Annie Bananie opens to beat heat and recession

Ann McAndrew and Dave Fairty, co-owners of Backcountry Outfitters, have been facing the same challenges as many other retailers in this troubled economy.

“Our inventory isn’t really selling well, partially because of the economy and also because some of our manufacturers are now selling directly to the consumer,� McAndrew said. “We needed to do something. We wanted to sell something that is wallet friendly and something you could not sell on the Internet.�

That something turned out to be ice cream. So, after a few modifications to the store, including the installation of an ice cream parlor, stools and a freezer, Annie Bananie Ice Cream Shoppe was born.

McAndrew said the store has all the offerings a good ice cream parlor ought to have including 14 flavors of ice cream, several flavors of sorbet and fixings for several types of sundaes.

“Right out of the gate, Cookie Monster is the most popular flavor,� McAndrew said. “It’s a combination of vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip cookies, all colored blue. We also have chocolate mint tornado sundaes and many other flavors, which change every week and we’re open to suggestions. We get our ice cream from SoCo Creamery in Great Barrington.�

But why the name, “Annie Bananie�?

“Because that’s what my dad called me when I was growing up,� she said. “When we were talking about names, that popped into my head. It’s a good omen because my dad always taught us to work hard, be independent and have a good time. Annie Bananie is all about having a good time.�

The store also serves espresso, cappuccino and Harney and Sons teas. There are plans to expand the menu in the near future.

Annie Bananie is at 5 Bridge St., in the same building as Backcountry Outfitters. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. The hours will expand after Memorial Day. For more information, call 860-927-3377.
 

Latest News

Club baseball at Fuessenich Park

Travel league baseball came to Torrington Thursday, June 26, when the Berkshire Bears Select Team played the Connecticut Moose 18U squad. The Moose won 6-4 in a back-and-forth game. Two players on the Bears play varsity ball at Housatonic Valley Regional High School: shortstop Anthony Foley and first baseman Wes Allyn. Foley went 1-for-3 at bat with an RBI in the game at Fuessenich Park.

 

  Anthony Foley, rising senior at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, went 1-for-3 at bat for the Bears June 26.Photo by Riley Klein 

 
Siglio Press: Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature

Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.

Richard Kraft

Siglio Press is a small, independent publishing house based in Egremont, Massachusetts, known for producing “uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.” Founded and run by editor and publisher Lisa Pearson, Siglio has, since 2008, designed books that challenge conventions of both form and content.

A visit to Pearson’s airy studio suggests uncommon work, to be sure. Each of four very large tables were covered with what looked to be thousands of miniature squares of inkjet-printed, kaleidoscopically colored pieces of paper. Another table was covered with dozens of book/illustration-size, abstracted images of deer, made up of colored dots. For the enchanted and the mystified, Pearson kindly explained that these pieces were to be collaged together as artworks by the artist Richard Kraft (a frequent contributor to the Siglio Press and Pearson’s husband). The works would be accompanied by writings by two poets, Elizabeth Zuba and Monica Torre, in an as-yet-to-be-named book, inspired by a found copy of a worn French children’s book from the 1930s called “Robin de Bois” (Robin Hood).

Keep ReadingShow less
Cycling season: A roundup of our region’s rentals and where to ride them

Cyclists head south on the rail trail from Copake Falls.

Alec Linden

After a shaky start, summer has well and truly descended upon the Litchfield, Berkshire and Taconic hills, and there is no better way to get out and enjoy long-awaited good weather than on two wheels. Below, find a brief guide for those who feel the pull of the rail trail, but have yet to purchase their own ten-speed. Temporary rides are available in the tri-corner region, and their purveyors are eager to get residents of all ages, abilities and inclinations out into the open road (or bike path).

For those lucky enough to already possess their own bike, perhaps the routes described will inspire a new way to spend a Sunday afternoon. For more, visit lakevillejournal.com/tag/bike-route to check out two ride-guides from local cyclists that will appeal to enthusiasts of many levels looking for a varied trip through the region’s stunning summer scenery.

Keep ReadingShow less