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CURRENT DESIGN NEWS

THOS. MOSER CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

With 4 US Showrooms to Visit, the Handmade American Furniture Company Also Offers a Week-Long Workshop to Build Your Own Furniture

by Sherry Moeller Photos courtesy of Thos. Moser

Eastward Collection -1983

In 1972, Tom and Mary Moser decided to walk into an uncertain future together by starting Thos. Moser. “We had no particular reason to believe we could succeed, but I had to make things out of wood. It was as simple as that,” says Tom Moser, Founder, Thos. Moser, Handmade American Furniture, who left a position as a Bates College professor to start the company, along with his wife Mary.

Over the past 50 years, Thos. Moser has designed and built furniture for Popes, US Presidents and CEOs, as well as corporate offices, schools, libraries, and museums, and mostly for residences across the US. This year the brand celebrates its 50th anniversary, and continues to have a loyal following of collectors, as well as new customers, including millennials looking for sustainable solutions.

“In the 50 years since our start, much has changed in the world,” adds Aaron Moser, one of Tom and Mary’s sons who is chairman of Thos. Moser. “And while time has encouraged us to adapt, our values have not wavered. The way we pursue craft at Thos. Moser and the principles that guide us are as fundamental today as when we started.”

Hands-On Workshop – With showrooms in Washington, DC, Boston, Freeport, Maine, and San Francisco, Thos. Moser offers four stops from coast to coast to see its furniture up close. In addition, it also offers an opportunity to build a piece of furniture yourself with its Customer In Residence program in its workshop in Auburn, Maine. Launched in 2007, the program attracts people from all types of professions to spend a week in the workshop alongside Thos. Moser artisans to learn woodworking techniques and pride of craft – resulting in a piece of furniture that you can say you built yourself.

Faces of Craft - The staying power and the true backbone of the brand for the past 50 years has been the dedicated team of artisans who have made it their life’s work to create handmade sustainable furniture for generations to come. Since 1987, Thos. Moser has operated out of a

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SOME THOS. MOSER DESIGNS THROUGH THE DECADES 1970s

1 Thos. Moser Continuous

Arm Chair -1977 2 Dr. White’s Chest -1976

1980s

3 New Gloucester

Rocker -1984

1990s

Harpswell Chair -1992 4 Lolling Chair -1999

2000s

5 Drift Lounge -2011 6 Wing Collection -2013

2010s

NYPL Branch Chair -2018 7 Wishbone Extension

Table -2019

90,000-square-foot workshop in Auburn, Maine with nearly 70 craftsmen and craftswomen—14 of whom have been with the company since the 1980s and 15 since the 1990s. “My debt is to the craftsmen who make our furniture. They are Thos. Moser,” says Tom Moser.

Resurgence of Heirloom Furniture - The global pandemic has forced consumers to slow down, consider what they are bringing into their homes, and create a space that we can feel good about. This “slowing down” moment in history is a recipe for success for an American business, crafting with materials grown in the US and creating handmade, modern-day heirlooms. Heirloom furniture, such as Thos. Moser’s, recalls an era of pride in workmanship and a necessity to make things that would last. As they age, these pieces look as good and relevant as they were when first purchased.

Sustainability - Thos. Moser likens its strong root system of family, partners, colleagues, and customers to that of the American Black Cherry tree, which they harvest in the Allegany Plateau to make much of their sustainable furniture, along with walnut from the Missouri riverbanks.

Lessons Learned Through the Years – In Their Words – “Our biggest business lesson: it’s all about relationships. The relationships we have made over the past 50 years, and continue to cultivate, have been our best business asset. Our community of craftspeople and customers is the driving force of what makes Thos. Moser, and our furniture, something truly unique.”

For more information about Thos. Moser, Handmade American Furniture, visit www.thosmoser.com.

“SOME PEOPLE TRAVEL… SOME PEOPLE TRAVEL WELL”

SEE

THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY – BY TRAIN

If taking the train across Canada isn’t on your bucket list, it should be. Seeing the country by train is an unforgettable experience. The train trip is a wonderful way to slow travel across Canada and enjoy the scenery, cities, and people along the way.

The journey has something for everyone. Whether you are a nature enthusiast, an urban explorer, a train devotee, or consider yourself an equal opportunity traveler, you will visit the nation’s most popular locales. On the West Coast, Vancouver delights with its proximity to both the mountains and the ocean. The Canadian Rockies will bowl you over in awe, when its alpine towns seamlessly collide with its acclaimed National Parks, Jasper, and Banff. The cosmopolitan appeal of Toronto and Ottawa is, well, appealing, while Montreal, with its French flair, delights. The natural wonders of the Maritimes, including Halifax’s Lunenburg and Mahone Bay, offer a glimpse at what makes Canada’s eastern seaboard so special.

Some Canada rail tours include overnight journeys aboard premier sleeper trains, such as VIA Rail’s Canadian train. This train departs both from Vancouver and from Toronto and puts some of Canada’s most wondrous scenery on display as you travel across Canada. Other tours utilize the Rocky Mountaineer, run by IRT, which is an all-daylight luxury train that delves deep into parts of the country that are inaccessible by any other mode of transportation. There are tours that fit every budget – from luxury travel to economy (but if do travel economy, be prepared to “sleep” in your normal train seat).

THOUGHTS TO THINK BEFORE YOU BOOK.

Contrary to what you would think, winter is a great time to take a trans-Canadian train. The trips are much cheaper than high season, but even more importantly, there are fewer people to compete with for views on the train. But make sure if you do travel during this season to bring a warm winter coat.

One of the only bumps that you might experience is delays. This is mainly because on Canada rail, freight trains bring in more money than passenger trains do so they get priority on the track. The freight company also owns the train tracks that you will be traveling on.

Make sure to choose a train with a “Dome Car” because it is one of the best parts of traveling by train. Comfortable seating is elevated above the other train cars, which give you a 360 view of your journey.

Equally, make sure that the tour operator that you choose uses connected Wi-Fi. Not all trains are equipped with the service.

You will travel through 5 time zones, so don’t bother worrying about the time. During the journey, you will pass through Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific zones. It will always be changing. So, sit back and enjoy the ride.

If traveling by train across our northern neighbor piques your interest, check out these three different itineraries. Perhaps one of them will appeal and soon enough you will be hearing “All Aboard!”

ACROSS CANADA BY TRAIN

Vacations by Rail www.vacationsbyrail.com/canada

This 14-day journey begins in beautiful Vancouver. This coastal city is home to beautiful landmarks like Gastown, the Sunken Gardens, and Queen Elizabeth Park. You will have a day at leisure before boarding VIA Rail’s Canadian to continue to your next destination, Toronto.

Before arriving in Toronto, you will enjoy a four-night rail journey aboard the Canadian as you get to know fellow travelers, read a good book or take in the beautiful passing scenery. While in Toronto, enjoy a day trip to spectacular Niagara Falls. Take a boat ride to witness firsthand the magical falls that make this magnificent landmark so famous. You will then travel by rail from Toronto to Montreal. Have time at leisure to explore legendary attractions like Old Montreal and the Olympic complex. Afterwards, it’s on to Quebec. You will have ample time to visit the historical and modern highlights of this beautiful city on a comprehensive sightseeing tour, the perfect way to witness the absolute beauty that encompasses the city. Continuing, you head to Halifax aboard the Ocean. While in Halifax you can visit charming Lunenburg, a scenic port town with the largest fish fleet in Nova Scotia.

Pamper yourself with first-class accommodations, delicious meals, and access to exclusive lounge cars to view Canada’s ever-changing scenery. Stay in centrally located hotels and enjoy sightseeing tours to get you acquainted with each unique city on your route. And, of course, enjoy ample time at your leisure to see each city your way.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 - Vancouver DAY 2 - VIA Rail to Toronto DAY 3 - Across Alberta DAY 4 - Eastbound through the Prairies DAY 5 - Across the Canadian Shield DAY 6 - Toronto DAY 7 - Niagara Falls Excursion DAY 8 - Toronto to Montreal DAY 9 – Montreal to Quebec City DAY 10 - Quebec City Sightseeing DAY 11 - Quebec City to Halifax DAY 12 - VIA Rail En Route to Halifax DAY 13 - Excursion to Lunenburg DAY 14 - Halifax

VANCOUVER TO HALIFAX

Canada Rail Vacations www.canadarail.ca

On this journey, you start on the Canadian west coast and end on the Atlantic. Over the course of 16 days, you will see lush West Coast rainforests, remote glaciers atop mountains, Canada’s Prairies, lake country, and the rugged East Coast. It will be life changing train travel as you chug through eight provinces and places you would never dreamt existed.

The world-famous Rocky Mountaineer is a luxury sightseeing train that travels exclusively through the Canadian Rockies by daylight, slowing to highlight natural marvels. While indulging in hand-crafted, local cuisine, top-shelf beverages, and endless snacks and treats, you will listen to professional guides who will narrate Western Canada’s storied history and highlight unforgettable natural beauty. The Rocky Mountaineer stops overnight in the lake town of Kamloops so guests can sleep in a comfortable hotel and get ready for the rest of their adventure.

Aboard The Canadian train, you’ll step into a golden past and relive Canada’s history. A truly nostalgic experience, VIA Rail includes made to order meals in mid-century rail dining cars, glass domed observation cars, and private sleeper cabins to enjoy Canada’s scenery.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: Vancouver Arrival DAY 2: Rocky Mountaineer Train from Vancouver to Kamloops - overnight in Kamloops DAY 3: Rocky Mountaineer Train from Kamloops to Banff - overnight in Banff DAY 4: Banff Sightseeing Tour including Gondola - overnight in Banff DAY 5: Banff to Lake Louise Sightseeing Tour - Mountains, Lakes and Waterfalls - overnight in Lake Louise DAY 6: Sightsee from Lake Louise to Jasper including Columbia Icefields Excursion - overnight in Jasper DAY 7: Board “The Canadian” Train in Jasper - overnight aboard the train DAY 8: “The Canadian” Train through Saskatchewan and Manitoba - overnight aboard the train DAY 9: “The Canadian” Train through Ontario - overnight aboard the train DAY 10: “The Canadian” Train - arrival in Toronto - - overnight in Toronto DAY 11: Niagara Falls Sightseeing Day Tour - overnight in Toronto DAY 12: VIA Rail Business Class from Toronto to Montreal - overnight in Montreal DAY 13: Montreal sightseeing. Board “The Ocean” Train - Montreal to Halifax - overnight aboard the train DAY 14: “The Ocean” Train - arrival in Halifax - overnight in Halifax DAY 15: Halifax Sightseeing Day - overnight in Halifax DAY 16: Halifax Departure

TRANS-CANADA RAIL ADVENTURE

The Society of International Railway Travelers Irtsociety.com This 16-day luxury travel passage offers passengers private tours of Yoho National Park, Icefields Parkway, and Niagara Falls. Spend four days exploring the pristine wilds of Lake Louise, Jasper, and Banff National Parks. The tour runs between Toronto and Vancouver. It crosses northern Ontario’s scenic lake lands, the prairies of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and the towering Canadian Rockies, before ending on the Pacific Coast. Take this legendary Trans-Canada rail tour on two first-class trains: The Canadian, with VIA Rail’s lovely service, including its luxurious Prestige Class, and the all-daylight Rocky Mountaineer train.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: Toronto DAY 2: Private tour of Niagara Falls DAY 3: Depart Toronto DAYS 4-5: On board Canadian DAY 6: Jasper DAY 7: Private Jasper sightseeing DAY 8: Jasper DAY 9: Lake Louise DAY 10: Lake Louise DAY 11: Private Yoho Tour, Lake Louise-Banff DAY 12: Private Banff sightseeing DAY 13: Banff DAY 14: Banff-Kamloops DAY 15: Kamloops-Vancouver DAY 16: Vancouver

THE TOP 5 PLACES TO ORDER POUTINE IN MONTRÉAL

Crispy fries, brown gravy and squeaky cheese curds, what’s not to love about Canada’s unofficial dish? Here’s where you can eat the very best classic poutine (and others) in Montréal…

CHEZ TOUSIGNANT

Everything at Chez Tousignant is homemade with care. The eatery’s poutine’s fries are cut daily in-house and fried to the perfect consistency, topped with well-sourced curds, and coated with a gravy—with a slightly herbaceous and peppery kick to it—that’s made from scratch.

6956 Drolet Street, Montréal

PATATI PATATA

This small greasy spoon has been a favorite haunt for over 20 years. Here classic poutine is made with a heap of skinny fries and fresh cheese curds drowned in an amazing vegetarian gravy. They also offer their patatine, which differs from the classic due to the addition of mushrooms, peppers and onions.

4177 St Laurent Boulevard, Montréal

GREENSPOT

A neighborhood institution, this classic Saint-Henri greasy spoon serves 25 different poutine choices. The classic type is available but so is the Put-in with chopped steak, onions and a dark gravy.

3041 Notre-Dame Street W, Montréal

CHEZ CLAUDETTE

This eatery has been a local favorite since 1982 and serves a wide range of poutine choices—nearly 50 in total—that were created in part by loyal customers contributing ideas. At night, seating is difficult to find as diners enjoy poutines that range from the classic to those topped with everything from fried fish to chicken tandoori.

351 Laurier Ave E, Montréal

LA BANQUISE

This is the most referred-to poutine restaurant in Montreal, which is borne out through a near-constant line-up to get into the restaurant. They serve over 30 different kinds of poutine, ranging from the most classic cheese-and-gravy combinations to more eclectic creations such as La Royale (pulled pork, apples & bacon).

994 Rue Rachel E, Montréal

Poutine