Home + Design

Crafting Timeless Homes

Kathryn Hunt Studio Provides Expert Advice for Creating Your Dream Space Article by Lucinda Jamison Finding the perfect balance between style and function when you’re building a home or renovating can be a daunting task.  The key to success lies in making informed decisions with the help of a design professional. A full-service interior decoration and design firm in West Hartford, The Kathryn Hunt Studio works in an array of visual styles to assist clients through the design process and...

Food + Beverage

Shephard's Pie

Try skipping the usual corned beef this year for a more sublime, authentic Irish meal Article by Eileen M. McNamara Looking for an alternative to the typical corned beef dinner on St Patrick's Day? Corned beef is Irish-American, immigrants came up with it when they came to this country. So here's a recipe for an authentic Irish meal, one you would easily encounter any day in Ireland. Traditionally the Irish used ground lamb in Shepard's Pie, but you can substitute ground beef, chicken or...

Real Estate

Real Estate Trends - 2024

A Conversation With Sherri Kagan Schwartz, of Coldwell Banker Realty Article by Eileen M. McNamara | Photography by Hannah Schwartz, Naesan Ponnudurai With nearly 20 years of experience in real estate, Sherri Kagan Schwartz is a licensed Realtor who works with Coldwell Banker Realty in West Hartford.  She serves residential and commercial clients in the Greater Hartford area and beyond and is also licensed in Massachusetts.  “I frequently assist buyers who are looking in towns close to the...

Arts + Culture

A Brief History of Valentine's Day

The Roots of Our Annual Celebration of all Things Love Article by Eileen M. McNamara February is the month of love here in the U.S., thanks to our celebrations of Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. While the roots of this holiday are shrouded in lore and mystery, it contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman traditions.  One legend of Valentine’s Day says it was created more than 1,500 years ago in Europe to mark the martyrdom of Saint Valentine, who was killed by a Roman emperor because...

Food + Beverage

Foodie Love Story

Sistersnacking is a Social Media Juggaurnut Built Around Four Sisters' Love of Food and Each Other Article by Eileen M. McNamara It started, Madison Shapiro says, with Guy Fieri. While in highschool Madison consumed all things diners, drive-ins, and dives. It motivated her to go see their local haunts for herself and roped her sisters into the obsession. With that the origin story of Sistersnacking was born.  The four sisters, who grew up in Glastonbury, had an affinity for food from a young...

Food + Beverage

Love Potion

A Cocktail Both Potent and Pretty Article by Eileen M. McNamara We have to give credit for the genesis of this pretty and pinkish-red cocktail to the mixologists at Red 36 in Mystic where I first drank this lovely libation, a twist on a tradtional Paloma. I recreated it at home after a few unsuccessful attempts. Its rosy red color and bubbly splash of champagne makes it a lively drink on Valentine's Day! Use freshly squeezed lime juice and not the bottled kind.    Ingredients: Freshly...

Health + Wellness

A Healthy Approach to Weight Management

Maynestreet Weight Loss and Wellness Article by Lucinda Jamison Maynestreet Weight Loss and Wellness is a beacon of hope for those seeking lasting results in a world where fad diets and quick fixes dominate the weight-loss industry. Co-founded by Debbie Harris, a seasoned Integrative Nutritional Health Coach and Certified Hypnotist, this program is not a diet—it's a holistic approach to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight while addressing often overlooked factors, like hormone...

Finance + Legal Services

Money Matters

Family-owned Cowen Tax Advisory Group celebrates 45 years in business Article by Brian Boyer | Photography by Connecticut Headshots When it comes to managing money and guiding people through various financial phases of their life, a high level of trust is a big part of the work. Cowen Tax Advisory Group in West Hartford guides its clients not just based on the market, but also on the highest level of values and ethics.  The company – founded 45 years ago - is family-owned and operated and...

Life + Culture

West Hartford Reader's Choice

Article by West Hartford Lifestyle Staff | Photography by Ira Nozik, Connecticut Headshots, Nadine Zuchorski, Gwen O'Donnel The votes are in and we have the winners of West Hartford Lifestyle Magazine's Reader's Choice Survey.    Best Bakery Spruce & Rye Baking Company  Spruceandryebakingco.com   Best Accountants Cowen Tax Advisory Group Inc. Cowen Tax Advisory Group provides financial services, including tax preparation, retirement planning and wealth management. Cowentaxgroup.com   ...

Education

American School For The Deaf

For More Than 200 Years ASD Has Been a Bedrock of Advocacy for the Deaf, Hard of hearing and DeafBlind Article by Eileen M. McNamara | Photography by Defining Studios Founded in 1817 as the first permanent school for the deaf in the U.S., the American School for the Deaf (ASD) is the birthplace of American Sign Language and a national leader in providing comprehensive educational programs and services for deaf and hard of hearing students. Among deaf schools, ASD is known as the "Mother...