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New England Today

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(page 2 of 2)

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