INK MAGAZINE - JANUARY 2026

A Guide to Finer Living in Connecticut & Abroad JANUARY 2026

Vol 21 20 Issue 240 inkct.com

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JANUARY 2026

Vol. 21 Issue 240

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Feature Stories

Departments

Pursuit of Pastry

Thirteen Years of Edible Art

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What is Greg Drinking? - Athletic Brewing Co. You’re Being Paged - Daniel Kraus, Books in Review

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“How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon.

December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” ― Dr. Seuss

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Lafayette S. Foster

The Forgotten Statesman

In December of 2005, the first INK magazine was launched and then carefully distributed in hopes of achieving what was essentially “handpicking” our readership. The idea was not to just curate the material that was presented inside the magazine but also to let readers know where it could be found. My hope was to put it into the hands of the people that I felt would appreciate it the most.

At that time I had been in the Northeast for about three years and had worked for multiple small town newspapers (remember those?); and through those jobs working with the public, I was blessed and fortunate enough to have engaged with so many talented, accomplished, and innovative people that I was crazy enough to think I could launch a monthly magazine of my own. A magazine with the ability to reflect my sense of admiration for the New England that I had met and was quite enamored with.

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Tony’s Light

A Year of Noticing

What you are holding in your hand is Ink’s 21st anniversary issue. The two-hundred and thirty ninth issue of a local magazine.

The holiday season is a special time for many, and I am one of those people as I have been blessed with 21 years of working for myself surrounded by so many great people that I am deeply thankful for having met.

I wish each and every person who still enjoys reading our scrappy little magazine all the many blessings that this time has to offer. It is that loyalty that gives what we do, value.

We are grateful.

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The Rône Less Traveled

A Viking Longship Cruise

Contributors

Jeffery Lilly founder / publisher

Susan Cornell - editorial

Carolina Marquez-Sterling - design

Rick Koster - editorial

Gregory Post - editorial

Rona Mann - editorial

Jan Tormay - editorial

Advertising

Contact us to receive our media kit with detailed marketing information.

Jeffery Lilly - Founder/Publisher ads@inkct.com 860.581.0026 Stephanie Sittnick - Co-Founder steph@inkct.com 860.227.8199

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

On the Cover: “The Sky is the Limit” - by Jahangir Alam Onuchcha

visit inkct.com

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 are prohibited. Inkct LLC is not responsible for images or graphics submitted for editorial or by advertisers which are not copyrighted or released for use in this publication.

Inkct LLC - 314 Flat Rock Place Unit F125, Westbrook, CT 06498 - email: submissions@ink-pub.com - visit www.inkct.com

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By Rona Mann Photographs by Stephanie Sittnick

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hen you were a child in elementary school, someone probably showed you how to make a flour-and-water map.

And because you’re a kid in elementary school, and because it’s a fun, messy art project, you think it’s really cool and love it, although now school geography has morphed into salt-dough maps and digital applications.

But as you get older, flour and water are usually replaced by flour and butter. Sugar. And colorful, decadent icing, all of which contribute to people forgetting about maps and falling in love with the many varied and delicious forms of pastry. Most often, it begins simply with their birthday cake. Or perhaps the cupcakes they brought to school because it was their birthday, and they could get a lot of attention and popularity in class. Developing a love for pastry might also be likened to the cookies they made with their mother on rainy or snowy days when boredom was banished by chocolate chips and brown sugar, or the delicious desserts ordered in a restaurant to end a great meal on an even greater note. For most lovers of sweet baked goods, it usually ends right there.

Unless you’re seven, and your family is moving westward from Massachusetts to Washington State. And you’re not at all happy about leaving the home you grew up in and the friends you have to leave behind...and what’s worse? It’s your birthday, and you don’t know anyone in this new place, and there’s nothing in the refrigerator in the new house except... a Winnie the Pooh birthday cake! A beautifully decorated, familiar old friend to welcome a little girl to a new chapter in life and make her believe that happy days are ahead.

So, the little girl who loved decorating cakes, was fascinated by all things pastry, and even spent hours in the local library reading books on cake decorating, grew up, went to college, and became a social worker. A social worker? Jill Peterson adapted readily to this course of study and worked hard, which has always been her key to success. But after a 12-year career in counseling, she was simply not satisfied, and this time there was no Winnie the Pooh in her refrigerator to console her.

But there were friends, good friends who were honest and direct and loving all at the same time. “One day, one of my friends said to me, ‘If you could be anything you wanted, what would you be?’ And I quickly replied, A pastry chef.” Without missing a beat, Jill’s friend immediately countered with, “Then go do it!”

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It only took that th little nudge to push h Peteerson feet-first t first into i the famed Johnson & W Waales University in Rh hode Island, where she was ready to make such a took one pastry class, still not sure she w b bold ca career cha hange. But the butter b r aand flo our and d beautiful beautifu desig signs sh he crreated gott in her blood, and a tthere w was no turning back. bac ““I t totally y immersed immers myself yself by taking t g every y course co I could, and after two years, I earned my associate’s degree in pastry Making.”

Jill’s first job was w att the former form Vanderbrooke nderbro Bakers akers & Caterers C ers in O S Old Saybrook. “It was a lot of o triaal and error or,,” she said, “beca “b ause I was replacing replacing someone eone who had al already y le left. I had all the th meas easurements for the popular bakery items, but I had to deconstruct their recipes, adding my own touches.” In a very short time, howeverr,, Peterson n became bec known wn around a town wn for fo what she he had ha brought ht to t party with her solid education the educ on, a greatt iimagination, gination, and a a sense o wh of himsy y.. She he was as always thinking th king about new w flavors, new n w ccakes and cookies, ookies and unique ique pastries. pa But then the V Vaanderbrooke erbroo closed, ed leaving Jill to face a new chapterr.. Once again, it was her friends who provided support.

13 “My My friends convinced nvinced me to open my own o shop, and werre there to not ot only len lend support, pport, but they y lent me money m y as well as a expertise pertise since sinc I had friends who werree electricians, architects, and in constrru uction.”

Jill was now in hot pursuit of her drreeam, and nothing was getting in her way y.. She Sh opened ned Pursuit Purs of Pastry in Old Saybrook aybrook 13 years rs ago, immersing mmersing h herself elf in the art of what she does d so well. “My “M favorite avorite thing thin is to decorate sugar gar cookies. cookies I paint aint them, pipee them, design des th them. It’s like art that tha you eat.” t” So hungry g were the locals for this new bakery y,, commandeered by y a baker they had d known from her work at a V Vaand nderbrooke, ook tha hat they bought ought ever everything ing the day shee opened. “W “Wee were pullin ing cheesecakes out ut of the o oven and nd immediately imme ly selling them,” m,” Jill says. say “Right ght in the pan, so I asked k d that th t people l please l bring b i the th Wee got every pans back.” And they did! “W single ngle one of o them m back.”

When Pursuit Purs of Pastry first fi opened, it was just j Jill, a pastry chef assistant, Emily y,, and Jill’s mother. To Today y,, 13 years laterr,, Pursuit Pur of Pastry is in a larger ger location cation at tthe same address. addr . Emily is still till Jill’s rig right-hand, hand, and thee staff of 155 includes ludes 4 pastry y chefs, several al bakers, baker and front counter people.

“W We have a separate We arate bread brea kitchen chen with wit a brread chef aas well. Customers Custom rs who come com in daily for coffffee and pastry pa and sit out ou front can look through the window and watch the breads being made: 14 difffferent kinds, all made de in the th store, all made ma f om scratch.” from scratch h”

14 The pastry chefs T ch are all claassically cally trained; train ; howeverr,, Jill reports eports that th their heir customers custo rs often come c e in with “inspiration photos” of cakes their mothers made years ago, hoping to have their memories recreated. “Our ingredients ients are all top-shelf, top-she all pure butter b r,, cream, eam, milk, m e s, and sugar. eggs, sug No substitutes, substi es, no cut-rate cut- e ingredieents.

T best makes The make the he best. W Wee listen isten to our ou customers. ustomers. I wanted d to make m fancy ncy tarts; ta the customers custo wanted anted pies.

So, we make pies!”

Theree are both T th ready-to-go dy-to-go cakes c s that can be customized ustomized in antly and special instantly s cial custom-designed custom signed cakes cak that must be b ordered ed in advance, ad e, as well as exquisite xquisite wedding w ing cakes and d cupcakes. k

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Wiiith W th seating seatin for or approximate ox tely 24, there’s th ’s a steady stead parade rade of customers ustomers throughout oughout the th d day y who ccomee in alone with th a book and nd order an iced ced cookie, cooki or g groups ps of “regulars” egulars” who o enjoy morning coffee with a bagel, croissant, c cinnamon roll, danish, or Jill’s personal favorite...a bakeed donut. “W Wee don’t fry them. W Wee bake ke them in thee oven, then d dip them in butter utterr,, and an roll them in cinnamon innamon suga s ar.” Can y you ju usst feel yo your mouth wateri wa ring?

Unlike k most other pastry t shopss, Pursuit P of Pastry t is i open all 7 days d a week, 8AM-3PM, closing just one hour earlier on Sundays. Asked about future plans for possible p eexpansion, p Jill is resolute. “I have no des esire to op pen a Pursuit of Pastr strry Tw Two.. W Wee keep it focused focu d h here. W Wee’re e’ a happy place, pla close-knit. W Wee k kn now and d likee each other. othe W Wee like our customers, stomers, and we treat at tthem w well. W Wee love what we do. It’s ’s a sweet swee place; l after f all, ll we work k with i h sugarr.”

Spoken poken by a truee “social” “socia worke rker.

“W Wiiill ll you do me a small mall ffavor? r?

Don’t forrgget to grow up and livee happi happily ever aft afterr..

Oh and Oh! d stay as sweet weet as honey forreeverr.”

—Winnie the t Poooh

Find something sweet today at 709 Boston Post Road, Old d Saybr Sa rook www.pursuitofpastry.com(860) pursuitofp com(860) 391-8687 87

Back k left to right: Oseas Albberto, Lisa isa Tiisdale, Courtney rtney P Pearson, Sandy andy To Totten, Paige Hydinger Hydin Seated left to t righ ight: Paige ge Lafleur urr,, Sam Neri, Ner Jilll Peterson, D Deb Marquis, Raachel V M Viigorita

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You’re Being Paged

by Rick Koster

The New Year meanderings of a Voracious Reader In an effort to start off the new year by demonstrating my ability — even at an advanced age — to adroitly assimilate cultural trends into my own persona, let me say OMG! To those uninitiated in the wondrous acronymic shorthand of the English language through the prism of social media, OMG means “Oh My God!” And so I’d like to start off 2026 with a hearty OMG! Y’see, I saw something recently that has been delicately but indelibly imprinted on my otherwise spiderwebbed brain as though by one of those on-site engravers at golf tournaments who, within seconds of a winning putt, and with the sort of calligraphy associated with wedding invitations, gracefully etches the victor’s name on a trophy.

in environments where reading was once an almost omnipresent way to spend time: airports/planes, trains, solo restaurant dining, cattle-call jury summons, oil-change/lube shops, the beach, libraries (!) and, yes, as mentioned, any place folks gathered to wait for medical assistance.

Now, for all I know, many of the folks I see in these situations are holding iPhones, and they might well be reading eBooks rather than gorging on political rants, cute pet videos, or gaming.

At the clinic, there were also patients staring forlornly at the floor — and I will not presume to deny anyone in a doctor’s office the right to be worried. Or perhaps pondering linoleum tile patterns for future home renovation projects.

I was in a crowded doctor’s waiting room for the ol’ annual physical and spotted TWO PEOPLE ACTUALLY READING BOOKS! That goes beyond OMG and into the realm of astonishing!

Empirically speaking, I just don’t see many people reading books

Others were watching a screen suspended from the ceiling in one corner, and the program appeared to be something in which cartoon characters were getting full body scans and conveying to the viewers that, not only is it the right thing to do in a preventive sense, but also really sorta fun, if you think about it.

I appreciate the clinic’s efforts to help out with our life and care choices, but, I dunno, maybe try an actual movie? The Elephant Man? An Ingmar Bergman retrospective?

19 But I’d brought a book, which was Angel Down by the remarkably creative Daniel Kraus. He’s also the author of, among other titles, Rotters, a novel about the father-to-son generational career of modern-day grave robbing; folks who “work” an established territory in a larger cartographic network spanning the nation’s cemeteries. It’s a disconcertingly detailed and evocative work that thankfully stops short of a scratch-and-sniff component.

Anyway, yes. Angel Down is a fantastic idea: World War I soldiers, fighting in the brutal No Man’s Land trenches during the MeuseArgonne offensive, discover a wounded and literal angel enmeshed in the battlefield’s barbed wire. The narrator, Private Cyril Bagger, whose pre-war existence was focused on grifting the innocent, can attribute his less than desirable assignment in the war to his failed efforts to dodge the draft.

Yet, perhaps to his own surprise, Bagger rises to noble heights in his efforts to protect and succor the angel from the dangers of combat and the less than pure attentions of his brothers-in-arms.

As a concept, it’s pretty freakin’ great.

But … the novel is also One. Sentence. Long. Or OSL. OMG! Yes, Angel Down is one of those stream-of-conscious exercises I associate with headaches and aspirin — er, I meant to say William Faulkner or James Joyce. In fact, I’m not even sure Angel Down is a complete sentence because the book starts in mid-sentence.

You know what, though?

It’s a remarkable book. The dark and pervasive energy of war throbs throughout, and Kraus pulls it all off in a way that humanity and the celestial surface slowly but in shimmering if heartbreaking fashion.

If a reader like me — who, at 70, still marvels over the big twist at the end of The Hardy Boys’ Mystery of Cabin Island when Frank discovered Elroy Jefferson’s missing stamp collection in the chimney!

— can appreciate Kraus’s art, so can you.

And, really, looking back on the experience, I’m not sure any stylistic rendering other than the writer’s “one sentence” conceit could have worked as indelibly.

If you haven’t completed your reading for 2025, Angel Down is a worthy possibility.

Which brings me to the new year.

I’ve always been one of those people whose reading habit is, for some reason, described as “voracious.”I’m not sure why or how“voracious”became the adjective to describe prodigious readers. Why not “prodigious,” for example? “Rapacious”?

“Gluttonous”?

Or: “There’s that loser that’s always in the corner of McDonald’s, reading a book.”

Daniel Kraus

Yep, that’s me.

I will say that I no longer keep tabs on the number of books I read i n a year. It used to be a fun thing to do until I found myself, as the calendar crept past Labor Day and into fall, trying to speed through more books in some inane desire to pad the stats on my literary consumption for that given year.

Why would I do that?

Was I hoping for a chance to interject my majestic “totals” into casual conversation?

“Wow, I sorta surprise myself this year,” I’d chuckle modestly to a small group I’d cornered.“It’s only October 14 and I’ve already read 92 books. Not that I’m counting. That would mean, I dunno, just roughly guesstimating off the top of my head, I’m knocking out a book every 3.10869565217 days. Or something like that!”

And then, because I most of the books I was reading weren’t Rabelaisian — or Faulkner or Joyce — and I was speaking to a group of folks in a doctor’s waiting room while I waited for my appointment, they would look away from me and stare at the floor, or at a health video in the corner, or start punching away at their iPhones.

Or maybe they re-opened the book they were reading when they were so rudely interrupted.

Happy 2026! Support libraries and independent bookstores. And let me know what you’re reading and recommend: rick.o.lantern@gmail.com

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PHOTOGRAPHY and the PAINTED IMAGE

Jan. 17 — Apr. 12 This exhibition explores how early photography and painting intersected, revealing the ways the two mediums have overlapped and complemented each other.

Photographer Kimber A. Thomas at work in his studio. Courtesy C. B. Steiner.

Lyman Allyn A RT

M U S E U M

625 Williams Street New London, CT lymanallyn.org

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PULLING STRINGS TO THE PAST

By Jan Tormay (And Also, Fingers, Hands, Talking Dummies, & Miles of Smiles)

The Center for Puppetry Arts

By Carol St. Sauveur Ferris

Lafayette S. S Foster, a 19th-century Americcan n politiciaan and jurist from Connecticut. Taaken by Mathew B. Brady waas a promineent American photographer, famous f for his portraits of public fi figu ures andd his documentation of the Civil War a.

1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer puppets

23 nce upon a time... there was a young man named Robert Lewis May who worked for Montgomery Ward in Chicago, Illinois. It was 1939 and the Great Depression was slowly coming to an end. May had visions of being a great American author but found himself writing a children’s soft cover book instead at the request of his boss. The book was going to be given to their shoppers during the holiday season.

Rudolph Book © 1939

The story May wrote was actually an endearing poem called Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Nearly 2.5 million copies were distributed to Montgomery Ward’s shoppers that Christmas. And by the 1947 Christmas season, the poem was published as a hardcover book, and a 45-rpm record was made as well.

In 1949 Gene Autry, known as the Singing Cowboy, recorded the song of the same name which was composed by May’s brother-in-law Johnny Marks. The song was eventually recorded by many other well-known singers including Dean Martin, Dinah Shore, Perry Como and Bing Crosby.

It became the second most popular Christmas song just behind White Christmas. May went on to write two sequels to Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer. And soon several film adaptations of the beloved story followed.

Burl Ives with the snowman and Rudolph

It was a huge success and is still the longest running TV special in the history of television. In fact, nearly 60 years later, you’re hard pressed to find anyone from Baby Boomers to Gen Alpha who have By 1964, the first televised puppet not seen or heard a Rudolph production animation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed at least once in their life. “The single most Reindeer was produced by Rankin/ important person to Rankin/Bass classic Bass Productions. It featured Burl TV Special, is Romeo Muller,” says OffiIves as the voice of Sam the Singing cial Rankin/Bass Productions Historian/ Snowman,s who narrates theFrstory Biographer Goldschmidt. part of Norwich ee Academy’s sprawlingRick campus in Conneecti“Romeo of Rudolph his way and wrote entirepass special and created cut,finding thousands of students, faculty , andthe visitors Lafayette Sabine all of eventually leading Santa’s sleigh. characters besides Rudolph. it were Foster ’s bequeathed three-story the Italian villa every weekday du uringIfthe school year.

Many y are oblivious to Foster ’s extensive contributions and deep invo olvement with tthe school, according to Dayne Rugh, director of the Slater Mem morial Museu um, which is situated on campus. He elaborated, “He was on th he cutting edge o of education.” The NFA was founded in 1856, and its first gradu uating class iin 1858 consisted of only two students, shortly before Foster ’s peeriod of involvement. This historical context helps highlight Foster ’s impacct at a pivotaal time.

“It did dn’t take that long before we’d start to see girls being admitted…N NFA was allso part of another revolutionary y educational mission between the United States and China,” when dozens and d dozens of students came to America to study right around the 1870s,” Rugh saaid. “It’s been a part of our cultural fabric and ou ur mission as a school for well ov ver a century.” .

Transf r formed into boardrooms, offi fices, an nd information technology spaces, two areeas o of the Foster House (the oldest stan nding building on campus) still maintain its historiical elegance with detailed woodw work, a built-in corner China cabinet, stained glass, aand a ceiling medallion. These preserved e spaces include the grand entrance hall an nd a large room o on the first floor, which w could have been used as a parlor room o or drawing room long ago, linking the past with present-day functions.

Lafayettte Sabine Foster ’s three-story Italianate residence, which is now part of the Norwich Freee Academy campus in Connecticut. Pictured is Dayne Rugh, director of Slater Memorial Museum, in May 2025.

Photo byy Jan Tormay o Burl Ives was the voice of Sam the Singing Snowman who narrates the story of Rudolph

24 Born in nearby Franklin on November 22, 22 1806, Foster gr graduated from Brown wn University in Providence, dence, Rhode Island. He was elected e to the Connecticut onnect General Assembly embly several times and d served serv three terms as Speaker of the House. Foster oster also impacted his comm community as Mayor off Norwich Norw from 1851 to 1852, served two terms ms as U.S. U Senator from m 1855 to 1867, practiced d law w,, became a Supreme C Court Judge, and was an NF FA A Tr Trustee—roles les thr through which hee shaped local and state policy poli y..

He was a ‘breath eath away away’ from becom ecoming president of the United States on April ril 15, 15 1865, Rugh said. Ye Yet, despite this historic proximity to the presidency y,, he is still not recognized as a household name today y,, underscoring his surprising anonymity.

If John Wilkes Booth’s clandestine plot went according to plan, he said Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward would have been assassinated along with President Ab braham Abraham Lincoln. Luckily y,, Booth’s three accom mplices - Lewis Powell, David Herold, and G George Atzerodt - did not succeed.

Rugh explained that, today y,, if the presideent is assassinated or incapacitated, the vice prresident House. is next in line—then the Speaker of the H Howeverr,, at the time, succession passed to the president of the Senate, a position Fosterr held. ncy y,, there Throughout Andrew Johnson’s presiden vacant. was no vice president, leaving that role v

Above: Dayne Rugh, dirreector of Slater Memorial Museum, inside i Lafayette Sabine Foster’s ’s bequeathed Italianate-designed house, by the grand frroont hallway y,, in May y 2025. Photo by Jan To Tormay Left: Brroonze bust of Lafayette Sabine Fosterr,, crroopped, by Karl Gerrhhardt. Ph hoto courtesy of Slater Memorial Museum

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Another time Foster could have become preesident of the United States occurred when President And drew Johnson h improved. became gravely ill. Luckily y,, Johnson’s health Foster - a Progressive Thinker oster’s early Rugh said he doesn’t know much about Fo upbringing.” life. “He clearly had quite a strong family u p devotion to He was a strong Christian man with a deep his church and Christian faith. ublic servant’ Describing Foster as the ‘quintessential pu and progreessive thinkerr, he said Foster liveed his adult practice. This life in Norw wich and had a successful law p n to the community helped defin connection ne his legacy y..

Some historians thus consider Fo oster to have acted as vice president, offffering a perspectivee on succession changes.

In the museum’s climate-con ntrolled storage area, Rugh holds up Foster’s origin nal condolence letter to Mary T To odd Lincoln. Handw written in cursive in Washington and dated April 18, 1865, three days Wa after her husband was assasssinated, Foster writes on behalf of the Senate and H House of Representapermitted to add the tives, and adds, “I beg to be p expressions of my own deep and earnest sympathy for you in this time and yourr great sorrow.”

“This (assassination) had neveer happened before. y (Civil W Wa ar ended) Right at the moment of victory tto h have thi this h happen, it was jjustt a shock h k tto th the entire ti nation,” said Dale Plummerr,, Norwich City Historian, during a telephone interview.

Rugh said it was not easy for anybody to navigate the Waar. political divides before and after the Civil W “A lot of historians agree that the worst thing that the South could ever have done post-war era, was to assassinate Lincoln, because Lincoln had an entire reconstruction plan to redeem and readmit the South.

And the reconstruction efforts after his assassination were infinitely more punitive than I think they would have been under Lincoln. And so that led to, again, a very difffi ficult era to redeem the South.”

Waar Period was a very Plummer agrees that the Civil W difficult time for everyone. He said Foster supported the administration and the warr,, “but obviously at some point after the warr,, he broke with the he Re Repub ublican l an Party and became a Democrat.”

Top: Ornate O exterior details on Lafayette Sabine Foster’s ’s former home. Bottom: This room in L Lafayette Sabine Foster Foster’s ’s former home could have been used as a parlor or drawing rrooom many years ago. Portraiits on the rear wall aare of Lafayette Sabine Foster and his first wife, Joanna Boylston Lanman Fosterr.. Photos by y Jan T Toormay

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“His contemporaries described Lafayettte Foster as a gifted speaker and a charming, witty ccompanion, courteous and gentlemanly but brimmiing with good humorr,,” stated Patricia F F.. Staley in n her book, “Norwich in the Gilded Age - The Rosee City’s Millionaires’ T Trriangle.”

In contrast to the stigma attached to politiicians today y,, Foster was a trrusted figure, Rugh said. Hee was also “quite a prominent member in what ultim mately y,,” became the Republican Party nationally aand locally in the mid-1800s, when politics was totallly difffferent.

Party hadn’t “Democrats existed, but the Republican P really come into its present form yet yet.”

Nowadays, Rugh said, the partisan political divides have become exasperated beyond recognition.

“And yes, they existed back then too, over similar and difffferent issues, but it’s hard to find someone y..” who really has an untouchable level of integrity As a fervent abolitionist serving as Speaker of the House of the Connecticut Assembly in 1848, Foster presided over the legislature that abolished slavery in Connecticut, Rugh said. “He signed off on that.

It was an incredibly progressive and forward way of thinking and closely aligned with the founding intents of the United States Constitution. Foster’s actions represent the ongoing effffort to realize the promise in the Declaration of Independence that ‘all men are created equal.’”

During Foster’s second term in the U.S. Senate in 1861 the 1861, th Civil Ci il War was breaking b ki out, t Rugh R h said, id “and for him just to be at that place at that time was extraordinarily significant.”

Clockwise: Joanna Booylston Lanman Fosterr, Lafayette Foster’s ’s first wife. Unknown painterr.. Lafayette Sabine Fostterr.

Oil painting by Alexander Hamiliton Emmons. News report about Abraham Lincoln’’ss assassination in the Norwichh Morning Bulletin, April Apriil 17, 1865, Photo courtesy of Slater Memorial Museum

27 Reflecting on Fosterr, Rugh saaid he was “in ncredibly diplomatic” and bellieves he would have been very successful ass a diplomat if he had chosen that route.

Aerial view of NF FA Campus in Norwich, Connecticut. P Photo courtesy of Slater Memorial Museum

Foster married Joanna Boylstton Lanman in 1837. They had three children n who all died in infancy y.. After Joanna died in April 1859, he married Martha Prince L Ly y yman in October 1860. On September 19, 1880,, Foster died of ough his name malaria fever at age 73. Altho is not widely recognized todaay y,, the legacy n-of Lafayette S. Foster enduress—his un g commitment, prog p gressive g vision, wavering and profound contributions tto Norwich and the broader nation contin nue to shape he profound and inspire, demonstrating th influence one dedicated indiv vidual can have on n history y..

As the Civil War was coming to an end, Foster was elected President Pro T Teempore of the U.S. Senate by unanimous support - something y. unheard of today Rugh commented, “He accomplished more than most people in his lifetime. T To o see what he saw at the lowest point in our nation’s history—a time of indescribable events—was significant.” Reflecting on his own journey at NF FA A since 2017, Rugh described his museum role: curating art shows, exhibits, and programs, and sometimes portraying historical figures in costume.

Even though Rugh’s various positions over a six-year period at the Mystic Seaport Museum will always have a “special place” in his heart, he said, “I always say this is the best job I think I’ll ever have, because it’s just a great place to be. I get to work in this museum environment with students from all over the region and all over the world. And we’ve got a phenomenal staffff and set of pr programs p ogra g that we offffer that give kids experiences that they liiterally can’tt gett anywhere anywhe else. There’s Th only o one other school in the country ountry that’s a seco ondary h high school that hass a museum mus and th hat’s up in n Phillips Academ my in A Andoverr,, Massachuse M setts,” and they don’t have casts c to stud dy and draw w. w.

“The Slater Museum useum is i really a tiime capsule,, especially with h how the th casts weere installed ed.

It is a quintessential ential 19th 19 century y plasterr cast collection. Therre’s justt not very many of those that still exist.”

Lafayette Foster’s ’s forrmer Italian villa on the NF FA Campus in Norwich, Connecticut, prreeviously housed the Nortton-Peck Library and the Norton Libraary. It is now part of the Latham Science and Information Centerr,, which includes the Edwin H H. Land Library.

The center is attachedd to the Foster house, a thrreee-story Italian villa donated to Norwich Free Academy by Lafayettte Sabine Fosterr.

According to Dayne Day Rugh, director of the Slater Memorial rial Museum, Foster F was “a brreeath away” frroom becomingg prreeesident sident of the United nited States on April Aprril r 15, 15 1865.

1865 “Y Y Yeet, t he is still not ot a household na name ame today today..” Photo courtesy of Slater Museum.

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n August 2023, Anthony Reczek reached out about a book of photographs, likely self-published and arranged like an almanac.

Drawn by the quiet purpose behind his work, I promised an estimate, feeling excited for the collaboration ahead.

Anthony Reczek—Tony—grew up in Rutland, Vermont, in a close-knit Polish community, where his parents passed on a respect for learning and spiritual wisdom. He recalls winning a Kodak box camera in 1965 at an open-air bingo game at the county fair, a memory that sparks quiet reflection. Listening to his stories is like watching a gentle brook meander through a sunlit forest—as one path closes, another opens. Now settled in Old Saybrook with his wife Celia and dog, he tends his garden and makes music. Throughout his life, his upbringing and work have revealed a steady, compassionate presence—always observant, patient, and quietly kind.

Tony’s enthusiasm for his project felt contagious—a genuine invitation to collaborate. Life as a graphic designer means encountering a kaleidoscope of assignments. Each project promises to bring a client’s vision to life. It had been a long time since I last designed a book, yet when I heard his voice, I was hooked. Suddenly designing a photo book felt like destiny calling.

A week later, after I shared my estimate, we agreed that I would begin exploring page designs. Eager with anticipation, I started sketching layouts for the main pages, intent on honoring his vision while weaving in my own creative flair. He had a clear sense of direction, even if some elements, like format and layout, were still taking shape.

Within a week, I emailed Tony several layout concepts: bold, full-bleed photos, eye-catching colored fonts for the months and seasons—an energetic approach.

He replied honestly: he preferred something quieter, closer to the simplicity of his blog. That evening, I scrolled through his posts and recognized the understated elegance myself. In that moment, I understood Tony’s approach: the images would be the hero of the book.

At that point, I questioned if another designer might be a better fit for his approach, given the simplicity and vision. Even then, his gentle certainty and respect for the images held my attention.

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During this period, INK—the core of my design work—planned a celebration for clients and staff. Around this time, Jeff Lilly, the publisher who had connected me with Tony, encouraged me to invite him. Hoping for deeper insight into Tony’s vision, I prepared for a potential face-to-face meeting.

Tony declined the invitation but suggested that we meet somewhere neutral. We agreed on the Old Saybrook diner for an early dinner.

Outside, the October air carried a gentle chill, and the faint smell of burning wood hinted at the season’s quiet shift.

I like to meet my clients in person. It helps me gauge their energy and whether we’re a good fit. I arrived early; the waitress ushered me to our booth. My nerves were jangling—I dread letting people down.

When Tony walked in, his Duchenne smile and calm, vibrant presence settled me. He looked like Santa Claus out of season.

Who could resist Santa?

We shook hands and settled into our booth.

Two grilled cheese sandwiches and a shared plate of French fries sat between us. I braced myself to resign. But before I could begin, Tony, anticipating my thoughts, spoke a few quiet words about needing my expertise. Everything shifted. As I left the diner, I realized why I couldn’t let go of this work— when my expertise is seen, the whole process comes alive, and print feels like home.

Print has my heart. Opening a book feels like magic—I inhale the scent of freshly printed paper, let my fingers glide over glossy pages, and linger on images that invite me to wander on their edges. The satisfaction resonates deep within. Even though the design was largely set, I still wanted to contribute, drawn by something compelling about Tony and his images.

As the project unfolded, I eagerly awaited each new batch of images. They promised a gentle respite—a quiet meditation. They urged me to pause and see the world through Tony’s patient eyes. These moments evoked memories from my own childhood, inviting me to slow down and see through his unhurried gaze.

At one point, Tony asked if we might finish the book by Christmas, even though we’d only just begun the page layouts in earnest in November. I told him, “It is possible, but we’ll need to make decisions quickly,” a gentle nudge steering him away from getting lost in small details. He laughed and admitted he fixates on choices. He is not a perfectionist—that crown belongs to me!

Still, he knows what he likes and pursues it with quiet precision. I found it refreshing to work with someone who could embrace their quirks with humor.

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Christmas passed, and winter settled in with its bone-chilling, colorless days. Tony remained unfazed, while I felt the weight of the sunless season. Our conversation about January revealed our differences. I saw it as bleak; Tony saw a vital pause, a bridge. His steady embrace of the seasons made me admire his quiet resilience and wisdom, showing me a different, more serene way to view life.

As the book neared completion, our image count rose from ten to twelve per month to fifteen or twenty. When printing costs

proved too high, we shifted to an eBook. I accepted the change, though I missed the feel of a photo book—the weight of it, the way a printed page holds a moment still. The digital format let the images flow uninterrupted, and Tony enjoyed experiencing them this way. Even so, the project’s design and his photographs continued to beguile me.

By late February, we finished the eBook—a tapestry of photographs capturing New England’s spirit. Each state revealed its own beauty and character. Immersed in Tony’s images and reflections, I rediscovered my

bond with the region and began to see it anew. The experience felt restorative.

Embracing New England’s rhythms quietly mended something within me. Its beauty unfolded through a seasonal journey of landscapes and their inhabitants.

I supplied Tony with the PDF in several formats, and we parted ways. As we said goodbye, I urged him, “Tony, you need to create an analog version.” He assured me he would, eventually. For now, his focus was on launching the eBook and preparing it for download. Over the following year,

34 we occasionally discussed its publication on Kobo and its acceptance into online public libraries. I found myself returning to the book from time to time—not just for the visual spell of the images, but for how they made me feel.

But destiny wasn’t done with our collaboration yet— Each time I revisited the eBook, certain images clung to me, refusing to fade. A few echoed deeply. The Guardian of the Galaxy a black and white photograph: a man with playful pride by a brook, hand to heart, as if vowing to protect the land. The cover, Sky over Ogunquit Bay, showed a sweeping shoreline and clouds in harmony as if dancing a waltz in a sea of blue. Mud season transformed from messy to beautiful, making me wistful for those muddy March adventures. The simple ball field with nature as a backdrop. Dreams are made on these fields.

If the eBook captured Tony’s expansive meditation, I wondered how the print edition could capture its essence in concentrated form. Months passed with that thought lingering, and I was delighted when, about a year and a half later, Tony finally reached out to create the actual print book. This marked a new chapter for the project and a return to our tactile vision. Now, he was considering around forty images in almanac form– a drastic edit. The ‘whole enchilada,’ as Tony calls the 240-page eBook, would not be possible in print. The eBook scrolls through image after image, while the print version would feature dyads. He said he would start pairing images and send them along.

It felt like a moment of renewal as we prepared to make his vision into a tangible, printed form.

We both treated this project as a new animal.

While the eBook left us satisfied, re-imagining the print version was unexpectedly tricky; the process stretched from one month to six. Print required a different approach. We trimmed images, cut month quote-title pages, and the softcover mock-up clarified the adjustments still needed—the gutter, commentary pages, and layout all demanding careful rethinking.

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The charm of this book lies in its dyads, adding dimension to Tony’s mind and eye.

The commentary in both editions adds context. Tony worried each image wasn’t getting its due, but I thought the interplay was interesting. I loved it—the dust jacket revealed Santa (Tony) and fulfilled what I had long desired: a book I could view without the modernity of computers involved.

Working with Tony and his visual diary revealed lessons no ordinary design job could offer—lessons that continue to resonate throughout my days.

Whichever edition you choose, Tony Reczek invites us to wander New England’s heart— dew on a fence, a man pruning bushes under his dog’s watchful eyes, a laundromat glowing in darkness, a horse’s gentle face radiant with peace. His lens distills beauty with quiet clarity, offering a window into his soul. This collaboration taught me to accept ‘what is,’ to move with life’s rhythms, and to witness the world as it quietly, insistently is—alive, subtle, and full of wonder.

The images in the book and on Tony’s site stretch back at least four decades. They span a broad range of published and personal work. www.anthonyreczek.com and he can be reached thru email agreczek@comcast.net

First Edition (eBook) available at KOBO www.kobo.com and your local libraries across the country; most New England libraries have it for immediate download, and the rest can order it via OverDrive/Libby, the Palace Project, and/or CloudLibrary. These apps render the book with 100% accuracy.

Second Edition (print)is available at Harbor Books in Old Saybrook, as well as on Amazon.

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Photo by Gregory Post

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What is Greg Drinking?

Athletic Brewing Company Oscar Wilde once mused about life that one should remember to keep,“everything in moderation, including moderation.”This January, whether you are committing to the full dry campaign or resorting to at least dial back the flood levels from the winter holidays, Connecticut is home to the premier non-alcoholic beer producer in the nation: Athletic Brewing Co. Founded in Milford by friends, Bill Shufelt (a former hedge fund manager who was looking to take on new adventures), and brewer, John Walker, (no apparent relationship to the Scotch producer) who sought to remedy the astounding lack of a commercial presence for actually enjoyable non-alcoholic pints to be poured. The combination of these two visionaries to achieve that goal ended up resulting in a true and lasting shift in the world of NA beers as we know it today. They were lucky enough to have support from local and state grants as well as enthusiastic community members that saw both potential and purpose behind this movement. All the while they were home brewing batches of different styles, Walker taking note of what tasted great in small tanks and how it could be scaled up for the hopefully higher demand. Thanks to John, they knew what were the popular styles that could anchor this company for the long haul.

They were hardly just brewing beer together at this point. They were fermenting the culture that would lend the obvious namesake to Athletic. Bill, still ever the sportsman, noticed how common it was for breweries and bars to sponsor events like a charity 5K race. Yet at those events, ostensibly where people are trying to better their health, there was no option for the ABV adverse. They faced no competition for the table space at these jaunts and soon were sliding samples into the sweaty palms of race participants all over the state. The name Athletic was more than just a literal goal of familiar association. It was a manifestation of the company culture they hoped would follow. Envisioning a product that would enable people to live their best lives without feeling like they had to drop the livelier aspects.

As mentioned above, they are skilled sud creators in a wide variety of styles. IPA still being the king of the craft market, you will most easily be able to track down the cleverly titled ‘Run Wild IPA.’ It uses a blend of five dominant Northwest hops to capture that classic piny bitterness that founded the obsession. Yet they are far from one race runners. They have put out a truly impressive and constantly growing list of options for imbibing with less day after irritation.

Some other fan favorites are the ‘Upside Dawn’ (a golden ale with balance and bright notes from American malts) and ‘Free Wave’, the hazy style of IPA more often trending these days.

I chose to write about ‘Wit’s Peak’ which is their beautiful Belgian-inspired option. There is something about this particular one that hearkens me back to my own early adventures into craft beers here in Connecticut, loving some of the more refined offerings from places like Willimantic Brewing Co. and Beer’d Brewing (where I first got my feet out of corporate America and into boutique beverages). The notes of orange peel and coriander are zesty and delicate. It is followed by a sage and citrus bite that will make your New Year's resolutions feel reasonable.

Although I do not pretend to always live up to the lofty ethos of Bill and John when it comes to beverages this low in alcohol by volume, I can certainly respect how lucky we all are that Connecticut produced these triumphs of temperance. Ultimately, we all need balance to make it through the highs and lows of life.

Like many of you, the holidays are equal parts memories made and stresses survived. So with the scales often out of balance, maybe there is something to be said about a little more mindfulness when we fill our mugs. (For the wine-forward crowd in the same boat, definitely try Wölffer Estate ‘Spring in a Bottle’ Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Non-Alcoholic Wine). When the time for corks and caps with stronger contents comes, you will have more appreciation for the experience and hopefully a greater respect for the socializing we all seek, especially during the doldrums of winter.

Gregory Post is a sommelier and manager at Saltwater Farm Vineyard, affiliated with Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard.

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By Susan Cornell Photographs by Susan and Bob Cornell

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France is the most visited country in the world, attracting around 89.4-100 million international visitors in 2025. If this ranking dissuades you from planning a trip to France but you still dream of its iconic landmarks, cuisine, art, and fashion, there is a solution: L’automne en France. That is, fall, the low (or at least lower) season.

much a blank slate. Viking included a panoramic tour of Paris and offered other excursions, but how we spent the rest of our time was up to us. We researched and researched what we thought would be the best way to spend three days. It was hard as there are so many fantastic options!

From late October through early November, we spent 11 days in “La France,” combining a seven-night Viking Longship cruise on the Rhône River with a three-night extension in Paris with Viking.

There are far fewer tourists, the weather was enjoyable, and the rates were lower.

When I kidded a “must” in Paris was a perfect chocolate croissant (and a protest), Bob found that the world’s largest chocolate celebration, Salon du Chocolat (literally “Chocolate Show”), was taking place while we would be in town. It’s a major trade fair and public exhibition that brings together over 500 exhibitors from around 60 countries, including master chocolatiers, pastry chefs, cocoa producers, confectioners, and international brands. There’s even a chocolate fashion show, where celebrities parade in chocolate outfits.

We’d never sailed with Viking before, but we have been on several ocean and river cruises. Having seen hundreds of Viking advertisements over the years, we were curious to see how the line compares to others and whether a Viking cruise was as great as it looked.

My husband Bob had never been to Paris before, and I hadn’t been in 40 years. I wondered if we’d experience Paris Syndrome, the sense of extreme disappointment exhibited by some individuals when visiting Paris, who feel that the city does not live up to expectations. And neither of us really likes cities, so maybe we wouldn’t even enjoy Paris.

While the cruise itinerary for “Lyon & Provence” was set in stone, and all we needed to do was select excursions, Paris was pretty

Our flight landed at 7:20am. Since our room wouldn’t be ready for several hours, we dropped our bags at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile and headed directly to the exhibition. The endless samples of chocolate and coffee beans from all over the world woke us right up, an absolutely perfect antidote to pulling an all-nighter.

If you’re visiting Paris, definitely use the RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens), which operates underground trains and hundreds of city buses. It’s easy, extremely affordable at about $2.50 per trip, and the best way to get around. Skip taxis or Uber—we relied on RATP exclusively for three days and highly recommend doing the same.

44 The next morning, we visited the Louvre Museum. Even at opening (9am), the line was long! You really could spend an entire day in the museum, but we visited for four hours and felt we had a solid overview. The jewelry heist occurred a few days before, so we were not allowed in the room where it happened, the historic Galerie d’Apollon.

That evening, we combined a gourmet dinner with a cruise on the Seine aboard Le Diamant Bleu. We booked this 2+ hour trip, which passes by the magnificent city’s highlights at night (with live music) through GetYourGuide, before we departed the States. This was a splurge (around $110 per person), unforgettable, and worth every euro. The views are spectacular, particularly when you go up top after the three-course French-inspired dinner.

If we had to do Paris over again, we wouldn’t change a thing. Three days were sufficient, and we hit our highlights.

Most importantly, we loved it! Neither of RATP, Paris’s transit system, runs subways, trains, and buses. It’s easy, affordable, and we used it for three days instead of taxis or Uber. Recent upgrades let you buy and load tickets in the app and pay fares by tapping your phone at stations, which was very convenient.

On the return from the expo, we stopped at the fountains and obelisk at the Place de la Concorde, and then hopped the RATP back to the hotel. The north fountain commemorates navigation and commerce on the rivers of France, and the south fountain commemorates the maritime commerce and industry of France.

The obelisk was a gift from Luxor, Egypt, to France.

The next morning, we joined other cruise passengers for a guided city tour. Notre Dame Cathedral was the highlight, particularly having followed the rebuilding and restoration work. Notre Dame is France’s most visited cathedral, attracting 12 to 15 million visitors annually. Thanks to the low season, our wait time to enter was only about ten minutes.

It was Halloween, which really isn’t much of anything in France.

But, as Americans, we wanted to celebrate. What could be better than descending 65 feet underground through the Catacombes de Paris, which hold the remains of more than six million people?

The ossuary was built to address problems caused by the city’s crowded cemeteries. We loved every second of the visit and highly recommend it, but heads up: the Catacombes are now closed through April for renovations.

Next, we went from deep under the city to high above Paris – the summit of the Eiffel Tower. This is the most visited monument with an entrance fee in the world! While the views are spectacular (particularly when we visited, at sunset and a bit later), the lines for everything from the loo to the elevator and at the top viewing area were long. As long as you’re not claustrophobic, acrophobic, or enochlophobic, going to the summit is worth the time and cost (under $50), but buy online at toureiffel.paris in advance because they sell out.

45 us experienced Paris Syndrome, nor did we dislike being in this major world city. But it was time to sail.

The following morning, after breakfast, we boarded the TGV high-speed train for a scenic two-hour journey through the French countryside to Lyon. I was amazed at how soon after Paris the country becomes bucolic, with views one would expect of the French countryside. We embarked on the Viking Buri and were immediately impressed.

Launched in 2014, Buri is a modern, eco-friendly vessel designed for European river itineraries. The ship accommodates 190 passengers in 95 staterooms with a crew of about 58. It measures around 443 feet long and emphasizes Scandinavian design. On our particular cruise, 90 percent of the passengers were from the US, with the remaining from the UK and Australia. Over half of Viking guests are repeat travelers. The average age is 70.

Our Veranda Stateroom was excellent—really spacious! – but, since we travelled in the fall with cooler weather, the balcony wasn’t used much. To save money, a French Balcony (which has a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door) is fine, though a bit smaller. All staterooms are river-view, so if you’re more apt to be out socializing anyway, you could always go with a Standard Stateroom, which is actually larger than a French Balcony.

46 Our itinerary took us from Lyon to Avignon, with stops in Vienne, Tournon, and Arles. The cruise includes at least one complimentary shore excursion each day, which typically involves a guided tour of the port city. In addition to the included activities, there are optional, extra-cost excursions for those who want to participate in different activities or explore further. The included tours often focus on local history, culture, and highlights, such as walking tours or scenic bus trips.

For example, on the afternoon of embarkation in Lyon, we wasted no time and headed out with a local guide to discover the area in the vicinity of the ship. The next day, we explored further with a panoramic city tour and time for independent exploration. We traveled to Beaujolais Wine Country on a scenic, informative, and tasty excursion. We took a Vienna Walking Tour and, in Tournon, we rode the Tournon Steam Train. In Arles, we did the Walking Tour, followed by Les Baux & Les Carrières de Lumières, which might have been the highlight of all of 2025!

47 As far as how Viking compares with other lines, it is excellent. This was our twenty-fifth cruise together.

We’ve tried an array of megaships to river cruises, elegant sailing yachts to expedition ships, and even a cargo vessel. Viking nails it in terms of service, logistics, exceptional local guides, excursions, and ports. The food was consistently fantastic – in the top three of all 25 trips. It is easy to see why Viking has so many repeat passengers. We plan to join their ranks.

In a nutshell, Carrières des Lumières (Quarries of Light) is a renowned immersive digital art center located in a former limestone quarry. The experience features massive projections of famous artworks covering the quarry’s walls, pillars, ceilings, and floors. Exhibitions change, focusing on major artists. In Avignon, we loved the Avignon Walk & Pope’s Palace.

When we were booking this trip, we were torn between Viking’s “Châteaux, Rivers & Wine” and this particular cruise, “Lyon & Provence”. We opted for the latter, thinking there would be a better balance (culture, history, food) than in a wine-focused one. We enjoy wine, but we’re not experts.

On the last night, we learned that the Buri passengers had consumed over 1350 bottles of wine, setting a record! This works out to more than one bottle per day per passenger, and doesn’t include beer, mixed drinks, the wine consumed that night, or all of the wine consumed on excursions such as “Beaujolais Wine Country” or “Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Tasting”.

We’d go in the fall again. When it’s autumn in Connecticut, it’s still autumn in France. Though the colors aren’t as vibrant as in New England, we didn’t miss a beautiful time of year. The weather was always cool but never cold, and every day was nearly 10 degrees warmer than in Connecticut. In summer, on the other hand, particularly in the south, temperatures can be brutal. Add tourists to the equation and summer travel, at least to us, would be “Ooo la la, non.”

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/ '?!# /#'!?! " FRIDAY AYY,, 05.01.26 | 8:00 PM Experience history at full volum me as The Sixties Show rips the past from the archives, electrifying mem mory and energy into a time-bending, adrenaline-charged resurrectioon of the 1960s like you’ve never seen—or heard—before.

+700?1'7/>'? " 7/+#7?0# ?0'!/# + WORLD TOUUR SATURDAY AT DAAYY,, 03.14.26 | 7:00 PM Get off the beaten path and explore the edge of believable witth captivating stories from m the 50th Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Fesstival.

">'$?/'+1 '>! ??#!?#/?0>#$+C?C'/ ?1" '$C?/" > FRIDAYY,, 05.5.26 | 7:30 PM Get ready to laugh until you crry as the funniest teacher-comedians in the world share their side-splittting stories, savage truths, and hilarious classroom confessions. Whether you’re a teacher, a parent, or just someone who’s been in school school, this show will have you nodding nodding, clapping clapping, and hollering, “That’s SO TRUE!” Warning: May co t i PG 13 l t h t th d ontrollable fits of laughter.

> C/ ?"0?/ '?$+71' THURSDAY DAAYY,, 03.12.26 | 7:30 PM This incrediible live show creates a new era in Irish entertainmeent, Woorld and Irish chhampion containing a wealth of Irish talent, featuring W dancers, soome of the finest Traditional musicians and singers who w are a big hit everywhhere.

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MONDAYY,, 03.16.26 | 7:30 PM The High Kings, the globally acclaimed Irish folk group known for blending timeless tradition a with modern energyy,, come to the Garde just in time for St Patrick’s Day. $#>'1/?0>" ?! '$'7 ?/ '? !#1?"0?+ + SATURDAY AT DAAYY,, 03.21.26 | 8:00 PM Get ready to dance, sing, and celebrate as you relive timeless hits h including Dancing Quueen, Chiquitita, Waterloo, Mamma Mia, The Winner TTaakes It All, Fernando, SOS, TTaake a Chance on Me, Money Money Money, Knoowing Me Knowing YYoou, Super Trouper, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, Voulez-VVoous—and many more. YYoou might even discover a new favorite along the way. And yes… everyy note you hear is performed 100% LIVE! >+ + ?7+!

LIVE ON TOUR 2026 FRIDAYY,, 044.10.26 | 8:00 PM Graham Naash will perform a career-spanning retrospective of his h six decades off contributions to contempor p aryy music.

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Get ready for big laughs, cold drinks, and unforgettable fun Saturday Nights at 8 pm!

ADAM MAMAWA W LAA | SATT,, JAN 3, 2026 WAL COREY RODRIGGUES | SAT ATT,, JAN 10, 2026 CHRISTIAN FINNEGAN | SATT,, JAN 177,, 2026 ERIN MAGUIREE | SAT ATT,, JAN 24, 2026 Comedyy + Craft Beer B = Your Yo New FFaavorite Nigh g t Out featuringg TOX and other local brews

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S a y b r o o kH o mee.c o m

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