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

Walking through the Veronica Martin Gallery is like being in a crowded French bistro. It brings you back to the days when posters were an art form and sold a way of life.

The space in the old switch factory building in Bantam looks small, but it is filled with pictures of drawings and paintings with blocks of bold colors, gestural lines, and stunning typography. The gallery is called the Veronica Martin Gallery and it specializes in original Belle Epoque period posters from the 1880s to 1920s.

The gallery owner, Veronica Martin, is passionate about posters from the Art Nouveau period. It started when she was 19 years old and saw a tin at Dean & Deluca, in New York City, that had a lady dancing on it. The imagery combined with type appealed to her. “I didn’t know much about art and knew nothing about the genre of poster art,” she said. Today, the same tin sits in the gallery as a reminder of the beginning of this attraction. Veronica started collecting vintage postcards from the same period that she found in card shops. She loved these pieces of history, advertisements from another time, their historical significance in popular culture, and the artistic element. They seemed so different than the advertisements of today. She decided to study art history and find out more about art during that period.

The posters were advertising everything from liquors, bicycles, cars, fuel, travel, dessert cremes, entertainment, biscuits, an Italian Exposition—and even literature. One poster hanging at the gallery advertised a new novel, The White Slave Trade, and caused such a scandal that the writer was fined and arrested. Some posters from that era are quite well-known such as the iconic one for the Folies Bergère, a cabaret music hall located in Paris that was very popular in the 1890s’ Belle Époque until the Golden Twenties.

Veronica seems to know the backstory of many of the pieces she sells. The Creme de Menthe Rose poster, which she has for sale in her gallery, was created by artist Leonetto Cappiello in 1902 and was owned by Dr. Hans Sachs, a European dentist who had a collection of 12,500 posters. He and his wife who were both Jewish, were arrested during the Holocaust and his posters were confiscated by the Nazis in 1938. For unknown reasons, they were  released two weeks later and escaped to America. (It is said that one of his patients here in the U.S.A. was Albert Einstein.)

Her extensive knowledge on the matter of Art Nouveau Posters comes from years of studying and collecting. “My first poster, which I still have at home, is by Jean de Paleologue (aka PAL) from the 1890s advertising apricot liqueur, called Abricotine.” Veronica studied Art History at Columbia University, and subsequently attended programs at the Musée D’Orsay in France, the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, the École du Louvre in Paris, the School of Nancy in France (studying art nouveau furniture), as well as a school in Nice, France.

While at the Musée D’Orsay she was inspired by the architecture of the building, by the Beaux Arts design, as well as by the works it housed, such as an original “Metropolitain” metro sign created by Hector Guimard. “Many of the pieces in the museum are from the same period as the posters I collect and show at the gallery — the Art Nouveau period.” She also became fascinated with art and artists from the Secessionist movement in Eastern Europe, such as Gustav Klimt, who broke away from the Academy and changed views on what kind of art was acceptable.

“I have three posters from the 1930s one by Emile Finot from 1930 called Les Waltons et ses Marionnettes,  Joie de Vivre by Rene Vincent from 1932, and Semaine Nationale de L’Enfance from 1935 by Delrieu.” Some of the most famous poster artists are Alphonse Mucha, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Theophile Steinlen, Jules Cheret, Leonetto Cappiello, Jules Grun, Henri Privat-Livemont, Eugene Grasset, Franz Laskoff, Marcello Dudovich, Jane Atche, and Roger Broders. “These are just a few at the very top. Often times, but not always, the graphic is more important than the name of the artist. A collector would prefer a very rare poster from a lesser artist than a poster image which is really well-known and over-circulated by a more renowned artist.”

She goes on to name other known artists such as Cassandre (Adolphe Jean-Marie Mouron), Paul Colin, Charles Loupot, and Ludwig Hohlwein, all are artists who produced posters in the 1930s. “Additionally, some Belle Epoque poster artists also continued to work into the 1940s such as Leonetto Cappiello. His early 20th century posters have a different style to his later period from the 1920s – 1940s. Ludwig Hohlwein also worked in the early 20th century.” In addition to antique posters, Veronica carries  original vintage photographs by such artists as Clemens Kalischer, Horst P. Horst, and Chiara Samugheo.

Having lived in New York City for 17 years, Veronica became  tired of the noise and the crowds. When a family member had a space available in Woodbury, she took it and has been living there for 1o years now. Litchfield County has many art galleries, artists, and art lovers, but there isn’t a gallery that specializes in antique posters, so it turned out to be a good place to launch her business as well.

The posters at the gallery are primarily from circa 1880 to 1920, but there are a few that fall outside that period. Prices for the posters range from $1200 to $16,000. Next month an iconic Mucha poster will be arriving and will be priced at $25,000. Veronica sources the posters from major metropolitan areas such as London, Italy, France, Chicago and New York.

Posters can be shipped to anywhere in the USA and Europe. Veronica just sent an enormous framed poster to Seattle and some unframed posters to Austria, New York, and Beverly Hills; and she has delivered framed posters locally. “I sell and ship framed and unframed posters. I can accommodate a customer who would prefer to have a poster unframed, but so far, everyone has chosen to keep the posters in the frame in which its displayed at the gallery, even with the shipping costs.”

Some of the gallery’s clientele are from local towns such as Woodbury, Bantam, Ridgefield, and New Preston. Other customers have been visiting the area from out of town, from places like New York,  Seattle, and Beverly Hills. “And some people just stopped in to look—they were from Madrid, Russia, and France—just to give a few examples.”

When asked to name her favorite poster artists, Veronica replied, “Some of my favorites are Leonetto Cappiello, Theophile Steinlen, Alphonse Mucha, Koloman Moser, Pierre Bonnard, Ludwig Hohlwein, Franz Laskoff, Wilhelm Schulz, and most posters that were created from the Secessionist movement in Austria.”

Veronica Martin took an art form that she loved and turned it into her work. The town of Bantam, a vibrant arts haven, is perfect for the gallery. So far the response from the area has been enthusiastic and the business is taking off. We look forward to checking in with her to see what other gems she has picked up on her journey.

With the opening of Salvatore Anthony Hair Studio, New Preston has never looked so good—just watch the stream of people smiling as they step out of the popular hair salon.

Master stylist Sal Anthony launched the Salvatore Anthony Hair Studio in April of this year by. Situated next door to The Owl (a popular wine bar that also opened late this summer) has been fortuitous as patrons move easily from sipping wine on the terrace to having their hair cut and blow-dried. The interior space of the salon is small but surprisingly does not feel confined. Designed with an eye toward a modern aesthetic, the room is dominated by a custom steel-framed mirror which hangs in front of two Italian styling chairs. All of the furniture at the salon is custom-made by a local artisan. The cabinetry is made of walnut and the drapes are made of cashmere. The black leather-wrapped shelves are from RT Facts in Kent. The overall result is a simple and intimate environment perfect for a relaxing escape from the daily rush.

Sal is originally from Edison, New Jersey, but he and his husband were New Yorkers who spent weekends in the Catskills for 8 years. One day they visited friends in Sharon and the rest is history. Two years ago, they sold their loft in Brooklyn Heights, bought an 1840s colonial in Cornwall Bridge, and have been renovating ever since.

As a young boy, Sal always wanted to be a hair stylist. He loved styling his sister’s hair, but making a career out of it was not encouraged. His mother, however, always supported and inspired him. After graduating from Seton Hall University with a Business degree, he dabbled in fashion for a few years. He was the liaison between manufacturers in Hong Kong and Korea and a dress shop in New York City. He was offered a great position at Tahari Dress House, but he decided to turn down the offer to pursue his dream to be a hair stylist. He sold his condo and went back to school to get his license in Cosmetology, while apprenticing at a salon on Staten Island. Finally, at 29 years old, Sal graduated and reached his goal.

While looking for a job, Sal approached many hair studios, but they always requested that he choose cutting or coloring. “You have to choose one or the other.” Eventually, he met the owner of Scott J Salon and he made Sal an offer where he could do both. He started as an apprentice and quickly worked his way up to Master Stylist. Sal has been at the renowned Scott J Salon on the upper east side of New York City for almost 20 years.

Once he moved full-time to Litchfield County, it was only natural that he began thinking about opening his own hair studio in the area. After checking out the competition in the area and looking at the different towns, he settled on the space available on the first floor of the former Oliva Café in New Preston. With his own business now flourishing in New Preston three days a week, Sal has cut his hours back in the Manhattan salon and only spends two 12-hour days working in the city.

Sal is a one-man show in New Preston. He has no assistant and no receptionist, so he does everything from shampoos to bookings. “The pace is perfect,” he says. With two styling stations in the space, Sal manages to run a thriving business with clients from all directions—Sharon, South Kent, Goshen, Litchfield, Washington, and even his longtime NYC clients come from New Canaan, Westport, and Haddam.

He had been working with Aveda products his whole career, so when he was scouting for a location to open his shop and found the space in New Preston, he contacted Aveda. It turned out there was no salon selling Aveda in the area and the demographic was perfect. He only carries the hair products (about 85% of the line), including color. All Aveda products are made with organic and natural pure flower and plant ingredients, and the packaging consists of 100% post-consumer recycled materials.

Sal has quickly become everyone’s favorite stylist. He’s a good listener, has a great sense of humor, and he has a way with people. Most of his clients have become his extended family. When you put yourself under Sal’s care and expertise, you can be confident that you will like the results. Sal’s clientele includes both men and women, and he provides a wide range of services from a simple cut and blow-dry to shine coats, base breaks, and deep conditioning treatments. For the upcoming holidays, he carries Aveda Gift Sets and sells Gift Certificates for the hair studio. Prices for all services can be found on the website.

In September Washington residents came together to honor Judy Black for her lasting legacy towards the creation of The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens.

“I wish to create a garden, a place to relax,
to dream, to experience the unfolding of nature.
I wish to create a park, a place for friends, neighbors,
and children to gather, to explore, to play, to further
the spirit of the unique, vibrant and beautiful
community of Washington.”
– Judy Black (1948 – 2015), A lover of flowers
  and gardens, nature and art

This was Judy Black’s legacy statement. She had a vision and she threw herself into making it a reality. Her role in the transformation of the abandoned Texaco gas station in Washington Depot into an inviting community space was in developing the gardens. On a warm Sunday afternoon in September of this year, hundreds of residents gathered in the park to honor Judy with a dedication ceremony. The presentation touched the hearts of those who attended. To understand how this beautiful park changed the way the town’s residents engage in their community, we must go back to the beginning.

The Washington Park Foundation was created in 2013 to find a solution to the eyesore in the center of Washington Depot. The former Texaco gas station was in a prime location yet sat unused for years. As Douglas Day, the Foundation’s President put it, the first four “bold originals” were Barbara Bouyea, Peter Talbot, Michael Ackerman, and Denise Trevenen. They had a dream and were willing to invest in the future of the space.

Soon after the foundation was created, there were two Leadership Gifts, one from Rita and Gus Hauser, (they were the first gift givers) followed by a gift from Edwin and Patsy Mathews. Forty more people gave donations in 2013. And in the winter of 2014/2015, Michael Leans worked with the Park Foundation for a year. There was also financial support from Mark and Lauren Booth and the Ingrassia family. A $675,000 capital campaign was launched in May of 2015. Almost 100 local families and businesses stepped up to help.

One day, out of the blue, Doug received a call from Carolyn Setlow to introduce her friend Judy Black, who was terminally ill with cancer and wanted to give a gift of lasting beauty to the town she loved.

Judy Black grew up in New York City and Westport, Connecticut. Her mother was an artist, a water-colorist who loved nature. Judy’s  childhood was spent exploring nature and art with her brother Leon. They grew up in a home that had many visitors, both local and international, and it was a household that combined family, business, gardens, and art. They loved to travel.

Upon graduating college, Judy Black became an early childhood teacher. After earning an MBA from Columbia, her career as a business woman led her to the internet and cable, and she introduced the potential applications to markets and large audiences around the globe. As one of the early new media strategists, Judy led various advertising industry committees, and ultimately became chairperson of the New Technologies Committee of the American Association of Advertising Agencies. Her business travels allowed her to follow her passions, her curiosity, and search for beauty.

When Judy Black and her husband of 35 years, Richard Schlosberg moved to Connecticut in 1983, they found a welcome embrace in the town of Washington. Judy began lasting friendships and engaged with the community in many ways. She became the head of the Greater Washington Coalition of Jewish Life. She was involved in the interfaith community and found inspiration from the two pastors up on the hill, at the Congregational Church and at the Episcapol Church. She saw a sense of generosity in her friends and neighbors and was inspired by it. “She found the beautiful spirit of our town.”

“Judy was a serious person and she took flowers seriously. She believed flowers are an integral part of our existance,” explained her husband Richard. “Daffodils were among her favorite flowers.”  This passion was manifest in her efforts to save the native habitats in Florida, her involvement in the Wewaka Brook Preserve off of Keeler Road in Bridgewater, and finally, in her legacy with the Park and Garden in Washington Depot.

Judy was warm, engaging, bright, funny, and totally without pretense. She was both a dreamer and a pragmatist. On October 25, 2015, her energy fading, but her resolve unwavering, she signed over her vision in the form of an agreement and she asked Carolyn to be her Successor Trustee.

Today, the Board of Trustees of the Washington Park Foundation are: Douglas Day, President; Denise Trevenen, Vice President; Barbara Bouyea, Vincent Casey, Ronald Garfunkel, Kathy Gollow, Hilary Houldin, and Carolyn Setlow. They are strong leaders within the community and have a collective history of successful achievements that have impacted the town in a positive way.

Work began in the fall of 2014. The Saturday Farmers Market became a huge success, and events were held inside the building. A 45-foot sculpture made of polished granite called Currents was gifted by talented, local artist Mark Mennin, who carved it by hand. The sculpture was conceived to be used by the public as a place to sit and converse, and it was created to encourage people to engage with art. Over time people were drawn to the park and it came to life.

In keeping with Judy Black’s vision to use all local professionals and vendors, she hired Richard Rosiello of Meadowbrook Gardens to do the landscaping. She wanted the garden to be a full-season garden and became involved in selecting the plants and flowers. The hardscaping, including those lovely stone walls, was provided by Justin Moore. Shawn Woodward did the work on the actual building, an inviting space with its clean lines, vaulted ceiling, and understated beauty. Darryl Wright has provided all of the electrical work, an in-kind gift over a three-year period.

In September of 2016, the town of Washington came together to dedicate the new community building and park. They honored Judy Black for her generous donation. Welcoming remarks were given by Douglas Day, President of the Washington Park Foundation Board of Trustees. Richard Schlosberg spoke of Judy’s life as a very thoughtful, patient person, a listener, who was caring to her friends. Judy’s brother, Leon, who enabled her dreams was there. Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, representing the 5th Congressional District of Connecticut spoke as well and closing remarks were by Carolyn Setlow, Judy’s good friend. Music was performed by Mary Constanza, who placed the cello. Drinks and delicious mini apps were prepared by Executive Cuisine.

The opening speaker that day in September was Douglas Day, the foundation’s President. He thanked Judy’s family, and all those who have been involved since 2013. Congresswoman Elizabeth Estey spoke on the day of dedication of the warm and loving community she found in Washington, of the residents’ generosity, spirit, optimism, resolve, and commitment. The Park was created for the public to enjoy and for children, who could sit, touch and play on the sculpture. She was also impressed with the fact that the Park Foundation had committed the financial support to maintain and secure the Park for future generations. That is often overlooked in other towns. “The Town of Washington represents the best of New England Neighborliness,” the Congresswoman said. “Hats off to all of you.” Indeed, and so Judy Black’s lasting legacy continues.

Restaurateur John Bourdeau has opened a new wine bar called The Owl in the historic village of New Preston. It has quickly become the talk of the town.

New Preston Village has always been a popular destination with its cool shops and historic beauty. When Oliva Café left the area and reopened in Bethlehem, it was a loss for the community. Architect Harold Tittman purchased the building, gave it some much-needed repairs, and moved his architectural firm upstairs. There were many rumors on what he was going to do with the main floor, but none of them materialized. Now we have a reason to be excited. A new wine bar has opened there and the word on the street is that it is the place to be.

John Bourdeau is no stranger to the food and wine industry. He is a restaurateur/chef with extensive experience in food and wines. A local resident of Woodbury, he owns The Main Street Grill in Watertown and co-owns Highland Brass Co. in Waterbury. See our past article on his restaurant HERE.

The Owl is not a large space, seating about 20 people inside and another 20 outside on the patio, but the intimate atmosphere is inviting and the wood burning fireplace provides another level of warmth. With sounds of jazz coming from the speakers, blending in with laughter and conversation, the vibe is cool at The Owl.

Washington residents are thrilled to have another place to go to after a movie, after work, or a concert. The new wine bar is a place to gather with friends, enjoy a glass of wine or two, and nibble on cheese and crackers without having a huge meal. With John Bourdeau at the helm, The Owl will surely be a success. We spoke with John during a recent visit. Here’s more from the man himself:

You already have a fabulous restaurant in Watertown and a cocktail bar in Waterbury, what made you decide to open a wine bar in New Preston?

After Harold Tittman purchased the building that was home to Oliva, many people were interested in whether he would be putting some kind of restaurant back in the building somewhere. After reaching out to me about the possibilities for the space we decided that a wine bar would be a good fit for the building and for New Preston village.

How many wines will you be offering at The Owl?

We are starting with 10 reds, 10 whites, and 4 sparkling wines, all available by the glass and bottle, with a reserve list of special offerings. With Dimitri Zaharidas on board as manager, he will also be putting together some wine, vermouth and sherry cocktails.

How are your wines priced?

Wines by glass run from about $9-$16 with some reserve wines occasionally being offered in the $20 plus range.

Do you have a favorite wine?

My favorite wine on the list right now is the Blu Franc by Jed Steele in California, it’s an Austrian grape formerly known as Blaufrankisch or Limburger. It’s a dark red wine with lots of tannin but very nice fruit.

The wine bar feels very hip, modern, and casual. What was your approach to creating the look?

The space is very small inside, so keeping it sparse added to the modern feel, with the help of Harold and his great sense of space and design we put together a cozy, intimate interior that maximizes our seating. The large porch and patio give it a very Euro feeling that lends itself to long conversations while enjoying our wine and noshing on the snacks we offer.

Speaking of snacks, what kind of nibbles do you have?

We serve spiced nuts, citrus rosemary olives, cheese and charcuterie as well as seasonal soups, quiche and panini. With very limited kitchen space, our menu will always be a small one with snacks to compliment our wines and craft beers.

What kind of music can we expect to hear while sipping our wine?

We usually start the night with some cool jazz like Coltrane, Thelonius Monk or Esperanza Spaulding and as the night moves on we may move in on Al green, Motown or even the Blues direction, depending on our moods and the feeling in the room.

Will there be special events at The Owl?

We will plan monthly events like wine tastings and pairing classes, as well as some summer BBQs on the lawn over the summer. On Thursday, the 17th of November we are a having Beaujolais Nouveau party celebrating the release of this year’s Beaujolais, a delicious young wine made with the Gamay grape and traditionally a great wine for Thanksgiving.

How has the wine bar been received in the community?

So far it seems the local community is very excited about the opening of The Owl, many of them stopping in just to check out the space and see exactly what we are doing.

Northwestern Connecticut Community College is hosting a special event featuring best-selling author Simon Winchester who will be speaking about his new book Pacific.

Simon Winchester was born in north London and grew up in the  English countryside, in Dorset. He spent his childhood immersed in nature. He wanted to become a sailor and travel the world, but when he discovered he was colorblind, he decided to study geology and history instead. His love for travel, however, never faded and remains important in his life.

As a young boy, Winchester didn’t think about becoming a writer, but he recently discovered that while he was attending boarding school in the UK, he was required to write an essay as a form of punishment. Someone at his boarding school saved Simon’s essay titled Denizens of the Deep, about the deep sea, fish and corals. And to his surprise, it wasn’t bad for an eleven-year-old.

Winchester is a man of many interests who has travelled the world. While attending Oxford University, Simon became involved in the University Exploration Club, and was the member of a six-man sledding expedition onto an unchartered section of the East Greenland ice-cap in 1965. He worked as a field geologist in Uganda; he was employed on an offshore oil rig in the North Sea for some months; he then became a newspaper reporter and a science reporter, and later was based in Belfast as a Northern-Ireland correspondent for the Guardian. He also became a frequent commentator on and contributor to BBC radio.

His first foreign assignment was in Calcutta to cover the war that led to the independence from Pakistan. In 1972, he went to Washington, DC as an American correspondent. During this time, Winchester wrote his first book, In Holy Terror, an account of his reporting years in Ireland. Following his years in Washington, he was posted in 1977 to New Delhi as India Correspondent, and later moved back to London to work as Chief Foreign Feature Writer for the Sunday Times.

Winchester was captured in southern Patagonia, along with two other journalists and held in prison in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, for three months. After his release, he returned to England as a freelance correspondent, but not for long for he was offered an assignment in Hong Kong. For the next twelve years, he remained in southern China and covered an area from Siberia to Tasmania, from Burma to Hawaii. When Hong Kong was handed over to China, Winchester moved to New York.

At this point his career took a turn from correspondent to author with the release of his book The Professor and the Madman. The book went on to sell millions of copies, and remains in print today in both hardback and paperback twelve years after publication. Mel Gibson has taken the rights and is turning it into a movie starring Sean Penn as Dr. William Chester Minor, who submitted more than 10,000 entries to the making of the Oxford Dictionary while he was an inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane.

Winchester went on to write many other books such as The Men Who United the States, Atlantic, The Man Who Loved China, A Crack in the Edge of the World, and Krakatoa, all of which were New York Times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. In 2006 Mr. Winchester was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen.

While living in New York, Simon missed the landscape of Britain. A friend from the NY Times introduced him to West Cornwall in  Connecticut and it reminded him of his happy, rural upbringing in England. After renting for a few years, he bought a home just over the border in Massachusetts.

One of the attractions of living in rural Massachusetts is that there is no light pollution at night. For an astronomer that is important. One night at 3 o’clock in the morning, Simon was observing Saturn through his telescope, it was brilliantly dark. Simon recalled that not far from his home is a place called Wayland where in 1849, Reverend Edmund Sears, pastor of the Unitarian Church, wrote It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, an immensely popular poem and Christmas carol. It was reassuring to know that the night sky was appreciated back then as well.

When asked if there is anywhere in the world he would like to visit, Winchester mentions that he would like to go to Nagaland, a state in Northeast India to see the World War II Cemetery, and the War Museum, in honour of those who lost their lives during World War II during the fighting between British Empire and Japanese troops. Nearly 4,000 British Empire troops lost their lives, along with 3,000 Japanese. Many of those who lost their lives were Naga people, particularly of Angami tribe. Near the memorial is the Kohima Cathedral, on Aradura hill, built with funds from the families and friends of deceased Japanese soldiers. Prayers are held in Kohima for peace and in memory of the fallen of both sides of the battle.

These days, Winchester is busy writing and travelling for his work. He will be going to Europe to visit the movie set of The Professor and the Madman for a few days. He also has an upcoming book tour for Pacific that will take him to Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia. He is currently working on a small book about Oxford University Press with photographer Martin Parr’s photographs of Oxford. Next spring he begins a new book on the history of precision.

A typical day for Simon begins at 5:30 in the morning. While having tea, he looks at what he wrote the day before and polishes it. At 8 am, he prints it out and has breakfast. At 9 am he writes until 4 pm, skipping lunch. Then he goes for a run or does some form of physical activity. From about 5:30 to 6 pm, he prepares for the next day. Dinner is at 8 pm.

Winchester spends 18 months on each book—about 1 year doing research, 6 months writing, and 3 months editing. On the top corner of his computer screen is a counter that keeps track of his progress on a book. It displays how many words he has written up to date, how many more to go, how many days until the manuscript is due, and calculates how many words he must write each day to meet that deadline. If he surpasses his daily word count, he can take a day off from his work routine. This rigorous routine explains part of his success as a prolific writer. The discipline and structure create an environment that allows him to focus on his writing.

His place of work is a beautiful barn on his property filled with books, maps, globes, atlases, and artwork. Two computers sit perched on desks amid the piles of books, comfy chairs, and a tall map cabinet. His property is surrounded by beautiful old stone walls, and his home is well-placed overlooking the landscape. He has chickens and geese. Inside the beautifully decorated house is another room full of books but this is the library, where one retires for reading for pleasure. Unlike the haphazard stacks of books in his work studio, the library books are arranged neatly in custom book shelves along two walls of the room. There is a large telescope in the sunroom and in the living room is a large, historical, black and white photograph of Mount St. Helen’s erupting. Winchester finds it amusing that the image hangs above the fireplace.

Simon Winchester met the program director of Northwestern Connecticut Community College through his wife Setsuko Sato who was having an exhibition there. She is a ceramist who is working on a project about Japanese internment in the U.S. He enjoyed meeting the director and the students and is happy to participate by giving the talk at the school. He will be discussing his new book Pacific and most probably touching upon his other books.

In telling the story of the Pacific, Simon Winchester takes us from the Bering Strait to Cape Horn, the Yangtze River to the Panama Canal, and to the many small islands and archipelagos that lie in between. He observes the fall of a dictator in Manila, visits aboriginals in northern Queensland, and is jailed in Tierra del Fuego, the land at the end of the world. His journey encompasses a trip down the Alaska Highway, a stop at the isolated Pitcairn Islands, a trek across South Korea and a glimpse of its mysterious northern neighbor.

Winchester’s personal experience is vast and his storytelling second to none. And his historical understanding of the region is formidable, making Pacific a paean to this magnificent sea of beauty, myth, and imagination that is transforming our lives.

New Preston’s Pergola is hosting a special signing event and gathering with acclaimed NYC artisan/designer John Derian who is launching his very first and long‑awaited book.

The must-have gift book of the season is John Derian Picture Book, published by Artisan Books and launching this month. The oversized book is a real art book with images John Derian has loved and used in his signature découpage collection. With the exception of a foreward by Anna Wintour and a short intro by Derian, there’s not one word of text in the book. There is a full reference guide in the back of the book for all of the various historical images.

“I’m passionate about anything created by hand and in sharing those with people who are captivated by artisans and their work,” Derian says. John Derian is an artist and designer who transforms printed images from the past, and in doing so transports the viewer to another world. He does it with the simplest of objects—a paperweight, a glass dish, a bowl, a plate—and the simplest of techniques: decoupage. But the effect is like alchemy. A John Derian collectible exudes a timeless fascination. A botanical illustration of a sea fan. An antique color wheel, its jewel-like hues faint but glowing. Victorian hand shadow puppets. A wistful note written in elegant script. The iconic human eye. Beautiful, silent, nostalgic, mysterious—they’re like images from a dream. Each of John Derian’s pieces begins with his discovery of one-of-a-kind illustrations, etchings, chromolithographic prints, rare reproductions, and other printed matter from 18th- and 19th-century books. Now his legion of collectors and fans can experience 350 of Derian’s best-loved images in a lush, oversized gift book format. This singularly beautiful work is, in itself, a beautiful object of desire, a work of art destined to become THE gift book of the season.

John Derian Company Inc. was established in 1989. Derian’s découpage plates, platters, paperweights, coasters, and bowls are handmade in his studio in New York City, where he employs a small staff of artisans to assist with production. His designs are sold at upscale home stores, in catalogs, and at gift shops worldwide, and he has designed exclusive collections for Cisco Brothers, Astier de Villatte, Target, and more. His retail shops, studio, and homes have been featured in Vogue, Vogue Living, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, The World of Interiors, Elle Decor, and Vanity Fair, among others.

Pergola has worked with Derian’s signature découpage collection for the past 10 years. They carry a wide selection of his designs in the shop. Stop by and meet the legendary artisan, pick up a signed book and a signature plate —and bring home a little piece of John Derian’s world.

The book signing at Pergola will be Derian’s only event in Connecticut (following launches in Paris and Milan) and the book will be available at Pergola before the general USA release date on October 4th. (If you can’t make it, there will be postings on Instagram during the event.) So take the opportunity to meet John Derian and be the first to get your hands on his fabulous new book.

Floral designer Loretta Stagen creates lush arrangements that are both stylish and timeless. Her designs are an expression of joy that fill a room with drama and make occasions memorable.

Loretta Stagen bonded with nature and the world of plants at a young age. She was born in the Santa Clara Valley in California, and both of Loretta’s parents were gardeners. Her father had an orchard with pomegranates and quince among many other fruit trees. Her mother raised orchids. She kept a hot house and a lath house. Everything started from seed in the hot house. She taught Loretta how to make a corsage when she was 9 years old.

During high school, Loretta participated in a Foreign Exchange Program in Belgium for the summer with the American Field Service (AFS), an international youth exchange organization. After high school, she attended Stanford University when there were few female students at the time. To qualify for the university, you had to have high grades, and Loretta did more than keep up—she became Valedictorian of her class. Her major was Polical Science, her minor was French. During her junior year, Loretta attended the University of Geneva in Switzerland and studied French.

After graduating college, Loretta was determined to move East and took a job at The Brookings Institution in Washington, DC as an administrative assistant for a year. Following that first job, she ended up in the PR department at Grey Advertising handling public relations including TV appearances, newspaper, radio, and print for the agency’s clients. After two years there, she met her future husband in New York City and together they moved back to California where they married. They had two children and moved back East to Bedford, New York for her husband’s new job.

During all of the years she spent in college, working at new jobs, and raising a family, Loretta never lost touch with her first love—gardening. She attended many symposiums on floral design and plants. She also learned from her mother who taught her about balance and color combinations. She exposed herself to the design world and was influenced by design and fashion trends. She spent much time on 28th Street in New York and found it inspirational.”You pick up ideas by exposing yourself to all that’s happening,” she says.

After a divorce, Loretta moved to Greenwich, CT and raised her children on her own. She created silk flower arrangements for restaurants, hotel lobbies, and upscale firms like Scully & Scully and Town & Country in New York. She added fresh flowers to her offerings later on and put her kids through college. Family responsibilities interrupted her career as she became a caregiver for her aging parents, moving back to California for a few years. When her parents passed, she took a much needed vacation— a trip around the world for 4 months. Inspired from her travels, she opened her first studio upon her return. She designed floral arrangements for special events, weddings, parties, and even stage decor. She also taught floral design in her studio and lectured at Garden Clubs.

In 2004, Loretta was invited to Japan to co-author a booklet on American Wedding Floral Designs. For years she had been a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants (an international organization) and at an ABC event held in NYC, she met the head of ABC/Japan. After talking and corresponding, Yoshi invited her to Japan for a two day workshop and photo shoot for the booklet. Before leaving for Japan, she sent detailed instructions on how to make centerpieces, bridal bouquets, bridesmaids bouquets, flower girl headpieces and love balls, and large arrangements. “The event was held in Hiroshima at a hotel where they have actually built a little church similar to the New England congregational church…. I instructed 14 Japanese people with an interpreter, since none of them spoke English. We did well. As I completed my designs, they were taken into a separate room to be photographed and my designs matched the instructions that I had already sent to Yoshi. A few months later, the booklet was published in Japanese. Oh yes, I arrived in Japan with a styrofoam three-layer wedding cake and royal frosting to teach them cake decor.”

In 2008, after losing the lease of her beloved floral design studio in the Stamford-Greenwich area, she decided to turn it into a positive change in her life. She knew and loved the Northwest Corner because she had done a lot of biking in the area. She found that the country feeling up here helped her to unwind. She sold her house in three days and Loretta moved to Washington, where she immediately met many great people and finds herself still very happy to be here. “It’s a little piece of heaven!” Her love of the outdoors is evident in her daily activities. She swims in Lake Waramaug most days in the summer, she bikes around the lake, she loves hiking at all of Steep Rock’s trails. “I especially enjoy wild flower hunting in May. I had been looking for Lady Slipper Orchids and I finally found a cluster at the Hidden Valley Preservation this last May. Fourteen treasures in a cluster,” she says excitedly.

Some of Loretta’s favorite flowers are David Austen Roses, Hawaiian Dendrobium Orchids, Lady’s Mantel, and Dutch Hydrangeas. Her passion for flowers and plants led her to become interested in organic gardening. She became a member of NOFA (the Northeast Organic Farming Association) and she keeps up with her certification as a NOFA-Certified Organic Landcare Professional by going to conferences and events. She is committed to good soil biology and only uses organic composts and natural pesticides in her gardening. She buys local when she can, but there aren’t enough floral vendors in the area, so most of the flowers she uses are imported.

She has continued her work here in Litchfield County, designing floral arrangements for weddings and events, as well as teaching and lecturing. Her services include perrenial garden design, window boxes, and container planting. Her work is not limited to the Northwest Corner and Loretta has taken on projects in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Block Island, South Hampton, East Hampton, Greenwich, Fairfield County, and New York City.

A typical work day for Loretta begins with driving into Manhattan at 7 am to pick up plants from the city’s flower district (she pre-orders from her favorite vendors). Sometimes roses missed their plane, or flowers had bugs, or plants were turned back at customs. From the market in the city, she heads to her studio in Ridgefield with all of the materials in her van and meets with her small crew. With Loretta’s direction, they spend hours creating beautiful arrangements in containers, load them up in a van and deliver them to the client’s event location. After unloading, they set up the arrangements and do final tweaks and refresh the flowers.

Known for mixing fruits and vegetables with flowers in her designs, Loretta’s pieces have a contemporary and bold style. From formal to rustic, she likes working with interesting textures and unique color combinations. One centerpiece she created was a combination of flowers, fruits, and vegetables in autumnal colors. She used terra-cotta colored orchids, roses and hypernium berries, green hydrangeas and trachallium, and burnt-orange oriental lilies mixed with purple artichokes, eggplants and green pears. Her bridal bouquets can look like an English garden. The key to her success is abundance, which has become her signature look. “My abundance style is like a Victorian nosegay—all flowers at the same height, all crushed in together,” she says. “It’s like painting a canvas. I begin with a ‘petticoat’ and then I tuck in the flowers one at a time, filling the container.” She works in many different styles from simple clusters in bud vases to abundant low arrangements or very dramatic tall arrangements that sit atop 24-inch glass containers. Each project has different needs, some require lower levels, others require higher levels. For events where people are seated, her arrangements never exceed 12 inches in height. She carefully considers the experience of the guests. Designs that are situated in higher settings are suitable for her ‘garden style’ which has a variety of heights, some elongated flowers peeking out of the core arrangement. Just as each job is different, Loretta works within a broad range of budgets for weddings of 5 people to up to 400 guests. She is willing to work with a client’s budget and the results remain the same—stunning designs that set the tone for the event.

Recently, our photographers captured Loretta as she and her crew created 85 containers for The American Gold Cup, one of the most prestigious and iconic equestrian sporting events in the world of International Show Jumping. The event was held at Old Salem Farm, a state-of-the-art equestrian facility located in North Salem, New York and was broadcast on NBC Sports. Loretta provided the flowers for the tables under the tent and the beautiful blossoms remained breathtaking for the five days of the competition.

Besides flowers, Loretta other passions are sacred geometry, music, and mother earth. She is, at heart, a free spirit and an artist who expresses herself through the natural world of flowers. A true professional of her trade, her optimistic energy and perfectionism is in everything she does. How serendipitous that Loretta Stagen creates elements of beauty for life’s happy celebrations such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and entertainment.

Stylish London interior designer Rita Konig shares her expertise at a decorating workshop in Washington this month. With her NYC workshop already sold out, this one is not to be missed.

London-based Rita Konig grew up surrounded by great taste. Her mother is the legendary interior designer, Nina Campbell. But Rita wasn’t planning on becoming a designer. She started out writing about interiors for magazines and the highly successful book Domestic Bliss before ultimately joining “the trade.”

Rita has been decorating houses for the past 15 years, both in London and the United States. and has been a columnist since 2000 when she started her writing career with the column ‘Rita Notes’ in British Vogue. She also wrote a column for the Saturday Telegraph Magazine, then for Harpers Bazaar in the U.S. While living in the States between 2005 and 2012, she wrote for domino magazine, shopping different cities around the country.

Konig has been a regular columnist for House & Garden and is the European editor for the New York Times T Magazine. After years of being asked advice by friends and acquaintances, Rita decided to share her knowledge of decorating through workshops. The full day workshop being held in the town of Washington on October 17 promises to be full of practical information and insightful tips. We caught up with Rita before her trip to Connecticut and got the scoop on her background, as well as lessons learned:

You loved art as a child—when did you know that you would be an interior designer?

Not until I was asked to do my first job. It was something that I tried to avoid and after the first job I did was such a fiasco, I swore I would never do it again. But I did! That first job and the disastrous experience with the builders did stand me in good stead and taught me MANY lessons!

How did living in the United States influence your work?

It has given me so many resources that now back in England are more unusual that the ‘go to’ people that designers here use.  It also lightened my palette a lot. The light in America is so different to England, and funnily enough, the light across America is so different. I found decorating in New York, Chicago, and Florida to be interesting as colours looked SO different in each place. I love painted floors which is something I definitely brought home from the States.  I ADORE American fabrics and, most of all, the wallpapers.

I think it is the use of traditional things. I have learnt from her the joy of shopping and the joy of companies that really produce excellent quality. I think that has been the lasting influence—that quality is key. Getting rid of stuff for your home is very hard so you don’t want to waste money on stuff you are going to want to get rid of. Go a little slower, if you have to, and get the best you can—that way you will build a house that is filled with good stuff that will move and grow with you. I hate the “chuck out and start over” mentality—it is so expensive and it is so hard to keep finding all that stuff over and over again. Sorry, excessive use of the word stuff!

In addition to designing interiors, you also write about interior design. Have you always enjoyed writing? 

I do enjoy writing and I literally started as a letter writer and that is really the way I write now. I have always written my columns as though iI am writing to a friend.

Would you say that your taste is less fussy than most British designers?

I am not sure… I would say that it might be more individual. I think that most successful designers are more formulaic than me and probably (sensibly) buy more furniture through the showrooms than antique shops. It is certainly less time consuming and more profitable.

Do you have a favorite room you like to decorate? 

I suppose drawing rooms or little sitting rooms. I have always been a very social animal and I love the creation of a room where fun and chat with friends will be.

What are you drawn to? Color? Fabric? Textures? Pattern? Shapes? 

All of it, I am most drawn most to the life that will be lived in a room, that is always my starting point and from there these other things fall into place. I suppose palette is also the other thing that comes to life first for the plan.

Is there a common decorating mistake?

Too much decorating/design. Quite a lot of a good room is the stuff that comes to you and that you own rather than the stuff that is ‘designed’ to be there.

Where do you begin when working with a new client? 

Chatting with them about how they like to live and I want them to tell me very quickly what they don’t like, especially of the stuff I am showing them. It is as informative as the stuff they do like and they should never be embarrassed or fearful of hurting my feelings.

How has your style evolved over the years?

I suppose I have learnt from clients. I have one client in New York who is very minimal compared to me and it is always interesting to have your instincts challenged.

What can’t you live without?

Pressed sheets.

What can we expect from your workshop? 

To get the lid lifted on decorating a house. To be guided through the pitfalls and around the parts that iI think people find hard. To be encouraged to find your own way rather than follow any decorating dictats and I think that the workshop really helps people with that, finding their own way rather than leaving trying to remember how to follow my regime particularly. I also try to give as many resources as possible.

As part of American Craft Week, 18 local clay artists will open their studio doors to the public and sell their work—offering a wide range of styles, techniques, and objects.

One day Linda Boston, an accomplished tile maker who lives and works in Woodbury, was pondering the lack of opportunities for studio artists to show and sell their work. She decided that ceramic artists could use some visibility in the Northwest Corner. Linda recalled some of the great studio tours she had participated in over the years in Massachusetts —the well-known Hilltown6 Pottery Trail and the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail—and she thought of the art events she had been a part of in Michigan. She reached out to 14 local artists to gauge their interest in a studio tour and ended up with 18 who were enthusiastically on board with the idea. The 2016 Clay Way Studio Tour was born.

Linda enlisted the help of clay artist Alison Palmer and her husband Steve Katz, and artist Kathy Wismar and her husband CB, and together they began planning the event. Joining the national effort of American Craft Week, The Clay Way Studio Tour includes 15 clay studios (with 18 artists) in and around Litchfield County. This is a first-ever event showcasing the work of nationally-known clay artists, all within 25 miles. The 3-day tour will take place on Columbus Day Weekend, and it promises to be an exciting experience for those who love pottery, tiles, and sculpture. If you are interested in learning about working in clay, many of these artists offer workshops and classes. It’s also a great opportunity for visitors to see the many small New England towns along the way at the beginning of the fall color.

The day we stopped by Alison Palmer’s studio, she was hosting a weekend workshop with two well-known clay artists. Sam Taylor of Dog Bar Pottery in Westhampton, Massachusetts was giving the workshop along with Tom White of Tom White Pottery in Northfield, Massachusetts. There were about 12 participants and the studio was buzzing with activity. Alison, Linda Boston, and Alison’s husband Steve were there to talk to us about Clay Way. (Steve Katz is a guitarist and record producer who is best known as a member of the group Blood, Sweat & Tears, and was also an original member of the rock bands The Blues Project and American Flyer.) The three of them were instrumental in organizing the tours, designing the maps, and launching the website—all in a very short time.

“Our goal is to let people know that there are studios in their community and that the artwork is for sale,” says Linda Boston. Some of the studios will be serving hors d’oeuvres, some will have artists working and demonstrating styles and techniques—each experience will be unique. “One can learn about the differences in the work styles and processes, see the various types of kilns, discover the unlimited ways to work with one material—clay—and appreciate the endless uses for the finished pieces. It’s a great opportunity for visitors to meet the artists as well. You might even come across a certain guitarist playing music at my studio,” says Alison Palmer.
Below are the featured artists, their contact info, and studio locations, each with an example of their work:

We all have a friend who seems to have everything and when it comes to buying them a gift, it can be daunting. Buy them a piece of art. It’s the kind of gift that people remember and treasure. On Columbus Day Weekend take the Clay Way Studio Tour, treat yourself and your friend to a beautiful piece of art, and say you were there at the very inception of a tradition!

Bianca Langner Griggs presides over The Wish House—one of the best little shops in the county. From housewares, clothing, and accessories, she stocks it with our heart’s desires.

Over by the historic covered bridge in the center of West Cornwall, on the other side of the railroad tracks sits a quaint two-story building with a porch. Beyond the porch doors is an oasis of carefully selected items that promise to delight. The Wish House carries a bit of everything. There are scarves, clothing, lamps, pillows, Japanese bowls and plates, kitchenware, gadgets, children’s toys, bedding and clothing. This is the place to find unique gifts for friends and family—and a little something for yourself as well.

The Souterrain Gallery is an art space below the shop that features works by local artists. The owner of the building and both businesses is the lovely Bianca Langner Griggs, whose warm and friendly vibe makes everyone feel welcome. We caught up with Bianca to get the scoop on how she landed in this bucolic setting and to find out the secrets to her success.

Where are you originally from and how did you end up in Litchfield County?

I grew up in Berlin, West Germany. In 1986 I came to the United States as an Au-Pair and lived with a family in New York City. They had a lovely summer home up here in Cornwall. As they later became my second set of parents, I got to spend a lot of time in this area. Back then, I used to daydream coming up on the Bonanza bus about what it would be like living in this neck of the woods. Well, and here I am.

What is your background, education, and work experience?

My father had wanted to become a graphic designer but at the time he grew up he did not have too many choices after World War II in Germany. He became a mason, and I still remember the awesome construction drawings from his portfolio that came together during his apprenticeship. My mom worked for Simens in the mobile electronics purchasing division. She was a savvy buyer and certainly loved—and still loves—shopping.

After high school, I was not sure what field I wanted to study in, so I got myself an internship in the costume department at the Theater des Westens, Berlin’s Musical theatre. In the summer I worked with a pastry chef who wanted me to become his apprentice, but the working hours from 3 – 11 am were not for me, long term. I took on another internship with the Deutsche Oper Berlin in the scenic design department. Looking back at that time, I am not sure what compelled me, as I was a rather shy person. When the opportunity arose to come to the United States as an Au-Pair, I grabbed it—even though my English, at that point, was below conversation level.

During my year in New York, I took a lot of art classes at various schools—92nd Street Y, New School of Design—to enhance my language skills. The second part of the year after my summer in Cornwall, I enrolled in several classes in fashion design and figure drawing at FIT and absolutely loved it. I was determined to return to that school. I went back to Berlin and worked as a waitress for a year, made some half-hearted attempts to get into art schools there, and then returned to New York where I was able to live with my au-pair family and apply for school.

I worked with Vanessa James and Donald Sanders of the New York Art Theatre Institute which was tremendous fun as Vanessa worked in cardboard and industrial plastics to create period costumes and sets generally in historical settings like the Theodore Roosevelt House and churches, etc. She even outfitted a documentary the White House.

Then I studied Fashion Design and Millinery at FIT, worked for a year at Barbara Matera Ltd. as an assistant to Barbara, who outfitted Broadway shows, the New York City Ballet, and more. It was fabulous but also fabulously exhausting. Then back to Berlin where I again worked in Costume Design at the Schiller Theatre for several years.

What motivated you to open the Wish House? How long have you had it?

I met my husband the summer of ’93 in Cornwall, and at first I had thought about commuting into the city but then I started to work for his cousin’s wife who had this business. I had no retail experience whatsoever. Sooner or later, I was asked to do the buying for the clothing, then I had to run the shop for nearly a year while its proprietor had to take care of her ailing mother in DC. In February of 1997, I was persuaded to take over the business, which as it turned out was not the smartest deal.

A consulting session with SCORE basically left me with the information that what I had at hand was never going to amount to anything and I should just cut my losses. Well, I could not do that as my Au-Pair family had helped me financially with the acquisition of the business. The up-hill struggle began and I basically learned retail from scratch.

In 2001, the sale of this building was looming but a friend who had kept me abreast of the situation had it in his mind that he would try to make it possible for me to actually become the new owner. In the end, another friend at the bank helped me finance the property, with my virtually non-existent finances. So here I am, nearly 20 years later with a rental and retail property—definitely not what I had envisioned after I left FIT.

As things always have fallen into place one way or the other, my path has taken me to this place and who knows where else it will lead.

You always carry such a wonderful collection of clothing, gift items, and housewares in the shop. How do you go about selecting what to sell in the store?

With selecting things for my shop, I certainly have my own likes but also always have to keep my very varied clientele in mind, local residents, weekenders, visitors from within the country and all over the world—rich and modestly affluent to people on a much restrained budget but with an appreciation for interesting and beautiful things, big and small, all sizes, all colors, all genders.

I always have somewhat of an idea for whom I am buying and then I have to take chances and bring in items that I personally feel I cannot live without. I love all life styles and I subscribe to the IKEA philosophy that all should be able to furnish their home with dignity, no matter how small their budget. On the other hand, there is the handmade, the intriguing design concept that, of course, is not going to be cheap but it could be inspiring.

The merchandise has to have a function, a purpose…  it needs to entertain and turn the wheels in one’s brain.

Does your regular clientele have a certain taste?

Some have a great appreciation for art, some for practicality, but in general, most are open minded and eager to explore, curious, and from all very diverse universes.

How long has the Souterrain art gallery below the shop been operating? What kind of art do you feature?

We added the Souterrain Gallery when it became more and more difficult to find reliable tenants for the space. So now we exhibit primarily the work of local artists, and we organized a “Paint the Bridge” Day in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Covered Bridge, and last year a “Paint the Town” Day for the 275th anniversary of the town. Also, Nancy Opgaard teaches yoga at the gallery, and I am always open to new shenanigans.

You are very involved with the community, the West Cornwall Farmers’ Market, and local events. How did it come about? What else are you involved in?

A little over nine years ago, when the last grocery store here in West Cornwall closed, I just could not believe that people would not want a convenient place in this center to buy food. My only possibility was to offer our property for a farmer’s market. Thank goodness for Debra Tyler of Local Farm who helped me to make it possible. She assured me that we could get it going even though it looked bleak in the beginning. I just think it is important to have community gathering places that are non-denominational to create a stronger local community .

I love to collaborate with others as really for most part I am very much alone with my business in this town at this point. We do not have a viable business community right now. So I reach out to other entities. I collaborate with the library on all their Author events and I try to put myself forward wherever I can.

What do you see for the future of the Wish House? Do you have any long term plans?

I think I will take things as they come. With the new leadership at the Trinity Retreat Center, I can once more see a viable future for my business. I will again get to see people who, throughout the years (prior to the closure of Trinity Conference Center), had become part of my family, part of my fabric.