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   ...

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

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...

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...