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50 Things to Do in Litchfield County This Fall

September 22, 2024

Check out our list of festive fall activities, from gorgeous leaf-peeping spots, to fall festivals, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and more. 

By Allie Steers, Elizabeth Deegan, and Zandria Oliver

Fall is here, and the exquisite fall foliage, crisp weather, and fall activities make Litchfield County exceptionally magical this time of year. Check out our list of festive fall activities, from gorgeous leaf-peeping spots, to fall festivals, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and more.

1. Go leaf peeping.

2. Take a scenic hike at one of the many preserves and parks around us. Each offers varying levels of trails and points of interest.

3. Get lost in a corn maze.

Bunnell Farm Corn Maze

4. Take a guided e-bike tour with Covered Bridge Electric Bike in West Cornwall or KC&E Adventures and experience the bucolic views that Litchfield County has to offer.

E-bike
KC&E Adventures

5. Take a hayride.

6. Go pumpkin picking at a local farm.

7. Go to a fall festival.

8. Take a spooky walk through the Harrybrooke Park Haunted Trail in New Milford on Fridays & Saturdays starting October 12.

9.  Celebrate at an Oktoberfest Festival.

Clocktown Clocktoberfest in Thomaston on September 29

Harvest Bounty Fest in Litchfield on October 5

@ The Corner Oktoberfest in Litchfield from September 21- October 6

Hawkridge Winery’s Harvest Festival in Watertown on October 5

 

10. Create a spooky wreath and have a glass of wine at Hawk Ridge Winery’s Halloween Wreath Making on October 2.

11. Visit the Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston and take one of their Autumn Colors Limited train rides to see the fall foliage in Litchfield County.

12. Go apple picking at a local farm.

Averill Farm in Washington Depot

March Farm in Bethlehem

 

13. Take a trip to the Harwinton Fair, running  October 4-6.

14.  Join Minor Memorial Library for a Halloween Storywalk on Joey’s Trail; learn about the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

15.  Attend the Warner Theatre’s Annual Wine and Food Tasting on October 19. Buy tickets here!

16. Take a cemetery tour.

All Hallows Eve at Glebe House Museum

A Tale of Two Cemeteries – A Lantern Tour of Downtown Terryville

17. Have a scenic picnic, walk or a beautiful photo op at Topsmead State Forest.

18. Pop into the Merwinsville Hotel’s 37rd annual Columbus Day weekend arts & fine crafts show and restoration anniversary celebration. October 12-14 and 18-20.

19. Check out Trunk or Treat in New Milford on Halloween night and experience the Thriller Flash Mob in the middle of the green.

20. Run or walk in Kent’s largest one-day community event, the 48th Annual Kent Pumpkin Run on October 27. Prizes will be given to the top five most creative costumes. Register here by October 25.

21. Nothing screams fall quite like sipping on a hot drink from a local cafe. We are lucky to have so many around us. Here are just a few offering delectable eats and drinks that will warm you up:

Marty’s Cafe in Washington Depot

The Smithy Cafe in New Preston

Bridgewater Village Store in Bridgewater

River & Rail Cafe in New Milford

Toast & Co. in Litchfield

Arethusa a Mano in Bantam

Espresso 59 in Litchfield

The Po in Washington Depot

West Egg in Woodbury

Quin Brew Coffee Co. in Watertown

22. Check out Edward Tufte’s Landscape Sculpture Farm, Hogpen Hill Farms, with five miles of walking trails. Register here.

23. Do the Wigwam Escape room at The Institute for American Indian Studies and learn a new way to interact with history.

24. Visit a local farm stand and pick up some fresh produce while getting in the fall spirit! They are decorated for the fall season and have many fresh produce items!

Maple Bank Farm in Roxbury
25. Join the Litchfield Historical Society at the Tapping Reeve Meadow on October 19-31 for Scarecrows in the Meadow.

26. Bookstore tour, to prepare for colder days-in reading a book by the fireplace or for inspiration to join a book club.

27. Visit the elephant’s trunk flea market.

28. Explore local Farmer’s markets while they’re still open – perfect for finding hot cider and local produce and goods. Here are just a few of the many markets.

29. Take a Pottery class

30. Go antiquing, here are a few antique stores to stop in!

31. Go see a movie at an outdoor/drive-in movie theater

Four Brothers Drive Inn in Amenia

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens in Washington

32. Get relaxed or back in shape with yoga / fitness classes in the area. Here are a few of many fitness / yoga studios in the county!

33. Kayak and fish in Bantam Lake, the largest natural lake in Connecticut covering 947 acres. There are two launches, Beverly’s Marina at the corner of Rt. 209 and Palmer Road in Morris, or White Memorial Family Campground Launch.

34. Take a cooking class to show off your new recipes and skills during the holiday season

35. Spend the day at a beautiful vineyard. Litchfield County has numerous vineyards to enjoy. Bring a picnic blanket and some chairs and relax while sipping on wine and watching the sunset. Check their websites for special live entertainment events. Here are just a few: Hopkins Vineyard in Warren; Spring Hill Vineyards in New Preston; Hawk Ridge Winery in Watertown; Connecticut Valley Winery in New Hartford; Sunset Meadows Vineyards in Goshen.

36. Go brewery/distillery hopping! Here are just a few:

37. Visit local cidery, Park Lane Cider Mill in New Milford for some freshly pressed cider.

38. Visit an animal sanctuary, bird sanctuary, or farm!

39. Take an art class!

40. Go see some live music

41. Go see a play or show at a local theater.

42. Try out Horseback riding!

43. Try curling at Norfolk Curling Club in Norfolk.

44. Have some family fun and go bowling

45. A thrifting excursion to revamp your wardrobe more sustainably

46. Get primped with a new hairstyle or nails at local salons, or even have a spa day! Here are a few places:

47. For history buffs, visit the litchfield history museum

48. Admire the beautiful waterfalls of Litchfield County. Do go chasing waterfalls.

49. Art gallery tour

50.  Visit Action Wildlife  in Goshen for their yearly haunted house; the Forsaken Lands running September 28-November 2.

Maison Collab

September 18, 2024

Carol Neiley had been house hunting for seven years when she discovered the small caretaker’s cottage on the former William F. Buckley estate in Sharon.

A 1907 Caretaker’s Cottage Is Transformed into an Elegant Family Home
By Jamie Marshall
Photos by Kate S. Jordan

Carol Neiley had been house hunting for seven years when she discovered the small caretaker’s cottage on the former William F. Buckley estate in Sharon. The long-abandoned house was in tough shape. But she wasn’t focused on the flaws. “I didn’t buy it for the house,” she says. “I bought it for the view. It has the most beautiful setting, almost like an Olmsted garden.”  

That was in 2019, around the time she launched her Sharon-based boutique design firm, Maison Collab, with business partner Pamela Duncan Silver. “We’ve been best friends since we were 18,” says Neiley. “We finish each other’s sentences like an old married couple.” Having both owned and renovated houses in France, they knew they shared the same design aesthetic—which was ideally suited to their new project.

First, they addressed key structural issues. “We did a lot of reinforcement to make sure the house was really sound and a lot more square,” Neiley says.

They added a mudroom, and an office above it, removed a shed roof off the back, and created a dressing room on the second floor. They changed all the windows, sourced 18th-  and 19th-century doors and hardware, and even reproduced actual Federal baseboard molding and trim for the entire house from a 1760s home in Red Hook.

When it was time for the interiors, they knew they wanted to keep the palette neutral, to evoke a sense of serenity and flow. They used Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin in every room, including trim and mullions. Even the plaster for the walls was tinted with the paint, which created a lovely wash of light.

As a result, each room flows seamlessly into the next. “Your eye doesn’t jump from color to color,” says Silver. 

Adding to that tranquil effect is the deft use of lighting. “It’s one of our specialties,” says Neiley.  

 The designers take great joy in creating beautiful vignettes. “Every piece has a place and a purpose and a story,” says Neiley. “We’d rather have a bare plaster wall than the wrong chair against the wall.”  

To achieve this highly curated feel, they spend weeks searching for the perfect table, commode, sofa, or lamp shade. They scour antiques stores in person and online. The twin ottomans in the living room are from a store in Lyon, France. The legs are made from faux kudu horn. A vintage lamp is topped with a marbleized shade from Bunny Williams’ shop in Falls Village. An antique dining table from Montage is covered with a vintage hemp linen sheet. “That was a trick I learned when I lived in Lyon,” says Neiley. Other than a small area rug beneath the dining table, they left the oak plank floors bare, upstairs and down. And, to play up the view, they left the windows unadorned. “We wanted to create the sense of bringing the outside in,” Silver says. And they did so—beautifully. —maisoncollab.com 

Chris Stone and David Fox Make a Case for the Modular Home

September 18, 2024

When the time came for Stone and Fox to design a home for their own art collection, they made the bold choice to create a bespoke prefab with aplomb.

By Zachary Schwartz
Photographs by Ryan Lavine

Chris Stone and David Fox are consummate architects. Together, the married couple run an architecture studio called Stonefox Architects, specializing in homes that highlight art collections for curators, artists, and collectors. When the time came for Stone and Fox to design a home for their own art collection, they made the bold choice to create a bespoke prefab with aplomb.

The duo met 23 years ago at a New Year’s Eve party. Early in their relationship, they joined forces professionally, forming a business and a life together. They grew their firm in Manhattan, amassing an enviable client list in New York, Palm Beach, Aspen, Austin, and the Hamptons.

Seeking an arcadian escape from the cosmopolitan design society, Stone and Fox decamped to Litchfield County. The couple rented in Lakeville before purchasing an undeveloped plot on Twin Lakes in Salisbury. “It’s really important to be able to unplug and come to a place like Litchfield County, and just relax. It’s a paradise getaway for us,” says Stone.

The 4-acre plot is situated on former farmland with a mixture of wetlands and woodlands, home to a bounty of flora and fauna. Stone and Fox saw potential. They considered various approaches to designing their dream home, and ultimately settled upon a prefabricated structure.

The modern black house stands sentinel in the Connecticut woods, with three bedrooms, double-height ceilings, and an open floor plan ideal for entertaining. The building is constructed of four modules, set in a single day by Westchester Modular Homes and delivered by trailer transport. 

“You can do a lot with prefab, but you have to be prepared to color within the lines. It definitely taught us how to be more creative and conscious with space,” says Fox. The architects worked within the confines of measurements, time, costs, and modular increments to produce the house, which has subsequently been reproduced for four of their Stonefox clients.

The home was designed to display the couple’s contemporary art collection. Their catalog represents rising stars from global art fairs, including Alex Da Corte, Mika Rottenberg, Reena Spaulings, and Anna Ostoya. Local artists are also represented in the home, including works by sculptor Adam Parker Smith and ceramics by DBO Home. Design accents complement the artwork, including Cole & Son wallpaper, a Lacanche French range, and white oak flooring by Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. 

“We wanted to keep the material palette fairly restrained. We love using natural materials in a way that displays their origin,” says Stone.

Since moving to Salisbury, the couple has developed a deep interest in landscape design. They hired Berkshire native plant specialist Bridghe McCracken of Helia Land Design to advise on the horticulture. “It sparked what has become a real interest for us in learning about all of these native plants. Bridghe has this huge seed bank with native plants, not hybridized in any way,” says Fox. McCracken helped the homeowners craft an outdoor room with a hemlock hedge, as well as a butterfly-filled meadow with Penstemon and Great Blue Lobelia.

Chris Stone and David Fox have embraced the nature of Connecticut, hiking its woods and studying its flora. Summers beckon carefree floating on lake inner tubes, while winters are reserved for fireside lounging with their Boston terrier and ice skating on the frozen lake. “I get so excited when I see the mountains with a light dusting of snow. At any given moment, there could be a little squall of snow that looks like someone dumped powdered sugar on top. I love driving around and seeing how the landscape undulates,” says Fox. For the architects, their modular home is their modern retreat.

Savor 2024: Litchfield County’s Premier Food Event

September 18, 2024

On Sunday, September 15, South Farms in Morris hosted Savor Litchfield, the region’s premier culinary event.

On Sunday, September 15, South Farms in Morris hosted Savor Litchfield, the region’s premier culinary event. Chef Christian Hunter, of Michelin-starred Atelier in Chicago and formerly of Community Table, led the festivities.
Set against the scenic countryside, the festival brought together 400 guests and 15 top Litchfield County chefs who showcased their talents using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Attendees enjoyed unlimited tastings and artisanal cocktails from Litchfield Distillery, alongside upscale pop-up shops.
VIPs were treated to a caviar bar by Pointy Snout Caviar, a private cocktail hour, and special goody bags. A portion of ticket sales supported F.I.S.H. NWCT, a nonprofit serving the local community.

THE CHEFS

Chef Christian Hunter
Atelier, Chicago

James Beard finalist chef Christian Hunter returns to Litchfield County from his Michelin star restaurant Atelier in Chicago to lead the helm of chefs for this year’s Savor. Hunter’s culinary background includes cooking at Community Table in New Preston, Relais & Chateaux’s Lake Placid Lodge, and The Weekapaug Inn in Rhode Island. @chefchristianhunter

Chef CJ Barroso
Lost Fox Inn, Litchfield 

Chef CJ Barroso has worked in some of New York City’s top kitchens including Aquavit with Marcus Samuelsson, Michelin-starred Public, Saxon and Parole, and The Finch. The Lost Fox Inn menu is reimagined seasonally and Chef CJ is passionate about meeting with farmers and discussing the freshest ingredients of the day. @plant_create_eat

Chef John Bourdeu
Sparrow, New Milford

Chef Bourdeu’s newest Litchfield County restaurant offers a “world menu” to his guests with creative flavors and a variety of dishes from around the globe. Bourdeu is well-known for his previous beloved eateries,
The Owl in New Preston and Lucia in New Milford. @sparrownewmilford

Chef Carl Ciarcia III
South Farms, East Morris

Chef Carl brings his Italian culinary training to offer fresh Mediterranean-style cuisine. Head Chef of South Farms, Ciarcia leads the development of their culinary program. @carlciarcia

Chef Dennis DeBellis
John’s Cafe, Woodbury

A 1994 Culinary Institute of America graduate, chef/owner Dennis’s cooking offers new American cuisine with heavy Italian and Mediterranean leanings, including fresh pastas and award-winning desserts. @johnscafe693main

Chef Bolivar Hilario
Community Table, New Preston

At Community Table, Chef Bolivar weaves his Mexican heritage with inspired Japanese and French-style cooking for a healthy approach to modern, local cuisine. @bol1var_

Chef Constantine “Dino” Kolitsas
Greca Mediterranean Kitchen + Bar, New Milford

Director of The Silo Cooking School and chef/owner of Greca Mediterranean Kitchen + Bar, “Dino” has appeared on Chopped and been featured in various publications. @greca.med

Jeremey McKendry and Allison Varian
Bakehouse, Litchfield

Established in May 2018, The BakeHouse in Litchfield specializes in buttercream cakes, French pastries, and artisanal breads. @thebakehousect

Chef Paul Pearson
White Hart Inn, Salisbury

Paul Pearson is the chef of the White Hart Inn, located on the green in Salisbury. Having been part of the opening team in 2014 he left for a stint at Community Table in New Preston before returning to oversee the food program in 2020. He works closely with the team to oversee the Tap Room, Provisions, and events. @pavypearson

Chef Carlos Perez
@The Corner, Litchfield

Executive chef Carlos Perez’s approach to cooking is described as sustainable farm-to-table, paired with a modern influence. He also has an extensive background in pastry. @chefcarlosperez

Chef Zachary Redin
To the Gills, Watertown

With over 15 years of culinary restaurant and fish market experience, Zachary has a keen eye for quality, freshness, and seafood trends. @swedishchef08

Chef Jeff Schmidt
Hindsight BBQ, Waterbury

Hindsight BBQ is an all wood-fired craft barbeque experience. Rated a Top BBQ Joint outside of Texas, by Texas monthly chief editor Daniel Vaughn. @jefftakespics

Kate J. Truini
New Curds on the Block, Watertown

Kate is a cheesemonger and the owner of New Curds on the Block, a cut-to-order cheese shop, which sources handmade cheeses from New England cheesemakers. @katejtruini

Chef Vinjith Vikraman
Tandoori Flames, New Milford

Chef Vinjith, born and raised in Kerala, India, opened Tandoori Flames in 2018, serving authentic North and South Indian cuisine.  @tandooriflamesnewmilford

Thank you to the local farms that provided food for our event.

Earth’s Palate farm, Hungry Reaper Farm, Why Not Farm, Chanticleer Acres, Upper Grassy Greens, Riverbank Farm, Beavertides Farm, Calf and Clover Creamery, Hoadley Hills Farm, Oracle Mushroom, North West Corner Farm, and Maple Bank Farm.

Academics in the Hills

September 12, 2024

For many families, Litchfield County is a small corner of New England that offers huge educational opportunities.

Our Guide to the Best Private Schools in the Region

Litchfield County is famous for many things—most of them associated with culture, leisure, and the landscape. But for many families, Litchfield County is a small corner of New England that offers huge educational opportunities. There are famous and historic institutions of learning, as well as newer schools that serve diverse backgrounds and abilities. Some offer boarding, giving students from around the world a chance to come here for opportunities that can (and do) change a student’s life.

Bethlehem:

Horace Mann School 
Nursery-12. Prepares a diverse community to lead great and giving lives.
121 Carmel Hill Rd. N.
860-868-2230
horacemann.org/academic-life/dorr

The Woodhall School 
Boys grades 9-12 of above-average intellectual ability, who’ve had difficulties in traditional schools.
58 Harrison Ln.
203-266-7788
woodhallschool.org

The Arch Bridge School 
Private therapeutic day and boarding school for grades 7-12.
21 Arch Bridge Rd.
203 -266-8000
wellspring.org/programs-services/arch-bridge-school 

Cheshire:

Cheshire Academy
As a coeducational school that maximizes each stu- dent’s potential, Cheshire Academy prepares students for college and to be true global citizens.
10 Main St.
203-272-5396
cheshireacademy.org

Kent:

Kent School 
College preparatory boarding school, grades 9-12. Educates students to contribute to the common good.
1 Macedonia Rd.
860 -927-6000
kent-school.edu

Marvelwood School 
College preparatory boarding school that supports and engages all types of learners.
476 Skiff Mountain Rd.
860-927-0047
marvelwood.org

South Kent School 
Boarding school that prepares young men for college and to thrive as thoughtful citizens.
40 Bulls Bridge Rd.
860-927-3539
southkentschool.org 

Lakeville and Salisbury:

The Hotchkiss School 
Inspiring a diverse range of students to the highest standards of excellence.
11 Interlaken Rd.
860-435-2591
hotchkiss.org

Indian Mountain School 
Pre-K-9; inspires students to be the change they wish to see.
211 Indian Mountain Rd.
860-435-0871
indianmountain.org

Salisbury School 
Embraces the belief that a boy’s school must address every aspect of development.
251 Canaan Rd.
860-435-5700
salisburyschool.org

Litchfield:

Forman School
Specializing in ADHD, dyslexia. Tailored curriculum prepares students for college and the world.
12 Norfolk Rd.  
860-567-8712
formanschool.org

Litchfield Montessori School
Fifteen months-12 years. Nurtures love of learning, sense of wonder, independence. 
5 Knife Shop Rd.
860- 283-5920
litchfieldmontessori.org  

School on the Green 
A preschool where parents actively participate in their child’s early education journey.
25 South St.
860-567-0695
schoolonthegreen.com

New Milford:

Canterbury School
Boarding and day school for 9–12 and postgraduates. Believes in students’ extraordinary potential.
101 Aspetuck Ave.
860-210-3800
cbury.org

Faith Preparatory School
K-12 Christ-centered education that focuses on academic excellence and Biblical discipline. 
600 Danbury Rd.
860-210-3677
faithprep.cc

New Preston:

Washington Montessori School
Encourages independent thinking, favors discipline and focus, and nurtures innate curiosity.
240 Litchfield Tpke.
860-868-0551
washingtonmontessori.org

Torrington:

Torrington Christian Academy
A Christian private school that educates students from pre-K to 12th grade.
860-462-7464
387 New Harwinton Rd.
tcact.org

Washington:

Glenholme School 
Co-ed boarding school (grades 5-12) for students who struggle emotionally, socially, or academically.
91 Sabbaday Lane
860-868-7377
theglenholmeschool.org

Frederick Gunn School
Co-ed boarding and day school; multiple early opportunities for leadership and discovery.
99 Green Hill Rd. 
860-868-7334
frederickgunn.org

Rumsey Hall School
Grades PreK-9. Teaching academics and teaching an attitude of mind are of equal importance.
201 Romford Rd. 
860-868-0535
rumseyhall.org

Watertown:

Taft School
A co-ed preparatory school that offers high-level academics and athletics.
110 Woodbury Rd.
860-945-7777
taftschool.org

St. Mary Magdalen Elementary School
For students of all faiths, teaching how to think, question, become lifelong learners.
140 Buckingham St.
860-945-0621
smmsjschools.org

St. John the Evangelist Middle School
Working collaboratively, students are challenged to think critically as they prepare for high school.
760 Main St.
860-274-9208
smmsjschools.org

Out and About in Litchfield County

September 8, 2024

Out and About in Litchfield County featuring Pilobolus’s Midsummer Ball, ASAP!, and The Great Country Mutt Show.

Pilobolus’s Midsummer Ball on June 22 surpassed all fundraising goals,  while uniting key figures from entertainment, performance, and philanthropy to celebrate art, nature, and the human body. The evening featured site-specific dance performances at a private sculpture park in Washington. Guests could become immersed in Pilobolus’s innovative and boundary-pushing spirit. 

Photos by Bryan Haeffele, Courtesy of Pilobolus

On June 1, ASAP! celebrated its 25th anniversary with a Sonny and Cher-themed variety show and cocktail party at the Frederick Gunn School, highlighting ASAP! students and teaching artists. Two-hundred guests donated more than $100,000 in support of ASAP!’s mission to foster creative, hands-on learning through the arts. 

Photos by Soph and Drew Photography

The Great Country Mutt Show benefit on June 8 in support of the Little Guild was held at the home of Michael Trapp and M. Michael Meller in Sharon, and raised 20% of the organization’s annual operating costs. Guests toured Trapp’s gardens while enjoying the music of The Joint Chiefs. 

Photos by Kelsey Turick and Linda Brinkley.

Black Rabbit Bar and Grille

September 8, 2024

It still serves seriously good burgers and you can still catch a game at the bar, but chef and owner Kendra Chapman has continued to refine and expand her cooking to offer an increasingly diverse and sophisticated menu.

Good Food and Fair Prices at Black Rabbit
By Charles Dubow
Photographs by Sabrina Eberhard

I remember when Black Rabbit opened in 2011. We were weekending in Lakeville back then, and my family and I loved it. It was the perfect casual spot to grab a seriously good burger or just have a beer and watch a game on one of their large flat-screen TVs. It didn’t take long for it to become a local favorite.

In the intervening 13 years, Black Rabbit has only become better. It still serves seriously good burgers and you can still catch a game at the bar, but chef and owner Kendra Chapman has continued to refine and expand her cooking to offer an increasingly diverse and sophisticated menu. “I just love watching cooking shows, and reading cookbooks and trendy magazines,” she says with a laugh. “When I see something that looks good I go, ‘Ooh, I should put that on the menu.’ And my customers seem to like it.”

Seeing what are Chapman’s latest creations is part of the fun of dining at Black Rabbit. She has specials every day (which she posts online); these can include such dishes as BBQ spare ribs, lamb souvlaki, or a buttered soft-shell crab sandwich.

Regular menu items are, among many others, a brick oven roast chicken, pan-seared salmon, a grilled ribeye pork chop. And, of course, the half-pound burgers, as always, come in a variety of configurations: The Everything comes with bacon, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and cheddar and Swiss cheese; the Buddha has sautéed mushrooms, truffle-smoked gouda, and garlic herb aioli; the Stella Spice has habanero bacon jam, pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions, and bacon. Any one of them will satisfy the biggest appetite.

Even better: They are all reasonably priced—as is everything on the menu, including the modest but decent wine list. (The cocktail and beer lists are more ambitious.)

Chapman credits much of her success to her staff—many of whom have been with her for years—and to her long ties to the area. Prior to opening Black Rabbit, she worked as general manager for 10 years up the road in Salisbury, at the White Hart Inn.

“Even though I had lots of restaurant experience, I wasn’t really a professional chef when I left the White Hart,” she says. “To learn how to cook to order, I opened the Chapman Chowdah House in Sheffield, and spent a year there to work out the kinks before opening here.”

Now she is very much a hands-on owner/chef and spends, in her estimation, 80 percent of her time in the kitchen.

“After I opened Black Rabbit, a lot of my friends and patrons came with me,” she says. “Which was so cool. And they’ve stayed.”

It also meant that she already knew many of the best local farms from which she could source her ingredients. Among what she calls her “farmer friends” are Gasperini Farm, Sharon Mountain Greens, Sky Farm, and Zinke’s Farm. Let’s hope Black Rabbit sticks around for another 13 years.

Black Rabbit, 2 Ethan Allen St., Lakeville—blackrabbitbarandgrille.com

New England Accordion Connection Museum

September 8, 2024

An Accordion Museum?

By Francis Schell
Photo by Ethan Ash

It bears the impressive title of New England Accordion Connection Museum and Company (NEACMC), and it is housed in the restored former North Canaan train station. As a museum it is remarkable. More than 400 vintage instruments are displayed, many artfully encrusted with rhinestones and mother-of-pearl, bearing in fanciful lettering the name of the maker or owner. Most were donated, and date from the 1930s and ’40s, the heyday of accordion popularity, before Elvis’ guitar stole the spotlight. Each has its history: Barbara O’Connell entertained battle-bound World War II troops with hers; Cesar Dicato serenaded Al Capone with his; famed TV host Lawrence Welk’s favorite “squeeze box” ( slang for accordion) is there.

Italo-American families had especially prized the accordion, its sound livening family gatherings. The mother of NEACMS’s founder and director, Paul Ramunni, made him learn to play as a youngster, calling the accordion “good, clean, and wholesome,” and he performed regularly. Once off to college, he shelved his instrument. Forty years later he had an epiphany: Not only did he have to get back to playing, but he needed to popularize the accordion, teach a new generation to play it, create an orphanage for unwanted instruments and a space where accordion lovers could form a community. Last year he welcomed 6,000 visitors from near and far to his museum. “Accordions are a real experience,” says the voluble Mr. Ramunni.—newenglandaccordionconnectionandmuseumcompany.com

Kent Pumpkin Run

September 8, 2024

What makes the race special is not who zips across the finish line first; it’s the camaraderie, community support and, of course, the costumes, which make the race fun to watch.

Kent Pumpkin Run Draws an Eclectic Crowd
By Wendy Carlson
Photographs by Wendy Carlson

 If you scanned the crowd at the Kent Pumpkin Run last year, you might have spied the ecstatic ’70s fitness guru Richard Simmons among the colorful crowd of runners. Okay, so it was his doppelgänger, Nathan Samuel of New Milford, who ran the course wearing a tank top, a red bandana, and “shorty” shorts, with several leotard-clad female joggers in tow. 

But real celebs including Kevin Bacon, Saturday Night Live’s Dana Carvey and Ted Danson have competed in the annual 5-miler. One year, Seth MacFarlane, a Kent native and creator of the television series “Family Guy,” designed the race T-shirt.

On October 27, the Kent Pumpkin Run will mark its 48th year, falling as it always has on the Sunday before Halloween. The traditional firing of the miniature cannon signals the start of the race. Runners stream out of Kent Green and go up along Cobble Road, before reaching a long downhill on Cobble Mountain and returning to the start. 

It’s been a town wide event since the first year when the Kent Lions Club launched the race, and 113 runners toed the line. Through the years, race numbers increased but eventually began to falter. Then, more than a dozen years ago, the Kent Chamber of Commerce took over the event, and its members decided to hire a race director and “go all in,” according to race coordinator Dave Dunleavy. 

“The result was 653 runners in 2010,” he said. “The number of registrants hit 938 a few years later. Although numbers have not reached those historic highs since, entries have typically been in the 450 to 500 range. 

“The only year the race wasn’t held in person was 2020, the dreaded year of COVID, when the event was held ‘virtually.’” 

Otherwise, the race is on, come hell or high water. Serious runners vie to beat the course records. In 2016, Hirut Angola set the women’s record with a time of 28:25. In 2012, Abdelhadi El Mouaziz set the overall course record with a time of 23:56:22.

But what makes the race special is not who zips across the finish line first; it’s the camaraderie, community support and, of course, the costumes, which make the race fun to watch. There are prizes for the fastest runner in multiple age groups and an award for best costume (which “Richard Simmons” and his entourage won last year).

Past memorable costumes included a posse of Mutant Ninja Turtles, and a six-pack of runners dressed as bottles, who ran while holding up their sides of the carton. 

One year, Santa Claus was guiding his running herd of reindeer up Cobble Road when he nearly collided with a live deer that shot across the racecourse. 

Robin and Rob Giese of Harwinton, who dressed as Wednesday and Uncle Fester from the Addams Family last year, look forward to designing their costumes. As for the unpredictable weather, Robin shrugged, “Even in a downpour, it is still a great race on a beautiful course,” she said.—www.kentpumpkinrun.com 

Meet Alper Toydemir: Your Real Estate Agent

September 8, 2024

Meet Alper Toydemir: Your Real Estate Agent

By Clementina Verge

Born in Istanbul to a Greek mother and a Turkish father, Alper Toydemir has traveled the world, but chose Litchfield County as his home—and wants to help others do the same. 

A real estate agent with William Raveis Lifestyles Realty in Washington Depot, he enjoyed a long career as an executive for renowned international hotels including Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Maybourne Hotel Group, and The Peninsula Hotels.

“I successfully led sales teams and worked with C-suite level clients worldwide, and collaborated with Manhattan and Boston real estate advisors to promote specialty suites for long-term stays, which broadened my career horizons,” Toydemir explains.

“During COVID-19, I purchased a weekend house in Litchfield County, and quickly fell in love with the area as I explored every inch,” describes the now year-round Warren resident. “I’ve always admired quintessential New England houses, which remind me of the countryside in Switzerland and the UK.”

His interest and love of architecture began at a young age.  “Two childhood memories stand out,” he recalls. “While driving through Paris, I asked my mom if it was a museum city due to its beauty and historical architecture. Another distinct memory is my first stay in Manhattan at The Pierre when I was ten years old. I was astonished by the architecture and quintessential hotel furnishings.”

“As an international traveler, both personally and professionally, I’ve visited every continent and experienced the cultural and architectural offerings of cities big and small. Throughout these travels, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for design and history.”

Following his 17-year-career in luxury hotel sales (where he enjoyed collaborating with real estate advisors), Toydemir began selling homes—most recently in Bethlehem and Roxbury.

Client Kathy Miller praises his kindness and expertise. “Alper was above and beyond supportive and experienced,” she recalls. 

Selling her house after 40 years was more emotional than she’d anticipated, Miller confides. “It was the home where we raised our children, shared holidays with family and friends, and cared for our beloved pets. It held so many memories, and it would no longer be in our lives. When we faltered at one point, because this experience was so bittersweet, Alper supported us and let us make the best decisions.”

Toydemir understands that “selling and buying real estate is an emotional process, and it’s essential to work with a real estate advisor who is versatile in guiding clients financially.” 

“When clients struggle to make decisions, it is imperative to speak their emotional language and help them navigate through those challenges,” he notes.

Up-to-date on industry standards and trends, and following real estate news closely, Toydemir feels “fortunate to work with Stacey and Pels of The Matthews Group at Raveis. They are incredible sources of information every day.”

“Don’t hesitate to sell or buy real estate,” he adds. “It’s one of the most lucrative investments globally. Whether you’re selling or buying, it’s an opportunity not only to increase your wealth, but also to create new memories and experiences for life.” 

Find Toydemir at [email protected] or 646-717-4363.

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