Whether you live in one of the region’s old farmhouses, a timber-frame cabin, a grand Greek Revival or a cozy cottage or chalet, homes in our corner of the world practically beg to be used for entertaining. Since building our own Mid-century Modern style cabin in the mountains, my husband and I have spent countless hours doing just that—with area friends, pals who drive up from the city, family and even the occasional stranger who lingers a little too long at the door. It’s part of the reason we chose this lifestyle and community: for the built-in brood that fills…
During visits to my sister and her family in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, we’d sometimes slip away to the Arnold Arboretum, a ten-minute walk from their backyard. No matter the…
The best gift I’ve ever gotten came from a friend about two weeks after Hurricane Irene ripped through the Hudson Valley. We’d lost the bridge to our home and were…
Though hardly a scrooge by anyone’s realistic standards, I’ve never been an all-in for Christmas kind of guy. So, yeah, it always annoys me a bit when the official start…
Here’s the thing about Patricia Clarkson: She makes people happy. To wit, when our team at The Mountains was mulling over possible cover options for this issue, we were hoping…
When I was a kid, this was the time of year when Perry Como, America’s favorite crooning dad and ex-barber (Google him if you must) would sing “Oh, there’s no…
If you’ve ever spent a holiday season in the mountains, you know the party circuit moves fast. One night it’s a roaring fire in Woodstock, NY, the next it’s a…
During the holidays I must confess to absolutely loving a proper eggnog—the kind that requires separating yolks from whites, whisking, folding and chilling overnight with enough bourbon, rum and Cognac…
When winter rolls around, I always get the itch to go play in the snow. Despite being far removed now from Chicago winters, the first snowfall always reminds me of…












