Ink Magazine - May 2018 by Ink Publications

May 2018

publicationsÂŽ

www.inkct.com

Vol 14 Issue 150 2018

A guide to finer living in Connecticut & abroad.

Complimentary

THE SMARTER CHOICE FOR

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Features

MAY 2018

Columns, Reviews, Events

ISSUE CONTENTS

Music Mirth & Mojo

Tampa Bay Blues Festival Recap

Adore, “Come Experience the World!”

Cardinal Points

A Personal Invitation from “Designing Woman,” Deb Kollmeyer

The Cheesemonger

pg. 8

pg. 22

What the Osprey Overheard

pg. 24

Stilton and Friends

pg. 66

On The Vine Rosé

pg. 70

The Cupping Room Take Them To Tea…

pg. 72

May Events

pg. 75

Upcoming events in Connecticut

Dagmar’s Desserts pg. 16

Lyme Acadamy College of Fine Arts Preserving a Legacy… Preserving the Arts

pg. 26

Patrick Ganino’s Evolution: The Business of Art, The Art of Business...

Get your Ink online at inkct.com Share your favorite stories with friends on Social Media! Low Introductory subscription price! Visit inkct.com to ﬁnd out more!

pg. 36

INK staff

This Artist has Scrap Mettle David Moneypenny gets “cash for his trash”

pg. 48

Contributors:

Advertising:

Jeffery Lilly- founder/publisher/webmaster

Contact us to receive our media kit complete with detailed advertising information including ad rates, demographics, and distribution in your area.

Stephanie Sittnick - publisher/sales/design Carolyn Battisa - editorial Susan Cornell - editorial Laurencia Ciprus - editorial Caryn B. Davis - editorial/photography Charmagne Eckert - editorial Mark Seth Lender - Cardinal Points Nancy LaMar-Rodgers - editorial Barbara Malinsky - editorial

Travel Austria:

Rona Mann - editorial

The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Music

Paul Partica - The Cheesemonger

pg. 62

A. Vincent Scarano - photography

Please direct your advertising inquiries and questions to: Stephanie Sittnick - Director of Advertising advertising@ink-pub.com - 860-227-8199 Cheryl Powell - Greater Connecticut cheryl@ink-pub.com - 860-608-5749 Rona Mann - Greater Connecticut six07co@att.net - 401-539-7762 Jacki Hornish - Litchfield jacki@inkct - 860-488-0393

Anthony Reczek - editorial

Every issue is printed using 100% Soy based ink.

We encourage the public to submit stories, poems, photography, essays, and all things creative. If you know of a person or place of interest, please submit your ideas to: submissions@ink-pub.com We will do our best to put your ideas in INK.

All content of INK Publications including but not limited to text, photos, graphics and layout are copyrighted by INK Publishing, LLC. Reproductions without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Ink Publishing, LLC is not responsible for images or graphics submitted by advertisers which are not copyrighted or released for use in this publication.

INK PUBLISHING, LLC 107 Hemlock Valley Rd., East Haddam, CT email: info@ink-pub.com www.inkct.com

It’s about form, finesse and nuanced fine-tuning. An arc that masters life’s hazards is no accident — you make your own luck. Your refined life may put you on the tee box at Essex Meadows, where everything around you is far and away better than par.

EssexMeadows.com

NEAR STOP AND SHOP

PRINCESS FLOWER COLLECTION

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BEACH PARTY, Mary Neville

29 W. Main Street | Mystic www.curated.world | 1.800.249.0129

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It's a Match!

WRITTEN BY

MARY MAGUIRE & STEVEN McGRAW

APRIL 25 - MAY 13 FOR TICK ETS , VIS IT IVORYTONPLAYHOUS E.OR G

Home of Impulsive Necessities 1 0 3 MAIN ST RE E T | IVO RYT O N , C T 0 6 4 4 2 | 8 6 0 . 7 6 7 . 7 3 1 8

Old Lyme Marketplace

860.434.3562

www.thebowerbird.com

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bag by Let & Her

690 Boston Post Road, Madison

“Come Experience the World!” A Personal Invitation from “Designing Woman,” Deb Kollmeyer by RONA MANN / photos by Jeffery Lilly

ou can’t help but see the name on the shop when you first drive by or walk past... ADORE.

come out knowing you’ve shared an experience, and now you have something to remember it by.

What is it exactly, this inviting space with the come-hither French name?

Still others might see it as a repository of treasures, brought here to Mystic from thousands of miles away on the other side of the world.

To some perhaps it might be a gift shop where one may purchase a $25. hostess gift that the hostess has never seen before, or a $200. wedding gift the couple won’t duplicate, or perhaps your own price point and pleasure are something in between. To others it may be a place to browse, seeing items not found in any other shop on the avenue. A place you go in “just to look,” but

But should you ask Deborah Kollmeyer, the proud proprietress of ADORE, she will happily accept whatever you wish to label her shop. Because she didn’t design ADORE to fit a mold; rather this place represents the many years and multitudinous experiences of a life well lived and lived throughout the wide world.

Deborah and Rick Kollmeyer

It began in Spain a number of decades ago where Deb, as she prefers to be called, was born. Her mother was an Englishwoman, so she lived in the United Kingdom for a number of years as well...in addition to twice in Germany, once in Paris, Saudi Arabia, and “all

12 amount, coming to Connecticut some 30 years ago.

over the USA.” In her youth she was a flight attendant; and when they promised you’ll “see the world,” that was just fine with Deb. She worked for Saudi Arabian Airlines and was based in that country for a number of years, completely embracing the people and their culture. She did indeed travel the globe; and everywhere she went she made friends, acquired “treasures,” and learned about the beauty that could be found in simple craftsmanship. “Sometimes I just look through all my passport books and think of all the places I’ve been,” she says with a nod to her memories. Deb met her husband Rick, who was likewise a bit of a world traveler, on a boat trip to Block Island. With a father in the Coast Guard, he was born in Alaska, yet moved around a fair

From earliest childhood Deb was intrigued by architecture. Walking the cities of Europe she looked up at beautiful buildings and yearned to design their interiors. For a time she thought she might study architecture, but it was the interior design of those structures that most intrigued her, so initially she worked as a kitchen and bath designer, later working with developers. Here she delighted in taking the architect’s plans and designing the porticos, railings, kitchens, baths...she even designed an Irish pub built within a private home! For 17 years this “designing woman” worked in the Boston area before she and Rick moved to Connecticut two years ago. They opened ADORE last October with their mission statement being to bring some of the world’s treasures to the wonderful town of Mystic; and in the process, meeting some of the best people in the world who come to visit this seaside town year ‘round. ADORE is filled with treasures from every corner of the world...a sort of United Nations gift shop in itself; yet there is no “junk” here – it is not crowded, and every treasure is staged or showcased as only a “designing woman” could do. There are hand painted bowls from Turkey and Italy that make for a wonderful little “Just Because” gift at prices that are beyond reasonable. Over there is a horn that doubles as a candlestick, diligently crafted in Colombia; here’s something from Thailand, Murano glass from Italy, and don’t even think of resisting the Neuhaus Belgian chocolates at the front register! Overhead there’s a water boiler from Belgium, circa 1800s; over the table hangs a display of lightweight, soft-as-butter leather bags from Australia, and just look at that French press coffee maker. Deb is more than happy to brew you a cup when you come to visit so you can just relax and enjoy. This is not the kind of shop where you’ll want

to run in and out in a hurry. ADORE is meant for lingering, visiting, asking questions, and...well, adoring these worldwide treasures. Because Deb is a professional designer, she just had to have some occasional furniture. All are customizable with choices of color, fabric, and style; and all are made in the USA. If you’re already working with a designer, so much the better. Both of you are welcome to come in and Deb will work with you, as she is accustomed to working with the trade. What’s a more charming and unique gift for a

New Mexico, and also trade shows within the continguous United States; so if there’s something you’re looking for, let Deb shop the world for you. “I want people to come in and enjoy the experience of shopping. Sadly, because of the internet, people have lost the joy and the art of shopping. I want to make them a cup of coffee, hear their stories, and tell them mine That’s what ADORE is all about.”

little person than the Danish crafted matchboxes and cigar boxes with little mice adorning them? You’ll never have to wonder if they

already have one if you choose this whimsical gift. Ask about those Poetic Pillows, and Deb will be happy to relate the story. Two San Francisco-based designers have taken historic photographs and reproduced them onto fabric...a unique idea! And if you adore wonderful fashion accessories, you will ADORE the jewelry Deb has chosen for the shop. Brass cuff bracelets coated in 24karat gold from a New York artist, earrings from Sweden, necklaces...you won’t see these pieces in other stores or adorning other people. Deb enthusiastically encourages customers to come in and ask her to look for certain things when she and Rick travel. This year they are planning trips to France, Morocco, England,

ADORE is a collection of gifts, treasures, and beautiful furnishings from all over the world. ADORE is your invitation to “come experience the world.” But most of all, ADORE is a collection of a couple’s life experiences as they have traveled the globe, making friends along the way in every country they touched, seeing the beauty of the wide world, and embracing it, loving the differences, and bringing the best of it back home. For you. ADORE is located right in the heart of downtown Mystic at 26 West Main Street (860) 980-3908 www.adore.world

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Luxury Gifts â&#x20AC;¢ Home DÃ©cor â&#x20AC;¢ Design Services

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www.adore.world /adoremystic 26 West Main St. Mystic, CT â&#x20AC;¢ (860) 980-3908

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All Your Wedding Dreams Come True-

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Ashleighs Garden

The Green Florist 860-767-2889 โ ข 500 Main Street Deep River, CT

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Dagmar’s Desserts by RONA MANN

“Dessert is like a feel-good song, and the best ones make you dance.” ...Chef Edward Lee On any given day if you pull into the parking lot at 75 Main Street in Old Saybrook, you might just see folks walking into Dagmar’s Desserts, then dancing out with a smile on their face and perhaps a bit of powdered sugar still on their chin. But they don’t mind because dessert is more than the final course of a meal. It is a treat to be wished for and looked forward to, a reward we give ourselves for accomplishing something difficult, and for many, dessert fills the need for therapy as an inexpensive, delicious “psychiatric visit.”

On Connecticut’s shoreline there is one very special woman who can tie all these up in a neat little package for you and still keep you coming back to savor the “dance.” Meet Dagmar Ratenspeger - baker, confectionery temptress, purveyor of the sweets. Dagmar herself is a study in delicacy and grace, for she is quietly stunning, yet soft-spoken with a beauty that radiates from within. Her face is devoid of makeup, but you can’t miss that smile, that outstretched hand, the eyes that fairly dance as she recites a litany of her wonderful desserts, punctuating it by showing the visitor the tempting concoctions in the case. Ratenspeger did not necessarily grow up wanting to be a baker, but the genes were most definitely there. Being raised in Bavaria in southeastern Germany, she says she was always accustomed to “nice desserts.” Her mother made them,

Left to right: Jennifer Lawson, Dagmar Ratensperger, Karen Gumpel

her grandmother made them. There was always something sweet and delicious in the house. But Dagmar initially went into the field of marketing and advertising. She came to the United States nearly 25 years ago, earned a degree in Business Economics, and then decided to take a 180, test the waters, and do

Facing page and above photos by Stephanie Sittnick

some baking of her own. Using her mother’s recipes combined with a determination to be self taught, she initially opened a commercial kitchen in an industrial park in Deep River. There she baked and recreated the delicious German and European delicacies of her youth, taking them to farmers’ markets at Ashlawn and Stonington Borough. The long hours, often in cold or rainy weather, paid off. People kept coming back and requesting her desserts. Next she put up an A frame sign on Rt. 80 to draw people to the industrial park in Deep River. Once again they came...then came back again and again. In 2009 Ratenspeger opened her first storefront in Old Saybrook across from The Kate (Katharine Hepburn theatre complex). It was-

Fresh Fruit Tart

n’t long before she built a following, so two and a half years ago, she relocated the shop to its present Main Street address, ensuring greater visibility and parking. One needs only to open the door at Dagmar’s Desserts for the “assault” to begin. Instantly the senses are seduced by the richness of butter, the whisper of sugar (Dagmar never uses a lot of sugar in her creations), the eye-popping freshness of fruit, the lure of chocolate cakes and tortes, Vegan Lemon Tart redolent with the richness of cocoa. Here is where baking is not a mass-produced perfunctory affair, but instead each item is slowly and lovingly created in the old world style. On any given day there is strudel (apple, rhubarb, banana nutella), linzer tortes (with cinnamon and nuts), sacher tortes (chocolate cake with a thin apricot jam on top), trays of cookies, three kinds of stollen (which may also be ordered by mail and shipped anywhere), celebration cakes, cupcakes, bread pudding, and perhaps the hottest selling item at Dagmar’s Desserts: scones. “We bake ten different flavors of scones and sell over 1000 of them every month,” Dagmar says proudly. “Our scones are also available at The Marketplace in Guilford, at Atlantic Seafood on Rt. 1 in Old Saybrook, and at The Kate when they

Coconut Macaroons

perform opera.” Many customers prefer to stop at Dagmar’s Desserts and pick up their scones from the freezer case, then take them home and bake them off themselves. Yet another wonderful plus is that most every dessert item is also available by the single slice.

Flourless Almond Cake

“A party without a cake is really just a meeting.” ...Julia Child Although proud of every product that she and her staff create, it is the line of custom designed wedding cakes that really excites Dagmar, not to mention what it does for her wedding parties! For this most important

All food photos courtesy Bruno Ratenspeger

Flourless Chocolate Cake

dessert Ratenspeger employs a talented pastry chef who doesn’t just bake them, she designs them with exquisite detail and limitless imagination. Indeed, there is no limit to the imagination here as wedding cakes are made to reflect themes, seasons, personal tastes, traditions, and more. Frosting and filling boast a meringue buttercream that is lighter and less sweet, making these cakes works of art and not too heavy. Dagmar has pictures at the shop to fire your own personal creativity, but in no way limits brides to a certain kind of cake. Bridal shower cakes, baby shower cakes, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries all cry out for a cake from Dagmar’s Desserts; and all are always custom designed from cake, to filling, to decoration, and size. They become glorious, happy, traditional, romantic, and silly works of art.

Because she is in the business of pleasing others, Dagmar has now added a number of gluten free desserts as well as flourless chocolate, poppyseed, and almond cakes. The gluten may be absent, but the taste is not! And vegans will rejoice with applesauce, coconut, chocolate fudge, and lemon confections created specifically for them. Soon Dagmar’s Desserts will offer baking classes right in their own specially equipped kitchen. Classes will be held on Sunday afternoons and are limited to 10 people or less, so if you’re interested, call Dagmar for further information. The shop also showcases some of Ratenspeger’s favorite chocolates imported from Switzerland, handpainted eggs from Germany, ice cream in the summer, and each day “a couple of sandwiches and a featured soup for our customers who want a little more at lunchtime.”

“There is no better way to bring people together than with desserts.” ...Gail Simmons, Food Writer You’re gonna love Dagmar’s Desserts, conveniently located right in the heart of Old Saybrook at 75 Main Street. (860) 661-4661; To whet your appetite, or have Dagmar’s Desserts shipped to you or someone you love,

All in all it’s just the perfect little shop. A wonderful place to treat yourself, to pick up assorted pastries for a party, to have a wedding cake every guest will long remember, and to just feel good about having dessert and meeting the woman who derives so much pleasure from making so many so very happy.

Coconut Macaroons

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Music, Mirth & Mojo by Ali Kaufman

Kicking off Festival Season

The Tampa Bay Blues Festival by Ali Kaufman Sunny Florida after a long winter? Why yes, don’t mind if I do. Three days of stellar music, great food, and grooving with lots of friendly blues fans? Count me in! Thus began my first experience with The Tampa Bay Blues Festival, celebrating its 24th year.

was clear all the way to the back of the venue; and while there is visible security, the police I saw seemed to be enjoying the music as much as the rest of us. The first band I caught was John Nemeth, who tours throughout the northeast and was a hit at Simsbury’s Two Left Feet Festival. He rocked out in his bright red jump suit, making sure to personally greet every fan that waited in line at the artist tent. His band heated up the stage, then Beth Hart set it ablaze with her first show of her new tour in support of her first live CD/DVD release in 13 years, Live From NY Front And Center on the Mascot Label.Full of energy, Beth slinked around the stage oozing

Beth Hart

his latest release as well as digging back into his catalog. I am convinced he and Buddy Guy are aging backwards, both seem to be at the top of their game every time I catch them. Saturday drew an early crowd to catch Massachusetts native and guitar phenom,

John Nemeth

The waterfront setting is located on the shores of Tampa Bay in Vinoy Park, and the extensive lineup performs on one main stage so you don’t have to worry about missing acts running around the grounds. Clearly, the team that pulls it all together knows what they are doing. Sets hit on time, sound, while loud upfront,

sexiness and sass, belting out tunes and taking a turn on guitar and piano. Beth’s sets always seem so personal as she interjects stories and really connects with her audience. Perennial favorite Robert Cray wrapped the night with his signature sound and songs from Eric Gales

Robert Cray

Quinn Sullivan, who would return to the stage later in the night to sit in with Buddy Guy. Eric Gales drew people to the stage like moths to a flame and seemed appreciative of our adoration of his killer guitar licks. The passing storms that had been predicted held off through Janiva Magness, who is not skipping a beat now that she’s a Mom. She is still as engaging as ever, maybe even more so. Next we got a one-two punch with Ronnie Earl and Buddy Guy rounding out the night. That all came with a side of Diane Blue and a burst of rain in Buddy Guy between. But hey, this is Florida, and we are at a Festival! Ronnie Earl was spot on and delivered, moving about him while never missing a note, his excellent the stage and trading ferocious sound with band adding fuel to the fire for the entire set. Diane Blue. Janiva Magness walked on and Kudos for the stacking of the lineup, as it built joined in what was obviously a mutual admira- to a crescendo on each of the days, with the tion society which brought us to the Polka Dot last being no exception. Delbert McClinton Daddy himself, Mr. Buddy Guy. He opened charmed the large crowd with some favorites with, “Damn Right I got the Blues” and once and sounded fantastic on harmonica. Always being one to share the spotlight, he highlightagain proved it. ed his tight band. Whether you see Delbert The festival wrapped with a third and equally face to face or from twenty rows back, he strong day of artists and a very special celebra- translates a comfort factor. tion of Rory Gallagher. Sugaray Rayford was on fire, wrapping up their tour with us and As wonderful as the whole event was, meeting making sure they they spent it all.With beads many of the volunteers from PARC, the founflyin,’ Sugaray shook what his Momma gave dation that supports children and adults with

intellectual and developmental disabilities, was one of the best parts. The Tampa Bay Blues Festival supports their mission, and along with generous sponsors continues to help PARC’s clients experience life to the fullest. So whether you're a snowbird with a nest in Florida, or just looking for a getaway from winter, you just might want to scamper off to Tampa next early April! All details about the upcoming 25th can be found on their website,

Ali Kaufman

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Brunch buffet, omelet bar, carving station, yummy drinks and added surprises by Cloud Nine Catering! RESERVATIONS (860)526.4445 www.thelacefactory.com

161 River Street Deep River, CT

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. . . e g a l l i v a s e k t ta to bloom this spring Shop. Dine. Stroll through over 40 unique shops and eateries.

EVENTS:

Taste of Mystic (JUNE 8-10)

Enjoy the very best cuisine our region has to offer at this weekend-long festival.

open year round

Exit 90 off I-95 | 27 Coogan Blvd. Mystic, CT | 860.536.4941 | oldemistickvillage.com

Preserving a Legacy… Preserving the Arts Photos and Profile by Caryn B. Davis

s arts budgets, grants and programs continue to be slashed at the federal level and in school systems nationwide, it more imperative than ever to support those institutions dedicated to fostering the arts and artists. The Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts is doing just that with their year round programming, and as they gear up for their spring and summer sessions. Located in Old Lyme, Connecticut, which was once home to some of America’s most prominent

impressionist painters, the College was originally established as a non-accredited academy in 1976 by artist Elisabeth Gordon Chandler. Chandler, whose commanding sculptures are still on display, was inspired to start this facility “because at that time, representational art and the traditional education of artists were disappearing in the Western world.” Chandler was a visionary; and because of her foresight to safeguard these age-old practices, hundreds of artists have passed through these halls, contributing their talent, ideas, and unique perspectives for the betterment of humankind. For many years, the Academy struggled to stay afloat, but with fewer than 100 students annually, the ability to remain independent and still deliver a quality education proved too challenging; and they were unable to sustain. In 2012 they merged with the University of New Haven. Under this new partnership, they have become a fully accredited college and share resources such as classes, faculty, administrative and financial support, and

Photo courtesy Lyme Acadamy College of Fine Arts

three campuses, including one in Prato, Italy near Florence, for those who wish to study abroad. Students can earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting, drawing, illustration, or sculpture, along with courses in the liberal arts that serve to broaden and complement their arts education. But whatever major a student chooses, they are all required to take anatomy and drawing which includes working with live models and in some cases, live animals. They also offer a three-year certificate in painting or sculpture for those who do not wish to pursue a BFA and have a Post Baccalaureate program

understood the nuances particular to an arts facility. For example, the windows face north so the lighting is outstanding, and a set of barn doors enable cows, horses, and oxen to be brought in for replication.

for those seeking to fine tune their competency and portfolios before embarking upon a master’s degree. “We are one of the very few art schools left that puts such an emphasis on learning basic foundational skills. Our students are engaged in learning how to draw, paint, sculpt, and illustrate through direct observation and representational work, so they can then create what they can imagine and make a meaningful mark in the contemporary world as artists and in society at large,” says Todd Jokl, Campus Dean.

The College feels more like a small community. Most students live on campus. The ratio of student to teacher is seven to one, and the staff knows all 140 by name. Many faculty members have been there since its inception and are artists in their own right. Their inspiring work graces the reception area of Chandler Center and is the first thing potential new students see when entering the building. The studios, while modest, are completely functional and perfectly suited to the creation of art. In fact, the whole campus was designed by artists and executed by architects who

It’s a fairly self sufficient campus with its own wood and metal shop for creating frames and sculpture stands, a casting and molding studio with a kiln, an art supply store, two galleries for exhibitions, a café, a library with over 40,000 volumes that also includes access to UNH’s entire database as well other academic libraries, individual studios for seniors, and shared printmaking, drawing, painting, and sculpture studios for underclassmen. “The goal is to elevate education in the arts to not only include the unsurpassed training these students receive in learning how to draw, paint, sculpt, and illustrate, but also to elevate the powerful processes that a creative, artistic practice develops in our cognitive ways of interacting,” says Jokl. “More simply, I will quote our BFA chairperson, Randy Melick who says, ‘Making in thinking and thinking in making.’ You think, perceive, and problem solve in different ways when you are actually making art. So I insist our students also graduate with the ability to execute on their ideas as well as develop and create them.” The community of Old Lyme has had a long relationship with artists. It started with the establishment of the Old Lyme Art Colony in 1899, and the Lyme Art Association (LAA) in 1921, founded by the colony’s members. In 1936, Florence Griswold’s boarding house for these artists was turned into a museum; and in 1976, the Lyme Academy held its first classes at LAA before moving to its current location.

Photo courtesy Lyme Acadamy College of Fine Arts

For the future, Lyme is developing new programs that will combine the classical arts with contemporary digital practices. The new classes will use illustration and animation, building on virtual reality and augmented reality to create motion-based art. “We are very interested in building on the classical tradition to develop practices relevant to today’s creative industries,” Jokl said. “We had a girl from Mainland China come last summer who found us through word of mouth,” says d'Aprile Quigley, with regards to the Pre-College Academy. “These foundational classes weren’t being taught at the school she attends, and her parents wanted her to have more exposure to the arts.” Although not all graduates will be able to earn a living solely from sales generated by their own artwork even in the best of times, Jokl does expect every student to maintain a lifelong artistic practice and/or engagement with the arts. For example, many illustration students have gone on to produce content for video games and graphic novels, while some sculpture students have garnered employment making prosthetics. Others have found

work in museums, galleries, schools, and design firms, and in the entertainment and publishing industries. The College also views art as a vehicle for social change and as a platform in which to convey new ideas that can speak to the difficulties plaguing our world such as food security, climate change, the discrepancy between rich and poor, or environmental issues. They encourage their students to find ways to use their artistic abilities to advocate for and address global problems through the work they make, in hopes of introducing a fresh perspective that may result in positive change. “It’s a universal language. People who might not actually speak the same language can communicate through art whether it’s visual or performing or music,”

says d'Aprile Quigley. “It all comes back to the creative process. It’s about thinking out of the box and developing new ways to problem solve. I think that happens when art is included as one of the most key elements to a wellrounded education. You open those creative pathways and allow the brain to think in a very different way.” For more information, log onto www.lymeacademy.edu.

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In His Own Words...

Evolution: The Business of Art, The Art of Business...

by Patrick Ganino

I found myself remembering that statement and thinking that just maybe my dad was an underappreciated genius.

y dad has always been quite the character, full of charisma and humor. If you didn’t know him well, you might wonder if he were just making things up as he went along for the sake of telling a good story (he probably was). Of all the things he said to me over the years, one observation stuck with me. My dad told me,“I am the star of my own movie. Everyone else is just extras.” As a kid I didn’t really understand what he meant; but as I grew up and navigated through life,

I am indeed the star of my own movie, but I don’t necessarily mean that in a narcissistic way. My life is my movie; so I get to determine who my co-stars are, what direction the plot will take, and which extras can exit stage left when they don’t bring anything positive to the story. There might be plot twists along the way, but how those unexpected events shape my movie is completely up to me. Taking this approach to life has led me to take chances, make connections, and embark on endeavors without the fear of being locked into any one role in life. Twenty years ago I left a job with a guaranteed paycheck to start my own decorative painting business. At the time I had a wife and a baby and not much else, but I knew one thing: working in a cubicle was not for me. Fortunately I

Photo by Samantha Annette Photography

had my wife’s full support in taking this risk. In the beginning I took any painting job offered to me and learned a lot along the way. If a client wanted faux stone blocks painted throughout a two story foyer with curved walls, I said, “Sure, I can do that,” and then figured out how to do it. My first year in business I made a grand total of $12,000. The next year, I doubled that. Then, I doubled it again. Continued on pag XXe

Photo by Alicia Millane

Metro Movies mural, Middletown / Photo by Cloe Poisson

I worked with top interior designers and gained the attention of the art director of shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. I worked for celebrities, partnered with national paint companies, and launched social media for an international artisan organization. Building relationships with people I loved to work with led from one great opportunity to another, so I always made it a habit to say “yes” to challenges, to choose to collaborate with, and learn from, people who could potentially be my competitors, and to always stop what I was doing to offer advice and assistance to other artists. Even with so many amazing opportunities, I still began to lose my passion for the day to day grind of decorative painting. One day I might be filmed working on a mural for a celebrity, but the next I would be chasing down a residential client whose check bounced. My back and knees started to complain about spending long days on ladders and scaffolding, and I developed problems with my shoulder from spending year after year painting. My movie needed a bit of a plot change, and that’s when I saw an opportunity in the fast growing world of social media. In managing social media for the artisan group, I realized I could offer the same services to other businesses. Not only did I like the idea of a new challenge, but I could take a step back from the constant physical work of decorative painting. So I took a bit of a leap by letting others read my new script, pitching the idea of social media management to designers I’d worked with, along with some of my celebrity clients.

I hired a web designer and a graphic artist, recruited my wife to write blogs and eventually, become my office manager, and soon grew my client list to the point where I could step away from painting. Over the course of growing my social media business, I started working with a restaurant that was on the brink of closing down for good. On top of crushing debt, they had issues with staff, food quality, and basic business

practices. In order to help them turn things around I reconnected with a couple of high school friends whose expertise proved invaluable in taking the restaurant from near bankruptcy to once again turning a profit. We later used what we’d learned to open our own restaurant: Herd. Herd is the culmination of my experiences with art, social media, and meaningful connections with other people. Few things compare to the feeling of walking into my own restaurant with my art on the wall and seeing the place full of people enjoying good food and good company.

production? But what about the art, you might ask? The best part of having my own business is that I am now free to do the kind of art I want to do. I’ve walked away from decorative painting entirely, but still love the chance to work on murals.The difference is, I accept the work I want to do rather than taking on work I have to do. I might complete a huge mural for a residence one week, and the next, wrap up a smaller painting for a celebrity client to sign and auction for charity. I’ve even been able to find time to paint for myself, which fleshes out the plot line even more.

My basic approach to business hasn’t changed. I still value collaboration, connections, building up others, and never hesitating to say “yes” to a new challenge. The people and practices I valued as a full time artist proved to be my greatest assets when branching out into the world of social media. Each new client leads to an unexpected opportunity as long as I continue to look for ways to make the most of partnerships. I will never understand the “every man for himself” attitude, where every other business is seen as a competitor. Yes, this is my movie, but it’s so much better with a big cast. Who wants to see a one man

So...a question to you: how is your movie coming along? Do you need to switch up the cast, change the location, or throw yourself a plot twist in order to feel like you have once again assumed the starring role? Sometimes even one small edit can lead to much bigger things down the road. You just have to say “yes” to the challenge. And that’s a rap! http://patrickganino.com http://socialtuna.com http://herdonmain.com

herd restaurant mural, Middletown / Photo by Samantha Annette Photography

Eli Cannons mural, Middletown / Photo by Rae Dimaur

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This Artist has Scrap Mettle David Moneypenny gets “cash for his trash” Profile and Photos (unless noted) by Caryn B. Davis David Moneypenny has been making art from reclaimed and recycled materials long before it was fashionable, and his “Crashed Furniture Series” is a testament to that. The idea came to him about seven years ago after seeing a dented fender that was destined to become a standing bar; that is not only beautiful to look at, but fully functional, although the booze is not included. “The challenge is to force different materials together and make them work. I don’t just grab bits and pieces, attach them to a board, or glue them to a canvas and call it art. That’s been done,” says Moneypenny. “I take it to a whole new level. I

find discarded auto parts and give them a new life. The pieces then can tell the story.” Moneypenny has been an artist all his life, starting in grade school when a teacher banished him to the hallway to paint murals on the walls as a cure for his disruptive behavior and lack of interest in academia. He did this all through high school, but his efforts were anything but futile. He was offered a full scholarship to Rhode Island School of Design but declined the offer. He was already adept at painting and drawing and was seeking something more mentally stimulating, only he didn’t quite know what that was, until a trip to Canada changed his perspective. He was visiting a museum in Ottawa wander-

ing around an exhibition space that appeared to be devoid of artwork until the guard informed him that he was actually walking on the art, and could he please move? “It was just pieces of copper on the floor. I thought, ‘How can this be art?’ That really intrigued me,” recalls Moneypenny when seeing the work of Carl Andre, an American minimalist artist, for the first time. Moneypenny decided right there and then to attend art school; and as luck would have it, he was offered yet another scholarship, but this

that history into functional pieces of art. Forced into places they don’t belong, the parts are both out of context and in context with the piece,” he says. “Sitting on a bench made from a mangled truck bumper and some wormeaten discarded flooring is so much better than a chair stamped out in China.” Moneypenny finds inspiration in the world around him. For example, a side rocker fabricated from a dented truck bumper bears an unusual likeness to abstract painter Jackson Pollock’s “The She-Wolf.”

time it for the University of Hartford. And this time, he accepted. “It was the top rated school for contemporary art and was really cutting edge back then. One of the courses I took was on materials. I love materials,” he says. “I didn’t really consider myself a sculptor. I was more of a painter, but the three-dimensional work just kept pulling me back in. Moneypenny has relationships with several auto body shops in the area that are more than willing to give him smashed up car parts that are beyond repair, rather than having to dispose of it themselves. It’s what you call a win-win.

“They call me ‘The Scrapper.’ They usually have to haul it away to a recycling place, so they are happy to give it to me,” he says. Back at his studio and workshop in East Hampton, Connecticut Moneypenny turns crushed car parts into works of art by bending, sanding, painting, finishing, and assembling; and by incorporating wood, metal, stone, chrome, fabric, and granite into his designs. “My “Crashed Furniture” sculptures have an obvious traumatic past, yet they have been pulled and combined from

Another p i e c e evolved after watching a program on the History Channel that depicted a Chinese Emperor being carried aloft by his subjects in a wheel-less vehicle known as a litter. Using the front fender from a small pickup truck, Moneypenny created a rocking chair that emulates the shape of a litter. “This is a man rocker, and it’s about decadence. There’s a little crown on top, a place to hold your drink that I made from a little girl’s mirror, and a scrap piece of ultra suede from a Lamborghini for the seat,” Moneypenny says. Using a car’s hood that he sliced down the middle, Moneypenny manufactured a matching pair of wing-backed chairs, while retaining the dent in the metal original to the accident. The chairs are ergonomic and very comfortable. The armrests slant down slightly so they follow the natural flow of a seated body as seen in some of the antique furniture that Moneypenny likes to collect. “I’m not necessarily setting out to make a chair or a table, but I can almost instantly see the auto parts as the back of a chair or the side of

a dresser. The furniture grows from the sculpted metal, and I let the auto designer’s lines determine the basic shape of the new wood parts. The crumpled metal replaces some of the rigid lines of traditional furniture,” he explains. “Hanging up a wrinkled car door on a wall doesn’t do it for me. I want sculpture I can interact with every day. “ Still another functional, yet exquisitely beautiful and innovative design, is one Moneypenny calls “Troy Toy.” He has transformed the rear quarter panel from a Buick LeSabre into a movable table that looks a bit like a Trojan horse. “It’s all about the contrast between raw materials and really refined materials and what you do with those materials. You can take something that is nothing - just scrap junk - and make it into something interesting, functional, and beautiful,” he says. In addition to his “Crashed Furniture,” Moneypenny also has a “Found Nature Series” where he creates free standing sculptures, assemblages, and wall art from objects found in the natural world such as sticks, stones, wood, bark, and branches. Sometimes he adds bits of floor grout, granite, or screens -

or even an old discarded metal roller skate. “Walking through the woods, I see things that interest me like the bark of a fallen birch tree, or just a shell filled with holes from bugs and its own rotting branches on the verge of being absorbed back into the soil. I take these bits of nature and build them into my pieces,” says Moneypenny. “The pieces and parts that make up the landscape now become landscapes or still life paintings. These little objects are now formalized, ordered, lined up, and gridded off the way nature should be. Not haphazard and random, but controlled and made aesthetically pleasing. If you arrange things in a certain way they almost look natural again, but without all the chaos. I’ve noticed that nature is broken all around us. These fractured rocks need to be repaired.” Moneypenny’s pieces can take anywhere from six hundred to two thousand hours to create. They retail for a few thousand to upwards of $50,000, but are worth every penny. No pun intended. For more information log onto www.davidleemoneypenny.com.

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An osprey arrives carrying a sanddab. High up he dips and calls announcing his prowess, fisherman and provider. Then lands somewhere out of sight. Now he comes to the nest. The head of the sanddab is already gone which should be enough, but he cannot part with the rest and leaves his mate without sharing. And comes back. And leaves again. The female sitting on her eggs, their blotchy markings like oversized age spots, hardly reacts. Maybe she’s already been fed. Or is she used to this? He just cannot make up his mind… Two months later and his mind is, inevitably, made up for him.

What The Osprey Overheard Photos and editorial © Mark Seth Lender The marsh goes as far as the river, breaks there, then continues spreading in all directions for more than two miles, bordered by woods that are dotted with houses. Before the river is an osprey nest that has been there for years, weathered and leaning now. And before the nest the storm slashed remains of sand dunes and then the sea. The waves are small today. Like someone talking in a low voice, muttering to themselves, the onesided conversation lost on the wind.

All three fledglings have survived. Every few days they have doubled, in size and corresponding appetite. It is constant. As if he himself is being torn apart like the sea robin he just brought them and that they now slowly rip to pieces. Three hours ago in the flat calm just after sunrise he caught a bunker, speckled sides and yellowish tail, and the mouth pumping... Now he must wait on tide, weather, the things that fish think, that are important to them, and determine where they will be. And when. And how long. Nothing is up to him. All he can do is comply. And somewhere in between he himself must eat. His mate takes her exercise flight out and out over the blue-green marsh, long and wide. He waits, the chicks are too young and vulnerable to be left alone. She returns. And he is off again over the merciless sea. He hovers, moves on, hovers again, and again, the water beneath filed

to a grainy opacity by an offshore breeze. Waiting on the nest the female, inexplicably, begins her alarm call Yat tat tut… Yat tat tut-tut… There is nothing nearby, not below or above her. The complaint grows. Now she is in full throat, loud and nearly continuous. The fledglings move about in the nest. Still nothing…. There. There it is. A small plane high above the river. Long before it appeared she heard it. After it vanishes from sight she will still hear it. How loud this world must be to her, the world we have made all around her.

Field Note: Silence (so-called) has become a respite between interruptions: alone with the 40,000 year old rock engravings at Ewaninga, secret, ancient, indecipherable in the dryness and the punishing heat and the hum of the insects, until the spell is broken by a jet engine in the unseen distance; in the Antarctic where a hill damps out the shipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engines for a short while. This, if you chose to ignore the chattering of the chinstrap penguins which in context is of itself a kind of silence; as is the hour before sleep on an island in the Zambezi River, hippo bellowing, the lions in their perpetual argument with hyena; or a waterhole where a herd of elephants comes to drink in the dark, the fluttering purr that seems to echo out of their trunks, the rumble that you feel in your chest more than hear; the hiss of snow in a whiteout on a mountain road above an Icelandic fjord; and also music, although it depends on your idea of music and even then... The last time I saw Coltrane at the Jazz Workshop I had a table up front right on top of Elvin Jones. I remember it so clearly, how consuming it was. But

my body did not stop vibrating for hours. It is all of one territory, both the silence and the things we love among the things we hear. Which excludes what we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hear.

Osprey and almost every other wild animal have more acute senses than us in almost every way. For them the sound of human activity is an unwanted constant, its disturbance detected sooner, much louder, and to negative effect. It interrupts the natural noise we may or may not find meaningful but which is to them is a matter of survival. Silence â&#x20AC;&#x201C; true silence - is a vital thing. And its absence is unhealthy for all of us, in the way the constant uproar of prison is distressful and not good, and all the more so for the prisoner who is innocent of the crime. There is only one time in my life I can recall an absolute silence. In Vermont, coming down from Spruce Mountain in the dark. That was a half century ago. I have not heard it since. Mark Seth Lender is a producer for wildlife content at Living on Earth ( LOE.org ), the only program on US Public Radio exclusively dedicated to wildlife and environmental reporting.

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Travel

Austria: The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Music by Barbara Malinsky photos by Richard Malinsky

ustria excites your senses! Whether you crave the art, beautiful scenery, architecture, music or food, you will be sated. My passion was to experience all aspects of the culture, which enticed me through the unique artistry of painter Gustav Klimt, the bounty of its music, and perhaps the heralded pastry. At the turn of early 20th century, Vienna was pioneering in the sciences with Sigmund Freud’s theories of psychoanalysis, the Secessionist Art Movement lead by Klimt and the modern architecture of Otto Wagner whose works have left a lasting visual impression on the city. Smitten by the luxurious portrait of Klimt’s Lady in Gold at the Neue Gallery in New York,

I was determined to see more. So our trip began with a visit to the Belvedere Museum, Austria’s prestigious art museum, which houses Monets and other important artists’ works but it was the Klimts that I desired. Finally, I found them. His earlier works were rather conventional landscapes and portraits but when he discovered his personal style that consisted of overlaying the basic image with flat rectangular b r u s h s t r o k e s , some of which were in gold leaf creating a mosaic effect, he became a master artist and prominent portraitist of the early 20th century. Here was his chef d’oeuvre, The Kiss, glistening while the lovers are cocooned in a fantastical blanket of shimmering

Schonbrunn Palace

gold underneath a starry sky. I stood mesmerized for an undetermined period of time absorbing this magical, transcendent image. No Austrian excursion is complete without a visit to the Baroque Schönbrunn Palace (Beautiful Spring), which is one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historical monuments in the country. It was the residence of the 19th century Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth who lived there as the last surviving couple before it was

66 rolling hills at the foothills of the Alps. The rest stops were amazing and offered all kinds of local homemade foods like fresh fruit smoothies, German pretzels, pastries, bratwurst, coffee and whatever your taste buds require – no fast food here. When we finally arrived in Salzburg we discovered a quaint town and saw Mozart’s birth house as well as the Doppler house, home of mathematician Christian Doppler who discovered the Doppler Theory relating to

Stephansplatz

deserted after the fall of the Habsburg Monarchy in 1918. It is as if they were sealed in time here. Room by room you were able to experience their life of luxury surrounded by paintings, delicate china, gilded molding, elaborate sculpted woodstoves, and sumptuous fabrics. The royal couple had 16 children, 11 of which lived to adulthood. The daughters were married to noblemen of other countries to cement political relationships. The exterior is equally impressive with its lush gardens and surrounding cliff-sized cascading fountains. Vienna’s activity is centered on Stephansplatz where the Cathedral of St. Stephen is located. This is one of the tallest churches in the world built in the 14th century on the ruins of an ancient 12th century church. Its exterior is unique in its intricately tiled roof. The street hosts haute couture shops and includes one of Austria’s flagship product stores of Swarovski Crystals, which dazzle the eye and adorn the gowns of celebrities, movie stars, and anything that needs to glitter under the spotlights. Shoppers amble throughout the shops and stop for coffee and perhaps a pastry at the numerous coffee shops. Vienna claims to be the coffee house capital of the world.

deliers, and paintings. Impeccably attired waiters serve dinner and superb pastries in a most spectacular fashion: the deserts decorated in fanciful shapes and designs. There is street life here too in Vienna, on the way home we encountered a street band Gott Zum Groove and danced to the globalized American swing to a cheering crowd. We took the Sound of Music Tour to visit Salzburg, home of Mozart and the Von Trapp Family that was the inspiration for the movie and play. The ride to Salzburg from Vienna was a pleasant adventure with views of the

Salzburg

sound waves. We saw old churches, and cemeteries. The ancient streets were bustling with tourists anxious to buy souvenirs like hand embroidered table linens and authentic dirndl dresses. Our guide pointed out an old

After strolling through the plaza we stopped at the Sacher Hotel, which is know for its sumptuous rooms, elegant restaurant, and exotic pastries. The Hotel is decorated in 18th century elegance with beautifully draped burgundy fabric, chanSalzburg.

Swarovski Crystals

freedom. At the height of his success Mozart became a Freemason and incorporated many elements of this society into some of his productions. We ended our day exhausted seeking out our preferred dining spot, the Bristol Hotel, feasting on our last Mozart dumpling with its soothing warm chocolate center surrounded by a delicate pastry bathed in liquid white chocolate and a dollop of pistachio ice cream. State Opera

water mill, which produced power for an adjacent bakery that was 1,000 years old. There too was the famous astronomical clock that still functions from the late 19th century. Music is the heart of Austria. No less than 50 important musicians and composers have come from Austria – Mozart, Schubert, Salzburg. Hayden, Schoenberg, Bruckner, Berg, Johann Strauss II, Webern, Mahler, and more. There are three music venues in Vienna that are the Volksoper, the State Opera, and Theater an der Wein where you can view a musical performance virtually every night. One of our musical adventures took us to the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, the beautifully chandeliered venue where the annual New Year’s Day concert is performed with a celebration of Austria’s famous composers. There we saw The Vienna Mozart Orchestra perform a period costumed program of Mozart’s most popular works such as Symphony # 41, Don Giovanni, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Le Nozze di Figaro, and selections from Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) with ballet accompaniments. There was a surprise ending of Strauss’ Blue Danube Waltz, the unofficial national anthem of Austria.

Another musical escapade took place at the L’Orangerie of the Schönbrunn Palace. We attended the Hoffburg Orchestra whose program was one half Mozart and the other half various Austrian composers. The Hoffburg tours throughout Europe, Asia, Russia, and the United States. Maestro Guido Mancusi, conductor for ten years, mentioned that they play Mozart but works of other composers as well. “We play mostly Viennese composers like Strauss, Léhar and Haydn who is much beloved.” The ballet accompaniment was an added delight.

Salzburg

Austria will always have a special place in my heart for bringing so much to the world. A truly wonderful destination for those who never visited and those who wish to return. With Budapest and Prague only a few hours away, it is time for us to depart. Auf Wiedersehen Österreich. Goodbye Austria.

At the Mozart Museum in Vienna we learned much about this artistic genius and his struggles with music and a gambling addiction. He was a product of the Enlightenment, which was sweeping through Europe and the United States. The concept of self-determination was spreading like wildfire and producing revolutions through Europe, France, and the United States. In Austria, it was accomplished by reforms and other measures giving people more Vienna Mozart Orchestra

The Cheesemonger Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop, Centerbrook CT

Stilton and Friends Many of us appreciate and love a well-known cheese called Stilton. It has been a favorite of mine since first introduced to me in the late sixties. At that time, Stilton had the reputation of being the “King of Cheese.” Brie was the Queen.

The King of Cheese: English Blue Stilton

Shropshire Blue The only real difference between this cheese and Stilton is the bright yellow hue found inside the wheel. Uncut, you cannot tell the difference. Shropshire Blue also comes from England. It is pasteurized and made to the same size wheel. Arethusa Blue

Stilton defies its first impression of rough, textured rind and crumbly texture to become quite creamy and spreadable when allowed to sit at room temperature for a while. This is the magic of Stilton. Its taste comprises that of a mild cheddar with a pronounced blue vein flavor. To make Stilton, the developing cheese is pierced with long needles to allow Penicillium Roqueforti (naturally occurring in air) to populate the voids and create the blue flavor we know and love. Stiltons are aged for a minimum of six months but can also be aged for as long as eighteen months. The average wheel weight is approximately fifteen pounds. A mere handful of dairies hold a license to make Stilton, and these are found only in the three English counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire. In 1996, the Stilton Cheesemakers’ Association (SCMA) obtained a PDO (Protected Geographic Status) designation for the cheese, making it England’s only name-protected cheese to date.

This great tasting rival of Stilton is made at Arethusa Farms in Litchﬁeld, Connecticut. Arethusa Blue resembles Stilton in all ways. It is also made from pasteurized milk and has the same rough exterior rind and crumble that yields to a creamy consistency at room temperature. If not told, many will assume they are eating a great Stilton. In fact, Arethusa Blue was just awarded best blue-veined cheese at the World Championship Cheese Contest held in Wisconsin recently. My September 2016 column in Ink Magazine highlighted many of the happenings at Arethusa Farm these days. In addition to cheesemaking, the farm runs two great restaurants, an ice cream shop and tours. I recommend you call before you go. We also sell their exceptional ice cream, and I maybe my own best customer. Stilton (or friend), Sweet Butter, Table Water Biscuits and Port Wine

One of my favorite Stilton producers is Colston Bassett Dairy Ltd from the Nottinghamshire county. Like other all-natural cheeses, wheels can vary and experience production issues, so I carry another brand when necessary. I always say try before you buy, and that applies to me as well. Stilton was made from raw milk until a listeria scare occurred in 1989. Going forward, the producers decided that all Stilton production would be pasteurized. Although Stilton itself was never associated with the listeria scare, its century-old cheesemaking tradition ceased. I need to mention that there is also a lesser-known White Stilton to be found, but it neither looks nor tastes anything like the Blue version. You will often ﬁnd the White version stuffed with blueberries, cranberries, ginger and mango, apricots and so on. These wheels are usually reserved for dessert purposes and have also become quite popular. White Stiltons with fruit blends are also less-aged; the fruit addition is the important theme here. The Stilton Friends I will often use these three very similar and equally well-made varietals in place of Stilton: Stichelton This cheese requires a little explaining. Stichelton is actually the original cheese production re-emerged. Made in Nottinghamshire with raw organic cow’s milk, it also made from the same starter culture used for the original Stilton. But since the post-Listeria 1989 agreement stipulated that all Stilton production be pasteurized, it cannot be called Stilton. Hence, the slight change in name. Stichelton is not better than Stilton, just a little different. You decide.

The recipe for this delectable combination is simple. First, spread a thin layer of sweet or unsalted butter (never salted butter) on your choice of table water biscuit. I really like the Elki or Carr’s brands. Then spread a good amount of Stilton over the butter. The butter adds moisture to the dry biscuit and further smoothes out the cheese. When paired with a glass of good vintage Port, a classic English dessert is created. You can also enjoy this as a snack or appetizer, but the addition of Port is what really makes it a great dessert. We have been enjoying this dessert for over forty years.

Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop www.cheeseshopcenterbrook.com

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By Art LiPuma, General Manager, SeaSide Wine & Spirits, Old Saybrook, CT

Rosé Rosé is not a red wine, nor a white wine. Or is it? This pink wine that has taken over the summer wine market is actually made from red grapes that have a short time of maceration. (which is the contact of the skin in the juice.) The longer the time, the deeper red in color and more rich the wine will become. Another way Rosés are made is by blending white grapes with red grapes. You may remember quite a few years back there were just a few; Lancers Rosé, Mateus Rosés (both from Portugal) and the ever so popular White Zinfandel of California, just to mention the most famous ones at that time. Here at Seaside we started at about 15 different ones and we will be close to 50 Rosés by the summer of this year. You will notice that more and more wineries are producing this type of wine, due to its strong acceptance and demand. In fact, it has become so popular that you can

find several types and varieties at just about any liquor or wine store. Most of these wines are dry, which is quite different from the White Zinfandel of the 80’s. This varietal of Rosé stays on the sweet side due to the early fermentation process which led the wine to have more residual sugar and less alcohol. In France the area of Provence produces Rosé that are very light in color and body with a dry finish. At this time this is one of the biggest producers of Rosé in France. A good example of this wine is called Pigoudet, which is made from Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Cinsault. Tavel is another famous area that produces a darker rosé with a more intense flavor. Bandol is a pristine area that produces high quality wines but they are not quite as popular due to their higher prices. There are many other producers and areas such as Sancerre, Minervois , Rhone, and Bordeaux.

California has become a big player in the Rosé industry. Many wineries that never before produced this wine are doing it now. There are many Pinot Noir Rosés that are coming out of high quality producers such as Robert Sinskey, Ferrari Carano, Belle Glos and Domaine Serene from Oregon. Of course if you are wanting to have something sweet there is always White Zinfandel, Pink Moscato, and most White Merlots.

I would also need to give mention to sparkling Rosés which are slowly increasing in popularity. These are traditionally medium to dry but still have nice refreshing fruit tones in them. Most Rosé wines from Champagne are blended with three grapes; Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and adding still Pinot Noir to the blend.There are many other areas producing lively Sparkling Rosés in France including Alsace and of course many other parts of the world.

In Italy Rosé is called Rosato. These wines are made from Sangiovese grapes and other types of grapes found in Italy. A lot of these wines tend to be a little darker in color with a little more body which go well with any barbecue dish.

Enjoy this refreshing wine and toast the summer off with a refreshing glass of Rosé wine and don’t forget these mouth watering wines can go with most dishes all year long. Cheers!!

From Spain they are called Rosado. There are many of these wines that come out of the area of Rioja. They tend to made from Grenache or Tempranillo. They also use various white grapes for blending. As I mentioned before these wines are made all over the world including but not limited to; Malbec Rosé from Argentina, Pinot Noir Rosé from New Zealand, Vinho Verde Rosé from Portugal and blended ones from Austria and South Africa.

The Cupping Room Philip Parda, Savvy Tea Gourmet

Take Them To Tea… Teaching the “Art of Life”…with Tea I call it The Opportunity Beyond The Cup. The ability to enrich young lives in not only a lovely way in which manners are sharpened, and awareness of true etiquette can be learned, not only an opportunity to introduce a sustainable healthy habit, but an opportunity to begin teaching our children about the culture of social interaction and sophistication…all while having great fun! But there is more, because by taking our children to tea we give them the opportunity for discovery by creating open-mindedness to what can grow to be a life-long endless stream of enjoyment and appreciation through tea. A chance most don’t get to begin appreciating one of the ﬁner things in life that will truly create the opportunity for them to live life with knowledge and appreciation. These are among the skills in developing The Art of Life…a ﬁnishing school in a teacup. The invention of the “Teabag” right here in the U.S. at the beginning of the 20th century paved the way to the eventual creation of a Paradigm of Tea for most of us here in the West. It changed everything tea. This nifty little invention ushered into the lives of people around the world the ability to simplify the process of enjoying tea. It also, however, inadvertently led to the gradual formation of a knowledge gap in people’s understanding of not only how to prepare loose leaf tea, but what Loose Leaf tea even was. The American way of “bigger always being better” coupled with industrialization and development of technology and the ability of machines to reduce labor made it easy for us as a culture to leave Loose Leaf Tea quickly in the rear view mirror of life. With time, we lost common knowledge of what Loose Leaf Tea even was, how it is used, and where it came from let alone anything about differences in tea types. Tea became homogenized. Several companies that were large players emerged and swept the Western market… I mean, after all, we had tea in little bags, why would we ever need anything else? Late in the 20th century, and now here in the 21st, we as a society, began to realize the importance to the ingredients in our food, the meaning and reasoning of organic, and value of “Artisan” or hand-crafted. We’ve awaken from a long slumber of accepting what big corporations

were giving us and decided we wanted better ingredients and we wanted choice. Early in the Renaissance of Consumables came All Natural foods, and the emergence of higher quality, hand-crafted, artisan food and drink… Artisan Wines then Craft Beers and Artisan Breads. It is consumer choice and demand that drives markets, and consumers are saying they want quality, and they want choice. They also want healthy, and they want something that is not necessarily Mainstream any more. We are now in a Renaissance of Tea with so many parallels to wine, but also with a host of benefits that make it captivating and desirable. Some people are pursuing tea because they can’t look past the landslide of emerging health benefits, but there too is a growing culture of “tea people” that get the Romance of the Leaf and have discovered the sensation of variety in aromas, flavors, and sensations of Artisan Teas developed over generations in lands of Unique Terroir. They are discovering the Art & Pleasure of Artisan Tea and are embellishing their lives through appreciation of the nuances offered by the tea, while taking satisfaction that behind the pleasure in each sip is A Medicine Chest in their Teacup. They have discovered the difference between commodity teas and Artisan Teas and have developed a valuable tool in The Art of Life. By Taking Them To Tea, not only are you introducing children to unparalleled social skills, but you are laying the foundation for a lifetime of enjoyment through understanding and appreciation of one of the finer things in life. Their Tea Party may start or seem to be just a party or just play, but memories will be formed that will become an example to live by. A gift that you have given them in The Art of Life. Savvy Tea Gourmet offers tea-themed parties for Birthdays (starting at age 7 to 107), Anniversaries, Showers, and Special Occasions, as well as regularly scheduled Afternoon Teas several times a month listed at savvyteagourmet.com. Please phone ahead for reservations and events 203-318-8666. Philip Parda Savvy Tea Gourmet, Madison, CT.

THE NEXT CHESTER FIRST FRIDAY - MAY 4th, 2018 - 5 - 8 pm CONCERTS IN THE GARDEN - THURSDAYS, 7-9 pm May 31 - Last Fair Deal June 14 - Eric Fresia with Arrowhead opening June 28 - Opius Bliss feat. Michelle Walker July 26 - The Ken Morr Band August 9th - Honey Hill Arrowhead strings along on most Sunday afternoons. Find out about the Concerts in the Garden, First Fridays, Leifs paintings and more at

www nilssonstudio com

May 1-27 Hartford Andrew Buck: Quarry Andrew Buck's sense of the term "landscape" is inspired by the writings of John Brinkerhoff Jackson. "He went back to the source word, the German landschaften, which referred to that which results when 'man' reconfigures and uses the land, in essence creating his own landscape on the natural landscape," says Buck. Real Art Ways 56 Arbor St. Hartford, CT 06106

May 1-28 Madison Still Life Invitational. Susan Powell Fine Art. This is our 10th Still Life Invitational show, over twenty-five a w a rd - w i n n i n g artists including Kathy Anderson, Carol Arnold, Julie Beck, Kelly Birkenruth, Todd Casey, Ken Davies, Grace DeVito, Eileen Eder, Judith Pond Kudlow, Anne McGrory, Larry Preston, Cindy Procious, Carlo Russo, Claudia Seymour and George Van Hook are participating in this most popular exhibition, which has become an exciting tradition and is a focal point for painters and collectors of still life. The gallery is located at 679 Boston Post Road, Madison near the fire station. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm, and anytime by appointment. For further information, please call (203) 318-0616, email us at susanpowellfineart@gmail.com and visit www.susanpowellfineart.com to see works in the show.

May 1-13 Ivoryton Love Quest. A renowned scientist once theorized that finding “intelligent life” on other planets in the universe would be like shooting a particular blackbird in a room full of blackbirds, with the lights out. Ironically, the same probability applies for finding a “normal man” on an online dating service. Love Quest – a new comedy – explores the journeys of two women in the perilous world of online dating. Kate and Brook meet after a bad date goes awry and become friends and allies in this strange new dating world. This is their story. Theatre Address 103 Main Street, Ivoryton, CT 06442 Box Office Phone: 860.767.7318 info@ivorytonplayhouse.org May 4-6 Old Lyme Featuring Jewelry Artist Paula Crevoshay " The Queen of Colored Gemstones" and her one of a kind designs. Friday 125pm Saturday 12-7pm, 4-7pm reception Sun 124pm or by appointment. EF Watermelon 24 Lyme St, Old Lyme, CT 06371 (860) 434-1600 www.efwatermelon.com May 5 Stamford Northeast PEZ Collectors Gathering. PEZ collectors from all over the United States converge on Stamford for this annual gathering. Come be part of the fun. It only happens once a year in Connecticut. 10 a.m.2 p.m Adults $5, children (8 and under) free. (843) 868-1739 www.pezconvention.org info@pezconvention.org Sheraton Stamford Hotel, 700 East Main St., Stamford, CT 06901 May 6 Westport "Harry and the Dirty Dog" A charming musical about Harry, who has everything a little white dog with black spots might wwant. His whole life is perfect with only one exception: Harry hates taking baths. He hates them so much that one morning he runs away and when he returns he is so dirty that he is now a little black dog with white spots. To his horror, his family doesn't even recognize him. How will Harry ever wint his family back? Two performances: 1 p.m. & 4 p.m. (203) 227-4177 www.westportplayhouse.org Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport, CT 06880

MAY EVENTS

May 1 - 25 Westbrook Open call exhibit “Local Vision III” at the Valentine H. Zahn Community Gallery at Middlesex Hospital Shoreline Medical Center. The exhibition features selected photographic works by artists from throughout Connecticut and beyond. The selected works were chosen through an open call, curatorial process and is curated by Jan Ayer. The Gallery is open during regular business hours and is located at 250 Flat Rock Place, Westbrook, CT. For more information, contact Middlesex Hospital at 860-358- 6200 or zahngallery@gmail.com.

MAY EVENTS

May 10 Madison The Wharf Unplugged: Will Evan. Will Evans has spent the last decade as the primary song writer, drummer, and front man for the roots rock outﬁt Barefoot Truth. Will recorded four full length albums and several EP’s of his original music with the band. Their most recent release, “Carry Us On,” debuted at #10 on the iTunes Rock Chart. With Barefoot Truth now on an extended hiatus, Will has opened a new chapter in his musical journey. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel 94 West Wharf Rd. Madison, CT May 11-12 Killingworth Come celebrate Mother's Day Weekend and the kick-off of our 4th season of lavender lovin'. Mother’s Day Plant Sale on May 11 & 12, 10am 4pm. Lavender Pond Farm, 318 Roast Meat Hill Rd, Killingworth. www.lavenderpondfarm.com

May 11 - September 16 Old Lyme "Art and the New England Farm"Drawing on the agricultural heritage of Florence Griswold’s family estate and of the Lyme region and beyond, this exhibition examines the history and character of New England’s farms in works by artists from the 19th to the 21st century. Paintings, drawings, and photographs from public and private collections trace the challenges of farming in New England, with its rocky soil, and the pastoral landscapes crafted through intense labor. Landscapes by George Henry Durrie will receive special attention as inﬂuential representations that translated the New England farmstead into an American icon in the mid-nineteenth century. Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.5 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. (860) 434-5542 ﬂorencegriswoldmuseum.org Florence Griswold Museum 96 Lyme St. Old Lyme, CT 06371 May 18 Westbrook A Tribute to Tom Petty @ 6:00 pm 10:00 pm Cocktail Hour: 6:00pm First Set: 7:00pm Theme Dinner: 8:00pm Second Set: 9:00pm. Dinner & Show. $49++ per person. Price excluding tax & service charge.Water's Edge Resort and Spa | 1525 Boston Post Road Westbrook CT 06498 Resort: 860.399.5901 watersedgeresortandspa.com

May 19 Bethany Locapalooza IV Music & Art Festival A one day music and art festival that focuses on the Connecticut music scene. Featuring eight local bands sharing their original music. Family friendly activities including a Kids Korner offering nature based arts and crafts, hula hooping, sidewalk chalk, bubbles; games in the ﬁeld for the older 'kids' including Cornhole, Giant Jenga, Horseshoes, Basketball and Volleyball. Shopping from vendors of items handcrafted in Connecticut. Gates open at 11 a.m.; music starts at noon. $15 advance, $20 at the gate; children (12 and under) free. www.aimproductions.rocks/ aimproductions@outlook.com Three Saints Park 112 Miller Rd. Bethany, CT 06524 May 26 - Westbrook The Ultimate Chicago Tribute Band. @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm. The Ultimate Chicago Tribute Band. Performed by Connecticut Transit Authority. The Connecticut Transit Authority faithfully recreates the music of one of the greatest American bands ever, CHICAGO. With a focus on the early years of Chicago, better known as the "Terry Kath Era," when the band was raw with emotion, heart and soul. Come enjoy a night of good food and great music to kick off the summer season.Cocktail Hour: 6:00pm First Set: 7:00pm Theme Dinner: 8:00pm Second Set: 9:00pm Dinner & Show. $49++ per person. Price excluding tax & service charge.Water's Edge Resort and Spa | 1525 Boston Post Road Westbrook CT 06498 Resort: 860.399.5901 watersedgeresortandspa.com May 27 - Westbrook Rock on the Water – Chicago Summer Outdoor Concert Series Chicago Tribute Band performed by Connecticut Transit Authority Tickets are $10 in advance and $20 the day of the Show. 2pm to 5pm, Water's Edge Resort and Spa 1525 Boston Post Road Westbrook CT 06498 Resort: 860.399.5901 watersedgeresortandspa.com May 30 - June 24 Ivoryton "A Night with Janis Joplin" From Broadway to Ivoryton, come share an evening with the Queen of rock and roll. Featuring such unforgettable songs as “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Piece of My Heart,” “Mercedes Benz,” “Cry Baby” and “Summertime.” A Night with Janis Joplin, is a musical journey celebrating Janis and her biggest musical inﬂuences—Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith. Wed. 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Thu. 7:30 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. (860) 767-7318 www.ivorytonplayhouse.org info@ivorytonplayhouse.org Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main St. Ivoryton, CT 06442

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A Tribute to Tom Petty

A Great Getaway in Your Own Backyard For Details and Reservations: watersedgeresortandspa.com 1525 Boston Post Rd Westbrook, CT 06498 (860) 399-5901