Helene Harbage’s fingers nimbly pick over the quart of raspberries, selecting only the plumpest, most perfect of the lot, setting each one, bottom down, to dry on a clean towel. She turns next to the blueberries, choosing the biggest. Helene is making her one-crust “Star-Spangled Berry Pie,” a favorite of hers that once won first […]
vermont
Living
Adirondack Chairs
On Bruce Ware’s porch above the shores of Lake Champlain, I lower myself into a deep wooden chair and lean back. “The way you’ll know a real one is the height of the chair off the ground, and where your knees come up to,” Ware tells me. “In some, where the angle is wrong, they’ll […]
A cool mist and a milky, overcast sky mercifully keep the sun off the backs of the blueberry rakers on the desolate barrens north of Columbia Falls, in Maine’s coastal Washington County. Close to 100 rakers, stooped and sweaty, work their way across the vast open landscape, littered with pickup trucks and brightly colored plastic […]
Magazine
A Strawberry Homecoming
Yesterday, friends came over for supper. Our main course was to be strawberry shortcake. It’s strawberry season here and, even though we’ve had way too much rain to make it a good year for berries, there are still wonderful berries to be had. At this time of year, we all have our favorite berry patches. […]
Magazine
Old Home Days 2009
The tradition of Old Home Days began in 1897 in New Hampshire and still goes on every summer across New England. Parades, ball games, and band concerts are the order of the day, while new folks get acquainted and returning folks reconnect with their communities. Read more: Old Home Days: A New England Tradition Here’s […]
Video: Interview with David Carroll Excerpt: David Carroll’s new book, Following the Water Yankee Class from June 1993 In the April afternoon, the sun sinks low, coloring the wide oval expanse of the marsh. David Carroll tugs his waders to the tops of his thighs and strides into the place he calls the Route of […]
Magazine
Drive-to-the-Top Mountains
There are times when being there beats getting there by a long shot. We want our foliage vistas, and we want them now — so, onward and upward, in our cars. Herewith, a rundown of nine New England mountain summits attainable by auto road. Some are among the region’s loftiest and most majestic mountains; others […]
Living
The Gary & Gerry Show
For its second Spotlight New England exhibition focused on contemporary artists working in the region, the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire, is featuring sculpture, paintings, and drawings by Gary Haven Smith of Northwood, New Hampshire, and Gerald Auten of Norwich, Vermont and the Dartmouth College faculty. The exhibition (through September 13) pairs […]
Vermont
Vermont Attractions 2009
ATTRACTIONS Best Recreation Path: LAMOILLE VALLEY RAIL TRAIL Stretching 92 miles from St. Johnsbury to Swanton along an old railbed, this gentle trail traverses a wide variety of landscapes, often following the scenic river. Surfaces vary; cyclists should use mountain bikes. 802-644-5750; lvrt.org Best Jam Session: VERMONT JAZZ CENTER, Brattleboro Jazz improv in Vermont? This […]
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Attractions 2009
ATTRACTIONS Best Historic Walking Tour: PORTSMOUTH HARBOR TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS TOUR, Portsmouth Delve into the city’s rich past on this hour-long walking tour of Colonial residences and historic landmarks, and hear the stories of early townspeople (merchants, politicians, and laborers) who helped build it into a four-star destination. Call for seasonal schedule. Reservations recommended. Greater Portsmouth […]
Vermont
Vermont Dining 2009
DINING Best Renaissance Downtown: NEWPORT, Newport Vermont’s northernmost city has shed its aging lumber port and turns a fresh face toward beautiful Lake Memphremagog. Stroll the boardwalk to the new Steamboat Wharf; then enjoy a meal at the lakeside BoatHouse Grill, lunch at laid-back Montgomery’s Café, or open-kitchen Italian style at Lago Trattoria. BoatHouse Grill, […]
Magazine
Greener Living at Home
Whether it’s out of concern for the environment or for a desire to live a more natural lifestyle, more people are making green decisions for their homes. In Gallup’s annual Environmental Poll (2008), 28 percent of Americans said they’ve made major changes to their lives to protect the environment, while 55 percent said they have […]