when they settled in the U.S.

Now the question here is where can we find good burgers in CT and have some fun getting there? As for the fun part I thought keeping the activity vigorous so as to work up an appetite would serve us well. So, let’s start with somewhat of a new comer to this age old tradition of devouring burgers. They are Five Guys Famous Burgers located in Farmington, CT. Now before you jump in the car and run off remember the activities!

Maybe your interests involve an outside activity, check out The Farmington Valley Greenway for a list of outdoor fun activities. Or, if you prefer something a little more cultural, try the Hill-Stead Museum which features Art, History, Architecture, and Historic homes. So after some or all of that you know what you’re supposed to do…it’s time to reward yourself by grabbing one maybe even two of the Five Guys Burgers. According to the folks at Five Guys there are 250,000 ways to have one of their burgers, well here is one, straight no chaser!

Next up, let’s go to Colchester, CT. Yes, Colchester where you can sightsee, fish, bike, hike, go antique shopping do whatever to spend a wonderful day. Did you know that in colonial times a pond was created to provide water for a sawmill, where they turned chestnut, maple, and oak logs into lumber. By the 1870s horses were hauling wagons across a covered bridge over the nearby Salmon River. Today the beautiful area in Colchester is known as Day Pond State Park, and it offers lots of opportunity for exploring. Now once you have worked up that appetite you simply have to stop at Harry’s Place, a real roadside burger stand complete with wooden shutters, park benches, and good juicy two-fisted burgers.

Last and certainly not least, one of my favorite towns New Haven. Maybe you’ve heard of Sleeping Giant State Park? Sleeping Giant State Park (not in New Haven but close enough) gets its name because the two-mile rocky ridge in Hamden, Connecticut looks like a giant man lying on his back. Sleeping Giant State Park is 1,439 acres and offers over 30 miles of hiking trails. So, after a nice walk or hike (whichever you prefer) make your way to this little gem called Louis’ Lunch. It is a very inauspicious little building on Crown Street in New Haven. It serves one of the most barren yet tastiest burgers you could want. By the way, Louis’ Lunch claims the first hamburgers in U.S. history were served right there at Louis’ Lunch sandwich shop in 1895.

But, don’t take my word for it check out this link http://prod.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/es/ct/burger_1 its from the Library of congress.

So there we have it, a few places we can go and get our adventure on, so to speak, and have a great meal as a reward afterwards. If you know of a place serving great food or a fun or adventurous place worth visiting let me know.

Destinations:

Farmington, CT http://www.fvgreenway.org/ http://www.fiveguys.com/history.aspx

Hill-Stead Museum:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g33782-d106104-Reviews-Hill_Stead_Museum

Colchester, CT http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=XFA032-028

Harry’s Burgers http://roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=672

New Haven, CT

Sleeping Giant: http://www.outdoorplaces.com/Destination/stateparks/connecticut/sleeping_giant/

Louis’ Lunch http://www.louislunch.com/lore.html

In the coming weeks I’ll be writing about quick day trips that are fabulous right in our own “backyard”.

On Saturday, February 6^th I had the pleasure of being a guest of Chamard Vineyards in Clinton, CT for a Valentine’s Day event. I had no expectations; I’ve been a resident of Guilford for the past 7 years and haven’t even given it a thought to visit the Vineyard or any on the wine trail for that matter. I’ve been to the Vineyards in Long Island, the Vineyards in France and Italy, Why then haven’t I been to Chamard? I don’t know, all’s I can tell you is maybe you are like me, and you haven’t given it a thought, you should!

As you drive through a residential area Chamard presents its self, the vineyards are a bucolic pasture, where soldiers of grapevines are trained into an orderly fashion, reside. Beyond, is a pond with a fountain and a substantial facility that houses a tasting room and barrel room. The tasting room is elegantly beautiful, and has a signature large fieldstone fireplace to cozy up to on cold nights. There are double French doors that lead to a patio for warmer months that you can view the vineyard from. I had the opportunity to taste their Cabernet and was impressed; it had rich oak undertones, full body and a hint of berry.

The event I attended, was organized by True events, and The White Dress, it was “truly amazing”. The event highlighted the multiple ways that the Chamard property can be utilized. To start we had wine in the tasting room and then spilled downstairs to the barrel room and what I would call the “basement”. The barrel room was transformed into a metro fashion show, complete with lighting and sound. I thought to myself, “Am I really in Clinton?” The lighting was dim, the music thumping, and the event went fantastically. Except that being a barrel room, the temperature was a little chilly, more so for the lingerie models than for the guests.

For your next night out, “staycation”, or event, consider Chamard their versatility can meet the needs of almost any event. I’m looking forward to my next out of town guests to arrive so I can head on back. Check out their group tasting, $100 for 10 guests, you can’t beat that.

Cheers!

Nikki Rasmussen

Now I’m sure many of you already know of some of Connecticut’s more famous attractions and you may be familiar with fantastic 5-star restaurants and perhaps some without such distinguished ratings. But in this column we are going to chat about all kinds of neat spots that serve tasty food. Moreover, because sometimes you may not want to travel very far for a good meal, we’ll explore interesting places that may entice you to venture out and about, giving you good reason to visit a local eatery as a nice way to cap off the day.

So let’s talk travel and food in Connecticut! And let’s start with Norwalk. Yes, many of you may already know about the Maritime Center, which is a great place to… but you may not know about the wonderful eateries in and around the Norwalk area. You may aslo remember the Peabody Museum in Bridgeport but you may not know about the outstanding unassuming restaurant that sits right across the street. I’ll come back to specific names later.

Are you a breakfast-lover with a penchant for shopping? Check out the Danbury Mall. After—or before—your bargain hunting, stop into the Marcus Dairy Restaurant, this is just down the road a bit from the mall. Yes, Marcus Dairy, it has been a destination spot for motorcyclists and breakfast-lovers for years, but don’t worry, you don’t need to ride one to enjoy a good meal there. It’s just that on Sunday mornings many people come from all over to stop commiserate and have a delicious breakfast.

For those who live a little more north than south, how about Middletown? Did you know about the Wadsworth Mansion or how about the Center for Arts at Wesleyan University? “In 1900 Colonel Clarence S. Wadsworth began preparing plans for the site of his future country summer residence “Long Hill” in the rolling hills of western Middletown. Today, the Mansion sits on 100 acres of wooded parkland, and is the quintessential country estate reflective of the Gilded Age when the art of entertaining was perfected.” The Center for the Arts at Wesleyan University “serves as a cultural center for the campus, Middletown and the region by presenting a wide variety of events and exhibitions.”

Now since we’re on a breakfast kick, while you’re in Middletown, you must have a bite to eat at O’Rourke’s—otherwise known as the greatest little breakfast nook you’ll ever find. All their food is fabulous, much of it inspired by Louisiana-style flavors and their omelets are nothing short of sinful (but worth every extra calorie!).

So, there you have it, a couple places to check out on a weekend. Get up, leave the coffee and paper at home, strike out on an adventure for the day (or at least half a day), and go somewhere a little out of the ordinary. Add to that some outstanding food that is out of the ordinary and you’ve got a recipe for a great day.

Locations:

Dinner

Valencia Luncheria 172 Main Street, Norwalk, CT 06851 (203) 846.8009 www.valencialuncheria.com

Ralph ‘n’ Rich’s 815 Main Street Bridgeport CT, 06605 (203) 366-3597

www.ralphnrichsct.com

Breakfast

Marcus Dairy Restaurant 5 Sugar Hollow Rd Danbury, CT 06810 (203) 748-9427 www.marcusdairy.com

O’Rourke’s Diner 728 Main Street Middletown, CT 06457 (860) 346.6101

www.orourkesdiner.com

If you’d like to share some of your favorite travels and noshes, let us know.