Guinness Record Maker for World’s largest 3-D Earth museum exhibit – Eartha in Yarmouth, Maine

EARTHA EXHIBIT IN THE DELORME HEADQUARTERS

YARMOUTH, ME

Always wondered what the world looked like from the outside? Take a trip to Yarmouth, Maine and you’ll be able to do just that at the Eartha exhibit in the DeLorme headquarters. This 3-dimensional, 42-foot scale model of our earth with mountains and landforms all in 3-D set the Guinness record for the “World’s Largest Revolving/Rotating Globe” in 1999. How did they make such a masterpiece? It took David DeLorme, the CEO of DeLorme, one full year to compile satellite imagery, shaded relief, colored ocean depth data, and information from actual earth grounds to create 140 gigabytes of mapping data. The Eartha’s lightweight aluminum surface is perfectly shaped to replicate the earth and then actually revolves on a specially designed cantilever arm while rotating on an axis. Every continent is meticulously detailed with vivid colors illustrating all levels of vegetation, major roadways and cities, and ocean depths. And best of all, it’s all free! The DeLorme headquarters are open Monday-Saturday from 9:30am to 6:30pm and re-opening on Sundays starting April 19, 2009. For more details call toll free at 1-800-642-097 or locally at 207-846-7100.

“Eartha is the largest image of earth ever created,” says DeLorme. “Eartha will instill a sense of wonder in people when they first see it and we hope they walk away from it with a better appreciation and knowledge of the world around them.”

With the few extra bucks you save visiting this New England attraction, put it towards a State of Mainer one-night getaway package at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, ME. You’ll receive the best room available in the entire inn for the lowest prices around including dinner and breakfast. Enjoy your Maine stay and your visit to our earth right before your eyes.

Museum of Fife and Drum Corps and a Connecticut country inn in Essex

THE MUSEUM OF FIFE & DRUM

Essex, Connecticut

At the Museum of Fife & Drum learn about America’s visual and music background dated from the Revolutionary War to today. Listen to shrills of fife and the beats of long drums as you observe the numerous artifacts on display such as drums, fifes, military swords, uniforms, medals, awards, and photographs. If you enjoy colorful and upbeat parades, then this is the perfect place for you to visit on your next Connecticut River vacation. There will even be free concerts every Tuesday evening during July and August usually featuring two corps per night. If you’re a drum corp, club, historical society, or college/high school music group, call the museum at (860) 767-2237 to arrange for a group tour. The donations are only $3 for adults, $2 for youth (ages 13-17), and children under 12 are free. Click the link proceeding for travel directions. Not even one mile down Comstock Avenue is the Copper Beech Inn, a four-star country inn and four-diamond, wine-spectator-award winning restaurant. It’s located in the beautiful Connecticut River Vally aside the Long Island Sound shoreline nearby several charming historic towns, shops, attractions and many outdoor activities. Currently they are advertising a two-night Summer package highlighting an Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Cruise, champagne upon arrival, free dinner for two one night in Brasserie Pip, and VIP discount coupons for Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets. Add a 3rd night for 50% off the regular room rate and enjoy your stay in Ivoryton, Connecticut.

Vermont craftspeople display their arts and crafts in Open Studio Weekend 2009

Vermont Crafts Council hosts the Open Studio Weekend 2009

May 23 & 24, 2009

Back in September, the Vermont Crafts Council organizes directions and maps to all the sites of the Vermont craftspeople whom work in studios located in or close to their residences. Throughout the Winter, they continue accepting applications of sites and develop directions. Around the first week of April, it all comes together to make The Open Studio Weekend, named one of the Top Ten Summer Events in a Vermont Chamber of Commerce competition in 1997. On this event, you will be able to see for yourself the production of many finished works of art, the atmosphere of their workplace, and even talk with the artist them self all in the place of the artists’ workplace. You’ll see the swatches that have not been chosen for the quilt or the work that is experimental or not serious enough for the gallery. As you can see on the map below, it will be almost impossible to run out of places to visit on this exciting weekend. Thinking about attending both days of the Open Studio Weekend? The Distinctive Inns of New England can help you find the right place to stay in Vermont to make your weekend just a bit better with luxurious accommodations.

Going from idea to reality: Placing studios on the map.

Glass Blowing Exhibit and the Belfry Inne & Bistro in Cape Cod

In the Glass Blowing exhibit a guest was selected randomly to try glass blowing for himself!

Feel the heat as you watch molten glass being turned and twisted into exquisite forms at the Sandwich Glass Museum. Here you will find many exhibits and activities that could easily fill up an entire vacation for you and your loved ones of any age. Currently, Edward and James Poore explain their journey through the glass realm and display their expertise in the contemporary exhibit called “Two Generations of Glass Engravers, Cutters and Sculptors”. Learn about dining in the Victorian Era as Hannah “Rebecca” Burgess flourishes the glass made finger bowls, celery vases, epergnes, butter dishes, knife holders, and even individual salt shakers. Get some fresh air on a walking tour highlighting the historic town’s American architecture and the people of the village and their past. Be sure not to miss the Annual Cape Cod Glass Show and Sale featuring 45 nationally prominent glass dealers offering antique and collectible American & European glassware dating back to the 18th century.

For rates, directions, and any other information click here.

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A Boston Walking and Historic Tour

THE BOSTON HISTORIC FREEDOM TRAIL

Discover 16 nationally historic sites in 2.5 miles

Start at any point you choose and experience the American history firsthand. Many tours run daily with the most popular being Walk Into History. This tour takes you on the famous red line while a 18th Century Costumed Guide tells the tales of courageous Bostonians and Colonialists. Learn how their intrepidity against Britain helped create the democracy we know today. Some of these 18th Century Costumed Guides are Ebenezer Hancock, James Otis, Thomas Savage, Mercy Otis Warren, and plenty more. All tours run 90 minutes and are suited for anybody interested. On your tour these are some places you will encounter:
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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!

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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

Deerfield, Massachusetts

Often times, Deerfield, Massachusetts is referred to as New England’s gem. Deerfield is home to thirteen beautifully restored, historic homes built in the 18th century, as well as the Flynt Center of Early New England Life Museum and two memorial libraries.

The Flynt Center of Early New England Life is a great place to visit if you are interested in learning about 18th and 19th century New England, with its constantly rotating exhibitions and knowledgeable staff. Currently, the Flynt Center is showing the following exhibits:

“Clothes Make the Man: The Colonial Gentleman in New England.”
“Engraved Powder Horns from the French and Indian War and the American Revolution: The William H. Gutham Collection.”
“Celebrating the Fiber Arts: The Helen Geier Flynt Textile Gallery.”

Just this past weekend, the Flynt Center opened a new exhibit – “Into the Woods: Crafting Early American Furniture,” where visitors can learn about antique furniture.

Deerfield is also home to the jointly administered Henry N. Flynt Memorial Library and the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association Library with volumes totaling 41,000 combined. These volumes include not only books, periodicals and microforms, but also local account books, diaries and letters.

To top off a visit to Deerfield, be sure to relax at the Deerfield Inn. The Inn offers 23 guest rooms and an award winning dining room that serves both lunch and dinner.