Spring 2012 Issue of The Putnam Traveler

Spring is here (a bit early this year)! The businesses of northeastern Connecticut are sprucing up their storefronts, adding new inventory, updating menus (to include locally grown items) and many are making plans for some unique events to entertain residents and visitors throughout the season.

The popular First Fridays events will kick off May 4th @ 6pm in Downtown Putnam. Enjoy art exhibits & demonstrations, live performances, and entertainment for everyone. 85 Main's 4th Annual Shuck-Off event will take place on May 6th from 12-6pm in Rotary Park.

Dine outdoors, patios will no doubt be open early this year. If you enjoy shopping, go for a wine tasting at Taylor Brooke Winery or spruce up your wardrobe with a visit to Coco's Cottage, both located in Woodstock. For the adventurous type, check out the new inventory at Danielson Adventure Sports and so much more!

INSIDE

A calendar of events…Local advertisers…Map of Downtown Putnam

This issue features Fine Lines...fine functional, artistic furniture & cabinetry plus custom-made electric guitars...Celebrating 75 years of friendly service Deary Bros./Mike's Stand is both a family ritual and a community tradition...don't miss the grand opening April 13th...Who says lunch has to be boring? Linny's Gourmet Deli & Sweet Shop...located in Brooklyn features a fabulous lunch menu offering gourmet deli sandwiches and thirty-nine varieties of cupcakes & treats!

No matter what your budget or situation....the team at Weiss & Hale can help you manage your finances and 'Live Well' through all the changes in your life...Nichola Johnson....owner of The Complex of Performing Arts in Putnam...thinks art is for everyone and she is working hard to introduce art to those who never considered themselves to be 'artistic.' And ladies...do you wish you had a personal shopper? Be sure to visit Carol Perkins and Cynthia Saari at Coco's Cottage in Woodstock...finding what is right for you is their specialty!

Read the current issue here.

Winter Issue of the Putnam Traveler

Read all about happenings in CT's Quiet Corner in PDF form at the Putnam Traveler Newspaper!

Here's a sneak peek:

INSIDE

A calendar of events…Local advertisers…Map of Downtown Putnam

Discover The Wyndham Land Trust...since 1975, through local donations, the WLT has preserved over 2,000 acres of land in eight towns across northeastern Connecticut...and their good work continues...

This spring the ever-popular Warrior Dashcomes to the Thompson Speedway in Thompson...Sign up, form a team, get fit, and have some fun with your family and friends as you test the limits of your body and mind!

Want to feel your best everyday?...Chiropractic Care is the Art, Science and Philosophy of Helping the Body Heal...and Dr. Burns is our local expert...

Read all about Paul Kelly, of Kelly’s Tires in Putnam, and learn how he became passionate about restoring vintage automobiles...

Art continues to flourish in the Quiet Corner...in September, 2011, Putnam became home to a new kind of art gallery called Functional Art...owned and operated by Danielle Frost Boies, this family-run business features the work of local artisans including house wares, textiles, pottery, handbags, scarves, jewelry, accessories, children’s clothes, gifts and more!

Putnam Traveler Fall 2011 Issue Is Here

Goodbye heat and humidity (and tropical storms) …HELLO Autumn! Time to throw on your jacket and enjoy Connecticut's Quiet Corner and the Last Green Valley in all their beauty!


Do you enjoy dogs? Visit the Labrador show at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds. Do you like art? Come to Putnam for First Fridays or enjoy an Artists’ Open Studio Tour. Ready for some Christmas shopping? Local shops, restaurants, spas, and wineries offer unique gifts for the whole family. 


Want to explore the great outdoors? Visit the Connecticut Audubon Center in Pomfret or join the Last Green Valley Walktober events happening throughout the month of October. Like to eat? Northeastern Connecticut is home to gourmet restaurants and fun little eateries. All of this with a backdrop of rolling hills, farms & agriculture, and historic architecture…why would you want to go anywhere else?

What's Inside the Fall 2011 Issue?

A calendar of events…Local advertisers…Map of Downtown Putnam

RAW...skateboarding makes a comeback in Putnam...

The Brooklyn Fairgrounds is host to theLabrador Retriever Club’s National Specialty Event in October... this event is expected to draw over One Million dollars to the area...

The Lois Orswell Grassland Bird Conservation Center is open for business inPomfret...Over 200 species of birds have been observed in the Bafflin Sanctuary...

The Weekend Planner...an itinerary of things to see & do...

Dear Santa...community members share their wish lists providing some great ideas for shopping locally...

Leslie Sweetnam...captures the beauty of the region through aerial photography...andthe Exchange Club of Northeastern Connecticut celebrates 50 years and over $500,000 in donations to the local community...

Don't Miss!

Gallery Opening Reception and Artist Talk  at Sawmill Pottery, Downtown Putnam, by Potter Mark Zellers, October 7th (opening reception 5-8, artist's talk 7:30); the October Beer Fest, Ocotober 5th at JD Coopers, to benefit the domestic violence prevention initiative...and so much more! See our Calendar for lots of events.

We hope all of our readers enjoy the Putnam Traveler and that you will support the local businesses of northeaster Connecticut this holiday season and throughout the year!

Putnam Car Cruise Update & More

Some updates before the Fall 2011 issue of the Putnam Traveler Newspaper comes out...

First, we hope everyone affected by Hurricane Irene is safe and happy to have their power restored. Thanks to all the crews who came from other states to help clear roads and get the Quiet Corner back on the grid!

Please note that, after being rained out in August, the Putnam Car Cruise will be held September 25th. Don't miss it!

On August 24th, there was a nice travel feature by Paul Stern on the Quiet Corner in the Windsor, CT, edition of Patch.com. Here's how it began: "Quiet, Yes; Boring, No Way... Connecticut's Quiet Corner holds lots of excitement and satisfaction for day trippers."

Here is some news from people, places and businesses featured in our Summer 2011 issue.

If you need a kayak or are interested in the sport, check out  Five Mile Outfitters in Danielson. Manager Lance Collins gives us his update: "I am looking to do a BLACK FRIDAY (and after that a "blue" week sale) the end of November. For next year, I am working on (1) Paddle for a Cure (most likely June 9, 2012). (2) fishing tournament around Father's Day (3) a demo day sometime in May (4) and I'm also working on some kind of race." See Facebook updates for Five Mile Outfitters here...

Coriander Cafe in Eastford was also featured in our last issue. Brett Laffert, one of three brothers who own & operate the establishment, offers some good news: "We have completed the deck and we've been enjoying it immensely." This writer has had lunch on the deck, and it's a nice way to spend an afternoon. Great food and fun watching the charming dance of life at the crossroads of a rural New England town... Don't miss the baked goods. Yum.

Laffert also wants folks to know about an Eastford event, open to all. "Eastford is having an agricultural festival on September 10," says Laffert, "and we are having a craft and food fair. We will have about 10 craftspeople represented along with great food from our wood fired oven including pizzas!" The event is from 11am to 4pm. All the details will likely show up on Coriander Cafe's Facebook page.

Finally, if you haven't already enjoyed Putnam's First Fridays, get yourself downtown the first Friday of every month starting at 5PM for art, entertainment, food, vendors & lots more.

Please stay tuned for the Fall Issue of the Putnam Traveler, which is due out in early October. We have lots of great stories to tell about the "Not-So-Quiet" Corner.

Summer 2011 Issue of The Putnam Traveler

Main Street Car Cruise in Putnam, CT

Sorry for the confusion...

DON'T MISS THE MAIN STREET CAR CRUISE in Downtown Putnam on August 14th (not August 6th)!

Our Summer 2011 Issue Features:

The Farmer’s Market in Putnam...now open Saturdays with new vendors and products available throughout the season...

Rent or buy a kayak at Five Mile Outfitters in Danielson, CT

A Place to Paddle...kayaking is now easier than ever...rent or ‘try before you buy’ at Five Mile Outfitters in Danielson...

Putnam’s Summer Events... see a listing, including Riverfires, the Main Street Car Cruise and the Big Dog Show...this listing makes it easy to ‘save the date’ plus The Weekend Planner...an itinerary of things to see & do!

The Laffert Brothers, owners of Coriander in Eastford, CT

Discover Coriander...Eastford’s newest cafe, general store and natural community center...run by the Laffert brothers...

First Fridays...Putnam is celebrating art & culture the first friday of every month (May-December)...come downtown and enjoy live entertainment, art exhibits, and music all evening long...

Celebrating Agriculture...a fabulous agricultural event forthe whole family...

We-Lik-It Ice Cream Stand...selected as the ‘Editor’s Choice’ by Yankee Magazine...and Sawmill Pottery’s Summer Workshops for all ages & abilities...and so much more

Read all about it in the current issue of The Putnam Traveler here...

Putnam Traveler Spring 2011 Issue

Spring has sprung! The Spring 2001 Issue of the Putnam Traveler is packed with ways to enjoy northeastern Connecticut this spring. From kayaking, hiking, and bird watching to tea events and art exhibits–there is something here for everyone. Downtown Putnam hosts an array of events to bring residents and visitors together including the Annual Oyster “Shuck-Off” and the ever popular Riverfires. If you are ready to get your hands in the dirt, visit area nurseries for traditional and organic plants, and take a tour of Fort Hill Farm’s Lavender Labyrinth. 

A feature article introduces Dr. Murray Buttner's Quiet Corner Family Practice... which is taking medicine ‘back the future’...

In addition to the information presented in the article, Dr. Buttner wants people to understand that "...this is not insurance.  It is direct pay primary care.  The model goes by several names: direct pay, micropractice, or concierge medicine.  I like the term micropractice.  There are a small but growing number of docs doing this in CT.  Also, I am one of the few primary care docs in the community who is still taking care of his own patients when they need to be admitted to the hospital."

Discover the newly opened Tea Room at Celebrations Gallery & Gift Shoppes... tea events are planned throughout the season...’sometimes fancy, sometimes funky, but always festive’...

Celebrations' Owner Jean Barton: "Thank you to all at The Putnam Traveler for the great story on our newly opened tea room. We have already received many inquiries from people reading the article! Just love the in-depth stories and the local coverage on seasonal events happening in the area. Customers looking to learn more about our corner of Connecticut happily snatch one up as they are leaving to continue discovering all we have to offer in the Quiet Corner."

Also in the current issue of the Putnam Traveler...A calendar of events…Local advertisers…Map of Downtown Putnam plus...

Discover Panache...Putnam’s Premier Vintage & Consignment Boutique...owner Linda McWilliam has revamped and updated inventory with new and like-new clothing, shoes, housewares and more...Don’t miss the 3rd Annual Oyster “Shuck-Off” now held at Rotary Park on May 1st, followed by this year’s first River Fire drawing thousands of visitors to downtown Putnam...

Got spring fever?...be sure to visit Fort Hill Farms located in Thompson...for organic lavender, gem mining, plants and Farmer’s Cow Ice Cream...also find a listing of area nurseries for a variety of plants and expert advice...the Putnam Traveler’s Weekend Planner is designed to give you ideas for your visit to northeastern Connecticut...the Spring ‘To Do’ List provides readers with locations for kayaking, canoeing and hiking along with a listing of outdoor events for all ages...and learn about the Spring Artists Collaborative event hosted by Artists in the Country...and more!

To Read the current issue of the Putnam Traveler Newspaper here. 

Welcome to The Putnam Traveler Blog!

The award-winning Putnam Traveler newspaper was developed in 2004 to promote tourism, business & community events throughout northeastern Connecticut. Since then, the paper has doubled in size and has gained recognition by readers from as far away as Texas! The paper has also been recognized by the Northeastern Economic Developers Association (NEDA) and achieved ‘excellence’ in their Annual Publications Award Competition.


The Putnam Traveler features the local businesses, events, and people who make this area so unique. Our goal is to inform visitors and residents of the opportunities northeastern Connecticut offers for shopping, dining, recreational activities, and community events. Area businesses have been very supportive by continuously advertising in the Putnam Traveler and for this we are very thankful. We give back to advertisers and the community by providing articles that feature them and community events on our calendar page. We invite all businesses, artists, real estate agents and others to help us promote northeastern Connecticut as a great place to live work and visit!

The Putnam Traveler is published by Jim & Kelly Tourtellotte, owners of GDPublishing, LLC (a graphic design and publishing agency) located in Putnam. As lifelong residents of northeastern Connecticut, we are proud to work with local vendors and writers. The paper is printed by Proforma 101 Business Solutions of Brooklyn and distributed by the Laser Letter Shop of Pomfret. Our writers–Cris Cadiz of Pomfret, Nancy Weiss of Pomfret, and Dot Burnworth of Brooklyn–are all long time residents of northeastern Connecticut, each with a unique perspective of the area.

The Putnam Traveler is distributed quarterly to 10K households in Woodstock, Putnam and Pomfret. It is also delivered to businesses throughout northeastern Connecticut, and into Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is also available to online readers for additional exposure.

The Putnam Traveler is a labor of love. We appreciate the support we receive each issue and we hope to continue the tradition for years to come!