The Lost Ski Areas Project began as a twinkle in the eye of a curious teenager. Twelve-year-old Jeremy Davis was heading to North Conway, New Hampshire, from his home in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, on his first big family ski trip. He had just fallen in love with the sport and was keenly interested in all its aspects. Driving up Route 16 through West Ossipee, the family passed under the old gondola cable of the closed Mt. Whittier ski area. Later on the same trip, Davis spied Tyrol, another closed resort, from the summit of Black Mountain.... Read more

Some folks get their thrills from garage-sale finds -- an original Fiestaware plate for $5, an original Elvis 8-track for 50 cents, that sort of thing. Other bargain lovers surf the Net for half-price closeouts and overstocks. Me, I hunt for cheap groceries at the crash-and-dent stores. That's what my mother-in-law called the places selling an ever-changing assortment of goods with damaged packaging. My best find to date was six large bottles of Newman's Balsamic Vinaigrette, the salad dressing of choice for garden greens at our house. Regular chain-store cost: $3.29 each.... Read more

A new legend of Sleepy Hollow is being created in the town of Huntington. So far, there have been no reports of headless cross-country skiers -- just increasing numbers of happy winter sports fans waxing poetic about the pleasures of this reborn resort.... Read more