By Brandee Coleman Gilmore

Photos by Tony Vengrove

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!

All That Glitters

Vintage Leaping Rudolph Reindeer Brooch by Tiffany & Company in 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Ruby nose and Diamond Harness c 1980

If you’ve got a jewelry lover on your list, Hays Worthington is your source for one-of-a-kind baubles that will turn heads. They specialize in fine and period jewelry, curating a beautiful and unique collection from around the world. Select an exquisite ring, necklace, earrings, brooch, or bracelet from as far back as the Victorian era or up through the various periods of the 20th century. Offerings include rare and signed pieces by Bulgari, Cartier, Tiffany, Seaman Schepps, Verdura, and Van Cleef & Arpels. These are pieces that come with a story, and become part of yours! 

13 East Shore Road, New Preston, 860-619-0714 —haysworthington.com
@haysworthington

Dashing through the Litchfield Hills

There are precious few places to let high-end, more-than-capable performance cars show you what they can do. Fortunately, Litchfield County is blessed with one of those spots! Lime Rock Drivers Club lets sports car owners handle their unique vehicles the way their engineers imagined. It’s a “no speed limit, ticket-free” opportunity to drive! Whether drivers are seasoned or novice, you can purchase four hours of track time with LRDC that include in-car coaching delivered by world-class professionals. LRDC is private and for members only. Try a onetime visit to see if it’s a fit! Starting at $895.

60 White Hollow Road, Lakeville,  860-671-1458 —limerockclub.com
@limerockclub

Debonair + Flair

An appointment here is a cosmopolitan experience. This salon has art and sophistication coursing through its new Litchfield confines and by extension, its clients. Your Byrde + the b / BYRDEMAN gift card recipient can book a haircut/color/highlight with their stylist of choice, or tend facial manes with a hot shave, beard sculpting, and a beard or shave membership. You can stuff stockings with favorite product lines such as

Shu Uemura, Olaplex, Proraso, or their namesake hair + body bio products. Your significant other already look fabulous? They can shop the well-curated wares and fine art peppering this swanky space. $50-500.

43 West St., Litchfield, 860-619-0422 —byrdeandtheb.com
@byrdeandtheb

Festive Finds

Fido, Fifi, and Figaro need to know they’re loved this holiday season, too! Depot Dog curates quality items for your pet in their inviting, modern country boutique. You’ll find a beautiful array of sweaters and coats to keep pups warm and cozy all winter long. After you’ve picked the perfect plaid, stock up on treats, nutritious foods, beds, collars, and so much more! Also keep Depot Dog in mind for coiffing—they offer a dry bar salon and basic grooming services—perfect for sprucing them up between baths or before your holiday party! $40-75

11 Titus Road, Washington Depot, 860-619-0430 —depotdogboutique.com
@depotdogboutique

Holiday Cheer

Good Eats recently celebrated its one-year anniversary and if you haven’t enjoyed a meal cozied up in its well-appointed New Milford location along the Housatonic, make it your next night out; then pick up gift cards for everyone on your list! The menu centers on modern American cuisine with plenty of traditional favorites. Executive Chef Kevin Deluca branches into Korean, Mediterranean, British, and Indian flavors. The tap beers are locally brewed, and the fries are triple cooked!! Good Eats also serves up a delicious Sunday brunch, signature seasonal cocktails, and prides itself on superior service that keeps you coming back for more.

Good Eats Restaurant & Bar, 300 Kent Road, New Milford, 860-799-6611
@goodeatsrestaurant

Jingle + Mingle

At KPG Kitchen & Bar, they want to “make you feel at home, minus the cooking and dishes.” One of the best holiday gifts you can give is scrumptious food and drink, and KPG delivers it in a fun atmosphere right in the heart of Kent. Whether inside or on the seasonal patio and gazebo, be sure to try their craft beers, handcrafted signature cocktails, and an extensive menu of burgers, salads, pizza, and small plates. Takeout available. 

17 Railroad Street, Kent, 860-927-3733 —kentpizzagarden.com
@kpgkitchenbar

Making Memories

This holiday season, wrap your loved one in warmth and memories with a fabric keepsake quilt from Bitty Birdie Design. Take all the sports and school musical T-shirts you’ve hung on to over the years, and turn them into a treasured, one-of-a-kind quilt or pillow for your graduating senior. Just starting out with a newborn? Customize a quilt crafted from whimsical cotton fabrics. Bitty Birdie also stitches up pieces to memorialize loved ones—for the time of year you miss them most. These heartfelt and sophisticated works-of-fabric art start at $150, and are guaranteed to bring joy to anyone lucky enough to receive one!

95 Boggs Hill Rd, Newtown, 203-770-8537 —bittybirdie.com
@bittybirdiedesign

Merry Making

Some can’t wait for the carols to start, others can’t wait for Litchfield Distillery’s traditional holiday release! To celebrate the 2023 season, they’ve selected a six-year, bottled-in-bond straight bourbon whiskey. This special, limited expression was distilled from Connecticut-grown grains and aged to perfection. The flavors on the nose, palate, and finish explode with sweet complexity—just the sort of spirit you’d want to sip while sitting fireside this winter. Every Founders’ Reserve bottle is hand signed by all three Baker brothers, and comes packaged in a limited-edition wooden gift box with two rocks glasses. $89.95

569 Bantam Road, Litchfield, 860-361-6503 —LitchfieldDistillery.com
@litchfielddistillery

Peace on Earth

Your gifting checklist isn’t complete until you’ve picked up a gift certificate for a Spaliday in the Hills! This limited-edition spa package by The Spa at Litchfield Hills is the perfect holiday treat for a loved one (or yourself)! It features a 50-minute Cause+Medic CBD Massage, an OSEA Organic Spa Facial, a Spa Pedicure, and a Spa Manicure. Need a quicker version of reprieve? Try their new Restorative Body Scrub or Serene Scalp Ritual. Experience world-class bliss in the calm spaces of this Litchfield County fixture. Gift certificates are available online, by phone, or in the boutique. Both in-store pickup and shipping available. $430

The Spa at Litchfield Hills, 407A Bantam Rd., Litchfield, 860-567-8575 —litchfield-spa.com
@thespaatlitchfieldhills

Seeing Is Believing

It’s hard to think of something more practical yet personal than someone’s eyewear. What a gift it would be to custom craft a pair with the consummate professionals and artists at Friedrich’s Optik in Washington Depot. They pride themselves on making clients feel like family friends, and in their capable hands your recipient will come away with a precise fit and truly spectacular product. Lenses are cut in-house by experienced opticians, and an endless array of frames can be created from high-quality, sustainable materials like buffalo horn, titanium, and precious metal. It’s a distinctive gift they’ll use every day! $465

2 Green Hill Road, Washington Depot 860-619-0724 —friedrichsoptik.com
@friedrichsoptik

Twinkling Bright

Whether you’re shopping for the one who has everything, the avid theatergoer, the young, the old, or the in-between, dazzle them with the gift of entertainment at the spectacular Warner Theatre! What could be more fabulous than rolling up to this historic Art Deco gem in downtown Torrington with tickets to a thrilling stage production, or a one-night-only live music show? An endless lineup of options throughout the year means there’s something for everyone! You can also pick up a festive ornament—the perfect local stocking stuffer! Gift cards may be used toward any box office purchase (excludes concessions & bar).

68 Main Street, Torrington, 860-489-7180 —warnertheatre.org
@warnertheatrect

Wrapping It Up

At DK Schulman in New Preston, you can literally start and finish your shopping in one place. This premier gift and stationery store carries unique and whimsical items for babies, home, him and her! This year, be sure to check out a line of handmade pottery from Cape Town, South Africa — an exclusive design for the holidays. Once you’ve found something for everyone, take advantage of DK Schulman’s wrapping service and eliminate that stress, too. Holiday rush? What holiday rush? Take all that time you’ve saved to whip up some bespoke stationery for yourself  — a treat you’ll enjoy throughout the year! $40-200

15 East Shore Road, New Preston  860-868-4300 —DKShulmanDesign.com
@dkschulmandesign