Only a Kiss? Hardly. Guillermo Calderón's Kiss in Boston

We love to go into Boston for various events and when we saw that Goldstar was offering tickets to Guillermo Calderón's play, Kiss, it seemed like a great opportunity to see the Chilean playwright's socio-political drama. 

Kiss, Calderón's first play in English, is about two couples who meet for dinner in Damascus, seeking respite from the war around them. The couples plan to watch their favorite Syrian soap opera, but things change rapidly. This play-within-a play touches on cultural and linguistic misinterpretations and the implications of those misinterpretations.  

If you're in the Boston area, Kiss is running through November 19th. Tickets are available at the box office and through Goldstar, a discount ticket service operating in major metropolitan cities around the United States. 



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Lovely Places: Pilgrim's Inn on Deer Isle, Maine

Overlooking a serene mill pond in Down East Maine, Pilgrim's Inn on Deer Isle in Penobscot Bay, was the perfect place for the Señor and I to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary. 

Built in 1793, this beautifully restored post and beam inn is on the National Register of Historic Places. Innkeepers, Tony Lawless and Tina Oddleifson, purchased the inn in 2005. Their hospitality philosophy is "to anticipate the needs of our guests and provide excellent service, while at the same time giving people the space to create their own experience." And they did, indeed. 

Pilgrim's Inn is a member of Select Registry, a portfolio of more than 300 quality assured, premier bed and breakfasts, inns, and select hotels. Each property is held to a 200 point inspection, insuring that guests are treated to the highest quality experience. Tony and Tina provided that, and so much more. 

From the middle of May through the middle of October, Pilgrim's Inn offers twelve rooms in the main inn, as well as three cottages for a more secluded experience. All rooms have private baths, lush linens, air conditioning, bathrobes and hairdryers. 

Guests have access to free, on-site parking, wireless internet throughout the inn, a guest computer, and a guest phone line, which offers free calls throughout the US and Canada. The main room has a library filled with books and a game room with board games and cable television, the only television in the inn.

Outside, the property has Adirondack chairs for relaxing beside the pond. 

And lovely grounds to stroll. 

The Señor and I stayed in Room 2, featuring a beautiful king-sized bed that overlooks the mill pond, lawn and gardens. 

The experience of an inn like Pilgrim's Inn and many Select Registry properties, is found in the details. 

BeeKind is a line of products with all-natural ingredients. A portion of their sales goes to honeybee research. 

Such a lovely touch. 

We had dinner in the Whale's Rib Tavern, and what a treat it was!

Fun lobster trap chairs. 

We began with drinks in the bar. The Señor enjoyed a local brew, and I asked the bartender to create something fruity. Using fresh Maine blueberries, that's exactly what she did, and it was delicious. 

In the dining room of the restaurant, the Señor and I toasted to our anniversary over a bottle of  full-bodied cabernet. He enjoyed a perfectly cooked grilled beef tenderloin and I chose a grilled duck breast. 

For dessert, we chose a chocolate pot de creme and Maine blueberry crisp. It was easily, one of the best meals of our lives.  

Reservations are highly suggested at this destination restaurant. The staff is knowledgeable, helpful with recommendations, and do everything to make your experience one to remember. Tony, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with over 25 years of industry experience, oversees the kitchen and insures the highest quality of flavor, presentation, and service. 

A full breakfast for two people is included in your stay at Pilgrim's Inn, and homemade cookies, fresh fruit, and beverages are available throughout the day. Breakfast is served in the inn's restaurant, the Whale's Rib Tavern, and, at this time, is open to guests of the inn only. 

Pilgrim's Inn was featured in the The Boston Globe and Maine Magazine, and was an Editor's Choice in Yankee Magazine. It was also featured in A Thousand Places to See Before You Die: North America Edition. In addition, Pilgrim's Inn has received Certificate of Excellence awards from Trip Advisor, and they are members of the Diamond Collection with BedAndBreakfast.com. 

Deer Isle, Maine, is close to Acadia National Park, Stonington, and Isle au Haut. It is rich with activities related to hiking, kayaking, bird-watching, art galleries, and farmers' markets.  

Anyone can stay at a chain hotel that offers an impersonal front-end experience; but if you're looking for more...a place where you are welcomed as if you were coming home, then choose a Select Registry property like the Pilgrim's Inn and experience Down East Maine like a local. It is a lovely place, indeed. 

We are grateful to Tony and Tina, who hosted our stay and anniversary celebration, in partnership with Select Registry. 

For booking information, call 888-778-7505. Pilgrim's Inn is located at 20 Main Street, Deer Isle, Maine. They can be contacted at innkeeper@pilgrimsinn.com. 

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Weekending: Three Breweries in Three Days

Here in Massachusetts, we enjoyed a much-needed and well-earned three day weekend. Yesterday, Monday, was Patriots' Day, or Marathon Monday (the 120th running). While some companies use this day as a floater, my husband had the day off and so it became an opportunity to plan a staycation, and catch up on a few chores. 

The Señor likes craft brews. He likes trying small batch beer made by local breweries and so we decided to try a local brewery and gastropub, which became the theme of the weekend, visiting three local breweries in three days.

On Saturday, after some house chores, we went out west for a coffee at a bakery which makes my favorite almond-sesame-maple cookie. When we arrived, we were surprised (as was another patron) to find that the bakery had closed early that one day. So, it was on to Plan B, and thanks to Yelp, we found another independent coffee house where we indulged in iced coffees and biscotti. 

After picking up some needed house supplies at the big box store up the road, we went in search of a local brewery and as luck and location would have it, just over the border into Vermont, we found the Whetstone Station Brewery and Restaurant in nearby Brattleboro. 

The brewery and gastropub, with a fire-lit deck and bier garten, overlooks the Connecticut River and features a Mug Club, which rewards you with your own personalized mug and other discounts and benefits once you have tried 99 of the experimental brewery's beers in one year. 

They only make one brew regularly: their own IPA, but they publish their recipes on their website. 

The Señor tried the beer sampler...



And their famous Brewer's Burger; however the local favorite seems to be Tim's Awesome Burger, loaded with Vermont cheddar cheese, red onion, tomato, maple marinated bacon and peanut butter...yes, peanut butter. 

Not the famous peanut butter burger, but delicious, nonetheless. 

On Sunday, we took off for Maine, heading up to Portland. The northern New England coast has its share of local brews as well, but in Portland, after a lovely afternoon tea in a cute French patisserie, 

we went for an in-house brew at Gritty's, self proclaimed as Portland's Original Brew Pub. They also have locations in Freeport and Auburn, Maine. 

We took advantage of the $.50 wing happy hour special and the señor enjoyed their famous BPA.  

On Monday, we went back out west for two reasons. We planned on purchasing our flights for Spain and Portugal, which we did at the travel agency we typically use, and we planned on coffees at a favorite coffeeshop, and dinner at another brewhouse in the Pioneer Valley. 

What we didn't plan was having dinner with a dear friend; what a wonderful surprise, indeed! 

We finished off our weekend with cappuccinos and cannolis at the bakery across the street from the brewery. 

It was a lovely end to a lovely weekend. 

If you're visiting New England, here are the places that made our weekend itinerary. 

Whetstone Station
36 Bridge Street
Brattleboro, VT 
802-490-2354

Portland Patisserie and Grand Cafe
46 Market Street
Portland, ME 04101
207-553-2555

Portland Brew Pub
396 Fore Street
Portland, ME 04101

Esselon Cafe 
99 Russell Street (Route 9)
Hadley, MA 01035
413-585-1515

Northampton Brewery
11 Brewster Court
Northampton, MA 01060
413-584-9903

La Fiorentina Pastry Shop
25 Armory Street
Northampton, MA 01060
413-586-7693

What was the highlight of your weekend? Are you a craft beer fan? Where is the best local brewery and gastropub in your area? We're always up for a road trip. 

A Lovely Romantic Getaway: Stonecroft Country Inn, a Select Registry Property

Tucked within the rolling, bucolic country roads of southeastern Connecticut lies an old country inn, dating back to 1807. If you're looking for a romantic place to get away and feel welcomed and pampered, the Stonecroft Country Inn is a New England gem that meets every expectation. 

Located only five miles from the historic Mystic Seaport, the Stonecroft Country Inn, once the estate of sea captain, Shubel Smith, sits on six and a half acres of gardens and outdoor space, featuring a lovely terrace, fire pit and koi pond. 

The family owned and operated bed and breakfast is kept by Jim and Marcie Townsend, who pay close attention to insure that each guest of the inn is treated like a family member who has come home for a long-awaited visit. The inn was named Best of New England: Country Comfort by Yankee Magazine in 2012.

The 1807 House

The Georgian Colonial main house, the 1807 House, with original historic features, offers four guest rooms with private baths, six working fireplaces and three wood-burning fireplaces. The home is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Our room was located in the Yellow Barn. Formerly called The Grange, the Yellow Barn is an 8,000 square foot converted post and beam barn, which houses six suites, including two master suites that offer privacy from all other rooms, perfect for honeymoons or special occasions. 

The Yellow Barn

The Señor and I stayed in the Orlando Suite, named for Smith's youngest son, who, with his mother, Sarah, was responsible for the area's granite industry that provided building stone and monuments, including national monuments sent to Washington, DC and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 

The Orlando Suite features a queen-size, walnut sleigh bed, a gas-lit fireplace, leather love seat, a dark wood armoire with two soft, plush, monogrammed robes, and a small writing desk with captain's chair. French double doors open onto a deck and sitting area.  

The spacious bathroom, the size of some standard hotel rooms itself, features a heated towel rack with plush Turkish towels, a coffee service, a jacuzzi tub for two and a separate, walk-in shower. 

All rooms in the barn are air-conditioned, have wifi, and have wide-screen TVs with DVD players. A library of movies and books are available in the main lobby for guests to peruse and borrow for their enjoyment. 

Guests love the Stonecroft Country Inn. An endearing feature of our room was a journal left for guests to write notes about their stay. From romantic weekends away to weekend getaways for an event at the nearby Foxwoods casino, every note expressed the highest level of gratitude for the experience at Stonecroft. Here is one example. 

Each morning, guests of the inn are treated to a homemade, full country breakfast. Intimate tables in front of a grand stone fireplace fill the dining room, located on the first floor of the barn, overlooking a terrace, gardens, a koi pond and a grapevine-shaded pergola. Treats, like homemade brownies and snacks accentuate the welcoming feel to this home-away-from home. 

The Stonecroft Country Inn is a member of Select Registry, a portfolio of more than 300 quality assured, premier bed and breakfasts, inns, and select hotels. Each property is held to a 200 point inspection, insuring that guests are treated to the highest quality experience, and Jim and Marcie provided that and more. 

Anyone can stay at a chain hotel that offers an impersonal front-end experience; but if you're looking for more...a place where you are welcomed as if you were coming home, then choose a Select Registry property like the Stonecroft Country Inn. It's well located, accessible from anywhere in the Northeast. Visit for a weekend away or as a halfway point for a girls' weekend away. 

We are grateful to Jim and Marcie, who hosted our stay, in partnership with Select Registry. For booking information, call 800-772-0774. Stonecroft Country Inn is located at 515 Pumpkin Hill Road, Ledyard, Connecticut. They can be contacted at innkeeper@stonecroft.com. 

The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls Massachusetts: A New England Gem

Located in the small, quiet western Massachusetts town of Shelburne Falls, the Bridge of Flowers is the place for a lovely stroll on a weekend afternoon. 

Bought in 1908 and once used as a way to transport freight and people to the nearby mills, the former trolley bridge, which crosses the Deerfield River, sat in decay after the automobile boom provided transport that exceeded the small railway company's capacity to compete. 

In 1929, the bridge was covered with weeds, but could not be demolished because it contained an important water main, so it was rescued and transformed into a garden by the town's Women's Club. And thus began The Bridge of Flowers. 

There is much to see along the arched footbridge. 

The flowers are identified and provide wonderful inspiration for at home landscapes. 

If you stroll the downtown, you will learn that the film, Labor Day, was filmed here. 

As well as The Judge. 

On the afternoon we were there, we stopped in for a coffee at Mocha Maya's, a coffee shop, pub, and live music venue. 

Link

And peeked at the glacial potholes of the Deerfield River. 

Shelburne Falls and the Bridge of Flowers provided a perfect place to explore on a Sunday afternoon. If you are ever in the area, consider this downtown stroll. The Bridge is open from April to October. 

Lovely Seaside Charm in York Beach, Maine: Two Sisters Inn

My friend since grade school has enjoyed a lovely beach home in York Beach, Maine, for as long as I can remember. Her mom bought the house with her sister years ago, and it's a place her family uses in the summer; they rent it out for the rest of the year. 

I usually visit Two Sisters Inn every summer. It is a lovely retreat; not seaside, but at less than a half mile from Short Sands in York Beach, Maine and across the street from a full ocean view, it's a true beach house with an abundance of seaside charm. 

Here are some of the pieces that caught my eye and that give Two Sisters Inn its personality. 

I love this painting. I can feel the sun and the ocean breeze pouring through the window. 

Maine blueberries accent this sea-inspired wreath. 

Best napping couch, ever. 

There are nautical accessories in every room. 

Even in the bathroom

The mantel, over a working fireplace, is adorned with its own sea-inspired wreath.

Lighthouses are peppered throughout the house, in recognition 

of the iconic, Nubble Light, that sits less than a mile away. 

Even the cookie jar has nautical style. 

It is clear to see the sisters paid close attention to detail in decorating their summer retreat, down to the light switches. 

The back outside deck provides a great space for reading or enjoying a cup of coffee. 

Unless you prefer swinging under a mighty tree. 

Or sitting on the front deck, adorned with its own nautical and patriotic style. 

It's sad to think that her mom will be selling her share of the house in another year or so; she simply does not use it as much anymore now that my friend's dad has died. 

Nevertheless, Two Sisters Inn provided years of family fun and a quiet respite from the summertime beach mania of south coastal Maine. 

And it's a lovely place I have come to enjoy, full of memories of laughter, great food, and the best of friends. It is a lovely treat, indeed.