New England

Maine Magazine Launches 2011 Guide Books

Filed under: Decor, Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Art, Books

Maine magazine, the stylish bible of "more than just lobsters and lighthouses", has debuted its 2011 guides to the best the Pine Tree State has to offer. This year in addition to the Eat Maine edition launched last year they've added Art Maine and Home Maine versions with help from sister publication Maine Home + Design. Indispensable for both visitors and natives alike, the pocket-sized booklets act as a Baedeker to the best in dining, decor and the arts around the beautiful northern and easternmost bit of New England. Of course they do list the best lobster rolls in the Eat edition but that's just the tip of the icecap. The guides are priced at $5.95 and come free to subscribers; alternatively they can be found at many Portland businesses and are also available from the magazine directly.

Tags: art, decor, dining, eat+maine+2011, eatmaine2011, guide, lobster, magazines, Maine, Maine Home + Design, Maine magazine, New England, travel

Edward Hopper's Maine Paintings to be Exhibited at Bowdoin College

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

In July the Bowdoin College Museum of Art in Brunswick, Maine will stage an exhibition of paintings and watercolors produced by famed American realist Edward Hopper during his many sojourns in Maine. Hopper spent several summers there beginning in 1914 and painted many Maine scenes, including the lighthouse at Two Lights, above, in Cape Elizabeth, from 1929. For Edward Hopper such weather-beaten landmarks "symbolized the solitary individual stoically facing the onslaught of change in an industrial society." Organized with the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, which has a major Hopper show running through April, the Bowdoin exhibition includes over 80 works from both public and private collections.

Tags: art, Bowdoin College, Bowdoin College Museum of Art, colleges, Edward Hopper, Maine, museum, New England, painting

The Classicist: Celebrating the Season in Style with Range Rover at Wheatleigh

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wine, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist

Click above for high-res image gallery. Photos exclusive to Luxist.

Winter can be a long, cold interlude verging on a test of endurance in the Northeast, and it's all too easy to get bogged down by the doldrums. Plenty of people either hibernate by their hearths or hit the beach until the mercury makes its ascent, but there are myriad ways to keep warm with style, verve and panache. We recently gathered some of our favorite accessories of the season at Wheatleigh, the majestic mansion-turned-luxury hotel in the heart of the Berkshires' winter wonderland. Getting us there in style and comfort through anything the weather cared to concoct was the 2011 Range Rover Sport, a luxurious way to see the landscape safe in the knowledge that the elements have met their match. The pedigreed SUV's smooth, refined, performance and rugged good looks mark it as a thoroughbred in all respects, a suitably stylish conveyance for arriving at a desirable destination like Wheatleigh. And we had the great new Olympus PEN E-PL1 compact, versatile digital camera on hand to record it all for your vicarious enjoyment.

Wheatleigh, located in Lenox, Mass. next door to Edith Wharton's famed country manor The Mount, is a grand estate based on a 16th century Florentine palazzo built in 1893 by New York financier Henry H. Cook for his daughter who married a Spanish count. Many of the materials and over 150 artisans were brought from Italy to produce intricate carvings and design flourishes for the grand interiors and facades. Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York, was responsible for creating "Wheatleigh Park" on the land surrounding the palazzo. Following a four year multimillion dollar renovation it was transformed into one of the most unique luxurious small hotels in the world. The nineteen suites, guest rooms and baths artfully combine antiques and custom furnishings with original museum quality contemporary art. The baths are finished with English limestone, marble and hand-blown glass fixtures, and most rooms feature fireplaces and Bang & Olufsen TVs. Check out the gallery to see the perfect accoutrements for a stylish seasonal sojourn – from books to watches, champagne to cashmere sweaters, and boots to bags – no matter where your journey takes you.

Gallery: Range Rover at Wheatleigh Dec. 2010

Graf & Lantz wool felt Boat Bag, personalized Tumi Alpha wheeled case.

Tumi Alpha case; Dom Perignon Tribute to Andy Warhol edition; Private Stock jeans; Graf & Lantz Quiver wine carrier w/ Robert Mo

Tags: Bang Olufsen, Berkshires, Brooks Brothers, Central Park, champagne, Dom Perignon, Edith Wharton, estates, Frederick Law Olmsted, gardens, Holiday 2010, L.L. Bean, Lenox, luggage, luxury hote, mansion, Massachusetts, mens style, New England, Olympus, Olympus PEN E-PL1, palazzo, Persol, Ralph Lauren, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, spirits, stolichnaya, sunglasses, SUV, teNeues, The Mount, Tumi, vodka, Wheatleigh, winter

EXCLUSIVE: Rugged Fall Style Starring the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style, The Classicist

Click above for a high-res image gallery and full credit info

Some people look at the colder weather as an excuse to head south for the winter; we like to think of it as an opportunity to wear lots of new clothes and find fun ways of keeping warm. In the spirit of getting ready for the season in style we took the new 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, some classic country clothing and ruggedly handsome accouterments on a tour through the glorious autumnal landscape of northern New England, documenting our excursion with the cool new Olympus PEN E-PL1 digital camera. We let the foliage flaunt the bright colors, keeping the clothing to an elegant, understated palette of greens, grays and earthy tones with rich leather, suede and alligator skin details and subtle tortoiseshells and tartans for contrast. Warm textures of wool, cashmere, tweed, moleskin and waxed cotton combined with equestrian and hunting elements guard against the elements and the hazards of the terrain (and local fauna), handling any activity without sacrificing anything in the way of style.

That's also an apt description of the new Cayenne Turbo, hands-down the sportiest SUV around. For 2011 it gets a sleeker and more aggressive appearance, better performance and fuel economy, garnering it the 2011 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year title (they noted that "the Cayenne's driving experience eclipsed that of every other contender"). Powered by a 4.8-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine generating 500 hp, it can do 0–60 mph in just 4.4 seconds if you're so inclined. Equipped with the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) active all-wheel-drive system it can do just about anything else. Fitted with Porsche's new eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel and a luxurious leather interior influenced by the Panamera, it features a state-of-the-art navigation system with real-time traffic updates, a surround sound system with iPod interface, Bluetooth hands-free phone operation, 18-way adaptive sport seats and more – in short, all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a $105,000 SUV with a Porsche pedigree.

Gallery: Rugged Fall Style - Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Grousa sweater jacket by Fjallraven; tumbled leather boots by Ralph Lauren

Moto jacket by LINCS by David Chu; shirt, tie and pants by Ralph Lauren; boots by Hunter

Cashmere sweater by Brooks Brothers; shirt and pants by Ralph Lauren; cap by Locke & Co., London

Gentry Russell boots by Wolverine 1000 Mile; scarf by Hermes

Tags: alligator, Barbour, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, camera, cashmere, cognac, David Chu, equestrian, Fjallraven, Hunter, Hunter boots, hunting, LINCS, mens style, New England, Olympus, Panamera, Panerai, Persol, Pierre Ferrand, Porsche, Porsche Cayenne, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Ralph Lauren, Rolex, Steve McQueen, SUV, tweed, UK, watches, Wolverine, Wolverine 1000 Mile

Continue reading “EXCLUSIVE: Rugged Fall Style Starring the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo”

The Return of the 1920s "Gentleman's Racer" from New England Boat & Motor Co.

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Mark Mason, owner of New Hampshire's New England Boat & Motor Co., is bringing back the era of the 1920s "gentleman's racer" with his stunning new line of reproduction mahogany speedboats. Mason, who spent decades restoring classic boats, decided to build replicas as the originals grew ever more scarce and expensive. At his boatyard in Laconia, Mason is now custom building three 1920s racing models, each 27 ft. long with a 6-foot beam, and each priced at $395,000. The three models on offer are the Impshi (above) Hornet and Palm Beach Days, some sportier, others more stately, all with period details and graphics. The original Impshi was built by Strother MacMinn, a famous automobile designer of the era. Palm Beach Days was originally designed by famed naval architect John L. Hacker for a Palm Beach socialite who raced it in competitions around the country and used it as a stylish runabout at his yacht club. Equipped with a 548 cubic inch GM V8, it cruises at 50 mph and reaches a top speed of 70 mph.

Gallery: New England Boat & Motor Co.

Tags: 1920s, boat, classic boats, mahogany, New England, New Hampshire, powerboat, speedboat, wooden boat

Rhode Island's Sakonnet Vineyards for Sale at $10.5 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Wine

Christie's Great Estates is offering a rare opportunity to own an established and award-winning vineyard on the east coast of the United States. Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton, Rhode Island, celebrating its 35th anniversary, is being offered for $10.5 million by Christie's affiliate Lila Delman Real Estate in Newport. Recognized as a pioneer in the New England wine industry, Sakonnet is located in the heart of a burgeoning wine-growing region producing wines under the Southeastern New England viticultural appellation. The property consists of 170 acres of which approximately 37 acres are planted in vines producing an average of 8,000 to 9,000 cases of "Estate Grown" wine annually.

The wines have received national and international acclaim winning numerous medals, including "Best of Show" for a Gewurztraminer at the 2004 Monterey International Wine Competition. Boston Magazine also named Sakonnet "Best Winery in New England" for 2006. The vineyard was founded in 1975 on the well-researched premise that the microclimate and soil conditions found along the Southeastern New England coast closely resemble some of the great wine regions of the world, particularly, the maritime climates of northern France. A residential component contiguous to the vineyard property is located on a plateau of open fields, laced with stone fences that slope gently down to Watson Reservoir.

Gallery: Sakonnet Vineyards

Tags: Christies, Christies Great Estates, New England, Rhode Island, vineyard, wine

Union Street Inn Packages Showcase "Inn'sider" Secrets of Nantucket

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Tis the season for Nantucket's Union Street Inn, a former whaling captain's home and Fodor's Choice selection three years running, to begin offering its absurdly charming brand of B&B lodging to nor'eastern visitors. New ways to see the area have been provided courtesy of the inn's Cisco Beach & Brew and the See Sisconset packages.

The first offer is for the kind of vacationer who's looking for real locals and real local flavors. The inn will take you to Cisco Beach on the west end of Nantucket's southern shore, which is known for remarkably soft sand and remarkably heavy swells. You'll get a voucher for lunch at Provisions, known for its sandwiches, and a certificate for Whale's Tale Pale Ale Beers from Cisco Brewers. Rates run from $199 per night during the week, and $229 on the weekend.

Source

Tags: hotel deal, hotel deals, massachusetts travel, nantucket, new england, union street inn

Continue reading “Union Street Inn Packages Showcase "Inn'sider" Secrets of Nantucket”

The Classicist: The Equinox, Updating An American Icon in Vermont

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist

Presiding over the picturesque Vermont village of Manchester, The Equinox has played host to the well-heeled and well-traveled for nearly 250 years. Established in 1769, the archetypal grand old New England hotel has served as a meeting place for the fathers of the American Revolution and hosted American presidents including Taft, Grant, Harrison and Teddy Roosevelt. Now part of the Luxury Collection, the iconic 195-room resort recently underwent a $20 million restoration, adding luxury amenities, luxe accommodations, and a new restaurant and bar to update an American icon and uphold its legacy going forward.

Designer Geoffrey Bradfield was put in charge of the redecoration, and fitted out the new guestrooms with a muted palette of slate blue, dark brown and beige accented with hand-carved furniture. One wall of each guest room features a large black and white photograph of The Equinox from the early 1900's. Custom-made beds, marble vanities, dramatic floor length curtains and plush leather armchairs add the finishing touches. The lobby seating areas and library, both with fireplaces, have also been spruced up.

The Falcon Bar and Chop House are the new additions to the drinking and dining scene. The Falcon Bar features French doors opening onto a terrace with incredible mountain vistas and an open-air fire pit. Inside there's dark wood paneling and plush leather chairs, as well as an extensive collection of single malt Scotch and a comprehensive wine list. There's also a menu of locally sourced cheeses and gourmet chocolates. The Chop House, located at the original site of The Equinox House Hotel built by Franklin Orvis in 1853, features the original stone hearth and is designed in the manner of a refined hunter's lodge complementing the gourmet steak house fare. Leather banquettes and rugged palette are accented by old hardwood floors.

Gallery: The Equinox, Manchester

The adjacent Marsh Tavern, which has been the favorite watering hole of presidents since 1769, has been given a new menu of sophisticated, New England-style cuisine full of nostalgic flavors and simple, farm fresh ingredients. The bar specializes in an extensive selection of beers and ales and features snacks such as pretzels served with Raye's Mustard from Maine, the last stone ground mustard mill in the country. And of course there's lots to do besides eating and drinking: the indoor pool and spa, for starters.

The Equinox also offers the ultimate outdoor Vermont adventure experience with a variety of activities such as golf, falconry, archery, fly-fishing, shooting and Land Rover off-road driving. You can spend your morning maneuvering a Land Rover on rough terrain, midday practice your aim with recurve bows on the archery field, play golf on the lush course, and in the afternoon try field hunting alongside a majestic hawk, with some of the country's most scenic vistas as a backdrop.

Tags: Geoffrey Bradfield, GeoffreyBradfield, hotel, Land Rover, LandRover, Luxury Collection, LuxuryCollection, New England, NewEngland, The Equinox, TheEquinox, Vermont

Sea Meadows, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

While I enjoy summer in New England, there are few places prettier than Maine in the early fall. Today's estate is a 7,200 square foot home on Cousins Island, an island which is part of Yarmouth and connected via a bridge to the mainland. The home sits on 7.4 acres and faces beaches and ledges and has its own separate smaller private island. There are six bedrooms and the style of the home is classic Colonial with modern updates. Charming details include tile-surrounded fireplaces, a curved staircase and a large sunroom. It also has a matching guest house with a small balcony. This home is listed at $7.5 million.

Gallery: Sea Meadows

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Source

Tags: cousins island, CousinsIsland, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, maine, new england, NewEngland, yarmouth

Continue reading “Sea Meadows, Estate of the Day ”

"Road Show" Package at Litchfield Hill's Rock Hall

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

It's promising to be an early foliage this year in New England -- the leaves are already starting to turn -- so it's the perfect time to take advantage of a special at Rock Hall, an Addison Mizner designed bed and breakfast in Colebrook, Connecticut.

The "Road Show" package includes a horse-drawn carriage ride, during which you can toast the landscape with a split of champagne, a 25% discount for dinner at charming restaurant Pastorale in Lakeville, CT, and a second night's stay at the B&B at half-price. (Weekend rates $480-$600/night.) The special runs through November 25th, 2009.

Tags: bedandbreakfast, bedandbreakfasts, hoteldeals, new england, NewEngland

New England's Great Estates

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Estates, Books

Three centuries worth of New England's magnificent houses and mansions are collected in an equally grand new book from Rizzoli: Great Houses of New England, by Roderic H. Blackburn (text) and Geoffrey Gross (photography). Spanning a wide range of styles, these stately houses are the originals from which many of today's McMansions have been copied. They're more than just artifacts, however; as Blackburn writes, "Through the architecture and decorative arts we see the development of a people and their region."

Among the more splendid examples in the book is the Jeremiah Lee Mansion in Marblehead, Mass., dating from 1767 (pictured here), the impressiveness of which is "conveyed by its subdued monumentality," Blackburn notes. Lee, a shipping merchant, built it to emulate aristocratic estates in England, so you might say not all that much has changed. Also of note are the beautiful brick Georgian Macpheadris-Warner House in Portsmouth, N.H., dating from 1716; Rosecliff, a palatial McKim, Mead & White mansion which was the setting for the movie version of The Great Gasby; and Brookside, a gracious Greek Revival in Orwell, VT. See the gallery for more.

Gallery: Great Houses of New England

Brookside, the Wilcox-Cutts House, Orwell, Vermont.

Macpheadris-Warner House, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Tags: Georgian, Great estates, GreatEstates, Greek Revival, GreekRevival, Historic houses, HistoricHouses, Mansions, Marblehead, McKim, Mead White, New England, NewEngland, Newport, Portsmouth, Rizzoli, Rosecliff, The Great Gatsby, TheGreatGatsby

Newport Club Will Be New England's Largest Marina

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Yachts & Sailing

Plans have been announced for New England's largest marina, The Newport Club in Rhode Island. The Newport Club covers 44.5 acres of waterfront property on Aquidneck Island, plus 100 acres out into the cove itself. There will be 1,500 marina slips with retail shops, restaurants, waterfront residences, and marine-related support facilities. The slips will range up to 500 feet in hopes of drawing more megayacht traffic to the area. The Newport Club will feature resort style residences ranging from $395,000 to $2,000,000 and there are plans to build brand-name luxury hotels to create a popular yachting destination.

Source

Tags: marina, megayacht, new england, newportclub, yachting

Otis, Massachusetts, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

I confess, I am a little confused about today's home. The listing says it was built in 2000 but it looks much, much older. The home is located in Otis, Massachusetts tucked into the Berkshires region of the western part of the state. The nearly nine acre property features a six-bedroom home with a southern exposure and a mahogany decked wrap-around porch for lake and mountain views. The home's other details include beamed ceilings, custom cabinetry and hardwood floors.The kitchen which is designed to look quaint does feature a Viking stove. The dining room is home to a cast-iron bookstore and brick fireplace and adjoins a parlor with a fieldstone fireplace built from stone harvested from the property. The master suite has a walk-in closet and a bath with a claw-foot tub.The second floor is home to five bedrooms, bathrooms and two sitting rooms. Also on the property is a two-bedroom "getaway cottage and the one-bedroom bunkhouse. The land also includes a barn, boathouse, docks and other outbuildings including one with a sauna. It is listed at $3.3 million. After the jump, the classic Berkshires summer home.

Source

Tags: berkshires, estate of the day, massachusetts, new england, otis, real estate

Continue reading “Otis, Massachusetts, Estate of the Day”

Edgartown Great Pond, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Weathering a winter on the New England island of Martha's Vineyard is not for everyone, it can be extremely isolating. However if you want the experience of tranquility that comes from watching the seasons change in this magical place you could find few places as lovely to do that in as this gorgeous Edgartown home. Located on Edgartown Great Pond, this estate has 12.3 acres of land. The 10,000-square-foot main house has five bedrooms and a two-story living room with a large stone fireplace that would be the perfect place to snuggle down during gray days. The land also includes guest quarters above a three-car garage and guest house. This home is listed at $11.5 million. After the jump, bring your cashmere throw and settle in before the cold weather kicks in.

Source

Tags: estate of the day, martha's vineyard, Martha'sVineyard, new england, real estate

Continue reading “Edgartown Great Pond, Estate of the Day”