Ticks, schmicks. Spend five minutes here, and you won’t be thinking about infectious arachnids. Instead, you’ll be thinking: How can I fit that giant bronze frog sculpture into my trunk? This picture-perfect coastal town of 7,500 is chockablock with art. Located on the east bank of the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound, just off Interstate 95, Old Lyme is about two hours south of Boston. Beginning in the late 1800s, Old Lyme was an arts colony, centered on the emerging American Impressionism movement. Much of the credit goes to Florence Griswold, who took in boarders to keep her family home afloat. One of her guests in summer 1899 was Henry Ward Ranger, a New York artist who helped turn Griswold’s late-Georgian home into a lively zone of artists, artwork, and artistic temperament. Docents share the colorful details as you tour the home, now part of the Florence Griswold Museum. Visitors quickly discover that the Griswold is just the tip of the art-berg.
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It is a great New England autumnal weekend in Old Lyme this weekend. Interior design enthusiasts will find Interior Inspirations 2012 right on historic Lyme Street - designer vignettes by interior designers and a speaker series including author Jane Green, Alexandra Stoddard, Louis Raymond and Larry Laslo among others - see http://www.childandfamilyagency.org/event/interior-inspirations-2012/. October 26-28. Also, families will delight in a Wee Faerie Village - right next door at the Florence Griswold Museum - over 30 miniature faerie dwellings created by artists and designers are nestled among the 11 acres - faerie trail map comes with admission - check www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org for specific events as part of the outdoor exhibition including the October 27th Costume Parade.