Spring (Passport) Is Coming

As I said during my appearance this week (Jan. 26) on "The Roundtable" show on WAMC in Albany (http://www.wamc.org/prog-roundtable.html), the story in Northwest Connecticut at the moment is snow and its derivatives---ice, leaking roofs, school delays and closings, and headaches for parents, drivers and homeowners.

The record-breaking snows of January and their side effects had me, for once, not lamenting a kind of psychic jet lag phenomenon arising from our production schedule. Among our national award-winning publications is the glossy magazine Passport, in which we cover arts, culture and all the aspects of fine lifestyles in Litchfield County, the Berkshires of Massachusetts and the Greater Millbrook area across the border in New York.

To figure out what must be done by when, all magazines work backward from a publication date. Passport is a quarterly, timed to the seasons, and based on the schedule of our printer in Pennsylvania, along with many other factors, we're always working at least a season ahead. Our current issue, winter, (take a look on http://www.passport-mag.com/ or link through the weekly paper http://www.countytimes.com/) was put together during the first blush of fall, and staff members were out working on stories when it was still technically summer.

As successful as Passport is, the non-stop cycle of constantly living in the future can be fatiguing. You find yourself mournfully looking out the window at glorious foliage, glowing in that refracted late afternoon purplish light of autumn, and longing to be abroad and soaking it all in, rather than looking at photos of landscapes covered in snow. You get ahead of yourself, and that, combined with the frenetic beat of journalism, can make it hard to take a breath and live in the moment. Your seasonal rhythms get thrown off and don't re-align easily.

Now we're heading into the production cycle for the spring issue of Passport. Christmas trees were still up in most households when the story list was polished and assignments went out, and all of the phone calls, live interviews, photographs and ad sales took place this month, as Mother Nature walloped the region with storm after storm---including another one overnight Jan. 25-27, which has left the landscape truly buried. Roofs are being raked, barns are collapsing, snow is piled into veritable mountains, and the forecasters say only that more storms are coming.

So as I prepare to dig into a very promising batch of content for spring Passport, for once the circadian sorrow of living on time not yet arrived is not present. Instead---and perhaps strangely for someone who loves all seasons---I feel hope and a sort of determination that working with purpose on a spring magazine is like the power of positive thinking, that the sheer psychic force will banish the look, feel and effects of winter sooner. Never mind what the calendar says, if the snow is gone, the temperature is bearable and a brave crocus or two pokes up, it's spring.

In the spirit of speeding its arrival, here's even more emphasis on Passport's spring edition, in the form of a teaser for some of the terrific content, which includes a hallmark interview with Robert Harrison, CEO of the Clinton Global Initiative (http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/).

Perhaps the best and brightest embodiment of the hopeful quality that runs as a subtext in this blog is our student essayist for the Passport to Education section of the magazine. Giving students a voice is a Passport tradition, and the spring piece comes from Emmeline Pappas. She chronicles the voyage from her high school years in Roxbury, Conn., to the challenges and possibilities presented at Syracuse University.

Emme Pappas; photo by Laurie Gaboardi

Because spring is, admittedly, raw, cold and a bit of a bleak season, the urge remains to seek havens of comfort. To fill the bill, one of our dining stories profiles The White Horse, A Country Pub & Restaurant, in the Marbledale section of Washington, Conn. (http://www.whitehorsecountrypub.com/) An aspiring gastropub in the British tradition, it's a warm, welcoming place that will increasingly turn to its outside venues as the seasons progress.

Chef Fabrice Denis at The White Horse with chicken pot pie; photo by Walter Kidd

 Not far from The White Horse in the New Preston section of Washington is an antiques shop, Dawn Hill Antiques (http://www.dawnhillantiques.com/) that has spawned another story, this one in the arts-and-entertainment category. Co-owner John Peden is also a very successful photographer (http://www.pedenstudio.com/) with a passion for vintage guitars. (Wait until you see his photos; think Robert DeNiro and Keith Richards.)

John Peden with one of his classic guitars; photo by Laurie Gaboardi

Finally, once you read all of our great content and learn about a small, small fraction of the riches offered by the region, you're probably going to want to move here, or at least acquire a weekend residence. Passport can help with that too, via our Passport to Country Properties section, which features an interview with one of the most successful brokers in the region, Stacey Matthews of William Raveis Real Estate (http://www.staceymatthews.com/) Lately, she has listed properties owned by literary legends, including William Styron, and has been marketing them very appropriately---by telling a story.

Realtor Stacey Matthews; photo by Laurie Gaboardi

Be sure to look for the spring issue of Passport in The Litchfield County Times March 18, dropped in bundles at select locations, or online via http://www.countytimes.com/. The more you think about the advent of this great issue of our magazine, the sooner it, and spring, will come.

A New Way to Hibernate on a Saturday Morning

It’s news to no one at this point that New England, along with some other parts of the country, is weathering an old-fashioned winter that brings storm after school-closing storm and has left the landscape wrapped in a deep blanket of white.

It’s reason to give more than lip service to the time-honored instinct to hibernate in a warm, cozy nest. Traditionalists among us might do so with a nice fire, a beloved book, a rich red wine and some chamber music in the background. Children of the digital revolution would turn the same setting into a playground for wireless on-demand movies or some multi-media “cloud” that could follow them from one warm nook to another.

In Litchfield County, on Saturday mornings during a most inhospitable stretch—from Jan. 15 through March 26—a series of events ostensibly aimed at children actually forms a third-stream type of winter womb.

In this story by the Pumpernickel Puppets of Worcester, Mass., the mouse saves the lion from a hunter.

The fifth annual Puppetry Festival at the Washington Montessori School, for which The Litchfield County Times is a principal sponsor, represents a good reason to leave the “cave” and venture forth into a cold and snowy landscape.

Shows are presented at 10 and 11:30 a.m. each Saturday, with seats costing just $8.50 per person. While the productions may be geared toward children, it only takes attending a show or two to realize that—like the best things in any artistic medium—their appeal crosses generations.

John McDonough of the Pumpernickel Puppets shows a rabbit puppet to children attending the Jan. 15 show at Washington Montessori School.

Such stories as “Three Billy Goats Gruff,” “Rip Van Winkle,” and “Hansel & Gretel,” may seem simple and straightforward, but the issues they raise are often fodder for adult consideration. Perhaps the best aspect is that the collection of puppeteers assembled by Stephen Warshaw, the Chief Experience Officer at Moving Experiences, LLC, is so skilled that these narratives are only enhanced by the cartoon-like qualities inherent to puppetry.

As the puppeteers present a vividly exaggerated version of, well, everything, and ride the edge of hilarity, it would seem that the suspension of disbelief necessary to buy into the performance would be pushed to the breaking point. The opposite ends up being true, and you find yourself so mesmerized that when the show comes to its inevitable conclusion and the lights come up, you sort of blink and wonder with disappointment who snapped the scene back into reality—and why.

What you realize, ultimately, is that these Saturday morning puppet shows in the dead of winter are far more than entertainment for kids, and adults. In part because they’re held in the dark of the state-of-the-art theater at Washington Montessori School, and partly because of the communal nature of the gatherings, the experience is a new surrogate for hibernating in a culturally gleeful style.

Hannah Warshaw, left, interacts with a big bird puppet Jan. 15 ans her brother, Anderson, looks on.

 The Purple Rock Marionettes are presenting “The Snowmaiden” on Saturday, Jan. 22, and the Tanglewood Marionettes are presenting “An Arabian Adventure” on Jan. 29, followed by a roster of other fun shows through the end of March. To connect, see the school’s Web site at http://www.washingtonmontessori.org/.

Enjoy a show; it will help you enjoy the winter. After all, after being delighted by puppet masters, and perhaps having lunch nearby and doing a bit of shopping amid the cold-scape, you'll be primed to enjoy with extra intensity a Saturday evening by the fireside, a glass of wine in one hand, a book in the other and a classic movie cued up for when it's time to switch to vintage port.

This Lofty Afternoon



Salisbury Winter Sports Association board of directors president Ken Barker, at left, oversees a practice Nordic ski jumping session last weekend in Salisbury. The association's new ski jump and its ongoing success story brought me to Salisbury on the afternoon of Jan. 14---but then I moved on from there.


Sometimes work rises to the level of exhilarating play, and, as the most progressive companies know, such play--the loosening of reins and encouraging of creativity--can prove far more productive, and produce greater dividends, than the chained-to-the-desk approach.

I'm riding that wave at this very moment, liberated from the office on a bone-cold winter's afternoon for an interview for an LCT magazine story, followed by some reconnecting and research in the town of Salisbury and its village of Lakeville.

From there I popped across the state line to Millerton, N.Y., where I'm currently ensconced at the Irving Farm Coffee House, enjoying a raspberry scone and a strong, beautiful latte as I post breaking news remotely on http://www.countytimes.com/ and write this blog.

Yes, I'm finally living the dream of blogging live on the road, albeit on a PC laptop, not my iPad, and for this first mobile post, without the benefit of a digital camera and the ability to point, shoot and post. But that's just a planning/time management glitch that will get ironed out before my next on-the-road post.

After the interview (I'll get to that in a bit) I flirted with stopping at The Roast, a coffee shop tucked behind the pharmacy on Main Street (Route 44) in Salisbury, but, to be honest, I got diverted on a trip to find the resources to adhere to The Roast's no credit/bank cards policy and, while wandering, remembered how great Irving Farm's coffee is. That and the desire to check out Millerton again pushed me over the state line.

Irving Farm didn't disappoint. Its cafe--soups, sandwiches and other hearty fare is also served---is one of those funky, open spaces given warmth and charm by the interesting people who gather here. Seen out of context, the wood floors, mostly utilitarian tables, functional display cases and close-up view of the main street may not impress, but add in the halo of ambiance the coffee and food creates, along with the people and the display of color photos on the yellow walls, and the place represents a womb-like invitation to settle in. (http://www.irvingfarm.com/)

On the walk over to the coffee shop, I saw signs for the stylish home style shop Nest, I'm next door to the landmark film venue, The Moviehouse, and driving in from Salisbury I was reminded by a sign of the great independent bookstore, Oblong Books & Music. Also here is Harney & Sons tea company with its cafe, a fine wine shop, other restaurants and cafes, and lots more to see/experience in a concentrated setting. For an overview, see the Web site at
http://www.millertonny.com/.

Appreciating Millerton and it's near-the-state-line state of mind takes nothing away from Lakeville and Salisbury, community centers in one of the prettiest towns anywhere that are both full of charm and lifestyle friendly. My wife reminded me the other day of the many Sundays in recent years when we drove to Salisbury after church in Litchfield---maybe 30 or more miles away---just for the great homemade oatmeal in one former restaurant.

For bibliophiles, Dan Dwyer's Johnnycake Books is paradise found. As Christmas approached, Dan sent out his own personalized lists of books that would make great gifts, and in this age of technology, just reading the titles in a document attached to an e-mail was like a call to action not to abandon the best of human/intellectual comforts. The new Peter Becks Village Store for lovers of the outdoors has  become an instant landmark, joining many others, including the Chaiwalla Tea Room.

Lakeville, meanwhile, just a mile down the road, has its own concentration of shops, restaurants and art galleries. It's also home to one of the nation's finest private schools, The Hotchkiss School, whose Tremaine Gallery has top-flight exhibits, and whose music hall offers concerts by performers of national and international renown---most often for free.

For a closer look at all that Salisbury and Lakeville have to offer, see the Web site at http://salisbury-lakeville.com/index.html. To learn more about Hotchkiss and its stunning arts and cultural outreach, see the school's Web site at http://www.hotchkiss.org./

The folks I met with Friday made me appreciate more than ever how Salisbury and Lakeville, despite having lofty demographics and being popular as second-home havens for successful New Yorkers, are tight-knit communities whose primary asset is the caring, quality people who live here. They appreciate the broad range of lifestyle options just steps away, and reciprocally, the merchants and businesses are grateful for the discerning, sophisticated and involved families they serve.

One of those families comprises the folks who run the Salisbury Winter Sports Association, the can-do organization that, in February, will sponsor its 85th annual Nordic ski jumping competition at its newly-upgraded Satre Hill venue in Salisbury center. Over lunch with a group that included the nonprofit group's board of director's president, Ken Barker, the builder of the new 65 meter jump, Rafe Churchill, and public relations energizer Andes Hruby, it was clear the rising-again sport of ski jumping is a cross-demographic speciality that has woven the fabric of these communities tighter than the best winter's blanket.

Scroll up to see that photo again, by Walter Kidd, of a practice session last weekend for young jumpers at Satre Hill, a venue with amazing views. (I was flown in a worker's lift bucket to the top of the new jump and was mesmerized by the views north and east over the southern Berkshires.)
For the full story, see the February issue of LCT magazine, in The Litchfield County Times and dropped in bundles across the region, on the last Friday of February. Or read all of the great content in the magazine online at http://www.countytimes.com/.

In the meantime, cure the winter doldrums with visits to Lakeville, Salisbury and Millerton, N.Y.

Seeking Out Comfort Food

For some, the responsibility of driving a child to school each morning is a burden. Not for me. I view the school buses we encounter along the route from home to school as opportunities missed for families, while understanding that mine is a personal view, and that riding the bus can be fun for kids, a positive bonding and socialization experience.

I wouldn't say our family chose a school that requires a 25-minute drive and doesn't offer a bus for our geography because I always harbored a desire to be my son's scholastic chauffeur, but when the right school came along, it's distance and geography were more of a fulfillment for me than an issue. As crazy as mornings can be, spiced by a bright-eyed younger sister who goes to her "school" with mom, I love the whole routine--getting up while it's still dark, multi-tasking cleanup and preparation responsibilities, coffee, breakfast, shower, etc.

And it's best in the winter, even perfect in snowy weather that requires shoveling the driveway before departing. At the moment when I go outside into the cold air and a beautiful frozen landscape to start the car, I feel almost elated from knowing that in a few minutes my son and I will begin the journey of learning and growing all over again, blessed with nearly a half-hour together in a warm "cabin." We drive through pretty countryside of forests, farms, fields and ponds, admiring our surroundings, talking, plotting, laughing, practicing spelling words and, sometimes, listening to music.

A few weeks ago on the morning school commute, my son announced from his perch in a "race car" child's seat in the back that he was having a text-to-text connection. Before I could articulate my confusion, he explained how some aspect of the landscape had resonance with the narrative in one of the books his class was reading. The term text-to-text may have been a misnomer, but his stitching together life and literature into a mental "cloth" more valuable than the pieces alone made me have one of those little rushes you feel when first in love, or when you envision changing the world just after finishing a particularly strong espresso drink.

A son who seeks out and celebrates juxtapositions---yes, he's mine to the core. I thrive on counterbalancing often disparate elements in search of the confluenced harmony I appreciate. One simple translation is that, this time of year most of all, I like to deepen the joy of a nice meal by balancing it against the palpable nature of the cold kiss of bleakness all around. We dont' just study ice crystals or make snowballs before getting in the warm car and heading to school, we purposefully suit up and go for long sojourns in the quiet woods before emerging to seek out a haven like a coffee shop with a certain ambiance and good scones, muffins and croissants.

With snow in the forecast today (Jan. 7) I drove to work reflecting on a little stew of feelings: disappointment that the "snow day" erased the ride to school, excitement about the storm and a bit of familial hibernation, and the urge to respond to the embellished wintry landscape the storm produces with voyages that juxtapose steeping in the snowscape and stopping for comfort food. Litchfield County, along with the Berkshires and the Millbrook, N.Y., area, which we cover in our glossy Passport magazine, are rich with wonderful restaurants. Two new ones on the scene fit the comfort food bill in totally different ways.

The Tollgate Tavern at the Tollgate Hill Inn in Litchfield (http://www.tollgatehill.com/) is located in a Colonial-era historic property, has working fireplaces and features the delicious-looking comfort food of executive chef Samantha Tilley, who previously worked in the kitchen at chef Carole Peck's Good News Cafe in Woodbury (http://www.good-news-cafe.com/), one of the best and most fun restaurants in the state. The dining room features murals of what the area looked like long ago, and the fireplace is a perfect enticement to discover the tavern right now.

A dining area at the tavern.

Samantha Tilley, left, and innkeeper Alicia Pecora at the Tollgate Tavern. Photos by Laurie Gaboardi.

The food also looks perfect for the season, simple but sophisticated, flavorful and hearty.

Nonna's chicken: tomato-braised chicken with capers, anchovies, soft polenta and Parmesan cheese.

 Desserts are also in order to help blunt the bite of the season, and to end a meal with a feeling of sweet satisfaction.

Homemade spiced bread pudding with pumpkin ice cream.



In the spirit of seasonal juxtapositions, as a prelude to trying the Tollgate Tavern (860-567-1233), spend time shopping on West Street in the center of town or walking at the White Memorial Conservation Center (http://www.whitememorialcc.org/)

The other new spot worth seeking out might provide an equal dose of comfort, but in an entirely different way. After the proprietor of a modest operation on the green in Washington called the Crossroads Cafe decided to close, the owner stepped in to take over the breakfast and lunch business. The owner happens to be the prestigious private school The Gunnery, and the little cafe is one that has been around for decades and is little changed.

It's the kind of Norman Rockwellesque place that has a soda fountain and offers milkshakes and egg creams. With The Gunnery at the helm, the breakfast and lunch fare looks tempting. Making the new Cafe on the Green special and perfect for a winter-warming juxtapositions outing are its history, charm and promise of good food in an unexpected, inconspicuous setting, tucked into a historic building that also houses a little Post Office. It's open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Before lunch, shop in Washington Depot or the New Preston section of town, or walk in the landmark Steep Rock Preserve (http://steeprockassoc.org/).

Jennifer Calhoun making a milkshake at the Cafe on the Green; photos by Walter Kidd.

 As I write this at midday on Jan. 7, most schools in the region are closed or about to close, businesses that can are getting ready to send employees home early and most residents are already tucked in at home for an afternoon of watching the snow fall and, perhaps, reading, playing games or watching movies over cups of hot chocolate as the afternoon turns into a long but not lonely evening.

Tomorrow, when the storm clears, it's time again for embracing winter, turning the landscape into an ally and finding just the right juxtaposition to make the most of the season. Enjoy.

A Buffalo chicken wrap with homemade chips.