Woobury Connecticut Holiday House Tour Dec. 10

Saturday, December 10, 2011 marks the day for a holiday favorite, the 17th Annual Holiday House Tour, which will feature a 19th century Rectory as a Designer Showcase House as well as four other fine Woodbury homes. In keeping with the holiday spirit, the tour will include the Leroy Anderson House, where the American musical classic “Sleigh Ride” was composed. Tickets are $20 when purchased in advance / $25 if purchased on the tour day.

Tickets may be purchased by sending a request for tickets to The Woman’s Club of Woodbury, PO Box 1014, Woodbury, CT 06798. Requests should include a check, payable to WCW, to pay for tickets ordered and a Stamped, self addressed #10 envelope. Tickets will be available on the day of the tour at the Woodbury Senior Center. For more information call 203– 263– 3810.

Designer Showcase

New this year, the the Designer Showcase House will be decorated by area designers and artisans reflecting “Christmas in Connecticut”. A special Preview Party is planned on Friday evening December 9th, the day before the tour. Preview party ticket-holders will stroll through the beautifully decorated rooms of this 19th century Greek revival rectory, meeting the designers and enjoying wine, hors d’oeuvres, and Christmas music. Raffle tickets will be available for prizes which include: A Wine Basket from Walker Roads Vineyards, A Catered High Tea from Kate Valentine, A Gift Certificate for a stay at Cornucopia at Oldfield B&B, Southbury, A Catered Brunch in your own home by Duncan Stephens, and An Organizing/Clutter Clearing Session from Top Results Coach Maureen Moreau. Special tickets for the Dec 10th tour that also include the Dec 9th preview party are $50.

Houses to Tour

In addition to touring the Designer Showcase located in an 1830’s Greek Revival styled house, built as a rectory, for St. Pauls’s Church, located across the street, the following four private homes are open and offer a wonderland of decorative ideas for the season.

Cape Cod Revival – Every room of this quaint, rambling saltbox decked out for the holidays is a visual feast. The house showcases framed artworks, interesting decorative touches, and in particular the striking crewel-work pieces. The living room has a large multi-paned window that looks out over the pleasant grounds. A classic dining room features a Duncan Phyfe style table, crewel-work cornices, an antique corner cupboard, and, overhead, beams from an antique barn.

Whipstick Farm Colonial – Set beside a lovely pond, this 1992 home looks like it was built 200 years ago. Inside, handsome old antiques and carefully chosen reproduction furniture continue the illusion. The home, on property called Whipstick Farm, is filled with colorful artwork, books and decorative pieces.

Home of “Sleigh Ride” Composer- One of the most interesting homes on the tour was once the home of the world-renowned composer Leroy Anderson. The house, built in 1953 is set on a picturesque sweep of lawn and woods and features modernist furniture, burnished colors, and wonderful mementos of the composer. It centers on a living room where a grand piano takes center stage in front of a great wall of windows looking out on the inviting landscape. Anderson, who wrote Sleigh Ride, Syncopated Clock, Blue Tango, and many, many other celebrated orchestral pieces, has been the pride of Woodbury for many years.

Stately Tudor – This grand Tudor-style home features gorgeous rooms filled with handsome antique and reproduction furniture—many pieces with a Scandinavian feel. Decorated for the Holidays, the glowing dining room features a restored barn-board table, comfortable Windsor chairs, and a cupboard displaying a wonderful collection of china and decorative objects. An inviting tea service on a tray is set out in the bright library, which is crammed with books, cozy seating, and family mementos. Upstairs, the serene, gently colorful bedrooms feature beautiful bed linens and quilts. The gorgeous kitchen looks out on a garden patio and a lovely “English Summerhouse,” for reading and lounging on warm days.

Famed Connecticut Chef And Restaurateur Carole Peck Opens Zeeburger In Woodbury CT

Trend-setting chef and noted restaurateur, Carole Peck is opening a casual eatery called Zeeburger, whose hamburger menu will reflect her love of local and farm fresh. Located in the Sherman Village Plaza at 670 Main Street in Woodbury, not far from her acclaimed and award-winning restaurant, Good News Café, Peck, following 18 years of serving high-end cuisine to diners far and wide, and many noted celebrities who have homes in Connecticut, will now turn her eclectic and tasteful art of cooking to a more grounded hamburger, hotdog and shake fare that the whole community can enjoy.

With the influence of her French husband Bernard Jarrier who refers to a hamburger as “Zeeburger,” Peck says the proximity of her new eatery close to Good News Café is an ideal situation that she couldn’t pass up.

“I see a real need in town for a family place where people who are pressed for time can enjoy a burger that’s tasty, healthy, and fun, and that’s what Zeeburger is all about,” Peck says. “Burgers are totally hot again and everyone loves them, so why not engage the community by giving them what they love and support our local and regional farms.”

Peck is indeed supporting area and regional farms. She is sourcing meat for the burgers from several organic and grass-fed farms. The milk for Zeeburger’s milkshakes and floats will come from Arethusa Farm Dairy in Litchfield, and she’s created a maple syrup shake using fresh maple syrup processed in Woodbury.

Zeeburger will offer a moderately priced menu appealing to both meat eaters and vegetarians. The hand-formed organic beef burgers, all served on brioche buns will include: Zee 5 ounce Burger with cheese, Zee Compact Burger, Zee Monster Burger, Zee Juicy Lucy Blue Burger, and Zee Bacon Cheeseburger. For those looking for an alternative to beef, there is: Zee Meat without Feet Salmon Burger, Zee Shroom Burger, Zee Falafel Burger, Zee ground Hot Dog on a pretzel roll and Zee on-going Grilled Cheese with bacon. Burgers and hot dogs all come with different toppings and can be accompanied by Zee hand-cut French Fries and Sweet Potato Fries.

For those who want a lighter, vegetarian fare, Zeeburger offers three types of Zee Green Goods: Caesar Salad, Chopped Salad and Crunchy Kale Salad.

Fresh dairy beverages sure to be a hit among children and adults alike are real and hand-dipped milk shakes and floats that come in either two ounce or 12 ounce sizes with a variety of flavors, including, chocolate, vanilla, malted, coffee, banana, raspberry, mint, hazelnut and maple syrup. Beer and wine will be served for adults.

For more information about Carole Peck, Zeeburger and The Good News Café, visit: http://www.zeeburger.com, http://www.good-news-cafe.com. For information about Litchfield Hills Connecticut visit http://www.litchfieldhills.com.