Ink Magazine - March 2018

March 2018

publicationsÂŽ

www.inkct.com

Vol 14 Issue 148 2018

A guide to finer living in Connecticut & abroad.

Complimentary

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www.inkct.com

Features

MARCH 2018

Columns, Reviews, Events

ISSUE CONTENTS

Cardinal Points The Killer

pg. 24

Come...Gather...Enjoy!

Music Mirth & Mojo

At Essex Chocolatier & Coffee Bar...Your Happy Place

The Cheesemonger

pg. 12

The Cupping Room

Recent releases not to be missed

pg. 54

Not All Cheeses Are Created Equal Deep Steamed Japanese Green Tea

pg. 64 pg. 66

On The Vine Alsace

pg. 68

March Events The Survivor

pg. 71

Upcoming events in Connecticut

Deb Thompson’s Address is Still: One North Main

pg. 20

Pierre Sylvain Roots, Religion and All That Jazz

pg. 30

Living in Antiquity Egyptologists John and Colleen Darnell

pg. 40

Get your Ink online at inkct.com Share your favorite stories with friends on Social Media!

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INK staff Contributors:

Advertising:

Jeffery Lilly- founder/publisher/webmaster

Contact us to receive our media kit complete with detailed advertising information including ad rates, demographics, and distribution in your area.

Stephanie Sittnick - publisher/sales/design

Consumer Rights 101:

Carolyn Battisa - editorial

The American Museum of Tort Law

Susan Cornell - editorial

pg. 48

Laurencia Ciprus - editorial Caryn B. Davis - editorial/photography Charmagne Eckert - editorial Mark Seth Lender - Cardinal Points Nancy LaMar-Rodgers - editorial Barbara Malinsky - editorial Rona Mann - editorial

Lynn Zettlemoyer Mettle of Metal

Paul Partica - The Cheesemonger

pg. 60

A. Vincent Scarano - photography

Please direct your advertising inquiries and questions to: Stephanie Sittnick - Director of Advertising advertising@ink-pub.com - 860-227-8199 Cheryl Powell - Greater Connecticut cheryl@ink-pub.com - 860-608-5749 Rona Mann - Clinton, CT - Rhode Island six07co@att.net - 401-539-7762 Jacki Hornish - Litchfield jacki@inkct - 860-488-0393

Anthony Reczek - editorial

Every issue is printed using 100% Soy based ink.

We encourage the public to submit stories, poems, photography, essays, and all things creative. If you know of a person or place of interest, please submit your ideas to: submissions@ink-pub.com We will do our best to put your ideas in INK.

All content of INK Publications including but not limited to text, photos, graphics and layout are copyrighted by INK Publishing, LLC. Reproductions without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Ink Publishing, LLC is not responsible for images or graphics submitted by advertisers which are not copyrighted or released for use in this publication.

INK PUBLISHING, LLC 107 Hemlock Valley Rd., East Haddam, CT email: info@ink-pub.com www.inkct.com

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This home enjoys hardwood floors throughout, central air conditioning, Oil heat, a fireplace and 2 wood burning stoves. Generator and hookup included. All of this on a professionally Landscaped large level yard perfect for outdoor entertaining, gardening, or horse property. Spacious 2 car garage with wood burning stove and stairs leading to second floor storage area. This is a must see home. Only minutes to center of town and major highways. $ 349,000. For more photos go to : www.107HemlockValley.com Contact Joel Lucas 860.304.9150 bankerbuddy@hotmail.com

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75 Main St., Old Saybrook, CT 860-661-4661 / dagmarsdesserts.com

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Come...Gather...Enjoy!

At Essex Chocolatier & Coffee Bar...Your Happy Place

By RONA MANN / Photos by Jeffery Lilly

She went to school and studied architecture, but in the end, it just didn’t make her happy.

She worked with her eldercare attorney husband for a time, but that didn’t do it either.

What kept nagging at the back of Teresa Patrick-Connell’s mind was her grandfather, who had come to America from Italy and went into business for himself, becoming a successful entrepreneur. “I guess I inherited his DNA because for 20 years this dream kept building.

I wanted a business of my own. I wanted to be an entrepreneur, and I wanted a business that would make people happy.”

It didn’t take long before Teresa found the answer, as she was driven to perhaps the happiest of products...CHOCOLATE! Even saying the very word makes most people smile, evoking pleasant memories and positive energy. So eight months ago, this energetic entrepreneur opened Essex Chocolatier and Coffee Bar and found what she had been seeking all these years. “I knew instinctively that Essex was the right place to do this, and I knew that pairing fine chocolate with a coffee bar just made for great synergy.”

Teresa did it and did it right, gathering as much knowledge as she could about fine chocolate sourced from all over the world and then going to barista school in Vermont where she learned all about making gourmet coffee. Never content to settle for the status quo, along the way she added her own touches. “We have a gourmet coffee that’s our own house blend. You can’t get it anywhere but here, so customers come back again and again to have a cup here and then buy a pound or two to take home.”

Patrick-Connell also does a bit of experimenting;

and on her own created what has become the signature drink of Essex Chocolatier and Coffee Bar, the Salted Caramel Steamer, incorporating steamed goats milk and mocha, caramel, and chai, all available in the bean to bar gift section. “It’s not on the menu, but regulars know to ask for it.”

Additionally the barista makes the coffee bar’s own chai and original mocha for both the hot chocolate drinks and the latte.

Lovers of hot chocolate will find a curious question asked of them as they satisfy their desire at Essex Chocolatier and Coffee Bar. “We ask them to select their own country of origin when it comes to the chocolate we put in their drink,” says Teresa. And if they’re not sure, this barista is happy to educate, offer samples, and share her knowledge of, and passion for, chocolate with any and all customers. She is a natural tour guide, ready to ferry visitors around the shop while educating, offering samples, and never losing that exuberance.

But the real centerpiece at

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14 Owner Teresa Patrick-Connell

Essex Chocolatier is of course the chocolate.

Handcrafted, organic, made in small batches, pure, and absolutely delicious...unlike any other chocolate you may have thought you craved before. There’s also vegan chocolate, gluten free, and flights of chocolates for those who just can’t decide. The sign adorning the wall says, “Bean to Bar” which, according to Teresa indicates direct from the farmer, pure, simple, with nothing added. It’s the cocoa bean plus sugar...nothing more. Nothing more but the “wow factor,” because each step involved in making that delicious bar, truffle, or piece of delicious bark has been made by the chocolate makers themselves...and that even includes the “adult” chocolates, each with “a little nip in them. They’re our most popular,” Teresa laughs.

Just like her chocolates, Teresa has carefully hand-picked her staff and educated them about chocolate and about coffee. She readily admits that this process is one of continuing education, but from the outset she wanted employees who could do more than just pour a cup of coffee or sell a box of chocolates...she wanted her people to stand apart from those who just work in a chain store as clerks. And they do! Like Teresa, they share the pride and the passion of a quality product.

The shop is bright and airy, beautifully decorated in shades of teal and copper. The ceiling sports galvanized steel covered by a patina film created by applying layers of vinegar, salt, the outdoors, and time. It lends a perfect vibe to the rest of the natural décor. Here the focal points are not what’s on the walls, but what’s behind those jewelry cases Teresa prefers for showing off her “jewels”… perfectly formed artisan and assorted chocolates.

Visitors are quick to note the special machines that help create the individual cups of coffee. Outstanding among them is the prominently displayed state-of-the-art cold brew system which creates a perfect product in 6-12 hours of methodical drips, resulting in a customer favorite.

Saturdays are special days at Essex Chocolatier when Teresa loves to take random photos of kids and dogs, later posting the results on her Facebook and Instagram pages. “We even sell organic dog bones here,” she adds with a smile. Soon the weather will turn warm and those dogs, kids, and adult customers will have a place to sit outside, relaxing with their beverages, indulging in their chocolates. That’s how Teresa designed it. She doesn’t want you to grab coffee or chocolates and leave. She wants you to relax, congregate, and

thoroughly appreciate the flavors she works so hard to create.

To that end there are Sweet and Greet Events at Essex Chocolatier & Coffee Bar, a time to open wide the doors after hours and have a high end tasting event that showcases fine chocolates. Groups, showers, girls nights out, are all big fans. Additionally, Teresa does weddings and parties, custom designing chocolate favors to suit both the occasion and the palate.

Easter is just weeks away, and Teresa has promised to help you please everyone you love with a personal selection of the finest gourmet chocolates around. You can purchase small novelty pieces, or select your own box of pure, melt in your mouth, delectable sweets.

“I’m a curator,” says Patrick-Connell, “one drawn to a happy product. It’s everything I ever wanted. We’re not going anywhere...but up. So, leave your troubles at the door and come...gather...enjoy!”

If your mouth’s watering right now, drive over to 124 Westbrook Road (Rt. 153) in Essex across from Colonial Market (next to Scotch Plains Tavern). Or visit their website: essexchocolatier.com Like them on Facebook

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THE FANTASTICKS BOOK AND LYRICS BY TOM JONES, MUSIC BY HARVEY SCHMIDT

MARCH 21 - APRIL 8 FO R TIC KE TS, V ISIT IV O RY TO N P LAY H O U SE . O RG

1 0 3 MA I N ST RE E T | I V O RYT O N , C T 0 6 4 4 2 | 8 6 0 . 7 6 7 . 7 3 1 8

Paintings by Anne Gaffey at the Landau Gallery

350 Prospect Street | Belmont, MA 02478 SOLO SHOW:

MARCH 27TH – APRIL 19TH RECEPTION:

MARCH 29TH | 5:30 – 7:30 PM 860.912.0829 • info@annegaffey.com Connecticut • Massachusetts annegaffey.com

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. . . e g a l l i v a s t take to bloom this spring Shop. Dine. Stroll through over 40 unique shops and eateries.

A r t i s a n

EVENTS:

Taste of Mystic (JUNE 8-10)

Enjoy the very best cuisine our region has to offer at this weekend-long festival.

open year round

Exit 90 off I-95 | 27 Coogan Blvd. Mystic, CT | 860.536.4941 | oldemistickvillage.com

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Gifts • Home Décor • Design Services “Inspired by our love for travel and interior design, my husband and I have created a unique boutique in downtown Mystic, CT” - Deb Kollmeyer

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It’ll only take an instant to feel right at home.

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The Survivor

Deb Thompson’s Address is Still: One North Main

by RONA MANN / Photos by Stephanie Sittnick

“History is written by the survivors” It’s an old, old proverb, yet its message still rings true.

Deb Thompson of One North Main would never argue, for she is a survivor of sorts. No, there’s no dastardly tale here - nothing untoward - but Thompson is a forward thinking woman who has survived the retail basis for some 13 years...years that included a fairly protracted recessionary period, and yet she’s still right there. There on the corner of North Main Street as you come into the town square of Essex, at one time voted the best small town in America.

So what’s Deb Thompson’s secret for longevity?

“I am always looking for new and exciting things, and I am always listening to my customer.” Those customers are the reason for, and the centerpiece of, One North Main. While

many retail people make the mistake of buying and filling their shops only with the merchandise they like and then try to market it to their clientele, Deb Thompson knows her customers so well that she buys specifically for them...and what a difference that makes in success and in that longevity.

“Our customers are boaters,” she begins, “and weekend people, visitors who come for the day or the week from Hartford, from the shoreline, from New York, and in summer from all over the country. And then, of course, there are the locals. The ones who are loyal. The ones you can count on year ‘round, especially during the slower winter months.”

And come they do to One North Main because in addition to the beautiful casual wear, unusual jewelry collections, bags, and accessories, Deb Thompson has more or less earned a reputation as the “Cashmere Queen”...and who would fight it? One North Main is known for always having beautiful cashmere and lots of it.

Ah, cashmere. Who can resist the luscious feel against the skin, soft and warm, so different from sheep’s wool.

There’s a good reason for that tactile luxury, as cashmere is made from processing the hair of Tibetan goats.

These animals produce a fine wool that protects them

Deb Thompson

from the harshness of 40 degree below zero Himalayan winters that often last six months.

Yes, it is this animal, a cross between the domestic goat and the dwarf goat, that provides this extraordinary wool Deb Thompson cannot stock enough of to keep her cashmereloving customers content.

“We participated in a Girls Night Out at the Old Lyme Country Club and didn’t want to ferry a lot of merchandise back and forth, so I only brought 30 cashmere toppers with me.

They sold out in 45 minutes!”

What’s a topper? One of One North Main’s most popular items, something Deb can stock over and over because it’s worn all year. Displayed in a rainbow of colors, these

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ponchos may be paired with almost any outfit during all four seasons and work well over a sleeveless dress or top in summer air conditioning.

Thompson has cashmere in her shop from three different suppliers: the toppers are designed by Claudia Nichole, and she also has pullovers, sweaters, open front hoodies, capes, and wraps from Kinross and 360, equally reliable names for cashmere that just has no equal in the fashion world. Cashmere has a reputation for being expensive; and while that has not changed over the years, One North Main always has the best prices for the best customers.

Another mainstay all these years has been the collection of Charlotte Meyer jewelry displayed throughout One North Main to illustrate how well it pairs with, and absolutely completes, unique and wonderful outfits to take you from the boardroom to the yacht club and every place in between. Meyer’s pieces are not just jewelry, but statements spoken in beads, wood, metals, and gemstones and are timeless works of art.

Meyer’s collection is joined by sterling accented pieces from Simon Sebbag and chunky cuffs, bangle bracelets, and stacking bracelets from jewelry designer, Julie Vos. And then there’s Deb’s favorite display...baroque pearls, the fashion accessory that never seems to go out of style.

Those boaters and would-be nautical types will love the signature nautical tops from Saint James, direct from France. And now that

spring is right around the corner, there’s a burst of fashion and a burst of color from the perennially popular Eileen Fisher collection featuring capri pants, ponchos, and dresses.

Deb notes that her shop is the only Eileen Fisher outlet in Essex. Also featured this season at One North Main are shirts from Finley and David Cline along with the everpractical, Foxcroft no-iron shirts. Grab a kicky bag from Graf Lantz, on display at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, and you’re ready to jump into the season. But wait, as they say on TV, there’s more! How about Tommy Bahama? The line is now in, so come see what’s new. Warm weather’s ahead, so to have that perfect piece for the club, a wedding, or a garden party, there are dresses from Russian designer, Komarov, known for filmy, cool designs sporting plenty of flowers and color. And when the A/C goes on, just throw on one of those colorful toppers, sure to match.

Deb Thompson isn’t the only survivor at One North Main. “Jo and Jane have been with me since the beginning,” Deb offers, giving a well deserved nod to two of her equally loyal employees who love working in tandem with Thompson whose philosophy they embrace. It is apparent that the store means a great deal to

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them as do the customers who appreciate what this special place is all about.

You’re going to find everything from cotton to cashmere at One North Main, and always the one thing that never changes with the seasons: good taste. It was there 13 years ago when she first opened; and although styles and trends have evolved, the attention to the customer and the keen eye when buying for that customer has never wavered.

So what’s Deb Thompson’s secret for being a survivor? “You gotta change with the times.

Fashion has changed. Peoples’ tastes change, and you just have to be attentive to that and go with it.” It’s obvious that it all comes down to

listening to the customer, the ones who put Thompson on that corner at One North Main and the ones who’ll keep her here for at least 13 more.

The late Elizabeth Edwards, wife of onetime Presidential hopeful Senator John Edwards, put it beautifully when she offered: “She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she simply adjusted her sails.”

One North Main is right on the corner in Essex Square.

Phone: (860) 767-2559.

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expanding in the sky. She turns her back soaking the dark flight feathers. And still she waits. And flies, only when she has a mind to.

Over the days, she will patrol the land until its secrets are her own. Where the doves feed. Where the rabbit hides.

When the fox heads for home... Then the field is hers.

Birds she takes mostly from cover, hiding then striking out dispassionate as a sniper.

Squirrels, more agile, are harder but no match for the crushing power of her talons.

She will drop on them from the blind side. They know it, and hate her for it. They can do nothing except chatter.

The Killer Photos and editorial © Mark Seth Lender Red-tail faces the sunrise. Hawks in winter always do. Her bright and speckled breast a beacon against the grey of early morning. The land beyond is empty. The hills in silence hug themselves. In the wavering light even the pallid sun is shivering. But Red-tail is not.

Perched high in the blank scrawl of limbs she warms her vulnerable core in the parsimonious light. Minutes pass. An hour. The sun

I once watched a red-tail on a kill she made on the ground, the feathers dusting off the carcass like early snow and the squirrels edged in close to harass her, running in and out. Three quarters of an hour of this and she’d had enough, and took the bloody remains away with her. If the squirrels thought they’d won some small victory they were fooling no one but themselves…

Red-tail circles a seething wheeling flock of grackles, like a shark. The little birds ball and spread and turn, and turn, and are no match for her. Later, she lands at the top of a low cedar. A mockingbird drops and strikes her,

her shoulder, her broad back. She does not even look at him. When the crows find her it will be different. They will not dare to touch her but they are loud.

She will tire of them as she tired of the squirrels, and she will leave.

But then the sun will be down and she will be able to see, perfectly. And the crows will not.

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Field Note: Red-tailed hawks are easy to find on winter mornings. If they turned their dark backs to the sun instead of that nearly white breast it would be harder, but they don't. Their backs are cloaked by wings that keep the heat out of the core. The breast is not.

Why isn’t the breast dark? It would certainly absorb much more heat. The reason is, a bird that is light from below is harder to see. That light breast insures ground prey, rabbits for instance, are less likely to detect a soaring redtail - unless the shadow passes over them. Apparently, to the redtail, camouflage matters more from a survival standpoint than keeping warm.

The exception to encryption is when redtails perch.

Then they prefer a dead limb, with no leaves to block their view. Or failing that the very top of a juniper.

Or better yet, the top of a telephone pole with no

branches or leaves to contend with and to fly, she only has to spread her wings. Of course, this cuts both ways and being able to see means in this case, being seen. Redtails will pounce from such a perch, out in the open. But when they do the target is at some distance - a mouse in a field perhaps - and the killer is not seen until it is too late.

I think the purpose of such a perch may be as much defense as offense. Most hawks (and eagles too) will choose similar resting places. If you find a spot frequented by redtails, it is likely that over time, you will find other hunters using it too. You cannot sneak up on a bird of prey with a 360 degree view and consequently, “clerestory” feels like safety.

If only it were that simple.

For some time there was a red-tailed hawk nailed to a pole near the Metro North tracks on the way into New York. There were chickens in an enclosure beside the tracks and the owner killed her and left her there as a warning.

No amount of camouflage or strategy protects the wild from us. Only we can do that.

Mark Seth Lender is a producer for wildlife content at Living on Earth ( LOE.org ), the only program on US Public Radio exclusively dedicated to wildlife and environmental reporting.

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Pierre Sylvain Roots, Religion and All That Jazz

By Nancy LaMar-Rodgers / Photos by A. Vincent Scarano

P

ierre Sylvain welcomes me into his Middletown home with the warm smell of ginger and cinnamon filling the room. He is both gracious and humble, as he pours the tea and thanks me for coming. The walls and spaces in his home are adorned with not just artwork, but the many photographs of family and friends, that seem to peak out of every table or shelf.

His love of family and his connection to his Haitian roots are palpable. As we wind through the basement area that serves as both his studio and resting area for works in progress, I am drawn to the many characters and icons that seem to speak from their respective canvases. Whether it is the collection of music greats, the spirit of voodoo or the the paintings that illustrate the horrors of slavery, Pierre’s subjects are

alive and animated; they are bigger than the surfaces they live on.

Sylvain is a storyteller and his stories are celebratory and heart wrenching. Whether he is depicting the vibe of his favorite musicians, the saga of the African diaspora, or the deep roots of Haitian Voodoo, his paintings are the colors, the sounds and the smells of his subjects. They don’t remain on the canvas.

They dance around you, perhaps they blow a long sax note, rattle a chain attached to an ankle, or stomp out a naked tribal dance. Sylvain’s stories of the people, places and experiences of his Haitian history and culture, come alive with each dip of the brush, each stroke of his imagination.

Pierre Sylvain grew up in Haiti in a close-knit, Catholic family. Though none of his family members were artists, Pierre recalls embracing art at a very young age.

“I can remember doing art since I was four or five years old. My parents had this young man who would watch us sometimes when they

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went out and he was this incredible artist. I just remember being so excited by his art and he had a huge influence. I wanted to be able to do everything just like him.”

Pierre spent years emulating some of the older students who were doing art and spent hours studying those whose art he was drawn to. He would try his hand at portraits, landscapes or anything else he found captivating.

Raised as a strict Catholic, Sylvain was highly influenced by the images that surrounded him, whether in the church or in his Catholic education. . “I was a huge fan of Ruben and I was painting all these pictures of Jesus.

I was studying everything that Ruben was doing and I wanted to be able to do what he was doing.”

By the time Pierre was in high school, his distinct style

was starting to emerge and it was the influence of the local college radio station that would eventually inspire him to start painting some of jazz music’s icons.

“My brother had a friend who was in college at that time and he was a DJ at the college radio station. He played jazz for hours and I was just blown away by the music and I just was so influenced by the sound and it began to emerge in my painting.”

Sylvain moved to Connecticut, following his older sister to Middletown where he set up a home and eventually went to work for an insurance company. Although he continued to paint and exhibit his work, Pierre felt that his day job was preventing him from truly pursuing his life’s work as an artist.

“I did it for ten years and while I was happy to have a steady job, I just knew that I could not continue. I started showing my art and I had some shows while I was still working for the insurance company but I just realized that the

art was so important to me and so I just took a turn and now I have been making my living with the work,” Sylvain explains, with the smile of a man who knows he made the right choice.

Sylvain credits Middletown’s Main Street Gallery, NOMA for helping him get his work out there and allowing him to begin the real endeavor into being a full time working artist.

“Creating artwork is not what most people

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think it is. It is hard work and it is not like you just sit down in front of a canvas and you are immediately inspired. When I started 15 years ago to work as an artist, I’m not sure I realized how much time and patience it took and that I would sometimes be hours in front of a blank canvas with nothing.”

and his American experience is deeply embedded in his latest series, a black and white exploration of slavery.

“You know that Haiti is a nation of slaves and for me having spent the last 30 years living here in the United States, I understand that

His delve into all things Voodoo was influenced by a friend, who had become a Voodoo priest.

“It was strange at first when he became a Voodoo priest because we had both been raised in very Catholic environments and so even though I still believe in God, I realized how much brainwashing goes into religions. I decided that I wanted to explore this aspect of my Haitian roots and this different spirituality.” ” Sylvain understood that Voodoo was a huge part of his island’s cultural history, and although he has been in the U.S for over half his life, he knows that it is his Haitian roots and culture that allowed him to really dig into the experience of Voodoo and explore its’ history on his beloved island.

Sylvain’s ties to both cultures, his Haitian roots

this nation’s slave history is the same as my own country. It is the same story and the same roots. The slaves were brought from Africa and we can trace those roots from both countries. For me it was a connected story that I wanted to know more about, but I wanted to paint it in a way that would be unexpected.”

Sylvain’s current series explores this connected experience.

Titled Middle Passage/Underground Railroad, the artist is enamored with the heroes and those courageous souls who would dedicate their lives to slavery’s abolishment.

While Pierre may spend most of his hours these days immersed in his work, he does not forget what it meant to be both a struggling artist as well as an eager student.

His contributions to his local community as well as his Haitian community are another aspect of this gentle man’s spirit. He continues to work with schools, non-profits and other community organizations, both here and in Haiti, to not only inspire young people to explore the world of art, but also to give back, to serve and to pay homage to those whose lives have inspired, aroused and lifted his own life’s work to heights he may never have imagined but for which he is forever grateful.

Pierre Sylvain’s current works are on display at the Russell Library in Middletown, Ct. His show, Fantastical Journey: Voodoo, Slavery, Jazz will run through March 31st.

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photo by Alberto Urcia

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=LIVING IN ANTIQUITY Egyptologists John and Colleen Darnell

Profile By Caryn B. Davis

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There are probably not many five year old children who say, “I want to be an Egyptologist when I grow up,” or even those who understand what that truly means; but for John Coleman Darnell, that was hardly the case.

“My mother was interested in archaeology and used to read to me from her books when I was small; so certainly by kindergarten, I knew I wanted to be an Egyptologist,” says John, an Egyptology professor at Yale University’s

Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and the author of numerous articles on pharaonic culture, history, and language.

John resides with his wife, Colleen Darnell in an historic house that was built in 1844.

Colleen is also an Egyptologist and teaches art history at the University of Hartford and at local community colleges. The couple is extremely fond of all things “old.” Their home is filled with an array of antiques from the late 1600s to the mid 1800s that include furniture, Canton ware, stemware, and even a rare reflector oven from the early 19th century.

Other interesting objects such as traditional veils worn by women from the Sinai Peninsula

region in Egypt and a North African trade pistol from the early 1880s, adorn the walls as art.

Even their dogs are an ancient breed. They have two Basenjis that originate from Egypt.

Depictions of these fine creatures can be found in early Egyptian engravings, sculptures, and tombs. The Basenjis were the first dogs to be immortalized in this way.

And, in keeping with their penchant for things of the past, the Darnells prefer to don vintage clothing.

“As Egyptologists and historians, seeing how things were made, be it clothes or antique furniture, is really interesting for what we do,”

photo by Jane Kratochvil

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considered out of time, so why shouldn’t their outfits be)? The Darnells average two annual treks to the ancient Egyptian city of Elkab where John co-directs the Elkab Desert Survey Project in conjunction with Yale University and the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels.

(Elkab is located on the eastern bank of the Nile River about 50 miles south of the city of Luxor, which was once known as ancient Thebes).

says Colleen. “I like clothes from the 1920s.

Certainly the flapper dress and day dresses. I love 1930s evening gowns. But for day-to-day wear I do a lot of 1960s because the others are too fragile for everyday use.”

“It’s a little more difficult with men’s pieces,” adds John. “I’ve had a lot of luck finding formal and semi-formal wear and suits from the 1930s and 1940s. With other pieces I have to be more eclectic. A 1930s vest paired with a late 1940s jacket, a 1950s tie with more recent trousers.”

“We were there last May and June and photo by John Darnell found the oldest monumental hieroglyphic inscription dating back around about 3250 BCE. That was huge. It was really important for understanding the origins of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing,” says Colleen. “John has already published a couple of articles about it.”

The Darnells discovered the inscription in a cliff face, about seven kilometers north of

Elkab at El Khawy. It illustrates how hieroglyphic writing spread much faster and geographically farther than archaeologists what had originally thought up to this point.

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“This discovery isn’t new in the sense that this is the first time that anyone has seen these hieroglyphs; this is the first time that anyone has seen them on such a massive scale. These individual hieroglyphs each measure just over a half meter in height, and the entire tableau is about 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) in height.

Previously found signs were only one or two centimeters in size,” says John as quoted in an article written by Bess Connolly Martell on June 20, 2017 that appeared in Yale News.

Despite their love for vintage wear, when performing archaeological work in the desert, the equipment they use is state of the art. They have pioneered a new digital recording method with another researcher from Yale that utilizes an iPad and enables them to draw directly onto photographs taken at the site.

“Before this new technology, in order to copy a rock inscription, you would take a clear piece of acetate and tape it to the rock surface and

The couple frequents events in which they can show off their fashionable attire. Of course Halloween is a big deal for them, and they often flock to Manhattan to partake in various festivities.

But they also dress up for summer soirées such as the prohibition era inspired Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governor’s Island in New York and the Roaring Twenties Lawn Party at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Even when digging on expeditions in Egypt, the couple sports their dated duds whenever possible. (After all, their professions could be photo by John Darnell

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photo by Jane Kratochvil

photo by Alberto Urcia

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photo by Alberto Urcia

photo by Alberto Urcia

photo by Jane Kratochvil

photo by Alberto Urcia

photo by Alberto Urcia

photo by Colleen Darnell

photo by John Darnell

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photo by John Darnell

History that was built by British architect and Egyptologist, George Somers Clarke. Over the years they have built up an infrastructure, so they are able to procure equipment, goods, and workers.

photo by John Darnell

trace it using a permanent marker. Not only is that no longer an approved technique, but once you put plastic on top of something, it obscures little details. We now do it all digitally,” Colleen says.

Also, prior to this the Darnells would have had to return to the same site multiple times in order to complete the drawings by reducing them down and then comparing them against the original to ensure all the information was collected.

“Now we are able to create 3D images of the inscriptions from the photographs and also create 3D images of the site itself. We are recording what’s there, commenting on what’s there, and miniaturizing it, so people can see what we see. It makes all the photos that much more informative because it’s not just a series of snapshots that you have to reconstruct in your head, there’s actually a rotatable model,” says John.

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John began working in Egypt in 1988 and Colleen in 2000. They spend about a month each time they visit.

When they are not camping, they share a 1908 expedition house with the Royal Museums of Art and

Through their research work, their love of vintage clothing, and antiques Colleen and John are able to experience the lifestyle and daily life of people from earlier eras, catching a rare glimpse into our collective past.

“We have a small, permanent core group of Egyptian employees who know how to use the Land Rover and understand how to work and camp in a desert.” John says.

Sometimes they hire guards to watch over a dig site if it is close to civilization, but when it’s out in the deep desert, the site is at the mercy of vandals, treasure hunters, and the weather.

“You can’t really protect it which is one of reasons we are so happy with our new digital recording technique because it allows us to preserve the site virtually as it is when we find it,” says John.

The Darnells never know what they’ll discover but can identify areas where they are likely to find something. They try to locate, map, and follow networks of old desert roads because that’s where the largest concentration of travelers would have been, leaving behind inscriptions and other materials. photo by Alex Rosenfeld

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Consumer Rights 101: The American Museum of Tort Law

by Laurencia Ciprus / photos by Paul Gobell If you ever climbed a ladder, buckled a seat belt, or reconsidered lighting up after reading the warning label on a pack of smokes, you’ve benefited from the process of tort law in this country. Simply stated, tort law is the mechanism for legal recourse available to people who have suffered harm due to the negligence or unreasonable acts of others. Tort law also falls into the category of personal injury – a loaded subject that carries with it the burden and controversy of raised eyebrows and strong impressions, both pro and con. Ralph Nader spent a lifetime advocating in this arena with a singular focus on championing the rights of consumers. Going toe-to-toe against corporate giants publicly since the ‘60’s, he was, and is frequently the target of fierce scrutiny and pressure tactics by both pundits and megaliths. Nader refused to back down. His dedicated effort to make corporations more accountable has arguably paid off. Thanks to Nader, we drive

safer cars and kids play with less hazardous toys; there are improved workplace safeguards, and we enjoy a myriad of additional consumer benefits.

loyalty to his hometown roots. Winsted is a formerly robust industrial town, and you wonder if the regression of the town’s economic base and impact on the population ignited Nader’s passionate advocacy for the average citizen.

To lift the dark pall from personal injury law and further educate the public on their right to self-protect through the tort process, Nader and a group of colleagues and friends have created The American Museum of Tort Law in his hometown of Winsted, Connecticut. This unpretentious burg of New England Americana might seem a rather curious locale for the first museum dedicated to legal history in the US; but it is a fond testament to Nader’s

Richard L. Newman, a highly successful consumer attorney in his own right, is the museum’s dedicated and engaging Executive Director. As he ushers us into the museum, Newman explains the genesis of the institution. “Personal injury cases require great visual imagery and dramatic supporting exhibits to illustrate a point during trial. Ralph was in Boulder and wondered what eventually happens to all of this material when the case is wrapped up.” It was the germ of an idea.

50 Amassing them was the journey, with the brick and mortar museum, the destination.

It took years of effort and the usual brand of Nader’s tireless persistence in winning over the Museum of Tort Law’s robust roster of founding members. This is a who’s who of legal minds, consumer groups, and longtime friends including broadcaster and outspoken feminist champion, Phil Donahue. Creating the actual space was a tall order: render the law colorful, meaningful, and engaging to the general public – from middle school age on up – without sacrificing the gravity of the legal process in any way. Opening in September of 2015, the threshold impression is dazzlingly ingenious and invites public understanding and curiosity.

Newman is proud of the museum housed in the former Winsted Bank building. With great bones, the space was brought up to impeccable!

The deft 5,000 square foot master plan was a joint effort between the award winning museum and exhibition design firm, Eisterhold Associates and Georgetown Law Professor, Joseph Page. Page deftly selected the most meaningful cases and provided a distilled synopsis for each of the illustrative wall notes. A team of cartoonists and illustrators – most notably, Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, Matt Wuerker, created the attentiongrabbing graphics in vivid primary colors. It’s The Law meets Disney: each image jumping off the wall as a touch point, guiding you throughout the museum. It’s a go-at-yourown-pace experience, and the entire tour can take anywhere from ten minutes to several hours if you get hooked on the details of a case. Between the striking space, delectable eye candy, and bright theatrical lighting, the experience transforms the story of the legal process from mundane to exciting and highly memorable!

The graphic frieze at the museum’s entrance offers historical background with a visual timeline tracing the early examples of the tort law process back to its roots in England. There is also an auditorium space where a looping film expanding the conversation on the law

runs and echoes throughout the museum.

Check out the website, and there is an equally compelling range of speaking events worthy of a return trip. Most recently William J. McGee lectured on Air Travel Safety; Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer paid a visit, and there was a conversation held on the subject of Animal Rights. The Worst Toys room displays classic toys that were brought into the public view in memorable court cases: lawn darts, bottle rockets and slingshots plus a myriad of various small ingestible playthings.

But the dramatic punch serving as the center-

piece of the single level gallery is a glossy ketchup-on-your-burger red Corvair – highly illuminated and displayed showroom style with a mirror under the chassis. The infamous Corvair is the vehicle at the center of Nader’s first book in 1965, “Unsafe at Any Speed.” The young advocate’s volume was an indictment of the automotive industry’s lack of safety features and highlighted the rear engine - Corvair’s potential for rollover due to design flaws – initially capturing modest attention, while ultimately realizing a massive shift in awareness. Seat belt legislation, for example, began with this Nader initiative.

The fascinating punchline to this story was Nader’s subsequent suit against GM for their campaign of intimidation against him in order

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to suppress both his criticism and potentially damning evidence he had on the automaker.

GM ultimately lost this case, since the private investigator hired to tail him crossed the line by looking over his shoulder during a simple bank transaction!

The museum works hard to debunk the bad rap that consumer lawsuits have suffered, with a strong sentiment that personal injury suits are designed to make lawyers wealthy. Nader and the American Museum of Tort Law contend that frivolous lawsuits aren’t necessarily as frivolous as they appear. The classic case in point featured in the AMTL is the infamous spilled cup of McDonald’s coffee, which severely burned then 79-year old Stella Liebeck. An urban legend gone globally viral and joked about for the past 20 years, the case was based on some damning hard evidence at trial.

McDonald’s knew they were heating their java to 190 degrees –demonstrated in the courtroom to severely burn skin – in order to compete with other fast food giants. The media also failed to mention that up until this

point there were 700 additional coffee complaints against the Golden Arches. In truth, tort law was highly effective in this case: McDonald’s lowered coffee temperatures by

ten degrees, and there is now a warning imprinted on the cup!

Four hours later we realized we could have stayed even longer. After going through the

exhibition space a second time, there were always additional details to capture. The bookstore and gift shop is a great punctuation to the day with texts, tee shirts, mugs, and prints as takeaways. As with Ralph Nader’s career, there are further initiatives in the works for the museum; and as long as there are corporations and consumers to keep them going, there will likely be another Ford Pinto, new failed medical devices, and the next Big Tobacco to provide ample material from eventual tort cases to add to the museum’s walls notes. Agree or disagree with the subject, the option for consumers to seek justice for personal injury and harm is part of the social fabric.

Take a ride up to Winsted to reinforce your position or possibly change it…it’s an enlightening experience and a great tribute to Ralph Nader, who remains the loyal friend of the American consumer.

The American Museum of Tort Law, 654 Main Street, Winsted,CT (860) 379-0505 www.tortmuseum.org

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Music, Mirth & Mojo

by Ali Kaufman

If music be the food of love, play on. ~ Shakespeare ...and on and on. This month I want to share with you some artists that I am currently head over heels for. There are so many wonderful musicians to choose from and new releases every week. Explore a new genre, March forth, towards Spring! You might even shed a bit of winter weight dancing to their soul stirring sounds.

that will be the springboard for her allustrius career. I caught Deva live at a tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe and was blown away by her voice and the feeling she projects as she exudes God given talent. The title track from Run Deep has help from Coco Peila and Allen Stone lends himself to “TurntUp”. The second track “Snakes”, has a video, collaborated on with John Rutland, that is incredibly engaging without upstaging Deva’s lyrics or sound. If it seems vaguely familiar you might be feeling the impression that a favorite childhood book had on her. Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly Swamp by Mercer

the real me, I have complete artistic control” and from what I have seen and heard it feels like this is more than the birth of a star, it’s like the creation of a galaxy. I am sure Taj won’t be surprised when people will be asking if he is related to her!

Link to album and everything Deva at Devamahal.com

Deva Mahal is poised to take the world by storm in 2018 with the March release of her debut full length album, Run Deep, on the Motema Music Label. 11 original songs and a nod to her legendary father Taj Mahal with a cover of his “Take a Giant Step” written by Carol King and Gerry Goffin are coming our way. The album is dedicated to her other incredibly talented parent, mother, Inshirah Mahal and has all the earmarks of a classic

Mayer left fingerprints on her heart and have found their way into the artsy video that features Deva’s own niece. The live tour began last month in Europe where Deva has sold out many shows, U.S. dates forming now and promise to be aelectrifying good time.

Deva is a strong woman with definite ideas of how she wants things to go, during our phone call she told me that while she works well with her trusted circle, “what you see is

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Say Darling Live

Say Darling is a band that wowed the crowds at last year’s Rhythm & Roots Festival in Rhode Island.

Even backstage amongst the musicians there was a buzz. The band has a self titled album that came out in 2017 and are selling out the rooms they are playing. Lead singer Celia Woodsmith, formerly of “Della Mae” and “Girls, Guns & Glory” guitarist, Chris Hersch, front the band that also has Scott Coulter on Hammond and Piano, Paul Chase on Bass and Jared Seabrook on Drums. Given the chance they will rock your face off with tunes like “Stoned on You” and squeeze your heart with “Lights”. Fans of Tedeschi Trucks Band may just find a brand new favorite with Say Darling, I know I did!!!

The band has a gig already booked on May 12th at The Knickerbocker in Westerly, RI and I will be lucky enough to have them visit WCNI the Tuesday prior for an in studio performance on May 8th. Learn more about them at SayDarling.com Charley Crockett is a gateway drug into country music. Not that he can be categorized as a country music artist but his cover of Tanya Tucker’s 1972 hit, “Jamestown

new album slated to come out sometime this year and find links to video’s, shows and more at CharleyCrockett.com

Enjoy expanding your musical horizons, support live music and keep your mojo flowing!

I hope you will look forward to seeing what I’ll have in future issues, and thank you for being the most important part of this fine publication - our reader. I am proud to be a part of the team and anticipate bringing you more terrific reasons to reach for Ink time after time.

Charley Crockett, Photo by Lyza Renee

Ferry”, is going to grab the attention of even the most ardent country-phobe. This Texas native’s debut solo album, A Stolen Jewel, came out in 2015 after he had been crisscrossing the world collecting experience and experiences that are part of the fabric of his sound. His second release, In the Night came out in 2016 and in addition to the winner of a title track, has another addictive tune on it called, “I am not Afraid”. Part of his allure is that he feels like such an original. It also doesn’t hurt that he has shared stages with so many other artists that I dig, like Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr, Tab Benoit, Justin Townes Earle and toured with Samantha Fish and Shiny Ribs. Look for a

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THE NEXT CHESTER FIRST FRIDAY - MARCH 2nd, 2018 - 5 - 8 pm SPECIAL SUNDAY CONCERT MARCH 4th, 4 - 6 pm Simon Van Gend on U.S. Tour from South Africa Arrowhead strings along on most Sunday afternoons. Find out about the Concerts in the Garden, First Fridays, Leifs paintings and more at

www nilssonstudio com

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By Laurencia Ciprus Photos by Paul Gobell

W

e might walk around with a collision of emotions and experiences that throw us curves, but a few people create order out of the confusion with spectacular work as evidence.

Heavy Metal fanatic and PMC (Precious Metal Clay) Artist Lynn Zettlemoyer pushes past boundaries in every aspect of her life. She’s an unedited re-mix.

Everything she imprints on – her art, family, and environment – is reflected in broad strokes, big surprises and attention to detail. The outcome isn’t necessarily her objective. Lynn is more about challenging artistic norms; exploring the limits of materials and attitudes in the expression. Her good morphs to better; it blows past best, then stellar. “I’m never happy with ‘just this’. There is always a drive in me to challenge everything and take it to the next level. Even in the simplest things – even sewing. If I were making something for my daughter, I would

swap out sleeves. I always make things more difficult and nothing is ever quite good enough. Never here’s the beginning and here’s the end. I always have to mull it over. It’s the process.”

The philosophy she uses in her art has helped her raise two girls: Raina and Kristen. Kristin is 40 – she was born with Achrondroplasia a form of dwarfism – the bone closest to the body. “My husband Carl and I found out when she was three months old and I said – OK – I need to research this. It’s fairly rare – but with current media attention, the condition has become better understood.

Kristin is a Little Person, who appeared in the first season of Little Women of NY and danced for 15 years at Radio City.” Lynn’s cando attitude telegraphed through her daughter.

“I threw her into dance class at age 5 and made sure that she could do anything anyone else could.” Her other daughter Raina, 38 is an equal success: a serious minded MBA,

62 world traveller and Zettlemoyer’s sidekick for rock concerts.

Lynn’s sculptural work is a reflection of a fascinating life and the bumps and divergences in the road. Visiting the artist in the South Glastonbury bungalow she’s been in since 2000 is a privilege and a lesson in a how expansive talent shapes a life. It is an idyllic place – challenging the environment like the owner, and set high and steep with views of the Connecticut River. The impeccable renovation is ongoing.

This is a labor of love with her husband Carl each stone, interior /exterior detail and appointment handcrafted and installed by them in tandem from the front entrance to the massive architectural patio set; the hand fumed kitchen cabinets and chicken compound that is an architectural folly.

Zettlemoyer wears her own work today. It speaks loudly. The Edge is a bold, jagged pendant in homage to the late artist/musician Prince; ragged and shot through with pain. His death: her devastating loss.

There is emotion in every molecule of Zettlemoyer’s process, working in her corner studio cut into the hillside cranking Nine-Inch Nails, Korn, Muse, Sound Garden and Rob Zombie with Lexington – the nicest Pitbull on the planet – who came from a no-kill shelter and best friend and critic. These aren’t the charmed digs of an art school kid or dilettante, but the spoils of a long-lived and self-schooled creative that began when her aunt gave her an easel at age 8. Her mind is a 24/7/365 incubator for creating – a sketchpad on the nightstand.

“Sculpture has driven me and creating things out of nothing. Papier mache was what first interested me, but discovering Polymer Metal Clay completely opened up all possibilities. This is non-toxic, easy to use and cost effective. I started with the material as a medium for molds to cast in with sterling or fine silver. Its termed “powdered metallurgy” – from Japan – comprised of reclaimed silver and precious metals.

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LZ Reclaimed from 8mm films. Buy it in grams and in a clay form. It has to be rolled to become an object of art and then fired. There is an ongoing struggle between the metalsmithing community and the PMC community in accepting this new technology. You’re testing the limitations of the materials and it really is a challenge and not immediately apparent to the traditional community. Now there is PMC in bronze, gold, copper and sterling in silver. Fine silver has no copper in it. Sterling has more stability. The difference is in the tensile strength. It isn’t that important…just makes gorgeous stuff!”

Bringing out her handcrafted pieces she reflects on the chapters in her design process. “As I’ve been working on a piece, I go through phases of design. If the current inspiration is ancient artifacts, I’ll visualize the archeological process in my mind – can even see the archeologist digging up the element at the site; brushing it off and dating it. I went through a period of perfect imperfection.” Zettlemoyer carefully presents an amulet. There is Ancient Savannah, a beautiful elephant on a textural plaque; the Mid-Century modern layered floral motif disc and the vivid Art Deco Period when she was into ‘40’s and 50’s Atomic

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prints. She presents infinite earrings and a myriad of beads, pins; larger statement pieces and art objects. They all have different messages yet speak loudly. “I’ve come full circle and now can present an identifiable style and brand, so people can say, ‘I know – that’s Lynn’s piece’.”

The current work is a heartwish she wanted to fulfill. “I really feel connected to the process of creating my ash pendants commemorating departed people and pets. This is a very spiritual making experience.

Crafting the first piece took me aback.” She had never seen actual cremains before; picking them up and inserting them into the pieces. “I have always held a fixation with blackbirds. The girl I did the first commission for said, ‘Lynn – my late brother loved the song Blackbird from the Beatles and had a connection with them.’ She asked that the image could be included in the piece, so I created a piece in Kumboo –gold embellishment – with a blackbird and his cremains. The ash pendants are made in two sides, with the cremains between. They are very discreet and personal. No one would ever know what’s inside. Something very sacred to keep the ones you love closest to your heart. They can also be customized as beads with 1 teaspoon of ashes required.

There is also a collection of pieces inspired by the chorus of chickens at the top of the hill – starring Birdy, a tiny little hen who never grew. “I always wanted chickens and had 22 at one point, plus 12 guinea hens…down to four chickens now. Funny and smart – with personalities and even know their names. These are the Blue Cochins; Laced

Wyandotes, Buff Brahmas, Sommervilles. I just love them and even created my Cracked Egg series with their help.” Zettlemoyer discovered that one of the chickens had pecked out a chunk from an egg and ate around the edge of the shell. The slightly jagged form looked interesting and she made little half eggs and put them through a wire as a pendant…all organic inspiration!

Lynn is teaching these days and sharing her professional talents with others and is approaching the new opportunity with equal passion. She sits among the masses of her gorgeous work layered on the surfaces, the music still going. She gets animated. “I love teaching; so much fun and spontaneous. It’s so important to stay current – in music, arts and culture…that’s how we grow in art.” There is no danger of the passion fading and you feel the wheels turning and thinking of next impossible things.

For more information on the work or classes visit: www.lynnzettlemoyer.com or 860.930.2775

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The Cheesemonger Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop, Centerbrook CT

Not All Cheeses Are Created Equal Often times, a customer tastes a cheese and falls in love with it. But a problem

Cheddar

can arise when that same customer tries to buy that same cheese again. The new purchase simply may not taste the same.

Is a four-year aged Vermont cheddar better than a six-month Wisconsin?

One could write a book on this topic. You will find all kinds of cheddars, ranging from six months to fifteen years old or older. It would be more important to know how the cheese was made, the time of year it was made, how it was aged, etc. in making a choice. I personally would not buy a cheddar merely because it comes from a specific state.

The reason for this could be a standard one. Either the cheese was not cared for properly or it was not wrapped correctly. It could also not have been of good quality to begin with. These issues are of course avoided by purchasing at a quality shop that handles cheese properly. Precautions include proper ripening methods, proper wrapping and cleaning, and refacing cheeses to be clean and free of new surface mold when needed.

Another reason is, you may not be buying and asking for the right cheese.

Below, I cover a few of the most common examples of mistaken identity when it comes to cheese.

Spanish Manchego I find that many people will ask for Spanish Manchego without further defining it. Most people are not aware that this cheese is available in both raw milk and pasteurized versions. In addition, it is available in threemonth, six-month, one-year, and even older ages. If you were to compare a three-month pasteurized sample verses a one-year raw milk sample, you would discover a world of difference in taste - a new cheese altogether, in fact.

When it comes to Spanish Manchego, we usually carry an eight-month aged version. We feel this varietal has far more flavor than the one-year pasteurized version. And it is much more popular, by the way.

Swiss Emmentaler Everyone knows Swiss cheese… or do they? There are many imitation versions produced in many countries of the world, but there is only one true Emmentaler (also known as Switzerland Swiss). The true nutty flavor of this cheese has made it a popular favorite for centuries. Emmentaler is a great eating cheese, but it also melts well, is often a key ingredient in fondue, and it keeps very well.

Emmentaler, however, is another cheese that is available in many different ages: six-month, nine-month, one-year and even various older ages. Obviously, the taste of each age will vary dramatically, and this difference will also be noticeable when used in cooking. For example, a fondue made with a young cheese will likely turn out bland compared to a fondue made with an aged one. What did you buy last time?

Swiss Gruyere and French Comte These two very similar cheeses share the same problem. They will vary from six months to eighteen months in age, therefore creating a vast difference in taste. Many will say they favor one cheese over the other, but are they comparing age or the cheese itself?

An eighteen-month cheese from one country cannot be properly compared to a six-month cheese from another country. Unless the country you buy from is important to you, it would be best to taste the difference for yourself rather than to choose by name.

Brie vs. Camembert From my experience, most people assume that camembert is stronger in taste than brie. Technically, both brie and camembert share the same exact recipe; the only difference is age and location where made. Aging will make one stronger than the other. There are also many different manufacturers of both varietals and they can vary dramatically. You may find either of these cheeses ranging in price from $4.00 to $20 per cheese, based on quality and age. Some are modeled after French raw milk cheeses, even though raw milk cheeses of this name are not actually allowed in the United States. These cheeses are more pungent than the others.

Dutch Goudas Very similar to cheddars, this family of cheeses will vary by age, ranging from a few months to as old as 12 years. Be aware of very old varietals; they can be just too hard in texture and lack the added value of a deeper taste.

A Solution The answer to finding that exact same cheese involves more than just knowing the name of it. When ordering, I advise to not only remember the name, but also the age and type of milk used to produce it. This is the best way to ensure you land on the very same cheese you enjoyed last time. It is also worth a moment of your time to jot down the details of a cheese you love.

I suggest that knowing the name of a cheese is perhaps less significant; taste is what is truly important in the end. Also bear in mind that not all cheese retailers carry the same selection. Better questions to ask might be something like the following: “I like aged cheddars around three to four years old and I’m familiar with Vermont cheddars. What do you have in stock that I might like?” or, “I’m making French onion soup and I like a well-aged Gruyere. What similar cheeses do you carry in this category?”

If you ask only for the name of a cheese you may not end up with the flavor you really wanted. Know more than just the name.

And as I always say, try before you buy.

Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop www.cheeseshopcenterbrook.com

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The Cupping Room Philip Parda, Savvy Tea Gourmet

Deep Steamed Japanese Green Tea S

avory is the way to describe the rich flavor of Deep Steamed Japanese Green Tea. Puddle the tea on your tongue, and hold it for ten seconds or so.

Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth…feel the teas thickness.

Observe the slightly clouded green water that results from the deep steam process. Notice the savory richness and pleasant vegetal flavor. After several sips lick your lips to pick up the seaweed like flavor (Umami) deposited there from previous sips.

Deep steaming breaks down the plant fiber more. Visually the tea leaves include many more small particles compared to normal Sencha. Steaming the “rough tea” or “Aracha” longer than normal Sencha produces a slightly lighter aroma, but a more robust and rich flavor.

A mountainous backdrop and a 30 mile long high elevation sun drenched plateau in central eastern Japan combined with rich soil, and the loving care of Mr. Matsua, our grower, create perfect conditions for the Yabukita tea varietal to thrive. These rich conditions produce plants so vibrant and sturdy, that the steaming time used to stop the oxidation of the leaf can be can be 2 to 4 times as long as the time used for most Japanese Senchas.

The outcome of this vivacious plant and the “Deep Steaming” time used produces an extra-savory flavor with exceptional “Umami”, the term used in Japan to describe the savory seaweed taste that tea drinkers crave.

Makinohara Fukimushisencha: • Grown exclusively on the Makinohara Plateau • Made from the most widely used plant varietal in Japan • Thick, rich, slightly cloudy green tea liquor high in Umami.

• Highly complements seafood, sushi and sashimi.

• Abundant Benefits of Japanese Green Tea

Makinohara Fukamushisencha’s rich and savory aroma, flavor, and mouth feel will provide a rewarding Japanese Green Tea experience that will repeatedly delight. High level of amino acids present in this tea have been shown to have a calming effect. When coupled with the caffeine component in the tea, they complement each other to create “clear calm” resulting in conditions conducive to creativity and concentration.

The Obvious paring of this extraordinary tea with Sushi or Sashimi almost goes without mention, but the surprise is how this savory tea can embellish almost any seafood. It can be used in reductions sauces, glazes, or even sprinkled as a garnish.

Make deep steamed Japanese Sencha part of your green tea rotation and tea drinking enjoyment. You will never want to stop.

Philip Parda, Savvy Tea Gourmet, Madison, CT 06443 savvyteagourmet.com

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

Alsace Alsace is an area in the northern corner of France, which once belonged to Germany. This cool region grows and produces mostly white wines. The region has a lot of steep slopes, which only allows the use of machines on the flat base of the area. The rest of the area is hand harvested.

There are many grape varietals grown in Alsace, including these top 8. Chasselas, Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sylavner. Although Chardonnay is also grown here, it is technically prohibited by law to be the main varietal on the label. It is usually listed as Pinot Blanc or used in making Cremant d’ Alsace. Gewurztraminer has the richest and most interesting flavors of the white grapes grown.

With its floral notes, slightly spice and with a touch of sweetness this pars wells with spicy food. Due to the quality most of these wines can be cellar aged. Chasselas is a grape most used for blending and seldomley used on its own. Muscat wines are typically a blend of two different Muscat grapes, Muscat d’ Alsace and Muscat Ottnel. This blend makes a crisp dry wine. Pinot Blanc has a little body with a quite dry crisp finish. This is the main grape in Cremant d’ Alsace, a sparkling cuvee. Another wine excellent for aging is Pinot Gris is a flavorful wine with big tantalizing fruit notes and enough acidity to balance it.

The most widely grown grape in Alsace is Riesling. Most people look upon this wine as being sweet and full of fruit. This wine has a great range of sweetness and complexity. Typically from Alsace these wines can also be quite dry and also balanced acidity and age worthy.

Pinot Noir is the only red grape gown in Alsace. Although the climate is cold and a little tough on the wine, they produce some very good Pinot Noirs. Pinot Noir goes through malolactic fermentation a process of converting Malic Acid into milder Latic Acid which lowers the acidity and softens the wine. This is especially done to red wines in cool climates. This process leaves the wine with a rich flavor whether it is red or white. However in Alsace Malolatic Fermtation is not used in the white wine making process, in order to keep the wine’s bright fruit and crisp acidity.

Like much of the wine in Alsace Pinot Noir is produced and stored in large containers. New oak Barrels are rarely used on any of the wines. Pinot Noir are light bodied red wines that have flavors of Raspberry and light cherry with a medium dry finish. They Pairs well with light meats and slightly spicy foods.

Much like a lot of the German wines Alsace wines are bottled in a tall tapered glass bottle. These wines are excellent accompaniment for the upcoming holiday meals.

So go and search out for these wines, which can be enjoyed with many dishes including pairing especially well with seafood. Have fun with these great wines from Alsace for whatever you are having or on their own.

Art LiPuma Seaside Wine & Spirits, Old Saybrook CT

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March 1 - 31 Chester The Third Annual Juried Show at Maple and Main Gallery of 250 carefully selected paintings and sculptures by artists from Connecticut and beyond is on view through March 31. Please see works from the show at mapleandmaingallery.com. Maple and Main Gallery at One Maple Street, is open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 860-526-6065; mapleandmain@att.net; please visit the gallery on facebook and Instagram.

March 1 - April 7 5th Annual Connecticut Coast & Country Winter Wine Trail.

Passports for the 2018 Connecticut Coast & Country Winter Wine Trail may be picked up at any of the four participating wineries.

The Winter Wine Trail encourages participants to visit each one of the wineries between the dates of the program and get their "passport" stamped at each location.

Those who participate not only get to taste the variety of great wines, but there are over $2,000 in prizes. To be eligible to win, participants must visit all the participating wineries and get the "passport" stamped by April 6. There is no purchase necessary to receive a passport or get it stamped. Stay overnight, eat and drink at a local restaurants and support local farms and businesses.

(203) 453-2338 www.ctcoastcountrywinetrail.com March 1 - April 15 Essex "Contemporary Moments: Paintings by Molly McDonald" Cooper & Smith Gallery. Exhibit showcases new abstracts by Molly McDonald. Molly draws from past and present experiences, in combination with observation and imagination, to create color fields that are simultaneously meditative and energetic. Cooper & Smith Gallery 10 Main St.Essex, CT 06426 (860) 581-8526 www.coopersmithgallery.com art@coopersmithgallery.com

S 2 Stonington March FIRST FRIDAY Wine 5:00 Tasting.

7:00pm. Join us for an evening of wine tasting with Saltwater Vineyards. 349 Elm St, Stonington, CT 860) 415-9072

March 4 Chester Please join us at the Leif Nilsson Spring Street Studio & Gallery at 1 Spring Street in Chester Center for a SPECIAL Concert in the Garden on Sunday, March, 4 2018 from 4pm - 6pm with Simon Van Gend on his U.S. Tour from South Africa. South African singersongwriter Simon van Gend has been writing songs since forming his first band in the early nineties. Originally inspired by songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Paul Simon, he has developed a style of writing and performing all his own, mixing soulful melodies with lyrics that chart new territories in the internal world. Simon has recorded five albums with his band. The fourth, Blinking and Breathing, was produced by acclaimed Australian producer Ian Pritchett, famed for his work with Angus & Julia Stone and The Beautiful Girls. http://www.simonvangend.com $20 donation - BYOB and picnic – Sorry no pets. GATES OPEN Half Hour before the show. For more info log onto nilssonstudio.com or call 860-526-2077.

MARCH EVENTS

March 1 - 14 Westbrook Featuring selected works from Studio Art Quilt Connecticut Associates Region at the Valentine H. Zahn Community Gallery located at Middlesex Hospital 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 Hospital at 860-358-6200 or zahngallery@midhosp.org.

MARCH EVENTS

74 March 9 - April 14 Madison 15th Anniversary Exhibition - Group Show.

Susan Powell Fine Art. We are pleased to present this Anniversary Exhibition celebrating 15 years in business at our Madison gallery. Thirty-five award-winning artists whom we have represented for many years, as well as newly invited artists are participating in this exciting Spring show. Meet the artists and join us for a festive Opening Reception on Friday, March 9, 5 - 8 pm. Prosecco and hors d'oeuvres will be served. This exhibit features a varied selection of subjects including landscapes, seascapes, still lifes, florals, figurative and New York City scenes. The gallery is located at 679 Boston Post Road, Madison near the fire station. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm, 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.

March 24 Bantam Bourbon & Bach. In the mood for something unique?

Travel to the beautiful backroads of Litchfield, to Litchfield Distillery and enjoy Percussionist/imp roviser Doug Perry as he blurs the lines of genre and allows musics of all styles and backgrounds to share the same stage at an exceptional location. Join the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra in a journey this season to experience and explore the hidden gems in our community. We are building connections across our regions, making roads, and making connections together. 6:30 p.m. $35 (online), $45 at the door. www.waterburysymphony.org 203) 574-4283 Litchfield Distillery., 569 Bantam Rd. Litchfield, CT March 27 - April 19 Belmont, MA Paintings by Anne Gaffey at the Landau Gallery, Reception is March 29th 5-7:00 @Bellmont Hills School 350 Prospect Street, Belmont, MA 02478

March 22 New Britain "Landmarks of Western Art: Impressionism and PostImpressionism" Landmarks of Western Art explores the artists who were behind the revolutionary style that featured loose brushstrokes and an explosion of color and Impressionism. motion: Their works, which focused on the sensory effect of a scene instead of precise details, were the inspiration for all that was to follow, including the work of Maurice Prendergast and other Post-Impressionists. New Britain Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington St. New Britain, CT 06052 March 21 - April 8 Ivoryton The Fantasticks. A gem of the American theater, The Fantasticks is the longestrunning musical in the world – running over over 50 years in Manhattan and entrancing generations of audiences the world over. The Fantasticks is a funny and romantic musical tale about a boy, a girl, and their two parents who try to keep them apart. The narrator, El Gallo, originally played by Jerry Orbach, asks the audience to use their imagination and follow him into a world of moonlight and magic. The boy and the girl fall in love, grow apart, and finally find their way back to each other after realizing the truth in El Gallo’s words that “without a hurt, the heart is hollow”. The result is a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time. The famous score, which includes the classics Try To Remember, They Were You and Soon It’s Gonna Rain, is as timeless as the story itself. No show Easter Sunday, April 1; Replacement show on Saturday, March 31st at 2pm. Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton, CT 06442 Telephone: 860.767.9520 Box Office: 860.767.7318 info@ivorytonplayhouse.org

March 25 Mystic Irish Parade. With an array of floats and more than 25 marching bands, this parade is easily among the region’s largest. Each year, a sliver of Ireland is brought to the small town of Mystic, Connecticut and friends & family from near and far celebrate together in support of the Mystic Irish Parade Foundation! This organization is composed of an outstanding team of local residents, business leaders and community volunteers. The dedicated team plans, executes and delivers an unforgettable Mystic Irish Parade that has transformed into Mystic’s largest single day celebration!

Kicking off at 1:00 pm, the parade, extending from the Mystic Seaport Museum to the Mystic Art Association, Grand Marshal Father Tom Hoar of Ender’s Island will lead 2,200 local community members while they march alongside creatively designed floats and dance to the Celtic music echoing throughout the village while over 32,000 supporters cheer and celebrate the day! Over a decade ago, a few of friends joined together to celebrate their Celtic heritage. In an effort to continue their good spirit and cultural traditions with their beloved community, they decided to start planning what is now the most renowned parade in Eastern CT and one of the best in the state!