INK MAGAZINE - MARCH 2020

A guide to finer living in Connecticut & abroad.

Vol 15 Issue 171

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Ture Tur een with covve errr,, Frre e ench, Sceaux, c. 1755. Tin-glazed earthe enw ware (faïence). The Metropolitan Muse eum of Art, New Yo York, NY. Gift of R. Thorrnton Wilson, in memory of Florence Ellsworth Wilson, 1954; Frro ontis spiece of The Modern Cook by Vincent La L Chapelle. London: printed for Thomas s Osborne, 1744, 3rd rd ed., Vo Vol. 1. Collectio on of Ivvan Dayy.. Photo by To Toni Hafkenscheid; Anthony Nelme, Cassterrss and Bottlle es on Stand, 1716–17. Sillvver. Wa Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Arrt, Hartford, CT. The Elizabeth B. Miles Collection C of English Sillvver; Bo oyy and girl shelling peas, England, Chels sea, c. 1759–1770. Soft-paste porrccelain, enamels, and gilding. Photogrra aph © 20 019 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Gift off Richard C. Paine.

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5 March 2020 Vol. 15 Issue 171

Feature Stories

Departments

The Bird Nest

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A Singular Sensation in Guilford.

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In Search of “The Look?”

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Cora Gives Maximus Decorating Perspective.

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Hopping Around CT - Hoax Brewing Company Cardinal Points - The Agreement, Massai Giraffe Crusty Old Diver - Amanda Torrez, Megalendon Hunter Music Mirth and Mojo - Cruisin’ w/Delbert McClinton The Cheesemonger - Award Winning Cheese

Adventure Down Under 28

A trip through Australia and New Zealand

On the Vine - Climate & Soil’s Effect on Wine Life on Sugar - Say “I Do” with Cupcakes March Events - Nights, Sights, and Sounds

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HELLO! I would like to begin by offering a sincere thank you in response to

all of the kind words we have received regarding our new format. Though it was a change in an aesthetic, there are many other benefits that we are also experiencing. One of which is the ability to print a great many more issues.

We are also happy that we’ve seen a very sharp rise in subscriptions. The

Johnny Swing

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Love, Money, and Mischief

mission for us here has always been one of sharing. Whether it’s an inspiring story, a dreamer, a doer, or an amazing boutique to find all those things you never knew you needed. INK continues to pay tribute to the Connecticut experience as seen through it’s own eyes. Enjoy!

Jeffery Lilly

Contributors

Rick Waters: 54

Master Wooden Boat Builder

Angela Carontino - admin/traffic Susan Cornell - editorial/photography Laurencia Ciprus - editorial Caryn B. Davis - editorial/photograpy Alison Kaufman - Music Mirth & Mojo Heather Kelly - Life on Sugar Mark Seth Lender - Cardinal Points Art LiPuma - On the Vine

founder / publisher

Rona Mann - editorial Carolina Marquez-Sterling - design Melissa Nardiello - design Paul Partica - The Cheesemonger Vincent Scarano - editorial John Tolmie - Crusty Old Diver Kate Tolmie - photography Joe Urso - design

Advertising Contact us to receive our media kit with detailed advertising information.

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The Crypt at Yale/New Haven Green

Bob Houde - Advertising Director bob@inkct.com 860.303.6690

Jacki Hornish - Litchfield jacki@inkct - 860.488.0393

Cheryl Powell - Greater Connecticut cheryl@ink-pub.com - 860.608.5749

Richard Malinsky - Shoreline richard@inkct.com - 215.704.9273

Rona Mann -Greater Connecticut six07co@att.net - 401-539-7762

Submit Events Listings to: Angela Carontino - events@inkct.com

On the Cover: Johnny Swing’s “Fortune Cookie” by Laurencia Ciprus All content of INK Publications including but not limited to text, photos, graphics and layout are copyrighted by Inkct LLC Reproductions without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Inkct LLC is not responsible for images or graphics submitted by advertisers which are not copyrighted or released for use in this publication.

visit inkct.com

Inkct LLC - 71 Maple Avenue, Old Saybrook, CT 06475 - email: submissions@ink-pub.com - visit www.inkct.com

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opping Hopping Around CT.

By Jim Lalumiere

and Armada Brewing brews your traditional craft styles. Hoax does everything else, and then some.

Hoax Brewing Company There are roughly 120 breweries in CT, but there is only one Hoax Brewing Company.

Unconventional doesn't start to describe them. Part of a multi-brewery conglomerate in East Haven named The Beeracks (which is tagged with killer graffiti art from High Crew), Hoax sets themselves apart from all other breweries around. Overshores Brewing Company brews Belgian style ales

Sean Ricci and Austin Scott started Hoax after a Christmas party in 2017 where everyone in attendance was required to brew their own beer. Their beer, a raspberry Berliner Weiss, was such a hit that talk of starting their own brewery began almost immediately. They were beer guys who worked at a liquor store and enjoyed sours and barrel aged imperial stouts. Sean had limited knowledge of brewing so he immersed himself in the art of homebrewing, pumping out 10-12 batches per week and within 3 months had a game plan. With the help of Christian at Overshores he opened Hoax under the same roof, using the same brewing equipment. Names such as Counterfeit and Fake and Fugazi were thrown around until someone mentioned “Hoax”.

The name stuck and has been a big part of the company brand since day one.

Craft beer drinkers today are always interested in“what's next”. Hoax embraces this beer culture by giving their customers something new with every batch brewed.

Their base rotating styles are a Milkshake IPA line called “Beauty Parade”, a Berliner Weiss line called “Sleight of Hand” and assorted stouts and porters. They don't currently have a flagship beer or a “regular” IPA that they brew all of the time.

According to Sean, there are just too many flavors, ingredients, adjuncts, fruits and hops out there to stick to a rigid set of beers. He doesn't want to drink or brew the

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New England IPA that I would drink regularly if it were an option.

same thing every day. He's in it for the fun and excitement and for what beers he can come up with next.

IPAs are the biggest styles in the beer world. They can be hazy, juicy, resiny, and citrusy.

Hoax takes IPAs to the next level. Dr. Spruce, one of their newest IPAs is a spruce tip infused brew using a duffel bag sized amount of locally harvested spruce tips. According to Sean,“duffel bag full” is an actual measurement used more than for just measuring quantities of marijuana. The 6.5% IPA is piney, hazy and delicious. You immediately think“Christmas tree in a glass” when you smell it. If spruce tips aren't your thing, how about a goat bone infused IPA? Yes, actual goat bones. Sean had been into

the local punk and metal scene for year promoting shows and getting to know the bands. When Hoax opened their doors two years ago, New Haven doom-rock band Bone Church played their first show ever at the Hoax grand opening. Fast forward the tape a year and Hoax puts out an IPA to pay homage to the band. Do they just name the beer “Bone Church IPA”....? No. That would be too easy.

They instead infused the “Bone Church Brew” with enough actual goat bones to appease the metal gods themselves, double dry hop it with Azacca and Cashmere hops and ferment it to 6.66% abv. The beer, which I drank (in multiple pints) did not taste like goats or bones, nor was it vegan-friendly. It was however, a very good

One of the best things about the current state of craft beer is the fact that most breweries like to focus on local. Local hops, ingredients, and consumers. 10 years ago in the craft beer world, “local” meant within a few states of where you were. Today it means the next town over. Hoax has partnered up with Winter Winds Farm in Litchfield to source local maple, and also with Common Grounds Coffee in Branford for roasted coffee for their Nutmeg State of Mind Stout. The liquid is a 10% Imperial Maple Coffee Nutmeg Stout.

The can is nothing short of iconic Connecticut.

Chris, the Hoax director of sales and creativity, has captured our state in stunning glory with a sailor girl adorned with mountain laurels, robins and whole nutmeg. That right there sums up “local”.

Where does Hoax go from here? Expanded distribution throughout the state and more sales is the easy answer. More metal shows and food trucks at the brewery? Absolutely! How about beers with gooseberries, mai tai ingredients, pistachios or birthday cake added for flavor (brewed for their 2 nd Anniversary bash)?

We would expect nothing less from the rogue brewers of Hoax.

Check out the taproom Thursday-Sunday and make sure to ask about the in-house fight-club.

Hoax Brewing Company. Unconventional beers for unconventional beer drinkers.

Jim Lalumiere, lover of all that is hoppy, malty and sour.

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The Bird Nest Gallery & Salon A Singular Sensation in Guilford

by RONA Mann / Photos by Jeffery Lilly

No, it’s not a misprint. The Bird Nest is neither plural nor possessive, it is singular.

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t least the one in Guilford is because since its opening on the shoreline just nine short years ago, The Bird Nest Gallery & Salon Suites has been a singular sensation to those who have found this delightful place, where the art of design marries the art of hair styling, and the results are nothing short of absolutely enchanting!

First, you have to find it, and it’s not difficult. Just off the green in downtown Guilford, The Bird Nest Gallery & Salon Suites is located at 25 Water Street, tucked away in an historic home, built in 1728. You’ll know the moment you open the door and step inside, that this is going to be a special experience. You are walking the floorboards of an almost 300-year old home, where, if the walls could talk…

...and they do talk with extraordinary works of art hanging where once American colonists might have hung their lanterns, fireplace pokers, and riding crops. Today, these walls make up a two-room exhibition space featuring works by Connecticut artists in a variety of mediums that

include both fine arts and artisan crafts. They are carefully and purposefully curated by Lisa Fatone, a lifelong professional artist herself, who first joined The Bird Nest in 2014. Having amassed an enviable number of years of gallery experience, Fatone has been most responsible for growing the gallery’s family of artists and serves as a liaison between the gallery and the area’s extensive art community.

But the “singular sensation” who is responsible for having the vision to create this wondrous and unique place is Steven T. Uccello, a Connecticut native with boundless energy, a winning smile, and one of the most accomplished resumes for a stylist on the shoreline, or anywhere else for that matter!

He developed his skills and honed his craft training and working under world-renowned fashion stylist, Oribe Canalis in Miami Beach, then went on to

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Left to Right: Steven T. Uccello Owner, Lisa Fatone Gallery Coordinator, Laurie Harder Hair Artist, Roxanne Marcarelli AGM Hair Studio

headline at some of the top salons in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and San Francisco before returning to Connecticut.

The years of perfecting his technique have paid off handsomely as Steven is able to focus on each client individually: the texture of their hair, the length, the color, and any issues and concerns they may have. Always completely up to date and well ahead of the curve on style, Uccello excels whether it’s a short razored pixie cut, long layers that move effortlessly, or something in the middle. His ability to assess each individ-

ual and maximize their potential has won him the highest form of praise...a devoted and consistent clientele with referrals that never stop coming.

Many entrepreneurs anoint their businesses by using their own names, and indeed Steven has done that as well. However, unless you are fluent in the language, you may not know that“uccello” is Italian for “bird,” so it is just fitting for a venue as special as The Bird Nest, a mixed-use space dedicated to beauty and style, whether on top of the head or as installations adorning the walls.

Uccello, who began nine years ago with just one chair in the front salon, now boasts a fully-equipped high energy salon suite with stylists who do not just rent booth space, but maintain their own individual salons within the gallery: Laurie Harder of Laurie Harder Hair; Roxanne Marcarelli, AGM Hair Studio; and Shannon Page, aka Cutting Page Hair Salon.

Community is paramount to Steven and those who inhabit his nest. “I believe we were put on this earth for a short time, but we’re all put here to make a difference for others. That’s why we are always looking to partner with other businesses to do things for this community.”

Lisa Fatone, whom Uccello calls, “a great presence for our shop,” plans, coordinates, and executes many of these events including the Annual Makers Market and Cut-a-Thon, produced in conjunction with other area businesses to raise money for local charities.

They also work with the neighboring Limelite Dance Studios and Echo Salon as community partners in helping entities near and dear to Uccello, one of which is the Women and Family Life Center located right in town and

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helping so many who may be experiencing difficulty in their lives.

According to Uccello, The Bird Nest is a “showcase gallery,” which features fewer artists in a larger space, but with an extended stay. This allows the talented and changing coterie of local Connecticut artists and artisans to fully “showcase” their work over a protracted period of time, while utilizing the many free social

media platforms available to them; and always they are fully supported by Curator, Lisa Fatone.

In addition to the Annual Makers Market and Cut-aThon, Fatone also coordinates monthly artist showcases, classes, and the artists’ paint-outs which display their talents at en Plen air work. Bottom line: it all comes down to a most unique venue where artists of all stripes work separately in their own media and together in concert to benefit the community in which they live and work. It is real. It is ongoing. It can go grow and endure because its groundwork and the people who

lay that groundwork are so strong and so honestly committed to what they do.

“We are all individuals, but when we come together, we are a salon, a gallery, a community partner,” says Uccello. He pauses for a moment, then adds, “Most of all, we are a work in progress.”

Yes, this is The Bird Nest...singular.

In every sense of the word.

Visit The Bird Nest Gallery and Salon Suites at 25 Water Street, just off the green in downtown Guilford.

Call for an appointment: (203) 689-5745 For gallery information: For hair: hair@thebirdnestsalon.com

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In Search of “The Look?”

Cora Gives Maximus Decorating Perspective

by Rona Mann / Photos by Jeffery Lilly Her name is Cora, and although she’s brand new to Maximus in Old Saybrook, she stills knows an awful lot about decorating.

Thing is, Cora’s take on decorating is not the old fashioned way of doing things...she wholeheartedly believes in mixing it up, putting one thing with another and being happy.

So when she found herself at Maximus, she knew she had found the perfect place to ensure her happiness.

Ask owner, Erica Donnelly to define exactly what Maximus is, and you’ll no doubt get a rather bemused expression because you can’t pigeon-hole this place nor give it a quick label. Although Maximus began 15 years ago as strictly an antiques shop, it has evolved, much as the tastes of Erica’s clientele have evolved. “It’s traditional to trendy,” she offers. “It’s for customers

who are seeking ‘the look.’ We display in a way that can give people ideas, how they can mix vintage with old, and even add something modern in as well.”

At its simplest, Maximus is an antique and home décor store, but come inside and discover what makes this place so undefinable. Erica’s father, who was a multi-talented man with varied backgrounds in interior design, construction, and the corporate world, always believed in designing from the inside out, so you’ll really need to come into the store and then work your way through to get the whole picture.

To begin with, there are vendors - at present 30 of them - each of whom is housed within Maximus.

These are not booth-renters, rather Erica refers to them as “vignettes,” and well designed ones at that.

Bryan, Erica, and Cora Donnelly

Each is in an individual space with no clutter, no dust, no musty odor. Each vignette has its own character and personality whether it be vintage furniture, modern eclectic design, jewelry, or clothing.

Erica Donnelly opened wide the doors to Maximus nearly 15 years ago when, according to her employee, Russ, who has been with her all that time says, “she wasn’t even old enough to drink to celebrate the opening!” Donnelly readily admits that having a father who was into antiques and design helped immeasurably. “It’s in my blood.

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When I was a child, I was always redesigning my room,” she laughed.

From the outset, Erica knew that the key to making Maximus a household word would be to“keep things fresh and appealing.” Following that mantra, she has always been very particular about the vendors within her four walls, assuring that the caliber of goods was the very highest and always keeping up with the trends in fashion and home décor. “Before I rent to a new vendor, I ask that they send photos of their merchandise, so we can be sure that they will not only be up to our standards but to what our loyal customers expect as well.”

Donnelly feels comfortable that the vendors she now has are first-rate, displaying merchandise that will excite her customers, giving them new ideas from vintage to modern, from minimalist to industrial in style. If one of the Maximus clients needs some decorating help, Erica is always there to provide it; and if an item is too large to be transported in a customer’s car, delivery service may be arranged for a fee.

When inquiring about future plans, Erica is very firm.

“We have been asked several times about expanding, but I am very happy with the 4500 square feet we have now,”she says.“Our space is exactly what I want and very manageable the way it is. I have no wish to expand nor have a second location. At this size, I feel I have the best handle on everything and that translates to giving our customers the very best we have.”

So the next time you’re on Main Street in the heart of downtown Old Saybrook, it would be worth your while to take a little time and stop at Maximus. Because it’s not what you think. It’s not your grandma’s antique store nor even your mom’s decorating and home accent shop. It’s yours, because if you’re looking for “the look,” you might just find it here. It’s both a destination store and a spur-ofthe-moment stop; however you treat it, there’s always something new in-store at Maximus...a whim that becomes a must-have.

The “look” is never just one thing. It’s a mix, it’s eclectic. It’s YOUR taste, not what some decorator or some magazine tells you is de rigueur for what goes with what.

It’s the fun of mixing vintage with modern because YOU want it that way and YOU like it that way. It’s YOUR color, not some designer’s idea of what your color should be. It’s your style; and like Erica’s father, sometimes the best way to design your space to make it work for you is from the inside out.

So, yes indeed, make that stop at Maximus and spend some time. Walk from the left side of the store to the right; then reverse directions, and you’ll be amazed at all the things you’ll see that you might have missed the first time. When Spring comes and the weather is warm, make sure you visit the courtyard outback.

Sit on the wrought iron furniture, reflect for a few minutes, and see what items are calling to you for your patio, deck, and garden. Take a deep breath, and be glad you’re here.

Most of all when you’re at Maximus, ask if Cora’s in residence that day. She’s not always there, but when she is, she can give

you the benefit of her take on things. She doesn’t try to influence, matter of fact she doesn’t say much at all. But her resolve and way of getting attention are legend and will be inevitable. So, stop and spend a couple of minutes with Cora, and while you’re at it, congratulate her. She just had a birthday, one of those milestones. Oh, and one more thing you should know.

Cora, Erica’s daughter, just turned one year old.

Maximus is easily found right downtown where it’s always happening at 143 Main Street, Old Saybrook (860) 388-9658

The most m powerful e and most m listened to radio dio station t ti n on thhe shoreeline.

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VA L E N T I N E H . Z A H N C O M M U N I T Y

G A L L E R Y

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Samantha Smith, Gold Dream, watercolor and India ink (detaail)

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Group exhibition featuring C Connecticut ti t andd Massachusetts M h tt artists ti t curated by Jan Ayer y with jurors Eric Dillnerr,, Kimberly Monson and Nancy Pinney

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Adventure Down Under w

hen it came time to vote on the annual family vacation, Australia and New Zealand sounded like great options and on everyone’s bucket lists. The countries are safe, English-speaking, have a nice climate (summer there allows us to escape winter here), and have few bugs or bombings. The only major drawback? 21-hour flights, not including layovers, but 9,000 miles away lay the land we’d been eyeing since the Croc Hunter days: Hobbiton, Fiordland, kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, and wombats, quite possibly the cutest animals on earth.

Five hundred years ago, philosopher Michel de Montaigne said, “My life has been filled with terrible misfortune; most of which never happened.” Lo and behold, a study shows that 97 percent of what we worry about is not much more than a fearful mind punishing us with mis-perceptions and exaggerations. Sadly, I was among that three percent, worried about the commute … and my worst nightmare nearly came true.

The snow squall caught New York off guard, quickly

covering the city (and airplane) with snow. A delay to de-ice meant we had less than a 50-50 shot of making our connection in Chicago.

Upon landing, we literally sprinted from Terminal 1 to Terminal 5, only to find the airplane doors closed; however Air New Zealand quickly acquiesced, and we were on our way.

We landed in Auckland, located on New Zealand’s North Island, not only one of the loveliest cities in the world, but also one of the most livable. While my husband and daughter sailed aboard an America’s Cup Yacht, my son and I took a walking tour found on Trip Advisor.

Next, we boarded Holland-America’s NOORDAM, sailed to Tauranga, and drove to one of NZ’s best natural attractions, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, where we took a boat ride through glow worm grotto, marveling at thousands of magical critters in a subterranean world. The glow-worm is unique to New Zealand, making the caves an absolute must-do.

This was followed by the Hobbiton movie set, built

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for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Hobbiton, home to many illustrious Hobbits, including Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins, and Samwise Gamgee, was in the far eastern part of the Westfarthing. In real life, Hobbiton is situated on a family-run farm about two hours from Auckland and is a Tolkien-tourism destination. Director Peter Jackson said of the set, “It felt as if you could open the circular green door of Bag End and find Bilbo Baggins inside;” however to call this a “movie set,” doesn’t do the place justice.

As we sailed to our next destination, White Island - where the deadly volcanic eruption had occurred only days before - appeared on our port side.

We landed at Napier, a city rebuilt in the Art Deco style after a devastating earthquake in 1931. We toured a former prison, now a historic facility, and the first of two prisons visited on this trip.

The next port was Wellington with fabulous stops at Te Papa Museum, the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand; Zealandia, the first urban completely fenced eco-sanctuary; the Cable Car (a funicular, really), and the Botanic Gardens.

After a day on the Tasman Sea, we reached the South Island and Akaroa, probably my favorite for the hiking, or “tramping,” as they say “Down Under.” Akaroa, the South Island’s oldest town, is an historic French and British settlement in the heart of an ancient volcano.

We then sailed to Dunedin and took an eco-tour to see the world’s most endangered penguin - the Yellow-eyed Penguin, at a conservation reserve. Before yet another hike, we saw the Hooker’s sea lion, perhaps the world’s rarest sea lion species in the wild, as well as numerous seals, then followed with lunch at Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle.

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We spent the following day cruising Fiordland National Park, with its pop-up waterfalls and snow-capped moiuntains. While the ship’s captain quipped about the yellow tinge to the snowcaps being due to the Aussies (the Captain was a Kiwi), we learned that this yellowing was caused by the bushfires in Australia, which were only to get worse, destroying homes and killing people and billions of animals.

New Year’s Eve Day landed us in Hobart, Tasmania, as in the Tasmanian Devil, with which Warner Bros. has certainly taken some artistic liberty. We saw many of the yachts come in from the 75th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. During the day, we visited the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary where we fed and pet hundreds of kangaroos, and learned about wombats, echidnas, koalas, quolls, cockatoos, sugar gliders, and, of course, Taz! Our final port in Tasmania was supposed to be Port Arthur, a former convict settlement. The ship took off like a bullet as the last tender was being hauled out of the water. The itinerary had us heading to Eden, Australia, but little did we know that she had been called to Mallacoota to rescue roughly 300 residents evacuated because of the horrific bushfires.The Navy handled the rescue, but we still could not land in Eden, due to safety concerns.

As we left and headed toward our final stop, Sydney, the smoke from the bushfires miles away onshore filled the ship. Our hearts were sorrowful for what we knew was happening so near and throughout Australia. We landed in Sydney in record-breaking temperatures. On that day, Australia was the hottest place on the planet … and smoky.

Still, we did the Bondi to Coogee walk, a roughly four-mile oceanfront walk taking in beaches, cliffs, and parks, and covered the city with a “feels like” temperature of 115 F. On our final day, we traveled to the Blue Mountains. Despite smoke, this rugged region was still beautiful. We could see the fires off in the distance; and only minutes after leaving, the area was closed with fire breaking out less than a half-mile away.

Bushfires in Australia are a regular occurrence that has contributed drastically to shaping the nature of the continent over millions of years; however, few have experienced anything as destructive and deadly this fire season, with fires in all of Australia’s states. As of this writing, this season has already claimed the lives of 34 people, millions of acres, and as many as 1 billion animals, including 25,000 koalas and 100,000 sheep on Kangaroo Island alone.

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We discussed with our guides the conundrum of exactly how to help.

There are so many organizations, that it’s difficult to know exactly where to donate. Charity Navigator is a great resource for evaluating organizations, and recommends supporting these highly-rated charities: Direct Relief, Global Giving, Good360, Save the Children, and World Animal Protection. All are headquartered in the U.S. and are working closely with partners on the ground to deliver aid and support where it’s needed most.

For those interested in funding long-term recovery efforts, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy has a Global Recovery Fund that allows donors to give now to support recovery needs that will continue long after media coverage fades. Recovery will take years, if not generations.

On a brighter and more hopeful note, while walking through eerie and charred remains of forested land in the Blue Mountains, we saw firsthand how quickly regrowth and recovery can occur. On Christmas Eve, fire tore through neighborhoods and surrounding undeveloped land, but by our arrival just ten days later, shoots of green were breaking through the blackness.

I assumed this would be an easy vacation – safe, with few surprises.

A freak snowstorm? An erupting volcano on the mind? A bushfire crisis with no end in sight? Whether you stay home or travel, you always take your chances. But spending time with your family on an adventure is the biggest present to each other, and “Down Under” is one of the best places to do this.

Editorial and images courtesy Susan Cornell

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36 along the back and legs and high up on the neck; large on belly and anks. Vibrant and alive all eyes are drawn to them. They are as apparent as a forest. Even behind a specter of branches, tangled and dark, they cannot pretend to hide.

But at a distance, at the edge of the woods passing through sun and shade it is impossible to tell, if the herd is in among the trees, or out, in front. How far is also confusing. And with their long legs and long stride how fast.

The Agreement Maasai Giraffe, Laikipia Highlands Š 2020 Mark Seth Lender All Rights Reserved At a grove of commiphora trees giraffe are grazing. They will eat acacia also but commiphora have no thorns. They reach their necks into the rooftop of the grove. The day is cool and light. Lean and languid, giraffe move about. Their movements are softness, the patination of their skin, concentric watery shapes like ripples in daubed paint, white to light ochre to a center of raw umber, as tempting to the eye as puddles to a child; small in size

Exactly the things a predator watching needs to know.

And not knowing, more often than not leave them alone.

Quietly a giraffe extends her blackberry-icecream tongue. As dexterous as index and thumb it wraps around a stem high in the crown. The leaves rustle. She draws them into her wrinkled mouth, her face furred and furrowed. She is not young and the leaves are sweet to her.

And yet she will not stay. She will not eat only of this one tree nor continue in this single place. None of them will, not long enough to nourish much less to staunch their hunger.

Because, tree and giraffe hold an agreement: Do not harm me.

The tree bitten to the quick will make itself bitter as bile. And send a warning through the air, an invisible semaphore, too thin to be detected except by other trees, downwind, who will sense and heed the warning; and then they too will make themselves impossible to eat. So giraffe refrain though the leaves of the grove are plump and green and good. Which makes for a movable feast; and for the tree it means not being brought to grief but only a pruning.

Which perhaps a tree needs for the sake of the thick new growth that will come. Or if not needs at least endures at no great price.

Field Note:

When close to giraffe I always think about their feet, the mechanical advantage of those long legs, and what it would mean to be kicked. Notwithstanding, the temptation to come even closer is overwhelming.

Giraffe are among the most beautiful things on earth.

The first wild animal I saw in Africa was a giraffe. Those small blunt tufted horns and that quizzical face popping up over the trees to have a look at us as we drove the narrow dirt track through the forest towards what would be our first camp. I will never forget it. Nor the Africa that opened up to me day by day, lush, wide, endless, and the presumption that all this life which from a human perspective has always been, would always be. I had come home. Many people feel it and remark upon it. These impressions, the sense of continuity they confer lead us the right way but do not foretell the future.

Giraffe habitat is being eaten up by fences and the giraffe themselves slaughtered for their meat, their skins, their

body parts. Not out of hunger but for money. Big money. Made in sales of this atrocity to the local rich but mostly, to the distant and even more indifferent rich of The Civilized West (thousands of parts are sold in the United States), as well as the Wealthy East, Near and Far. Not to mention Safari Club International and its ilk, people who shoot giraffe for

“sport” and thereby perpetuate the objectification of life and make slaughter acceptable.

There is a difference between a giraffe in a cage which is how most of us get to see one if we see one at all and giraffe in natural open space. Captive, the way they navigate among tall trees and in between branches, is lost to you. Their deceptively slowmotion run is lost to you. That softness which includes both their eyes and their physicality as they walk from place to place with economy and grace, that you may never see.

Knowing they are “Out There” makes a difference.

When they no longer exist that will make a difference also.

Mark Seth Lender’s fieldwork and travel are arranged exclusively through Destination: Wildlife TM. If you would like to visit the places Mark has been, you can contact them at:

www.DestinationWildlfe.com.

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Photo by Laurencia Ciprus

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Amanda Torrez:

Megalodon Hunter

by John Tolmie / photos by Amanda Torrez

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n the spring of 2018, Amanda was our first-mate, safety diver and underwater photographer during a spearfishing charter to Clearwater Florida. I noticed that her ball-cap had a megalodon tooth stitched on the front.

That began a whole discussion about fossil shark teeth hunting. We had a great time with bountiful dives and promised to return for more fishing and an underwater fossil hunt.

In preparation for my visit, I called Amanda to check on the new spots they were scouting.

Amanda says,“We still talk about you guys and how well you guys did spearfishing last time you were down!” I had taken a group of young divers on our last visit. We were freediving to depths of 80 feet, which was a challenge for me. Amanda laughs,“We’ve scouted some new shallow spots for you, so

when you come back, you can keep up!”As we chuckle, I ask Amanda how she got into shark teeth diving.“It all started about four years ago.

Some friends of mine did a shore-dive off Venice Beach. One of the guys pulled up a beautiful four inch megalogdon tooth. From that point, I was hooked! I’m originally from Albuquerque and had moved to Florida during grad school.

I’ve always been an outdoor person, so when I moved to Florida I needed to find an activity.

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Coming from the desert, Florida was brand new and so exciting. Florida’s blue water was just love at first sight for me.

So, I went with some friends to the Keys and got (SCUBA) certified. And from there it just blossomed into underwater fossil hunting.”

I ask where a good starting point for the novice would be.“Venice Beach in Florida is known as the shark tooth capitol of the world. But I wouldn’t exactly agree with that.” Amanda says, “It’s been picked over pretty well over the years so we’ve had to branch out and scout new areas.”

We discuss other bodies of water like lakes and rivers for fossil diving. “Some people dive the Peace River but it’s teaming with alligators and other things that I’m just not brave enough to deal with!” We both laugh as Amanda recalls, “I once did a canoe trip with a professional who donned his SCUBA gear and dove into the murkiest part of the river. He pulled out a three foot gator and then proceeded to find an intact mastodon tooth, which was super cool to see, but again I’m not sure that I’m that brave!”

I ask if a license is required to fossil hunt in Florida.“You don’t need a permit in Florida, but

you have to be aware of where you dive. We actually found one of the best spots ever. But I almost got arrested!”Amanda recounts,“Earlier that year they had found a Native American burial site right where we were diving. We obviously didn’t know we were in a closed area.”Amanda explains that around 7,000 years ago, the area was dry land with a fresh water lake, both of which the ocean has since claimed. “It’s one of only two known Native American burial sites in the world that are now under the ocean. It’s a pretty important site.

National Geographic even did a story on it. We had only been there a few times and it’s where I found one of my most pristine megalodon teeth.”

Amanda says that signage has since been placed so that the area will remain undisturbed.

“In Venice, I’ve found that 17 feet and 30 feet seem to yield the most teeth. However, when we travel to North Carolina, the teeth are larger but much deeper. We dive to 100 feet or deeper to find them.” Amanda sighs, “But the weather is so unpredictable. We’ve made several trips where the weather forced the charter to cancel. Typically we are diving 50 miles offshore, so you want the weather to cooperate!”

Amanda looks for two things in a shark tooth; pristine in condition and large in size. “I found my biggest tooth in North

Carolina. It was a little over six inches across.

It wasn’t pristine and was missing a lot of the serrations, but the mass and sheer size was beautiful! The most pristine one of size with all the serrations, enamel intact and with no flaws was found in Venice. So there are still some teeth to be found there!” I wished her the best in finding her trophy shark tooth. I also promised to give her some competition in the spring when we will hunt under the waves for that pristine tooth from the world’s largest shark to ever swim the seven seas.

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Delbert McClinton Cruising Into The New Decade Photos and profile by Ali Kaufman

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o be a collector of stories, you have to experience life. To say Delbert McClinton has amassed a plethora of stories is a huge understatement. Some he shares publicly, some are just for a small circle of friends, and some become songs on albums that win Grammys. The brand new decade kicked off with a shiny new golden gramophone for Best Traditional Blues Album for the widely popular and critically

daughter, Delaney on a cut with a New Orleans feel called, “A Fool Like Me.” Big Joe Maher’s drum intro on the album’s first cut,“Mr. Smith,” sets a tone, and we know we are in for something special.

2019 was a year that included many high points for the man that Rolling Stone has called the “Godfather of Americana.” The

place. I was thrilled to be invited back to sail on the 26th voyage of Delbert McClinton’s Sandy Beaches Cruise in January and once again saw firsthand how music unites people of all walks of life and how incredibly connected Delbert, his family, and team are to the many fans that fill every last cabin on these musical adventures at sea.

This year, the 26th voyage took us from Fort Lauderdale to San Juan, Puerto Rico and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas before returning to Florida.

More days at sea meant lots more music with perennial favorites like The Mavericks, Marcia Ball, and Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps.

acclaimed, “Tall, Dark & Handsome,” on Thirty Tigers/Hot Shot Records. This album is Delbert’s 20th solo and his 4th Grammy. The album includes 14 new original songs written or cowritten by Delbert and features his group, The Self Made Men + Dana. Dana Robbins is on tenor sax, Bob Britt and James Pennebaker on guitar, Kevin McKendree on piano and B-3 organ, Glenn Worf on bass, and more horns with Quentin Ware’s sax, Jim Hoke playing trumpet, and Roy Agee on trombone. You will also hear Delbert’s

renowned Paramount Theatre in Austin cemented their admiration for this native Texan by bestowing the honor of one of only five stars on historic Congress Ave. Among other accolades, McClinton was recognized by The Nobelity Project, with the Feed the Peace Award, for his many efforts in support of lifeaffirming causes that aim to make Texas and the world at large a better

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New to the cruise this year was Foy Vance, a lover of muscle shoals and the Memphis sound by way of Bangor, Northern Ireland. Foy’s southern sound belies the brogue we were treated to as he peppered his sets with witty banter …we all wanted more! In addition to touring with Ed Sheeran and duets with Bonnie Raitt, his 2016 release,“The Wild Swan”was Executive Produced

by Sir Elton John and well worth a listen, as is the latest release,“To Memphis,” which sold out before I could get my hands on it! Another first

time act was Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, which hit the stage like a thunder clap with the Rev’s wife, Breezy Peyton on washboard and holding down vocals. Max Senteney on drums rounded out the trio that kept on rocking us even after a mishap with a door broke the guitar-playing Reverend’s thumb!

Seth Walker was a standout for me. After playing his music for years on my radio program, Morning Mojo, (WCNI 90.9FM), I was thrilled to feel how his songs translate live. The give and take of energy as he led us through some of his rootsy blues engaged the large crowds he drew. The new tunes off the,“AreYou Open?” album, won him new fans that day for sure.

Fans of Tab Benoit will want to give a listen to returning artist Casey James, who was introduced to 22 million of us via the American Idol TV program. Casey is hard at work and connecting with his fans via Kickstarter to get the sophomore effort to his current independently released,“Strip it Down,” out this year. A must mention is the first woman to hold the title of Official Texas State Musician, Shelley King, who says of her last work, “Kick Up Your Heels,” ‘It feels like a party album;’ and with guests on it like The Subdudes, Cindy Cashdollar, and Delbert himself, I believe her!

Delbert McClinton and Ali Kaufman

Next year Sandy Beaches will hit the high seas January 27th returning on February 2nd, 2021.

This will be the first since Delbert’s team has partnered with StarVista LIVE, a company that has been lifting anchor on themed music cruises since 2010. The family feel of this annual gathering will stay the same, they will just have more manpower throughout the year to make things run even smoother. Lots to look forward to in the year ahead, a new album in the works from Delbert plus “Delbert McClinton: One Of The Fortunate Few,” by Diana Finlay Hendricks will come out in a paperback edition that has additional chapters and a new introduction. Stay tuned, this is a story that just keeps getting better and better!

For more information on sailings, music, and the tour, please visit Delbert.com !

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Pro ofile fi by y John To olmie / Photos by b Kate Tolmie o

meet Rick Waters at his shop, a hu uge barn-like structure nestled behind his main home. Ass I walk in I catch him in action using a hand planer on a new keel. He waves me in and grips me in a firm handshakee. I comment on how his workshop is bigger than his house. He chuckles and in a gravelly voice recounts, “This workshop w was actually a station house for the railroad. The previous owners had it moved here. I’ve been here 35 years and it’s been used as my sho op ever since.� He puts the planer down and leans against a boat under construction, its ribs naked and exposed. The intricate structure of wooden strips and its sheer artistry is mind boggling. Rick smiles and rubs his hand across a wooden brace and recounts, “This is a 16 foot North Haven dingy

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that a client started but couldn’’t finish. He sold his house and moved to Virginia. He asked me to fix it up and plank it for him.� I look at Rick with questioning eyes. Hee can sense I haven’t the faintest what planking is. He smiles and sayss, “It’s the skin that covers the hull and keeps the boat afloat.� Rick garrners a more serious tone and points to the unfinished project, “He p put on an inner-keel and installed a garboard, but unfortunately it w wasn’t the right construction, so I’m redoing it.�

He moves back to his workbench where a 20 foot beam of mahogany rests that’s being crafted into a new outer-keel. Rick points to the rounded relief in the timber and explains, “I’m carving a rabbit on the outside of this to receive the plank and then I’ll install it.� Most wood

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sh hops that I’ve encountered are littered with fancy power tools bu ut R Ricks shop is curiously vacant of such items. There are a few vinttage in ndustrious saws for short work, but the mainstays of his tooling are hand-working implements. “Sometimes I’ll do a quick power plaane, bu ut then I’ll use everything from a block plane to a spoke shave or o whatever w the job calls for.” He grabs the block plane and starts to w work the wood producing sweet scented shavings. His actions arre sm mooth as he explains how each tool works. “Y You see here how th he iron won’t grab the wood because the span of the tool is too long and the curve of the plank is too deep?” He puts down the block planer and picks up a spoke shaver and shears off another thin slice of swirled wood. “See with this tool I can get in there and shape it to my liking.”

I was curious how this all came to be. Rick tells the talee of moving from Wa Washington State to Maine in 1973 to attend a vo ocational school for wooden boat building. “The school has since moveed to Eastport where it still is today y.. But when I attended, it was in Lu ubec, right on the Canadian border.” Ricks first post-school endeavorr was a 45’ sailboat which is still afloat today and docked in New London Connecticut. Rick points through the doors of his shop p, “I built that boat in this backyard in a hoop-house. It was not only my first boat, but the biggest boat I ever built from scratch.”

One of Rick’s most memorable commissions was from Nobel Prize winner Drr. Henry Kendall, an MIT Nuclear Physicist who was the founder and president of the Union of Concerned Scientists. The sea was in the good Doctors blood as his mother was the founder of the

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Kendall Whaling Museum in Sharon Massachusetts. “She had hired men in trucks to take the artifacts from the New Bedford salvage yards when the whaling fleet was being dismantled.” Rick explains, “That’s how Dr. Kendall had acquired the original 28’ open whale boat that was salvaged from a whale-ship that had run aground off Cuttyhunk. He used that as his personal yacht for years. But Doctor Kendell felt it was wrong to keep this original artifact so he gave me the original whale boat and I duplicated it.” The original boat’s whereabouts are a mystery. Rick smiles, “But the one I built made its way back to Connecticut and is resting in the Mystic Seaport collection.”

Rick found satisfaction not only in building wooden boats but restoring them as well. We meander to the other side of his shop where his personal boat project lies. “This is my 23’ Mount Desert Island sloop. There were 15 of them built for the Bar Harbor Yacht Club in 1923. I sailed that boat for years then it wouldn’t stay afloat anymore.” He points to several items he’s replaced over the years and then chuckles with a sigh, “And since it’s my boat I’ll need to win the lottery to finish it!”

Rick was commissioned by the State of Pennsylvania to replicate a full sized section of the USS Niagara, an early 19th century square rigged fighting warship. “It was certainly the goofiest project I ever worked on!” Rick laughs, “After construction, we took the section to an army firing range in Pennsylvania and shot cannon balls at it!

After, it was placed in the Eerie Maritime Museum to show the effects of damage to a wooden hull during the battle of 1812.”

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“When I was building boats full-time, I wasn’t doing any of the actual work. All I did was paperwork. Now I get to do the actual wood work I enjoy.”

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Prior to the 2009 recession Rick had a team of boat builders under his employ. “All the other recessions came and went and none of them ever affected my business. But when that one hit; people didn’t have the disposable income to hire a wooden boat builder. I literally watched by business disappear.” Rick raises his eyebrows and recounts, “I even diversified into building acoustic sound shells for symphony orchestras. I worked with an acoustic engineer who

“It sounds kind of strange but the whole wooden boat thing is word of mouth.” He chuckles and ends with, “If they want me, they’ll find me.”

figured out how to design them with normal materials.

The structure surrounds the orchestra and reverberates the sound towards the audience. And since they are made from wood, they are cost effective and aesthetically pleasing.” Rick has built sound shells for the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra at the Garde Arts Theatre in New London and the Philharmonic Orchestra in Reading Pennsylvania. “I also invented shells that would improve the acoustics in a cafeteria or gymnasium without having to build a whole new building. I installed one at a cafeteria in a high-school in western Connecticut. I even applied for a patent.” Rick clears his throat, “But you always get rejected on the first round. And when the rejection came so did the recession and that was it. I didn’t have the money to hire a patent attorney. It all went away.”

Rick then found full-time employment on the sea again, working on

a research vessel for the University Of Connecticut, “It pays the bills and I love being out to sea. But building boats is in my blood.” Ricks cheer returns to his face as we walk out into the cool late winter air, “When I was building boats full-time, I wasn’t doing any of the actual work. All I did was paperwork. Now I get to do the actual wood work I enjoy.” I ask Rick how people can find him if someone is in need of his master craftsmanship. “It sounds kind of strange but the whole wooden boat thing is word of mouth.” He chuckles and ends with, “If they want me, they’ll find me.”

Rick lives in the tiny seaside village of Noank, Connecticut with his wife. Just look for a big wooden shop in a backyard. Or follow the sweet smell of fresh wood chips. You’ll find him there toiling on an old wooden boat.

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A Guide to Finer Living

Capturing the Connecticut experience one story at a time...

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The

Cheesemonger

By Paul Partica - The Cheese Shop, Centerbrook CT

Award Winning Cheeses

Arethusa Blue

Bellavitano

Hardison

Kanaal

The following cheeses have been judged to be some of the finest cheeses available today. However, as I often say, your palate is right for you, so with that in mind, here is a list of some award-winning cheeses you may want to try. You can be the judge.

• Arethusa Blue (2018 Best Blue Veined Cheese World Championship Cheese Contest in Wisconsin.

The competition featured 3,402 entries from 26 countries.)

This great cheese is very close in appearance and taste to an English Stilton. It has that same mild cheddar undertone with a nice deep blue vein. It’s sweet with a little saltiness yet nice and creamy at room temperature. It substitutes nicely for Stilton when served on a table water biscuit with sweet butter and a glass of Port.

• Arethusa Tapping Reeve (2018 Best of Class, Natural Rind Cheddar, World Championship Cheese Contest.)

Tapping Reeve is a combination of cheddar and an alpine cheese. It’s aged for almost two years before distribution. It’s the first cheese we purchased from Arethusa Farms and we are glad to have such a great local product.

Tapping Reeve was a lawyer and judge who formed the first law school in our country in Litchfield Connecticut in the late 18th century. He educated scores of politicians and justices including Aaron Burr who served as vice president under Thomas Jefferson. Arethusa Farms honored him by naming one of their best cheeses after him.

• Bellavitano (Gold Medal Winner 2019 US Championship Cheese Contest, 2018 International Cheese Awards-Best USA Cheese, 2017 International Cheese Awards Gold Medal, I’m just naming a few of this cheese many awards.)

This cheese is a real favorite in our store based on the amount sold and the repeat business. I describe it as a cross in flavor between a cheddar and a Parmigiano that has been bathed in Merlot wine which explains the deep red outer color. There is no rind on this cheese so all of that wine-soaked cheese is edible. This cheese has replaced Drunken Goat for us a long time ago because it’s much sharper and more flavorful.

• Harbison (2018 American Cheese Society Winner, Best of Show) This cheese is a domestic version of Vacherin Mont Or, a cheese made in Switzerland and France that’s only available certain times of the year. This Vermont version is available all year long. It too comes in a unique package surrounded by spruce bark. This bark not only adds to the flavor but it helps keep its shape. When served at room temperature the cheese gets very soft and would run like honey. The best serving suggestion is to leave the cheese in the bark, peel back the top skin and scoop out the cheese like a perfect fondue.

Harbison is a soft ripening cheese with a bloomy rind. It’s made from pasteurized cow’s milk. The bark comes from local Spruce trees which go through a process of peeling, drying, cutting, and boiling before it can be used.

The bark is processed all year long so you may notice a slight difference in taste from summer bark versus winter bark. The cheese has a delicate, slightly woodsy aroma with a fresh sweet cream taste. It ends with a mushroom finish with a fresh hay aroma. The cheeses are aged approximately six to eight weeks before they are ready to eat.

It’s produced in Vermont and ripened by Jasper Hill Farms in Greensboro Vermont.

• Kanaal (Silver Medal, the Specialty Foods Associations 2018 SOFI (“Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation”) Awards.

This is a big accolade, as the Specialty Foods Associations Show is one of the largest international food shows anyone in the food business can attend, and SOFI competitions are also international.

Kanaal is made from pasteurized milk that comes from free-range, grass-fed cows. They do not use GMO ingredients in production. Epicure Foods describes Kanaal as crunchy, with a butterscotch salty-sweet, candy-like flavor. This is due to the presence of Tyrosine, an amino acid that results from aging in certain cheeses.

Even though it tastes both salty and sweet, Kanaal contains neither added salt nor sugar causing this sensation.

There are many cheeses that have salt crystals on the outside which is due to the cheese being brined when made.

This cheese achieves a great crystalized flavor, despite its ripened age of only ten months.

Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop www.cheeseshopcenterbrook.com

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LIFE ON SUGAR

Say “I DO” with Cupcakes

By Heather Kelly, Director of Operation, NoRA Cupcake Company

Planning a wedding should be nothing but ease and joy, right !? One would think, but that won’t always be the case when making hundreds of decisions on the biggest party of your life. Save the stress for narrowing down the guest list and whether you’re going to go with a make your own mashed potato bar or mac ‘n cheese station - because dessert is going to be the best part!

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Multi-tiered intricately designed cakes are a highly impressive showpiece, but don’t always end up getting eaten by the guests. Most of the party crowd will end up passing on sitting down to eat a basic piece of cake at the end of the night. Whether you want to go with a tiered cupcake tower or a Venetian dessert table with bite sized treats, you can add in more variety with something for everyone in grab ‘n go form.

With the warmer months and wedding season approaching, we’ve narrowed down the perfect variety of cupcake flavors that will cover all your bases.

• FUNFETTI - vanilla sprinkle cake, marshmallow fluff filling, rainbow sprinkle buttercream frosting. A vanilla based option with a slight, but not too bold pop of color that can go with any color scheme.

• 50 SHADES OF CHOCOLATE - chocolate cake, white chocolate ganache and chocolate whipped cream filling, white chocolate buttercream, white and dark chocolate chips with a chocolate ganache drizzle. A decadently rich option for the chocolate lovers, with a delicate design that doesn’t darken the display with its white frosting design.

• RASPBERRY LEMONADE - lemon cake baked with raspberries, black raspberry buttercream frosting, and a candied lemon zest sprinkled on top. Everyone’s grandma loves a lemon cake and you get that extra pop of fruit with the raspberry mixed in.

• TIRAMISU - almond cake, chocolate buttercream filling, coffee cream cheese frosting, cocoa powder dusting, and a chocolate covered espresso bean. No better combination for the after dinner coffee drinkers.

• BUBBLY - champagne cake, chocolate ganache filling, champagne buttercream frosting, crystal sugar, and a fresh strawberry slice.

Keep the cake cutting tradition as part of your day with a centerpiece“cut cake”. If you are doing a cupcake tower, best to keep the cake in a manageable size for the topper with either a large cupcake mold or a 6” round cake. Anything larger than that would be a bit risky to put on a tiered stand that your guests may be picking their own cupcakes from. You can get a little more creative and larger in design if you go the Venetian table route.

Another bonus of choosing cupcakes for your dessert table is that your allergen needs can be accommodated. If there are dairy allergies, add a vegan option, but every cupcake flavor doesn’t need to be dairy-free! Gluten intolerance? Ask for a gluten free friendly option so those guests (or yourselves) will still be able to enjoy something sweet at the end of the night and remember how thoughtful you were remembering and including them in every way for your big day!

If you still fear that your guests will not eat dessert because you’ve seen it happen too many times before, we understand! We suggest offering cute take home boxes for people to box up their own cupcakes to enjoy the next day. You can customize your packaging with stickers or decals with your name, wedding date, or a cute quote.

There are many ways to incorporate dessert into your big day and to give it as much personalization as any other detail. We offer one on one consultations with our wedding experts to assist you with decision making and narrowing down of the many options. It can be very over-whelming, and with hundreds of weddings under our belt, we are knowledgeable to help you get the perfect sweet ending to your day!

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By Art LiPuma, General Manager SeaSide Wine & Spirits, Old Saybrook

The 14 types of optimal wine soil. Diagram courtesy: vinepair.com

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How climate and soil manipulate the final production of wine Many factors make one wine taste different from another. The same varietal can have different variances in taste and structure. One of the variables that make wines different from one another is, of course, the grape. This is obviously the most significant component in the taste profile.

of vines. Mesoclimate is a small area restricted to a space of tens or hundreds of meters. Lastly, a Macroclimate consists of a general area of many miles of a certain weather pattern, that the vineyard exists in.

Like any other plant that is grown, the weather can make or break the growing process.

The first principal component to influence the grape is the type of soil the vines are grown in. Many different soil compositions influence the outcome. Some of the variations of soil are clay, volcanic, gravel, chalky, slate, limestone, granite, and loam. Generally speaking, fertile soil gives the grape bold flavors. However, it is not best for all the vines. Most vines are grown at their best under harsher conditions such as dry, rocky terrain because the vines are struggling to survive.

There are two different types of climates; Maritime, which has ocean influences or any other large bodies of water that affect the outcome of the temperature, wind, and rain. Maritime environments receive quite a bit more rain throughout the year than other regions, and the temperature doesn’t fluctuate as much between night and day.

Continental Climate also covers a large area influential to the growth of vines and their grapes. The weather generally has long days of sunlight, and a variation of warm days to cool nights. Certain grapes thrive in particular weather patterns. For example, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grow better in colder climates, whereas Zinfandel and Syrah grow better in warmer climates.

Clay soils are most beneficial in drier climates where it retains water best, so less irrigation is needed. Volcanic soils are fertile and will give the wine complexity with many layers of minerals, including iron, potassium, and smokiness. Obviously, you find this in many parts of the world where volcanoes exist. Sicily in Italy is an excellent example of this.

Rock or gravel doesn’t affect the taste as much as it will affect the strength of the vines and ripeness of the grapes. Slate can give a little mineral component to the wine. Limestone, like most of these soils, is found throughout the world but especially in areas of burgundy like Chablis, where limestone is one of the critical components in the taste profile of these Chardonnays. Granite helps with the structure of acidity in the wine that is beneficial in growing Syrahs.

Loam is a soil that has a mixture of sand, silt, and clay, which makes it an evenly balanced soil component. Climate has a significant, influential factor in the growth of the grapes or where particular varietals will flourish or not develop well at all.

Vineyards have microclimates, which are different weather patterns within a small area, located within the vineyard, such as in a few rows

These are just two of the factors that can make or break a wine, but there are other major ones also. It is interesting though to see how these factors give the grapes the ability to develop into a light to massive wine with great structure and intense flavors. Then some grapes need a particular temperature that enables them to be produced into a specific type of wine. One of these important ones is Ice Wine. This is traditionally made with grapes that are frozen on the vines.

There is a lot of talk about climate change, so it will be interesting to see how it might change the structure of particular grapes. For now, enjoy these excellent wines because much care is given to planting vines in the most accurate area to grow the best varietal to produce the best quality wine.

Art LiPuma Cheers!

Gorgeous Sunset over a Southern Australian vineyard. Photo courtesy Kwest

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March Events at Water's Edge Resort & Spa UPCOMING TRIBUTE SHOW Saturday, March 7th - A Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival Saturday, March 14th - A Tribute to Billy Joel Saturday, March 21st - A Tribute to Elvis Saturday, March 28th - A Tribute to Rod Stewart Cocktail Hour: 6PM | Dinner Show: 7PM Cabaret Dinner Show $55++ LIVE MUSIC AT SEAVIEW BISTRO Friday, March 6th - Rahsaan Langley Project Saturday, March 7th - JCDC Friday, March 13th - Trish Radil & Keith Cooper Duo Saturday, March 14th - Nick Fradiani Sr. Friday, March 20th - Rahsaan Langley Project Saturday, March 21st - JCDC Friday, March 27th - Nick Fradiani Sr. Saturday, March 28th - Nick Fradiani Sr. HAPPY HOUR Sunday - Friday 4PM - 6PM 50% off Bistro Small Bites | $5 Draft Beer | $6 House Wine & Select Spirits

Wednesday, 3/18 – Eric Nass from 5:30pm Thursday, 3/19 – Coal Tattoo from 6pm Friday, 3/20 – 384 East from 7:30pm Saturday, 3/21 – Avenue Groove from 7:30pm Sunday, 3/22 – Sweet Tea Daddy from 1pm Wednesday, 3/25 – Mixed Bag from 5:30pm Thursday, 3/26 – Georffrey Matesky from 6pm Friday, 3/27 – Le'Mixx from 7:30pm Saturday, 3/28 – Crazy Ants from 7:30pm Sunday, 3/29 – Brian May from 1pm Repeat Events: Happy Hour Specials: Monday – Friday from 3pm – 6pm Mondays: Buy a Handheld Menu Item, Get a Draft Beer for a Penny 3pm – close Tuesdays: Taco Tuesday from 5pm – close Wednesdays: Ladies Nite 1/2 Price Wine Bottles All Day and Live Music from 5:30pm – 8:30pm Thursdays: Live Music 6pm – 9pm & 69¢ Wings 3pm – close Fridays: Prime Rib from 5pm – close & Live Music from 7:30pm – 11pm Saturdays: Live Music from 7:30pm – 11pm Sundays: Brunch from 11:30am – 3:00pm & Live Music 1pm – 4pm Scotch Plains Tavern, 124 Westbrook Road, Essex CT Call 860.662.4032 or visit

REPEAT EVENTS Monday - Free Bar Trivia | Lobster Boil $25 Tuesday - Prix Fixe Dinner $19.95 Thursday - Wine & Dine $49 Friday - Prime Rib Dinner Special $19.95 Sunday - Brunch $39.95++ from 9AM - 3PM Water's Edge Resort & Spa 1525 Boston Post Road, Westbrook, CT 860-399-5901

March Events at Scotch Plains Tavern St. Patrick's Day: Dining & Drink Specials and Live Music by Nosmo Kings March Madness: Watch all your March Madness Basketball games here!

Live Music: Sunday, 3/1 – Pix-N-Axe from 1pm Wednesday, 3/4 – Keith Cooper and Trish Radil from 5:30pm Thursday, 3/5 – Seth Adam from 6pm Friday, 3/6 – Paul Lussier Band from 7:30pm Saturday, 3/7 – Nightshift from 7:30pm Sunday, 3/8 – River Dawgs from 1pm Wednesday, 3/11 – Carrie Ashton from 5:30pm Thursday, 3/12 – Marty Q from 6pm Friday, 3/13 – Green Hill from 7:30pm Saturday, 3/14 – The Bernadettes from 7:30pm Sunday, 3/15 – Edward Swanton from 1pm St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, 3/17 – Nosmo Kings from 5:30pm

Savor: A Revolution in Food Culture February 29–May 25, 2020 Food and dining were transformed in eighteenth-century Europe by profound changes that resonate to this day. What many of us eat, the way food is cooked, and how we dine continue to be influenced by radical changes that took place in France between 1650 and 1789, the start of the French Revolution.

Rare objects, from early cookbooks to tureens in the forms of animals and vegetables, reveal fascinating stories about advances in horticulture, surprisingly modern philosophies on healthy eating, and a shift to more informal dining. Organized by the Gardiner Museum, Toronto, and curated by Meredith Chilton, Curator Emerita. This presentation is a collaboration

77 between the Wadsworth and the Gardiner Museum. Visit thewadsworth.org for a schedule of Savor related programs. CT. Wed–Fri: 11am–5pm; Sat & Sun: 10am–5pm.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art 600 Main Street, Hartford,

singular experience, leaving audiences thoroughly entertained, more knowledgeable, and either optimistic or extremely depressed about our nation’s future, depending on how he feels that day. Franken is delighted to talk about his fifteen seasons at Saturday Night Live and his 8 and 1/2 years in the United States Senate.

As Franken said when he left the Senate, “I may be giving up my seat, but not my voice.” The epony- mous Al Franken Podcast focuses on the most important issues facing our country as we head into the 2020 election. With guests like Jeffrey Toobin, Michael Lewis, Nobel Prize winning climatologist Michael Mann, and Michelle Obama (not her, but guests like her), The Al Franken Podcast has been taking deep dives into everything from the Supreme Court to climate change.

Thursday, March 5th: 8:00 p.m. *doors open at 7:00 p.m. | Tickets: $35 – $100 (all ages) College Street Music Hall, 238 College Street, New Haven, CT

Valentine H. Zahn Community Gallery – Westbrook, March 2 – May 15 Open call exhibit “Local Vision V: Take a Breath” at the Valentine H. Zahn Community Gallery at Middlesex Health Shoreline Medical Center. The exhibition features selected works by artists from Connecticut and Massachusetts. The works were chosen through an open call, curatorial process and is curated

by Jan Ayer.

Meet the artists at a reception on Thursday, March 12 from 6 – 8 p.m. The Gallery is open during regular business hours and is located at 250 Flat Rock Place, Westbrook, CT. For more information, contact Middlesex Health at 860-358-4065 or zahngallery@gmail.com

Cats – New Haven March 5 – 8 Audiences and critics alike are rediscovering this beloved musical with breathtaking music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theater—"Memory.” Winner of 7 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL, CATS tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn.

Learn more at Shubert.com. The Shubert, 247 College Street, New Haven

Liquid Art – Guilford - March 6 (continued on following page)

Raise your spirits (and support the arts) during these cold and gray months at Guilford Art Center’s cool (and warm!) midwinter party, Liquid Art, on Friday, March 6, 6:00 – 8:30 pm in the GAC gallery.

An Evening with Al Franken – New Haven March 5 As the only speaker on the lecture circuit who has won 5 Emmys, written 4 New York Times #1 best-sellers, taken home 2 Grammys, and served as a United States Senator, Al Franken brings a unique voice to the stage. Whether discussing his career in comedy or in public service, Franken delivers a

Liquid Art features tastings of creative craft beverages from some of CT’s newest breweries, cideries and distilleries. There will also be fabulous bar bites, live music, a silent auction [and blacksmithing demonstrations in the forge]. The GAC Student Exhibition will be on view in the gallery, creating a lively and gorgeous setting for the gathering.

Creative masters in their own field, the event’s vendors, including Deep River Distillery of Chester, Stewards of the

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Land Brewery of Northford, and Spoke + Spy Ciderworks of Middletown, will be offering their small batch libations, allowing guests to sample a range of artisanal spirits being created in Connecticut. Wine and non-alcoholic beverages also will be available.

Reservations are $35 per person in advance; $40 at the door, with proceeds to benefit Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs. Reservations are limited; call to make a reservation: 203-453-5947

Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT

Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre - Hartford March 7 America’s largest interactive comedy murder mystery dinner theatre show is now playing in Hartford! Solve a hilarious crime while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it!

Join us at the Hilton Garden Inn Hartford South/Glastonbury for an event that is very different from a traditional murder mystery dinner show. Our actors are not dressed in costume and are hidden in the audience! This results in a fun, social and interactive evening suitable for all adults.

We perform at the Hilton Garden Inn Hartford South/Glastonbury hotel. This comfortable and convenient Glastonbury hotel is ideally located across the street from Somerset Square, and provides an excellent base for exploring Connecticut attractions. Show Runs 6:00 – 9:00 PM Hilton Garden Inn Hartford South/Glastonbury, 85 Glastonbury Blvd, Glastonbury

Susan Powell Fine Art - Madison March 6 – 28 | Reception March 6 from 5-8 pm

MasterChef Junior Live! Wallingford March 7

Celebrate the change of season with our new exhibition, Spring into Art! Over 20 award-winning artists whom we have represented for many years, as well as newly invited artists are participating in this exciting Spring show. Meet the artists and join us for the Opening Reception on Friday, March 6, from 5 - 8 pm. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. This exhibit features a varied selection of subjects including landscapes, seascapes, still life, florals, figurative and New York City scenes.

On Saturday March 7 at 7:00 pm MasterChef Junior Live! brings the culinary hit TV show MasterChef Junior directly to fans and foodies alike LIVE on stage! The family friendly stage show will feature head to head cooking demonstrations and fun (sometimes messy!) challenges with past MasterChef Junior contestants and an overall immersive audience experience fun for all ages.

The gallery is located at 679 Boston Post Road in Madison.

Gallery Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11-5 pm, and any day by appointment. For more information, please call (203) 318-0616, or email . Visit to view images of paintings.

Bring the whole family to see MasterChef Junior Live! It is a recipe for a guaranteed good time!

Toyota Oakdale TheatreWallingford, CT Please Note: Children 2 and older require a ticket

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Jurassic World Live Tour - March 8 Bridgeport

Llama Walk - March 14 - Litchfield

Jurassic World comes to life on Sunday March 8th at 12:00 pm for the first time in a touring arena show!

Come and take a one hour walk with a llama on a beautiful trail within one of the most beautiful and diverse wildlife sanctuaries in America!

Your trip to Isla Nublar takes a terrifying turn after the Indominus rex escapes and causes chaos in the park! The adventure continues as you join forces with a team of scientists to unravel a corrupt plan and save Jeanie, an all-new dinosaur, from a terrible fate. Along the way, experience some of Jurassic Worlds most iconic dinosaurs including Blue the Raptor, Triceratops, Pteranodons and the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex!

No costumes for guests 14 & older..

Webster Bank Arena Bridgeport, CT

You and your family are in for a treat! After walking with the llamas, Deb's beautiful soft companions, plan to explore one of the most beautiful wildlife sanctuaries in the country! The Sanctuary is comprised of 4,000 acres, laced with 40 miles of trails and home to an infinite variety of flora and fauna.

Take a break from the hiking and drop into our beautiful family friendly Nature Museum. See a life-sized beaver lodge, learn about alternative energy, touch real animal fur, and test your bird identification skills, visit a fluorescent rock cave, and view nature through a digital macro-scope! Explore the Children’s Corner: books, puzzles, stuffed animals, and more!

The Nature Museum provides a glimpse of the natural diversity found outdoors on the White Memorial Foundation’s 4,000acre wildlife sanctuary.

Meet in the Museum parking lot. Call Debbie from Country Quilt Llama Farm at (860) 248-0355 to pre-register

Cirque Flip Fabrique, "Blizzard" - March 12 - Storrs Guaranteed chills for the entire family! Cirque Flip Fabrique brings a fresh take on contemporary circus, coupled with an uncanny ability to have fun and move an audience. Blizzard is the story of a group of friends, each one different from the other, like snowflakes, exploring the awe and wonder of a winter storm. Take a crazy, fun, poetic and tender journey through winter, and get lost in a moment of white wonder.

With some of the most exciting circus performers of the moment and original music performed live.

Times: 7:30 p.m. Admission:$15-$35 Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Rd. Storrs

White Memorial Conservation Center 80 Whitehall Rd. Litchfield, CT 06759 Times: 10 a.m -11 a.m.

Admission: $20. Contact: (860) 567-0857 http://www.whitememorialcc.org lois@whitememorialcc.org

St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2020 - New London - March 15 The 2020 New London St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place Sunday,March 15th in downtown New London, Connecticut at 1:00 pm.

Interested in marching in the New London St. Patrick’s Day Parade? Cool….

For more info please email bj@neffproductions.com

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St. Patrick’s Day Parade – March 15 - New Haven at 1:30 pm The St. Patrick’s Day Parade tradition was born in New Haven on March 17, 1842, when about 90 members of the Hibernian Provident Society, a mutual aid organization formed the previous year, marched through the city streets behind a banner made especially for the occasio on. aditional Irish depictions: Lovingly sewn into the banner were tra St. Patrick in his bishop’s robes, an Irish wolfhound, a harp, shamrocks, and a portrait of Gen. Rich hard Montgomery, the Irish-born hero of the American Revolution. The parade starts at Chape Street and commences at She erman Avenue. Find out more here: .

term side project, The Dirty Knobs. In 2018 after the loss of Tom Petty, his dear friend and collaborator of nearly 50 years, Campbell joined Fleetwood Mac as a full-fledged member of the band and toured on their highly praised 2018-2019 world tour. The Dirty Knobs and Ca ampbell perform his iconic hits, while unleashing a fresh and d edgier side with band originals.

8 p.m. - Admission: $49-$6 69.

Contact: (203) 438-5795 https://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/the-dirty-knobs-withmike-campbell/ info@ridgefieldplayhouse.org 0 East Ridge Rd. Ridgefield The Ridgefield Playhouse, 80

Connecticut Parrot Society S Featherfest Expo 2020 - Middletown March h 21 Shamrocked Pub Crawl – Mashantucket M March 15 Throw on some green and Get Shamro ocked with a St. Paddy's Day party so big, it takes up the whole e property! Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Shamrocked Pub Craw wl is back! We're taking Bar Hopping to a whole new level with h festive drink specials that will make you want to do an Irish Jig! Feeling the luck of the Irish? All attendees will be entere ed to win great prizes including Foxwoods show tickets!

The party kicks off at 1PM at the The Celebration C Zone on the Great Cedar Concourse and culminates at 5PM with the prize raffle at Centrale Fox Tower. Be there! 21+

d, Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods 350 Trolley Line Boulevard

The Dirty Knobs with Mike Campbell March 20 - Ridgefield Mike Campbell, co-founding member of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and Grammy award win nning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, brings his signature e guitar sound to long-

The Connecticut Parrot Society, ety, will be having its annual bird expo on Saturday, March 21,, 2020. It is a fun and festive day open to the public and includes des vendors with parrot-related products, raffles, and many other features. Keynote speaker, Lara Joseph will be presenting ng at 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

CPS is a 501(c)(3), all volunteer eer club dedicated to educating its members and the public about out the proper care of companion parrots. We have a very active ve parrot adoption placement program and also present to schools and organizations around the state with our outreach-educational programs!

Elks Club, 44 Maynard Ave Middletown, CT 06457 United

10th Annual Essex Go Bragh Parade - March 21 - Essex Each year in Essex, in March, everyone gets to be Irish for a day. The 10th annual Essex go Bragh Irish Parade & Festival steps off from Town Hall.

The Essex Go Bragh (translated as Essex Forever) Irish Parade

81 mouthwatering chocolate delicacies from loc cal chocolatiers; bakeries, restaurants, and caterers; obs serve judging from a panel of culinary experts; bid on a an array of silent auction items; vote for your favorite ch hocolate creation; and more!

Four sponsorship levels are available! Cost: $35.00 $ Sunday, 22 March, 1:00 PM - 04:00 PM Contact: Phalakorn Phonyothee Email: pphonyothee@columbushouse.org Phone: 203-401-4400 Inn at Middletown, 70 Main St. Middletown

& Festival F features an Irish-themed parade down Main Stree et into o the heart of Essex Village followed by the Festival. The ide ea for this event was born in the minds of Park and Recreation n staff as a new special event for Essex that would get peo ople together in the village for fun and festivities and to hop pefully break the spell of a long and cold winter. Over the ars Essex go Bragh has been very well received by the comyea unity, enjoying many hundreds of visitors each year. mu The e parade is truly a festive affair for the whole family with a l to see and lot d enjoy. A color l guard d off llocall Essex veterans ads the march followed by the antique cars of the Essex Auto A lea ub. A carriage, drawn by horses from Allegra Farms, carriies Clu ourr grand marshal along our parade route. Local officials and polliticians compete for space amongst the fife and drums, Iris sh step dancers, tractors and floats. Music is provided by y the Sailing Masters of 1812.

29 West Ave. Essex Tim mes: Steps off at 10:30 a.m.

Admission: Free.

Contact: (860) 767-4340 http://www.essexct.gov/park-and-recreation rec creation@essexct.gov

Nick Jr. Live! - Hartford - March 21 - 22 You’re invited to sing, dance, clap, cheer and mov ve to the music with your friends from Bubble Guppies, PAW W Patrol, Dora The Explorer, Shimmer and Shine, Blue’s Clu ues and You, Blaze and the Monster Machines and Top Wing in an unforgett Music” table musical spectacular! Nick Jr. Live! “Move to the follows Dora and her PAW co-hosts, Marshall and Rubble, as they team up with their Nick Jr. friends, live on sta age together for the first time ever, in a one-of-a-kind adventu ure sure to excite the whole family! Learn more at nickjrlive.c com.

The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave. Hartford

RED HOUSE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER – Salem March 28

Ch hocolate to the Rescue - Middletown Ma arch 22 Eatt Chocolate. Help End Family Homelessness.

Join us at the beautiful Inn at Middletown for Columbus Ho ouse's 18th Annual Chocolate to the Rescue and sup pport our Middlesex Family Shelter while you: sample

“A Splash of Spring” Art Show Opening Reception. Come see the larger than life work of feature artist Eleanor Miller along with a host of other local artists and their interpretations of “A Splash of Spring.” Plenty of refreshments to de elight and Salem Valley Farms Ice Cream Shop will be ope en next door! Saturday, March 28, 5-8pm.The Red Hou use, 22 Darling Road, Salem. Visit salemredhouse.com forr more info.

(860) 608-6526.

MARCH EVENTS

82 during general admission. VIP tickets grant you access to the event from 5:30pm – 9:30pm. With only 500 VIP tickets available, take advantage of this extra hour to chat in a small setting with the brew masters themselves and your fellow beer enthusiasts and be the first to purchase CT Brewers Guild merchandise. Designated Driver tickets are also available for all sessions.

All proceeds generated from the festival go to the CT Brewers Guild, an organization by brewers and for brewers, to help further the goals of the Craft Beer movement in CT. For those who completed their CT Beer Trail Passport and collected 50+ stamps, you will receive an email with your FREE VIP ticket to the “VIP Passport Session” from 12pm – 4pm.

Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire In Concert – Hartford March 28

VIP Passport Session: 12pm – 4pm GA Session #1: 1pm – 4pm VIP Session #2: 5:30pm – 9:30pm GA Session #2: 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Part of the 2019-2020 Hartford Symphony Orchestra POPS! Series. Get ready to fight a dragon, swim with merpeople, and find out just who put Harry’s name in the Goblet of Fire™! For the first time ever, audiences can rediscover the magic of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ while a live symphony orchestra performs Patrick Doyle’s unforgettable score. The performance is 3 hours long.

DD tickets are available for all sessions

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WIZARDING WORLD trademark and logo © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s19)

The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford

List of participating breweries will be posted 1 month before the event so stay tuned!

CT Brewers Guild has partnered with Lyft to provide responsible transportation to our CT Beer Fest. To redeem 50% off your Beerfest ride, enter code “CTBEERFEST” into the 'Promos' section of the Lyft app. Maximum discount $10. Subject to Lyft terms.

We will have a number of food vendors and food trucks on site. List coming soon!

Live music, Free on-site parking

CINDY STEVENS FINE ART - Clinton Save the Date!

April 4

CRAFT BEER FEST — CT BREWERS GUILD March 28 Join us on Saturday, March 28th at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT for our third annual CT Craft Beer Fest presented by the CT Brewers Guild! We will have 60+ CT Breweries participating and once again have them in all three rooms at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre, plus outdoor space (weather permitting). We have VIP and General Admission Sessions available and there will only be a limited amount of tickets available per session. This was a SOLD OUT event last year, so BUY EARLY to celebrate the booming craft beer scene by sampling beer from 60+ of our very own CT breweries. All VIP & GA guests will receive a commemorative tasting glass with a sample of a collaboration beer brewed by the Board of Directors of the CT Brewers Guild! VIP tickets will get you early entrance into the festival where you’ll be able to sample exclusive vintage, barrel aged and special brews not available

Save the Date for Zenscapes!

Roxanne Steed of Mystic and Cindy Stevens of Clinton are very excited to be doing a landscape show together at Cindy Stevens Fine Art in Clinton! The show is called "Zenscapes-Exploring Our World" and is inspired by the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day being this April. Roxanne will have watercolors and oils, and Cindy will have all oil paintings. Both artists will interpret landscapes in their own colorful, vibrant styles.

The opening reception will be Saturday April 4th from 4-7 and refreshments will be served. Please save the date!

Cindy Stevens Fine Art is at 30 East Main Street in Clinton. Call 860-304-1666 for more information or check the website.

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