Your guide to the heart of Litchfield County:
Discover local stories, hidden gems, and must-know events.

A service every home cook needs
By Michelle Madden

 Slicing into an onion, knife gliding like hot metal on butter, the vegetable submitting to its master… This is the feeling you can only get when your knives are sharp. “Most people’s aren’t,” says Cristobal Aguirre, owner of Cuchillos. “And they have no idea. It seems counterintuitive, but a sharp knife––one that won’t slip–– is also a safe knife.”

Aguirre was born in Spain, and came to Washington when he was two. Working in food service and using beautiful knives is what led him to his vocation. He is largely self-taught, and picked up the trade by watching chefs who cared for their instruments like a violinist caring for their Stradivarius. “I know as soon as I pick up a knife what needs to be done to it,” says Aguirre. On a given knife, he uses five pieces of equipment, including a diamond stone, three different ceramic stones of varying grit, and a leather strop to polish.

What began in his garage has now moved to Watertown, where he shares space with To the Gills Seafood and New Curds on the Block. The business is still young, but he’s already picked up restaurant clients in addition to home cooks. 

Could you just do this on your own? Sure, but if you’re using the steel rod that came with your knife set, that’s not for sharpening––it just straightens the metal fibers. Buy a whetstone, and then practice. A lot. Or hand your blade over to the pro: $2 per blade-inch is a small price to pay for serenity.

 900 Main St., Watertown, or Saturday Farmers Market in Washington Depot—@cuchillossharpening 

Upcoming Theatre Performances this July and August

Rock of Ages
July 3, 5, 6, 7
This five-time Tony Award®-nominated musical tells the story of a small-town girl, a city boy, and a rock ‘n’ roll romance on the Sunset Strip, featuring songs from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, and more.

As You Like It
July 12 – 13 
Shakespeare’s tale of friends, feuding families, and lovers in disguise, staged at The Equus Effect Farm in Sharon, CT. A portion of ticket sales benefits The Equus Effect.

Willy Wonka, Kids
July 20 
This musical tells the story of Willy Wonka’s contest to find an heir, where five children win a tour of the Chocolate Factory and a lifetime supply of candy.

The Prom
July 26-28, August 1-4, August 8-11 Inspired by a true story, this seven-time Tony Award-nominated musical follows four eccentric Broadway stars in need of a new stage.

High School Musical, Jr.
August 16 – 17
Based on the Disney Channel movie, this musical follows Troy, the basketball captain, and Gabriella, a new student, as they audition for the high school musical.

Sassy Cinderella
August 24
 In this twisted fairy tale, Cinderella is wicked, and it takes attending the Prince’s Ball for her to learn that kindness and good friends lead to a happily ever after.

Steel Magnolias
August 30 -31 
This play is a homage to women and female friendships, set in a small-town beauty parlor. It is both hilarious and touching, revealing the strength of community.

Sharon Playhouse 

A Shore Thing
Photos by Jim Henkens

The iconic West Shore Seafood has been everyone’s dream of a summer seafood shack since it first opened on the shore of Bantam Lake in Morris in 2007. Set in a 1960s-era ranch-style building, the popular eatery has been expanding its setting and its menu in recent years.

The biggest change was to take place last winter, with plans to add a full-service bar, and open year-round. A fire in January put a crimp in those plans, but didn’t kill the dream. The bar and restaurant opened in May; work on the fish market, retail shop, and expanded kitchen should be finished by this winter. Seafood classics are still menu staples. West Shore likes to say that they serve everything “that’s dipped in tartar sauce, enjoyed with a squeeze of lemon, and comes with a side of fries-n-slaw.”

That modest description belies the high-quality cooking coming out of the kitchen, for table service and catering, under the eyes of owner Susie Pregno and executive chef Rob Thompson (who joined the West Shore team last year).  Sure, there’s New England clam chowder, a raw bar, lobster rolls, fried seafood. But there is also the grilled salmon BLT, Baja-style fish tacos, grilled tuna with a wasabi aioli marinade and sesame soy sauce. West Shore Seafood is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday. —westshoreseafood.com 

Tis the Season

By Cynthia Hochswender

Summer is the time of picnics, barbecues, weekend visits—and, therefore, it is the season of host-and-hostess gifts. Wine and spirits are no longer the easy and obvious choice; a little creativity is called for. Generally, there are two ways to go: Either you give everyone you visit the same gift, and take a chance on becoming known as someone who always and only brings tea. Or you find a nearby shop with a creative buyer, who will continually supply you with ideas that will surprise and delight every host/hostess. Such a shop is Honeychurch Home in Salisbury and such a buyer is owner Carolyn Piccirelli.

Honeychurch is a small shop—but everything on display is something that you need or want. There are room scents, serving dishes, interesting books, handwoven and useful textiles in perfect seasonal color combinations. And there is always a selection of large, fresh, and showy flowers, usually exotic ones that you can feel confident your host/hostess doesn’t have already in their garden.And there are odd choices: Perhaps a wooden spurtle is just right for a host who loves New England history; perhaps a wood serving tray shaped like an ancient pizza paddle is the perfect item for a hostess who serves gorgeous cheese assortments.

Get a reputation for bringing gifts from Honeychurch; and your invitations will increase.—honeychurchhome.com

Scoops!

By Elizabeth Maker

Drivers passing through the rollercoaster-like Route 109 near the New Milford–Washington line have long been lured by the fresh produce, meats, and home-baked goods at Kimberly Farm.

Now, a colossal cow beckons from across the street: a 17-foot-tall fiberglass statue of Kate, the brown-and-white bovine that was the first Ayrshire cow owned by John Kimberly, who runs the farm with his wife, Brenda, and their nine children. “I had her made in Sparta, Wisconsin,” Kimberly says. “She’s a perfect replica of Kate, who we had for almost 20 years until she passed away recently. Everyone wants to stop and check her out.”

Just up the hill from Kate is the 45-by-70-foot ice cream stand that celebrated its grand opening in April with hot air balloons, hot dog carts, and dancing. It offers 25 standard flavors, plus seasonal selections like strawberry in summer and pumpkin in autumn, all grown and made on the farm. They even have “pup cups” for dogs. 

Kimberly’s daughter, Shannon Dominguez, runs the ice cream stand with three of her siblings. She enjoys interacting with visitors as they eat their ice cream at picnic tables, gazing out at the 400 acres of rural hills to the south. “I love every minute of every day here,” she says. “People can’t believe the taste of homemade ice cream. And they love the whole farm experience.”—kimberlyfarm.com

Bottoms Up!
By Wendy Carlson

 You may be more familiar with actor Chris Meloni from his detective role on “Law & Order: SVU.” But recently he has popped up in cheeky ads on social and YouTube as the rugged ambassador for Roxbury’s Mine Hill Distillery. In which he asks: “What’s the first thing you think of when I say bourbon? That’s right: Connecticut. Sure, Kentucky is a close second with its Pappy this and Maker’s that, but it’s Connecticut bourbon you should be thinking of.”As for the gin, he boasts, “It’s the best gin in any state. It’s what I drink and it’s what you should be drinking—if you can get it.”

Now, apparently, you can. Under new ownership, Mine Hill is expanding nationally by offering online sales of its amaro, bourbon, rye, gin, and vodka. Established in 2018, the distillery was in danger of going under until it was purchased in 2023 by author, historian, economist, and money manager Zachary Karabell, alongside other investors. Karabell tapped his friend Meloni, who owns a house in Bridgewater, to promote Mine Hill’s historical significance and use of local ingredients in its small-batch craft spirits.

New, too, is an expanded and upgraded bar in the restored train station, which opened in July for cocktails and light snacks. The tasting room is open on weekends, from 12 pm – 5 pm.—millhilldistillery.com

Fox Hill Offers Privacy and Protection 
By Clementina Verge

Because there’s no place like home, Fox Hill Luxury Real Estate Services strives to keep these personal sanctuaries safe, and maintained to the highest standards. At the helm is company founder Andrew C. Hopkinson, whose extensive background in estate management coupled with a decades-long career in law enforcement provides unique insights that clients seek and respect. 

A licensed, insured, and bonded home improvement contractor, Hopkinson has provided full-scale property maintenance and management of luxury homes for more than 40 years; high-profile clients from financial, music, entertainment industries, and Hollywood rely on his astute response to high expectations and privacy protection. “We are the only property management company that specializes in luxury real estate, caring for fine homes and large estates,” explains Hopkinson. “There is a difference in maintaining a 12,000-square-foot home worth $9 million and a 3,000-square-foot home worth $700,000. Home construction and systems are much more complicated in a larger home. With that being said, our fee structure is the same.”

In return, four-season services overlook nothing: carpentry, painting, gutter cleaning, landscaping, stone wall building, access control, inspections, and everything in between is covered. “We have 12 men and four women working six days a week, 365 days a year,” assures Hopkinson, who also keeps more than 200 vetted and insured subcontractors on standby.

A married father of two, he trained at the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department. A former instructor for MSA, an international security and explosives detection company, Hopkinson was also a security and counterterrorism instructor at Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and many Fortune 500 companies. With certifications in law enforcement, security, and emergency management from the FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and FEMA, his comprehensive and unique perspective provides clients with valuable information regarding personal and home security needs and assessment. 

“Being in law enforcement shares similarities with maintaining and managing luxury real estate,” reflects Hopkinson, who responded to Ground Zero after 9/11 and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. “Both require specific investigating skills, whether determining the cause of a leak in a home or the cause of an accident. Each requires reconstruction and years of experience to do so correctly and efficiently.”

His recent expansion into Litchfield County was prompted by falling in love with the area while traveling its roads on a motorcycle back in the 1980s, and even more so, two years ago when his son moved to Kent. 

“People settle in Litchfield County for beauty, privacy, and safety, and we help ensure those desires,” Hopkinson assures. “As president of Fox Hill Luxury Real Estate Services, I am responsible for all the success and failures of the company, and I will never blame anyone else. I ‘own’ the responsibility. My clients rely on me to put the right person for the job in place for the greatest chance of success.”—luxuryreservice.com

[SPONSORED]

Bring the World into Your Home
By Clementina Verge
Portrait by @cassanolaphotography www.cassanolaphoto.com

Imagine lounging in a beaded chair handwoven in Nigeria, leaning against pillowcases meticulously handmade in Laos, while enjoying the tantalizing spices of Kolkata Chai served in a teacup handpainted in Japan. Home & Earth makes the compilation of such decadence and culture attainable; recently opened in Woodbury, the home decor and gift store offers an exquisite collection of handcrafted treasures from some 20 countries. 

“Home & Earth was born out of a vision to bring beauty into people’s homes while forging connections with the makers and their histories,” explains founder Birgit Roy. “Our philosophy of curated living is defined by the love of thoughtful and intentional discovery of artistic creations and authentic stories.” The shop was inspired by Roy’s extensive travels and living in different places. After they graduated from the University of Michigan, where they met, Roy and her husband moved to his native India for six years and continued adventuring throughout Europe and South Africa before settling in Woodbury more than a decade ago.

Along their journeys they acquired art pieces and other crafted souvenirs; but more so, they collected stories from artisans they met in villages across the globe. A dream was born to open a store that showcases such talents and stories. Sophisticated and elegant, Home & Earth was built by New Antiquity of Woodbury and designed by India-based designer Priyanjali Bose. Its collection brims with “functional beauty”: Everyday items that are aesthetically pleasing, ranging from kitchen and dining essentials to bedroom and bath products, decor, and even spices. The abundance, however, doesn’t equal mass production. From luxurious rugs to striking ceramics and intricately carved wood, everything at Home & Earth is chosen with sustainability and ethical sourcing in mind, says Roy, who has personal relationships with many of the artisans represented in her store. 

“Each piece elevates a living space, but it is also a way to sustain generational crafts, artistic traditions, and ways of life that might otherwise die out,” she explains. From trays etched in India to bamboo-mounted porcelain African Flower Diffuser Sticks hand-sculpted in South Africa, beaded Nigerian chairs used by kings and queens from the Yoruba tribe, Italian dishes, and Turkish bowls, the store provides easy ways to infuse color, texture, and style into any living space. U.S. artisans include candlemakers from New York, carvers of one-of-a-kind stone-top tables from New Hampshire, Connecticut chocolatiers. Ultimately, Home & Earth is synonymous with handcrafted quality and stands for attainable and inspirational uniqueness that is “sure to elevate the ambience of a home and create meaningful moments,” Roy notes. 

“Home & Earth is on a mission to create awareness about art forms, the history of the crafts, and the journey of makers—their hopes and dreams,” she relates. “We value the art and the artisans, and want to support them through awareness—preserving and promoting the art forms. Artists are at the core of everything we do; and we make beautiful things available for everyone’s home, without needing to travel, yet connecting with different cultures and art styles.”—homeandearthshop.com

By Elizabeth Maker

There’s a gem of a resource in the quiet corner of northwest Connecticut that not many know of, even though its philanthropic work has helped important causes locally and globally for nearly two decades. As often as ten times a year, The Salisbury Forum presents free public programs at one of three area schools: Hotchkiss, Salisbury, or Housatonic Valley Regional High, hosting notable speakers with connections to Litchfield, Berkshire, and Dutchess Counties.

In a format redolent of NPR’s “Conversations on the Green,” the nonprofit forum features actors, writers, diplomats, comedians, and others, sharing topics from environmental protection and national security to affordable housing and addiction. The audience is invited to a Q&A with speakers post-presentation. The Forum also periodically presents compelling documentaries at the Moviehouse in Millerton.

“We’re grateful to have this rich offering here, where people and ideas connect,” says Forum President Pat Jenny. “We get a deeper understanding of issues, and might even be prompted into action.”

Salisbury resident Franck DeChambeau, an Episcopal priest, started the forum in 2005, hosting journalists Sander Vanocur and Dan Rather. “Looking ahead to the next 20 years, we’d like to attract a younger audience as well,” says Jenny, adding that rapidly evolving topics, such as artificial intelligence, financial investing, and social media are among forum topics for late summer and fall. Visit salisburyforum.org to watch past speakers and see upcoming programs.