Living Well in Litchfield County, Connecticut

On Our Radar
Faces, places, treasures, and trends that caught our attention
Holiday Gift Guide 2023
The communities of Litchfield County arguably reflect that spirit year-round, and nowhere is it more obvious than in the small businesses serving us. Show them the love this season!
Helping Hands 2023
In Litchfield County it truly does take a village…and in each village there are organizations that do a wonderful job helping people and animals in our community.
Deck the Halls
Litchfield County is an idyllic setting for the holidays, from the Christmas tree fir farms to the bedecked historic homes to the ski slopes and horse-drawn sleigh rides.
A Woodbury Composer’s Legacy
Anderson, the son of Swedish immigrants, has said the song was meant to depict a long-ago winter. Ironically, he came up with much of its magic during a July heat wave.
 The Sounds of Music
In spite of the inevitable frantic preparations, what’s really wonderful about the holidays is the way they awaken the senses.
Reining in Holiday Fun at Local Farm 
Imagine receiving a horse for Christmas. For young horse riders it’s the gift of a lifetime, and for Catherine Ruh, it’s a special highlight of her holiday season.
Featured Eats
Restaurants, libations, and local food
The restaurant business is not known for its longevity so when a restaurant such as New Milford’s Lucia Ristorante has been open for 16 years it’s a sign they are doing something right.
Opened just this past Memorial Day in New Milford, Vegas is the kind of Mexican restaurant no town should be without. Walk into this friendly, boisterous space for the first time and you can immediately sense that the margaritas will be top-notch (I highly recommend bartender Dennis Daly’s skinny margarita), the nachos will be piled high, and the enchiladas will be thick and cheesy.
Things To Do
Upcoming events in the Litchfield Hills • Submit an Event
December 6, 2023
December 6, 2023
December 8, 2023
December 8, 2023
December 8, 2023
December 8, 2023
Instagram
Follow us for the latest happenings in the hills
We all define the holidays differently, but for most the core element is love — of family, of friends, of the wider world. This time of year we might hold the door a little longer and give the benefit of the doubt a little more easily. The communities of Litchfield County arguably reflect that spirit year-round, and nowhere is it more obvious than in the small businesses serving us. Show them the love this season!

@friedrichsoptik @kpgkitchenbar @dkschulmandesign @litchfielddistillery @bittybirdiedesign @haysworthington @byrdeandtheb @limerockclub @goodeatsrestaurant @thespaatlitchfieldhills @depotdogboutique @warnertheatrect

📸: @tony_v_photo_garage 

#litchfieldcounty #litchfieldhills #regionalmagazine #nwct #ctvisit #explorect #visitct #connecticut #newengland #ctlocal #connecticutlife #litchfieldmagazine #torrington #washingtondeopt #litchfield #newmilford #lakeville #newpreston #newtown #kent #sponsored
Eponymous Scandanavian home furnishings and antiques brand, @eleishvanbreems returns to Litchfield County after an almost thirty year hiatus, opening their new shop in New Preston. 

Rhonda and her best friend, Edie Van Breems, started their company twenty seven years ago in an 18th century house and barn down the road in Woodbury. When the opportunity arose to open in the previous Dawn Hill Antiques at 11 Main Street, Rhonda and Edie leapt at the chance. They are excited to be located at the base of the village across from a roaring waterfall, in what had originally been New Preston's original post office and market in the 1900s.

All are welcome to their Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 9, 11am - 6pm.

#litchfieldcounty #litchfieldhills #regionalmagazine #nwct #ctvisit #explorect #visitct #connecticut #newengland #ctlocal #connecticutlife #litchfieldmagazine #thingstodo #storeopening #evb #eleishvanbreems #newpreston #sponsored #scandinaviandesign
On a recent visit to @arethusa_farm in Bantam, I overheard a young lady at the dairy counter tell her parents, “I wish they carried eggnog year-round.” Sweet tooths like her wait all year for Arethusa Farm’s seasonal eggnog, a creamy rich formula that tastes like melted vanilla ice cream blended with egg yolk and spices. It is truly delectable.

Litchfield-based Arethusa Farm has been producing its eggnog for over a decade. Each year, they prepare a limited batch of sweet eggnog that flies off the refrigerated shelves. “Our eggnog is a wonderful seasonal dairy offering. We love the holiday spirit it brings,” says Arethusa Farm co-founder Tony Yurgaitis. “We have a great formula, and we use great milk, which is the beginning of any of our dairy products.” It is freshly bottled weekly during the holidays and includes no artificial fillers.

Full story - link in bio ‘On Our Radar’
By Zachary Schwartz 

#litchfieldcounty #litchfieldhills #regionalmagazine #nwct #ctvisit #explorect #visitct #connecticut #newengland #ctlocal #connecticutlife #litchfieldmagazine #arethusa #arethusafarm #eggnog #holiday #holidaydrinks #arethusaeggnog #dairyfarm #bantam #shoplocal #christmas
Always lovely to stop in for a hostess gift or a little something for the home at @honeychurchhome in Salisbury.  #holidayshopping #shoplocal #salisbury #litchfieldcounty #nwct
The 2023 holiday fete at St. John’s Church in Washington is this weekend! Scenes from last night’s preview party! #litchfieldcounty #holidayparty #connecticut
Letter from the editor:

Happy Holidays!
Litchfield County can be magical during the holidays! Our advertising sales executive, Jill Lawlor and I hope this special holiday issue provides even
more to vour eniovment!

In this issue we include a gift guide with wonderful suggestions from our local businesses. We get into the holiday spirit at @mayflowerauberge which has had its halls decked and stockings hung by Eliza Harris of @sisterparishdesign . Speaking of design, we love the new organic and neutral holiday edition of ceramics created by @dumais_made in Bantam.
It’s also a wonderful time to give back to the com-munity. Our helping hands piece is a resource of support for local nonprofits. And if you love pizza, don’t miss the annual Slices with Santa event in Washington.
There’s lots more in this issue, including folk-songs, @arethusa_farm eggnog, a holiday horse barn, the Sleigh Ride song by local Leroy Anderson, a holiday concert in Milton, the scoop on a new New Milford restaurant by John Bordeau, and more! 

All my best,
Mary Beth
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  • Karen Raines Davis
    Dumais Interior Design