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

Navigating life’s challenges—career, relationships, personal growth—can feel overwhelming. Tal Fagin, founder of Tal Fagin Coaching, helps clients cut through the noise, gain clarity, and take meaningful action. Rather than giving advice, she listens deeply, asks insightful questions, and helps individuals uncover their own solutions.

Based in Washington, Connecticut, Tal works virtually with clients worldwide. Her coaching approach blends warmth with strategic thinking, guiding high achievers to self-acceptance, ease, and fulfillment.

1. What led you to transition from law to coaching, and how did your legal background shape your approach?
   After working as an attorney and stepping away to raise my kids, I realized my true passion was helping people clarify, confront, and solve problems. I trained with Martha Beck, whose coaching approach blends neuroscience, positive psychology, and Eastern philosophy, all rooted in the belief that we each have an internal compass guiding us toward our best life. At first, these ideas felt radical—so different from corporate law! But my training expanded my perspective, teaching me to listen deeply—not just to my clients, but to myself as well.
2.  How do your analytical skills complement your coaching?
   My background as a corporate lawyer at a global firm sets me apart. I bring sharp analytical skills, strategic thinking, and a results-driven mindset—qualities my high-achieving clients appreciate. But I’ve learned authenticity and warmth are just as critical. My approach is compassionate yet direct, blending insight with practicality. My book, Sometimes I Think I Suck, mixes humor, science, and personal growth tools, making lasting change feel manageable and achievable.
3.  What challenges do high achievers and perfectionists face, and how do you help them find fulfillment?
   Many successful people struggle with self-doubt and dissatisfaction. I help clients shift their mindset, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, and embrace themselves—flaws and all. Whether they need clarity, confidence, or balance, I meet them where they are.
4.  How is coaching evolving to prioritize self-compassion over achievement?
   There’s growing awareness that success alone doesn’t equal happiness. More high performers seek support not just to achieve more, but to feel at peace with themselves. Coaching is shifting from performance optimization to self-compassion and sustainable fulfillment—a trend I fully embrace.
5.  Can you share a client transformation that stands out?
   There are so many! One that comes to mind is “Jane,” a high-powered lawyer who felt overwhelmed and unfulfilled. Lawyers are trained to anticipate everything that could go wrong, and Jane had internalized this mindset—constantly criticizing herself, convinced her harsh inner dialogue drove her success. Through our work, she learned to motivate herself differently—leading to greater confidence, deeper satisfaction, and even stronger professional results.
6.  What’s one piece of advice you’d give to improve overall well-being?
   Be kind to yourself. Instead of berating yourself for mistakes or constantly pushing yourself harder, ease up. Self-compassion may not feel instinctive, but it always delivers. Treat yourself as you would a loved one—a child or a best friend. This simple mindset shift can transform how you experience joy, ease, and connection in your life. —talfagincoaching.com

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At Litchfield Pilates & Integrative Health (LPIH) Studio in Washington Depot, owner Annie Kaplon brings her extensive expertise as an Integrative Health Nurse at NYU Langone Health, Lerner Holistic Nursing Fellowship Coordinator, Board-Certified Integrative Health Coach, and PMA® Certified Pilates Instructor. The studio offers a variety of wellness practices, including Pilates for all levels, meditation, Reiki, and integrative health coaching.

Located at 2 Green Street, the warm and inviting boutique studio provides a space to move, grow, and connect with others while working toward your wellness goals.

1.  Can you share your background and qualifications in both Pilates and integrative health?
   As a Master Pilates instructor and the founding Secretary for the Pilates Method Alliance, I have experience using and teaching mind-body movement through Pilates for over 30 years. I have also been a nurse for over 32 years, and I have spent the past three years as an Integrative Health Nurse at NYU-Langone Hospital. I have a Master’s degree in Mindfulness Studies from Lesley University, I am a board-certified Integrative Health Coach from Duke University, and I am a Reiki level 2 practitioner.
2. What sets you apart from others in the industry?
   My 30 years of experience in Pilates–tracing my direct lineage back to Joseph Pilates–combined with my acute assessment skills and critical care nursing background makes me uniquely qualified to promote health and wellness holistically through movement, energy medicine, and personal coaching.
3.  Who is your typical client?
   Recognizing that every client and every body is different, I meet each client where they are right now, in this moment. I help to bring awareness of their bodies in space through movement and support while meeting their wellness goals.
4.  What changes have you noticed in your industry recently?
   I have noticed many changes over the past 30 years. Pilates is much more mainstream than ever before, and it’s wonderful that it has become more widely available. I think it is very important for people to make sure their instructors are certified Pilates instructors and have been well-trained.
5.  How do your healthcare background and experience as a movement teacher shape the way you work with clients?
   I understand the importance of proper technique and form for overall body function and mechanics. I try to help clients build confidence and strength to trust their bodies will support them wherever they are.
6.  Can you share a success story that you’re particularly proud of?
   One client that stands out is someone who had a previous back injury from an accident and lacked confidence in her body. We worked on regaining physical strength, which gave her confidence both physically and mentally. She went on to become a Pilates instructor and is now in advanced training.  litchfieldpilatesandintegrativehealth.com

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Rushing out of the mountains in the town of Warren is Falls Brook. It cascades down nearly 250 feet on less than a quarter mile run to the Housatonic River. 

Kent Falls is not one waterfall but a series of falls. The most significant single drop is known as Big Falls, with a dramatic 70-foot descent into a reflecting pool. It is the crown jewel of the state parks. According to the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, more than 100,000 visit the falls annually.

During the Great Depression, it was the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp. The CCC was a public works program that operated from 1933 to 1942 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. Many called it Roosevelt’s Tree Army, because of all the trees planted. According to the FDR Library, jobs were available for unemployed youths while improving the environment. While in Kent, the CCC lived at Camp Macedonia, which opened in 1935 and closed in 1937. 

While working on Kent Falls, the CCC built new roads, walls, a picnic area, and even a trail that climbed alongside the falls. If you hope to go and see Camp Macedonia, it is no longer in existence, according to town historian Marge Smith, but the trail and picnic area can still be viewed today. 

By AJ Schenkman

Photo is Courtesy of the Kent Historical Society

Core Luxe Pilates, located at 710 Bantam Road in Bantam, offers a transformative fitness experience for the Litchfield County community. Founded by STOTT-certified instructor Jennifer Nirenberg, the boutique studio focuses on Reformer Pilates, a low-impact, full-body workout performed on a specialized machine with springs and pulleys. This innovative practice improves strength, flexibility, and balance while being gentle on the joints, making it ideal for all fitness levels—from beginners to seasoned athletes.

Jennifer’s vision was to create a luxurious and welcoming environment where clients can focus on their health and well-being. Core Luxe Pilates provides small group classes and private sessions, ensuring personalized attention in an intimate, supportive setting tailored to individual needs and goals.

To help new clients explore Reformer Pilates, the studio offers a complimentary 1:1 preview session. This session provides the chance to try the Reformer, learn about the practice, and discuss personal fitness objectives.

Whether you’re seeking to build strength, enhance flexibility, or simply try a mindful and effective workout, Core Luxe Pilates offers a unique experience that blends luxury, mindfulness, and results.

Strengthen your body, calm your mind, and elevate your fitness journey with Core Luxe Pilates. coreluxepilates.com

Our readers voted for their favorite things about Litchfield County in a wide variety of categories for our annual 2025 Reader’s Choice Contest in this Best of Litchfield County issue. The results feature people and businesses in various industries—including food, health and wellness, apparel and accessories, home and design, education, spa and beauty, and many more! We are excited to share with you the top three choices in each category—not to mention, some of  the local businesses that make Litchfield County the amazing place it is.

Click HERE to view the 2025 results.

High and Mighty

Restoration of historic theater goes above and beyond

By Troy McMullen

Photos by Ryan Lavine

The elaborate dry fresco paintings that cover the ceiling of the Thomaston Opera House date back to 1884, when the Romanesque building was erected as a venue for theatrical performances and social events in Litchfield County.

The hand-painted panels were created in the Eastlake Victorian style, with more than 180 colors used to produce the intricate geometric shapes and other stenciled motifs that adorn the coffered ceiling. The illustrations have long been a treasured attraction for visitors to a landmark venue that still ranks as the county’s oldest and largest theater.

After years of neglect, though, the ceiling eventually fell into disrepair, with decades of dust, grime, and water damage obscuring the original colors and details. Now, some 140 years after its creation, the opera house is unveiling a $3.5 million facelift that includes bringing its original ceiling artwork back to life.

“It’s a point of pride for this community,” says Jeff Dunn, executive director of Landmark Community Theatre, a nonprofit arts organization that operates the opera house. “Restoring the original artwork in the building, especially the ceiling, was really a priority when we began this project.”

The yearlong renovations were spearheaded by Thomaston Selectman Mike Burr. who is the chairman of the Opera House Commission. Working with fundraising group Friends of the Thomaston Opera House, Dunn managed the capital campaign for the project through grants, solicitations, and events. More than $400,000 was raised for the first phase of the project, with another $2 million secured from the state’s Community Investment Fund.

The renovation includes much-needed structural, mechanical, and electrical upgrades, including adding a new stage-accessible elevator, expanded handicap access, and renovated dressing rooms. 

But restoring the ceiling to its former glory was the jewel of the project.

“Part of the draw to this building, along with the performances, is just the historic nature of the venue,” says Dunn, a Thomaston native who has been managing the opera house for nearly 30 years.

EverGreene Architectural Arts led the refurbishment. The Brooklyn-based firm has restored hundreds of historic properties around the country, including 41/50 of state capitol buildings.

Workers spent months cleaning the more than 30 ceiling panels with specialty materials applied by hand that wouldn’t harm the original paint, says EverGreene founder Jeff Greene. They also cleaned and restored the coves between the ceiling and walls and the stenciled wooden beams between the ceiling panels.

Once decades of old overpaint were removed, workers discovered the ceiling’s original 1884 artwork virtually intact, including the allegorical trompe l’oeil coffers representing the four cornerstones of the opera house’s mission: drama, architecture, music, and education. 

“That’s extremely rare in a building this old,” says Greene. “It was almost the pristine original once the debris was wiped away.”

Dunn says the restoration is more than just a vanity project.

“The theater is an important piece of Thomaston’s history,” he says. “So we’re restoring a living, breathing part of this community.” —landmarkcommunitytheatre.org

By Michelle Madden

Photographs by Ryan Lavine

“He’s a magician; it looks like they’re floating—as though butterflies are holding them up.” Anne Fuchs is one of Rex Todd Rogers’ many clients who speak with extraordinary reverence and awe. Rogers is a creator who has been crafting sculptural wonders out of flowers from as far back as he can remember. “My mother had a beautiful garden; I was probably ten when I created my first arrangement.” 

As often happens with individuals who lose one of their senses, others are heightened. Rogers is deaf, and perhaps because of this he has a gift for seeing and interpreting colors and texture. It is a talent that has been nurtured from a young age. “I traveled an enormous amount as a child, and was exposed to cultures and architecture that have informed much of what I do.” Rogers grew up in the Midwest. Seven years ago he chose Connecticut—where his mother’s family has deep roots—as his home.

Though many of Rogers floral creations are reminiscent of the great Dutch still-life paintings of the 18th century, he doesn’t imitate anything—least of all his own work. He is one of a kind, and proud of it. “I must have been eight when I wore what I thought was a very unique Oxford button down shirt to school. Horrified when another boy turned up in the same, I vowed never to wear it again.” It is this strong desire for originality, this urge to always be growing and challenging himself, that has fueled his career. He works for large corporations such as J.P Morgan, as well as local establishments such as the Litchfield Inn and Spa. He was hired to create floral designs for Henry Kissinger’s 100th birthday celebration in Kent.

Many of his projects are installations. For a wedding, he fabricated a blossoming apple tree, using baby’s breath to create the illusion of buds bursting on a ten-foot tree. It took two days and a lot of wire.

When asked whether a project was complex, or challenging, the words seem foreign to Rogers. He doesn’t find anything complex. Nothing is challenging. It’s as though creations just come to him through a divine force. They may take days to execute, but he is simply channeling them through his eyes and hands. He seduces the flowers, and they simply bend to his will. “He is an artist, with a depth of knowledge and an instinct for clients’ needs,” says Nancy Novogrod, a beneficiary of his skill.

Rogers is also an interior designer, something he has been focused on for decades. His passion is getting to the root of a client’s taste, and using existing art and furniture while weaving in new items that bring a timeless beauty to their space. 

With interior objects as with flowers, Rogers channels a client’s vision onto their private canvas. Though his work is flawless, it is also unselfconscious and serene. It delivers perfection to an imperfect world.—rtrdesign.com

As it commemorates its 10th anniversary, Litchfield Distillery has much to celebrate: a  sought-after lineup of award-winning spirits, and the support of a community appreciative of its benevolence through the years.

From classics like double-barrel bourbon whiskey to small-batch cocktails such as a Manhattan and an Espresso Martini, to innovative honey barrel-finished gin, and seasonal surprises like blueberry vodka, the distillery has come a long way from its initial offerings.

When the Baker brothers—Jack, Peter, and Dave—launched their venture with two bourbons and a gin, they had already been part of a beverage legacy started by their grandfather in 1914: Crystal Rock, a Stamford-based water-bottling company. Employing a “strong business background,” Litchfield Distillery became their trademark and passion.

“It was never meant as a hobby,” recalls Peter. “We started with the ‘go big or go home’ mentality, committed to building a brand.” 

Today, the distillery portfolio exceeds 20 products. Ranging from peppery finishes to sweet maple touches and caramel notes, the bourbon whiskeys are handcrafted from 100 percent Connecticut-grown corn, barley, and rye—something the brothers are especially proud of.

“I think we’ve had a significant agricultural impact,” says Jack, reflecting on the 200 tons of locally harvested grains Litchfield Distillery purchases annually. “It’s a steady value that allows Connecticut farmers to survive, and that means a lot to us.”

“The Spirit of Hard Work” isn’t just a corporate motto, but the Baker brothers’ habit. Hands-on in every business aspect, they oversaw distillery expansion, and became a major distributor and the county’s largest tourist attraction—while being “committed to making a positive social impact.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, they voluntarily converted to production of hand sanitizer for a year, under an emergency license from the FDA and the state. They distributed more than 250,000 bottles. 

“It was a scary time,” Peter reflects. “We supplied first responders because they had nothing, and we left a stocked table outside with a collection jar.” 

Ultimately, they collected $44,000, which they donated to FISH, the Torrington-based shelter and pantry.

That generous spirit is further reflected in interactions with approximately 10,000 bourbon aficionados who visit the distillery every year, excited to learn the process behind the spirits housed in some 1,600 barrels: malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation, and aging. Stored in American white oak charred barrels, the bourbons’ taste and color deepen with time.

Tours and samples are free because “it’s the right thing to do,” says Jack. “It’s our thanks to people who go out of their way to find us and stop by, and to support our brand.” 

The brothers gratefully reflect on their decade-long accomplishments: Named 2021 Connecticut Whiskey Distillery of the Year at the New York International Spirits Competition, Litchfield Distillery has earned many national awards, and the respect of whiskey clubs, who request its spirits.

“The product line is more than we expected,” notes Jack. “We’re proud of it, our relationships with customers, and the fact that Connecticut-grown farm products have become nationally winning and recognized.”—litchfielddistillery.com

By Clementina Verge

Photographs by Ryan Lavine