Think you know your way around the attractions and activities of New England? Tune in to a new public television series “Weekends With Yankee,” and you might discover a whole new list of places to visit — most within a day’s drive from Connecticut.
The 13-episode documentary series premieres Sunday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. locally on CPTV and CPTVHD stations. The series, produced by Yankee magazine and public media network WGBH, uncovers and explores dozens of under-the-radar destinations around New England — many of them known only to locals.
The producers and crew visited all six states in New England, filming Vermont’s Shelburne Museum, Martha’s Vineyard’s historic gingerbread cottages, lobstering in Ogunquit, the Elms mansion in Newport, the loons of Squam Lake in New Hampshire and the historic Scott Farm Orchard in Dummerston, Vt., (which was the setting of the film, “The Cider House Rules”), and dozens of other locales.
Richard Wiese, author of the guidebook, “Born to Explore: How to Be a Backyard Adventurer,” and one of the show’s hosts, says viewers will be surprised at the content.
“I’ve spent the last six years traveling the world. I live in southern New England and vacation in southern New England and still I saw things that blew me away,” says Wiese.
Like WaterFire in Providence, R.I. More than two million people visit each season to stroll the city’s riverbanks and experience the public art installation of more than 80 fires that seem to float on the water.
“It was so unique, so special, so world class,” says Wiese.
And if you think you know all there is to know about an area because, well, it’s in your backyard, Wiese says you should check again.
“Sometimes, when you live somewhere, you take it for granted. You may pass by places every day and never really know their stories,” says Wiese, who lives in Weston.
The Glass House in New Canaan is a good example, says Wiese.
“Weekends With Yankee” taped a tour of Philip Johnson’s unusual architectural creation and interviewed Irene Shum, the Glass House curator and collections manager.
“We were happy to represent Connecticut in this series and to have an opportunity to let people know about this hidden gem,” says Shum. “We’re the only National Trust Historic Site in the state.”
The 49-acre campus, which has 14 structures, including the Glass House, and features a permanent collection of 20th-century painting and sculpture, is open from May through November.
Yankee magazine’s senior food editor, Amy Traverso, who co-hosts the show with Wiese, says the series also highlights New England’s food and dining scene.
“We wanted to take viewers to beautiful locales and explore the food culture,” says Traverso, who grew up in Windsor. “With the produce, the seafood, the cheeses, eating locally is such a treat in New England.”
Other Connecticut highlights include fly fishing on the Mill River in Easton with angler, artist and author James Prosek, falconing at Grace Farms in New Canaan and leaf-peeping in Kent, which Yankee magazine named “the best foliage town in New England.”
“WEEKENDS WITH YANKEE” premieres on Sunday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. on CPTV and CPTVHD stations. A companion website, weekendswithyankee.com, features recipes, video clips and information about the chefs, artisans and locations featured on the series. You can also follow the series on Twitter at @YankeeMagazine.
