2011 Press & Reviews

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The Inn at Kent Falls in Object Magazine 2011

WE ARE A DESTINATION | The Inn at Kent Falls is a luxury Bed and Breakfast convenient to nature trails, horseback riding, cycling routes, Kent Falls State Park and much more. Please think of us for fall season lodging as we are right in the heart of Litchfield County’s most beautiful fall foliage. After the fall leaves have gone, Kent, Connecticut is home to superb skiing, hiking, bicycling, antiquing or just enjoying a day walk.

INN AWARDS & REVIEWS | Recognized in Travel and Leisure Magazine’s, “Best Hotel Book,” this past year has become a year of recognition and accolades. The Inn at Kent Falls has won the “Best Bed & Breakfast” in the September 2011 issue of Connecticut Magazine (for more than two consecutive years), and for the first time, the September 2011 issue of New England Travel Magazine and Boston Magazine. The Inn is also currently featured in a beautiful double-page spread in Australia’s premier design Magazine, Object Magazine.

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GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO VIEW PRESS PAGE

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DEE LISH! From the heart of Sicily….that delectable chef, Roberto Pizzo, has opened Kents’ most charming and romantic Italian restaurant - Doc’s Trattoria – in a newly renovated antique village building just minutes from the inn. Imagine dinner al fresco on a blue stone terrace or, on a cooler night, your party of 12 in the softly-lit and beautifully appointed private dining room. www.docstrattoria.com

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The much anticipated opening of The Millstone Café, co-owned by John Cummins and Carol Hawran, arrived recently with several unique elements to meet the ever-evolving needs of Litchfield County residents: A warm atmosphere, casual elegance, delicious, healthy foods created in part from the region’s locally-grown produce, meat, dairy and grains, and served in a family-friendly environment. It’s all about “celebrating honest food, mindfully prepared, locally sourced.”

A dinner for 12 at the communal table or a festive atmosphere on the porch – happiness for the health-conscious & vegetarians alike! The Millstone team produces any size event or wedding including site scouting. The restaurant is available to rent for private events.  The dining room comfortably seats 50 guests and there is outdoor seasonal seating for approximately 30-40 additional guests. www.themillstonecafe.com

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Dixie Todd is a renowned event planner who has been creating unique parties for more than twenty-five years. She and her team at Party Resources combine flawless style and attention to detail which result in a memorable event. Dixie works with a variety of clientele – private, corporate, non-profit – to make each celebration unique.
www.party-resources.com

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Ira Goldspiel on Facebook

INN SPECIAL | Rare Plant and Garden Antiques Sale Inn at Kent Falls Special Stay 

Trade Secrets Special Stay includes:
~ Two night’s accommodations in a beautifully appointed guest room or suite including full breakfast
~ Complimentary wine & hors d’oeuvres
~ Inn Room flowers
~ from $390 for a Standard Room (excluding tax)
~ Additional fee • Spa treatments
~ GIFT Certificates available

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ANNUAL LITCHFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL | July 31 – August 2, 2009 in Kent this year! 860.567.4162. The Litchfield Jazz Festival, one of the top 100 events in the US and Canada. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVENT | www.litchfieldjazzfest.com

Litchfield Jazz Festival Special Stay includes:
~ Two night’s accommodations in a beautifully appointed guest room or suite including full breakfast
~ Complimentary wine & hors d’oeuvres
~ Inn Room flowers
~ from $390 for a Standard Room (excluding tax)
~ Additional fee • Spa treatments
~ GIFT Certificates available

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER | Informative Links

Everything Real Estate, ahead of the curve. I’ll be adding even more Links but for now, check this one out, news for brokers, agents & investors: http://www.inman.com/

Here’s another. This is a charming but informative story about a house & the owners in Sherman, Connecticut: www.nytimes.com

–Ira

The start of this New Year has been quite eventful both locally and globally. We’ve all experienced and/or witnessed distress and personal difficulties but we’ve also been given many reasons to be optimistic.  For me, this is the YEAR OF HOPE, a year to be resourceful, creative and to think outside the box.  Where there are problems, there are also solutions hence, the inspiration to create the Kent Falls NewsLetter, which will offer you the opportunity to join or contribute to a positive dialog about subjects that concern all of us. I look forward to hearing what you have to say, meanwhile, here’s some good NEWS…

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This past week in Kent we had tremendously exciting news when we learned that the Litchfield County Jazz Fest will be relocating to Kent this summer. 

KENT — Town officials gave the Litchfield Performing Arts and Kent School the green light on Monday to bring the 2009 Litchfield Jazz Festival to the school’s campus this summer. The nationally-acclaimed three-day festival, launched in 1996 at Litchfield’s White Memorial, has been based since 1998 at the Goshen Fairgrounds, where Muir said attendance has averaged between 4,000 and 6,000 over its three-day span the first weekend each August. The festival, which brings high-level jazz musicians to perform under several tents, comes at the end of the four-week Jazz Camp. That program, held until now at the Forman School in Litchfield, enrolls several hundred students from many states who practice and perform under the direction of professional jazz musicians and recording artists.

Note from Ira: I’m very pleased to also announce that Sotheby’s International Realty, where I’m an Associate, is a Sponsor of this event.

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N E W S

You don’t have to wait for summer as The Kent Film Festival kicks off in March, and The Inn at Kent Falls is proud to continue it’s support of this ever-growing event. See their website for schedules and updates.

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N E W S

ONE BODY FITNESS: by Howard Schissler                  

Pilates Teacher | Howard Schissler

Look forward to monthly contributions on Pilates, Fitness and Health from renowned Fitness expert and pilates instructor,  Howard Schissler,  who teaches in his studio in New York City but weekends in Kent.  Here’s a slice of Howard’s uplifting philosophy: “I truly believe that Pilates can change the way you move and even how you feel. Besides the obvious benefits of a stronger and more flexible body, I’ve seen the impact of Pilates on people’s lives. It has the power to change the way you relate to your body, which infiltrates the way you do everything else, even something as simple as walking. But this is only one aspect of Pilates, which is really a journey with endless benefits.”

Howie’s Entry: VISUALIZATION

I do believe in visualization.  I know it might sound hokey to many people, but I remember when I was a young dancer and I was having trouble with a difficult piece of choreography; I would envision my body performing the sequence of steps that were giving me trouble.  In my mind’s eye I would see myself performing the steps, easily and effortlessly with grace and beauty. It wasn’t always instantaneous, but if I were patient, eventually the choreography would slowly but surely come to me. 

2009 |  What’s in your Future?  See it. See what you want for yourself and see yourself doing it. So just like what I used to do when I was having trouble learning choreography, I’d like you to figure out exactly what your desires for the upcoming year might be.  A new job, a healthier body, or even a new lover, whatever it might be, then I want you to take time to see yourself in your mind’s eye, with whatever it is that you’re longing & hoping for in your future.  Be specific, be clear — see if you can visualize every detail. If you can see it, it can happen. 

Howie’s Entry: ABOUT PARTIES

You’re Out ‘n About with Everything Screaming, “Eat Me, Eat Me.” What to do:

1) Eat a healthy meal or healthy snack BEFORE you go to any parties because you know there’ll always be an excess of high caloric food. Remember….it’s easier to show restraint when you’re not ravenous.

2) Set some time aside for your workouts and schedule them in your appointments book.  Put a Post-It on your fridge, your front door, in your car. Don’t break those appointments with yourself because this should be the year you take care of yourself. There’s always a reason NOT to…always so much to do. Think of it this way. All we really have is our health. Do your Workout then you have a Treat.

3) Treats. You already know in advance there’ll be lots of temptation at parties, so allow yourself only one indulgence, but remember only one.  This way you won’t feel deprived. And since you remembered not to forget to do your Workout, you can enjoy that one Treat without guilt. You’ll be amazed at how good you’ll feel practicing restraint. The results will be self-evident and, while we cannot control world events, we can control what we do to ourselves. 

4) Drinking. Alcohol has way too many calories without any nutritional value. A glass of red wine is one thing, 4 cocktails are another. And after that first drink or four it will make you less inhibited, and with your guard down, you won’t remember what you ate (or what you did). Take it easy. Change happens moment by moment, decision by decision.  Repeat after me:  If You can See it, it Can Happen. 

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O P I N I O N | Ira Goldspiel

As an Associate at Sotheby’s International Realty, many of my clients are asking me about the Real Estate Market and I’m cautiously realistic. We’re still protected in Litchfield county but we did see less sales last year, which will continue into 2009.

• We’re still performing better than much of the the country and in most weekend markets.
  

• Inventories are relatively flat. For sellers it is more important than ever to be represented by a firm with reach and to work with a realtor who can advise you not only on pricing but on home preparation and staging for the market.
  

• For buyers they are in the best position in years in terms of mortgage rates being at an all time low, and the fact that, with many less buyers, sellers will have to be more negotiable if they want to sell. This truly is the time to buy as I think by 2010, prices will start to come back up. You should read this: NY Times: For the Brave, the Time is NOW
  

Morris Lake View

Read the article then look at some of the latest listings we’re offering from the the 28 acre Laurel Hill Farm in South Kent to Sharons’ world-class riverfront property to the newly reduced Macedonia Brook Dram Cottage. Remember…whether your budget is $200,000 or 2 million dollars, I can always help you find the right property. I also have a strong stable of Rental Inventory both on a seasonal and an annual basis.

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THE INN AT KENT FALLS | For those of you who have stayed at the Inn at Kent Falls, we’d love to read about your experience on this Blog. Visiting The KENT SCHOOL? Ask about Special Rates. Throughout the winter season we will be offering packages and special upgrade rates on suites for repeat guests so please ask about these when you call or e-mail.

• Speak up……READ REVIEWS OF THE INN AT KENT FALLS (and Review it yourself!)

• If you don’t know about TRIP ADVISOR.COM, then go read unbiased reviews and access great tools to plan any trip. You can add your two cents about your stay at our Inn too!

Until the next Time—–Ira

Ira at Bull's Bridge | Winter '08

An inn was built at the crossing over the Housatonic River by Jacob and Mary Bull, who were married in 1762. They ran the inn successfully (the Bull’s Bridge Inn is still a restaurant!) , although Mary was somewhat pressed for time having been “blessed with twenty children.” 

GEORGE & THE BRIDGE | in 1781 George Washington moved through the region on his way to Newport, R.I. to confer with the French. Late Friday, March 2, he was in Dover, stopping for the night at the Morehouse Tavern, but Saturday saw the warrior up early and making his way along what is today known as Route 55, toward the bridge that Jacob Bull kept across the Housatonic River in Kent. There was a good ford at that point during much of the year, but in March the river must have been running full with spring runoff, and in 1781 the Bull family was rebuilding the span. Mr. Fales, writer for the “Arsenal of the Revolution”, tells the following story:

” By one account, the timbers were in but the flooring not ready yet. And so a plank or two were thrown down and Mr. Bull is said to have asked George Washington to dismount and – for safety reasons – walk across while someone led his horse. No one knows what happened, but there was a scramble, shouts and a splash, and suddenly there was a horse in the water. Another account has the general’s horse twisting an ankle between the planks and falling into the river.”

BULL'S BRIDGE 2008

A mystery about what actually happened but how marvelous that a General & President of the United States walked across a bridge that is still open to traffic!

In fact, Bull’s Bridge is one of only two covered bridges in Connecticut that are open to automobile traffic. There is an overlook with benches on the west side of the bridge. There are also trails along the river, some of which lead safely down the rocks to the water. Take the safest one and be sure to wear sensible shoes. One can hike farther to the south along a nice, level portion of the Appalachian Trail to a modern bridge at the confluence of the Housatonic and Ten Mile Rivers. You’ll find plenty of spots with flat, rock outcroppings where you can dip your feet.

View from Bull's Bridge

Winter is especially captivating and a visit here should not be missed.

–IRA

The cows check out Ira

Simple Pleasures Abound

Keep it Simple…the motto of our economic times. Kent, Connecticut is often described as being, “pastoral.” It’s true. We have working farms and excellent produce from them. Every Season offers opportunities to experience classic New England pleasures, many of which, are well represented in our area.

Apple-picking…an uncomplicated activity that yields more than apples, it creates peaceful memories redolent with the sights and smells of a New England Fall…pies, cider, muffins and yes, even the cows smell great.

Picking Apples...delish!

Not all the apples make it into the muffins James makes…the cows like them too…perhaps this is why they smell “cidery.”

This farm is just minutes from the Inn & it’s a delicious place to visit.

—IRA

I always encourage our Guests and Clients to take advantage of what’s here; exploring the natural wonders of our area and, most importantly in this economy, doing so with minimal cost.

For example….we rented Cross Country Ski’s at Back Country Outfitters in Kent and headed for the local park. We sliced through the wide-open white fields and trails surrounded by over two thousand acres. Close, inexpensive & full of Kodak moments.

Winter 2008

Enjoy the delights of the Season!

—Ira

A site that features great Real Estate articles about a great city…New York.

http://www.truegotham.com/