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Book Review: Amazing Grace Adams
Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood. I finished this book in one day and wish it hadn’t been a debut novel so I can read more of Littlewood. 45-year-old linguist Grace walks/stumbles/fights her way across London to bring her estranged 16-year-old daughter a birthday cake. With each step forward, Grace takes us a step back in time to how this estrangement occurred. Amazing Grace Adams reminds us that mothers are neither saints or sinner; simply and profoundly human. 272 pages; published 2023 by Henry Holt and Co.
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Got Pizza?
Kay’s in Averill Park is rightfully a beloved seasonal institution for pizza during the summer. Great ambiance, fast service, affordable pricing, a location that screams “hidden gem” that makes you feel like you’re a welcome local. I’m a big fan of the fried scallops and the thai chili chicken pizza – essentially a fusion of your favorite Asian takeout on top of your favorite pizza takeout. BUT, I have to tell you something and this may sound sacrilegious…the pizza at Towne Tavern just down the road and open year- round is the bee’s knees and my go to place when I’m looking for carb comfort. Perfect crust. Well-priced. Less doughy…
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Not So Scary Ways to Celebrate Halloween
Want to be scared this Halloween? Simply turn on a 24-hours news channel or log on to social media. Perhaps it’s my age, or more likely my addiction to listening to paranoia-inducing true crime podcasts, but gone are the days when I sought the cheap thrills of a strange man jumping out at me with a chainsaw at a seasonal rural haunted house. Did I say cheap? Those places are rather expensive these days. Want to enjoy the festivities of Halloween without the fear? Here are our suggestions: 1. The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show always lives up to its name with a spectacular nighttime outdoor display of 1500+ pumpkin masterpieces. Treats and…
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The tiny Northeast state with a big personality
I’m back at it again, searching for the best, the undiscovered, and the many dropped r’s of my Yankee youth in my beloved, weird home state: Rhode Island. Both heartachingly beautiful and different-drummer quirky, it’s the smallest of the United States and one of its most underestimated. While you weren’t looking, Rhode Island has created experiences so wide-ranging that you can loaf on the beach, commune with spirits in a haunted cemetery, dine at an Indigenous restaurant, and watch a woman juggle fire on the prow of a river gondola—all over the course of a single vacation. Plan your trip with my Rhode Island guide for Going.
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Forget pumpkin spice
Last year wasn’t kind to our apple farmers and picking enthusiasts due to the crop shortage and nonstop rain, so fingers, ears and eyes crossed that everyone wins this year–and packs on some winter insulation from cider donuts! Here’s a look at some of our favorite places for apple picking and products. Please visit their websites or call ahead for hours and varieties of apples. Lakeview Orchard, Lanesborough, MA | Small but charming, in September, visitors can pick apples, peaches, plums, and pears. The store also sells baked goods and, most importantly, pierogies! Hilltop Orchards, Richmond, MA | This family-owned cidery and winery offers tastings of both beverages, plus pick-your-own apples, sweet…
