How to cruise Long Island Sound for hours...

On August 27, the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk invites you to take a six hour cruise  departing at 9 a.m. of Western Long Island Sound on their new boat, Spirit of the Sound that features a climate controlled cabin.  Participants will venture out for a rare close-up look at eight historic lighthouses on Long Island Sound! Participants aboard R/V Spirit of the Sound will make passes by these lighthouses: Greens Ledge, Sheffield Island, Stamford Harbor (or Harbor Ledge), Great Captain Island, Execution Rocks, Stepping Stones, Sands Point and Eatons Neck.

Tickets  for the  Western Long Island Lighthouse Tours are $75 ($65 for Aquarium members). Advance purchase is required. Capacity is limited to 25. Reserve your tickets by clicking the "Buy Tickets" button or call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206.

On September 3, the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is offering the Central Long Island Sound cruise that will feature a rare, close up look at five historic lighthouses. This is a five hour tour that departs at 10 a.m. from the dock on 10 North Water Street in Norwalk.

Participants aboard R/V Spirit of the Sound will make passes by five century-old beacons: Peck Ledge, Greens Ledge and Sheffield Island lighthouses in Norwalk, Penfield Reef Lighthouse in Fairfield and Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light. All the lighthouses are on the National Register of Historic Places.

On both cruises in the Sound, there will be Aquarium educators on board to will share histories and anecdotes about the lighthouses, and also point out the Sound's waterfowl. Binoculars will be provided to assure passengers of a birds eye view. And, if you are a camera buff, don't forget to bring your camera in addition to extra batteries and memory cards because this lighthouse cruise offers a special photo opportunity for both lighthouse buffs and bird-watchers.

There will be plenty of water onboard in the Spirit of the Sound's climate controlled cabin. There is no food available for purchase on the boat, so you might decide to pack a picnic lunch along with non-alcoholic beverages in small bags or soft sided coolers. Please note that glass bottles are not allowed on board the boat. 

Tickets are $70 ($60 for Aquarium members). Advance purchase is required. Capacity is limited to 25. Reserve your tickets by clicking on the "Buy Tickets" button or call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206.

For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Flora and Fauna and the Bruce Museum

Artist Francesca Anderson specializes in capturing natural history in her exquisite illustrations of plants and wildlife. Twenty of her scratchboard and pen-and-ink drawings will be on view in the exhibition Flora and Fauna: Drawings by Francesca Anderson at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT. The runs through October 30, 2016.

Flora and Fauna brings together a selection of Anderson's large-scale botanical illustrations for which she is best-known and life-size scratchboard illustrations of birds. The three-foot tall, black-and-white images are striking, meticulously drawn from life in exacting detail. Two new pieces created for this show spotlight mounted birds selected from the Bruce Museum collection -- a red-breasted merganser and a barred owl.

Anderson’s work has been featured in prominent scientific publications, field guides, books and magazines. Her art has been exhibited in museums in Sweden, Great Britain, South Africa, Germany and Japan and is held in private collections worldwide. Winner of the American Society of Botanical Artists "Artist of the Year" award and two-time winner of the Royal Horticultural Society Gold Medal, Anderson is a Fellow of the Linnaean Society, London, a former trustee of the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, and former director of the American Society of Botanical Artists. She earned her BFA from Manhattanville College, MA from Hunter College, MFA from Brooklyn College and a certificate in botanical illustration from the New York Botanical Garden.

Flora and Fauna: Drawings by Francesca Anderson is organized by the Bruce Museum and supported by Jim and Pat Murphy, the Charles M. and Deborah G. Royce Exhibition Fund, and Connecticut Office of the Arts.

The Bruce Museum is located at 1 Museum Drive, in downtown Greenwich, Connecticut, just off exit 3 of I-95. Hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. For more information, call 203-869-0376 or visit brucemuseum.org.

For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Danbury Historical Society - Toy Time: Playful Pieces Exhibition

The Danbury Museum & Historical Society located on 43 Main Street in the heart of Danbury has  launched a new exhibit, Toy Time: Playful Pieces that will be on display through October 29, 2016. This is a free exhibit that is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The exhibit features something for kids of all ages. Vintage toys from the museum collection will be showcased including Lincoln Logs, dolls, tin toys, trains, board games and puzzles, as well as outdoor play items and much more.

This show is sure to please parents and grandparents visiting with their children, neighbors, school classmates, brothers and sisters; there is something for everyone viewing this fun exhibit with items that boys and girls of every generation have enjoyed. This summer is a great time to visit the museum and awaken fond memories of past play dates. The Museum's extensive toy collection will surely help folks do just that.

Visit www.danburymuseum.org for a full list of upcoming events being held at the museum.  For more information www.litchfieldhills.com.

Exclusive custom merchandise designed by artist Yayoi Kusama for the Glass House

The Glass House Design Store has just announced that it is presenting exclusive custom merchandise designed by artist Yayoi Kusama.  Kusama transforms elements from her exhibition,Yayoi Kusama Narcissus Garden, in particular her special installation Dots Obsession - Alive, Seeking for Eternal Hope into an artful selection of gifts available to all.  All products are limited productions.

Designed exclusively for the Glass House in collaboration with Cool Snow Globes for the 2016 special installation Yayoi Kusama: Dots Obsession - Alive, Seeking for Eternal Hope.   There are only 300 limited numbered editions of this globe. 

In addition, the Glass House is also offering a roomy canvas tote was designed exclusively for the Glass House for the 2016 exhibition  Yayoi Kusama: Narcissus Garden. 18W X 14 HX4   100% cotton and it comes in white/black or red/black. There is a limited production of 250 for each color.

Finally, there is a postcard pack designed exclusively for the Glass House for the 2016 exhibition  Yayoi Kusama: Narcissus Garden. Images by Matthew Placek selected by the artist. Each pack contains 5 postcards. There is a print run of 300.

Yayoi Kusama Narcissus Garden a landscape installation on view throughout the 2016 tour season to celebrate the 110th anniversary of Philip Johnson's birth and the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Glass House site to the public. First created fifty years ago in 1966 for the 33rd Venice Biennale, this iteration of Narcissus Garden will be incorporated into the Glass House's 49-acre landscape.

Yayoi Kusama's work has transcended two of the most important art movements of the second half of the twentieth century: pop art and minimalism. Her extraordinary and highly influential career spans paintings, performances, room-size presentations, outdoor sculptural installations, literary works, films, fashion, design, and interventions within existing architectural structures, which allude at once to microscopic and macroscopic universes.  Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama briefly studied painting in Kyoto before moving to New York City in the late 1950s. Kusama is represented by David Zwirner, New York, Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/Singapore, and Victoria Miro, London. In early 2013, Kusama was named the world's most popular artist by various news outlets, based on museum exhibition attendance.

For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Blackberry Festival @ White Silo Farm and Winery

Nothing says summer like a fresh fruit salad or cobbler made with blackberries. This sweet and succulent fruit is native to Europe and related to raspberries because both perennials grow on shrubs called brambles.  Best of all, blackberries are "jam" packed with health benefits and are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and dietary fibers.

White Silo Farmand Winery located on 32 Rte. 37 East in the lovely town of Sherman Connecticut that straddles the Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County is hosting its annual Blackberry Festival on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.

The highlight of this event is the small plates of prepared food made with blackberries grown right on the farm.  The menu is mouthwatering and includes: Arugula Salad with Blackberries, Watermelon and Feta; Pulled Pork Quesadilla with Blackberry Sauce; Baked Brie and Blackberries; Blackberry Peach Crisp; Blackberry Ice Cream Sandwich; and Blackberry Basil Chicken.

Admission to this event is free, however, wine and the scrumptious plates featuring the star of the festival, blackberries may be purchased for a fee.  To add to the atmosphere, there will be live music as well as free winery and field tours throughout the day.

For more area information www.ltichfieldhills.com

A Trio of exhibitions @ Mattatuck Museum

The Mattatuck Museum located on 144 West Main Street in Waterbury is hosting three new exhibitions this summer that feature the work of an award winning artist, Amber Maida as well as the landscape work of Augustus Moore and a stunning display of kimonos.

Out of the Shadow displays the work of Augustus Moore through September 4. Respected for the animal and landscape paintings produced during his lifetime, Edwin Moore (1858-1925) experienced a fleeting recognition that lasted merely fifteen years, from about 1880-1895. By the time of his death, Moore’s artistic reputation was eclipsed by that of his father, landscape artist Nelson Augustus Moore. Restoration of his legacy has been the work of the Moore Picture Trust and private collectors who have generously loaned paintings, watercolors and family memorabilia to this exhibition. It also presents art of each of five generations of this family of artists that began two generations before Edwin and continues to this day.

Amber Maida's exhibition is titled Entrances and Exits and is on display through August 28. As a participant of The MATT’s 2016 MIXMASTER Juried Members Exhibition, Amber Maida won the opportunity for this one-person show. Maida’s mixed-media, sculptural paintings are grounded in her life experience expanded through symbolic storytelling. The underlying threads of her process are evident in this collection of new work, especially her mark-making, use of glassy, pearl-like coatings, rich textures and layered compositions. Through these works she addresses revealing themes of infinite love, the cosmos and the spirit.

Kimonos explores inspirations on silk and runs through August 28. This exhibition features four unique, hand painted, hand-sewn kimonos created by Mary Wolff. The artist finds that directly painting on silk allows a freedom to experiment with fresh images, depth and flow of color. Wolff is delighted to depict landscapes and beautiful flower gardens on a silk canvas that have movement while on the body.

A special display, on one of Waterbury's favorite daughter's Rosalind Russell is on display through October 30.  American screen actress Rosalind Russell lived in Waterbury, Connecticut from birth through graduation from high school. This exhibition covers her childhood in Waterbury, her career, and displays several costumes from her films and personal wardrobe. Film clips, movie ephemera and personal archives will also be on view.

For more information about the programs offered by the Mattatuck Museum, visit their website at http://www.mattatuckmuseum.org.  For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

2.0 Art Crawl in Norwalk Aug. 6-11

On August 6^th, Norwalk 2.0 presents a celebration of Norwalk’s arts and culture with an art crawl through historic SONO. The event grew out of a desire by a keep shine a light on the extraordinary local arts community who craft their work in Norwalk. A few weeks ago, the 40 year stalwart, SONO Arts Celebration informed us that they were on hiatus for this year. We didn’t want to disappoint arts fans with an empty first weekend. So here is the ultimate pop up arts event, a self-guided arts crawl through Norwalk’s fabulous arts community.

This event features art exhibits in addition to exhibits by local cultural organizations and a participating restaurants are offering discounts, specials and deals. The venues where exhibits and events are held are throughout SONO showcasing the diverse range of art and cultural work in Norwalk.

“The City of Norwalk has a vibrant arts community,” said Jackie Lightfield, co-founder of Norwalk 2.0 and the inaugural INSIDE/OUT event in 2010.  “This events highlight the number of artists, writers, musicians, film-makers, illustrators and designers that work or live in Norwalk, and provides an opportunity for visitors to check out the scene happening throughout the day.”

Simple Sono is bringing their annual Sidewalk Sale with deeply discounted clothing, bed linens and more. They are also exhibiting work of local artists featuring works by several artists. See original paintings, drawings and woodburning by Steph Berlic (www.stephberlic.com), photography prints by Jeff Klein (www.closertoinfinity.com), and handmade woodworking pieces by Dylan and Kevin Bartlett.   

“The growth of our arts community is a testament to the renaissance of Norwalk as the cultural capital of Fairfield County,” said Lightfield. “The Norwalk Arts: Inside/Out event connects the dots between our architectural, literary, music and arts creative economy. Come explore a part of Norwalk that you haven’t seen before.” 

Listings and times are on http://norwalkarts.org.  For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Festival Scat & Scramble Jazz Brunch August 7

This year, the Litchfield Jazz Festival introduces its first-ever Friends of the Festival Scat & Scramble Jazz Brunch.  Sunday August 7, the final day of the 21^st annual Litchfield Festival, will kick off with a New Orleans style brunch, music, and silent auction.  The event is a reinvention of the traditional festival opening night gala. 

Vita Muir, the festival’s founder and director, said about the change, “After 21 years, a cocktail party was a little stale and out of step with the more casual entertainments younger people seem to be looking for.  Anyway” she remarked, “Who doesn’t like breakfast?!”

Odeen’s BBQ of Ridgefield, a favorite vendor at past fests, stepped up to cater the event. They are preparing a selection of scrambled eggs, Andouille sausage, thick cut bacon, grits, blackened corn and collard greens, fruits and more. “Adult” beverages, provided by Vandoren Paris and North Coast Brewing Co., include reserve wines from Vandoren’s vineyards in the South of France and Brother Thelonious Ale, winner of the 2015 European Beer Star award. On the music end of things, New Orleans own favorite saxophonist “Big Chief”Donald Harrison will lead a band of top students and young pros from Litchfield Jazz Camp in his Big Easy arrangements. 

The brunch and silent auction will support the not-for-profit Litchfield Jazz Camp’s need-based scholarships. Auction items include premium passes to Disney World, Hartford Stage tickets, a cheesemaking class by Kim Thorne at Goshen’s Thorncrest Farm (the place that serves up those amazing chocolates), jewelry and works by renowned artists Robert Crawford and Danielle Mailer, and more.  There will also be a drawing for a Holland America Cruise for two valued at up to $4000. “Each summer,” Muir says, “up to a quarter of Litchfield Jazz Campers receive support. In a typical year the bill can reach $100K.”

The brunch is followed by the Sunday concerts. Featured artists include Avery Sharpe, Matt Wilson, Emmet Cohen, Jimmy Heath, Don Braden and the Litchfield Jazz Orchestra, the Curtis Brothers, Donald Harrison and many more. The full fest lineup is at www.litchfieldjazzfest.com.

Tickets for the Scat & Scramble Jazz Brunch are available online at LJF2016.eventbrite.com.  For information call 860-361-6285.

For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Calling all lovers of Tiffany Stain Glass Windows to Norfolk this weekend!

The bucolic little town of Norfolk located in the heart of the Litchfield Hills is rolling out the red carpet on August 5, 6 and 7 with a town wide festival  If you love stained glass, you are in for a special treat because all three  of Norfolk’s churches will be open at various times during Weekend in Norfolk to allow visitors to see their fabulous stained glass windows.

Battell Chapel windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany depict the seasons of Norfolk and a mountain stream. Photo by Christopher Little.

Church of Christ Congregational plans to have its Battell Chapel open most of the day on Saturday for viewing windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany and Maitland Armstrong. The Tiffany windows, located in a curved wall, depict the four seasons, two on either side of a woodland stream scene. The beautiful windows in the main church may be seen most of the weekend lighting the Haystack Quilters’ show.

Also on Saturday, the Church of the Immaculate Conception will be open to visitors who want to see its windows. These are by Franz Meyer & Co. of Munich, and were shipped to Norfolk from the factory in the mid 1920’s. The windows may also be seen after the church service on Sunday.

On Sunday, Church of the Transfiguration is having an open house for window viewing immediately after its service, which all are invited to attend. The windows are by several different artists; subjects include the innkeeper in the story of the Good Samaritan and the Transfiguration.

These splendid Franz Mayer windows adorn the Church of the Immaculate Conception.  Photo by Richard Byrne.

Church of Christ Congregational plans to have its Battell Chapel open most of the day on Saturday for viewing windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany and Maitland Armstrong. The Tiffany windows, located in a curved wall, depict the four seasons, two on either side of a woodland stream scene. The beautiful windows in the main church may be seen most of the weekend lighting the Haystack Quilters’ show.

Also on Saturday, the Church of the Immaculate Conception will be open to visitors who want to see its windows. These are by Franz Meyer & Co. of Munich, and were shipped to Norfolk from the factory in the mid 1920’s. The windows may also be seen after the church service on Sunday.

On Sunday, Church of the Transfiguration is having an open house for window viewing immediately after its service, which all are invited to attend. The windows are by several different artists; subjects include the innkeeper in the story of the Good Samaritan and the Transfiguration.

All events are free, with the exception of a small fee for the watermelon-eating contest. For times and other details, see www.weekendinnorfolk.org.  For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Celebrate Summer @ the 21st Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival

Set in the picturesque, rolling Litchfield Hills, the Litchfield Jazz Festival was launched in 1996 with a line-up any well-established festival would have been proud of. Once again this year, this highly anticipated popular event is taking place on Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7 at the Goshen Fairgrounds located on Rt3. 63, 116 Old Middle Street in Goshen. Tickets are a bargain and range from $25- $500.

The themed program, Generations Of Jazz, pairs young stars-in-the-making who came out of the Fest's teaching arm, Litchfield Jazz Camp, with iconic players. Two decades of top jazz instruction by the best clinicians in the world at Litchfield Jazz Camp have produced the stars of today and tomorrow. We have selected a roster of ultra-talented, young musicians, players who have been a part of Litchfield Jazz Camp, to grace our Main stage alongside established jazz musicians who have served as their mentors and helped them grow as musicians.

Some of these pairings will surprise you. All will delight you. Young lions like saxophonist Albert Rivera and pianist Emmet Cohen will be joined by guitarist Paul Bollenback and saxophonist Jimmy Heath. Other well-known artists includes Steve Johns, Orrin Evans, Dave Stryker, Donald Harrison, Avery Sharpe. Matt Wilson and many more.

This year the Festival sports a new look with its Sunday kickoff, Scat & Scramble- A Jazz Brunch with a New Orleans flair in food and music led by saxophonist Donald Harrison and an all-star band. Brunch tickets are included with all Best Friends and Sunday VIP Tickets. Delicious food Southern style by festival favorite O'Deens BBQ and music to match. Donald Harrison will head up a big band of our top jazz campers and instructors in music from the Big Easy. Get ready for a swinging good time and bring those second line umbrellas. We'll bring the beads!! Brunch tickets are included in all Sunday VIP passes.

Tickets are on sale now online.  Visit the website www.litchfieldjazzfest.com or call 860-361-6285 for assistance and information. For information on where to stay and dine www.litchfieldhills.com

The line up*:

Saturday 8/6
Adrew Hadro w/ Tony Malaby
Richie Barshay w/ Jimmy Greene
Albert Rivera w/ Paul Bollenback "Back At It"
Nicole Zuraitis w/ Dave Stryker
Daryl Johns w/ Orrin Evans "Saluting Errol Garner's Concert by the Sea"

Sunday 8/7
Friends of the Festival Scat & Scramble Brunch w/ Donald Harrison
Big Bass Blowout w/ Avery Sharpe & Matt Wilson
Emmet Cohen w/ Jimmy Heath
Litchfield Jazz Orchestra "Earth Wind & Wonder"
The Curtis Brothers w/ Donald Harrison

*line up is subject to change

August at White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield

White Memorial Foundation, the state's largest nature sanctuary has a fun filled August planned with something for everyone. On August 3, August 10 , August 17 and 31 for example, there is yoga in the garden from 8:00 am – 9:00 am. This is an all levels, all ages program and requires no prior yoga or meditation experience! Recent studies have shown the benefits of yoga, which include stress reduction, improvement in strength, flexibility, and balance. Please bring a mat and water (and sunscreen/bug repellant if desired). Each class is $10.

On August 6 join Betsy Rogers Knox to learn about the fascinating story of the Monarch Butterfly by drawing and painting its unique lifecycle, including its host plant the Milkweed. No experience necessary! For ages 10 and up. All supplies included! 1:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M., A. B. Ceder Room, Members: $35.00, Non-Members: $45.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. You can register for this program online at: www.whitememorialcc.org.

There is a Nature's Nursery Series on August 8 that is designed just for children 3-6 years old. Every session will include a story, an encounter with a live animal, and an activity or craft. Bring your young nature lovers out to White Memorial for a jam-packed hour of hands-on learning. Parents, we ask that you stay for the duration of the program. Meet in the A.B. Ceder Room. 4-5pm. Advanced registration is required. Space is limited and fills up quickly. To register, please call 860-567-0857 or visit whitememorialcc.org → Education → Public Programs for Children. Members: $7/child per session, Non-Members: $12/child per session.

In mid. August, from the 17 - 23 children get into the museum free of charge and on August 20 there is a Bantam Lake Day and Museum open house planned. Visitors are invited to celebrate Connecticut's largest lake in this day-long event sponsored by the Bantam Lake Protective Association and White Memorial Conservation Center. The Museum will be open to the public all day free of charge! Alain and May White managed to acquire 60% of the shore around Bantam Lake which today is managed by the White Memorial Foundation! The day will be celebrated with three walks in which the lake plays a major role.

On August 26 the ever popular "star party" is scheduled with members of the Litchfield Hills Amateur Astronomy Club and the Mattatuck Astronomical Society. Weather permitting; there will be star gazing after the program. 8:00 P.M., A.B. Ceder Room. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. You are invited to bring your own telescope or binoculars. This program is free of charge.

On August 27, pack a picnic lunch and get ready to explore lesser known areas of White Memorial Foundation with Gerri Griswold. Babbling brooks, towering trees, a bevy of birds, and a view of the vineyard will be highlights of this exploration.  Meet at 10 a.m. in front of the A.B. Ceder Room.

White Memorial Foundation is located on 80 White Hall Road in Litchfield. For more information http://www.whitememorialcc.org

For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Yayoi Kusama: Narcissus Garden at the Glass House

The Glass House located on Elm Street in New Canaan  is pleased to present Yayoi Kusama: Narcissus Garden, a landscape installation that will be on view throughout the 2016 tour season to celebrate the 110th anniversary of Philip Johnson's birth and the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Glass House site to the public. First created fifty years ago in 1966 for the 33rd Venice Biennale, this iteration of Narcissus Garden will be incorporated into the Glass House's 49-acre landscape. Tickets start at $25 including a tour of the site that is open Thursday - Monday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Photo © YAYOI KUSAMA

The Narcissus Garden, comprising 1,300 floating steel spheres, each approximately 12 inches in diameter (30 cm) has been installed in the Lower Meadow and forest, creating a dramatic view to the west of the Glass House. Drifting in the newly restored pond, the spheres will move with the wind and follow the pond's natural currents, forming a kinetic sculpture. Their mirrored surfaces will reflect the surrounding Pond Pavilion (1962), wooded landscape, and sky.

The Glass House will also install Kusama's recently created enormous steel PUMPKIN(2015). The placement of PUMPKIN will be on the hillside meadow, east-northeast of the Brick House (1949), on a concrete sculpture footing where Ellsworth Kelly's Curve II (1973) was once installed.  "The first time I saw a pumpkin was in a farm in elementary school.  In Japanese, a 'pumpkin head' is an ignorant man or a pudgy woman, but for me, I am charmed by its shape, form, and lack of pretension." says the artist.

About the Glass House

The Glass House was built between 1949 and 1995 by architect Philip Johnson, the Glass House is a National Trust Historic Site located in New Canaan, CT. The pastoral 49-acre landscape comprises fourteen structures, including the Glass House (1949), and features a permanent collection of 20th century painting and sculpture, along with temporary exhibitions. The tour season runs from May through November and advance reservations are required. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit www.theglasshouse.org.

 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded nonprofit organization that works to save America's historic places to enrich our future. For more information, visit.www.savingplaces.org.