Ink Magazine - December 2019

publicationsÂŽ

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Vol 14 Issue 168 2019

A guide to finer living in Connecticut & abroad.

December 2019

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December 2019 Vol. 15 Issue 169

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Feature Stories

visit inkct.com

Departments

Atlantic Seafood:

Shrimp and Tuna and Oysters...Oh My!

EF Watermelon:

Writing the Book on Fine Gems

Time Machine Hobby:

Where Hobbies & Imagination Collide

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Crusty Old Diver - Bobby’s Taug Chowder

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Music Mirth and Mojo - Blues on Broadway

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Cardinal Points - Big White Dog Wants to Play

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The Cheesemonger - Cheese for the Holidays

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On the Vine - Wine Gifts for the Holidays

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Life on Sugar - Holiday Cake Life

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December Events - What’s Goin’ On?

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS! As we come to the close of another year I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our friends, our families, our gifted contributers, our subscribers, our wonderful advertising partners, and most importantly each and every person that picks up an issue of INK throughout the year. As you do your gift shopping this season

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World Class Glass:

The Schantz Gallery, Stockbridge, Massachusetts

please try to do some shopping locally. Your patronage means the world to local businesses and helps to retain the quality and character of our beautiful main streets. Be safe & be well!

J. Lilly

ink publications

Contributors

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Wendell Minor:

Americana Rendered in Paint

Angela Carontino - admin/traffic Laurencia Ciprus - editorial Anita Darin - design Charmagne Eckert - editorial Lisa Fatone - design 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 Jan Tormey - editorial Paul Partica - The Cheesemonger Vincent Scarano - editorial Kate Tolmie - photography John Tolmie - Crusty Old Diver Joe Urso - design

Advertising

The Barker Museum:

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

Bob Houde - Advertising Director

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Richard Malinsky - Shoreline richard@inkct.com - 215.704.9273

Igniting Childhood Memories, Toy- bob@inkct.com 860.303.6690 ing for Your Affection

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

Submit Events Listings to:

Angela Carontino - events@inkct.com

On the Cover: “Christmas Tree Horse” illustration by Wendall Minor 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.

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

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Holiday Show December 1 to January 18, 2020 25 ARTISTS

Leonard Mizerek

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Bobby’s Infamous New England Taug Chowder

By John Tolmie / Photos by Kate Tolmie Tautog, commonly known as blackfish, congregate along saltwater jetties, reefs, and other rocky structures. In late autumn and early winter, tautog feeds voraciously on mussels, crabs, and other shellfish to fatten up for the

long winter hibernation. A slow-growing fish taking over five years to reach sexual maturity, tautog had been over-harvested into the late 1990s. Though the stocks still remain low, they are making a comeback with their populations increasing year by year. Sustainability of this prized local fish is of utmost importance for the ecosystem of our coastal waters. It’s also significant for sea-to-table anglers, like me. These prized New England fish are perfect for a pot of holiday chowder.

Many years ago, my friend Bobby’s health was failing, and we took him on every fishing trip we could. He

would often brag about his chowder and its secret ingredients. Over the years, I used every trick to get his recipe, but his lips would remain sealed. However, as his health deteriorated, he graciously went over the recipe step by step.

On the phone, his gravelly voice instructed me to, “Take a seat and grab a pen. Perfection takes time. Especially when it comes to chowder.” After an hour of chowder tutelage, he announced that he left out one key ingredient

9 and cackled that it would be my job to figure it out. On his last fishing trip, Bobby had a few beers and told our friends that he had given me all the ingredients for his amazing chowder except one. The brews loosened his tongue and let the ingredient slip while instructing the crew to keep it to themselves.

However, my buddy Eric, who was my mole, called me and spilled the beans. Of course, I immediately phoned Bobby and told him the jig was up. He laughed, said something colorful, and sighed,“You got me, man. But don’t use too much of that celery salt. Just a dash!”

The Ingredients: 2lbs of tautog fillets cut into 1-inch chunks (any white fish will substitute nicely) 2 large sweet potatoes cut into 1-inch chunks 1lb of thick-cut bacon 1 large yellow onion finely diced 1 clove fresh garlic ¼ cup of all-purpose flour (or gluten-free sorghum flour) 3 quarts of clam juice 1 can of drained sweet corn 2 cups heavy cream (or lactose-free cream) 3 tsp nutmeg 1 stick of butter Just a dash of celery salt

Bobby

Day One – Cover a large baking sheet with foil, line with strips of bacon and cook at 375f for 20 minutes until crisp. Remove bacon and drain grease into a large 5-quart pot. Cut bacon into small bits and set aside. Place the pot over low heat and add the diced onion to the bacon grease. Cook the onions until they are translucent then add crushed garlic. Slowly add the flour while continually whisking. This will make a roux and will thicken quickly. For a nuttier flavor, cook the roux until the flour starts to slightly brown. Slowly add the clam juice while consistently stirring over medium heat, introducing about 1 cup of clam juice per minute.

This process will take time, and there will be a lot of stirring. If done correctly, the base will remain thick and creamy. Add the sweet potatoes, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and celery salt. Keep the heat on low and allow simmering for 2 hours while stirring occasionally. The sweet potatoes will have broken down at this point.

Use an immersion blender to break up any remaining sweet potatoes until a creamy consistency.

Now bring the base to near boiling and shut off the burner. Add the fish and fold the chowder a few times and let the chowder rest for 10 minutes.

Take a dinner plate and place face down in the fridge. Put the pot of chowder on the plate and let cool for 24 hours

Day Two – Remove pot from the fridge, add chunks of butter, and place on low heat for an hour. Do not allow the chowder to come to a boil as this will break the roux’s creamy consistency. Once the chowder is up to temperature, add the bacon and corn. Fold the chowder a couple times, taking care not to break up the chunks of fish. Slowly add the heavy cream and again fold the chowder carefully. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve in a large bowl with toasted baguettes.

Thanks for the wonderful recipe, Bobby! We miss you and your laugh, brother.

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Shrimp and Tuna and Oysters...Oh My! Atlantic Seafood Sets the Bar High on Good Eating & Good Health

by RONA MANN / Photos by Jeffery Lilly

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hat can excite a seafood lover more than the unmistakable sound of a fresh lobster being cracked open?

What makes the mouth water or gets a party started like a platter of jumbo shrimp, accompanied by a zesty mignonette cocktail sauce?

And there is nothing that can compare to a filet of fresh fish on the grill, a steamed loin of cod, clams, tuna, mussels...so, are you hungry yet?

More than 15 years ago, Lisa Feinman opened Atlantic Seafood on the Post Road in Old Saybrook.

Now, more than 15 years later, that unassuming little building with the red awning, is still on the Post Road in Old Saybrook, and now her customers are legion. There's good reason for this longevity...consistency. Consistency

of quality, consistency of taste, consistency of ease of preparation, and, most important of all, consistency of the commitment they make to their customers.

Feinman's customers appreciate that commitment, it's why they return again and again, 12 months a year. They've come to rely on knowing everything they buy will be fresh. For that, they've come to rely on Atlantic Seafood, not just at holiday time or when there's a party, but every day, seven days a week. It's because 15 years ago Lisa Feinman made a commitment to herself never to compromise...and she never has. That means there is never added color, preservatives, or growth hormones added to any of the fish or

seafood, all of which make for better taste and, ultimately, better health.

"Healthy eating is number one with me," Feinman begins. "We have to be more nutritionally conscious, we have no choice. People are chronically ill, and making sure we eat better and fresher and non-GMO is the key to becoming healthier."

Healthy eating through fresh fish and seafood is more than just critically important to this successful businesswoman, it powers her commitment. More than the ring of the cash register, she values every customer who comes into Atlantic Seafood and wants to teach them ways to maintain good health through

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Left to Right: Lisa Feinman, Jerry Doran, Riley Mroczka, Bill Guerra, Wilberty Rivera

nutrition. That why they sell more than edibles; they also sell an entire line of books Feinman has personally selected to teach customers simple ways of living healthier.

There is no conversation you can have with Lisa Feinman that doesn't begin and end with a mention of the maintenance of good health.

So how does Atlantic Seafood promote healthy eating? To begin, her shop on the Post Road carries 40+ varieties of fresh seafood, accompanied by over 20 side dishes, soups, sauces, toppers, and salads, so you don't have to lift a finger. Your dinner plans for tonight are made! You can even pick up a loaf of freshly baked bread at Atlantic Seafood to complement your meal.

If you really don't want to cook, no matter.

Atlantic Seafood is unique in having a gourmet

chef on board at all times. Chef Jerry Doran, a product of the Culinary Institute of America with years of experience at high-end hotels and gourmet restaurants, has been an integral part of Atlantic Seafood and your good health for years. Daily he concocts soups, special salads, appetizers, and prepared meals, all from scratch, so just come in and pick out tonight's dinner, and you're done!

We are smack in the middle of holiday season right now, and Lisa and her staff are here to help with party platters, prepared foods, and the all-important Feast of the Seven Fishes, celebrated on Christmas Eve, but please be alerted to "get your orders in early, since December 20th is our cutoff. You'll still be able to come in and purchase delicious meals, sides, and soups from our cases, but if you want your choices specially designed for your taste and number of guests, do it before the 20th." Make sure you ask about their Deluxe Seafood Platter featuring seared tuna, freshly picked lobster meat, their famous shrimp cocktail, and mouth-watering crab claws.

Looking for a "different" gift for folks on your list who have everything, or are "impossible" to shop for each year? Lisa's got gift cards, so they can enjoy the fresh taste of the sea whenever they want and thank you all year long for your good taste...and theirs.

Atlantic Seafood's volume of business so increases during the holidays that Feinman has to rent a 28-foot refrigerated trailer to handle all the fresh fish and seafood. If customers are a bit reticent to cook fish because they really don't know how, Lisa is available to offer suggestions, tips, and make dinner, not just pleasurable but healthy too. "The first thing I tell everyone is to just relax. Seafood is really very easy to prepare, most people just tend to overthink it. It cooks quickly and easily.

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Seafood "the seafood gem of the lower Connecticut River Valley," Yankee made a departure from their usual unbiased reporting to "gush" a bit about Feinman's establishment, and that brought even more "worshipers" to Atlantic Seafood's altar.

Zagat has likewise given high marks by calling Atlantic "incredibly wonderful seafood. Order all your fresh and frozen fish from them."

Still, there's nothing better than being singled out by the local market, so when The Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce named Atlantic Seafood "Business of the Year" four times, Lisa was inexorably proud. And the normally staid New York Times has enthused, "To find fish any fresher, you'd probably have to throw out a line and catch them yourself."

Even if your oven's being used for other dishes, you can poach fish in the microwave, quick and delicious."

It seems everyone sings their praises from repeat customers, many of whom are known by first name, to publications like Yankee Magazine, who named Atlantic Seafood, "One of the top ten seafood markets in all New England." (they were second in the magazine, but their fish and seafood products are second to none)! Calling Atlantic

The list is a long one. Still, the reviews that mean the most to Feinman are the ones that come directly from her customers because they are the true backbone of the success of this business. They are the ones for whom she continues to provide the very best of New England fish and seafood seven days a week.

Asked if she might consider opening yet another location, Lisa laughs heartily, then grows serious. "I couldn't be in two places at once, and I'm very hands-on. I have to make sure we are always at that consistently high level, and you can't always do that when you expand."

So does that mean nothing will change?

The freshness won't, the good taste won't, the commitment to customer health won't, but Feinman adds, "You always have to evolve. When you know better, you do better."

Look for the red awning, then stop your car at 1400 Boston Post Road in Old Saybrook.

For more information, visit: www.atlanticseafoodmarket.com (860) 388-4527

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They Wrote the Book on Fine Gems

EF Watermelon, A Very Different Gallery

by Rona Mann / Photos by Jeffery Lilly

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he year was 1974. Young Jim Elliott was in graduate school at the University of Connecticut, proceeding on a well-ordered path that would eventually lead him to a degree and career as a social worker. Richard Freeman was also at UConn, enrolled in the very same program. As part of their graduate work, the men had to do a required rotation at a psychiatric hospital, and it is during this time that they became fast friends.

They both graduated with a Masters Degree, and each then went their separate ways, becoming Family Therapists. After graduate school, Jim traveled to Central America, where he first discovered colored gemstones and realized there was a promising future in buying and selling them. Eventually, he even learned

how to hand-cut them and was delightfully hooked. It was at this point that Jim Elliott put family therapy in the rearview mirror of his life and decided to eschew Plan A, instead traveling the country sell-ing precious gems to jewelers.

In 1977 while attending the annual gem and mineral show in Tucson, he purchased his first collection of tourmalines, aided by a financial boost from his close college friend, Richard Freeman, who willingly wired the money necessary to complete the purchase.

This then began their partnership, which eventually led to Freeman accompanying Elliott on one of his many road trips. When Richard finally saw this new opportunity, he caught the gemology bug,

Co-founder Jim Elliot holding his recent book “The American Gem Art Collection of EF Watermelon.”

embraced the passion as well...and yet another career in family therapy bit the dust.

The men ultimately decided to turn their casual partnership into a serious business, and EF Watermelon was born. Not a traditional jewelry store, but a unique gallery exhibiting estate jewelry, rare gemstones, original design, and objets d’art. Richard and Jim subsequently returned many times to Tucson during the early 1980s, as the world of gem art was

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starting to take hold in popularity. They were introduced by a mutual colleague to Susan Allen, Michael Christie, and Nicolai Medvedev, all lapidary artists producing unique works of gem art that were considered by critics to be unequaled worldwide. The men subse-quently forged a strong and lasting relationship with these artists that exists to this day and became the genesis of the American Gem Movement. Representing the featured collection now being showcased at EF Watermelon, the store Freeman and Elliott birthed some 40 years ago.

Upon further exploration of the three featured in the collection, visit EF Watermelon, and you will be astounded with cries of, “How does she do that?” when you see the backward carving technique that is the cornerstone of Susan Allen’s work. It is gem carving with acute microscopic detail...it

is wonder, de-light, and sheer genius, all rolled into one-of-a-kind sculptures.

Allen’s husband, Michael Christie, forges an entirely different path with his unique and brilliant essence bottles. Here he highlights the colors, cut, and brilliance of gemstones such as opals, rubies, garnets, ame-thysts, and sapphires. He thus creates a piece of art that is three for one. A polished crystal pendant serves as a dipper, accompanied by a pair of gemstone earrings, with a place for you to add a drop of your own special essence, along with a hidden compartment nestled in the base of the piece.

Nicolai Medvedev, a master gem artist from what had originally been the Soviet Union, has a long and enviable background that hearkens back to when he was age twelve and sent to art classes for four hours a day.

His particular talent is found in stone inlay art, a media known as gem intersia, creating colorful

boxes from azurite malachite, quartz, turquoise, opal, and other brilliant precious gems. Medvedev is the only living lapidary artist who has been so honored with an exhibit in the National

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Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian. His colorful, dramatic, and unique boxes are also part of this stunning collection, now on exhibit, waiting to elicit your amazement, wonderment, and breathless exclamations at EF Watermelon, your must-see gallery in Old Lyme.

Although she visited the gallery last month to meet a coterie of loyal fans and to acquire new ones, the creations of Paula Crevoshay, the worldrenowned “Queen of Color,” remains on display at EF Water-melon. Her mastery of color and integration of art and science has been a permanent fixture there for more than 35 years.

Richard and Jim have a special relationship and fondness for this art jeweler who works with a true painter’s eye.

Allen, Christie, and Medvedev are artists who have indeed written the book on exquisite gem art, much as Elliott and Freeman have written the book on exploring, discovering, and ultimately showcasing this art. Now Elliott has taken it a step further by producing

a hardcover coffee table tome of this specific collec-tion and its association with EF Watermelon.

Titled, The American Gem Art Collection of EF Watermel-on, it is aptly subtitled, Masterworks of the American Gem Art Movement, is a perfect marriage of the dedication and collaboration of both artists and curators. You can find this outstanding book, a work of art in photography, when you visit EF Watermelon’s gallery in Old Lyme and join them in celebrating their 40th anniversary on December 6-8th.

“Today, everyone goes online for art,” Elliott says ruefully, continuing, “but not us. We work with artists who create one-of-akind masterpieces. That’s what we’re known for.” EF Watermelon is also known for its one-of-a-kind custom jeweler, Janet Vitkavage, who has been with them for the last 35 years and is well known and respected by many who appreciate fine jewelry and Janet’s eye for color and exquisite detail. A “bench jeweler” at heart, Vitkavage has a storied and enviable background, including work for Tiffany & Company and David Webb Jewelry in New York. Yet, she chose EF Watermelon to be her “home” for creating her highly sought-after designs.

She has a wonderful story to tell, backed up by the highest of credentials and customer satisfaction, especially when it comes to bracelets, pendants, and ear-rings depicting pigs flying. Just ask her!

No, it wasn’t supposed to turn out this way, but neither Elliott nor Freeman have any regrets. Forty years later, they still feel they are in the therapy business. “I just take a depressed woman, put beautiful jewelry on her arm, and watch her light up,” laughs Jim. “I make them happy.”

Please stop in at EF Watermelon FridaySaturday-Sunday, Dec. 6-8th as they celebrate their 40th anni-versary. There will be champagne and delicious hors d’oeuvres, but nothing will shine brighter than their magnificent world-class gems and the smiles and awe on people’s faces.

Come visit these “thera-pists” at 24 Lyme Street in Old Lyme. (860) 434-1600 www.efwatermelon.com

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Blues on Broadway at the NAC Profile by Ali Kaufman / Photos by Tom Kaszuba

The Norwich Arts Center? Blues on Broadway?

These are questions that Ron Bates hears a lot, and the answer is Yes! Let me tell you about it!

I had a chance to speak with Ron, as well as attend a few shows at this gem of a venue located above the two street-level galleries on the third floor at 60-64 Broadway in Norwich,

Connecticut. The space is very special, and I am thrilled to be able to share what I have found with you, dear readers.

Ron’s main gig is real estate, so he is no stranger to giving the people what they want, but even with a flourishing career, he has taken on a new challenge. Norwich residents and members of the volunteer coalition, Friends of NAC, Mike and Donna Jewell, solicited Ron’s support. As a fan of the blues, Ron enlisted the assistance of Romanian born Liviu Pop. The unbelievably talented and versatile drummer is ALL over the

Connecticut music scene playing in multiple groups and combinations. This connection resulted in bringing Italian guitarist, Roberto Morbioli to the Donald Oat Theater at the Norwich Arts Center in April of 2018. The show was very well-received, and Blues on Broadway was born.

other year. Guitar phenom Matt Schofield from the UK, organist Darby Wolf, and NYC singer Christine Tambakis played their first-anniversary show in September to a very appreciative crowd. The seating in this 120 person capacity space is another thing that sets it apart. They have both regular chairs and cabaret seating for guests that want to BYOB and snacks. The 6 to 8 taables they put out are a good size, so if you show up with four of your friends, you will all fit. I am sure they won’t mind if you show up with LOTS more of your friends either, they will accommodate. The acoustics in the room are stellar; it feels like you are hanging out with a bunch of friends at the one home that has a great sound system.“I don’t want to be just another Blues Club,”Ron shared with me,“not that there isn’t a place for all, but I want to make this theater a center for the genre. We want to offer an exclusive experience for both the artists and our guests that they won’t find elsewhere”.

Ron has vision and passion for making this unique venue a singular experience amongst the many options we have in Connecticut to enjoy live music. One of the prerequisites for coming on board was that this would be a series, he felt it needed to happen once a month to gain traction. Thus, on the second Wednesday of every month, they open their doors at 7 pm for music to start at 7:30pm. There will be exceptions to that rule, so it is always best to confirm. Still, generally, this is how it runs from October when they kick off their season until September when they wrap and celebrate anPhoto by Ali Kaufman

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The Norwich Arts Center is a 501-C3 and staffed entirely by volunteers from the top on down, everyone you meet, and those behind the scenes are there because they care.

They are also always on the lookout for new crew to share their talents. They want to know about any talent and time you can bring to the table. Even though they have some things covered, like running the sound, it would be incredibly helpful to have back up or people to share tasks, so the risk of going without is lessened. The best way to connect would be to email Ron directly at Ron.bluesonbroadway@gmail.com. That is also the email to use if you have a suggestion for a band. Ron is open to regional, national, and international acts, and being that

Blues on Broadway occurs on Wednesdays, it makes it feasible to stop along a tour from NY to Boston.

The 2019-2020 season kicked off with Sonya Rae Taylor Band and continues with The Chris O’Leary Band on January 8. Junior Mack will bring his velvet voice, years of experience playing guitar, and help the NAC celebrate Black History Month on February 12. On March 11, “Rob Mo,” Roberto Morbioli will make a much-anticipated en-

Photo by Ali Kaufman

core appearance. The ticket structure at this time is $20 for members, $23 for military, seniors, and students and $25 general admission.

Yearly membership is $30 for a single, $50 for a family of up to five, it is worth noting that a “family”can be any five people, no DNA test required. So, if you get a gaggle of your groovy friends together, grab a membership, and meet once a month with a bottle of wine and snacks, you have just solved the issue of “We need to have a night out!” And who can’t benefit from a night out with friends supporting a great nonprofit and enjoying wonderful performances?

Check out the NAC at NorwichArts.org and make some beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.

Ali Kaufman

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All That’s Nice.

Our Cinnamon Bourbon derives its flavor from the Indonesian cinnamon stick we place by hand into each bottle. It’s the perfect balance of bourbon sweet and cinnamon spicy. Put a savory spin on your favorite cocktails this holiday season! Visit LitchfieldDistillery.com for delicious, easy-to-make recipes or to learn more about our award-winning, Connecticut-Made spirits.

©2019 Litchfield Distillery, Litchfield, CT 43% Alc/Vol Sip Responsibly

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Well-marbled. The fatter the better. Cholesterol’s not his enemy, only the weather.

Which right about now is warm. Toooooo warm! And all his play… mates…. They’re gone. He’s not sure where. He sure does hope they’ll be back soon. Right where they used to be only a couple of yummy months before.

Big White Dog Wants to Play!

Polar Bear, Svalbard © 2019 Mark Seth Lender All Rights Reserved

The Big White Dog pads down the rocky beach, towards shore, 600 miles from the Pole. Someone’s come to visit him. Oh boy!

He’s been sooooo boooored. No one to, ah, play… with…. No one to run… with… No one to throw him doggy treats though right about now Big White Dog would much prefer a bleeding hunk of red… meat….

But meantime here are all these New… Friends… In their friendly rubber boat! There are so many of them to choose… from… It’s so hard to decide he has to sit himself down like a Good! Dog! On his Big White Paws.

With railroad spikes for claws and his canine teeth like the rule of law in this… lawless… place.

And like all polar bears he has that Goofy!

Smile! from his blue-black lips to the hinge line of his jaw. He is so fluffy! And furry! You can’t imagine he’d do you a lick… of harm...

Big White Dog picks at the carcass of a longdead bird and chews the feathers, spits out the bones, and wishes the whole thing tasted better. And walks, inland, over the plastic that decorates the flotsam line in red and blue and green, and the sticks that were a forest in Siberia cut down and washed up here, and water-rounded lumps of coal, and fishing gear, and the oil slick…

And it’s polar bears we fear?

Field Note: Throughout the high arctic you find the remains of manmade things. Metal, sawn wood, whole trees lost from logging operations thousands of miles away.

Rarely, glass. There are also wads of tangled fishing line, bottles, polypropylene rope, mesh from fishing nets, packing materials, and objects whose origin is hard to decipher of all of it synthetic hydrocarbons. Colloquially, plastic.

Out of place for color, which is markedly unnatural. Out of place for shape. But mostly, because unlike glass and wood and iron which in a matter of decades or at most a century or two will return to the earth and to the sea without appreciable harm, plastic will remain for thousands of years. Nobody knows the ultimate consequence. The smallest pieces, too small to see, are in fact the most harmful and nearly immortal.

Nobody knows the ultimate consequence.

The place where I encountered the young polar bear of this story was on the shores of

a small bay on the Hinlopenstretet side of Gustav V Land. At another site not far away, we found the remains of a long abandoned outpost left behind by the 1899 Swedish-Russian Arc of Median Expedition. The huts collapsing into themselves, lichen and arctic heather grown in around fragments of broken crockery.

A rusting stove‌ All of it, somehow, all right because

these are true artifacts. They once had a deliberate place and purpose. Their presence therefore, intentional.

Plastic is the diametric opposite. Its presence is a product of thoughtlessness, let loose, tossed away, without regard. For the sake of convenience. To avoid having to clean up after oneself. Thus some of us pass on the true cost to the rest of us, to other life, other places, other times, for the sake of short term convenience and a 90 day balance sheet.

Notwithstanding, the Arctic is a place of great beauty. It is worth preserving. It is worth preserving for itself. It is worth preserving for the ineffable beauty of ice. It is worth it for walrus, seal, orca and narwhal, for Arctic tern and Arctic fox. It is worth it, for us.

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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Wendell Minor: Americana Rendered in Paint Profile by Laurencia Ciprus / Photos by Vinnie Scarano

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homas Hart Benton’s iconic murals Arts of Life in America depict Depression Era grit in epic scale and color.

Benton – from privilege and a prominent political family – took the dark romance of the Depression Era and boldly rendered it in pictures. Speakeasy girls and sharecroppers; statesmen, shanties, and gospel preachers, together in a running story. Benton’s impressions of America’s Heartland might be perceived as the romanticized gaze of an outsider.

Exploring the career of illustrious Illustrator Wendell Minor confirms him a different brand of American icon – rendering his impressions with a steady and purposeful hand; kindness and intimacy. It’s a passionate career chronicling Americana gently from a perspective of humble beginnings. Minor contends,“...if you read any artist’s biography in detail, you’ll find that the ingredients of the mature artist lie in their childhood.”

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Our studio visit opens rivers of candid conversation in the tranquil place he shares with Florence – his wife and collaborator.

Rangy and sunlit – Wendell pokes a smile out of the studio door exuding Midwestern warmth bred to tell stories. Life imitates art.

The moment mirrors his illustration of a mischievous Norman Rockwell peering around his canvas to greet the viewer – Wendell’s cover image for Robert Burleigh’s children’s book, Hi, I’m NORMAN. The studio hums. There’s the library on the first floor, housing his published volumes, collections of objects, and artwork placed to rest your eyes. Cindercat snoozes between the stacks.

Wendell’s own studio presents a life of chapters, stories, and experiences. There are work-in-progress sketches from Smitten With Kittens frolicking along the walls – his latest collaboration with Florence. She chimes in warmly from across the hall working at a planning table. Books and art line the back walls behind the artist’s easel. A collection of hats, a horse, and a cow skull are reminders of Minor’s love of the West. He spent six or seven summers painting in New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana while researching his own book on the Grand Canyon.

The work blanketing the artist’s studio is honest and dynamic; painterly and precise. These are illustrations from books you know and volumes you’ll get to know. The charm of penguins and polar bears; lives of other artists and memories of magical adventures captured in paint. It has an approachable simplicity and dignity that is easily understood: angular houses and barns are bathed in light; colors are strong and appealing. The intimate renditions of people are crafted from a kind and thoughtful paintbrush.

Wendell casually straddles a chair, leaning over the back to chat about his career and sharing stories of a childhood rooted in a very modest Post-War, Illinois. Americana is part of his DNA, and Wendell remains true to the inner boy from the Heartland. He is in permanent awe of the vastness of this country and its range of impressions. It is contained in every honest brushstroke and in the impeccable cover art that serves as a singular portal to the words within.

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Wendell Minor, Photos by Vinnie Scarano

58 Born in 1944 to children of farmers, Minor’s machinist father – with a love of nature – went to war for several years. His mother – who supported his art and hinted at her own creativity – taught nursery school at the Methodist Church. There were personal challenges which urged Wendell to a predestined artist’s life. He was challenged by words and unable to comprehend well and refers to himself as a recovering dyslexic.

Instead, he transformed words into pictures rooted in a rural upbringing. Wendell also had a congenital heart murmur dismissing any thoughts of sports. He concentrated on making art for the school teams and outside of class, observing the natural world, and translating his vision into endless pictures. It was the beginning of a more abundant life.

Fast forward with leaps of faith and thin finances. The three years in Sarasota at the Ringling School of Art and Design was a proving ground. A stint at Hallmark Cards would add the equivalent of a fourth year of art school. He made friends with illustrator Brad Holland – who would later go on to Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair – who encouraged him to move to New York City in the ‘60s. Holland also persuaded his friend to approach the studio of Paul Bacon – a move that snagged him the first job as an illustrator. It was the Lower Manhattan and West Village of the ‘60s with hippies, legendary artists, musicians, and anti-war protests. This new Americana added to Minor’s work. There he met his future wife Florence, who also took a professional leap from Psychology to film editing at ABC on programs such as Our World and 20/20.

With innumerable awards and honors, the Norman Rockwell Artist Laureate counts 2000+ cover illustrations and 35+ children’s books to his credit. Working in concert with the century’s finest authors to make beautiful books. The covers are iconic: artfully wrapping the words of Pat Conroy, Robert Burleigh, Larry McMurtry, and Mary Higgins Clark along with many others.

There were ongoing collaborations with nature and environmental writers like Jean Craighead George, which transported him from the Florida Everglades to the Arctic Circle, gathering background information.

Minor is a true master and a stickler for his research process – often requiring years to bring a manuscript to life with deep forethought and accuracy...in balance with the words inside the volume.

Wendell also holds a fondness for other American painters citing Wyeth, Winslow Homer, and Edward Hopper, whose career he illustrated in Robert Burleigh’s Hopper Paints the World. Aside from his steady flow of contract work, he also seeks out large stories that need telling – offering his collaboration.

59 While a NASA Artist in 1988, Minor wondered if any astronaut had shared their story with children. He reached out to Buzz Aldrin – sending a letter and stack of his published work. They teamed up to craft the beautiful memoir Reaching for the Moon. (Minor’s powerful illustration of a brave red-haired boy is a hint at an earnest rendition of a Norman Rockwell image.)

There are no coincidences, and I listen intently when Minor mentions his connection to Thomas Hart Benton. Longtime friend and collaborator David McCullough requested a portrait of President Harry Truman for an upcoming biography. Minor’s thoughts go immediately to the Benton murals lining the walls of the Truman Library. Inspired but taking the work in his own skilled direction, Wendell creates a magnificently layered portrait of Truman, which he views as his seminal work. It is a rich landscaped montage of Minor’s Heartland detailed within the dignified profile of the Missouri President. There are rolling hills, barns, and silos subtly woven into a portrait of the Midwestern Truman. It is colorful and profoundly beautiful in its direct and uncluttered form but like Minor, thoughtfully layered with patient complexity.

The masterwork speaks volumes with quiet power and Heartland tenacity. Take the time to linger, look, and reflect on the depth of Wendell Minor’s America.

For more information about books, works, and upcoming events from the studio of Wendell and Florence Minor, visit www.minorart.com.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR FIRST FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6th, 2019 FROM 5 - 8 PM FOR AN EHHIBIT OF OLD & NEW PAINTINGS FROM HIS HOME & TRAVELS BY LEIF NILSSON WITH LIVE MUSIC BY ARROWHEAD. Arrowhead strings along on most Sunday afternoons. Find out about the Concerts in the Garden, First Fridays, Leifs paintings, prints and more at

www nilssonstudio com

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The

Barker Museum Igniting Childhood Memories,Toying for Your Affection Profiles and Photography By Caryn B. Davis

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he Barker Character, Comic, and Cartoon Museum in Cheshire, Connecticut, is a place for cartoon connoisseurs, animation lovers, and all kids big and small. It was established by Gloria and Herb Barker who starting collecting animation art and related memorabilia in the 1960s. It began as a hobby and as a form of relaxation for the couple from their hectic work life. They had started Barker Specialty, a promotional products company, roughly ten years earlier, and it rapidly grew into a multi-million dollar business that is now run by their children and grandson.

“Mr. B. and Gloria set up Barker Specialty in 1951. On the weekends to unwind they would go to tag sales and bought every character toy they could find, spending very little. As they got into it over the years, they collected more character toys and participated in online auctions, buying

higher quality items,” said Judy Fuerst, the museum’s director, curator, and archivist.

Mr. Barker grew up during The Depression and never had toys to play with, which is one reason he liked to collect them. But he also just loved toys because of the excitement and joy they could elicit by igniting childhood memories and a much-needed sense of nostalgia.

“People love seeing the toys because it brings back happy times of being a kid,” Fuerst said.

Eventually, the couple had so many toys; they decided to open a museum in 1997. This is their personal collection of nearly 80,000 toys amassed over a 40-year period. The oldest toys, by the Ives Toy Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, are two 1873 cast iron elephants. These are the first ramp walkers which according to Fuerst are “a perfected weighted toy that when placed on an incline will start to walk down it.” While there

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“ People love seeing the toys because it brings back happy times of being a kid ”

constantly, you have to know how to fit them into a case so they are all visible and attractive. I’ve tried to group them so it makes sense when you go through the museum - so you know what you are looking at and why it’s in there,” Fuerst said.

For example, there is a case of toys made from wooden spools from a mill when plastic was in short supply during World War II. A small snowman, Santa, soldier, penguin, and an Eskimo are donned in fabrics with painted faces. While there are many Mickey Mouses and Donald Ducks on view, the oldest are from 1929, along with Walt Disney’s very first character that he named Oswald. Oswald’s destiny was short lived, and he was recreated as Mickey Mouse, becoming the well-known beloved character he is today. There is an oversized, stuffed Felix the Cat doll that was used by the show’s camera operators to focus their apertures before the first television broadcast. There is a Buck Roger’s atomic pistol worth $1225, and a rare 1932 Popeye Heavy Hitter, of which only 1000 or less were made. It was purchased several years ago for $14,600 at auction. More modern toys include television, film, advertising and musical characters such as the California Raisins, Star Wars, Star Trek, the X-Files, The Simpsons, the Pillsbury Doughboy, Harry Potter, Happy Days, Sesame Street, McDonalds, Sonny and Cher, Donny and Marie, Dean Martin, Michael Jackson, Jerry Garcia, and much more. Basically any toy you can think of, they have, and what they don’t have, they buy or people donate.

“At first, Mr. B. bought whatever came his way, or what people brought to

are many toy museums across the United States, this is the only character driven toy museum in the country.

“We don’t have any generic toys. Almost all the toys have characters on it, though Mr. B. did buy a push toy in his last years of life, which does not have a character on it,” Fuerst said.

The museum is jammed with toys and artifacts including cartoon drinking glasses, cereal boxes and bowls, Kool-Aid, animal crackers, Halloween masks, wind up toys, push puppets, Jack-in the Boxes, and yo-yos. Mounted to the walls is an array of jigsaw puzzles, and hanging from the ceilings are hundreds of lunch boxes from their collection of one thousand three hundred fifty. Throughout the two story converted barn are glass cases filled with different toys spanning different eras, organized by year, type, character, TV show, movie, or genre.

“When you receive boxes and boxes of toys from Mr. B., who bought them

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him, but then he sought to fill in the gaps in his collection. He often talked to kids to find out what the hot toy of the day was,” Fuerst said.

And then there are my own childhood favorites, (that when I excitedly asked Fuerst if they had this or that, the answer was, “of course yes”), such as Alfred E. Newman from MAD Magazine; Little Kiddles; Gumby and Pokey, including creator Art Clokey’s resculpting tools; Clifford the Big Red Dog; all manner of PEZ; ventriloquist doll, Charlie McCarthy; the Best of the West action figures; Colorforms; Winky Dink and You; View Master; and a Paper Mache set of bobble headed Beatles with Paul’s head being the most worn out, probably because the original owner played with the him the most.

In addition to the couple’s love of toys, they also collected animation art and founded the Barker Animation Art Gallery in West Hartford in 1993 before moving their entire operation to their hometown of Cheshire. When touring the museum, visitors can also see what’s on display in the art gallery.

t s e g r a “ the l n and tio anima art gallery nt e m n i a entert the world ” in

The gallery is “the largest animation and entertainment art gallery in the world.” On site are paintings, sculpture, pottery, signed production cels etc., from “the top artists in the field of animation and character driven art.” Barker Animation works closely with more than twenty movie studios that send original, never before owned artwork to their gallery, which has been purchased by over 13,000 collectors from 15 different countries.

“We have original, signed production cels and drawings that were used in the making of productions,” said Madeline McGrail, the Gallery Director for Barker Animation. “When you buy an original production cel, you are buying a piece of history. For a lot of people, it’s part of their childhood and brings back memories.”

While the Barker Museum is most definitely a fun place to explore, it also serves as an historical record preserving over a century of cultural icons and our collective cartoon heritage.

For more information log onto www.barkermuseum.com.

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Above: baked camembert with garlic and herbs. Below: spinach artichoke Phyllo Cups

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The

Cheesemonger Paul Partica, - The Cheese Shop, Centerbrook CT

Cheese For the Holidays I always seem to talk about the same things at the Holidays but isn’t that the way it is? The Holidays are tradition and it’s the same memories you look forward to every year. I never get tired of Christmas cookies or eggnog and I must see White Christmas at least once and some version of Scrooge. So, with this being said, let’s review cheese for the Holidays.

Fondue I’ve heard, “Oh, Fondue is on its way back” for so long that I’m not sure when it supposedly left. Well, it never left in my case. That bubbling pot of melted cheese in wine makes me hungry just thinking about it. It’s such a fun appetizer or meal to have with family and friends that it never goes out of fashion.

If you are thinking of having fondue be sure to prepare in advance. In addition to purchasing the correct cheese and wine ingredients make sure your fondue pot and burner are in good working order. Don’t forget the fuel and be sure it’s the right fuel for your burner. I prefer the traditional Swiss Fondue recipe which calls for Emmenthal and Gruyere mixed with white wine.

The rest of the ingredients can be found on our website if you need them.

Don’t forget that Fondue was peasant food back in the day. It was a way to put to good use dried up cheese, stale bread, and old wine that was left opened too long. Who knew?

Raclette Not too many of us are still melting cheese near the fire place but that’s how it all began. The meal was often reserved for a cold snowy night where one could sit by the fire, melt some Raclette cheese and then serve it with potatoes and pickles. Fortunately, today there is a nice selection of Raclette cookers just for this task.

I like the new use of these cookers which enables you to grill shrimp, chicken, sausage, steak, vegetables, etc. on top of the included grill. Although this may not be totally traditional it still makes for a great meal. It’s like having Raclette and beef fondue at the same time without the oily mess. Because of this new device you can often find us grilling shrimp and more on our deck during a warm summer day, not just a cold winter night.

We also experiment with other cheeses such as Swiss Gruyere, French Comte, various Dutch Goudas, and Italian Cruculo. It’s nice to mix it up a little and vary the taste.

The popularity seems to be growing based on the number of raclette cookers we sell. We prefer the Swissmar Brand which offers a large selection of both Raclette and Fondue equipment.

For Fondue they offer both electric and traditional fuel type burners. I’ve been using Swissmar for years and I found their products to be very reliable.

Phyllo Shells These fully cooked little delights are great for making appetizers and desserts for the Holidays as well as all year long. They have become quite a necessity for our boater friends who don’t wish to get too involved in cooking at sea. It’s this plain phyllo shell that enables you to be creative. They require no cooking or heating. All you need to do is fill them with your choice of treat.

If you don’t wish to be creative, they offer ready-made appetizers such as Spanakopita, Baked Brie & Raspberry tarts, or mushroom tarts.

Many of our customers will fill them with a little cream cheese and smoked Salmon, then top with capers or a little mustard for a great appetizer. You can mix watermelon and Feta cheese for a second example. You can use them for little bite size cheese cakes. And of course, fill them with your cheese of choice and add any topping you would eat with cheese, Baked Brie and Camembert More popular than ever, baked Brie and Camembert always add to the festivities. Remember, when buying your cheese Brie and Camembert are basically the same cheese that share the same recipe so you don’t need to choose one over the other. It’s more important to know what condition the cheese is in or in other words, how ripe it is. For holiday flavor be sure to add your favorite cheese toppings such as Acacia honey, fruits, nuts, herbs, spices and various preserves and chutneys.

Gift boxes and Baskets An array of cheese and other goodies will be much appreciated for the Holidays when friends and relatives get together. They make the perfect gift.

Cheese Trays They are still the perfect appetizer, they can be made in advance, they don’t require cooking or re-heating, they can stay out all evening, and they are pretty much enjoyed by all.

Please do yourself a favor, shop early for your selection of cheese. There is no reason to buy the day before. You can avoid the lines, and enjoy the holiday. www.cheeseshopcenterbrook.com

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

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Wine Gifts for the Holidays With the wide variety of wines from different countries available to us, picking out a gift can be exciting and fun. In years past, there were many pre-made gift packs of wines, which made it an easy gift purchase.

However, the wines were not of high quality. Now you can easily pick out two or three wines that you think your recipient would enjoy and put them in a gift box yourself. This is also an excellent time to be a little creative without going out of their taste profile.

For example, if the person on your list likes Pinot Grigio, surprise them with Vernaccia or Vermentino wines from Italy. Similar to Pinot Grigio, they have good acidity and a crisp finish. If you need something fruitier, the wines from Vouvray are made of Chenin Blanc. This style will serve your purpose. In the sweet realm, you will need to go with a Moscato or an Auslese Riesling from Germany.

Pinot Noir is a great light red that is very popular, originating in Burgundy, France. Pinot Noir can be found from many other countries, including the United States. There are many choices for choosing a light red aside from Pinot Noir. Cru Beaujolais, which represents one of the 10 villages in Beaujolais, are made of the Gamay Grape. It’s light and lively with medium fruit. These wines are better quality than a Beaujolais Village. For a choice slightly zestier would be something from the Southern Rhone Valley, also in France. The wine ranges from the low-cost Cote du Rhone area, to small villages slightly higher-priced such as Vacqueyras and Gigondas. The premiere property would be Chateauneuf-de- Pape.

If you’re looking for a bolder red, try a California Cabernet Sauvignon. It is grown in great areas such as Paso Robles, Sonoma County, Napa, you can find it in almost any area of wine country in California.

Washington State produces excellent Merlots which are well balanced and definitely worth trying the

wines are also full-flavored without being too fruity including soft tannins.

Another big red can be found in France in the Bordeaux region, which is the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petite Verdot. These wines can be somewhat drier than California Cabernets. Rioja is an area in Spain that produces medium bodied dry reds made predominantly of the Tempranillo grape. Not to out the big dry wines of Barolo in Piedmont, made from the Nebbiolo grape and Brunello from Tuscany, Italy, made of the Sangiovese Grosso grape.

Other bold and interesting wines: Red Zinfandel from California, Amarone from Italy, Malbecs from Argentina, Shiraz from Australia, and Red blends from around the world.

On the other spectrum, how about a sweet dessert wine or Ice wine usually available in half bottles because of its intense and creamy flavors. One other in this realm would be a port. This is considered a dessert wine due to its sweetness. This wine is usually red but could also be white. The wine is fortified with brandy which raises the alcohol content to about 1820% to give the warming feeling for the winter months. Port is grown in and produced in Portugal, although there are similar wines made in the California and Australia.

It is important to remember that some of these great wines come in larger bottles for a special treat!

There’s a vast big world of wine out there, happy shopping, and don’t forget to pick one or two for yourself! Happy Holidays!

Cheers Art LiPuma

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LIFE ON SUGAR

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Holiday Cake Life Written by: Heather Kelly, Director of Operations, NoRA Cupcake Company Photo by: Winter Caplanson, Connecticut Food and Farm

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n no way would we (even as a CUPCAKE company) hate on cookies having their time to shine for the holiday season. There is more than enough sugary goodness to go around which is why we are unofficially inducting CHEESECAKE as our dessert of choice for the month of December. Not overly sweet with a decadent texture, it’s always sure to be a crowdpleaser. While they are relatively simple to prepare, the timing and construction is very delicate, so you don’t end up with a wiggly or cracked pan of custard. We’ve got some tips on how we like to put together our holiday dream dessert.

Slightly untraditional, we prefer an Oreo crust over the classic graham. A springform pan will be necessary to shape and hold your crust so the final product can be removed perfectly intact.

Grind up your Oreos into a very fine crumb and mix in with melted butter. Cover the bottom of the pan and about halfway up the sides with the buttery crumbs. Press as hard as you can for a dense and sturdy crust. If you are worried about how well it is going to hold up - you can also pre-bake your crust!

This next part sounds a little extra, but worth it to avoid a dried out filling. Take your cooled crust and wrap the bottom and up the sides of the springform pan in foil. Then, with whatever cheesecake filling recipe fits your taste, let your cold ingredients sit out to room temperature before mixing together to avoid lumps. ProTip: we prefer the recipes with sour cream as part of the filling – it gives a nice tang and pairs nicely with any of the sweet toppings you might add as the finishers like fruit, chocolate, caramel sauce, etc.

Pour the smooth, creamy filling into the cooled crust and smooth out the top as evenly as you can. Place the springform pan inside a deep roasting pan (preferably with handles for easy maneuvering), place the cheesecake placed roasting pan in the oven, and pour in boiled water until about halfway up the springform pan is covered. Bake for roughly an hour until the edges are solid, and the center is loose. Let cool, set, then dress it up with toppings; however your sweet tooth desires.

If you are looking to really wow a crowd, you can always do what we do here at NoRA Cupcake Company, and use your entire cheesecake as a layer in a multi-layer cake! We prefer to take our cooled cheesecake and use it as a middle layer in a three-layer chocolate cake. We take fresh strawberries and whipped cream to act as the mortar in our construction and then cover the entire outside of this monster with chocolate ganache. Throw on a few holiday decorations on top and VOILA… Christmas Cake!

Remember: when it comes to mixing and matching desserts, there is never a bad idea.

DECEMBER EVENTS

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December Events at Water’s Edge Resort and Spa

UPCOMING TRIBUTE SHOW Cocktail Hour: 6PM | Dinner Show: 7PM Cabaret Dinner Show $55++

Saturday, December 7th – Dinner Dance with Locomotion

COMEDY AT THE EDGE FRIDAY NIGHT LINE-UP $20 Per Person

Happy Hour - 4PM-6:30PM Comedy Show - 6:30PM-8PM Live Music - 8PM to Midnight Friday, December 6th Friday, December 13th Friday, December 20th Friday, December 27th

BYOB SUNDAY BRUNCH in The Riverview Room at the Lace Factory SUNDAYS: May - December

n us for

Bru un nch in The Ri Riverview Room

at Th he Lace Facto oryy Enjoy Sunday brunch in the overlooking the river and steam m train!

Riverview Room at the historic Lace Factory, overlooking the river and

buffet, omelet

steam train! Brunch is BYOB and features a full brunch bar, carving station, chef’s surprises, and Bloody Mary and mimosa set up to accompany your favorite spirits & sparklings *Corkage fee and

beverage charges apply*. From 10am – 2pm (last seating at 1pm) $24.95++ Adults / $12.95++ Kids 10 & under. For Reservations PH: (860) 526.4445 / www.thelacefactory.com / 161 River St. Deep River, CT

December Events at Scotch Plains Tavern

New Decade New Year’s Eve Celebration: Ring in 2020 at SPT with Dining & Drink Specials, Ball Drop Prizes, Live Music by Nu Groove and more!

Live Music:

Friday, December 6th – Whole Note Band Saturday, December 7th – Rahsaan Langley Project Friday, December 13th – Nick Fradiani Sr. Saturday, December 14th – Rahsaan Langley Project & JCDC Friday, December 20th – Trish Radil & Keith Cooper Duo Saturday, December 21st – Nick Fradiani Sr. Friday, December 27th - Nick Fradiani Sr. Saturday, December 28th - Nick Fradiani Sr.

Wednesday, 12/4 – Keith Cooper and Trish Radil from 5:30pm Thursday, 12/5 – 2 Cat Zoo from 5pm Friday, 12/6 – Katie Perkins from 8pm Saturday, 12/7 – Nightshift from 8pm Wednesday, 12/11 – Syndicate Duo from 5:30pm Thursday, 12/12 – Tyler Marshall from 5pm Friday, 12/13 – Signature Band from 8pm Saturday, 12/14 – Michael Cleary Band from 8pm Wednesday, 12/18 – 2 Cat Zoo from 5:30pm Thursday, 12/19 – Carrie Ashton from 5pm Friday, 12/20 – Mass-Conn-Fusion from 8pm Saturday, 12/21 – Whiskey, Wine & Coke from 8pm Wednesday, 12/26 – JC/DC from 5:30pm Friday, 12/27 – Primetime from 8pm Saturday, 12/28 – Avenue Groove from 8pm New Year’s Eve, 12/31– Nu Groove from 8:30pm - 12:30am

HAPPY HOUR

Repeat Events:

Monday thru Friday 4PM to 6PM Draft Beer $6 | House Wine $6 | Select Spirits $7

Happy Hour Specials: Monday – Friday from 3pm – 6pm Mondays: Monday Night Football Specials 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 5pm – 8pm and NFL Specials Fridays: Prime Rib from 5pm – close & Live Music from 8pm – 12am Saturdays: Live Music from 8pm – 12am Sundays: Brunch from 11:30am – 3:00pm and NFL Specials

*Tickets available online, www.WatersEdgeResortandSpa.com*

LIVE MUSIC AT SEAVIEW BISTRO

REPEAT EVENTS Monday – Free Bar Trivia | Lobster Boil $25 Friday – Live Music | Prime Rib $19.95 Saturday – Live Music Sunday – Brunch $39.95++ from 9AM to 3PM Water’s Edge Resort and Spa 1525 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook CT 860-399-5901 | WatersEdgeResortAndSpa.com

Scotch Plains Tavern, 124 Westbrook Road, Essex CT Call 860.662.4032 or visit scotchplainstavern.com

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Ornament Workshops – Clinton & Guilford December 4 & 11 Zahn Community Art Gallery - Westbrook October 24 - January 30 New England Impressions: A group exhibition featuring selected works by members of the Lyme Art Association at the Valentine H. Zahn Community Gallery at Middlesex Health Shoreline Medical Center. 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 860-358-6200 or zahngallery@gmail.com.

Photo credit: Lizbeth McGee, The Grapevine, watercolor

Lisa Fatone Art & Design will be holding Ornament Workshops Wednesday, December 4, 6-8pm at Cindy Stevens Fine Art, Clinton 860.304-1666 Wednesday, December 11, 6-8PM at the Bird Nest Gallery & Salon Suites, Guilford 203.689.5745 Pre-registration preferred by phone (see above) or e-mail Lisa.Fatone@yahoo.com

Susan Powell Fine Art – Holiday Show - Madison December 1 - January 18 This is one of our most popular exhibits showcasing 25 award-winning artists, offering exciting choices for everyone! On view will be numerous subjects, including landscapes, seascapes, local scenes, still life, and florals. Exhibiting artists include: Kathy Anderson, Del-Bourree Bach, Paul Batch, Peter Bergeron, Zufar Bikbov, Kelly Birkenruth, Karen Blackwood, Dan Brown, Deborah Chabrian, TJ Cunningham, Grace DeVito, David Dunlop, Vincent Giarrano, Neal Hughes, Tom Hughes, Sarah Stifler Lucas, James Magner, Anne McGrory, Leonard Mizerek, Deborah Quinn-Munson, Larry Preston, Cindy Procious, Dennis Sheehan, Jeanne Rosier Smith, and George Van Hook. Susan Powell Fine Art is located at 679 Boston Post Road, Madison, near the fire station.

Gallery Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11am to 5pm, Sundays and anytime by appointment. For further information, please call (203) 318-0616, email us at susanpowellfineart@gmail.com and visit www.susanpowellfineart.com to see works in the show.

Bruce Museum Presents: Can Art Drive Change on Climate Change? - Greenwich December 5 On Thursday, December 5, 2019, Bruce Museum Presents poses the provocative question “Can Art Drive Change on Climate Change?”

Join us for a night of captivating conversation with Alexis Rockman and David Abel in the latest installment of Bruce Museum Presents, our monthly series of public programs featuring thought leaders in the fields of art and science.

Doors open 6:20 pm for a reception with light bites and beverages, followed by the panel discussion and Q&A, 7:00-8:30 pm. Seats are $30 for Museum members, $45 for nonmembers. To reserve a seat at An Evening with Alexis Rockman, visit brucemuseum.org or call 203-869-0376.

DECEMBER EVENTS

Firelight Festival – Guilford December 6

The dark shadows of New England winters past will be chased away from Connecticut’s oldest house by festive luminaria, lanterns, and outdoor fires when the Henry Whitfield State Museum presents its annual Firelight Festival on Friday, December 6, from 4 - 8 pm.

Gather around the fires and enjoy roasted marshmallows and chestnuts, popcorn, hot cocoa, mulled cider, and hourly readings of The Night Before Christmas. Tour the 1639 Whitfield House after dark and learn the origins of today’s Christmas traditions in the Holidaze display. Craft pine cone ornaments to take home, and find unique gifts for everyone on your list in the museum gift shop. In the spirit of giving, visitors are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food for the Guilford Food Bank and new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots.

Admission is free for children 12 and younger, $5 for seniors 60 and older, and $6 for everyone else. Parking is free at the museum, located at 248 Old Whitfield Street in Guilford (exit 58 off I-95). No rain/snow date. For more information, call 203-453-2457, e-mail whitfieldmuseum@ct.gov, visit www.cultureandtourism.org.

Liquid Lounge – Hartford December 6 Whether you’ve been naughty or nice this year, show off your most festive Holiday PJs and join more than 1,000 of your closest friends at Liquid Lounge: Holiday PJ Party. No need to get all dressed up for this holiday party, slip into your coziest nighttime attire and enjoy everything you love about Liquid Lounge, including music, bars on every floor, great food, and captivating LIVE Science Demonstrations.

Plus, enter to win our contest for the best PJs of the night! Liquid Lounge is 21+ only. Valid ID required.

CT Science Center, 250 Columbus Blvd. Hartford, CT 06103

EF Watermelon – 40th Anniversary Celebration Old Lyme December 6 - 8 Join us at for a Champagne Celebration of our 40th Anniversary!

We will celebrate with 40% off select jewelry. Hours are as follows: December 6 & 7: 11 am – 7 pm | December 8: 12 – 4 pm EF Watermelon, 24 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 860-434-1600

RED HOUSE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER – Salem December 7 HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: From 10am-8pm there will be exciting things going on at The Red House. Artists of all kinds will be working in the studio all day, there will be refreshments and music in the evening by Gail Wade. So put The Red House Open House on your shopping trip list! The Red House, 22 Darling Road, Salem. Visit salemredhouse.com for more info. (860) 608-6526.

December 15 Make your own water-marbled silk scarf with Shibumi Silks. This is a fun, creative, and slightly messy workshop that yields stunning results! $50 for your first scarf and $40 for any additional scarves you make.

Just in time for Holiday giving! Choose a time slot 11am-Noon, Noon-1pm or 1-3pm. The Red House, 22 Darling Road, Salem. Visit salemredhouse.com for more info. (860) 608-6526.

Blue Horse Children’s Shop – Mystic December 26 – January 31, 2020 The Blue Horse Children's Shop, in Downtown Mystic will be having their annual First Communion Dress Sale!

ALL in stock dresses are reduced, some up to 75%.

They offer personal attention to all customers. Stop by to view our elegant and extensive collection.

All sizes available.

Open 7 days.

Ready for the adventures ahead.

2020 Acura

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