Seafair, a Hurricane’s Tale

There’s always a story in Newport and as we head into hurricane season, this gripping tale from my book, Private Newport, deserves to be retold. Few in Newport recognize Seafair… Read More

An Island Enclave in Palm Beach

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Everglades Island, a thin sliver of land floating just off Palm Beach in the Intracoastal Waterway, is an enclave just a short causeway from South County Road. As with many … Read More

The Little Black Dress of Flower Urns

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Many gardeners have a favorite “go to” container for our flower arrangements. They’re like an old friend — reliable (water tight), accountable (whatever you arrange in them looks good), stylish… Read More

Newport, “Before and After” the Blizzard

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I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been intrigued with the “before and after” images in decorating magazines. This past December a version of this opportunity presented itself in… Read More

A Winter Tale: Imagining a 19th Century Garret

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This is a post that I wrote months ago but neither the season nor the opportunity ever presented itself for adding it to the website. Slipping into this New Year,… Read More

Carriage and Gate Houses of Newport, Part 2

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There are more carriage and gate houses in Newport than I had ever imagined, so here is part 2 as a wrap-up to my summer post on the subject. I… Read More

Newport’s Architecture and History: An Artist’s Impressions

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Richard “Dick” Grosvenor was one of the most beloved of Newport’s gentlemen, a celebrated artist, longtime educator (St. George’s School for 40 years), and historian with broad interests that included… Read More

Experiencing Paris, Part 2

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Having previously introduced our hotel, Le Dokhan, in the first “Experiencing” post I wanted to mention a welcome ritual we enjoyed at the end of the day (or apres dinner)…sipping… Read More

Carriage and Gate Houses of Newport

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They are charming, they are quirky, they recall romantic days gone by. Newport’s carriage houses and gate houses were very relevant to another era’s lifestyle. Their presence, while sometimes overlooked… Read More

Spain’s Colorful, Whimsical Architecture

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As an art major, I was always keen on the modern masters, sometimes the quirkier the better. So imagine my pleasant surprise when my twenty-something assistant, Michelle, returned from Spain… Read More