Claire's and Hardwick Happenings

From Kristina.

Greetings!
What a week! The colorful leaves on the trees are hanging on and the sky is blue and the sun is warm - perfect leaf peeping weather. And the peepers are out in force. I met one woman last week from California who had never seen fall foliage. She was so excited she could hardly contain herself. Vermont sure puts on a good show!

Music Notes: This Thursday at 7:30 PM Jeremy Raboin will be serenading us with his guitar and very nice voice. He dropped by Claire's one afternoon with his guitar and started playing. We loved it. One of our waitstaff commented - "I'll work the night he's playing!" So, we booked him. Come on down and join us for another great night of food and music.

Cooking on Main Street: It's hard to pick out just a few of Steven's incredible menu items to highlight each week. I love hearing people try to express how delicious the food is. What we hear most is how intricately and beautifully blended the flavors are. One particular dish where Steven wows diners is his Vegetable Pot Pie. Fall squash from Riverside and Harvest Hill Farms, peppers and onions from Pete's Greens, leeks from up the road in Craftsbury, and garlic, all stewed in white wine and butter under a Flint corn crust. Not to be missed.

Book Notes: This Tuesday, October 14, Vermont mystery writer Archer Mayer will be reading from his new installment "The Catch" at the Galaxy Bookshop starting at 7 PM. I have been addicted to his mysteries forever and I love when he comes to town. As always, come on by Claire's for dinner before or dessert afterwards.

Social Notes: A singles group for local folks over 45 is forming in the Hardwick area. They will be meeting at Claire's on Sunday October 19 from 4-6 PM. The goal of the event is for folks to get together and make friends and organize activities. So, if you're over 45 and single, come on by for a drink and a bite to eat. Claire's of course will still be open to all on this day, so you can still come to dinner even if you are not single or over 45. :)

Energy Event: Friday, October 17, at 6:3pm - "THE POWER OF COMMUNITY - HOW CUBA SURVIVED PEAK OIL" will be screened at Hazen Union High School in Hardwick. Admission is free. The film focuses on Cuba's process of transition to a sustainable society as a result of their loss of fuel when the Soviet Union collapsed. The goal of this film is to give hope to the developed world as it wakes up to the consequences of an oil dependent culture. There will be a forum following film led by Vermont peak oil educator Carl Etnier, as well as a presentation of information from HEART (Hardwick Energy Awareness Resource Team), about local community initiatives to conserve oil.

Art Notes: Just a reminder that Lois Eby's beautiful paintings will grace our walls until November 4. Those are her paintings in the New York Times photograph of Claire's. You can read up on Lois and her work at http://www.loiseby.com/.

We are welcoming leaf peepers and others to Claire's this afternoon from 1 - 4 for coffee and dessert. If you are in the neighborhood, come by and say hi.

I think that's all for now. Peace.