Photos from my book signing in Madison, CT and a great dinner
Last Thursday, I attended a book signing at RJ Julia , a fantastic bookstore located in the charming shoreline town of Madison, Connecticut. It was the very first signing for my latest book, Martha Stewart's Cupcakes. It was a very successful visit and I signed more than 600 books! If you enjoy cupcakes, this is a must-have cookbook, which features 175 ideas for every occasion. Cupcakes are, after all, a classic dessert - a small and perfect indulgence that's a favorite among adults and children alike. Plus, cupcakes are delightful for any occasion - from an after-school snack or picnic to an elegant wedding. They'll never go out of style!
After the signing, my team and I were hungry and I remembered an unusual restaurant in nearby Guilford, Connecticut called The Place. I discovered The Place early in the 1960's, when I was a young bride and my husband and I were living in a rental house nearby. At that time, it was known as Whitey's and was run by Whitey, a Popeye look-alike. We would often stop there to savor roasted lobster, clams, mussels, and corn on the cob. Dining was rustic and alfresco.  Whitey was proud of his sign that read, "There's no place, anything like this place, anywhere near this place, so this must be the place." In the early 1970's brothers Gary and Vaughn Knowles bought Whitey's and renamed it The Place. I am happy to say that, with the exception of the now congested surroundings, very little has changed at this quirky and fun eatery.
Good morning Martha!
They are really lucky to meet you and buy a signed copy. I am ordering your book from Martha Stewart Store online. I really wish I can purchase a signed copy, since I live in Kuwait unable to attend any of your signing events.
I tried to call you on the phone to your live radio show last night from 4:00PM EST, 11 pm our time, unfortunately lines were very busy. I hope that I will be able to talk to you next week.
God bless you
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | June 9th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Where will I know the upcoming event? I look forward to book signing in greater Boston.
Posted by: Carrie | June 9th, 2009 at 7:13 am
Great pictures! Am I imaging things, or is Rock back from Iraq and resuming his career with you and your company. If so, please pass on my best wishes for a safe return and thanks from all my family for his service.
CStevenson
Ohio
Posted by: C Stevenson | June 9th, 2009 at 7:24 am
I love this blog -
Martha - I think you rock!
Posted by: Amy Lomasney | June 9th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Martha-
Beautiful new book-Congratulations! I love cupcakes any day, for any reason.
Hope you have a contest on THE MARTHA BLOG to win a copy. A copy signed by you would be so fantastic.
My cookbook collection is over 1,000 books and some are definitely out of print. But a new one is always welcome to the collection.
Much success to you with this new book. Warmest Wishes,
Meg
Posted by: Meg Gould | June 9th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Hi Martha (with the mighty forearm!...all that book signing!).
'The Popeye look-alike'! Ha! I suppose it's not *what* you say but it's that you would remember someone like Mr. Whitey and his very special *place*.
Had to laugh, too, at his signage! It reminded me of a guy in South Florida whose muffler shop had a sign that read,"I'm the *nobody* that beats Midas." Ha!
You know what *they* say...'Marketing is everything!'
And more praise to you and yours for yet another great book...Cupcakes. Well done Martha & Co.!
Posted by: tinay | June 9th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Wonderful photos! Thank you.
I am delighted to see Rock back from Iraq!
Posted by: Kimberley | June 9th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Welcome home Rock. Good job with the extra towels. BYOB and BYOtowels.
Posted by: Margie | June 9th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Hi Martha,
The person in picture #14 has the right idea. He/she probably got the best picture of you through the window with no one in the way! I'm with Amy - I also love this blog and well, okay, you rock! I think you're pretty cool too!
I enjoy seeing all the places you visit and dine at and The Place looks like my kind of eatery. Congrats on a successful first book signing for your cupcake book. Keep on signing! Trish
Posted by: Trish | June 9th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Hi Martha - I was at the book signing. My daughter was the little girl with the crazy birthday hat on. So sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to you. I wanted to tell you about my company http://www.peacefuldaily.com. Would love to chat. Please email me sandy@peacefuldaily.com
Posted by: Sandy Corso | June 9th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Hi Martha, will you be having a book signing in Manhattan? I would love my cupcake book signed as well!
Posted by: Ishii New York | June 9th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
The bookstore looks "charming" indeed. I just love these little, cute places, they're fun and full of history. I'll definitely check out your cupcake book. I am a huge fan of cupcakes, started making cupcake necklaces!
Posted by: Anna | June 9th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
The bookstore's web page seems to be down. Maybe someone could pass it along....
Posted by: Kathleen | June 9th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Wow, what a great signing event Martha. Looks like you and everyone had lots of fun. Loved the cupcake pocketbook.
Must try the place you ate at.
Posted by: Tracy Feldman | June 9th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Martha,
as a woman who raised three sons, I have to share with you that over time they preferred an entire batch of cupcakes be baked here instead of a birthday cake. They just didn't want cake unless it was in the shape of a cupcake and they always were eaten much faster than cakes.
So, that is a tradition with our family now.
Posted by: Marilyn | June 9th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Congratulations on the release of your cupcake book, Martha. Here in Detroit we were looking forward to seeing the new book following your May 15 visit when you spoke to an audience of 800+ at the annual meeting of Inforum, Michigan's largest business organization for women. Many, many women have told us how much they enjoyed your personal stories and family photos...now they subscribe to your magazine and can't wait to try your new recipes. I love the photos of "The Place!" Thank you!! Leslie
Posted by: Leslie Herrick | June 9th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
My husband brought me a chocolate raspberry cupcake from Crumbs last night to celebrate my birthday. It was divine!
I look forward to trying one of your recipies!
Kara
Posted by: Kara Richardson Whitely | June 9th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Oh thanks, Kimberley...for the heads up!
WELCOME HOME ROCK!!!
Posted by: Tinay | June 9th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I love your new book Martha. My MIL got it for me for my birthday. I also caught the segment on water gardens and it gave me so many ideas. Enjoy your week!
Posted by: Megan | June 9th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Martha,
I was at the RJ Julia booksigning!
I was the girl who showed you the photo album of your old house at Turkey Hill in Westport with your Mom!
I wish I had more time to show you the pictures. You were in them also near the back of the album!
It was so much fun and being the avid baker, I can't wait to try those recipes in your new Cupcakes book! When we waited to see you in line, we had to eat a cupcake from the Cafe in back of the bookstore in honor of the day! Those coconut ones were to die for!
Madison is a charming town and I am going to try that restaurant The Place! Just drooling at the photos of the lobsters!!
BTW...if I had the chance, I would have showed you one more photo and that one is my two Yorkshire terriers, named Martha and Stewart! LOL
Nice seeing you again and best wishes and success on the new book. Another winner.
Fondly,
Paula M.
Posted by: Paula M. :) | June 9th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Love the pics! Had to laugh! My car is in the first pic on the right. Enjoyed speaking with you at the book signing. So nice to have you visit my area. Made my first cupcake from Cupcake today. Applesauce Spice with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Icing. It was delicious!
Posted by: Martha Rice | June 9th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
So many people! Lucky they got to meet you!
Posted by: French furniture | June 9th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Hi Martha, Another fabulous book signing that looked like it was enjoyed by everyone. I haven't gotten your Cupcakes Book yet, but will pick one up when I go to Costco next week. I just got Emeril at the grill a couple of weeks ago. His books are great, too. The Place sure looks like a great place to enjoy delicious food. Looks like all of you were having a great time there. How wonderful to finally see your driver Rock again. He look so good and it's really great to have him back where he belongs. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | June 9th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Oh, Martha, I hope you will come to San Diego area for book tour! My 3 years old daughter and I are huge your fan. ( her favorite DVD is Martha Stewart Living and Disney's Alice in a wonderland.*S*)
I bought your cupcake book and love it!!!!well, your books are always the BEST.
((HUGS))
Posted by: Lea | June 9th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
P.S.
Rock-
It's very good to see you are back in U.S. and with Martha.
Semper Fi,
Lea in Camp Pendleton
Posted by: Lea | June 9th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Hi martha i am new to twitting i just strated checking your site out love your work and enjoy all your pictures well take care and god bless
Posted by: andreaandweims on twitter | June 9th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I was there (and thankfully towards the front of the line!). Meeting Martha was honestly a dream come true! I'm glad to see so many other fans had a great time, it was a nice day in a lovely little CT town.
Posted by: Sue Thomas | June 9th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Martha, I have just started to twitter(Tweet) and I really like your site. The cats in the basket are darling. I subscribe to your Living Magazine and keep every issue to refer back to for gardening tips and receipes. Keep up the good work! Carolyn N.J.
Posted by: carolyn palmer | June 9th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Hi Martha,
Thanks for meeting my mom in Northridge, CA at your booksigning for Borders. At 80, she was needless to say thrilled to have you personally sign a copy of your new craft book to her that day.
I used to work for Crown Publishers and sold several of you first publications in Caliifornia to the independent booksellers. The likes of which are thinning out like an old man with s comb over.
Cheers! Catherine
Posted by: Catherine | June 9th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Hi Martha,
My family and I attended the book signing and were so pleased to have met you and had a few moments to chat.(Australians living in NJ now)
I've already made the Boston Cream Pie cupcakes and they were absolutely delicious and look so professional.
Enjoy your trip to Australia this summer if you go and congratulations on another great book.
Ellen.
Posted by: Ellen | June 10th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Dear Martha,
I am writing this note in hope that you will be able to personally read it one day. I am writing to thank you for inspiring me every day for the last 15 years…
I was born and raised in Poland. I was raised eating homemade bread, homemade jams, fruit preserves from my moms garden, marmalade from rose pedals, drinking fresh milk, making fresh cheeses, making my own ketchup from my father’s fresh grown tomatoes, pickling cabbage with apples and carrots in wooden barrels, making cheese, and fruit pierogis, stuffed cabbage, crapes, potato pancakes, and everything else that an ordinary Polish girl growing up in Poland and being surrounded by organic fruit and vegetables would be exposed to growing up…
Seventeen years ago, life brought me to New Jersey, where I currently reside. I discovered you, your wonderful ideas and your mouthwatering recipes about 15 years ago… I also discovered your Mom’s Polish recipes that bring my childhood memories back to me. It was you and your Mom who helped me to discover and realize that although I live in a different country sounded by a different culture, I must not forget my traditions, my memories, and my past….
This is why I use traditional straw decorations to decorate my Christmas tree, I make pisanki for Easter, I make homemade pierogi, stuffed cabbage, crapes, potatoes pancakes I bake polish bread, make cheese, fruit preserves, ketchup and a lot of wonderful modern polish food that I find searching polish websites. I go back to Poland almost every year to relax and spend time at my parent’s garden, to smell my father’s tomatoes and my mom’s rose preserves and to eat cheese with fresh honey that our neighbor makes. But when I come back to New Jersey, I find comfort by reading your website and by bringing your recipes to life in my kitchen.
I would love to meet you in person one day to say THANK YOU for being such wonderful inspiration.
Best Regards,
Joanna
Posted by: Joanna Dobek | June 10th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Hola Martha
Soy una fans de Colombia.
Perdón de antemano por no comentar sobre su libro, pero me gustarÃa conocer su opinión sobre un reloj Grandfather original, marca Junghas, época de la preguerra que tenemos en casa. Yo sé que Ud es especialista en antiguedades y desearÃa conocer su opinión, cómo hago para mandarle una foto con las especificaciones ya que lo queremos vender, pero no se sabe cuánto en realidad vale.
Ojalá me pueda contestar.
Muchas gracias
Patricia.
Posted by: Patricia | June 10th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Hi Martha,
I so hope this reaches you. I recently saw the episode of your trip to Russia and I had a revelation. Only you could bring the extraordinary hydroponic, organic gardening they enjoy to our country in the volumne we would need. You could prevent so many maladies which occur from the use of pesticides in our produce and create a booming economic opportunity at the same time. You are so extraordinary yourself and I beleive capable of even greater more meaningful things for humankind. I wish you all the best. Sincerely,
Maggie Gilroy
Posted by: Maggie Gilroy | June 10th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Dear Ms. Stewart,
Thank you for creating such fabulous recipes. I have used them both personally and professionally.
I have recently disovered a recipe for biscuits from the martha stewart living website, and I decided to make them at work as a treat for my co workers.
Of course now, I've made them nearly everyday.
I always choose your cookbooks along with my professional ones, when I need a recipe for a good pastry, or just advice.
Keep the great books and recipes coming!!!
Roberta
Posted by: Roberta Wilson | June 10th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I'm a bit delayed in my posts, Martha, due to illness AND no DSL service AFTER returning back to my business...I'll try to keep things brief, in order to catch up! [giggle]
This looked like a charming and wonderful time, based on your photos that were taken. What can I say, but, PEOPLE LOVE YOU! I do, I know that! Oh, and one of my Twitter friends attended this event and posted a Twitpic...of course, us Twitterbuddies/Martha groupies were all envious, I'll have you know... [giggle]
The Place looked like the perfect ending to a perfect day! Good food, good people (good prices!) - it was kind of like having a 'cook out', as we say here in Maryland (a cook out = having a barbecue).
Allow me to mosey on over to the next day's blog, so I can get caught up more, there in your wonderful life...
Here I go...I do love you so!
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | June 11th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
...oh, I forgot!...
It is WONDERFUL to see Rock back with you, working for you again, AND back on 'home soil'!
God, bless him!
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | June 11th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Thrilled to see you were at The Place and enjoying it as much as we have for the past 24 years....we feel very fortunate to have that Landmark in our town...
My co-worker was at your book signing on her birthday and brought the book in to share with all of us. It just so happened that it was my turn to bake for our monthly office birthday celebrations so I decided on trying the Devil's Food Cupcake since we have many chocolate lovers in our office. I have to say after years of being a devoted follower and collector of your many wonderful cookbooks and magazine...it was the first time I was ever disappointed in a recipe..so please check if there was a misprint in the amount of salt called for. 1/1/2 teaspoons turned out to be dreadful...I brought them into work just to have some staff try them and they all agreed. Also I have found that you often call for the use of "course" salt which I did use and it didn't seem to blend in ..so it resulted in tasting salt crystals in some bites and not others...
Well one in the hundreds of your recipes that I've tried through the years is a pretty good indicator that you are a true master at what you do...so thanks for the inspiration..Donna O in Guilford , Ct
Posted by: Donna Ostroski | June 11th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Congratulation for those who have a copy of your book with your signature...
Posted by: Carey Chu | June 12th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Hi Martha,
It was very nice meeting you at the RJ Julia bookstore. Thank you for all the nice things that you said about my book series and the copy of The Crafty Bernese Mt Dog Knits as well as the Kanine Knits pattens of the Chow and French Bulldogs. I hope we can get together and talk again soon.
Posted by: Peggy Gaffney | June 13th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Hi Martha -
That is my pomeranian, Wellington! My Mother was babysitting her "granddog" while I was traveling and I am thrilled that he accompanied her to your book signing! Wish I were there to meet you as well, but I will certainly treasure that photo of you and my Wellie forever.
All the best,
Amanda
Posted by: Amanda Guy | June 13th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Hi Martha-
Great to meet you at the RJ Julia booksigning. My daughters had a cupcake making sleepover event that weekend and made many of the cupcakes in the book. They were great!
I wanted to be sure that the Gogirlwrapperz sarong and organic t-shirt I gave you fit and to get some feedback from you. Many, many women love my skirts and I would be honored to have you weigh in with your opinion. The empire you have built is most impressive. I have enjoyed your mag. and all of your books since you started. All the best to you.
Christine Rinere
Posted by: Christine Rinere | June 16th, 2009 at 12:01 pm