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Sharon Stone – Welcome to My Garden

by Gabby November 17, 2023

While Sharon Stone is most known for being an iconic actress and global cultural leader, her Basic Instincts and profound talent in painting are currently the talk of the town!

Stone has been painting since early childhood and was influenced by the talent of her Aunt Vonne’s murals that filled the walls of their family home. During the pandemic, Stone became laser-focused about her artmaking and embarked on a new creative journey, which led her to paint a thought-provoking body of work entitled, “Welcome to my Garden.”

*Sharon and Tiffany Benincasa; owner and curator of C. Parker Gallery*

Stone created her works “to understand the essence of pure creativity that comes from heartfelt truth, to let go of the noise, the judgements, and the pollution of our societal pulls.” Her connection to nature is prevalent and her use of color is instrumental in the vibrant landscapes of her imagination. She paints every day, four to 17 hours a day!

The art exhibition showcases 19 paintings by Stone and marks the debut of her artwork beyond the confines of Los Angeles. Collectors and prominent figures in the art world, such as Jerry Saltz (Senior Art Critic for New York Magazine and Pulitzer Prize winner for Criticism), commend Stone’s artistic endeavors. Stone’s captivating slideshows featuring her paintings are making a significant impact on Instagram. Sharon Stone reflects on her creative process, stating, “I crafted these pieces to explore the pure creativity stemming from genuine truth, to release the noise, judgments, and societal influences.”

Her remarkable talents and keen powers of observation seamlessly translate onto the canvas. Stone’s ability to keenly observe and interpret human behavior, transforming human vulnerabilities into wellsprings of strength, is evident in her art—manifesting as combative, conquering, and triumphant. The visual presence of her connection to nature remains a consistent and integral aspect of her work.

We are very excited to share that the paintings are on exhibit at the C. Parker Gallery in Greenwhich, Connecticut through December 10th. The presentation ignites the gallery’s tenth year anniversary season. The gallery is located at 409 Greenwich Avenue, only a 40-minute train ride from New York City.

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Best Chocolatiers on the East Coast

by Gabby February 9, 2023

Although many would argue there is no wrong time to indulge in chocolate, February is considered Chocolate Month because of Valentine’s Day. Here are a half dozen world-class East Coast chocolatiers you should try.

Goodnow Farms Chocolate | Sudbury, MA

Goodnow Farms Chocolate is one of the world’s few chocolate makers to press its own cocoa butter, and one of the few in the U.S. to make single-origin, non-alkalized cocoa. Each premium Goodnow bar identifies the bean’s country of origin and percentage of cacao.

All of Goodnow’s gourmet chocolate is made at Tom and Monica Rogan’s 225-year-old farm, which now offers limited tours to the public. Visiting all their growers’ farms ensures transparency in their supply chain The bean-to-bar chocolate company won more international awards in 2022 than any other producer in the country. Check them out at www.goodnowfarms.com.

Éclat Chocolate | West Chester, PA

Master Chef and Chocolatier Christopher Curtin established the internationally-recognized Éclat Chocolate in 2005. Award-winning signature chocolates, caramels and truffles, plus a line of chocolates made with ingredients produced at the nearby Longwood Gardens, are made on the premises and are available in the shop.

Curtin honed his skills at the Compagnons du Devoir, France’s premier guild for pastry chefs, and was the first American to be awarded the honor of German Master Pastry Chef and Chocolatier. He travels the world to consult with chefs and artisans, and find new and special cacao varieties. Find the shop at www.eclatchocolate.com.

Perfect Truffle | Frederick, MD

Perfect Truffle, Frederick Maryland. Photo Credit: Nic Smith Photography

Since its inception in 2005, Perfect Truffle has handmade every chocolate to the highest standard of quality. Each flavor is crafted to engage every level of taste, using only the best chocolate from around the world. It takes two to three days to create truffles that are as beautiful as they are delicious.

Owner Cody Marwine uses inspiration from his culinary experiences, and travels the world to develop new flavors that make each chocolate a unique experience. For example, the lavender truffle hast the taste of a lavender petal. You can find them at www.perfectruffle.com.

Holl’s Chocolates | Parkersburg, WV

Holl’s Chocolates, a family-owned business founded in 1986, specializes in creating traditional Swiss chocolates. A commitment to authenticity grows out of the experiences of three generations of Swiss-trained chocolatiers. Founder Fritz Holl trained as a confectioner in Switzerland. By the end of his three-year apprenticeship, he could make all the sweet delights that are offered in a Swiss conditorei, which is a combination of pastry shop, chocolate shop, and café.

Fritz’s son Dominique learned the craft of chocolate making just the way his father had 50 years earlier. Under the second generation’s influence, Holl’s adapted their processes to blend the best of the old and new ways. Learn more at www.holls.com/.

Castronovo Chocolate Factory | Stuart, FL

Travelers with a sweet tooth can’t resist the tasty creations at Castronovo Chocolate Factory. Chocolate maker Denise Castronovo, who opened the shop in 2013, is the only U.S. female chocolatier to be honored at the International Chocolate Awards.

The shop uses cacao beans imported from Latin America to handcraft its chocolate bars, which are produced on-site, in small batches. Castronovo is committed to preserving heirloom varieties of cocoa that are sustainably grown under rainforest canopies.

White Chocolate infused with Lemon and Lemon Salt, a World Gold 2020 winner, is among the unique flavors available. In-person visitors also will find truffles, hot chocolate, and chocolate chip cookies. Check them out at www.castronovochocolate.com.

Norman Love Confections | Fort Myers, FL

Photo Courtesy of Normal Love Confections

Chocolate lovers can experience sweet treats and jewel-like chocolates at Norman Love Fort Myers Chocolate & Dessert Salon. Upon entry into the Willy Wonka-esque salon, guests are sure to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of chocolate — in the best way possible.

An expansive glass case offers an overview of Love’s gorgeous gourmet creations, made of the highest-quality ingredients, including signature flavors like gourmet dark chocolate, and more unusual ones like Hot Dark Chocolate, infused with jalapeno pepper, and Key Lime Shell, shaped white chocolate.

The Black Collection features chocolates with ingredients from top cocoa regions around the world. There’s Andoa, an organic dark chocolate derived from Peru with a 70-percent cocoa mass, yielding a burst of freshness and bitterness to savor, and Jiquilisco Bay, with ingredients descended from some of the first cacao planted in Hacienda La Carrera more than 100 years ago. With a cocoa mass of 97 percent, the chocolate produces a slight spice and hints of berry. More information is available at www.nomanloveconfections.com.

By Shuan Butcher

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A Night at The Roxbury

by Gabby July 29, 2022

Whether it is art deco, luxury, modern or another style, most hotel rooms are pretty boring style-wise and serve only as a place to shower and rest before heading out for an adventure or business meeting.

This is not the case with The Roxbury, a lodging experience unlike any other, featuring whimsical rooms that will make your Instagram followers envious.

Nestled in The Catskills about 150 miles from New York City, the hotel features themed rooms and suites with massive wow factor. The original hotel opened in 2004 and a second location is just a few miles down the road, The Roxbury at Stratton Falls began welcoming guests in early 2020 and offers jaw-dropping themed mansion rooms and tower cottages. Each room offers a different experience and no two areas are alike.

Owners Gregory Henderson and Joe Massa go by the mantra that “there is no such thing as too over the top.”

The Roxbury design mainly focuses on concepts from television shows and movies from the 1960s and 1970s. An example is The Partridge Nest, a room inspired by the musical family’s touring bus which was originally created to look like a Mondrian painting. There’s also a suite that would make Austin Powers feel right at home — The Shagadelic, offering bright pops of color with 1960s and 1970s aesthetics.

The Wizard’s Emeralds room explores a “Wizard of Oz” theme, complete with a yellow brick road, which is sure to bring a smile to fans of the movie and Frank L. Baum book.

Wizard of Oz Room at Roxbury Motel. *Photo Courtesy of theroxburyexperience.com*

In a fun wink to “The Sound of Music,” Maria’s Curtains is a room covered in the same fabric pattern used by the movie’s main character to make play clothes for the Von Trapp children. It is sure to be one of your favorite things … about staying there.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live inside a coconut cream pie? You’ll know after staying in Maryann’s Coconut Cream Pie room named in honor of the “Gilligan’s Island” character. A circular king bed adorned with dollops of fluffy white whipped cream pillows sits underneath crown molding made to look like pie crust with a ceiling covered in (fake) filling.

Terrazza of the Titans Cottage. *Photo Courtesy of theroxburyexperience.com*

Henderson and Massa were first inspired to open The Roxbury at Stratton Falls by the property’s 50-foot waterfall. It inspired them to create lodgings full of magic and fantasy, offering guests total immersion into a theme. Their tower cottages include at least two levels and bedrooms as well as screened-in back porches and sunny balconies.

While Superman had his Fortress of Solitude and Batman his Bat Cave, where does Wonder Woman go to rest her head after a battle? Probably to The Superhero Incognito cottage, which features a sleek look while also paying homage to the Paradise Island native. Here you’ll see a golden lasso and artist renderings of the crime fighter.

The Superhero Incognito Cottage at Roxbury Hotel. *Photo Courtesy of theroxburyexperience.com*

Cinderella’s Gown cottage whisks guests into the beloved fairytale featuring an 18-foot ball gown that serves as a canopy for the bed and a huge pumpkin turning into a golden carriage is the site’s bathroom.

While visiting, guests can take advantage of two locations of The Shimmer Spa, which offers the chance to relax in a hot tub, dry sauna or a large steam area. Schedule a couples massage, too.

by Gina Gallucci-White

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All things Mystic: Connecticut Village Offers Much to See by the Sea

by Gabby July 14, 2022

A real pizza parlor inspired the setting of the 1988 classic movie “Mystic Pizza,” which not only helped launch the career of Julia Roberts, but also garnered attention for its namesake Connecticut seaport village.

The pizza place still thrives in Mystic, a destination that offers not only a delicious piece of pie, but also myriad opportunities for unique travel experiences.

The Mystic Seaport Museum is probably the most compelling draw for visitors. It’s a living museum of America’s maritime past situated on 19 acres on the banks of the Mystic River.

The museum’s watercraft collection, with more than 500 historic ships and other vessels, is the largest of its kind in the U.S. Visitors can climb onto the meticulously restored Charles W. Morgan, the world’s last authentic wooden whaling ship. Once part of a fleet of more than 2,700 vessels, it was known as a “lucky” ship, because it successfully navigated Arctic ice and countless storms and has rounded Cape Horn multiple times. Built and launched in 1841, the Morgan is now America’s oldest commercial ship still afloat.

Mystic Seaport Museum. Photo by Joe Michael

You can also see the L.A. Dunton, the last example of early 20th-century New England fishing vessels, and two more National Historic Landmark vessels.

The Henry B. DuPont Preservation Shipyard offers a view of carpenters’ shops, an 85-foot spar lathe, a rigging loft, and a large, open area where vessels are brought indoors for repair and restoration. Within the 19^th-century Seaport Village are 1800s-era trade shops and businesses that were transported from locations around New England. Here, ship smiths, coopers, woodcarvers, and riggers perform their now almost-extinct skills.

And that’s not nearly all: the Children’s Museum and the Treworgy Planetarium are both onsite.

Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily, the museum is located at 75 Greenmanville Ave. Tickets range from $19 to $27.

Perhaps the most fascinating experience at the Mystic Aquarium is watching through a 20-foot underwater window as New England’s only beluga whales swim by – very slowly, from 2 to 6 miles per hour. They live in a one-acre habitat filled with 750,000 gallons of water. The whales swim close to the window and often interact with guests.

But the whales are not the aquarium’s only not-to-miss features. The Mystic Aquarium is one of two places in the country where you can see Steller sea lions. California sea lions are the stars at the Foxwood Marine Theater. There are also African penguins and Northern fur seals, a shark and ray touch pool, a jellyfish gallery, and a “Jurassic Giants” exhibit, which features giant animatronic dinosaurs.

The aquarium, open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, is located at 55 Coogan Blvd. Tickets range from $28.99 to $38.99.

Budding engineers will be fascinated by seeing how the Mystic River Bascule Bridge works – and there’s no cost to view it. One of the country’s only surviving Brown-type bascule bridges, the picturesque bridge, which spans its namesake river, carries vehicle and foot traffic directly into Mystic’s tourist district. The bridge was extensively rehabilitated in 2012.

Also called a drawbridge or a lifting bridge, a bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic.

The Mystic bridge, which can raise to a nearly perfect 90-degree angle, stays open for about five minutes, and opens and closes about 2,200 times each year. While you wait on Route 1 for the bridge to go up to enable a large ship to pass and then go back down so road traffic can resume, check out the exposed machinery – operating links and struts, and trunnions — that make this possible.

Mystic is celebrating the bridge’s 100^th birthday this year, culminating Oct.15in the official Bridge Anniversary Dedication and Fireworks Celebration. Check out the Go Mystic app for updates on celebratory activities. No trip to Mystic would be complete without a visit to Olde Mistick Village, an outdoor venue full of shops, boutiques, restaurants, and seasonal events in a quaint village setting. A replica of New England’s charming village streets of the 1720s, it is a lovely place to spend a day strolling along tree-lined cobblestone streets, browsing through interesting shops, and relaxing by the duck pond.

by Ellyn Wexler

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Art, animals, history and nature combine at Brookgreen Gardens

by Gabby June 24, 2022

Looking for a place where art, nature and history combine? Set your GPS for Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, where these attractions all come together seamlessly in a picturesque setting.

Brookgreen was founded in 1931 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, who were huge supporters of the arts. Archer Huntington had become a millionaire through his work in the railroad industry while his wife, Anna, was an award- winning sculptor. The couple helped to establish a number of museums across the country.

The pair bought the land for Brookgreen in 1930 initially to build a retreat home for Anna, who was recovering from a bout of tuberculosis. Instead, they decided to incorporate the property into a private nonprofit. Their goal was to offer a place to exhibit and preserve American figurative sculptures and Southeastern native plants and animals.

Today, the 9,000-plus-acre venue has the rare designation of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, designated as a National Historic Landmark and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Art lovers will want to head to the American sculpture collection, which is one of the most comprehensive in the entire country featuring more than 2,000 pieces by 430 artists. Guests may see the figures displayed outdoors among the gardens, or inside three galleries and a storage and research facility. Though sculpture is the main draw, patrons will also get to see a number of artistic media on display, including etchings, paintings and more. Their galleries host a number of exhibitions throughout the year, so be sure to check out their website to see what will be on site during your visit.

If you’ve got a green thumb or want to go to a place where you can appreciate someone else’s talent, head to their plentiful botanical garden sections including one for children and another for kitchen needs. If you are looking for a particular plant, check out their website’s comprehensive list of seasonal blooms. Before leaving, take note of the live oak trees on the property, as they date back to the 1700s.

Those who can’t resist animals will be drawn to the Lowcountry Zoo, featuring a menagerie of wildlife. Some have been bred and raised in captivity while others were brought to the zoo for rehabilitation after being injured and cannot be released to the wild again. Some of the animals on display include bald eagles, river otters, red foxes, herons, egrets and alligators. Guests are also likely to see wildlife that call the gardens home but are not looked after by staff. Staff encourage folks to keep their distance from these residents.

An unforgettable way to experience Brookgreen Gardens is via their excursions. The Creek Excursion is available March through November. Guests can board a 48-foot pontoon boat and meander down the property’s creeks. The property was the site of former plantations and you will see historic rice fields as well as hear about the role enslaved African-Americans played in building the economy in the region. While on the boat, keep an eye out for a number of native wildlife such as osprey and alligators. If you know you want to go on this tour, be sure to buy a ticket as soon as you get to Brookgreen, as they often sell out.

Another can’t-miss tour is the Trekker Excursion (also from April to November). Patrons board a small bus to view a number of historic sites, including a Civil War earthen fort, a rice mill chimney and plantation cemetery. The tour also includes a visit to a spot with a panoramic view of the Waccamaw River.

In April 2022, Brookgreen Gardens unveiled the $20 million “Campaign for the Next Generation.” The nonprofit is raising funds with a goal of creating a new art gallery space, a new conservatory, expanding Lowcountry history exhibits and creating an exhibit in the Lowcountry Zoo for the endangered red wolf.

By Gina Gallucci-White

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Top Glamping Sites on the East Coast

by Gabby May 31, 2022

Some purists believe camping should include sleeping on the cold, hard ground. And there are those who believe a hotel without room service is considered roughing it.

Many of us are somewhere in between.

If you enjoy roasting marshmallows over a roaring fire and also something more comfortable than a cot to sleep on, welcome to glamping – camping with many of the comforts of home.

Along the East Coast, there are a plethora of glamping sites that offer amenities on the same level as top hotels.

Here are some of our favorites:

1. Asheville Glamping | Asheville, North Carolina

Photo Courtesy of **Asheville Glamping**

Visitors can stay in a five-person canvas safari tent, a glamping treehouse, or the most unusual — domes that sleep two. Some of the spaces include private baths or even a hot tub. The Ultimate Slide Dome is great for families. It includes a large bed for Mom and Dad and a loft with two queen-size beds. But it’s the large indoor slide that makes being called down for breakfast a lot more fun.

2. Adventures on the Gorge | Lansing, West Virginia

Photos Courtesy of **Adventures on the Gorge**

Glampers who want to experience adrenaline-pumping whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley rivers or treetop zip lining can do it here. The glamping experience offers tents with queen-size beds along with a fire pit, picnic table, a mini-fridge and coffee pot.The adrenaline? You’ll have to create it yourself.

3. Tops’l Farm | Waldoboro, Maine

Explore the ends of New England at this 83-acre farm in Midcoast Maine. Open on select weekends May through August, Tops’L Farm offers tasty seasonal foods of the ME state. Small A-frame cabins are supplied with linens and large blankets to keep you warm on cool nights.

4. Eastwind Hotel & Bar | Windham, New York

Photos Courtesy of *Eastwind Hotel & Bar*

This outdoor-lovers getaway in the Catskills Mountains sits on 17 acres that was once used by hunters and fishermen. Today it has been converted into a glampers paradise. The hotel is pet friendly and has seven Lushna cabins and three new Lusha suites that include unobscured panoramic views. The suites include a private bathroom inside the cabin as well as one outdoors, a fridge and even robes to snuggle in. And not forgetting it’s a hotel, cocktails can be delivered to the door.

5. Timberline Glamping Co. | Georgia and Florida

Photos Courtesy of **Timberline Glamping Co.**

Timberline offers experiences at several state parks and campsites in Georgia and one near Tampa. From spending the day near the southernmost point of the Appalachian Mountains at Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, Georgia, or near the coastline of Lake Lainer at Shady Grove Campground outside of Augusta, Georgia, this company has plenty of options for couples and families. And for those wondering about glamping during the summer? Timberline offers air conditioning for hot southern nights.

By Crystal Schelle

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