Please Tell Me They've Done "The Elephant Man" Here Essex (Google Maps location) June 2016 Connecticut is home to a slew of historic theaters. Many of them offer tours that present the buildings almost as museums - as they should. The idiom "if these walls could talk" applies to every one of these places as much … [Read more...]
RiverQuest Eagle Cruise
Bald Eagles are Essexy RiverQuest Eagle Cruise, Essex February 2020 In February 2022, RiverQuest was purchased by the Connecticut River Museum. There shouldn't be any noticeable changes to the programs. Isn't it crazy that humans did our best to eradicate our country's national symbol? Wouldn't that just have … [Read more...]
Chocolate Geeks
Shot! Shot! Shot! Chocolate Geeks (Formerly Truffle Shots), Essex Feburary 2020 Here we are. Back in Essex. Connecticut's "cutest town." Our "quaintest village." And, of course, "Quintessential Connecticut." Poor Essex, always having to live up to these expectations year after year. And somehow it does … [Read more...]
415. Hills Academy History Center
Pure Justin Bobby Essex (Google Maps location) May 14, 2019 I've mentioned a few times on CTMQ that I used to write for the seminal blog TVgasm. It no longer exists and the owners who bought it wiped the Internet clean of its content. Why? I'll never know. Being a TVgasm writer meant that I watched a lot … [Read more...]
3 Cool Historic Buildings in Essex
A First, An Oldest, and The House Witch Hazel Built Remodeled Essex Essex. Always on everyone’s list when it comes to top 10 Connecticut towns; whether that list is “cutest” or “quaintest” or simply “best.” Heck, it is one of the four Connecticut entries in 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. There … [Read more...]
First Baptist Church (Essex)
Tut, Tut, Calvin First Baptist Church (Essex) I usually give away why I'm dedicating CTMQ space to something in the title or at least a subtitle. But not today! I'm making you READ a few lines! But just a few. The First Baptist Church of Essex, Connecticut is... one of only three Egyptian Revival churches in … [Read more...]
Book Review: 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: Essex!
No, Really! 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: Essex! We’ve all seen these “Before you Die” lists. They are fun until you start thinking about your own mortality and how little time you have left to get to the 1,000 places highlighted in the books. So I make it easy and stick to the Connecticut places I … [Read more...]
CTMQ’s Guide to Essex
Everything Essex I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Essex CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ. If I’ve … [Read more...]
Essex Shad Bake
Don’t Be Shad Annual Shad Bake, Essex June 2, 20017 If you’re reading this, you likely know that the humble shad is Connecticut’s state fish. You’re probably aware that shad runs in the Connecticut River used to support a huge shad industry. And you may have even eaten shad or its roe. (Growing up, I think … [Read more...]
Essex’s Town Trails
Essex’s Town Trails "Essex's?" Is that right? It doesn't look right. But what else could the possessive of Essex be? Essex has an awesome land trust organization with a phenomenal trail guide. In it, they helpfully include the three (more like two-and-a-half) town of Essex properties as well. I've mentioned … [Read more...]