For any reader who feels that traditions no longer matter, that anything our parents or grandparents cherished should be cast aside, well, it’s possible that this issue may not be for you. These pages are soaked with tradition, I won’t apologize about that — but here’s the thing: The beauty of traditions is that they […]
christmas
2008 Nutcracker Performances Don’t miss it! Scroll through these state-by-state listings of local performances of the beloved ballet, The Nutcracker. View Yankee‘s backstage photos of Boston Nutcracker ballet dancers and read Annie Graves’ memories of “One Enchanted Evening” atThe Nutcracker. CONNECTICUT Nutcracker Performances Brass City Ballet Westover School Middlebury, CT December 6, 7, 2008 203-598-0186 […]
Gardens
Defense of the Norway maple
I live in a small house with many windows. From mid-October to Thanksgiving, the front and sides bathe in a fierce yellow light, thanks to the leaves of the Norway maple that grows in the eastern tree zone. Its leaves hold the light of the sun; even at dusk and on overcast days, there’s a […]
Massachusetts
Gloucester Family’s Annual Winemaking Tradition
My great-grandpa Guiseppe Frontierro made wine back in Sicily, and the tradition traveled with him to the wharves of Gloucester, Massachusetts. He employed his grandchildren to stomp the grapes right on the waterfront. It’s been said that he kept the spirits of the fishing fleet high with his wharf wine. After he died, the tradition […]
Peter Ralston is telling me about a boy he once knew. In 1957, when the boy is seven years old, he moves to an old gray stone house in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
Yankee Classic from December 1986 For me, nothing brings purpose to a day like making a pie. For me, nothing is more comfortable … comforting … than a pie. Years ago, when I was first married and learning to cook, I resolved that above all else I wanted to be able to make excellent pies. […]
For many years and many reasons, travelers have been drawn to Bethlehem, New Hampshire. This quiet vale at the edge of the White Mountain National Forest once boasted dozens of resort hotels. Its pure mountain air gave rise to the National Hay Fever Relief Association. Signs proclaim it the poetry capital of the state. These […]
Yankee classic from December 1995 If the tawdry, materialistic displays that too often mark a modern Christmas make you feel like the Grinch, then travel with me to Thompson, Connecticut. It is an evening in early December, and the Old Town Hall, at the northwestern edge of the five-acre Thompson Hill Common, is ready for […]
Magazine
Rangeley, ME: An Angel in Rangeley
Yankee classic from December 1993 It’s a long road to Rangeley. Route 4 twists through miles of thickly forested land, rising and falling as it heads north from Augusta, and on winter nights snowbanks narrow the road, shining white in the headlights, tunneling through the darkness. Surrounded by the mountains and lakes of western Maine, […]
Connecticut
Wethersfield, CT, and Onions
Yankee classic from August 1993 Plan a weekend visit to Wethersfield today. In those days, you could smell Wethersfield before you could see it. Outsiders dubbed the Connecticut village “Oniontown,” with a crosshatch of affection and derision, for this was home of the world-famous Wethersfield red onion, and its pungent scent stung the air. Wethersfield […]
New England
Day Dreaming About Hang Gliding
Though I have never gone, I used to day dream about soaring through the air – hang gliding. Bungee jumping, nah. Skydiving, no thanks. But hang gliding? Sign me up. I contemplated adding a hang glider to my Christmas list one year, until my mom squashed the idea by explaining that, “Hang gliders are very […]
Portland’s culinary reputation continues to grow nationwide. Several of the following restaurants have received prestigious awards for their excellent and delicious meals. It’s worth the trip to the Port City to try one — or all — of the venues we rated the best Portland, Maine, restaurants. We promise you won’t be disappointed with the meals […]