Issues → November 2006 → More Yankee →
New England Today
Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut
When Mark Twain was building his 19-room mansion in 1873, the Hartford Daily Times wrote, "The novelty displayed in the architecture of the building, the oddity of its internal arrangement and the fame of its owner will all conspire to make it a house of note for a long time to come." Years after Twain was forced to leave Hartford because of financial problems, he wrote about the house, "We never came home from an absence that its face did not light up & speak out its eloquent welcome -- & we could not enter it unmoved."
The Fairest of Them All
Whether they're called fairs, festivals, art shows, or samplers, these events have one important thing in common: They're a great way to get your holiday shopping done early. So beat the rush at the malls this season and purchase something made with care. These acclaimed annual events have something for everyone -- from candles, holiday decor, and collectible Santas to stoneware, jewelry, and wooden crafts. Don't miss these opportunities to purchase handmade fine arts and crafts by members of distinguished artists'associations from around New England.
Nov. 4-5: 18th United Maine Craftsmen Bangor Arts & Crafts Show, Bangor, ME. 207-621-2818. unitedmainecraftsmen.com
Nov. 4-Dec. 31: Brookfield Craft Center’s 31st Annual Holiday Exhibition & Sale, Brookfield, CT. 203-775-4526. brookfieldcraftcenter.org
Nov. 16-19: 54th Annual Vermont Handcrafters Holiday Craft and Fine Art Show, South Burlington, VT. 800-373-5429. vermonthandcrafters.com
Nov. 17-19: 19th Annual Old Deerfield Christmas Sampler, West Springfield, MA. 413-774-7476. deerfield-craft.org
Nov. 18-19: 5th Annual Holly Berry Arts & Crafts Show, Manchester, NH. 603-528-4014. joycescraftshows.com
Nov. 24-25: 16th Annual Ocean State Artisans Holiday Craft Festival, Warwick, RI. 401-647-7848. oceanstateartisans.com
For more events around the region, see the "Traveler's Calendar" and visit YANKEE's travel Web site, NewEngland.com.
The Quiet Celebration of a Cy Young Winner
"The day they were announcing the Cy Young [last November], I started to think, What do I say if he doesn't win? ... It was our anniversary weekend, so we were leaving that night for the Woodstock Inn in Vermont no matter what. Win, lose, or whatever. I think it was 11:30 in the morning when they called and said he won. It was such an awesome feeling ... There wasn't one single person [at the inn] who even knew who he was. It was just so funny. I kept thinking, There has to be someone who is a sports fan who is going to say congratulations."
- Alyson Carpenter speaking to reporter Allen Lessels. Alyson is the wife of New Hampshire native Chris Carpenter. In 2005, Chris won the National League Cy Young Award for best pitcher. He joins fellow New Englanders Mike Flanagan (1979), Steve Bedrosian (1987), and Tom Glavine (1991 and 1998).
Artists Among Us
Massachusetts painter Kara Taylor gave up her farm stand and flower farm this past summer to concentrate fully on her painting and her new gallery, Kara Taylor Fine Art, on Martha's Vineyard. The 30-year-old artist's quiet landscapes and bold collages fill the large windows, tempting passersby with her work. When she's not chatting with customers, she paints in the back. Her works are serene: soft colors of rolling Vineyard farmland and tumbledown fences. Very romantic scenes. 19 Main St., Vineyard Haven, MA. 508-693-7799. karataylorart.com
The Boots That Made a Legend
Rare is the American outdoors lover who does not have a pair of L.L. Bean's rubber-bottomed, leather-topped shoes or boots. The boots were a eureka moment for Maine woodsman Leon Leonwood Bean. Legend has it that 90 of the first 100 pairs were returned. Bean's business sense (and sense of honesty) had him return the buyers' money and continue to improve his product, now the world standard. L.L. Bean: The Making of an American Icon (Harvard Business School Press, $26.95) was written by Bean's grandson, Leon Gorman, current chairman and former president of this iconic American company. There is a lot to be learned here about running a company, and the importance of never forgetting your customers' needs.
Revolutionary Spirit
And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails (Crown Publishing, $24), by longtime Yankee contributor Wayne Curtis, tells the story of the rise, fall, and return of America's most reviled and defamed spirit. Rum began as a byproduct of the 17th-century Caribbean sugar industry but soon took on a life of its own -- especially in coastal New England, which was home to as many as 150 Colonial distilleries.
"Demon rum" has long shouldered blame for such dark episodes as the slave trade, the excesses of bloodthirsty pirates, and widespread drinking that led to Prohibition. But rum rarely gets credit for its positive role in American culture. It was the second-most important industry after shipbuilding, and when the British crown meddled with it (think: the Molasses and Sugar Acts), the Colonies learned how to work together to resist.
"Rum is the history of America in a glass," Curtis writes. "Like moonglow, the life of America is reflected back in each incarnation of rum."
Worth the Drive
The Drawing Room, Cos Cob, Connecticut.
Kenleigh and Mike Larock opened their stylish home furnishings and accessories store in downtown Cos Cob a few years ago. The young couple recently expanded their business with a small café that features fine teas and coffees, scones and cookies, lunch sandwiches, and a full high tea (sandwiches, tea, clotted cream, etc.). Kenleigh, trained as a decorative painter and the daughter of designers, has continued offering interior design services. Products in the store include pillows embroidered with coral shapes, bright hues, and sparkles. The furniture is a mix of old, new, and modern. 5 Suburban Ave., Cos Cob, CT. 203-661-3406. thedrawingroom.cc
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