CT Shoreline Weekend Events Aug. 12-14

So many special events on the CT Shoreline this weekend! Here are details about three to fill your weekend from start to finish.  Then, of course, there's the beach!

Classical Music
Chestnut Hill Concert series continues this Friday, August 12, 8pm, at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Old Saybrook http://www.thekate.org/. Tickets $25-$30.

Antiques
The Madison Exchange Club's Antique Exhibit and Sale is this Saturday, August 13, 9am to 4pm at the Madison Town Green. Admission $10.

Wine
Saturday, August 13th and Sunday, August 14th, visit Bishop's Orchards Farm Market and Winery in Guilford for the 5th Annual Shoreline Wine Festival. Tour the Bishop's Orchards winery and taste wines from Connecticut vineyards and wineries from around the state. Tickets $30.

CT Shoreline Midweek Getaways - Don't Miss These CT Shoreline Activities

Ten Great Reasons for a CT Shoreline Midweek Getaway

Summer's in full swing and weekend availability at CT Shoreline B&B's and resorts isn't as easy to come by. Truly, these last few weeks we've been turning away and referring to others so many who've called or come knocking hoping we'd have weekend rooms available.  Great for us and for those who've already booked, but for you who are looking forward to some wonderful vacation time on the CT shoreline, it's time to remember midweek vacations.

Come to the shoreline on Sunday through Thursday nights and not only will you most likely still be able to book a room, but you'll also have opportunities and experiences open to you that are just happening midweek. Who knew?! 

Here's our countdown of Top Ten great reasons for midweek getaways on the CT Shoreline:

10. Getting here is easier. Get here quicker and more relaxed when you're not in the I-95 Friday and Sunday traffic. More choices for cross-sound ferry reservation times too.

9. Restaurant specials - perhaps dessert or half-priced bottles of wine. Reservations available at your first choice of restaurants and times.

8. Midweek or promotional rates and special packages for lodging. Special unannounced sales and events (like an ice cream social) at local boutiques and specialty shops.

Midweek special events.  Here are two for starters:
* Thursday, August 18, 2011 - Madison Chamber of Commerce "Beachcomber's Night." Sip, Shop, Stroll ... & prizes too!
* Thursday, September 22, 2011 - Madison Exchange Club "Arts Night." Food & wine tastings and a movie too!

7. Opening days of weekend events, fairs and festivals. Many begin on Thursdays. Avoid the weekend crowds.  This is true for beaches and parks too.


6. Meet authors at book signings and special events at R.J. Julia's; be creative at art classes; learn new recipes at a cooking class
 
5. Sunday and Wednesday matinees at Ivoryton Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, Long Wharf Theater, and more

4. Evening Shakespeare on the green in Guilford (select August dates) - bring a blanket and a picnic; more events on the Guilford green

3. Farmer's Markets! Bring a cooler to bring home veggies, cheeses, and more

2. Evening concerts on many town greens and beaches. Bring a picnic and enjoy. (on select dates):
     Sundays - Madison, Branford & East Haven
     Wednesdays - Old Saybrook
     Thursdays - Clinton

1. It's a "Real Getaway Feeling" when you're "Playing Hookie" in the middle of the week! It's a fact!


Don't miss out on these CT Shoreline activities.  Book your midweek getaway today!

Peach Melba French Toast

Fresh, ripe, juicy peaches! It's August in Connecticut and it's Peach Season! I love to use seasonal ingredients and plan our breakfast menus to take advantage of fruits and veggies as they ripen, are harvested, and come to our local farmers' markets.
This week I took the plunge and went for the first peaches of the season.  Today's breakfast entree was Peach Melba French Toast, a recipe I developed here at the inn a few summers ago.  I thought you might also want to enjoy the fruits of the season along with us, so here's the recipe for you to try at home.

Peach Melba French Toast

1 20” or longer loaf of French Bread (or Two 14” loaves)

6 large Eggs
3 C. Whole Milk
1/2 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
1 tsp.Vanilla
1 C. Brown Sugar - Divided
1/4 C. Butter, melted
1 6-oz. Container Fresh Raspberries – or 1 C. frozen raspberries
3 Medium to Large Fresh Ripe Peaches, peeled and thinly sliced (We Prefer Freestone Peaches)
2 Tbsp. Lemon Juice or Orange Juice – Optional – Use if preparing ahead.
1/3 C. Slivered or Sliced Almonds

Fresh Raspberries and Fresh Peach Slices for garnish
Seedless Raspberry Jam for Garnish
Freshly whipped cream, with confectioner’s sugar and vanilla, to taste, for garnish

Spray a 9”x13” Glass Baking Dish with Pam, butter flavor, cooking spray. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.


Slice bread into 36 1/2”-thick slices, discarding heels. Whisk Together Eggs, Milk, Nutmeg, Salt, Vanilla and 3/4 C. Brown Sugar until well blended. Dip each bread slice into the egg mixture, coating both sides, and arrange in two layers of three long rows of 6 slices each in the pan. Overlap slices slightly if necessary, to fit. Pour extra egg mixture overall. Distribute raspberries over all. If preparing ahead, toss peach slices with juice. Place peach slices over all and arrange in three rows over the bread to distribute evenly. Combine melted butter with remaining 1/4 C. of brown sugar until well blended and drizzle over the peach slices. Distribute almonds over all. At this point you may cover and refrigerate the pan until you are ready to bake it – may be done the night before and baked in the morning. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 5-10 minutes.

Cut down between the long rows through the fruit and between each pair of slices of bread, making 3 servings out of each long row. Serve while it’s still warm. Garnish with drizzles of warmed seedless raspberry jam, a few more slices of fresh peaches, a few fresh raspberries, and piped rosettes of freshly whipped cream.

Serves 9 - Enjoy!

Keeping Cool on the CT Shoreline

Top Ten Ways to Beat the Heat in Heart of the CT Shoreline

It’s Summer! And heat waves happen, yes, even here in “Camelot,” the heart of the CT shoreline. I heard one of our guests say, just this morning, “I think today’s even too hot to go to the beach!” Once in awhile it just might feel a bit too hot and sticky to enjoy the great beaches and parks and trails of the great outdoors. Here are ten ideas for how to beat the heat while visiting the CT shoreline between the Quinnipiac River and the Connecticut River. So much to do and see and explore in air conditioned comfort – way better than hunkering down in front of the air conditioner (or the open doors of your refrigerator) and way beyond escaping to a shopping mall or the local 12-screen megaplex movie theater. Pick an idea, get up and get out there and enjoy this beautiful part of the Connecticut Shoreline. For details, locations and web sites of what you'll see here go to VisitCTShoreline.com .

10. Treasure Hunting – Seek and find the rare, the unusual, or just that special something that you just can’t live without.
 Go Antiquing in multi-dealer treasure troves where you’ll find a cornucopia of beloved items waiting for you to take them home.
 Poke around the many charity thrift shops. There’s at least one in every shoreline town, and donations pour in daily. You never know … this is beyond dumpster diving to clever treasure hunting, and you can feel good about supporting local charities too.
 Don’t forget the shoreline’s unique boutiques and mom-and-pop-owned shops. Hand made one-of-a-kind items and carefully selected merchandise that’s not to be found at the malls is their hallmark, and you get to chat with friendly locals and soak up some local culture too.

9. Matinee Performances – Take in a matinee daily at Madison Art Cinemas and on Wednesdays or Sundays at Ivoryton Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House (musicals), or the Norma Terris Theater. Feel with the characters or laugh yourself silly. With so many to choose from there’s bound to be something you’ll want to see. You might even be able to catch an afternoon event at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center.

8. Take a class – Learn something new. Expand your horizons. Make a memento to take home.
 Art classes are available in nearly every shoreline community. The Art Center at Killingworth, Guilford Arts Center, Artisans Harbor in Old Saybrook, Branford Artists Cooperative and Tracy Art Center in Old Saybrook are good places to start.
 Capture your Creativity in pottery at the Clayhouse in Old Saybrook
 Make one-of-a-kind jewelry at the Bead Hive in Guilford.
 Learn a new technique at Madison Wool.
 Cooking classes are a treat for your taste buds at Homeworks in Old Saybrook
 Find a Yoga class at a fitness center - Bend, stretch and reach for the sky in cool comfort

7. Go Exploring in Local History Museums – Both small and large, these are precious gems of preserved history ready for you to learn and explore. Mostly in the care of local historical societies, you’ll meet curators and docents who will share their passion for their special topic, interest and site. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started:
 Museum of Early Engineering Technology, Westbrook
 Military Historian’s Museum, Westbrook
 Lee Academy – Currently featuring Madison CT’s history during the Civil War years
 Henry Whitfield State Museum, Guilford – CT’s oldest stone house
 Deacon John Grave House, Madison
 Hyland House, Guilford
 John Stanton House, Clinton
 Eli Whitney Museum, New Haven
 Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven

6. Browse in Local Art Galleries and Art Museums – There’s some amazing talent out there, both old and new and so much of it is showcased in small galleries and in art museums in the area and a bit beyond. Gaze in awe and admiration, or possibly in shock. You might even meet an artist! Here are a few to get you started:
 M. Sarba Fine Art Gallery & Café, Clinton
 Branford Artists Cooperative
 Guilford Art Center
 Artisans Harbor, Old Saybrook
 Susan Powell Fine Art Gallery, Madison
 Sylvan Gallery, Clinton
 Stuart Alan Lerner Gallery, Madison
 Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme
 Yale Museum of American Art, New Haven
 Yale Museum of British Art, New Haven

5. Tour and Taste at a local vineyard and winery – love the coolness in the cellars where the barrels live and the wines build their character. Many that are listed on the Connecticut Wine Trail are within easy reach:
 Chamard Vineyards, Clinton – is right nearby
Several others are just a short drive away:
 Johnathan Edwards Winery, North Stonington
 Stonington Vineyards, Stonington
 Saltwater Farm Vineyard, Stonington
 Paradise Hill, Wallingford
 Gouveia Vineyards, Wallingford
 Priam Vineyards, Colchester

4. Meet an author – Get the “skinny” on their latest book. Hear about their inspiration. Ask about their motivation. Pick their brain about what fascinates them and what fuels their drive to write. Buy a new book to read for when you go back out to the beach.
 R J Julia Booksellers in Madison hosts 2 and 3 authors each week. Different dates and times, so it’s best to check the details on their web site.
 Breakwater Books in Guilford also invites authors for and book signings on some Saturday afternoons.

3. Waterside Dining Creatively – From the inside out! Lunch, afternoon snack or dinner – head straight to a waterside restaurant with wide and tall windows to enjoy dining with water views in cool indoor comfort. Here’s a short list of some of our favorites:
 Sandpiper, East Haven
 Stonehouse Restaurant, Guilford
 The Wharf, Madison (soon to be open again!)
 Rocky’s Aqua Restaurant, Clinton
 Boom, Westbrook
 Water’s Edge Resort – Dining Room, Westbrook
 Terra Mar, Old Saybrook
 Dock and Dine, Old Saybrook

2. Take a boat ride – Let the breezes blow. It’s always cooler on the water!
 Cruise the Thimble Islands at Stony Creek for a 45 minute tour that will delight you as much as it will cool you off.
 Enjoy nearby lighthouses from up close by boat.
 Sunset sails are so relaxing and so romantic. Bring a simple picnic to enjoy.

1. Escape to a Day Spa and have yourself a “Spa” day – Aaahhhhh …. What a wonderful thought. Treat yourself to a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, whatever services appeal to you. It’s your time to pamper yourself any way you please. Might we suggest a couples massage?
Here are a few to book yourself in to:
 Rituals, Guilford
 Essence Center for Beauty & Wellness, Old Saybrook
 Christopher’s Salon & Day Spa, Guilford
 By the Sea Inn and Spa, Branford
 Yolo Aesthetic Boutique, Guilford
 Sonas Day Spa, Madison

Come to think of it, nearly all of these ideas are great for that occasional rainy day too!


Enjoy your visit to the CT Shoreline.