MacDowell Colony

New York Times: "Life at the MacDowell Colony, the 100-year-old artists’ retreat scattered over 450 woody acres here, is supposed to be quiet, but over Labor Day weekend it was unusually so. Most of the academics had gone back to school, and their replacements had not yet arrived. No pool games, no dance parties, no flirtations; even this summer’s new tradition, dramatic readings of “Mary Worth” comic strips over dinner, had come to a quick and merciful end. For the few residents left, there were only crickets and work."