Kent Is Calling

Just before this year's leaf-peeping season, Yankee Magazine bestowed the gift of bragging rights and a commercial/retail boost when it named small, rural Kent in Litchfield County as the top fall foliage town in New England. The town is blessed with dramatic natural features, including rugged hills aspiring to be mountains, state parks, the Housatonic River and Kent Falls, and Yankee backed up its pick with color photos showing a panoramic eagle's-eye view of the town with an uninterrupted canopy of blazing leaves.

A cultural hotspot full of art galleries, private schools and the annual Litchfield Jazz Festival each August, Kent is a daytrip paradise any time of the year. My most frequent visits happen to start around now, just before Thanksgiving and the holidays, and after the best of the autumn colors has faded.

The reason? The truth is that it comes down to a combination of seasonal traditions and chocolate. While my intentions to get to Kent more often are dashed by responsibilities for much of the year, I start to make time as the holidays approach---in large part to visit Belgique Patisserie & Chocolatier (860-927-3681 http://www.kentct.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=226&Itemid=155), run by Susan and Pierre Gilissen. From the real hot chocolate to the handmade chocolates, the pastries and the cakes and desserts, everything here is gorgeous and delicious.Last year, I ordered a Buche de Noel, or Christmas log, for a family gathering on Christmas Eve, and, of course, came home with chocolate St. Nicholases for all. Here's a look:

Beyond Belgique, I love Kent this time of year because it's also one of the region's perfect places for holiday shopping. Within a very concentrated and charming town center, you can buy everything from shoes and unique children's clothing to fine wines, artwork, women's clothing, vintage jewelry, small gift items, books (antiquarian and new) and much more. And before, during and after, you can eat and drink in fine style. See the Web site of the Chamber of Commerce to connect: http://www.kentct.com Here's a file photo of the type of artistic welcome visitors to the town center can expect:

Visitors who get to Kent this weekend can catch the end of a great exhibit focusing on the works of Sharon artist Eric Forstmann at Eckert Fine Art (http://www.eckertfineart.com/html/home.asp). See the story on www.countytimes.com and take a look at one of his images below:

While you're in town enjoying the culture, dining and shopping, don't forget to take in some of the scenic beauty, no matter the season. A stop at Kent Falls, shown here, is pretty much mandatory, and for a bit of history, have a look at Bulls Bridge, which is still in use and stands in an area where it's said George Washington's horse once fell from the road into the waters below.

Make plans to spend a day in Kent---you won't be disappointed---or more than a day, as the town is also home to some fine inns that can be found on the chamber's Web site.

Note: The photos of the Buche de Noel and the chocolate St. Nicholas are courtesy of Belgique; the other photos were taken by staff photographers Laurie Gaboardi and Walter Kidd.