This Month’s Featured Articles…

For more than a century, people around the globe descend upon Manhattan’s Times Square to watch the ball drop. Some history: that inaugural New Year’s Eve bash, held in 1904, commemorated the official opening of the headquarters of The New York Times. At midnight, there was a fireworks display to celebrate and mark the event. A few years later, the city banned the fireworks, so The Times arranged to have a large, illuminated iron and wood ball lowered from the tower flagpole precisely at midnight [...]

In the city of Xian, China, a bird flits along a ten-inch wooden perch inside a mahogany-colored cage. I don’t know what kind of bird it is, but the cage itself catches my attention. Cylindrical and peaked at the top and bottom, it is shaped like the buoys on the lobster traps I used to see on family trips to Gloucester, MA. The mind works like this: we explore the world through analogy. That kindergarten teacher is like my mother. This baked sweet potato tastes [...]

You can try all the wines in the world from the comfort of your home. You can research their stories and find lots of history and mystery and beautiful photos online – which is wonderful and certainly an enhancement of the experience. But there’s nothing like going to the place where the wine you’re drinking is made. Many if not all of you reading this article have experienced a tasting at a winery, whether it’s one close to home (and there are so many good [...]

Winter is such a wonderful time of year. The Hudson Valley and Berkshire region are quintessential places to celebrate all the sparkle of the season. Beyond the serenity of the nature that abounds in the region and the possibility of snowfall sprinkling our country roads and mountain tops, there are lots of quaint towns, which get decked out in holiday attire at this time of year. Over the last few years, we’ve all enjoyed more subdued celebrations such as small gatherings at home and even [...]

Art is so inspiring. Beyond the visual appeal, art reveals a glimpse into the various perspectives of others. While some focus on politics and current events, others draw inspiration from history, music, and beyond. There are certainly lots of galleries and museums nearby that are showing diverse work of artists from near and far. Here’s a brief summary of some of the exhibitions on view in the Hudson Valley and beyond. Go get inspired! Art Omi, Ghent, NY Ghent, NY, is home to Art Omi, [...]