There was a time in Boston’s Back Bay and Beacon Hill when the tiny brick-walled spaces behind homes were unadorned places that held drying laundry, extra coal, and outhouses. The spaces remain, but when the doors swing open today, you will likely find a plethora of annuals, perennials, flowering trees, and evergreens that provide homeowners […]
Last week I headed out west to the Lake Tahoe, California, region for some spring skiing. I really wasn’t sure how I would break the news to my blog readers that New England’s Ski Blogger actually skis in places other than New England. I know it is shocking, and you probably think less of me. […]
This past weekend, I finally cross country skied on the Catamount Trail. I’ve seen the blue blazes with the Catamount foot print that mark the route during hiking season, but finally I spent a dedicated afternoon skiing it. The original plan was to head out on some logging trails in southern Vermont, but before my […]
By David Lyon and Patricia Harris Vermont is New England’s vertical state, where things are always looking up — unless you’re staring down a black diamond ski run at Killington or Stowe. Lacking the saltwater coast of the rest of the region, Vermont compensates with its knobby spine of the Green Mountains and the nation’s […]
By David Lyon and Patricia Harris Maine has more. Whatever you’re looking for in New England, Maine has more coastline, more moose, more lobsters, more forest, more islands, more deer, more trout, more lakes and streams. Nearly as large as the rest of New England put together, Maine is so big by regional standards that […]
By David Lyon and Patricia Harris New Hampshire is Yankee country, and our woodsy home town of Dublin is right in the middle of it. To the east lies Peterborough, with its famed MacDowell Colony of painters, poets and thinkers. To the west, the handsome college town of Keene boasts one of the widest Main […]
Some of us are destined to ski, whether we like it or not. My nephew is one of those people. He’s two and ½ and this Christmas he almost ended up with three pairs of skis. There would have been more, except at some point family members started to coordinate their gifts better. Unfortunately, he’s […]
Photo/Art by Brenda Darroch Seasons matter in New England, and the best harbinger is what’s available at your local farm stand. Farm stands come in many varieties and sizes, from apple orchards to year-round markets. The ones highlighted here are three- or four-season spots, with spring seedlings, summer veggies, fall fruits, and winter seafood. Most […]
I first saw Jon Shain at the tiny black box theater at the Mansfield Music and Arts Society. By chance, the Patriots’ Divisional Playoff game against the Jaguars was scheduled at the same time, so needless to say there were a few cancellations. Excluding the two owners, the opening act and her mother, there were […]
It’s time for spring cleaning, and I’ve learned that some of my favorite cleaning products can be toxic. What’s a good alternative?– M.R., Dover, VT Common household cleaners that contain chlorine, ammonia, and petroleum-based chemicals may contribute to respiratory problems, release harmful fumes, irritate allergies and chemical sensitivities, and burn skin or eyes on contact. […]
Stowe, Vermont, is known for action: skiing in winter and biking, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding in summer and fall. But for simple relaxation in a beautiful place, come here in early spring when the crowds melt away with the snow. When Stowe Mountain Lodge opens this April, this town of just 4,400 or so […]
The Winterpills blew onto the national music scene like a bitter wind with their hit single “Broken Arm.” Their sophomore album, “The Light Divides,” builds solidly on the haunting tone of their critically acclaimed self-titled début, which gives hope that the best is yet to come. This Northampton-based act avoids the insincerity that plagues most […]
