Open Forum: Ride Sharing, Music, Questions, Etc.

Post here if you are looking for a ride, able to give a ride, looking for a musician to accompany you on a song, looking to borrow camping gear, etc.  Use the Add Comment link below here.  Please read the comments to see if you can help another guest out with their question as well!

Some Useful Info: Approaching a Snapshot of the Weekend

Music: Everyone who knows us is probably already aware that music is a huge part of our both of our lives.  Yelping Hill also has a long tradition of folk singing and musical celebration.  So needless to say we are planning to have music be a central part of our wedding weekend. 

Friday night, as many evenings at Yelping Hill go, after we eat, drink, and make merry, we'll break out instruments and play songs of all kinds.  Nothing is off limits, and everyone is welcome to participate.  Come armed with an instrument if you would like, come with a favorite song, or just join the fun.  It will be a guitar-passing sort of night.  For those less inclined to participate, you will have plenty of company, food and drink to have just as much fun without the singing; don't worry we won't force you!

Saturday after the ceremony, we decided to open up this part of the evening to you, our esteemed guests, to play a song, recite poetry, or give a toast (or roast) in any way you feel like ... and we highly encourage it!  So many talents go unseen far too often, so here's a perfect chance for 5 minutes of fame which will also add tremendously to the fun, love and laughter of the weekend. 

Clothing:  Barring rain, the events of the weekend will be mostly outside. The mood will be relaxed and festive, dressing up is not required but welcome, and for those of you who really like to dress up, think Great Gatsby in the country:  Croquet, linen suits, Derby hats, pastel colors; Yelping Hill was built in 1922 so what could be more perfect?!). High heels are discouraged -- at least really tall sharp heels Bathing suits are a must because missing a swim in Cream Hill Lake would be a tragedy; so towels as well! Bring some layers, it can get chilly at night. Also, for those of you who want to explore the trails and woods on Saturday, or go for a jog on West Cornwall's beautiful country roads, bring your running shoes, it's a stunningly beautiful place. 

Alcohol: We're planning an abundance of wine and beer, and a few hard alcohol staples.  However, if you really love your gin or whiskey we recommend bringing along your favorite bottle.

Friday Night Dinner, We are asking that everyone who is going to be in attendance to please bring a bottle of wine.  This would be a tremendous help to us.  

Friday, August 13th, 4pm Cocktail Hour at the Lake: If you come early enough on Friday to join us at the Lake, Ben's sister Amanda is hosting a fancy cocktail hour at the Cream Hill Lake to get the party started out right.  Bring your suits and towels.  

At this point, you are probably thinking you could really use a Map.   Don't worry, Maps will soon follow!  

Gift Suggestions

A lot of you have been asking for direction relating to wedding gifts / where we are registered: 

Option 1:  Just come to the Wedding - your presence is gift enough!

Option 2:  Anything of your choosing.  


Here are some more ideas and you can choose from them or be inspired by them.

Option 3:   Handmade Patio Furniture by Friend and Furnituremaker Chris Loomis
Our good friend Chris Loomis is a woodworker and builder of custom furniture, and has offered his skills and services to help furnish our new outdoor space in Philadelphia. Chris has offered to make us 6 chairs and 1 patio table, if you are so inclined to gift them

to us:  He'll make each of the 6 patio chairs for $250 and the table for $500.  Please send Chris an email before sending him money, explaining that you would like to buy us 1 chair, or 1 table, etc.  (Just so you know, buying 1/2 a chair or 1/2 a table is a welcome gift too!)  Chris will let you know if his order is complete, and he'll let you know how to pay him.

 Option 4:  Donate to our Renovate-The-Loft Fund:

When we have the money to do so, we will expand our living area into this great 40'x36' raw loft space.  Currently it is very ... raw. But we have great plans for it.  

Big windows will go here, and a sunny walkway up to the Cupola where there will be lots of plants, and a spare bedroom for you to visit us. 

Option 5:  We have made a Web Registry where we listed a few household things that are also affordable.  Visit it by clicking here:  

So... Feel free to do any of the above!  We'll be happy just to celebrate with you.

August 13-15th, 2010 in West Cornwall, CT

Welcome to our Wedding Blog. We'll call it a Wog.  
We're looking forward to celebrating with all of you - our loved ones - and hope you can all make it to the woods of CT. 


The Location: Yelping Hill

Yelping Hill is located in the Berkshire foothills in Northwest Connecticut just outside the town of West Cornwall. It is a collectively owned and operated community that was founded in 1922. There are approximately twenty families who hold leaseholds at Yelping Hill, some families for three generations. 

This photo (above) is of the Riesman cabin, taken from the edge of the large meadow where the ceremony will take place.

In this photo, the Barn, where many of the weekend activities will take place, was originally the community's meeting house and kitchen. The cabins themselves were built without private kitchens and the members would all dine together in the Barn. Many of the cabins now do have functional kitchens, but the Barn is still the site of communal holiday weekend meals, plays, readings, music, etc.  In August, there should be leaves on the trees.

Accomodations

There are a wide range of possibilities at Yelping Hill or in the surrounding areas. Ranging from camping in a tent-village at Yelping Hill (with bathroom nearby) to quaint Bed & Breakfasts, there are a lot of possibilities for every budget. Since it's sometimes difficult to figure out lodging from afar, Ben's sister, Amanda Riesman is serving as "housing coordinator" or perhaps "shepherd" is the right term. If you are thinking about trying to book a room, you are strongly encouraged to email her at amandadora@riesman.com

If you wish to snoop around on your own, here are a list of possibilities in the area:

Cathedral Pines
Cornwall Village
http://cathedralpinesfarm.com/ 
860-672-6747 John & Nancy Calhoun 
$255 per night 
Two rooms with private bath


Amy de Neergaard Buck
Cornwall Village
adbuck@optonline.net 
860 672-6589 
6 bedroom house 
100/night per room 


Cornwall Inn
Cornwall Bridge
http://www.cornwallinn.com/index.html 
860.672.6884 
13 rooms $169-$189 (2 brm suite $239) includes breakfast Stacy


Breadloaf Mountain Lodge
Cornwall Bridge
http://www.breadloafmountainlodge.com/ 
(860) 672-6064 Terri &  Marty 
5 cottages/1 lodge ~$300/night


The Amselhaus
Cornwall Bridge
http://theamselhaus.com/
860-248-3155 
Robin Vogel  
2 units, 3 bdrms each 600 & 675/wknd


Hitching Post
Cornwall Bridge
http://www.cthitchingpostmotel.com/ 
860-672-6219 12 bdrms $95-$125 2-night min 
Mr. Petel




BEYOND CORNWALL 
Mary Stuart House
Goshen   http://www.marystuarthouse.com/index.html (860) 491-2260
Simmon's Way
Millerton, NY    http://www.simmonsway.com (518) 789-6235 
Wake Robin Inn
Lakeville   http://www.wakerobininn.com/ 860-435-2000
Locust Tree
Canaan   http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/connecticut-canaan-locusttreebedandbreakfast.html 860-824-7163
Hopkin's Inn
Warren  http://www.thehopkinsinn.com/newsite/Welcome.html 860 868-7295




Order of Events


Friday, Aug13th 7pm 
Dinner at the Barn, Music and Bonfire (weather permitting)
Everyone is invited, and encouraged to show up anytime on Friday.  At Yelping Hill there's a longstanding tradition of playing music around the campfire, so If you are a musician, feel free to bring an instrument and a song, and if you are a music-lover, bring your love of music and be ready to have a good time.   About the Dinner:  We'll feed anyone and everyone who shows up  (and it'll be good!). We'd love it if you could include in your RSVP a yes or no if you plan on coming for dinner on Friday for the right amount of food.  


Saturday, Aug 14th 9-11am  
Pancake Breakfast at the Barn.  Hosted by friend and neighbor Dave Cadwell, famously and formerly of Cadwell's Corner, the best breakfast place this side of the Housatonic...  Dave will serve up a wopping batch of his signature pancakes with real maple syrup (yes, he taps his own trees)


Croquet, Horseshoes, Swimming at the Lake, and other appetite-building activities will follow.  


3:30pm Ceremony in the Riesman meadow.  


4:30pm Reception begins down at the Barn.  
Cocktails & Musical Toasts.   Friends are encouraged to bring an instrument and dedicate a song to Ben and Catherine.   All talent levels are encouraged to participate.  A house guitar, mic and PA will be available.  Collaborations with accompanists are possible.  More info to follow.


6:30pm Dinner and revelry into the night.


Sunday, Aug 15th 9:30am 
Breakfast at the Barn


Please join us at the lake before you leave

----


RSVP!


We love you all and you are strongly encouraged to come and be with us for our weekend celebration.  But if you can't make it, this is understood and you are forgiven in advance.  Either way, Please Respond to birdsallriesman@gmail.com  at your earliest convenience (hopefully before the 1st of May).  Please also indicate whether or not you plan on coming on Friday night for dinner.  


Thanks...


to Suzanne and Amanda Riesman, Mark and Laura Birdsall, and the entire Yelping Hill community.  We'd also like to thank Josh Dubler and Lisa Cerami, who had a wonderful Wedding at Yelping Hill last summer, and from whom we are borrowing many things, including wine glasses, plates, as well as ideas and entire passages of text.