The Eddington House Inn

Christmas in Vermont

Though the leaves are just beginning to turn here in Southern Vermont it is not too early to think of making holiday plans.  The Eddington House Inn is offering a new package this holiday season (in addition to our Christmas Tree Package).  This package is the perfect holiday getaway and includes 3 nights, 5 course wine tasting dinner at Pangaea, dinner at Kevin’s, two 60 minute spa treatments, a VT sleigh ride, snowshoeing at Prospect Mountain, daily breakfast & afternoon refreshments, a bottle of wine and even gifts under the tree.  Price is $1o29 per couple based on double occupancy.

Do you want to slip away for the holidays?  Or perhaps plan an escape with your adult children and their spouses?  This White Christmas Package is the getaway for you.

Plein Air Competition 2011 – North Bennington, Vermont

Artists gather in North Bennington Vermont from Tuesday September 6-Sunday September 11 to paint the beautiful landscapes of Vermont in Open Air. The “Plein Air” competition in North Bennington Vermont includes 25 artists and 100 works of art. 

There is a quick draw competition on Saturday September 10 at Park McCullough Estate Carriage Barn, right around the corner from the Eddington House Inn. This  competition is followed by an exhibit and sale.  On Sunday,  there will be a combined exhibit & sale of Plein Air Competition paintings at Taraden Media Barn, just down Park Street from Park McCullough from noon to 4pm.  Prizes are to be awarded at 2pm.

Come see the artistic impressions of the Southern Vermont region as interpreted through the participating painters.

Southern VT Homebrew Festival

Enjoy the beautiful Vermont Fall Foliage and attend this great event in Bennington Vermont on Saturday September 24 from noon -5pm.  Taste beer – Talk beer as homebrewers gather at the Bennington Brush Building on North Street (Rt 7) in downtown Bennington.

Just follow Route 67A from the Eddington House Inn to the intersection of Route 7 and drive south one mile….Brewfest on your right.

Admission is $35 at the door- just $10 for designated drivers.

Tastings throughout the afternoon, Commemorative Tasting Glass, Goody Bags, Food Vendors, Raffles.  Live Music from Hair of the Dog!

Homebrewers visit Bennington Museum site for all forms and information.  Proceeds to benefit the Bennington Museum.

Impressions of New England

The Bennington Center for the Arts is featuring “Impressions of New England” – a visual catalogue of New England that includes seascapes of the coastal regions of Maine and Cape Cod, the pastures and barns of rural New England and familiar well known mountains, streams, ponds and meadows.  Among the works on display and for sale are “Days End, Hog Island Maine” by Steve Hamlin of Huntington Massachusetts.

Enjoy the exhibit at the Bennington Center for the Arts and learn about the history and building of Vermont Covered Bridges at the Covered Bridge Museum located in the same complex.

Bennington Center for the Arts is just 10 minutes from the Eddington House Inn and can be reached by car traversing one of our three covered bridges) into historic Old Bennington Village.

Bennington Center for the Arts is located at 44 Gypsy Lane in Bennington Vermont 05201 (if using a gps). Impressions of New England runs through December 18, 2011.  

Closed on Tuesdays only. 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Adults:  $9.00 Seniors/Students:  $8.00 Families:  $20    
Under 12 are admitted free of charge

The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire.

In addition to Bennington Battle Day activities the Park McCullough Estate will presents its final performance of the Victorian Mystery Playhouse Series for 2011.  Listen and enjoy “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire”, one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is one of the 12 stories in the cycle collected as The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes.

This performance will be held at Park McCullough at 1 Park Street in North Bennington just around the corner from the Eddington House Inn on Tuesday August 16th (Bennington Battle Day) from 7-8:15pm.  Admission free.

 Summer Sundays at Four – August 14th

Shires of Vermont – Summer 2011

Summer season has arrived and those attractions that took a little break for the winter are back in full swing.  I am sharing a quick view of a few of the  great museums and attractions in the Bennington/Manchester area….the Shires of Vermont.   Vermont summers are fabulous, the Southern Vermont area is rich with places to recreate, take in a little history and enjoy the arts. In addition, the scenery is breathtaking.

 Apple Barn & Bake Shop – Open for the season Apples, pies and pastries – Gift Shop Pick your own berries – end of June though early August

Bennington Battle Monument  -Open 9 -5 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. Admission – $2    Elevator to Observation deck and Gift Shop

Bennington Museum – Open daily except Wednesday, Hours 10-5 Admission  $10  Grandma Moses schoolhouse, Sharing Heritage of Southern Vermont

 Bennington Center for the Arts – Vermont Covered Bridge Museum  June – November closed on Tuesdays only – Admission $9 World Class art, history & theatre – history of Covered Bridges

Bennington Potters – Open Daily – Self Guided Tours and Store Hours Monday – Saturday 9:30-6pm, Sunday 10-5 No fee for tours

Hemmings Motor News – Vehicle display open weekends in May; June – October 10-3 pm daily. (November thru April by Appointment only)Sunoco Station & Car Lover’s Store – Cruise Ins – Open daily 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (closed holidays)

 Hildene – Open daily 9:30-4:30 Tour Lincoln Family Home and Gardens

Lake Paran – Open Memorial Day weekend- mid June on WeekendsMid June- through Labor Day daily – Admission $3.50.  Swimming, Canoeing, Special Events

 Mt Anthony Country Club – Open to the Public Seven Days a Week
Golf Course  Open Apr-Nov7 am to 8 pm, Restaurant Open Year Round11 am to 10 pm

Old First Church – Open weekends from Memorial Day weekend to July 1, and daily from July 1 to mid-October Hours:Monday-Saturday: 10 to noon and 1 – 4 p.m. Sundays: 1 – 4 p.m.

Park McCullough Estate – Open Mid-May through mid-October. Historic Home and Garden tour.  Open daily 10-4 – Admission $10

Robert Frost Stone House Museum – Open May 1 through November 30, 2011: Open Tuesday through Sunday (closed on Mondays) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vermont Arts Exchange – Exhibit Open Daily 9-5pm – Free admssion. Special events, Concerts & more.

Remember the Shires of Vermont is an easy getaway –  only 3 hours from NYC or Boston.  So close…. but a world apart.

Keeping up with the Jones

It is Spring in SouthernVermont after a long winter.  Our garden is beginning to sprout bulbs…our cherry tree is amazingly beautiful and our ferns, hostas and soon our amemones will be in full bloom.  However, our next door neighbor’s yard, with its 180 year old perennial gardens, is amazing with lush greenery, bluebells, flowering trees bulbs and the estate’s expansive green lawn which wraps all around our house and barn.  What a fabulous view from our inn especially from our sunny dining room.

Keeping up with the Jones

The neighboring house, barn and grounds have been in the Welling family for generations.  Edward M Welling, who owned a local mill,  built the home on Main Street in North Bennington Village in 1827.  The home’s current resident is Edward’s great, great granddaughter Mary, who married a fine young man, an architect and painter named Kevan Jones (Though our gardens are lovely-”keeping up with the Jones” fine property is difficult).  Mary & Kevan raised their family in upstate New York but moved to North Bennington to care for the estate following Mary’s parents.

The Welling property always looks magnificent and Mary is a wonderful neighbor.  She loves to share the beauty of her beautiful gardens with local residents as well as our guests.

The Prescriptions

VAE does it again.  North Bennington’s own art center presents another fun night of music.  The Basement’s “house band” is back filling the dance floor for their annual rock n roll party.  The Prescriptions will be performing on Saturday March 26 at 8pm at Vermont Arts Exchange on Sage Street in North Bennington Village.  Tickets are available at 800-838-3006.

Enjoy some of the area’s finest musicians delivering the best tunes – Blues, Rock, Funk & Soul…………!!!  Dance the night away. 

An additional treat is CAFE AMBITION! After two first runs of serving sweets and chili during the shows, VAE now offers a light dinner before the show.  Drop by at 7:00 (when doors open), grab your seat, then go to the Cafe for traditional coffee house fare including Soups, Stews (vegetarian or not). A great way to squeeze in dinner before or after the show and relax!  

 Or you can catch an early dinner at Pangaea Lounge or Kevin’s….both within a short walk from the Eddington House and Vermont Arts Exchange.

Maple Sugar Open House Weekend

I just discovered a wonderful website to assist you with your Maple Sugar House visits sponsored by the Bennington County Sugarmakers Association.  This site is www.benningtonmaple.org.  The Bennington County Sugarmakers Association (BCSA) is a group of maple producers who have joined together to share their ideas and their love for making maple products.

Each spring the cold nights and the warm days cause the Maple Sap to flow. Families throughout the county gather that sap, boil it down, and produce some of the best maple syrup in Vermont.

As part of the Vermont Maple Open House weekend the Bennington County Sugarmakers will be hosting their annual “Maple Sunday (Weekend)” on March 19-20, 2011.  Saphouses will be open to the public offering tours, activities, and free samples of syrup. These sugar houses are all located in Bennington County and some just a few miles from the inn.   

So put on your boots and spend the day enjoying Vermont during this unique season.