Traditional New England Food

THE TRADITIONAL NEW ENGLAND FOODS

MAINE LOBSTER

Any New Englander can testify a lobster is worth that big mess and fuss. Dipped in a little butter, the Maine lobster meat tastes fresher than anything in the markets. Don’t forget your bib, the ultimate cracking tool, and the smallest fork for optimal Maine lobster eating experience. Try the Maine Lobster Bisque or look around at other great recipes for meal ideas.

CAPE COD CRANBERRIES

It’s been 120 years and Cape Cod is still making the finest cranberries. That spring Sandhill crane blossom is now harvested nearly 40,000 acres per year. So there’s plenty of those vitamin-C rich berries to go around. For the next two months (October and November) cranberries will be in their prime harvesting season. They’ll last in your fridge up to four weeks or just grab extra and tuck them away in your freezer for splendid Cape Cod Cranberries anytime of year. Change up the Thanksgiving desserts this year with a Cranberry Pineapple Cheesecake Tart.

Read more »

Annual Scituate Art Festival in Scituate, Rhode Island

THE 41st ANNUAL SCITUATE ART FESTIVAL

Columbus Day Weekend – Scituate, Rhode Island – (Oct. 11-13 from 10am-5pm)

More than three hundred exhibitors from the US and Canada will meet this year in the small and quaint town of Situate, Rhode island. The panoramic of the finest foliage and exquisite art is what attracts all. Featured this year are dozens of antique dealers, all sorts of art for sale and display, a raffle for 30 different items witch proceeds going to Scituate town, live music, good food, friendly people. You can’t beat that!

Read more »

Moose and Fall Foliage Tours in Maine

As the cold moves in, the green moves out. With that, New England brings the most striking scenes while the leaves transform through thousands of colors. Maine’s advantage of being furthest North, experiences this change firstly around late September to early October. So, this year undergo the Moosehead Loop to feel the ultimate Fall foliage picture in New England.

This 210-mile journey will pass by Moosehead Lake, Moxie Falls, Mount Kineo and through towns Skowhegan and Jackman. Below is the specific route and a general picture. Sections to take note in are Route 201 (Solon through West Forks) and Route 6 & 15 (Jackman through Rockwood.

Read more »

Oldest Summer Resort in America – Wolfeboro Inn

Here’s a bit of trivia. Where can you find the oldest summer place in America? In New Hampshire lakes region. Despite the fact of being “the oldest summer resort in America” the Wolfeboro Inn remains a hot spot for a New England vacation. During your quite historic stay, you will discover the heart and charm of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire at a number of shops, galleries, and local activities. Lucky for you, waiting for the right time of year to vacate won’t be a problem since Wolfeboro attains all year activities and attractions. There can be no doubt in your mind whether you can find the right room and accommodations.

Read more »

7 Attractions to Visit in Vermont

1. Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour

There is no way a true New Englander can visit Vermont without exploring the place that makes cold and delicious joy in a cup or cone. That’s right… Ben & Jerry’s. Now you can witness first hand where all the magic happens on the Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour. Start with a “moovie” about the success of Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, watch the live action of the ice cream making process, and lastly try ice cream and check out cool stuff at the gift shop. Tours start and end every half hour and reservations are recommended for parties of 10 or more. This summer Ben & Jerry’s Factory hosted a free outdoor movie festival every saturday night. As the nights are getting colder, the last showing will be August 23rd with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Ben & Jerry’s Factory – 1281 Waterbury/Stowe Road (Route 100) – Waterbury, VT – (802) 882-1240

2. Vermont Teddy Bear Company

Hop on a 30 minute Vermont Teddy Bear Factory Tour and see firsthand how those fuzzy and cute little bears are made. Throughout the year, between their location in Newport and this Shelburne Factory they will make 430,000 bears. On the tour, you’ll understand how they do it and learn their tricks and tips. The Hungry Bear Cafe serves up breakfast, lunch, and snacks and in the summer days ice cream is there to cool you off. Check out the store at the factory or online and get some great ideas for birthday and christmas presents. You can customize any bear to whatever your recipient likes and stitch their name in the bear too! All bears are sent as a Bear-Gram which comes with gourmet caramels, a friendly colorful note written by you, and a fun box with air holes to ensure the bear gets nice fresh air.

Factory – 6655 Shelburne Rd – St. George, VT – (802) 985-3001

Read more »

The Largest Contemporary Art Museum of the Country – MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts

In 1999, the 13-acre campus in North Adams, Massachusetts renovated into today’s largest contemporary art museum in the country. MASS MoCA has succeeded to adduce the most recent, empowering, and inspiring material. Beside their such competent art, at least 75 outstanding performances are enacted per year. Shows could be popular music, contemporary dance, alternative cabaret, outdoor silent films with live music, documentaries, world music dance parties or avant-garde theater. MASS MoCA, the Clark Art Institute, and the Williams College Museum of Art combined to provide a place for children to study and create art. Named Kidspace, kids also have the opportunity to experience world-class music, theater, and dance. Eight major sections of the campus bring something so diverse from the other and in November of 2008 MASS MoCA will present the ninth segment.

Over the summer you can watch over a dozen artists and drafts people collaborating on the art works for Sol LeWitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective. LeWitt, considered the founder of Minimal and Conceptual Movements, died shortly after he created the plans for this new addition to MASS MoCA. In dedication to him, twenty four LeWitt trained professionals and their associates will contribute to the 30,000 square foot production. Their own works outside of the LeWitt project will be showcased in an offsite exhibition called Primary Secondary: Volume 1 and 2 until August 29, 2008. 

Tickets for MASS MoCA run at a great price and allow you to experience 110,000 square feet are purely popular and famed contemporary art. Check out some of the inns and bed & breakfasts in and around North Adams, Massachusetts and book your calendars.

Sol LeWitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective- Opening Nov. 16, 2008

Stir up your vacation at Mohegan Sun of Uncasville, Connecticut

Who decided that playgrounds are just for kids? Today you will find out that Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut is your new playground. Bring your friends and enjoy live entertainment, authentic food, great shopping, relaxing spas, rousing parties, and best of all… gambling. Don’t worry about leaving your job behind for a few days because Mohegan Sun offers to fully organize and host your next business meeting.

This week the Mohegan Sun Arena features Boston and Styx and Nine Inch Nails. Having a different music group perform every night, you are guaranteed to find a concert you will enjoy. You can’t get more variety when Chris Rock, Motley Crue, and Pink Floyd are all performing in the same month. Tickets average to about $40 per person and can be purchased online or by phone. Grab a quick bite to eat at one of the Mohegan Sun cafes or throw on your finest attire for a more exquisite dinner at, for example, Pompeii and Caesar. Bring the entire family to the Sunburst Buffet or a few close friends for an exciting night at one of the many bars and night clubs. However you want to eat, Mohegan Sun caters to you. It won’t be hard to have a prime shopping day with Cache, Boccelli, Swarovski, Godiva Chocolatiers, and many other specialty stores. Wrap up your shopping day with a visit at either Casinos of the Sky or Casinos of the Earth. In addition, Casinos of the Wind will open in October of 2008. After all the excitement, rejuvenate yourself with a facial or grab your significant other for a Couples Massage at the Elemis Spa. At a 34-story hotel with either a king or two double queen beds in every room, it’ll be hard to say “no” to a Mohegan Sun vacation. Check out the special packages for great deals and make reservations or if you’re that interested start planning your wedding with Mohegan Sun of Uncasville, Connecticut. 

2008 Newport, Rhode Island JVC Jazz Festival

At least 50 years ago, Jazz pianist George Wein presented the first outdoor music festival dedicated to strictly jazz. As time grew on and the jazz culture evolved, the annual festival transformed into today’s Newport Jazz Festival. Having sponsored over 117 popular Jazz festivals since the 1980’s, the JVC International Jazz Festival Program is proud to yearly introduce prestige musicians in Newport, Rhode Island. 

Chris Botti and Ledisi will kick off the festival at 8:00 P.M. on Friday, August 8th, located at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino. The following days filled of jazz will be hosted on the three stages of historic Fort Adams State Park on August 9th and 10th. The Main Stage showing more bigger acts, the Pavillion suiting most trios and quartets, and the Waterside Stage hosting piano soloists and small ensembles you are assured great Jazz music. As there are several other JVC Jazz Festival locations such as Miami, New York, Chicago and few others, Newport, Rhode Island is the only to entertain in perfect weather, a stunning view and a friendly environment.

Looking for a place to spend your jazz filled weekend? Check out previous blog entries or visit the Distinctive Inns of New England website to learn more about specials and packages at The Cliffside Inn located in the heart of Newport, Rhode Island. 

Below is a brief schedule of what is planned for this upcoming weekend. 

INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME – FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 – SHOWING AT 8PM
Chris Botti
Ledisis

FORT ADAMS STATE PARK – SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 – SHOWING AT 11:30 AM & 7:00 PM
Aretha Franklin
Chris Botti
Wayne Shorter Quartet
Dave Holland, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chris Potter, Eric Harland
Ledisi
Lettuce with Fred Wesley
Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band
Charlie Haden, Ethan Iverson, Bill Frisell
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Christian Scott
Warren Vache Quintet
Aaron Goldberg Trio
Melody Gardot

FORT ADAMS STATE PARK – SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 – SHOWING AT 11:30 AM & 7:00 PM
Sonny Rollins
Herbie Hancock
Anthony Hamilton
Guillermo Klein Y Los Gauchos
Soulive with Fred Wesley
Lionel Loueke Trio
Chris Potter’s Underground
George Wein and the Newport All-Stars featuring Anat Cohen-Howard
Alden
Marco Benevento Trio with Chris Potter
Mark Rapp Band
Empirical
Esperanza Spalding
*All artists are subject to change

Golf and Tennis Getaways in Newport, Rhode Island

August is creeping up on us and before you know it the summer will have came and went. Take off a day off in your busy life and enjoy the warm weather while it’s still here. The Legendary Inns of Newport has the perfect vacation day planned for you at an outstanding value. Begin with a relaxing game of golf on what Golf Week Magazine claims the number one in the state of Rhode Island. Newport National’s Orchard Course endows ravishing views of the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay from 200 acres of 100% seaside bent grass. Prominent golf architect Arthur Hills and his associate Drew Rogers designed this phenomenal course over what once was farm land.

Once you’ve rested, turn to the very first, yet finest, tennis courts in America. The Legendary Inns of Newport coincided with Tennis Hall of Fame to bring you 13 courts of where the best tennis players since 1881 have been playing that now you can too.

Golf Details- Reserve before your scheduled arrival to get the best time. Reservations are held with a credit card. If you’re a Preferred Guest you can save 15% on green fees. Green fees are per player. Tee times subject to availability and weather conditions. Available through late Fall. 

Weekdays are $95 (Monday – Wednesday and Sunday after 1PM).

Weekends are $125 (Thursday – Saturday and Sunday until 1PM).

Tennis Details- Reserve before your scheduled arrival to get the best time. Reservations are held with a credit card. If you’re a Preferred Guest you can save 15% on court time. Court time subject to availability and weather conditions. Preferred club dress is tennis whites. Available through the end of September.

An hour and a half of singles play is $77.

For further information call 800-845-1811 or 401-847-1811

or e-mail reservations@legendaryinnsofnewport.com

Cape Cod Spa in Chatham, Massachusetts

Treat your mind and body with a mellowing massage and aesthetic remedies provided by Sol Spa. Stimulate your day of therapy, or perhaps a week, with a tonic massage suited for you. Having at least twelve different choices from Deep Tissue to Swedish Strokes, you’ll be able to attend to your body type. Despite Sol Spa’s such up-scale character, the assumed high prices are not to be expected. For only $25, try the Sitting in the Garden massage for soothing relief. Next, pamper the most precious part of your body; your face. See your face glow with the Oxygenating Facial that cleanses, stimulates, and rebuilds your deepest skin cells. Then, spoil yourself some more and revitalize your hands, feet, and skin where needed most. Make your therapeutic vacation worthwhile and check out the packages offered to get everything at one valued price. E-mail info@solspachatham.com to make reservations or answer any questions you may have.

Stay at the Captain’s House Inn for an experience as concilitating as Sol Spa. Back in 1839, Captain Hiram Harding built a home with a charming Greek ambiance for his wife of one year. What now is the Captain’s House Inn, provides 16 quarters and two acres of scenery and garden with outbuildings and swimming pools. 

“The Captain’s House Inn is the consummate romantic getaway. It makes you dream of coming back.”

— Jill Rigby, Travel Editor, Toronto Sun

With many special packages from a Babymoon to a three-night New Year’s Eve premium, The Captain’s House Inn endues the perfect elopement accommodations. Avoid stress and enjoy you and your partner’s quite memorable day while The Captain’s House Inn will do all the work to ensure a graceful ceremony. 

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8734854975469547920&q=captains+house+inn+&ei=3eSFSOj7EoSaqQLJ-qDQCA&hl=en]