Bird Walk @ Sharon Audubon Center Dec. 30

Each year, small groups of birders venture out for the sole purpose of counting birds. This free event, known as the Trixie Strauss Christmas Bird Count, has been scheduled for Sunday, December 30^th from 12:01 am to midnight.  Audubon Sharon’s count area is a 15-mile circle with its center at Hotchkiss School, thus taking in some of the good birding areas in Sharon, Salisbury, Falls Village, Amenia, and Northeast. Teams from all over the state and all over the country take part in Christmas Bird Count, and all of the numbers are compiled and reported to help better understand flock formations and migrations.

You don’t have to be a great birder to enjoy Christmas Bird Count.  And, if it’s cold outside, you don’t even have to get out of the car!  “Feeder watchers” are also always appreciated.  If you would like to participate, but would rather not leave the comforts of your home, you can choose to count the birds at your bird feeders, even if only for one hour. Your numbers can then be given to our compiler Zach Adams right after the count and they will be included in the overall Christmas Bird Count report.  Forms for the bird feeder count can be picked up at the Sharon Audubon Center on Route 4 in Sharon, CT.  You can also call the Audubon Center to find out who the “area captains” are so you can contact them to learn meeting places and times throughout the day. At 10:00am, birders can participate in bird walk at the Sharon Audubon Center, located at 325 Cornwall Bridge Road in Sharon, CT, as an introduction to Christmas Bird Count. Participants can either leave after the program or stay to help with the CBC.

           

At approximately 5:00 pm, the teams congregate at the Sharon Audubon Center to turn in their data, enjoy some hot food, and determine who has the best hold on “bragging rights” for the day’s finds. Even if you can’t join us in the field, you are welcome to join us at the Center to hear the results.  We ask anyone who lives in the surrounding towns to fill up your bird feeders to help with our counts! Please contact the Center at (860) 364-0520 or contact Zach Adams at zadams@massaudubon.org if you would like more information on the Trixie Strauss Christmas Bird Count.

Rejuvenating programs @ the Wisdom House

The Wisdom House located in Litchfield is offering a series of four programs in January that focus on wellness living, introspection, and rejuvenation.

On Saturday, January 5 from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm guests are invited to welcome 2019 with intention by joining a New Year-themed Self-Care Saturday, designed to clear out the old and welcome the new. Embrace your future with clarity, focus, and a feeling of expansiveness through restorative yoga, guided meditation, journaling, and spirit-lifting laughter. The place of quiet connection you find will let you reflect on and release activities of the last year. Intention-setting activities help guide you gratefully and gracefully into a rejuvenating and wisdom-filled new year. All are welcome. No previous experience necessary. Please bring a journal or small notebook and wear comfortable, stretchy clothing. This program includes lunch and is $60.  To register click here.

On Thursday, Jan. 10 from 7 pm to 8 pm the Wisdom House is offering a Literature Discussion Group. The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that have been concealed by the answers,” James Baldwin wrote. This reading and discussion group will endeavor to lay bare the questions we find in literature, particularly in the contemporary novel. Our first book will be Marilynne Robinson’s Home. In what has been called a Prodigal Son story, we will be able to surface questions of exile, spiritual affliction, grace, and forgiveness. We will choose future works as a group. Bring a notebook for writing, your ideas, and the book we are discussing. Book not included in fee. This discussion group will take place every other Thursday - January 10 & 24, February 7 & 21, March 7 & 21, April 11 & 25. Creating a core group makes for a fulfilling experience, but attendance at each week is not required. Suggested donation at the door: $5 This is a free program, but registration is required. To register click here.

Finding a Rhythm to Walk in is a contemplative retreat being offered at The Wisdom House from January 11-January 13. This contemplative retreat invites us to connect with the Divine Center deep within us, that which calls to us and to which we may return. Gathered in silence and contemplative practice, we discover a rhythm to walk in these hurried and uncertain times, finding our way home to the Divine Center. During this retreat, we will have the opportunity to experience individual and corporate prayer and meditation, devotional reading, group spiritual reflection, journaling, and handwork. All meals are included. Click here for more information and to register.

On Fridays in January from 5:30 to 6 pm there will be an evening prayer and meditation session. Find out more by calling or emailing Program Director Sherri Reed at (860) 567-3163.

COLONIAL COOKERY @ Wilton Historical Society

What better way to end 2018 than to learn how to make a pound cake?  On Saturday, December 30, the Wilton Historical Society is hosting a colonial cooking class for kids from 11 am - 12:30 pm that is perfect for children 6-12 years old. The cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members.

A Pound Cake is a rich, dense cake said to have originated in the 1700s in England – and was first introduced to the American populace by Amelia Simmons in her cookbook “American Cookery” published in 1796. The name Pound Cake comes from the fact that the original pound cakes were made from equal portions (a pound each) of butter, sugar, eggs (about 8 large eggs weighing 2 oz each), and flour. Museum Educator Lola Chen will be showing the children how to make Pound Cake with “Oranges” Juice. While they are sampling some fresh and warm from the oven, perhaps they will hear about why oranges are associated with the holidays.

The Colonial Cookery and Customs for Kids workshop at the Wilton Historical Society teaches kids a “reciept” (recipe) used in the Connecticut region. While the food is prepared, they hear about Colonial manners, morals and way of life. The monthly workshops feature relatively simple dishes made with local, seasonal ingredients, adapted for modern kitchens. All participants will sample their own cooking and take home recipe cards – as well as any leftovers! The children will learn how a Colonial kitchen would have operated, in order to appreciate the modern conveniences we take for granted. Previous sessions have made bannock cakes, pease porridge, pickles, an amulet of green peas, apple tansey, fairy butter, pumpkin bread, cranberry shortbread, New Year’s “cakes”, New England chowder, hand pies, cheese and ramp soufflé, and pea and watercress Rappahannock, blackberry maslin and thirded bread.

Winter Fun @ IAIS - December 27 & 28

If you are looking for fun and educational activities for your children during their Christmas break, look no further than the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington Connecticut on 38 Curtis Road.  

On December 27 and 28 from 12 noon to 3 p.m., the Institute is offering a program perfect for kids that takes place indoors and outdoors and is sure to entertain.  

Kids will play Native American games such as snow snake, snow boat, hoop and pole, keeper of the fire, and eagle eye.  A highlight of the program is the traditional Native American Stories told by the Institute's Professional Native American Storyteller that teaches children about the cultural beliefs of indigenous people living in the United States.

In addition to the learning experiences, kids will also create a craft to take home such as a corn husk doll, buzzer or beading.  A corn husk doll is a Native American toy that is made out of the dried leaves or "husk" of a corn cob.  It is thought to be the first known doll in America.  Children will also learn the legend about why corn husk dolls are designed without facial features.

To sign up for this workshop call 860-868-0518 or visit the website.  This program is included in the price of admission - $10 adults, $8 Seniors, $6 children; members of the museum are free.

Great Trains Holiday Exhibit in Wilton and A Sweet Workshop Dec. 23

The Great Trains Holiday Exhibit at the Wilton Historical Society is open through January 15, 2019. Dressed for the holidays, the Society's historic 18th and 19th-century buildings are transformed into a train-lovers delight with eight different train layouts winding through tiny towns with many different kinds of buildings, tunnels, cable cars, and two working Ferris Wheels! New this year: a Wilton-themed HO layout; expanded "O" gauge layout; and a working Lego train set. The interactive display enchants visitors of all ages with lots of buttons to push and knowledgeable "train engineers" on hand to "talk trains". In a special train room for the youngest guests, there are buttons galore plus Thomas the Tank Engine and a Brio set for hands-on fun.

The Great Trains Holiday Exhibit will run from Friday, November 24, 2017, through Monday, January 15, 2018. Wednesdays – Saturdays, 10:00-4:00; Sundays 12-4. No charge for children under 12. Admission is free for adult members of the Society, and $10 for non-member adults.  The hours of the Great Trains Holiday Exhibit through Monday, January 15, 2019, are Wednesday – Saturday, 10-4; Sundays 12-4. Admission is free for adult members of the Society and children under 12.  For non-member adults, the cost is $10. Wilton Historical Society is on 224 Danbury Road/Route 7 in Wilton.

To add to the holiday fun, a Holiday Sweets Mendiants and chocolate workshop for kids is being held on Saturday, December 23 from 11 am - 12:30 pm. A mendiant is a traditional French confection composed of a chocolate disk studded with nuts and dried fruits, usually made during the holidays, and often given as a gift. Like chocolate bark, they can be made with dark, milk or white chocolate. Museum Educator Lola Chen will be discussing these holiday sweets as the children make – and sample – some (nut-free)!  Suggested for ages 6 – 12. Wilton Historical Society members $10 per child, maximum $25 per family; Non-members $15 per child, maximum $35 per family. Please register: info@wiltonhistorical.org or call 203-762-7257.

Holiday Exhibit through Jan. 6 @ Lockwood Mathews Mansion

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum kicks off the Holiday Season the day after Thanksgiving with a new exhibition entitled, A Magical Christmas Eve at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, which will open at noon on Friday, November 23, 2018, at 295 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT. This exhibition runs through January 6, 2019.

During Queen Victoria's reign, Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree in England, a tradition that became very popular in the U.S. in the 1850s. For the past 30 years, visitors from all across the region have come to the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum to learn about this holiday tradition and immerse in its splendor and beauty.

The story of the day before Christmas at the Mansion will start with an overview of this holiday celebration, decade by decade, from the 1850s to the 1930s. The Dining Room will display a Christmas Eve feast, and throughout the Museum, displays of tabletop as well as tall, lavishly decorated trees will welcome visitors to one of the most cherished holiday destinations in New England.

During Queen Victoria's reign, Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree in England, a tradition that became very popular in the U.S. in the 1850s. For the past 30 years, visitors from all across the region have come to the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum to learn about this holiday tradition and immerse in its splendor and beauty. The story of the day before Christmas at the Mansion will start with an overview of this holiday celebration, decade by decade, from the 1850s to the 1930s. The Dining Room will display a Christmas Eve feast, and throughout the Museum, displays of tabletop as well as tall, lavishly decorated trees will welcome visitors to one of the most cherished holiday destinations in New England.

By the 1870s however, the tree grew larger and taller, store-bought glass decorations embellished the branches, and on Christmas Eve gifts were placed under the beautifully adorned trees.

The exhibit, A Magical Christmas Eve at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, curated by Trustee Mimi Findlay and the LMMM Curatorial Committee will capture the enchantment and excitement of the night before Christmas and explore Christmas Eve as it was celebrated by the Lockwood and the Mathews families. The Mansion will also feature 21st century holiday decorations with magnificent trees and seasonal displays by Trustee and renowned interior designer Victoria Vandamm of Vandamm Interiors, Marcia Taylor-Reid of Taylor Reid Design and Danna DiElsi owner of The Silk Touch, who will adorn the Herter Brothers' grand Victorian staircase with white poinsettias and shimmering gold and silver garlands.

The Museum's 2018 cultural and educational programs are made possible in part by generous funding from LMMM's Founding Patrons: The Estate of Mrs. Cynthia Clark Brown, LMMM's 2018 Season Distinguished Benefactors: The City of Norwalk and The Maurice Goodman Foundation; 2018 Distinguished Benefactors for Education: Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation Inc.

Tour hours: Wed.-Sun., noon, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. General Admission: $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $8 for children and young adults, ages 8-18. 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.

Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce Weekends through Dec. 23

One of Connecticut's most popular summer attractions, Lake Compounce in Bristol transforms itself every December into a wonderous holiday experience that is perfect for families of all ages.  This event takes place this year on Friday nights from 5 pm to 9 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 4 pm to 9 pm. when the park will be covered in hundreds of thousands of holiday lights and holiday music wafts through the crisp cold air.

A highlight is a brunch with Santa on December 15, and 22 starting at 2 pm. that is catered by Santa's special elves!  There will be holiday music, a sing-along, interactive reindeer games, a magical carousel ride and photos with Santa of course!

'Holiday Lights' will provide full family entertainment for all ages, and include festive activities such as a spectacular light show every half hour at the main gate, which will feature tens of thousands of dancing lights set to holiday music. Kiddieland rides and family-themed rides will be in operation. The Train will be transformed into the North Pole Railway, operated by a very special, uniformed train conductor with a magical holiday story to tell.

There will be indoor activities such as cookie decorating and gingerbread house making. Children will be given the opportunity to customize their very own letter to Santa, and will then receive a personalized letter sent directly to them, from Santa, just a few days later. On the Kiddieland stage children can enjoy Story Time with 

Mrs. Clause. There will be carolers strolling throughout the park, an ice carver creating unique, frozen sculptures, and lots more festive entertainment including clowns making balloon animals and lots of holiday characters greeting guests. The childhood favorite; photos with Santa is not to be missed in the Winter Wonderland Starlight Theatre.

The park's gift shops will also be loaded with holiday-themed merchandise for sale so guests can get their holiday shopping done, and new this year great food will be served hot from unique and festive food trucks. Another new attraction is the Holiday Craft Fair on Nov. 11 that will feature a selection of holiday craft vendors selling handmade items that are perfect for holiday décor or a gift for a special loved one. 

There will be eight food trucks at the park offering everything from pizza to waffles, sliders to special festive beverages and sweets.  There will also be a variety of rides open including the North Pole Express, the carousel, twister, American flyers, Zoomers gas and go, drop zone, caterpillar train, drum circus, flying elephants, jolly jester, a kiddie coaster, little critters, daredevils and rainbow riders.

Admission is $15.99 for adults, $11.99 for kids ages 4-10, seniors (60+) $11.99 and kids under three are free.  Tickets are available online.

Kent Gingerbread Festival...

The sweet scents will tease your sense of smell as you enter the quaint village of Kent CT. The rolling pins are spinning and creative minds of all ages are working hard to create dozens of  Gingerbread Houses. Ovens are filled to capacity and working overtime to get ready for the ANNUAL KENT GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL from December 1 through December 31.

Gingerbread Houses of all shapes and sizes will be on display in many of Kent's beautifully decorated shop windows until December 31. As you approach Kent you will find yourself in what looks like a movie set of the perfect little New England town, twinkling lights will guide you through the unique one of a kind shops. What an enjoyable way to do your holiday shopping.

Lots of places feature colorful gingerbread houses for the holidays, but Kent, CT goes a step further. The whole town will take place in this sugary sweet celebration. Everyone is invited to follow the Gingerbread Walk through town to view imaginative and ingenious gingerbread delights. Visitors can enjoy the displays as they navigate the gingerbread map and solve the NEW mysterious riddle the Ginger Girls have cooked up this year. At the end, visitors vote for their favorite creations. Displays are guaranteed to delight all ages!

 Should you be hungry after your Gingerbread Walk there are many temptations that will lure you, from a chocolate shop and baked goods to delicious culinary delights in one of Kent's many restaurants & cafés. In addition to gingerbread displays, Kent will have special holiday events every weekend, from the Annual Kent Holiday Champagne Stroll, wine tastings and even Pancakes with Santa to an old-time horse-drawn carriage ride through town and a Messiah sing-along. For more holiday information a visit http://kentct.com

Gingerbread Festival in Middlebury!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland! What a way to start December with the joyous sounds of holiday music, the scents of holiday treats and the delicious taste of gingerbread.  The theme of this year’s 51stAnnual Gingerbread Village and Christmas Bazaar is “Winter Wonderland”.

All are welcome to come and share this festive weeklong event with the parishioners of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Middlebury CT.    

For over five decades now St. George's parish has graciously welcomed the community to visit their magical village of gingerbread creations.  As summer winds down and autumn approaches, visions of gingerbread and the sweet smells of cinnamon and spice fill the church halls. Parishioners, both young and old are often heard collaborating and sharing ideas about candy, construction and design choice.

Each piece displayed in the village is handcrafted and completely edible.  Houses are often built from not just gingerbread, but pasta, beans, gum and breakfast cereal.  In addition to houses, visitors will likely see sleigh riders, snowman, reindeer and perhaps even Santa.  All items are on sale and will be available for pick up on the final day.

This mission is held near and dear to the heart of St. George's.  It has become part of a local holiday tradition for many, and we cordially welcome all visitors to come enjoy our truly unique display.

In addition to the village, the bazaar offers a bake shoppe, the opportunity to decorate your own cookie, raffle baskets and Christmas crafts for sale.  Gingerbread kit houses will also be for sales which provide everything needed to create your own masterpiece at home.

Lunch will be available Saturday December 1st and Saturday December 8th from 11:00am to 2:30pm. All you can eat breakfast on December 8th from 8:30-11am.  

Village hours are Saturday, December 1 - 10 am to 7pm, Sunday, Dec 2 -12 noon to 7pm. Monday through Friday 2:00 pm-4:00pm, 6pm-8pm.  Saturday, December 8th- 10am-4pm. As always, parking and admission are free (donations welcomed). The church is handicap accessible.

For more information, please visit www.gingerbreadvillagect.com.  For general questions please contact the church at 203-758-9864 or email stgeorges9864@att.net.  Group appointments can be schedules by calling 203-217-4246.

Holidays @ The Wish House in West Cornwall December 8

It is time to warm up to the Holidays on December 8 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the Wish House, Barbara Farnsworth Bookstore, Ian Ingersoll's Furniture and the Cornwall Conservation Trust in the bucolic village of West Cornwall on the banks of the Housatonic River in the heart of the Litchfield Hills.

The day begins at the Wish House with a workshop for kids and the young @ heart with lf Joe Brien of the Lost Arts Workshops crafting an old fashion wooden toy.  Santa will be overseeing operations and will be available for Holiday snapshots that are sure to make heartwarming memories.  The fun doesn't stop there@  *Author Sally Cook will be on hand and ready to signer her book that makes the ideal stocking stuffer and includes the very popular -How to Speak Soccer, How to Speak Baseball, How to Speak Golf and How to Speak Football.  And, if you work up an appetite, no worries, the Wish House is hosting holiday nibbles and libations including German Gluehwein!

Just up the street, at Barbara Farnsworth's Bookstore, Susan Susan Hellman will greet customers with a 50% off sale on all of the books in stock. Browse amid a lovely array of handmade book bags, stupendously cute and beautiful crafts and cards. Join this multi-talented Lady for coffee and homemade cookies!

If nature is your thing, be sure to pop into the open house at the Cornwall Preservation Trust.  Here you will find maps of the many hiking trails that criss-cross Cornwall making them a good option after a large holiday meal!

If you are in the market for authentically made Shaker Furniture, pop into Ian Ingersoll's Furniture showroom where bubbly and nibbles will be served while you may peruse the classy local artwork exhibited in the showroom among the gorgeous furnishings. 

Leaders in Law @ The American Museum of Tort Law Dec. 6

Join the American Museum of Tort Law located on 654 Main Street in Winsted on Thursday, December 6  from 7 pm to 8:30 pm for a fascinating special presentation by John Barylick, Esq. in the Leaders in Law Series.

Attorney, author and lecturer, John Barylick, won national prominence for representing victims, in the wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station Nightclub fire, on February 20, 2003, in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

His work was instrumental in amassing $176 million in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the fire. Said Barylick: “Most of the wrongdoing occurred long before the fire. It all came down to money. When no value is attributed to safety, disaster can happen.”

The Museum opens at 6:00p.m. for self-guided tours. The presentation begins at 7:00pm and includes an Interview with Attorney Barylick; his Master Class; a Town Hall style Q/A. Following the presentation, Attorney Barylick will be signing copies of his book, KILLER SHOW: The Station Nightclub Fire, America’s Deadliest Rock Concert, in the Museum Gallery. 

Suggestion donation is $20. Seating is limited. To reserve a seat, please email joan@tortmuseum.org or call 860-379-0505.

Christmas Town Festival in Bethlehem

They call this little town in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut “Christmas Town” with good reason. Bethlehem’s Christmas Town Festival scheduled for December 7 and 8, celebrates its 35th birthday this year as one of New England’s favorite ways to kick off the season. Wherever you turn, special treats are waiting, from the town green to the post office to the Abbey of Regina Laudis and the 1754 Bellamy-Ferriday House. Some of the unique attractions continue when the festival is over.

Vendors and More On the Green

The quaint town green, centered with a giant tree, is home to over 70 vendors with unique gift items, wreaths, and delicious foods for sale. Strolling carolers and musicians help keep things lively, Santa will be waiting at the firehouse to pose for pictures with young friends, and everyone is invited to climb aboard for hayrides offered in front of First Church. Collectors can garner this year’s unique limited edition Christmas Town pewter ornament, sold only during the Festival.

 Bethlehem’s beautiful eighteenth-century Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden will be festively decorated and open for tours and holiday cheer during festival hours. Guides will offer house tours and there will be hot cider and a scavenger hunt for children. The home is located at 9 Main Street North, information can be found at www.ctlandmarks.org

Hours for the Christmas Town Festival are Friday, December 7 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, December 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information,  https://christmastownfestival.com or phone 203-266-7510, ext. 300.  The Opening Ceremony will feature Honorary Emcee WFSB Ch. 3 Anchor, Nicole Nalepa.

Christmas Town Mailings at the Post Office

The Bethlehem post office is busy in December serving the many who come every year to mail holiday cards with their unique postmarks.  Visitors can select favorites among the “Christmas Cachet” designs, hand-stamp and mail these unique greetings to friends and family. The idea of the special stamps dates to 1938, when a local Postmaster, the late Earl Johnson, designed a “cachet,” a special rubber stamp featuring a tree and lettering that said “From the Little Town of Bethlehem, Christmas Greetings.” New cachets have been added almost every year since. 

Over 70 designs are now available and nearly 200,000 cards are mailed each year from this small post office.  Located at 34 East Street, the post office will have extended hours during the festival, Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

 Precious Crèches at the Abbey

One of Bethlehem’s not-to-be-missed jewels is open all month for visitors. The museum-quality eighteenth-century Neapolitan crèche on view in a vintage barn at the Abbey of Regina Laudis includes hundreds of beautiful hand-carved figures. Made of wood, terra cotta, and porcelain, the figures portray the Holy Family, angels, the Three Kings, merchants and peddlers, children, peasants, and farm animals. 

This fabulous gift from artist and philanthropist Loretta Hines Howard is similar to the one Howard donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is prominently displayed every Christmas.

A second Crèche, The Lauren Ford Crèche, created by a favorite Connecticut artist, is displayed in a farm shed near the Lower Abbey Chapel. This charming rustic Nativity scene displays figures of Jesus, Mary and Joseph dressed in typical New England garb.

The Monastic Art Shop on the property offers crafts, cheeses, jams, herbal teas, flavored vinegar, herbs and honey, and all created on site by the residents of the Abbey.

The Abbey of Regina Laudis, located at 249 Flanders Road, is open to visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.abbeyofreginalaudis.org