The Distracted Wanderer

I know, I know! Yes it's been four months since Halloween but in spite of that it's never too late to take a look back at the good time that was had by all at the best Halloween party in all of New England. Nor is it too early to plan ahead for the 2014 Hawthorne Hotel Halloween gala - especially if you'd like to take a shot at some of the great prizes up for grabs because trust me, the competition is tough!   Really tough! Don't believe me?  Read on then - rather like this gentleman below! The 2013 Hawthorne Hotel Halloween Party was held on Saturday, October 26th and I had the ultimate privilege of being asked to judge once again.  It's definitely an honor but let me say that it's also a lot of work as there are some truly phenomenal costumes that walk through the doors of Salem, Massachusetts' awesome historic hotel - and if you think I'm kidding wait until you look at some of the folks that presented themselves before the bench in the new &qu

On the western side of the Connecticut River opposite the town of Hanover, New Hampshire - home of the Ivy League's Dartmouth College and quite quaint in its own rights - you'll find the equally quaint small town of Norwich, Vermont  which was settled by land grantees from Norwich, Connecticut in 1761. In the bucolic little town with a population of less than 4,000 sits the lovely Victorian-style Norwich Inn that is more than worth wandering up to Vermont to spend some time at even if it's just to catch a bite to eat or sample some of the fine ale made at the on-site microbrewery. The history of the inn began some 36 years after the town was formed when Colonel Jasper Murdock, a graduate of Dartmouth College, built his home at what is now the corner of Main Street and Beaver Meadow Road.  Described as an elegant private residence that was one of the finest in the state with its large and attractive grounds, it was there that Colonel Murdock began operating the Norwich In