Direct to Your Door: Weekly Round-Up with Deb

There are so many things that pique my interest on any given week, depending on the time of year and what is happening in the world, so I am starting a new feature called “Direct to Your Door” where I will share at least one interesting history tidbit and photograph, and then link up to some things that have been on my radar. Hope you enjoy, but as always feel free to leave any suggestions in the comments!

Imagine my surprise walking through the Kay-Catherine Historic District in Newport, RI when I stumbled across this beautiful home with a large Santa plaque hanging on the porch. It is Christmastime, so it could be just a decoration, but upon closer inspection I read the words “Clement C. Moore, Author of “A Visit to Saint Nicholas”, better known today as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”. Here is a closer look:

While Moore lived in Newport during the summers, his main residence was in New York and it is believed that is where he wrote his famous poem. Moore died in Newport in July of 1863 but is buried in New York. His former home is now subdivided into apartments, but it is clearly well cared for. You can also see Moore’s Newport desk at the Museum of Newport History, pictured below.

I love learning random bits of history like that, don’t you? Now here are a few things on my radar!

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• This carpool karaoke video with Mariah Carey, James Corden, and many others singing Mariah’s Christmas classic “All I Want for Christmas is You” gives me life. Do you recognize all the artists in the video? I may or may not have watched it multiple times in the last week.
• Have you seen this holiday commercial yet? I’m not crying, you’re crying!
• Did you know that the pineapple is a symbol of hospitality, and it once signified great wealth and status? It is the official symbol of Newport, RI. If you love all things pineapple, here are a few items for your home that you might enjoy.
• I have trouble finding nice holiday gift wrap every year. I just don’t find the quality at local big box stores to be very good. I have discovered so many adorable options on Etsy.
• Are you a child of the ’80s? Catch this version of “Do They Know It’s Christmastime?” at Live Aid in 1985. It is bittersweet since a few of these beautiful artists are no longer with us.
• Read any good books lately? I just finished “A Place for Us” by Fatima Farheen Mirza. I highly recommend it!
• If you are local to Connecticut, I just went on a wonderful tour called “Three Centuries of Christmas” at the Webb-Deane-Steven’s museum in Wethersfield, CT. Three historic homes are decorated for the holidays as they would have been in three different centuries. The decorations are beautiful, but I also enjoyed learning about the history of our Christmas traditions. The tour runs through January, so click here if you want to learn more.
• Speaking of Wethersfield, a new Hallmark movie just aired featuring the Silas W. Robbins House in Wethersfield, as well as a number of other Wethersfield locations. Check out “Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane”. I’m not gonna lie – it was pretty cheesy! But hey, what Hallmark movie isn’t a little cheesy? Good clean fun and I enjoyed seeing one of my favorite towns on-screen.
• Have you heard the hubbub about the Christmas holiday standard “Baby, It’s Cold Outside?” I don’t want to get all controversial here, but this song is one of my all time favorites! Read the New York Times article and tell me what you think. Has it run its course?
• Still need a few holiday gifts? I am obsessed with these vintage travel posters from throughout New England. Maybe there is one from your hometown, your state, or your favorite vacation spot!

That wraps things up for now! What’s on your radar these days?

[x_author title=”About the Author”]

Deb Cohen

My name is Deb Cohen, and I am a lifelong resident of Connecticut, a lover of all things historic and New England, and a realtor who helps buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals and dreams. When I’m not working, I enjoy life with my husband, our two adult children, and our two rescue pups. Renovating and decorating our historic home, dating to 1800, is another favorite pastime.