The town of Pittsfield is one of Vermont’s best-kept secrets. With one (awesome) General Store, two wedding venues, 50 miles of mountain biking trails, five inns and only 400-or-so residents, Pittsfield is a quintessential New England town, home to hearty Vermonters who value their community and the ample outdoor recreation […]
As Valentine’s Day approaches, I’ve seen an insurgence of funny Valentine’s cards, as well as events in Vermont to bring levity to a day designed for love that more often than not leaves people down or in the dumps. Cards with sayings like, “I’d Climb a Moderate Sized […]
If you asked me and Randy independently what the nicest hotel, bed and breakfast or inn we ever stayed in was, we both—unequivocally and without pause—would tell you Casa Gallina in Taos, New Mexico. Casa Gallina is an artisan inn run by Richard Spera, a Cornell University Hotel and Restaurant School […]
When I was in college, I lived full-time in Vermont and spent the summer months working at restaurants and an inn in downeast Maine (technically Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada). I spent most of my waking hours in Lubec, Maine—largely a community of fisherman—where I befriended the locals. Although Lubec is […]
I take condiments very seriously. From sauces and aiolis to spreads and chutneys, condiments can easily take a meal to the next level. As a kid, I experimented with homemade sauces on a regular basis and considered making my very own sauce cookbook (maybe someday?). On a regular basis, I still make […]
Rules are meant to be broken. You only live once. Carpe diem. When I walked into SILO Distilleryin Windsor, Vermont—the birthplace of Vermont—in the middle of “dry January,” all of these sayings came to mind as I decided to forego willpower and a month of abstention (which, let me tell you, […]
Eating out in Vermont is something I always look forward to… There are so many talented chefs hiding out in the Green Mountain State who are creating phenomenal dishes that rival the best of the best in New York City or San Francisco. To celebrate the new year and the ever-evolving […]
I’ve always admired family-owned businesses, as it certainly takes patience, discipline and good communication to work with family members day in and day out. In Vermont, there are an overwhelming number of family-owned-and-operated businesses from dairy farms to maple syrup operations to restaurants and country stores that have been thriving for generations. The […]
Brandon, a small Vermont town and tight-knit artistic community, is located between Rutland and Middlebury at the base of the Green Mountains and has a population that hovers around 4,000 people. The town is a quintessential Vermont village with many brick facades lining Center Street, a Greek-revival town hall and the Neshobe […]
One of the things I love the most about old homes is the unique details that carry throughout them. The Lang House on Main Street Bed & Breakfast, just a few blocks from Church Street in Burlington, has some of the most beautiful architectural details in a historic home […]
I’m a Vermonter who doesn’t ski and has never really wanted to do so. Growing up in New Jersey, I never learned to ski, nor did anyone in my immediate family. I attempted (once) to learn how as a freshman in college, but with rental snowboots cutting off my circulation, […]
This year, Randy and I decided to do stocking stuffers for each other rather than a larger gift, given we’re finally giving in a buying our very own snowblower (how have we lasted this long in Vermont without one?). I’ve put together some of my favorite made-in-Vermont stocking […]
Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year, largely due to the fact that I love coming up with thoughtful gift ideas for friends and family. Living in Vermont makes gift giving easy with so many Vermont-made products, from art and clothing to beer and beauty products. […]
This holiday season, why not branch out from a bottle of Cab or a plate of Christmas cookies and offer a unique Vermont-made gift to your holiday party host? I’ve collected some of my favorite made-in-Vermont items, from gifts for the home to nibbles, noshes and libations. During the holiday season, […]
I first experienced small-town living in college, when I spent the academic year at Middlebury College and summers in Lubec, a tiny, tiny town in downeast Maine (the closest traffic light is 75 miles away, no joke). Despite Lubec’s remoteness and the spotty cell phone service that drove me crazy at the time, […]