Duke Farms
Janet and I are planning on going here today, to tour Duke Estates. For those of you who don’t know about the fascinating Doris Duke, here’s a primer. I’ve never been to the estate before, so I’m looking forward to it. I’m interested in the beauty of the old and lavish home, but to be honest, I’m way more interested in the spectacle of Doris herself. She is a legend in these parts. She took in people who needed to hide from the media, like Imelda Marcos and Paul Reubens. She loved animals and gave away tons of money. Beautiful, rich, connected in Hollywood, eccentric, adopted a 35-year-old woman with whom she may or may not have been in love, and was possibly killed by her butler. She also may have murdered someone. Scandalous!
I don’t think I can take photos inside the house, though. Boo.
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December 15th, 2006 - 09:57
Have fun, ladies! You know, I used to live round the corner from the estate, yet we never toured it. I’ve driven past the gardens, though, many times and they look gorgeous.
December 15th, 2006 - 10:17
Apparently you can bike the grounds; I’m definitely going to do that in the spring.
December 15th, 2006 - 10:22
Oh wow, crazy and mega-rich is even better than regular crazy. I hope you two find a secret room or something.
December 15th, 2006 - 10:35
Is it bad that when I was reading about how she ran over her interior decorator in Newport, and then paid off the police cheif I wasn’t even phased? That would be so normal in Rhode Island.
December 15th, 2006 - 12:34
They did a whole piece on “Sunday Morning” on CBS about these two…very interesting stuff. Wasn’t she technically married to her interior decorator and that they were both beards for one another?
December 15th, 2006 - 14:43
Our local Baker’s Treat is the sole caterer to the estate (for events.) Aside from the fact that they have amazing food, the owner and her partner hire only women who are coming through or have come through the domestic violence shelter systems or through drug/alc. treatment centers. 100 percent of their proceeds go to womens shelters and support networks. They are very cool and they are VERY happy to be part of the Duke Estate.
December 15th, 2006 - 19:11
We had a really nice time; more on Monday. But I am now DYING to work there.
December 16th, 2006 - 15:22
Anyone interested in Doris Duke should plan a visit to Rough Point, her Newport home. It is now operated as a museum, as required in her will. The house is situated on the Atlantic Ocean, and contains a large portion of her clothing collection, as well as everything else as it was on her last day here. Open mid-April to November. I am biased, but I think this is the most livable mansion in Newport.
December 16th, 2006 - 17:34
I definitely want to come see Rough Point. I’ve only seen pictures. Thanks for the info, Bruce.
December 16th, 2006 - 20:09
The estate is great. I love the Japanese gardens the best. It’s a great place to visit in the winter when it is all gray and icky outside. Nice and warm in the green houses.
December 18th, 2006 - 23:06
I’ve lived within ten miles of the Duke Estates pretty much all my life and yet I’ve never been to the gardens. Every summer I intend to go on one of those tours they have, and every summer I just never get around to it. I bet it’s beautiful.