On a crisp spring weekend, BMW i Pure Impulse members from the US, the UK and Germany came together at the charming town of Amenia in Upstate New York. A former mining site turned summer camp destination, the town was deserted when a burst dam turned it into wetlands half a century ago, but has recently started flourishing again, becoming a sought-after destination for city-dwellers looking for a relaxing mini-break.

Guests met at Troutbeck hotel, a historic country inn, which provided a quaint base for the event. The programme kicked off with a welcome reception at the Pole Barn, an old stable building on the idyllic rural property. Apart from several nicely arranged BMW i8, the new BMW M850i convertible, which was also on display when guests arrived, proved to be quite an eye-catcher and conversation starter for the evening.

As the weather turned out to be cooler than anticipated, the welcome dinner was moved to the cosy Gallery, where a BMW i Pure Impulse highlight movie and the handover of the roadbook whet the guests’ appetite for the upcoming scenic drive the next day.

After a photo call with all the guests and cars the next morning, it was time for take-off! The first leg of the scenic drive took drivers through the picturesque New England landscape with its rolling hills and lush vegetation. The famous West Cornwall Covered Bridge, one of the last two remaining covered bridges in Connecticut, with its distinctive red colour was the first stop on the drive, before the second part of the drive led guests to the extraordinary Arethusa Farm.

The award-winning farm is co-owned by George Malkemus and Tony Yurgaitis, the president and vice president, respectively, of the Manolo Blahnik shoe empire that gained worldwide fame through TV show Sex and the City. The group got to explore the dairy, where all the award-winning precious cows had just had their daily Pantene Pro-V shampooing and were resting in the sparkling clean surroundings. From there, guests moved on to lunch at the nearby Arethusa Al Tavolo restaurant, which proved to be a memorable culinary experience for all attending.

Content and relaxed, the group then made their way back to the hotel via beautiful Lake Waramaug and spent the final evening of the event enjoying a lively farewell dinner where they reminisced about the spectacular drive, delicious food and the fascinating impressions they collected over the weekend.