My Sky at Stepping Stones Museum for Children

The Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk has a fabulous new exhibit through Memorial Day called My Sky that is  funded by NASA and created through a partnership between Boston Children's Museum and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

My Sky is an exhibit about the universe. But it is also about each of us, and how the sky above impacts our lives here on Earth. The sky is, after all, universal. It is something we all share. My Sky invites children and adults to explore the Sun, the Moon and the stars together in an immersive, inviting environment. Families are encouraged to "look up" not only when they visit the exhibit, but also in their everyday lives. And My Sky gives families the chance to practice science skills like observing, communicating, noticing patterns, predicting, imagining and more — science skills that are fundamental to astronomy, and skills that scientists and engineers use every day.

The sky is also a source of endless inspiration for people from all walks of life, and My Sky introduces us to a few of these people. From scientists and astronomers who work to investigate and understand the universe; to artists and sculptors who create monuments and representations of the awesome and the serene; to writers and musicians who capture, through words and melody, the feelings that arise when we gaze up at the Moon, or stare silently at the stars. The universe is inspiring. It is mind boggling. It is full of wonder. My Sky invites you to feel all of that.

For more information http://www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.  For more area event informationwww.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Story Book PJ Party at Stepping Stones Museum for Children

The life size Berenstain Bears will be the highlight at the Pajama Party hosted on Friday, Sept. 12 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk located on 303 West Ave.  So put on your most furry or comfy pajamas, perfect for hibernating like a bear (!), and head over to the Museum!

Stepping Stones is excited to bring this classic, lovable Bear Family who recently celebrated their 50th anniversary to their museum. Participants will hear the tale “The Berenstain Bears Go To School.” In the story, Sister Bear, nervous about entering kindergarten, overcomes her fears when she discovers that school is really fun.

After the story, kids will have the opportunity to meet Brother and Sister Bear!  The museum's friends at  Berenstain Bears describes these two lovable characters:

Sister Bear is a highly-competitive, born-to-win, self-reliant third-grader, who is often braver than she imagines. She loves acting, her Bearbie dolls and the color pink.  Sister is very outdoorsy and sports-minded, but she also loves fairytales,  writing and jump rope

Brother Bear is 10-years old and a stand-up guy.  He is very sports- minded, with his favorite being soccer. He is also a big fan of T.  Rex dinosaurs, model airplane building, and "wheels" of all kinds.  Brother is computer literate and into video games. He often acts as protector and stands  up for Sister and the smaller cubs at school.

In addition to listening to the story and meeting Sister Bear and Brother Bear, pajama party guests can participate in a variety of school-related activities throughout the evening. Practice packing a backpack with school supplies and have fun with apple stamping – stamp real apples with paint! Make a 3-D bus model out of paper and “Be the Teacher” using white boards and markers to draw and write like a teacher.

Kids can even create  their own text book cover by tracing an illustration of the Berenstain Bears using a light table. In the bedtime story corner, kids can enjoy a quiet family snuggle time reading other Berenstain books while relaxing on beanbags.

At the end of the evening, kids are invited to hold their  3-D bus model high as they march and sing along with the Wheels on the Bus Parade.  Then, it’s time to go home for a little hibernation, like bears do in the winter, but only for the night – and maybe some extra sleep because it’s the weekend!

Tickets for this event cost $10 per person for museum members and $15 per person for non-members.  Children under the age of one will be admitted for free.  Storybook Pajama Party tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.  Registration is required.  Space is limited and tickets are selling briskly, so register early.  Call 203 899 0606, ext. 264 or http://www.steppingstonesmuseum.org/ to register.

Stepping Stones is located at 303 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT, exit 14 North and 15 South off I-95. Museum hours are: Labor Day through Memorial Day, Tuesday—Sunday and select holiday Mondays from 10 am-5pm; and  Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday-Sunday from 10 am-5 pm. Admission is $15 for adults and children and $10 for seniors. Children under 1 are free. To learn more, visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.

Renowned Author to Lecture on Celebrated Gilded Age Romance at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum

On Wednesday, September 10, 2014, 11 a.m., at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, 295 West Avenue in Norwalk, CT, author Jean Zimmerman will give a talk entitled, Love Fiercely: A Gilded Age Romance. A book signing courtesy of Elm Street Books in New Canaan will follow the lecture.

A famous John Singer Sargent portrait inspired Ms. Zimmerman to research its subjects and write their love story. Edith Minturn was a beautiful heiress and Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes, a wealthy young architect. Contemporaries of the Astors and the Vanderbilts, Stokes became a passionate preserver of New York history, Minturn the supermodel of their day, and together they battled on behalf of New York's poor and powerless as reformers. This lecture will explore the couple's era and their world, one of fantastic wealth, when a Madison Avenue scion was moved to create model tenements and a beautiful heiress found herself cast in gold, floating above the modern landscape of America.

This will be the fourth in a series of lectures entitled, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion: Seventy-Four Years of Culture - Art, Life, and Love, 1864-1938 by curators and experts in the field of Victorian era material life. The lectures are $25 for members, $30 for non-members per session. Please RSVP by Friday, September 5, 2014. The price includes lecture, lunch and a first floor Mansion tour. Lunch is courtesy of Michael Gilmartin's Outdoor Cookers. The chair of the Lecture Committee is Mimi Findlay of New Canaan. Please contact info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com or 203-838-9799, ext. 4 to purchase tickets.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a National Historic Landmark. For more information on schedules and programs please visit: www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.

Jiggle a Jelly at Maritime Aquarium Norwalk

Apparently it's a lot of fun to touch jellyfish when you know you won't be stung. "Jiggle A Jelly" has become a permanent offering at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. It's free with Aquarium admission.

 Visitors will be able to experience the unusual sensation of touching jellies making Jiggle A Jelly' one of the Aquarium regular hands-on features, along with their Intertidal Touch Tank and our Shark & Ray Touch Pool.

Visitors can safely touch live moon jellyfish, one of the most common species in Long Island Sound. Maritime Aquarium volunteers staff the exhibit, encouraging visitors to use two fingers to gently touch the top of the jellyfishes' gelatinous body or "bell."

 Moon jellies (Aurelia aurita) do have tentacles but their stings are generally benign to people. A common species in Long Island Sound, they grow to dinner-plate size during the warmth of summer. Short tentacles rim their bell, and four "oral arms" extend underneath. Moon jellies are colorless and translucent, except for four central horseshoe-shaped reproductive organs.

Letting visitors get close to jellyfish is nothing new for The Maritime Aquarium. A mesmerizing gallery featuring moon jellies, sea nettles, lion's mane and other live species of jellyfish is now in its 19th year at the Aquarium and remains among the most popular and memorable exhibits.

Plus, displays of jellies in their various life stages in the Jellyfish Culture Lab let visitors see how the Aquarium keeps a year-round supply of the seasonal creatures on exhibit. But "Jiggle A Jelly" is the first time visitors have been able to touch them.

Learn more about the Aquarium's exhibits, IMAX® movies and programs at www.maritimeaquarium.org or by calling (203) 852-0700.  For information on Fairfield County visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

September Workshops at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking

Located in Norwalk on  299 West Ave., the Center for Contemporary Printmaking has organized a series of workshops for  advanced participants as well as beginners.  On September 5-7 for example, Large Prints from a small press will be featured and participants will explore monoprinting methods that defy the size limitations of our presses. Participants create painterly and stencil-raised plates that can be fixed or repositioned. Chine collé techniques will expand the range of imagery and color in the one-of-a-kind prints. Rinsed prints will be demonstrated. All levels.

On September 13-14, Jeanine Espito will show how handmade paper is one of the  most versatile materials around, yet it has not been fully explored as a sculpture medium.  In this workshop you will learn how to make and use handmade paper to create sculpture.  You will learn what kinds of pulp can be used, how to control it and work with it “in the air” and how to dry it.  You will explore a wide variety of techniques including draping, layering, casting over armatures, imbedding, sewing, etc.  The focus of this class will be on learning the basics of handmade paper sculpture and experimenting with as many techniques as possible in the 2 days.  Some prior knowledge of basic papermaking is suggested but not required. All levels.

There will be a three day workshop on Sept. 19-21 with Carolyn Muskat that will focus on aluminum plate lithos.  This workshop will be an intensive introduction to some of the possibilities within lithography.  One of the more challenging of the printmaking mediums, lithography offers the artist an almost unlimited range of mark-making. Working on aluminum plates, we will cover various drawing and image-making methods, processing with greener, more eco-friendly materials, and printing, including printing in color and registration. Whether you have never tried this exciting medium before, or you want to update your litho skills, this class is for you.  All levels.

To round out the month, Ron Pokrasso will run a five day workshop from September 22- 26 that covers a wide range of techniques possible in the monotype process. Through demonstrations, portfolio presentations, lectures and extensive hands on work time participants will come away with a wealth of information and many new tools for their working process. Using all non-toxic water based Akua products, learn to modify, mix, and layer inks with additive and subtractive approaches, including ink rolling methods, the use of stencils and templates, the reworking of the ghost, contact monotype, viscosity, plate and paper registration, chine colle and collage, drawing, and multiple plate projects. The approach is open as each participant’s individual style will help to dictate the direction of the workshop. All levels.

For more information visit http://www.contemprints.org.  For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Lorikeets at the Maritime Aquarium.... sweet surrender!

Step into a lush aviary to share a laugh and a squawk with beautiful tropical birds that will sip food right out of your hands as "Lorikeets" returns as the special summer exhibit at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk now through September 1.

The exhibit will feature more than 50 free-flying lorikeets, which are colorful medium-sized parrots native to the south Pacific (SE Asia, eastern Australia, Polynesia). The birds come in a dazzling rainbow of colors – with feathers that almost radiate an iridescent glow when seen in full sunlight. Lorikeets are naturally found in rainforests and woodlands, but also in wooded urban areas, where they primarily feed on the nectars of various blossoms and fruits.

Visitors are invited to purchase a cup of nectar for $3 that will attract lorikeets to land on you while drinking creating an unforgettable experience and photo opportunity.

Lorikeets are specially adapted to their sweet nectar diet through their specialized tongue. Tiny hair-like appendages called papillae form a U shape on the end of the tongue. When the tongue is extended, these papillae stand up like bristles on a brush, expanding the tongue's surface area and allowing the birds to easily soak up nectar. Unique to lorikeets, these papillae have earned the birds the nickname "brush-tongued parrots."

Some other important items to note about "Lorikeets": • It will be handicapped-accessible but no strollers, please. • Guests will be asked to sanitize their hands before entering. • To encourage the birds to rest, the exhibit will close for a half-hour at 1:30 p.m. daily. • The exhibit will close 30 minutes before the rest of the Aquarium: at 5:30 p.m. in July and August.  

Get more details about "Lorikeets" and other summer offerings at The Maritime Aquarium, including the new IMAX movie "Journey to the South Pacific" (opening July 1), by calling (203) 852-0700 or logging onto www.maritimeaquarium.org.

August Concerts at Calf Pasture Beach Norwalk

Each Wednesday night throughout the summer, music lovers can head to scenic Calf Pasture Beach on Calf Pasture Beach Road in Norwalk (06851) to enjoy an evening of free musical entertainment. If you don’t have a parking sticker for this beach, not to worry, there is a  nominal $5.00 parking fee  charged for cars without a Norwalk beach sticker.

Cash Kings

To start off the month of August at 7 p.m. Cash is King is performing. Fans of the Man in Black will enjoy this recreation of performances by Johnny Cash & The Tennessee Three with June Carter Cash.

Deja Vu

The Classic Car Show is back on August 13 and begins at 6 p.m.  This gathering of than 100 vehicles is hosted by the Coachmen Rod and Custom Club, an organization of men and women who enjoy classic cars. Owners of 1981 and older cars can participate in the shows, which attract owners from throughout the tri-state area. Each car show participant is asked to contribute canned food or make a donation to the St. Vincent De Paul food bank.   At 7 p.m., Deja Vu will entertain the crowd.  For ten years, this popular group has been performing “golden oldies” at events from New Haven to New York.  The group includes Dominick Muro (lead vocals), Tony Masi (keyboards/lead vocals), Arthur Armstrong (lead vocals), George Gionios (saxophone/vocals), Rocco Castango (drums/vocals), John Skrensky (bass guitar/vocals) and Sal Salta (lead guitar/vocals).

Desert Highway

Curious Creatures kick off the August 20 event at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by a concert by Desert Highway.  This  is a passionate group of six talented professions who perform the rich vocal harmonies and intricate guitar styles made famous by The Eagles. The band includes Mike Green (lead vocals, guitars), Larry Lippman (lead vocals, drums), Carl Bova (bass, vocals), Rich Naso (guitars), Ed Betancourt (guitars, vocals) and Mitch Lieb (keyboards).

On August 27 at 7 p.m. Back to the Garden 1969 will entertain concert goers.  Spotlighting music from the Woodstock era, these seasoned musicians have toured, performed and recorded nationally. Each member of the band – Gary Adamson, Bob Fonseca, Mike Garner, Larry Kelly and Annie Masciando -- plays multiple instruments and also is a lead vocalist.  

For area information visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Maritime Cruise Experiences on Long Island Sound to Sheffield Island

The recipe for a perfect summer night out is available every Friday night in July and August thanks to a partnership between the Norwalk Seaport Association, Mama’s Boy restaurant and the Norwalk Parking Authority. “Maritime Cruise and Cuisine” Fridays are returning for a third year offering participants a cruise around the Norwalk Islands followed by dinner at Mama’s Boy and convenient, safe parking at the Maritime Garage.

 The Maritime Cruise and Cuisine package includes a Norwalk Harbor sunset cruise with the Norwalk Seaport Association’s “CJ Toth” ferry, leaving from Sheffield Island Dock (located on the corner of Water St and Washington St) at 6:00 pm and returning at 8:00 pm. Guests then walk one block to Mama’s Boy Restaurant, featuring a gourmet twist on Southern food, located at 19 North Water Street, for a three-course meal. The package price is $57 per person plus reduced price parking of $2 for the evening at the Maritime Garage. Cruise and Cuisine Fridays run through August 29^th.

The Norwalk Seaport Association is also offering up plenty of family fun in late July and early August with the pirates at the lighthouse!  The Pirates are coming to Sheffield Island on July 26 and 27 and August 2 and 3. Pirate Weekend activities are free, but participants must purchase round-trip ferry tickets to Sheffield Island. Tickets to the island are $22.00 for adults, $12.00 for children ages 4-12 and $5.00 for children age 3 and under, plus applicable service charge.

Bird watching Tours run through August 10 that offers visitors the experience to understand and explore the importance of Norwalk Islands and it’s many migratorial

bird species.  Larry Flynn, a master wildlife conservationist with DEEP will conduct these informative tours.

Scenic Cruises to Sheffield Island are offered through September. Trips to the island take visitors through the historic Norwalk Harbor area to the Island that offers unique views of the shoreline, a tour of the lighthouse and the chance to explore the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge or picnic on the beach.  Tickets can be purchased online or at the dock.  Remember to wear comfortable shoes with a closed heal or back strap; flip-flops are not allowed due to safety concerns.

The boat leaves from the Sheffield Island Lighthouse dock located at the corner of North Water Street and Washington Street in Historic South Norwalk. Parking is available adjacent to the dock and at the Norwalk Maritime Center Garage.

For information and reservations, please call the Norwalk Seaport Association, 203-838-9444 or buy tickets online at www.seaport.orgwww.seaport.org.

For special hotel and metro north deals and packages www.visitfarfieldcountyct.com

July Concerts in Norwalk at the Beach!

Each Wednesday night throughout the summer, music lovers can head to scenic Calf Pasture Beach on Calf Pasture Beach Road in Norwalk (06851) to enjoy an evening of free musical entertainment. If you don't have a parking sticker for this beach, not to worry, there is a  nominal $5.00 parking fee  charged for cars without a Norwalk beach sticker.

On July 9 at 7 p.m. the “Cast” of Beatlemania – Return to the exciting era when the Fab Four ruled the world of rock ‘n’ roll through the artistry and talents of Carlo Cantamessa (John), Lenie Colacino (Paul), John Delgado (Ringo) and James Filgate (George) and musical director Mark Templeton.

Billy Genuario takes the stage on July 16 at 7 p.m..  He is one of the most popular vocalists in the tri-state area, that will be joined by his band, Destiny, which includes Tommy Hartlett (keyboard and vocals), Linda Fakundiny (guitar/vocals), Johnny Mennonna (bass guitar) and Ron Nihoff (drums). Genuario’s engagements have taken him from New York City to Las Vegas to Hong Kong and he is one of the most sought after vocalists on the tri-state scene.

Billy Genuario

On July 23, a summer favorite, the Classic Car Show takes place on July 23 at 6 p.m. This gathering of than 100 vehicles is hosted by the Coachmen Rod and Custom Club, an organization of men and women who enjoy classic cars. Owners of 1981 and older cars can participate in the shows, which attract owners from throughout the tri-state area. Each car show participant is asked to contribute canned food or make a donation to the St. Vincent De Paul food bank. 

The Car Show is followed by a performance of The Royal Kings at 7 p.m. The Royal Kings -- features vocalists Joey Bennett, Douglas “Ice” Dorsey, Timmy Hayes, Tommy Talercio and Richard “Cookie” Thomas. These performers have opened for headlining acts from the 50s, 60s and Bluenotes, The Coasters, The Platters, Average White Band and the Flamingos.  They continue to perform on the Oldies Rock and Roll circuit, as well as concerts and special events, and have two CDs, “Doggin’ Around” and “The Royal Kings II – Thanks To You.”

Royal Kings

To finish up the month, on July 30 the Pied Piper Petting Zoo is a feature that begins at 6:30 p.m.  Kids will love to visit with a variety of animals, including a pony, pig, goat, sheep, bunnies, chickens and ducks before the concert. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and features ABBA Girlz – This New York-based tribute group features beautiful harmonies, elaborate costumes and exciting choreography during each interactive performance. The two charismatic singers are backed by two musicians.

For information on Fairfield County visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Victorian Ice Cream Social at Lockwood Mathews Mansion

On June 22, 2014, 12-5 p.m., the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum located on 295 West Ave. in Norwalk will recreate the atmosphere of a bygone era in Mathews Park by bringing back a highlight of summer during the Gilded Age from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Children will play popular Victorian lawn games such as croquet and badminton and participate in turn-of-the-century activities like Maypole dancing. Visitors will learn how ice cream was made in the mid-to-late nineteenth century and how it became widely popular with the invention of the hand-cranked ice cream machine.

Featured entertainment will include: James Miller and his antique "High Wheeler" bicycles, (a 1887 New Mail and an 1898 Liberty Tribune made in Bridgeport, CT); music by The Norwalk Community Chorale and the Usual Suspects Barbershop Quartet; 15 year old magician Ben Zabin; illusionist, juggler, comedian Jason Pipitone; and much more.

LMMM's costumed historical interpreters will wander through the crowds, interacting with children and adults alike while they bring the Mansion's history to life. Palm readers will tell the future as visitors explore the past, Irene and Gisella Surapine will offer face painting to children of all ages, and Victorian interpreters Paul and Hadley Veeder will narrate the Mouse Mansion story written by author Judith Rodriguez. A children's hat contest for 12 year olds and under will feature special prizes for the most original creations.

While general admission to the event is free and so are selected programs, the museum will charge for some of the activities and for all food sold during the event. Tickets will be available at LMMM's booths at the designated locations in Mathews Park. The Museum will be open for mini-tours. Guests will be invited to walk throughout the Museum's period rooms on the first floor and enjoy the beauty of this Victorian era Mansion for only $5.

For more information on the schedule of events, food stands, and prices please email us at info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com or visit www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com.

For information on Fairfield County www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com 
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Dog Days of Summer arrives early at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children

Stepping Stones Museum for Children is once again going to the dogs on Saturday, June 14...and they couldn't be happier. The museum will host its fourth annual, day-long festival celebrating the powerful and important bonds between humans and their animal friends. BooZoo™'s Canine Carnival, where play and learning go hand-in-paw, will take place at Stepping Stones on June 14 between 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. The event is free with museum admission. The Canine Carnival is hosted by BooZoo, the museum's fictional puppy mascot for early childhood learning and literacy, and will feature carnival games for families and dogs, pooch and people pics in our prop-laden photo booth, a meet-and-greet with BooZoo, a "pampered pooch" area featuring a dog wash and day spa, story times with BooZoo, bobbing for doggie treats and so much more. All canine friends, accompanied by owners, are welcome to take part in carnival activities under the tent of the museum's Celebration Courtyard. Visitors are invited to enter their dog(s) in the museum's Crazy Canine Contest at 11:30 am. A panel will judge the dogs in the following categories: best dressed, fastest tail wager, fluffiest, best smile, best ears and walks with attitude. Each dog will be judged in all categories. And who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Visitors will be able to sign up for a 5-minute time slot to give their four-legged, furry friends an opportunity to show off his or her tricks. Dogs must be licensed and accompanied by people who are 15 years or older. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs. A highlight of the day is sure to be when assistance dogs from the Canine Companions for Independence® conduct a demonstration in the museum's Multimedia Gallery. Founded in 1975, the world-renowned Canine Companions for Independence is a national non-profit which provides highly-skilled assistance dogs to adults, veterans and children with disabilities free of charge. Canine Companions created the concept of assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities. During BooZoo's Canine Carnival, the assistance dogs will be put through a routine demonstrating their ability to follow commands, open doors, flip on light switches, pick up dropped items and complete other important daily tasks. A Canine Companions staff member will talk about how the dogs are bred, trained and matched with their human counterparts, transforming the lives of people with disabilities by increasing their independence and providing loving companionship. Another special component of the event will take place when Milford's John Tartaglio, an inspirational speaker, shares his story with the audience. Tartaglio was 17 years old when he contracted an extremely rare bacterial infection. With his condition dire, doctors were left with no choice but to amputate his legs and left bicep. Tartaglio was only given a 20% chance to live, but he survived and now thrives. He graduated cum laude from Fairfield University. Told by medical professionals that he would never walk again, Tartaglio has completed marathons and triathlons. As a motivational speaker, he speaks to audiences about overcoming adversity, building a positive attitude and turning it into positive actions, leadership and teamwork. Empowering his audiences with his story, Tartaglio challenges people to reach their goals, raise their personal standard and expect more out of themselves because he is living proof that anything is possible. T hroughout the event, the mobile unit of the North Shore Animal League, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, will be on hand with staff members available to answer questions and showcase some of their adoptable friends. Between noon and 2:00 pm, Shake Shack will be on hand in our courtyard serving "Pooch-ini®," a custard-based doggy snack. About BooZoo Building on the commitment to promote early childhood development and reading literacy for young children, the museum developed the BooZoo character three years ago. BooZoo is a toy puppy who lives in Tot Town™, the museum's toddler exhibit. He's smart, incurably curious and loves reading books. For additional information about BooZoo's Canine Carnival, visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org/CanineCarnival.

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