Tag: shopping

BraeVal’s Scottish Roots Offers Holiday Gifts Inspired by Heritage

Admittedly gift giving can be kind of selfish… what’s better than that feeling of satisfaction knowing you have found something wonderful for that special someone on your list? At BraeVal, one of Connecticut’s treasures located in the heart of Litchfield, shoppers will find something that is unique and not mass–produced at a variety of price points. Best of all, this is a shopping experience where folks not only get to see and feel the quality of this upmarket brand in person, but they also get to meet the founder of the company and learn how his heritage inspired him.

The story of BraeVal goes way back in American and Scottish history. It all began when Gregor McCluskey’s Great Uncle, Big Jock McCluskey was caught poaching on the land of a great Scottish Lord, not once but twice! It was then that Big Jock decided to leave Scotland for America because he believed that he would be free to hunt, fish, and wander, without trespassing on any royal estates.

In America, Big Jock McCluskey became a bounty hunter, fur trader, and gold miner. It was as a fur trader with Native Americans where Big Jock stuck gold. He became famous for trading his red and black tartan plaid with many Native Americans who were amazed at its deep red color. Legend has it that Native Americans had never seen such cloth dyed a brighter red and believed it was made from the blood of McCluskey’s prey and enemies. Today, we know this fabric as Buffalo Plaid.

BraeVal, a Scottish word for Upland Rivers is a love affair between Gregor McCluskey’s American soul and his Scottish heritage. Today’s clothing conceptualized by Gregor, a relative of Big Jock, exemplifies this because each piece is not designed; rather each piece is engineered with features found nowhere else and accented with authentically made Buffalo Plaid. McCluskey often says he channels his Great Uncle’s love of the great outdoors and the many summers he spent in Scotland when creating something new for BraeVal.

There are many things that make BraeVal’s clothing distinctive. First off, it is engineered to be the best of the best because it is infused with the style and finish of European sporting fashion that has been time-tested in the field, out on the town, and then merged with American comfort. The shirts are made of proprietary Tierra fabric made of ring-spun Merino wool and long staple Egyptian cotton developed by McCluskey that results in an eco-friendly machine washable garment. The shirts are comfortable, durable, breathable, and a natural alternative to synthetics. All of BraeVal’s limited designed tartans and checks are an exclusive contemporary interpretation of historic patterns found nowhere else, ensuring that BraeVal’s customers stand out in the crowd. Best of all, and too many to mention, BraeVal’s garments offer many unique features – shirts for example, have a hidden bi-swing back, triple stitching, roll-up sleeve stays, below-the-waist pockets, and many more features.

BraeVal is located at 3 South Street in Litchfield and is open from 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. through December. For online orders http://braeval.net.

About BRÃEVAL

BraeVal is a Scottish word for the Upland River Valleys that exist between the mountains and rugged brae of the Scottish highlands, where streams and rivers tumble to loch and sea. It is pronounced ‘brave-all’. It is a land of arduous challenges in a place where sporting adventure is welcomed as part of a very robust lifestyle. The name was chosen because it symbolizes the special sense of outdoor adventure that excites all sportsmen and women. At BraeVal, they believe that this imagery holds the heart of every sporting adventurer who ever hiked beyond the view of the town. BraeVal is a lifestyle brand of clothing that has endured for generations. They are an original American design born of comfort that offers time-tested classics in the Scottish tradition. Located in Litchfield Connecticut.

JanetLeave a comment

THE BEST FOLIAGE TOWN IN NEW ENGLAND? YANKEE MAGAZINE PICKS KENT, CONNECTICUT

Kent, Connecticut has many claims to fame—two state parks, a 250-foot waterfall, rural beauty combined with sophisticated shops, galleries and museums.  But this fall there is new reason to boast.  Yankee Magazine has named this charming village in the Litchfield Hills of Western Connecticut the peak spot for leaf-peeping in all of New England.

kent road and foliage

In one day in Kent, says Yankee, you can drive through rolling hills beside a twisting river, stop for thick hot chocolate and an pastry, hike the Appalachian trail, picnic with a panini by a waterfall, shop for Buddhas or modern art and bite into a crisp native Cortland apple, perhaps in the shade of a historic covered bridge.

This praise is no surprise to those who know Kent and its unique blend of attractions.  A newly published free color brochure with map will help newcomers find their way around.

Foliage watchers who like their leaves close-up on a hiking trail should head for Macedonia Brook State Park, where 2300 acres offer extensive leafy trails.  For views, the Blue Trail is hard to beat with its fantastic vistas of the Catskill and Taconic mountains.

In Kent Falls State Park you can admire the falls from the bottom or hike a quarter-mile up the hill and feel the mist on your face as the water cascades down 250 feet on its way to join the Housatonic River.

The Appalachian Trail runs through this area, and hikers who want scenery without stress will enjoy the Housatonic “river walk,” a peaceful stretch beside the river that is the longest essentially flat section along the entire trail.

bulls bridge kent ct

For more worldly diversions, take a walk along Route 7, Kent’s Main Street, lined for miles with irresistible stops.  Five antiques shops beckon, including Pauline’s Place and Koblenz & Co., known for their antique jewelry.  Among the many shops and galleries, Heron American Craft Gallery shows the best work of American craftsmen, Foreign Cargo offers unusual clothing, jewelry and art from Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands and the Kent Art Association is just one of five fine art galleries in town.

Take out the camera for Bulls’ Bridge, one of three remaining covered bridges in Connecticut dating from the 19th century.  George Washington crossed the Housatonic River near the site of the present bridge in 1781.

Just north of town is the Sloane-Stanley Museum.  Eric Sloane (1905-1985) was a prolific artist, author and illustrator and an avid collector of Americana. The museum includes the artist’s studio, examples of his art and his extensive collection of early American handmade tools, beautiful objects of wood that are virtual works of art.  On the property are the remains of the Kent Iron Furnace and a diorama explaining the once-booming local iron industry.  Next-door is the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association Museum, a unique display of steam and gas tractors, a working narrow gauge railroad, an industrial hall with working steam engines and mining exhibit building.

Fall Foliage in Litchfield Hills CT copy 2

When hunger pangs strike in Kent, the Panini Café is the place for a tasty picnic sandwich, and for a treat the Kent coffee and Chocolate Company offers the “best hot chocolate in Connecticut.”  For dinner, the Fife & Drum is a long time favorite for continental dinners with nightly music, Bull’s Bridge Inn has a choice of fine dining or pub fare, and Doc’s Trattoria serves excellent Italian fare and has a pleasant patio for fine fall days.

For a copy of the new free guide and map of Kent and a free copy of UNWIND, a 163-page color guide to lodging and dining and other regional attractions in all of the Litchfield Hills contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, www.litchfieldhills.com.

JanetLeave a comment

Kent Shop Hop

Ready to chase away the winter doldrums? The town of Kent in the unspoiled Litchfield Hills of Northwest Connecticut has the answer! The Kent merchants have gotten together to organize a family fun event on March 7, 8 and 9 with something for everyone and they are calling it the Kent Shop Hop.

227

Visitors to Kent are invited to stop in at any of the participating shops to pick up a map of shops that offer a treasure trove of bargains, special sales, exciting promotions and special events. As you go from shop to shop be sure to enter the drawing for a fabulous gift basket worth hundreds of dollars.

For more information visit www.kentct.com. For information on Litchfield Hills www.visitlitchfieldhills.com

JanetLeave a comment

Feast Of Gingerbread Houses Await in Litchifeld Hills and Fairfield County!

Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without gingerbread houses, those delicious edible creations that add color and fun to the season. Two don’t-miss displays in Connecticut’s Litchfield and Fairfield Counties are guaranteed to delight, and may provide take-home decoration for some lucky families. You may even be able to create your own gingerbread confection.

This will be the 43rd year for the Gingerbread Village, a lavish display at St. George’s Church on Tucker Hill Road in Middlebury beginning December 4. The Village is made up of more than 60 buildings, with horse and sleigh teams, ponds, boats, and sledders, all dressed up in Christmas splendor. This year’s theme is storybooks. Everything is for sale, available to take home when the display ends on December 11. A craft room and raffles of more than 20 goody-laden baskets are an additional highlight of this event. Dates are Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Dec. 5, noon-7 p.m.; Dec. 6-10, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m.; Dec. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is Free. Phone: (203) 758-9557 for information.

The second annual Visions of Gingerbread: The Sweetest Architects at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center (www.stamfordmuseum.org) through December 5 shows off imaginative confections from some of the area’s best pastry chefs, restaurants, and caterers. DiMare’s Pastry Shop of Stamford, SoNo Baking Company of South Norwalk, Cake Suite of Westport, and Sugar & Olives of Norwalk are among those who are vying for first prize from a panel of official judges. Visitors are invited to vote for the “Fan Favorite” of the year. These one-of-a-kind creations will be available for purchase through a silent auction, with proceeds to benefit the museum’s education programs.

Families who want to learn to make their own gingerbread houses should contact the Silo Cooking School in New Milford. Each year The Silo offers enormously popular classes where parents and their children team up to create wonderful gingerbread fantasies. The classes, open to children ages five and up, are held November 20-21, 26-28 and December 3-5; they sell out every year. The cost is $85 for each parent-child team, up to 3 people. The Silo is part of the Hunt Hill Farm Trust (www.hunthillfarmtrust.org) Check for openings or waiting lists on-line or at (860) 355-0300.

If you can’t create a house, you can at least decorate a gingerbread cookie souvenir on December 4 at the Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Road, from 1 to 4 p.m. The $10 per family fee includes the Society’s annual Great Trains exhibit. Get details at http://www.wiltonhistorical.org or phone (203) 762-7257.

For more information about gingerbread adventures, directions to events and listings of all the holiday doings in the region, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506, http://www.visitwesternct.com. They offer a free copy of UNWIND, a 112-page color guide to the attractions in the Litchfield Hills and a free color Fairfield County Getaway Guide.

JanetLeave a comment