The quiet of winter

From the editor ~ Jan/Feb 2024

Dear readers,

The quiet of winter — this is what I’ve been telling friends I am most looking forward to these next few months. I love this time of year. I love how the light shifts and takes on a special golden yellow hue for brief moments in the mornings and afternoons; if you don’t pause and appreciate it right then and there, you’ve missed it. And this time of year, snow-laden clouds can abound more often than sunshine, making for mercurial seascapes (another favorite) as you cruise around on a winter drive. I love the air this time of year, too. It’s crisp, and fresh, perfect for long walks, so long as you bundle in your favorite sweaters, wool socks, warm hats and gloves. And when it does snow, familiar streets and walking trails become extra magical — literal winter wonderlands (until you must shovel, or find street parking, but still). The quiet of a snowy morning, especially when you have nowhere else to be, brings with it a calm that eludes other seasons.

I hope by the time this issue — our tenth! — arrives in your hands, you can read it during a quiet moment, wherever or whenever that may be.

In these pages you’ll find a round-up of winter walking trails, for casual hikes or an afternoon spent snowshoeing, paired with the perfect spot to warm up, along with a selection of wellness spaces to indulge in some off-season self-care. And for motivation — and inspiration — our profile subject is a personal trainer and spin instructor who has figured out a healthy balance between work, life and young motherhood. For seasonal nourishment, our food feature this issue takes us into the kitchen of a personal chef, who especially loves winter vegetables and the hearty meals that abound this time of year.

Then we veer into the realms of art and design. There’s a feature on a home renovation project in Portsmouth that led to a stunning overhaul where “mid-century meets disco.” We explore the latest exhibition at the Newport Art Museum, where the work of Iranian artist Arghavan Khosravi is on view, her pieces as vibrant as they are devastating — they reflect on her formative years in Iran and the limited freedoms for women in her homeland. And then we offer a piece of creative writing in the form of a lyric
essay that considers the passing of the seasons, at home here on the coast and while away in the desert,
while musing on life, love and belonging.

All in all, this issue is one of my favorites yet, and I hope you enjoy it, too. Onwards!

Until March,

Helena

Managing Editor

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