What Makes a Great Weekend?
We only get 52 weekends a year, and I often like to take stock of what transpired during mine, sort of like how I am after a movie or after a dinner date. Did we like it? Did we have fun? Would we want to do it again? What was […]
A Houseful of Guests and Warmth of Fire and Intimacy
It’s December 1st and it’s snowing. Perfect. The month is here when we all spend more than we really have, yet we all keep spending and spending, throwing our cares to the wind. We have three houseguests and the upstairs is packed full, all three bedrooms occupied by my three […]
Routines Make Our Lives Go Smoothly
Routines are comforting, and make our daily lives feel more secure. Not knowing what is going to happen is much worse than a predictable steady flow of life…and that’s what I have always have had in my home life, just like my parents did. My dad has a very regular […]
For Ten Years, I was Kent’s Boss–Because that’s What He Did
He always called me his boss. Kent liked that, because it said a lot about how he treated his role as one of GoNOMAD’s most prolific contributors. He was a professional traveler, and blogger, and photographer and his life was about the journey. He lived it to the utmost. Last […]
King Philip Was Not the Great Man His Father Massasoit Was
I picked up a book I bought a few years ago and am truly enjoying it–Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick. How appropriate to be reading a book about the Pilgrims on this Thanksgiving day. But the first half of the book has hardly been about the great solidarity, feasting and peace […]
Creative Community Central Keeps the Spirit of the Cafe Alive
It all began when I had to close the GoNOMAD Cafe. That’s when South Deerfield resident Candace Bradbury-Carlin decided she wanted to keep that community spirit that brought so many locals together for coffee at the cafe in the center of our village. When she realized that no one was […]
At the Charrette, South Deerfield’s Residents Dream of What Could Be
My neighbors and I gathered again to hear experts talk about the livability of our village, South Deerfield, and show us some scenarios of what could be and what they think would make the town more pedestrian friendly. A consultant showed a fast-paced slide show that showed all of the […]
Nascar is Not Looking Good, and That’s Not a Bad Thing
Did you know that Nascar is nearly breathing its last breath? It’s true. A story in the WSJ outlined the many problems the motor sport that was once America’s favorite has endured over the past few years. Even iconic driver Richard Petty, who won more races than anyone in history, […]
Deerfield’s Charette Will Brainstorm Better Design for our Town
This week, citizens of Deerfield will get together for something known as a charette. The town has received a grant that enables them to hire an outfit to help us all figure out what we want our little downtown of South Deerfield to look like. When we met a few […]
“I’m Disabled,” he said.
“So what do you do?” I asked a man sitting next to me at a party. It’s a common sort of ice breaker question that I often rely on to move me through those first moments of uncomfortableness when I’m in a room full of strangers. But they were collegial […]
Double Take Festival Shines for a Second Year
What a pleasure it was to be able to choose from eight, yes eight different short plays all in one night. For the second year in a row, Greenfield came alive with theater and the Double Take Fringe Festival spread thespians all over town in different venues to share the […]
Rail Trail Advocates Vs Railroad Buffs in Lake Placid
I picked up a copy of the Lake Placid News yesterday and found a story pitting railroad enthusiasts versus rail trail promoters. The Adirondack Scenic Railroad already runs a tourist train between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, and an offshoot, the Adirondack Rail Preservation Society wants to develop a luxury […]
Do a Double Take This Weekend in Greenfield
Last year one of the arts highlights of Greenfield’s busy assortment of fun events was the Double Take Fringe Festival. If you like variety and enjoy the fun of hopping from venue to venue, you’ll love this two night event this Friday and Saturday Nov 9-10. Read about last year’s […]
Oystermen We Have Known and Memories of Oyster Moments
It’s officially oyster season and with this in mind, I read a story by Sarah Karnasiewicz in the WSJ with particular relish. What is more seafood-y than a nearly liquid oyster, that you suck down and then smack your lips after consuming? I have had many memorable oyster moments while […]
Step Up to the Cider Saloon, and Taste them All!
I never knew how much people in the Valley loved cider until I showed up at the Arts Block to see a long line of imbibers waiting at the cider saloon. It was one of the busiest nights of the venue’s life, packed upstairs and down, with all sorts of […]
Two New Ways to Find Your Stuff
Modern day inventors have finally tackled a problem that’s common to nearly every human. Yesterday we published a review of two new products that help people recover precious things that they mistakenly lose. I am somewhat surprised that this has taken so many years, but now there are many different […]
Karrin Allyson Packs Pages Loft for a Night of Jazz
It was a rainy, windy Tuesday night. We were headed to the Clarion Hotel’s Loft, where the Jazz Workshop was playing. Singer Karrin Allyson was driving up from New York City to front the band, singing jazz standards and scatting while a solid trio backed her up. I was surprised […]
Hobby Lobby Strikes Out Again in Northfield
Just as Hobby Lobby is about to open their first store in Western Mass, the company’s billionaire owners can’t find anyone to accept their generous gift of an entire 600-acre campus in Northfield. News came today that Grand Canyon University of Phoenix is dissolving the deal to open a Christian […]