Editor's Note: This article was first published March 17, 2008, on LymeLine.com. I was a New Yorker for 30 years and, although I love living in a quiet Connecticut town today, there are still aspects of city life that I miss. There are the small things like being able to walk everywhere - to the supermarket, to the dry cleaner, to the movies. And then there are the big … [Read more...] about Remembering St. Paddy’s Day in the City
Tidings of Comfort (Food) and Joy
Editor's Note: We are delighted to re-publish this mouth-watering piece by our friend and former colleague at 'Main Street News,' Linda Ahnert of Old Lyme. She wrote it back in 2005 but has recently updated it for us. "There’s a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy, when they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie" . . . and, of … [Read more...] about Tidings of Comfort (Food) and Joy
Talking Turkey—the Evolution of the ‘Quintessential American Holiday’
Editor's Note: Fifteen years ago, our friend and former colleague at 'Main Street News,' Linda Ahnert of Old Lyme wrote a wonderful column about the first Thanksgiving and how it evolved into a national holiday. In what has now become an almost annual tradition, she has again kindly updated it for us and we are pleased to publish this new version to kick off Thanksgiving … [Read more...] about Talking Turkey—the Evolution of the ‘Quintessential American Holiday’
St. Patrick’s Day in the City, Where Every Heart Beats … Green!
Editor’s Note: Linda Ahnert lives in Old Lyme now, but for more than 30 years she lived and worked on Manhattan. She wrote this column for LymeLine.com in 2008, but we think think it resonates now as much as it did back then ... especially with the full return of the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade this year after two years of pandemic-related disruptions. I was a New Yorker … [Read more...] about St. Patrick’s Day in the City, Where Every Heart Beats … Green!
A Christmas Essay: Food For Thought At Christmas
Editor's Note: We are delighted to re-publish this wonderful piece by our friend Linda Ahnert of Old Lyme. She wrote it way back in 2005 but it remains especially appropriate for today. Yes, Virginia, there can be too much of a good thing. That’s especially true during the Yuletide. All that over-spending, all the over-eating, and all those over-decorated houses. That is … [Read more...] about A Christmas Essay: Food For Thought At Christmas
Talking Turkey—How the Quintessential American Feast Evolved
Editor's Note: We are delighted to take the opportunity today to republish a topical article about the evolution of that most quintessential of American meals—the Thanksgiving feast—which our former colleague at the 'Main Street News,' Linda Ahnert of Old Lyme, wrote for us originally all the way back in 2007. She has kindly updated it this year with a new opening paragraph. … [Read more...] about Talking Turkey—How the Quintessential American Feast Evolved
Saturday’s Centennial Celebrations at Lyme Art Association Include Traditional ‘Tea Day’ … But What’s Its History?
OLD LYME -- On Saturday, Aug. 7, the Lyme Art Association (LAA) is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the opening of its gallery. Several special events are planned, one of which is a tea party on the LAA lawn. Though the gallery itself opened in August of 1921, the history of the LAA goes even further back and is interwoven with our town library and the Florence … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Centennial Celebrations at Lyme Art Association Include Traditional ‘Tea Day’ … But What’s Its History?
Guest Column: Pandemic Surprise—Drive-Ins are Making a Comeback
Editor's Note: We are delighted to welcome back Linda Ahnert as a guest columnist today. A resident of Old Lyme, she is the former Arts Editor at the popular but now-shuttered weekly, print newspaper, the 'Main Street News.' She is also a long-time docent at the Florence Griswold Museum and has volunteered for numerous local art organizations. When I was young, one … [Read more...] about Guest Column: Pandemic Surprise—Drive-Ins are Making a Comeback
Giving Thanks During a Pandemic
Come ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest home . . . Well, maybe not this year. It’s 2020 and starting back in March, our lives changed as the pandemic started spreading across the land. We sheltered in place, incessantly spritzed with hand sanitizers, and began wearing masks every time we dared to venture out in public. Now it seems that 2020 will be a … [Read more...] about Giving Thanks During a Pandemic
It’s Thanksgiving … So Let’s Talk Turkey
As you busy yourself making plans for Thursday's feast, we are delighted to take the opportunity to republish a topical article about the evolution of this quintessential American meal that our dear friend -- and wonderful writer -- Linda Ahnert of Old Lyme wrote for us all the way back in 2007. Enjoy! Who Doesn’t Love Thanksgiving? A few years ago, a book entitled “Giving … [Read more...] about It’s Thanksgiving … So Let’s Talk Turkey
Hooray for Halloween! Almost Against All Odds, It Did Happen on Lyme Street Last Night …
OLD LYME -- Despite the weather, a cancelled parade, a fallen tree, and power outages galore, Halloween happened anyway in Old Lyme! We're delighted to share a few photos from the notorious night when trick or treating ghosts and ghouls; witches and wizards; and swashbucklers and superheroes take over Lyme Street in search of candy ... along with a reflection on Halloween … [Read more...] about Hooray for Halloween! Almost Against All Odds, It Did Happen on Lyme Street Last Night …
Happy Thanksgiving! Let’s Count Our Blessings
Editor's Note: We are delighted to republish a column by our friend and talented writer, Linda Ahnert, of Old Lyme, which celebrates the upcoming day of thankfulness. If you said the name “Wilbur Cross” to Connecticut residents, they would most likely think of the parkway that bears his name. But our older readers will remember that he was governor of our state for eight … [Read more...] about Happy Thanksgiving! Let’s Count Our Blessings
A Historical Perspective on ‘Giving Thanks’
We are pleased to celebrate this Thanksgiving season by republishing an article written for LymeLine.com by Linda Ahnert to honor Thanksgiving 2007. Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving? A few years ago, a book entitled “Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving Recipes and History, from Pilgrims to Pumpkin Pie” was published. The co-authors are Kathleen Curtin, food historian at the Plimoth … [Read more...] about A Historical Perspective on ‘Giving Thanks’